India Lawrence

For all of the stick we give the UK – the grey skies, the pigeons, the Greggs sausage roll packets littering the pavements – it’s actually a pretty gorgeous country. In London alone, you can be goggling over the Barbican’s brutalist beauty one moment, the next, you might be basking in the tranquility of Hampstead Ponds. Add the turquoise coasts of Cornwall, the rugged mountains of Snowdonia and the fairytale wonder of Scotland’s highlands and islands to the mix, and you’ve got a country which is as good looking as they come.  When we set about curating this list of the most beautiful places in the UK, we called on our network of expert travel writers. These guys have have personally experienced the pinch-me moment of seeing every place on this list IRL – so we can guarantee you there is no catfishing going on here. Of course, you’ll find the usual suspects – you can’t argue with the magic of the Isle of Skye, after all – but you’ll also find some more surprising beauty spots to add to your travel bucket list.  Chiara Wilkinson is Time Out’s UK features 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 and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts.RECOMMENDED:🚂 The UK’s 12 most beautiful train stations🇬🇧 The 35 best things to do in the UK🏝 The 30 most beautiful places in the world

Where do you go in London if you’re really into gaming? From Soho’s Las Vegas arcade, to an underground Japanese games centre in Manor House and an E-sports bar on Cally Road, the capital has a whole world of venues for games buffs that might not be obvious to the unknowing passer-by. But for those savvy to the scene, the Big Smoke’s gaming shops and arcades can be a gateway into a vibrant and tight-knit community. Whether they’re sweating it out on the Dance Dance Revolution machine, or battling in a Yu-Gi-Oh! tournament, there’s still an appetite for connecting with opponents IRL, despite the fact that stay-at-home consoles are by far the most popular method for gaming in 2024. And with loneliness reaching epidemic levels in the city, independent gaming venues have held on to their pure goal of bringing people together for joy, over a shared a passion – something that’s pretty rare to find in London nowadays.  Funland London Once upon a time, an arcade called Funland could be found inside The Trocadero, a magnificent palace of themepark rides, cutting edge arcade games, shops, fast-food joints and cinemas. After ‘The Troc’ closed down forever in 2011, Funland relocated to the Brunswick shopping centre near Russell Square.  Photograph: Jess Hand for Time Out ‘The Troc used to be this amazing place, and it was centred around Funland,’ says Gabino Stergides, Funland’s chief entertainment officer. ‘After Funland at The Troc closed we converted a River Island into an arcade. A

There are a million podcasts out there, and 2024’s releases are showing no signs of slowing down. There’s already been a load of bangers since the beginning of the year, and here at Time Out, we’re determined to listen to them all. After all, how else are you going to know which one to choose? We’ve rounded up our favourites, from political podcasts that look behind the news to comedy podcasts with your favourite funny people, and plenty of those all-important investigative whodunnits to keep you up at night. If you’re looking to dig deeper into one genre, we’d recommend trying our specialist lists on for size (you’ll find them below). But for a full list of good, addictive podcasts of every genre, read on.  RECOMMENDED:🎧 The best podcasts on Spotify😂 The best comedy podcasts 🗞️ The best news podcasts💤 The best sleep podcasts🎶 The best music podcasts

  A beer garden and a great view – it’s a simple combo, but it’s a glorious one. Perched before a blissful vista, cold pint in hand and (hopefully) soaking in some sweet, sweet rays... there are very few places we’d rather be. And now Spring has finally sprung, it’s the ideal time to throw yourself back into outdoor boozing. The UK has tons of fabulous pubs, so it makes complete sense that plenty of ‘em come with astounding views. If you’d never realised that pebble beaches, grassy plains, city skylines, vast rivers and much more could all be enjoyed from the comfort of a boozer, you’re in for a heck of a ride. Here’s our roundup of the best pub gardens with views in the UK. RECOMMENDED:🍺The best pubs in the UK🐟The best fish and chips shops in the UK🥗The best restaurants in the UK🌤️The best places to visit in the UK

We know that living in London can be tough on the skin, what with all the pollution and air-conditioned offices. And that’s before we even think about harsh weather, alcohol, sun exposure, dehydration and the inevitable passing of time (the joys). Just thinking about what we put our skin through is enough to give you frown lines. Luckily, though, there are loads of great spas and treatment rooms in London where you can give your face a break. Whether you’re after a relaxing, soothing facial massage, some instant radiance, a total skincare overhaul or something a little more intense, read our pick of facials in London. You won’t regret it. RECOMMENDED: The best spas in London

London’s ever-growing Mexican food scene offers far more than platefuls of tortilla chips heaped with salsa, guacamole and jalapeños and smothered in gooey cheese. You'll get incredible nachos if you want them, but there's also quality quesadillas, tip-top tostadas and exemplary enchiladas on offer across town. You’ll find all these and more at London’s very best Mexican restaurants. RECOMMENDED: London's best street food. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

