India Lawrence

Peckham locals have always been proud of the area’s brand: a melting pot of cultural vibrancy, eccentric individuals, and an artsy, young DIY crowd thanks to nearby Goldsmiths University and Camberwell College of Arts. It rivals Dalston and all those other East End upstarts as the place to hang out, and it’s the perfect spot for new restaurants to find their feet. Here are some of the best in the area, as well as a host of notable places to eat just down the road in Camberwell, too.  RECOMMENDED: The best 50 restaurants in London. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

The smog and stress of London can really take its toll on your skin. That’s why there’s nothing better than a regular facial (or a one-off treat) to give you that much-needed top-up, leaving you feeling glowing, fresh-faced and dewy.  Just thinking about what we put our skin through is enough to give you frown lines. That’s thanks to the combined efforts of pollution and air-conditioned offices, as well as the added bonuses of harsh weather, booze, sun exposure, dehydration and – our least favourite – the inevitable passing of time. Happily, there are loads of great spas, treatment rooms and estheticians in London who can give your face a break and a much-needed zhuzh. Whether you’re after a relaxing, soothing facial massage, some instant radiance, a total skincare overhaul or something a little more intense such as microneedling or laser treatment, read our pick of facials in London.  RECOMMENDED: The best spas in London. 

Rejoice, because you’ve made it through the doldrums of January which means it’s time to start defrosting from your winter hibernation and head back out there to the frontlines of culture.  In the dance world there’s loads to pick from this month. Peter Wright’s romantic but also vengeful Giselle is arriving at the Royal Opera House just in time for V Day, perfect for anyone going through a bad break up. Over at Sadler’s Wells Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch are in the house performing Bausch’s penultimate work Sweet Mambo. Plus, contemporary dance festival Resolution continues througout Feb at The Place.  Read on to see the best dance in London this month.  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

Dreaming of sand between your toes, wind blowing in your hair and sun beating down on your skin? You might just be due a trip to the beach. Here in the UK, we can’t quite guarantee the sunshine, but we can guarantee some seriously stunning beaches which will rival those of Mediterranean (and might even be contenders for the best beaches in the world).  We have white sand beaches, we have pebbles, we have towering chalk cliffs and rock pools galore. We pretty much have a beach for every occassion. Not sure where to go? We’ve rounded up the best beaches in the UK right here, from Scotland to Cornwall, all chosen by Time Out travel writers who have been to visit them IRL. You’ll also find our expert reccs for where to stay, so you can make the most of your beachy getaway. Enjoy.  Where are the UK’s most beautiful beaches? Pretty beaches are dotted all over the UK, but you’ll find some absolute beauties in Scotland, Cornwall and Wales, where the water is often clear, beaches are surrounded by tall cliffs and greenery and you might even find sand between your toes. On our list of the UK’s best beaches, we’ve included the prettiest and most serene stretches of coast out there, but we’ve also included those better for vibes, families and big old picnics. They might not be lookers, but they’re perfect for a seaside day out.  RECOMMENDED:🏖️ The most amazing hidden beaches in the UK🌊 The best outdoor swimmming pools in the UK🏊 The best wild swimming spots in the UK🌤️ The best place

We’ve made it through the most depressing month of the year, the endless wait for that post-Christmas payday is finally over, and festival season 2026 is on our minds. 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 most of the south London park’s usual lineup of events will return in 2026, with Cross The Tracks, Field Day and Mighty Hoopla all in the diary for late May. 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 come the 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

Covent Garden is so rammed with restaurants that decision fatigue can easily threaten the quality of your dinner. Weave through the tourists and theatregoing crowds and you'll discover that this area hosts many of the best restaurants in London, including French-styled Story Cellar, and The Portrait by Richard Corrigan, as well as old faves The Savoy Grill and J Sheekey. We’ve compiled a list of the best in the area, from cutting-edge eateries and classy counter joints to party-ready and casual hangouts, with pre-theatre favourites and cheap eats among them. Think of it as your Covent Garden bucket list. The best restaurants in Covent Garden at a glance: 🍸 Best for old school glamour: J Sheekey 🥦 Best for modern British cookery: Town 🥘 Best for Spanish tapas: Barrafina, Drury Lane and Adelaide Street 🍝 Best for perfect pasta: Bancone ⌛ Best for a fast feed: Adoh! RECOMMENDED: The absolute best restaurants in Soho. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

