Ella Doyle

Sometimes you want hotel beds, fluffy robes and a breakfast buffet laid out for you. But sometimes, you really just want your own space, and to live like an actual local – and for those trips, only an Airbnb will do. Our editors agree; some of our most memorable trips feature memories of playing vinyl and cooking scrambled eggs in a light-filled kitchen, and wandering out to our favourite local bar every evening.   There are endless lists out there of the most extravagant, out-there and one-of-a-kind Airbnbs in Europe – the kinds that get splashed in print magazines and featured on Airbnb’s homepage. But often these stays are booked up for the next three years or, ahem, a little out of our budget. Instead, we thought we’d show you the Airbnbs we’ve actually booked ourselves and fallen in love with lately. Some are rare finds, some are unique, and some are just exactly what we needed – filled with character, comfort and perfectly placed for exploring the city. That’s what we’re all about here at Time Out, after all. So for a bit of holiday inspo (or even your next holiday stay), read on, friends – here are our favourite Airbnbs right now.  ➡️ READ MORE: Our ultimate guide to hotels and Airbnbs in Europe Ella Doyle is Time Out’s Europe editor. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by experts across Europe. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For mo

Once upon a time, the only reason to grab a bite at King’s Cross was if you were waiting for your train. But this once-grimy post-industrial area has undergone an enormous regeneration, and these days it’s packed with fine restaurants and great places to grab a decent bite. These are the best King’s Cross restaurants at a glance: 🍴 Best for a long lunch: The Yellow Bittern 🦆 Best for Chinese cuisine: Dim Sum Duck 🍛 Best for Indian favourites: Tamilla 🍠 Best for vegetarians: Bubala 🌮 Best for Mexican classics: Mestizo Be it the lofty, warehouse-sized joints around Granary Square, the trendy cafés in Coal Drops Yard or the hip little spots around lower Pentonville and a selection of Cantonese cult classics, there’s something for all tastes (and budgets, high or low). Check out our list of the best. RECOMMENDED: These are the best pubs in King’s Cross. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

July 2026: We've updated our roasts list to reflect the fact it's sunny and pretty warm out. Try the Macbeth in Hoxton, which offers a great Portuguese-style Sunday sesh, the ravishing Jamaican-inspired roast at Buster Mantis in Deptford, or Rice Paddy's northern Thai meat platter in Peckham. There are a couple of posh restaurants in the mix too, with a Nordic roast at the plush Ekstedt at the Yard near Westminster and a serious meat feast at Quality Chop House in Clerkenwell. We also have a new Number 1 to welcome summer in; a masterful roast at The Golden Tooth on Green Lanes. London’s best Sunday roasts at a glance: 🥩 Central: Sessions Arts Club, Clerkenwell 😇 North: The Golden Tooth, Newington Green ⛪ South: Old Nun’s Head, Nunhead 🌈 East: The Nelson’s, Hackney 🍻 West: The Mall Tavern, Notting Hill Sunday lunch. There’s nothing quite like it. An elemental meal, one that Londoners take incredibly seriously. Debates about what constitutes the ‘perfect’ Sunday roast have been known to last for hours. There is no shortage of top roasts and Sunday lunch options in London. We’ve rounded up the city’s best Sunday meals from a host of pubs, restaurants and breweries all around town. What makes a good roast? For us, it’s simple; a welcoming room is a good start, maybe in a pub with an open fire during the winter months. Then it comes to the plate – we need perfect roast potatoes, well-cooked lamb, beef or pork and a decent plant-based option too. A Sunday roast is more than

An adventure in the Scottish Highlands is like no other trip in the UK. One minute you could be scaling a mountain with stunning views across the sea, and the next sunbathing on a Caribbean-esque beach. There’s plenty of Airbnbs to provide a comfortable and relaxing stay while you spend the day bracing the elements in your walking boots. From cottages with crackling wood-burning stoves (a must in the Highland chill), to quirky luxurious bothies, the options are as charming as the landscape itself. Feeling spoilt for choice? Don’t worry – we’ve handpicked the very best stays to make your Highland escape even easier to plan. Updated October 2025: We've added a new cabin property that promises a midge free stay, and is just a 10-minute drive from Inverness Airport. Best Scottish Highland stays at a glance 💞 Best for couples: Assich Zen Lodge 🎉 Best for big groups: The Bakehouse at Foulis Castle 🌊 Most off-grid: The Lighthouse Cottage 🏃‍♀️ Best for adventure seekers: The Bunker in Flesherin RECOMMENDED: 🛖 Discover the best Airbnbs in the UK📍 Our ultimate guide to UK getaways 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.

