Rosie Hewitson

Sometimes, it’s worth waiting until the last minute to pick up your Christmas gifts. In the winter months running up to Crimbo, the capital becomes home to tons of wintry fairs. Markets pop-up all over the city, stacked with stalls selling unique pressies from small businesses and independent designers that you’d never find in the big shops online or off. They’re perfect for browsing as the big day looms and a good excuse to treat yourself to Christmas snacks and mulled wine as you tick gifts off your list. You’ll find everything you need to make someone’s Christmas Day memorable at London’s seasonal markets, from ceramics and plants to pressies from around the world. Be sure to bookmark this page, because we’ll be adding more markets around the city as they’re announced.  London’s best Christmas markets at a glance: 🧀 Best for foodies Southbank Centre Winter Market ⛸️ Best for entertainment Hyde Park Winter Wonderland Market 🎄 Best for festive atmosphere Christmas at Leadenhall Market 👩‍🎨 Best for creative gifts DIY Christmas Art Market ♻️ Best for sustainable gifts Urban Makers Christmas Market RECOMMENDED: Our complete guide to Christmas in London.

The beginning of Autumn is that sweet time when we still have the balmy weather and light evenings of summer in the city (even the temperature has cooled), and the time of year when the city’s cultural calendar comes out of its annual hibernation with an influx of big autumn openings and seasonal festivals on the horizon. This weekend, look out for a 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, which has a host of design districts to explore with interactive installations and events, and Totally Thames – the brilliant celebration of London’s watery main artery. Plus, Oktoberfest season has begun, so read our guide to the best places to head to where you can charge your stein and listen to Oompah bands to get in the spirit of it all. Plus there’s plenty of cultural treats to enjoy. Head to Regent’s Park to explore the new array of alfresco art in display for Freize Sculpture, or go to Hampstead Heath for the thinking person’s festival HowTheLightGetsIn which will be putting on talks and panels spanning everything from philosophy to politics. It’s a great week for London theatre, where you can see Tilda Swinton in mind-bending ’80s monologue Man to Man and five-star musical Kimberly Akimbo starring a legendary Maria Friedman.It’s also the perfect time to plan another picnic or pub garden sesh while the weather is still pleasant. Get out there and e

Sandwiched in between Halloween and Christmas, the eleventh month of the year gets a bad rep, thanks do its dark evenings and plummeting temperatures. But we think that’s a little unfair. There’s plenth of light in the darkness thanks to the city’s Diwali celebrations, Bonfire Night antics and Christmas light switch-ons that happen around the city at this time of year. Autumn is an excellent time for catching blockbuster theatre and art shows, with the city’s cultural scene bursting into life even as the trees turn bare and the Regent’s Park hedgehogs go into hibernation. And November is also a great time to check out all the skating rinks, Christmas markets and all manner of winter pop-ups opening around the city, before the hordes of festive tourists descend and your life is taken over by manic gift shopping trips and work Christmas parties. And they’re just some of the exciting things happening throughout November 2025 in London. For more ideas on how to spend the early part of the festive season, check out our full roundup of the best events and things to do in London this November.  RECOMMENDED: The definitive London events calendar

As much as we love clinging to the last traces of summer, October signals a change of pace. Beer gardens empty out, big coats get fished out of wardrobes, and we all start to remember the joys of the great indoors. London’s cultural institutions come alive, with line-ups designed to lure us within their walls: there's a host of big theatre productions, major film releases and cultural highlights throughout the month. The BFI London Film Festival returns, as does the London Literature Festival and the Bloomsbury Festival. On the art scene, there’s a wealth of new exhibitions not to be missed, plus Frieze’s annual London art fair, uniting some of the world’s best art galleries in one place. It’s also Black History Month in the UK, and you can expect many of London’s major institutions to throw events to mark the occasion. It’s also the time of year for a hell of a party, with Halloween bringing with it all kinds of spooky celebrations – from family-friendly frights, movie screenings, pumpkin picking and scary nightlife so good it could raise the dead taking over the capital this month. The month also calls for big steins and inventive mixes. Oktoberfest celebrations will take over the capital at the start of the month, while London Cocktail Week is also on the cards.  And there’s plenty more too! Check out our list of the best cultural happenings and things to do throughout October 2026.  RECOMMENDED:📆 The definitive London events calendar