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

Twice a year, fashion Christmas comes to London, bringing with it whole closets full of covetable new looks you’ll dream of wearing. London Fashion Week returns next week for another deep-dive into the trends and styles that will be dominating red carpets, shops and streets in autumn and winter 2026 (AW26).  Across five days, the city’s most stylish will be hanging out around the Strand and sitting front row to see fresh looks from the likes of Simone Rocha, Chopova Lowena, Harris Reed, Burberry and Fiorucci. Yes, the majority of shows are invite-only, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be in the know. Here’s all the information you need ahead of London Fashion Week AW26.  When is London Fashion Week 2026?  LFW takes place twice a year: in February and September. The next fashion week will be from Thursday February 19 to Monday February 23.  Where is London Fashion Week held?  London Fashion Week usually takes place at the British Fashion Council’s own show space at 180 The Strand. The closest tubes are Holborn and Temple. Several events will also be held at external locations across the city. How do I get tickets to London Fashion Week 2026?  We hate to be the ones to tell you but unfortunately, most of the LFW shows are invite-only, so you can’t buy tickets.  What designers should I be watching out for?  Although you may not be able to see the shows in real life, you will be able to watch them live on the London Fashion Week website. So, these are all the one’s worth tuning in

January 2026: Our latest update includes everything from an early morning Michelin starred tasting menu to udon noodle bowls, South Indian platters and Hong Kong-style toasted buns. Of course, it wouldn't be a list of the best breakfasts in London without an appearance from Dishoom and their iconic-for-a-reason bacon naan, so that's here too, as is old school East End hangout E Pellicci - one of the best classic caffs in London.  The best breakfasts in London at a glance: 🌯 Best for a burrito: Bad Manners, Shoreditch 😎 Best for celeb-spotting: The Wolseley, Mayfair 🥓 Best for a fry-up: E Pellicci, Bethnal Green 🍛 Best for a South Indian feast: The Tamil Prince, Islington 🍞 Best for Hong Kong French toast: Hoko Cafe, Brick Lane 🍱 Best for Japanese brekkie: Ikoi, Kings Cross Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and luckily for London, the city caters to every possible morning whim. These days, London isn’t just home to the fry-up, but the ubiquitous smashed avocado on toast, bowls of shakshuka and many more besides. In fact, London genuinely might be the best place to eat breakfast in the world. Whether you’re the kind of person who favours a posh restaurant over a greasy spoon, or who champions a caff over a swanky hotel, we’ve rounded up the ultimate list.  RECOMMENDED: Breakfast’s a little too early for you? Try one of London’s best brunches instead. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial

February has finally arrived, and after the punishing health regimes, sober stints and penny-pinching that the first month of the year usually entails, London is ready to let loose! February packs a bunch of important dates packed into its short four weeks, including Valentine’s Day, Lunar New Year, London Fashion Week and LGBTQ+ History Month. It’s also half-term, again (yes, already!) which means loads of family-friendly activities across the city, many of which won’t cost you a penny.  Elsewhere, the art and film industries spring into life again after a quiet few weeks at the beginning of the year, with several local film festivals on the horizon and a slew of major exhibition, from Tracey Emin at the Tate Modern to Rose Wylie at the RA.  There’s also plenty of live sport, from the Six Nations to the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, plus Kew’s Orchid Festival and King’s Cross’s new wellness-focused Equanimity Festival for the sport and outdoorsy types. And that’s by no means all! 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 culture buffs: Samurai, British Museum 🏉 Best for sports fans: Six Nations, various 🧒🏻 Best for kids: Imagine Festival, Southbank Centre

With a bounty of great parties happening in the capital this Easter bank holiday, you can dance till you drop. Here’s our round-up of the long weekend’s best parties from Thursday April 2 to Monday April 6 2026, from (hopefully) sun-soaked daytime soirees to late-night ragers at some of the city’s best clubs.  If you’ve got the stamina, you could turn Easter into a proper bender. Just don’t count on a quick resurrection in time for work on Tuesday. RECOMMENDED:The best Easter events and activities in LondonThe 50 best nights out in London

