Chiara Wilkinson

Every week, a frankly stupid amount of brilliant new restaurants, cafés and street food joints arrive in London. Which makes whittling down a shortlist of the best newbies a serious challenge. But here it is. The 15 very best new restaurants in the capital, ranked.  Go forth and eat, featuring everything from Italian-ish snacks at Forza Wine on the South Bank and Macedonian bakes at Mystic Burek in Sydenham, to sassy small plates at Lulu's in Herne Hill, west African set menus at Chishuru in Fitzrovia, big spender sushi at Sushi Kanesaka, naked lobster at Claridge's Restaurant, and gastropub favourites at The Waterman's Arms in Barnes. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. RECOMMENDED: The 50 best restaurants in London.

What with jobs, bills and seriously unreliable transport, life can feel pretty stressful right now. But there’s no better way to take the edge off than switching off and treating yourself to a bit (or a lot) of glorious self care – whatever that means to you.  The best part? You don’t have to jump on a plane to get away from it all. The UK has an abundance of brilliant spas and yoga retreats to get stuck into, from cosy cottages in the Scottish Highlands to camping retreats in the forest. So whether you’re looking for somewhere to meditate, a champagne-filled spa day or a full-blown yoga retreat, there are endless options just a drive or train journey away. And we’ve made life easy for you, by rounding up the very best in the UK, all available to book right now.  RECOMMENDED:💕 The best romantic weekend getaways in the UK🌺 The best places to see wildflowers in the UK🌳 11 incredible treehouses you can book in the UK🪂 The best extreme outdoor activity breaks in the UK🏞️ The most beautiful national parks in the UK

It’s that time of year again – time for the legendary, heroic and what some are calling era-defining Time Out Christmas sandwich taste test. Our team have tirelessly trawled London’s high streets, foodie markets and bakeries for the mightiest seasonal sarnie of the year, leaving no chiller cabinet unturned. After all, the true meaning of Christmas is surely all about putting some vaguely festive fillings between two slices of bread. Let battle commence. RECOMMENDED: For more festive fun here’s our guide to the best Christmas markets in London.  And don’t miss the best Christmas events, either. 

Want a drink? Well 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, featuring the buzziest booze dens in the capital right now. If it’s on this list, it’s excellent. These are the 50 places we'd recommend to a friend, because we love drinking in them and have done many times over. From classy cocktail joint to delightful dives, hotel bars, speakeasys, bottle shops, rooftops and wine bars, London's got them all. The latest additions to our list include Bar Lina, an Italian aperitivo spot underneath the famous Soho deli, Moko hi-fi listening bar in Tottenham, Oranj's vertitable wine warehouse in Shoreditch, and Helgi's, a suggestively Satanic rock bar in Hackney. Now go forth and booze. RECOMMENDED: Like bars? Then you'll love London's best pubs.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

You’ve done the planning, (somehow) bagged the tickets and now, you wait. It might seem like a while away, but Glastonbury 2024 will come around faster than you think – and before you know it, you’ll be singing along to whoever is playing at Worthy Farm, hopefully in the sunshine with an ice-cold beer in hand.  With its mix of red-hot fresh talent and massive headline acts, the Worthy Farm music festival is basically Christmas for music lovers. Last year saw acts like Lana Del Rey, Fred Again, Arctic Monkeys and Elton John take to the stage – as well as around 3,000 other acts. We don’t yet know the line-up for 2024, but there are plenty of rumours about which mega-stars are set to grace the stage.  If you’ve not managed to get your hands on those golden tickets the first time round, fear not. There’s always resale. And there’s always watching the festival from the comfort of your own sofa and trying again next year.  So, whether you have plans to camp at the fabled festival or catch up on TV, here’s everything you need to know about Glastonbury Festival 2024. RECOMMENDED: 🎟️How to get tickets for Glastonbury 2024🎶Here are some tips to help you hack the ticket sale🏕️The best campsites in the UK🌤️The best things to do in the UK When is Glastonbury 2024? Glastonbury 2024 starts on Wednesday June 26 and runs until Sunday June 30. Most of the music will be on June 28, 29 and 30, so if you’re not lucky enough to be heading to Worthy Farm IRL and you’re watching on the TV ins

There's always something to remember and buy gifts for. Birthdays, anniversaries, house warmings, new babies, promotions... you name it. They deserve a gift, too. But, hold on a second. Don't rush to your nearest grocery store for a bouquet of wilting roses just yet, we have your back. Luckily, we live in NYC in the 21st century where you can get flowers delivered straight to your door for the very next day – or in some cases, that exact same day. And who doesn't love being gifted a bunch of flowers? And it’s not just bouquets you can get sent to your loved one. You can get potted plants (perfect for plant fanatics) and even more brought straight to their door. We’ve saved your bacon by rounding up all of the very best flower delivery services in NYC, ready for you to choose your fave. Read on folks.  RECOMMENDED:🍫Check out the best chocolate deliveries in the USA How do we know it's the best of the best? Our lists are expertly curated by our local experts far and wide to offer you the lowdown on the best delivery services in NYC. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

