Rosie Hewitson

The Irish really know how to celebrate, so when it comes to St Patrick’s Day in London, the city’s Celtic community has no problem showing us how it’s done. With an estimated 170,000 expats from the Emerald Isle living in the city, and many more Londoners with Irish heritage, the celebration of Ireland’s patron saint is always one big welcoming bash, involving plenty of dancing, hearty traditional dishes, a huge parade and as many pints of Guinness and drams of whiskey as you can handle. The Mayor of London’s annual St Patrick’s Day Festival celebration will take place on Sunday, March 15 – two days before the official holiday – and, as usual, thousands of revellers are expected to watch the parade wend its way from Hyde Park Corner to Trafalgar Square for a giant free party with Irish music, food and performances from 12noon to 6pm. If you don’t fancy braving the crowds of central London for the main event in the capital, there are still plenty of St Patrick’s Day parties and events to check out. We’ll be rounding up the best of them below as they get announced, so you’ve got plenty of time to get planning for a very green week. RECOMMENDED🍻 The best Irish pubs and bars in London☘️ Our ultimate guide to the St Patrick’s Day parade and festival🌱 The best London events in March

When it comes to art and exhibitions, London has it all. From the niche spaces, to the avant garde galleries, and the massive crowd-pleasing museums, our city is packed with shows that will perplex, challenge, inspire, educate and leave you feeling awestruck.  The problem is... there’s absolutely tons to see. Too much, you could say. Lucky for you, Time Out exists. For decades, our experts have been visiting and reviewing all the sculpture, painting, performance, photography, history, fashion and other types of exhibitions on offer. You name it, we’ve (probably, most likely) seen it. If you’re wondering what’s actually worth your time, start here. Check out the best museum exhibitions and art in London right now, and be sure to come back weekly for the latest picks. Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: Best photography exhibitions in LondonBest free exhibitions in London

Monday 19 January: The third week of January might begin with Blue Monday, but it’s not all bad! Temperatures are looking decidedly warmer than the last couple of weeks, and London’s cultural scenes are just about coming back to life after a quiet start to the year. Still not convinced it’s worth climbing out from under your heated blanket? Use your downtime to start planning a year to remember with the help of our 2026 preview, featuring loads of unmissable art, theatre, cinema, music and things to do coming up over the next twelve months. 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

Thank god for Burns Night. As the long, bleak month of January rolls on, this kilt-raising, haggis-scoffing, whisky-fuelled celebration of Scotland’s national poet Rabbie Burns is a chance to banish the winter blues and have a rip-roaring time. The Bard turns 267 this year, but you don’t have to be in the big guy’s motherland to join in the festivities. An estimated 200,000 Scottish expats live in the capital, which technically makes it the third most populous Scottish city, so you can guarantee there’s plenty of feasting, boozing and partying to be done down here too.  When is Burns Night in London? Burns Night always falls on January 25, the day Robert Burns was born in South Ayrshire way back in 1759. This year’s celebration falls on a Sunday.  Whether you want to get sweaty at a ceilidh, pipe in a haggis, or have a classy time at a whisky tasting or indulgent Burns supper, this is how you can enjoy Burns Night 2026 in London.  RECOMMENDED: Here are London's best spots for a delicious Burns Night supper.

January gets a pretty terrible rep. Now that the month is fully in swing, routines are taking shape and good intentions are being put to the test. The combination of darker evenings and familiar schedules can make it tempting to stay in and write the month off as a social lull. But, what better way to fight the January blues than filling your diary with things to look forward to? See the magical five-star revival of Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Into the Woods’ at the Bridge Theatre, or watch Jade Franks' Edinburgh Fringe hit Eat the Rich (but maybe not me mates x). It is Burns Night this Sunday, so why not celebrate with a classic Cèilidh or a good, strong whisky? Or, if mime's your thing, head on down to MimeLondon to soak up the silent talents. Trust us, there's lots to choose from and you won't regret it.  Start planning: here’s our roundup of the best things to do in London this January In the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.

