Amy Houghton

Whether you’re in one of the UK’s diverse, underrated cities, our picture-perfect seaside towns or anywhere in between, there’s always a museum to educate, explain, enlighten. Far from just places to hide from grim weather, Britain’s greatest museums tell stories, explore histories and get you fascinated by stuff you’d never previously spared a thought for. Here at Time Out, we are, obviously, huge museum nerds. You’ll find countless of the cultural institutions peppered throughout our UK city guides, whether that’s a mighty, storeyed national behemoth or an adorably niche local exhibition space. Even better, plenty of those museums are totally free to visit (and they remain so, despite suggestions of change). But which British museums are most essential to visit this year? Which ones are having a moment, basking in a refurb, putting on the most tantalising exhibitions? We’ve rounded up the most unmissable, all chosen by Time Out UK editors who’ve recently visited them. Before we get stuck in, a quick note. The vast majority of the list below is outside London, and that’s intentional. If you’re looking for stuff in the capital, we have an excellent guide to the city’s museums here. We’ve also steered clear of conventional art galleries – you can find our favourite art spaces here. RECOMMENDED: 📍 The UK’s top places to visit in 2026.🎵 The best music festivals in the UK.🥾 The greatest walks and hikes in the UK. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by writers who

From Arts and Crafts and the pre-Raphaelites through to pop art and the YBAs, the UK has borne several of the planet’s most important visual movements. Fitting, therefore, that we’ve also got a world-leading roster of galleries. But these institutions don’t just show off British art: between them they boast a truly formidable collection of global art. You name a major artist – yep, any artist – it’s pretty much a dead cert that a UK gallery exhibits their work. Better yet, the UK’s finest art galleries are diverse in purpose and spread evenly across the land. You’ll find all sorts of exhibition spaces in major cities, sure, but there are also arty gems in smaller towns, alongside attractions ranging from blustery seaside enclaves in Scotland to dazzling sculpture gardens in Cornwall. To top it all off, plenty are free to visit.  When putting together Time Out’s guide to the best art galleries in the UK, we didn’t just take into account which places have the biggest names. We also wanted to spotlight the boldest programming and our favourite curators, as well as pick out galleries that feel like a spectacle. After all, art is even more special when you’re viewing it within another piece of art. Art-ception, if you like.  The vast majority of the list below features art galleries outside London (for the capital’s top art destinations, see this list). And if you’re looking for non-art attractions, you can find Time Out’s guide to the best museums in the UK here. RECOMMENDED: 📍

July 2026: If you’ve had the pleasure of strolling down Exmouth Market recently, you’ll know the historic Clerkenwell strip is the buzziest pedestrianised street in London, full of al-fresco fun, convivial pintspeople and sidewalk tapas as far as the eye can see. Which is pretty much all down to the new Number 1 in our list of the best bars in London. Congratulations are due to Cafe Kick, the breezy Euro-chic sports bar about to celebrate 30 years of tricking your brain into thinking you’re on holiday. The rest of our Top 50 features bars old and new, posh and divey, and cheap and pricey, but all of them with great drinks and an unparalleled vibe. Fancy a drink? You’ve come to the right place. This is Time Out’s list of best bars in London, our curated guide to London’s drinking scene, which features the greatest bars in the capital right now. These are the places we’d recommend to a friend, because we love drinking in them and have done many times over. From classy cocktail counters to delightful dives, sleek hotel bars, rooftop bars and places to sip wine, London’s got them all. You’ll find historic drinking holes here as well as brand new openings. But what makes a truly good bar? Our critieria is simple; a menu of great drinks is important, but so is the overall energy of the place – there’s no point having the perfect paloma if you have to drink it in a bar that smells of bin juice. To make it into our Top 50, a bar has to be fun, friendly, convivial and inclusive, as we

We’re firmly past 2026’s halfway point and it’s already been a stacked year for excellent new music. The race for song of the summer is a packed field, big-name pop titans – Olivia Rodrigo, Madonna – have delivered lauded albums and there’s been a formidable number of breakout bands. 2026’s end-of-year round-ups are already looking like contentious business indeed.  Looking to inject something new into your mid-year listening habits? Time Out’s music geeks have got together to put together a list of the albums we’ve loved so far in 2026. Raving dance-pop, grotty death metal, stratospheric jazz-funk, paranoid techno, the year’s biggest pop records… whatever’s your jam, you’ll find it here.  Read on for the best albums of 2026 as of July, according to Time Out editors and contributors (they’re in alphabetical order – you’ll have to wait until the end of the year for the definitive ranking). RECOMMENDED: The 10 songs of the summer for 2026.

