Rosie Hewitson

Some people will spend New Year's Day wallowing in the hungover aftermath of New Year’s Eve, mainlining carbs and bingeable telly. And who's to say they're wrong. Still, there's a lot to be said for joining the plucky band of people who'll begin 2026 as they mean to go on, dragging themselves out into London’s streets, parks and (if you’ve got much better stamina than us) even its pubs and clubs. After all, New Year's Day is a precious day off, and a last chance to squeeze in some fun before work starts up again. Plus, it's still technically Christmas, and a great chance to soak up the spirit of the season without any niggling sense you should be shopping for presents or baking mince pies. Here are some ways to kick off 2026 in style, whether you're after wholesome exercise or a final blast of festive decadence.  Recommended: our guide to New Year in London.

Is it ever too early to start planning for Christmas? Arguably, yes. But even though it's probably not time to begin untangling your fairy lights or baking mince pies, there's no harm in giving a little thought to your festive social plans. And there's no need to settle for a crowded pub. As winter arrives, Christmassy pop-ups spring up in central London, full of cosy atmosphere that makes them perfect for a festive little tete-a-tete. We’re talking riverside heated igloos, Alpine-themed lodges and kitschy nostalgia-themed bars that will keep you warm with atmosphere and, most importantly, yummy food and festive drinks. Most spots aren't yet confirmed for 2025, but check this page as winter nears for the best hideaways, markets and quirky festive experiences waiting to lure you in from the cheek-tingling cold and warm your socks off.  RECOMMENDED: Here are the best things do in London this Christmas

Even if you’re the biggest Scrooge, you can’t deny that London looks pretty magical once the Christmas lights have been turned on and tinsel-covered trees greet you at every turn. Luckily, the city is never in short supply of festive light displays, whether you’re looking for something classic – like Regent Street’s trumpet-playing angels, or a themed display, like those found on Carnaby Street. Each string beams bright enough to warm the coldest of hearts quicker than you can say ‘Bah, humbug’. Here are the best London illuminations to check out to get you in the Christmas spirit this year. RECOMMENDED: sign up to our excellent, free London newsletter. It's full of great suggestions.  What dates do the Christmas lights go on in London? London starts to fill up with Christmas light displays in early November each year, with Oxford Street's decorations leading the charge, followed by countless local displays across the city as December hits full swing. We’ll be updating our comprehensive list of switch-on dates as they’re announced here.Recommended: ❄️ Find out about the most Christmassy events in the city. 🎄 Check out London's very best Christmas markets. 🌟 See our full festive guide to Christmas in London.

September 2025: There’s no need to lament the end of summer; September in London is when the city’s cultural scene comes alive. As autumn arrives, the capital’s museums, theatres and galleries kick back into gear with landmark exhibitions, new programmes and brand new openings. Basically, you’ll never be bored.  It’s also the time of year when a whole host of city-wide fests take over the capital, including Open House London, which lets people peek inside usually private buildings, the London Design Festival and Totally Thames, a brilliant celebration of London’s watery main artery. No matter what your vibe, tastes or interests, there is always something to do in London. Whether you want to see cutting-edge art exhibitions, iconic attractions, secret spots, world-beating theatre, stunning green spaces, it’s all here and you can probably fit all this in and more still barely feel like you’ve scratched the surface of the city. And that’s before you factor in all those historic London pubs, the latest must-visit restaurants and vibrant LGBTQ+ venues. And if you need somewhere to stay? Check out London’s best hotels or Airbnbs. This London bucket list (curated by our editors and always hotly debated in the Time Out office) is a good place to start because exploring this city can be a little daunting. There truly is something for everyone here. And if you want to know what’s happening in London, like, right now, check out things to do in London this week and things to do in London

It's easy to get so tangled up in the tinsel-decked glories of Christmas that you forget there's another big bash, just a week later. But New Year's Eve is the kind of night that you forget at your peril. Attempt to wing it and you might well end up stuck at home in front of Jools Holland's Hootenanny, because all London's best clubs and parties book out weeks or months in advance.  But fear not, we're here to make sure you give 2025 a seriously good send-off. Here's our list of the best NYE bashes to ring in 2026 at, from never-ending club nights to LGBTQ+-friendly celebrations. Assemble your crew, book your tickets, plan the perfect ‘fit and prepare to say a big fat goodbye to the old year. RECOMMENDED: Find things to do in London on New Year’s Day.