There are few things that we’d willingly brave the chill for during winter in London. But ice skating is one of them. From early November each year, ice rinks decked out with towering Christmas trees and twinkly fairy lights start to fill London’s squares and courtyards, hosting everything from DJ takeovers and kids’ skating lessons to date nights and family outings over the festive period. Pretty soon you’ll get to pretend you’re in a festive London rom-com, as you romantically glide (or awkwardly stumble) with your loved ones under the gaze of landmarks like Somerset House, Battersea Power Station and Hampton Court Palace.  Keen to flaunt your best ice moves? Determined to skate at least one lap without clinging onto the wall for dear life? We recommend you book a spot at your chosen rink as early as you can. Here are the best rinks in London for the 2026/27 season. We’ll be adding more as they’re announced.  How much does it cost to go ice skating? The cost to skate at London’s various permanent and pop-up ice rinks varies quite significantly. Last year’s cheapest option is Queens Skate Dine and Bowl, where adult tickets are available from £8 (during off-peak hours). But some skating sessions can be as much as £25-£37. For cheaper tickets, consider visiting at less popular times.  London’s best places to go ice skating this winter: ⛸️ Best for the biggest rink in town: Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park 💃 Best for ice dance parties: Somerset House, Aldwych 🏛️ Best for south

Charge the steins! You don’t have to travel all the way to Germany for a lederhosen-clad knees-up this Oktoberfest – and you don’t even have to wait until October. Munich’s world-famous beer festival is very much on in London and the celebrations begin in September with big steins of beer, platters of excessively long wurst and loud oompah bands blowing brass like they don’t give a schnitzel.  Oktoberfest began over 200 years ago, as a mammoth wedding party for a Bavarian prince and princess. It turned out that beer, bratwurst and all-round silliness were a match made in heaven, so now it's an annual excuse for everyone to cut loose as autumn approaches. Whether you’re after a traditional take on the event or drag queen-led partying, authentic Bavarian beers or east London craft IPAs, you can find the perfect Oktoberfest for you right here in London. You're sure to get a warm willkommen at one of these London Oktoberfest events.  RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in London this October

Yes nothing beats a Jet 2 Holiday, but you don’t always need to leave the UK to have a good time away from the grind. That’s especially true if you’re booking for a big crew. Whether you’re planning a milestone birthday, hen do, multi-generational family reunion or just a weekend celebration, we’ve found the best big group Airbnbs across the UK. From luxury Cotswolds manor houses to homes on the Cornish coast, here are the best Airbnbs for eight people or more. Updated September 2026: We’ve added a stunning stone cottage in Wales, close to Snowdonia, that comes with a hot tub under the stars and a fireplace – perfect for a cosy countryside getaway. Best large Airbnbs in the UK at a glance 💞 Best for hen dos: Barn with a pool in Oxfordshire 👶 Best for families: Airbnb with hot tub in Lancashire 💎 Best on a budget: Converted church in Shropshire 🧖‍♀️ Best with a hot tub: Coach house near Snowdonia Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb 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.

The beginning of Autumn is that sweet time when we still have the balmy weather and light evenings of summer in the city (even the temperature has cooled), and the time of year that the city’s cultural calendar comes out of its annual hibernation with an influx of big autumn openings and seasonal festivals on the horizon. Look out for a 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, which has a host of design districts to explore with interactive installations and events, and Totally Thames – the brilliant celebration of London’s watery main artery. Plus, Oktoberfest season has begun, so read our guide to best places to head to where you can charge your stein and listen to Oompah bands to get in the sprit of it all. Plus there’s plenty of cultural treats to enjoy. Head to Regent’s Park to explore the new array of alfresco art in display for Freize Sculpture, or go to Hampstead Heath for the thinking person’s festival HowTheLightGetsIn which will be putting on talks and panels spanning everything from philosophy to politics. It’s a great week for London theatre, where you can see Tilda Swinton in mind-bending ’80s monologue Man to Man and five-star musical Kimberly Akimbo starring a legendary Maria Friedman.It’s also the perfect time to plan another picnic or pub garden sesh while the weather is still pleasent. Get out there and enjoy! Start planni

Twenty years ago, Stratford basically just consisted of miles of industrial wasteland filled with abandoned factories, contaminated waterways and ‘Fridge Mountain’, a 20-foot-tall pile of discarded white goods that looked like some sort of monumental Anselm Kiefer sculpture. But then London was chosen to host the 2012 Olympics and a £9.3 billion regeneration project began.It scarcely seemed possible back when E20 was just the fictional postcode designated to ‘Walford’ on EastEnders, but these days Stratford is a destination in its own right.  Your shopping needs are covered by Westfield Stratford City, a second location for Europe’s biggest shopping centre, boasting over 250 shops and more than 70 dining destinations. ABBA Voyage sees around a million sequin-clad dancing queens descend each year to boogie along to ‘Voulez-Vous’, while gigs and football matches at the London Stadium attract crowds of 70,000 raucous fans, be it for a crucial West Ham fixture or the latest Metallica tour. And that’s before we even mention the handful of world-leading cultural institutions that have recently arrived in the area, or the plethora of Olympic venues that are now open for public use. Add to that some tasty restaurants and bars, and you’ve got yourself an up-and-coming area that gives trendy neighbours like Hackney Wick and Leyton a run for their money.  Not sure what to explore first? Time Out has got you covered. Here are the best things to do in Stratford, as recommended by our team

