Rosie Hewitson

In 2026, the UK’s coastline is more in the spotlight than it has been in a long, long time. The opening of the long-awaited King Charles III Coastal Path means that the entire coasts of England, Wales and Scotland are now fully walkable – giving you even more of a reason to visit this nation’s extraordinary roster of seaside towns. Of course, being an island nation, the UK has no shortage of coastal spots. Prim, proper, picture-postcard-worthy idylls? Check. Remote, blustery retreats from stormy seas?  Yep, plenty of that. Thrill-packed resort spots with something for everyone? Britain has all of the above and much more. If you’re on the hunt for British seaside towns that are worth checking out right now – the ones that should be on your radar specifically in 2026 – that’s what we’re here for. Time Out assembled our UK travel experts to pick out the country’s most exciting seaside, port, harbour and resort towns to visit this year. RECOMMENDED: 🏖️ The best beaches in the UK.📍 The best places to visit in Britain in 2026.🇬🇧 The best new things to do in the UK in 2026.  

It's London Marathon weekend, which means 50,000 hardy souls will be braving shin splints and runner’s knee to jog around the 26.2-mile course that will take them from Greenwich through to central London. Cheer them on, or make a note of the perks and freebies you can take advantage of, if you'll be one of the people lacing up your trainers. Spring has also officially sprung, and there are plenty of ways to get out and experience the spoils of the new season. From walks around flower-filled parks to alfresco hangs. Some of London’s landmarks are also getting that Spring feeling, including Hampton Court Palace, which is full of flowers for its annual tulip festival.  There’s also plenty of culture to put in your diary too. Be one of the first people to walk through the doors of the much-anticipated V&A East, which opened last week with over 500 objects in its permanent displays and an exciting-sounding temporary exhibition: The Music is Black: A British Story. It’s a busy weekend for the big museums, with a Tracey Emin-themed Tate Modern Late the V&A’s annual Performance Festival kicking off too. Or, head to one of London’s best bars or restaurants and take in one of these lesser-known London attractions. This is also a great time of year to explore London on a budget and without the crowds. Plus, lots of the city’s best theatre, musicals, restaurants and bars offer discounted tickets and offers. What are you waiting for? Put your coat on. Start planning: here’s our roundup o

Running 26.2 miles across our great city dressed as a rhino or Colin the Caterpillar is a feat that the majority of us Londoners will probably never be brave enough to attempt. But some courageous souls who aren’t averse to hours of gruelling training willingly put themselves in the crosshairs of shin splints and runner’s knee and, for that, they should be applauded. So, when 50,000 of them take part in the London Marathon in a few months, it’s your duty to cheer them on. The 2026 marathon will take place on Sunday April 26, and will follow the traditional route from Greenwich Park into central London, through a much-photographed stretch that takes in Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace. Use our guide below to plan where you’ll station yourself and to track down nearby pubs and bars for when all that whooping and clapping leaves you feeling nearly as parched as the runners. Remember: your presence at this monumental sporting occasion means it is 100 per cent allowed to drink lager or rosé in the street at 10am. Keep in mind that you won’t be having a lie-in until lunchtime if you plan to attend. Everyone taking part laces up pretty early, with elite runners usually starting their slog around 8.30am before the masses join them from 10am. Here’s our winning guide to this year’s marathon. What landmarks can I spot on the London Marathon route? If you hadn’t noticed, the marathon route is loooooong. Starting in Greenwich Park in south-east London and finishing right by Buc

