Rosie Hewitson

Travelling into, out of or around London at Christmastime isn’t easy. The festive period always needs that bit of extra forward planning in the capital, not just because public transport services are usually much more restricted but because many of us Londoners spend the holidays flitting between grandmas in Essex, cousins in Berkshire and family friends in Kent.  It can get pretty confusing, so we’ve made it easy for you. Here’s what TfL, the Underground, buses, trams, trains and the Overground are up to this Christmas and New Year.  Is public transport running in London over Christmas? The answer is sort of yes and no. The majority of services will be running as normal over the Christmas period – that’s Tuesday 23 December 2025 until Friday 2 January 2026 – but there are some closures and reduced services on the network. Make sure you check before you travel. On Christmas Eve, for example (December 24 falls on a Wednesday this year), services will finish earlier than normal across the London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, Elizabeth line, London Overground and London trams. This normally means things close around 10pm, but it tends to start being a reduced service from around 7pm. There are also no night bus services on Christmas Eve, so don’t stay in the pub too long and get caught out in the (possible, probable) rain.  Closures and maintenance work over the Christmas period On top of the usual closures, the festive season typically sees a reasonable amount of plann

London music festivals have made plenty of headlines this year, with the future of some of the city’s most popular events looking a little uncertain at present. Nevertheless, Londoners are still exceptionally lucky to have an abundance of day-long musical extravanganzas to choose from. We Londoners love live music, so it’s no surprise that we’re absolutely spoilt for choice when summer rolls around. With something taking place almost every weekend throughout the warmer months, you can forget trekking across the country to live in a field for five days; simply hop on the tube and before you know it you’re listening to your favourite artists, tinny to hand, knowing that there’s a hot shower and a cosy bed waiting for you once the day is over.  We are right in the thick of festival season right now, which means you’ve either been to one of the early summer events already or you’ve secured tickets and started planning your outfit for something coming up in the next few weeks. If not, there’s still time to plan a fabulous weekend of dancing, drinking and mild sunstroke before the summer is out, with up-coming festivals devoted to hip-hop, jazz, leftfield electronic music, disco, afrobeats, heavy rock ‘n’ roll...the list goes on. Take it from us, whatever your taste may be, London has a day festival for you! 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

If you boil a sauna down to its nuts and bolts, it’s essentially just a really hot room and some water to create steam with. Wild, then, how much of a positive affect those two simple ingredients can have on our bodies, healing weary muscles, doing wonders for our skin, and helping all the horrible toxins we insist on putting in our insides get back out. Saunas originated back in Finland back in the Middle Ages, where almost every house had one – imagine! In modern London, we’re not all so lucky as to have our own personal spa, but there are a wealth of top saunas around the city. From plunge pools and infrared therapy rooms to Finnish-style homages and ones soundtracked by DJ sets, you’ll find the steam sesh for you in the capital. Check out our video of 10 of the best spas in London: RECOMMENDED:Sauna culture is heating up London’s nightlifeThe best spas in London

We all know that London is full of worldclass, crowd-pulling museums, cultural attractions, green spaces, theatres, and music venues. Yawn. You can do better. Because delightful though this city's most famous spots are, there's way more fun to be had plunging off the beaten track and into London's hidden quirky side. Ever wanted to dine in pitch darkness, take up trapeze, chitchat with robots or sleep with the lions? London is full of unique things to do, ready to fulfil your wildest dreams, or to give you some new ones to aspire to. In my decade working as a London arts journalist, I've traipsed across this city hunting out unusual ways to spend my weekend. Here are the very best, most unusual ways to escape the mundane and try something fresh.  RECOMMENDED:The best quirky bars and pubs in LondonOur favourite quirky restaurants in LondonThe 50 best things to do in London

We’ve finally reached peak summer: music festivals are in abundance, we can finally count on the sun being out for the day, and the August Bank Holiday weekend is here to give us some respite from work. Don’t let the week go to waste. Bask in the summer sun while it’s still with us by hitting up one of the many street parties and music festivals coming to London this week, including the event we’ve all been waiting for. Notting Hill Carnival will be filling the streets of W11 with dancing, sequin-strewn costumes, barbecue smoke and the ring of steel pans as it returns for another big bank holiday party. And whether you want to rave at RALLY festival, vogue to queer club nights at Body Movements, or bounce along to The Blessed Madonna at All Points East, there’s a music festival happening this week that’ll suit whatever kind of vibe you’re after.  Or, make the most of the spoils of London summer with beer garden hangs, alfresco dining, picnics in the park, open-air theatre and cinema and lido visits. Get out there and enjoy!  Start planning: here’s our roundup of the best things to do in London this August In the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.

