Liv Kelly

There’s a reason why so many romantic comedy films are set in London; quite simply, it’s one of the best places in the world to be loved up. The picturesque Little Venice, the historic Whispering Gallery at St Paul's Cathedral, and Waterloo Bridge (which has breathtaking views of the city) are among the many romantic places to visit at any time of year – and we can’t get enough. But to encourage your love to reach full bloom, it's important to pick a hotel with the right kind of vibe. Breakfast in bed, complimentary cocktails upon arrival, and pampering spa packages are the sort of special touches that can make all the difference when you’re in the mood to woo... or maybe even pop the question. Take a look at our favourite romantic hotels in London.  Updated in May 2024: To keep our curated lists tip top we always keep an eye out for any new or trending properties. And this time around we've set our sights on this hidden sanctuary in Shoreditch, and this luxury hotel in South Kenso that's all about British elegance.  Looking for more options? 🛏 Check out London’s best Airbnbs ❤️‍🔥 or London's naughtiest hotels. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Want a drink? You've come to the right place. This is Time Out’s list of best bars in London, our curated guide to London’s drinking scene, featuring the buzziest booze dens in the capital right now. If it’s on this list, it’s excellent. These are the 50 places we'd recommend to a friend, because we love drinking in them and have done many times over. From classy cocktail joints to delightful dives, hotel bars, speakeasys, bottle shops, rooftops and wine bars, London's got them all. But what makes a truly good bar? Well, our critieria for inclusion on this list is simple; a menu of genius drinks is important, but so is overall vibe – there’s no point having the perfect paloma if you have to drink it in a bar that smells of bins. To make the Top 50, a bar has to be fun, inclusive, and full of lovely folk as well as looking the part.  April 2025: A rash of great new bars have opened in London over the past year or so and many of them have made the immediate jump to our hallowed Top 50. The latest additions to our list include rowdy sports bar meets 80s horror movie set Bloodsports in Covent Garden, whisky wonderland Dram Bar on Denmark Street, the hypnotic Bar Lotus in Dalston, Below Stone Nest in Chinatown, Rasputin’s by London Fields, and Bar Lina, an Italian aperitivo spot underneath a famous Soho deli. Now go forth and drink. RECOMMENDED: Like bars? Then you'll love London's best pubs.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor, and she'll have a gibson marti

London’s LGBTQ+ scene is among the most fabulous in the world, with a wealth of bars, clubs, nights and other spaces serving the city’s queer communities. So it’s no surprise, then, that London celebrates Pride month like nowhere else in the world.  The culmination of this month of parties and protests is Pride in London, which usually takes place in the early days of July and sees the city centre transform into a huge, chaotic, rainbow-coloured celebration. The main event is the Pride Parade, a huge spectacle typically comprising around 600 groups and 35,000 participants, but there are also five stages around Soho and the West End and a Family Zone, all of which will be serving up a wealth of free entertainment throughout the day. Here is everything you need to know about the route and timings of Pride 2025’s Parade.  When is the London Pride Parade 2025? This year London’s Pride parade will place on Saturday, July 5.  How can I take part in the London Pride Parade 2025? With the big day arriving this weekend, applications have long since closed for groups wishing to take part in the parade. But while you might have missed the boat (or float?) for this year’s march, you can still catch all the action from the best seats in the house by booking tickets for the Haymarket Grandstand. Final release tickets are available here for £65. What time does the London Pride Parade start? As in previous years, the Pride parade is expected to kick off at midday from Hyde Park c

September in London may be ‘back to school’ time, but it’s also when the city comes alive. A lot of London’s cultural scene goes into semi-hibernation mode over the summer, but come autumn it kicks back into gear with landmark museum exhibitions, new theatre and art shows and brand new food and drink openings.  There’s also a whole host of city-wide fests taking over the capital, including Open House London – giving us a chance to get a sneak peek inside usually private buildings – London Design Festival and Totally Thames – the brilliant celebration of London’s watery main artery. While autumn is still on the horizon, summer isn’t over yet. So make sure you grab your final chance to enjoy the spoils of the season by booking a seat at some of London’s best rooftop bars and alfresco restaurants and lolling about in the city’s best urban beaches, parks and lidos. Get your diary out and start filling it up now. Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.

Europe is incredible for festivals, make no mistake about it. And what could be better? Travelling to festivals abroad means getting to explore somewhere new and see a bunch of cracking artists, as well as maybe – just maybe – enjoy better weather and cheaper beer. Europe is certainly not in short supply of some really brilliant places to party, from tiny, lesser-known spots in the Azores to your classic, mega, headliner-packed fests in France and Netherlands and Alpine jazz weekends. And don’t worry, if you haven’t booked yet, there’s a load of them still to come this summer. Here are the best music festivals in Europe for 2025.  What is the largest festival in Europe? Glastonbury festival in the UK is normally thought of as the biggest festival in Europe (if not the world). But though it’s certainly the most well known, in terms of numbers, it’s not even the the biggest in the UK! The biggest in Europe is actually Donauinselfest in Vienna, Austria, which sees upwards of two million visitors a year. After that, it’s probably joint between Glasto and Tomorrowland in Belgium.  RECOMMENDED: 🎪 The best UK music festivals🎤 The best music festivals in the world🌃 The most underrated destinations in Europe🌤️ The best European city breaks At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial conten

