Amy Houghton

Now and again, it’s nice to forget that you’re a real adult with real adult responsibilities. Sometimes, you just need to switch off from the daily toils of being a grownup and be reminded of the simple joys in life – like how fun bubbles can be or how darn cool dinosaurs are. London has plenty of things going on that can help with that. In fact, this city is really one big adult playground. Here, grownups can zoom down giant slides, play pretend in mad escape rooms, put on their rollerskates and scribble with crayons at restaurants without anyone batting an eyelid.  So, for just a while, forget about your pension plan and ditch your daily routine, here’s how to feel like a kid again in the capital.  RECOMMENDED: The 50 best things to do in London for actual children

Once upon a time, hikes across the British countryside were far from as accessible as they are today. While it’s now easy to take for granted the ability to go out and hike the country’s countless trails, it’s thanks to grassroots campaigners in the 1930s and laws passed in the decades that followed that we’re able to walk so much of this island’s landscape.  And what a landscape it is! Britain has romantic rolling hills and plunging valleys, extinct volcanoes and foreboding mountain ranges, idyllic beaches and sweeping coastal cliffs, wildflower-covered moorlands and breathtaking lakes – the list could go on. Among all that natural beauty, you’ll find age-old castles, charming villages and boozers that have been providing refuge to weary travellers for centuries.  Whether you’re planning a pleasant afternoon ramble or an arduous two-week expedition, we’ve compiled a list of 10 walks, country hikes and coastal routes that show off some of the greatest scenery the UK has to offer (whatever weather gets thrown at us). Lace up and get out there.  RECOMMENDED:🏖️ The best seaside towns and most spectacular beaches in the UK🇬🇧 Britain’s best places to visit in 2026🌆 The UK’s most underrated city breaks🏛️ The greatest museums in Britain right now

Our feet are sore, our lungs are full of dust, and our noses are well and truly sunburnt. But we soldier on, because festival season isn’t over yet.  This year Londoners have been absolutely spoilt for choice when it comes to fezzies. With something taking place almost every weekend throughout the warmer months, you can forget trekking across the country to live in a field for five days; simply hop on the tube and before you know it you’re listening to your favourite artists, tinny to hand, knowing that there’s a hot shower and a cosy bed waiting for you once the day is over.  Haven’t booked one yet? Don’t worry, because we’re keeping this list updated with London day festivals you can still cop tickets for. So get into gear before you miss huge acts like Tyler, The Creator, Lorde, Blood Orange and Deftones who are all set to take to London stages in the coming weeks. 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

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

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

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

Ranking the greatest pubs in the UK is, obviously, very tricky business indeed. Pub preference is such an intimate, personal thing – one person’s dream boozer might not remotely appeal to another. That said, when it comes to Britain’s absolute finest pubs there are universal marks of excellence: convivial atmosphere, charming staff, charismatic decor and, above all, a varied selection of well-kept, well-served drinks. Time Out’s 2026 ranking of Britain’s greatest pubs was compiled with the assistance of our UK-wide network of drinking aficionados, and features all kinds of establishments. Pint enclaves built in barren deserts, atop blustery mountains and on isolated beaches. Sturdy booze bastions, age-old no-fuss pubs, innovative craft alehouses and everything in between.  Some of these pubs are old favourites though plenty are more recent obsessions; they’re almost all independent (with a couple of worthy exceptions). Mostly, though, they’re united by one thing: a sense of community. A pub is made by its cast of regulars, and you’ll find quality company in each of the institutions below.  (Oh, and for the most part these pubs are outside London. You can find a list of the capital’s top drinking holes here). RECOMMENDED: The best gastropubs in the UK. Mapped: the best pubs in the UK Image: Time OutBest pubs in the UK map

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 – watch out for a dedicated upcoming guide. RECOMMENDED: 📍 The UK’s top places to visit in 2026.🎨 The UK’s best new things to do in 2026.🎵 The best music festivals in the UK.🥾 The greatest walks and hikes in the UK. At Time Out, all of our 

