Jordan Bassett

Another year, another stellar lineup of UK music festivals. Sure, Glastonbury – the UK’s tentpole music event, no pun intended – has taken a fallow year, but other lineups are more than making up for Worthy Farm’s absence. Established musical feasts (Reading and Leeds, Latitude) will return amid tantalising new blockbuster additions (Roundhay Festival), alongside the usual more specialised genre and scene events (Supersonic, AVA, FOCUS). The UK festival season lasts beyond the summer months. The festival calendar is pretty much a year-round affair, with events taking place not just in fields or parks but in venues across cities, from early spring all the way through to late November. Already confirmed for 2026 are several lineups that’ll have the heads drooling at the mouth. Reading and Leeds has Charli XCX, Chase & Status, Dave, Florence + the Machine, Fontaines D.C and Raye. Download has Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit and Guns N Roses. London’s Victoria Park, across All Points East and LIDO, will host Tyler, the Creator, Deftones, Lorde, CMAT and Maribou State. Looking beyond the major fests, the lineups have been even better. The 15th anniversary of Outbreak in Manchester had Alexisonfire and Basement topping the bill; Mighty Hoopla scooped a headline performance from Lily Allen (performing West End Girl in full); FOCUS Wales boasted Fat Dog, Idlewild and Shame. Still deciding which festivals are for you this year? Look no further than our guide. Time Out knows the UK’s festival

You say Haringey, I say Harringay – let’s call the whole thing off and have a kebab. Yes, it’s confusing, but Haringey is the borough and within it you’ll find Harringay Green Lanes, a mile-long strip that teems with bars and cafés, music venues, Victorian boozers and staggeringly well-stocked grocery shops. And that’s before we get to the sensational Turkish restaurants that line the main drag. This is the very best of London in all its noisy, aromatic, chaotic glory. It’s not the starriest of London locales, even if the so-called ‘Harringay Ladder’ (a grid of 19 streets to the west of the Lanes) is becoming ever-more desirable. What Green Lanes excels at, though, is sheer stimulation of the senses. Whether you’re grabbing a gözleme flatbread for a few quid or enjoying the mural of John Lennon and Brazilian football ace Alex de Souza (sure!), you’re sure to spark the imagination. It’s an overwhelming place, so here’s our pick of the crop. RECOMMENDED:Ultimate guide to where to stay in LondonThe best things to do in north LondonLondon’s best Turkish restaurantsThe best restaurants in Finsbury Park

Bonnington Square is an oasis of calm in Vauxhall, area of London with which you might associate many C words – cool, creative… a little crazy – but not that one. It’s here that you’ll find the mildly surprising Italo, a quaint corner deli that offers delightful views of said square, high-quality Italian produce and a limited lunch menu that’s well worth seeking out. It sort of looks like a café in a ‘90s Richard Curtis movie, if the chintzy filmmaker had ever set a film just off the massive roundabout in Vauxhall, which he has not. Launched in the late ‘00s, the café offers a rotating daily menu of dishes – think the likes of confit garlic and burratina on toast and charred courgette with chickpeas – and great whacking sarnies stuffed with Italian meats and gooey, egg-based deliciousness. Space is tight but the deli is stocked with plenty of goodness to take home, too.  Time Out tip Italo regularly hosts supper clubs and has also increased its dinner offering, so keep an eye on the deli’s Instagram account for more. Order this As you might imagine, they take their coffee very seriously at Italo; if you’re a keen bean aficionado, this is the place for you.

Johnny Lake and Isa Bal, the duo behind this acclaimed London Bridge restaurant, aren’t keen on defining their cuisine, having once joked that they could meaninglessly dub it “‘Modern British’ or ‘Contemporary European’” just to get people off their backs. Much has been made of the fact that they’re alumni of Heston Blumenthal’s famous and wildly innovative Fat Duck, but they’ve gone against the grain with Trivet, which is less showy than their mentor’s gaff. It’s still hugely impressive, mind – and they’ve two Michelin stars to prove it. The calming, minimalist décor belies the experimental action going on in the kitchen, which are understated but exemplary: see the ‘puffini’, a filo pastry sandwich created with a panini machine that was left in the building when they acquired it. Lake and Bal are also obsessive about creating the perfect wine list, with a finely tune array of natural and biodynamic tipples to boot. Time Out tip Some of Trivet’s dishes are available in large or small portions depending on your appetite. Order this Social media lost its collective marbles over the Hokkaido Potato dessert, a seemingly bizarre concoction of potato mille feuille, puff pastry and chocolate mousse. Like Trivet, it’s indefinable yet delicious.