Though the Cotswolds is closely associated with chocolate-box villages, cobbled streets and teeny-tiny pubs, the region itself is actually pretty enormous. It stretches all the way from Stratford-Upon-Avon to southern Bath, across the likes of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Somerset and Warwickshire, and the entirety of it is considered an Area of Outstanding National Beauty. And while those famous, ‘gram-worthy spots are of course worth a visit (Arlington Row, we’re looking at you), the region is home to lots of quirky, surprising and grand attractions to keep you entertained for days, no matter the month or season. What's the best village in The Cotswolds? Okay now time for the big question. Which village is actually the best? Well, the truth is that it depends what you're looking for. Bourton-on-the-Water might take the top spot for quiet romance, thanks to its Venice-like bridges and waterside tearooms. Castle Combe is the winner for film lovers (both War Horse and Stardust were shot here), while Bibury, dubbed the “most beautiful village in England” by William Morris, has that postcard-pretty wow factor.  RECOMMENDED:🏩 The best Airbnbs in the Cotswolds ✈️ The best weekend breaks from London 🌤️ The best places to visit in the UK🏔️ The best hikes in the UK🚃 The most scenic train journeys in the UK🏊‍♀️ The best wild swimming spots in the UK This list was recently updated by Time Out Travel writer Liv Kelly. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written b

Museums are one of the things that London does best. This city boasts grand institutions housing ancient treasures, modern monoliths packed with intriguing exhibits, and tiny rooms containing deeply niche collections – and lots of them are totally free to anyone who wants to come in and take a gander. And with more than 170 London museums to choose from, there's bound to be one to pique your interest, whatever you're in to.  Want to explore the history of TfL? We’ve got a museum for that. Rather learn about advertising? We’ve got a museum for that too. History? Check. Science? Check. 1940s cinema memorabilia, grotesque eighteenth-century surgical instruments, or perhaps a wall of 4,000 mouse skeletons? Check, check and check! Being the cultured metropolitans that we are, Time Out’s editors love nothing more than a wholesome afternoon spent gawping at Churchill’s baby rattle or some ancient Egyptian percussion instruments. In my case, the opportunity to live on the doorstep of some of the planet’s most iconic cultural institutions was a big reason why I moved here at the first chance I got, and I’ve racked up countless hours traipsing around display cases and deciphering needlessly verbose wall texts in the eleven years since. From iconic collections, brilliant curation and cutting-edge tech right down to nice loos, adequate signage and a decent place to grab a cuppa; my colleagues and I know exactly what we want from a museum, and we’ve put in a whole lot of time deliberating

If you’re dreaming of finding sand in your shoes after a long day out and queuing too long for ice cream, then you could do a lot worse than venturing out of the city and planning a trip to one of the UK’s seemingly endless coastal towns. This is an island nation, after all, which means it’s packed with rugged cliffs and windswept headlands as well as quaint fishing villages and shoreline surf spots. We might not have the sunkissed weather of our European neighbours, but when it comes to costal charm, the UK ticks a hell of a lot of boxes. Planning a trip to the seaside? Check out our list of the best coastal towns in the country, from Scotland to Cornwall.   Which UK seaside towns get the best weather?  If you’re chasing sunshine, you’re probably going to want to go south. Brighton, Margate, St Ives, Salcombe and Falmouth can clock some serious sun hours in the right season – but we can’t make any promises, so be sure to pack a raincoat to be on the safe side.  Where are the best beaches in the UK? If beach walks and swimming in the sea is what you’re after, look no further than our list of the best beaches in the UK. From the list below, we’d recommend Brighton if you’re more of a pebble person. Head to Nefyn for natural beauty and extreme quiet. Try North Berwick if you want sand between your toes and can stomach chillier waters. And for higher temperatures, head to East Portlemouth beach and stay in Salcombe.  RECOMMENDED:🌊The best outdoor swimmming pools in the UK🏖️T

Our planet has its fair share of stunning natural spectacles – towering waterfalls, vast mountain ranges and gleaming beaches, to name just a few – but we should also give ourselves some credit, as throughout history, human hands have been designing and constructing some seriously magnificent buildings.  From the more-than-a-century-long project to build and embellish the Sagrada Familia to jaw-dropping contemporary engineering in Australia and Norway, there’s beauty all over the place – not to mention some heart-wrenching stories that inspired these structures. Here’s a comprehensive, but by no means exhaustive, list of the world’s most pleasing, fascinating and impressive buildings.  RECOMMENDED:🌎 The world’s most beautiful places🌲 The world’s most stunning UNESCO World Heritage Sites🌌 The best national parks in the world Liv Kelly is Time Out’s travel writer, based in London. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts.