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 a host of major openings scheduled across the month.   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.  Sure, it might seem miles off now, but three months can go by in a flash, so get planning! RECOMMENDED: The definitive London events calendar.

Monday 8 September: Travelling around London is set to be a little trickier than usual this week as a result of the tube strikes, but we’re not letting it ruin our fun. September means London’s culture scenes are back in action after a quiet few months over the summer. From major film releases and blockbuster West End openings to the UK’s largest podcast festival, here’s what we’re looking forward to this week. Just be sure to plan your journeys carefully! 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

September 2025: Summer might be turning into a distant memory, but there are planty of reasons to be excited for a new season in the city. September in London is when the city’s cultural scene comes alive, meaning the capital’s iconic landmarks, including its museums, theatres and galleries kick back into gear with exciting new programmes and openings. Basically, you’ll never be bored.  Get your diary out and begin plotting out your visits to some of the best culture in the city. This month, look out for the new David Bowie archive at V&A East Storehouse, the V&A’s huge Marie Antoinette exhibition and the Design Museum’s retrospective of Blitz – the iconic 80’s Covent Garden club.  The London Eye. Hyde Park. Wembley. The Shard. London landmarks are iconic for a reason!  Even if you’ve lived here for years and pride yourself on steadfastly avoiding ‘tourist traps’, you really ought to check these places out at least once. Marvelling at the capital’s museums, galleries, monuments and parks is a London rite of passage, whether you’re a day-tripper visiting for the first time, or a lifelong local who knows the entire Tube map by heart.  But where to begin? Right here of course, with our massive list of the capital’s 50 best attractions. We’ve thought long and hard about what is worthy of your London bucket list, so you can expect to find a real mixture of iconic institutions known throughout the world and (comparatively) lesser-known gems that we’d argue are just as worth visitin

Time keeps on rushing by, and somehow we’ve reached the second weekend of September. But, there’s no need to get bogged down by those back-to-school style feelings, because a new season means a bucket-load of new exhibitions, theatre, and events are about to fill our diaries. Autumn is usually the time when London’s cultural institutions gear up for a refresh of their programmes, and it’s your time to take full advantage of it.  This weekend, it’s the return of Open House Festival, a brilliant chance to snoop around architecturally stunning private buildings and homes that are usually closed off to the public. It’s also the grand opening of the David Bowie archive at the V&A East Storehouse, where you can see more than 80,000 items spanning six decades of the life of Ziggy Stardust. Or head to Somerset House to join its big 25th birthday celebrations and listen to jazz at some of Hackney Wick’s best venues at Brainchild Festival’s Jazz on Wick.  If you still want to enjoy the last gasp of summer, there’s plenty of scope for that too. Soak up those seasonal, sunny joys we’ve become so used to, with alfresco dining, picnics in the park, open-air theatre and cinema and lido visits are still on the cards. Get out there and enjoy! Start planning: here’s our roundup of the best things to do in London this September In the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.

We’re deep into September now, but dismiss any back-to-school style feelings you might be harbouring, because a new season means a bucket-load of new exhibitions, theatre, and events are about to fill our diaries. Autumn is usually the time when London’s cultural institutions gear up for a refresh of their programmes, and it’s your time to take full advantage of it.  This week, it’s the return of Open House Festival, a brilliant chance to snoop around architecturally stunning private buildings and homes that are usually closed off to the public. It’s also the grand opening of the David Bowie archive at the V&A East Storehouse, where you can see more than 80,000 items spanning six decades of the life of Ziggy Stardust. Or head to Somerset House to join its big 25th birthday celebrations and listen to jazz at some of Hackney Wick’s best venues at Brainchild Festival’s Jazz on Wick.  And, don’t panic. If you still want to soak up those summer joys we’ve become so used to, alfresco dining, picnics in the park, open-air theatre and cinema and lido visits are still on the cards. Get out there and enjoy! Start planning: here’s our roundup of the best things to do in London this September In the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.

