Amy Houghton

Whatever your vibe (and whatever your budget), London’s got it all – and anyone will find something they love here. Historic pubs, leafy parks and gardens and an unmatched restaurant scene make this city worth visiting year-round, but before you’ve booked anything in London, you kind of have to know where you’re going to be based. To get you started, we’ve rounded up the city’s best Airbnbs available to book right now, with expert tips from our local editors.  Should I choose an Airbnb or a hotel in London? London is not short on lovely hotels, ranging from budget to luxury and just about everything in between. But it’s fair to say that even the cheaper options cost a pretty penny – and you’ll often find them in more central, touristy areas in the city. If you want to live like a Londoner, an Airbnb can allow you to properly immerse yourself in a more residential area of London – and all the locally-loved bars, pubs and restaurants that come with it. You’ll find lots of our local tips below, but for a detailed breakdown of the best neighbourhoods to stay in London, check out our ultimate area guide. More of a hotels guy? No problem. Here’s our list of the best hotels in London.  📍 RECOMMENDED: Ultimate guide to the best hotels and Airbnbs in London Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, our writers have based our list on expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, amenities and in-depth research to

It’s no secret that London can be very, very pricey if you’re not careful. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any options if you’re on a budget. Both big chains and beloved independents offer some very affordable rooms in the Capital – you just have to know where to look. Obviously, being ‘on a budget’ is pretty subjective, but every hotel on this list has rooms for under £200, with many starting under £100 – and even some shared dorms for £12 per person.  Every hotel highlighted here by Time Out’s experts is good value; whether that be because of its location, design, or quite simply, the price. Staying in one of these will give you the kind of buzz only a good deal can deliver. So get booking and then use all the cash you’ve saved on more important stuff. Like, erm, going to the pub.  🛌 Our guide to the best Airbnbs in London Which area is best to stay in London for a good price?  Honestly, it depends on what you’re looking for. There’s cheap options in Shoreditch, just off the South Bank and even in the heart of the West End – so you can save and still be in walking distance to Theatreland or London’s best museums. Or, go further afield to find deals that way, in more residential areas further out. To get a better grip on your options, here’s our handy guide on where to stay in London.  How we curate our hotel lists Headed up by editor Joe Mackertich, our team at Time Out London spend their time reviewing hotels all over the Capital – new openings, old classics and ever

August 2025 update: There's new songs being added to karaoke machines on a regular basis, so we see it as our duty to keep this list bang up to date. Our latest additions include a modern British classic from Lola Young, as well as the bounciest anthem to emerge over the past 12 months from Blackpink's Rosé and Bruno Mars. Whether you’ve got the voice of an angel or you’re totally tone deaf, karaoke unites us all. But heed our warning: choosing the right song is crucial (aka, don’t opt for that Whitney Houston tune if you haven’t the range. And if you don't have good enough flow, steer clear of rapping. Kapeesh?) So we thought we’d help out a little bit. In our list of the best karaoke songs ever, we’ve got everyone from Adele to Toto, and from Frank Sinatra to Ricky Martin. There's even recent singalongs from Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan. Something for everyone. So down that shot, grab that mic and take to the stage. Your audience awaits you. Here are the best karaoke songs ever.  RECOMMENDED:❤️ The best love songs☀️ The best summer songs🎉 The best party songs🕺 The best albums of 2025 so far  

Cardiff is arguably one of the best-kept foodie secrets in the UK. While it might get overlooked in favour of some more famous destinations, all that means is there’s more scrumptious food on offer for those who are wise enough to buck trends and head to the Welsh capital.  Many of the UK’s most innovative chefs have set up shop here, including the likes of Pembrokeshire’s Tom Simmons, and restaurants across the city have inventive, artistic dishes flying out of their kitchens – but don’t get us wrong, Cardiff also knows a thing or two about classic, hearty, comforting food too. Be you after a posh, Michelin-starred spot for a special occasion or just a trusty, locally-recommended spot for a day of sightseeing, here is our handpicked roundup of the city’s best restaurants. RECOMMENDED:🎨 The best things to do in Cardiff🏩 The best Airbnbs in Cardiff🌉 The best things to do in Wales☀️ The best things to do in the UK This guide was recently updated by Sophie Williams, a writer based in Cardiff. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Boxing Day has all the magic of Christmas Day, just without the stress of cooking a colossal feast or the pressure of keeping the whole family happy. The in-laws have departed, the gifts have been handed out and now you can spend the day slouched in sweatpants, binging festive specials and demolishing chocolate reindeer while nursing a mild hangover. As enjoyable as all that is, we’re here to make the case for getting out and about on December 26.  The day after Christmas, London is mostly free of its usual crowds (except for shopping districts like Oxford Street packed with bargain hunters). That means that, should you leave your house, large parts of the capital city are yours for the taking.  There are the parks and riverside paths for frosty winter walks or the Christmas lights to admire while you brave the Boxing Day sales. The city’s pop-up ice skating rinks are normally open, pantomime season is still in full swing and there are even a few parties lined up . Here are some great ideas for how to spend your day off. RECOMMENDED: Find more festive fun with our full guide to Christmas in London.

