Eloise Feilden

July 2026: Al fresco weather is fully here, and here are the spots that spring into action when the sun is out. These places are ideal for visiting in your nice new sunglasses while snacking on a salt cod fritter. Grab a sarnie in the sunshine at Dusty Knuckle's Dalston location, trek to Epping Forest for seafood at the Oyster Shack, gorge on BBQ at Cue Point in their massive Notting Hill beer garden, lunch at Hackney hero Lardo, or trot down Regent's Canal to Towpath Cafe. Excellent Indian restaurant Kokum in Dulwich is also doing BBQs every weekend on their terrace until September. The best outdoor restaurants in London at a glance: 🍸 Best in central London: Forza Wine, Soho 🚣‍♂️ Best in east London: Towpath, Haggerston 🏡 Best in north London: Red Lion & Sun, Highgate  💦 Best in west London: Cue Point, Latimer Road 🍃 Best in south London: Italo, Vauxhall When it comes to outdoor dining there are some excellent – and hopefully sun-dappled - options at some of London’s best restaurants. These terraces, canal-side spots, gardens and al fresco restos should make you feel like you’re on a proper holiday in your hometown. Whether you’re in the mood to have spaghetti in the sun or snack on sushi by starlight, our list has you covered. If you don’t mind heights, then check out some of the finest rooftop restaurants with views in London as well. Not all of them are open in the colder months, so do check if you’re booking during a chillier time of year. RECOMMENDED: These are

July 2026: Soho remains London’s best place to spend a evening. Soho’s pubs are unmatched and have been around for decades, but the area’s bar scene is a little more dynamic. So as well as old faves such as Bar Termini, The Social, Bar Italia and Garlic & Shots, our list of the area’s best bars includes some newer openings, including chic cocktail bar Three Sheets, Italian hideaway Bar Lina, the ever-entertaining Stormzy's House Party and Below Stone Nest.   For centuries, Soho has been London’s playground: packed with spots for boozing, carousing, and soaking up the best of the city after dark. And even though it’s largely cleaned up its once-sleazy reputation, it’s still packed with fine drinking spots, from moody basements to high-end cocktail bars. Whether you join the crowds hopping up and down its network of streets or settle in for the duration, you’re guaranteed a brilliant, boozy night out in Soho and neighbouring Chinatown. Word to the wise: you might want to line your stomach at one of Soho’s best restaurants. Now head to the heart of the West End to make sure you don’t miss a thing. RECOMMENDED: These are London’s very best bars. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor, and you’ll probably find her at Trisha’s. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

If you’re looking for some old-fashioned glamour with your drinking, a traditional London pub might not cut it. You need to pull up a shiny stool at one of London’s best hotel bars where the service is seamless and every last drink is a showstopper. Sure, you’ll pay for the luxury, but you deserve a treat every once in a while. Here’s a list of London hotel bars where it’s more than worth making your Monzo wince. The best hotel bars in London at a glance: 🌵 Best for mezcal and margs: Side Hustle at The Nomad, Covent Garden 💖 Best for date night: Sweeties at The Standard, King’s Cross 🍸 Best for a serious martini: Dukes Bar, St James’s 🔥 Best for jazz and a roaring fire: Scarfes, Holborn RECOMMENDED: The best hotels in London. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

July 2026: If you’ve had the pleasure of strolling down Exmouth Market recently, you’ll know the historic Clerkenwell strip is the buzziest pedestrianised street in London, full of al-fresco fun, convivial pintspeople and sidewalk tapas as far as the eye can see. Which is pretty much all down to the new Number 1 in our list of the best bars in London. Congratulations are due to Cafe Kick, the breezy Euro-chic sports bar about to celebrate 30 years of tricking your brain into thinking you’re on holiday. The rest of our Top 50 features bars old and new, posh and divey, and cheap and pricey, but all of them with great drinks and an unparalleled vibe. Fancy a drink? You’ve come to the right place. This is Time Out’s list of best bars in London, our curated guide to London’s drinking scene, which features the greatest bars in the capital right now. These are the places we’d recommend to a friend, because we love drinking in them and have done many times over. From classy cocktail counters to delightful dives, sleek hotel bars, rooftop bars and places to sip wine, London’s got them all. You’ll find historic drinking holes here as well as brand new openings. But what makes a truly good bar? Our critieria is simple; a menu of great drinks is important, but so is the overall energy of the place – there’s no point having the perfect paloma if you have to drink it in a bar that smells of bin juice. To make it into our Top 50, a bar has to be fun, friendly, convivial and inclusive, as we