We never thought we’d say it, but this summer’s never-ending heatwave has got us dreaming of cooler days and chilly nights cosied up with a hot bev and wool blanket. There are still a few months to go before autumn hits, but that doesn’t mean it’s too soon to start planning how we’ll spend it.    For some, it’s is all about spooky season, for others it’s about candle-lit evenings in front of the telly with a steaming mug of hot chocolate. For others, it’s about pumpkins galore – a golden excuse to get picking, carving and cooking. If you fall into that final category, you’re in the right place.  As the weather drops, farms in and around London become gourd wonderlands, littered with bright yellow and flaming orange pumpkins. Often there’ll be photo opportunities, craft workshops and spooky goings on thrown in so you can make a real outing of it. Just make sure you book in advance to make sure you get a decent pick of the crop. So, whether you want to stock up on pumpkins to carve into Halloween lanterns or to make masses of soup and pies, here are our favourite places near London for pumpkin picking in 2026.  London’s best places for pumpkin picking at a glance: 🎃 Pumpkin smashing fun: Rogate Pumpkin Patch, Petersfield 🪄 Magical village vibes: Marsh Farm, Chelmsford 🧙🏻‍♀️ Best for witches on a budget: Cobbs Farm, Essex ⚡️ Best for little adventure-seekers: Hobbledown Heath, Hounslow   

The UK is a glorious place to eat, drink and generally be merry. Sure, there are loads of great restaurants in London, but there are hundreds more across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; ones where you’ll make napkin-stained memories that you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life. Especially if you head to Cumbria, which is home to the most Michelin stars in the UK outside of the capital. But as well as the diner’s paradise that is the Lake District, here is where else you need to head in order to sample some of the finest food and downright transcendent restaurant experiences the UK has to offer.  The best restaurants in the UK at a glance: 💸 The best for a big budget blow-out: Ynyshir, Ceredigion. 🧆 The best for vegetarians: Queen of Cups, Glastonbury. 🐚 The best for a seaside getaway: The Sportsman, Whitstable. 🥧 The best for experimental foodies: Osip, Somerset. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in the UK. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

There are few things that we’d willingly brave the chill for during winter in London. But ice skating is one of them. From early November each year, ice rinks decked out with towering Christmas trees and twinkly fairy lights start to fill London’s squares and courtyards, hosting everything from DJ takeovers and kids’ skating lessons to date nights and family outings over the festive period. Pretty soon you’ll get to pretend you’re in a festive London rom-com, as you romantically glide (or awkwardly stumble) with your loved ones under the gaze of landmarks like Somerset House, Battersea Power Station and Hampton Court Palace.  Keen to flaunt your best ice moves? Determined to skate at least one lap without clinging onto the wall for dear life? We recommend you book a spot at your chosen rink as early as you can. Here are the best rinks in London for the 2026/27 season. We’ll be adding more as they’re announced.  How much does it cost to go ice skating? The cost to skate at London’s various permanent and pop-up ice rinks varies quite significantly. Last year’s cheapest option is Queens Skate Dine and Bowl, where adult tickets are available from £8 (during off-peak hours). But some skating sessions can be as much as £25-£37. For cheaper tickets, consider visiting at less popular times.  London’s best places to go ice skating this winter: ⛸️ Best for the biggest rink in town: Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park 💃 Best for ice dance parties: Somerset House, Aldwych 🏛️ Best for south

The final stretch of 2026 is upon us, and London is looking mighty festive in the run-up to Christmas. The skies are be sparkling with Christmas lights, the capital’s venues are filling up with Christmas pantos and carol services, and the streets are lined with colourful Christmas markets and twinkling trees. Plus, there are the ice-skating rinks, the winter pop-ups and the chilly winter walks followed by cosy pub hangouts. And that’s before we even get on to New Year’s Eve!  Here’s our guide to the finest events, parties, cultural happenings and things to do in London over December 2026.  RECOMMENDED: Time Out’s definitive London events calendar.

Our feet are sore, our lungs are full of dust, and our noses are well and truly sunburnt. But festival season isn’t quite over yet. This summer Londoners have been absolutely spoilt for choice when it came to fezzies. The August bank holiday closed the summer holidays with a bang, with festivals in London headlined by Blood Orange, Tyler, The Creator and Maribou State. But if you missed all that, fear not, you’ve still got a chance to catch some big names this September as well as at a smattering of indoor events taking us through to next year.  Have a scroll through our comprehensive guide – which we keep meticulously updated with all the latest line-up announcements – and see what takes your fancy. RECOMMENDED: ⛺ The best UK music festivals🌍 The best festivals in Europe

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: this is the year of the staycation. After all, who needs to go abroad when the weather is this damn good at home, and when there are oh-so-many incredible hotels to pitch up in for the weekend, right here in the UK? In fact, we’d go as far to say that the UK’s hotels are some of the very best in the business – 10-room boutiques, seaside townhouses, sprawling countryside estates n’ all. Whatever trip you’re after, be it a quick break from London or a remote coastal stay, there is a perfect hotel waiting for you. And on this list, we’ve got it all: food-focused pubs with rooms, remote hotels with blessedly patchy signal and all-out, OTT luxurious. However, we want this list to reflect a full spectrum of properties available to travellers (and not just the ones with gold towel holders and Michelin-starred room service.) As a result, we make sure to take into account location, price and value for money – and bring you a guide that has plenty of budget-friendly options included too. Oh, and family-friendly ones. And yes, dog-friendly, too. Itching to book? Read on, friends. Here are our favourite hotels in the UK right now.  The UK’s best hotels at a glance 👑 Best overall: Gleneagles Townhouse, Edinburgh 🎀 Best boutique: The Newt, Somerset 🥂 Best luxury: Claridge’s, London 💍 Best for couples: The Bull, Cotswolds 🌾 Best countryside: Cavendish Hotel, Peak District 💸 Best budget option: Leven, Manchester How we curat