We’re properly in the swing of January now, aren’t we? Routines are back in place and the days have settled into a familiar, dependable rhythm. It’s that time of year when everyone’s trying to build good habits – and doing their best not to complain too loudly about the cold. Let's be honest, January does tend to get a pretty terrible rep but it’s not all doom and discipline. Whether you’re giving Dry January a go or throwing yourself into a hardcore fitness schedule, it’s worth remembering there’s still plenty of fun to be had. From small midweek treats to bigger plans worth braving the cold for, there are more than enough reasons to get out and keep those January blues at bay. Spend the week checking out the city’s brilliant five-star theatre, or get stuck into the season by heading out on a winter walk, visiting a warming pub or picking up spoils from London’s best markets. So don't just waste your week infront of the TV, waiting for the next episode of The Traitors. Get out there and start exploring the city! Start planning: here’s our roundup of the best things to do in January In the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.

If you can somehow prize the iPad out of your child’s filthy mitts and get them out of the house, you’ll find a city full of amazing cultural experiences for kids. Historical relics and heirlooms not for them? Drag them through a hall of Egyptian mummies, fighter planes or dinosaur fossils instead, let them loose on interactive play areas themed around pirates, paintings or the postal service. They might not thank you now, but they’ll appreciate it when they get to your age.    RECOMMENDED: The 50 best things to do in London with the kidsThe 7 best child-friendly exhibitions coming to London in 2026

From striking documentary works from a time bygone to glitzy, high fashion editorial shoots and everything in between, London is an excellent city to explore if you’re a photography lover. There are new exhibitions popping up pretty much all of the time, allowing you to lose yourself through the camera lens.  In this list below, we’ve put together all of the best photography exhibitions out there in the city right now. We’ve been there, done that, checked them out in the flesh, and can guarantee that every exhibition on this list is worth going to.  RECOMMENDED: Top 10 art exhibitions in London12 London art exhibitions we can’t wait to see in 20268 great photography exhibitions coming to London in 2026

Once a byword for raucous nightlife, flamboyant fashion and a rough-and-ready kind of cool, Dalston has grown up quite a bit since its hipster heyday. Having lived in and around Dalston for the past seven years, I’d say it’s definitely still edgier than its chichi Islington neighbours Newington Green and Canonbury, more youthful than the young parent-filled Stoke Newington to the north, and grungier than Hackney Central and London Fields on its eastern border. But for the most part, it’s much like any other decent neighbourhood: home to a hugely diverse mix of multicultural communities who all find it a bit too expensive, plus an excellent offering of bargain shops and cheap eats that sit between an ever-growing number of natural wine bars and luxury boutiques.  🏘️ Ultimate guide to where to stay in London Long home to a strong Turkish community, it’s one of the best places in London to get a kebab, a crispy fade or a hammam scrub. And while the area’s once-legendary nightlife isn’t what it used to be – pour one out for our dearly departed Power Lunches, Plastic People and Alibi – its high street remains one of east London’s go-to destinations for after-hours fun, especially for Hackney’s large queer community. And that’s before you even start exploring the area’s lovely cultural offerings, or its residential streets dotted with great pubs and cafés. Read on for our guide to Dalston’s best bits, and get to grips with an area that’s a glorious blend of London’s many tastes an

Whether you’re a pure cynic, or have been well and truly coupled-up for yonks, Valentine’s Day in London should give you enough inspiration to inject some warm fuzziness into your heart this February 14 – whether you’re celebrating with a boo, best bud or doing Galentine’s this year.    You’ve got loads of options in the city: go down the tried-and-trusted route and plan a romantic dinner or hotel stay for a belated celebration. Or opt for something a little unorthodox and alternative.  Prefer to hunker down in the dark of the cinema and immerse yourself in a good film? Pop-up cinemas and special Valentine’s screenings rule London’s film scene this February. Whatever kind of Valentine’s date night you’re after, you should find the perfect match in our roundup of 45 great things to do on the big day. And be sure to check out our comprehensive guide to Valentine’s Day in London for advice on everything from romantic wine bars to fancy spa trips to where to pick up flowers and chocolates. It’s got something to tickle everyone’s fancy.