It’s the big one. The longest weekend of August is here, with three whole days off to play with (August 23-25). Need help filling up all that free time? Thankfully, London makes it easy with Notting Hill Carnival back on the streets. Summer in London wouldn’t be the same without Europe’s biggest street party. So make sure you look at our guides to the soundsystems, timings and fringe events, so you’re fully prepped for the party.  In need of more ideas? Head to Victoria Park where All Points East is filling its stages with some big-hitting headliners, including Orbital, The Blessed Madonna and RAYE. Or, experience the best of London’s queer nightlife at Body Movements Festival, where party starters including Adonis, Pxssy Palace and Little Gay Brother will be taking over Southwark Park, and feast like Henry VIII at Hampton Court Palace’s epic food festival.  Or, make the most of the spoils of London summer with beer garden hangs, alfresco dining, picnics in the park, open-air theatre and cinema and lido visits. Get out there and enjoy!  Start planning: here’s our roundup of the 25 best things to do in London in 2025 Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.

Don’t get us wrong, we love all Bank Holidays that come our way, but there’s something about late August Bank Holiday that hits different. Not only is it the last and longest weekend of the month, but somehow it feels like the last gasp of a long, hot summer; a final chance to soak up the sun and lap up the spoils of the season. This year's three-day weekend takes place from Saturday August 23 to Monday August 25 2025.  When it comes to parties, the year definitely saves the best bank holiday till last, mainly thanks to the fact that it means Notting Hill Carnival is back. August in London wouldn’t be the same without Europe’s biggest street party. If you’re heading west for the big day, make sure you look at our guides to the soundsystems, timings and fringe events, so you’re fully prepped for the party.  The long weekend also brings some of London’s finest music festivals. All Points East, Rally, South Facing and Body Movements will be popping up again for the weekend with stellar line-ups featuring some huge acts. Or, venture south for Greenwich + Docklands International Festival, south London’s annual celebration of outdoor theatre, which will fill the streets with spectacular installations and community shows.  Make it count! RECOMMENDED: Our full guide to the bank holiday in London.

Live music, lovely little wine spots and some of the city’s best cocktails – Covent Garden has more brilliant bars than you can shake a stick at. The area’s drinking scene is diverse, so check out our picks of the best places for after-hours drinking in the the middle of town; whether it’s female-founded beaujolais at Lady of the Grapes, horror movies and big games at Bloodsports, or glam martinis at Muse at RSA House.  RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in Covent Garden. 

Got a few hours to kill today? You’re in luck. London is one of the very best places on the planet to be when you find yourself with a bit of spare time. In this city, you’re never too far away from a picturesque park, a lovely pub or a cracking cinema, and on any given day, you’ve got a wealth of world-class art shows, blockbuster theatre and top museum exhibitions to choose from if you’re twiddling your thumbs. Use your spare time wisely with our roundup of the best things happening in London today, which gets updated every single day and includes a specially selected top pick from our Things to Do Editor seven days a week. Bookmark this page, and you’ll have absolutely no excuse to be bored in London ever again! Find even more inspiration with our curated round-ups of the best things to do in London this week and weekend

Whatever your vibe (and whatever your budget), London’s got it all – and anyone will find something they love here. Historic pubs, leafy parks and gardens and an unmatched restaurant scene make this city worth visiting year-round, but before you’ve booked anything in London, you kind of have to know where you’re going to be based. To get you started, we’ve rounded up the city’s best Airbnbs available to book right now, with expert tips from our local editors.  Should I choose an Airbnb or a hotel in London? London is not short on lovely hotels, ranging from budget to luxury and just about everything in between. But it’s fair to say that even the cheaper options cost a pretty penny – and you’ll often find them in more central, touristy areas in the city. If you want to live like a Londoner, an Airbnb can allow you to properly immerse yourself in a more residential area of London – and all the locally-loved bars, pubs and restaurants that come with it. You’ll find lots of our local tips below, but for a detailed breakdown of the best neighbourhoods to stay in London, check out our ultimate area guide. More of a hotels guy? No problem. Here’s our list of the best hotels in London.  📍 RECOMMENDED: Ultimate guide to the best hotels and Airbnbs in London Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, our writers have based our list on expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, amenities and in-depth research to