Make no mistake, the UK’s most beautiful places rank among the world’s most visually stunning locations. And what’s more, Britain looks good in so many ways. Sure, there are mighty natural landscapes like mountains, coasts and forests – but lots of the UK’s most spectacular sights are manmade: age-old architectural marvels, idyllic towns and feats of revolutionary design.   Time Out’s revamped guide to the most beautiful places in the UK has all the above and more. Compiled with the expertise of our travel experts – who’ve seen more than their fair share of spectacular stuff – it documents the length and breadth of Britain’s grandest and most memorable locations. In the market to see something mind-boggling? Here’s our definitive ranking of the UK’s most beautiful places right now. RECOMMENDED FOR UK TRAVEL🥾 The best hikes and walks🏖️ The most stunning beaches🏛️ The most fascinating museums🌊 The greatest seaside towns

A weekend escape from the big city is definitely needed sometimes, and you don’t need to hop on a plane to find incredible places to unwind, explore and recharge. If you’re looking to stay put in the Capital, head over to our guide to the best Airbnbs in London. But for all things coastal, charming and windswept outside of the city, read on, friends – we’ve got charming market towns, rolling countryside and tucked-away villages a-plenty.  📌 Updated August 2026: New for 2026 are our all-new reviews of The View at Shoreline in Folkestone and Elmore Wild Treehouses in Gloucester, which are both not to be missed. Read on for details and how to book.  RECOMMENDED: Our ultimate guide to UK getaways The best Airbnb breaks near London, at a glance 🏖️ Best seaside getaway: The View at Shoreline, Folkestone 💦 Best for wild swimming and hot tubs: The Ditchling Cabin in South Downs 🏔️ Best for total isolation: The Pobble House in Dungeness 💅 Best for a girls’ trip: The contemporary vineyard in Toppesfield, Essex 🛖 Most treehouse: Elmore Wild ‘Wildcat’ Treehouse Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts, and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.  ➡️ The ultimate guide to travelling near London

Shepherd’s Bush feels like an unlikely home for the British entertainment industry. But sure enough, it’s where Charlie Chaplin performed in the early stages of his career, where The Who used to regularly rehearse and where major film and TV studios have lived, most notably, of course, the BBC.  Hotel Indigo K West sits inside one of those former studios. BBC’s Kensington House was where major stars would go for recording sessions – we’re talking the likes of David Bowie, Bob Marley, Amy Winehouse and Jimi Hendrix. Those days are long gone now, and the building has been a hotel since 2001. It closed in 2023 in order to undergo a multimillion pound transformation by IHG and reopened earlier this year as Hotel Indigo London K West.  The previous hotel here was loudly done out in garish metallics, fringed chandeliers and swish furnishings. Its new look is, thankfully, much less aggressive.  To deck out the new and improved abode, IHG enlisted the help of art consultancy Art Story (whose other recent credentials include 1 Hotel Copenhagen, Great Scotland Yard Hotel and Treehouse Hotel Manchester). The result is a far more tasteful look and a reassuring sense that this place, though immaculate, doesn’t take itself too seriously.  You’ll find K West down a residential street,  a stone’s throw from Shepherd’s Bush Station, but far away enough that you’re wholly undisturbed by the hub’s notorious chaos.  What are the rooms like?  Hotel Indigo’s seven floors (floor three is at ground

Step onto the pebbles of Folkestone Beach and it won’t be long before your eyes catch the gleaming white, wave-like behemoth that stands on its western side. That’s Shoreline, a fancy new block of 84 apartments, duplexes and penthouses, completed back in 2024. Most of those apartments are on sale right now for upwards of £375k, but there are two reserved for anyone staying in Folkestone for a short foray.  The View at Shoreline is an incredibly sleek, tastefully furnished self-catered townhouse, ideal for a foursome of friends or two couples. If you’re after somewhere conveniently located with splendid vistas, you won’t get much better.  What’s it like inside The View at Shoreline?  You’ve got five storeys at your disposal. On the ground floor, which has a front door opening directly onto the beach, you’ll find the smaller of the two double bedrooms (facing directly out onto the beach) and a separate little bathroom. Skip the basement – it’s empty save for some deckchairs and beachy bits. Upstairs is where things get a bit more exciting. The spacious kitchen with its wooden finishings has every bit of equipment you could ask for (including a Nespresso coffee machine) and more storage than I imagine four people could possibly need (case in point: a wine fridge that could fit at least 12 bottles). The palatial high-ceilinged living room is on the next floor. This is where you can enjoy the best view in the house – I could have quite easily spent the entire morning people-watchi