Searching for the best Airbnbs in Whitstable, Kent? From historic fisherman's cottages on Island Wall to sea-view townhouses with private parking on Harbour Street, this coastal gem is the ultimate seaside staycation spot. Famous for fresh oysters, sunset pints at The Old Neptune, and Tankerton Beach walks, we’ve handpicked the top-rated Whitstable Airbnb rentals for romantic weekenders, families and dog-friendly group breaks. Best Whitstable Airbnbs at a glance 🐶Best dog friendly Airbnb in Whitstable: Huge dog-friendly Airbnb with four bedrooms in central Whitstable 🧸Best Airbnb for families: Dog-friendly cottage in Whitstable with a garden near the high street 💸Best budget friendly Airbnb: Romantic beach cabin on Hampton Beach near Whitstable with sea views 🎉Most unique Airbnb in Whitstable for special occasions: Large dog-friendly Airbnb with sea views on Tankerton Beach 💞Best Airbnb for couples: Georgian terrace Airbnb for two in Herne Bay with sea views RECOMMENDED: 🇬🇧 Here’s our list of best Airbnbs near London 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.

Everyone should visit Paris once in their life. World-class, art, food, culture and historical sites – it’s got it all. But as tempting as it might be to plan trip after trip to this magnifique city, there’s so much more to France than just its capital. Put simply, France is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. From fairytale châteaux to towering mountains, medieval cities to glittering coastlines, and rolling vineyards to sprawling sand dunes, it’s a diverse and endlessly fascinating destination for holidaymakers (there’s a reason why it consistently ranks as the most visited country in the world by tourists). But where to start? That’s where our guide (written by our Time Out Paris editors and local experts) comes in. What’s happening in France in 2025? France (and in particular, Paris) was very much in the spotlight last year, thanks to a little thing called the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, but there’s plenty to get tourists excited about in 2025 too. Following five years of renovations, Paris’s Notre Dame cathedral reopened in December 2024, with works set to finish sometime this year. Meanwhile, the southern city of Aix-en-Provence is planning a major year-long celebration in honour of the artist Paul Cézanne, who lived and worked in the city. If you’re still on the sports-tripping hype, there’s plenty to enjoy in France this year too, such as the French Open (May 25-June 8) and the Tour de France (July 5-27). RECOMMENDED:🌆 The best French cities to visit

Planning a countryside getaway? From romantic treehouses with hot tubs to cosy dog-friendly cottages, the best Airbnbs in the Cotswolds offer the ultimate retreat. Located just a short drive up the M5 from Bristol, this iconic region, which was recently voted as the best weekend trip from London, delivers quintessential English charm. Whether you’re looking for a luxury barn conversion or a quiet village stay, we’ve handpicked top-rated properties for every budget. Updated August 2026: Two more couldn't hurt, but it may make your choice a little more difficult, especially once you take a look at the new treehouse overlooking The Cotswolds that we've added.  Best Airbns in the Cotswolds at a glance 🧸Best Airbnb for families: Airbnb by a lake with a hot tub in South Cerney 💰Best budget stay: Glamping pod with fire pit in Cheltenham near Bourton-on-the-water🧖‍♀️Best Airbnb with a hot tub: Barn with hot tub in South Gloucestershire near Bath and Bristol 💗Best Airbnb for couples: Romantic cabin in the woods with a sauna and hot tub in Horton RECOMMENDED: 🇬🇧See our top picks for the best Airbnbs in the UK🏨Cosy up in the cheapest hotels in the Cotswolds 💂‍♂️or stay in these unique Airbnbs in London Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affil

You might think of Paddington as a transport hub, and you wouldn’t be wrong. It’s a great place to stop before catching the Heathrow Express or hopping on a train to the west of England. But it’s also brilliantly placed for exploring central London. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are just a short stroll away, while Notting Hill’s colourful streets, Portobello Road Market and Edgware Road’s excellent Middle Eastern restaurants are all within easy reach. Whatever brings you here, these are our favourite hotels in Paddington.  ➡️ Full list of the best hotels in London for 2026 How we curate our hotel lists Headed up by editor Joe Mackertich, our team at Time Out London spend their time reviewing hotels all over the Capital – new openings, old classics and everything in between – to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.  📍 Ultimate guide to London’s best hotels, Airbnbs and more

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

From the iconic Duomo and Ponte Vecchio to the artisan streets of Oltrarno, Florence packs world-famous sights, incredible food and Renaissance history into one gloriously walkable city. Spend your days browsing the Uffizi Gallery, shopping along Via Roma and watching the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo before tucking into fresh pasta and a glass of Chianti. Whether you're planning a romantic escape, family holiday or solo adventure, these are the best Airbnbs in Florence right now. August 2026 update: We've added some new incredible properties to this list, including a modern home near the train station, perfect for exploring the city and the wider region. Enjoy! The best Airbnbs in Florence at a glance 🛕 Best for Duomo views: The best luxury Airbnb in Florence with a private Duomo viewing terrace 🏊 Best with a pool: Tuscan loft with a pool in Scandicci 🥂 Best in Oltrarno: The rooftop terrace apartment in Santo Spirito 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for families: The big yellow home Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. Frequently asked questions about Airbnbs in Florence Which is the best neighbourhood to stay in an Ai

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

Rossella Muswell Hill is the second branch of the original, well-loved Kentish Town gem – and it’s had a serious glow up. This grown-up take on the neighbourhood trattoria has sweeping curved glass walls, light pouring in and a magnificent sunny courtyard, packed out with a buzzing crowd of locals, families and big groups cheersing with tiny limoncellos. The menu is classic Italian: fresh pasta, pizza, small plates and a few meat and fish mains. The pasta is probably the star of the show, from a glossy vongole with tonnarelli to a fabulous pasta alla nerano (apparently their most popular dish this summer – blame Stanley Tucci). This is a spot that does it all, and does it all masterfully well, as good for a summery date night as it is for a raucous 10-person birthday dinner. Even more, it’s a spot where you can feel the love that’s gone into it to make this happen (go on, ask your server about the black-and-white family photos on the wall). Time Out tip To drink, get stuck into a bottle from owner Luca’s family vineyard, or a spritz served in a big old goblet (both the limoncello and the meloncello are Rossella’s own). And make sure to order a tiramisu – it comes out on a trolley, served tableside.