Ah Christmas, it really does creep on us every year. One day you're necking tinned cocktails on a picnic blanket in a packed summer park, the next you're looking up mulled wine recipes and wondering why you don't seem to have a night off til January. But why not get ahead of the game in 2025? Start planning now, and you'll be able to shop in quaint Christmas markets instead of online panic buying, arrange family pantomime outing, drag your friends to a jolly carol service, check out seasonal pop-ups and get stellar pics of London's OTT light displays. Time Out’s editorial team start thinking about Christmas long before the first autumn leaves flutter to the ground. We've beaten the crowds for a spot at Somerset House ice rink and strolled around the Southbank Centre’s Winter Market, year after year, and we're ready to show you some more leftfield, imaginative ways to celebrate the season. Keep checking this list and you'll see it fill up with magical Christmas events for 2025; hopefully it provides you with everything you need to make the absolute most of the holiday season, London style. RECOMMENDED: 🎅Check out our full guide to Christmas in London🎄Discover the best hotels in London for unforgettable Christmas stays

Some days, going through life from ground level just isn’t enough. Luckily, though, London provides a solution to your needs: strapping yourself in and scrabbling your way up a pretend mountain, obviously. But if you thought hitting your nearest climbing wall was one of those kinda-fun-but-still-a-little-bit-cringe pastimes normally reserved for nerdy student socials or office team-building excursions, think again.  Climbing has become a much more serious business in recent years, and was even made an Olympic sport in 2020. Plenty of fitness enthusiasts being converted to the sport, which offers a demanding full-body workout that tests your strength, agility and problem-solving skills, and loads of swanky new climbing gyms have opened around London to cater to a growing demand. Keen to try it out for yourself? Check out our roundup of the best vertical excitement the capital has to offer. RECOMMENDED: Activities in London for big kids

Spending your Friday night sweating next to a bunch of investment bankers might well sound like some people’s idea of hell, but there’s no denying that Canary Wharf’s 5000 square metre ‘contrast therapy club’ is a seriously impressive venue. Opened in January 2025 to much fanfare, it features the largest sauna in the UK, a huge circular space with a capacity of 65 people. Alongside the mega sauna, ARC consists of a dimly-lit room filled with ice baths, and a sleek coliseum-shaped lounge decked out with a custom 300-watt sound system, where guests can take breaks between the intense sauna sessions while drinking loose-leaf tea. Visitors can book self-governed ‘free flow’ sessions lasting 50 or 70 minutes or a range of different classes incorporating breath and strength work, movement, meditation, myofascial release and lymphatic drainage techniques. On weekends there are also 120-minute Arc After Dark sessions, which promise to ‘push the boundaries of the conventional night out’ and feature aromatherapy and live DJs playing immersive soundscapes. As you might expect, sessions here don’t come cheap; individual classes are £29, or you can purchase a block of 10 for £250, while memberships start at £125 for five sessions per month. 

Pitchfork Music Festival is gearing up for another edition, with a jam-packed schedule of eclectic live music encompassing everything from avant-rock and post-punk to psych-pop, UK rap and deconstructed dance music.  This year's headliners include Aussie psych band King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (Royal Albert Hall, November 4), anonymous electronic mavericks Two Shell (Here at Outernet, November 5), Canadian techno producer Marie Davidson (Fabric, November 6) and rising French electronic pop artist Oklou (Roundhouse, November 7). Elsewhere on the line-up are the likes of Ali Sethi and Nicolas Jaar, Erika de Casier, Lonnie Holley, Indigo de Souza, Ratboys, Laurie Anderson and Maria Somerville. These are just some of the hugely eclectic line-up of 80 artists playing across a plethora of London’s best venues, including Colour Factory, Union Chapel, Village Underground, Earth Theatre, Royal Festival Hall and 93 Feet East.  Check out the full line-up here for a whole bunch of emerging talents you’ve likely never heard of but will no doubt feature on your Spotify Wrapped come December 2026. It’s basically the place to be if you consider yourself a music fan with a finger on the pulse.