Things are getting more and more expensive here in Europe, and many of our reliably ‘cheap’ cities aren’t so cheap anymore. The hotspots in Greece, Spain, Italy and more are plagued with overtourism and prices are starting to look similar across the board. But don’t fear: if budgets are tight this year, there’s still plenty of spots that won’t break the bank.  The best part? These are the spots with less tourists and less crowds, and the flights there are likely to be much cheaper too. Of course, it goes without saying that a ‘cheap city’ is highly subjective, depending on a whole load of factors: which city you’ve travelled in from, what time of year you’re visiting, how bougie your tastes are and all the rest of it. On our list of cheap destinations in Europe, we’ve got everything from thriving capital cities to underrated towns. Ready to see a different side of Europe and afford dinner out? Read on for the cheapest (and best) cities to visit in Europe in 2025.  RECOMMENDED:🌃 The most underrated travel destinations in Europe🏰 The best city breaks in Europe📍 The most beautiful places in Europe🌊 The best places to ‘coolcation’ in Europe At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Summer's finally here! And that means it's high time you dug out last year's swimsuit (faintly bobbly though it may be) and took it for a spin in one of London's many gorgeous outdoor pools. But don't even think of heading to your local noisy, chlorine-scented indoor swimming baths. When the temperatures soar, lidos are the only way to go. I'm one of the growing band of Londoners who's been bitten by the outdoor swimming bug, and braved the waters at every al fresco pool I can find in this city. Yep, the water's a bit chilly. But that's the whole point: to feel that rush of exhilaration you only get once your body adjusts to the cool water and starts gliding through it like a dolphin (or in my case, a geriatric elephant seal – I said I'm a keen outdoor swimmer, not a good one).   The seriously dedicated will head to wild swimming spots where you bob about face to face with aggy ducks and the odd bit of pondweed. But if you want to get a proper swim in, lidos are the easiest, freshest way to do it. Heated or unheated, regimented lanes or wide open water, serious fitness or chilled family fun – these are all of London’s best lidos and outdoor swimming pools for making a splash in this summer. RECOMMENDED:🏊 The best swimming pools in London.🌡️ The best saunas in London. 💦 The best waterparks in London

Work-dos are a hard art to master. How do you find something that strengthens your team spirit and that everyone in the office, across multiple generations, is actually going to find fun?  Stuck for ideas? You’re in the right place. Whether you’re after some healthy competition among co-workers or an activity that requires all your colleagues to work together, London has a load of classic and quirky ways for your team to let their hair down. So, take notes, we’ve rounded up the best of them. These are some of the top places in the city to go to build your office bonds.  RECOMMENDED: The best office party venues to hire in LondonThe top London venues for a private bash 

After temperatures soared above 30 degrees in June, we’re holding out for a sun-soaked July this summer, which would mean lidos, rooftop bars, beer gardens and alfresco dining galore. We can already taste the sweet, sweet golden hour Aperol Spritz.  When it comes to stuff going on, this July is going to be a biggie. Drake is in town for a whopping three nights at Wireless festival (playing an entirely different set each evening), Rosamund Pike is hitting the West End stage starring in Inter Alia, and BST at Hyde Park is in full swing, with Noah Kahan and Sabrina Carpenter both topping the bill in July.  Other London music festivals are popping off throughout the month, and it’s also a chance to take in the city’s lavender and sunflower fields, which are going to be at their blooming loveliest. Here’s our guide to the best exhibitions, shows and things to do this July 2025 in London.  RECOMMENDED: The definitive London events calendar

Greece is, quite simply, king of the holidays. It’s a country full of sprawling cities, beautiful islands and some of the best beaches in the entire world, and the food? Don’t even get us started on the food. There’s a hell of a lot of islands, and our editors have been to a hell of a lot of them, but for the on-the-ground knowledge that only a local has, we’ve roped in our Greece expert Demetrios Ioannou, who grew up in Athens but has travelled all over the country. Whatever you’re looking for, here are the best places to visit in Greece.  Where should I go for my first time in Greece? We’re firm believers that everyone should go to Athens at least once in their lives. So if it’s your first time visiting the country, you should probably start there. But the good news is that in Greece, you can pretty much do it all. So don’t stay in Athens for a full week – spend a perfect weekend there before heading out on a ferry to Aegina, Poros, Hydra and more. If you’ve ticked off Athens already, consider Greece’s latest destination dupe, Paros, which is set to this year’s ‘new Santorini’ (just without the crowds).  📍 RECOMMENDED: Discover our ultimate guide to Greece Which is the best Greek island to visit? If we’re talking most popular, Santorini and Mykonos are always going to be top of the list. But Greece has more than 6,000 islands and islets, each with its own unique vibe and all worth visiting for entirely different reasons. Crete is Greece’s biggest island, in the south of th