Looking for ideas for Valentine’s that avoid the the mushy, saccharine nonsense that the day typically brings? There are loads of loved-up spots in the city that will show your beau that you’ve got original ideas that will blow dinner and a movie out of the water, as well as unusual events and alternative date options.  Skip the clichés – goodbye petrol station flowers, naff chocolates and soulless plastic presents – and treat your beloved to something different. From cult movie marathons to absinthe tastings, get your nose out of the crappy card rack and check out these alternative romantic things to do in London. RECOMMENDED: Your guide to Valentine’s Day 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. This winter, there are opportunities to delight in ice sculptures, feast your eyes on a gingerbread city, and even try out curling. Here are the very best, most unusual ways to escape the mundane and try something fresh.  Unique things to do in London at a glance 🧀 Best for foodies: The Cheese Bar 🎢 Best for thrill seekers: Gorilla Circus Flying Trapeze School 💆 Most relaxing: Sauna Social Club 🌑 Most unique dining experience: Dans le Noir 🎉 Best for parties: House Party RECOMMENDED:The best quirky bars and pubs in LondonOur favourite quirky restaurants in LondonThe 50 best things to do in London

From seduction, courtship and marriage to voyeurism, adultery and unrequited love; with over 2,000 paintings on display at the National Gallery, it’s no surprise that just about every kind of love story can be found on its walls. Led by award-winning tour guide Muriel Carré, this 90-minute tour takes in a whole bunch of romance-themed masterpieces by the likes of Van Eyck, Gainsborough, Rembrandt, Rubens and Velázquez. It’s a popular event and tickets are only available to members of the National Gallery – if you are one be sure to book tickets online in advance. 

Named after a tyranical teenage Roman Emperor who allegedly murdered the guests at one of their lavish dinner parties by smothering them with rose petals dropped from the ceiling, this secretive spot next to Dalston Junction station styles itself as a ‘Queer Clubhouse’, and is by quite some distance the fanciest LGBTQ+ venue in the city (and certainly the only one to have featured in World of Interiors). With plenty of conspiratorial nooks and sumptuous, low-lit interiors featuring burlwood cabinets, plaster busts, marbled vanity tables and bespoke leopard print carpets, this place has the rakish air of a branch of Soho House managed by Sebastian Flyte from Brideshead Revisited.  Patrons arriving at the inconspicous front door are given stickers with which to cover their phone cameras before they’re allowed to slip through the curtained entrance into a sumptuous ground-floor bar where a chic crowd of Hackney queers sip on cocktails from an ever-changing menu of booze-heavy modern classics – think boulevardiers, Trinidad sours and an arguably-too-dirty martini.  Wander even further into the warren-like venue – past a small ‘library’ stocked with erotic coffee table books – and you’ll find a cabaret space with a curved stage, where east London’s most outré drag acts keep guests entertained with weeknight cabaret shows catered by regularly-rotating chef pop-ups. Venture downstairs and you’ll discover a subterranean sweat box where DJs play on weekends, as well as a second bar an

Agatha Christie is widely regarded as the greatest ever crime novelist, and the Queen of Crime will be under investigation herself during the British Library’s 2026 season. Coinciding with the centenary of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, one of the prolific writer’s most important and influential novels, the autumn exhibition will delve into the origins of iconic characters Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, while also exploring the the eclectic range of interests that inspired the English author’s works, from archaeology to pharmacology, and illustrating the profound impact her ouevre continues to have on the whodunnit genre. 

Tony and Olivier Award-winning English artist and stage designer Es Devlin gets her first UK museum show this autumn. The Design Museum’s landmark retrospective will delve into the stories behind the London-based designer’s 30-year practice encompassing everything from kinetic stage sculptures to monumental art installations. Developed in close collaboration with Devlin – who has worked on everything from the Olympic opening ceremony to the Superbowl half-time show – it will feature rare maquettes, sketches, annotated texts and process materials, as well as new large scale installations conceived especially for the exhibition. 

The Wellcome Collection’s big spring exhibition is a deep dive into perceptions of ageing. Expect the Euston Road institution’s typical blend of art, science and pop culture in the 120+ artworks and objects on display, which range from16th century woodcuts made by German printmaker Sebald Beham to Deborah Roberts’ contemporary collages exploring Black childhood. There’ll also be a spotlight on the Wellcome Trust-funded health research project Age of Wonder – one of the largest studies of adoloscence in the world – and an exploration of how societies can adapt to improve everyone’s experience of ageing.

