Amy Houghton

It’s been another stellar year for music in 2025, packed full of belters, breakouts and hook-laden earworms.  Lorde returned to her angsty roots, Pulp dropped their first album since, and Bad Bunny reigned supreme on the streamers. We were blessed with new music from pop heavyweights Lady Gaga, Lily Allen and Robyn. In a plot twist, Rosalía dropped a classical album packed with religious references, and Turnstile made hardcore mainstream. Breakout stars CMAT, Addison Rae and Jim Legxacy proved that they are here to stay. Here Time Out editors and contributors have hand-picked the tracks they’ve had on repeat this year. These are the 40 best songs of 2025.  RECOMMENDED: The 25 best albums of 2025. 

This year of music has started with a bang. We’ve seen Chappell Roan go country, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco smothering audiences with gushy love songs and Playboi Carti’s rapturous return from the underground. We've even been blessed with the return of Lorde! Alongside these pop heavyweights, we’re witnessing rap superstar Doechii continue her chart domination and the breakthrough of Gen Z artists like 2hollis, Tate McRae and Kai Bosch. What songs are defining 2025? Well, we’ve searched through our playlists and extracted the best songs of the year so far, to give you a mid-year vibe check of where we are currently at. But it doesn’t stop there. Keep your eyes peeled for updates to this list throughout the year as we’re still awaiting albums from Turnstile, Miley Cyrus, Pulp, A$AP Rocky and many more. RECOMMENDED: 🎧 The best albums of 2025 (so far)🎥 The best movies of 2025 (so far)📺 The best TV of 2025 (so far)

Urgently in need of some cool pressie inspo for your nearest and dearest? Don’t worry about it! Our London gift guide is here, and it features loads of lovely pressies to suit just about any Londoner you can imagine.  From nifty gadgets to stylish accessories, covetable homeware to kids’ gifts, our editors have got every base covered, including plenty of sustainable options and handmade bits from some of London’s coolest indie brands and makers.  Need even more present inspiration? Check out our roundup of London’s best Christmas hampers for 2025. Time Out’s 2025 Christmas Gift Guide at a glance 🏰 Best for tech nerds: Nothing headphones 💷 Best for foodies: Allday Goods knife 🔬 Best for style queens: Peachy Den scarf and mitten set 🎡 Best for cool blokes: Percival martini cap 🎨 Best for youngsters: Ty Beanie Bouncers RECOMMENDED: More Christmas fun in London. 

We’ve officially entered party season, aka the time of the year when it’s socially acceptable to go out for a big one any day of the week. It’s nearly Christmas, after all! From office festive parties to Crimbo plans with your pals to final Mad Friday blowouts, there are a ton of reasons to be hitting the town in the run-up to Christmas Day. Our guide to London’s greatest Christmas-themed parties for 2025 has full-blown raves, Yuletide cabarets and plenty of events full of cheesy festive classics. And in the season’s spirit of generosity, a large helping of them are free entry. You can’t say ‘bah, humbug’ to that. All you’ve got to do now is decide where you’re going and plan the perfect party ‘fit. RECOMMENDED: See our full festive guide to Christmas in London.

It's easy to get so tangled up in the tinsel-decked glories of Christmas that you forget there's another big bash, just a week later. But New Year's Eve is the kind of night that you forget at your peril. Attempt to wing it and you might well end up stuck at home in front of Jools Holland's Hootenanny, because all London's best clubs and parties book out weeks or months in advance.  But fear not, we're here to make sure you give 2025 a seriously good send-off. Here's our list of London best NYE bashes for ringing in 2026, from never-ending club nights to LGBTQ+ friendly celebrations. Assemble your crew, book your tickets, plan the perfect ‘fit and prepare to say a big fat goodbye to the year gone by. London’s best NYE parties at a glance 🎆 Best for views of the fireworks: New Year’s Eve at Sky Garden 🦖 Best for a one-of-a-kind party: NYE at the Natural History Museum 🍴 Best for midnight snacks: New Year's Eve at Aram, Somerset House  🏳️‍🌈  Best for LGBTQ+: Horse Meat Disco at Village Underground 🌟 Best for glitz and glamour: New Year's Eve at W London RECOMMENDED: Find things to do in London on New Year’s Day.