It’s only rock’n’roll, but east Londoners clearly love it. The brainchild of Australian sisters Verity and Sharmaine Cox, Blondies is a down-and-dirty Mecca for music-lovers and a decided riposte to those who say London has lost some of its grit. The tiny bar (with a capacity of about 50) is comprised of delightfully wonky furnishings, which is down to the fact that the Coxes created almost everything themselves. That DIY spirit is reflected in the regular gig nights, which have attracted everyone from Grammy winners Mastadon to legendary Swedish hardcore punks Refused. There’s also a good chance you’ll find team Time Out holding down spicy margaritas and working our way through the ever-changing menu of superior craft beers, including their very own Blondies branded beer. Time Out tip Keep an eye on the ‘upcoming events’ section of the bar’s website, as big bands love to get back to basic at Blondies. What’s nearby? You’re less than a five-minute walk from My Neighbours the Dumplings, a sensational dim sum joint that’ll soak up the booze.

If this Brixton Village institution feels decidedly old-school, that’s because it is. Many punters might not know that the yellow-fronted Caribbean joint actually has roots in ‘80s America, as Trinidad-born owner Brian Danclair worked in a Washington, D.C restaurant of the same name back in the day. The original is long gone, but Danclair’s move to the UK in 2012 led him to open a London version – with a similar shop front – in one of the city’s greatest food hubs. Think communal outdoor tables and no-nonsense Caribbean fare from jerk chicken and fried plantain to their patented reggae wings (chicken doused in fiery tamarind sauce and served with a stack of cooling pineapple). Naturally, the reggae-heavy restaurant soundtrack is second-to-none and you can’t beat Fish, Wings & Tings for atmosphere. Order this The cod fritters with ginger and lime aioli make for the perfect combo with the glorious energy of Coldharbour Lane. What’s nearby? With an alcohol-free punch and boozy cocktails jostling for space on the menu, this is an ideal spot for a quick bev before a gig at the O2 Brixton Academy.

Museum café. If those words conjure thoughts of the humble panini, cartons of juice and flapjack that could sink a battleship, think again. The eatery that adjoins Lambeth’s Garden Museum is all handled in-house, which is just as well considering the dearth of foodie venues in the area. Here, in a deconsecrated church, the powers that be serve up modern-British and European dishes with a minimum of fuss but maximum flavour and quality. The menu changes dailt, though the hearty Barnsley chop on a bed of braised peas and mint sauce is quintessential Garden Café fare: elegant, simple, easy on the eye and tastebuds. They don’t profess to specialise in vegan cooking, but will happily alter vegetarian dishes to accommodate you as best they can. Still enjoying a new lease of life after its 2017 revamp, it’s that kind of place: friendly, unpretentious and relaxed, exceeding expectations all the way. Time Out tip Even if you’re visiting for the café, the Garden Museum – one of London’s lesser-known destinations and Britain’s only museum dedicated to the art, history and design of gardens – is well worth checking out. Order this The pastries here are so delicious you’ll want them by the shovel-load.

That unpretentious name is a clue as to what to expect from this Regent’s Canal-side slice of homeliness in the heart of Haggerston. When the sun is shining, or perhaps on a breezy spring day, there are arguably fewer idyllic spots in London to slurp a coffee or nibble on classic café lunches such as grilled cheese sarnies (albeit poshed up with a quivering slab of quince jelly) and a hearty soups (OK, kneidlach and chicken broth, as was served on one particularly delicious occasion). You’ve probably gathered that the emphasis is on quality food rather than showiness, as the unflashy décor attests. It’s not a takeaway joint: you’re encouraged to stick around, enjoy the view and unwind. The Towpath Café has very little online presence, which hasn’t stopped the place from attracting celebs such as Alexa Chung and foodie royalty such as St. John legend Fergus Henderson. Order this The menu changes daily, but you can’t go wrong with one of Towpath’s inventive, zesty salads – the blood orange, fennel and bitterleaf lives rent-free in our minds. Time Out tip Set aside the morning or afternoon if you can. This is the perfect place to go with the flow. And keep in mind the fact that you may have to queue on sunny days. 