Having outgrown its first home in Hackney Wick, London’s queer nightlife festival Body Movements levelled up last summer, making a dazzling debut in Southwark Park with five stages showcasing the great and good of the LGBTQ+ party scene in the capital and beyond. It was easily the best edition yet of the groundbreaking festival, so we’re thrilled that the great and good of the London queer scene will once again come together in the same location for its 2025 edition, on the Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend. On the absolutely stacked line-up for 2025 are a host of new and returning queer nightlife collectives, from London stalwarts like Adonis, Pxssy Palace and Little Gay Brother to international crews including Berlin’s Power Dance Club and Brooklyn’s Function. The likes of I.Jordan, HAAi and Mura Masa will be DJing, while there’ll also be live sets from US rapper Cakes da Killer, queer pop sensation Romy, viral rapper Ceechyna (you’ll have heard her song Peggy on TikTok for sure), experimental Parisian artist Coucou Chloe and anonymous London pop maverick Lynks. Nobody is doing it like Body Movements, in short! Tickets are already on final release, so snap one up asap if you want to be there this bank holiday!

England international teammates Ellie Kildunne and Jess Breach’s podcast ‘Rugby Rodeo’ is the inspiration behind Bromley RFC’s World Cup opener party, which invites rugger fans to swap southeast London for the Wild West as the tournament kicks off with England vs USA. Head down from opening at 6pm to ride the bucking bronco, enter sweepstakes for the first try scorer and final score and grab some raffle tickets for a chance to win a signed Red Roses jersey ahead of kick-off at 7.30pm. There’ll be an American food truck on hand serving up hotdogs to line your stomach, the pints will be flowing, and themed attire is very much encouraged; might we suggest an England cowboy hat?

Eight cities around England are hosting matches for this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, and each of them are also home to an official fan zone where you can catch all the action alongside a packed programme of rugger-themed activities. Located in the shadow of Battersea Power Station’s iconic 103-metre tall chimney towers, the London fan zone will be up and running from the start of the knockout stages until the final. As well as a huge screen showing the matches on weekends, the space features a T1 tag rugby pitch which will play host to rugby taster sessions, activations and sports-themed entertainment on weekdays throughout the two-week run. Check out the full programme here.   

This summer, Time Out has partnered with Europe’s biggest shopping centre, Westfield London, for Sounds of the Summer, a live music series held each Friday among the colourful, musical installations that have taken over Westfield Square A fabulous line-up of up-and-coming DJs and performers have been bringing serious vibes to W12 over the summer months in the run-up to this weekend’s headline set from a viral social media sensation and Time Out’s 2024 Londoner of the Year. DJ AG, whose viral mashups have earned collaborations and shout-outs from global stars including Ed Sheeran, Jamelia, Skepta, Alesha Dixon and Will Smith, will be taking over the square from 5pm to kick off another glorious summer weekend, with an open format DJ set that promises to keep the energy high and the crowd dancing all night. 

Korean music isn’t just about K-pop and the return of K-Music Festival – now in its 12th year –will help you discover a whole range of the country’s diverse aural culture at iconic venues including the Barbican, the Southbank Centre, the Royal Albert Hall, and Kings Place. Highlights of this year’s programme include Soeul-based post-rock outfit Jabinai joining forces with the London Contemporary Orchestra for a one-off orchestral spectacle, composer Il Won delivering Dionysus Robot, an immersive piece merging sound, shamanic rhythm and drag, and genre-hopping quartet Gray by Silver bringing an idiosyncratic blend of contemporary, jazz and classical music incorporating Korean folk instruments to the Royal Albert Hall’s Late Night Jazz Series. Check out the full programme here. 

Conkers isn’t just for kids, at least judging by the hordes of Londoners who show up to take part in Peckham Conker Club’s epic tournment each autumn. The playground favourite is treated with a great deal of reverence in the ‘Battle Royale’-style contest, which takes place under the arches of Peckham Rye train station. There’ll once again be a Junior and Senior competition in 2025, and as always, ‘nut-pimping’ and ‘stampsies’ are fair game in this chaotic contest (you can brush up on the rules here!), with the winner taking home a coveted Golden Nut. It’s free to enter, simply secure your ticket beforehand, select your best chegger (that’s Lancashire slang for a prize-winning conker, apparently) and get ready to go absolutely nuts. 