Best known for his eye-popping, fantastical fashion photography for titles including British Vogue, i-D, W, Vanity Fair and Another Man, British photographer Tim Walker has spent the past five years photographing the nation’s LGBTQ+ trailblazers in preparation for this major exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. His first show in London since the V&A’s acclaimed exhibition in 2019, it will be accompanied by a book featuring contributions from Travis Alabanza, Russell T Davies, Shon Faye, Lisa Power and Joelle Taylor.

The National Portrait Gallery has been on a solid run in recent years, particularly when it comes to exhibitions on contemporary portraiture – we loved its exhibitions on The Face and Jenny Saville last year – so we have high hopes for this, the biggest exhibition to be shown in the UK to date from the iconic photographer Catherine Opie. Curated in collaboration with the artist, the exhibition will span the Ohio-born artist’s three-decade career, exploring representations of home, family, identity, politics and power structures through Opie’s vivid and colourful portrait photographs. Works featured in the exhibition will span her first major work, Being and Having (1991), her portraits of LGBTQ+ friends inspired by court painter Hans Holbein, to her Baroque-like portraits of artists.

The UK’s largest queer film event returns to the BFI Southbank (and to the BFI Player online) for its 40th edition from March 18-29. The line-up has yet to be announced, but it's typically a wide-ranging, international array of new films and rediscovered classics exploring every hue of the LGBTQIA+ rainbow. Cinephiles can also expect a host of expanded-reality works, panels, Q&As and after-hours events. Check the BFI website for the full schedule.   

Photography fans are in for a real treat this month, as Nan Goldin’s seminal series The Ballad of Sexual Dependency goes on display in full for the first time ever in the UK. Staged at the St Davis Street branch of Gagosian, the exhibition marks the 40th anniversary of the publication of Goldin’s formative photobook, featuring 126 photographs shot between 1973 and 1986. An intimate, wistful portrait of Goldin’s downtown NYC community it includes photographes of pop culture icons like Cookie Mueller and Greer Lankton, shot in Goldin’s signature saturated, moody hues. Don’t miss a very rare chance to see it in all its glory.

Alreet pet? First up, an admission. I might have been born in Newcastle and raised in Gateshead, but given my lifelong support for the other football team in Tyne and Wear, you’d be well within your rights to question whether I might harbour a slight bias against Gerry and Sewell, the stage play based on Geordie classic Purely Belter.  Set in the north-east of England at the turn of the millennium, and itself an adaptation of Jonathan Tulloch’s novel The Season Ticket, Mark Herman’s cult comedy film follows teenage ‘radgie gadgies’ Gerry and Sewell on an ill-fated quest to beg, borrow and steal enough cash to buy season tickets for their beloved Newcastle United, evading angry neighbours, bullish English teachers, sanctimonious social workers and the local constabulary in the process. With its blend of Byker Grove plotting and Ken Loach-esque social realism, even Mackems like myself have a soft spot for this cult piece of local heritage, but for Newcastle fans it apparently warrants almost as many re-watches as Kevin Keegan’s infamous Man United rant. Written and directed by Olivier-winning local lad Jamie Eastlake, the film’s second adaptation for the stage  – following one by Pilot Theatre and Northern Stage in 2016 –  was a hit when it premiered at North Tyneside’s tiny Laurel Theatre in 2022, transferring to Newcastle’s Live Theatre and then the still-larger Theatre Royal en route to its short run on the West End this month.  On for just two weeks, its stint at the Aldwyc

It’s difficult to talk about Ana Mendieta’s work without first mentioning her death. The Cuban-American artist was just 36 years old when she died in suspicious circumstances in 1985, after allegedly falling from the 34th-floor Manhattan apartment she shared with her husband, the revered modernist sculptor Carl Andre.  As a rising star of the avant garde art scene in 1980s New York, there’s no knowing what brilliant work Ana Mendieta might still be producing if her career hadn’t been cut tragically short, but it’s doubly unfortunate that the work she did produce is often obscured by conversations about her husband’s murder trial. Great news, then, that the Tate Modern is putting the art front and centre this summer, in the largest UK exhibition of Ana Mendieta’s work to date, featuring many pieces never exhibited in this country before. Delving into the Havana-born, Iowa-raised artist’s groundbreaking practice spanning performance, photography and video art, it will explore Mendieta’s deep affinity with the natural world, while making the case that she deserves to be remembered as one of the most important artists of the 20th century. 