April 2026: We've recently given this list a reshuffle to make sure we're recommending you the finest burgers in town. Smash burgers still take up quite a lot of real estate and with good reason; they're a little bit more managable then the hefty burgers that were in style a few years ago. But one particularly big boy makes the grade; the burger at Dove in Notting Hill, of which there are only 10 made a day. Smaller, smashier offerings can be found at French import Dumbo in Shoreditch, Jupiter Burger in Hackney, and Chuck's in Fitzrovia. Want a bit of both in one burger? Try the burgers at the Empire Tavern in Hackney. Our new No 1, Hanbaagaasuuteeki in Victoria, offers burgers with an Asian-twist. Fancy a burger? Of course you do. The simple meat-between-buns combo is always a winner, whether for a quick fast-food fix or a decadent, gourmet feast. We’ve selflessly toiled away, trying and tasting a vast range of patties to compile this list of London’s best burgers, including the inescapable smash burger. London’s finest are utter meaty marvels: juice-seeping, oozing with flavour and far more complex in creation than they’re ever given credit for. Roll up your sleeves and tuck in to the best burgers in London right now. RECOMMENDED: These are London's best pizza restaurants. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Spring has officially sprung, and there are plenty of ways to get out and experience the spoils of the new season. From walks around flower-filled parks to alfresco hangs. Some of London’s landmarks are also getting that Spring feeling, including Hampton Court Palace, which is full of flowers for its annual tulip festival. It's also London Marathon weekend. Cheer on the hardy souls taking on the challenge by picking a spot along the route. Or, if you managed to bag a place and get through the training, take advantage of all the freebies and perks you can claim after you've got your medal.  There’s also plenty of culture to put in your diary too. Be one of the first people to walk through the doors of the much-anticipated V&A East, which opens this week with over 500 objects in its permanent displays and an exciting-sounding temporary exhibition: The Music is Black: A British Story. If you missed it the first time, you can now catch Rosamund Pike in sensational form in legal drama Inter Alia as it hits the West End, while Anya Reiss’s new adaptation of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is a smart take on the classic play. It’s also Record Store Day on Saturday, so look out for plenty of gigs and special events happening at your favourite vinyl vendors this weekend.  Or, head to one of London’s best bars or restaurants and take in one of these lesser-known London attractions. This is also a great time of year to explore London on a budget and without the crowds. Plus, lots of the city’s b

London summer has officially kicked into gear. And that means that the Wimbledon Tennis Championships – aka the oldest, and arguably the very best, tennis tournament in the world – is back very, very soon.  This year the tournament is happening from Monday June 29 - Sunday July 12 2026. Thousands will be descending on SW19 to see the matches go down in real life but live screenings will be peppered all over London for thousands more who missed the ticket ballot or can’t be bothered to queue in the hopes of getting in day of.  With a jug of Pimms in one hand and a punnet of strawberries in the other, you’ll hardly know the difference. Even better – most watch parties won’t cost you a single penny. So, pack your picnic blanket, fill your flask and pull up a pew at a summery screening near you. Most haven't been announced for 2026 yet, but check back and more will be added closer to the time. RECOMMENDED: Our full guide to Wimbledon 2026.

Summer's finally here! And that means it's high time you dug out last year's swimsuit (faintly bobbly though it may be) and took it for a spin in one of London's many gorgeous outdoor pools. But don't even think of heading to your local noisy, chlorine-scented indoor swimming baths. When the temperatures soar, lidos are the only way to go. I'm one of the growing band of Londoners who's been bitten by the outdoor swimming bug, and braved the waters at every al fresco pool I can find in this city. Yep, the water's a bit chilly. But that's the whole point: to feel that rush of exhilaration you only get once your body adjusts to the cool water and starts gliding through it like a dolphin (or in my case, a geriatric elephant seal – I said I'm a keen outdoor swimmer, not a good one).   The seriously dedicated will head to wild swimming spots where you bob about face to face with aggy ducks and the odd bit of pondweed. But if you want to get a proper swim in, lidos are the easiest, freshest way to do it. Heated or unheated, regimented lanes or wide open water, serious fitness or chilled family fun – these are all of London’s best lidos and outdoor swimming pools for making a splash in this summer. Best lidos and outdoor swimming spots in London at a glance 🏊‍♀️ Best for getting lengths in: Tooting Bec Lido 🥐 Best for a post swim brunch: Brockwell Lido ☀️ Best for warm water all year round: Pools on the Park ✨ Best for beautiful views: Parliament Hill Lido 🏖️ Best for hanging ou

The smog and stress of London can really take its toll on your skin. That’s why there’s nothing better than a regular facial (or a one-off treat) to give you that much-needed top-up, leaving you feeling glowing, fresh-faced and dewy.  Just thinking about what we put our skin through is enough to give you frown lines. That’s thanks to the combined efforts of pollution and air-conditioned offices, as well as the added bonuses of harsh weather, booze, sun exposure, dehydration and – our least favourite – the inevitable passing of time. Happily, there are loads of great spas, treatment rooms and estheticians in London who can give your face a break and a much-needed zhuzh. Whether you’re after a relaxing, soothing facial massage, some instant radiance, a total skincare overhaul or something a little more intense such as microneedling or laser treatment, read our pick of facials in London.  RECOMMENDED: The best spas in London. 

