Some great words from some great writers.
Articles (23)
The tastiest things we ate in 2022
It has been a deeply delicious year. Over the past 12 monthas the Time Out office has been powered not just by exemplary Korean fried chicken and vegan âfishâ but, in an unlikely coming together of both Scottish and Canadian cuisines, haggis poutine. Step this way to discover what else whet the appetites of our London staff in 2022, and then feel free to head off on a greedy little pilgrimage to eat these delightful dishes yourself. Tell them Time Out sent you. Seconds are encouraged. Want more joyful things from this year? We got you. Here are London's best gigs of 2022 And the best books of 2022
The best new restaurants of 2022
It takes guts to open a new restaurant, especially in 2022. With the London food world still struggling with the fallout from so many lockdowns, coupled with Brexit-induced inflation, staffing issues, the rising cost of bills and rents, and everything else terrible that comes with a cost-of-living crisis, opening a new dining location seems like absolute madness. But the capitalâs restaurateurs have persisted and we thank them heartily for their service to our stomachs. From small independent sushi spots to multi-million-pound Mayfair joints, pubs serving up spectacular south Indian cuisine, hole-in-the-wall bagel bakeries and low-key vegan Sichuan spots, loads of great new places arrived on the scene this year. Here are the Time Out London teamâs favourites.  Why not have a look at the 22 best songs of 2022. Or even the 33 best films of 2022.
Secret Santa gift ideas
Ah, the old Secret Santa quandary. Youâve got to get a gift for that bloke from marketing that youâve never actually spoken to â plus, youâre on a tight budget and youâve put off buying until the last minute. Have no fear: weâve rounded up some of the best secret Santa gift ideas from various stores to give you a spot of inspiration this Christmas.Â
Where to get started with...
Historically, three things have put you off reading classic authors: a lack of time, trepidation about where to start and, crucially, the fact we all secretly prefer back-to-back episodes of shoddy Netflix dramas over the greatest works of literature the world has ever produced. Well, we canât do anything about that last one. Itâs just human nature. But you do have time now. Lots of it. So we thought weâd point you in the right direction with our âWhere to get started withâ series. Every week, we spotlight a highly regarded author, and recommend the best entry point into their work â whether thatâs a novel, play, or short story. If you like what you read, we have advice on what to go for next. Allow us to ease you in gently to the world of Very Good Books.Â
6 London wellness classes that you can (probably) fall asleep in
From bougie gyms and spin studios to outdoor workouts, London isnât short on places to get sweaty. But sometimes, you want to slow the pace a bit. Some gentle yoga, perhaps, or a meditation workshop. And sometimes, you want to go to a class where you can basically fall asleep (just us?). We go in search of the best wellness and yoga workshops where you can squeeze in 40 winks. RECOMMENDED: Londonâs best fitness classes
5 writers on their favourite Sunday roasts in London
Itâs officially roast season, which (hopefully) means gravy by the bucketload, massive yorkshire puddings and a vast pile of roast potatoes. We asked five writers to wax lyrical about their favourite roast dinners across the city, from veggie options to classic roast beef. Letâs tuck in. RECOMMENDED: Things to do on a Sunday in London
Four writers on their favourite pub gardens in London
Londonâs not short on lovely parks or ace rooftop bars where you can have a tipple when the sun comes out, but everyone knows that the beer garden is where itâs really at. From wide open terraces to hedge-screened hideaways, thereâs something special about the cityâs pub gardens. RECOMMENDED: Outdoor London
Five writers try out Londonâs most unusual wellness treatments
Sure, spa days are great, but sweating it out in a sauna isn't the only way to feel good. From bathing in wine to being blasted with liquid nitrogen, we test out some of London's most unusual ways to feel good. RECOMMENDED: The best spa breaks near London
9 ways to make every day more extraordinary