Every week, a frankly silly amount of brilliant new restaurants, cafés and street food joints arrive in London. Which makes whittling down a shortlist of the best newbies a serious challenge. But here it is. The 20 very best new restaurants in the capital, ranked in order of greatness and deliciousness. All of them have opened in the past year and been visited by our hungry critics. So go forth and take inspo from this list, which is updated regularly. Check in often to find out what we really rate on the London restaurant scene. And look here for all the info about the best new openings in December. London's best new restaurants at a glance: 🍛 Central: Khao Bird, Soho 🍠 North: Ling Ling’s, Islington 🥟 South: Doma, Sydenham 🍝 East: Legado, Shoreditch 🥗 West: The Lavery, South Kensington December 2025: New additions include cosy Chinese cuisine at Ling Ling's at Godet in Islington, Hunanese heat at Fiery Flavors in Surrey Quays, Sri Lankan fast food at Adoh! in Covent Garden, Caribbean classics with a twist at 2210 by NattyCanCook in Herne Hill, perfect pasta at Casa Felicia in Queen's Park, Thai BBQ at Khao Bird in Soho, and Thai soup noodles at Khao So-i in Fitzrovia. Hungry yet? Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. RECOMMENDED: The 50 best restaurants in London. The hottest new openings, the tastiest tips, the spiciest reviews: we’re serving it all on our London restaurants WhatsApp cha

There are few things that we’d willingly brave the chill for during winter in London. But ice skating is one of them. From early November each year, ice rinks decked out towering Christmas trees and twinkly fairy lights start to fill London’s squares and courtyards, hosting everything from DJ takeovers and kids’ skating lessons to date nights and family outings over the festive period. Pretty soon you’ll get to pretend you’re in a festive London rom-com, as you romantically glide (or awkwardly stumble) with your loved ones under the backdrop of landmarks like Somerset House, Battersea Power Station and Hampton Court Palace.  Keen to flaunt your best ice moves? Determined to skate at least one lap without clinging onto the wall for dear life? We recommend you book a spot at your chosen rink as early as you can. Here are the best rinks in London for the 2025/26 season. How much does it cost to go ice skating? The cost to skate at London’s various permanent and pop-up ice rinks varies quite significantly. So far, this year’s cheapest option is Queens Skate Dine and Bowl, where adult tickets are available from £8 (during off-peak hours). The most expensive adult ticket in 2025 was £28.50 for peak hours at Skate at Somerset House. For cheaper tickets, consider visiting at less popular times.  London’s best places to go ice skating this winter: ⛸️ Best for the biggest rink in town: Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park 💃 Best for ice dance parties: Somerset House, Aldwych 🏛️ Best for so

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.

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.

Every year, we tend to bank on New Year’s Eve being one of the best night of our lives. But that’s a lot of expectation to put on one night out, and it can really set you up for disappointment. The solution? Ease the pressure and save your hardest partying for New Year’s Day instead.  New Year’s Day raves have taken off over the last couple of years. They tend to last longer than the events of the night before and there aren’t the same enormous NYE crowds to battle with. Of course, celebrations on Jan 1 needn’t be instead of NYE revelries – soldier through your hangover and combine the two to create one big 48-hour blowout.  The capital’s venues are ready to welcome you with open arms for the first rager of 2026, with all manner of day and night parties to check out. Because who says the fun needs to stop as soon as the countdown’s over? Here are London’s best New Year’s Day parties.      RECOMMENDED: Find New Year’s Eve parties in London.

Boxing Day might not get all the glory of Christmas Day, but if you ask us, in many ways, it’s far superior. It has all the magic of the big day, but without the stress of cooking and the pressure of keeping the whole family happy. But one of the best bits? While everything shuts down on Christmas Day, things start to tentatively open up on Boxing Day, meaning you can get up from your Quality Street-induced stupour on the sofa and get out and about on December 26.  The day after Christmas, London is mostly free of its usual crowds (except for shopping districts like Oxford Street packed with bargain hunters). That means that, should you leave your house, large parts of the capital city are yours for the taking. There are the parks and riverside paths for frosty winter walks or the Christmas lights to admire while you brave the Boxing Day sales. The city’s pop-up ice skating rinks are normally open, pantomime season is still in full swing, and there are even a few parties lined up. Here are some great ideas for how to spend your day off. RECOMMENDED: Find more festive fun with our full guide to Christmas in London.