For Londoners, September is a month where you can get the best of both worlds. You’ve still got the balmy weather, light evenings and relaxed vibe of summer in the city, even if the calendar warns that cooler weather’s on the way. So that makes it a perfect time to get your fill of relaxation in rooftop bars and alfresco restaurants, or lolling about in the city’s best urban beaches, parks and lidos. But if you fancy a little more excitement, you’ll also find that the city's cultural life is coming out of its annual hibernation and getting ready for autumn's influx of big openings.  You'll find landmark museum exhibitions, new theatre and art shows and brand new food and drink spots as London kicks back into gear. 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. In short, there's absolutely no excuse to stay indoors this September. So don't shed a tear for the end of summer: just get out your diary and get planning. Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.

Horror films aren’t just for Halloween, but they certainly make spooky season that bit more terrifyingly fun. Whether you’re a hide-behind-the-cushion kind of watcher or someone who revels in every jumpscare and nightmare-inducing villain, joining a Halloween film screening with fellow horror enthusiasts is guaranteed way to get your heart racing and your blood curdling this All Hallow’s Eve. If you’re firmly against any blood, guts and gore, you can still get involved – not all Halloween screenings are focused on bone-chilling bumps in the night. There are also plenty of more lighthearted picks to choose from. Recommended:🎃 Our guide to Halloween in London😱 The 100 best horror movies of all time👹 The 66 greatest movie monsters of all time

Halloween is here! And with October 31 falling on a Saturday this year, we’re in for a ghoulishly good time without the haunting prospect of work the next day, so it’s no surprise that Halloween parties seem more plentiful and extravagant than ever this year. But there’s plenty more spooky fun to be had around London if you don’t fancy a night of the raving dead. Instead, you could let your synthetic wig down at a scary movie screening, join a lantern-lit ghost tour, learn about London’s graveyards, carve a pumpkin or check out a spooky old museum after-hours. So when you’re after something strange in your neighbourhood, who ya gonna call? Time Out London, that’s who! We might not be so great at ghost-busting, but we do know how to sniff out a great activity. Keep checking back and you'll see all sorts of thrilling, chilling events appear on our list of the best Halloween events London has to offer in 2026. RECOMMENDED: Your ultimate guide to Halloween in London

Returning for a fifth winter season in 2026, this ice-skating pop-up in the shadow of the rejuvenated Battersea Power Station is one of London’s most aesthetic. Returning to its usual spot right next to the Thames, it offers magnificent views over the riverside, a twinkling 30ft Christmas tree that forms the perfect backdrop for your on-ice selfies, and all the fun of the fair courtesy of an adjacent vintage fairground. It’s the perfect date night spot, Christmas party location or a well-earned reward after a hectic day of gift shopping.  Opening times: Varies throughout the week  Price: Adult £19.38-£22.80; child £11.98-£14.82  

Somerset House’s annual ice rink pop-up has long been one of the city’s favourite festive traditions, with thousands of Londoners and tourists alike making it part of their celebrations each year, and for good reason. Gliding (or nervously shuffling) around the rink, gazing upon the surrounding Georgian architecture and the courtyard’s magnificent 40ft Christmas tree feels like you’ve skated onto a movie set, ready to be watched by families settling in for their post-turkey food coma.  There’s more to this rink than just skating, though. This year's Skate Lates programme is sponsored by Aperol Spritz, who'll have an orange van parked rinkside for refreshments. Soar round the rink to a DJ soundtrack at these night time ice parties. The line-up for 2026 includes community sounds from Netil Radio, ground-shaking bass from UKF and BUMPAH, South Asian creative collective Daytimers, queer Latinx partystarters 2CPERREA, and selections from the team behind Gauchoworld. For the first time ever, there's also a K-Pop party (Nov 23) with a special live set from DY EMKAY. While you're at Somerset House, don't forget to head indoors for Through Our Eyes, a free group exhibition of works by indigenous Sámi artists, who'll explore their lives in snowy Nordic landscapes using sculpture, photography, video and performance art. How much does Skate at Somerset House cost? Ticket prices for Skate at Somerset House vary depending on what time you visit, with cheaper tickets at less popular times,

There's arguably nowhere in London more Christmassy than Covent Garden's Piazza in December. Every year, the shopping district aims to outdo itself for sheer festive pizzaz. In 2026, the theme is once again 'The Theatre of Christmas', which means that there'll be decorations taking inspiration from the nearby playhouses and the performances in them. And of course, this year will also see the return of Covent Garden's 55ft Christmas tree, decked with 30,000 lights  Meanwhile, the roof of the Market Building is adorned with 40 gigantic bells, 12 giant baubles and 8 spinning mirror balls in a reprise of its oh-so-festive annual display. There'll also be pop-ups and events to enjoy as the season unfolds, including mulled wine stations and a Santa's sleigh photo op. 