‘When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life,’ the great 18th-century poet Samuel Johnson once said. Still, there’s no denying a break from the Big Smoke is very tempting every now and then, especially if you’re a regular on the Northern Line at rush hour. Can’t wait until your next holiday for a little escape? Just fancy exploring somewhere new? A day trip is the perfect solution and won’t break the bank. There’s little point in a day trip if you spend half of it getting to your destination, though. So, we’ve chosen six intriguing towns and cities that it only takes an hour or less to get to from one of London’s main railway stations, like Victoria and Kings Cross. All you need to do is jump on a train and keep your fingers crossed for good weather. RECOMMENDED: The best day trips from LondonThe best Airbnbs in the UK

Hipsters are shedding their winter beanies, people are Instagramming pictures of daffodils and wild garlic, and beer gardens are back in full swing. This can only mean one thing: spring has officially sprung in London. We leapt into April with a banger of a four day weekend, and things are kicking off in the dance world this month too. In April, ‘Swan Lake’ continues at the Royal Opera House, Hofesch Shechter comes to the Southbank Centre and Boy Blue opens a world premiere at the Barbican. Here's the best dance in London this month.  MORE STAGE: Dance classes in London Best theatre shows this yearBest theatre shows this monthBest comedy shows this month

Why not enjoy your dinner with a side of strange? London is home to hundreds of amazing restaurants, but sometimes everyone hankers for a talking point with their tapas. We’ve rounded up a serious bunch of entertaining eateries: oddball decor, kooky culinary concepts and – yes – cats. Our list of unusual restaurants will delight animal lovers, garlic fans, and yodellers and more. You’ll find these joints in venues as varied as a boat, a prison and a church crypt. This is dining with a difference.  RECOMMENDED: The best weird bars in London.

‘Are you greased up?’ asks drag king Rich Tea, who is slipping into a pink and black unitard with ‘Little Dick’ printed on the backside. Cassius The Neon Explosion, the self-certified ‘bad twink’ of wrestling, is slathering himself in baby oil by the ring. He’s wearing bum-cheek bearing yellow hotpants adorned with daisies, and matching yellow and mint green ruffled leg warmers. Meanwhile, Liv Laugh Love, an evil Starbucks-slurping Karen, wearing UGG boots and a cringey slogan sweatshirt, is trash talking her opponents to Loose Willis, the moustachioed, mullet-sporting host. Heather Bandenburg, the referee and one of Fist Club’s founders, is putting on her stripy leotard and Cher wig, while Lou Sa Soul is zipping a massive pink dildo into a sequined bum bag. Motörhead’s ‘Ace of Spades’ is booming in the background.  Time Out has come to Monica’s Wrestling Centre, a gym in north London where the walls are decorated with colourful flags and retro posters, to catch up with Fist Club, one of London’s most exciting, and unusual, wrestling collectives.   Photograph: Jess Hand for Time Out   ‘The first rule of Fist Club is... everyone looks great in spandex,’ says Heather Bandenburg, who performs as Cher and is the curator of Wrestival, which will feature Fist Club’s upcoming big show.  ‘It’s a wrestling show but we have a lot of cabaret elements,’ explains Loose Willis. Fist Club, founded in 2022 by ex-wrestler Bandenburg and drag artists Rich Tea and Daisy Lang, who performs as

You’ve all heard of Drumsheds, London’s new 15,000-capacity venue that’s been set up in the old Ikea in Tottenham. Cavernous in size, with an entire area dedicated to food vendors, the world’s most efficient toilet queuing system and airport-like security, it’s taken going out in London to the next (very grown-up) level. In a similar vein to Manchester’s Warehouse Project, tickets start at £27.50 and must be booked in advance; line-ups are revealed as ‘seasons’ which are more akin to London Fashion Week drops than traditional clubland (see: ‘Drumsheds SS24’).  These ‘superclubs’ tend to focus on daytime parties, usually taking place from midday to 10.30pm. They’re great news if you want to get an early night, but they don’t really help Sadiq Khan’s mission to make the capital a 24-hour city. These days, you’ll be hard pressed to find a decent bar in central that doesn’t doesn’t call last orders past 11pm and you’ll have to be pretty organised (or be willing to splash the cash) to end up at one of the remaining clubs with a late license. In other words: there’s very little space for spontaneity, and it’s indicative of a wider problem: the spaces themselves are disappearing. You don’t need me to tell you that London’s nightlife has become a shell of its former self – a study by CGA Neilson recently found that London has lost almost half of its clubs in the past decade, including a 30 percent decrease in late night venues since the start of Covid-19. In the last year alone more

