Eloise Feilden

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

Looking for the best places to stay in the gorgeous coastal city of Santa Barbara? Well, you’re in the right place. Enjoy long, sunny days lazing by a pool in the warmth of the sun’s rays, or out exploring the bustling cultural scene this seaside city has to offer. From unique airstream stays to romantic beachfront getaways and trendy downtown apartments, we’ve got you covered for every kind of vacation. Have a look at our top picks of the best Airbnbs in Santa Barbara and book a Cali vaycay to remember. Updated 2026: We’re back at it again with more fresh finds like a luxury home in Montecito and an elegant old-timey home in Downtown. Santa Barbara’s best Airbnbs, at a glance: 🌳 Best for families or groups: the adobe ranch house in Carpinteria 🏡 Best for beach lovers: the luxury home in Montecito 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for family reunions: the old-timey home in Downtown 🏄 Best for surfers and swimmers: the shoreline retreat in East Mesa 🌅 Best for sunset views for two: the ocean view bungalow 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. 

Whatever your holiday vibe, chances are there’s a Greek island to match it. While Mykonos remains the playground of the loud and the proud and Santorini has become the go-to for a romantic getaway, Paros has emerged as the retreat for those who prefer laid-back luxury. This is the island of whitewashed houses, cobbled lanes and picture-perfect harbour towns. Whether you’re looking to feel the golden sand between your toes on one of Greece’s most iconic shores or prefer to be tucked away in a sprawling stone mansion in the mountains, here is our selection of the best Airbnbs in Paros. Best Airbnbs in Paros at a glance 🏊‍♀️ Best with a pool: Modern villa in Parikia 🧖‍♀️ Most luxurious: Waterfront estate with private chef 🥳 Best for groups: Mansion with a private gym in Naousa 🏖️ Best Airbnb in Naousa: The sea-view villa 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.

With a nickname like the Mile High City, you’d expect Denver to offer some pretty epic mountain views and hilly hiking trails, and Colorado’s capital doesn’t disappoint. Laying east of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the city’s surrounding climes offer the perfect getaway for outdoorsy types, while its downtown district—packed full of high-end restaurants, rustic farmer’s markets and historic charm—is the ideal location for an urban getaway.  That’s why we’ve searched across the city, doing some scrolling and quite a bit of staying, too, to find the best inner-city homestays and mountain retreats that Airbnb has to offer. Why settle for the first hotel that pops up on your search when you can choose from a hip, central loft in a former piano factory (yes, really) or a quirky cabin with its own outdoor hot tub? Yep, these Airbnbs give you the complete Denver experience. The best Airbnbs in and around Denver, at a glance:  💸 Most affordable: the sunny hightop home in Highlands 💎 Most luxurious: the state-of-the-art mountain home in the foothills ✨ Most unique: the Central Business District loft with historic city charm How we choose our stays: Every Airbnb in this guide has been hand-selected by our Colorado-based travel editors. We prioritize Superhosts, properties with a 4.85+ star rating, and locations that maximize the Mile High experience. We explicitly vet for high-demand logistical amenities: walkability to CTA/RTD light rail, private outdoor hot tubs, mountain

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.

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.

You’ve heard of an Italian bar. You’ve heard of a British boozer. But chances are the concept of a British-Italian cocktail pub is new to you. Well, say hello to Without Papers. Kitsch goes some way to describing the decor. Think; a framed collage of Ziggy Stardust, a picture of Henry VIII in drag and a drawing of Shakespeare graffiti-ed with the words ‘Big Willy’. It’s a bold look. A selection of brews include Italian lagers and Guinness on tap, but cocktails are where the Itanglish joint really shines (the Pink Negroni and Fuhgeddaboudit being particular highlights). Plus, an eclectic back bar stacked with both big name brands and lesser-known liqueurs – an apt visual representation of its dual nationality. Time Out tip: Without Papers switches up its spritz offering weekly, using quirky Italian spirits to keep things interesting year round.