With more than 70 cities across the UK, you’d be a fool if you only ever visited heavyweights like London, Manchester and Edinburgh. Everyone knows how brilliant those cities are, with their cultural offerings and culinary scenes. But we all know how expensive they can be, too – so it’s about time other spots got their flowers.  Every British city has a distinct personality. We have places that are packed with reminders of their medieval history, that are emerging as sporting hotspots, that offer world class nights out and that have bars and restaurants good enough to give London a run for its money.  So, who better to let you in on the UK’s best-kept secrets than Time Out’s editorial staff and expert local travel writers, who hark from all over the nation? From Derby to Dundee, here’s our roundup of the UK’s most underrated city breaks.  🥾 The greatest walks and hikes in the UK. What is the cheapest UK city break? Smaller cities on the list, like Sheffield, Wells, Stoke and Dundee, offer more affordable accommodation than their larger counterparts. The sames tends to go when it comes to the price of a pint. Pubgoers in Dundee get to enjoy a cold one for an average £3.96 and in Durham and Sunderland, the average pint is around £4.60.  What is the best UK city to get to by train? If you’re travelling from London, you’re less than two hours on the train from Canterbury, Salisbury, Bristol and Bath – as well as from Sheffield and Stoke, if you can get a speedy service. Fast tr

2026 has officially landed. An entire year of adventure awaits, with Britain set for a deluge of thrilling new things to see and do. Beyond the individual openings, however – the new bars and restaurants, museums and attractions – where should be on your radar for places to visit in the UK?  If you’re up for being inspired here at Time Out, as always, we’ve got you covered. We’ve scoured the listings of all that’s happening in Britain in 2026 and consulted our nationwide network of writers and editors, harnessing all that info to put together a guide to the places that should be on your radar over the next 12 months.  Destinations made it onto Time Out’s list for a vast range of reasons. Some have swaggered onto the scene with a quickfire burst of thrilling new attractions. Others have built their cred slower and reached a point of quiet brilliance, while others still are established spots that simply remain very much worth their rep. Several places will be made even more tempting by those aforementioned 2026 openings, whether that be delicious places to eat and drink, game-changing new transport options or unmissable cultural events.  From trendy seaside towns to revived industries cities, medieval forts to ‘the new Berlin’: here are the UK’s 14 top places to visit in 2026. RECOMMENDED: 🇬🇧 The best new things to do in the UK in 2026.📍 The 26 best stuff to see and do in London in 2026. 🥾 The greatest walks and hikes in the UK.

Make no mistake, the UK has some of the planet’s finest stretches of coastline. Sure, Britain isn’t always outlined by beaming vast stretches of white à la Caribbean, but there’s extraordinary variety in our coast. Dramatic dunes, towering chalk cliffs and secret coves. Beaches fashioned out of pebbles, shingle and rock pools. Some attached to busy seaside towns, others blissfully remote. That diversity is all part of Britain’s seaside charm. The UK’s coast stretches thousands of miles, within which are around 1,500 beaches. How do you choose which ones are most worth visiting? Well, that’s where Time Out’s recommendations come in. Our latest guide to Britain’s top beaches has something for every kind of beach fanatic: sun-lounging spots in legendary seaside towns, creamy sands on far-off islands, newly-revived destinations, old favourites and much more. Our 2026 guide to the greatest beaches in Britain features 40 coastlines, five of which are new entries. From Cornwall’s world-famous sandy destinations all the way up to Scotland’s West Isles, here’s where to lay down a towel and go for a dip. RECOMMENDED: 🏖️ The best seaside towns in the UK to visit in 2026. 📍 The best places to visit in Britain in 2026. 🇬🇧 The best new things to do in the UK in 2026.🥾 The greatest walks and hikes in the UK. The UK’s 20 best beaches, mapped Image: Time OutA map of the UK’s 20 best beaches, according to Time Out