  We all know travelling with the kids can be tricky, so finding a hotel that keeps everyone happy is key. From splashable pools to free breakfasts for little ones, London has plenty of spots that make family life on the go a whole lot easier. Here’s our pick of the best family-friendly hotels in the city, where parents can relax and kids can be… well, kids. The hotels we’ve selected all make travelling with kids as smooth possible. We look for places that are close to London’s top attractions, so you can zip from Hamleys to the park, without having to spend your whole day on public transport, as well as having the resources to keep the whole family entertained. How we choose our family-friendly hotels A family-friendly hotel is about thoughtful touches for children. Perhaps, there are extra cots, kid-friendly menus, splashable pools, and little surprises that make young guests feel welcome. These are hotels that go the extra mile, from milk and cookies at bedtime to a designated kids concierge services. We include luxury stays and budget-friendly finds. Finally, we consider atmosphere and accessibility: helpful staff, close to attractions and safe play spaces, and a vibe that makes both little ones and grown-ups feel at home. London’s family friendly hotels at a glance 💰 Best for a cheap deal: Good Hotel 🗓️ Best concierge service: The Berkeley 🧠 Most iconic: The Ritz ☕ Best afternoon tea for kids: Park Plaza County Hall 🖼️ Most dramatic design: The Mandarin Oriental M

Homely isn’t quite the word that comes to mind when you pull back the heavy velvet curtain separating Casa Felicia from the dozy Queen’s Park street outside. Chic, for sure. Elegant, certainly. A parade of two-cover tables are packed close together in the main whitewashed dining room, and over in a far corner, there’s a booth for larger groups which is painted entirely in an intense sultry red. But the deeper into the evening we go, the more we’re taken in by this place’s unexpected down-to-earth charm.   Fettuccine porcini and paccheri with mussels and squid are simple but impeccable Casa Felicia is helmed by chef Francesco Sarvonio, formerly of Manteca and currently of Elephant. The menu switches up daily, but always promises southern Italian ‘soul food’. A pleasing heap of puntarelle salad embellished with pear and hazelnuts, and a faultless seabass crudo speckled with crispy red pepper starts us off. We’re then presented with the most intriguing take on parmigiana I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t come in the traditional form of layered aubergine coins, but as the whole vegetable roasted, skinned and fried in a tempura batter, then cocooned in cheese fondue with a pool of marinara on the side. It’s fantastic – the batter lightly encases the vegetable like a chiffon blanket and the aubergine manages to be both firm and completely melt-in-the-mouth.   Don’t get carried away with the antipasti, as the bowls of pasta (handmade with just semolina and water, no egg) are truly generou

Adoh! (Sri-Lankan for ‘oi!’) is loud.  Sat on Maiden Lane in frenetic, tourist-packed Covent Garden, this Sri Lankan spot from Kolamba duo Eroshan and Aushi Meewella fits right in. While Kolamba and its sister restaurant on Liverpool Street are sleek, sophisticated haunts, this is a maximalist whirlwind. Chopped roti gets more heavenly with each chewy bite Adoh’s goal is to emulate the rapid, chaotic energy of Colombo and its street food culture. The decor is raucous – the tables a striking shade of red and the walls busy with storybook murals depicting hand-painted trucks of South Asia. As for service, it’s full speed ahead. You can very easily be in and out within an hour, and fully satisfied. In the throbbing heart of the theatreland that’s no bad thing.  The menu features a blend of authentic bits (isoo vadai, mutton rolls or roti and curry) and some milder hybrid dishes (fried chicken and curry leaf waffles are best suited to less adventurous members of your party). Shiny squares of prawn toast dolloped with tamarind sauce start us off, swiftly followed by a supple dosa spread with smoky masala, alongside a rather dry coconut roti with eye-wateringly hot lunu miris chilli paste.  The must-order main (which at £17 is the priciest item on the menu) is crab kothu, a late-night classic in Sri Lanka. The bronze mountain of chopped roti, egg and stir fried crab meat (mutton, chicken or jackfruit kothu are available too) isn’t particularly pretty, but drenched in curry sauce (p

One hundred years ago, a strange curtained box appeared on Broadway in New York City. If you went inside and slotted in 25 cents, you’d emerge with eight sepia tinged photos of yourself in a matter of minutes. It was the Photomaton – the world’s first fully automated photobooth. Fast forward to the 21st century and photobooths are in bars, train stations, cinemas, record shops and on streets all over the world. The Photographer’s Gallery is marking a century of the machines with Click!, an archival exhibition exploring their imperfections, their quirks and their most famous fans. Naturally, there’ll be a working photobooth for visitors to take their own snap.

