Rosie Hewitson

The final stretch of 2025 is upon us, and London is looking mighty festive in the run-up to Christmas. The skies are be sparkling with Christmas lights, the capital’s venues are filling up with Christmas pantos and carol services, and the streets are lined with colourful Christmas markets and twinkling trees. But December isn’t just about Christmas, and there’s plenty more brilliant things to do besides all the festive stuff. Notably, the acclaimed Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo is making its UK debut, it’s the first full month of the Design Museum’s hotly-anticipated Wes Anderson exhibition and the last full month of the bonkers jukebox musical Titanique. Plus, there are the ice-skating rinks, the winter pop-ups and the chilly winter walks followed by cosy pub hangouts. And that’s before we even get on to New Year’s Eve!  Here’s our guide to the finest events, parties, cultural happenings and things to do in London over December 2025.  London’s best things to do in December at a glance: 🧀 Best for foodies: Future of Food, Science Museum 🎭 Best for thespians: Ballet Shoes, National Theatre 🎬 Best for cinephiles: Backyard Cinema, Bermondsey 🎨 Best for aesthetes: Wes Anderson: The Exhibition, Design Museum 🧛 Best for night owls: Christmas lights, citywide 📚 Best for families: Winter Funland, Kensington RECOMMENDED: Time Out’s definitive London events calendar.

December 2025: December is a great time of year for exploring London’s museums. Sure, it’s one of the city’s peak tourism seasons – as visitors descend to check out the city’s Christmas markets, do some gift shopping on Oxford Street, go ice-skating and visit Hyde Park Winter Wonderland – but with all the festive distractions, the capital’s iconic institutions can be quieter than you might think. If you have time in amongst all the Christmas chaos, it’s a great chance to catch up on some of the autumn’s huge openings, from Wes Anderson at the Design Museum to Marie Antoinette Style at the V&A. Elsewhere, you can check out the special Christmas performances at the Charles Dickens Museum, head to the Natural History Museum to see its t-rex sporting a jazzy Christmas jumper, or stop by Dennis Severs’ House and the Museum of the Home to find out how Christmas was celebrated in years gone by. Museums are one of the things that London does best. This city boasts grand institutions housing ancient treasures, modern monoliths packed with intriguing exhibits, and tiny rooms containing deeply niche collections – and lots of them are totally free to anyone who wants to come in and take a gander. And with more than 170 London museums to choose from, there's bound to be one to pique your interest, whatever you're in to.  Want to explore the history of TfL? We’ve got a museum for that. Rather learn about advertising? We’ve got a museum for that too. History? Check. Science? Check. 1940s c

December 2025: The final month of the year has arrived, and London is looking hella festive. Whether you’re a lifelong Londoner or have never set foot on our Lime bike-strewn pavements before, Christmas in London must involve some of the capital’s beloved festive traditions, from ice-skating at a scenic pop-up rink and strolling around the city Christmas markets, to carol singing at some iconic London landmarks, seeing a panto on the West End and marvelling at London’s magnificent Christmas lights. It really is the most wonderful time of the year. 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 this weekend. After a few days pot

  Somehow, we’ve made it to the very first weekend of December. We’ve already torn open the first doors of our advent calendars, and there are even more daily treats in store in London thanks to the city’s epic cultural calendar. Now Christmas is just days away, you’ll be hard-pressed to avoid the jollities, so you might as well get stuck in. If you want a full-festive hit, head to Covent Garden for the big switch-on of its LED-festooned display featuring an 18-metre tall fir tree, a Victorian Santa’s sleigh and 40 gigantic bells. Or, if you fancy something slightly less red and green, hit up the Yokimono Japanese Christmas market to pick up chic gifts or watch Paddington Bear come to life on stage in a heart-warming adaptation of the first film.  Still doing your best to block out all the tinsel? There’s lots more on offer without the danger of hearing a Michael Buble cover of Jingle Bells. See John le Carré’s The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, brought to the West End in a slick, taut production of the brutal espionage yarn, grab a rare chance to explore Crystal Palace’s magnificently restored Victorian subway and see Wes Anderson’s whimsical worlds close-up at the Design Museum’s huge exhibition dedicated to the director.   Or, get stuck into cosy season by heading out on a winter walk, visiting a warming pub or picking up spoils from London’s best markets. Get out into the cold, and have a blast!  Start planning: here’s our roundup of the best things to do in London this 