In 2026, the UK’s coastline is more in the spotlight than it has been in a long, long time. The opening of the long-awaited King Charles III Coastal Path means that the entire coasts of England, Wales and Scotland are now fully walkable – giving you even more of a reason to visit this nation’s extraordinary roster of seaside towns. Of course, being an island nation, the UK has no shortage of coastal spots. Prim, proper, picture-postcard-worthy idylls? Check. Remote, blustery retreats from stormy seas?  Yep, plenty of that. Thrill-packed resort spots with something for everyone? Britain has all of the above and much more. If you’re on the hunt for British seaside towns that are worth checking out right now – the ones that should be on your radar specifically in 2026 – that’s what we’re here for. Time Out assembled our UK travel experts to pick out the country’s most exciting seaside, port, harbour and resort towns to visit this year. RECOMMENDED: 🏖️ The best beaches in the UK (and mapped).📍 The best places to visit in Britain in 2026.🇬🇧 The best new things to do in the UK in 2026.🥾 The greatest walks and hikes in the UK. Time Out’s best seaside towns, mapped Image: Time Out

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

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. 

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. 

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

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

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

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

Ariana Grande is in London for the final stop of her stunning Eternal Sunshine Tour. And she’s going to stay here for not one, not two, but 10 shows at the O2.  These are the pop star’s first shows in London in seven years and her final shows before she takes a ‘step back’ from public scrutiny. It’s set to be one of the major residencies in Ariana’s career so far, so if you’ve managed to get your hands on tickets, it’s important that you dress to impress.  📸 In pictures: Ariana Grande fans bring ‘Eternal Sunshine’ to London. An easy way to do that, of course, is to find some official Ariana Grande merch. There are several places where you’ll be able to shop for the star’s official beanies, hoodies, t-shirts and more. Here’s all the info.   RECOMMENDED: Ariana Grande at the O2 set times, last-minute tickets and setlist. When is Ariana Grande playing at the London O2?  Ariana is at London’s O2 on the following dates:  Saturday August 15 2026 Sunday August 16 2026 Wednesday August 19 2026 Thursday August 20 2026 Sunday August 23 2026 Monday August 24 2026 Thursday August 27 2026 Friday August 28 2026 Monday August 31 2026 Tuesday September 1 2026 Where to buy official Ariana Grande merch in London Pop-up A pop-up will be open in central London from August 15-28. However you must book ahead in order to go. There are spots available to book from 12pm-8pm every day apart from Sundays (when it’s open 12pm-6pm). Once you have a reservation confirmed, you’ll get an email or text

Victorian kids didn’t have it easy – and that’s putting it lightly. If you weren’t lucky enough to be born into a wealthy family, your childhood would probably be defined by overcrowded living spaces, child labour and gruel. Thank god you were born in the twenty-first century, eh! But if you ever wondered what those kids saw, smelt and felt 200 years ago, then head to Ripon Workhouse Museum, which has just reopened following a major £2.8m redevelopment. The makeover, made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, involved fixing a leaky roof and rotten windows, revamping rooms and opening up an original workhouse cellar for the very first time. It has also made the attraction much more immersive.  As its name suggests, the museum focuses on the story of Victorian workhouses or poorhouses, and occupies what once was an actual workhouse, built in 1855. Britain’s workhouses were created as a solution to poverty and homelessness but were reputed for child labour, malnutrition and abuse. Photograph: Lorne CampbellRipon Workhouse Museum To bring the past to life, sound effects have been installed in several rooms such as the washroom, kitchen and dining hall. In the cells, you can hear the unpleasant sound of people groaning and coughing.  Photograph: Lorne CampbellRipon Workhouse Museum Now, visitors to Ripon are invited to see if they have what it takes to survive a Victorian workhouse. They can take on the role of vagrants (people who were only allowed short stay as th