For a rather luxe version of a scary movie night, head to Art’otel Battersea’s rooftop restaurant Joia, which is screening some spook-tastic classics alongside dinner and skyline views either side of All Hallow’s Eve. Guests will enjoy a selection of the restaurant’s dishes for dinner from 5.30pm, before cosying up on sofas to enjoy one of three seasonal classics from 7.30pm – Edward Scissorhands (Oct 29) Ghostbusters (Oct 30) or The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Oct 31) – with popcorn and a hot toddy. Blankets and hot water bottles will be on every seat to stave off the cold, and you’ll be able to purchase extra drinks and more popcorn if you still have room after dinner. Cosy and spooky in equal measure! RECOMMENDED: The best scary film screenings in London for Halloween

Standing proudly on St John’s Hill since 1900, the Clapham Grand is certainly old enough to be home to a ghost or two, so it’s a fitting place to enjoy some spooky antics in the form of a scary movie or two. As part of the venue’s epic Halloween programme, it’s hosting two OTT film screenings for spooky season, featuring costume competitions, dance offs, themed cocktails, creepy decor and one or two surprises. On Thursday October 29 you can catch camp classic Hocus Pocus on the venue’s huge 25ft screen, while Halloween night itself sees the return of the Grand’s longstanding Rocky Horror Picture Show night, hosted by local drag star Miss Leigh Ding (doing her best Frank-N-Furter impression), with tickets including entry to the Grand’s massive post-show Halloween Party, where you can do the time warp ’til 3am.  RECOMMENDED: The best scary film screenings in London for Halloween

In a massive coup for the British Museum and for London as a whole, the Bayeux Tapestry is on display in Britain for the first time in 900 years. The 70-metre-long artwork is an intricately embroidered depiction of the 1066 Battle of Hastings, in which William the Conquerer took the English throne, and it’s coming to the British Museum. Although it’s believed to have been embroidered in Canterbury, the tapestry has resided in Bayeux, Normandy for the past nine centuries. Despite numerous attempts from Brits to borrow the masterpiece over the past century, it is finally on show on British soil for the first time, nearly 1000 years after it was made. You absolutely don’t want to miss an exhibition which feels like the most significant thing British Museum has done in our lifetimes. Read our full review of the exhibition here.

Once again, Hyde Park has had its annual transformation into a dazzling, snow-covered, Alpine-themed, 350-acre festive funscape. One of the largest Christmas events in the UK, Winter Wonderland returns for its nineteeth year in 2026, and is expected to welcome around 2.5 million visitors over six magical weeks.  As you make your way around the space, you’ll find fairground rides, a child-friendly Santa Land (including a Santa’s Grotto, where presents lie in wait) and traditional Christmas markets where you’ll be able to buy gifts for all your loved one. Other highlights include voguish new circus show Gandeys K-Pop Dragon Circus, which takes place three to five times every day, and does indeed feature K-Pop, (puppet) dragons, and circus. Surrounding the park’s Victorian bandstand, the 1,795 square foot rink is lit up by a canopy of more than 100,000 lights. The theme of this year’s Magical Ice Kingdom indoor ice scupture park is Neverland, with the various stunning scuptures - including a slide made of ice – based on JM Barrie’s Peter Pan.  'Mystical, Mythical Fantasy World', a Real Ice Slide and ice sculpting workshops, after which you can warm yourself up later with frothing steins and steaming cups of mulled wine at the endless drinking options. The usual line-up of rollercoasters and fairground rides is sure to keep thrill-se

A humongous light trail that takes over south west London’s 300-acre World Heritage Site botanic garden, Christmas at Kew has become a key date in London’s festive calendar since its first iteration in 2013. Visitors embarking on the 3km trail will get see the space lit up with dozens of larger-than-life illuminations, with both the venue’s glass houses and the trees that cover its grounds drenched in different hues. The whole thing is stunning, but don’t miss the lake, where you’ll catch reflections of the vibrant bulbs dancing on the water, taking the magical feeling to another level. Specific details for the light trail 2026 are yet to be unveiled but, as ever, the traditional fairground and warming winter snacks from food vendors are sure to be there.  How to get Christmas at Kew 2026 tickets  Tickets for Christmas at Kew 2026 are on sale right now. The sooner you book the better – as the UK’s original festive light trail, it sells out fast, especially for December. If you’re willing to wait until the New Year, there are normally a decent number of tickets available for the first week of January. And if your desired dates are booked up, it’s worth checking back regularly for returns.  What are the prices and opening times? Tickets for non-members start at £28.50 for off-peak slots and £36 at peak times. Members can get 15 percent off.  Christmas at Kew is open from 4.20pm to 10pm. Each visitor is given a specific time slot, with the last entry at 8pm.  How long does it