  And suddenly, it’s time to say hello to December. We’ve already torn open the first doors of our advent calendars, and there are even more daily treats in store in London thanks to the city’s epic cultural calendar. Now Christmas is just days away, you’ll be hard-pressed to avoid the jollities, so you might as well get stuck in. If you want a full-festive hit, head to Covent Garden for the big switch-on of its LED-festooned display featuring an 18-metre tall fir tree, a Victorian Santa’s sleigh and 40 gigantic bells. Or, if you fancy something slightly less red and green, hit up the Yokimono Japanese Christmas market to pick up chic gifts or watch Paddington Bear come to life on stage in a heart-warming adaptation of the first film.  Still doing your best to block out all the tinsel? There’s lots more on offer without the danger of hearing a Michael Buble cover of Jingle Bells. See John le Carré’s The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, brought to the West End in a slick, taut production of the brutal espionage yarn, grab a rare chance to explore Crystal Palace’s magnificently restored Victorian subway and see Wes Anderson’s whimsical worlds close-up at the Design Museum’s huge exhibition dedicated to the director. Or, get stuck into cosy season by heading out on a winter walk, visiting a warming pub or picking up spoils from London’s best markets. Get out into the cold, and have a blast!  Start planning: here’s our roundup of the best things to do in London this December  In

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

When you’re really in need of a bit of relaxation – or just fancy treating yourself to a luxurious day of pampering – there’s no better place to head than a gorgeous spa where you can escape from reality in a sauna, hot tub or via a soothing massage. We’ve rounded up the very best spas in London right now and there’s something for all tastes, from gloriously atmospheric stone baths to the spots with the most up-to-date high-tech facials. Unwinding doesn’t have to cost the earth – there are plenty of affordable spas across the city, as well as the capital’s offerings of plush, high-end wellness suites. Whichever you choose, you’re guaranteed to leave feeling like you’re floating on air. Best spas in London at a glance Best for affordable pampering: Spa Experience Best for a serious splurge: Ushvani Best for men’s grooming: Thai Square Spa Best pool: Surrenne at The Berkeley Best facial: The Savoy RECOMMENDED:The best hotels in LondonThe best Airbnbs in London

Even after a couple of vintage years for new music, 2025 has been special. Sure, we didn’t get a clear-cut ‘song of the summer’, but artists have been instead putting out defining works in a longer format. The past 12 (well, 11) months have featured all manner of extraordinary album releases.  Belted-to-the-rafters country pop, plunderphonic majesty, ecstatic dance music, intimate electronic world-building, history-collapsing art rock, triumphant hip-hop… these are just a few of the sounds and styles that have been executed marvellously in 2025. Here are the year’s finest 25 albums, chosen by Time Out editors and contributors.

It may only be the start of the festive period, but we are already thinking about festival season 2026. And we can’t wait.  By the time summer rolls around, Londoners will be absolutley spoilt for choice. With something taking place almost every weekend throughout the warmer months, you can forget trekking across the country to live in a field for five days; simply hop on the tube and before you know it you’re listening to your favourite artists, tinny to hand, knowing that there’s a hot shower and a cosy bed waiting for you once the day is over.  The line-up announcements for next year’s events are already coming in thick fast, with huge acts like Tyler, The Creator, Lewis Capaldi, Lorde, Lily Allen, Scissor Sisters and Deftones set to take to the London stage next summer. Plus, the future of events in Brockwell Park was thrown up in the air in 2025, however the south London park’s usual lineup of events – which includes Cross The Tracks, Wide Awake and Field Day – will all return in 2026.  Have a scroll through our comprehensive guide – which we keep meticulously updated with all the latest line-up announcements – and see what takes your fancy. RECOMMENDED: ⛺ The best UK music festivals🌍 The best festivals in Europe