They say opposites attract, and Norwich is solid evidence for that argument – it’s where the ancient times meet modern day, after all. But though some of the city’s most popular attractions are pretty darn old (the Cathedral has been welcoming worshippers for almost 900 years), it’s far from a drab and dusty place.  Norfolk’s capital is a compact, teeming little city which, in some spots, feels more like a village. However, there’s no shortage of cosy pubs, creative and sleek cocktail bars and some really cracking brunch, lunch and dinner spots, as well as copious second-hand shops, all alongside Norwich’s big-ticket landmarks. Read on for the best things to do. RECOMMENDED:🧙 The most mystical places in the UK🏰 The best castles in the UK🏖️ The best seaside towns in the UK📷The best things to do in the UK ✈️ The best weekend breaks from London At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

The future of some of London’s day festivals may have been thrown up in the air earlier this summer, but Londoners are still exceptionally lucky to have an abundance of day-long musical extravanganzas to choose from, with something taking place almost every weekend throughout the warmer months. Forget trekking across the country to live in a field for five days. When you live in London, you can hop on the tube, and an hour later 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. We Londoners love live music, so it’s no surprise that we’re absolutely spoilt for choice when summer rolls around. You’ve got festivals devoted to hip-hop, jazz, leftfield pop, disco, afrobeats, heavy rock ‘n’ roll. Whatever your taste may be, my god does London have a day festival for you. We are right in the thick of festival season right now. You’ve probably already secured the tickets and started planning your outfit, but if you’re doing things a little last minute this summer, there is still time to plan your day festis. 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

Established by the Romans way back in 76BC, Bath is absolutely drowning in history and its beauty alone makes the city well worth seeing. But don’t worry, it’s got a whole lot more to offer than some fun for the history buffs among us.  This small Somerset city has bags of wonderful things to do, see, and eat whether you’re spending an afternoon or a whole weekend in the place. Take a dip in the baths, wander the Royal Crescent, and enjoy the abundance of theatre, comedy and art - there’s a tonne of culture to drink in, and plenty of quaint settings in which to do it. Here are our top picks for things to do in Bath. RECOMMENDED: 🚆The best day trips from London🍝 The best restaurants in Bath🏰 The best things to do in Castle Combe🌉 The best things to do in Bristol🌤️ The best things to do in the UK🛏️ The best hotels in Bath ✈️ The best weekend breaks from London At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

What’s the vibe?  This space is one of Brighton’s most refined restaurants. It sits on Upper Market Street unbeknownst to the majority of passers-by, which gives it an exclusive, elevated vibe. The restaurant is tastefully and simply furnished with lots of pale wood and natural light giving it a beachhouse feel, and that is reflected in the menu.  What should I order?  The menu here changes regularly, but there’ll be a three-course set lunch menu for £35 per person or a decadent six-course option at dinner time which costs £85 per person. Each will include simple but super elegant seafood dishes, and the restaurant’s signature dish, the egg and soldiers, will (hopefully) be available at dinner time.

What’s the vibe?  In a nutshell, the vibe here is casual, speedy and really, really tasty. It’s unlikely you’ll wait long for your food to arrive, nor will you be at the table for much more than an hour, but we guarantee every second will be worth it. Why? Well, Bincho’s isn’t just a favourite of Brighton’s locals, but also of its chefs. What should I order? The chef here describes himself as an Izayaka fanatic, and after spending three years in Japan finessing the cooking techniques, you can bet that this is the most authentic take on southeast Asian cuisine that Brighton has to offer. There aren’t any duds on this menu – the only mistake would be not arriving ravenous.  

You might expect a Grade I National Trust property to be a bit of a stuffy and impersonal place to stay for a weekend, but Bodysgallen Hall, a lovingly restored manor house on Pydew Mountain in north Wales, is quite the opposite.  The hotel provided us tired, post-hike guests with a stay so comforting that, despite its looming size, felt more like we were at the home of an impossibly wealthy relative than a high-end hotel. Swathed by crackling fires, good, tasty food and amiable staff, this place is primed for a properly restful weekend.  Why stay at Bodysgallen Hall?  If you don’t just want a break from your day-to-day life but some proper respite from the 21st century, this is the place to stay. Bodysgallen Hall’s Main House feels a bit imposing as you approach it, but there’s something undeniably old-timey and welcoming about the place once you’ve stepped inside.  It brags all the traditional quirks that a proper country estate should, with comically low ground-floor ceilings, dark wood-panelled walls, heartily-stoked fires and marshmallow-like armchairs throughout the reception area and jumbled hallways, and much of it was built around 600 years ago. Though modern elements (speedy wifi and high-pressure showers) have seeped through, a weekend here still feels like you’ve dipped back into a different era.  What are the rooms like at Bodysgallen Hall? The Main House bedrooms could well remind you of a grandparent’s house, and I mean that as a compliment. The furnishings are