You need only look at the shelves piled high with unibrowed fridge magnets, tea towels, plant-pots and earrings in the average museum gift shop to know that Frida Kahlo is one of the 20th century’s greatest icons.  Featuring over 130 works alongside documents, photographs and memorabilia taken from Kahlo’s archives, Tate Modern’s blockbuster summer exhibition will explore how the Mexican painter became the kind of cultural phenomenon whose likeness adorns everything from novelty socks to limited-edition eyeshadow pallets. The first major London exhibition on the feminist icon since the V&A’s fashion-focused 2018 show Making Her Self Up, it will include some of her most iconic paintings, as well as the work of more than 80 fellow artists, from her contemporaries to the later generations she inspired.  All in all, it promises to be a fascinating exploration of the transformative role of women artists in the 20th century, as well as notions of fandom and the diverse communities who claim Frida as their own. Keep an eye out for the on-sale date as it’s sure to be a hugely popular show. 

Dun, dun-dun-dun dun, dun-dun-dun dun! If there’s one thing that’s gotten us through the dark, cold nights of January 2026, it’s been tuning into BBC 1 three nights a week to hear that melodramatic theme music. With traitor-on-traitor violence, multiple secret relationships, some truly iconic knitwear and more gasp-worthy plot twists than Claudia Winkleman has had spray tans, this might just have been the best series of the camp-as-Christmas gameshow yet. Can Rachel and Stephen’s Celtic alliance take them all the way? Does Faraaz know more than he’s letting on? Will James finally vote out an actual traitor? We’ll get all the answers from 9pm tomorrow during the climactic finale. And if you fancy watching it somewhere with a wee bit more atmosphere than your living room, there are a bunch of live screening parties happening across London, many of which are free to attend. So don your cloak, grab yourself a chalice of wine and settle in to catch all the drama at one of these London venues screening the final episode. The best Traitors finale screening parties in London Oslo, Hackney Hackney Central bar and nightclub Oslo will be showing the finale on two huge screens, with tables of 4, 6 and 8 available and £5 pints until 10pm.  1A Amhurst Road, E8 1JB. From £11.33 for a table of 4. Picturehouse, Finsbury Park Witness all the drama unfold from the cabaret-style seats in this plush cinema’s event screening room. Tickets include bottomless popcorn and a free Traitor’s Tipple co

Happy New Year, art lovers! January tends to be a pretty quiet month for London’s art scene – what with all the collectors and gallerists off sunning themselves – but it’s the perfect time to get organised for the year ahead. And what a year it’s gonna be for the city’s gallery-botherers, with blockbuster exhibition after blockbuster exhibition on the way over the next twelve months. There’s monumental sculpture, pointillist landscapes and flashy photography, massive names from Renoir to Hockney, and so many big shows by women that the Guerrilla Girls might have to get a new schtick. RECOMMENDED: The best photography exhibitions in London for 2026. Stay tuned for loads more details on this year’s exhibitions, as many of the smaller commercial galleries are yet to announce their schedules for the coming year. And in the meantime, get this lot in your diary. The 12 best art exhibitions coming to London in 2026 1. Frida: ‘The Making of An Icon’ at Tate Modern Featuring more than 130 artworks, including some of Frida Kahlo’s most iconic paintings, the Tate Modern’s mammoth summer exhibition will explore how the Mexican painter became the kind of cultural phenomenon whose monobrowed likeness adorns everything from novelty socks to limited-edition eye shadow pallets. The first major London exhibition on the feminist icon since the V&A’s one in 2018, it promises to be a fascinating exploration of the transformative role of women artists in the 20th century, as well as notions of fan