A £150 million plan to redevelop Falmouth Docks in Cornwall could see it become a major cruise destination. There’s significant enthusiasm from the government around the project, but locals are less supportive.  Cruise ships do already stop at Falmouth – in 2025, 42 ships berthed in the harbour. But under the redevelopment proposals, Falmouth would start welcoming mammoth 345m-long vessels holding as many as 5,400 passengers. The plans predict that, once the redevelopment is complete, the town would welcome roughly 11 of those XL ships each year. At the moment, the largest ships that land in Falmouth can carry around 3,500 passengers.  The redevelopment has already received backing from the UK government. At the end of last year, the Falmouth Docks project was put onto a fast-track scheme, which helps to accelerate complex development projects through the planning process. The government said that the expansion of Falmouth Docks could create hundreds of jobs, support home-grown clean energy and inject up to £13m into the local economy.    Photograph: Clare Louise Jackson / Shutterstock.comFalmouth Docks, Cornwall   But locals worry that the fast-tracking of the scheme could result in cut corners and a lack of scrutiny. They’re particularly concerned about the dredging that would be required. Local campaign group Stop the Dredge argued that the process would bring up sediment containing harmful chemicals like copper, mercury and arsenic, which could have ‘massive environment

You can never have too many JD Wetherspoon pubs. There are more than 800 Wetherspoons in operation across the UK, selling cheap pints and hearty fry-ups in old cinemas, former magistrate courts and even a retired opera house. What’s a few more, eh?  There are 11 new Wetherspoons pubs coming to the UK over the next few months. Three of the new ’Spoons are in London, with two lined up for the city centre and one opening at Heathrow Terminal 2. The rest are spread across the likes of Manchester, Southampton, Edinburgh and St Andrews.  Manchester Airport will get its first ever Wetherspoons pub at the start of September. Located in Terminal 2, it’ll be named the Belle Vue, after the city’s historic Victorian show ground that once housed a pub, zoological gardens, and stadium with a greyhound racing and speedway track. It will be the last major food and drink venue to launch at the hub as part of its enormous £1.3bn transformation.  Another new ’Spoons of note will open at the University of St Andrews just in time for the return of students. The Red Gown is the brand’s first Scottish university franchise and will launch on September 4 in spite of student pushback. Elsewhere in Scotland, ’Spoons will take over a former Revolution bar on Chambers Street in Edinburgh and open on November 3.  Full list of confirmed Wetherspoons opening in the UK 2026 The Sir Frank Whittle - Heathrow Airport Terminal 2 (opening Summer 2026) Home Farm - Ferriby Rd, Hull, Hessle, HU13 0JA (August 12) T

PSA to anyone travelling around central London over the coming weeks! Southwark Underground station will be shut for several hours every weekday for the next month. Jubilee services won’t be stopping at the station during certain times from August 17 until September 11.  The good news is that the closure shouldn’t affect most people who use Southwark to commute. The station will only be shut between 9.45am and 4.15pm from Monday to Friday, so rush hour won’t be impacted.  Photograph: Felix Lipov / Shutterstock.comSouthwark tube station platform TfL says that the tube station is closing in order for extensive construction work above ground to take place. Two mixed-use buildings are being erected on top of the site, with student accommodation, affordable homes, a retail and cafe space, a shared community garden and a play area.  While Southwark is shut, passengers can get on and off the Jubilee line at Waterloo, an eight-to-10-minute walk away. You could also use Blackfriars or Elephant & Castle stations and hop on the 40 or 63 bus routes to and from the Southwark area. Did you see that the Bakerloo line’s ancient trains are finally being replaced? Plus: Keep an eye on weekend tube and train disruption here.  Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. 

Is frozen yogurt making a comeback? It looks that way. A wave of fro-yo shops have been opening up in New York over the past year, with people queuing for hours to get their hands on the creamy treat. The craze has reached London, with the arrival of Go Greek Yogurt in Mayfair and Mast Frozen Yogurt at Westfield White City. Now, another cult fro-yo chain is preparing to launch in the Big Smoke.  Viral Australian brand Yo-Chi has confirmed that it’s opening its first UK venue in London. The fro-yo parlour will open in Notting Hill this week, on Thursday August 20. It’ll span 2,000 square feet across two floors.  The Yo-Chi experience starts with customers choosing the size of their bowl, then deciding one one of the nine signature frozen yogurt flavours, which include vanilla, butterscotch, chocolate and matcha. After that, you go to the topping station. There are more than 30 sauces, spreads and ingredients you can add to your yogurt, from fresh fruit and granola to chocolate chunk cookie cake and mini mochi. Pile on as much as your heart desires (or that your wallet can take) – you’ll pay for your dessert based on weight.  Photograph: Yo ChiYo Chi topping station   On top of that, there will be a DJ booth and disco balls at the venue, making it somewhere to hang out rather than just satisfy your sweet tooth. Oliver Allis, the co-owner and chief brand officer at Yo-Chi, said that ‘for those who haven’t tried Yo-Chi, it’s hard to fathom just how much hype there is around a f