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

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

A red sandstone amphitheatre. An ancient woodland on the English coast. A teeny tiny island with a black sand beach. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes – luckily, the world isn’t held to the same rigid beauty standards as humans are – and we’ve curated this list to celebrate that.  It goes without saying that Time Out’s ranking of the world’s most beautiful places is entirely subjective and by no means exhaustive, but what we can guarantee is real-life experience. Every single beach, lake, city and valley on this list has been visited and vetted by our globetrotting network of travel writers. In short, they’re all well worth making the journey to see for yourself (no social media fakery here).We update this list regularly, ensuring we’re including the big-hitters while considering the impact of overtourism and spotlighting lesser-known beauty spots. So here it is: Time Out’s guide to the most beautiful places on planet Earth. Happy travels!Updated March 2026: There are seven new additions to the list this year, including a terracotta-coloured Old Town in Italy, an opulent Renaissance-style library in New York and a compact mountain range in northern Spain.Grace Beard is Time Out’s travel editor, based in London. 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. RECOMMENDED:⛰️ The most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites🗺 The most underrated travel destinations i

There’s a heck of a lot to get excited about in Britain over the next 12 months or so. Between now and 2027 Brits will gobble down platefuls of new restaurants’ grub, slurp tasty bevs in fresh bars, get cultural fixes at museum exhibitions, spectate at globally-renowned sport events and even witness moments of proper historic importance. In 2026 the UK will see the return of the Bayeux Tapestry (not seen on these isles in 900 years) and the completion of the nation-spanning King Charles III Coastal Path. Among the likes of new music festivals and theme parks will be the world’s biggest Irish cultural event, the premiere of one of this century’s most highly anticipated stage musicals and centenery celebrations for a globally-loved children’s character.  And that’s just the stuff that’s planned – who knows what else will define the year? Without further ado, here are the 16 best new things to do in the UK in 2026, chosen by Time Out editors and contributors. RECOMMENDED: 📍 The 14 best places to visit in the UK in 2026.🏛️ The 26 best new things to do in London in 2026.🌍 The best new things to do in the world in 2026.

The building which now houses the Fairmont Golden Prague has a less-than-sexy past. Its brutalist bones were built in 1974 during a period of Czech ‘normalisation’, when the USSR was tightening control following a failed attempt by reformists to politically liberalise the country. Like I said: not so sexy. Its present, however, is far more seductive. Bought by the Fairmont Hotel Group in 2020 – owner of swanky global iconics like the Savoy in London, Shanghai’s Peace Hotel and the Makkah Clock Royal Tower in Mecca – it finally opened its shiny sliding doors in April 2025 after a long and expensive refurb. The result? Some seriously glitzy Prague digs which pay a respectful nod to the past (spot the grand, chocolate brown wood pillars salvaged from its former life) while wholeheartedly embracing a far more fancy future (fully decked out spa; custom sculptures by local glass artists; on-site brewery tanks offering Czech beer on tap). What’s the area like around Fairmont Golden Prague? You need only clock the Jimmy Choo store and Dolce & Gabbana boutique across the square to realise which side of Prague you’re in (hint: it’s the bougie side). Nestled on the outskirts of the city's Old Town, Fairmont Golden Prague sits right on the bank of the Vltava River, so views of the water glimmering in the moonlight are a given. What are the rooms like at Fairmont Golden Prague? The nine-storey hotel is home to 320 rooms, suites and serviced residences (yep, you can make like Eloise at the

Brutes is here to quench the thirst of anyone with a penchant for the strong stuff. Stepping inside is like a time machine to old school New York, complete with white-jacketed bartenders and branded mini matchbooks. They deal in martinis, of course. Dry, wet, dirty or brutal, depending on your preference and tolerance. Luckily for those with a weak constitution, your stiff drink comes with a snack. Choices range from gildas and blue cheese olives to Monster Munch (the giant kind) and bumps of caviar served atop a pearl spoon. We are in Mayfair after all, darling.