Spring is an ephemeral season, but that’s part of its charm. For a few magical weeks over April and May, London turns pink. Ornamental cherry trees burst into bloom in parks and suburban streets, carpeting the pavements with petals and sweetly scenting the air. Outshining the cheery daffodils, delicate bluebells and bright spring flowers, these extravagant blooms are a real showstopper (and an unmissable photo op). Think cherry blossom, and you might imagine Japan's sakura season, where festivals celebrate these glorious trees. But ornamental cherry trees have been planted for centuries in the UK, too, bringing joyous pompoms of petals to London's streets and parks as soon as the first warm days appear. When is cherry blossom in bloom in London? The pastel pink blooms tend to grace our parks from April, but in cooler years, it might not come out until May, and in warmer years, cherry blossom can be seen as early as mid-March. You can find cherry blossoms in some of London’s best parks and lining pretty suburban streets. From the candyfloss arches of St James’ Park, to the Cherry Walk in Kew Gardens, London folk are spoilt for choice. We also have a whole new crop of blossom trees in the capital, with 130 new cherry blossom trees landing in Greenwich Park straight from Japan.  Get your camera at the ready and find out if one of these top places to see cherry blossoms in London is conveniently on your doorstep. 🌸 Central London: St James’ Park 🌳 North London: Cecile Park, Cr

May truly is one of London’s finest months if you ask us. Not only is the city pleasantly warm and bursting with colourful spring blooms, but everyone is giddy with the possibilities of the coming summer. And most excitingly of all, there are not one, but two bank holidays on which to embark on inaugural rooftop bar excursion of the summer, rock out at one of the year’s first music festivals, lounge about in your favourite park, check out all those must-see exhibitions you’ve been meaning to catch or escape the city on a day trip or mini-break. And if that isn’t enough to keep you entertained, here’s our guide to the best events, parties, pop-ups and things to do in May 2026 in London. You’re in for one sweet, sweet month. London’s best things to do in May at a glance: 🪩 Best for party people: GALA Festival 🌷 Best for botanists: RHS Chelsea Flower Show  🎶 Best for pop music stans: Mighty Hoopla  ✏️ Best for something new: Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration 🎭 Best for theatre-goers: 1536 on the West End 🧒🏻 Best for families: Jurassic Creatures at the Natural History Museum

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

*]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id="request-WEB:71d6b288-c88a-4520-89ca-7454fcda89e0-1" data-testid="conversation-turn-2" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn="assistant"> You’ve decided you’re heading to London. Transport? Sorted. Tube map? Downloaded. Now comes the tricky part: where to stay. And, let's be honest, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. London is a huge patchwork of neighbourhoods, each with its own personality and pace. From the leafy, laid-back corners of Chiswick to buzzing cultural hubs in Camden, where you base yourself can shape your whole trip. So, before you panic-book a pricey hotel in the West End, take a breath. There’s a whole city beyond the tourist core, with fantastic places to stay that might suit your style (and budget) even better. If you're after local living in 2026, hit up Leyton or Walthamstow, or Brixton has an endless array of cheap eats, bars and culture on every corner. Whether you’re after lively nightlife, easy access to gorgeous green spaces, culture on your doorstop, or serious dining, you’ll find it here. Ready to get booking? Read on for our guide to the best neighbourhoods and places to stay in London.  ➡️ READ MORE: The best Airbnbs in London – with expert local tips Where to stay in London at a glance 👶 Best for first-timers: Covent Garden, S