From the musty smells, to the welcoming sight of piles of old Levis, there’s nothing quite like visiting your first vintage shop. Since time immemorial, it’s been every 16-year-old’s rite of passage to spend an afternoon trying on Tommy Hilfiger dungarees, zip-up Nike track jackets and ‘shit shirts’ that looked like a pair of curtains had thrown up an oversized button down. Mom jeans, velvet scrunchies and neon windbreakers were all the rage and London was the place to get it.  Portobello Road, Camden Market, Brick Lane: from the ’90s through to the mid-2010s, the capital was a world leader when it came to finding vintage treasures. The expansion of Rokit and the opening of Beyond Retro in the early noughties marked the start of vintage shopping becoming mainstream. But while buying pre-owned clothing used to be the cheaper alternative to high street shopping, now vintage shops are pricier than the alternatives – especially online fast fashion outlets like Boohoo, Shein and Pretty Little Thing, and even higher-end highstreet options like Cos, & Other Stories and Free People. We’ve still got loads of vintage shops, and good ones at that. But as Londoners turn away from buying pre-owned clothing IRL in favour of finding second-hand gems online, footfall is spiralling downwards at brick and mortar sites all over the city. Even the iconic vintage shop Beyond Retro on Cheshire Street near Brick Lane closed down recently.   Photograph: Shutterstock But there’s more than just Depo

Everyone knows the story of ‘Swan Lake’. A princess turned into a swan, a wicked sorcerer, a chiselled prince coming to save her. It’s a wonder that the ancient story, and ancient 1877 choreography by Marius Petipa, is still beguiling audiences. But just like the most classic of fairy tales, the tale of the cursed princess remains a gesamtkunstwerk that will definitely pull on your heartstrings.  In a production first staged in 2018, ‘Swan Lake’ at the Royal Opera House is very much a trad ballet. It’s got all the things you’d expect – beautiful, featherlight swans moving in mesmerising unison, grand sets (designed by John Macfarlane), lavish costumes (a personal favourite was the Queen’s glittering black Victorian ball gown with an enormous bustle), and a bombastic Tchaikovsky score. Apart from an altered ending, there’s not much about this production by Liam Scarlett that shocks or surprises. Everything is neatly shaped to fit into the package that is ‘the ballet’. It’s still beautiful and satisfying to watch, but not particularly mind blowing.  In Act I the corps moves with military precision, with formations creating wonderful symmetry as the ballerinas swung their legs like pendulums. Then in the enchanted forest we meet Mayara Magri as Odette, who portrayed her with both a treacly sadness and light skittishness – not an easy combination to nail. Marcelino Sambé’s Prince Siegfried was a dependable partner, while also performing some seriously impressive jetés and pirouet

Impression Moxché by Secrets has got everything you could ever possibly need. And I mean everything.  This adults-only resort just outside of Playa Del Carmen is huge – so much so that you could easily spend a week here without having to leave once, although you might start to forget that the real world exists beyond the fortress of infinity pools and palm trees. It's got restaurants in every cuisine from Mexican to Californian, French to Italian, and south-east Asian to Japanese. It’s got a swim-up bar, a theatre, a beautiful spa; the list goes on. At Impression, relaxation is imperative. I felt like a queen being waited on hand and foot by the staff, who were always there to fold my towels, refresh my drink or offer me something to eat. Each guest is even set up with their own personal butler who you can communicate with via WhatsApp – if you need anything done, leave it with them.   The rooms are tasteful, spacious and immaculately presented. My room had not one, but two (!) hot tubs – one inside and one on the balcony. Plus Le Labo toiletries felt like a real indulgence. The main attraction is, of course, the beach, and the setting is chef’s kiss. With the stunning view of the azure Caribbean sea, stretches of white sand and plenty of secluded sunbathing spots, what’s not to like?  If you’re looking for a Mexican experience that feels more local, this probably isn’t the place for you. But if an all-inclusive is all you need, you’ll adore Impression.  Neighborhood  Found s

Good Mexican food in London is famously hard to come by. Mainly because Mexico is actually quite far from the Big Smoke, and compared to the likes of New York and LA we don’t have a huge Latinx population here. And yet, people (particularly Americans) still love to complain about it. So, moaners, we’re pleased to say that things could be changing. Mexican cuisine in the city is on the up, and joints like Taquiza are helping it on its way.  Taquiza has a bit of a ramshackle feel to it. There are exposed MDF boards, and the ceiling has a visible black curtain stapled across it, a bit like being backstage at a jaunty community theatre. This is down to the fact that the space doubles up as The Carpet Shop, one of London’s best new(ish) clubs, opened by the people behind the always-excellent Corsica Studios. It’s a fun concept! On a Friday night Taquiza was lively, but managed to remain cosy. Pisco sours and spicy margs were flowing and drinking them was a young and suitably fashionable, but not pretentious, crowd.  Our faces and hands were covered with various sauces and mayos – the messy sign of a meal truly enjoyed As for the food, they aren’t shy when it comes to portion sizes. We kicked things off with a trio of starters para compartir. Smoky refried black beans with the gooeyest island of queso fundido – hello cheese pull – and grilled elote (corn on the cob) with a cool burnt onion sour cream were firm favourites. A wonderful tuna tostada came piled high with crisp avocado