Sure, they don’t have super strength, infinite stretch or the ability to burst into flames at any given moment, but the Spiteris are basically The Incredibles when it comes to London’s restaurant scene. You might think that for the children of celebrated restaurateurs Jon Spiteri (The French House, St John, Sessions Arts Club) and Melanie Arnold (Rochelle Canteen), the choice to follow in such footsteps risks a life skulking in their parents’ shadows. Not for brothers Fin and Lorcan, who mastered their craft at Islington’s now-shuttered barge-based restaurant Caravel, and sister Molly, who leads business development for Koya. As culinary dynasties go, their powers are immense.  Grilled bream on a bed of fennel is what happens when pub food is done really, really well The latest Spiteri venture sees the two generations join forces. The Latimer is intentionally pub-first, the white tablecloths which hint at its gastro prefix only visible past the stools and steel-topped tables that occupy its main floorspace. Big windows flood the high ceilinged room with light, triggering that irresistible urge to snap a couple of piccies before golden hour fades. Come summer, grabbing a table on its terrace will likely take as much dedication as worming through the crowds to Latimer Road station on Carnival weekend. The Latimer’s menu is best pondered over a Westway cocktail – which tastes like adults-only pink sherbet, because, well, tequila. Masala monkfish with tartare sauce, which featur

Leicester Square’s notorious casino probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind for swanky cocktails, which is exactly how Archive & Myth has managed to retain its air of intrigue. Tucked away beneath the slot machines, green felt tables and waistcoated card dealers of the Hippodrome’s gambling hall, this bar prides itself on being underground in all senses of the word. It might be accessible via the Magic Mike Live entrance, but this subterranean drinking den is better suited to sultry late-night secrets whispered in dark corners than hen parties and body oil.

It’s official: black daal, gunpowder potatoes and bacon naan rolls are coming to Borough. In July Dishoom confirmed its latest London site will be popping up opposite Borough Market, and this week the chain has revealed the opening date.  The Bombay café group submitted plans for the new restaurant to Southwark Council last year, saying it wanted to build a brand new space in the Hop Exchange building. Its proposal for the space included building a brand new venue over two floors in the building’s West Wing, as well as a covered verandah.  Located at 24 Southwark Street, The Hop Exchange is a Grade II-listed building that dates back to 1867. Originally designed as a centre for the beer industry to trade hops, it’s currently used predominantly as office space. The glass-ceilinged building was previously home to Bavarian beer hall Katzenjammers, but the basement drinks venue closed in August 2025 after 16 years of trading. Photograph: Dishoom / Macaulay SinclairDishoom Borough Dishoom Borough will open in October, with a soft launch on October 12-20 offering 50 percent off food. Dish-wise, exclusive to Borough will be the Keralan pepper chicken – a spicy, slow-roasted chicken with a pepper and curry-leaf sauce, paratha and crisp onion salad. Photograph: DishoomDishoom Borough Dishoom’s London Bridge outpost will be its eighth in the capital and 11th overall following the launch of its first Leeds venue next month. Its first Mumbai-inspired café opened in Covent Garden in 20

New Jersey-born rock band Bon Jovi have a long history with north London’s Wembley Stadium. The hitmakers behind bangers like ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ were the last act to headline the original Wembley Stadium, in 2000, before its demolition.  Jon Bon Jovi and co graced its new digs once more in 2019 for the This House Is Not For Sale Tour, but, before last Friday, it had been seven years since we heard the words to ‘It's My Life’ booming from the speakers.  Luckily, the band are now back, and returned to Wembley this month for the London leg of the Forever Tour. Now they’ve got just one more show here to go. Off to see Bon Jovi on the final night at the stadium? Here’s your ultimate guide to the venue, from Wembley’s seating plan for the tour to total capacity information. RECOMMENDED: Bon Jovi at London Wembley Stadium 2026: stage times, last-minute tickets and ultimate guide. Photograph: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.comBon Jovi performing live Wembley Stadium seating plan for Bon Jovi According to Ticketmaster, the seating map for the Forever Tour in London is as follows: Image: TicketmasterBon Jovi seating map for Wembley Pitch standing is split into ‘gold circle’, which wraps around the stage, offering the closest possible view of the performances, and general admission.  The rest of Wembley’s tiers are split as they usually are for concerts, with three levels. Level 1 is the lower level of seating and pitch. Level 2 is for the middle hospitality tickets (also known as ‘Clu

