The Time Out London blog team

A big makeover of St Paul’s Gyratory – that’s the complex and quite frankly perilous one-way traffic system outside the cathedral – has been in the works since 2023. In 2024 it was also announced that a huge new public square and play area would be built in front of the cathedral, called Greyfriars Square.  Work on the roads initially began in April 2025, though there’s now a new update on the project. The final designs for the new public square were officially approved in December 2025 (see pictures below). It’s expected that Greyfriars Square could be complete by mid-2027.  The detailed designs for Greyfriars Square have now been given planning permission by the City of London Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee, allowing works to begin on the final stages of the transformation project. Image: City of London Corporation Once finished, the 3,500-square-metre square will be the City of London’s largest public open space. In the plans, almost 1,500 square metres of existing roads will be converted into new pavement. There will also be 800 new metres of east-west and north-south cycle lanes, plus new and improved crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.  Image: City of London Corportation The three traffic lanes at the south end of King Edward Street will be closed to traffic and converted into a new 3,500 square-metre pedestrianised public square, equivalent to the size of 12 tennis courts. The square will be filled with trees, flower beds, public seating and a children’s...

Tube fares might be about to skyrocket in the new year, but at least some positive TfL news is also coming our way. As well as not one, but two potential new Overground lines in the works for the future, TfL has announced that major improvements will be coming to the existing Overground lines in 2026, thanks to a contract with a new operator.  The transport bosses have announced that the £3 billion London Overground operator contract has been awarded to First Rail London Limited (FRLL), a subsidiary of FirstGroup PLC. FRLL will take over from the current operator, Arriva Rail London, on Sunday May 3 2026, and will work closely with TfL during its eight-year-long tenure.  The biggest improvements set to be introduced by FRLL include extra peak-time trains on the Mildmay line from May 2026, with shuttle services between Clapham Junction and Shepherd’s Bush during peak hours, as well as more frequent trains on the Windrush line from December 2026, with services through the core section (Highbury and Islington to Surrey Quays) of the line increasing to 18 trains per hour. The new operators also want to upgrade customer help points and CCTV, improve reliability, manage disruption, provide better customer information, and continue to improve the Overground’s accessibility.  David Thomas, head of concession for London Overground, said: ‘London Overground is one of the most popular parts of our transport network, and this new concession puts customers at its heart, helping make...

Fresh from releasing one of the best albums of 2025, Spanish singer and songwriter Rosalía has announced that next year she’ll be heading out on a world tour. When the LUX Tour 2026 was unveiled last week it only included one London date at the O2, though Rosalía has since added a second date. Rosalía’s fourth album LUX was released at the start of November. Recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra, it marked an orchestral turn for the singer and featured guest performances from the likes of Björk, Carminho and Estrella Morente. It was named one of Time Out’s top releases of the year – placing 13th out of 25. You can read our full list of 2025’s best albums here. Keen on seeing Rosalía live in London? Tickets go on sale for both shows this week – here’s what you need to know. When is Rosalía going on tour in 2026? The singer’s global tour starts in France in March 2026, and wraps up in Puerto Rico in September. What London tour dates have been announced so far? Rosalía will be playing London’s O2 Arena on two dates in May 2026. Tuesday May 5 – London, The O2 Wednesday May 6 – London, The O2 (additional date) When do tickets go on sale? General sale for both shows will start at 10am GMT on Thursday December 11 2025. You’ll be able to purchase on Ticketmaster here and AXS here. Presale details An artist presale began on Tuesday December 9 at 10am and continues until Thursday December 11 at 9am. Ticket prices According to a Reddit thread on pricing, non-VIP tickets in...