After 30 years, the restaurant at one of our city’s best-known riverside landmarks is entering a new era. The team behind leading London restaurants Fallow and Roe have announced that they’re taking over the OXO Tower restaurant.  The OXO Tower restaurant and bistro sit on the eighth floor of the South Bank building, with fantastic views over the Thames. The two venues were launched by Harvey Nichols in 1996 and, with the it having gone into administration (saved by the Frasers Group just last week), we’ve known that the brand has been looking to sell for a while.  There aren’t many details on exactly what the Fallow team, led by James Robson, Jack Croft and Will Murray, will do with the venue. However, we know that rather than a complete overhaul, the new owners will gradually make tweaks to the existing restaurant. It’ll stay up and running as normal and Fallow plans to ‘empower the current team’. It’ll officially take over in 2027.    Photograph: Travers Lewis / Shutterstock.comOXO Tower, London   Fallow owner James Robson said: ‘We could not resist this gem of an art deco landmark. The eighth floor views are world famous, and we look forward to working with the incumbent team and landlord to bring some additional character and energy back to this wonderful site. ‘This will be a work in progress and I'm excited to see how our various media and culinary teams can help bring this beloved site to full potential. We’re looking forward to working with the social enterprise la

Restoration work on Chesterfield Canal began way back in 1989. The canal was built in the late 1770s but started to decline with the arrival of modern railways in the 1800s, when cargo could be transported on trains rather than boats. Large parts of the canal crumbled in the following decades and in 1978, workers accidentally drained an entire section by pulling out a 200-year-old plug. Suffice to say, the Chesterfield has been in need of a lot of TLC.  Like we said, work to restore the canal to its former glory has been going on for nearly 40 years. So far more than 19km of the canal – including 37 locks and 11 bridges – have been restored, and there’s still lots to do. Now, a plan to restore a nine-mile section of the waterway has taken a significant leap forwards. And it could lead to a new marina being built in Rotherham.  At the end of July, Rotherham Council gave the green light to a contribution of £10,000 to go towards a feasibility study to restore the stretch of waterway between Staveley and Kiveton Park. The proposals, which are part of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership, include a marina at Kiveton Waters, which at the moment is used for fishing. It’s yet not clear what that marina would include. If the project goes ahead, there are also plans to create new towpaths that would link communities along the Trans Pennine Trail, restore the historic Norwood Flight of 13 locks (described as one of the country's most significant surviving examples of early canal engineer

From the dainty little teacups to the adorable crustless sandwiches to the bitesize Victoria sponges, afternoon teas are a delightful way to spend, well, an afternoon. And London is certainly not short of them. You’ll find exceptional afternoon teas at loads of the capital’s chicest restaurants and poshest hotel dining rooms, many offering their own creative twists on the classics.  But according to lifestyle publication Muddy Stilettos, there’s one afternoon tea in London that’s better than all the others. After counting nearly half a million votes from its readers as part of the Muddy Awards 2026, the guide revealed that the top afternoon tea in the capital is at the Richmond Hill Hotel. Photograph: Richmond Hill HotelClose-up of Enchanted Tree Afternoon Tea There are two kinds of afternoon teas to choose from at the Richmond Hill Hotel. Its ‘Enchanted Treehouse Afternoon Tea’ (£46 per person) is inspired by Enid Blyton’s Magic Faraway Tree, with unusual treats like chicken mousse, tarragon and celery in a charcoal tartlet and fig frangipane with mascarpone cream, alongside classics such as egg mayo on spinach bread and lemon meringue tart.  Then, for those who will always pick starter over dessert, there’s the savoury afternoon tea. At £46 each, instead of the sweet stuff it includes ham hock and pea croquettes, spicy sticky cauliflower bites and sweet and smoky chicken tenders. And instead of classic scones and jam, you’re served caramelised onion and rosemary scones wi