Slippery When Wet fans, the time has finally come. After a seven year hiatus, Bon Jovi have finally come back to London. The hitmakers behind classics like ‘You Give Love a Bad Name’ and ‘It’s My Life’ have been rocking out at Wembley once more, performing across three dates to celebrate their latest record, Forever. They’re two shows down, now there’s just one more to go.  The New Jersey-born rock band have been going since 1983, producing an impressive 16 albums over 43 glorious years. For Brits who consider themselves members of JoviNation, this will be your last chance to catch the Forever Tour on British soil, with the band having already completed dates in Edinburgh. Planning to slip into your glad rags and catch Jon Bon Jovi and co at Wembley last minute? Here’s a full guide to ticket options, including those on resale. Bon Jovi at London Wembley Stadium 2026: stage times, setlist and ultimate guide. When is Bon Jovi playing London’s Wembley Arena? The band behind ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ are bringing the Forever Tour to Wembley Stadium on the following dates: Friday September 4 2026 Sunday September 6 2026 Wednesday September 9 2026 Where to buy last-minute Bon Jovi tickets General sale You can still find tickets to Bon Jovi’s three dates at Wembley on general sale via Ticketmaster, with prices starting at £77.85. If you’re planning to cop a couple, we’d recommend being speedy about it, because they’re marked as ‘low availability’ for all three performances. Ticketmaste

Ah, Soho. The tangle of streets which make up the beating heart of the West End are truly like nowhere else. A melting pot of cultures, walks of life and social strata, the central London neighbourhood is as eclectic as they come, and its diversity is reflected in its restaurants. Traversing the streets between Chinatown and Mayfair, you’ll find an eatery to satisfy pretty much any and every craving. And for any self-proclaimed gourmand, there are few neighbourhoods better equipped to cater to even the most unconventional taste.  Just like any other culinary community, though, not all of its bistros are created equal, which is why, each year, Time Out’s pool of hungry editors and food experts head out in search of the finest. ImpalaImpala, Soho So which of Soho’s restaurants was handed the ultimate accolade in 2026? Well, topping our list of the 50 best eateries in the area this year was Impala.  Here, executive chef Meedu Saad blends influences from his Egyptian heritage with French and Thai techniques, and you need only consider his seven years running the kitchen at nearby Kiln to see why. ‘He wouldn’t be the first to filter a cuisine through Gallic techniques, but the latter, after seven years spent running nearby Kiln’s kitchen, is where it gets interesting. Mastering it is about controlling intensity, integrating funk and heat without pushing it over the edge, balancing smoke and freshness, and using bitterness to counteract umami,’ said Joel Hart in his five star rev

Describing Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens as eclectic feels like an understatement. Having started life in 1846 as the UK’s first publicly owned cultural hub outside London, it’s been quietly collecting an assortment of quirky artefacts for the last 180 years. Today, its 108,000 object-strong collection features everything from the 1986 ‘Sunderland Bluebird’, the first Nissan car ever produced in Britain, to taxidermied big cat Wallace the Lion, who arrived in Sunderland in 1868 with so-called ‘African wild beast tamer’ Martini Maccomo. The museum even has its own time machine gallery, and the lush winter gardens in the glasshouse next door swarm with more than 2,000 tropical and exotic plants, as well as a treetop walkway. Like we said, its collection is nothing if not diverse, which is exactly what landed it on Time Out's list of top 20 UK museums.  But if you’re currently Googling the best route to Sunderland so you can feast your eyes on all the above, well, we’d recommend holding off. That’s because the museum shuttered its doors at the end of August for a well-deserved refurb. Photograph: ShutterstockSunderland Museum & Winter Garden The £13.6 million makeover, which will see the site remain closed until late 2028, will transform the ground floor and create new galleries designed to show off Sunderland’s heritage. Plans also include a new entrance connecting the museum to Mowbray Park as well as a new community learning facility, named The Growing Space. Works w

