Chloe Lawrance

The best thing about October? No, not golden leaves crunching underfoot, curling up beside roaring pub fires, carving Jack O’Lanterns, tucking into hearty autumnal roasts or box-set binges (though they’re all quite excellent, it's true). This year, the best thing about October is, in fact, Rioja Wine Month, which runs for the next four weeks throughout the UK. As one of Spain’s most celebrated wines, Rioja – named after its eponymous region in northern Spain that spans 100km from east to west – is famed for Crianza and Reserva.  But there’s so much more to get stuck into this season. Indeed, the month-long celebration at wine merchants, bars and restaurants the length and breadth of the country is all about popping the cork on the sheer variety that Rioja serves up – red, white, rosé and even sparkling included. From lipsmacking tastings that will whet your whistle to special offers that will make even the miserly part with their money – plus events, pairings, giveaways and promotions – it’s a showcase of Rioja’s 600 wineries (yes, really) and a veritable feast for the senses.  Here, we round-up eight of the best places to check out around the UK as part of Rioja Wine Month, from London and Bristol to Cardiff and beyond. Amathus, nationwide  Family-owned wine importer Amathus – which threw open its doors in 1978 and has stores around the country from Bath to London and Brighton – knows a thing or two about tipples. On October 16 and 17 (a Friday and Saturday, no less), all 15

September 2026: Sunday roast season has finally returned to London. A boozey, end-of-the-weekend lunch is what we're all about in this city, and as well as more unique takes on the roast from the likes of the Macbeth in Hoxton, Buster Mantis in Deptford and Rice Paddy in Peckham, we're all about celebrating the classic meat-spuds-and-gravy variety of Sunday lunch. Enjoy masterful takes on the roast at The Golden Tooth on Green Lanes, The Duke Organic in Islington, and The Camberwell Arms in south London. And watch out for later in the month, when two of our favourite roasts return to London; the all-vegan slap-up roast at LD's Kitchen at the Imperial Palace of Big Red in Camden and Ling Ling's Chinese-inspired roast at Godet in Islington.  London’s best Sunday roasts at a glance: 🥩 Central: Quality Chop House, Clerkenwell 😇 North: The Golden Tooth, Newington Green ⛪ South: Old Nun’s Head, Nunhead 🌈 East: The Nelson’s, Hackney 🍻 West: The Mall Tavern, Notting Hill Sunday lunch. There’s nothing quite like it. An elemental meal, one that Londoners take incredibly seriously. Debates about what constitutes the ‘perfect’ Sunday roast have been known to last for hours. There is no shortage of top roasts and Sunday lunch options in London. We’ve rounded up the city’s best Sunday meals from a host of pubs, restaurants and breweries all around town. What makes a good roast? For us, it’s simple; a welcoming room is a good start, maybe in a pub with an open fire during the winter

We’re firmly past 2026’s halfway point and it’s already been a stacked year for excellent new music. The race for song of the summer is a packed field, big-name pop titans – Olivia Rodrigo, Madonna – have delivered lauded albums and there’s been a formidable number of breakout bands. 2026’s end-of-year round-ups are already looking like contentious business indeed.  Looking to inject something new into your mid-year listening habits? Time Out’s music geeks have got together to put together a list of the albums we’ve loved so far in 2026. Raving dance-pop, grotty death metal, stratospheric jazz-funk, paranoid techno, the year’s biggest pop records… whatever’s your jam, you’ll find it here.  Read on for the best albums of 2026 as of July, according to Time Out editors and contributors (they’re in alphabetical order – you’ll have to wait until the end of the year for the definitive ranking). RECOMMENDED: The 10 songs of the summer for 2026.

It’s official: Hamburg is heating up as the place to head to this winter, not just because of its historic port, the live music venues famously played by The Beatles when they were rising stars or its red-brick UNESCO World Heritage Site warehouse district, Speicherstadt. Now, the country’s second-largest city is increasingly a draw for visitors from around the world thanks to its rich tapestry of culture. Keen? We thought you might be…  Building bridges  At the centre of it all? The Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, one of the world’s most iconic concert halls designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, which this month begins 10th anniversary celebrations that continue into next year. Rising magnificently into the sky in the waterfront district of HafenCity with sweeping views of the River Elbe, it’s an architectural masterpiece in its own right with a wave-inspired glass ‘scraper built directly on top of an original brick warehouse to bridge the old and the new. A design aficionado’s dream, it’s even got its own ‘Tube’ – a curved escalator where surprises away at every swooping turn – that takes you from the main entrance to the sixth floor where an expansive public Plaza awaits (and with it, views for days).  Photography: Thies Raetzke ImagesElbphilharmonie Hamburg It’s a numbers game  But awe-inspiring architecture and jaw-dropping interiors are just the tip of this shimmering, iceberg-like structure. Since throwing open its rather grand doors in 2017, annual attendance at