It’s hard not to fall in love with London all over again at Christmastime. In the run-up to December 25 each year, the city becomes a glittering wonderland of all things festive, from gorgeous light displays to quaint markets with warming mulled wine and pressie perfect trinkets, a packed calendar of Crimbo events to gleaming ice rinks. But all of that would feel like it was missing something if a whole host of eye-catching Christmas trees didn’t also accompany it. London’s festive firs (and quirky ‘trees’ made out of all manner of creative materials) are the jewels in the crown of its Yuletide makeover, and there are so many to go and marvel at. Trafalgar Square’s annual gift from Norway comes backed by heartwarming tradition and Covent Garden’s doesn’t hold back when it comes to a bit of sparkle. The city’s bougiest hotels, meanwhile, call on artists and fashion designers to give a modern twist on a festive staple. Most of London’s must-see Christmas tree displays haven't yet been announced for 2025, but we'll be adding them to this page as soon as they're unveiled. RECOMMENDED: Where to buy a Christmas tree in London. 

Few areas of London are quite as atmospheric as Soho. The place is steeped in history. There are cultural institutions on practically every corner of this bustling central London neighbourhood, from historic drinking dens frequented by famous artists and writers to iconic gay bars, hallowed music venues that have played host to countless jazz, blues and rock’n’roll icons, to relics of the area’s seedy past as London’s primary red light district. As soon as you’re there, the place fizzes with the promise of adventurous evenings and wild nights.  These days, Soho is equal parts edgy and sexy, polished and chic; a glorious mélange of cheap and cheerful gay bars, sleek restaurants, swanky designer boutiques, legendary old cafés and delis, tourists stopping by on the way to a West End show, office escapees necking post-work pints and gleeful teens gliding by on rickshaws blasting the latest chart hits.  🏘️ Ultimate guide to where to stay in London Time Out’s offices are located just a short walk down the road in Covent Garden, which means our editors have spent many lunch hours browsing our way down Carnaby Street, and even more Thursday evenings stopping by the Coach & Horses for ‘a swift one’ before stumbling home via the Cambridge Circus McDonald’s after four pints and a packet of pickled onion Monster Munch. As such, we’re extremely qualified to tell you what is good in this colourful, hectic and quintessentially ‘London’ part of town. So here are 20 of our absolute favourite

Some people start prepping for Christmas before the first autumn leaf has fluttered to the ground. But if you hang on a little, you'll be rewarded with a shopping experience to savour, as you shop for one-of-a-kind gifts in a festive market. In the winter months running up to Crimbo, the capital becomes home to tons of wintry fairs, stacked with stalls selling unique pressies from small businesses and independent designers that you’d never find in the big shops online or off. They’re perfect for browsing as the big day looms and a good excuse to treat yourself to Christmas snacks and mulled wine as you tick gifts off your list. You’ll find everything you need to make someone’s Christmas Day memorable at London’s pop-up markets, from ceramics and plants to pressies from around the world. Be sure to bookmark this page, because we’ll be adding more markets around the city as they’re announced.  London’s best Christmas markets at a glance: 🧀 Best for foodies Southbank Centre Winter Market ⛸️ Best for entertainment Hyde Park Winter Wonderland Market 🎄 Best for festive atmosphere Christmas at Leadenhall Market 👩‍🎨 Best for creative gifts DIY Christmas Art Market ♻️ Best for sustainable gifts Urban Makers Christmas Market RECOMMENDED: Our complete guide to Christmas in London.