The UK’s first major retrospective of acclaimed Ukrainian artist Boris Mikhailov is coming to the Photographers’ Gallery. A ‘kind of proto-punk’, Mikhailov has been capturing and commenting on life in Ukraine since the 1960s – from the everyday consequences of the collapse of the Soviet Union to the realities of people living on the edges of society – through photography, conceptual work, painting and performance art. Ukrainian Diary brings much of that work together to illustrate the tumultuous social and political changes that have shaken Eastern Europe over the past fifty years.

In 1978, Zofia Rydet decided that was going to photograph the inside of every Polish household. Aged 67, she began knocking on doors and asking occupants if they’d be willing to partake in her project. She continued to knock on doors for the next three decades, collecting everyday stories and creating ‘one of the most important achievements in 20th century Polish photography’. More than 100 of Rydet’s prints will be on display at the Photographers’ Gallery alongside books and personal letters offering extra insight into her sociological mission.

When a place rates itself as assuredly (in huge bold letters, no less) as Good Hotel does, it’s natural to feel a little sus. But it’s true: Good Hotel really does make you feel good. Service is cheery and laid-back without being overly casual, the food leaves nothing to complain about and – maybe it’s the luxurious silence of the area or perhaps the proximity to gently lapping water – I visited in 2024, and I don’t know if I’ve ever had a better night’s sleep in the city. Aside from all that, guests can walk out of Good Hotel feeling extra gratified by virtue of its ‘do good’ DNA. Why stay at Good Hotel? As you walk along Royal Victoria Docks, this huge black shipping container is impossible to miss. Originally built as a Danish prison, this floating hotel docked in London in 2016 after sailing across from Amsterdam. Its founder, Marten Dresden, had come up with the Good Hotel concept four years prior while travelling in Guatemala. Now, each night you spend there pays for a week of school for a child in South America, with profits also going towards hospitality training for long-term unemployed locals (lots of whom become Good Hotel employees).  The hotel also hosts regular community workshops and events that guests can attend. There are comedy nights, yoga classes, salsa classes, kids art clubs and, if you’re in the mood to be extra good, litter-picking around the local area. What are the rooms like at Good Hotel? Throughout the hotel, the interiors are slick, earthy-toned

One of the more recent additions to Wimbledon Village, Good Fortune Club is bright and buzzy with a sprawling menu of Cantonese dishes, the best known of which is its handmade dim sum. Stop by with a large, hungry posse to pack your table with bamboo steamers and sample har gau (shrimp-filled dumplings,) xiao long bao (pork soup dumplings), cuttlefish cake and more.

Crack Comedy Club brings pre-party laughs to Tunnel 267 – Wimbledon’s only nightclub – every Saturday night from 8pm to 10pm. For standup sets from four or five comics, tickets are £25 for general admission on the door or £21.50 if you book online in advance. You can also buy tickets that include dinner from a local restaurant beforehand, and if you stick around afterwards you’ll get free entry to Tunnel’s clubnight. Three in one. 

Of its four south-west London outposts, DropShot’s Leopold Road location serves up hefty brunches on the daily. The portions here are breathtakingly generous, and the tennis-themed menu goes well beyond the standard eggs benny or avocado on toast; think mozzarella and chilli jam-filled potato pancakes andbig fat slices of French toast laden with monterey jack cheese and fresh pesto, or loaded with tiramisu cream and berries. The coffee is fantastic, too.

There's a real sense of fun to this deliberately rough-around-the-edges course. Party tunes blare from speakers, graffiti jazzes up the walls and it's made from ‘twisted junk, car booty and charity shop shizzle’. Junkyard Golf Club has four courses – Gary, Pablo, Dirk and Bozo – that are all fabulously chaotic and mildly freaky. Depending on which challenge you take on, you’ll be putting past pirate pigs, dishevelled nightclub urinals, terrifying giant clown heads and a UV rave room. There's also a second location in Camden for more of the same.  Prices start at £12 for nine holes at off-peak times (Sunday to Thursday) and go up to £21 for 18 holes on busier days (Fridays and Saturdays). And as any good crazy golf should, Junkyard has a menu of themed cocktails to keep lubed up before, during and after your game. 