London summer has officially kicked into gear. And that means that the Wimbledon Tennis Championships – aka the oldest, and arguably the very best, tennis tournament in the world – is back very, very soon.  This year the tournament is happening from Monday June 30, 2025 to Sunday July 13, 2025. Thousands will be descending on SW19 to see the matches go down in real life but live screenings will be peppered all over London for thousands more who missed the ticket ballot or can’t be bothered to queue in the hopes of getting in day of.  With a jug of Pimms in one hand and a punnet of strawberries in the other, you’ll hardly know the difference. Even better – most of watch parties won’t cost you a single penny. So, pack your picnic blanket, fill your flask and pull up a pew at a summery screening near you.  RECOMMENDED: Our full guide to Wimbledon 2025.

As the UK's most visited national park, the captivating, enigmatic Lake District is just about as English as landscapes come. Forged from glaciers, this UNESCO site is one of the UK's most popular tourist hotspots for visitors, domestic and international. And while people flock to the Lake District because of the history, the walking, the breathtaking scenery, picturesque villages, and the, well, lakes, after all of that, you really do need a place of comfort, great food, log fires, and luxurious spas to rest your weary bones. Long gone are the days of damp B&Bs – style and quality are on the up in the region, so it’s worth checking out these incredible Lake District hotels right now, as this is just about the perfect time to explore this fascinating, beautiful part of the world. From remote bivouacs and remote stays to lakeside luxury and world-famous hotels that draw people from all over the world, here’s our pick of the best hotels in the Lake District to start booking now.  🏡 RECOMMENDED: The best Airbnbs in the Lake District Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, our travel experts have based our list on expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, amenities and in-depth research 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 best things to do in the Lake Distric

When a place rates itself as assuredly (in huge bold letters, no less) as Good Hotel does, it’s natural to feel a little sus. But it’s true: Good Hotel really does make you feel good. Service is cheery and laid-back without being overly casual, the food leaves nothing to complain about and – maybe it’s the luxurious silence of the area or perhaps the proximity to gently lapping water – I visited in 2024, and I don’t know if I’ve ever had a better night’s sleep in the city. Aside from all that, guests can walk out of Good Hotel feeling extra gratified by virtue of its ‘do good’ DNA. Why stay at Good Hotel? As you walk along Royal Victoria Docks, this huge black shipping container is impossible to miss. Originally built as a Danish prison, this floating hotel docked in London in 2016 after sailing across from Amsterdam. Its founder, Marten Dresden, had come up with the Good Hotel concept four years prior while travelling in Guatemala. Now, each night you spend there pays for a week of school for a child in South America, with profits also going towards hospitality training for long-term unemployed locals (lots of whom become Good Hotel employees).  The hotel also hosts regular community workshops and events that guests can attend. There are comedy nights, yoga classes, salsa classes, kids art clubs and, if you’re in the mood to be extra good, litter-picking around the local area. What are the rooms like at Good Hotel? Throughout the hotel, the interiors are slick, earthy-toned

Crack Comedy Club brings pre-party laughs to Tunnel 267 – Wimbledon’s only nightclub – every Saturday night from 8pm to 10pm. For standup sets from four or five comics, tickets are £25 for general admission on the door or £21.50 if you book online in advance. You can also buy tickets that include dinner from a local restaurant beforehand, and if you stick around afterwards you’ll get free entry to Tunnel’s clubnight. Three in one. 

One of the more recent additions to Wimbledon Village, Good Fortune Club is bright and buzzy with a sprawling menu of Cantonese dishes, the best known of which is its handmade dim sum. Stop by with a large, hungry posse to pack your table with bamboo steamers and sample har gau (shrimp-filled dumplings,) xiao long bao (pork soup dumplings), cuttlefish cake and more.

Of its four south-west London outposts, DropShot’s Leopold Road location serves up hefty brunches on the daily. The portions here are breathtakingly generous, and the tennis-themed menu goes well beyond the standard eggs benny or avocado on toast; think mozzarella and chilli jam-filled potato pancakes andbig fat slices of French toast laden with monterey jack cheese and fresh pesto, or loaded with tiramisu cream and berries. The coffee is fantastic, too.