I love Rome for the way it makes me feel like I’ve stepped back in time – but that doesn’t mean you want your stay to match. Sometimes, you want to come home to somewhere sleek, sultry and with a very nice cocktail bar. And that’s what you’ll get at art’otel Rome Via Veneto, the first Rome outpost of the art’otel brand, opened in March 2025.  What ties it to Rome so wholly, of course, is the art. If you know of the art’otel brand, you’ll know every hotel is designed with a local artist, to feel like a walk-through art gallery. At its Rome outpost, the artist is Pietro Ruffo, who has created a kind of intricate fantasy world, from the doors to the lifts to the cocktail bar; all multi-colours, astrological charts and floating globes. Be you an art buff or not, it’s well worth asking for a tour of the premises to hear some of the stories behind the artwork; like the layers of Rome hidden in the wall hangings in the downstairs bar, and the suite terraces designed to be different zodiac signs. Oh and that lift – that gloriously colourful, swirling lift – is a very nice touch indeed.  Service is extremely friendly and knowledgeable – we were greeted with a glass of prosecco on arrival and a map of nearby sights.  What are the rooms like at art’otel Rome Via Veneto? Perfectly slick, clean and swish, with black panelling, pops of colour and art embellishments, including Ruffo’s designs on cushions and shower doors. Even the most basic room option is a good size, and all look out onto

We all know about Tenerife’s ‘Brit Abroad’ rep, but if you’ve been recently (and you know the right spots), you’ll know as well as we do that there’s a whole side of this beautiful island that’s diverse and innovative, with a proper local spirit – and there’s another side of it that’s complete and utter luxury.  On this side, the island is rows upon rows of sprawling luxury hotels, almost exclusively all-inclusive-style resorts. Choosing from these many, many options can be a bit of a minefield, but if you’re the kind of person (like me) who travels mainly to eat, eat and eat some more, I’ll make it easy for you. I stayed at Royal Hideaway Corales Beach, the adults-only wing of Royal Hideaway Corales Resort, and it holds the most Michelin stars of any hotel in Spain. Need I say more?  What’s the vibe at Royal Hideaway Corales Beach? The first thing to get out of the way is that Royal Hideaway Corales Beach is not on the beach (nor does it have direct access to it, although it is very near Playa de Enramada). Instead, you’ll notice that Royal Hideaway looks like a cruise ship – and that’s the idea (it was designed by Tenerife architect Leonardo Omar). So there’s a general theme to the whole thing: the fact that every room has a view of the ocean, and that it’s got multiple luxury restaurants to choose from feel a bit like you’ve docked in Tenerife on a luxury cruise ship.  What are the rooms like at Royal Hideaway Corales Beach? To explain the set up, Corales Beach (where I st

It’s true what they say: Oxford truly does feel like going back in time. Not quite as twee as its rival Cambridge, but certainly as charming, coming for a day trip from London can only be made better by staying overnight. And if you’re doing that, why not stay slap-bang in the middle of it all, eh? Well, that’s what you’ll get at The Store, a relatively new boutique hotel (from 2024), found inside what was an old Boswell & Co department store on Broad Street, with the city’s best bits right at your fingertips. In a city where the aesthetic, if you will, is delightfully old-school, The Store is a refreshingly modern place to stay – rather unlike the old churches, turrets and oldest university in the country right outside.  What are the rooms like at The Store? There are 101 rooms here, which come in Standard, Deluxe, Superior and Suite. And they are, well, rather lovely – thoughtfully designed with a Scandi feel, all deep reds, soft blues and pastel greens with rounded corners and soft furnishings. Oh, and my new favourite treat, Fatso marmalade chocolate, in the mini-bar.  What you don’t get, if you’re in a high-street facing room, is marvellous bedroom views (I had a view of a McDonald’s and various other chains). But fear not – this is merely an excuse to spend more time at the rooftop bar, where you’ll get old-town Oxford views a-plenty.  What is the service like at The Store? These guys know their market – tourists, and lots of them. Meaning many, many people staying her