The lighting is low, the food is seriously spicy and there are no airs and graces at Smoking Goat. You’ll be glad of the dim wattage, given how many of the dishes in this fiery Thai BBQ restaurant are best eaten with your hands. A chin slicked with sauce and fingers covered in oil: not always a great look, but it’s certainly a sign of an extremely enjoyable meal. The original Smoking Goat was launched in Soho by Ben Chapman (the man behind Kiln and Brat, two other foodie destinations) and after it shut this Shoreditch branch became the go-to spot. The Moo Hong Braised arrives in a vat of gloriously gloopy sauce, while the fried egg, rice noodle and lardo is Heaven-sent when accompanied by a hoppy draft lager. Get stuck in. Time Out tip Smoking Goat is a buzzy place and the volume level is generally set to: loud. Get ready to shout. What’s nearby? You’re two minutes away from Village Underground if you want to keep the party going – and you will. RECOMMENDED: An expert guide to London’s best BBQ joints by Melissa Thompson.

“Here, each dish is not merely food – it's an exploration of Persian culture and heritage.” So say the owners of Sufi, a family-run restaurant beloved among Shepherd’s Bush locals. A good 20-minute walk from Shepherd’s Bush Market tube station, this is an informal, intimate eatery where sesame seed-topped flat naan breads are baked in a clay oven for all to see. It’s an understated performance where the dishes are the stars of the show: aesthetically, the restaurant’s interior doesn’t feel a million miles away from being in someone’s front room, while the food itself is prepared with palpable care. Generous slabs of chicken and lamb kebab land with an avalanche of steamed rice, while the khoresh gheimeh – a sweet, tomato-based stew packed with tender lamb and chickpeas – arrives like a warm embrace. Service is similarly homely and generous, with staff keen to offer advice on their hearty, carb-tastic cuisine. Time Out tip Much of the menu is, admittedly, meat-ageddon, but Sufi is typically welcoming to vegans and vegetarians, with the aubergine stew a gooey delight. What’s nearby? The Shepherd and Flock pub, another low-key gem that’s also a little tucked away but much more rewarding for it. RECOMMENDED: London's best Persian restaurants.

Some pairings never go out of fashion – they are simply too perfect. Beer and sausage is the Lennon-McCartney of the food world: crowd-pleasing and nourishing, with each component a complement to the other. Stein’s, a Bavarian beer hall on the banks of the Thames in beautiful Richmond, has the booze and wurst formula down to a fine art (no wonder there's also a branch in Kingston and a more upmarket version in Kensington). Take your seat in the massive, treelined beer garden and sink your teeth into a pillowy pretzel as you await, say, a juicy bratwurst nestled amid golden nuggets of pan-fried spud. Wash it down, perhaps, with a crisp Erdinger wheat beer. Be warned: you can’t order booze without first ordering grub. If you’re looking for somewhere to soak up one of the most picturesque bits of London with a pint in hand, all you need is food. Time Out tip Stein’s has a very cute and pretty large play area for the kids. Since no child has ever wanted to leave a playground, that’s your whole afternoon sorted. Order this It’s not all about wurst, you know: the schnitzels are just as satisfying, while the cheese noodles will be a gift to your future hungover self. RECOMMENDED: The best breweries and taprooms in London.

Naming no names, but restaurants with a view can sometimes be a bit… complacent. And when it comes to views, you can’t really ask for more than a gorgeous vista of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the gently lapping Thames and the twinkling lights of the South Bank. It’s impressive then, that Swan at Shakespeare’s Globe still pushes the boat out – and then some. This elegant ‘modern British’ venue, linked to the famous theatre next door, offers a fine line in classic seafood and the hearty likes of roast corn-fed chicken, with a more casual bar menu serving up pub classics. No prizes for originality, perhaps, but it beats a lot of the chains in the area and the view is so stunning you really won’t want to leave. Yes: parting is such sweet sorrow. Order this Swan’s afternoon tea, a dreamy delight served the traditional way on a dainty cake stand, is as British as the theatre itself. Time Out tip A portion of the restaurant’s takings go towards supporting the Globe. Mmmm: delicious altruism. RECOMMENDED: London restaurants with the best views.