This quirky, tiki-themed minigolf course first popped up in Dalston's Efes in April 2015. A decade later, that debut site is no more, but you can now find Plonks outdoors in London Fields and under the arches at Borough Market. The Hackney course, which recently got a big ol’ refurb, takes you through a ‘Polynesian themed putt paradise’ complete with a tiki forest, a volcano canyon and octupuses. There are plenty of satisfying holes that fire your ball onto tricksy little mechanisms, a loop the loop, and a lot of impossibly steep ramps. All in all: it’s a great place for a plonking party. Prices start from £9.35 per person per play. 

There's a real sense of fun to this deliberately rough-around-the-edges course. Party tunes blare from speakers, graffiti jazzes up the walls and it's made from ‘twisted junk, car booty and charity shop shizzle’. Junkyard Golf Club has four courses – Gary, Pablo, Dirk and Bozo – that are all fabulously chaotic and mildly freaky. Depending on which challenge you take on, you’ll be putting past pirate pigs, dishevelled nightclub urinals, terrifying giant clown heads and a UV rave room. There's also a second location in Camden for more of the same.  Prices start at £12 for nine holes at off-peak times (Sunday to Thursday) and go up to £21 for 18 holes on busier days (Fridays and Saturdays). And as any good crazy golf should, Junkyard has a menu of themed cocktails to keep lubed up before, during and after your game. 

What is it?  Technically several adjoining markets, this sprawl of stalls stretching from Camden Town tube to the Regent’s Canal is London’s fourth most popular visitor attraction. In its recent heyday, around 250,000 people came here every week to shop, sample street food and soak up the distinctive, still-grungy atmosphere. Camden Lock Market is an arts-and-crafts haven while the Stables Market is a trendy spot for everything from quirky furniture to fetish clothing. Nearby Buck Street Market on Camden High Street has had a shipping container revamp. As you saunter through the different markets, don’t be surprised to see grungy teenagers and old punks on the street corners. Camden feels more mainstream than it did in the ‘90s, but it’s still one of London’s most rock ‘n’ roll neighbourhoods. Why go?  To get lost in a one-of-a-kind maze of art, garms, antiques, accessories, books and endless street food.  Don’t miss The Cheese Bar – London’s only fully fromage focused restaurant – for all manner of gooey, cheese-based delights in a classy, low lit space in Stables Market.  Ticket info  No tickets needed.  When to visit  Camden Markets are open everyday of the week from 10am until late.  Time Out tip If you find the lunch queues and options a bit too much in the main Camden Lock Market, cross the road to Buck Street Market where you’ll find food that is just as great and are more likely to find a free spot to sit.  RECOMMENDED: London’s best markets

What is it?  After 130 years, luxury department store Fenwick left its iconic outlet on Bond Street in February 2024 but its flagship store in Brent Cross Shopping Centre is still going strong.  What does it sell?  The three storey emporium offers up everything you expect from any good department store – apparel, homewear, beauty bits and accessories from classic and emerging high-end brands like Stella McCartney, Viviene Westwood, Ganni, Jo Malone and Our Place. There’s also a wee horticultral section downstairs, selling fresh plants and a bunch of tools and sprays to help your patch bloom.  Opening times  Mon-Fri 10am-8pm; Sat 9.30am-8pm; Sun 11.30am-6pm. 

What is it?  Since launching in 1970, Browns has played an instrumental role in the careers of some of the world’s biggest fashion titans. Founder Joan Burstein (the ‘fairy godmother of fashion’) is credited with discovering John Galliano after stumbling across his graduate collection and later on, stocking the work of (at that time) a little known designer named Alexander McQueen.  Mrs B, as she was known, also introduced the likes of Comme des Garçons, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein to the British fashion scene. More than 50 years later, Browns continues to champion young and emerging designers. After being acquired by fashion website FarFetch in 2015, Browns moved its flagship store on South Molton Street to a Grade II-listed eighteenth century building on Mayfair’s Brook Street in 2021.  What does it sell?  There are more than 100 established and next-gen designers jostling for attention at Browns, from Chloé and Dries Van Noten to Balenciaga and Christian Dior. The first floor hosts a carefully curated collection of apparel, shoes, bags, fine jewellery, accessories and homewear and the Yellow Room is where the most  luxury of luxurious brands reside. More high-fashion pieces are on display in the Focus Room on the ground floor.  Opening times Tuesday to Saturday 10.30am-6.30pm. Closed Sunday and Monday (but can open by appointment).  Time Out tip On the ground floor, you’ll also fine 123V Browns, a fully plant-based, award-winning sushi restaurant. Menu highlights inclu

