India Lawrence

January is here, which means we’re entering a brand new year. Despite all the January goals, resolutions and hopes we have for 2026, it’s no secret that January can ostensibly become the most depressing month of the year. The days are short and dark, it’s cold, and our bank balances are severely depleted after the December festivities. But, we’re here to help you realise it’s not all bleak.  For one thing, it’s the ideal time to discover London on a budget and without the crowds, while many of city’s very best theatre and musicals, restaurants and bars – ranked definitively by Time Out's crew of expert local editors – offer discounted tickets and cheap meal deals to entice you out of the house during the coldest and darkest days of the year. Believe it or not, but January can also a time for celebration, too. London will once again be playing host to plenty of Burns Night ceilidhs, haggis suppers and poetry readings commemorating Scotland’s most famous poet, plus dinners and parades in celebration of the Lunar New Year, which falls nice and early in 2025, on January 29. If you’re someone who likes to commit to a month of sobriety or a punishing new exercise regime at the start of the New Year, London definitely has your back too. The city is home to countless excellent sports clubs and fitness classes, plus dozens of glorious parks and spectacular walking routes, and there’s arguably nowhere that better caters for the sober and sober-curious. Of course, if you’d rather just s

It’s a brand new year, and the dance world is leaping into 2026 with some absolute bangers returning to the London stage this month.  Akram Khan’s dystopian and haunting take on Giselle is back for a limited run with the English National Ballet, while Wayne McGregor’s stunning Woolf Works will take to the Royal Opera House stage. Another one not to miss is Gecko’s The Wedding at Sadler’s Wells East – a truly unique piece of dance theatre that will leave you questioning the concepts of marriage, capitalism and more.  India is in charge of dance listings at Time Out. She has been dancing since she could walk and has been reviewing dance in London since joining Time Out in 2022.  MORE STAGE: Dance classes in London Best theatre shows this yearBest theatre shows this monthBest comedy shows this month

When it comes to art and exhibitions, London has it all. From the niche spaces, to the avant garde galleries, and the massive crowd-pleasing museums, our city is packed with shows that will perplex, challenge, inspire, educate and leave you feeling awestruck.  The problem is... there’s absolutely tons to see. Too much, you could say. Lucky for you, Time Out exists. For decades, our experts have been visiting and reviewing all the sculpture, painting, performance, photography, history, fashion and other types of exhibitions on offer. You name it, we’ve (probably, most likely) seen it. If you’re wondering what’s actually worth your time, start here. Check out the best museum exhibitions and art in London right now, and be sure to come back weekly for the latest picks. Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: Best photography exhibitions in LondonBest free exhibitions in London

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

It’s easy to leave planning New Year’s Eve to the very last minute – often you get so tangled up in the tinsel-decked glories of Christmas that you forget there's another big bash, just a week later. But New Year's Eve is the kind of night that you forget at your peril. Attempt to wing it and you might well end up stuck at home with a glass of flat prosecco in front of Jools Holland’s Hootenanny, because all London's best clubs and parties book out weeks or months in advance.  But fear not, we're here to make sure you give 2025 a seriously good send-off. Here's our list of London best NYE bashes for ringing in 2026, from never-ending club nights to LGBTQ+- friendly celebrations. Assemble your crew, book your tickets, plan the perfect ‘fit and prepare to say a big fat goodbye to the year gone by. London’s best NYE parties at a glance 🎆 Best for views of the fireworks: New Year’s Eve at Sky Garden 🦖 Best for a one-of-a-kind party: NYE at the Natural History Museum 🍴 Best for midnight snacks: New Year's Eve at Aram, Somerset House  🏳️‍🌈  Best for LGBTQ+: Horse Meat Disco at Village Underground 🌟 Best for glitz and glamour: New Year's Eve at W London RECOMMENDED: Find things to do in London on New Year’s Day.