What’s the vibe?  Picture crisp white tablecloths, immaculately manicured waiters and an elevated, classy atmosphere, and you’ve pretty much got the opposite of Halisco. This is not the place for a formal evening dinner, but it most definitely is the place to take someone you’re trying to impress. Lip-smacking cocktails, inexplicably tasty Mexican-inspired small plates and an efficient, friendly, knowledgeable team of locals are what make this place so damn brilliant – and I bet my margarita that you’ll be telling your friends about it.  What are the prices like? The menu here follows a small-plates format – you’ll have snacks sitting around or just below £4, small plates, which range roughly from £8-£12, and of course the tacos, which tend to start at £9.50 for two. Lucky enough to swing by in the summer months? There could well be a salad and ceviche section, which last year started at £6. Mix it up, and don’t expect things to arrive in order.  What should I order? Halisco’s menu changes seasonally, but be sure to start your dinner with corn chips and guac, order the tenderstem broccoli (if it’s available) in whatever form it comes, and – even if you’re a meat eater – the oyster mushroom birria tacos. To wash it down, my go-tos are either a hibiscus margarita or a modelo chelada.  What’s worth visiting nearby? The newly opened Bar Halisco! Perched just over the road is Halisco’s brand-new sister venue, which opened just in time for National Margarita Day 2025. It’s got all

Despite being labelled by a cursive, neon pink signpost above its entrance, you could easily miss Viajante87 – it’s hidden in plain sight amidst the noise and fluorescence of Notting Hill Gate, and once you’re inside, feels miles away from all that too. The room is draped in moody layers and furnishings of rich teal with touches of gold, giving it a particularly luxe feel which is matched by the vibe of the service. Everything here is quite formal: we were met by a security guard who radioed a host to collect us at the bottom of the stairs, and, behind a heavy velvet curtain, were greeted with a cheery and unnervingly synchronised ‘hola!’ from the bartenders. That’s because, as is detailed on the cocktail menu, Viajante87 is based around the concept of ‘drinking like a local’, with your choices all inspired by flavours which hail from Central and South America. The three main sections on the menu are organised to mimic the stages of a journey: they’re branded as ‘comfortable’ (aperitif-like drinks), ‘curious’ (a little stronger) and ‘courageous’ (digestifs). If you’re feeling really courageous, you could even ignore the order in which they’ve designed the menu, though this lot clearly know what they’re doing.  Order this On the ‘be curious’ page of the menu, you’ll find the Pura Pache, a clean and fruity long drink which is a good light cocktail to kick things off. But if you’re a fan of bitter, negroni-esque flavours, don’t skip over the Blood Moon.  Time Out tip While this

Given it’s the second largest island in the Mediterranean (after Sicily), Sardinia brags quite a lot of coastline – 2,000 km, to be exact. Scenic beaches aren’t hard to come by here, but Delphina’s Valle dell’Erica occupies a particularly glorious spot on the island’s northern tip, on a plush green hillside where the coastal breeze ripples through the grass. Sounds lovely, right? On a clear day you can see across to Corsica, and when it’s hazy – as it was on my visit – you’re still surrounded by the ocean. Long story short, spectacular views are guaranteed.  Such vistas are best soaked in from the panoramic breakfast terrace in the main hotel building. Incidentally, the breakfast buffet is the only place where you’ll actually remember you’re in a resort. Valle Dell’Erica feels more like a small hilltop town: there are seven bars, seven restaurants, four pools, an enormous spa and a whopping 273 rooms. This sprawling complex houses two separate hotels: Hotel Erica (a slightly larger space with 148 rooms, catered to families) and Hotel La Licciola (a smaller, couple-oriented hotel, where 17 of the 125 rooms have access to an exclusive area and private pool). Rooms are cloistered in small blocks of three or four, each comfortably if plainly furnished, and are built with local granite and cork. From the resort’s beaches, the buildings appear to dissipate into the land – the brand calls this design ‘low visual impact’, a move to protect Sardinia’s coastline from the threat of towe

Given it’s the second largest island in the Mediterranean (after Sicily), Sardinia brags quite a lot of coastline – 2,000 km, to be exact. Scenic beaches aren’t hard to come by here, but Delphina’s Valle dell’Erica occupies a particularly glorious spot on the island’s northern tip, on a plush green hillside where the coastal breeze ripples through the grass. Sounds lovely, right? On a clear day you can see across to Corsica, and when it’s hazy – as it was on my visit – you’re still surrounded by the ocean. Long story short, spectacular views are guaranteed.  Such vistas are best soaked in from the panoramic breakfast terrace in the main hotel building. Incidentally, the breakfast buffet is the only place where you’ll actually remember you’re in a resort. Valle Dell’Erica feels more like a small hilltop town: there are seven bars, seven restaurants, four pools, an enormous spa and a whopping 273 rooms. This sprawling complex houses two separate hotels: Hotel Erica (a slightly larger space with 148 rooms, catered to families) and Hotel La Licciola (a smaller, couple-oriented hotel, where 17 of the 125 rooms have access to an exclusive area and private pool). Rooms are cloistered in small blocks of three or four, each comfortably if plainly furnished, and are built with local granite and cork. From the resort’s beaches, the buildings appear to dissipate into the land – the brand calls this design ‘low visual impact’, a move to protect Sardinia’s coastline from the threat of towe