What is it?  In business for over 300 years, Fortnum & Mason is as historic as it is inspiring. A sweeping spiral staircase soars through the four-storey building, while light floods down from a central glass dome. The iconic eau de nil blue and gold colour scheme with flashes of rose pink abounds on both the store design and the packaging of the fabulous ground-floor treats, such as chocolates, biscuits, teas and preserves. A food hall in the basement has a good range of fresh produce; Fortnum’s Bees honey comes from beehives on top of the building. There are various eateries, including an ice-cream parlour. The famous hampers start from £60 – though they rise to a whopping £6,000 for the most luxurious. A sweeping spiral staircase soars through the four-storey building, while light floods down from a central glass dome. The iconic F&M eau de nil blue and gold colour scheme with flashes of rose pink abounds on both the store design and the packaging of the fabulous ground-floor treats, including chocolates, biscuits, teas and preserves. What does it sell?  A food hall in the basement has a good range of fresh produce; Fortnum’s Bees honey comes from beehives on top of the building. There are various eateries, including an ice-cream parlour. The famous hampers start from £60 – though they rise to a whopping £6,000 for the most luxurious. The first floor is for homewares: china- and glassware as well as finishing touches such as silver scoops for stilton, F&M coloured linen

What is it? Part of an esteemed UK chain, Harvey Nicks is a one-stop shop for luxury fashion and lifestyle goodies. Though it may have been in its Knightsbridge pad since 1831, it stays true to its ethos of bringing new and innovative products to a wider audience.  What does it sell?  Makeup junkies should head to the ground floor beauty and perfumery space to pick up established brands like Charlotte Tilbury and Shu Uemura, or to glowup with treatments from the Light Salon, Shavata, Duck & Dry and Nail’d It. Womenswear takes up the next three floors, with swimwear and a Denim Gallery on the third levels, while menswear can be found down in the basement. The clothing rails are full of top labels such as Alexander Wang, Balenciaga and Givenchy, and there’s an excellent array of accessories and beauty buys from luxurious brands such as Tom Ford and COR (whose soap contains real silver). Finish off proceedings with lunch on the fifth floor, where the buzzy food department is located along with The Fifth Floor Cafe, Burger & Lobster, Trullo and Madhu’s Brasserie.  Opening times Monday to Saturday 10am – 8pm, Sunday 11:30am – 6pm (browsing from 11.30am – 12pm).  Time Out tip  Forget Vinted and Depop – if you’ve had a recent wardrobe cull, Harvey Nichols will take any high-end pieces that are still in decent condition. It’ll do all the hard selling work for you, all you need to do is drop the items off. Once they’ve found a new home you can get  a Harvey Nichols voucher with a sw

What is it?  There is a reason why John Lewis is one of the most respected and liked shops in Britain and it’s not a complicated one – John Lewis sells good products, in a pleasant environment, served by knowledgeable and amicable staff. Add to that its sensible ratio of quality to price for all its products, and you quickly see why John Lewis retains its rightful crown as the retail world's safe pair of hands. The store offers one of the most civilised places on Oxford Street to shop – with a commodious food hall stocked with culinary partner Waitrose’s goods (complete with walk-in cheese room), the swanky 1864 Rooftop Bar, the Jamie Oliver Cookery School on the third floor, a Waterstones and four cafes to choose from.  What does it sell?  This enormous store in the centre of the city offers a broad sweep of electricals, homeware, fashion, gifts, furniture and leather goods, each coming with the reassurance of JL’s nonpareil ‘never knowingly undersold’ guarantee and lenient returns policy. Arguably the strongest selling point is the lower ground-floor cookware and white goods section, where an excellent range of kitchen staples is backed up by exemplary customer service. Other strengths include its sprawling beauty hall, technology, schoolwear and a brilliant haberdashery for those knitters struggling to find decent wool. Opening times  Open Monday-Wednesday 10am-8pm; Thursday 10am-9pm; Friday-Saturday 10am-8pm and Sunday 11.30am-6pm.  Time Out tip Why not pair your retail t

It feels like Coldplay have been on tour for an eternity. The Music of the Spheres world tour has been travelling all over the planet since 2022, but it’s finally due to come to a magnificent close at London’s Wembley Stadium.  The band’s 10-day residency (which started on August 22) will claim the record for the most appearances at Wembley in a single tour. And we don’t want to get your hopes up, but last time the band played the stadium in 2022, they brought out special guests Jacob Collier, Natalie Imbruglia, Simon Pegg and Stormzy. We’d bet good money that there will be more VIP appearances lined up for the grand finale.  This really is your final opportunity to witness Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres in person, so you won’t want to miss a thing. To help make sure you don’t arrive late, here are all your options for getting to Wembley Stadium when Coldplay are back in town. Remember the number one rule: leave with plenty of time to spare.  RECOMMENDED: 🎶 The ultimate guide to Coldplay at Wembley Stadium.⛔️ Wembley Stadium bag policy for Coldplay shows.🏟️ The seating plan at Wembley for Coldplay.🎸 Every song played by Coldplay at the Music of the Spheres Tour in London. How to get to Wembley Nearest tube and train stations There are three train and tube stations near Wembley Stadium. Wembley Park Station is served by the London Underground Jubilee and Metropolitan lines, you can get to Wembley Stadium Station via Chiltern Railways and Wembley Central Station is on the 