Looking for ideas for Valentine’s that avoid the the mushy, saccharine nonsense that the day typically brings? There are loads of loved-up spots in the city that will show your beau that you’ve got original ideas that will blow dinner and a movie out of the water, as well as unusual events and alternative date options.  Skip the clichés – goodbye petrol station flowers, naff chocolates and soulless plastic presents – and treat your beloved to something different. From cult movie marathons to absinthe tastings, get your nose out of the crappy card rack and check out these alternative romantic things to do in London. RECOMMENDED: Your guide to Valentine’s Day in London.

Is there a better ballet to coincide with Valentine’s than the haunting Giselle? I know what you’re thinking. Giselle, really? The tale of a woman who literally kills herself when she finds out her man is engaged to someone else? If you’re not familiar with the story, the eponymous heroine falls in love with the charming Albrecht, who she believes to be a fellow peasant. But when she discovers him to be a nobleman, betrothed to a princess, Giselle dramatically stabs herself. From then on she is fated to spend her days with the Wilis, a group of vengeful women ghosts who were all jilted and died of broken hearts.   It may be a bit OTT (no man is worth killing yourself over), but while ghosting might take on a different meaning in 2026, this tale of betrayal and revenge still resonates today; if you’re feeling disillusioned with dating, Giselle is the perfect post-Valentine’s antidote.  Peter Wright’s 1985 production of Giselle, originally choreographed in 1841 by Marius Petipa, is ageing like fine wine. Last revived in 2021, the timeless romantic ballet returns to the Royal Opera House in 2026.  Sarah Lamb is feather-light as the naïve Giselle of the first act, her slender limbs stretching away from her body like taffy. Once a Wili, she is forlorn, resigned to her (after)life as a wraith. Ryoichi Hirano hits the right balance of confident and endearing as the handsome Albrecht, performing gravity defying leaps and implausibly intricate batterie from start to finish. The chemis

Pina Bausch was a master of making an audience uncomfortable. In Sweet Mambo, which has finally received its London debut 18 years after it was created, a woman (Julie Stanzak) in an elegant gown is walked around the stage by a man, her long hair the leash. At another moment a woman (Julie Shanahan) is repeatedly dragged backwards by two men as she tries to run to a friend, her screams piercing through the theatre. Later the same men chase her with a table, causing her to fall down with exhaustion again and again. More disturbing scenes involve a man repeatedly pulling up a female dancer’s (Naomi Britto) skirt, exposing her underwear, as she tries to ignore him. It’s a harrowing watch at times, but that’s also the point.  There is no story to Sweet Mambo. Bausch’s penultimate work, performed by Tanztheater Wuppertal, is staged as a series of poignant vignettes – set to a vivacious jazz, electronica and folk soundtrack –  that all speak to the beautiful, painful and also funny experience of being human.  Some of Bausch’s longest Tanztheater Wuppertal collaborators worked with her on the creation of Sweet Mambo in 2008, with many of them returning to perform the piece in 2026, all to the benefit of the performance which speaks back to the ageism of the dance world. All but one of the remaining women are in their fifties and sixties. One of them is the 70-year-old Nazareth Panadero (‘don’t forget,’ she says, when proudly telling us her name), a formidable woman with an exuberant

All of London’s hottest and hippest people will head to Peckham Rye Park for one of London’s best electronic music bonanzas in May. GALA will return after its hugely successful 10th anniversary event in 2025. The theme for 2026 has been revealed as The Floor Is Ours, which is a call for community and creative ownership, and wants to take a stand against the growing commercial tide in dance culture. The Friday of Gala tends to lean towards the bassier side of things. In 2026 it will see Benji B take over with Deviation. Freshly announced acts include CASISDEAD, Giggs and Novelist Also on the bill is Or:La, Mala and Charli xcx’s new hubby, George Daniel. NTS will curate a stage, as well as Dirty Hit’s electronic imprint dh2, and dubstep specialists HVYWGHT. Peach will debut her new Dreamland project on the Saturday with a takeover of the Pleasuredome. She’ll be joined on the line-up by Saoirse, Call Super, Prosumer, Job Jobse and Steffi x Virginia. Other takeovers will be staged by queer party starters Club Are and Berlin radio station Refuge Worldwide. Sunday will go hard on the disco and house, with Todd Terje, Seth Troxler and Lil’ Louis leading the charge, alongside a rare b2b2b from Hunee, Palms Trax and Antal. Also playing will be Gilles Peterson, CC:DISCO!, Chaos in the CBD and Moxie, who will bring her On Loop party to the festival. 