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.

When you picture a glass of crisp white wine or a bottle of juicy red, chances are your mind goes to the vinos of the wine world’s classic regions and vineyards – the likes of French Bordeaux, Spanish Rioja and Argentinian Malbec included. But the UK’s reputation for fermented grape juice is on the rise. Some champagne houses have even laid down vines in Blighty’s southern soils in recent years. If that isn’t a vote of confidence for the quality of wine across the Channel, we don’t know what is.  Still not convinced? Well, three British vineyards have just been named among the 100 best in the world, providing another seal of approval for the country’s homegrown grapes. The 50, formerly known as 50 Best, has just revealed the vineyards that placed 51 to 100 in its 2026 ranking of the world’s finest. The extended list, which has been released ahead of the top 50 on November 18, features destinations across six continents and 36 wine regions. As far as the UK goes, Sussex has reigned supreme so far this year, with three of its grape growers scoring a place on the long list.  Nyetimber, based in West Sussex, came in at number 53. The estate has been a pioneer of English fizz since the late ’80s and offers day tours of the winery and exclusive chef-paired dinners. Despite being an industry stalwart, though, it’s fallen quite significantly in the rankings from 32nd place in 2025. Next up was Horsham’s Leonardslee Family Vineyards, which ranked 71st this year. Vineyard tours at the

Dating back 800 years, the annual Lord Mayor’s Show is the world’s oldest civic procession and the first public engagement made by the newly appointed Lord Mayor.  No idea what we’re on about? Well, time for a history lesson. Way back in 1215, King John issued a Royal Charter to allow London to choose its own mayor for the first time. Before then, the king would assign his own sheriff to rule. There was one condition to the new system of rule, though. Every year, the newly elected mayor had to leave the safety of the Square Mile and head upriver to Westminster to swear loyalty to the king.  So far, so medieval, right? Well, the ancient office and the annual procession actually still exist today. In fact, the 698th Lord Mayor of London is getting prepped for his duties as we speak. On the day, the elected official, decked out in some serious finery and a big feathered hat, will climb aboard a 269-year-old golden state coach and head off along a 2.86-mile route through the city with 6,500 participants, 250 horses and more than 50 decorated floats in tow.  If you consider yourself a bit of a history buff, or just fancy catching sight of one of the Big Smoke’s oldest annual traditions, read on for all you need to know about the 2026 procession. When is the Lord Mayor’s Show 2026?  This year, the Lord Mayor’s Show will take place on Saturday November 14. What time does the Lord Mayor’s Show start? The outward leg of the procession sets off at 11am, led by the Band of the Royal Ma

Here at Time Out, we’re about as picky about pubs as Goldilocks with a bowl of overnight oats. Over the past 12 months, we’ve sampled tipples at boozers old and new and pulled up a stool at more taverns than we care to mention in search of the finest this fair city has to offer. The result? Our list of the 50 best pubs in London. The Time Out Pub of the Year crown went to crowd-pleasing Clerkenwell classic The Shakespeare’s Head, a salt-of-the-earth flat-roof saloon tucked away behind Sadler’s Wells Theatre near Angel station. It nicked the top prize from The Old Nun’s Head, which reigned supreme in 2025.  But the famed queer brewhouse still managed to score a spot in the top 10, along with a handful of other pubs down south, including this year’s best Irish drinkery. Any pub that self-describes as ‘the original purveyors of craic’ better have the chops to back it up. And Skehans has long secured its rep as a Nunhead staple, loved by longtime locals and edgy art students alike. Time Out food and drink editor Leonie Cooper has dubbed Skehans ‘the definition of a party pub’, and it was named Time Out’s top place to drink in the city back in 2023.  ‘With live music six nights a week, you’re just as likely to stumble across a vintage folk session as you are a local grindcore act taking their first tentative steps into tinnitus. The imposing red-brick pub’s awesome hilltop location also takes some beating, with impressive views of the city,’ she said. View this post on Ins