Landing in Keflavik on a frosty 2C afternoon is a bit of a shock to the system compared to the balmy October temperatures of the UK, but once we start winding through the snow-dusted, ash-coloured peaks that loom moodily over Iceland’s coast, the biting cold feels appropriate.  Thankfully, the nippy feeling doesn’t last long. ION’s collection of hotels includes four properties – ION City and Hotel Von (starting rates are €430 and €175 respectively) where we stay in Reykjavik, Hotel Budir (from €277), our first stop nestled cosily between the mountains and the lapping shore of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and ION Adventure (€565) which is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2024. Each embody the Nordic concept of ‘hygge’, that feeling of convivial cosiness that you can only really experience in such perishingly cold places.  All are intrinsically Icelandic, but ION Adventure is the true show-stopper. A sleek glass box emerging from the moss-laden Mount Hengill, the hotel is a bold contrast to the tumbling volcanic landscape around it. But that landscape is still incorporated into the design, with furniture made from locally-sheered wool and actual lava. Sustainability is at the heart of these designs – even the sinks are made from recycled tires – and much of the interior is crafted by Icelandic architects. The hallway leading to the brand-new wing of 23 rooms (where we stayed) features bare concrete walls which will not be painted – paint is bad for the environment, guys – an

You’d be forgiven for feeling a little intimidated upon approaching Eastwell Manor. Its stern, neo-Elizabethan stone façade is dotted with boxy windows which appear as if they allow little light, and reaching reception involves dragging your luggage through an eerily still, imposing courtyard. But the vibe’s pretty different inside.  Through the comically large, dark-wood doors, the formality of the building does match the tone of the service, but we were warmly greeted by wafts from the restaurant, the excited buzz of guests from a wedding party and formally dressed but amicable team members. And that’s what’s unexpected about this place – how homely a massive country estate (particularly one with a tennis court, a hawking centre and beehives) can feel as soon as you arrive.  Our room, in the cottage buildings in the west corner of the grounds, was one designated for people on a spa break (it’s only a two-minute walk from the spa building) and other guests were flitting between the two buildings in just their dressing gowns, despite the October chill. The spa itself, the facilities of which include a swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room on the ground floor, as well as a restaurant, plus treatment and ‘relaxation’ rooms upstairs, does all the things a good spa should do, but is perhaps not quite matched to the size of the hotel – we arrived mid-afternoon to cop a poolside seat but were left with only one available spot to plonk ourselves. But the hotel doesn’t just of

Entering our park-view room on the ninth floor of the Athenaeum, our jaws dropped not because of the suite itself, but because it immediately lived up to its name: the south-facing hotel rooms offer tremendous views of the lush treetops of Green Park, and if you’re lucky enough to stay in on one of the top floors (nine is the highest), it’s pretty splendid. What’s more, the hotel has been designed to incorporate the park’s proximity: the compact, comfortable rooms and ground-floor reception feature floor-to-ceiling windows and plenty of mirrors to complement and exaggerate the nearby greenery. Entering the hotel feels almost like you’re stepping inside an opulent conservatory.  Throughout the hotel there are nods to grand decor, but it’s not overdone. Twinkly light fixtures, velvet Chesterfield headboards and touches of gold are not going to be to everyone’s taste, but they feature in the light-flooded rooms and add glamour to mostly white walls and bedding – this hotel is in Mayfair, after all.  That emphasis on elegance is also reflected in the kind of service you get at the Athenaeum. Front of house members, at the reception during check-in and in the restaurant, were congenial, warm, but the atmosphere here is formal: there’s no small talk, no chit-chat during breakfast service – everything feels very proper.  While the surrounding neighbourhood boasts plenty of bougie places to eat, the hotel’s ground-floor restaurant is a worthy alternative, particularly for afternoon t

With interiors that look like they probably haven’t been updated since the place opened in 1997, and prices that also feel like they’re stuck in the past, a trip to locally loved Bayswater restaurant The Bengal feels like stepping back in time. The dated decor serves to create a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere in which to enjoy generous portions of classic curry house fare. The chef’s special bhunas and jalfrezis – both traditional Bengali dishes – stand out on a large menu of traditional Indian and Bangladeshi curries. Whether you’re sitting in or ordering a takeaway, this is a reliable option for inexpensive, flavoursome dinner. 

Quite unlike the uniform streets which characterise this patch of London, The Beachcomber – a tiki bar specialising in agricole rhums from the French Caribbean – can only really be described as loud. Loud in flavour, colour, atmosphere and texture, this animated place features decorated with palm trees, faux bamboo, wooden masks and colourful lighting, and is a great spot if you fancy trying inventive cocktails made using the UK’s largest collection of rhum agricole, plus other classic tiki ingredients like cachaça, coconut cream and guanábana. It also runs a lively programme of DJ nights, rum masterclasses and open mic evenings too.