Let’s be honest, with all the pressure that gets put on New Year’s Eve, often it ends up as a disappointment. You’re lying if you say you haven’t spent at least one countdown with your head over a toilet after getting too razzed before midnight, or the night is spent jostling with what feels like everyone in London to get into an average club night. This year, spare yourself the pain and save the hardest partying for New Year’s Day instead.  New Year’s Day raves have taken off over the last few years. They tend to last longer than the events of the night before and there aren’t the same enormous NYE crowds to battle with. Of course, celebrations on Jan 1 needn’t be instead of NYE revelries – soldier through your hangover and combine the two to create one big 48-hour blowout.  The capital’s venues are ready to welcome you with open arms for the first rager of 2026, with all manner of day and night parties to check out. Because who says the fun needs to stop as soon as the countdown’s over? Here are London’s best New Year’s Day parties.   RECOMMENDED: Find New Year’s Eve parties in London.

As the new year approaches, we’ve got festival season 2026 on our minds. And we can’t wait.  By the time summer rolls around, Londoners will be absolutley spoilt for choice. With something taking place almost every weekend throughout the warmer months, you can forget trekking across the country to live in a field for five days; simply hop on the tube and before you know it you’re listening to your favourite artists, tinny to hand, knowing that there’s a hot shower and a cosy bed waiting for you once the day is over.  The future of events in Brockwell Park was thrown up in the air in 2025, but you’ll be glad to know that the south London park’s usual lineup of events – which includes Cross The Tracks, Wide Awake and Field Day – will all return in 2026.  And the line-up announcements for next year’s events are already coming in thick fast, with huge acts like Tyler, The Creator, Lewis Capaldi, Lorde, Lily Allen, Blood Orange and Deftones all set to take to London stages next summer. Have a scroll through our comprehensive guide – which we keep meticulously updated with all the latest line-up announcements – and see what takes your fancy. RECOMMENDED: ⛺ The best UK music festivals🌍 The best festivals in Europe

You’re probably not even thinking about February right now. There’s still an entire Christmas party season, followed by the inevitable January hibernation to get through. But February will be coming on the horizon sooner than you think, so why not get ahead and start planning now? February’s social calendar is surprisingly busy, with a bunch of important dates packed into its short four weeks including Valentine’s Day, London Fashion Week and LGBTQ+ History Month. It’s also half-term, again. But fear not, there’s plenty to entertain the kids in London this Feb.  And there’s plenty more on besides all that. Seize your chance to have some fun this February, with our guide to the best things happening in London over the month. London’s best things to do in February at a glance: 🛏️Best for art lovers: Tracey Emin, Tate Modern 🎭Best for thespians: Dracula, Noel Coward Theatre  🪄Best for magicians: Abracadabra!, Somerset House 🏉Best for sports fans: Six Nations, various RECOMMENDED:🎨 The best art exhibitions opening in London this February 🎭 The best theatre shows opening in London this February🍽️ The best new London restaurants opening this February🎤 The best gigs happening in London in February😂 The best comedy show to see in London this February

Urgently in need of some cool pressie inspo for your nearest and dearest? Don’t worry about it! Our London gift guide is here, and it features loads of lovely pressies to suit just about any Londoner you can imagine.  From nifty gadgets to stylish accessories, covetable homeware to kids’ gifts, our editors have got every base covered, including plenty of sustainable options and handmade bits from some of London’s coolest indie brands and makers.  Need even more present inspiration? Check out our roundup of London’s best Christmas hampers for 2025. Time Out’s 2025 Christmas Gift Guide at a glance 🏰 Best for tech nerds: Nothing headphones 💷 Best for foodies: Allday Goods knife 🔬 Best for style queens: Peachy Den scarf and mitten set 🎡 Best for cool blokes: Percival martini cap 🎨 Best for youngsters: Ty Beanie Bouncers RECOMMENDED: More Christmas fun in London. 