So it looks like we’re officially living in the future, because self driving taxis are actually a thing now. Yep, you read that right, autonomous vehicles are no longer confined to movies like Jurassic Park and I, Robot. And they’re coming to London’s streets. On Thursday (September 3), tech company Wayve’s robotaxis were added to the Uber app, meaning Londoners can officially hire self-driving cabs for the first time.  The news comes after the two companies officially got the green light from TfL last month to allow their modified Ford Mustangs (aka the futuristic whips in question) to be hired as private vehicles.  You’ll be able to book rides and unlock the car doors through the Uber app. Taxis still come with a licensed human driver, whose job is to sit in the front seat and take the reins if required. As reported by the Guardian, the driver will introduce themselves before explaining that they won’t speak for the rest of the trip, although the passengers can ask them to take control of the vehicle if they prefer. So far, only 15 driverless cars have been licensed in the capital, meaning the chance of you nabbing one of these futuristic rides is a long shot. But that number could increase in the long run, particularly considering that Google-owned Waymo and the Chinese company Baidu are also testing out robotaxis in the Big Smoke. Fully driverless cabs are already in operation in other parts of the world including the US, China and the UAE. Still, it’ll likely be a while

Consider yourself a quarter pounder connoisseur? Are you a self-professed cheeseburger cognoscente? Then chances are you’ve heard of Manna. Nestled within the bustling Arcade Food Hall on the ground floor of London’s Centre Point building, this spot has been cooking up hot smash, double patty and vegan versions of the classic meat-between-buns concept since 2022.  And it’s earned a rep as a master of sloppy smash patties, claiming a place on Time Out’s list of London’s best burgers in 2026. Not bad for a humble food court stall, huh? Now, Manna is moving up in the world, because the burger joint has just announced its first standalone restaurant in the Big Smoke.  Photograph: MannaManna's cherry cola float Opening at 54 James Street, the new Marylebone outpost will serve up Manna's full menu of burgers including the Double Manna and the Classic Smash, and signature sides including waffle fries. Plus, we can expect two new exclusive items to feature on the Marylebone menu. The first is a Manna-shaped twist on a classic English trifle with layers of strawberry milk-soaked sponge, fruit jelly, custard, whipped cream, sprinkles and a cherry on top. Next up? A classic American cola float, which will come in three flavours: vanilla, chocolate and cherry. Photograph: MannaManna's trifle dessert As for the decor, think 80s and 90s diner-style digs with space for alfresco seating out front. The new eatery will cater exclusively to walk-ins, so you might have to be speedy if you’re

If there’s one thing that us Brits know best, it's how to build a banging boozer. From swish cocktail bars to dingy dive bars and proper pubs, these isles are well populated with drinking dens offering a cool bev and warm hospitality. It’ll come as no surprise, then, that the UK is well represented in a new ranking of Europe’s best bars.  Each year, The European Bar Guide publishes its list of the best 100 watering holes across the continent. This year, the ultimate accolade went to legendary Budapest ruin bar Szimpla Kert, with its eclectic decor and offbeat vibe helping climb the ranks from number two spot in 2025. Photograph: Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock.comGordon’s Wine Bar in London One London haunt – Gordon’s Wine Bar – also made the list in 2026. Coming in at number 47, the historic basement spot scored points for its ‘clandestine’, candlelit interiors, described by the guide as ‘one of London’s finest’. The Big Smoke wasn’t the only part of Britain represented by the list, with a further 11 pubs and bars up and down the country being named among the best.  The European Bar Guide named The Laurieston in Glasgow as one of its faves, and we happen to agree. The Scottish public house made Time Out's list of top UK pubs this year. Photograph: The Laurieston Bar Sweet-shop-slash-pub The Birch Hall Inn in Beck Hole, North Yorkshire, ranked as number 32 on the list, and serves up local ales, butties and pork pies alongside its selection of pick’n’mix. Sounds pretty s

If decision-making isn’t your strong suit, planning a holiday can feel like a daunting task. Would swish five-star digs or a quaint boutique B&B be best? What about a rustic country farm? Or a spa stay? Luckily for indecisive staycationers, one of Time Out’s best hotels in 2026 offers all of the above and more. Our team of editors and travel experts has roamed the nation to find the plushest pillows and most banging breakfasts the country has to offer, compiling the best of the best into a conclusive list of the 20 best hotels in the UK. Edinburgh’s Gleneagles Townhouse – the chic urban sibling of five-star luxury hotel Gleneagles in Scotland’s Ochil Hills – topped the list in 2026 thanks to its stellar restaurant and swanky decor.  As for the title of best boutique hotel, that accolade went to The Newt in Somerset. A sprawling estate in the heart of the West Country, the hotel is part working farm, part cider orchard, part deluxe hotel and spa and part members’ club. Oh, and it also has a croquet lawn and indoor/outdoor pool. Yep, turns out you really don’t have to choose. RECOMMENDED: The best hotels in the UK. Photograph: The Newt in SomersetThe hydrotherapy pool at Hadspen House Hadspen House, a historic 17th-century mansion, is the centrepiece of the estate’s 300-hectare grounds. Inside, alongside the 23 guest rooms and suites, expect to find a library with a roaring fire, a drawing room dedicated to delectable afternoon tea and a hotel bar serving up live jazz well in