The E17 postcode is famed for many things. It’s home to the largest urban wetland in Europe, the east London outpost of one of the city’s most iconic theatres, and the continent’s longest street market. Oh, and let’s not forget its role as the birthplace of eponymous ’90s boy band East 17 and their iconic all-white festive fur ’fits.  But if there’s one thing that the area has become more recognised for in the last decade or so, it’s beer. Blackhorse Beer Mile is a hotspot of tasty IPAs and industrial chic, home to a cluster of independent breweries, taprooms and bars, including the UK’s largest beer hall – Big Penny Social – and celebrated London beer brands like 40FT, Hackney Church, Pretty Decent, Signature Brew and Exale. The brewski mecca welcomed a new name, East London Brewing Co (ELBC), in the spring, adding a taproom and gig venue. Now, ELBC is extending its Blackhorse Road digs with the launch of a new pub.  Image: East London Brewing CoEast London Brewing Co's new pub, the Black Horse Tap The Black Horse Tap will open in the space above the brewery on Friday November 27. Designed to look like a classic East End boozer, it’ll have space for 80 inside and another 80 on an outdoor terrace.  Drinks will centre around ELBC’s cask range and a selection of in-house keg beers and lagers. There will also be a list of guest casks from elsewhere in the UK, which will rotate weekly. Plus, expect an agave-focused cocktail menu and a list of wines and spirits from independent

You’d have to have been dwelling beneath a boulder to have missed the news that Oxford Street is now a car-free zone. Nearly 1km of London’s busiest shopping street was pedestrianised in late October, and shoppers have been (literally) doing cartwheels to celebrate. The shopping mecca’s traffic-free move has set off a domino effect across the Big Smoke. Hot on the heels of Oxford Street, Camden High Street has also announced plans to pedestrianise itself following an 18-month trial. The temporary barriers currently at each end of Camden Market’s home turf will be replaced with new permanent barriers early next year. Now, another London landmark is being added to the list.  London Heritage Quarter, a collective representing the Business Improvement Districts of Victoria, Westminster, Whitehall and Northbank, first floated the Parliament Square Streetscape Project nearly a decade ago. Its ambitious plans set out a blueprint to reimagine the square next to the Houses of Parliament and the space around Whitehall and the Victoria Embankment, making the area more ‘people-friendly’. Pedestrianisation plans have made slow progress since then, but a business case for the scheme is now scheduled to be put before MPs and peers before Christmas. Should things go ahead, public consultation is scheduled for early 2027.  Photograph: Marco Rubino / Shutterstock.comParliament Square The final layout has not been decided, but blueprints suggest that Abingdon Street north of Great College Str

The countdown to Christmas is well and truly on. With less than two months until the big day, it’s time to start sorting out stocking fillers and finding trinkets to decorate the tree.  If you’re looking to get into the festive spirit and start spreading merriment across the city, we’ve got you covered. We’ve already published our guide to every major London Christmas lights display for 2026, which you can check out here. Now, we bring you the icing on the Christmas cake, with the deets of every major winter market across the Big Smoke. Read on to discover the best spots for securing handmade gifts, personalised prezzies and traditional festive treats this celebratory season.  RECOMMENDED: The best Christmas markets in London, according to Time Out. When every London Christmas market opens for 2026 Christmas in Leicester Square Leicester Square’s lights were the first major display to be switched on. But if you’re on the hunt for festive prezzies and traditional treats, you’ll have to cop a ticket to Leicester Square Skate, which is running stalls around its central ice rink between October 31 2026 and January 3 2027.  Opening times: 10am-10pm. Opening date: October 31 Southbank Centre Winter Market Beneath the Hungerford Bridge, the Southbank’s Queen’s Walk is chock-a-block with merriment and Christmas cheer until January 3. Expect pop-up bars, sizzling street food and lots and lots of trinket traders under the twinkling lights.  Opening times: Stalls open 11am-10pm, bars op