This quirky, tiki-themed minigolf course first popped up in Dalston's Efes in April 2015. A decade later, that debut site is no more, but you can now find Plonks outdoors in London Fields and under the arches at Borough Market. The Hackney course, which recently got a big ol’ refurb, takes you through a ‘Polynesian themed putt paradise’ complete with a tiki forest, a volcano canyon and octupuses. There are plenty of satisfying holes that fire your ball onto tricksy little mechanisms, a loop the loop, and a lot of impossibly steep ramps. All in all: it’s a great place for a plonking party. Prices start from £9.35 per person per play. 

What is it?  Technically several adjoining markets, this sprawl of stalls stretching from Camden Town tube to the Regent’s Canal is London’s fourth most popular visitor attraction. In its recent heyday, around 250,000 people came here every week to shop, sample street food and soak up the distinctive, still-grungy atmosphere. Camden Lock Market is an arts-and-crafts haven while the Stables Market is a trendy spot for everything from quirky furniture to fetish clothing. Nearby Buck Street Market on Camden High Street has had a shipping container revamp. As you saunter through the different markets, don’t be surprised to see grungy teenagers and old punks on the street corners. Camden feels more mainstream than it did in the ‘90s, but it’s still one of London’s most rock ‘n’ roll neighbourhoods. Why go?  To get lost in a one-of-a-kind maze of art, garms, antiques, accessories, books and endless street food.  Don’t miss The Cheese Bar – London’s only fully fromage focused restaurant – for all manner of gooey, cheese-based delights in a classy, low lit space in Stables Market.  Ticket info  No tickets needed.  When to visit  Camden Markets are open everyday of the week from 10am until late.  Time Out tip If you find the lunch queues and options a bit too much in the main Camden Lock Market, cross the road to Buck Street Market where you’ll find food that is just as great and are more likely to find a free spot to sit.  RECOMMENDED: London’s best markets

It’s happening – we’re one step closer to getting trains that’ll take us all the way from the UK to Germany in one direct route. Eurostar and German rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) have confirmed a joint plan to launch high-speed rail routes between London and Deutschland.  The new routes were hinted at in the summer alongside a potential route to Geneva. Now, the two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding, solidifying their intentions to offer direct services from London to the likes of Cologne and Frankfurt. Right now, rail passengers have to take the Eurostar to Brussels then change in order to get to any German city. Nothing has been said about potential direct journeys to Berlin.  Full technicalities of the new services are yet to be worked out, but they would use existing lines and infrastructure. If everything goes to plan, the routes would start in the early 2030s using Eurostar’s brand-spanking-new fleet of double-decker trains. The journey between London and Cologne could take around four hours, while a ride to Frankfurt would take just over five hours.  Prime Minister Keir Starmer said of the agreement: ‘This brings us one step closer to a new rail link that will put Britain at the heart of a better-connected Europe and paves the way for increased trade, tourism and investment. ‘From establishing pioneering cross-continent routes to freezing domestic rail fares for the first time in 30 years, transport is just one of the many ways this government is i

Esteemed restaurant guide Harden’s has revealed its list of the UK’s 100 best restaurants for 2026. And while no London restaurants ranked in the top three, the capital cleaned up quite nicely across the rest of the list.  The ranking, which is based on 30,000 reports from a survey of 2,500 diners, features 38 London institutions this year. And the highest ranked of the lot was The Ledbury in Notting Hill. Placing fourth on the ranking, diners hailed The Ledbury for its ‘head-to-toe near perfection… from the the owner, to the staff and especially to the tasting menu’ and ‘wallet-scorching but exceptional’. It received a ‘very good’ four out of five for its food and ambiance and a ‘good’ three out of five for service.  The luxury institution from chefs Brett Graham and Nigel Platts-Martin has been around since 2005 and has been showered with accolades over the past few decades. It’s been named the UK’s best restaurant on multiple occasions, earned two Michelin stars by 2010 and picked up its third Michelin star in 2024. The Ledbury closed for two years after the pandemic but since returning in 2022 has gone from strength to strength. One reviewer called the dishes ‘genius’ while another said it has ‘unquestionably the most impressive front of house staff’ they’ve ever encountered.  Being so highly decorated, eating here doesn’t come cheap. If you were to stop by The Ledbury for a three-course dinner plus half a bottle of wine and coffee, you’re looking at spending around £345