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

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

There are an array of hotels in Dublin to suit all types of tastes and budgets. But Dublin is, quite simply, a very expensive city, up there with the likes of London and Paris, and staying here can cost a pretty penny. But don’t worry – if you know where to look, you’ll find plenty of digs for under €200 a night.  We’ve picked our favourite cheap hotels in Dublin which are on the lower end of the scale but a step up from budget hostels – and still within a short distance to the city’s top things to do, as well its best restaurants. From the oldest hotel in Dublin to modern city-centre spots, here are our favourite budget hotels in the city.  RECOMMENDED: 🏠 The best Airbnbs in Dublin🏨 The best hotels in Dublin How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world – new openings, old classics and everything in between – to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed some 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. 📍 Find more places to stay at our ultimate guide to hotels in Dublin

Groundbreaking Colombian artist Beatriz González gets her first solo UK show – and biggest ever European show – at the Barbican this spring. Famed for her vibrant, Pop Art-influenced depictions of Colombia during the decade-long civil war known as La Violenca and known in her native country as ‘la maestra’, González draws on found images to tell stories about power, grief, conflict, community and more. Featuring over 150 artworks made between the 1960s and the present day and spanning painting, sculpture, furniture and monumental printed curtains, this major will look at Gonzalez’s work not only from a Colombian and Latin American perspective, but a global one. 

This one is not for the faint-hearted. The Cause is going all out for 2026, bringing in the new year with a massive 16-hour day into night party. They have assembled what can only be described as the Avengers of party starters for this shindig, with takeovers from Gottwood, Bugged Out!, Origins, picnic records and more. The bash will take place across at least seven dancefloors, with more maybe to be announced. Big headliners include Francesco Del Garda, Young Marco, Helena Hauff, Lukas Wigflex, Factory Floor, Spray and Special Request. Don’t forget to pack a Snickers. 

Floating Points will be on the decks all night long at FOLD this NYE, warming up the club before its bumper 24-hour Unfold sesh on New Year’s Day. FP will dig into his deep collection to take clubbers on a sonic journey, playing everything from disco, to garage, to techno. Skip the Jools Holland and lose yourself in here instead. 

Since launching in 2019, Cross the Tracks has firmly made its name for itself as London’s go-to festival for funk, jazz, RnB and hip hop heads. Its groove-heavy curation leads to a laid-back and open-arms atmosphere, which means you’ll find all sorts of people of having a boogie at the one-dayer.  When is Cross the Tracks 2026? Cross the Tracks is taking place in its usual slot on Sunday May 24, in Brockwell Park. How much are tickets? Next year’s ticket prices haven’t been revealed yet, but in 2025 General Admission started at £54.50 + booking fee, while VIP tickets were from £89 + booking fee. What’s the Cross the Tracks 2026 line up? Little Simz is leading the line up for 2026, joined by the likes of Joy Crookes, KOKOROKO, Obongjayar, DON WEST and WAR.  Find more London music festivals here!

Two acclaimed choreographers who you might expect to work together – the remarkable ballet creator Crystal Pite alongside commercial dancer and Taylor Swift collaborator Kameron N Saunders – have come together to create Body and Soul with ENB, which recieves its UK and world premiere at Sadlers Wells. Pite’s Body and Soul (Part 1) explores bereavement, featuring two dancers in funereal black suits and white shirts. Meanwhile Saunders presents a new work in three parts that looks at the quest to find our authentic self under crushing societal scrutiny, inspired by his own experiences.

You can’t swing a pair of pointe shoes in London at Christmas without hitting a production of The Nutcracker. So it’s nice to see that there’s finally a new festive dance show on the block (one that isn’t by Matthew Bourne, anyway).  Hip hop honchos ZooNation are taking on the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, this winter. However, at the beginning we are told that writer/director/choreographer Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe’s version is absolutely not going to be the tale you recognise, with Tiny Tim et al. Instead, the recorded opening narration explains that Ebony Scrooge is about a ruthless fashion mogul (there’s certainly a bit of Miranda Priestly in there), hellbent on completing her monochrome fashion show in time for Christmas Day. It’s also spelled out that this is a story of belonging and finding your roots, which is perhaps a bit unnecessary – we all know the moral of A Christmas Carol.  Ebony Scrooge offers up a fun and inventive cast of characters, and I’m sure people will have their favourites. There are the mischievous content editors Tren and Dee (see what they did there?) with iPhones in hand; Scrooge’s sweet niece Freddie, always dressed in pink; and the kind natured Bob who just wants to put colour in Scrooge’s strictly black and white designs, played by a wonderfully fluid Malachi Welch. Leah Hill is a fabulous Scrooge, vogueing onto the stage in a pair of sparkling killer platforms over a house beat. Marley (that’s Janet Marley in this version) is quite te