Fancy shaking a leg inside one of London’s most iconic landmarks? Well, a new collab between Fabric and St Paul’s is about to make that possible. Yep, the nightclub has just signed a four-year partnership to bring live music events to the domed cathedral, and they’re kicking things off with an event in October.  Sure, a partnership between one of the Big Smoke’s most respected nightlife venues and a 300-year-old Anglican church may sound like an unlikely pairing, but this isn’t the first time the two have come together. One-off events organised by Fabric in 2024 and 2025 saw Australian singer Ry X and icon Patti Smith perform in the candle-lit cathedral. But this is the first time the two will be collaborating on a multi-year programme.  Photograph: Benedict Priddy / FabricFabric live gigs at St Paul's Cathedral Fabric has also staged music events at tourist attractions including the British Museum, the London Coliseum and The View From The Shard in the past. Details of the events set to take over St Paul’s are still being kept on the down-low, but Fabric has hinted that a ‘broad range of artists’ will feature on the line up. ‘The programme will bring together artists from different musical backgrounds and disciplines, creating experiences that respond to the unique atmosphere, acoustics and architecture of the space,’ the nightclub said in a statement. Photograph: Benedict Priddy / FabricSt Paul's Cathedral nave Sandra Lynes Timbrell, director of visitor engagement at St

Summer is now officially over, and that can mean only one thing: the countdown to Christmas has begun. Sure, we’ve still got more than 100 days until chestnuts are aroasting, but those stockings aren’t going to fill themselves. Luckily for anyone with a Moana fanatic or a Stitch stan in their life, buying gifts is about to get easier. That’s because the doors of a Disney store are about to swing wide in Manchester, and the opening date has just been announced. Located inside Selfridges Manchester Trafford, the new shop will be chockablock with all things Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars from Monday September 14. We can expect the traditional Disney Store Key Ceremony to take place on opening day. If those words mean nothing to you, basically the first person in the queue when it opens gets to (literally) unlock the magic, using a giant key to open the doors of the brand new shop. Photograph: Doug PetersNew Disney Store opens at Selfridges Manchester Trafford Stepping inside, there’ll be clothing, accessories, stationary, collectibles, toys and, of course, a collection of dressing-up options for kids to make believe as their favourite princess. Plus, shoppers in Manny will be able to get their hands on the Selfridges Plush Collection which features the previously sold-out yellow Winnie the Pooh toy. As part of the launch, shoppers spending £50 or more who are members of the free Selfridges Unlocked programme will be able to nab a Disney Store Stitch Mystery Soft Toy Keyri

In the 17 years since HS2 was first announced, the progress made on the UK’s sprawling high-speed railway between London and Birmingham has been slow, expensive and steeped in controversy. Despite its bumpy ride so far, the scheme is inching closer to its completion, and the first platforms for HS2 rail services at the line’s west London hub have now been constructed.  The six platforms, each measuring 450 metres long, will form part of the underground station box at Old Oak Common in west London, which, once completed, will be the biggest ever newly built train station in the UK. Photograph: HS2Construction of HS2's platforms at Old Oak Common In addition to the six high-speed platforms, eight others will be built at ground-level at Old Oak Common, which will be served by the Elizabeth line, Great Western Main Line and Heathrow Express services. Old Oak Common will be the 42nd stop on London’s Elizabeth line and will be one of the UK’s best-connected stations when it opens, with trains reaching over 100 destinations. Atop the station will sit a sizable park, and solar panels will adorn parts of the roof, boosting the construction’s green credentials. Plus, 100 percent of the water needed for urinal and toilet flushing will be rainwater harvested, and there’ll even be daylight sensors to limit the use of artificial light.  Old Oak Common will sit at the heart of Old Oak, a huge new town spanning three boroughs and bringing 25,000 new houses to west London. Old Oak is set to