Jordan Bassett

Another year, another stellar lineup of UK music festivals. Sure, Glastonbury – the UK’s tentpole music event, no pun intended – is taking 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). While it might seem a little early (and a tad chilly) for planning a sun-glazed weekend of outdoors live music, these days 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 get even better. The 15th anniversary of Outbreak in Manchester has Alexisonfire and Basement topping the bill; Mighty Hoopla has scooped a headline performance from Lily Allen (performing West End Girl in full); FOCUS Wales will boast Fat Dog, Idlewild and S

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

When it comes to bakeries, Britain’s golden. As a dedicated Time Out reader, of course, you already knew this, since we’re dedicated to bringing you fellow pastry lovers up to speed on where you should spend (and eat) your dough. The Good Food Guide, though, has just confirmed this tasty truth with its list of the 50 Best Bakeries for 2026. The list includes 10 London eateries: seven of these were new entries and four featured in our guide to the best bakeries in the capital. Elsewhere, Yorkshire has had a pretty good innings, with three making the grade. There were six finalists in Scotland and four in the Midlands, while just two outlets in Wales received a shout-out – perhaps the Good Food Guide isn’t partial to a Welsh cake. In any case, the list proves that the UK’s bakeries remain in rude health – 23 of the total 50 were new entries. Congratulations to those rising stars. Good Food Guide editor Chloe Hamilton said: ‘Choosing just 50 winners was an almost impossible task given how diverse and highly skilled the British baking scene has become. From wood-fired sourdough in Perthshire to a central London café peddling pains au chocolat that take you straight to the streets of Paris, one thing uniting them all is sheer unadulterated deliciousness.’ Photograph: Shutterstock The Good Food Guide’s 50 Best Bakeries was produced in partnership with the financial technology company Square, whose head of international marketing Lizzie Barclay said: ‘Britain's bakery scene is a b

The waterside Essex town of Maldon has a lot going for it. Lucky residents can admire the picturesque views of Hythe Quay, take in a bit of history at the remote Northey Island – the oldest battleground in Britain – and whet their whistles in the vineyards of Crouch Valley. Around an hour from London, it’s a real hotspot. And all that’s before the proposed creation of a new £3.2m museum that’s set to make the area even more desirable. Destined for Promenade Park, a local favourite that features a beloved pirate ship-shaped play area, the new structure could be in place within the next two years. There is already a local museum onsite, though the deeply adorable Maldon Museum in the Park would be transformed as part of the new plans. Councillors are due to meet tomorrow (March 26) to discuss the proposals and work may go ahead as soon as next March, with a completion date pencilled in for April 2028. Council leader Richard Siddall said of the ‘community‑focused extension’ of Maldon Museum in the Park: ‘The project enhances learning, heritage interpretation and the visitor welcome – with a modest café to improve year‑round access. We’ll continue engaging residents, partners and stakeholders as plans develop.’ RECOMMENDED: The best day trips from London. The replacement museum will reportedly feature a display on the Battle of Maldon in 991 AD, as well as other local history exhibitions. Set across three areas, the new structure will include a café selling hot and cold food, wit

Fancy getting a bit of culture in over the Easter holidays? How about somewhere with loads of space so the kids can run around while you top up the grey matter by learning about (arguably) Britain’s most famous composer of the 20th century? Or perhaps you’d just like a look at some nice interiors? Whatever your answer, there’s good news: the Red House in Aldeburgh, Suffolk is due to reopen on April 2 after being closed for winter renovations.   The house in question was home to Benjamin Britten and his partner, the vocalist Peter Pears, who moved into the property in 1957. According to an official release, ‘shaped by curiosity, hospitality and a love of art, design, music and nature, it is more than a home – it tells their story’. The Grade II-listed 17th century farmhouse does indeed have plenty to offer all lovers of art and design, as it’s packed with the art they collected, as well as furniture and furnishings that really summon the period in which they called it home. The interiors have been largely preserved since the 1960s and you can check out Britten’s actual composition studio, which includes a piano with which visitors are encouraged to tickle the ivories. Covering five acres, the grounds of the Red House feature gardens in which you can admire sculptures that the pair collected. You can take general garden tours or tours specifically about the on-site art, while children up to the age of five are invited to take part in the free Mini Music Makers activity session