A month after the long-awaited ‘Frida: The Making of an Icon’ opened at the Tate Modern, it was only a matter of time before the gallery hosted one of its Friday Lates in dedication to the Mexican visionary. Publishing studio Calaca Press will have an archive of books, magazines, images and music from Mexico City produced during Frida Kahlo’s lifetime for visitors to explore and to inspire zinemaking. Elsewhere, writer and curator Hettie Judah will be in the Starr Cinema to talk about the relationship between Kahlo and photographer Nickolas Muray. Up on the rooftop, DJ Tiffany Calver will play an exclusive set inspired by Frida’s legacy (with the promise of a ‘very special guest’). And down in the gallery’s Corner Bar, there’ll be an energetic mix of Cumbia Sonidera, Cumbia with electronic, African and Balkan influences brought to you by Mexican DJ Ritmos Cholulteka. 

You don’t have to venture all the way up to Edinburgh for a cracking dose of comedy in August. The Roundhouse has been hosting its comedy fest since 2023 and every year curates a line-up full of the biggest stars on the circuit. Across 18 days this year, you can expect gigs from the likes of Joe Lycett, Ed Gamble, Katherine Ryan, Sam Campbell, Ed Gamble, Sara Pascoe and Vittorio Angelone. Beyond the stand-ups, there’ll be live podcast recordings, theatrical comedy and interactive shows to watch too. Cult US comedy streaming platform Dropout will bring live editions of its hit shows Dirty Laundry, Um, Actually and Crowd Control, Jack Rooke (writer of Bad Boys) will present his first solo show and Adam Buxton and Alexei Sayle will host podcast recordings with special guests Ayoade Bamgboye of SNL UK and last year’s Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Sam Nicoresti. If you’re under 30, you can get your hands on tickets for just five quid. 

Nothing inside Fulham Pier Hotel indicates that you are, technically, at a football stadium. Then again, said football stadium is often considered the poshest in the country, so perhaps it tracks that it’s now home to one of the glossiest boutique hotels in the city.  Fulham Pier Hotel backs onto Craven Cottage (London’s oldest football grounds) and is part of a major redevelopment of the whole venue by Fulham FC’s billionaire owner Shahid Khan. But there are no framed football shirts given pride of place on the walls, no photos of iconic Fulham FC moments, no echo of cheers from fans and the pitch isn’t visible unless you’re peeking over from the sprawling terrace of the penthouse. To boot, the hotel’s discreet entrance (a gold door to the side of the building that can only be opened with your key), limited number of rooms, and private access to the swanky member’s club next door makes the place feel incredibly exclusive.  What are the rooms like at Fulham Pier Hotel?  Each of the 13 rooms are – thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows facing the waterfront – gloriously flooded with natural light. From the wide private balcony of our Junior Suite (which spans the whole length of the room), we sit and watch countless rowers glide down the river while a collage of runners and dog-walkers make use of the leafy Thames Path on the other side. The space directly opposite the pier is a designated conservation area, so those pretty vistas and the mesmering, unobstructed view of the su

A star-studded roster of London’s funniest people will be taking to the roof of the Bill Murray Comedy Club for the annual Angel Comedy Street Party on sunday. So far, the lineup features Barry Ferns, Paddy Young (of Saturday Night Live UK), Spencer Jones and star of Time Out’s Love Thy Neighbourhood podcast Helen Bauer. The day will be rounded off with special musical chaos from Chloe Petts alongside duo Flo & Joan. We don’t know exactly what that chaos will involve, but we do know that the trio have been dubbed themselves The Spooky Richards. Tickets are free of charge but donations are encouraged. All the money collected will go towards Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants, which helps people seeking sanctuary, providing English classes, expert advice, and a welcoming community. 

Peckham’s finest will be out in full force at a free festival on bank holiday Monday. The second annual On the Rye festival will take over the south London park with non-stop sets spanning lovers rock, soulful house, Afro-Cuban rhythms and more from the likes of the Handson Family, Buena Vista Social Club, Donut, Rebel Clash, Carroll Thompson, Born n Bread and Marcia Carr. Local vendors will line the green selling street food, drinks and artisan crafts and there’ll be loads of family-friendly goings on from a bouncy castles and face-painting to a kids’ festival rave and chess classes with local club Say It With Your Chess. 

London Rivers Week has been committed to celebrating and restoring London’s rivers for 10 years now. In that decade, the need to appreciate our city’s waterways has only grown. The theme of the charity event this year is ‘Know Your Local River’, encouraging Londoners to connect with and take pride in the river nearest to them. To help you do that, there’ll be guided walks, exhibitions, volunteer sessions, lectures, workshops, clean-ups and talks going on in every corner of the capital. See the full programme here. 