Interested in dance music and club culture? AVA London, the mammoth electronic music and arts conference, is back in town for another jam-packed long weekend of masterclasses, talks, interviews, and workshops, with 70+ speakers across more than 30 sessions.  Scheduled for the tail end of the festival season the autumn rather than its previous slot in spring, the 2026 edition will feature a keynote from the Godfathers of Drum & Bass, Fabio & Grooverider, plus chats with the likes of Moby, ascendant French producer Oklou and Aussie electronic duo The Avalanches, alongside fascinating panels on Black and Queer nightlife featuring key figures from London’s nightlife industry, including grime legend Footsie, rapper Flohio, Pussy Palace creator and London Nightlife Commission member Nadine Noor, and DJs Elkka, Shy One and Jamz Supernova.  But it’s not just interesting discussions on the agenda. The day-to-night festival also features a stacked line-up of after-hours fun, with club nights at three of London’s best venues. Outernet Live sees AVA co-curate a line-up with Resident Advisor to celebrate the global clubbing platform’s 25th birthday, while Optimo headlines a Friday night sesh at FOLD, and EartH Theatre hosts a collab with Aussie electronic label Stay on Sight on Saturday night, with label head Skin on Skin taking top billing. More details on the conference programme will come soon. Check out the full line-up here. 

If Tate’s 2025 programme was big on the 80s – thanks to Photographing Britain and Leigh Bowery! – then 2026 is all about The 90s! Following on from a major Tracey Emin retrospective at Tate Modern, its sister gallery Tate Britain will host a blockbuster autumn show about British art, fashion, photography and pop culture in the final decade of the last millenium. And if that isn’t already a tasty enough prospect, it’s being curated by none other than former British Vogue editor Edward Enninful OBE. Expect flashy photography from the likes of Juergen Teller, Nick Knight, David Sims and Corrine Day, iconic looks from Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen, and era-defining artworks by Damien Hirst, Gillian Wearing, and Yinka Shonibare. The opening party will no doubt give the Met Gala a run for its money.

The UK’s largest beer hall might not sound like an obvious choice for a kid-friendly day out, but Big Penny Social promises plenty of ways to keep the whole crew entertained at its Family Summer Festival this bank holiday. Visitors of all ages are invited to take part in a community rug-making workshop, take part in a family pub quiz, or challenge one another to some friendly competion at on-site gaming hall Flukes’ family sessions. There’ll also be a local indie makers’ market, Ghanaian street food and live DJs, plus opportunities to soak up some rays on the sand at the venue’s summertime pop-up, the Big Penny Beach Club. And yes, parents, the beer will be free-flowing too.     

This hugely popular installation from British artist Luke Jerram has been on a global tour over the last eight years, visiting more than 30 countries since it was first displayed at Bluedot Festival back in 2018. An internally-lit, seven-metre-wide replica Earth made using detailed NASA imagery, the sculpture is supposed to give you a taste of the Overview Effect, the overwhelming sensation of connection to the planet and its inhabitants that astronomers describe when viewing our pale blue dot from outer space.  After previously visiting the Natural History Greenwich’s Painted Hall and Southwark Cathedral, it’s stopping off at Royal Festival Hall over the August bank holiday. Visitors can get up close to the sculpture suspended above the concert hall’s stage throughout the Saturday, or settle in for two atmospheric concerts. BBC Concert Orchestra’s ‘Sounds of the Earth’ (Friday August 28, 7.30pm) will feature heavenly works for strings, including pieces by Vaughan Williams and Oscar-winning composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, while Grammy winning American composer Eric Whitacre’s performance of the William Blake-inspired ‘Eternity in an Hour’ (Saturday August 29, 7.30pm) will feature choral voices alongside cello and electronic instruments.

London summer may be drawing to a close, but if you’re already dreading the day when you have to retrieve your chunky knits from that old suitcase under your bed, then allow us to give you something – or, in fact, 10 things – to look forward to as the nights get darker.  London’s parks are looking a little lifeless after a season of back-to-back heatwaves and non-stop festivals, but the capital’s art scene is bursting into life. Autumn is unquestionably the best season of the year for art-lovers, with loads of art fairs in town – including major industry fixtures Frieze and Frieze Masters – and blockbuster exhibitions opening at the city’s biggest galleries. From renaissance portraiture to contemporary fashion photography, major impressionists to minimalist pioneers, there are so many great shows on the horizon that it’ll require some deft planning to pack them all in. So grab your diary and read on for our pick of the best exhibitions coming to London this autumn.  RECOMMENDED: The London non-art museum exhibitions we’re looking forward to this autumn. 10 London art exhibitions we’re most excited about in autumn 2026 Image: Jenkin Van ZylStill from ‘Enclosure’ by Jenkin Van Zyl 1. Jenkin Van Zyl: ‘Enclosure’ at Somerset House Named one of Time Out's young London artists to watch a few years back, Jenkin Van Zyl asks pertinent questions about the systems we create for ourselves and the human need for self-preservation. His immersive installations cast visitors in a variet