How often do you stop and consider just how many possibilities for adventure and discovery London has to offer? If youâre a local, chances are you tend to overlook the small things that make this city such an inspiring place to live. To mark the launch of their new smartphone, the Google Pixel 3, the folks at Google have unveiled the Curiosity Rooms. Located a stoneâs throw from Piccadilly Circus at 55 Regent Street, the three-floor space is filled with installations, pop-ups, workshops, free events and talks that are all designed to ignite your sense of curiosity. The rooms are open from now until December 16, from noon-9pm on Thursday to Saturday, and noon-6pm on Sunday. Canât make it down to the Curiosity Rooms? No worries: you can elevate each day by experiencing your city through the eyes of the Google Pixel 3. Let us tell you what you can find when you explore London, Google Pixel 3 in hand. 1. Get high To get a new perspective, sometimes you need to see things from a totally different viewpoint â literally. Climb up high and those same old streets, buildings and landmarks you pass daily will be transformed: youâll feel like a tiny part of a massive, beautiful, heaving metropolis. South Londoners, head to Greenwich Park or Crystal Palace; for those up north, hot-foot it to Primrose Hill, Parliament Hill or Alexandra Palace. Sure, you might start panting on the hike up there, but itâll be worth it â especially if you take a wide-angle #skylineselfie to capture the momen
Crush hour: writers share their experiences of love in the city
Lavender in London By Bella Cox, a Barbican Young Poet living in east London Iâve never had a girl bring flowers to a date before. There was a boy, once, when I was 16. He was apologising for being 20 minutes late in the only language heâd been taught that girls understood and he thrust the over-large bouquet in my hand in a mute please-donât-be-mad-at-me gesture as soon as he arrived, which got me to smile. But the date didnât go well. A woman bringing flowers to a date is unprecedented. And sheâs done it out of nothing more than kindness? I am bemused and, like last time I saw her, speechless. We are standing in the entryway to the tube, disgruntled commuters bustling past us, her beaming like a freshly shined jewel. She hands me the flowers, words desert me, we smile into a kiss that is filled with nerves. As we do, and without our permission, our lipsticks spread two different shades of red around each otherâs mouth. Shit. Another unprecedented occurrence. Iâve never been with a woman who also wears lipstick. I feel my cheeks plum to match my lips; Red Peril. But behold! She is a Londoner and baby-wipe prepared! So we stand, giggling at the entrance, gently wiping each otherâs mouth back to neutral, me awkwardly clutching the first-date bouquet between arm and ribcage, still not sure what to say, her asking me to keep still and smell the flowers. I Miss Your Instagram Stories Travis Alabanza Artist, writer and performer living in south London It was sometime in July that
Ask Jenk: our teenage agony uncle solves London kidsâ problems
Back-to-school is a tough time for kids: back to homework, peer pressure, getting nagged by mum and dad⊠But help is at hand! We put some young Londonersâ problems to 13-year-old Jenk Oz, who â as the countryâs youngest CEO â seems to know his stuff. I donât mind going to school mostly, but I hate maths. Does it ever get less boring? Sophia, 10, Balham Jenk says: âMaths is like Marmite â you love it or you hate it! However, itâs a really important subject because, unlike a lot of school subjects, youâll actually end up using maths every single day for the rest for your life â whether shopping, playing music, watching sports or checking the numbers on your first ever payslip! I think the best way to cope with it, if itâs not your favourite thing to study, is to make it as fun as possible. There are so many new maths-focused apps that are created in gaming style, making learning a lot more fun. Also, websites such as BBC Bitesize can help you break down complicated sums and equations to make them easier to understand. The easier they become, the more you will learn to love it, and the less boring it will be!â I want to watch âGame of Thronesâ but my mum wonât let me â she says Iâm not old enough. How can I change her mind? Josh, 12, Dalston Jenk says: âMy mum wonât let me watch it either! Itâs rated age 15 and Iâve heard itâs pretty gory, with some pretty grown-up content. If I ever want to watch something thatâs got an older rating, I usually ask my mum or dad if they can wa