Simmons comes to us from a different time. A simpler time. The King’s Cross bar opened in 2013, the same year that Little Nan’s Bar served a similar niche as a pop-up in what was then called the Deptford Bunker: cocktails served in chintzy teapots against a colourful, thrift shop-style backdrop. Nan’s has gone legit as an award-winning destination in a permanent space, while there now are loads of swish branches of Simmons throughout London, with one in Manchester. The original King’s Cross gaff, though, has retained its retro vibe, with a skull-shaped glitterball, a neon Top of the Pops logo on the wall and that trusty old SEGA Megadrive ready to rock’n’roll. King’s Cross – and much of London, in fact – has shapeshifted since 2013, but Simmons is forever. When is Happy Hour? This place is famous for its Happy Hour, which stretches the term, gloriously, from 4pm to 9pm Sunday to Friday. What’s nearby? There’s an old-fashioned black-and-white photobooth tucked at the back of Coal Drop’s Yard. Infinitely more fun after a teapot full of booze. RECOMMENDED: The best quirky bars and pubs in London.

The Connaught, one of two bars in the ultra-fancy hotel of the same name, is one for special occasions. That’s unless you can happily drop over a grand on a cocktail (their 1893 Sidecar). Not every drink on the menu is quite so overdraft-inducing: mixes such as the bracingly sharp, gin-based Balancer are more realistic for most people (even if the cost is akin to what you might expect to spend on a decent meal). What you’re paying for, though, is a unique experience in one of the best bars in London – if not the world. What with the marble floors and plush leather sofas, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a Bond movie. Spiffy waiters wheel out a Martini trolley and mix your indulgent beverage right in front of you. Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in the Dolphin anymore. Order this The bar’s food menu is, naturally, more comprehensive than that of most boozers, running from posh pizzas to caviar on rye bread. What’s nearby? For a truly decadent night out, dine at swish sushi restaurant Umu and head to the Connaught for a nightcap. RECOMMENDED: The best bars in Mayfair.

Notting Hill Carnival will this weekend celebrate its 60th anniversary. In other words, London’s biggest and best party is set to be more unmissable than ever.  Planning on heading to Carni this weekend? Time Out’s got you covered. You can find a full schedule and timings here, the bank holiday weather forecast here, the best warm-up and afterparties here. Every year organisers and the local council also put together helpful maps, showing you where all the action is happening. Check them out below, along with your need-to-know guide. Notting Hill Carnival parade route  The children’s parade is held on the Sunday, the adult parade on the Monday. Although they’re very different events, the route is the same, snaking from Westbourne Park Station to Elkstone Road. Along the way, the parades will take in Westbourne Grove, Ladbroke Grove, Kensal Road and Golborne Road. ⛔️ Full list of Notting Hill Carnival road closures. Map Here is the map from the event organisers: Image credit: Notting Hill CarnivalNotting Hill Carnival map And here is the map from Kensington and Chelsea Council. Image: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea2026 Carnival map The best locations to watch Notting Hill Carnival The Judges’ Area  Next to the Brunel Estate near Westbourne Park Station, this is one of the parade’s top viewing spots. For the second year in a row, the judges’ Grandstand is open to the public – you can nab your tickets here. Ladbroke Grove  Ladbroke Grove offers a great vantage poin

What do you have planned between now and 2040? However ambitious your answer might be, it probably doesn’t rival Belfast City Airport’s Master Plan 2040, which has set out a huge raft of improvements at the Northern Irish capital’s major air hub.  The airport is eyeing upgrades worth a whopping £200 million. Although the site is not due to be extended, there are plans for new airfield infrastructure and expanded passenger facilities.  Belfast City Airport has also confirmed that it’ll ask Stormont (the Northern Ireland Assembly) for permission to increase its flight operations by 60 minutes. This will mean it can run flights for 16 hours per day, with services in operation until 10.30pm. BHD currently has a ‘no-fly’ policy from midnight until 6.30am, which will remain unchanged. Photograph: Electric Egg / Shutterstock.comBelfast City Airport The hub will also propose increasing its cap for annual flight movements from 48,000 to 61,000. Belfast City mainly flies within the UK, though it does also serve destinations such as Amsterdam and Majorca.  The entire £200m overhaul will double the airport’s number of employees, creating 1,100 jobs and supporting 23,000 across Northern Ireland. The airport has also said it will increase its annual number of passengers from 2.4 million to seven million, and that the glow-up will generate £1.7 billion annually. In addition to all of this, Matthew Hall, chief executive of Belfast City Airport, has said that the airport has teamed up with