Are you looking for something fuzzy to warm your heart this Christmastime? Then boy does the National Theatre have the show for you.  Katy Rudd’s seamless production is adapted by playwright Kendall Feaver from the Noel Streatfeild children’s novel of the same name. It follows the story of the three Fossil sisters: Pauline (Nina Cassells), Petrova (Sienna Arif-Knights) and Posy (Scarlett Monahan) who are adopted by the eccentric explorer and palaeontologist Great Uncle Matthew, aka Gum (Justin Salinger). After Gum goes missing on one of his many, many expeditions, the girls are looked after by his steadfastly loyal niece Sylvia, aka Garnie (Anoushka Lucas) and the matronly Miss Guthridge, aka Nana, played by the charming Lesley Nicol with a drawling West Country accent.  Set in the 1930s, the five women live in a tumbledown house filled with fossils on the Cromwell Road in Chelsea, until they realise they are desperately running out of money and assemble a motley crew of lodgers to take up rooms. There’s the stern but kind-hearted English professor Doctor Jakes (Pandora Colin), glamorous dance teacher Theo Dane (Nadine Higgin), and the bumbling car repair man Jai Saran (Raj Bajaj). After being booted out of every state school in the area, the girls are enrolled in the Children's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training, where luckily Dane is the teacher. Here they discover their passions for acting, ballet and er… being a mechanic. The whole plot is basically implausible – espec

It’s the location that clinched it for me at the Grafton, because staying here, you are quite literally right in the middle of the action. On the corner of Drury Street and Stephen Street, this modern hotel is in the perfect position to stumble straight home after a night on the Guinness (followed by the swift consumption of a spice bag) in town. I was still licking the salt and spices from my fingertips when I rolled into bed feeling sufficiently fed and watered. Fear not though, because despite its proximity to the hubbub, the room is well soundproofed. You can easily escape the hordes of stag dos, after work drinkers and tourists in the tranquility of your room. Plus, you can watch them all below while you sip a cup of tea, swaddled in a fluffy white robe. Regal stuff.  Why stay at the Grafton? First opening in 2019, the Grafton re-emerged from the chrysalis of lockdown in 2021 with a full makeover. The vibe they are going for is very much art deco glam, with a side of Studio 54. In the lobby, glittery pillars have been dressed up like disco balls, while gold accents can be found in furniture and fittings all over the digs. It has an aura of old-school glamour that occasionally verges on the gaudy (personally, I wasn’t a fan of the rooms’ blue and gold carpets). But overall the atmosphere is lively, welcoming and doesn’t take itself too seriously. The bright lobby could easily serve as an all-day hangout or decent place to get a bit of work done – there were often people l

Field Day tried to get back to its roots in 2025 when it up sticks from its more corporate-feeling Victoria Park set up and went to Brockwell Park. It will return to south London in May, so get it locked in the diary. On the line-up for 2026 is a dependable selection of DJs and producers, with the biggest names including Andy C, Floating Points, Honey Dijon and Joy Orbison. They’ll be joined by Anish Kumar, Interplanetary Criminal, KI/KI, sim0ne, Eliza Rose, Horse Meat Disco and others for a day of non-stop dancing.   

There was a time when being into Wes Anderson made you a proponent of quirky indie cinema. These days, liking his stuff doesn’t make you a cinephile with niche interests, or really even particularly cool. Now firmly in the mainstream, some of Anderson’s recent films are so stylised as to feel like parodies of his own work. And yet, the universe he has created is still just as wonderful as it has ever been. At the Design Museum’s massive exhibition dedicated to the director there is the chance to step into this ever-so-charming and colourful world – if you’re a fan of Anderson’s films, you are going to love it.  Through more than 700 costumes, props, handwritten notes, scripts, storyboards, behind-the-scenes photographs, and more, Wes Anderson: The Archives travels through each of the director’s 12 feature films in chronological order.  Entering the exhibition, the words ‘No Crying’ are stamped above the doorway of a crimson-painted room (all the paint swatches were approved by Anderson himself). Visitors are then greeted with a wall of BTS polaroids, which includes a shirtless Bill Murrary flexing his biceps on the set of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, and close ups of a young Jason Schwartzmann. A series of Anderson’s notebooks are laid out showing his ridiculously neat and boxy handwriting. Of course he writes like that.  The Archives shows visitors just how much detail has been poured into each of Anderson’s films: this is the crux of the whole display. We learn about