Autumn doesn’t technically arrive until next week, but if you’re anything like us your calendar is fast filling up with fun things to do. Not only does autumn promise beer-chugging, spooks and big bangs, it’s also arguably the biggest season of the year for London’s cultural quarters, with loads of exciting new theatre shows and blockbuster art exhibitions on the horizon.  And that’s not all; London’s museums are nice and busy over the next few months too, with big exhibitions touching on everything from Korea’s rich tradition of decorative arts to the literary legacy of a beloved 20th-century crime writer, as well as the long-awaited reopening of one of the city’s most significant cultural institutions.  Have your diary to hand, and read on for our pick of the best exhibitions coming to London’s museums this autumn.  8 London museum exhibitions we’re most excited about in autumn 2026 1. ‘The Bayeux Tapestry’ at The British Museum You don’t really need us to explain the significance of the British Museum’s blockbuster autumn exhibition. Back on English soil for the first time since it was actually woven nearly 1,000 years ago, the Bayeux Tapestry is not just a spectacular piece of craftsmanship, but also the primary source for our understanding of surely the most momentous year in the story of our own country. Laid out flat in one continuous 70-metre strip, it’s an astonishing artefact that teeters somewhere between outsider art, medieval illumination, action cartoon, histo

September is a hectic time for London’s art galleries. Not only does it signal the beginning of the busiest period of the year for major exhibition openings, and the impending arrival of some major art fairs, but it’s also when a lot of the big galleries announce their exhibition programmes for the following year.  We’ve heard what’s in store at Tate and the Courtauld, and now the National Portrait Gallery has revealed its programme for the new year. The smaller of Trafalgar Square’s two popular galleries has had a great year in 2026, with an excellent exhibition on Catherine Opie and a hugely popular show marking the centenary of Marilyn Monroe’s birth. An enticing exhibition from Tim Walker is opening next month.  And next year’s programme looks just as exciting, with major shows on a cult post-war figurative painter, an underrated female Impressionist and a major figurehead of British Pop Art on the cards.  National Portrait Gallery 2027 exhibition programme Image: Whitworth, The University of Manchester. Photograph by Michael Pollard.‘Got a Girl’ (1960-61) by Peter Blake © Peter Blake. All rights reserved, DACS 2026. The year kicks off with Peter Blake: Pop Art Life (Feb 11-May 23), a major retrospective for the 94-year-old artist who was a key figure of the British pop art movement. A first major institutional show dedicated to the Royal Academician’s portraits, it will bring together highlights from his eight-decade-long career, including images of musical icons like

Housed in the North Wing of Somerset House, the Courtauld Gallery might be relatively small compared to some of London’s other major art institutions, but gosh does it punch above its weight. Founded in 1932 by art collector Samuel Courtauld, the gallery boasts a genuinely jaw-dropping collection of paintings and drawings dating from the Middle Ages through to the modern day, with a particularly impressive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. And alongside its stellar permanent collection, the gallery has an excellent reputation when it comes to its programme of temporary exhibitions; recent hits have included Monet and London and Seurat and the Sea, while the coming months promise hotly anticipated exhibitions on Pakistani painter Salman Toor and Bloomsbury group artist Winifred Gill.  And next year’s schedule looks equally exciting, featuring the mother of American Modernist painting, one of the twenty-first century’s best-loved female artists, and a Flemish Baroque master.  Image: Courtesy of The Estate of Paula RegoPaula Rego, ‘Scavengers’ (1994), pastel on canvas. Private Collection © The Estate of Paula Rego. The 2027 season kicks off with Paula Rego: Dog Woman (Feb 5-May 23), exhibition focused on a series of sensual and unsettling pastel works exploring ‘the animal in the human’ created by the late British-Portuguese artist in the mid-nineties. The exhibition constitutes the most comprehensive display of these groundbreaking works since their crea