No longer the newbie on the block, London’s Jazz Cafe returns for its third edition in early August. It’s leaving behind its former home of Burgess Park and moving to a secret location. Headlining the 15,000-capacity festival in 2026 is R&B star Ari Lennox, known for her hits ‘Pressure’ and ‘Shea Butter Baby’, making it the singer’s only UK date in 2026. The rest of the line-up is still TBA, but if previous editions are anything to go by it will be meticulously curated by the Jazz Cafe gang, spanning jazz (of course), R&B, hip hop and electronic sounds. 

Once again, London’s most ravey festival will take over Boston Manor Park with some of the biggest names in techno and house. Celebrating 10 years in 2026, Junction 2 will span a mega two weekends with an absolutley stacked line-up featuring the godmothers and godfathers of electronic music alongside exciting contemporary talent. DJs announced for 2026 include Nina Kraviz, Jeff Mills, Francesco del Garda, Gabrielle Kwarteng b2b Peach, I Hate Models, Miss Monique, Nicolas Lutz and more to come.   

After taking place in Burgess Park for the past two years in a row,  Maiden Voyage is yet to announce the location for its 2026 edition. Details for summer’s event are still being kept under wraps, but tickets are on sale – expect stage takeovers from London’s hottest clubs and nightlife collectives, alongside some big names in contemporary electronic music.

Did you know that the samurai believed gender and sexuality were fluid, and that they practically invented the concept of being non-binary? Because I certainly didn’t. This progressive view was one of many riveting – and surprising – things I learned at the blockbuster Samurai exhibition at the British Museum.  You don’t have to be a history buff to find Samurai intriguing – I’m not a medieval period obsessive, but like a lot of Zillenials I am a big fan of all things Japanese. This exhibition of treasures from Nihon, therefore, understandably appealed to me, and I suspect this will be the case for anyone who has spent hours trawling the internet for the perfect santoku knife or vintage Comme des Garçons jacket. There’s a lot crammed into the exhibition, which outlines the past 1,000 years through 280 objects and pieces of digital media, following the rise of the samurai from fierce mercenaries in the 1100s, through to their reign as an aristocratic social class from the 1600s to the 1800s. Examining the enduring legacy of the Japanese warriors in the present day, Samurai illustrates how the image of the noble fighter has been mythologised, altered and co-opted over the years, sometimes for nefarious means (as seen in a chilling Nazi pamphlet promoting the relations between Japan and Germany).  an incredible selection of ornate helmets resemble sculptures more than headgear Many of the artefacts on display are stunning – from intricately decorated partition screens, to fans,

The Barbican is celebrating 20 years of comissioning artists for The Curve in 2026. Chicago-based artist Julia Phillips will be the first to exhibit in the free space this year, with her first UK solo exhibition Inside, Before They Speak. Showing new sculptures that combine glazed ceramics sculpted on her body with metal hardware, Phillips explores ideas about the body, conception, technology and human connection. 

The legendary Scottish choreographer Michael Clark is unveiling a new solo at the Serpentine which was created in response to Peter Doig’s House of Music. Created for dancer Jules Cunningham (who has worked with Merce Cunningham Company, Michael Clark Company and Boris Charmatz), the site-specific commission will embody Clark’s signature punk spirit while responding to Doig’s artwork inspired by music, film and communal gathering. The solo will be performed three times throughout the days: at midday, 1.30pm and 3pm. 

London’s hottesr, non-cringe dating night Pears is teaming up with Selfridges for a special Valentine’s event in 2026. Get struck by Cupid at the speed dating party that refuses to be bounded by gender or sexuality and all are welcome. A £30 ticket includes a speed dating session hosted by drag queen Barbs, live performances, a drink and snack, and of course, the chance to meet your next loml. 