Today is the big day: Oxford Street’s lights will be switched on for 2026 on Monday November 9. And this year, Oxford Street’s display will have a touch of added magic. The shopping stretch’s yuletide illuminations will be going full ‘The Boy Who Lived’ this year to celebrate the launch of the new Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone TV show, scheduled to premiere on HBO on Christmas Day.  Alongside Oxford Street’s classic star Christmas lights, expect a series of Harry Potter-themed designs. Details of the illuminations are still under wraps, though, so as not to ruin the big switch-on, which usually takes place in early November. In recent years Oxford Street’s festive displays have been made out of eco-friendly materials including LED lights and recycled plastic. Photograph: BBA Photography / Shutterstock.comLondon Christmas lights, Oxford Street The lights will also make their sparkling debut in conjunction with the new Harry Potter flagship store, which opened on Oxford Street on November 4 (check out all the deets here). 2026 is turning out to be a big year for Potterheads. Oxford Street Christmas lights 2026 switch-on event The switch-on event will open early at around 2pm. Festivities begin properly at 4.30pm, with the event finishing at 7pm. Hosted by Sam Thompson, throughout the afternoon there will be DJ sets from Marvin Humes.  Check out Time Out's list of the best Christmas lights in London. Did you see that the London Museum’s lost underground vaults will

All aboard the triumph train, because Britain’s greatest rail hub has just been crowned. The World Cup of Stations, an annual competition by National Rail’s Rail Delivery Group, pits Britain’s top train stations against each other via public vote. And there’s a new champ for 2026. Now in its eighth year, 20 rail depots were up for the grand title in 2026, including two stops in the Big Smoke. In the end, though, a small 153-year-old station outside Manchester took home the glory. Irlam in Greater Manchester is the new holder of the World Cup of Stations title. The station, which is operated by Northern, is unstaffed, despite hosting more than 350,000 passengers each year and connecting commuters to the city centre and holidaymakers to the wider northwest. Photograph: National Rail / Rail Delivery GroupIrlam, Greater Manchester is the best rail station in Britain The theme of this year’s World Cup of Stations was 'the stations creating connections that matter'. Irlam, which first opened in 1873, houses a café, bar and event space inside its 100-year-old building, offering a space for locals to catch up decked out in rail-themed memorabilia. It’s even been home to a wedding or two in its time.  Plus, local community group Friends of Irlam Station hosts groups of kids on school trips, teaching them about its classic signal box and steam locomotive. Photograph: suparee chan / Shutterstock.comIrlam station Previous winners of the World Cup of Stations include Ashington Station

Picture the scene: it’s dusk and you’re sat in front of the fire warming your cockles with a cuppa. The pitter-patter of rain drums against the sunroof as you gaze through a window to marvel at heather-covered hills and a meandering river beyond. If the above sounds like your dream winter weekend, we come bearing good news. A new luxury eco-house has just opened on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park, offering idyllic mountain, river and woodland views and the chance for a proper detox. Photograph: Jack Cairney / Hidden ScotlandWood-fired hot tub at Larch House in the Scottish Highlands Tucked away in a scenic riverside glen, Larch House is a self-catering rental with its own private garden, bordered on one side by Shee Water. Located in Glenshee on the southern edge of Highland Perthshire’s national park, it’s a 20-minute drive from the Glenshee Ski Centre. Plus, it’s just a stone’s throw from plenty of popular walking routes, water sports, fishing spots and Scotch distilleries. Judging by what’s inside the house, though, you may not want to venture past the threshold at all. A wood-fired hot tub, sauna, cinema room and wood-burning stove will keep you easily entertained. Plus, take a glance outside the window and you’ll be in with a good chance of spotting a red squirrel, wild hare, pheasant or even roe deer. Eat your heart out, Attenborough. Photograph: Jack Cairney / Hidden ScotlandLarch House rental home in Scotland At this point, you’re probably wondering how m