It’s well-documented that these are tricky times for UK retail – at the end of last year, a House of Commons research paper reckoned that the sector has been in ‘permacrisis’ ever since the 2008 financial crash, while a bunch of huge high street names have already confirmed closures in 2026. Luckily, there’s plenty of good news out there, thanks to plucky retailers who’re thinking outside the box. Take Gateshead’s Metrocentre, the second-biggest shopping centre in the UK (after London’s Westfield), which has unveiled a new £6m investment to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Interestingly, the shopping mecca has chosen to spotlight independent brands rather than worldwide behemoths. Currently dubbed the Forum, this area of the Metrocentre will be renamed the Crescent, featuring 10 new retail units and a nice spot to take the weight off and grab a coffee. A Metrocentre spokesperson acknowledged that the Forum previously hosted independent retailers and described the rebrand as a return to its roots that will bring old-school ‘charm’ back to this much-loved destination. Inspired by ‘picturesque market towns’, the space will offer a ‘a calm, beautifully detailed space for guests to shop' and 'enjoy a different pace within Metrocentre’. Image: Metrocentre They added: ‘For visitors, the Crescent will become a warm, welcoming space with a village-like feel – somewhere to browse and discover unique brands while enjoying a slower, more sociable space within the centre.’ When it first

It’s a time of mixed fortunes for UK cinemas. Last month, the industry breathed a collective sigh of relief when Paramount Skydance outbid Netflix for the purchase of Warner Bros Discovery. Many commentators eyed Netflix with suspicion because the streaming giant has a big incentive for at-home releases, with its movies only released in cinemas for a short period – which is obviously not particularly great for the box office.  On the other hand, a 2025 Ofcom report found that only 11 percent of respondents visited the cinema every month, compared with 85 per cent who watched Video On Demand in the same period. More than 10 cinemas are reported to have closed last year.  So, we’re in the midst of a changing landscape, which is perhaps nowhere better illustrated than in the planned demolition of Milton Keynes’ The Point, the first-ever multiplex built in the UK.  Built in 1985, The Point has been closed for more than a decade, having screened its last movie in 2015. Now, Galliard Holdings Ltd (GHL) has been granted permission to turn the site into 487 flats. This is because the Twentieth Century Society and the Cinema Theatre Association’s bid to have the building declared historically important was rejected. Historic England noted that the world’s first multiplexes opened in America, meaning the UK’s version is ‘not of national significance’. The new accommodation may span four buildings that are up to 21 storeys high. In its heyday, the Point featured 10 screens, a bingo hall

What do you think of when you hear the word ‘Spitfire’? The massive Prodigy tune? The skate brand? The iconic fighter plane that played a pivotal role in WWII? If you went for the final option (correct!), you may well be either from or have a lot in common with the good people of Southampton, who are leading 90th birthday celebrations for the legendary attack jet, which was created in their fair city back in 1936. To mark the anniversary, a two-seat Spitfire painted in the colours of the initial prototype will make nine commemorative flights to and from airbases around the country. These will run from April 7-17, with modern RAF aircraft in tow for parts of the journey. It’s supported by the Royal Air Force and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and members of the public will be offered the chance to ride along in the plane. Seats will be auctioned off, with funds going to the Mark Long Trust and the RAF Benevolent Fund.   Southampton’s SeaCity Museum will host a Spitfire display until the end of September, while an eight-minute aerial Spitfire display will coincide with the ABP Southampton Marathon on May 3. Soton’s heritage steamship SS Shieldhall will provide new commentary about the aircraft and launch a tour dubbed In the Footsteps of the Spitfire (tickets start at £45), with options for a guided walk through the Solent Sky Museum or Woolston, the former home of the Supermarine Spitfire Factory. There’ll also be two-hour walking tours around the city courtesy of Visi