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 starting on Saturday September 20 2025; 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

The great thing about having kids at Christmas is that you can vicariously relive that wonderful joy that comes with believing in Santa Claus – the anticipation waiting for him to slide down the chimney, the delight at seeing he'd taken a hefty bite of mince pie and the starstruck timidness at meeting him face-to-face at one of his grottos.  You may be a boring grown-up now, but it’s just as magical to watch your own little ones’ eyes light up as they see big man IRL. From a traditional Victorian hut to a gingerbread-themed alcove and the city’s only immersive black Santa experience at Noir Kringle, London has an assortment of grottos suited to every family. With help from Santa’s elves, each leaves kids with a special gift and a photo with the main man. Many also boast bonus Christmas activities from crafts and wintry trails, to film screenings and story time sessions. Be organised, though. Santa is a popular guy and often there isn’t enough of him to go round aren’t enough to meet the demand, particularly at peak times on weekends. So you’ll need to act fast to secure your slot and avoid tears and tantrums. Here are some great grottos in London to try for a holly jolly good time this year.  RECOMMENDED: Find more festive fun with our guide to Christmas in London.

Say auf wiedersehen to 2025 in style at central London’s Bavarian pleasure palace Albert’s Schloss, which is celebrating New Year’s Eve with a time-hopping party featuring some of history’s biggest party animals, with performances by ornately costumed artistes. Guests can expect kabaret and haus band performances from 7pm until the early hours, with free-flowing bier and plenty of schnacks available to keep you going, plus an indulgent three-course NYE offering in the Cook Haus. Catch us dancing on das benches!   

If you’re into the foodie side of social media, there’s a good chance you’ll have heard of Ben Lippett, the moustachioed chef and food writer best known for cooking up some seriously tasty-looking beer snacks on Instagram. With his debut cookbook out this month, the ex-Mob Kitchen member is teaming up with Portland Street’s Middle Eastern grill house, Honey & Smoke for a one-off supper club featuring some of the standout dishes from the title, How I Cook. For £65 per person (or £83 with a copy of the book) diners will be treated to a three-course feast featuring semolina flatbreads kissed by the grill, Neapolitan-style scapece courgettes, cumin lamb skewers, and a rich olive oil-laced chocolate mousse to finish.

Alongside its neon Neverland-themed Christmas light trail, Father Christmas himself is stopping by Kenwood House to amp up the festivities. Mr C is selflessly taking time out of his hectic pre-Christmas schedule to swing by Hampstead Heath’s stately home to spin a few yarns and do a meet-and-greet with some of his biggest little fans. Tickets include a group storytelling sesh and an individual meeting, where every kid will get to take home a wrapped Christmas present to open on the big day.   

South London adventure park Hobbledown Heath is offering a whole host of festive fun for little’uns this December, having transformed into Santa’s Secret Village for the season, with twinkling lights, treat trails and a whole host of face to face experiences with Mr Claus himself. The main event is a Santa’s Grotto experience taking place on weekends throughout the month, and daily in the run-up to the big day. Tickets include all day entry into the Hounslow fun palace, festive cookie decorating in the Elves’ Workshop, timed entry to a meet and greet with yer man and a token allowing kids to claim a present. For the tiniest tots, Hobbledown is also offering a Toddler Santa Experience, a group meet and greet for kids under five. 

One of London’s quirkiest Christmas traditions as well as being one of the oldest, the Peter Pan Cup has been contested on Christmas mornings since 1864. Strictly a spectator event – unless you happen to be a regular, not to mention hardy, member of the Serpentine Swimming Club – the name of the 100-yard swimming race in Hyde Park’s lido derives from the 1904 edition, when author and playwright Sir James Barrie presented the trophy to the winner. The race commences at 9am so head down to watch the brave folk go for it before you start opening your presents.

