The Time Out London blog team

London is known for many things – top-class food, music and culture, to name a few of the city’s great draws – but the capital, with its high levels of light pollution, isn’t great for stargazing. Fortunately you won’t need to find high ground or a clear night to see a new celestial sight in the capital.  Artist Luke Jerram is bringing a scientific replica of the reflective orb up close and personal to the Royal Observatory Greenwich in the New Year. Jerram, an artist known for his large-scale celestial works, will put his latest sculpture, ‘Mirror Moon’, on show in March 2026.  ‘Mirror Moon’ is a two-metre-wide mirrored steel duplicate of the real deal using accurate topographic data from NASA of the Moon’s surface. Visitors will be able to run their hands over imitations of our celestial sister’s craters, valleys, mountains and lava fields that are visible from Earth. You’ll also be able to feel your way around the deeply cratered surface on the previously mysterious ‘far side’ of the Moon.  Photograph: Luke Jerram It’s fitting that the exhibition will be at Greenwich Observatory, which has been observing the satellite for 350 years. The astronomical institution is also the place where sailors learned a method to determine their position at sea depending on the distance between them and the Moon. Jerram said: ‘For more than two decades, the Royal Observatory Greenwich has been inspiration for my work as an artist and so it’s an absolute privilege to be commissioned to...

If you hadn’t already noticed, London is awash with Christmas markets. Each market has its own charms, whether that be specialising in artisanal treats or brewing up tangy mulled wine – but now two more have been added to the mix.  Real Food Market has opened two new Christmas markets for the 2025 festive season. One is outside London Bridge Station (which is open until December 21) and the other is at King’s Cross Station (there until December 22). The London Bridge fair is new for 2025, while the King’s Cross edition is returning once more.  You’ll find the London Bridge fair on the walkway between St Thomas Street and Tooley Street. The whole stretch has been transformed into a festive scene with twinkly lights, wooden chalet huts selling handmade gifts and even a choir singing sweet music.  Over at King’s Cross Square you’ll find similar festive cheer, with live music, toasted marshmallows, and more festive delicacies you can fill a tote bag with (the Sicilian panettone sounds especially delicious). Photograph: Real Food Philip Lowery, director at Real Food Market, commented: ‘By bringing artisan food and handmade gifts to two of London’s busiest stations, we’re giving people the chance to support independent businesses. Whether you’re picking up a gift or grabbing a festive bite, we want visitors to feel the magic of the season.’ Here’s Time Out’s definitive guide to the best Christmas markets in the capital this year.  Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke...

There’s finally been an opening date set for the grand re-opening of Sicilian Avenue.  The street might sound rather Mediterranean, but its true location is less White Lotus, and more Slow Horses, because it’s right next to Holborn station.     The Grade II-listed pedestrianised street, which runs diagonally between Southampton Row and Bloomsbury Way, has been getting a lot of work done. And we mean a lot – the marble thoroughfare has been closed for the past five years as developers Tristan Capital Partners have performed a ‘complete restoration’ of the area.  The avenue is named after its luxurious architectural style, which feels almost European. Built in 1906, it’s home to several turrets, golden building names, and Grade II-listed buildings, and is also a pretty convenient shortcut. It opened back up last year for pedestrians, but its buildings have remained uninhabited.  Photograph: Sicilian Avenue London But the passage is going to be repopulated any day now, and Sicilian Avenue has just revealed its first line-up of businesses that are going to occupy the street. Trendy coffee joint Flying Horse Coffee has opened its doors at 1 Sicilian Avenue (opposite the red telephone box) this December. This is Flying Horse’s fourth London outpost and first location in the city centre.  The roastery will be joined by Backworks in the spring. The drop-in massage studio will offer fully-clothed seated back, head, neck and shoulder massages, with sessions starting from 15 to 45...