What is it? An official royal residence since 1689, Kensington Palace is one of five regal London properties managed by Historic Royal Palaces. It’s been lived in by everyone from Queen Victoria, to Princess Diana and most recently Wills and Kate.  It began as a reasonably modest, two-story suburban villa built by Sir George Coppin during the reign of King James I, a time when Kensington was a quiet village on the outskirts of London. Initially the home of a wealthy businessman, it was purchased by the first Earl of Nottingham before being acquired by William III and Mary II, who planned to use it as a countryside retreat with easy access to Parliament.  The royal couple engaged Sir Christopher Wren to renovate Nottingham House, adding north and south wings, three-storey pavilions at each corner, and manicured Dutch-style gardens before moving in on Christmas Eve 1689. Kensington Palace has since been home to Queen Anne, George I, George II and Queen Victoria, and countless minor royals. More recently it has become a London base for the younger generation of royals; the Prince and Princess of Wales currently reside in apartments at the Palace, while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their first home in a cottage on its grounds.  It might not be as large as Hampton Court or the notorious Tower, but the (comparatively) modest Jacobean architecture and impeccably groomed grounds are absolutely stunning and well worth a poke around—something visitors have been able to do since

Cult British synth-pop band Bronski Beat’s masterful debut album ‘The Age of Consent’ is performed by a roster of briliant contemporary artists in this truly special tribute gig. Originally conceived to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1984 album – a seminal piece of queer pop culture that has served as an anthem for LGBTQ+ liberation ever since – this one-off performance has been produced by south London based queer record label The Chateau, and features a powerhouse line-up of cult acts, from post-punk icon Beth Ditto and legendary performance artist David Hoyle to contemporary queer singers including Tom Rasmussen and Planningtorock, performing alongside queer house band The Chateau Collective and Europe’s longest-running LGBTQ+ choir, The Pink Singers. Expect inspiring, emotionally-charged renditions of 'Why?’, 'It Ain’t Necessarily So’ and the iconic hit single ‘Smalltown Boy’ that’ll have you jumping out of your seat. 

With its 31st edition taking place this summer, the Southbank Centre’s Meltdown Festival has long since established itself as a key date in London’s cultural calendar. Each year, the Southbank invites one celebrated artist to curate the festival, with such luminaries as David Bowie, Yoko Ono, Grace Jones, David Byrne, Chaka Khan and Little Simz having previously taken on the exciting task. Taking place in the middle of the iconic London institution’s 75th birthday celebrations, we expect this summer’s edition of Meltdown to elicit one of the most exciteable reactions to date, seeing as it’s being masterminded by none other than former One Direction member, multiple BRIT and Grammy Award-winner and all-round pop superstar Harry Styles. The ‘Watermelon Sugar’ singer has drawn on his eclectic musical influences to curate a line-up traversing pop, soul, rock and electronica. There’s plenty of emerging British talent featured, including London-based singer-songwriter Nilüfer Yanya, jazz drummer Yusuf Dayes, folk artist Stephen Fretwell and post-punk duo Getdown Services.   They appear alongside veteran performers like Dev Hynes (aka Blood Orange), Beverly Glenn-Copeland, LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy and African jazz icon Mulatu Astatke.  And as is usually the case for curators of the festival, Styles will also be gracing one of the Southbank Centre’s stages himself for an intimate headline gig. No doubt competition for tickets will be fiercer than ever before, so stay

Austin’s music, film and media festival SXSW is renowned across the world for being the place to discover the next big thing. In previous years, superstars like Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa and Chappell Roan have all given early performances at the Texas event, while the likes of Steven Spielberg, Barack Obama and Malala Yousafzai have appeared at the conference arm of the festival.  So last year's inaugural UK edition was a pretty big deal, with a keynote speech by mayor Sadiq Khan and hundreds of events across 25 venues. Now, SXSW London is back again for the second year running, and will once again take over various spaces in and around Shoreditch in June, and the line-up is just as massive, with talks and panels delving into the most pressing issues across business and tech, keynotes delivered by big names, film screenings, including a whole bunch of international premieres, as well as a music festival. The music strand features headline gigs from 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.  Meanwhile, film festival attendees will be able to catch three global and 13 UK premieres, including culinary documentary Feast or Famine,  supernatural horror The Remedy, and crime comedy All Night Wrong, alongside keynote addresses from Russel T Davies, Sha