London is unique for many reasons. Among the many festivals, exhibitions and pop-ups, you’ll also find the events driven by the desire to ensure that London is a home to all of us. Nothing encapsulates that more than an unmissable evening of music that will be taking place this November in one of the capital’s most famed venues –all in support of a cause impacting families in London and across the country today.On Wednesday November 18, St Paul’s Cathedral will be the illustrious backdrop to An Evening with Jessie J, a one-of-a-kind concert presented by HSBC UK in support of Shelter. While seeing the serial hitmaker up-close is reason enough to secure your seat sharpish, knowing that 100% of your ticket proceeds will be donated to the housing and homelessness charity makes it all the more meaningful.Working together since 2023 as official partners, HSBC UK and Shelter are partnered on a common goal: helping people and families across the country build financial resilience. The partnership combines housing expertise, community insight and practical financial advice to ensure people can access the support they need, whether they are experiencing homelessness or at risk of reaching crisis point. HSBC and ShelterHelping people build financial resilience That’s where you come in. By snapping up your ticket, not only will you get to soak up a stunning live music performance by Jessie J in one of London’s most iconic venues (with sensational acoustics, mind) but you’ll also be rai

There’s just something about September. With summer’s rush starting to wind up, the long-awaited autumn TV schedule around the corner, and the sudden urge to buy a new pencil case rearing its head, the month signals the start of a new season. Which you might think means quieter calendars. In fact, the month brings around plenty to do, see and experience across the UK – whether you’re a keen literary fan, a comedy lover, or a foodie looking to chomp their way round a local festival. There’s some particularly exciting events and experiences that Amex® Gold Cardmembers can make the most of too, unlocking exclusive access and perks to some of the best things to do across the country. That’s not all. By using your Amex® Gold Card for everyday purchases, you bank a point for every pound you spend. In the Amex® app, you can put points towards purchases including gig tickets, subscriptions, hotels, you name it. Alternatively, you can visit the website to transfer your points to airline miles for flights or upgrades, or even redeem them for a Gift Card from the wide range of retailers available in the Gift Card Catalogue. Read on for some of our top picks for how to spend September (and beyond)...

Sometimes, when hunger strikes, nothing will satiate you quite like a big bowl of something fresh, healthy and full of goodness. That’s where these chefs and food experts come in. They’re the great minds behind some of the capital’s coolest restaurants, known for serving up London’s freshest dishes. Of course, that doesn’t mean they’re serving up boring. No, we’re talking authentic Japanese sushi, traditional Vietnamese pho, Russian borscht and salads packed with nutrients (and plenty of flavour) – plus a whole lot in between. The best part? The restaurants fronted by these chefs are all available to order from on Uber Eats. Result.

What were you up to in 1986? Perhaps you were rocking a dodgy haircut, or you were still in school uniform. Maybe you weren’t even around yet, just a twinkle in someone’s eye as they danced to Duran Duran in shoulder pads at the pub.  One of the big cultural moments of 1986, however, has had such a lasting impact that regardless of where you were then, you’ll definitely know about it today. That year saw the launch of the groundbreaking animated film, The Transformers: The Movie into cinemas – and now, it’s back for 2026, fully restored and ready to celebrate its 40th anniversary. The best part? It’s guaranteed fun for everyone – whether you’re a fan of the movie, or totally new to The Transformers universe.   Set in 2005, the film follows the heroic Autobots – voiced by such luminaries as Eric Idle, The Breakfast Club’s Judd Nelson, Leonard Nimoy, Peter Cullen, Frank Welker and, incredibly, Orson Welles in his final film role – as they’re hunted by Unicron, a planet-sized Transformers robot. Thanks to its visually stunning animation, and appeal among toy collectors and comic book fans, the film soon found its place in movie history.  If you missed it the first time around – or if you were a huge fan back in the day, who’d definitely queue up to see it again – don’t fret. From September 17, The Transformers: The Movie will be playing in its fully restored 4K format across the UK for two weeks. Here are some more reasons to catch this animated masterpiece while you can.  The 4

Who doesn’t think of Toy Story, the classic movie that defined our childhood, and get the warm and fuzzies? The franchise that sees a cast of toy characters including Woody, Buzz, Bo Peep and Jessie come to life when their owners aren’t around captured imaginations around the world and continues to do so with the launch of the latest film. Good news, then, that there’s a free interactive experience at Westfield Stratford City from August 21-31 that coincides with Toy Story 5 hitting cinemas across the UK. Here are three reasons why you need to check it out. 