Large, blocky and wrapped in sage green, 1 Hotel Copenhagen is, frankly, unimpressive from the street outside. But any doubts about the place evaporate the moment you push through its revolving doors. Within seconds, the divinely soft scent of pine that ripples through the building has you sighing into a state of bliss. Straight ahead is a cascading set of wooden stairs that look like a flora adorned version of the Met steps, beckoning you up to the palatial, plant-filled atrium and lobby above.  Hotel 1 Copenhagen flung its doors open in August 2025 and is the brand’s second European outpost (after London). The place fits the city like a glove – it’s hard to imagine somewhere better suited to 1 Hotel's simple glamour, laid-back luxury and eco-conscious ethos than the Danish capital.  What are the rooms like at 1 Hotel Copenhagen?  All of the 282 rooms at 1 Hotel are all appropriately Scandi – bright, airy and done out in soft, organic tones. We’re set up in the Junior Suite, which was soaked with natural light and filled with plush cream, reclaimed wood and canvas furnishings. Wherever there’s space for a plant, there is one – on every coffee table, peaking out of  the middle of the sofa or perched next to the bathroom sink.  A lot of thought has gone into making the rooms ultra sustainable, and encouraging the guests to live mindfully. There’s a sand-timer opposite the rainfall shower that keeps you conscious of how much water you’re consuming (in a gentle, non-pass-agg way

Bar Flor is laden with loveliness. You’d expect little else from Aaron Potter and Laura Hart, the chef and interior stylist duo who gave us the ever-so-elegant Wildflowers. One floor above that restaurant is Bar Flor, which comes complete with whimsically hand-painted walls, reminiscent of the interiors of Charleston House, pale wood finishes, cosy velvet-clad pews and gentle, romantic light.  Bar Flor bills itself as a more playful, more spontaneous sister (the Type-B sibling, if you will) to the pristine Type-A restaurant below. The menu is Basque-country inspired – a copious lineup of European wines, vermouths and sherries alongside lager, Basque ciders and cocktails, complemented by a snappy selection of pintxos.  I was pulled towards the cocktails, which range from the house Adonis, made up of Cocchi Torino vermouth, Manzanilla sherry and a dash of orange bitters, to the luxuriously smoky Flor Margarita. Plates of dangerously moreish bar snacks filled the table throughout the evening, arranged on pretty floral plates that look like they’ve been pulled from a Spanish abuela’s kitchen cupboards. Dishes change on a weekly basis, but standouts on the night we visited included the delicate triangles of cave-aged manchego doused in honey, as well as shudderingly salty, briny gildas and (the showstopper) a fried calamari sandwich with garlic aioli oozing over the edges of the crusty bun.  Order this I couldn’t keep my hands off Bar Flor’s Peschiole Martini – a sugary, tangy co

Cameron House is nearly every Scottish stereotype wrapped up in a pristine package.  As we glide down its long drive, the enormous Loch Lomond stretches to the left while baronial towers stand proud to the right, and when we step through its grand front doors, golfers hang about the lobby and bespoke tartan pops up everywhere from the staff uniform to headboards. See? Scottish as hell. Spanning 400-acres, the hotel's high-end touches and abundance of facilities might seem intimidating at first. But, in true Scot fashion, as vast and luxurious as it is, Cameron House somehow still feels homely and down to earth.  Why stay at Cameron House? The bonny vistas over Scotland’s largest loch and the Trossachs National Park are enough reason to stay at Cameron House on their own. But add to that its grand architecture, its endless grounds, its impeccable dining, its proximity to Glasgow, and a night here becomes near irresistible. And if big names mean anything to you, you may be interested to know that it has earned nods of approval from the likes of Barack Obama, Sir Alex Ferguson, Leonardo Dicaprio, Cameron Diaz and Robbie Williams.  It has a compelling history, too. The site was originally home to a castle in the 14th century, which was remodelled in the 17th century. Then, for three centuries, it was home to esteemed Scottish family the Smollets (owner and famous novelist Tobias Smollett famously wrote ‘I have seen Lake Garda, Albana, de Visco, Bolsetta and Geneva. Upon my honour

What is it?  Brockwell Park is a much-needed slab of green (84 acres) just south of Brixton. Locals from the surrounding areas flock here in summer to sun-worship (if they’re lucky), fly kites, play football, swim in the outside pool, garden in the community greenhouses and parade a stunning array of dogs. The vast space was once the private grounds of Brockwell Hall and was opened to the public in 1891 by the London County Council. The hall still stands today and is one of several grade II listed buildings dotted about the park, including the emerald green Tritton Tower Clock, which was gifted to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.  Why go?  It's big, diverse and interesting, with numerous areas to appeal to different tastes, from the calm, rolling meadows around Tulse Hill and walled ‘Old English’ flower garden to the BMX track and sloped football pitches by the Dulwich Road. The playground in Brockwell Park is a favourite, with its aerial slide, massive sandpit and sections for different age groups; nearby you’ll find duck ponds and a huge paddling pool. There’s also a lovely little minature railway open at the weekends May to October, weather permitting – it’s not particularly massive but it’s been just £1 for a return for years now. Don’t miss:  Regular events at the park include circuses and a busy schedule of summer concerts and festivals including Wide Awake, Mighty Hoopla, Field Day and Cross the Tracks. But one of the most beloved annual events is the Lam