All Points East returns to Vicky Park for its eighth edition in 2026. Since debuting in 2018, the festival has garnered a reputation for building some of the most exciting line-ups in the UK. Its headliners are often indie or dance-focused big-hitters, while its undercards are packed with cult heroes and rising stars you can say you saw first. As well as the ticketed weekend events, look out for All Points East In the Neighbourhood, the festival’s free midweek programme of community activities including film screenings, live sports, theatre, family fun and more.  When is All Points East 2025? So far announced, APE will take place across Friday, August 28 and Saturday, August 29. The festival typically runs over multiple weekends, with more acts to be announced soon.  How much are tickets? Each show is priced differently, as are the different levels of access on offer. Ticket prices for all the 2026 shows are yet to be announced, but in 2025 general admission tickets ranged from £68.85 to £79.75, with VIP offerings available for between £112.65 and £154.75. If you want to beat the crowds to a prime spot, you can nab a primary entry ticket. There are also payment plans available if you’d prefer not to drop the full ticket price all at once. Really want to go but can’t afford to drop the full ticket price all at once? Payment plans are available. Every year APE also organises a free mid-week programme in collaborating with Tower Hamlets Council for locals called In The Neighbour

One for the proper ravers here; east London warehouse club Fold is once again seeing in the New Year with an extended 24-hour edition of its flagship queer party Unfold. If you’ve been before, you’ll know the drill: the line-up will remain unannounced, with tickets only available on the door. Expect long queues outside (we’d recommend grabbing a few tinnies from the corner shop for the wait) and pounding techno from the best selectors this side of Berghain once you’re inside. Wear black, obviously. And dress to sweat.

If you’re a very online kinda person, you may well have seen the tortilla slap game all over social media. If you’re not a very online kinda person, this is gonna sound strange, but it basically involves competitoer filling their mouths with water, and then proceeding to slap each other as hard as they can in the face with a tortilla, until one of them laughs and sprays their mouth water everywhere (honestly, just look it up!)  If you reckon you’d make a champion tortilla slapper, then get down to Market Place in Vauxhall over the final weekend in November, when the food hall will be hosting the second annual championships in collaboration with Venezuelan and Mexican street food purveyors Streat Latin. Spectators can get their hands on free tacos and cocktails and will be entertained by a live mariachi band and Lucha Libre wrestling, while competitors are in with a shout of securing a year’s supply of tacos and margs on the house.  Ready to get your slap on? Competitors will need to sign up here, and will be judged on slap sound, distance of water spray, the opponent’s reaction and the intactness of their tortilla. Happy slapping!

The world of solid dairy has some truly devoted fans and they’ll do well to pay a visit to Borough Market’s annual Evening of Cheese, where they’ll find an enormous range of products from all over the world to tempt turophiles, including wines, ciders, chutneys and – obviously – absolutely loads of top quality cheese from around Europe. Looking to craft the perfect festive cheeseboard? Head down to get your paws on loads of tasty little samples, and some expert advice from the market’s artisanal traders. There’ll be plenty of drinks on hand to complete the gouty vibes, while the festivities will also feature the annual parmesan-cracking competition, where cheesemongers compete to cut open a huge wheel of the good stuff and arrange it in a tower. Be sure to nab a spot by the front to get first dips on the freebies afterwards!