With commercial galleries closed for the month while collectors and gallerists head off to the Mediterranean on their yachts, and major institutions busy preparing for a hectic schedule of autumn openings, August is famously a pretty quiet month for London’s art scene.  But don’t let the lack of new exhibitions dissuade you from making time in your busy schedule of summer festivals, day trips and Aperol dates to see some art. Late summer is the perfect time to catch up on all those big shows you’ve not had a chance to see yet, not least because several of the year’s biggest and most talked-about exhibitions are entering their final days. Clear your weekend, and head to one of these in the nick of time.  RECOMMENDED: The top 10 exhibitions in London. Five amazing London art exhibitions closing in August 2026 Zurbarán at The National Gallery From still lifes of plump, waxy lemons to monumental saints, bloodied martyrs and ecstatic Virgins, baroque master Francisco de Zurbarán did it all. He painted vast multi-canvas scenes that once lined the walls of convents and monasteries across Spain, worked for private patrons, the court of Philip IV of Spain and clients across the Spanish Americas, where more than 100 of his paintings ended up. And now, improbably, many of them are at the National Gallery. The artist’s first UK exhibition is a chance to see more than 40 of his monumental, awe-inspiring pieces in the same room, thanks to major loans from the Louvre, the Art Institute of

Wherever you go tonight, you won't be able to miss England vs Argentina. Pretty much the whole of London will be glued to the TV screen from 8pm tonight, as the Three Lions take on the current world champions for a place in the World Cup final. And each triumphant goal celebration or agonising near miss will be accompanied by a surround sound of roars and groans, spilling out of houses and pubs in every corner of London. Still, why settle for secondhand excitement? Even if you’ve left it til today to figure out where to watch tonight’s game, it’s not too late to watch the match somewhere with bags of atmosphere. The keen beans might have booked tables weeks ago, Big Penny Social and Boxpark might have sold out in seconds, but there are still pubs, bars and public screenings taking walk-ins all across town. Show up early to bag a good spot for the most hotly-anticipated game since, well, the last international final – whatever happens, you won't regret coming along for the ride. RECOMMENDED: Where to watch the World Cup in London. The best walk-in venues for England’s World Cup semi-final Central London The Box, Piccadilly A 7,200 sports bar on the corner of Piccadilly Circus, The Box has plenty of room for walk-ins, and serves up some hefty World Cup-themed sharing platters alongside beer buckets and cocktail steins.  23 Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 7EF Mercato Metropolitano, Elephant & Castle  Spanning 17,000 square feet and featuring more than 40 food and drink vendors, the OG

We’ve seen screamers galore, a few absolute howlers, some controversial calls and a couple of shocking early exits. We’ve witnessed everything from turgid 0-0 draws (England vs Ghana) to edge-of-your-seat, five-goal thrillers (Argentina vs Egypt). We’ve heard the words ‘altitude’ and ‘hydration break’ more times than we care to remember, spotted dozens of American celebs in the stands, and shared literally hundreds of memes comparing Erling Haaland to a spring onion.  And now, after five weeks, 100 games and nearly 300 goals, 48 teams have been whittled down to just four, with the 2026 World Cup semi-finals taking place over the coming days. With England having reached another semi-final, the atmosphere in the capital has pretty much reached fever pitch.  But not everyone is supporting the Three Lions. London prides itself on being a gloriously diverse city, so you’ll find several watch parties for fans of the other semi-finalists across the capital too. Whether you’re an expat, a Scotland fan planning a hate watch, or just want to cheer on your sweepstake team, here’s where to go to watch Spain, France or Argentina with a home crowd in London.  RECOMMENDED: Where to watch the World Cup in London. When is each World Cup semi-final match?  France v Spain Tuesday July 14, 8pm BST England v Argentina Wednesday July 15, 8pm BST – find walk-in venues here. Best places to watch the 2026 World Cup semi-finals for each team France France’s World Cup semi-final happens to fall on

Hot on the heels of the Chelsea Flower Show, the first week of June sees the arrival of the second biggest event in the calendar for London’s flower fanatics.  London Open Gardens is back this weekend, offering dedicated horticulturists, amateur botanists and other admirers of a colourful wall trellis or an artfully deployed water feature the chance to have a peek at whole bunch of fabulous gardens across the city, the vast majority of which are not usually open to the public.  A £26 weekend ticket grants visitors access to over 120 venues around London, from floating oases and rooftop hideaways to sculpture gardens and historic plots. But there’s only so much time to snoop around, so before you go trekking round the capital in search of blooms, have a look at our roundup of eight brilliant gardens that are definitely worth taking a look at.  The 8 best gardens to visit during London Open Gardens 2026 The Sanctuary Garden at Freedom from Torture, Islington The Sanctuary Garden earned a silver medal at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2024. After that, it was relocated to Freedom from Torture’s London Therapy Centre in Finsbury Park and for most of the year, it functions as a place where survivors of torture can find calm and partake in horticultural therapy. Willow structures curve and sweep around the space, and plants like figs, nigella seeds, chickpeas, pomegranate and a strawberry tree have been installed to evoke happier memories of home. For Open Gardens, experts will be on