To get to know Olivia Dean is to feel like a bit of an arsehole. It’s not often you come across someone so confident in themselves, so bubbly and yet so self-effacing and generous. Maybe you knew a girl like this at school. She was talented but never conceited. Effortlessly cool, but irresistibly warm. She always looked put together, but didn’t wear much makeup and she was always on time, despite being the busiest person in the room. You end up assuming they’re hiding some sort of monstrous fault.  The thing about Olivia Dean is that she isn’t. It’s been one hell of a year for the buzzy London musician. She released her debut album, ‘Messy’ – a breezy pop record loaded with easy grooves and need-to-sing-along lyrics – which peaked at number four in the charts and was nominated for the Mercury Prize. She played her first Glastonbury show, was tipped by Elton John and sold-out venues across the country. When we speak, Olivia is weeks away from setting off on her US tour –‘I’m gonna go do three nights in Brooklyn: it’s bonkers!’ – wrapping up in time to swim with dolphins in Mexico at Christmas. You’d think that would all be enough to validate any 24-year-old, but there’s still a heavy sense of imposter syndrome lurking in Olivia. As delightful as she is, she hasn’t quite got it all figured out just yet. Going incognito Olivia is a London gal through and through. She grew up in Highams Park, a maze of suburbia in the north-east of the city, with her mum, a barrister, her dad, t

It’s that time again. Every year, we ask thousands of city-dwellers to tell us the coolest spots in their cities. What are the places locals love and visitors flock to? Where are the exciting new openings across food, drink and culture? Where are people going out, hanging out and having fun? For the sixth year running, the results are in. Over 12,000 people had their say in this year’s shortlist, naming the neighbourhoods in their hometowns where everyone wants to be right now. Then, we narrowed down the selection with the insight and expertise of city editors and local experts who know their cities better than anyone else. To create and rank the final list, we considered factors including community and social ventures, access to open and green space, and thriving street life. In 2023, our neighbourhoods are more global than ever before. The rise and rise in post-pandemic digital nomadism has led to an explosion of brand-new community spaces, multi-purpose culture centres and more cafés than we can count on two hands. But while most of these neighbourhoods have experienced a transformation over recent years, they remain resolutely local at heart. Slick new developments and cool cafés might bring in new crowds, but neighbourhood stalwarts – from old pubs to family greengrocers – keep it real.  The world’s coolest neighbourhoods this year are, therefore, places with big personalities. Each area’s diversity is reflected in its food, culture and festivals. Community is key: local

Festival season might seem like a long way away, but we can guarantee you it will spin around faster than you can clean out your bumbag. It’s never too early to start planning for 2024 (who wouldn’t want to be dreaming of sun-soaked crowds when it’s stormy outside?) and copping those tickets while you still can.  We’d argue Brits do festival season better than anywhere else. Atmosphere aside, the amount of musical variety on offer in this one little island is absolutely mind-boggling. You can glamp at a boutique indie festival, get some guaranteed moshpit action at rock fest Download or rave until the early hours at a 24/7 dance marathon. You could discover the hottest Welsh-language music, boast about how you somehow got tickets to Glastonbury or even surf along to the set list in Cornwall. Keen to join in the fun? We bet you are. Check out Time Out’s guide to the best UK music festivals for 2024.  RECOMMENDED: 🥾 The 15 best places to visit in the UK in 2023😎 The best European music festivals

Watered-down cocktails, red-raw sunburn, sweaty club wristbands: holidaying to party islands like Magaluf, Zante, Ayia Napa and Malia has long been considered a rite of passage for many young Brits. We all know the scenes: foam party promoters haggle you from the minute you step off the plane, and hours later, you’re slinging back cherry-flavoured welcome shots at a neon-lit dive bar and necking off with a stranger. The closest you’ll get to a cultural experience is eating gyros by the pool and sweating out last night’s hangover.  That’s all well and good, but an alternative to the classic lads and gals hol is gaining popularity. More and more young people are ditching the strip for skippered sailing holidays around Croatia – referred to, by many, simply as ‘sail’. These organised trips tick many of the same boxes as party island packages: they’re hassle-free, sun is guaranteed, and they offer plenty of opportunities to meet people and party.   But there’s more: for a generation obsessed with sharing their travels online and getting bang for their buck, these island-hopping expeditions allow punters to see a tick-list of Instagrammable spots in a short space of time. They’re a great choice for solo travellers, of course, but also for the growing number of sober or ‘sober-curious’ travellers. Unlike your classic 18-30 holiday, these sailing expeditions don’t force the party down your throat – unless you want them to, of course. Rotting by the pool is very much out.  But what a