First opened in 1972, this Hackney Central trade hall takes its name from the Memorable Order of Tin Hats, an order of ex-military servicemen and women who still regularly meet and drink at the venue under a motto of ‘True Comradeship, Mutual Help and Sound Memory’. With the club’s future looking uncertain, in 2015 it was taken over by local events agency LNZRT – the team behind Rich Mix and The Shacklewell Arms – who gave it a glittery gold refurb with the intention of using the venue as a gig space platforming some of the city’s buzziest indie bands. More recently, MOTH Club has been engaged in a highly publicised battle to halt a block of flats from being built over the club’s smoking area, putting its future at serious risk. After months of campaigning and a petition with 30,000 signatures the planning application was refused, however MOTH said ‘the fight is not over,’ as there is another planning application in progress which means the future of the venue remains at risk Nowadays, you’ll find time-weathered regulars mixing with a hip young east London crowd, with the club playing host to an eclectic programme of live music, stand-up comedy, film screenings and club nights as well as all all of its former MOTH and British Legion meetings. Featuring a small stage backed by spangly gold foil curtains, the club’s main room is the venue for regular nights including Deptford Northern Soul Club, ’80s night Dancing in the Dark and disco, soul and italo club Pull Up To The Bumpe

This little shop on Hackney Central’s Clarence Road is a veritable utopia of vinyl. Run by John Coxon, the guitarist for cult 90s rock band Spiritualized, alongside Liam Casey, who formerly ran the Pacific Social Club café on the same site (and still makes great coffees), the shop has shifted the collections of some of music’s most respected names, including Rough Trade founder Geoff Travis and Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor. From Soviet-era bootlegs to Yoruba 78s, you’ll struggle to find a more varied collection of records anywhere in London; Atlantis offers the best deals on records, cassettes and more from all corners of the globe.

Italian restaurant group Big Mamma is famed for its maximalist vibes, and it’s going all out for the inaugural Easter egg hunt at its Canary Wharf joint Barbarella. The extremely OTT, 70s-themed restaurant has worked with ‘disco ball artist’ Sophie Lopez to design 20 glitzy Italian-themed Easter Eggs, decorated with various prizes on offer and hidden amongst the skyscrapers of London’s financial district. Fancy some free dolci, homemade pasta or even a full meal for two on the casa? Give Big Mamma’s Instagram account a follow for clues, make your way over to Canary Wharf from 11am on Easter Sunday and get searching. 

In our age of mind-boggling CGI and AI-optimised everything, it’s easy to forget how much pleasure can be had from the simple optical tricks of mirrors and lights. But not for Julio Le Parc. A key figure of the Kinetic and Op Art movements of the 1960s, the pioneering Argentinian artist has been making illuminated, kinetic and participatory works for seven decades, and is still making art at the ripe old age of 97. This major retrospective celebrates his visionary seven-decade career, spanning from from his arrival in Paris in the late 1950s to his resurgence in the 2010s, with over 60 colourful, immersive (and extremely Instagrammable) works.

Highbury wine bar Top Cuvée’s seems to outdo itself year after year with its ever-popular Easter egg hunt for grown-ups, and 2026 is no different. The enfants terribles of London’s natty wine scene have once again partnered with ethical choccie purveyor Tony’s Chocolonely for the sixth edition of their cult event, with bags of Tony’s chocolate eggs and Top Cuvée totes on offer for up to 1000 hunters who complete the trail, and a covetable grand prize. There’ll also be sandos, plenty of wine and a few surprises throughout the day. Simply sign up online and rock up to Top Cuvée from midday on Easter Sunday to be in with a shout of taking home the goodies. Happy hunting!

Munch your way through dishes from the great and the good of the capital’s restaurant scene at this sprawling culinary festival in the picturesque surroundings of central London’s Regent’s Park. New Syrian brunch joint Aram, hyped Dalston gastropub The Prince Arthur and masters of Pan-Pacific cuisine Los Mochis are among the restaurants peddling plates and appearing at the event for the first time this year. If you’re not in a food coma by the end, there’ll also be kitchen masterclasses, chef talks and tastings to get involved with. Our advice? Have some Rennies on hand. 

