The Time Out London blog team

They say don’t judge a book by its cover but, if we’re being honest, we can’t resist beautiful things. Around the world, there are bookshops with jaw-dropping ceilings, ornate woodwork, cosy corners and pretty spiral staircases that mesmerise and capture your imagination before you even start browsing the shelves. Now, Time Out has compiled a list of the 12 most breathtaking of them all.  We’ve included a twentieth century cinema turned bookstore in Argentina, a starry mansion in New York and a centuries old church in Denmark, plus a cosy little store here in London. At number four on the list is the Big Smoke’s very own Word on the Water.  Photo: Laura Gallant for Time OutWord On The Water Word on the Water is a 1920s Dutch barge-turned-bookshop, with books stacked in almost every possible nook and cranny, inside and out. Once-upon-a-time, it travelled up and down Regent’s Canal but now it’s permanently floating behind Coal Drops Yard in Kings Cross.  Unlike a number of other bookshops on the list, this isn’t a grand, sprawling space. It’s a little boat decked out with planets, vintage furniture and random little treasures. It can often get crowded but if you arrive at a less busy time of day, you might be lucky enough to find a free cushioned seat next to the wood-burning stove to sit with a new read and enjoy the gentle rocks of the canal. As for the kinds of books you’ll find, the little boat is home to hundreds of new and secondhand books ranging from...

The last time Harry Styles hopped on a tour bus, he broke records. The pop icon’s Love on Tour concert run, which spanned 22 months from 2021 to 2023, grossed over $617 million and sold five million tickets, making it one of the most attended concert tours of all time. So, in January 2026 when the former One Direction star announced he was going back on the road, we knew it would be a big’un.  The Together, Together tour, supporting his Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally album, kicked off at Amsterdam’s Johan Cruijff ArenA on May 16 with 10 shows at the Dutch venue. Next up, Hazza will head back to his home turf for the London leg at Wembley Stadium before jetting off to Brazil, Mexico, New York, Melbourne and Sydney for the remainder of the tour. Photograph: Julian BajselHarry Styles on stage for his Together, Together tour Tickets to the 12 Wembley shows sold out in record time, but if you were one of the lucky ones quick enough to snag one (teach us your ways!), you’re probably wondering about the setlist. Well have no fear, dear reader, because we’ve got you covered. While we can’t guarantee the pop star won’t switch things up between now and the end of his tour in December, the Amsterdam set list should give you a pretty good idea of the certified bangers you can expect from his upcoming shows.  At Wembley, Shania Twain will be taking to the stage in the support slot. Other special guests are set to include Fcukers, Jorja Smith, Jamie xx, Fousheé, and Skye...

After an absolutely packed May (thanks to two bank holidays and endless day festivals), the first weekend of June is looking far calmer for London. From Open Gardens to the opening of Barbara Hepworth’s London studio to the Mudchute Agricultural Show, the city is taking a more wholesome turn.  Fortunately, this week’s tube strikes will be over in just in time for us to make the most of the weekend without worrying about all Underground lines being shut. However, there will still be some closures to watch out for due to planned engineering works. Most notably, large parts of the Piccadilly line will be out of action on both Saturday and Sunday.  You don’t have to let those closures ruin your plans, though. Here’s all the travel disruption you should plan ahead for.  RECOMMENDED: The best free things to do in London this weekend. London travel disruption and tube closures, June 6-7 2026 District On Saturday June 6 and Sunday June 7, there’ll be no service between Turnham Green and Ealing Broadway. Replacement buses will be available. Piccadilly From 12.45am on Saturday June 6 and all day Sunday there will be no service between Hammersmith and Heathrow (all terminals) / Uxbridge.  Passengers can use Metropolitan line services between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge instead.  Find out more about the Piccadilly line closures this summer here.  Photograph: ShutterstockHeathrow Terminals 1, 2 and 3 sign on the London tube Lioness There’ll be no Lioness trains between Kilburn...