Right as kids start to go back to school, a whopping 71 bus routes across west and southwest London could face significant disruption. That’s because nearly 2,000 bus drivers, engineers and controllers in the area are planning to go on strike. Bus workers belonging to Unite union have voted to take industrial action over a pay dispute with their employers, London United and London Transit. The two companies are both owned by First Bus, which union members say are trying deny workers hundreds of pounds in back pay.  If you live or work around the likes of Shepherds Bush, Notting Hill, Kingston or Wandsworth, here’s everything you should know about the bus strike, including all the specific bus routes set to be affected.  RECOMMENDED: London tube strikes have been called for the first week of September. When are London bus workers going on strike? The industrial action is planned for Friday, August 29 and Monday, September 1. The union has said that more dates could be announced if the dispute isn’t resolved.  Which bus routes will be affected by strikes?  London United and London Transit run eight depots, all in west and southwest London. They’re located in Fulwell, Hounslow, Hounslow Heath, Park Royal, Shepherds Bush, Stamford Brook, Tolworth and Westbourne Park.  That means that the routes likely to be impacted by the strikes, with little to no services, are: 13, 18, 23, 31, 33, 49, 65, 70, 71, 72, 85, 94, 105, 110, 116, 117, 148, 203, 216, 218, 220, 224, 235, 272, 281, 283,

Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres residency at Wembley is the kind of music tour that will go down in history. It’s the the most-attended and highest-grossing tour ever, has set a new precedent for sustainability in the industry, and is also just a spectacular show to witness. In the band’s first show back in Wembley Stadium last weekend, Chris Martin revealed that this will likely be Coldplay’s final shows in London for several years. So, if you’re one of those lucky enough to be attending the band’s final Music of the Spheres gigs, you’ll want to get your hands on merch to prove to your grandkids that you really were at the ‘biggest rock tour of all time’.  Here’s everything you need to know about getting your hands on Coldplay merch over the next two weeks.  RECOMMENDED: 🎶 The ultimate guide to Coldplay at Wembley Stadium.⛔️ Wembley Stadium bag policy for Coldplay shows.🏟️ The seating plan at Wembley for Coldplay.🎶 Every song played by Coldplay at the Music of the Spheres Tour in London. When are Coldplay’s shows at London’s Wembley Stadium? The band has already played four shows at Wembley. The remaining dates are as follows.  Saturday August 30 Sunday August 31 Wednesday September 3 Thursday September 4 Sunday September 7 Monday September 8 Where to buy official Coldplay merchandise in London There will be merch stores stationed around Olympic Way and Wembley Park. If you want to pick up some garbs in central London, there is also an official pop-up store at Unit 7

Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres has been a world tour of epic proportions. It started all the way back in 2022 and has since journeyed to 80 cities across 43 different countries. The shows are packed with are pyrotechnics, lasers and confetti and the likes of Little Simz, Stormzy, Selena Gomez, Bryan Adams, Michael J. Fox and, most recently, Simon Pegg, have all made surprise appearances on stage along the way.  Now, the band is playing the final venue on their mammoth tour – London’s Wembley Stadium. If you’ve been seeing social media snapshots of the shows so far and got severe FOMO, we’re here to let you know that there is still a chance you could join the Wembley crowds. Yes, there are still a limited number of tickets that you can get your hands on for the remaining dates.  There are six more Coldplay shows happening across the next two weeks, so you have six more opportunities to be there last-minute. It’s now or never – here are all the ways that you can still get tickets for Coldplay at Wembley Stadium.  RECOMMENDED: 🎶 The ultimate guide to Coldplay at Wembley Stadium.⛔️ Wembley Stadium bag policy for Coldplay shows.🏟️ The seating plan at Wembley for Coldplay.🚝 How to get to Coldplay at Wembley Stadium.  Where to buy last-minute Coldplay tickets for Wembley Stadium  General sale This ship sailed a long, long time ago. General sale sold out within 40 minutes when tickets went live in September last year.  Ticketmaster resale If you received an email from Coldplay wi