There are some really, really gorgeous buildings out there, be them intricately detailed cathedrals, futuristic-looking museums or Gothic libraries – but none of them quite compare to the beauty of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.  Time Out just dropped a brand-new list of the planet’s 24 most dazzling buildings, eight of which are in Europe, including the Sagrada Familia and Ireland’s Trinity College Library. You’ll find everything from a New York museum to a chapel in New Zealand and a community hub in Rwanda on the list, but the legacy, grandeur and endearing inspiration behind the Taj Mahal is why we selected it as number one.  Photograph: Shutterstock Think you’ve done some romantic gestures in your time? Chances are you’ve got nothing on Shah Jahan, the former Mughal Emperor who commissioned the building of the Taj Mahal in memory of his late wife.  It took 22 years for the building to be finished. Construction began in 1632 and was not complete until 1653, but given the buildings’ scale and magnificent design, you can see why.  Recommended: The 25 best places to visit in India.  It’s thought the building’s beauty was inspired by hers, and English poet Sir Edwin Arnold reportedly said that the palace was ‘not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passion of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones. Talk about green flags, eh?  Today, the Taj Mahal is considered a masterpiece of Indo-Islamic architecture, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and w

Where to stay in Barcelona is a bit of a hot topic right now, as while lots of travellers have become accustomed to booking short-term holiday lets, protests have shown just how unpopular those are with local residents.  So, maybe it’s time more of us give hotels a chance? To help you out, Time Out has just given its list of the very best places to stay in Barcelona a complete overhaul. And our new champion? It’s (drum roll, please) Majestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona!   That’s right – Time Out has selected this beautiful neoclassical hotel, which sits on Passeig de Gràcia slap-bang in the middle of the city, as the best one in Barcelona for 2025.  It opened way back in 1918 and is known for its elegant style, but also played a role as host to major political, cultural and historic events (such as when it served as a base for journalists covering the Battle of the Ebro during the Spanish Civil War) meaning it’s got a unique history, too.  There’s no doubt that this is a luxurious place to stay, with rooms starting at around €400 per night. You can choose from city-view rooms, family-friendly ones, or a penthouse or apartment, which has plenty of space for work. Oh, and each will grant you access to the rooftop pool, spa and wellness area, and gym.  Then there’s the food. Jana Serra, a writer for Time Out Barcelona, wrote: ‘The elegant restaurant serves Mediterranean and locally sourced dishes à la carte. There’s a piano bar, a cocktail bar, and the stylish Gourmet Bar next to the

Sure, summer is great for bringing us nicer weather, music festivals, and general excuses to dilly dally outside, but it’s also a time to catch some brilliant sport. Last year, the season was dominated by the Paris Olympics, Paralympics, and the Men’s Euro, but this year, it’s the women’s turn.  The Women’s Euro 2025 kicks off today, and from July 2 to 27 will be played by 16 teams across eight different Swiss venues. As per, it will begin with games in groups of four, with the top two in each section making it to the knockout phase before the best two make it to the final (taking place in St. Jakob-Park, Basel).  The opening matches are between Switzerland and Norway, Spain and Portugal, Denmark and Sweden and France and England. Below is a comprehensive roundup of every single match in the tournament, where it will be played, plus a bit of background about each of these lovely Swiss cities.  Where will the Women’s Euro 2025 take place? Full list of matches and venues Basel Basel, perched on the River Rhine, is where you want to be for some culture. It’s home to the Kunstmuseum, opened in 1661 and considered a Swiss heritage site of national significance, where you’ll find oldest public collection of art in the world. There’s also the Fondation Beyeler, a museum of modern art known for hosting impressive exhibitions.  Matches in at St. Jakob-Park July 2: Switzerland vs Norway July 8: Germany vs Denmark July 13: Netherlands vs France July 19: Quarter final between group D wi

Our heads are sore today after spending last night dancing next to Harry Styles at the legendary NYC Downlow into the early hours, but it was totally worth it.  Saturday showed no let up for Glasto-goers from the scorching late-June heat, or from the momentum of performances during the festival’s second day. We kicked things off with a bright and early midday set: a proper throwback seeing Kaiser Chiefs on the Pyramid Stage. It was a riot. Meanwhile JADE took the roof off at Woodsies, and later on, the weekend’s most controversial booking Kneecap almost actually incited a riot, before swiftly taking it back (we’re sure their lawyers were in their ears during that one). As for the headliners, all the Gen Z fans headed to Charli xcx and Doechii, while old rockers flocked to Neil Young.  Across Glasto 2025, Time Out has writers on the ground. India Lawrence and Liv Kelly round up all the best performances below, but you can have a read of all our other stuff (including headliner previews and guides to this year’s full schedule, secret sets and how to watch online) in our Glastonbury hub. RECOMMENDED:⭐ Glastonbury 2025 Day 1 review: The 1975, Lewis Capaldi and Gracie Abrams⭐⭐⭐ Glastonbury 2025 day 3 review: Olivia Rodrigo, Rod Stewart, Wolf Alice and The Libertines🎪Glastonbury 2025 review: popstars ruled the weekend, but special guests have lost their cool🤫 Glastonbury 2025 secret sets and festival rumours: everything you need to know.🎉 Full list of acts confirmed for Glaston

