The Time Out London blog team

Bromley Palace, a grand Grade II-listed manor house in south London, is to be converted into 11 flats under new plans approved by Bromley Council.  Once a bishops’ residence, the palace (also known as Bishop’s Palace) was home to the Bishops of Rochester from the 12th century until 1845. It then had a stint as a girls’ finishing school, among other things, before it was acquired by the London Borough of Bromley in the 1980s. It was extended and became the borough’s Civic Centre until 2024, when it was bought by developers Galliard Homes.  Now, the majority of the former Civic Centre is going to be demolished to build new apartment blocks, while the historic palace will be refurbished for residential use. The council voted unanimously in favour of the developers’ proposals at a meeting on Monday June 1. However, the plans to build 222 new homes, 10 percent of which (22) will be affordable, aren’t so popular with the locals. The plans for the old Civic Centre received received 138 objections and three letters of support, the BBC reported. The new development will comprise a range of one bed, two bed, three bed and studio homes and will include 25 wheelchair units, 38 parking spaces and 37 later living properties. The ground floor of the old palace will have commercial space which will include a new café, co-working areas or community spaces. Councillor Alexa Michael, chair of the Development Control Committee, said: ‘This is a carefully planned proposal for this historic...

When Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, and Shane Lynch took their last bow as Boyzone in 2019 with their ‘Thank You And Goodnight’ farewell tour, well, turns out it wasn’t actually goodnight.  That’s because, seven years later, the Dublin boys are back for a two-night show in London. ‘One For The Road: Live At Emirates Stadium’ is set to be the boyband’s biggest ever headline show, with capacity for 44,000 fans.  Put together by Louis Walsh back in 1993, Boyzone’s weighty discography includes 18 top 10 singles and six number ones, with hits like ‘No Matter What’, ‘I Love the Way You Love Me’ and ‘Baby Can I Hold You’. If you’ve got a ticket (or you’re looking for one), here’s everything you need to know. When are Boyzone playing the Emirates Stadium? The boyband’s farewell shows are taking place in north London on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 June 2026. What time do doors open? Doors will open at 5pm on both days. What time will the band come on stage? Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch are set to take to the stage at 8.15pm. The show is expected to finish at 10.30pm before the stadium closes at 11pm. What’s the seating plan? Here’s the seating plan at the Emirates Stadium, according to Ticketmaster: Photograph: TicketmasterBirdseye view of Emirates Stadium seating plan for Boyzone concert Who’s supporting Boyzone at the Emirates? There’ll be one support slot on each night. On Friday June 5, pop band S Club will be taking to the stage ahead of...

The world’s largest space dedicated to illustration is here. More than two decades after celebrated English cartoonist and children’s book illustrator Quentin Blake began championing the idea, the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration opened this week in Clerkenwell as the UK’s first permanent public home for illustration. More than a museum, the Centre combines three exhibition galleries with a free public library, landscaped gardens, a café, shop and community spaces. Its ambitions extend beyond the gallery walls too, with programmes for schools, families and community groups, alongside plans to resume touring exhibitions across the UK from 2027. The Centre officially opens this Friday 5 June, but Time Out was lucky enough to get a sneak peek inside ahead of its grand opening. Here’s what the Centre has in store. Photograph: © Hufton+CrowExterior of the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration What’s the Quentin Blake Centre like inside? The Centre occupies a former 18th- and 19th-century waterworks at New River Head in Clerkenwell. Led by Tim Ronalds Architects, the redevelopment preserves much of the site’s industrial character, with the former Engine House now home to the public library and the Boiler House transformed into a café overlooking the gardens. The library, the UK’s first dedicated public illustration library, is stocked with more than 1,000 picture books, graphic novels and zines. The shelves range from Quentin Blake’s own books to classics by Maurice...