Chloe Lawrance

Japan’s tourist numbers have well and truly exploded over the past few years, with 2025 set to have been the country’s biggest ever year for international arrivals. That’s not likely to change anytime soon, with the Land of the Rising Sun increasingly popular for 2026. But that doesn’t mean you have to find yourself stuck in a throng of tourists if you’re planning a trip to the country. Part of Japan’s vast appeal is that there is so much to explore beyond the obvious cities like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.Enter Naoshima, an island on the Seto Inland Sea – and one of the world’s foremost art destinations. Dubbed Japan’s ‘art island’, it’s a one-mile wide, three-mile long feast of modern and contemporary art unlike anywhere else on the planet.Yayoi Kusama, Claude Monet, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Yves Klein, Cy Twombly, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Jackson Pollock… pretty much every giant of modern art has a piece on Naoshima. Even more remarkable is that the art isn’t just in museums; it’s all over the place. You’ll find sculptures, installations, paintings and photography on Naoshima’s hills and at its ports and viewpoints, on its beaches, piers and cliffs, in its forests and fields, towns and houses. Photography: Shutterstock If Art Island sounds like your cup of tea for 2026, turn to your unexpected travel partner, Lloyds, to help plan your trip with ease. Changing tax rules this year means that flights into Japan could get more expensive – so there’s no better time to use the

From epic mountain ranges to world-famous golf courses, bustling cities to quaint market towns, Scotland has something for everyone - and the secret is out. International tourist numbers have been steadily climbing in the past decade, rising to a whopping 4.4 million international tourists in 2024. To escape the crowds, look past Edinburgh, St Andrews and even the central Highlands and head somewhere unexpected and off the radar.Oban, a small town in a sheltered bay on Scotland’s West Coast, is the perfect place to start. The unofficial capital of the West Highlands, it’s easily accessible by car from Edinburgh and Glasgow, but those looking for a greener option can take the ScotRail Highland Explorer train from Glasgow. It features a carriage designed to accommodate bikes, skis and any other equipment you could need on an action-packed getaway at any time of year. If you plan to fly in to Glasgow or Edinburgh and start your journey from there, it’s well worth booking your flights with Lloyds, your unexpected travel partner. The Price Prediction tool is built into Lloyds Travel Booking within their app. It suggests when to book or when to wait. Then, if you book your flights through the Lloyds app and the tool says you’ve got a great price, it will continue to track your flight booking after you’ve locked it in. Should the price drop below what you paid, you’ll automatically receive up to £50 in travel credits towards the difference. Also, if you find a better deal yourself w

Sometimes, the holiday of your dreams is about one thing and one thing only: absolute relaxation. Here at Time Out, we’ve got just the place to make that dream come true – but it might not be where you would expect.No, we’re not talking about the Caribbean or the Maldives. ​​In fact, what if we told you you could get the tropical island vibes of your wildest holiday dreams, right here in the UK? Say hello to the Isles of Scilly, the ultimate ‘destination dupe’ for more far-flung island holiday destinations – no long-haul flight necessary.Of course, it's a given that an island holiday is all about checking out of the busyness of daily life – which is where Lloyds comes in. As your unexpected travel partner, Lloyds helps to make the whole experience of planning, booking and spending on your trip easier, whether that’s finding great deals on flights in their app or budgeting for your getaway.Ready to explore everything the Isles of Scilly has to offer? Here’s our ultimate guide – and why you should visit in 2026. Photography: Shutterstock Discover the islandsThe Isles of Scilly are a sleepy archipelago just off the coast of Cornwall, made up of five main islands: St Mary’s, St Agnes, Tresco, St Martin’s and Bryher, with plenty more uninhabited islands surrounding them. And it feels as if you’ve transported yourself to the Caribbean – just without the 12-hour journey. In our eyes, this is the kind of place the term ‘destination dupe’ was made for – it’s scarcely believable you’