Acquiring a digital noma visa is one way people who are lucky enough to work remotely have been changing things up the last couple of years, and a new country has joined the ever-growing list of nations offering one. The country in question? Slovenia, the central European nation popular for its dreamy lakes, pretty mountains and general tranquil aura.  Those interested in relocating won’t need to wait long, as Slovenia’s digital nomad visa is launching from November 1, 2025.  It will grant successful applicants a one-year permit to live in the country, as long as they’re working for a business based outside of Slovenia as an employee or a freelancer, or someone who’s self-employed providing services to clients based outside Slovenia.  Recommended: The world’s most diverse and inclusive cities, according to locals.  Anyone from a non-EU and non-EEA country can apply, and while family members can join, they must abide by the same rules in terms of employment. Break these rules, and you’re out – it could lead not only to visa cancellation but also restrictions on future entry.  Twelve months is the cap and you aren’t allowed to renew your visa, however, you are allowed to reapply after a six-month break from the country. There’s also a requirement to prove you have enough income to support yourself, either by submitting pay slips, bank statements or employment documents.  We don’t know yet if there will be an income threshold or a visa fee, so stay tuned for updates on those det

Paris’s art scene is pretty incomparable – it’s the main reason we picked the French capital as Time Out’s best city in the world for culture this year. And, excitingly, it just got bigger and better, as a blockbuster gallery space has just reopened.  The Grand Palais has been under restoration for the last four years, but now the mega €466 million project led by Chatillon Architectes is finally finished, and its doors have officially reopened.  Originally designed for the Universal Exhibition in 1900 by French architects Henri Deglane, Albert Louvet and Albert Thomas, the Grand Palais represented a blend of Beaux-Arts style and the use of glass and steel (considered modern materials at the time). In the ’60s architect Pierre Vivien led the revamp of the building’s northern wing, which was damaged during the Second World War, but the Chatillon upgrade is the most comprehensive in the building’s history.  So, what’s new? Well, the central nave and its surrounding galleries have been granted a new lease of life. They’ve been reconfigured to accommodate the technical requirements of contemporary exhibitions – until 2030, the Grand Palais will house works from the Centre Pompidou, which closed this year for its own overhaul. Recommended: The best art galleries in Paris, picked by a local.  The central axis of the Grand Palais from Square Jean Perrin to the Seine has been redone to create a huge public gathering space, and more than 40 lifts and 30 staircases have improved the bui

If you’ve got a trip booked to Thailand and were looking forward to some time getting acquainted with Mary Jane, we’ve got some bad news.  Medicinal marijuana was legalised back in Thailand in 2018, and in 2022 weed was fully decriminalised. This has since led to a boom in weed tourism, but it looks like the country’s ‘green rush’ is soon to come to an end. New rules this week will mean customers need a prescription to buy weed, but the government is hoping to have the stuff reclassified as a narcotic, according to CNN.  So, why is this happening? Following the 2022 decriminalisation, the government failed to implement effective plans to regulate the industry, which caused a legal vacuum to open up and a vast rise in recreational use.  Across Thailand, there are now thousands of dispensaries, weed cafes, hemp spas, places offering beauty treatments and even weed festivals, but people are concerned about the social impacts widespread availability of weed can have, such as use among underage people and an increase in addiction.  Cannabis smuggling also sky-rocketed, and between October 2-24 and March 2025, more than 800 smugglers were arrested and nine metric tonnes were seized, according to the UK government.  ‘We want to tell tourists they are welcome to enjoy Thailand’s culture and nature — but Thailand should not be seen as a destination for recreational cannabis use,’ said Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin. The new rules mean that licensed cannabis shops can now only

Türkiye is one of Europe’s most-visited summer holiday destinations, and İzmir, a city which lies on the Aegean coast, is a go-to for its gorgeous beaches and ancient historical sites.  However, exactly one year after we reported on the region being ravaged by wildfires in 2024, more fires broke out on Sunday June 29 and are yet to be contained, with 50,000 people having been evacuated.  If you have a trip booked to Türkiye, this is obviously worrying news. So, read on for everything you need to know about travelling to the country amidst the continuing wildfires, and whether you could be entitled to some compensation.  Recommended: Full list of holiday destinations with ‘red heat’ warnings due to Europe’s heatwave.  Where are the wildfires in Türkiye?  Türkiye’s western region of İzmir, which is popular with tourists, has been ravaged by wildfires since Sunday June 29. The fires broke out and spread due to strong, dry winds which reached up to 75 mph. Kuyucak and Doganbey are two areas particularly affected.  Is it safe to travel?  AFAD, Türkiye’s emergency management authority, has said that 50,000 people have been evacuated because of the blaze, and a little over 42,000 of these were from Seferihisar in İzmir. It has also said 350 personnel are helping combat the fires, with support from the Turkish Red Cross. İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport had to close temporarily on Monday June 30, with the departure boards showing that all flights had been suspended as of 4pm local time.