Curzon’s key venues in Bloomsbury, Soho and Mayfair might get more attention, but the Wimbledon branch of this arthouse cinema chain is certainly worth a visit too. Housed in a former branch of HMV, the venue has been the destination of choice for SW19’s cinephiles since 2010, and is being treated to a major refurbishment in 2025. This includes a full upgrade of its three screens, the introduction of new reclining seats and expanded facilities to allow for an expanded food and drink menu. In-screen service will be part of the new look Curzon Wimbledon offering, as well as a new photo booth. The new-look cinema is scheduled to reopen in September, when it’ll be screen all the cult newbies and oldies that Londoners have come to expect from the arthouse destination, as well as select (well, everyone wants to see the second Wicked film, don't they?)

Have your brain tickled by talks from the smarties at top universities and scientific institutions, and get interactive with some hands-on experiences that bring the latest research to life at this bonanza of geekery hosted by world-leading science and technology magazine New Scientist. A host of leading thinkers will be appearing across the weekend festival, including This is Going to Hurt author Adam Kay, biomedical scientist and TikToker Big Manny, Springwatch’s Chris Packham, GP and TV presenter Dr Zoe Williams and novelist Naomi Alderman, while highlights of the workshop programme include a scientific whisky tasting with drinks expert Billy Abbott, a forensics session with a serving police detective, and a microbiome testing lab where you can learn about the science behind fermentation. Saturday and Sunday are for everyone, while the Monday is a special day for school visits.  

London Month Of The Dead’s annual programme returns this spooky season to get you in the mood for Halloween with a programme of more than 60 fascinatingly macabre events investigating our city’s relationship with death. The line-up offers a plethora of ghostly tours that will take you around crypts, cemeteries, undertakers, execution sites and other eerie locations across the city, alongside talks  exploring everything from the study of human decomposition and the psychology of fear to the theme of murder in art and the criminal history of necrophilia. Highlights of this year’s programme also include a five hour immersive workshop where you can try your hand at some forensic anthropology, a screening of the original Nosferatu with live musical accompaniment, a magic show inside West Norwood Cemetery, an insect mounting workshop at the Kensal Green Cemetery and a circus-themed Halloween party at Soho’s Century Club. It doesn’t get more gothic than that! Check out the full programme here. 

The British Urban Film Festival will return in October, with screenings at Shoreditch’s Rich Mix, Whitechapel’s Genesis Cinema and the Odeon Greenwich, plus live script readings at Islington’s Hens and Chickens pub theatre in collaboration with Unrestricted View Film Festival. Expect works by filmmakers and creatives who don’t always get mainstream recognition and platforming to be shown, with the programme to be confirmed in the coming months.

If you’re the kind of nosy neighbour who’s always peering out from behind your front curtains whenever there’s even a whiff of some drama happening outside, you’ll love Open House. The annual festival takes place every September, and offers curious Londoners a rare chance to pull back the curtain and go through the keyholes of some of the capital’s most renowned – and often most secretive – buildings, completely free of charge.  From historic royal dwellings to magnificent specimens of modern architecture, churches and bridges to art studios and municipal buildings, a whole load of interesting real estate across nearly every London borough is open for snooping during the festival, which returns from 13-21 September. Bookings open this week, on Wednesday August 20.  Having partnered with Airbnb, Open House is promising its biggest and boldest festival yet in 2025, with over 800 events on the programme, announced earlier this week. So to help you decide which spots are most worth snooping around ahead, we’ve rounded up some of the most iconic London buildings taking part this year.  RECOMMENDED: 10 Downing Street is opening to the public for exclusive tours during Open House London 2025. The 5 best buildings to visit during Open House 2025 Lincoln’s Inn The oldest of London’s four Inns of Court – its records date all the way back to 1422 – Lincoln’s Inn has been home to London’s elite legal minds for more than 600 years. The 11-acre site encompasses an array of facilities used

If you ask us, 10 Downing Street is easily the most iconic address in London – sorry, 221B Baker Street – if not the entire planet. The home of British prime ministers since 1735, the Georgian dwelling off Whitehall is where many of the UK’s most significant political decisions of the last 300 years have been made, has been visited by countless legendary historical figures over the years, and still serves as a backdrop for key addresses from the Prime Minister. The opportunity to visit this illustrious home is usually reserved for cabinet members, royalty, foreign dignitaries, Larry the Cat and very special invited guests, and most Londoners can’t even get a good look at its famous black door thanks to the security gate at the end of the street.  It’s thoroughly exciting news, then, that a handful of lucky guests will be welcomed inside for a once-in-a-lifetime tour of the building as part of this year’s Open House Festival. Prospective visitors can enter a public ballot for a chance to book onto the special tour, one of several in-demand experiences being balloted alongside the 700+ buildings, spaces, and experiences available to book for free as part of Open House’s wider programme.  RECOMMENDED: Five iconic London buildings you’ll be able to access for free in Open House 2025. The 2025 ballot also features tours of Fitzrovia’s Grade II-listed BT Tower, Canada House, the Trafalgar Square home of Canada’s High Commission, BBC’s Broadcasting House and the new London Museum du