NH Collection Maldives Reethi Resort is part of the Minor Hotels group, the guys behind Anantara, Tivoli and the Wolseley, so they know a little something about luxury. And you can feel it in every detail on this beautiful island – the space, the privacy, and the way the staff team quietly operate in the background. At the time of writing, there’s a big benefit to choosing this resort over any other in the Maldives – it’s brand-spanking-new. Previously Reethi Beach Resort, six months of renovations mean new restaurants, new bars, new sand pumped onto its beaches and the almighty new overwater villas.  What’s the vibe at NH Collection Maldives Reethi Resort? Put it this way. When I stayed in February 2026, the hotel felt beautifully quiet – you could sunbathe entirely undisturbed and not hear a single voice or see a single snorkeller float past for hours. I had put this down to Reethi Resort having just opened, but later learned the hotel was already at 60 percent capacity. I can’t, then, imagine this resort could ever feel crowded. In fact, the only time it felt busy was the many, many late risers grabbing last-minute breakfast just before it closed at 11am. If that sounds like veering into brunch hours to you, then trust me, it will be you too – life is all too slow and mighty easy here. You’re on island time, after all.  What are the rooms like at NH Collection Maldives Reethi Resort? There are two main options for staying here: the Ocean Villas and the Beach Villas. At the

Pamella’s Place is somewhere between a cabin and a cottage, if you can picture it. Part of a collection of five lovely properties on Bonington Farm, this design-led stay is chic but cosy, and feels pretty remote while being entirely accessible – the farm is just 15 minutes’ drive from Loughborough Station. For a group of girlfriends or a few couples (you can even fit up to eight people here), it doesn’t really get better than this – think bedroom windows that look out over fields of grazing horses, bedrooms with heavy, sliding curtains and a huge great dining table laden with candles. It’s cabin living – just not in a rickety, straw bathroom kind of way. What’s it like inside Pamella’s Place, Bonington Farm? Step into this sleek triangular lodge and find four bedrooms, stacked on top of each other like a doll’s house. Rooms are ridiculously cute and compact, with tiny shuttered windows and huge great beds topped with cloudlike, fluffy duvets and pillows. This was, genuinely, one of the best beds I have ever slept in.  To your left, you’ll find a fabulous kitchen with salt, pepper, olive oil, tea and coffee and endless cooking supplies – though coffee snobs (like me), beware that it’s the instant stuff, so you might want to bring your own cafetiere and bag of ground coffee. A huge dining table easily fits four, and the walls around it are hung with strange but very fun animal-themed art. The bathroom is equally as glorious, decked out with chequered pink-and-white tiles, brass

There are two options for visiting Amsterdam. Option number one? Stay somewhere cool. Somewhere quiet. Somewhere ‘up-and-coming’ or out of the way of all the action. But option two? You face it head on, embrace Amsterdam with open arms, and stay slap bang in the middle of its raucous centre, right up against the Red Light District, in the midst of all its magical drama. And thankfully, Sofitel The Grand means that option two doesn’t mean a seedy stay or a bunk bed in a hostel – far from it. Enter through Sofitel’s pearly gates and leave the chaos of the streets immediately behind you. Instead, prepare to be met with total grandeur: this hotel, firmly rooted in Amsterdam’s eclectic past, is flat-out, unapologetic, total luxury.  Why stay at Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam? Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam is one of only a handful of Sofitel Legends in the world – the others are found in Hanoi, Panama, Xi’an, Aswan in Egypt and Cartagena in Colombia. It was the first in Europe and the second in the world. There are many reasons to stay at a Sofitel Legend hotel, but the main draw is probably the prestige of the brand, and knowing you’ll be doted on hand and foot. But Amsterdam’s outpost is rather special: you stay here to feel like you’re living amongst Amsterdam’s storied history – the hotel building dates back to 1411, and it’s lived many lives since then: a monastery, a convent, a City Hall, a five-star luxury hotel The Grand – and eventually Sofitel The Grand in 2010.

Sometimes when you really love a hotel, it’s just a feeling. That’s what I had when I walked into Park Plaza Amsterdam. It wouldn’t necessarily suit every kind of traveller: it’s not fancy, and a concierge doesn’t usher your bags into the lift – but staff are, well, lovely, and a laugh – and they’ll hand you an individually wrapped stroopwafel when you leave. One of three Park Plazas in Amsterdam, it’s a relatively small hotel – 102 rooms total – but it feels like it could have 30, and there’s a sort of ‘secret garden’ vibe to the whole thing: entrances are hidden just below ground level, and you snake through a glass corridor to get to the lifts and rooms. Why stay at Park Plaza Vondelpark? Well you’re looking out over Vondelpark, for starters – Amsterdam’s biggest and best park – but the surrounding area and street itself is lovely too, all quiet and leafy with bikes cycling past. Though the hotel’s facilities are minimal, it includes a number of nice touches, like well-priced bike hire, free fizzy water refills in the lobby and free umbrella rental for 48 hours. Part of their sustainability pact also means if you opt out of your room clean you can get a €10 food voucher (which can be used in their restaurant) or a bottle of house wine to have in your room. If you’re anything like me, that’s a mighty good deal just to make your own bed in the morning.  What are the rooms like at Park Plaza Vondelpark? There are a whole range of rooms here, ranging from Cosy and Deluxe and S