Get ready to scream, because the ‘rockstar of the English baroque’ – yep, you heard that right – is getting his own major exhibition in London this spring. Three hundred years after his death,  the OG ‘starchitect’ Sir John Vanbrugh will get a show dedicated to his iconic architecture at Sir John Soane’s museum. Vanbrugh brought England some of its most-admired country houses, including Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard, and is known for his dramatic use of light and shadow, recessions and projections. 

If you’ll always carry a torch for your teenage celeb crush, then this one’s for you. From the internet’s impact on beauty trends to all things cute and cuddly, Somerset House has a history of delving into contemporary pop cultural trends with its exhibition programming, and it continues in a similar vein with its spring 2026 exhibition. In Holy Pop! Somerset House will explore the power of fandom and the world of modern shrines. Through art, memorabilia, letters, photographs, and interactive installations, the pay what you can exhibition will uncover the rituals of idolisation, showing how fandom shapes identity, values, and community. 

TfL is continuing on its quest to bring more toilets to the London Underground. Now new loos have just dropped at a south London tube station as part of TfL’s £15 million scheme to make toilets more accessible across the network.  Morden station is the latest transport hub to get a new lav in a TfL ’first’. The Northern line stop had no public toilet facilities until now; it is the first station on the southernmost section of the Northern line’s Morden branch to receive facilities. The loo at Morden (pictured below) is gender-neutral and accessible with baby-changing facilities.  Photograph: TfL The Morden toilet comes as part of the ‘Equity in Motion’ plan from TfL and the Mayor of London, which was announced in 2024. The project has recently seen new accessible toilets installed at Clapton, Seven Sisters and White Hart Lane Overground stations.  Sadiq Khan has committed to spending £3 million each year on introducing toilets across the network, with the aim being that customers are always within 20 minutes of one without having to change trains. There are currently toilets available at 155 locations on the TfL transport network, as well as an additional 40 toilets within stations on the network that are not managed by TfL. More toilets are on the way across the network too.  The London train stations that will next get toilets Here’s the full list toilets confirmed so far for London’s Underground and Overground services.  New Cross Gate Overground Acton Central Overgrou

Club heads, we bring you good news. One of Time Out’s favourite little basement venues, The Glove That Fits, has had a major renovation. And even better news is that it’s been granted a brand new late licence too. Hackney nightclub The Glove That Fits (TGTF) has been given a permanent late licence, allowing the venue to open until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays and 2am on Thursdays. Previously the club had to close at 1am on most weekends, with only an occasional late licence granted. The early closures significantly limited the venue’s programming in an already challenging landscape for independent music venues. The licence was granted by Hackney Council following a formal application from TGTF.  Photograph: Fossil Archive / The Glove That Fits Now eight years old, the venue has also undergone its first renovation since opening in 2018, which includes a newly rebuilt DJ booth, new room layout, upgraded DJ equipment and a new lighting rig, all while keeping the club’s signature red lighting and basement feel. Photograph: DINAMPLATZ   Founder Seb Glover said: ‘Its an exciting and important step in the life of our little venue. In an increasingly challenging environment to operate in, this extension allows us to further support the artists, creators and creative ecosystem that we love and that makes the UK such a unique and rich place to be.’ For more nightlife, these are London’s best clubs.  ICYMI: This legendary north London music venue is for sale. Get the latest and gre

An estimated 13,000 Pokémon fans descended on London’s ExCeL centre last weekend (Feb 13-15), travelling from all over the UK and the world, to attend the ninth annual Pokémon Europe International Championships (PEUIC).  All united by their love for the Japanese game, the event saw 7,000 competitors take part in heated battles in the Trading Card Game (TCG), the Video Games Championships (VGC) and Pokémon GO. Competing is serious stuff, with winners taking home cash from a total prize pool of $500,000 (£369,170).  Collectors and fans came to meet other Poké-heads and cop as much Poké-merch as they could carry, from cards, to clothing and plush toys, with queues going around the venue and highly-coveted tickets required to enter the enormous Pokémon Centre.  Time Out went down to meet some of the attendees and capture the action.    Photograph: Chris Bethell for Time Out Kay, Newark and Renza, Lincoln ‘We drove two and a half hours to get here, we’re here for the whole weekend. ‘How can I sum [the Championships] up without coming across like a complete nerd? I can’t! You’ve just got to lean into it.’ – Kay ‘I’m dressed as a Team Rocket grunt. We’re huge, huge Pokémon nerds. We love cosplay and we love Pokémon.’ – Renza Photograph: Chris Bethell for Time Out    Photograph: Chris Bethell for Time Out Hannah, 23 and Kieran, 23, North London ‘We are really into TCG. I used to dabble in Pokémon but since I came to the Championships last year it has become an obsession. It’s