Tube etiquette: Time Out readersâ ten rules for commuters
Last week we brought you a comprehensive guide to tube etiquette. From standing on the right to never eating a McDonaldâs, we rounded up the dos, donâts and donât-you-even-think-about-its of travelling on the London Underground. However, it turns out 20 rules just arenât enough. You guys took to Facebook, Twitter and Reddit to add your own ideas to our list â and you had very strong demands! So hereâs the Time Out readersâ guide to tube etiquette. 1. Take your rucksack off before boarding (via Nick Herrod) âPlease, please take your rucksack off your back before boarding. You have no control over it and you take up twice the space. Grrr.â         2. Get your Oyster card ready (via Suzette La Pierre) âDonât wait until you are standing in front of a barrier to find your Oyster card â keep it bloody moving!â 3. Maybe do your beauty routine at home (via George Chapman) âI got on the Northern Line once to discover a seat covered in fingernail clippings. Donât know why these people donât just move in and save on rent.â 4. Never wait at the end of an escalator (via Gayle Richardson) âIf you are organising a group of teenagers from a language school, please donât tell them to wait at the bottom of the escalator as they tend to take it far too literally.â       5. Keep your limbs under control (via John Wolfe) âHave some spacial awareness! I canât count the amount of times people have flailed their arms out in front of me, or blocked the platform as a huge group.â 6. Don
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Three writers share their favourite London walks
Have you looped your local park more times than you ever thought possible? Yeah, same. We asked three writers to reveal the walk they love the most in the city â whether for its views, terrains or sentimental value. Their replies will get you excited about pounding Londonâs streets again. Blythe Hill to the Horniman View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brockley_Life (@brockley_life) When I was a child, I split my time fairly evenly between my granâs ground-floor flat on Faversham Road and my mumâs basement flat in the heart of Forest Hill, a couple of hundred yards from the half-demented Victorian opulence of the Horniman Gardens. Itâs about a mile and a half from one point to the other, and there are two ways to do it: the flatly utilitarian option of following Stanstead Road; or the route that snakes from Blythe Hill Fields in the Catford borderlands, all the way up through Honor Oak, and lets you arrive by stealth at the carefully manicured greenery in Forest Hill. The first is for the daily grind â a choke of South Circular traffic and sparsely stocked cornershops. The second is more suited to reflection. Itâs a route I still take about once a month, when the weatherâs good and my dayâs clear. From Blythe Hill, the eastern skyline opens up to reveal the slightly dated skyscraper impositions in the City, a view that Gran never really took to. Certainly, it lacks the spectacle youâll be granted at the Horniman, but the older I get, the more I apprec
In 2021, letâs celebrate the little things
A few years ago, I started to discover joy and awe in the small things. I was spending some time in rehab meetings all over London, many in churches. Churches often have churchyards, and in one of them I noticed a flower with pink and yellow petals like battenberg cake. It lit me up. I started to look outwards, instead of down at my phone. I saw goldfinches, blue tits, sparrows and woodpeckers. Leaves and buds and seeds and roots. Cormorants, water voles, foxes and butterflies. I began to look at how our connection with the rest of nature can affect our mental and emotional health. The evidence blew me away. I found that walking down a tree-lined street or through a green space or urban woodland affects our body and brain in myriad ways. Hearing birdsong can lower stress levels; watching spring light fall through the trees can be psychologically restorative; handling plants in soil may have mental health effects via the microbiome pathway; the smell of earth after rain, known as âpetrichorâ, can affect areas of the brain associated with calmness and relaxation. Itâs not just paying attention to other species that can bring us joy. Take your earphones out on the bus and listen to the lives of others. Watch someone stroking their dog, or kissing the cheeks of a baby, or two men having a big old hug. Look up and see a ballet lesson in an old schoolroom. Puffs of flour as a baker kneads bread. Itâs all there, hiding in plain sight. Our humour: the seven noses of Soho; the fridge