What’s the vibe? You’ll find Sargasso on the little island bit in Margate (the Stone Pier, on Margate’s Harbour Arm), which looks out over the rest of the town with the bay stretching out through the middle. It sits right on the edge of the arm, with a few specials scribbled on a chalkboard, thin wooden tables and benches outside, little umbrellas, and high stools indoors for sitting by the window. There’s also a little rock before the entrance, where you might see a group of friends sink an entire bottle of orange wine as they wait for a table to become available. It is, on all counts, a perfect restaurant – sunny and bustling in summer, moody and romantic in winter. Fun waiters, knowledgeable bartenders and small plates with bold red Sargasso branding that are begging to be photographed (and eaten).  What should I order? The menu here changes, but there are some permanent fixtures, like those by-now Instagram-famous Cantabrian anchovies sitting plump and doused in delicious olive oil (they are as good as they look). We start with olive oil crisps and taramasalata, the feta, cucumber and melon salad and the crunchy panisse, a satisfying balance of salty, soft and sweet, paired with a minerally sparkling wine.  The main event ended up being the squid sandwich – fried calamari, squashed into a soft white bun, topped with guindilla peppers and a squeeze of lemon for each bite. Hot tip: if you didn’t snag a table, they offer this to take away for £14, so you can eat it on the be

Shamefully for a local, I didn’t realise how many eateries in Kentish Town were owned by Omar Shah, an entrepreneurial chef from the Philippines whose parents opened Bintang (a great Thai spot) back in 1987. So that’s Guanabana, Ramo Ramen, Mamasons, Cafe Mama & Sons – and now Belly Bistro, an intimate Filipino restaurant with a very nice font. They’re going for a neighbourhood bistro thing here, but it feels more like your classic Hackney small-platey spot. It’s compact and candle-lit, laid out in a strip of small tables with white tablecloths and a few stools up by the bar facing the wall. Everyone eating here is in their 20s and 30s, staff are great. It’s also (at the time of writing) one of the hottest restaurants in town, so there is a chance you’ll have an influencer’s white light blaring from the table next to you. You’ve been warned.  We kick off with cocktails - both the melon sour and the watermelon marg are punchy and well-balanced. The food comes quickly. One of Belly’s ‘viral dishes’ (sorry) is first out, the cured scallops in big, shallow shells, swimming in coconut cream with basil oil and little pickled chillies. They are things of beauty, fat and meaty and incredibly rich - the kind you have to share, lest you get overwhelmed before your main comes out. We also try the soft and tender smoked trout kinilaw – a Filipino take on a ceviche – which I like even more. Almost everything we try is subtly spicy with a tickling, warm heat. The dish to order for a bit of

Fitzrovia might feel corporate, but hiding among the polished buildings and offices are a few spots with a bit of an edge. Mareida is the latest, an elegant fine dining restaurant serving up elevated Chilean cuisine from a buzzy open kitchen. You can feel the passion for the restaurant’s vision from every corner; the space is hung with Chilean art and there are even rocks brought back from local caves. The vibe is slick and trendy, and we dine alongside good-looking couples and a large corporate crew. Our first dish was also our best; mussels in charcoal shells on a bed of fennel sand, which you sprinkle into each shell before eating. They are a lovely, textured bite, made perfect by a few dabs of warmly spiced hot sauce which has a clean, fresh, and tongue-prickling heat. Cocktails are another delight, many of them featuring Chile’s national spirit pisco, including the light Mareida sour and bright-pink and intensely grapefruity Araucaria spritz, topped with a tiny tomato.  The space is hung with Chilean art and rocks brought back from local caves We try all three empanadas - the mushroom with goat cheese, the beef and the seafood. The beef is the stand-out, rich and comforting (warning: it has a tiny, whole boiled egg inside it), but any of them are worth trying. We’re recommended the wagyu slider, which is a fun little thing but doesn’t taste like an awful lot; just thin-cut beef, with a touch of sweetness from the brioche and the brown butter. After a generous dash of th

What is it? Among Edinburgh’s best and biggest theatrical spaces, the Festival Theatre is unique in that it offers the best of multiple eras to its public. Opened as the Festival in 1994, it was constructed from the remains of the old Empire Palace Theatre, a hall that had been around since 1892, and which was known to locals as a variety and concert hall that had welcomed acts including Laurel and Hardy, Judy Garland, Morecambe and Wise and David Bowie over the decades. Is it worth visiting? With the largest stage in Scotland, the Festival is an extremely versatile space, hosting touring musical productions, Edinburgh International Festival shows and low-key rock concerts (Elvis Costello and James Blunt have recently appeared). It’s also the Edinburgh home of Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet, and it also came complete with its own theatrical ghost story back in the day, with renowned illusionist The Great Lafayette having burned to death there during a performance in 1911. What food and drink is there? The three-level foyer incorporates a bar on each level, with views across the city from the top floor and the all-day Festival Theatre Café on the ground floor. On Level F1 you’ll find the Secret Garden Bar and the Champagne Bar (head to one of these if you’ve got a show on level one or two). On F2 there’s Stewart Brewing Bar, which is the only one to pick up local craft beers, and which has a rather lovely view of Arthur’s Seat. There’s also a cloakroom.  What events are o