This review is from a 2023 performance at the Royal Opera House.  Dance performances at the Royal Opera House don’t typically begin with jumpscares. Nor do they feature rumbling techno scores, or have an interactive digital set projecting otherworldly CGI images of floating amoeba-like creatures. And yet, ‘UniVerse: A Dark Crystal Odyssey', has all of these things.  Based on Jim Henson’s 1982 dark fantasy puppet film ‘The Dark Crystal’, Company Wayne McGregor’s both wacky and bleak new production doesn’t quite follow the narrative of an elf on the quest for a crystal. Instead, the show takes key elements and themes from the movie – fantastical creatures, the destruction of worlds, and as the programme note puts it ‘ecological overtones’. What we’re given is a 70-minute plotless mystical odyssey through different realms, encountering a cornucopia of creatures, elements and humans. In an hour and 10 minutes with no interval we are hauled through time, space and everything in between. The typically awe-inspiring dancers’ strength, flexibility and precision allows them to be chameleon-like. With a cast of 11, we meet bizarre creatures made of hay, a sinister snake-like monster which hisses and hits the floor, aggressive forest fires and celestial water molecules. For the majority of the show, the dancers are faceless, enveloped in avant-garde full-body suits designed by Dr Alex Box and Phil Delamore.  There’s not much hope in this cheerless world. It’s bookended by spoken word po

Dimitris Papaioannou's spectacular production ‘INK’ features literally hundreds of litres of water sprayed, whirled and poured onto the stage. The Greek choreographer and director, famous for directing the opening and closing ceremonies of the Athens Olympics, is known for his surreal and nightmarish productions. ‘INK’ is no exception. Drawing on sci-fi and horror, a duet turns into a duel in this show set in a mythical water world. Prepare for a drenching. 

A man chopping an onion, dancers slapping each other in the face, and a stage covered in 8,000 handcrafted red and pink carnations are just some of the wonderfully bizarre things you're going to see in ‘Nelken’, performed by a new generation of Tanztheater Wuppertal dancers. As far as Pina Bausch goes, this is pretty standard. And if Bausch is your thing, ‘Nelken’ (translating to ‘Carnations’) isn't one to miss. Being performed in London for the first time since 2005, this performance is a meditation on life's ability to be painful and beautiful at the same time. 

First, a trigger warning: do not watch The Boy and the Heron on psychedelics. Hayao Miyazaki has returned from retirement with a real visual acid trip, full of breathtaking landscapes of cliffs with pounding waves and Hieronymus Bosch-like castle staircases.  Partly based on Miyazaki’s own childhood, it begins in Tokyo during World War II where a young boy – Mahito (voiced by Luca Padovan in the English dub) – witnesses the bombing of the hospital where his mother is an inpatient. Cut to a few months later and Mahito and his father (Christian Bale) have moved to the countryside, where dad has remarried Mahito’s aunt Natsuko. Here, Mahito must come to terms with his mother’s death, and accept his new family. Which is where the magic starts.  After being taunted by a frightening heron with a grotesque grin of tombstone-sized human teeth, Mahito discovers a boarded-up tower in the grounds of the house. Despite warnings that the tower is bad news, he’s drawn in by its sinister aura. Soon Natsuko is also taken by the tower and Mahito realises that he has to save her.  Inside, he meets massive people-eating parakeets, a helpful, robust fisherwoman, adorable and benevolent marshmallow-looking creatures, and a girl named Himi who has magical fire-rendering powers.  Hayao Miyazaki has returned from retirement with a real visual acid trip This enchanted world oscillates between light and darkness. Heavier themes of grief and war are balanced with funny moments. There are comically dul

Don’t be fooled by the glamorous art deco interiors of this boutique hotel in Knightsbridge: it may be opulent, but it’s also incredibly cosy. On the ground floor there are a series of nooks and crannies to nestle into: the bar, the reception room, restaurant, and a snug library.  As I’m not the biggest fan of black and gold with mirrors everywere, I was worried the decor in my room was going to be a bit much, but it did feel truly luxurious. When I first saw the enormous four-poster bed, I had no choice but to dive onto it and sink into the downy pillows. And when I say this was the best bath I’ve ever had in my life, I’m not exaggerating.  Then there’s the Michelin-starred Italian restaurant by Alfredo Russo. The food was hearty, yet elegant, and all round utterly scrumptious. The vibe itself was a little stuffy and quiet, but that may have been down to the fact I was eating there on a Tuesday night in November while an England World Cup match was on.  It’s not the most arty or edgy hotel, but it is luxe with an old-school charm. It nails the finer details, right down to the Penhaligon’s bath products, and I can’t fault it for that.  Neighbourhood Walking up to the Franklin, you’re slapped with the romantic feeling that this is what London is supposed to be like. The hotel is opposite the V&A, down a grand residential street in Knightsbridge with red brick townhouses and lined with fancy cars. At Christmas time, you can even see Harrods glowing in the distance with its mega