At a loose end on a Thursday between now and the end of September? We’ve got just the thing. Stratford’s V&A East Museum has revealed a Thursday night programme which offers must-see events including late-night exhibitions, DJ sets, Q&As and pop-up bars. Each night will run until 10pm. And better yet, as part of the events series, you can check out amazing views from V&A East’s terrace. First up is Thursday August 27, when artist, photographer and filmmaker Gabriel Moses will make a special appearance for the latest instalment in V&A East’s A Life in the Work of Others series. In conversation with V&A East curator Josephine Small, he’ll talk about his collaborations with the likes of Dave, Skepta and Little Simz, as well as his work for major brands such as Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Dior. Moses has also directed his first narrative-led film, 2025’s The Last Hour, which will be screened on the night.  Beyond that, V&A East is hosting a series of DJ residencies, which the museum has dubbed upperground. First is UK funky pioneer Karen Nyame KG, whose appearance is part of a partnership with BBC Introducing and inspired by the venue’s ongoing exhibition The Music is Black: A British Story. Visitors can experience the exhibition during Thursday night events. Café Jikoni will also have a pop-up bar serving cocktails, beers, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks. upperground’s DJ line-up at V&A East in summer 2026 Karen Nyame KG (August 27) Lo-Low (September 3): East London-based techn

Last week, we brought you the news that Virgin had won approval for UK track access to rival Eurostar. Richard Branson announced that his company would run trains from London St Pancras to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, with plans to expand ‘further across France, and into Germany and Switzerland’. Now, according to data gathered by Politico, the increased services mean a high-speed train could cross the Channel from London every 15 minutes. That’s thanks to the competition not only from Virgin but also from Italian railway operator Trenitalia, which is aiming to offer 10 return journeys per day. Trenitalia wants to start services from 2029 and Virgin from 2030. Trenitalia has ordered 19 new high-speed trains from Hitachi, which set the company back €2bn (£1.7bn), with the intention of deploying them through the Channel Tunnel. For its part, Virgin agreed to acquire a dozen train sets from train manufacturer Alstom back in January. Image: Virgin TrainsArtist render of Virgin train at London St Pancras Martin Jones, Deputy Director, Access, Licensing & International at the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), said that Virgin’s appointment is ‘an important next step in bringing competition and growth to the market for international rail services’. Mark Smith, who runs the train travel website The Man in Seat Sixty-One, told Politico: ‘Both contenders appear to have the ability and financial backing to make this happen, but there are many steps in a long process before any train ru

Well, the name says it all. Launched in 2012, Victorious Festival has hosted some of the biggest names in music – and this year is no exception. With Richard Ashcroft, The Black Keys and Kasabian heading up a bill that also features Scissor Sisters, The Coral, Dizzee Rascal, The Happy Mondays, Sigrid and The Streets, there’s something for everyone at the Portsmouth festival this year. In fact, Victorious prides itself on that MO, describing its Kids Arena as ‘a mini festival in itself’. Heading to Victorious Festival 2026? Here’s everything you need to know, from the lineup and schedule to the weather forecast. SKIP TO:🎤 Lineup and set times – Friday, Saturday and Sunday⛅️ Weather forecast🎟️ Last-minute tickets🚗 How to get to Victorious Festival⛔️ Banned items When is Victorious Festival 2026?  Victorious Festival is happening from Friday August 28 to Sunday August 30.  You can camp offsite at Farlington Fields, a short shuttle bus away from the festival. The campsite opens at 1pm on Thursday 27 August and closes at 12pm on Monday August 31. Photo credit: Victorious/Matt SillsVictorious Festival Where is Victorious 2026? The festival takes place on Southsea Common in Portsmouth, which looks directly onto the sea. If your attention’s wandering during one of the sets – unlikely – you can always take in the view instead. Who are the headliners for Victorious 2026?  Richard Ashcroft, The Black Keys and Kasabian are heading up the festival this year Here’s which day they’re