London’s annual Open House Festival is back this September, and it’s looking bigger and better than ever before, with over 800 events taking place across all 33 London boroughs over two consecutive weekends. As well as offering Londoners the chance to go behind-the-scenes at a bunch of iconic buildings that are usually closed to the public – you can even enter a ballot for a tour of the Prime Minister’s gaff – its programme also features free private tours of dozens of architecturally impressive private homes.  RECOMMENDED: Five iconic London buildings you’ll be able to access for free in Open House 2025. Maybe you’re the kind of curtain-twitching neighbour that’d love nothing more than a good old snoop around the big fancy gaff at the end of your street, or maybe you’re just looking for some inspiration for your home renovation project. Either way, don’t miss your chance to tour these five remarkable properties.  The Green House, South Tottenham This South Tottenham marvel is an ordinary family home – with a difference. It's inspired by the greenhouses that once sat on the site, making it a plant and light-filled marvel. Architects Hayhurst & Co’s award-winning 2021 design takes the familiar outlines of a classic British terraced house and reimagines them in elegant panels of polycarbonate and concrete blocks, creating an eco-friendly space that’s worlds way from your average cramped London gaff. There are plenty of ideas you could bring home with you, though, like practica

If there’s one wellness trend that defines London right now, it’s sauna. The city has gone crazy for the Finnish pastime in 2025, with everyone from run club hipsters to allotment-owning Islington grannies going crazy for a good ol’ steam bath and cold plunge.  It’s a trend that’s seen several new venues open across the city in the last year, from Peckham’s Sauna Social Club and Shoreditch’s The Sanctuary to Netil House’s revamped Rooftop Saunas and the UK’s largest sauna, Arc, in Canary Wharf. London even hosted a ‘Sauna Summit’ that saw 350 ‘sauna luminaries’ from around the country gather at the newly-opened Arc for a day of learning and discussion back in May.  The best saunas in London If you thought the sauna frenzy had reached its peak, think again, because next month sees the opening of yet another new steamy venue in the capital. Due to welcome the fashion buyers and graphic designers of Walthamstow from Monday September 8, the latest branch of London’s Community Saunas mini-empire will be based on a vacant industrial plot just off Blackhorse Road.  The new venue will feature three communal saunas and cold plunge pools, hot and cold showers, changing rooms and a shared relaxation space, with plans for a wheelchair accessibly community garden that will be open to the public.  Sauna culture is heating up London’s nightlife Fancy getting steamy? Prices for the new spot are yet to be revealed, but if they’re in line with Community Saunas’ five existing London venues, off

Now that July has come to a close and payday has landed, it’s going to be all too tempting to splash out in London over the next few days. We wouldn’t blame you, of course – there are all sorts of fantastic festivals, shows and events happening across the city this weekend that are absolutely worth spending your hard earned cash on.  But in the event that you’re trying to keep spending to a minimum – maybe you’re saving up to splurge on one final summer holiday, or so that you can go ham at one last day fest later in the month – we’ve got your back. Being frugal doesn’t have to mean days spent idle and bored in your bedroom. Here are great six things you can do to fill up your weekend in London without spending a penny.  📍 Things to do in London this weekend. The best free things to do in London this weekend, August 1-3 1. Head to Soho for a street party hosted by Ronnie Scott’s Legendary Soho jazz club Ronnie Scott’s knows a thing or two about staging a good party, so this summer it’s making use of the (hopefully!) sunny weather and taking things outside for a good old-fashioned street party Visitors will be regaled by a stellar line-up of UK jazz acts including tuba virtuoso Theon Cross, genre-blending band Cosmic Fusion and pioneering mento, ska, reggae, and jazz collective Jazz Jamaica. None other than Time Out’s reigning Londoner of the Year, DJ AG, kicking off proceedings, and visitors can also take part in a host of family-friendly activities, with outdoor bars and