Sadlers Wells launches its inaugural dance film festival, Dance Digital, in 2026. Held in the Lilian Baylis studio, the three day event will be packed with film screenings, talks, VR/XR installations, networking sessions and mentoring opportunities. The line-up of films is still TBA, but it promises to include the UK premiere of a dance feature film. Sadlers Wells is currently on the lookout for submissions to the festival, with awards to be given out for the following categories: best dance on screen; best documentary / behind the scenes; best film by young artists; best social first film; best cinematography; best dance (choreography, performance). Tickets go on sale in January 2026. 

I have always had a soft spot for hotel bars. To some they may seem stuffy, but not to me. With their polished  interiors, sleek seats and lo-fi music, drinking in them always feels classy and sexy. The cocktails are usually good, they’re not too noisy, or trendy, and you can almost  always get a seat. I have also always wanted to go to Los Angeles, but alas, have never managed to make the trip. At Chet’s Bar I got to fulfill my dream of drinking in a slinky LA hotel bar, without leaving London.  The Hoxton Shepherd’s Bush has been home to Chet’s, from Silverlake-hailing chef Kris Yenbamroong, since 2023. Now they’ve opened Chet’s Bar, an offshoot of the vibrant and addictive Thai eatery, in the same building.  The Thai Sour – fragrant and frothy with banana liqueur – is a beach holiday in a glass Sitting on a dusty pink bar stool, I found the room pleasantly dim-lit, with each table kitted out with its own spaceship-looking lamp. There are also marble and chrome accents and wood panelling. Very nice. As for the crowd, it’s sort of what you’d expect from a hotel in west London – fairly middle-aged, and a decent amount of people who look like they could be business travellers. But that doesn’t mean that Chet’s Bar is boring – the trendy people simply haven’t found it yet.  To sip, you can order Chet’s classics, like the Lychee Martini – sweet and girly with a pleasingly green lychee at the bottom; and the Thai Sour – fragrant and frothy, made with Dewars 12 scotch, Thai spiri

As 2026 rolls around, we’re already starting to make plans for our summer festivals. There’s a huge Glastonbury-shaped hole in our calendars this year, but not to worry, because London festival season is already promising to be a belter. However, the future of events in Brockwell Park could be thrown into uncertainty for a second year in a row.  In 2025 the group Protect Brockwell Park (PBP) launched a legal campaign to cancel events and festivals in the public park. After a court battle, the events – which included Field Day, Cross the Tracks and Mighty Hoopla – still went ahead. Now the group has submitted an objection to the planning proposal submitted by the festival organisers.  RECOMMENDED: The best music festivals in London to book for 2026. PBP has sent an objection to Lambeth Council after Summer Events Ltd, which runs Brockwell Live festivals, applied for planning permission to temporarily build in the park over the summer. Brockwell Live has applied to use the park for up to 32 days for four one-day events, to take place at the end of May 2026. This is the first time the events company has had to apply for planning permission to run the festivals, which previously operated under permitted development rights until PBP won its legal challenge in 2025.  Taking what it called a ‘new approach’, Lambeth Council opened a public consultation into the 2026 events at the end of 2025, which closed on December 31. But PBP is continuing to oppose the festivals, and has demanded

South London footie fans, pay attention: Southwark Council has officially approved plans to refurbish Dulwich’s historic Champion Hill football stadium.  The council has given the green light to plans that will see Dulwich Hamlet FC’s old stadium transformed into a new 4,000-seat ground with a brand-new pitch and modern facilities. The footie club has been based in the borough for 123 years, and the new stadium is expected to secure the future of the team for years to come.  The all-weather pitch will replace the dilapidated astroturf that’s currently on the site. The main pitch will be open for public rental for use by the community when not in use for matchdays. The wider development will also get a new kickabout space for public use.  The council confirmed that the nearby Greendale Playing Fields will not be directly affected by the development and will remain protected as open green space. The stadium’s makeover will coincide with the construction of 219 new homes in the surrounding area.  Image: Southwark Council Councillor Richard Leeming, Deputy Cabinet member with responsibility for Leisure & Sports said: ‘This is the most vital win of the season for Dulwich Hamlet FC, a cherished club in Southwark’s history and culture, who can now plan for a bright future supported by thousands of fans in a modern new stadium. ‘It’s also really important to the council and the community that this arrangement includes access to the new facilities outside of matchda