I’m sitting in the stalls of Ulaanbaatar’s National Sports Stadium. Glossy-coated horses gallop around the race track; in the distance, yellow-clad tower blocks stand out against a backdrop of rugged green mountains. The horses are joined by contortionists, yaks, camels, dancers in national dress, wrestlers, archers and Harley Davidson motorbikes. Bursts of coloured smoke puff up into the sky and everyone kneels towards the stage, as a large portrait of Genghis Khan – the twelfth-century leader of the Mongol Empire, known for conquering land from Beijing to the Caspian Sea – is unveiled. Song, dance and puppetry ensue, in what can only be described as a sort of Olympics-meets-Eurovision fever dream.   This is the opening ceremony of Naadam, one of Mongolia’s biggest holidays: a national festival held every July to celebrate the country’s independence and nomadic culture. Colourful, dramatic, full of energy – the spectacle isn’t too dissimilar to parts of ‘The Mongol Khan”’, the epic Mongolian musical arriving at the London Coliseum this month.  Photograph: Perou Bordered by China and Russia and with a population just a shade over three million – despite having a land mass more than six times the size of the UK – it’s safe to say that Mongolia is still a mystery to most Londoners. With that in mind, ‘The Mongol Khan’ is something of a first, a theatrical extravaganza aiming to showcase what the country has to offer.  The show’s West End arrival marks the beginning of what i

There’s nothing more quintessentially Christmassy than a good ’ol festive market. Need to bulk buy stocking-fillers for your family? Christmas market. Fancy a boozy, mulled-wine-filled evening with your mates? Christmas market. Keen to show off your excellent ice-skating skills? Christmas market. Dazzling destinations are dotted all over the UK. They come alive with the festive spirit once a year, glittering with everything from cosy grottoes and wholesome gift stalls to your favourite Christmas songs. We’re not just talking about London’s Christmas markets and Winter Wonderland, either (although they’re definitely worth a visit, too). We’re talking about the cobbled streets of York and the majestic castle surroundings of Edinburgh. Don’t know where to start? Here is our pick of the best Christmas markets in the UK. Hey, if you’re lucky, you might even get a bit of snow.  RECOMMENDED:🎄The most beautiful Christmas light trails in the UK❄️The best winter walks in the UK🌤️The best things to do in the UK💕The best romantic weekend getaways in the UK 🌜The best Airbnbs for large group getaways 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.

Taking place in a beautifully renovated church in the gentle coastal town of Tywyn, in the shadow of southern Snowdonia, Sunset Bay Retreats offer nourishing yoga getaways multiple times a year. Experiences are sculpted around the season – choose from the likes of Summer Solstice, Autumn Equinox and Veganuary – and take place over long weekends as well as during the week. While some yoga retreats can seem stuffy or pretentious, these are far from it. Your hosts, Maggie and Graham (as well as their friendly pooch, Smudge), welcome you into the chapel with a family-like warmth and instantly put you at ease. You’re able to adapt the activities of the stay to your own pace and, importantly, you won’t be frowned upon if you use your phones or have a glass of wine. I visited in mid September, arriving with my joints stiff with stress from the work week. But after the long weekend, I left with clarity of mind and feeling the most relaxed I had in months.  The yoga studio – a vast hall-like space in the centre of the chapel – was the stage for twice-daily yoga practice. (If you’re lucky, you’ll get to do some yoga sessions by the epic sunset on the beach – hence the name – and while the weather didn’t quite allow it this time, it’s a great excuse to come back.) This was by no means a ‘hardcore’ yoga retreat: the sessions were on the slower side with a focus on deepening stretches and holding poses, meaning they were extremely relaxing and easily adapted to different skill levels. A

Calling all facon fanatics and tofu enthusiasts. Billing itself as London’s largest plant-based party, Vegan Nights is going all spooky on us with a halloween special at Truman Brewery. Showcasing the best that the vegan food scene has to offer, a curated line-up of excellent food stalls will be be serving up delightful plant-based grub alongside some seasonal thrills. Once you’ve gobbled your way through all of that, you can wash it down with pints of vegan beer and boogie to live DJ sets that cover reggae, roots, bashment, grime, house, and party classics. Four legged friends allowed, and it's all ages, with under 12s in for free.   

Pub grub takes on a whole new meaning in east London these days. Out: sloppy plates of haddock and chips, pork crackling and salted peanuts. In: lobster bisque and scallops, natty wine and Perelló olives. It’s gentrification in action, but that aside, the concept of trendy-pub-plus-trendy-chef has proven itself to be a winner.  The Prince Arthur, tucked into a corner of Victorian terraces near London Fields, was re-launched in 2020 by Emma Piggott and Jonathan Mercer, who also own The Plough in Homerton. Since then, it’s earned a reputation for attracting voguish kitchen talent, boasting a hyped Hot 4 U pop-up residency (which led to Papi, which you can find around the corner) and a stint from chef Vivienne Duffy. This summer, it welcomed Joe Couldridge, whose culinary career spans the likes of Hawksmoor, Leroy, and more recently, The Clarence Tavern in Stokey. Besides being a great pub, the food at the Prince Arthur is knife-and-fork-down brilliant. There’s a proper neighbourhood feel about The Prince Arthur, making it just as likely to be bustling with Salomon-wearing creative couples popping in for some mid-dog walk hydration as it is with tables of foodies tucking into a celebratory dinner. It’s a charming, laid-back place, with high-quality fittings, well-worn wooden tables and classic pub signage. Walk past in August and you’ll see punters licking Guinness froth from their moustaches, spilling out from the pavement into the gutter; in winter, the windows are steamy as

