India Lawrence

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. 

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

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.

There are an array of hotels in Dublin to suit all types of tastes and budgets. But Dublin is, quite simply, a very expensive city, up there with the likes of London and Paris, and staying here can cost a pretty penny. But don’t worry – if you know where to look, you’ll find plenty of digs for under €200 a night.  We’ve picked our favourite cheap hotels in Dublin which are on the lower end of the scale but a step up from budget hostels – and still within a short distance to the city’s top things to do, as well its best restaurants. From the oldest hotel in Dublin to modern city-centre spots, here are our favourite budget hotels in the city.  RECOMMENDED: 🏠 The best Airbnbs in Dublin🏨 The best hotels in Dublin How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world – new openings, old classics and everything in between – to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed some of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 📍 Find more places to stay at our ultimate guide to hotels in Dublin

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

The most important thing about Christmas is here: the festive sandwich. So pure. So dense. So carby. This year, the staff of Time Out London have taste-tested seasonal sarnies from 10 independent bakeries, delis and street food stalls across London in order to find the jolliest Christmas sandwich in town. From vegetarian cheese feasts to meaty marvels and vegan sourdough wedges, these are the very best Christmas sandwiches in London. RECOMMENDED: For more festive fun here’s our guide to the best Christmas markets in London.  And don’t miss the best Christmas events, either. 

As much as Christmas trees, turkey and a mildly overworked Santa have become staples of the festive season, so has the music that soundtracks this cheer-soaked time of year. Christmas songs don’t just endure – many end up becoming the crown jewels of an artist’s entire career. From golden oldies by Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Bing Crosby, to ‘80s icons like Wham! and The Pogues, to modern favourites from Ariana Grande and Leona Lewis, these tunes have embedded themselves into our seasonal rituals. What is the best-selling Christmas song of all time? That honour still belongs to Bing Crosby’s 1942 classic ‘White Christmas’. With over 50 million sales, it’s not only the biggest Christmas record in history – it’s the best-selling song of all time, full stop. Guinness World Records first crowned it back in 1955, and it’s held onto the title ever since. What is the most-streamed Christmas song of all time? Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ may trail Crosby in pure sales (a mere 16 million), but streaming has turned it into a seasonal juggernaut. It finally hit No.1 in both the UK and US decades after its release and became the first Christmas song to pass 2 billion Spotify streams. Hot on its heels: Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’ (1.83 billion) and Brenda Lee’s ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ (1.27 billion). Are there any new Christmas songs for 2025? The past decade has delivered plenty of modern holiday staples, from Ariana Grande to Sabrina Carpenter to Cher. As

As the nights draw in and the chill sets through the air, there’s no denying it: spooky season has officially arrived. The pumpkins are carved, the costume’s nailed and now there’s just one thing left to summon… a Halloween playlist wicked enough to get even the undead on their feet. Sure, the classic Halloween songs still reign supreme – we’re talking ‘Thriller’, ‘Ghostbusters’ and all the usual heavy-hitters. But lately, a new wave of pop phantoms has emerged to soundtrack your October nights. From Olivia Rodrigo’s ex-boyfriend bleeding her dry, to the enchanting spellwork of Lady Gaga a.k.a Mother Monster herself, with a detour through the slick, otherworldly beats of K-Pop’s most stylish demons – Halloween playlists have, quite literally, come back to life. Our favourite Halloween playlist songs for 2025 at a glance: Most iconic Halloween track: ‘Thriller’ by Michael Jackson Best new Halloween anthem: ‘Abracadabra’ by Lady Gaga Most dramatic Halloween song: ‘There Will Be Blood’ by Kim Petras Best Halloween anthem with a K-Pop twist: ‘Your Idol’ by Saja Boys Best Halloween track to dance to: ‘Monster Mash’ by Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers RECOMMENDED: 👻 The best Halloween movies of all time 🎤 The best karaoke songs 🎵 The best songs of 2025 so far 🕺 The best albums of 2025 so far

If you boil a sauna down to its nuts and bolts, it’s essentially just a really hot room and some water to create steam with. Wild, then, how much of a positive affect those two simple ingredients can have on our bodies, healing weary muscles, doing wonders for our skin, and helping all the horrible toxins we insist on putting in our insides get back out. Saunas originated back in Finland back in the Middle Ages, where almost every house had one – imagine! In modern London, we’re not all so lucky as to have our own personal spa, but there are a wealth of top saunas around the city. From plunge pools and infrared therapy rooms to Finnish-style homages and ones soundtracked by DJ sets, you’ll find the steam sesh for you in the capital. Check out our video of 10 of the best spas in London: RECOMMENDED:Sauna culture is heating up London’s nightlifeThe best spas in London

We know that London is the best city in the world. But like any metropolis, it can also get a bit much sometimes. Occasionally, what you want isn’t to drink cocktails in a trendy bar after seeing the hottest Gen Z bedroom popstar at the Islington Assembly Hall, but a little peace and quiet, actually. Enter: the weekend getaway, invented by the Victorians (probably), there’s a reason why Londoners have been taking sojourns to the seaside on sunny bank holidays since the 1800s.  Together, we’ve come up with a cracking list of our favourite day trip destinations near London. There’s something for everyone here, from historic cities and cute villages to sandy beaches and rolling countryside. We've included some recommendations for ace restaurants, quaint little pubs, and our favourite things to do at each destination on the list – all of which are close enough to the city that you can get there and back in one sweet day.  Best day trips from London at a glance 🍔 Best for foodies: Margate 🎭 Best for culture lovers: Stratford-Upon-Avon ⛪ Best for history buffs: Canterbury 🛁 Best for families: Bath 🐴 Best for hikers: New Forest 🍺 Best for pub crawls: Lewes 🏖️ Best for seaside fun: Brighton RECOMMENDED:✨The best day trips an hour from London👪 The best family day trips from London☀️ The best weekend trips from London🏘️ The best Airbnbs near London🌳 The best quirky Airbnbs in the UK This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial conte