We might only be a couple of weeks into the new year, but 2026 is already looking like a stellar vintage for London’s arts and culture scene, with major new venues on the horizon – including the new London Museum, the opening of V&A East and a permanent home for the Museum of Youth Culture – and some fabulous art shows and museum exhibitions to look forward to.  And if you haven’t already filled up your diary for the next few months, we’ve got even more unmissable culture for you in the form of some eye-catching photography exhibitions. Make the most of ‘planuary’ by organising your upcoming excursions to these shows encompassing everything from snapshots of queer communities and American urban life to cutting-edge wildlife and fashion photography.  RECOMMENDED: The 26 best things to do in London in 2026. The 8 best photography exhibitions coming to London in 2026 1. ‘Light and Magic: The Birth of Art Photography’ at Tate Modern When the camera was first invented, it was a wonder of science, able to capture images with an accuracy that had never been seen before. But soon, instead of being seen as a rival to painters and sculptors, photographers began to join them as artists, interested in all the creative possibilities of this new method of image making. Tate Modern’s autumn opening explores how art photography emerged as a discipline between the 1880s and 1960s, taking an international approach that spans places from Shanghai to Sydney, New York to Cape Town, and Brazil t

Great news, culture vultures; it’s the start of a brand new year, and that means a host of new exhibitions to look forward to. January is pretty quiet for new openings – we’re all too busy watching The Traitors and trying not to spend any money – but there’s plenty of unmissable culture on the horizon in the capital, from flashy fashion and design retrospectives to deep-dives into ageing, fandom and the studio behind everyone’s favourite claymation canine and inventor duo. Joyless health kicks got you feeling glum? Stop meal prepping and start planning an enriching cultural diet instead, with our guide to the biggest and best museum openings coming up over the next year.  RECOMMENDED: 🎨 The 12 best art exhibitions coming to London in 2026.🏗️ Developments that will transform London in 2026. The 8 best museum exhibitions coming to London in 2026 1. The Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum Huge news for British history buffs; for the first time in 900 long years, the Bayeux Tapestry is going on display in Britain this autumn. The intricately embroidered 70-metre-long artwork depicts the 1066 Battle of Hastings, when William the Conquerer took the English throne. Although it’s believed to have been embroidered in Canterbury, the tapestry has resided in Bayeux, Normandy for the past nine centuries, so this is a super rare chance to see it on home soil. The British Museum. Sep 2026-Jun 2027. More details here.    Photograph: Shutterstock 2. Schiaparelli: ‘Fashion Becomes Art’

Black Friday has been and gone, London’s festive markets, Christmas shops and department stores are buzzing with activity, and the big day is less than three weeks away. So if you haven’t already made some serious headway on your gift shopping, you might be starting to feel a little panicked. But don’t worry about it! Time Out’s 2025 Christmas Gift Guide just landed, and it’s packed full of great pressie ideas, from nifty gadgets and stylish accessories to covetable homeware and fun stocking fillers. And we’ve also got some excellent ideas for what to get the small people in your life. Landed your primary school-aged cousin in the family Secret Santa, or got a boisterous little niece or nephew you usually get a little something for? Time Out’s Theatre Editor and resident kids’ expert Andrzej Lukowski has picked out the perfect thing; these cutesy little things from the venerable toymakers Ty (of Beanie Babies fame).  Setting you back less than the price of a central London pint, the Ty Beanie Bouncers have topped renowned toy shop Hamleys’ list of the most in-demand toys for Christmas 2025. If you’ve walked past the Regent Street shop in recent weeks, you might have noticed that its window display is dedicated to the colourful little spherical plushies.  Essentially a cross between a Beanie Baby and a bouncy ball, they come in a huge range of different designs, including the cheerful snowman pictured above, some adorable little animals, both real (we’d die for Banana the Monk