The flagship site of Trevor Sorbie is a quick stroll away from Covent Garden tube station, tucked away behind the main shopping street. It’s a beautifully sleek, open salon with large windows letting in plenty of light (so you can be sure that colour is just right). All of the stylists here are top-tier, oozing with quality and – importantly – great chat. As a customer, the experience feels truly personalised – they’re crafty with more classic cuts but will also be open to get creative with bolder colours and looks – and are always upfront about what will or will not suit your face and hair type (which, let’s be real, we’re always be grateful for). A lot of these guys have been pros for many years or are hair educators, they’re in high demand, so be organised: you’ll want to book an appointment well in advance to get the hands (and scissors) you’re after.  One thing which feels especially forward-thinking about this place is the salon’s gender neutral pricing: prices start at £89 for a cut and finish for all genders. Oh, and if you take up their offer of a glass of fizz while the stylist snips away, there’s a very high chance you’ll walk out of your appointment with a runway-ready locks that could convinced that Floral Street is, in fact, a LFW catwalk. 

The worst types of vegans are the ones who constantly remind you. They’ll have ‘plant-based’ in their Instagram bios and introduce themselves as a vegan like they’re a duke or doctor. They’ll shove it down your throat when you open your mouth to speak to the waiter, almost like you could have possibly forgotten about their delicate dietaries.  I’m joking, obviously, but the point is: Mallow does none of that. Its vegan-ness is merely a footnote, and I’m sure if you were blindfolded you’d find it hard to say if some of the dishes had animal products in them or not. The menu spans cuisine from all over: Middle Eastern, Italian, Indian, Malaysian – or just burger and chips.  The first Mallow opened in Borough Market in 2021, from London mainstay veggie chain Mildreds, which has been on the scene since the late eighties. This second branch on Wood Wharf, feels a little less upmarket than its elder sister. But then again, it’s looking out over cold concrete and hurried commuters grappling with umbrellas rather than the Thames, so we’ll let that slide. Large, leafy murals are painted on the ceiling and lights reflect off vast glass windows, giving the whole thing an open, warm feeling. The menu spans cuisine from all over: Middle Eastern, Italian, Indian, Malaysian – or just burger and chips.  After wetting your palette with house cocktails – there are flirty twists on the classics, like a raspberry basil Margarita and lemongrass tepache sour – you’ll want to reach for the small p

Ever wanted to have a nosy around some of London’s coolest private buildings? Open House London gives city dwellers free access to some of the capital’s architectural wonders that aren’t usually open to the public – from schools and offices to domestic homes and places of worship. The hugely popular, capital-wide fortnight-long festival is back for 2023, with properties open for your to peak in – for free – all across the capital's 33 boroughs. All you need to do is create an account online and you can register to see as many buildings in the programme as you like. As well as the festival’s usual line-up of community events, drop-in sessions and tours, this year, there are also plenty of events tailored specifically to young people. As ever, lots of the tours and buildings are extremely popular so get planning which buildings you’d like to see well ahead of time to beat the queues.  Check out last year's Open House highlights

Ruby McCollister is one tragic girl. The raspy American actress brings her darkly entertaining one-woman show to the Scottish capital, exploring everything from addiction and ghosts to ‘being a cool girl’ and death. Frankly, it’s a bit of a marmite hour, peppered with lots of squealing, growling rock ’n roll singing intervals and cabaret-style numbers, all while a ghostly slideshow moves the story on in the background. For the most part, the bizarreness of it all is charming – a credit to McCollister’s irresistible energy and sass. The story follows her unlikely childhood, which she largely spent in her father’s haunted theatre in downtown LA, becming obsessed with the glitz and glam of showbiz. Romanticising dead actresses and singers, she decided from a young age that if she was to live a life worth living, it would have to be a tragic life. Growing up, though – navigating the likes of weight loss and abusive boyfriends – she learned that there was a much darker side to being tragic (no shock there).  She’s ridiculously over the top and zealous while the story is so surreal in places that you can’t help but find it entertaining. Yet the brattiness of her character can get grating, and the humour – despite her best try to encourage us to join in with her quirky, high-pitched laughs – can sometimes feel surface-level. But she gets stronger as hour progressed, slipping into a more reflective, mature persona, and the hour ends on a high. It’s a lament on the passing of childho

Hannah Maxwell’s one-woman show is both endearingly funny and cripplingly sad. It starts in Luton, where she’d moved to look after her recently widowed nan, who leads a slow life, consisting of daytime TV, microwaved Oat-So-Simple and ready-made cottage pie. Meanwhile, Maxwell daydreams about the French Eurovision star Barbara Pravi, lurching into far-flung fantasies and coming up with a ridiculous masterplan to learn French fluently and seduce her.  Maxwell is an absolute pleasure to watch: she has a way of filling the room and a gentle cheekiness, for example when she comically leaves the audience just sitting there, awkwardly, while she puts headphones on to do chores. Her storytelling is stirringly evocative but, despite the mundane subject matter, never dull. The clever staging and charming use of audience participation helps her routine tasks feel urgent, while the near-constant pinging of her phone reminds us of her sacrifices as a carer. It’s obvious that she’s never truly present, yet she continues to crack jokes and flirt with the audience to trick us into thinking that she’s fine; happy perhaps. Even her delusional infatuation with Pravi seems, for a minute, not completely out of the question.  Fast-forward and we soon find out that, actually, nan is fine: it is Maxwell who is struggling to go at life alone. At the end, a confessional twist is revealed and the fast pace of the play is brought to a sobering halt. This is a story about addiction, obsession and grie