As usual, beloved central London repertory cinema The Prince Charles will be showing more frightening films than Dracula has had bloody dinners during month-long season of spooky cinema this October. The wildly eclectic programme features almost 100 titles this year, encompassing everything from horror classics to niche B movies, all-night marathons and, of course, its famous Sing-A-Long-A Rocky Horror Picture Show (Oct 31 and Nov 1).  Highlights of the programme include the original 1977 Suspiria (various dates Oct 4-Nov 1), The Night of the Living Dead (Oct 26), the original 1922 Nosferatu performed with a live score (various dates Oct 6-Oct 31) and several all night marathons, including all six Final Destination films (Oct 25), a mystery space-themed bonanza (Oct 4) and another mystery line-up on All Hallow’s Eve itself (Oct 31).  As usual, there’ll also be several screenings on 35mm, including The Exorcist (various dates Oct 11-31), The Shining (various dates Oct 10-Nov 6) and Texas Chainsaw Massacre (various dates Oct 13-31). And that’s just a few options; there really is something for absolutely everyone acxross the month. Excluding wusses. Check out the full programme here.

Following its annual summertime horror bonanza in August, London’s primo horror film festival – dubbed ‘the Woodstock of Gore’ by no less an authority than Guillermo del Toro – is once again resurfacing, Kraken-like, for a spooktacular weekend of Halloween screenings at the Odeon Luxe West End. The line-up for this year’s event will be announced in late September, but horror afficionados can expect a handful of terrifying indie movies, typically including one or two UK premieres. Bedwetters need not apply, and, needless to say, the festival has an 18 rating. 

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 four seasonal classics – Lost Boys, Ghostbusters, Scream or Hocus Pocus – 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!

London nightlife big hitter The Cause is no stranger to throwing killer parties and this mega day-to-night Halloween extravaganza will more than prove that. This year’s line-up and attractions are yet to be unveiled, but previous editions have seen funfair rides, food stalls, games and circus performers, as well as a frighteningly good cast of DJs on the decks.

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 Tuesday October 28 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. 

Housed inside a (possibly haunted) Victorian theatre, south London’s modern variety palace The Clapham Grand is known for its camp-as-Christmas programming, so expect it to pull out all the stops for its epic Halloween party. This year’s line-up is still under wraps but the venue is promising that it’ll be ‘massive, and scary, but in a really fun, silly way’. Fancy dress is a must! 

Having sold out every year since 2018, this massive Halloween shindig returns to Electric Brixton for an evening of all-out fright-filled fun that they’re boldly claiming will be the ‘biggest, deadliest and of course all round devilish Halloween Party in town’. Expect stage shows from dancers and circus performers, scare actors, a trick or treat station, murder mystery photobooth and themed cocktails, plus DJs spinning your favourite spooky hits until 4am. Last year there was a live FreakShow on a bed of nails, a cyr wheel show and an aerial performance. It’s the kind of party where people go all out on fancy dress, so we’d advise you to start planning your costume (and rehearsing the moves to Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’) ASAP!

The National Portrait Gallery has been on an absolute roll over the last couple of years, not only opening its swanky new £35 million Blavatnik Wing back in summer 2023, but curating some truly unmissable temporary exhibitions since. And now, following on from last year’s fabulous Francis Bacon show, and this year’s brilliant offerings on 80s pop culture bible The Face Magazine and British painter Jenny Saville, the Trafalgar Square gallery has announced yet more bangers for its 2026 season. National Portrait Gallery 2026 exhibition programme The year kicks off with the already-announced Lucian Freud: Drawing into Painting (Feb 12-May 3), the first major UK exhibition focusing on the celebrated British portrait artist’s works on paper. Encompassing drawings in pencil, pen, ink and charcoal, as well as etchings and a small selection of paintings that reveal the dialogue between Freud’s practice on paper and canvas, the exhibition will feature a selection of recent acquisitions including an etched portrait of his daughter, the fashion designer Bella Freud. Image: Bella in her Pluto T-Shirt (etching), 1995 © The Lucian Freud Archive, All Rights Reserved (2025) Next up in the gallery’s 2026 schedule is the first major UK exhibition on Catherine Opie, the American photographer best known for her stylised, painterly portraits of queer communities that explore themes of belonging and identity. Catherine Opie: To Be Seen (Mar 5-May 31) will span the Ohio-born artist’s three-decade