It’s been a busy couple of years for London’s iconic Victoria & Albert museum, with a whole bunch of major development projects on the go across the city. First, there was the £13 million revamp of the museum’s childhood-focused Bethnal Green outpost, which reopened as the Young V&A to  in June 2023 to critical acclaim, picking up the Art Fund Museum of the Year Award the following summer.  This spring then saw the opening of another very well-received project, the V&A East Storehouse, a ‘working museum’ purpose-built to house half a million objects from the museum’s various archives while offering Londoners a peek behind the scenes to see how a museum goes about curating and caring for the items in its collection.  And now, the museum group has announced the opening date for the second part of its east London development project, V&A East, which is due to open to the public on Saturday, April 18 2026. Opening just shy of a decade after it was first announced as part of the £1.1 billion development of Stratford’s East Bank cultural quarter, the 7,000 square metre museum will bring together exhibits that speak to both east London’s creative heritage and the voices that are shaping contemporary culture across the globe today.  Photograph: V&A East Museum Why We Make Galleries render © JA Projects Also announced today are details of the free-to-visit permanent galleries, new commissions and temporary exhibitions that comprise the museum’s opening displays. These include the Wh

It’s a huge weekend on the London social calendar, with Halloween parties galore, Day of the Dead fiestas, a smattering of early Bonfire Night celebrations and the final few days of October half-term entertainment all happening over the next couple of days.  But while that sounds really fun, it also sounds...expensive! Blown all your money on a killer Halloween costume and/or a week of entertaining the kids? No worries; it’s also an excellent weekend for wallet-friendly fun around the capital.  From great museum lates to fun pop-ups, here’s where to have fun this weekend without spending any more of your paycheque before November has even started.  RECOMMENDED: All the best things to do in London this weekend.  The best free things on in London this weekend 1. Learn about Nigerian modern art at a Tate Late  Inspired by its new exhibition Nigerian Modernism, the Tate Modern’s October late features talks, workshops and curator chats exploring food cultures, diaspora fashion and key African artworks in the Tate collection. There’ll also be plenty of music with DJ sets curated by Native Soundsystem, Tone and Sample Chief.  Tate Modern, SE1. Fri Oct 31. Free (some events are ticketed). 2. Or go rococo at a V&A Late hosted by Riposte  Have you heard the rumours that Marie Antoinette was actually queer? This late drawing off the V&A’s blockbuster exhibition all about the fated French queen, will be delving into the lesbian-coded history and symbolism of Marie Antoinette, in an ev

The clocks have gone back, there’s a chill on the air and central London’s fancy dress shops suddenly have queues out the door. It can only mean one thing; Halloween is just days away! Pretty soon, the streets will be full of the raving dead, as Londoners head out to Halloween parties around the city. And with the spookiest holiday on the calendar happening to fall on a Friday this year, we’re even more spoilt for choice than usual when it comes to late-night antics on All Hallows’ Eve. Still trying to decide which club night deserves to be graced by your haunted labubu costume?  We know which one we’ll be doing the monster mash at, because one north London party has topped our list of London’s best Halloween parties for 2025, thanks to a killer line-up headlined by Kurupt FM and special guest Aitch.  With the likes of DJ AG, Eliza Rose, SBTRKT, Mike Skinner, Eats Everything, Yung Singh and Flowdan featuring across three huge rooms, Drumsheds Presents Halloween is promising more bangers than Dracula has had bloody dinners this October 31.  The north London superclub – which recently announced major upgrades ahead of its 25/26 winter season – will be kicking things off nice and early at 7pm, meaning partygoers will have eight whole hours of raving ahead of the 3am curfew.  The venue has also told partygoers to ‘Expect the unexpected,’ which we imagine means it’s got some spook-tastic surprises planned for the scariest night of the year. We reckon those high-tech screens in Roo

October is a huge month for culture in the capital. Hot on the heels of the London Film Festival, Frieze London, London Cocktail Week and a whole bunch of theatre and gallery openings, it’s time for the city’s literary scene to take centre stage.  London Literature Festival arrives at the Southbank Centre this week, with 13 days of talks, readings, workshops, screenings, performances and award ceremonies celebrating the written and spoken word. Both rising stars and literary titans appear on a stacked line-up co-curated by Rebecca Lucy Taylor, AKA Self Esteem. The BRIT Award-nominated singer (and former Time Out cover star) will be taking over the venue on Saturday November 1, appearing in conversation with Dolly Alderton to discuss her new book, A Complicated Woman, before hosting a Saturday night music and spoken word variety show featuring some of her writers and performers, including Travis Alabanza, Tom Rasmussen and Pam Ayres. So celebrate the festival’s arrival this week, we asked the pop star, her line-up and a few names from the wider festival programme to tell us which one book they would take to a desert island. Rebecca Lucy Taylor, AKA Self Esteem  Photograph: Scarlett Carlos Clarke ‘I wish I could remember who suggested I read Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés. I was about 30 and so very angry, and this was the first time I read that my anger was perfectly reasonable. Not only was it reasonable, it was NATURAL. Were I on a desert island