What is it? A first stop for East End trendies, Goodhood is a clothing and lifestyle shop owned by streetwear obsessed couple Kyle Stewart and Jo Sindle. After seven years on Hoxton’s Coronet Street, and a decade on Curtain Road, it recently upped sticks again to a super-size, 5,500 square foot site just off Brick Lane. What does it sell? A deftly curated edit of womenswear, menswear, accessories, kids’ stuff, beauty and grooming products, plus homeware, audio equipment and fancy camping gear. Japanese independent labels are well represented, while other covetable brands include Aries, Brain Dead, Engineered Garments, Pendleton, Ganni, Norse Projects, Our Legacy and Wood Wood. You’ll also find matcha whisks, wall tapestries and quality basics from the shop’s own brand, Goodhood Lifestore – designed in collaboration with Brain Dead co-founder Ed Davis – plus curated edits of stock from Broadway Market bookshop Artwords, vintage brand Unified Goods and Hackney record store Stranger Than Paradise.  The upscale, leftfield stock is hand picked to appeal to Goodhood’s very East End customer, but is shot through with a real sense of humour and a few easy, low-cost buys: branded tees, socks and hats, plus affordable trinkets, mugs, badges and stickers. Opening times 11am to 7pm daily Time Out tip If you want to be ahead of the curve when it comes to streetwear-influenced fashion, be sure to keep tabs on the brands represented here; Goodhood has a knack for stocking interesting

If you’re looking to splash your cash on something high-end and fancy in London, Bond Street won’t steer you wrong. It’s fitting, then, that the area’s Christmas lights for 2025 are inspired by some serious bling: the crown jewels. Evoking jewel-studded crowns, pearl necklaces and sparkling tiaras, the display features more than 80,000 energy-efficient LED bulbs crafted from recyclable, long-life materials, reducing energy consumption by 75 percent compared to previous installations. Find more Christmas lights in London

You better wrap up warm if you’re visiting E14 this winter, because London’s financial district is transforming into the Wharf Pole in the run-up to Christmas. Alongside the return of its seasonal ice rink, the neighbourhood has welcomed a brand new cold-weather pop-up this festive season. The Winter Club features three different spaces in which visitors can enjoy a festive tipple. There’s a buzzy Bavarian-style beer hall with live bands, sizzling bratwurst and frothing steins, and a cosy ski chalet offering hot toddies and relaxed après-ski vibes. But the biggest draw is surely the Ice Bar, where you can sip seriously chilly cocktails served in ice glasses, in a -10°C ice palace filled with frosty sculptures. Cool AF, literally.  

Seasoned London festival-goers have been singing the praises of this 10,000-capacity Southwark Park festival since it debuted in 2023, thanks to its boutique size, community vibe and collaborative line-ups created with help from some of the city’s best culture venues. So we’re pleased to say that Rally is coming back for a fourth edition in 2026, with a very exciting line-up curated by Blood Orange. Dev Hynes – AKA the guy behind Blood Orange – will bring his signature blend of synth funk, experimental beats and emotional depth to Southwark Park. Hynes will headline, and the rest of the line-up will be hand-selected by him. It’s still under wraps but given Hynes’ excellent taste, we have high hopes. 

Curling has been growing in popularity in recent years, nudged on by its compelling showings at various Winter Olympics, and this pop-up outdoor arena in King’s Cross’s lovely shopping district Coal Drops Yard is now a mainstay of the area’s winter entertainment offering. It boasts six synthetic curling lanes, on which you can curl your heart out for 45 minutes before rewarding yourself with a tasty cocktail at the retro Italian après bar the Club Curling Lounge. 

’Tis the season for rampant consumerism, but if all the covetable clobber, shiny new tech and luxury knick-knacks are failing to fill the void, you’d do well to swing by the Choose Love store during your Christmas shopping spree. First set up in 2017 by Help Refugees, the clever pop-up doesn’t peddle fancy beauty products or the latest trainers. Instead, its shelves are filled with emergency blankets, children’s shoes, sleeping bags, toiletries, mobile phone credit, nappies, education supplies and other essentials needed by refugees around the world. Once you’ve bought what you can, the products are distributed via more than 80 projects that the humanitarian aid organisation works with across the globe. After several successful years on nearby Carnaby Street, the pop-up has moved into a department store-sized space on Regent Street for its biggest ever edition this year. Head down to check out a beautifully-designed space which is once again designed by Misty Buckley (The Oscars, The BRIT Awards) and will be set across two floors, with the usual roster of surprise celebrity volunteers working on the tills, and to do your bit to spread some Christmas cheer to those who need it most.