If you’re looking for a camp Christmas show, this is for you. With sexy snowflakes, some very tiny shorts, and a gender-non-conforming action man, ‘Nutcracker’ at the Tuff Nut Jazz Club (aka the Southbank Centre) is a snowstorm of fun. Just be wary of cringe.  In this new version, choreographed by Drew McOnie and performed by McOnie Company, the main character Clara becomes Clive, a young boy who just wants to play with the fairy on top of the Christmas tree. Instead, a macho action man – actually called Action Man – is forced upon Clive by his gruff, overworked Dad. Action Man is our nutcracker. The setting – a space under the Royal Festival Hall transformed into a cosy orange-hued faux speakeasy – is the perfect place to shelter from a blizzard. Tchaikovsky’s score is given a jazz makeover by Cassie Ninoshi and Rio Kai.  I was slightly startled by the overzealous grins of the dancers as they boinged onto the stage. In a venue where you’re close enough to smell the performers’ sweat, it was disconcerting to have six sets of pearly gnashers in my face. There were also moments when I was terrified they were going to kick the audience or fling themselves into the ceiling. All hats off to them for navigating such a tiny stage with no injuries, seriously.  A last-minute injury to leading man Sam Salter meant Clive was played by Mark Samaras, who gave a sweet and earnest performance. Meanwhile, with his clenched fists and toylike torso twists, Amonik Melaco’s entrance as Action Ma

‘I hope you're hungry,’ said Frog's founder and head chef Adam Handling, as he dunked his hand into the potted plant on our table. With a flourish, he pulled out from the leaves a beaker of mysterious, viridescent liquid. This he poured into a ceramic cup that was already filled with flecks of potato and artichoke skins, transforming the chunks into a soup that surprisingly started off hot and finished ice cold. This culinary marvel might sound like something from Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, but this is how every meal at Frog begins – with a little bit of magic.  Over the top, audacious and overly complicated, but also completely delightful.  Opening in 2017, the restaurant by the ‘Masterchef: The Professionals’ finalist was awarded a Michelin star in 2022. Since then, Frog by has been done up, with dull brown leather chairs and wooden tables replaced by plush pastel-pink chairs, and soft white leather tables. Whatever you might think of the decor – there is some questionable art, notably the massive pop art portrait of Queen Elizabeth II – and the wild £195 a head price tag, Handling certainly has a vision.  As for the food, I could take you through every item on our ten-course tasting menu, but we’d be here all night (my meal lasted about four hours), so here are some highlights instead. Snacks were presented like a magical garden, with dainty flowers and dry ice encompassing a duck egg custard, a zingy beef and kimchi in crunchy pastry, and a crumbly biscuit stuffed

This is a biggie. ‘Don Quixote’, the Cervantes novel that's been turned into a timeless ballet will hit the Royal Opera House stage this autumn. The Royal Ballet's supreme dancers will open the 2023/24 season with Carlos Acosta's spectacular choreography to a vivacious score by Ludwig Minkus. It will be packed full of charm and comedy and is guaranteed to put a pep in your step. Don't miss this absolute classic. 

Inspired by the Bible's epic love poem, the ‘Song of Solomon’, this mystical piece of dance theatre from choreographer Pam Tanowitz and Pulitzer prize-winning composer David Lang will have you yearning for more. A tender and emotive work, ‘Song of Songs’ explores love, desire and religion.   

Does anyone even remember what life was like in London before the train strikes? Union members have been walking out since all the way back in the summer of 2022, making it pretty much two years since the UK was blissfully rail-strike-free. And industrial action isn’t going away anytime soon – more strikes have been announced for next month.  The next major round of strikes will come from ASLEF train drivers across the UK. Drivers at 16 train operators will walk out in a rolling programme lasting from May 7 to May 9 and not work overtime for a six-day period. These strikes follow several days of action by ASLEF and TSSA members in April.  On top of this, customer service managers part of the TSSA union on the London Underground will walk out this Friday on April 26, and take part in an overtime ban lasting until May 5. This is likely to result in last-minute station closures, though is unlikely to shut down the entire tube network. Find out more about those TSSA strikes here.  In slightly brighter news,  industrial action on the tube scheduled for May has been called off. We’re also currently seeing respite from RMT workers striking on non-TfL services, as before Christmas the union’s members voted to pause strikes for now.  Here’s everything you need to know about planned industrial action on London’s train network.  RECOMMENDED:All you need to know about the train strikes across the UK. When are the next London train strikes? The next major strike will come from ASLEF drive