After a successful first edition last year, we're getting a second helping of a festival that highlights one of the more unsung parts of our favourite movies, tv shows and games – the soundtracks. London Soundtrack Festival puts the scores front and centre, with a series of screenings, talks and performances celebrating the musicians who make fictional worlds sound so exciting, tense and emotional.  The genre-spanning programme takes place over the second weekend in April, spanning a mix of styles and genres. James Bond fans will be thrilled by Homegrown Heroes, a night of David Arnold scores and slick action movie sounds (Apr 9). There's also a masterclass on music for games, a talk on John Williams, and a screening of Brian de Palma’s Obsession (1976) (Apr 9) which will be introduced by Norma Herrmann, widow of the legendary composer Bernard Herrmann.

This literary festival focuses on one of our era’s most exciting genres: crime. Now firmly part of London’s literary calendar, each year it hosts a top-notch line-up of crime and thriller authors in a rich programme of talks, panels and interviews. Over 100 authors and experts will feature over the three-day programme of panels, Q&As, book launches and industry networking events, culminating in the Fingerprint Awards, an annual reader-voted awards ceremony celebrating the very best new writing in the genre. Details of the 2026 line-up are yet to be announced, but we’ll be conducting a thorough investigation in due course.

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

The arrival of spring means that there are loads of fabulous new art exhibitions on the horizon in London, with major shows on the likes of Francisco de Zurbarán, Henry Moore and James McNeil Whistler joining excellent recent openings including Hurvin Anderson at Tate Britain, Michaelina Wautier at the Royal Academy and Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art at the V&A. But before all the shiny new openings, we must wave goodbye to the old ones.  Some excellent exhibitions are set to close this weekend, and there’s a good chance you’ve been too busy scoffing Easter eggs, frolicking among the spring flowers and generally making the most of the first rays of sunlight we’ve seen this year to spend your weekends gallivanting around the capital’s art galleries. But you’ve not got long left to see some of the winter season’s best openings. Here’s what to catch this weekend, just in the nick of time.  RECOMMENDED: The top 10 exhibitions in London. Four amazing London art exhibitions closing in April 2026 Turner & Constable: Rivals and Originals at Tate Britain The greatest of rivals – and two of Britain’s greatest painters – JMW Turner and John Constable are placed side by side in this starry exhibition. Although both had different paths to success, they each became recognised as stars of the art world and shared a connection to nature and recreating it in their landscape paintings. Explore the pair’s intertwined lives and legacies and get new insight into their creativity via sketchboo

Major news, music fans. Back in February it was revealed that former One Directioner, three-time Grammy winner and general pop culture icon Harry Styles would be curating the 2026 edition of Meltdown, following in the footsteps of David Bowie, Patti Smith, Grace Jones, Jarvis Cocker and countless other musical legends in selecting the line-up for the Southbank Centre’s renowned summer music festival.   And now, hot on the heels of his chart-topping fourth album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, the heartthrob has revealed the first wave of acts set to join him at the central London arts institution this June. On the bill for Meltdown’s 31st edition is an eclectic roster of established and up-and-coming artists, including plenty of artists born or based in the capital.  Harry Styles’s Meltdown opens with Warpaint’s only live date in 2026. The California-based indie rock outfit will play at Royal Festival Hall on Thursday 11 June in what promises to be an atmospheric opening for the eleven-day festival. The festival’s first Friday will feature gigs from folk singer Stephen Fretwell (Purcell Room, Fri 12 June), electronic producer Ninajirachi (Queen Elizabeth Foyer, Fri 12 June) and British jazz composer and multi-instrumentalist Shabaka Hutchings, who will be inviting a host of special guests to join him on stage at the Queen Elizabeth Hall for a one-off collaborative performance (Fri 12 June).  Also appearing over the opening weekend are experimental pop singer Erika de