Looking to live out your The Holiday dreams? Discover the best cosy cottages in the UK, right here We’re finally less than a week away from the Big Day, and Christmas is in full swing in the UK. We’re talking about twinkling lights lining every street. We’re talking mulled wine in a blanket on the sofa. And we’re most certainly talking about watching The Holiday, over and over again.  Well, if you think you’ve exhausted the classic Christmas romcom (and you’d like to be the envy of literally all of your pals) we’ve got some very, very exciting news for you: you can now rent the real-life cottage from film on Airbnb. The movie’s producers visited Honeysuckle Cottage in Holmbury St Mary, Surrey, before they started filming, and immediately picked it as one of the key filming locations (they had been looking for the ‘cutest, smallest, most English cottage’ they could find, obviously).  Photograph: Airbnb Photograph: Airbnb The cottage itself was too far from the London cast and crew, so they meticulously recreated the property for the film, naming it Rosehill Cottage. Much later down the line in 2019, couple Jon and Cressida Bromley bought the cottage for £625,000, but had no idea it was the one from the film. They eventually realised after reading about it in a property magazine, which is lucky, because fans of The Holiday frequently show up at their door to have a look.  Now they’re renting Honeysuckle Cottage out on Airbnb for around £295 a night. The house features low

What makes a neighbourhood cool? For eight years now, Time Out has been answering that exact question. A genuinely exciting roster of restaurants, cafés and bars, irrepressibly colourful nightlife and art scenes, a welcoming and diverse community, a sense that a place is really having a moment – these are the sorts of things that, in our eyes, make somewhere truly cool. Last week Time Out published the 2025 edition of our global ranking of the planet’s coolest neighbourhoods, celebrating places that embody the many different ways a place can be ‘cool’. Two British areas made the cut – one in London and another in Birmingham – but that was only a teaser. Now it’s time to crown the coolest places in the UK. Our hottest ’hoods in Britain were chosen by local Time Out contributors who live, work and eat in them day in, day out. Some of these areas are established hotbeds of creativity, some are where you’ll find the city’s hottest new openings, and others are currently hitting their peak, after years of gradually increasing buzz. Critically, all of the neighbourhoods you’ll find on this list are genuinely great places to be right now.  1. Camberwell, London Photograph: Chris Bethell Camberwell captures all the stuff that makes southeast London the liveliest corner of the capital – the young-at-heart vibe, the independent spirit, the multiculturalism – and crams it all into a green, community-oriented little patch. The jewel in Camberwell’s crown is its food. Church Street is ea

Depois de um Inverno longo (e frio) para muitos de nós, o Verão começa finalmente a espreitar por entre as nuvens. E sabe o que isso significa? Que está na hora de marcar férias. Sim, f-é-r-i-a-s, no plural, se nós tivermos alguma coisa a dizer sobre o assunto. Mas, com a chegada da temporada de reservas, surge a grande questão: para onde vamos? Os destinos mais famosos do mundo continuam no topo das listas de desejos (e por lá vão lá continuar) mas, às vezes, compensa sair da caixa, explorar cidades em países onde nunca esteve ou trocar as férias clássicas por algo diferente. Se quer estar um passo à frente, temos boas notícias: a agência de viagens Expedia revelou as principais tendências para este ano, com base nas estatísticas da sua plataforma. Os dados comparam os hábitos de reserva entre Dezembro de 2024 e Março de 2025 com o mesmo período do ano anterior – e há três destinos que se destacam. Em terceiro lugar está Tbilisi, a capital da Geórgia, com um aumento de 145% graças à sua riqueza cultural, à vida nocturna animada e à variedade de coisas para fazer. Em segundo lugar surge Basileia (com +185%) e no topo está Zurique (+225%), o que significa que a Suíça é oficialmente o país sensação deste Verão. Photograph: Shutterstock A seguir surge Gotemburgo, na Suécia, com um aumento de 135% nas pesquisas. Pode confiar: estivemos lá e entrou directamente para a nossa lista de destinos mais injustamente ignorados da Europa. Mas nada disto nos surpreende – da Islândia à Nor

After what was for many of us a long, cold winter, summer has finally begun to peek through the clouds. And you know what that means? It's time to book a summer holiday. Multiple holidays, if you ask us.  But as travel booking season begins, many of us face the big decision: where on Earth do we go? While the world's most famous destinations are still top of many of our bucket lists, they'll always be there – and sometimes it's worth thinking outside the box, exploring cities in countries you've never traveled to before, or ditching the summer holiday altogether for something a little different.  So if you're looking to get ahead of the curve, we've got good news: travel brand  Expedia has just released this year's travel trends, according to stats from its platform. These stats compare summer holiday booking habits from December 2024-March 2025 to the same period the year before – and three destinations have come out on top. In third place, we've got Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, up 145 percent as travelers get stuck into its culture, nightlife and things to do . Coming in second we've got Basel (up 185 percent) and Zurich (up 225 percent), meaning Switzerland has officially come out on top this year. That's followed by Gothenburg, Sweden , for which searches are up by 135 percent year-on-year. You can trust us on that one  – we visited  Gothenburg ourselves, and it immediately made it to our list of Europe's most underrated destinations . But all of this is  no surprise  – fr