On le sait : chaque été bat des records de chaleur. Alors, forcément, de plus en plus de vacanciers délaissent les classiques du Sud — Italie, Espagne, Portugal — pour filer au frais dans le nord de l’Europe. Mais pour celles et ceux qui ont déjà booké leurs billets pour des régions qui frôlent actuellement les 40 °C, l’ambiance est un peu moins carte postale. Une vague de chaleur extrême s’est abattue sur le sud du continent, avec des pics à 46 °C relevés en Espagne ce week-end. Et ça ne va pas s’arranger dans les jours à venir. Alors, on fait quoi si on a un voyage de prévu ? Peut-on annuler sans frais ? Est-ce dangereux ? Voici tout ce qu’il faut savoir pour voyager (ou pas) pendant cette canicule européenne. Quels pays européens sont touchés par la canicule ? Alors que certaines régions du Royaume-Uni flirtent avec les 33 °C, une grande partie de l’Europe du Sud est frappée par des températures bien plus extrêmes. Plusieurs destinations touristiques ont déclenché des alertes rouges pour chaleur intense : ce sont, à l’heure actuelle, les zones les plus chaudes du continent. La liste complète des destinations placées en alerte rouge canicule Espagne Le sud du pays est particulièrement touché, notamment Séville et sa région, où les températures ont dépassé les 45 °C. France Pratiquement toute la France métropolitaine est placée en alerte forte chaleur, une situation qui devrait se prolonger tout au long de la semaine. Portugal La Direction générale de la santé (DG

We’re shattered, sunburned and our backs are sore, and yet, we soldier on.  Sahara-like temperatures were reached on Worthy Farm yesterday, with punters cowering from the beating rays in what little shade they could find. It was a relief to awake to a cover of cloud this morning, but as the weekend built to a crescendo of Rod Stewart and Olivia Rodrigo’s headline sets, things started hotting up again. The best thing to do? Embrace it, for one last evening of rousing live music.  Today was another heavy hitter for nostalgic rock, with The Libertines and Snow Patrol each putting on solid run-throughs of their top tracks, but Wolf Alice and Olivia Rodrigo were more gen Z-friendly standouts of the day, too.   Time Out writers Liv Kelly and India Lawrence have been on the ground at Glastonbury festival this weekend, bringing you reviews of everybody from Lorde and CMAT, to Neil Young and the Kaiser Chiefs. You can have a look at our reviews of day one with The 1975 and Gracie Abrams, and day two with Neil Young and Charli xcx, but read on for our roundup of day three at Worthy Farm.  RECOMMENDED:⭐ Glastonbury 2025 Day 1 review: The 1975, Lewis Capaldi and Gracie Abrams⭐⭐ Glastonbury 2025 Day 2 review: Neil Young, Pulp and Charli xcx🎪 Glastonbury 2025 review: popstars ruled the weekend, but special guests have lost their cool🎤 Time Out’s ultimate guide to Glastonbury 2025📺 How to watch highlights from Glastonbury 2025 on TV Olivia Rodrigo on the Pyramid Stage: a pop-punk lesson

It’s a tough time to be working in the aviation industry. Faced with staff shortages and huge levels of disruption, many workers at airlines and airports are facing long, stressful hours and poor working conditions. And, thanks to the cost of living crisis, loads of them are doing it all for lower wages, too. Needless to say, it’s no wonder that so many staff at airports and airlines have been going on strike. From Italy and Belgium to Greece and France, airports across Europe have seen thousands of flights delayed and cancelled by industrial action. Strikes can, of course, have a serious impact on your holiday, so it’s best to be as informed about them as possible. Read on for our guide to who’s going on strike in Europe right now, where and when those strikes will happen – and whether you need to worry about them.     French air traffic control strikes Air traffic controllers in France are set to go on strike for two days from July 3-4, with workers citing understaffing and the UNSA-ICNA union citing ‘toxic’ and ‘authoritarian’ management, according to euronews. These strikes will affect flights arriving into and departing from French airports, as well as flights travelling through French airspace. The extent of flight cancellations, delays and diversions is not yet known, but the DGAC has said it will announce how many flights will need to be cancelled in the days leading up to the strikes. The strikes come at one of the busiest times of the year for air travel in the coun

Vols low cost : l’Europe va (enfin) interdire les frais sur les bagages cabine C’est le piège à touristes par excellence : un aller-retour Paris-Barcelone à 19 €, et paf, 45 euros de plus parce que votre valise à roulettes dépasse d’un centimètre. Bonne nouvelle : ce racket organisé vit peut-être ses dernières heures. Le Parlement européen vient de voter en faveur d’un texte qui obligera les compagnies à laisser monter à bord un vrai bagage cabine (jusqu’à 7 kg et 100 cm cumulés), sans surcoût, ni menaces, ni regard réprobateur à la porte d’embarquement. Et ce, en plus du petit sac glissé sous le siège. Une réforme plus large pour remettre les passagers au centre Selon Matteo Ricci, vice-président de la commission Transports et Tourisme, cette réforme vise à remettre un peu d’équité dans un ciel devenu absurde : “un pas important vers un voyage plus juste et transparent”, dixit l’intéressé. Évidemment, c’est un grand oui pour les voyageurs – mais côté compagnies, ça tousse fort dans les cockpits. Pour les low cost, la pilule est rude : Ryanair, par exemple, a engrangé 4,7 milliards d’euros l’an dernier rien qu’avec les petits suppléments bien planqués, entre choix du siège et frais de bagage. Les lobbys de l’aviation, eux, agitent déjà la menace d’une hausse des prix des billets pour compenser. Mais ce changement s’inscrit dans une réforme plus large des droits des passagers votée par le Parlement européen. Dans les tuyaux : l’interdiction de séparer les enfants de moins de