Sadiq Khan has a dream. One day, he wants to see Oxford Street become a fully traffic-free zone. A few months ago, the mayor said that he wanted the shopping district to be pedestrianised ‘as quickly as possible’. Now, he has a chance to prove just how great a car-free Oxford Street could be – he has announced that traffic will be completely banned there for one day in September.  From noon until 8pm on September 21, Oxford Street will be empty of all cars, cabs and buses. But that’s not all. The road will host ‘This Is Oxford Street’, a free event showing off the best of what it has to offer.  With all that extra space to walk around, there’ll be street food stalls, coffee pop-ups, showcases from international sporting partners like Major League Baseball, live music performances, a Choose Love charity zone and a wellness village hosted by Holland and Barrett.  Sadiq Khan, said: ‘I’m excited to announce our landmark “This is Oxford Street” event which will take place in September and offer Londoners, visitors, and businesses a glimpse of what the nation’s high street could look like in the future. ‘This is a fantastic opportunity to see Oxford Street in a whole new light, traffic-free, full of music, great food, pop-ups and entertainment for everyone. As Mayor, I’m determined to unlock Oxford Street’s true potential and deliver a world-class, accessible, clean, avenue. ‘So add the date to your diary, it’s going to be a fantastic day out as we reimagine the West End for everyo

There’s always some kind of controversy going on in London. Sometimes it’s over smaller things like a Pret sandwich or a university logo, but often there’s fierce debate between Londoners and authorities over much larger stuff, such as a brand new building on Southbank, Brick Lane development plans or a massive regeneration of Canada Water.  One of the latest disputes in the city is over a new development proposed for Blackheath. Locals in the southeast London neighbourhood have launched a campaign against plans to build on part of its Conservation Area. It’s even got Hollywood actors involved. Whether you’re personally invested in the plans or just curious to see what all the drama’s about, here’s everything you should know about the Blackheath Station development and why it’s controversial.  What is the Blackheath Station development?  Developers want to build 45 new homes on Blackheath Station’s car park. The proposal, submitted by development firm Acorn back in March, consists of 20 terraced homes and 25 flats across three blocks ranging between three and five storeys. It means that the car park would diminish from 162 parking spaces to just 17.  Acorn said in a statement: ‘Through sensitive heritage-led design and a highly sustainable redevelopment approach, the proposals are wholly in line with national, London and local planning policies that promote increased housing supply in response to the urgent need for new homes.’ Image: John Pardey Architects Why is it contro

Ariana Grande may not have been on tour in six years, but boy has she been busy. In the time since her Sweetener tour in 2019, Ariana has released two albums (Positions in 2020 and Eternal Sunshine in 2024), launched a cosmetics brand and was awarded the role of Glinda in the two-part movie adaptation of Wicked, the first film of which earned her an Oscar nomination.  Finally, though, she’s ready to get back on the road. The multi-talented pop star has announced The Eternal Sunshine tour, which will start in June next year. And London has got lucky – at the moment, it’s the only stop on Ari’s tour outside of the US.  Even better, she’ll be playing not one, not two, but five nights at the O2. We have a feeling these tickets will be incredibly Popular – here’s all the information you need if you want to be there.  When is Ariana Grande playing in London?  The yes, and? singer will be performing at London’s O2 Arena on August 15, 16, 19, 20 and 23 2026.  When do tickets go on sale?  General sale for The Eternal Sunshine Tour will kick off at 10am on Thursday, September 18 over on Ticketmaster here.  Presale details There will be several opportunities to get your hands on tickets ahead of everyone else. An artist presale is happening from 10am on Tuesday, September 16. You have until 7pm on Sunday, September 7 to sign up for access to that here. At the same time, there’ll also be an O2 Priority presale.  Ticket prices We don’t know the exact ticket prices for Ariana’s 2026 tour y

Building new homes takes a long, long time. Often, developments get stuck in the planning system for years and years before they finally start construction, and that means housing isn’t getting built fast enough to keep up with demand. But the government has come up with a scheme that it hopes will solve that.  Two London neighbourhoods are among six sites in England that have just been added to the government’s New Homes Accelerator programme. It gives councils extra planning capacity, removes regulatory hurdles and cuts red tape for developments that have been stalled, meaning that they can build new homes faster. Two neighbourhoods close to the city have been added to the programme as well as two inside London itself. The former are Wisley Airfield in Guildford and Hampden Fields, in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, which together are expected to create roughly 4,700 new homes. Inside the city, the neighbourhoods that have been given an extra boost are Billet Road in Redbridge and High Road West in Haringey. The development at Billet Road promises 1,341 new homes plus a community hub and public open spaces, including a central green and kids play spaces. Apparently, all of the streets will be lined with trees and most of the buildings will be low to mid-rise, with a few landmark buildings rising up to eight storeys.  Planning permission for High Road West in Tottenham was granted way back in 2022. There are just over 2,600 homes planned for this site, 40 percent of which will b