If you expect the utmost excellence from every hotel you stay in, there is a way to ensure that’s exactly what you get. Like Michelin stars, Michelin keys are a distinction awarded to places that demonstrate beautiful design, top-quality service and an outstanding guest experience. The only difference is, they’re handed out to hotels, not restaurants.  Michelin keys are now in their third year and a new batch has just been handed out to 14 hotels across the UK. Eleven received one key, which indicates ‘truly great hospitality’, while three hotels got two keys, which is for places ‘unique and exceptional in every way’. None earned three keys, which is the highest honour a hotel can possibly get from Michelin. Only nine hotels in the whole country have been bestowed with that accolade.  Photograph: Gleneagles TownhouseLunchtime at The Spence   Outside of London, the newest two-key hotels in the country are Gleneagles Townhouse in Edinburgh and Cromlix Hotel in Stirlingshire. With its Georgian elegance, chic design, lush wellness space and immaculate food, Time Out recently crowned Gleneagles Townhouse the finest hotel in the UK. Our Edinburgh writer Dayna McAlpine called it a ‘masterclass in hospitality and style’.   Cromlix Hotel is owned by none other than Sir Andy Murray and has been a labour of love for the tennis star since he bought it in 2013. Set in 34 acres of remote woodlands and garden, it offers just 20 rooms, classic country house activities and tennis courts (ob

We all know that London is a treasure trove for art. The capital city is home to some of the most prestigious art institutions in the world, many of which are totally free to explore. But that means it can be easy for Londoners to forget that there’s an abundance of incredible art and exhibitions worth seeing outside of the capital, too.  Time Out has put together a guide to the 16 finest UK galleries outside of London right now. Spanning Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, our feature includes game-changing galleries, dazzling sculpture gardens, purveyors of Victorian art and champions of more contemporary stuff.   Of our 16 favourite galleries in the country, chosen for their bold programming, exceptional curating and inspiring locations, here are six places that make for the perfect artsy day out from the Big Smoke.  RECOMMENDED: The 16 best art galleries in the UK. The UK’s best art galleries near London Kettles Yard, Cambridge Photograph: Paul AllittKettle’s Yard, Cambridge The University of Cambridge’s art gallery ranked second on our list. Former owners Jim and Helen Ede donated the property to the university in the ’60s, along with its collection of 20th century art featuring the likes of Alfred Wallis, Ben Nicholson and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska. But that’s not all there is to admire. The house is exquisitely decorated with sleek chairs and tables, charming bookcases, dazzling rugs and striking sculptures. Plus, it regularly holds temporary exhibitions with

Pretty much every October for the past 15 years, Dalston Eastern Curve Garden has filled up with hundreds of gorgeous pumpkin lanterns, carved by local children and families. For one week, the gourds are filled with candles and placed all over the garden, making for a truly magical sight.  But this year that won’t be the case: Dalston Pumpkin Lantern Festival at Eastern Curve Garden is cancelled for 2026. Don’t worry, it’s not going for good. It’s just taking a year off due to an exceptionally dry summer and an overwhelming number of visitors at last year’s festival.  In an Instagram post, organisers explained: ‘Taking a year off from the festival has not been an easy decision. However, this summer’s prolonged extreme temperatures, drought and hosepipe ban has meant that all of our focus and efforts have – and still are – going into keeping our plants alive, restoring the Garden and planning for future challenging environmental conditions.’ The post added that in 2025, the festival saw an unprecedented number of visitors. More than 20,000 people showed up throughout the week and long queues left many families unable to get in. It noted that many of the attendees were not people who had carved the pumpkins and that groups of adults were ‘crowding out’ families, meaning that ‘at times it no longer felt like the magical experience that our team of staff and dedicated volunteers work so hard to create’. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dalston Curve

After a sweltering summer, colder temperatures and cosy nights with a hot beverage sound rather appealing. But if numerous heatwaves in the UK have left you wanting even more sunshine and 28C-plus temperatures, all you need to do is hop on a flight. Ryanair has just added 22 destinations to its flight schedule for winter 2026/27, many of which will give you that winter sun you’re craving. Other new destinations may be cold but still offer a magical wintry getaway.  Liverpool and Birmingham airports are both benefitting the most from Ryanair’s updated schedule. They’re each getting five new routes. From Liverpool, you’ll be able to fly to Copenhagen, Gdansk, Porto, Tirana and Warsaw. And from Birmingham, passengers can get to Copenhagen, Rome Fiumicino, Marrakech, Tirana and Warsaw Modlin.  Down south, Londoners have got four new Ryanair flights to choose from. There are new routes from Stansted to Glasgow, Malmö and Parma, and from Luton to Venice. Bristol, Edinburgh, West Midlands and Manchester airports are all getting additional European destinations, too.  Photograph: ShutterstockRyanair plane at London Stansted As well as all the fresh destinations, the airline announced that it’s increasing frequency on 26 routes from Manchester airport, including its routes to Malaga, Barcelona, Venice, Belfast and Prague. The bad news for budget-conscious travellers is that Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has said that ticket prices for flights are going ‘significantly upward’. He said