The Courtauld Gallery might be relatively small compared to some of London’s other major art institutions, but boy 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 magnificent permanent collections, the gallery has a stellar reputation when it comes to its programme of temporary exhibitions, with recent hits including Goya To Impressionism, Monet and London and Frank Auerbach’s ‘The Charcoal Heads’. It’s no surprise, then, that the Courtauld’s newly announced 2026 exhibition programme looks thoroughly exciting, featuring a major neo-impressionist, an icon of British modernist sculpture and the first European show of a contemporary American talent.  The 2026 season kicks off with A View of One’s Own (Jan 28-Jun 14), an exhibition exploring the oft-overlooked contributions of female artists to Britain’s golden era of landscape painting. Showcasing watercolours and drawings created between 1760 and 1860, the exhibition features ten artists ranging from accomplished amateurs to those ambitious for recognition, including Harriet Lister, Mary Lowther, Amelia Long and Elizabeth Batty.   February sees the long-awaited opening of the already-announced Seurat and the Sea (Feb 25-May 17), the first UK exhibition on t

The August bank holiday is without a doubt one of the liveliest weekends of the year in London. Not only do around two million people take to the streets to celebrate Notting Hill Carnival, there’s also a plethora of late-summer music festivals – All Points East, Rally and Body Movements to name a few – plus plenty of outdoor cinema and open-air theatre. But if you’re anything like us, after a summer spent holidaying, day-tripping, festival-going, beer garden session-ing and generally acting like you have unlimited disposable income, all the late summer antics might just be one expense too far. So to save your overdraft from taking another rinsing, we’ve rounded up eight great things to do over the long weekend without shelling out a single penny. 📍 Our guide to the bank holiday in London The best free things to do in London this bank holiday weekend, August 22-25 1. Watch the opening performance at the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival The 30th edition of London’s leading outdoor performance festival kicks off this weekend, and its opening show is one you won’t want to miss. After dazzling audiences with last year’s performance, Life Lines, French movement company Lézards Bleus are back with Above And Beyond, a breathtaking acrobatic feat that will see eight parkour performers traversing landmark buildings around Woolwich, accompanied by music from the Greenwich-based Citizens of the World Choir. You don’t need to book, just head to Beresford Square for 6.45pm

Smashed or double-stacked, gloriously simple or adorned with crispy bacon, zingy pickles, oozing melted cheese and all the trimmings; however you like your burgers, you can’t really go wrong with a big ol’ pile of meat in a bun. Especially on Thursday August 21, when patty slingers across the city will be offering limited-edition creations, hefty discounts and fab freebies in celebration of National Burger Day.  Fancy upgrading your boring mid-week office lunch to something a bit more decadent without having to splash too much cash? We’ve rounded up five of the best offers around the city. Order’s up! RECOMMENDED: London’s best burgers The best National Burger Day 2025 offers in London  Black Bear Burger The current holder of the Burger of the Year award for its sensational Miso Bacon Burger, London mini-chain Black Bear has taken inspiration from Le Relais de Venise for its limited-edition National Burger Day creation, which features 40-day aged beef, smoked bacon and onions slathered with rich, herby and buttery Cafe de Paris sauce like the steak served at the viral west London restaurant. Sample either burger as part of a £20 burger, fries and beer offer available for one day only at Black Bear’s Brixton, Camden, Westfield and Exmouth Market locations.  Available: Thursday 21 August only. Honest Burgers With 30 branches around London, you’re never too far away from one of Honest’s glorious medium-rare burgers and an accompanying mound of hand-cut rosemary salt fries. One

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