The chance to buy a slice of musical history has opened up in London, if you’ve got some very deep pockets. The Fiddler’s Elbow in Kentish Town has gone on the market. The 150-capacity venue has been hosting live gigs seven nights a week since the 1970s, with the late Pogues frontman Shane McGowan being a regular there. Although known for giving an opportunity to artists starting out, it’s also where James Bay filmed his music video for ‘If You Ever Want To Be In Love’, and has hosted performances by Frank Turner and Imelda May.  In a Grade II-listed building dating back to the 1800s, the iconic grassroots venue has previously received funding from the Music Venue Trust.  Photograph: Courtesy Rightmove The Fiddler’s is now listed on Rightmove for a whopping £1.75 million. In the listing it’s described as an ‘award-winning grassroots music venue’ with ‘redevelopment potential’ of the upstairs rooms.  Photograph: Rightmove The venue is being sold as the current owners are retiring. The pub sent out an appeal on Instagram looking for the right buyer – ie someone that would keep the grassroots music spirit of the venue alive.  ‘We are looking for owners who want to keep the legacy going and invest in keeping grassroots spaces alive. The Fiddlers Elbow has been a staple and heart of the community, and is a home for many artists,’ the venue said in the social media post.  Fancying taking on the fabled independent music venue yourself? You’ll only need to find a cool £1.75m. Che

Glasgow’s legendary club night Ponyboy is in trouble, and it’s asking for help.  Last year Time Out named the party-slash-hair-salon the best club night in Britain. Known for platforming new talent, throwing fundraisers and prioritising trans and non-binary performers and attendees, Ponyboy events are highly curated and feature performance artists, DJs and hosts. Dressing up is encouraged, with high concept club and drag looks always delivered by the crowd and performers. Ponyboy has also hosted raves for FKA Twigs and collaborated with London queer techno rave Inferno.  In an update shared on Instagram, Ponyboy said it was struggling financially after it had to cancel its New Year’s Eve event at the last moment due to plumbing issues at the venue, Art School.  ‘Following Art School’s plumbing issues and the fallout from NYE, we have been personally trying to navigate the situation and while we weren’t at fault it seems like we’re personally having to shoulder a lot of the fallout,’ the organisers wrote.  ‘The situation is we’ve been scrambling to pull together funds to cover our losses given the insane amounts of work and preproduction that we invest into every night there’s still a massive shortfall which we personally aren’t in a position to shoulder and continue as artists...’ To help, Ponyboy is urging fans of the event to buy tickets to their next event, which will take place in Glasgow on March 27.  ‘We have budgeted this event to leave space to help us financially rec

This is not a drill, ‘za heads. Chef Tom Budakan, formerly of Dough Hands (once named one of Time Out’s best pizzas in the world), has opened a pizza kitchen at the Old Queen’s Head in Islington.  Hot Saint Pizza launched at the pub on Essex Road on Monday, February 16. Gone are the days of sloppy Neapolitan pies being at every single boozer in the capital, because Budakan is slinging New York-style pizza at the north London joint.  What will make these pizzas so special? Budakan’s specially developed base uses a high-protein Canadian flour for structure along with a small amount of rye, resulting in a slightly nutty flavour and the perfect NY-style chew. The dough is then fermented for a minimum of 48 hours ensuring a super light, but crisp crust. Photograph: James Moyle As for the toppings, Hot Saint will serve classics as well as new takes like the Spicy Hawaiian: San Marzano tomato, fior di latte, guanciale and smoked ham hock, pineapple, smoked chilli and jalapeños; the Meatball Ricotta: San Marzano tomato, fior di latte, house meatballs, ricotta and parmesan; and the Vodka Pesto: vodka sauce, stracciatella, pesto and parmesan. The Old Queen’s Head will also be serving pizza sandwiches, with fillings including spicy chicken parm and meatballs. For pud, they will have a trendy-sounding banana miso soft serve. Budakan said: ‘I never imagined I’d leave a job I truly loved at Dough Hands, but the opportunity to lead the kitchen at The Old Queens Head was simply too good to