London puts on all sorts of fantastic things to keep our spirits up during the dark, cold days of winter. But with all the Christmas crowds and general city hustle and bustle, you’d be forgiven for wanting to escape it for a while. If you’re in the market for a winter day trip within easy distance of the capital, look no further – we’ve put together a list of places less than two hours from London that are particularly worth a visit this time of year.  One of the best day trips just outside of the city right now? The Making of Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour in Watford. Obviously, it’s a fantastic day trip for Potter fans year-round, but there’s something extra magical about the Warner Bros Studio Tour during the coldest months.  From November 15 until January 18, the studio puts on ‘Hogwarts in the Snow’. For the festive season, the Great Hall is decked out in dripping icicles, silver decorations and flaming Christmas puddings straight from the Yule Ball, while the Gryffindor and Slytherin common rooms will fill with actual decorations used in the movies and Christmas cards made by the crew during filming.  Photograph: Shutterstock The Forbidden Forest and Diagon Alley will also be dressed up for Christmas and the Hogwarts castle model at the end of the tour will be coated in snow using the same technique used in the films (with teeny tiny snowmen dotted across the sculpture, too). A tonne of gifts and stocking fillers will be also be available in a pop-up Christmas s

There’s a Christmas market to suit every taste in the UK. You can head to Manchester for an enormous Christmas extravaganza, go to Birmingham for the UK’s most authentic German market, visit York for a charming fair full of local traders or stop by Beverley for it’s famous one-day festive bazaar. And if you want a Christmas market that feels as though you’ve stepped back in time, we’ve got just the place. The Victorian Christmas Market in Stratford-upon-Avon is one of Time Out’s top festive markets in the UK for 2025. There are more than 200 stalls spread across the town centre, with traders donning traditional Victorian dress. On top of all the food, mulled wine and handmade gifts on sale, there’ll be live entertainment from local choirs, morris dancers and stilt walkers.  The festive event is only on for one more weekend, so here’s everything you need to know if you don’t want to miss out.  When are the Victorian Christmas Markets in Stratford-upon-Avon? The first weekend of the markets was November 29-30, they’ll be back on December 6 and 7. That’s right, this weekend. What are the opening times?  On Saturday, you’ll be able to visit the markets from 10am until 8pm and on Sunday they’ll be open from 10am until 5pm.  What are the main attractions? Go Stratford’s markets to be immersed in nineteenth century Yuletide festivities. Stallholders dress up with lace bonnets and stick-on sideburns and there’s a fun fair featuring an original Victorian carousel, plus a programme of

As the year comes to a close, you might well be starting to think about how you’ll fill your diary for 2026. The world is full of incredible things to see and do, and every year there are more and more travel experiences on offer. But let us narrow it down for you. While seeing the Great Pyramids, walking the Great Wall of China or wandering the Louvre has been on people’s bucket lists for generations, Time Out has put together a roundup of the best brand new things you can do across the globe in 2026.  Our list, curated by Time Out editors from across the globe, includes a four-day solar eclipse party in Iceland, swimming with whales in Dominica, a new Pokémon theme park in Tokyo and two new mega museums in Abu Dhabi. It also features something that you can do right here in the UK – and it’s completely free.  In 2026, England will become home to the longest coastal path on the planet. The nearly 2,700-mile King Charles III Coastal Path will be complete next year, meaning that keen walkers will be able hike the entire English coast, from Berwick-upon-Tweed all the way down to Land’s End.  Time Out’s UK news editor Ed Cunningham said: ‘The trail, which has been in the works since way back 2009, will follow the entire coastline of England, spanning 2,674 miles (4,303 km) of cliffs, beaches, cities, national parks and more. Once complete, it’ll be the longest (managed) coastal trail in the entire world. ‘More than just a few signposts, the King Charles III Coastal Path will link