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

Spring has finally sprung, and as the capital’s parks and gardens start to burst into life, its art scene is also a hive of activity. Some brilliant shows have opened in the last few weeks – there’s Beatriz González at the Barbican, Catherine Opie at the Portrait Gallery and Hurvin Anderson at Tate Britain, to name a few – but it’s about to get even busier for the city’s major galleries and museums.  Alongside the arrival of three massive new venues – V&A East (opening on April 18), the Museum of Youth Culture (opening on May 15) and the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration (also due to open in May) – Londoners can expect loads of brilliant exhibitions on everything from Gilded Age portraitists and monumental sculpture to Baroque masters and avant garde couture. Grab your diary and get planning with our guide to the truly unmissable shows coming up over the next few months.  10 London art exhibitions we’re most excited about in spring 2026 1. Michaelina Wautier at the Royal Academy Until relatively recently, few art historians believed that paintings bearing 17th century artist Michaelina Wautier’s signature could possibly have been made by a woman, instead attributing them to her brother or other male artists. And yet she did it all; flowers and still lifes, portraits and large-scale history paintings, mastering subjects typically reserved for her male peers. Twenty-five pieces feature in this landmark exhibition, the first in the UK to be devoted to this rediscovered mas

It’s crunch time in the 2025/26 football season, with the first domestic competition of the year concluding this weekend when Arsenal and Manchester City meet at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final.  Mikel Arteta’s league-leading Gunners will be attempting to secure their first piece of silverware in almost six years, having reached their first final since they won the FA Cup in 2020. Meanwhile Pep Guardiola’s City side will be attempting to turn their season around after being held to a draw against West Ham in the league over the weekend to give their title rivals a nine-point lead at the top, and exiting the Champions League during the week. Not got a ticket to Wembley but keen to catch the nail-biting action somewhere with a bit more atmosphere than your living room? Many local fans will be heading to the boozers and beer gardens of north London to watch Rice, Saka and Eze battling it out against Haaland and co. So if you fancy joining them, look no further than our roundup of London’s best Gooner pubs. RECOMMENDED: London’s best football pubs. 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 score at home. This place has a pretty strict home crowd only policy, and you’ll want to get down early to secure a good spot in front of its one screen.  66 Drayton Park, N5 1ND The Tollington Arms Another lively

You’ve really gotta hand it to Tate. The UK’s largest gallery conglomerate is in a league of its own when it comes to programming season after season of blockbuster exhibitions. Hot on the heels of the institution’s widely lauded Tracey Emin retrospective, in the brief lull before its next major opening – Tate Britain’s Hurvin Anderson exhibition arrives at the end of the month – the institution has announced its full programme for 2027, and there are plenty of bangers to get excited about. From 18th century landscapes and 20th century ink painting to giants of impressionism and post-impressionism, here’s everything to look forward to next year at two of London’s biggest and best art galleries.  Tate Modern  Tate kicks off 2027 with a huge exhibition examining Claude Monet’s relationship with time at Tate Modern. The gallery’s first ever exhibition to focus exclusively on the works of Impressionism’s founding father, Monet: Painting Time (Feb 25-Jun 27) promises to bring together loans from across the globe to examine how he evoked the rapid pace of modern life through fleeting, transient moments in time.  Image: Yuan Jai, ‘Jadeite Cabbage’, (1999). Courtesy of the Artist and Vitamin Creative Space. Spring will see the arrival of the gallery’s inaugural exhibition focusing on the practice of ink painting. Focusing on 20th century artists in Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China, Ink (Apr 22-Aug 20) will examine this ‘enduring and profoundly philosophical’ discipline through

Do you occasionally have a flutter on the National Lottery? Your chances of winning millions might be pretty slim, but whether you win big or not this weekend, your ticket means guaranteed prizes in the form of free or discounted entry to dozens of top attractions across the UK. Returning from Saturday March 7 to Sunday March 15, the National Lottery’s Open Week is a way for National Lottery-funded venues across the country to say thank you to participants for their part in raising £32 million each week to support charitable causes. The annual celebration offers free or heavily discounted access to visitors who present a lottery ticket upon entry at hundreds of celebrated venues, from historical sites, art galleries and museums to wildlife hotspots, sporting venues and even some lovely independent cinemas. In the mood for a bargain day out in the city? Here are loads of great London venues participating in National Lottery Open Week 2026. London venues with free or discounted entry for National Lottery Open Week 2026 The Tower of London What? 50 percent off for two adults and four children When? March 7-14  Kensington Palace What? 50 percent off for two adults and four children When? March 7-8 and March 11-14 Hampton Court Palace What? 50 percent off for two adults and four children When?  March 7-8 and March 13-14 Photograph: Shutterstock Tate Modern What? Two for one entry to the Theatre Picasso exhibition When? March 7-15  Eltham Palace and Gardens What? Free entry fo