Rhys James imagines London in ten years' time
For our comedy special, Rhys James offers a view of London from the future... Gentrification spreads from the centre like a kombucha spill. We come to accept the definition of âgentrifiedâ as âhas a Gailâs bakery nowâ. East London becomes so vintage the plague returns, localised in Hackney Wick. Brexit causes house prices to soar as people accept their âmove to Paris to drink tiny coffees for a yearâ fantasies are dead and demand increases. Alternatively, a lack of Brexit causes house prices to soar as homeowners decide they need more money to pay for tiny coffees in Paris next year. A giant inflatable flailing tube man is erected in the City by a YouTube prankster for the sole purpose of ruining the establishing drone shots on âThe Apprenticeâ. Zones 1 and 2 become permanently pedestrianised to meet the demand for marches. Every car is now a Prius, as decreed by UN President Thunberg, causing mass confusion as to whether or not your Uber has arrived. Niche sport bars like Flight Club, Bounce and those mad warehouses for tiny golf inspire more novelty nerd-sport pubs. The most talked about include Catch (indoor fishing), Windy City (indoor kite-flying) and the extremely short-lived Gulp (sword-swallowing). Visitors from the north still somehow end up plonked directly into Leicester Square and go home believing London is an Angus Steakhouse and three beatboxers. Rhys James: âSnitchâ. Leicester Square Theatre. Leicester Square. Mar 13 2020. Find out about the best comedy nigh
Dane Baptisteâs top three places to take a poo in London
What do you do if you wanna take a poo in an English country garden? I wouldnât know, I live in London. As a London resident, being cash rich and time poor, finding the space to eat, live, pray and love isnât always easy. Thereâs a lot of shit to deal with, especially when you need one! Here are some tips on convenient places to defecate in your city. Pubs Typically only paying customers can relieve themselves in pub toilets, but if you give the impression that youâre meeting friends/a date who stands you up (acted out with fake phone call for good effect), everyone will understand why you need a number two, as the world has shitted on you. Upscale department stores Selfridges, Harvey Nicks, Harrods. Who poos there? The rich (like you), thatâs who. And a rich person wonât be questioned about if theyâre buying anything. Maybe bring a cravat or monocle to complete the illusion. Comedy clubs Itâs hard to hear your butt burping when everyone is laughing. Comedy clubs provide excellent facilities, with the talented acts loosening your belly in the best way. Donât tell anyone I told yâall⊠Dane Baptiste: âThe Chocolate Chipâ. Soho Theatre. m Tottenham Court Rd. Mar 2-14 2020. Find out about the best comedy nights in LondonÂ
It happened here: Norris & Parkerâs funniest London moment
Londoners look back on their funniest (mis)adventures in the city. This week: at Guyâs Hospital in Southwark, comedy double act Katie Norris and Sinead Parker had an unusual bonding experience⊠Sinead Weâve all heard the old proverb âThe comedy duo that smear together have no fear together.â This time, however, Katieâs smear test results had come back fine and mine were abnormal. As friends and comedy partners, we have absolutely no boundaries: we often share a bed, a bath and, sadly, a birthday. So it made perfect sense for Katie to come along to my colposcopy at Guyâs Hospital for moral support and hilarity â if your idea of hilarity means having your legs spread in stirrups as five strangers, including a silent male trainee, stare at your vagina as itâs projected on to a large HD screen. One of lifeâs reassuring constants is that a humiliating situation can always be made worse if youâre an actor, because thereâs always someone who will ask, âHave I seen you in anything?â On this occasion things were simpler as I was able to point at the screen and respond: âJust this.â Colposcopies are embarrassing, uncomfortable and scary. It was lucky that Katie was there to hold my hand, make me laugh, look lovingly at my vagina and say, âYou have a fabulous c**t.â Though this did prompt the nurse to ask, âAre you a couple?â At this point I wondered: Do Ant and Dec ever have these problems? Katie For me, having to stare at Sineadâs vagina projected on to a large HD screen while she cru