This is opera meets Korean traditional theatre meets Euripides’s ancient Greek tragedy – and it all works together brilliantly. Put on by the National Changgeuk Company of Korea and directed by Ong Keng Sen, it’s a beautiful production of an epic scale, with an exhilarating sound bed and glorious displays of pansori (that’s Korean storytelling through song, accompanied by percussion).  Through the war-torn eyes of the left-behind Trojan women, the story follows the aftermath of the fall of Troy via the female struggle for power and rare, fleeting moments of maternal love. The nature of the story is unforgivingly bleak and, at times, it can be tough to watch. Gloom and doom aside, though, Euripides’ tragedy is interpreted magnificently here with successful nods to the Korean tradition.  The sound, by K-pop producer Jung Jae-il (who did the score for ‘Parasite’), is piercing and evocative, grounded by near-constant pounding drums and pervasive strings. It did well to roll over tension from one scene to the next and leave the spotlight to the pansori: a ​​visceral, throaty song that often sounded like weeping, it complemented the competing narratives of female anguish and resilience.  A simple white set, with its symmetrical stairs and considerable height, works as a backdrop for the projected video, with swirls of fire and water consuming the cast and creating a visual spectacle that only added another layer to all the drama. There’s a lot of finger-pointing and power-switch

These days, it seems like everyone is very online. Widespread social media use means that no-one is safe – apparently, not even if you’re meeting under Chatham House Rules (that is to say, where it’s agreed an interviewee will not be identified). As performer Louis Rembges explores in his surreal, compelling hour, it can be very hard to ignore the urge of turning every waking moment of our lives into content for momentary validation. In the play, Rembges is ‘Host’, a nameless zero-hours contract worker who is doing bleak agency hospitality work for a very high-profile tech conference. The guests are the super-rich Elon Musks of the world and former conservative prime ministers. Host is the self-described ‘Alan Sugar of memes’ and is trying to break into the TikTok world. This gig could be the perfect opp to get some stellar content, destined to go viral – but, of course, it’s under Chatham House Rules. Expertly crafted, the story jumps between online and offline, past and present, so that we never quite know what is real in Rembges’s scatty fever dream. He doesn’t lose us, though. Instead, the structure reminds us of how badly the near-constant flow of information has shortened our attention spans. He covers a lot of ground in his hour – billionaires, Etonians, greenwashing, the Tory government, NHS cuts, AI, Florence Pugh – but it never feels too much. Vivid writing and a carefully-crafted plot means that even the more abstract characters are convincing, aided by the use of

The pink-haired Anglo-French comic Tatty Macleod has amassed a sizable TikTok following for her online skits that revolve around the formidable froideur of her ‘French’ persona. But – as is the question for many internet stars who are tackling the Fringe this year – can she hack it live?  Her hour-long debut ‘Fugue’ is an autobiographical show in which Macleod considers the pitfalls of cultural appropriation, exploring her experience of being too English to fit into France and too French to fit into England. (Despite growing up in rural Brittany, she explains she’s ‘not technically French’.) And while the red wine-drinking, cigarette-smoking character that Macleod owes her online success makes a handful of appearances, the show is much more complex – emotionally and thematically – than that (thank God). What follows is a slick, whistle-stop tour of just about every French and English cliché out there, delivered with a zesty elegance via audience digs, witty personal anecdotes and funky, observational sketches. She talks about being a tour guide in Paris, about dating French men versus English men, agonises over memories of ‘reverse culture shock’ and examines how hen dos differ on either side of the channel.  Despite being faced with a largely British room with a presumably finite knowledge of French culture, it’s the more leftfield gags which click best – some of her sketches lean a little too heavily on stereotypes to the point where they feel predictable. That said, it’s

The comedy story of pretty much every Fringe in the near future is destined to be ‘can successful TikTok comics hack it live?’ The stars of ‘Knock, Knock’ – that’s host Coco Sarel (pictured) plus Henry Rowley, Steven McKell and Ayamé Ponder – have racked up kajillions of views, likes and swipes between them, and for the first time pretty much ever, they’re taking on comedy IRL. So, can they hack it? The short answer: yes and no.  Sarel opens the show with a disclaimer: the show is an ‘experiment’. It’s a sort of real life version of a TikTok For You Page where each artist is given a short stint on stage before being whisked off and replaced with someone else. By the very nature of it, some acts are more polished than others – but it’s still a brightly entertaining hour, even if you aren’t already familiar with the personalities. It becomes clear very quickly that Sarel is the stand-out. A confident, chirpy, cheeky host, she rattles off hilarious riffs about different personalities in female friendship group chats which had the crowd – and admittedly, herself – in stitches. McKell themed his content around his experiences of being one of eight siblings growing up in Fife, and while he rolls on with an excellent, cheery rhythm, some of his self-deprecating jokes feel slightly dated and lazy. Ponder is disappointing, too: her cocky woo-girl persona feels entitled rather than engaging and her closing skit fell flat thanks to its nervous, rushed set-up. Luckily, Rowley is on hand