Like an aging rockstar that just won’t give up touring, London’s Bakerloo line trains have been on their last legs for quite some time now. While lots of people might enjoy the vintage vibes of the 54-year-old carriages, let’s face it, it’s time for London’s oldest trains to pack it in and let someone else have the limelight for once. This week, the long-awaited replacement of the ancient carriages just got one step closer to happening. TfL has invited contractors to enter bids to carry out the Bakerloo upgrade. However, it could still be a while before we are riding new Bakerloo trains, because the proposed timeline for the works suggests that the upgraded trains might not come into action for another decade.  Dating back to 1972, the Bakerloo trains are the oldest operational fleet in all of the UK. Cash-strapped TfL is yet to order the much-needed new fleet of 36 Bakerloo trains, despite that fact that the authority set aside £1 billion for the upgrade in its business plan. It’s hoped that once all the walk-through, air-conditioned new Piccadilly line trains are finally delivered then TfL can get cracking on the brown line.  Photograph: Alexander Johansson / Shutterstock.com TfL published a ‘preliminary market engagement notice’ asking private companies to bid for the job. In the notice the transport bosses outlined that work – which would include the reconstruction of the Bakerloo train depot at Stonebridge Park – could begin in July 2027 and be complete in December 20

Looking back at ’em through rose-tinted glasses, the 2010s seemed like they were a much better time. London hosted the Olympics, Sherlock was on the telly, and everyone was wearing Joni jeans and tea dresses from Topshop.  Could things be returning to the simpler days when all you had to worry about was how tight your skinny jeans were and how to get the perfect side parting? Maybe, because Topshop is making a comeback to British high streets.  The retail icon has returned to brick and mortar stores across the UK this week – just in time for London Fashion Week – with seven locations in London.  Topshop departed from the UK’s high streets in 2021 when it closed its final stores. It was bought by ASOS in the same year, where it became available to shop online. Now the brand has returned to IRL shops for the first time since 2021, finding its new home in John Lewis department stores. Topshop is now officially available in all of John Lewis’ 32 shops in Britain, with Topman available in seven of its stores. The launch includes a collection of 130 of Topshop’s ‘most in-demand pieces’ including their signature denim items, with products across both Topshop and Topman also available from John Lewis’ online platforms. Michelle Wilson, managing director of Topshop, said: ‘Today is about making it easier for customers to access the Topshop and Topman pieces they love. From our cult denim to new-season footwear, you can see it, feel it, and take it home the same day.’ The launch of Top

Brazil is well regarded as one of the world’s most exciting countries to visit – but its cuisine, which is as vibrant and varied as the nation itself, has managed to fly below the radar in the UK. We say: no more! Time Out has just launched its inaugural list of the city’s top Brazilian restaurants – from steakhouses to where to get the legendary cheese rolls (pão de queijo). Leading the pack and ranking top of the 20-strong list of restaurants was Kaipiras by Barraco, a traditional boteco (a small bar serving cold beer and bites to go with it) in Kilburn. ‘Kaipiras is the closest facsimile [to a boteco] in London,’ wrote Tomé Morrissy-Swan, the author of our Brazilian restaurants guide. ‘Close your eyes and imagine you’re on sunny Ipanema beach rather than an unremarkable thoroughfare off the Kilburn High Road.’ Morrissy-Swan recommended drinking an Antarctica beer at the Kilburn eatery while munching on cassava fries, acarajé (Bahian black eyed pea fritters stuffed with a coconut and prawn paste) and the show-stipping beef rib stew. A meal at Kaipiras won’t break the bank, with starters costing up to £10 and mains ranging between £15-£20.  In second place was Fine Cut Steakhouse, a lively place to chow down on meat in Elephant & Castle; Filó Brazil, run by former MasterChef contestant Aline Quina, came in third.  For more brilliant Brazilian food in London, these are the capital’s best Brazilian restaurants. Did you see that a new Irish pub has opened in east London? Get