When you think of rolling hills and English countryside, you’re probably picturing the Cotswolds and the Lake District – two of the most visited places in the UK. But here’s the thing: their fame means these hotspots are getting overcrowded, and going here for a staycation is more expensive than ever.So in 2026, there’s never been a better time to do things a little differently – to get out and discover the UK‘s less-trodden regions. There, you can avoid the crowds, stick to your budget, and see corners of the UK you might never have expected visiting. And we’ve got just the place. Enter: North Yorkshire. While nearby regions have seen tourism soar, this eclectic county has somehow remained pretty under the radar. It’s home to every kind of holiday on the spectrum – not just its wild, natural landscapes but some stellar city breaks and lively seaside towns, all incredibly do-able on a budget.And if you are walking the budget tightrope when booking a holiday – to North Yorkshire or further afield – turn to your unexpected travel partner Lloyds to find some handy solutions for making your cash go further. The Lloyds app is teeming with tools that make planning a trip simpler, such as setting savings goals. There’s also Save the Change®, which automatically rounds up what you spend on your Lloyds debit card to the nearest pound and pops the change into your Lloyds savings account.Ready to discover one of the UK’s hidden gems? Here’s everything you need to know about a trip to No

No matter the kind of traveller you are – from thrillseeker to culture vulture – Intrepid Travel has got just the trip for you. With adventures spanning over 100 destinations, there's never been a better time to travel. Until now. Because we've got possibly the coolest competition we've ever had for you… To celebrate the release of our annual Best Cities list (and our first-ever travel partnership with Intrepid), one lucky winner will win the trip of a lifetime to one of our top 10 Best Cities for 2026, worth up to £3000. Consider yourself architecturally inclined? Visit the Magic City of Shanghai. Fan of mezcal and tamales? Take a trip to Mexico City. Want to say you've visited Time Out's top city for 2026? Head to Australia's glorious metropolis of Melbourne.  Or, check out our full 2026 list of Best Cities here and decide for yourself: Melbourne, Australia  Shanghai, China Edinburgh, Scotland, UK London, England, UK New York City, United States Cape Town, South Africa Mexico City, Mexico Bangkok, Thailand Seoul, South Korea Tokyo, Japan Renowned for the ‘best small group trips’ around, Intrepid is all about locally led adventures that find the sweet spot between authentic cultural experiences and responsible tourism, all while connecting a community of like-minded travellers. Trips span more than 100 destinations – from trekking the Inca Trail in Peru to street-food discoveries in Japan and desert camping beneath the stars in Morocco. Keen to try one of their tr

Let’s face it: the January blues are a real thing. It’s raining, usually pouring, our bank balances have been drained by Christmas consumerism and the last thing we want to do is touch a drop of booze (well, maybe a pint or two in the local).  But there’s good news: Tate, home to a clutch of must-see exhibitions across its family of galleries, is offering its Tate Trial membership to see you through the bleakest of months. For just £26*, you and a guest will get three months of unlimited entry to every exhibition with no need to book. Simply rock up and soak it up!  From Theatre Picasso and Tracey Emin at Tate Modern in Bankside to Lee Miller and Turner & Constable: Rivals & Originals at Tate Britain in Millbank, there’s more art to discover in 2026 than you can shake a paintbrush at.  Better still, the Tate Trial membership unlocks access to the hush-hush Members Rooms, where you and your bestie can relax and unwind like art aficionados.  But you’ll need to move quickly: this special offer ends on January 31. So swing into action now, and make 2026 your most culture-filled year yet.  Get your Tate Trial membership now   *Terms and conditions apply, please visit tate.org.uk/trial-membership for details  Theatre Picasso is presented in The George Economou Gallery. In partnership with White & Case. Also supported by the Huo Family Foundation. With additional support from the Theatre Picasso Exhibition Supporters Circle, Tate Americas Foundation and Tate Members. Lee Miller is s

If you’re a proper Londoner, you’ll know that there’s nothing quite like spending a drizzly Saturday afternoon wandering around the Tate Modern in Bankside or Tate Britain where you can take in greats like Tracey Emin, Pablo Picasso, Lee Miller and JMW Turner.  This winter, the family of galleries is hosting a clutch of must-see exhibitions for the culturally curious. Better still, with Tate Trial membership – which gives you and a guest three months of unlimited entry to every exhibition with no need to book for just £26* – you’ll be able to take in all of these and more. Perfect for the post-Christmas period when you’re looking for stuff to do that doesn’t cost the earth or involve boozing. Here are our picks of the best exhibitions – and don’t forget to sign up for a Tate Trial membership to make the most of them.