If you ask us, supporting the Lionesses should come with some sort of medical warning. Our hearts our still racing after Tuesday night’s agonising semi-final against Italy, when teenage sensation Michelle Agyemang once again rescued England from the jaws of defeat with an equaliser six minutes into stoppage time, before Chloe Kelly smashed home the rebound of her saved penalty late in extra time to take Sarina Wiegman’s comeback queens to another European final.  When is the England vs Spain Euro 2025 final? The reigning champions will get a chance to retain the historic title they clinched at Wembley three summers ago this Sunday July 27 at 5pm (BST), as they face Spain in the final in Basel in a repeat of the 2023 Women’s World Cup Final and a mirror of last summer’s Men’s Euros Final. England have faced Spain three times in the Women’s Euros, with those games coming in the three most recent tournaments. Spain won 3-2 in a group stage meeting in 2013, while the Lionesses won 2-0 in the 2017 group stages and came from behind in the quarter finals in 2022 to win 2-1 in extra time. Who is the favourite to win the Women’s Euros? The bookies have given Spain marginally better odds than England, but in reality the match-up looks too close to call. Spain were the clear favourite heading in the Euros, put in some thoroughly dominant displays during the group stage of the tournament, and count current Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí and two-time winner Alèxia Putellas in their s

Westfield London recently reclaimed its title as the biggest shopping centre in Europe, so it’s only fitting that the west London retail destination will be the site of Europe’s largest immersive attraction from next year. Due to open in summer 2026, London’s first Amazement Park® is the latest project from the team behind both South Downs-based festival Boomtown Fair and Bristol-based immersive art experience Wake The Tiger, which has been visited by half a million people from over 70 different countries since opening in 2022.  Photograph: Andre Pattenden The new venue will take over the space that formerly housed interactive play space KidZania, which welcomed more than 2.5 million visitors before closing last January, and hopes to attract 600,000 visitors a year by 2027. As a certified B Corporation, Wake The Tiger has committed to keeping sustainability and community engagement at the heart of its work, and intends to involve hundreds of artists, makers and multidisciplinary creatives in the creation of the 80,000 square foot Westfield venue. Photograph: Andre Pattenden Speaking of the expansion, Wake The Tiger Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer Luke Mitchell said. ‘This is a culmination of over 20 years of creative world-building. The space in Westfield London has totally blown our mind. It’s as if it was created for us and we can’t wait to transform it into an alternate dimension.’ Details of what the space will look like and how the experience will operate are y

July arrived earlier this week, summer is in full swing, and London is looking its cheery best. But as glorious as summer in the city can be, it can also get rather spenny, what with all the summer holidays, music festivals, day trips and mammoth beer garden sessions drinking £11 Aperol spritzes that it usually entails.  Keen to go one weekend without having a heart attack when you check your bank balance? There’s no shortage of wallet-friendly summer fun to be had around town if you know where to go. Here’s our pick of the best free activities on this weekend.  The best free things to do in London this weekend, July 5-6 Take to the streets for London’s Pride Parade Photograph: Michalakis Ppalis / Shutterstock Pride month might now be over, but the biggest event of the ‘Pride season’ arrives this weekend, with over a million revellers expected to take to the streets of London on Saturday for the city’s annual Pride parade. The biggest Pride event in Europe, Pride in London features more than 500 groups, and around 35,000 participants. Attendees can also catch a host of live performances at the Main Stage in Trafalgar Square and five additional stages dotted around Soho and the West End, with the legendary Chaka Khan headlining, with the party continuing late into the night at bars and clubs around Soho. Check out our Parade guide for timings, line-ups and everything else you need to know ahead of the big day.  Start at Hyde Park Corner, W1J. Sat July 5. Free. Catch some hi

London’s arts institutions love a good sleepover. You can already get 40 winks at the Natural History Museum’ Dino Snores nights, the Science Museum’s Astronights and the British Museum’s sleepovers, and now another beloved London arts venue is hosting a truly special, limited-edition overnight experience this September in collaboration with British-German composer Max Richter in celebration of the tenth anniversary of his opus, SLEEP. Comprising 204 individual tracks, SLEEP is an epic, 8 hour and 30 minute-long lullaby created for listeners to fall asleep to, and has previously been performed live at overnight events in a bunch of iconic global settings, including Sydney Opera House, the Philharmonie de Paris and The Great Wall of China. The events – and the mammoth task of preparing for such lengthy performances – were also captured in a documentary of the same name, directed by Richter’s creative partner Yulia Mahr. And now it’s the turn of Alexandra Palace to host more of his truly special all-nighters. The north London music venue will be hosting two performances of SLEEP this September, marking the first time the piece has been performed in London since 2017. The concerts will start at 10pm and finish at around 6am as the sun rises, and audiences will be provided with beds and bedding, as well as being served a light breakfast at the end of the night.  Fancy bunkering down in the Grade II-listed Great Hall for the night? Tickets for the event are on sale now via the Ale