Prepare for a feast for the eyes, but resist the urge to nibble! The sweetest festive event you’ll find, the Museum of Architecture’s edible exhibition tasks leading architects and designers to ditch their conventional building materials for dough bricks and sugar paste mortar to construct a miniature biscuit metropolis erected in King’s Cross’s Coal Drops Yard for the festive season. With a new theme each year, the exhibition aims to encourage innovation and future-forward city planning, and this year’s ‘Playful City’ theme has resulted in some really fun designs, from school buildings with slides between classrooms to candy-coloured climbing walls. As well as marvelling at all the confectionary craftsmanship on display, visitors can take part in a series of hands-on gingerbread house workshops where they’ll be able to construct a delicious souvenir to take home. 

Planning a mammoth Christmas shopping trip soon? After a successful debut in 2024, Barnet’s winter ice-skating pop-up is back, popping up in the John Lewis car park adjacent to Brent Cross Shopping Centre for the winter season. Adorned with festive garlands, wreaths and fairy lights, the 6,781 square foot space can accommodate 150 skaters at a time, and is covered so it can be enjoyed during even the most extreme winter weather. It’s the perfect place to reward yourself after a hectic afternoon lugging shopping bags around. Opening times: Mon-Fri 3pm-9pm; Sat-Sun 10am-9pm.  Price: £15; children £13; family of four for £50.

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

It’s the big one! England’s Red Roses will be attempting to match the Lionesses this afternoon, as they play Canada in the Women’s Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham.  The home side might be the bookies favourite to get their hands on the trophy, but after suffering back-to-back final losses in the last two World Cup finals, it’s far from a foregone conclusion. In a repeat of the 2014 final – the last time England took the trophy home – they’ll need to conquer Canada, who knocked out six-time World Cup winners New Zealand to make it to Twickenham. Thanks to Asahi’s Rugby Like Never Before campaign, more than 1,000 pubs across the UK (and dozens in London) have screened every match of the tournament, making it the most accessible women’s rugby tournament to date. On top of that, the final is on track to break records, with crowd of 82,000 expected to descend on Twickenham Stadium, which will make it the most attended women’s rugby match in history.   Tickets to the fixture have long since been sold out, but thousands of women’s rugby ultras and newly converted fans are preparing to join the scrum at watch parties across the city. Planning to watch with them? Here’s our roundup of London’s greatest spots to watch every scrum, tackle and try in the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final 2025. The best places in London to watch the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final 2025 The Official Fan Zone at Battersea Power Station Situated in the shadow of Battersea Power Station’s iconic 103-metre tall

The first week of autumn is drawing to a close, and the weather is looking appropriately crisp – dare we say even a tad chilly – over the coming weekend. As the weather gets colder and darker, it might be tempting to spend all weekend indoors making roast dinners, taking baths and reading novels, particularly for those of us whose payday doesn’t arrive until next week.  But if you’re willing to wrap up warm and get outside, there’s plenty of free fun to be had over your precious two days off. From a massive sporting fixture to a free arts festival in the London Docklands, these are the best free things to do across the city this weekend.  RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in London this weekend. The best free things to do in London this weekend, September 26-28 1. Watch the Red Roses take on Canada in the Rugby World Cup Final It’s the big one! England’s Red Roses have reached the final of the Women’s Rugby World Cup for the seventh tournament in a row. On Saturday afternoon they’ll face Canada for a chance to lift the World Cup trophy for the first time since 2014, and on home soil to boot. Tickets for the Twickenham fixture have long since sold out, but there are a whole bunch of pubs, sports bars and local rugby clubs across London that’ll be following the action, with plenty of free screenings on offer. Check out our roundup of the best ones here.  Various venues. Sat Sep 27, 4pm kick off. Free.  2. Learn about the rich past of SW3 at the Chelsea History Festival Som