Last August, slippery street artist Banksy went on a bit of a rampage. Over the course of a week, nine mysterious animal murals were plastered all across London. It started with a mountain goat in Kew Bridge West, then elephants appeared in Chelsea a few hours later, followed by a troupe of monkeys in Shoreditch, a howling wolf in Peckham, a virilous rhino in Greenwich and a shawl of piranhas spray-painted on a police sentry box in the City of London.   Like a lot of the artist’s work, most of the pieces were swiftly removed, covered up or vandalised. Shortly after Banksy confirmed that it was his doing, ‘Piranhas’ was moved behind a display at the Guildhall for the public to admire from a safe distance. Now, it’s been moved into storage ahead of going on permanent display at the new London Museum in 2026.  Photograph: City of London Corporation The new attraction (formerly the Museum of London in London Wall) will open at Smithfield Market next year. It acquired Banksy’s piece after the City of London Corporation voted to donate it.  🎨 Here’s a map of all the Banksys you can still spot around London. Glyn Davies, the museum’s head of curatorial, said: ‘With the arrival of Banksy's Piranhas, our collection now spans from Roman graffiti to our first piece of contemporary street art. This work by one of the world's most iconic artists now belongs to Londoners, and will keep making waves when it goes on show next year in the Museum's new Smithfield home.’ Chris Hayward, poli

And just like that, the final weekend of August is upon us. Now that the weather is decidedly milder and people are preparing for back to school season, things in London are dying down a little. There’s still plenty of events worth travelling around the city for, though.  You might be trekking to Wapping for the carnivorous Meatopia, journeying to the Barbican for its final outdoor cinema screenings, heading to Queen’s Park to browse some books or just planning to see where the weekend takes you. Whatever you’ve got lined up, you’ll probably be counting on some form of public transport to get you there.  TfL often uses the weekend to carry out maintenance and upgrade work on its network, meaning that several tube lines are usually closed or partly closed on Saturdays and Sundays. So, to help you organise your plans this weekend, these are all the scheduled closures and amended services happening across the London Underground and Overground for August 29 to 31.  RECOMMENDED: All the best things to do in London in September.  Central line  Due to planned engineering work, the Central line from Woodford to Newbury Park (via Hainault) will be shut all weekend (Friday to Sunday). There’ll be a replacement bus service during the day and you can use the Night Bus N8 at night.  TfL has also warned that there’ll be severe delays across the whole line on Friday due to train cancellations. DLR On Saturday and Sunday there’ll be no DLR trains between Stratford International / Poplar and

Building a whole new tramline for a city takes years and years. Even before construction starts, conversations and consultations can go on for decades. In Edinburgh’s case, part of its tram system, first proposed in 2001, is still yet to be made reality.  Right now, the council is trying to decide between two places for an important section of its new north to south tramline: Orchard Brae or Roseburn Path. Local leaders argue that Roseburn Path is the better option, but residents are concerned that they would lose one of their most beloved green spaces and active travel routes. Campaigners at Save the Roseburn Path argue that Orchard Brae should be the preferred option.  But that comes with its own difficulties. If the council decides that trams should run through Orchard Brae, then it’ll have to deal with the issue of how trams would get across the 193-year-old Dean Bridge. The bridge, which towers over the Water of Leith is category A listed, a status that ‘protects the aesthetics and position of the bridge as a prominent structure on the approach to the west end of the city’. It was designed by famous civil engineer Thomas Telford in the 1820s and leads into Dean Village, one of Edinburgh’s most popular tourist spots.  In a new viability report, the council has laid out the different ways that it could make the Orchard Brae tramline work. Any changes to the bridge itself, which already supports a road, would need to be run by Historic Environmental Scotland.  One option is

When you find yourself suddenly desperate for a wee in the middle of London (especially if you’re at a tube station), you’re normally low on options. You could wait it out (not advised), find a busy pub to sneak into or slip into the swanky toilets of a nearby department store. Sometimes, just sometimes, there’ll be an actual public toilet you can use, but they’re often old and kind of grim.  But now, brand spanking new public lavs are coming to a north London borough. Seven 24-hour free loos are opening across Islington over the next few weeks.  The new automated public toilets have already opened in Newington Green, City Road and Highbury Fields and will open on Holloway Road, Seven Sisters Road and Highbury Crescent on September 1. Each WC is self cleaning, with the toilet bowl, seat, floor and walls automatically disinfected after every use. At night, they’ll be blitz with ozone-based night cleaning to keep them fresh. Like any good public toilet, there’ll also be plenty of bins of general and menstrual waste.  Photograph: Islington Council   A changing facility is also planned for Islington Green. Work on that is expected to start September 8 and it’ll hopefully open to the public by October 6.  The new loos have come about after ongoing conversations between Islington Council and local groups like Disability Action Islington, Islington Pensioners’ Forum, and Campaign for Loos, which is supported by Age UK. They’ve long been campaigning for better public toilet access,