To those of us who have been knocking around east London since the early 2010s, the name Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium evokes memories of east London at the height of hipsterdom, back when tourists queued up for a table at the Cereal Killer Café, and flamboyantly dressed art school kids partied late into the night at Plastic People and the Joiner’s Arms. But while other hipster hotspots have fallen by the wayside, the UK’s oldest and most famous cat café has survived a decade of enormous upheaval in this particular corner of east London.  Taking inspiration from the pet cafés found across Japan, Lady Dinah’s opened in Bethnal Green in 2014 after a successful crowdfunding campaign, and has been serving a loyal, kitty-loving customer base ever since, while also helping to rehouse dozens of rescue cats thanks to its policy of taking on kitties that have been turned away by shelters, and making them available for adoption by customers. It’s no surprise, then, that current owner Lauren Pears’ recent announcement that she planned to close the business at the end of June after failing to find a buyer received dozens of comments from customers sad to see the end of a much-loved London spot.  But there is hope for Lady Dinah’s yet. Café manager Freyja Westwood has launched a crowdfunding campaign to purchase the café and keep it open, and has already had an excellent response from the spot’s many fans, raising just over half of the £50,000 goal in the first week.  As Freyja says in a camp

We’ve made it to another bank holiday, and the city is gearing up for a whole bunch of festivals, day trips, cultural excursions and nights out over the long weekend. But while we’re hardly ones to grumble at the prospect of an extra day off work, we’re well aware of how spenny these extra days off can get. Making it to the end of May without dipping into the ol’ overdraft can be a challenge, with not one but two bank holidays to get through. But to help, we’ve roundup up a bunch of fun stuff happening around the city that won’t cost you a penny.  The best free things to do in London over the late May Bank Holiday weekend Sink one of 1,000 free pints at Venn Street Records It’s the bank holiday, of course you’re going to be going for a few beers with mates. But all that boozing adds up, so what if we told you that the good people at Venn Street Records are going to be giving away 1,000 free pints this weekend. The vinyl store will be dishing out 250 pints of Camden Hells each day across the bank hol, starting on Friday, May 23 from 5pm until close each day. There will be performances too: on Sunday 25 at 6pm Glasto veterans Brass Funkeys will throw down a special brass set. Tickets are advised, and you can book online here.  78 Venn Street, SW4 0BD. Fri May 23-Sun May 25. Free (advanced booking advised). Photograph: Venn St Records Give your wardrobe a sustainable makeover at Westfield Good Festival Planning a big spring clean of your wardrobe over the bank holiday? You’ll

The wait is over! An agonising 17 years after Tottenham Hotspur last won any silverware – and four decades since they did so in Europe – the Lilywhites have finally got their hands on another trophy.  Wednesday night saw Ange Postecoglou’s injury-stricken team see out a 1-0 victory against fellow English side Manchester United in the Europa League Final in Bilbao. Welsh winger Brennan Johnson was credited with scoring the only goal in the tie (although some would put it down as a Luke Shaw own goal) in a nerve-shredding match, which also featured a magnificent goal-line clearance by defender Micky van de Ven and a late save from goalkeeper Vicario. Over 40,000 Spurs fans watched the victory unfold from inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, before flooding the pitch afterwards to celebrate the end of the historic club’s notorious trophy drought. The celebrations then continued long into the night at the area’s pubs and bars, many of which had secured late licenses just for the occasion.  RECOMMENDED: The best Spurs pubs in London. When is the trophy parade? The party isn’t over yet! The club will also be staging an open-top bus parade around Tottenham so that Spurs fans who didn’t make it over to Bilbao will have a chance to celebrate with the team. Kicking of the bank holiday weekend, the parade is due to take place tomorrow evening, on Friday May 23. What time does the trophy parade start? The celebrations will kick off at 3pm from a stage erected outside the north stand o