In a crowded field, The Serpentine is earily one of London’s most influential modern art galleries. Nestled in leafy Kensington Gardens, its pair venues on either side of Hyde Park’s winding artificial lake stage some of the most adventurous temporary art exhibitions in town, alongside huge names like Marina Abramović, Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons.  The gallery has been on a solid run in recent months, with a well-received edition of its annual Serpentine Pavilion designed by Bangladeshi artist and architect Marina Tabassum, and two buzzy autumn shows in the first major solo exhibition from young British artist and video game designer Danielle Brathwaite Shirley and the latest show from Peter Doig – famed for being the most expensive living artist in Europe – inspired by sound system culture.  And there are more big shows on the horizon, with the Serpentine having just announced its 2026 programme, featuring two very different British painters, and Indian video artist and a landmark anniversary commission.  Image: David Hockney David Hockney Kicking of 2026 is an already-announced show from one of Britain’s most iconic living artists, David Hockney (Mar 12-Aug 23) at Serpentine North. The octogenarian’s first exhibition with Serpentine will focus on recent works, including the celebrated Moon Room, reflecting the painter’s lifelong interest in the lunar cycle, plus several digital paintings created as part of his Sunrise series, paintings made on an iPad during a prolific pe

It’s the first weekend of October, and London is looking properly autumnal, but while the leaves are turning brown and the Regent’s Park hedgehogs prepare for hibernation, the capital’s cultural scene is bursting into life. There’s arguably no better month of the year for culture in London, with the London Film Festival, London Literature Festival and Frieze London all arriving in the next couple of weeks, not to mention the plethora of major theatre and gallery openings happening in the coming days. But if all those hot tickets are burning a hole in your wallet, there’s plenty of free fun to be had too. From a harvest festival at the UK’s biggest beer hall to a makers market in honour of Black History Month, here are the best free activities around London this weekend.  RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in London this weekend. The best free things to do in London this weekend, October 3-5 1. Join a barn dance during the Blackhorse Beer Mile Harvest Festival If your memories of Harvest Festival involve bringing a tin of baked beans into primary school for a special assembly, it's time to update them. Walthamstow’s Blackhorse Beer Mile is celebrating the bounties of the season with all manner of country-style entertainment. The main venue is the cavernous Big Penny Social, which is hosting morris dancing and a barn dance with live music, but you can also enjoy tours and tastings, live country and bluegrass music, seasonal drinks specials and a hog roast the area’s taprooms

Everyone has heard of the Met Gala. Organised by fashion world A-listers, since it was first staged in 1948 the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute’s annual fundraising party in New York has grown into one of the biggest fashion industry nights of the year. These days, it attracts some of the biggest names in Hollywood and raises upwards of $30 million annually, with tickets to the invite-only spectacle costing upwards of $50,000 each.  The UK has never really had an equivalent event, but it looks like that might be about to change with the arrival of the British Museum Ball. London’s most iconic museum announced the party this morning, describing it as a ‘landmark, annual event’ that will ‘establish a new highlight on the international social calendar’.  Masterminded by the British Museum’s director Dr Nicholas Cullinan, the first edition of the ball is co-chaired by Indian billionaire heiress and arts patron Isha Ambani. It will take place over the closing weekend of the museum’s current exhibition, Ancient India: living traditions, with a pink theme that’s apparently inspired by ‘the colours and light of India’.  Featured among the 100+ names on its star-studded committee are celebrated designers including Miuccia Prada, Bella Freud, Philip Treacy and Giles Deacon, artists and writers like Zadie Smith, Grayson Perry and Hew Locke, fashion world elites such as Naomi Campbell and Edward Enninful, and A-list celebrities like Alexa Chung and Idris Elba. And with the e