Tracey Emin is a total British icon, so it’s only natural that everything she touches becomes iconic too. That certainly goes for her former Spitalfields studio, which she began using as a red-hot Young British Artist (YBA) in the early 2000s. Emin announced her move to Margate in 2016, leaving a question mark over the building’s future. Now, the London-based Chris Dyson Architects has won planning permission to transform the former creative hub into homes and commercial units. In 2015, Emin, who worked at 1-5 Tenter Ground, appointed the architect David Chipperfield to mastermind a plan to knock down the adjacent 66-68 Bell Lane and link the studio to a new home. Tower Hamlets Council rejected the plan amid opposition from local residents. At the time, she said to the Guardian: ‘Why would you want to be somewhere you’re not wanted? What I’m going to do now is move out of London. I don’t have any choice on that … There’s places now in Britain that are desperate for artists – Margate’s thriving, Folkestone, Hastings. All that Kent coast. And I could have a giant studio and be really relaxed.’ Emin made good on the statement, although it’s worth noting that she was granted permission to link the buildings in 2019. It was evidently too little, given that she’s now based in Cliftonville, the super-cool Margate neighbourhood (that’s set to get a new £1.1m skatepark). In a statement, Chris Dyson Architects – which has its headquarters in Spitalfields – explained that the former stu

All hail the Flixbus, a spiritual successor to the Megabus, which came to steal its predecessor’s lunch with a combination of Brat-green aesthetic and meme-tastic social media presence. Founded in Munich in 2011, the budget bus service began providing trips from Europe to our little island in 2016. It was only as recently as 2021 that Flixbus launched routes within the UK, linking up the likes of London, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds. And now it's expanding even further, having announced eight new destinations and a host of new connections to celebrate its fifth birthday. To really get the celebrations going, Flix is offering tickets for less than a fiver between April 13 and June 30. As Vengaboys didn’t quite say: ‘The Flixbus is coming / And everybody’s jumping.’ The new routes will come into play in April, bringing the grand total of Flixbus destinations to more than 100. It’s good news for the lucky people of Doncaster, Blackpool, Halifax, Huddersfield and Milton Keynes, all of whom are now offered a chance to ride the Flix to and from home. In addition to this, there’ll be daily Flixbus services between York, Heathrow and central London. Photograph: 4kclips / Shutterstock.com There’ll be new connections between Bristol Airport and Plymouth, Taunton, Cheltenham and Exeter, while travellers will also be able to hop on the Flixbus from Leicester and Nottingham to both Plymouth and Bristol. And that’s not all! The big green bus is also offering routes between Manchester

It’s a testament to Henry Moore’s genius that his artworks rival the natural beauty of the landscapes they’re often placed in. From the Yorkshire Sculpture Park to the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens in Hertfordshire, the best way to see the late, great sculptor's creations is to get out among the elements. Now there’s another chance to do so, as Kew’s Wakehurst Gardens in west Sussex has announced that a new open-air exhibition, Henry Moore and More, is due to launch on June 5. It’ll feature four Moore sculptures, as well as site-specific works created by the contemporary artists Rafael Pérez Evans, Paloma Varga Weisz and Rana Begum. Moore, who was born in Castleford, west Yorkshire, died in 1986 but remains one of the most revered sculptors ever. His four works on loan to Wakehurst, as curated by the Henry Moore Foundation, are: Reclining Figure (1982), Mother and Child Block Seat (1983-4), Relief No. 1 (1959) and Reclining Connected Forms (1969). Rafael Pérez Evans’ artwork, created on the site, is entitled Horizontals 2026 and was partly inspired by Moore’s famous reclining figures. Paloma Varga Weisz, meanwhile, began developing her Wilde Leute (‘Wild People’) series in 1998, drawing influence from symbolic medieval characters who lived among nature. The three Evans sculptures going on display at Wakehurst have never been exhibited in the UK before. Rana Begum’s site-specific sculpture features wooden logs sourced from fallen trees on-site and is designed, as Wakehurst p

