The Time Out London blog team

Whether you’re an immersive experience obsessive or someone that finds the whole idea of interacting with live actors quite unbearable, there’s no denying the chokehold that audience-participatory adult playgrounds have had on London in the past few years.  Now Phantom Peak, London’s Wild West-themed immersive town, has announced it is moving to a new venue that promises to be even better. Following on from the success of its Canada Water outpost, the interactive steampunk-tinged cowboy world will arrive in Stratford, east London, in the summer of 2026.  Not sure of exactly what happens at Phantom Peak? It’s an immersive ‘town’ that blends live performance, interactive storytelling and games within a continuously evolving narrative that changes every few months. Guests follow storylines, solve quests and undergo game-based challenges during their visit.  The new Stratford location promises to be even bigger than the OG, with a multi-level and fully accessible venue featuring three distinct areas, each with its own storyline. It will also have a themed bar open seven days a week plus upgraded technology to improve the interactive gameplay.  Phantom Peak in Canada Water will close on February 28 2026, with the Stratford location expected to open a few months later.  Looking for immersive experiences? We’ve seen them all, literally. Here’s what we learned doing five immersive London shows in 12 hours.  ICMYI: National Gallery masterpieces are coming to this south London...

There are hundreds of thousands of Londoners that really love a run. We’re not talking about a casual lunchtime jog. We’re talking miles and miles and miles of non-stop running – hydration vest, carb gels and all. Because of that, over the past few years places for the city’s favourite half marathon, the Hackney Half, have been increasingly difficult to come by. Spots for the 2026 event were completely snapped up within 48 hours of the 2025 race finishing. But if you missed out on a place for the Hackney Half 2026, you’re in luck. There’s a brand new 13.1 mile race landing in east London this year.  The Saucony Run Shoreditch Half will debut on Sunday September 20, 2026 – and it’s from the same people who’re behind the Hackney Half. The event began last year as a 10k, with runners starting in Shoreditch Park, winding through the boroughs of Hackney and Islington, then crossing the finish line back at the park.  Photograph: Saucony Run Shoreditch We don’t know exactly what the half marathon route will look like yet, but we do know that it’ll also start and end at Shoreditch Park. Just like the Hackney Half, roads will be closed for the event and there’ll be live music, cheer zones and a crowd of dedicated supporters keeping runners in high spirits all along the route. There’ll also be a buzzing event village full of local food and drink vendors, brand activations and give aways, and live entertainment.  While the Hackney Half attracted 25,000 runners last year, its...

Despite declining profits, Wetherspoons is continuing its conquest to open even more pubs the UK (and even one in Europe). Now ‘Spoons has announced its opening a new watering hole at Paddington Station. There’s nothing more British than downing a few pints of lager in a railside boozer.  The proposed new pub would span 3,600 square-feet across two floors, including a mezzanine in the station’s former ticket hall with direct access to the Bakerloo line. If approved, it would be bigger than the recently opened Captain Flinders Wetherspoons at Euston and slightly smaller than The Lion and The Unicorn at Waterloo. The new spot, which is rumoured to be called The Post Room, would be the second new Wetherspoons in Paddington following the recent opening of The Sir Alexander Fleming in Merchant Square. The pub chain is currently seeking feedback from local residents and businesses ahead of submitting a formal planning application to Westminster City Council. ’Spoons appears to be targeting transport hubs and has recently opened pubs at London Bridge station and the former Fulham Broadway ticket hall. Another outpost in a central London station – this time Charing Cross – was also confirmed earlier this month, tipped to open some time in 2026. Find the locations of all 12 Wetherspoon pubs opening in the UK between now and July 2026. More train strikes are on the way: everything you need to know about February, March and April industrial action.  Plus: British Airways is launching...