There are going to be a lot of sore legs today. Yesterday, more than 50,000 runners set off for the 2024 London Marathon in Greenwich. Among them, as well as olympic athletes and regular folk trying to complete the amazing physical feat, were quite a few celebrities. But which celeb was the fastest? The fastest famous face on the 26.2 mile course (apart from the athletes) was McFly’s Harry Judd, who completed the course in 3 hours, 23 minutes and 40 seconds. The singer, 38, ran the marathon for The Children’s Trust, a charity for children with brain injuries.  Hot on Judd’s heels was singer Tom Grennan, 28, who finished in 3:45:39, running for housing and homelessness charity Shelter.  Next up was Matt Hancock. The former Tory MP and I'm A Celebrity campmate completed the course in 3:55:37. After Hancock was radio presenter Jenni Falconer, who completed the marathon with a time of 4:15:44. Luther actor Ruth Wilson, running for charity Alzheimer’s Research UK, completed the race in 4:54:26. She was followed by former Doctor Who Christopher Eccleston. The 60-year-old finished in 5:21:50, running for The Big Issue.  And finally, shout out to The Masked Singer host and comedian Joel Dommett, who completed the race in 5:19:19 wearing a piranha suit. We bet it was sweaty in there.  Congratulations to everyone who completed the London Marathon yesterday. Ice baths and Lucozade Sports all round! Feeling inspired? Here’s how to enter the London Marathon 2025. Stay in the loop: sign u

There aren’t many Londoners more iconic than Vivienne Westwood. The legendary designer, who died aged 81 in 2022, was a lynchpin of the punk movement in the ’80s, and continued to have an incredible impact on London fashion and style until she passed away.  Now, there’s a chance to get your hands on some of her most amazing looks. More than 200 of Westwood’s personal outfits are going up for action at Christie’s. Don’t just dress like a Vivienne Westwood model, dress like the woman herself.   Vivienne Westwood’s personal collection will be auctioned at Christie’s in two parts, but not before being displayed in a free public exhibition at the auction house from June 14-24. ‘Vivienne Westwood: The Personal Collection’ will be sold in person on June 25, while an online auction will run from June 14-28. The sales will raise funds for the causes Dame Vivienne supported throughout her life, with proceeds going to support The Vivienne Foundation, Amnesty International, Médecins Sans Frontières and Greenpeace. There are some real gems in the collection from Viv’s very own wardrobe, including a taffeta ballgown with the span of a light aircraft from the AW98 ‘Dressed to Scale’ collection; a 1983 two piece ensemble from ‘Witches’, one of Westwood’s earliest collections; and a dress from the 2005 ‘Propaganda’ collection.  Photograph: Christie’s Images Ltd. 2024 Adrian Hume Sayer, director of private and iconic collections for Christie’s, said: ‘Vivienne Westwood’s sense of activism, a

What’s going on with the new DLR trains? The current 30-year-old DLR trains are on death’s door. But before they creak into retirement, they’ve got to complete a few more miles first. To keep the trains alive while the new ones are being tested, TfL is running convoys with fewer carriages to save mileage. The old fellas just need a break! According to London transport expert IanVisits, on the Woolwich branch of the DLR, the number of cars per train has been reduced from three to two. The B92 trains are already past their ideal retirement age, but they can’t be scrapped until the new, improved carriages are fully tested and ready to hit the rails. The 54 new trains were delayed by a few months back in February as the testing was taking longer than anticipated.  If TfL decided to keep the old locomotives running normally and retire them when they hit their mileage limits, then the DLR could have been losing five trains per month from May onwards, which would have caused real problems for passengers. So, TfL has had no choice but to reduce the capacity of the old DLRs to help eek out the service as long as possible.  The first of the two-car trains came into service on the Woolwich to Stratford branch late last year, but only on quieter Mondays and Fridays. But now the shorter trains are running all through the week. The shorter trains are currently only on the Woolwich branch and not the Lewisham. TfL hopes by cutting the mileage of the old carriages they will be able to run un