From the Turner Contemporary in Margate to the Tate St Ives, we’re lucky to have some amazing seaside art galleries in the UK. And there could be more set to join the ranks, with a rallying cry for Brighton and Hove to open its own world-class gallery.  Comparing Brighton with northern Spanish city Bilbao, Brighton & Hove City Council’s deputy leader Tim Rowkins noted the rejuvenating effect that arts investment has had on the Spanish city since the late 1990s – and said that the same could happen to Brighton.  Brighton and Hove Council has revealed plans for an overhaul of the city seafront. According to a prospectus, which was drawn up by the seafront development board, the Black Rock area of the seafront could host pop-up venues before featuring a major cultural destination. This could be a gallery, with the council reportedly in talks with a major London art institution.  As part of a wider redevelopment scheme, an extra floor may also be added to the Brighton Centre, which would be connected to the beach via a bridge. Brighton Marina could be the site of 1,000 new homes, as well as a leisure and retail centre. A disused bus station in Pool Valley could become a new public space, while the King’s Road paddling pool is being eyed up for an overhaul alongside existing redevelopment of the King Alfred Leisure Centre.  All of this would potentially be financially achieved through a combination of philanthropy, government funding and a future gallery operator.  Rowkins said:

In an increasingly sedentary world, the benefits of fresh air and exercise are obvious. If you happen to be in Scotland's Outer Hebrides (or planning a visit), then here’s just the thing: a new community-led trail is designed to help you get out and enjoy the great outdoors.  On the Isle of Lewis, the circular Point & Sandwick Trail offers bracing views of the sea, the rugged landscape and wildlife including seals, corncrakes and sea otters. The 40km route includes the town of Stornoway, as well as Sandwick and other villages in the Point Peninsula. The self-guided walk is marked with maps and route descriptions. The Point & Sandwick Trail’s website explains: ‘Efforts to develop the entire route with way markers and bridges to make the route as accessible for cyclists, runners and people of all abilities are ongoing.’  And if 40km – almost 25 miles – sounds like a lot for your poor old legs, don’t worry. The trail is divided into eight smaller routes, taking in beaches and coastlines. These range from three to eight kilometres (between almost two and five miles).   Photograph: ShutterstockIsle of Lewis   Just over six-and-a-half miles from Sandwick, you’ll find the Shulishader Steps, a stairway of around 88 steps down into a cove on the Isle of Lewis. Renovation of the steps was completed in April 2021, with Point and Sandwick Trust contributing £9,000 towards the works.  At the time, Matt Bruce, chair of the coastal path group, explained that the Shulishader Steps ‘lead do

When it comes to epic scenery, amazing food and a chance to really unwind, you can’t do better than the Scottish Highlands. That’s why 9.4 million visitors flocked to the region in 2024, according to data gathered by the Scottish Tourism Economic Activity Monitor (STEAM). As the local council has rightly pointed out, the Highlands is a unique area. For this reason, it’s considering a fixed-rate visitor levy – a ‘tourist tax’, in other words – to invest in local assets and infrastructure. It would apply for nine months of the year (December, January and February wouldn’t be covered). The council is set to meet next Tuesday (August 25) to consider the draft proposal. It’s emphasised that this meeting will not be used to decide whether the levy should be applied; instead, the council will mull over whether it should be put to a 12-week public consultation. When could the Scottish Highlands introduce a tourist tax? Not immediately, that’s for sure. If the consultation is approved, there’ll be a feedback report and a decision-making process, followed by an implementation period of at least 18 months. In its latest, 51-page proposal, the Highland Council stated: ‘The earliest that a levy can be introduced for the Highlands is Summer 2028.’ Photograph: ShutterstockGlencoe in the Scottish Highlands How much will it cost? Draft proposals have suggested a fixed-rate £5 per night, per room tourist tax, which would apply to hotels and short-term lets. In addition to this, there are pl

Airports aren’t among most people’s favourite places to be, so it means a lot when an airline goes that extra (air) mile to make travelling a little bit more pleasant. But how do you know which airline is best? That’s where AirlineRatings.com comes in. For its 2026 Flyers’ Choice Awards, the website sifted through passenger feedback to determine which carrier left them on cloud nine. And in Europe, a clear winner has emerged: good old British Airways soared to the top of the list for the second year in a row. AirlineRatings.com described the result as ‘particularly impressive in a region with such a diverse mix of airlines, from traditional flag carriers to the low-cost giants that carry millions of passengers every year’. Lufthansa cruised to second place in the category, while KLM landed at number three.  Photograph: Leif Eirik Skaue / Shutterstock.comBritish Airways planes at Gatwick Airport On the whole, Singapore Airlines was the ‘big winner’ (as AirlineRatings.com put it), coming out on top in four categories: Preferred Economy Airline, Best Cabin Crew Service, Best Airline in Central and South East Asia and the Airline That Gave the Greatest Peace of Mind.  Here’s the full breakdown of results in the 2026 Flyers’ Choice Awards: USA/Canada Delta Air Lines United American Airlines UK/Europe British Airways Lufthansa KLM  Middle East and Africa Emirates Qatar Airways Etihad Airways Australia and Pacific Qantas Air New Zealand Virgin Australia North East Asia Ca