Do you know your peonies from your chrysanthemums? Are you a fiend for freesias? Do you prefer plants to people? Then you’re probably going to be excited to hear that tickets for the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show are officially on sale.  Every spring the fabulous floral extravaganza takes place in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in west London. Tickets to the event are highly covetable, as world class growers and garden designers travel from all over the planet to display at the prestigious show.  If you want to get stuck in to the horticultural heaven this year, pay attention to this guide and everything will be coming up roses.  2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show dates Green-fingered gardeners will be showing off their plant babies, projects and creations at the flower show on May 19-23 2026.  When is it open to the public? The first few days of the show are always only open to members of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). The 2026 flower show will open to the public from Thursday May 21 until Saturday May 23. The annual plant sell-off begins at 4pm on the Saturday, which is the final day of the show.  Ticket prices Brace yourselves, because tickets don’t come cheap and start at from £107 per person – they can be bought online here. There’s also a show guide with a map, which costs an extra £18. Gardens to look out for at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show Every year there is a selection of blooming beautiful Edens not to miss, with prizes awarded to the top design

Londoners have been awaiting the return of the former Museum of London – now rebranded as the snappier London Museum (admittedly now very difficult to Google) – since the OG site at London Wall closed its doors in December 2022. In 2026 the museum all about the Big Smoke officially returns. We are so back.  Time Out has named the London Museum as the best new thing to do in the capital in 2026. We can’t wait for its reopening not only because of its dashing new rebrand (which features a logo of a ceramic pigeon), but also because of its its shiny new home in Smithfield Market.  The new venue will boast an underground gallery space in the old Great Northern Railway depot and a big window in the market’s old salt store allowing visitors to watch trains carry passengers through Farringdon – a feature meant to connect the museum to the ‘London of today’. The reborn London Museum has been a decade in the making and is expected to open towards the end of the year, just in time for the museum’s 50th anniversary. The museum is keeping shtum for now about the details of its opening exhibitions, but with all of London to choose from, we expect there will be some bangers.  In the meantime, check out Time Out’s guide to the London Museum in Docklands here. 📍The 26 best new things to do in London in 2026, according to Time Out. The world’s first museum of youth culture will open in Camden in 2026.  Nine huge developments that will transform London in 2026.  Get the latest and greatest f

Living in London, it’s fun to dream about what sort of grand property you would live in if money were no object. We now have another very swanky home for your daydreams, because the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has revealed its House of the Year for 2025. One London building was on the HOTY shortlist, making it the de facto best house in London for the past year.  Clinching the title for London was the ‘Chelsea Brut’ by Pricegore Architects. The minimalist’s dream home is an extension, refurbishment and retrofit of a four-storey 1960s townhouse in a dense part of west central London.  The house, which was unveiled in a special episode of Grand Designs, features a sleek grey brick façade, while its inside has been stripped back to its structure, also finished in grey using raw materials like lime plaster, lime slurry and clay-block floors. Photograph: Johan Dehlin / RIBA / Pricegore Architects When renovating the house, the architects were overjoyed to discover the foundations were 1.5 metres lower than the existing floor level, which allowed them to lower the ground and create a kitchen, dining and living space with 3.5-metre ceilings.  Chelsea Brut also features a small ‘oasis’ garden at the back, as well as a lust planted roof that sits atop the extension. On the second floor, the posh digs has a film room which doubles up as a spare bedroom, while the house’s previous five bedrooms on the top floor have been converted into three larger bedrooms.  Photogr

