The Time Out London blog team

If you’ve been keeping up with Time Out’s staycation advice lately, you’ll have seen the Scottish city of Stirling cropping up a lot. Its historic castle and teeny tiny distillery helped it rank second on our list of the best weekend trips to take from London in 2026. Plus, it was named among the best undiscovered cities in Britain which are worth exploring this year. Time Out UK contributor Chiara Wilkinson wrote: ‘Next time you want a dose of Celtic culture, bypass Glasgow and Edinburgh and head for Stirling instead. It’s much smaller than the Big Two, granted, but do they have the legendary National Wallace Monument? The rollicking Highland Games every August? The castle where Mary Queen of Scots was crowned (at just nine months old)? ‘In the heart of Scotland, Stirling has witnessed many of the nation’s most significant events and makes for a fantastic history-centred trip. Between sight-seeing, load up on pastries from Unorthodox Roasters, pastries from Vera, traditional Scottish fare from Brea and drams of whisky from Stirling Distillery.’ Photograph: ShutterstockStirling is the happiest place in Scotland, according to Rightmove If you’re still not convinced that Stirling should be your next holiday destination, what if we told you that Londoners can now get there for less than £30? Yep, as of Monday May 25, budget rail operator Lumo is now running a direct route from London to Stirling for the first time. Trains run to and from London Euston four times a day...

If you’re a north London native, chances are you’ve made some memories at the leisure park in East Finchley. Its cinema, bowling alley and swimming pool have been the site of many, many a kids’ birthday party over the years.  Sadly, it’ll soon be time to wave goodbye to the famed wave machine, because the Great North Leisure Park is getting knocked down to make way for a new development. There’s no need to fret, though. Luckily for fitness fans with an N postcode, the site’s transformation includes the construction of a brand new ‘state-of-the-art’ leisure centre. Designed to be fully accessible, the new space will offer swimming, gym and kid-friendly facilities. The existing centre will remain open until construction on the new centre is complete, meaning there’ll be no disruption to your workout schedule as a result of the development. Plans for the revamp also include a new sports pavilion next to the Glebelands playing fields, meaning youth teams and local clubs which train and play on the site will get access to upgraded changing facilities. Play areas, green roofs and improved walking and cycling paths also feature in the plans. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons / Grim23Finchley Lido, north London If this news feels vaguely familiar to you, it’s probably because the makeover has been on the books for a couple of years now. We first caught wind of the redevelopment back in 2024, but plans have only just been green-lit by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. The glow-up of the...

From quaint B&Bs to seriously swanky stays, the Big Smoke has no shortage of hotel options. Here at Time Out, like a team of professional goldilocks, we’re committed to sleeping our way across the capital (and the country) to find the beds and breakfasts that feel just right. RECOMMENDED TIME OUT LONDON HOTEL GUIDES:The most romantic hotelsThe best budget hotelsThe best spa hotels But we’re not the only ones rating the thread count and tasting through the breakfast buffets in the capital’s eclectic accom. The Telegraph has just published its guide to the 250 Best Hotels in the UK for 2026. Its team of 60 reviewers visited upwards of 2,000 properties across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to compile this year’s list. Every hotel included in the newspaper’s ranking has been classified as ‘excellent’, achieving an average score of eight out of 10 or higher across six categories – location, style and character, service and facilities, rooms, food and drink, and value for money. And while many of its choices are on the bougier side, there were 94 hotels which start at £200 or less per night.  Photograph: Chancery RosewoodExterior of Chancery Rosewood As for its London picks, 26 hotels in the capital were included in the final list. Topping the Telegraph’s ranking was The Chancery Rosewood, which was also awarded a ‘regional star’ for being one of the highest-calibre hotels in this part of the country. Having opened on September 1 2025, the Chancery...