Fittingly for a world-building game, Minecraft has taken over the planet. There was last year’s gargantuan movie spin-off (the imaginatively titled A Minecraft Movie), while fans also eagerly tune in to the annual Minecraft Live online presentation for tantalising updates about the game that means so much to them. To date, it’s sold more than 300 million copies worldwide to become the best-selling videogame ever. It was only a matter of time, then, before it received the theme park treatment. Announced at the aforementioned presentation, Minecraft World is due to open next year at Chessington World of Adventures. Billed as ‘the world’s first Minecraft theme-park land’, the park will feature a new rollercoaster, merch and a themed dining spot. The site also promises ‘interactive adventures’ and ‘epic block built playscapes.’ It’s all part of a whopping £50m investment – the biggest of its kind at Chessington. Image: Merlin Entertainments and Mojang Studios The theme park is being brought to life by Merlin Entertainments, the company that owns Alton Towers and the London Eye, so the Minecraft world certainly seems to be in good hands.    Merlin Entertainments’ SVP of global brand Angela Jobson said: ‘We’re absolutely thrilled to be bringing Minecraft’s creativity, bold adventures, and ridiculous fun to life at a theme park for the first time at Chessington World of Adventures. ‘Minecraft World will allow friends and families to play, explore and craft together on a truly epic

In a sign that London can’t have too many interactive David Hockney events (no shade – we really do mean it), Tate Modern is set to turn its Turbine Hall into a massive, immersive tribute to the artist. Part of Tate’s 2027 programme, the exhibition is designed to mark Hockney’s 90th birthday and will precede Tate Britain’s career-spanning retrospective in the autumn. The Turbine Hall extravaganza follows on from ‘Bigger and Closer’, the Hockney showcase that took over the Lightroom in King’s Cross in 2023. While that exhibition breathed new life into his paintings and iPad drawings of Los Angeles, Yorkshire and Normandy, the Tate’s summer 2027 celebration will home in on a very specific period in the artist’s career. Back in 1975, when he lived in London, Hockney began creating sets for operas staged in some of Europe and America’s most prestigious opera houses. From the Royal Opera House to Glyndebourne Festival and New York’s Met Opera, the artist – a massive fan of the art form – covered ‘em all. He did so for some 17 years, in which time he produced 11 set designs. Hockney worked on the likes of Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi (staged at the Royal Court Theatre) and Richard Strauss’s Die Frau ohne Schatten (originally designed for a production in Los Angeles but actually first seen at London’s Royal Opera House in 1992). Proving his versatility and restless creativity (as if they were ever in doubt), the latter was designed with a distinct Pop Art sensibility.  To pay tribute to t

Not too long ago, we named the Margate neighbourhood of Cliftonville the coolest place in the UK. With a host of record shops and cafes and, in the ever-reliable Cliffs, a record shop and café in one (with a hair salon thrown in for good measure), it’s hard to see how the relatively affordable artistic enclave could possibly become any cooler. That, though, would be to overlook the news that Cliftonville is set to host a brand new skatepark costing a mega £1.1 million. Designed by Hackney-based Betabong Limited, the huge new attraction is to be built on a disused stretch of land on the seafront, meaning you can enjoy an incredible view of the sea while pulling sick tricks and yelling ‘Cowabunga!’. The tender process for the redevelopment of the Ethelbert Crescent site, which previously housed a crazy golf course, was launched back in September. Now Thanet District Council has confirmed Betabong’s appointment, along with plans for a park that will cover almost an acre and feature seating, a kiosk and public loos. Cliftonville's new skatepark was originally planned to open this summer, though a precise date now seems to be a bit up in the air (as you will be when the time comes). Betabong have suggested it’ll be later this year, though.   The council described Betabong as ‘world-class builders’, with its director of place, Bob Porter, saying: ‘As someone who is passionate about creating spaces where our young people can thrive, build connections and get active, I know how valua