Londoners take a lot of flights. Not only was Heathrow this year named the most-connected flight terminal on the planet, but vast expansions have been approved for Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton. Now the world’s busiest flight routes for the past year have been revealed, and one is in London.  Aviation data platform OAG has revealed the most well-trodden airline routes around the world for 2025.  It turns out that Londoners couldn’t get enough of the Big Apple this year, and vice versa, because one of the most-frequented cross-border journeys on the planet was from London Heathrow (LHR) to New York JFK.  The LHR to JFK route saw 3,971,000 bums on seats throughout 2025, making it the world’s 10th most popular journey. London to New York also ranked 10th globally in 2024, and its popularity has increased by 4 percent since 2019.  According to OAG, the route had the highest one-way economy fare in the top 10 at an average of $585 (£432.74). The fare has increased by two percent year-on-year, with five carriers operating the route. The Big Smoke to the Big Apple was the only flight path in the top 10 outside of the Middle East and Asia.  Hong Kong to Taipei was the world’s most-used cross-border flight route in 2025, followed by Cairo to Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Changi and Seoul Incheon to Tokyo Narita in second to fourth, respectively.  The world’s longest flight will launch from London in 2027.  First look: inside the huge revamp of a Northern line station in n

If you live in London, or are just a fan of odd architecture, you might be familiar with No 1 Poultry, a postmodern-style building in the City of London. Built in 1997, the structure designed by architect James Stirling has a striped pink and yellow limestone façade, as well as a mish-mash of columns, turrets and and angular windows.  Now the quirky building on the corner of Bank junction is going to get a major renovation, which will include a brand-new roof garden that will be free for the public to use.  John Robertson Architects (JRA) have revealed their plans for the renovation, which will include retrofitting the Grade II*-listed landmark to make it net zero.  No 1 Poultry has been mostly empty since October 2025 when its last tenants, WeWork, moved out (though there’s currently an ongoing cultural programme in part of the building). The structure has always had a roof garden, but this is the first time it will be open to the public for free. The terrace has been part of the Coq D'Argent restaurant since 1998, however London site IanVisits reported that the old restaurant site is to be converted into offices, with the roof garden being opened up to the public.  The Apex Garden, which has views right over Bank, will be open for anyone to access. The inner circular garden will remain closed to the public, however the planning application suggests it might be opened on selected dates for special events. Planning documents revealed that the garden would be paved with plant

Since 2010 when Marylebone’s London Planetarium closed, the capital has had only one planetarium, found at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. However, in 2026, a brand new cinema of stars is arriving in the capital.  From January 30 2026, space nuts, science lovers and wannabe astronauts will be able to gaze at the night sky in a swanky new 360-degree dome inside Battersea Power Station. The totally out-of-this-world immersive experience, named Planetarium Go UK, will arrive in the UK from Spain for a limited time only, bringing its ‘cutting-edge’ pop-up planetarium to the ex-power station.  Planetarium Go UK promises high-resolution projections inside a ‘premium structure’, using state-of-the-art tech to showcase a programme covering all things from the final frontier. Wanting to make astronomy accessible to all, the pop-up is going to be family-friendly, with science-led storytelling that will focus on STEM inspiration, sustainability and scientific outreach.  Perfect for budding astronomers, the temporary experience will display various 20- to 30-minute films that explore and educate about galaxies, planets and cosmic phenomena.  José Jiménez, chief executive of Planetarium Go UK and AstroÁndalus, said: ‘Our purpose is to bring science to more places and offer immersive experiences that spark curiosity and inspire STEM pathways from an early age. Planetarium Go UK blends education and excitement to transform learning into a memorable experience. We work with communities,

The first ever timber tube station has opened in London.  After two years of closures, north London’s Colindale station has finally re-opened for good, and it’s got a swish new ticket hall (replacing the post-war one it had previously). The Underground station on the Edgware branch of the Northern line finally fully reopened to customers on Monday December 22, with fully step-free access for the first time.  Colindale’s old 1960s-built entrance has been replaced with a new concourse featuring a distinctive curved ceiling clad with laminated timber. It’s quite the change, with the dreary, fluorescent-lit hall being replaced with an airy structure, with high ceilings and plenty of natural light. The station’s original platform clock has also been restored and installed as a centrepiece of the new concourse, while the entrance has increased its capacity to accommodate for new homes in the area. The ticket hall’s roof has had a sustainable blue-and-green roof drainage system installed, there is access to all platforms via a lift, and the pavements outside the front of the station have been widened.  Photograph: TfL Work started on the glow-up back in January 2024. After a six-month closure in the second half of 2024 for major works, the station partially re-opened in December 2024. Now that Colindale’s new ticket hall is open, TfL will complete the final parts of the station’s upgrade which includes installing an enhanced accessible customer toilet (available from mid-2026), pe

