Hannah Bentley

Londoners, the Vikings are coming! Well, sort of. A 1,027 year old longboat replica will be travelling to London later this month as part of a voyage across Europe, so don’t be alarmed if you see a group of Nordic sailors floating along the Thames – no one is here to pillage your town or raid your gold.  On Tuesday August 26, a modern reconstruction of a viking ship will be sailing up the River Thames. Named Saga Farmann, the 20-metre-long boat will glide under London Bridge at 10am, having spent the last few years retracing the Vikings’ old trade routes across Europe.  With a capacity of 18 crew members, the boat first set sail in 2023 from its Nordic home in Tønsberg and so far has travelled the Aegean, Adriatic, and Black Seas, stopping at various ports in Greece, Croatia, and Italy. The Saga Farmann crew have already made an appearance on The Seine in Paris and are crossing the English Channel to reach London, the final destination in the Saga Lundenwic voyage.  The Saga Farmann is only swinging by for a short pit stop, spending the day in London before leaving on Wednesday at 4pm. You should be able to spot the impressive longboat from Bankside on the south of the river and Oystergate Walk on the north, as well as from nearby bridges such as Tower Bridge and Southwark Bridge between 3.45pm and 4.15pm.   Photograph: Konstantinos Livadas / Shutterstock.com   Similar to how the Vikings once travelled, the crew has paused its journey at several points to move the boat over

Topshop is officially back from the dead. While it’s not kicking IKEA out of its original flagship store just yet, the fashion brand is setting up shop just down the road at Liberty, one of London’s most famous department stores. Manifesting in physical form for the first time in four years, Topshop and Topman’s new fashion edit, curated by both retailers, will be available in store at the iconic Tudor building in Soho from August 28. It’ll feature an exclusive new clothing line with directional tailoring, cult denim, statement dresses and everyday essentials. Founded in 1964, Topshop became a UK high street fashion favourite thanks to its trendy designs and accessible pricing. But the brand was forced to close all physical stores in 2021 after its parent company Arcadia Group struggled with financial difficulties and ultimately collapsed. Since then, Topshop’s clothes have only been available at online fashion retailer ASOS.  Commenting on Topshop’s IRL retail return, managing director Michelle Wilson said: ‘We’re thrilled to return to UK stores through Liberty. This launch is about reconnecting with our community in real life, and we’re excited to kick things off with a full Liberty atrium takeover.’ Topshop celebrated the brand’s relaunch at a runway event at Trafalgar Square on August 16. Celebs in attendance included supermodel Cara Delevingne, actress and model Adwoa Aboah, and the fashion guru himself, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.  View this post on Instagram

London’s biggest and boldest street party is almost here: Notting Hill Carnival kicks off this weekend (August 23-25), marking its 57th year celebrating Caribbean culture, heritage and music.  Planning on heading to Carni this weekend? Not sure where to go, who to watch and what soundsystems to head for? To help you navigate it all, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has released the official 2025 Carnival map – and we’ve pored over it to pull out the must-know tips, from the smartest parade viewing spots to the best food stalls. RECOMMENDED: 📍 Time Out’s ultimate guide to Notting Hill Carnival 2025.🎶 Notting Hill Carnival 2025: start times and full schedule.🔎 The history of Notting Hill Carnival.🚇 How to get to Notting Hill Carnival. Carnival parade route The Carnival parade snakes through more than three miles of west London streets with three official float entry points: both ends of Ladbroke Grove, Great Western Road, and North Pole Road. It all kicks off near Westbourne Park station on Great Western Road, before winding its way along Westbourne Park Road and Chepstow Road.  From there the route sweeps onto Westbourne Grove, then powers all the way down Ladbroke Grove, the parade’s longest and busiest stretch. The route also takes in Kensal Road and Golborne Road, before finally wrapping up on Elkstone Road. Map Image: Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Find a full interactive map of this year’s Carnival here. The best locations to watch the parade Unles