The UK has a huge, diverse network of walking paths. Some sit under the shadows of arching tree branches or cross wide open fields, others traverse dramatic cliffsides or gently loop around lakes. They’ll all have a special place in at least one person’s heart, but there is one path that has just been named the nation’s favourite.  Over the summer, walking charity Ramblers launched a public vote to determine Britain’s most-loved path. Now, the results are in. The crown for the best walking path in the country went to the Strawberry Line in Somerset.  The winning path was nominated by a lady named Amanda Baldwin. She told Ramblers: ‘This path is part of me and my life. I walk it. I talk it. I breathe it. It’s an escape, a release, a feel-good factor. It’s great for your health, wellbeing and your soul and to have the opportunity to share the green spaces with other people, wildlife and nature is just magical!’ The Strawberry Line follows the route of a disused Great Western Railway branch line, which closed in the 1960s. It takes its name from the immense volume of strawberries that were once carried on the line from the fields of Cheddar to market. If you walk the whole thing, you’ll pass through the adorable village of Yatton, the Mendips, the historic town of Axbridge and the dramatic valleys of Cheddar Gorge.  Photograph: ShutterstockStrawberry Line Path, Somerset Since 1977, volunteers have been hard at work transforming the old track into a flourishing green path for w

The old Royal Marines Museum in Portsmouth closed nearly 10 years ago. The plan was that it would move to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, which is already home to the Royal Naval Museum and a fleet of historic vessels including the Mary Rose and the HMS Victory. Next month, that’ll finally actually happen.  The new £15m museum is called the Royal Marines Experience and it will open inside the dock’s the historic 1840s Grade II-listed Boathouse 6 at the end of October.  Displays will reveal the 360-year story of the Marines and focus on its ethos and operations, as well as its physical and mental demands. Through hands-on activities, multimedia displays and immersive technology and objects, visitors will learn about what it takes to become a Marines Commando. Photograph: Nisha HaqRoyal Marine Victoria Crosses Exhibits include all 10 Victoria Crosses that have been awarded to the Royal Marines, a medal presentation box given to Marine David Davidson by his husband Ernest and the Royal British Legion, and a briefing model that was built in secret in 2003 and used to plan an attack on the Al Faw peninsula. Elsewhere, visitors can get stuck into a Royal Marines Commando themed Laser Quest.  In addition to all of that, there’s a purpose-built special exhibition space with will be one of the biggest temporary exhibition spaces in the south of England. Its first show will be Through Their Eyes – The Royal Navy Photographic Competition, which will launch the same day of the museum’s

Archaeological excavations require a heck of a lot of patience. Most of the time, experts and volunteers dig up small things like ancient coins or bits of flint and stone tools. But every once in a while, a dig can unveil entire homes and communities, revealing previously unknown, fascinating information about our ancient ancestors. This month, a group of volunteers were rewarded for their patience as they unearthed a rare 2,000-year-old-settlement in the Lake District.  The Lake District National Park Authority has been conducting a survey of 150 sites across the valley of Deepdale since 2024. And that’s how volunteers came to discover the Iron Age Deepdale Bridge Settlement. The settlement is where our ancient ancestors would have lived, cooked together and kept livestock. It’s made up of several hut circles, which are the remains of roundhouses, and small enclosures surrounded by a rubble bank. In one trench, diggers found the remains of a timber doorway leading into the roundhouse, alongside internal dividers and a cobbled yard outside likely used to hold animals.  Photograph: Lake District National Park AuthorityVolunteers on final day of Deepdale Bride Settlement dig Using radiocarbon dating of charcoal in the soil, experts were able to determine that the huts were occupied between 76AD and 216AD and the enclosure bank was constructed between 40BC and 118AD. They found that the roundhouse had been altered throughout its life, ‘demonstrating the continual use and reuse

This festive season, for one night and one night only, Heart Radio is taking over the Royal Albert Hall. The radio station is hosting the first ever edition of Heart Christmas Live. The station’s Christmas extravaganza will be hosted by presenter duo Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston and headlined by none other than (lock up your mums) Take That. Expect to hear their biggest hits alongside renditions of Christmas classics.  And if you grieve the peak years of X-Factor, then you certainly won’t be disappointed by the rest of lineup. Leona Lewis, Olly Murs and James Arthur will also perform at Heart Christmas Live 2026 – and, beyond that, the event has promised ‘plenty of festive surprises’.  Here’s everything you need to know about Heart Christmas Live and how you can get tickets.  When is Heart Christmas Live 2026?  The event is happening on the evening of Monday December 14.  Where is Heart Christmas Live?  Heart Radio’s Christmas bonanza is being held at the magnificent Royal Albert Hall.  Who’s headlining Heart Christmas Live? So far, it’s been confirmed that Heart Radio presenters Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston will be joined by:  Take That Leona Lewis Olly Murs James Arthur Image: Heart Christmas LiveTake That at Heart Christmas Live How to get tickets  General sale for the event will go live at 9am on Friday September 25. You can find tickets on the Royal Albert Hall website here.  How much do tickets cost?  Ticket prices haven’t been revealed yet but Heart Radi