If you ride a bike in London, you’ll know that the city could do with a few more cycle routes – it’s not fun having to share a lane with a double-decker bus, a black cab and an angry van driver. So, it’s good news for north London cyclists, Lime bikers and Tadej Pogačar wannabes, because a huge new cycling route has been proposed for the north of the city.  Enfield Council has revealed a plan to create a safe walking and cycling link between Palmers Green and New Southgate. The council has recently concluded a public consultation on the scheme, which would see the introduction of new cycle lanes and traffic-calming measures.  The council wants to use quieter residential streets and traffic control to guide cyclists and walkers between New Southgate, Palmers Green and Arnos Grove stations. The proposed route would run along the boundary of the Fox Lane low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN), connecting to the border of Barnet via a cycle path through Arnos Park while also using existing cycling infrastructure along the A406 North Circular. Busy roads like Alderman Hill, Wilmer Way and Bowes Road would see segregated cycle lanes built, while the rest of the routes would be ‘on-carriageway’, which means a cycle lane would be marked but not segregated from the rest of the traffic. A southbound bus gate is proposed in Palmers Road near Arnos Grove Station, which would block most general traffic while allowing buses, cyclists and vehicles with exemptions to continue. Ashridge Gardens, Cr

Opulent evening gowns by Norman Hartnell, Harris Tweed suits and the wedding dress worn by the Queen Elizabeth II are just some of the things visitors will be able to see at a new exhibition at Buckingham Palace in 2026, as the palace has announced plans to stage the biggest exhibition of the late Queen’s fashion ever displayed.  Marking the centenary of the late Lizzie’s birth, in the new year more than 200 items from the Queen’s wardrobe will be displayed at the palace for the landmark exhibit.  Photograph: Courtesy of Buckingham Palace Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style will comprise garments from all 10 decades of Her Majesty’s life, from off-duty style at Balmoral to regal ball gowns. Also on display will be never-before-seen design sketches, fabric samples and handwritten correspondence, showing how the Queen was dressed behind the scenes.  Highlights on show will include the Queen’s 1947 Norman Hartnell wedding dress, her 1953 coronation gown, a Balmoral tartan kilt, and a 1934 bridesmaid dress worn by the Queen as a child. Clothing by contemporary designers – Erdem, Richard Quinn and Christopher Kane – will highlight the Queen’s later wardrobe and her continued influence on the fashion industry. Visitors will get to gawp at a selection of the Queen’s many hats, shoes, accessories and jewellery, while other gems on show will include photographs by Cecil Beaton.  Photograph: © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 / Royal Collection Trust / Paul Bulley Caroli

Whether you reckon self-driving cars are the peak of modernity or a harbinger of a sinister robotic future, there’s one thing we know about them for sure: they’re arriving in London very, very soon. It’s now been revealed which London boroughs will have driverless cars on its streets in 2026, as the first photos of Waymo’s self-driving Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in the capital have just dropped.  Waymo, which operates under Google’s parent firm Alphabet Inc, is currently trialling its vehicles in the Big Smoke before they take their first passengers in the new year. The company posted an image on social media showing one of its self-driving Jaguar I-Pace cars on the Abbey Road zebra crossing. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Waymo (@waymo) According to the company’s website, Waymo Drivers ‘never get drunk, tired, or distracted’. The vehicles employ a mix of cameras, radar sensors, and lidar sensors – a 3D scanning system – within its autonomous fleet. This enables the cars to detect overlapping fields of vision in every direction up to 500 metres away, the company claims. The vehicles are intended to operate without any driver, but currently human ‘safety drivers’ remain behind the wheel as the cars are tested in London.  Waymo currently operates in the US and has done since 2020. It’s available in cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix.   In a statement, Waymo said: ‘We will soon begin conducting extensive trials of W