Overheard in London: this weekâs #wordonthestreet
âFunny: you always see famous people going through Kingâs Cross but never anyone from âEastEndersâ.â âI donât even want diamonds, just handbags!â âShe needs to get herself to Berlin and get pregnant.â âDance is an art. Unless itâs a dance-off. Then itâs a sport.â âI was so drunk my iPhone didnât recognise my own face.â âIs it global warning or global warming? Yeah, itâs global warning.â âMaybe theyâve weeded out all the problematic corpses.â âWhat do you mean âIs it organic?â Itâs cooked!â âIâve actually gone right off prosecco ever since my champagne tour.â âShe cheats at yoga.â Every week you share the weird things youâve overheard in London. Above, a few perplexing snippets from the past seven days â donât forget to tweet us your own! Like Word on the Street? Weâve now made a book of these little beauties! âWord on the Street: Ridiculous Things Weâve Overheard in Londonâ is out now, ÂŁ6.99. To buy a copy, visit timeout.com/wotsbook.Â
Overheard in London: this weekâs #wordonthestreet
âA guy on Tinder wanted to sniff my bum. I feel quite flattered that a guy wants to stick his nose there.â âIn our orchestra there was one incredibly fit bassoon player.â âIâm so glad Iâm not in crypto right now.â âAlso, Iâve just woken up with an Australian geologistâs business card.â âIâll draw your eyebrows on, but I wonât go to Tescoâs with you.â âThink about it: helicopters arenât that expensive.â âIâve always wondered what beards look like underwater.â âFull stops make me nervous.â âI wish my husband was here â he has a real authority with flies.â âIf babies matured as fast as dogs, Iâd probably consider having one.â Every week you share the weird things youâve overheard in London. Above, a few perplexing snippets from the past seven days â donât forget to tweet us your own! Like Word on the Street? Weâve now made a book of these little beauties! âWord on the Street: Ridiculous Things Weâve Overheard in Londonâ is out now, ÂŁ6.99. To buy a copy, visit timeout.com/wotsbook.Â
Overheard in London: this weekâs #wordonthestreet
âYes, the password is âJesusislove1â. Capital âJâ for Jesus.â âEverything is free if you have a spoon.â âI follow all political parties and some porn stars. I am very selective about my porn stars.â âIâm so angry with the dentist and the world because of the size of my cheeks.â âLA is just the Dalston of America.â âI donât like rabbits: theyâre too salty.â ââŠthen she got him that gramophone as a peace offering.â âWhat do you mean, Bristol isnât up North? I always thought that all you got south of London was Brighton and Poole.â âYeah, weâll see how unfuckable the situation is in the morning.â âThereâs more to life than Acton Town station.â Every week you share the weird things youâve overheard in London. Above, a few perplexing snippets from the past seven days â donât forget to tweet us your own! Like Word on the Street? Weâve now made a book of these little beauties! âWord on the Street: Ridiculous Things Weâve Overheard in Londonâ is out now, ÂŁ6.99. To buy a copy, visit timeout.com/wotsbook.Â
14 reasons Londoners love the NHS
As NHS celebrates its 70th birthday Londoners share their memories of the iconic institution âI was born premature at 24 weeks with my twin sister. We were in the ICU for a month and wouldnât be alive today without the doctors at St Georgeâs. Multiple ops as a baby, a couple now Iâm older, and all is well. God bless the NHS.â Daniel Clark âMy husband had a heart attack two years ago. Within two hours he had a stent fitted to clear a blocked artery and within four months he had a triple bypass. The care he had was fantastic, we can never thank the staff enough for all the care and dedication.â Sharon Smith âMy children suffered the usual childhood accidents plus croup, asthma attacks and appendicitis. On every occasion the NHS was amazing and the nurses in particular were so fantastic.â Karen Patricia Lowe âHad cancer twice. NHS cured me twice. Still here alive and kicking. Father, twice over. Immeasurably indebted... twice.â Julian Cousins âI had an aneurysm in October 1970. A top neurosurgeon did two ops on me to pin it and here I am, 47 years later, still enjoying life, all thanks to our marvellous NHS.â Neville Blythe âMy baby went listless and his face turned blue. Within seconds an ambulance was there and he was rushed in. He had severe gastric flu and was kept in overnight. We will never forget how fantastic everyone was.â Rachel Lampen âNewham University hospital helped deliver my baby safely on NYE after my liver started to fail and there was a danger for me and baby