In a year when it’s become pretty much impossible to so much as glance at a screen without being bombarded with all manner of maddening AI slop, it’s comforting to know that there is still plenty of vivid, funny, brilliantly human writing out there if you know where to look. From laugh-out-loud debuts and masterful autofiction to big-name autobiographies, gripping non-fiction thrillers and binge-worthy travelogues, here are our editors’ favourite page-turners of 2025. Add this lot to your ‘to read’ pile, stat. RECOMMENDED: 🎵 The 40 best songs of 2025📀 The 25 best albums of 2025

Even after a couple of vintage years for new music, 2025 has been special. Sure, we didn’t get a clear-cut ‘song of the summer’, but artists have been instead putting out defining works in a longer format. The past 12 (well, 11) months have featured all manner of extraordinary album releases.  Belted-to-the-rafters country pop, plunderphonic majesty, ecstatic dance music, intimate electronic world-building, history-collapsing art rock, triumphant hip-hop… these are just a few of the sounds and styles that have been executed marvellously in 2025. Here are the year’s finest 25 albums, chosen by Time Out editors and contributors.

It’s been another stellar year for music in 2025, packed full of belters, breakouts and hook-laden earworms.  Lorde returned to her angsty roots, Pulp dropped their first album since, and Bad Bunny reigned supreme on the streamers. We were blessed with new music from pop heavyweights Lady Gaga, Lily Allen and Robyn. In a plot twist, Rosalía dropped a classical album packed with religious references, and Turnstile made hardcore mainstream. Breakout stars CMAT, Addison Rae and Jim Legxacy proved that they are here to stay. Here Time Out editors and contributors have hand-picked the tracks they’ve had on repeat this year. These are the 40 best songs of 2025.  RECOMMENDED: The 25 best albums of 2025. 

This year of music has started with a bang. We’ve seen Chappell Roan go country, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco smothering audiences with gushy love songs and Playboi Carti’s rapturous return from the underground. We've even been blessed with the return of Lorde! Alongside these pop heavyweights, we’re witnessing rap superstar Doechii continue her chart domination and the breakthrough of Gen Z artists like 2hollis, Tate McRae and Kai Bosch. What songs are defining 2025? Well, we’ve searched through our playlists and extracted the best songs of the year so far, to give you a mid-year vibe check of where we are currently at. But it doesn’t stop there. Keep your eyes peeled for updates to this list throughout the year as we’re still awaiting albums from Turnstile, Miley Cyrus, Pulp, A$AP Rocky and many more. RECOMMENDED: 🎧 The best albums of 2025 (so far)🎥 The best movies of 2025 (so far)📺 The best TV of 2025 (so far)

The most important thing about Christmas is here: the festive sandwich. So pure. So dense. So carby. This year, the staff of Time Out London have taste-tested seasonal sarnies from 10 independent bakeries, delis and street food stalls across London in order to find the jolliest Christmas sandwich in town. From vegetarian cheese feasts to meaty marvels and vegan sourdough wedges, these are the very best Christmas sandwiches in London. 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. 

What is it? Westfield London is big. Taking up a whopping 43 acres across nine postcodes on the site of the 1908 Olympics, and costing roughly £1.6 billion to build, the White City landmark is home to no less than 450 shops and over 80 places to eat and drink. Following its 2018, Westfield is now the largest shopping centre in Europe, and is home to high-street stalwarts like GAP, John Lewis and Urban Outfitters, as well as a selection of upmarket brands (think Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada) in The Village. But what makes this giga-mall a grand day out is the fact that there’s so much more to do besides just shopping; eateries run the gamut from EL&N for pastel-hued brunching to Wagamama for dependable noodles and Flat Iron for reasonably priced steak without the queues you’ll find in central London. The entertainment offering is broad too; movies, bouldering, golf, football, gaming, tech…there’s something for absolutely everyone. Why go? Because it’s basically London in miniature: shopping, eating, drinking, entertainment and a surprisingly hefty dose of wellness, all under one very large roof. Ideal when you want maximum options with minimal faff. Don’t miss: A shopping centre might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you’re looking for some R&R, but in recent years, Westfield London has become a real hub for health and wellness. There’s a Gym Box for working out and StretchLAB for some assisted stretching afterwards (yes, that means someone else does all the