There are an estimated 10,500 fish and chip shops in the UK, together serving as many as 167 million meals a year. With so many, the fish and chips you get from one shop may taste wildly different to those you get from another. One might go overboard on the batter, another might be too conservative. One may give you a bag of soggy, rubbery chips, another might strike the perfect balance of crispy and fluffy. The National Fish & Chip Awards exists to help you find the chippies that do it best. And now, it has unveiled its longlist for 2027.   Forty fish and chip shops from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland feature on the longlist of the nation’s top takeaways. Next, they will all undergo another scrupulous judging process. Besides the all-important taste of their fish and chips, the judging panel (made up of industry experts) will look closely at each shop’s product quality, hygiene, environmental and operational sustainability, customer service and industry knowledge. The longlist will be whittled down to 20, then 10, and the overall winners will be revealed in a ceremony in February.  Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), which runs the awards, said: ‘As we celebrate the 39th year of the National Fish & Chip Awards, it’s brilliant to see talent, passion, excellent professionalism and dedication to their craft on display. ‘Recognition like this is about far more than trophies – it’s about acknowledging the individuals wh

Commuters, students, day-trip enthusiasts – listen up. We all know that train travel in the UK can cost outrageous amounts, but what if we told you that you can now journey 200 miles out of London for less than £15?  LNER has launched super low-cost tickets for journeys from London to Leeds. Now, you can get to the northern city for just £12 (£8 for certain railcard holders). Before you get too enthusiastic, there is a catch. The ultra-cheap tickets are only valid for 5.40am services from London King’s Cross from Monday to Friday. That means that you would get into Leeds at 8am, so would have around two hours to kill before shops, museums and galleries start to open up for the day. We suggest using it to fill up on caffeine at somewhere like the Union Coffee House, Raw Coffee Roasters or Laynes Espresso, which all open nice and early on weekdays.      Photograph: ShutterstockLNER train near York in England   Once you’ve fuelled up with coffee and breakfast, stroll over to the elegant Arcades, stop by the world-renowned Henry Moore Institute, shop for indie crafts at the Corn Exchange, check out the Thackray Museum of Medicine, amble down the canal or poke around Leeds Minster. See more of our favourite things to do in Leeds here. Another thing to note: the £12 only covers one way. It’s an extra £30 to get back to London, or £12 again if you’re willing to wait until 9pm (and get back to the capital after 11.30pm). Still, the total is a heck of a lot more affordable than the 

We all know about Michelin stars, but are you aware of Michelin keys? The distinction was introduced two years ago to recognise the world’s most exceptional hotels.  Just like the stars, hotels are awarded one, two or three keys by anonymous Michelin inspectors. Each one is judged on five factors: ‘architecture and interior design; quality and consistency of service; overall personality and character; value for the price; and a significant contribution to the guest experience in a particular setting’.  Now, four new London hotels have been handed esteemed keys. Three of them received one key and the fourth joined a prestigious list of hotels with two keys. Here’s a look at each of them in more detail.  The Chancery Rosewood  Photograph: Chancery RosewoodSuite inside the Chancery Rosewood The Chancery has been heaped with accolades ever since it opened last September at the former US Embassy on Grosvenor Square. It was named the best new luxury hotel of 2025, is home to the world’s best afternoon tea and was ranked among the top 100 hotels in the world. Now, it can add two Michelin keys to its awards shelf. Every one of the 144 rooms at the Chancery is a luxurious suite, and there are eight restaurants and bars for guests to choose from, plus a roof terrace, huge pool and an incredibly plush spa. For the pleasure, you’re looking at a minimum of £1,280 a night.  Pan Pacific London Jessica Phillips for Time OutThe infinity pool at Pan Pacific One Michelin key was awarded to

These days, it’s not hard to find restaurant recommendations. Ask your friend, family member or colleague and they’re sure to have a suggestion or two up their sleeves. But what about when you want more expertise? Obviously, we think that your first port of call should be Time Out’s guide to the best restaurants in the UK, which we’ve carefully curated over years of eating up and down the country.  But if you want even more expert-approved restaurants to choose from, look to the AA. It may be better known for its breakdown cover, but the AA has also been handing out Rosettes (its equivalent to Michelin stars) to hospitality businesses for that last 70 years.  As part of its annual Hospitality Awards, AA dishes out four best restaurant medals every year: one for England, one for London, one for Wales and one for Scotland.  So, let’s dig into this year’s winners.  The 4 best restaurants in Britain right now, according to the AA  The Star Inn, Harome, North Yorkshire Photograph: Star InnWheelhouse Table at the Star Inn Led by Andrew Pern, the Star Inn has been renowned in the British culinary scene for 30 years now. It was one of the first gastropubs in the UK and has held a Michelin star most years since 2002. Now, it’s officially the best restaurant in England. AA said: ‘Everything here feels thoroughly considered and demonstrates proper old-school dining in the best sense, whilst retaining the rustic DNA of the original pub.’ Expect seasonal meals made with hyperlocal produ