The Time Out London blog team

London is one of the world’s greatest cities for live music. Dare we say, the best? Our grassroots venues have been launch pads for some of the biggest artists on the planet. For decades, they’ve been precious havens for leftfield bands and maverick music fans too.  So, of the 42 places on Time Out’s new list of the UK’s greatest independent music venues, it only makes sense that a large chunk of them hail from the Big Smoke. The list was compiled by James Balmont of indie rock band Swim Deep, who has nearly 15 years of gigging under his belt. Such a tremendous list can’t be done alone, so Balmont also enlisted the help of friends and peers (Simon Raymonde of the Cocteau Twins and Suren de Saram of Bombay Bicycle Club, for example) who have played dozens of British venues themselves and been among those in the crowds.  From an unassuming working men’s club on the city fringes to a Victorian Gothic church to a 700-year-old pub, here are all the London venues that made the cut.  Every London venue on Time Out’s list of the UK’s best independent music venues  Cafe OTO, Dalston Photograph: Joe Mackertich for Time Out London Former paint-mixing factory turned ‘outsider arts’ space is Time Out’s top ranked London venue on the list. We put it in second place for its commitment to delivering live performances seven days a week and for giving a home to some of the most eclectic, experimental forms of music out there. Delve into an oral history of Cafe OTO here.  MOTH Club,...

Here we go again. In April London was hit by tube strikes for the first time since September 2025, and now they’re back for another round. This week RMT union members are walking out, impacting the entire London Underground network.  April’s walk-outs – which were on April 21-22 and 23-24 – amounted to the biggest bout of transport disruption in the city since last summer. The industrial action followed a ballot in February which saw a majority of RMT union members vote in favour of action. Strikes were called for the London Underground, with six dates spread across 12 days in April, May and June, with eight days more to come. The industrial action is in response to what the RMT says is the introduction of a ‘compressed four-day working week’ for tube drivers. The next bouts of industrial action are set to start on Tuesday May 19. Worried about strikes hitting the capital once again? Here’s everything you need to know. RECOMMENDED:🛤️ When are the next UK-wide train strikes? What you need to know about nationwide industrial action.⛔️ London travel disruption this weekend: full list of tube and train closures for May 16-17 2026. When are the next London tube strikes? Tube drivers are walking out on the following four occasions, each a 24-hour period. The two May strikes are in bold. May 19-20 (12pm to 11.59am) May 21-22 (12pm to 11.59am) June 16-17 (12pm to 11.59am) June 18-19 (12pm to 11.59am) Which services will be affected by the strikes?  Drivers belonging to ASLEF...

London is bracing for more strikes on the tube. Starting this Tuesday (May 19), London Underground drivers who are in the RMT union will walk out in two 24-hour strikes spread across four days. The drivers are protesting TfL’s plans to implement a four-day working week. The RMT says that, under the plans, staff will work a five-day week’s worth of hours in four days, increasing fatigue and compromising safety. TfL insists that the proposals are voluntary. On strike days, Londoners can expect severe disruption across the tube network. But what about the Overground? Find everything you need to know about the trusty formerly-orange network below. May 2026 Tube Strikes: How to get around London during RMT industrial action. When are the May 2026 tube strikes? There are two periods of industrial action on the tube in May: May 19-20 (12pm to 11.59am) May 21-22 (12pm to 11.59am) Following that, there will be two more strikes to watch out for in June: June 16-17 (12pm to 11.59am) June 18-19 (12pm to 11.59am) Will the Underground strikes affect the Overground? The entire Overground network is expected to be running as usual during the strikes. However, it may be much busier, with reduced interchange access at tube stops. Full list of London Overground lines Here are all the Overground lines you’ll be able to take during the walk-outs. Liberty line Lioness line Mildmay line Suffragette line Weaver line Windrush line How long will the industrial action last? This current period...