Between childcare, meals out, train travel and fun-packed day trips, the summer holidays can be an expensive time for parents. But we have good news. A new government scheme helps take some of the pressure off.  Kids aged five to 15 can travel on most local services across England this month as part of an initiative to help with the cost of living. So, while you try to keep the little ones entertained in the final weeks of the summer hols, there’s one less expense to worry about.  Many of the participating bus services take you directly to some of England’s greatest attractions. There’s Stagecoach 218, which stops at Chatsworth House, and Arriva Northumbria X18, which can drop you off at Bamburgh Castle.  Photograph: ShutterstockBamburgh Castle in Northumberland The Great British Summer Savings scheme also gives discounts on kids’ meals at restaurants like Nando’s and Banana Tree, theatre and cinema tickets and theme parks like Camel Creek Family Adventure Park in Cornwall and Alton Towers. You can browse all of the offers here.  Local transport minister Simon Lightwood said: ‘We know how hard it can be for families to enjoy their time together as they face persistent cost of living pressures. That’s why this summer, we're giving families room to breathe as children can hop on the bus for free as part of our Great British Summer Savings scheme, which is also giving money off attractions and restaurants, as well as cheaper train fares. ‘From beaches to iconic historical sigh

At the beginning of this year we thought that, by December, every Brit would need a ‘euro-visa’ in order to travel anywhere in the EU. That’s no longer the case.  The European Union’s entry/exit system (EES) has been a decade in the making and was meant to launch back in 2022. Obviously, that didn’t happen and instead its rollout began in 2025. It requires travellers to provide biometric data, fingerprints and facial scans. ETIAS, which is essentially a visa waiver, is meant to accompany that system and was scheduled to come into effect in the ‘last quarter of 2026’.  But, like we said, that’s not happening. Last month, EU-Lisa (the agency in charge of implementing ETIAS) announced that the 2026 timeline would be unfeasible and experts predicted the launch would be pushed back to 2027. Now, the rollout has been delayed indefinitely and there is no longer a launch date advertised on the official website. Here’s everything we know about why the ETIAS has been postponed and when we might expect it.  What is ETIAS? ETIAS (sometimes referred to as a ‘euro-visa’) stands for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System.  It is the visa waiver that non-EU citizens will eventually need in order to enter the Schengen zone. When finally introduced, the pass will allow holders to stay in European countries for up to 90 days within any 180-day period (but if you stay in Cyprus, that’ll be calculated separately). It will last three years or until the traveller’s existing passpo

England has welcomed some major new walking trails this year. After 16 years of work, the mammoth King Charles III England Coast Path was finally inaugurated. Shortly after that, the legendary Coast to Coast Path was given official National Trail status. Now, there’s another walking route to add to the list.  The brand new Westmorland and Furness Way is made up of existing trails (wherever possible) across two national parks and one national landscape. They’ve been combined to create a continuous 120-mile route that stretches across northwest England from the town of Alston in the north to the 900-year-old ruins of Furness Abbey in the south.  Photograph: Dave WillisFurness Abbey The trail has been designed to show off the region’s ‘rich heritage, nature and diverse landscapes’. It takes ramblers through the Pennines, across the Yorkshire Dales, around the Lakes and along the Furness Coast. That means you’ll be treated to a glorious range of views from rugged mountains to glimmering lakes and dense woodlands to historic landmarks. If you want to walk the whole trail in one go, it would take around eight to 17 days, depending on how leisurely you take it. However, the route has also been helpfully split into six smaller sections for those who just want to traverse it for a day or a long weekend. Photograph: Westmorland & Furness CouncilConiston Water in the Lake District For a day trip, the best section would be the 26km stretch from Alston to Milburn or the 26km chunk fro