It’s no secret that every Londoner was obsessed with Marseille last summer. We travelled to the Provençal city in our masses, filling Instagram feeds with snaps of galleries, bouillabaisse and the glistening Plages du Prado. And the few of us who didn’t make it down to Marseille were jealous, oh so jealous.  But fear not. If you wasted your precious summer 2024 not visiting Europe’s it-city, we‘ve got good news: Marseille’s coolest restaurant is coming to London.  Tuba is a magnificent dining spot in Les Goudes, right on the water (if you’ve been researching your Marseille holiday, you would’ve seen it already), once a diving centre and now a hotel-restaurant where you can eat seriously good seafood sharing plates right on the rocks overlooking the sea. It’s Time Out’s second-best restaurant in Marseille, and it’s the sort of thing we dream about when the weather in the Big Smoke can’t climb above 11 degrees.  Now for the big news: Tuba chef Sylvain Roucayrol is coming to London, collabing with Jackson Boxer to chef up a seven-course seafood menu at Parisian bistro Henri, using British produce but with the vibes (and flavours) of Marseille. Jackson Boxer is the chef behind our faves Dove, Brunswick House and more, by the way – and one of our hottest chefs in London. Just saying.  The Tuba X Henri menu costs £85 per person, and there are two sittings, at 6.30pm and 8.30pm. The only catch? This is a one night only affair, taking place on Tuesday March 25. To secure your spot, v

At midday tomorrow (July 5, 2024), Barcelona will gain a new landmark, and it will make history. We don’t say that lightly: Time Out Market Barcelona is the largest permanent space dedicated to dining in the city. The upper floor of the Maremagnum will host a gastronomic and cultural market of over 5,000 square metres, bringing together a plethora of culinary offerings – from the best tapas in the city to dishes by Michelin-starred chefs – to make quite literally the best dining experience in the city. Not convinced yet? Here are eight reasons to get yourself to Barcelona as soon as you possibly can.  1. It’s (actually) the best of the best At the Market, we don’t have just one spectacular restaurant. We have 14! And all have been selected by the editorial team at Time Out Barcelona, the same team that has been recommending the best places to eat and drink in the city for the past 16 years. Oh, and each of those restaurants has chosen its top dishes to offer at the market. That’s why our motto is the best of the city under one roof. Get it? It’s the best of the best. Foto: Cinc SentitsCinc Sentits 2. You can choose your own adventure Why should you miss out on a dish by a Michelin-starred chef if your companion fancies sausage and beans? Why should you forgo devouring a good grilled steak after starting with a seafood appetiser? Why can’t you begin with an authentic Mexican taco and continue with a pizza? At the Market, every food combo is possible. Both for what you fancy

  Those facing homelessness are vulnerable all year round, but particularly at Christmas, when the temperature drops and many homeless people face extreme weather conditions. Across the UK, there are a number of ways that we can all support the homeless, whether it's setting up a monthly donation to a charity or offering food, clothing or money to individuals wherever we can. Wherever you are based, here are eight ways you can help this Christmas.  1. Download Streetlink Streetlink is a website and phone app that allows users to alert authorities to someone sleeping rough in England and Wales. Volunteers can help people facing homelessness find a bed for the night, as well as point them to long-term support services. Download the app here. 2. Contact your local council Streetlink is the quickest way to find support for those sleeping rough, but it does not guarantee the person will receive help. You can also contact your local council, which can help locate a bed for those facing homelessness. In some UK areas, SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol) has been activated, which means more beds will open up in local shelters.  3. Speak to the homeless Facing homelessness is extremely challenging, and there can be days where they might not communicate with anyone at all. If you are able, you can ask a homeless person what they need, and help them source food, a hot drink, money for shelter or warm clothing. The Big Issue has some helpful tips for reaching out to homeless people

So the festive season has finally arrived, meaning it’s dark at 5pm and we’re all getting Monzo warnings to chill on the spending. But though it doesn’t necessarily feel like it, it’s still technically autumn right now. It’s not actually winter until we reach the Actual Shortest Day of the Year, aka the winter solstice. But that moment is coming up relatively soon, and you know what that means? The days are going to start getting brighter again. Final push, eh? Here’s everything we know. What is the winter solstice? It basically just means the shortest day of the year (and the longest night of the year, obvs). The winter solstice occurs when the Earth turns on its axis, to the point where its poles reach their maximum tilt away from the sun. It happens twice a year – creating the shortest day and the longest day. The actual winter solstice only lasts for a moment, but the name refers to the whole day. When is the shortest day of the year in the UK? The winter solstice usually falls on December 21 to 22. This year, it will fall on Friday December 22. The exact time of the solstice is 3:27am. For some context, you’ll get eight hours and 49 minutes less daylight on that day then what you get on the June solstice.  How do we celebrate the shortest day of the year? There are a whole load of ways people celebrate the winter solstice all over the world. Prehistoric monuments like Stonehenge are aligned with the sunset for the winter solstice, so people often visit them on the day. P