Skepta is a man of many talents. Most people know him as a rapper. He also recently dipped his foot into DJing, playing sets at Circoloco in Ibiza, and has released a new record label with a focus on house music. He’s turned his hand to painting, and in September, he debuted his first catwalk fashion show.  That doesn’t seem to be enough for him, though – because he’s just announced the inaugural edition of his one-day music festival taking place in Crystal Palace Park next summer.  Big Smoke festival will take place on Saturday, July 6 and will feature a line-up across two stages curated by Skepta himself. One stage will be hosted by his record label Más Tiempo, showcasing dance artists, and Skepta himself will be performing in what is set to be his only UK performance of 2024. Revealing the news on Instagram live, Skepta said: ‘I’m gassed to finally announce that Big Smoke Festival is official... I’m so excited, it’s been a wild one to do this. I just want to say thank you to all the supporters, it’s been a couple years that you didn’t see me on a stage... I know a lot of people have been wondering when they’ll see Skepta at a festival and I really wanted to save all that energy and put it into something that was for us, by us.’ He continued: ‘There’s going to be a live stage with all your favourite acts – anyone you know that’s affiliated with Skepta. There’ll be a live stage on one side and the Más Tiempo stage which will also be a full lineup. I might bust up one stage,

If you’re local to south-east London, chances are you’ll be familiar with Matchstick Piehouse. Located in the Deptford railway arches, the grassroots bar, music venue, art space and theatre hosts a diverse range of events – including Steam Down’s iconic jam sessions, queer pottery classes, comedy nights and folk gigs. Branding itself as an ‘anti-capitalist venue’, the space was set up, built and previously staffed by volunteers. These days, it employs artists, musicians, researchers and locals, and all of its stock comes from either south or east London. It’s one of the rare places in the capital that feels like a proper community and where anything goes. It champions art above anything else and has become a vital space for developing bands, musicians and performers.  But now it needs your help. The venue is calling for supporters to contribute to a fundraiser to help it stay open, with an aim to raise £35,000. According to their crowdfunder page, the venue’s landlord is ‘threatening to essentially end the lease’ unless they pay the full sum by the end of the week, after falling into Covid-related rent arrears due to a fall-off in trade during lockdown and other pandemic restrictions. A post on the venue’s Instagram said:  ‘Over the last week and a half, we have had to close the venue due to a sudden escalation of ongoing debt repayment with our landlord. They called bailiffs to the property and we had to make the decision to close our doors. We are deeply sorry to all of the

If at first you don’t succeed, try again – right? That’s certainly the attitude you’ll need if you want to get your hands on tickets for Glastonbury 2024. The coach tickets sold out in only 25 minutes, and with general sale happening this Sunday, you’re going to want to pull out all of the stops.  There’s good reason why it’s so difficult to get a spot at Glastonbury – we’d go as far to say it’s the best music festival in the world. And it’s not only a music lovers’ paradise (last year saw Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses and Elton John take to the Pyramid Stage), it’s also a 24-hour city of entertainment – with all sorts of cinema, circus, art and performance on offer for five days straight.  As far as the 2024 festival goes, there’s already been a fair amount of speculation as to who might be playing: Madonna, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift have all been rumoured to be headliners. The full line-up won’t be revealed until late spring next year, with the event itself taking place on June 26 to 30 2024.  Glastonbury’s organisers recently announced that the festival ticket price for next year would be its highest ever. Tickets for the 2024 will cost £355, plus the £5 booking fee – up from 2023’s price of £335. Still keen to go? It’s going to be a mission, that’s for sure. But if you’re up for it, here are some tips that *might* improve your chances of scooping some tickets. Just maybe.  RECOMMENDED:  Everything you need to know about Glastonbury 2024 Emily Eavis has dropped some major h

Disputes between unions and train companies in the UK have now been dragging on for well over a year, with rail workers taking action to protest poor pay and working conditions. So, it’s a surprise to absolutely no one that further strikes have been confirmed for next month. The next series of strikes will come from members of the ASLEF union, who will walk out with a ‘rolling programme’ in early December and also not work overtime for a lengthy period at the start of the month. More on that below.  In other news, both the RMT and ASLEF unions have also officially voted to continue taking action for at least the next few months. However, the RMT says that it has come to some sort of agreement with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) over pay and job security that could see strike action paused over both the Christmas period and throughout parts of next spring. So, some (temporary) respite from the RMT could be on the way! Union members are still to vote on and approve the deal.  In any case, here is everything you need to know about any upcoming industrial action on the UK’s rail network.  RECOMMENDED: All you need to know about the train strikes in London. When are the next train strike dates? ASLEF’s ‘rolling programme’ of 24-hour strikes will take place between December 2 and December 8, though not all ASLEF workers will be on strike for that entire time. Different train companies will see strikes on different days.  On top of that, ASLEF drivers will not work overtime from Dece