The 2025/26 football season has almost come to a close, but while most football fans are turning their thoughts towards this summer’s World Cup, Arsenal fans are gearing up for a huge weekend for their club. After winning their first league title in 22 years last week – which fans will get to celebrate at a huge trophy parade around north London this Sunday – Mikel Arteta’s team will be attempting to clinch a second major piece of silverware as they face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League Final on Saturday night in Budapest’s Puskás Aréna. Many Gooners will be flying to Hungary for the occasion, with a further 60,000 watching live at the Emirates Stadium. Not got a ticket for either, but still keen to catch the nail-biting action somewhere with a bit more atmosphere than your living room? Local fans will be also be heading to the boozers and beer gardens of north London to watch Ødegaard, Rice and Eze battling it out against Dembélé and co. So if you fancy joining them, look no further than our roundup of London’s best Gooner pubs. Just be sure to book where possible, or show up very early if not, because venues will be packed out for the club’s biggest game in 18 years. RECOMMENDED: London’s best football pubs. The best Arsenal pubs in London The Drayton Park A bar stool at the Drayton is basically as close as you can get to pitchside without a ticket. You can see the stadium from the window, which means you can hear the roar from inside the stadium when Arsenal sco

World-renowned multi-disciplinary festival SXSW launched its London outpost last summer, and it was a pretty major affair, with a whopping 600 talks, 600 gigs and 200 films screenings all taking place around Shoreditch over six days in June. And with the festival’s sophomore edition only a couple of months away (it takes place Tue June 2-Sun June 7) and we’re getting very excited about what’s in store. Some major names have already been announced for the conference and film strands of the multi-disciplinary festival, and now we also have details of the music line-up, with some huge artists set to headline. Taking top billing across the six-day festival are a host of internationally-renowned artists including critically acclaimed US rapper Earl Sweatshirt, Afrobeats star Tiwa Savage, moody electronic producer Sega Bodega, indie-rock outfit Circa Waves, post-punk band Shame, indie-pop singer Rachel Chinouriri, veteran radio DJ Pete Tong and Time Out’s 2024 Londoner of the Year DJ AG.  But it’s not just the big stars to look out for on the line-up. SXSW has long been known as a launchpad for emerging artists and a discovery platform for keen music fans looking for their next favourite band, and the London 2026 festival will be no different. As usual, the festival’s enormous, hugely eclectic musical programme has been co-curated with a variety of esteemed partners, including Clash magazine, Notion, and The Crack, emerging artist platforms like BBC Introducing, Bite Back and Gener

If, like us, your bank account is reeling after a double bank holiday spent tapping your credit card with joyful abandon, then you may be in need of a somewhat more frugal couple of days this weekend. Well, fear not. The second weekend of April is shaping up to be an excellent one for penny-pinching Londoners looking for a good time. From classical concerts on council estates to a major new regular flea market in east London, there are loads of reasons to get out and about this weekend, even if the glorious mid-week sunshine is, in typical fashion, set to be replaced by clouds and showers as the weekend arrives. Ah well. Us Londoners know better than to let a little rain ruin our plans.  RECOMMENDED: 📍 The best things to do in London this weekend.❌ London travel disruption this weekend: full list of tube and train closures for April 11-12. The best free things on in London this weekend, April 10-12 2026 1. Get a free dose of youth culture at Roundhouse Three Sixty Iconic Camden arts venue The Roundhouse will be buzzing this weekend, as the Three Sixty festival fills its walls with music, poetry and performances heralding a new generation of artists and fans. Book a free slot at interactive exhibition From Soundboy to Streaming and you’ll get to experience all the highs of London’s underground music cultures, as curated by local young people, including photographs, gig tickets, zines and more. Or tune in to Transmission, a live podcast recording with special guests from the

More bad news for London’s festival lovers. Just days after it was announced that Wireless festival would no longer go ahead this year after the UK Government revoked headliner Kanye West’s right to enter the UK, the capital’s summer music schedule has been dealt another blow, with the cancellation of the majority of dates for this year’s Lido festival.  Victoria Park’s newest summer event, the 35,000 capacity Lido festival debuted last June, with Charli xcx, Jamie xx and London Grammar headlining. This year’s sophomore edition of the festival was set to take place in mid-June, but the majority of the festival will no longer take place owing to ground conditions in the Tower Hamlets park.  RECOMMENDED: The best music festivals in London. Cancelled and rescheduled dates for Lido Festival Headline shows from Irish country singer CMAT on Friday 12 June and London indie rockers Bombay Bicycle Club on Sunday 14 June have been cancelled, while the festival’s third day, headlined by electronic duo Maribou State, has been rescheduled for the bank holiday on Monday 31 August.  Why has Lido Festival been cancelled and rescheduled? Announcing the cancellation on Instagram, festival organisers wrote, ‘LIDO 2026 is unable to take place in June to protect park ground conditions and will instead move to late August as a one-off date adjustment.’ They were also keen to stress that the changes ‘are in no way the fault of the artists or London Borough of Tower Hamlets (LBTH), all of whom have