What with all the Christmas cheer, summer seems a long way off right now. But the more organised among us know that this is the time to start getting events booked in. And if you want to avoid having to stay in while your pals all get wrecked, we’d strongly advise getting on those early-bird ticket sales ASAP. And if you don’t know where to start? Reading and Leeds have just announced their line-ups for next year, and they’re looking pretty promising. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 editions of these two banging festivals. RECOMMENDED:Here’s the full Reading and Leeds 2023 line-up and stage timesThe best UK music festivals to book for 2023How to get tickets for Reading and Leeds festival 2024 When are Reading and Leeds Festivals? Both of the three-day events will take place from August 25 to 27 2023. Leeds Festival will be in Bramham Park, while Reading Festival will take place at Richfield Avenue.  Who are the headliners? The headliners for both festivals were announced today on BBC Radio One, with Billie Eilish, Sam Fender, Lewis Capaldi, Foals, the Killers and Imagine Dragons all set to top the bill. Other performers will include Shy FX, Yung Lean, Slowthai and Bicep. Headliners play both festivals on different days throughout the weekend. Reading and Leeds is traditionally a rock festival, but features artists across indie, dance, pop and more. Scots singer Lewis Capaldi tweeted that he expected some backlash from rock music lovers for headlining the fe

So, it’s officially Euro Summer. And if you don’t know what that means, well, we don’t blame you. It’s not entirely clear. But all the Americans are doing it on TikTok (the hashtag alone has nearly 700m views), and ‘Europecore’ is now its own category on Depop (it features cowboy boots, Nike t-shirts and long jean shorts, obviously). Essentially, young Americans travel to unspecified countries in Europe, and post about it on TikTok. And thus their Euro Summer commences. But quickly, Euro Summer turned from a highly-anticipated travel opportunity into hurtling controversy. Americans discovered that ‘Europe’ (exact location still unclear) ain’t all sunshine and roses. And onto our TikTok ‘for you’ pages tumbled a series of American bugbears: Europeans don’t eat vegetables. Europeans charge you for the toilet. European train stations smell bad.  The most controversial of all? That Europeans don’t drink water. Apparently.  But is it true? Do Europeans simply not drink water? And if so, how do they survive? There was only one way to find out. We’ve asked Time Out editors in Barcelona, Madrid and Paris the big question. Do you drink water, or not? @taylorhuntleigh Maybe it’s just me? #europeansummer ♬ Summer - Calvin Harris First thing’s first: Do Europeans drink water? María José Gómez, Time Out Barcelona: ‘Many tourists act as if they don't know that people from Barcelona are actually living beings, but, certainly, we are, so if we don't drink water, we die. ‘T

It’s no secret that pubs are struggling at the moment, especially independent ones. But the one guy you’d think would be fine is ol’ Wetherspoons, with its nearly 900 pubs across the UK and Ireland.  But it looks like even Spoons isn’t thriving in the current climate. The chain has just announced it will be selling another seven of its pubs – bringing the total to 39 this year.  The location of those seven pubs hasn’t been revealed yet. Owner Tim Martin announced in July this year that the chain could be set to lose around £30 million in revenue this year, but it looks like the sales haven’t been as bad as predicted. A spokesperson said trading at the minute is ‘broadly’ in line with its expectations, though it had dipped in October. And if your local does hit the market, don’t fret – the venues are going to stay as Wetherspoons for now, until someone buys them. And if no one does, they’re just going to stay as Wetherspoons, so you can still get your pink gin pitcher and chips ‘n’ gravy fix. Martin said that ’in the absence of further lockdowns or restrictions, the company remains cautiously optimistic about future prospects’.  The list of the 32 venues we do know are up for sale are as follows: Barnsley – Silkstone Inn Beaconsfield – Hope & Champion Bexleyheath – Wrong ‘Un Bournemouth – Christopher Creeke Cheltenham – Bank House Durham – Water House Halifax – Percy Shaw Hanham – Jolly Sailor Harrow – Moon on the Hill Hove – Cliftonville Inn London Battersea – Asparagus Lond

What with the cozzy livs and commuting and all that, city life can get a bit much sometimes. You might find yourself wishing you could throw your phone into the ocean or go live in the woods in the middle of nowhere. Well, it turns out there’s a bit of a market for that – sans phone-throwing – and it’s really catching on.  Unyoked is an Australian company offering city dwellers the chance to hide away in a cabin and immerse themselves in nature for the weekend. It now has cabins in different spots throughout the UK, including Norfolk and Wales, and they’re mostly reachable by a short-ish train journey from London or another major city. We popped down to our cabin in the South Downs National Park after work on a Friday. Simples.  The 20-minute cab ride from the station to the cabin cost an eye-watering £28 each way, something you definitely might want to bear in mind as an extra expense when choosing your spot. Arriving in the dark is vaguely horror movie-esque, but the bright yellow ‘Unyoked’ signs quickly remind you that you’re not quite as in the middle of nowhere as it seems in the dark. I wondered whether we’d be able to spot signs of life from where we were staying (I hoped not), but although you pass a whole house and another Unyoked cabin on the way, once you reach it, you really do feel isolated.  Photograph: Intone Films Photograph: Intone Films Photograph: Intone Films The cabin is cute and shed-like, with a tiny little kitchen, fridge and shower room. You c