Second time lucky, right? After one false start when the ticket sale was called off just hours before coach tickets were due to go live, pushing the sale back by two weeks, the time has come once again for you to double-check your spreadsheet and reboot your wifi. That’s right: Glastonbury tickets are on sale this week. It’s going to be a struggle. Last year, 200,000 tickets were up for sale – and while that sounds like a lot, there were more than two million people trying to get their hands on them. Coach tickets sold out in about six minutes and general sales ran dry in just under an hour. Scary stuff, we know.  But will it be worth it? We certainly think so. Getting Glasto tickets is a proper mission, but those of us who have been to the fabled festival will guarantee you it is worth every second of stress. And if you don’t succeed, there’s always next time, right?  Read on for all of the essential details about this Glastonbury ticket sales this week.  Recommended: Here is our ultimate guide to Glastonbury 2024, including line-up, dates and tickets. What time do Glastonbury tickets go on sale? Ticket sale dates have been moved back by two weeks ‘out of fairness’ to allow more people to register. Now, coach tickets will go on sale at 6pm on Thursday November 16. General sale tickets will be up for grabs at 9am on Sunday November 19. If you’ve planned a big one for the night before, you might want to reconsider.  How can I get tickets? If you want to increase your chances

Hot Swiftie summer has been and gone, and what a summer it was! Us UK-based Taylor fans waited around for months, pouring over set lists and constantly refreshing our feeds to hear news about the star arriving on our shores. It took the meaning of FOMO to a whole other level until, finally, we were put out of our misery. UK Eras Tour dates were announced, including a total of five massive Wembley shows and support from Paramore.  On her US leg, we saw the mega star perform through a torrential storm, dive head first into the stage, partake in a short-lived (and bizarre) relationship with The 1975 frontman Matty Healy, and bring her ex Taylor Lautner out to do a few backflips. We can only hope that the UK leg will be just as exciting and spectacular.  And as any hardcore fan knows, Tay Tay truly is the gift that keeps on giving. After the chaotic scramble for UK tickets left thousands disappointed, she's only gone and announced extra dates. Here's everything we know.  RECOMMENDED: Everything you need to know about Taylor Swift’s 2024 London datesExpert tips to get tickets for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in the UKAll you need to know about Pulp at Cardiff International Arena Two new London shows announced for the UK Eras tour The new shows will be at London’s Wembley Stadium on August 19 and August 20 and tickets will be available to a limited number of fans who registered for London shows earlier this year. If you’re one of the Lucky Ones (Taylor’s Version), you should receive a

It’s the time of year when things start to get a bit, well, stressful again. Summer is over, days are getting shorter and the city is heaving with people rushing to and from work and school. If you’re anything like me, it’s all getting a bit much.  This secluded wooden cabin overlooking a lake in rural Essex might just be the relief you need. Less than a one-hour train journey from London, the Kingfishers Nest on Browning Bros farm is a smartly designed getaway that feels worlds away from the bustle of city life. With neutral wooden walls and understated (and genuinely tasteful) furnishings, the place exudes calm. It’s the type of property that makes you want to permanently wave goodbye to the city and succumb to a life of peace, quiet... and sheep (yes, that’s who you have for neighbours). The cabin sleeps two and is surprisingly roomy, while also offering a sofa bed for children or an extra guest.  Photograph: The Wanderlist Photograph: The Wanderlist Photograph: The Wanderlist There’s a private hot tub and sauna (need I say more) and a stunning free-standing bath tub that fits two, perfectly positioned by the window to spot birds out on the lake. Once you’re done with all the R&R, you can whip up a meal in the fully equipped kitchen or fire up the BBQ if the weather allows. I made homemade gnocchi for the first time (surprisingly easy?) before getting stuck into one of the many books that I’ve neglected, curled up in front of the wood-burner stove. You know what tha

‘I’ve lived in lots of different parts of the UK, but Birmingham has just always felt like my home,’ says Amaka Okafor, who plays Shahara Hasan in Netflix’s new crime series, ‘Bodies’. Now residing in London, she still visits her hometown regularly and is even considering moving back for good. ‘London’s amazing, but it’s big enough for people to be quite segregated and stay within their communities, whereas Birmingham is very mixed.’ One of her favourite things about the city is – perhaps unsurprisingly – its people. ‘It’s full of independently minded people who set their own things up and trust that others will come, and people do,’ she says. ‘You don’t need to leave Birmingham to find culture. One of my favourite music festivals is the Moseley Jazz Festival: I go to every summer, it’s just such a vibe.’ Starring alongside Stephen Graham in ‘Bodies’ (‘He’s incredible!’), Okafor sees a lot of similarities between herself and her character: a headstrong police detective who is also a single mum. ‘She has a massive heart for outsiders and puts herself on the line when she probably shouldn’t,’ Okafor says. Here, she guides us around the UK’s second city. Drink ‘My favourite place is Hockley Social Club. It’s in the Jewellery Quarter, surrounded by warehouses that are actually used for warehouses – not swanky warehouses that are now flats. It’s basically this really cool, old, social club: when you go in, there’s loads of different food places, as well as a bar and a record shop