Have you ever really done Christmas in London if you haven’t experienced the festive loveliness of Somerset House’s skating pop-up? Probably not, we’d argue.  A fixture of Somerset House’s winter programme since the riverside institution first opened its doors in 2000, the 900 square metre rink in the centre of William Chambers’s magnificent eighteenth-century courtyard it arguably the most scenic ice rinks in the capital, and certainly one of its most popular ones. Keen to go for a glide (or an awkward shuffle) around the ice this festive season? Here’s everything you need to know about the beloved winter attraction’s 2025 season.  Somerset House ice skating dates and prices Skate at Somerset House returns from Tuesday November 12 and runs daily (excluding Christmas Day) until Sunday January 11 2026. Tickets for hour-long skating sessions vary in price depending on when you’re visiting, starting from £11 for super off-peak times and going up to £26 for the most in-demand dates and times. Somerset House skating on-sale date Tickets for the 2025-2026 Skate season go on general sale on Friday September 26, but if you’re keen to secure tickets for one of the more sought-after dates, it’s worth signing up to the presale here for early access.  Once general sale goes live, you can get tickets on the Somerset House website here. Somerset House Skate Lates line-up Featuring DJ sets from a host of London’s most celebrated music and nightlife collectives, Somerset House’s Skate Lat

The summer holidays are well and truly over, and London’s cultural institutions are very much in ‘back to school’ mode this month, with loads of great exhibition openings across September and new season announcements coming thick and fast. The Tate, the Courtauld and the National Portrait Gallery have already announced their 2026 seasons, and now it’s the turn of celebrated arts institution Somerset House.  Ahead of its 25th birthday celebrations this weekend, the venue has shared details of its 2026-2027 culture programme, including major exhibitions, another big birthday celebration and the return of some of the venue’s best-loved seasonal events.  Following the closure of the venue’s winter exhibitions on Jennie Baptiste and Wayne McGregor, and the ever-popular Skate at Somerset House, the 2026 programme kicks off with the annual Spring commission in the venue’s neoclassical courtyard.  Created by German-Scottish artist and researcher Dana-Fiona Armour, Serpentine Currents (Feb 19-Apr 26) will feature large-scale serpentine structures derived from 3D scans of endangered sea snake specimens, illuminated by light patterns triggered by oceanographic data, addressing the looming threat of marine ecosystem collapse. Cheerful stuff! Photograph: Anne Tetzlaff This is followed by the return of Somerset House Studios’ biannual experimental music and sound series Assembly (Mar 25-28), which returns over four days in early spring with a programme of new commissions and live premier

Anyone else got a touch of that September-ish ‘back to school’ feeling? The first conkers are starting to speckle London’s pavements, stationery shops are looking increasingly tempting, and there’s a brisk breeze that means you can finally wear a jumper without becoming filled with sweaty regret. And with the start of a new season comes the desire to become a new person, with fresh hobbies and hangouts to match. Luckily, London’s got you covered, with any number of possible past-times jostling for your attention. Many of them are pricy but some are totally free, meaning you can spend your spare cash on more important things, like chic sweaters or seasonal gourd displays. Read on for our pick of the best free things to do this weekend. The best free things to do in London this weekend, September 12-14 1. Browse the stalls at artist book fair GLUE Discover the delights of thick matte pages, hand-sewn bindings and radical ideas at this celebration of indie and DIY bookmaking. This event at the Institute of Contemporary Arts will host 70 indie publishers including the likes of SMUT, Montez Press and Sports Banger, with special exhibitions and a packed programme of talks, workshops and parties. Hot Potato – the ‘newspaper for people who don’t read the news’ – is putting on an exhibition for the occasion, as is photographer Sana Badri. While you’re there, drop into a bookbinding workshop, have a go at self-portraiture or sit down for a talk from radical publishers Verso Books. All