East Londoners, beware! A whole section of the London Overground is shutting down for two weeks in the summer, meaning getting to Liverpool Street is going to be a real pain.  A big chunk of the orange line will be closed for 16 days this summer as Network Rail replaces a large bridge supporting a road junction near Hackney Downs. Here’s all the information about the closure.  Which stations will be affected by the Overground closure? The Chingford to Liverpool Street Overground, AKA the Weaver line, and Greater Anglia services will be affected by the two-week closure of the railway line.  On the Overground, this means no services to or from Clapton, St James Street, Walthamstow Central, Wood Street, Highams Park and Chingford stations. Greater Anglia services that usually run between Liverpool Street and Hertford East will start and finish at Stratford instead. The usual Stratford to Meridian Water services won’t run, but other services will make additional stops at Meridian Water and Northumberland Park. The Liverpool Street to Cambridge / Stansted Airport services will be diverted via Seven Sisters instead of Tottenham Hale. Bishop’s Stortford to Stratford services won’t be running either. When will the Overground be closed? The Overground will be closed for engineering works for 16 days from July 20 to August 4. Why is the Overground closing? According to London transport expert IanVisits, part of a railway arch near Hackney Downs, built in the 1860s, needs replacing. Eng

It feels like it was just yesterday that we were watching the Lionesses smash Germany in the Euro 2022 final. But it’s already time for another round of spectacular goals, missed penalties and euphoric wins. That’s right, the Euros are back, kicking off on June 14. This time, the men are up. Our fave boys will be battling it out in Germany for a chance to become the UEFA Euro 2024 winners. Whether you’re a die hard footie fan or just hoping to catch a glimpse of Jack Grealish’s calves, you’re going to want to know all the best spots in London to catch the matches. From screenings to sports pubs, these are the best places to watch Euro 2024 in London.  Boxpark Wembley, Croydon and Shoreditch All three Boxpark locations will be screening live matches throughout the whole tournament. England games are expected to sell out fast – you can register your interest online here.  Big Penny Social The Walthamstow brewery will be showing all the games on screens inside and outside. Plus, there will be pyrotechnics for big moments and even a live band for England matches. Book online here.  Dalston Roofpark The east London venue will transform its warehouse into a fanzone for the England games. As well as big anti-glare screens, matches at Dalston Roofpark will include a live DJ, an interactive show, and football legends in attendance. Tickets are available online here.  TOCA Social TOCA Social at the O2 is a full-on immersive football experience. The venue will be showing all the games i

Remember the days when you could stroll down Chapel Market, pick up your groceries, cop a big packet of batteries and finish the day off taking a picture with a monkey? Us too. But once a lively and dependable bazaar, the old-school market in Angel is struggling at the moment.  According to traders, Chapel Market is ‘slowly dying’, and it needs more shoppers to help keep it alive.  Despite a £1.6 million investment from Islington Council, sellers on the market say it was a ‘waste of money’ and has failed to ‘future proof’ the destination. Traders claim the council’s changes to the market street are actually driving sellers away.  ‘In about a year there won’t be any businesses left,’ one café owner, Yildirim Gorgun, told Islington Tribune. ‘Everybody will close soon. I can’t see any future here. I don’t want to leave but I can’t continue like this any more.’ As well as installing new flower beds and a new gazebo, the council pledged to recruit more market stalls, but traders claimed that people who had applied for a stand had been rejected. There are also complaints that the flower beds are badly designed and made of cheap materials and have been hit numerous times by vehicles on the street.  Adrian Serrano, the ‘Paella man’ who runs La Real Paella and won Street Food Trader of the Year in 2022, told Islington Tribune: ‘They stopped taking applications from new traders and now we are just three food traders – before we were 15 or 20. The market is dying slowly, slowly, slowly.

You know you’re reaching your thirties when all your friends announce they’re training for marathons. But whether you think it’s a clear marker of a quarter-life crisis, or an amazing physical feat (really, it’s both), there’s no doubt that watching athletes stagger across the finish line at the London Marathon is pretty exciting. As the big day approaches – this year’s race falls on Sunday April 21 – it’s important for runners and spectators to get to grips with all the different start times (it would be impossible for all 50,000 runners to start at once). Here’s everything you need to know about the London Marathon waves in 2024.  RECOMMENDED: Your winning guide to the 2024 London Marathon.Where to watch the London Marathon: the best places along the route map.  How many waves are there at the start of the London Marathon? London Marathon hasn't said exactly how many waves there will be at Sunday’s race.  What are the wave start times? The race kicks off at around 8.30am with professional athletes leading the way. The masses then set off in waves. From 10am to 11.30am a sequence of start waves will take place, with short gaps in between to allow the course ahead to clear. All start lines will be closed by 11.30am.  Start waves and times are allocated based on runners’ predicted finish time, which they will have given to organisers ahead of time. Where does the London Marathon start and finish? The London Marathon starts in Greenwich Park and finishes on The Mall.  How to tr