Well, well, well: here we are again. The annual scramble for Glastonbury tickets has arrived. One of the most stressful yet exciting times of the year; a time when friends are lost and enemies are made. It’s time to get planning. And if you’re unlucky? Not all is lost. There are plenty of other brilliant UK festivals to choose from, which are significantly easier to get tickets for. If you’re new to Glastonbury, you might be asking yourself: why all that hassle to get tickets for a festival when you don’t even know who’ll be playing? It’s because it’s Glastonbury, honey. The fact is, the festival is so bloody massive that there will be something to suit everyone, regardless of who’s topping the bill. But let’s be real: it’s the huge headliners that most of us are curious about. Who will take the sweet spot to close the Pyramid stage on Sunday night? Could 2024 be the year when Harry Styles finally makes his pyramid stage debut? Will the Swifties’ wishes be granted at last? Last year saw the likes of Elton John, Arctic Monkeys and Guns N Roses take to the stage at Worthy Farm, in a lineup which proved controversial due to its lack of female headliners. But, as Emily Eavis recently hinted to Annie Mac and Nick Grimshaw on their podcast, the organisers are trying to change that for 2024. And while there have been no official Glastonbury announcements as of yet about who will take to the stage next June, there have been a fair few rumours flying around (as usual). Emily Eavis re

When Seb Lowe started uploading videos of him singing to TikTok during the pandemic, it wasn’t long before he catapulted to viral success – connecting with tens of thousands through his witty, social commentary-style lyrics. ‘It all happened really fast,’ he says. Despite their more serious undertone, many of his songs have a distinctly cheeky feel to them, poking fun at authorities and scrutinising every day British life. ‘Some people write from a personal place and find therapy in that, but I prefer to write externally about what I see,’ he explains. Now, Seb has racked up more than eight million likes on the platform, has released a mini album and a handful of EPs, and recently embarked on a headline tour. Born and raised in Oldham, a town in Greater Manchester, he gives Time Out a tour of the best things to do.  Eat ‘I used to go to Molino Lounge all the time in college and get the Mexican pork tapas and halloumi fries. It’s pretty inexpensive, but still feels nice: it has quite an oldy-worldy, Victorian feel, but is colourful with paintings everywhere.’ Drink ‘Abaco in Uppermill is a small Italian coffee shop which has now expanded. It throws all sorts of events: like Christmas cocktail night, Spanish wine night. It’s a really nice vibe, I go literally all the time.’ Do ‘I used to be part of Oldham Theatre Workshop, who do lots of things with young people and have a professional team as well. I remember dressing up in a penguin mascot costume with a top hat one Christm

Did you watch Glastonbury 2023 on TV and wished you were right there in the crowd, surrounded by flags, singing along – rather than being propped on your sofa holding a cup of tea instead of an icy beer? We don’t blame you. There’s a reason why Glastonbury is near-impossible to get tickets for, and if you’re hoping to secure your spot in front of the Pyramid Stage in 2024, you’re going to need to start planning now. More than 200,000 revellers descended on Worthy Farm for the 2023 edition, but demand was unsurprisingly much higher. You might be an optimistic first-timer to the annual ticket scramble or a resilient regular – either way, you’re probably already well aware that it’s more likely to end in failure than success. One thing’s for sure, though: you’ll definitely regret not trying at all. Though 2023’s line-up proved a controversial one, the event was still, by all accounts, a roaring success. More than 3,000 acts performed across four days filled with surprise appearances, meaning that if none of the 2024 headliners float your boat (there’s a strong rumour that Taylor Swift will be there), there’s bound to be some music that does.  So, are you ready to plan ahead for 2024? Here’s everything you need to know about when tickets will go on sale – and how to register to buy them. Next year could well be your year. RECOMMENDED: Glastonbury 2023 review – controversial line-up doesn’t let the sun go down When will Glastonbury 2024 tickets go on sale? Coach and ticket package

Holidaymakers, we’ve got bad news. Baggage handling staff at Heathrow (the UK’s biggest and busiest airport) have announced that they’ll be going on strike for 13 days in October. The strike will coincide with October half term (October 23-27) – here’s everything you need to know about the strikes, from the dates they are taking place to the expected amount of disruption. When are the Heathrow strikes meant to take place?  Workers are set to strike for two periods. The first walkout will be from 5:30pm on October 6 to 6am on October 9. Then second strike will take place for ten straight days from October 20 (October 20-29).  Who is going on strike at Heathrow Airport? Around 170 baggage handling staff who work in the maintenance and servicing of baggage carousels will go on strike. The striking workers are members of the Unite union. What airlines are affected? The scale of the potential disruption at Heathrow hasn’t yet been quantified. The airport is apparently taking precautionary measures to ensure passenger services are not impacted.  Why are baggage handling workers striking? The workers are striking as part of an ongoing pay dispute.  What’s been said about the strikes?  Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘Workers at Heathrow Airport employed by Vanderlande do a safety and security critical role that passengers depend on. The fact that their employer refuses to recognise this, as shown by their pitiful pay offer, speaks volumes. ‘Our members will have