By this point, Moor Hall in Aughton is well-used to accolades. In February, Mark Birchall’s restaurant with rooms, set in a revamped Grade II-listed 13th century manor, became one of just 10 restaurants in the UK to own three Michelin stars (one of just two outside of London) and in October, it earned two Michelin keys for its accommodation. Now, coveted restaurant guide Harden’s has declared it the best place to eat in the country.  The guide’s yearly ranking is based on more than 30,000 reports from a survey 2,500 diners. While Moor Hall has been a recurring name in Harden’s past lists, this is the first year that it has secured first place. Just last year it was all the way down in 74th.  Reviews on Harden’s called Moor Hall ‘an experience’ that’s ‘superb from beginning to end’ and said that ‘service from an expert front of house team is spot on: very professional, very knowledgeable, and very approachable and friendly’ and ‘not at all pretentious despite its awards’.  As for its food, Harden’s users said: ‘The flavours and ideas are staggering’ and the dishes are ‘faultless in every way’. The nine-course dinner at Moor Hall sits at £265. You can expect dishes like Isle of Mull scallop with fermented grains and cauliflower apple, Dorset sika deer with beetroot, elderberry and hen of the woods ragout or Ormskirk gingerbread. There’s also a four-course lunch menu for £145 per head.  Photograph: Moor Hall Peter Harden, guide editor and co-founder of Harden’s, said: ‘It’s w

Remember when we told you that Stansted and Southend airports would finally catch up to the rest of London’s airports and introduce contactless payments? Well, it looks like that’s actually not going to happen for a little while longer.  Stansted and Southend were both supposed to start rolling out tap-in-tap-out tech from December 14 alongside 48 other stations in the southeast of England. The move would have meant that people would no longer face fines of up to £100 at Stansted Airport for not realising that they couldn’t use contactless payment for Stansted Express like they can across the rest of London (though there are big red signs at Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale stations warning you).  But the plans have now been delayed. On Wednesday (December 3), Greater Anglia announced that it’s postponing part of its contactless rollout until summer 2026. Thirty stations across the southeast, including Stevenage, Luton, Oxted and Reigate, will still join the contactless network next week, but the remaining 20, including Stansted and Southend will have wait.  Greater Anglia said that during testing for the technology, issues arose that could have affected the price paid and prevented the technology from working as intended. Contactless fares have to be fully integrated into Transport for London’s fare system in order for the machines to work properly, but this hasn’t been done in time for the initially planned rollout. The train operator said that ‘additional work is requir

Dave’s Hot Chicken has had a spectacular first year in the UK. The Drake-backed brand launched its first chicken shop this side of the Atlantic in December 2024, with people lining up around the block just to get a bite of its fried delights. Within 12 months, Dave’s expanded to Birmingham, Manchester, Stevenage and Leicester, opened a second London outpost in Westfield White City and revealed plans to introduce almost 60 more locations across the UK. Now a third Dave’s is coming to the capital. The viral chain’s newest chicken shop will open at 7-11 High Street in Croydon on December 16. It’ll be open from 11am until 10pm Monday to Thursday and Sundays, but 11am until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Jim Attwood, managing director of Dave’s Hot Chicken UK, told the Metro: ‘We can’t wait to close out the year with our sixth new opening and bring our signature heat to Croydon. This dynamic borough, known for its fried chicken shops, has a vibrant food culture and an energy that fits Dave’s attitude like a glove.  ‘We’re looking forward to opening our doors to welcome both new and returning fans to experience our unique spicy chicken. This launch isn’t just an expansion, it’s us bringing big flavour to one of London’s most iconic communities.’ Time Out’s food editor Leonie Cooper paid Dave’s a visit earlier this year to see what all the fuss was about. She reported that the chicken ‘is actually really very good, with a crunchy, quality batter and soft, well-cooked meat’ and ‘a

Millions and millions of people flock to London for its Christmas markets. Most head for the world-famous Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park, the highly Instagrammable Covent Garden Christmas Market or the huge Leicester Square Christmas Market. But they’re far from the only brilliant Christmas markets in the city. Now that it’s December, London is full to the brim with sparkling huts and marquees selling glühwein, mince pies and all sorts of artisanal gems.  The most underrated of them all is the Monocle Christmas Market in Marylebone. Every year, the HQ of international news magazine Monocle opens to the public and transforms into a festival of Christmas delights. For one weekend, Midori House Courtyard fills with the publication’s favourite brands, perfect for securing special last minute gifts.  Explaining why we chose this market as London’s most underrated, Rosie Hewitson, Time Out’s things to do editor, said: ‘Taking place just round the corner from its Marylebone shop and cafe, Monocle's annual Christmas market is surely the chicest winter fair in all of London, and as far as we’re aware it’s also the only one where you can meet an actual real life reindeer. ‘Add in the opportunity to browse chic bits and bobs from a deftly curated edit of artisanal foodie brands and quality clothing labels, and you’ve got a recipe for the perfect festive shopping event.’ Here’s everything you need to know about London’s most underrated Christmas market.  When is Monocle’s Christmas Mark