At the end of a long, hot summer, it’s no wonder that many of us feel like it’s time to disconnect from social media and reconnect with ourselves and others around us – you know, IRL. Thankfully, Lush are bringing the perfect antidote to stress and screentime to their stores: enter Lush Fest.  From August to October this year, ten Lush stores across the UK – including Covent Garden and the Oxford Circus flagship – will be transformed into spaces for conversation, connection, and finding meaning outside of the digital world, as well as for activities centred around touch, scent and true hands-on play, none of which can be experienced through a screen.  There’ll be panel discussions, talks and film screening for those of us itching to get chatting, and bath bomb prescriptions with experts, special validation facials, and fragrance readings for everyone looking to mindfully switch off. Enjoy exclusive opportunities to get familiar with Lush products (including brand new launches), and even the chance to visit a spa speakeasy.  Having ditched the big social media channels back in 2021, in favour of focusing on the bonds that can be forged in real life, Lush are in a prime position to help us get to grips with life beyond devices, showing us what happens when we centre ourselves, our thoughts and our senses. The festival will be taking place until October across the UK, but here are two upcoming London events that we especially love the sound of.  Photography: LushMiss Me? Podcas

Ah, the Alps. Home to some of the most swoon-worthy mountain views, glorious hikes and sweet little villages in Europe, it’s a region which sits atop the bucket list of countless travellers.  Naturally, Switzerland’s postcard-worthy town of Interlaken is an absolute must for your itinerary when you’re in the region – but we implore you to also save a spot for a day trip to Schynige Platte, which is just 8 km away. It boasts mountain-top restaurants, a historic cogwheel train ride, bountiful wildlife, walking trails, and plenty more. Here are just five of the reasons you should visit.

Sun, sea and sightseeing: we’re always on the hunt for a holiday that ticks all three of those crucial boxes. But finding a destination that offers all that, plus culture, history and some world class relaxation? It’s a tricky feat – but luckily, this is where Saudi Arabia, your next bucket list destination, excels.  We’ve teamed up with Visit Saudi and Saudia, Saudi Arabia’s national flag carrier, connecting travellers from around the world to the Kingdom and its diverse destinations, to give away two round-trip flights to Saudi Arabia. That means you and a pal can travel to the country without spending a penny on your flights. Result! And with your flights sorted, you can concentrate on finessing your itinerary once you arrive. History lovers can marvel at the ancient town and carved rock tombs of AlUla, and UNESCO World Heritage sites like the major port at historic Jeddah, while adventurous nature buffs can enjoy snorkelling amidst the truly breathtaking coral reefs of the Red Sea.  There’s also a huge amount of culture to soak up - you can see modern art at the ATHR galleries in Riyadh and Jeddah - while bargain hunters are encouraged to browse and haggle at the country’s traditional street markets, where you’ll find handmade clothes, shoes, homewares and gifts. If you’re in the market to chill out, you’re also more than covered: wellness culture both traditional and contemporary abounds across the country. AlUla is home to Habitas, a spa which embraces ancient Arabian t

What is it? Westfield London is big. Taking up a whopping 43 acres across nine postcodes on the site of the 1908 Olympics, and costing roughly £1.6 billion to build, the White City landmark is home to no less than 450 shops and over 80 places to eat and drink. Following its 2018, Westfield is now the largest shopping centre in Europe, and is home to high-street stalwarts like GAP, John Lewis and Urban Outfitters, as well as a selection of upmarket brands (think Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada) in The Village. But what makes this giga-mall a grand day out is the fact that there’s so much more to do besides just shopping; eateries run the gamut from EL&N for pastel-hued brunching to Wagamama for dependable noodles and Flat Iron for reasonably priced steak without the queues you’ll find in central London. The entertainment offering is broad too; movies, bouldering, golf, football, gaming, tech…there’s something for absolutely everyone. Why go? Because it’s basically London in miniature: shopping, eating, drinking, entertainment and a surprisingly hefty dose of wellness, all under one very large roof. Ideal when you want maximum options with minimal faff. Don’t miss: A shopping centre might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you’re looking for some R&R, but in recent years, Westfield London has become a real hub for health and wellness. There’s a Gym Box for working out and StretchLAB for some assisted stretching afterwards (yes, that means someone else does all the