Waffles, beer and Flemish masters: itâs the best of Belgian London
We arrived in London five years ago, eager to be part of one of the most vibrant cities in the world, and we were not disappointed. However, there was one thing that we were werenât able to easily find: our national treasure, Belgian beer! Soon, our festival Ales Tales was in the making. England and Belgium have a deep shared history, with commercial links from the thirteenth century â long before the modern country of Belgium existed! In fact, it was at the London Conference of 1830 that Belgium was created, after secession from the Dutch. Most Belgians are easy-going and open-minded, with a self-deprecating humour that helps them fit in as discreet expatriates. In fact, we only need to answer two questions to feel at home: where can you find Belgian beers, and where are the best chips in town? Nicolas Tondeur and Sayuri Kasajima Did you know? Belgium is the only non-Commonwealth country allowed to parade its troops in uniform and bearing arms in central London. The Belgian Parade takes place every July at the Cenotaph. Nicolas and Sayuri's favourite Belgian spots in London For the best selection of Belgian craft beer in London, all year round, head to The Beer Merchants Tap in Hackney Wick. These guys have been importing Belgiumâs finest for decades. London has several masterpieces from the golden age of painting by the Flemish artist Sir Peter Paul Rubens, but the most spectacular has to be his ceiling of Banqueting House, completed in 1636. Find authentic, artisanal Belgi
On this day in 1969, the Kray twins were convicted of murder
Reggie and Ronnie Kray were the foremost perpetrators of organised crime in the East End in the 1950s and â60s. They were involved in armed robberies, arson, protection rackets, assaults and murders. They became celebrities in the â60s, socialised with prominent entertainers such as Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland, had their photos taken by David Bailey and were even interviewed on television. They were so feared that no one would offer testimony against them. Eventually the police arrested them and, with the twins safely in custody, witnesses came forward. On March 4 1969, the Krays were sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for 30 years: the longest sentences ever handed down at the Old Bailey. From âLondon Map of Daysâ by Mychael Barratt. Love London? Sign up here to get Time Out tips in your inbox every week.
6 Christmas dinners in London that arenât hideously unhealthy
âTis the season to be jolly and Londonâs restaurants are getting in the spirit, updating their menus with seasonal twists. Enjoying a Christmas lunch out doesnât have to mean overindulging, so if youâre looking for healthier options, why not book a spot at one of the cityâs more health-conscious eateries? Weâve rounded up six of them below: from mince pies to festive cocktails, youâre in for a guilt-free treat.1. Farmacy, Notting Hill Plant-based Farmacy will be offering a nuttily good Xmas menu featuring a âChristmas Bowlâ that will save you from the cold with its whipped squash, charred brussels sprouts, winter spiced activated seeds and filling buckwheat. Chocolate lava cake with salted caramel ânice creamâ adds decadence while being dairy, refined sugar and additive-free. 74 Westbourne Grove, W2 5SH. 7221 0705. Tube: Royal Oak. Available throughout December.2. Nama, Westbourne Grove Namaâs raw vegan menu boasts desserts full of natural sugars, cacao and fruit, including a Christmas cake and salted chocolate caramel slice. Start with the artisan nut cheese and festive fruit chutney before delighting in the ingenuity behind a main of beet roast served with caramelised carrots, cauliflower mash and cabbage (all prepared at 42°C or below for the legit ârawâ tag). 110 Talbot Rd, W11 1JR. 7313 4638. Tube: Westbourne Park. Available throughout December.3. Essence Cuisine, Shoreditch The plant-based and free-from food concept developed by internationally renowned celebrity chef