Bargain hunters and frugal fashionistas, listen up. There’s a new affordable clothing chain in town. If you consider deal scouting an essential skill, you probably spotted the news that Zara’s budget sister brand Lefties made its UK debut this summer. The inaugural British store opened in Liverpool in August, a few weeks after the quiet launch of the chain’s UK website. Now, Lefties’ wallet-friendly apparel is accessible to shoppers daan saaf thanks to a new location in Essex. Lefties’ second UK store spans 36,000 square feet of the Lakeside shopping centre in West Thurrock and features a range of clothing, footwear and accessories designed for men, women, teens and kids. It also stocks baby and newborn lines, as well as the brand’s home collection of textiles, fragrances and décor. Lefties is an Inditex-owned brand which first launched in Spain in 1999 as an outlet for Zara leftovers (hence the name). It moved away from selling its big sister’s unsold wares around a decade ago, stocking its own range of clothes instead.  According to the Guardian, Lefties’ British outlets use in-store robots, which has enabled the brand to reduce staffing costs. Not only are clothes hangers sorted by bots working on conveyor belts behind the scenes, but each changing room is kitted out with a hatch for unwanted items. Behind each hatch robots sort items into separate department rails, ready to be taken back to the shop floor or packed into the stockroom.  T-shirts at Lefties are as cheap as

Here’s a pub quiz question for you: outside of fashion, what do Paul Smith, Louis Vuitton and Karl Lagerfeld all have in common? The answer is, of course, that they’ve all designed a Christmas tree at Claridge’s.  Each year, the Mayfair hotel asks one of its famous friends to design its tree in their own style, and for 2026, fellow fashionista Dame Anya Hindmarch is joining their ranks. Yep, the accessories designer has been unveiled as the brains behind the posh festive fir for 2026, marking the 16th year that a famous face has been behind the yuletide pine. Hindmarch has reimagined this year’s tree with an actual treehouse, meaning guests will be able to climb a set of stairs nestled among the branches and twinkling lights.  Image: Claridge'sClaridge's 2026 Christmas tree design by Anya Hindmarch As for when we can feast our eyes on the winter spectacle, well, the designer herself is set to unveil the tree in the hotel’s marble lobby on Wednesday November 25.  Previously crowned London’s best Christmas tree display by yours truly, Claridge’s merry spruce is a cultural event in itself. Luckily you don’t have to splash the big bucks on a hotel room to witness the installation, which is open for members of the public to come in and admire. Hunting for other ways to get in the holiday spirit? Check out when every major London Christmas lights display will turn on for 2026, including some that are already aglow. Did you see that the Natural History Museum’s t-rex has revealed

Spooky season is officially old news, which means one thing and one thing only: Christmas is coming. It’s time for a calendar clogged with obligatory festive shindigs and for fighting through crowds of shoppers vying for last-minute stocking prezzies. We’re gearing up for the good bits of Christmas, too, and the first thing to get us in the festive spirit is, of course, the yuletide illuminations that give the city a beaming glow.  Leicester Square’s light display was the first to be switched on in 2026, illuminating the central London piazza from November 1. You’ll also catch some twinkling bulbs at St Martin’s Lane and Carnaby Street, which have already flipped the switch. Oxford Street is next week. Next up, the ‘Spirit of Christmas’ illuminations are bringing the angels back to Regent Street this week, marking their 10th anniversary overlooking the shopping strip. Regent Street was actually the very first road in London to be adorned by Christmas lights back in 1954, and this festive season will be no different, with thousands of radiant energy-efficient LED bulbs. Excitingly, this year the sparkling angels will be back with a secret twist, the details of which are being kept under wraps until they’re aglow. Want to be in Regent Street to experience the moment of magic? Here’s everything you need to know.  Regent Street Christmas lights switch-on date Move over Bonfire Night, because this year November 5 is going to mark another spectacle, and arguably an even brighter on