London can’t get enough of good pizza. Down practically every street, you’ll find somewhere serving up a version of ’za, from deep pan pies to New Haven style to bases made of wild grain and fermented dough. Now, there’s more New-York style pizza coming for west London.  Viral NY-style pizzeria Alley Cats first came on the scene in 2024 with its Marylebone joint. A few months later it opened another diner in Chelsea and this summer it launched its third location on Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill. Now, it’s gearing up to open a fourth restaurant.  RECOMMENDED: The 3 best places for pizza in London, picked by the city’s most exciting young chefs. Alley Cats will open its brand new pizzeria at 233 Portobello Road early next year. The new space will span two floors, with a a ‘slice hatch’ serving 18-inch slices to go downstairs and full-service seating upstairs, plus a hidden outdoor terrace. Image: Alley Cats It’ll serve all the highlights from Alley Cats existing menu (the 14-inch pizza pies, the Philly cheesesteak subs, the deep-fried carbonara bites) and debut its new Fat Cat Squares, an interpretation of the thick and crusty Sicilian square.Topping options include a vodka sauce pie with aged buffalo mozzarella; a pepperoni with jalapeños and honey; and white base pizzas including wild mushroom with taleggio cheese, red onion jam and fried sage.  Time Out London editor Joe Mackertich tried Alley Cats’ creamy vodka sauce pizza when he ate at the Marylebone branch last year

Mince pies are stacked high on supermarket shelves, pine trees tower over market squares and fairy lights line high streets – that’s right, Christmas is just weeks away. And here’s another sure sign that the festive season is in full swing: Coca-Cola’s bright red illuminated truck is officially back for 2025.   Every year for the past 15 years, the Coca-Cola’s Christmas lorry has gone on a tour of the UK to ensure every part of the country gets in the festive spirit. It normally stops at locations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, bringing with it games, exclusive merch and prizes, photo opportunities and, of course, ice cold cans of the fizzy stuff.  The iconic vehicle is now back on the road to mark the start of the 2025 festive season. To celebrate its return, the brand has partnered with hunger and food waste charity FareShare to donate one million meals to those that need it most.  Below is everything you need to know if you want to catch the Coca-Cola Christmas truck on its tour this year.  Coca-Cola truck locations and dates for 2025 We know that the truck will stop by 15 locations on it’s Christmas road trip 2025, but we don’t know all the specific stops. Coca-Cola normally keeps the route a secret until a day or two before arriving in each location.  First up for the truck was Edinburgh, followed by Burton-upon-Trent, Bradford, Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds. Next is Ipswich, with not one but two stops over the coming days. Here are all the stops

The future of London’s Billingsgate Fish Market and Smithfield Meat Market – each the largest markets of their kind in the UK – has been in the lurch for a while. Billingsgate has been trading in Poplar since 1982, while Smithfield started selling meat in Farringdon way back in the 1860s. But in 2022, the City of London announced plans to move both markets out of their long-term central London locations, and it has been searching for a new home for their traders ever since.  It was originally planned that the markets would move to a new location in Dagenham, but members of City of London Corporation voted to axe that plan due to spiralling costs. Now, a new preferred location has been identified.  The City of London Corporation and the Greater London Authority (GLA) have found a site on the Royal Docks where both markets can operate next to each other. They’ve earmarked the eastern end of the Docks, known as Albert Island, as the markets’ potential new home after they leave their current sites in 2028.  Nothing’s confirmed yet. The move is still subject to the passage of a Parliamentary Bill that will provide for the cessation of the markets at their current locations, and will be dependent on planning permission from Newham Council.  The City of London Corporation says that most traders from both markets have agreed to move to a new site. Those that haven’t agreed intend to transfer their business to others, meaning that 100 percent of trade will continue wherever Smithfiel