Britain’s number one cocktail bar for 2026 has been named, and it’s not in London. Hooray for the UK’s regional mixologists!  This year’s list of the Top 50 Cocktail Bars in Britain has just dropped. The ranking was based on votes from more than 200 industry experts, including bar tenders, bar owners, drinks writers and influencers. While 25 of the top 50 bars were found in London (find out all about those here), both of the two top spots were awarded to bars outside the capital. Couch in Stirchley, southwest Birmingham has been crowned the top bar in the UK by Top 50 Cocktail Bars 2026. The neighbourhood spot is known for its handcrafted tipples with names inspired by films and songs – visitors can sip on ‘A Bronx Tale’ made with Malfy lemon gin, blood orange, Cocchi Di Torino Vermouth, or a ‘My Jamaican Guy’ inspired by Grace Jones, made using hibiscus Veritas rum, vermouth blend and grapefruit.  Couch first entered the Top 50 list in 2022, coming in 37th. It’s continued to climb the ranking, all the way up to top spot.  Also making the top 10 was Bar Glue in Liverpool, Satan’s Whiskers in London (pictured below) and Hull’s The Brain Jar, which came in second, third and fourth respectively.    Steven Joyce   Bar Glue in Liverpool’s Albert Dock was lauded for its great service, community approach and excellent drinks which have names like ‘Happy Meal’ and ‘A Fox in the Outback’. Taxidermy-filled drinking den Satan’s Whiskers in east London has been compared to New York-sty

There is no stopping the rising tide of outdoor swimmers in London. And it doesn’t seem like the hype will be slowing down any time soon, because soon cold water enthusiasts could be plunging themselves into the River Thames at a brand new swimming spot.  The government has proposed the introduction of 13 new swimming sites around the UK, one of which is in Greater London. We know what you’re thinking. Isn’t the Thames a filthy, dangerous cesspool of discarded shopping trolleys, Lime bikes and sewage? In some ways, yes. But the officials have spoken, and according to them this new spot will be A-okay for practicing your breaststroke, front crawl and the like.  The new outdoor dipping spot would be found in the River Thames at Ham and Kingston in the west of the city, at a once popular Victorian swimming location. It could become the capital’s first ever bathing site in the Thames.  The site’s arrival would mark a ‘vast transformation’ in water quality in the river, which was declared biologically dead in the 1950s due to pollution. Water minister Emma Hardy said rivers and beaches were ‘at the heart of so many communities, where people come together, families make memories and swimmers of all ages feel the benefits of being outdoors safely’. A six-week public consultation is currently taking place where the government will assess the potential swimming areas. If they become ‘Designated Bathing Waters’, they will be regularly tested for water quality throughout the bathing sea

When it came to leisure time, Brits in the first half of the 20th century really knew what they were doing. The 1930s was a golden age for outdoor swimming in Britain and lidos were built all over the UK – something that today’s cold water swimmers could only dream of. Back then outdoor bathing was seen less as an eccentric hobby and more of a public right.  But the good old days of yore could slowly be returning, because a community-led regeneration group has announced ambitions to bring back the Ramsgate Lido after 50 years of closure. First opened in 1935, the outdoor pool by the sea shuttered in 1975. Non-profit organisation Heritage Lab Ramsgate has said it is in early discussions with a developer which has expressed interest in creating an outdoor swimming pool complex at the site of Ramsgate’s former Marina Bathing Pool.  Image: Heritage Lab Ramsgate A spokesperson from Heritage Lab said: ‘Thanet has a thriving sea and open-water swimming culture, with people of all ages swimming year-round for wellbeing, connection and community. Outdoor swimming is no longer niche — it’s part of a wider shift in how people travel and spend time at the coast. ‘When combined with elements such as saunas, cafés and social spaces, an outdoor pool can become something more than a place to swim — it can be a year-round destination that locals and visitors return to again and again. ‘The former Marina Bathing Pool site offers a rare opportunity to reinstate a high-quality outdoor swimming