What’s the most you would pay for a cup of coffee? For most people, it wouldn’t be upwards of £5, and it would have to be a really good one. But one London spot is asking people to shell out more than £200 for just one cup of joe. That’s right, speciality coffee bar Shot is selling a brew for an eye-watering £265. It’s Britain’s most expensive coffee.  This is no ordinary espresso. Shot sources the extortionate blend from Okinawa, an island in Japan. The beans are of the Japanese typica variety, and have been in production on the island since 2015.  On the menu, Shot describes the ‘exquisite coffee’ as ‘reflective of the deeply-held Japanese value of striving for perfection’. Deep-pocketed customers looking to be caffeinated into a higher plane can order the drink as an espresso, macchiato, flat white, americano, cappuccino or latte. It even comes in a fitting gold coffee cup. It’s giving Salt Bae’s gold-covered steak a run for its money.  The coffee shop also serves other expensive house specials including a £70 Savannah Zombie made from Haitian beans, and a £32 brew from St Helena’s Wrangham Estate. Three-time UK barista champion Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood said the the exorbitant price may be because of the scarcity of coffee grown in Japan. He told the Telegraph: ‘Hardly anyone grows coffee in Japan. It typically grows in the tropics – either side of the equator – it’s very hard to grow in places like Japan and probably needs a lot of help. ‘Rarity is obviously sought-after

It’s an unlikely combination that somehow just works: pizza and records. But I bet you didn't know that as well as slinging dough balls across the country, Pizza Express also has its own record label, PX Records. To celebrate the label’s first birthday this year, the pizza OGs are opening not one, not two, but three record stores in London, so you’ll be able to grab some wax and a slice.  PX Records is opening up vinyl stores in Soho, Holborn and Chelsea. These shops will be located inside Pizza Express’ live music venues, including the legendary Pizza Express Jazz Club, and will be open from April 26.  ‘Za stans and music heads will come together to celebrate the momentous occasion, and will be able to cop vinyls from signed PX Records artists including UK soul outfit Mamas Gun, revered US saxophonist Scott Hamilton, Jamiroquai keyboardist Matt Johnson and multi award-winning jazz duo Ian Shaw and Tony Kofi, all recorded at PX Live venues. The pizza chain has long had chops within the music world, with icons like Amy Winehouse, Norah Jones, and Gregory Porter gracing the stage at its live music venues over the years.  Ross Dines, music manager at Pizza Express said: ‘For almost 50 years, music has been an iconic part of Pizza Express, combining live performances and delicious dining experiences. To be able to continue our passion for supporting both up-and-coming and established, global artists through PX Records is something we’re very proud of and we’re thrilled to celebra

You don’t need us to tell you that the high street is in shambles at the moment. Not only have we lost Fenwicks, The Body Shop and Big Topshop, now we must say farewell to another beloved London shopping spot. A 100-year-old Marks and Spencer store in south London is shutting down and going to the big high street in the sky.  Marks and Spencer on Walworth Road will serve its last customer on Saturday June 8, after 111 years of trading. The store was opened during the Edwardian Era, 29 years after the first-ever Marks ‘n’ Sparks was founded in Leeds and one year before the start of World War I. Before that, the building was the Rutter Bros drapery store, although the current shopfront dates from the interwar period.  ‘We would like to thank all of our customers who have shopped in the store over the years, who we will keep serving up until closure and beyond that, from our other stores nearby and across London,’ said Gordon Scott, M&S regional manager.  ‘After consulting with our colleagues, we have informed them of the closure and our priority now is continuing individual discussions about what this decision means for them. Wherever possible, we will offer them alternative roles with M&S.’ In 2022, M&S announced plans to close 67 underperforming stores as part of a strategic overhaul. The controversial demolition of the Oxford Street flagship M&S is also part of the regeneration strategy, although the date of the knocking down hasn't been announced yet.  But it’s not all bad

Last year it was announced that London's oldest park, and the biggest in the City, Finsbury Circus, will close for an entire year to get some much need renovations. Work began on the big green oval back in November 2023. Now, the first pictures of what the new and improved park could look like are here.  Finsbury Circus Gardens have been closed on and off over the past 13 years, with most of the area taken over as a construction site by the Crossrail project from March 2010 until August 2020. One of the oldest greens in the city, the central London glade has been offering Londoners a spot for peace and quiet since 1606 when it was laid out as London’s first public park. The Grade II-listed park is also home to a Grade II-listed drinking fountain which dates back to 1902. The fountain will remain in the park but in a new location.   Image: City of London Corporation  Green fingered workers in the gardens have been busy planting an ‘urban forest’, as well as other greenery that will help introduce a wide range of species and habitats for birds, bees, and bats in the central London oasis. Finsbury Gardens 2.0 will also have improved seating and pathways.  Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Natural Environment Board, Caroline Haines, said: ‘Finsbury Circus Gardens will be transfor med into a tranquil haven for people to relax and spend time outside. ‘Not only are City open spaces hugely important for people's health and wellbeing, they also play a vital role by increasin