What’s your favourite thing on the Caravan menu? A delicious dollop of burrata? That devilish tiramisu? Whatever your go-to order might be, there’s set to be even more opportunity to indulge, as the beloved chain is opening its 10th restaurant – this one at the Southbank Centre. And this won’t just be any branch of Caravan, either. Its flagship site, the new venue will be the brand’s biggest ever, covering two floors and an outdoor terrace. Spanning 8,500 square feet in total, it’ll feature:  Three all-day dining spaces Two bars A mezzanine cocktail/listening bar and events space An open kitchen A private dining room that will overlook the Hayward Gallery The three dining spaces will be within a recreation of two railway arches, in keeping with Caravan’s oh-so-chic industrial vibe. So, when’s it due to open? The good news is you won’t have to wait too long to check it out, as Caravan is eyeing a November launch date. In addition to this, the site will be home to The Klink, a street-facing smaller venue offering cocktails, takeaway coffee and a limited menu. This’ll open a tad later in January 2027. Caravan’s co-founder and chief executive Laura Harper-Hinton said: ‘Caravan Southbank is a special moment for us. It’s our 10th restaurant and our biggest opening to date, and we couldn’t think of a more iconic place to reach that milestone. ‘We love the Southbank Centre – it’s one of London’s most exciting destinations, bringing together food, culture and creativity in a way tha

Here’s a Scilly – sorry, silly – season story for you. The National Conversation, a website and initiative that gathers Britons’ views on the country, has ranked the Isles of Scilly as the friendliest place in England. No qualms there – you’d struggle to find a lovelier set of islands, after all – but it was a smaller finding lower down in the ranking that really caught our eye. According to the index, which drew together information on England’s 296 local authority areas, Barking and Dagenham is the least friendly place of them all. The cheek of it!  To establish this damning verdict, the National Conversation made use of government data about how often people talk to their neighbours and whether they feel lonely or have a sense of belonging in their neighbourhood. It also took into account their level of participation and pride in their environment. How does that relate to your experience of Barking and Dagenham? Is the data out of whack, or right on the money?  Photograph: Abdul_Shakoor / Shutterstock.comBarking, London In any case, that’s not the end of the story. After you enter your postcode into the National Conversation’s report and find out how connected your borough or county is, you’re presented with the following message: ‘Everything above comes from official statistics – researchers measuring the country from the outside. The National Conversation survey is different: only you can say how your community actually feels. Ten minutes, and your answer becomes part

When it comes to museums, we’re unbelievably lucky in the UK. Want to get steamy? There’s the National Railway Museum in York. Feeling a little crabby? Cheer yourself up at the Crab Museum in Margate (the sight of a clawed crustacean clutching a truncheon and wearing a little police helmet should do the trick every time). That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the 20 best museums in the UK in 2026, making it easier for you to get your culture fix and whittle down the options in a crowded field. (As an aside, our guide is focused on museums outside of the capital, as London’s must-visits have a guide all of their own. When there’s this much good stuff to see, you need to lay down some ground rules.) In any case, today we’d like to draw particular attention to the Ashmolean in Oxford. Set across five floors, it covers half a million years of history. That’s a lot to sort through, so it makes sense that its curators have taken a non-chronological approach to the presentation. Standout exhibits include the 9,000-year-old Jericho Skull and the Anglo-Saxon Alfred Jewel, as well as the ancient Egyptian Shrine of Taharqa and a death mask of Oliver Cromwell. Photograph: N.M. Bear / ShutterstockThe Ashmolean Museum, Oxford In-keeping with its eclectic and non-stuffy approach – impressive, given that its beautiful building dates back to the 19th century and it’s the oldest public museum in Britain – the Ashmolean is also partly an art gallery, featuring modern art from Picasso, Barbara H