Somerset House is a truly year-round venue. Through the winter months, the palatial arts complex on the Strand is home to one of the city’s most atmospheric winter skating pop-ups. In spring and autumn it hosts all manner of interesting art installations in its magnificent neo-classical courtyard. And at the height of summer, the same space plays host to some of the season’s most memorable outdoor concerts, as part of the Somerset House Summer Series. With festival line-up announcements coming thick and fast, and another glorious London summer beginning to take shape, the riverside arts venue has revealed the headliners for this year’s Summer Series, with eleven eclectic gigs scheduled from 16-26 July.  As usual, it’s an eclectic line-up, encompassing everything from indie and rock to neo-psychedelica, contemporary jazz and soul. RECOMMENDED: The best music festivals in London to book for 2026. The biggest names in this year’s series include breakthrough pop sensation Naïka (Thursday 16 July), veteran indie band The Cribs (Monday 20 July), ascendent art-rock outfit Black Country, New Road (Wednesday 22 July) and psychedelic rockers The Flaming Lips (Saturday 25 July). Also headlining are Palace (Friday 17 July), Thee Sacred Souls (Saturday 18 July), Lightning Seeds (Sunday 18 July), Agnes Obel (Tuesday 21 July), Venna (Thursday 23 July), Raf-Saperra (Friday 24 July) and Benjamin Clementine (Sunday 26 July).  Tickets for all gigs will be priced between £30 and £60, with the g

One of the longest-standing and largest queer film festivals, BFI Flare celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2026. The springtime film bonanza at the BFI’s South Bank home is a major calendar fixture for London’s queer communities and cinephiles alike, and with exactly one month to go until the 2026 edition of the festival kicks off, the line-up has just been revealed. Film buffs attending this year’s edition of Flare will be able to catch 31 world premieres among the 65 feature films and 62 shorts on the programme, alongside a stellar curation of classic queer cinema, and the usual programme of talks, workshops, exhibitions and DJ nights that make the BFI Southbank such a buzzy place to be during the festival.  The BFI Flare 2026 Line-Up Opening Night Film  As previously announced, the 40th edition of Flare will open with the world premiere of American documentary maker Jennifer Kroot’s riotous new film Hunky Jesus, which follows social justice movement the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence as they prepare to host their legendary annual Easter Sunday drag contest in San Francisco. Alongside the premiere, long-serving member Sister Roma will be present for a talk exploring the ‘sistory’ and impact of the movement alongside UK chapter members. Image: Hunky Jesus Special Presentation Taking place halfway through the festival, the Special Presentation for Flare 2026 is Kiwi director Paloma Schneideman’s ‘tender, unflinching’ coming of age drama Big Girls Don’t Cry, following 14-ye

The Southbank Centre’s early summer festival Meltdown has long since established itself as a key date in London’s cultural calendar.  Each year, the arts centre invites one celebrated artist to curate the festival, getting them to hand-pick a roster of their favourite musical talents and nightlife promoters to star across a two-week programme of gigs, participatory events and after-hours parties at the prestigious venue. Such luminaries as David Bowie, Yoko Ono, David Byrne, Grace Jones, Nick Cave, and Little Simz have previously stepped into the role, with news of who will curate each year’s edition of the festival always hotly anticipated. Anticipation for this year’s event is surely set to reach fever pitch now that it’s been revealed that it’s being masterminded by none other than former One Direction member, multiple BRIT and Grammy Award-winner and all-round pop superstar Harry Styles. Cue the ear-splitting screams. Taking place from Thursday June 11 to Sunday June 21, during the iconic London venue’s 75th anniversary celebrations, the 31st edition of Meltdown will see the ‘Watermelon Sugar’ singer draw on his eclectic musical influences to curate a line-up traversing pop, soul, rock and electronica, and featuring plenty of young British talent.  ‘My goal as the curator is to share the music and art that I love, and to celebrate the rich history of the venue,’ Styles said of his part in the latest edition of the festival. ‘We both share a passionate belief that music is