You can’t swing a pair of pointe shoes in London at Christmas without hitting a production of The Nutcracker. So it’s nice to see that there’s finally a new festive dance show on the block (one that isn’t by Matthew Bourne, anyway).  Hip hop honchos ZooNation are taking on the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, this winter. However, at the beginning we are told that writer/director/choreographer Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe’s version is absolutely not going to be the tale you recognise, with Tiny Tim et al. Instead, the recorded opening narration explains that Ebony Scrooge is about a ruthless fashion mogul (there’s certainly a bit of Miranda Priestly in there), hellbent on completing her monochrome fashion show in time for Christmas Day. It’s also spelled out that this is a story of belonging and finding your roots, which is perhaps a bit unnecessary – we all know the moral of A Christmas Carol.  Ebony Scrooge offers up a fun and inventive cast of characters, and I’m sure people will have their favourites. There are the mischievous content editors Tren and Dee (see what they did there?) with iPhones in hand; Scrooge’s sweet niece Freddie, always dressed in pink; and the kind natured Bob who just wants to put colour in Scrooge’s strictly black and white designs, played by a wonderfully fluid Malachi Welch. Leah Hill is a fabulous Scrooge, vogueing onto the stage in a pair of sparkling killer platforms over a house beat. Marley (that’s Janet Marley in this version) is quite te

Are you looking for something fuzzy to warm your heart this Christmastime? Then boy does the National Theatre have the show for you.  Katy Rudd’s seamless production is adapted by playwright Kendall Feaver from the Noel Streatfeild children’s novel of the same name. It follows the story of the three Fossil sisters: Pauline (Nina Cassells), Petrova (Sienna Arif-Knights) and Posy (Scarlett Monahan) who are adopted by the eccentric explorer and palaeontologist Great Uncle Matthew, aka Gum (Justin Salinger). After Gum goes missing on one of his many, many expeditions, the girls are looked after by his steadfastly loyal niece Sylvia, aka Garnie (Anoushka Lucas) and the matronly Miss Guthridge, aka Nana, played by the charming Lesley Nicol with a drawling West Country accent.  Set in the 1930s, the five women live in a tumbledown house filled with fossils on the Cromwell Road in Chelsea, until they realise they are desperately running out of money and assemble a motley crew of lodgers to take up rooms. There’s the stern but kind-hearted English professor Doctor Jakes (Pandora Colin), glamorous dance teacher Theo Dane (Nadine Higgin), and the bumbling car repair man Jai Saran (Raj Bajaj). After being booted out of every state school in the area, the girls are enrolled in the Children's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training, where luckily Dane is the teacher. Here they discover their passions for acting, ballet and er… being a mechanic. The whole plot is basically implausible – espec

It’s the location that clinched it for me at the Grafton, because staying here, you are quite literally right in the middle of the action. On the corner of Drury Street and Stephen Street, this modern hotel is in the perfect position to stumble straight home after a night on the Guinness (followed by the swift consumption of a spice bag) in town. I was still licking the salt and spices from my fingertips when I rolled into bed feeling sufficiently fed and watered. Fear not though, because despite its proximity to the hubbub, the room is well soundproofed. You can easily escape the hordes of stag dos, after work drinkers and tourists in the tranquility of your room. Plus, you can watch them all below while you sip a cup of tea, swaddled in a fluffy white robe. Regal stuff.  Why stay at the Grafton? First opening in 2019, the Grafton re-emerged from the chrysalis of lockdown in 2021 with a full makeover. The vibe they are going for is very much art deco glam, with a side of Studio 54. In the lobby, glittery pillars have been dressed up like disco balls, while gold accents can be found in furniture and fittings all over the digs. It has an aura of old-school glamour that occasionally verges on the gaudy (personally, I wasn’t a fan of the rooms’ blue and gold carpets). But overall the atmosphere is lively, welcoming and doesn’t take itself too seriously. The bright lobby could easily serve as an all-day hangout or decent place to get a bit of work done – there were often people l

Field Day tried to get back to its roots in 2025 when it up sticks from its more corporate-feeling Victoria Park set up and went to Brockwell Park. It will return to south London in May, so get it locked in the diary. On the line-up for 2026 is a dependable selection of DJs and producers, with the biggest names including Andy C, Floating Points, Honey Dijon and Joy Orbison. They’ll be joined by Anish Kumar, Interplanetary Criminal, KI/KI, sim0ne, Eliza Rose, Horse Meat Disco and others for a day of non-stop dancing.   

There was a time when being into Wes Anderson made you a proponent of quirky indie cinema. These days, liking his stuff doesn’t make you a cinephile with niche interests, or really even particularly cool. Now firmly in the mainstream, some of Anderson’s recent films are so stylised as to feel like parodies of his own work. And yet, the universe he has created is still just as wonderful as it has ever been. At the Design Museum’s massive exhibition dedicated to the director there is the chance to step into this ever-so-charming and colourful world – if you’re a fan of Anderson’s films, you are going to love it.  Through more than 700 costumes, props, handwritten notes, scripts, storyboards, behind-the-scenes photographs, and more, Wes Anderson: The Archives travels through each of the director’s 12 feature films in chronological order.  Entering the exhibition, the words ‘No Crying’ are stamped above the doorway of a crimson-painted room (all the paint swatches were approved by Anderson himself). Visitors are then greeted with a wall of BTS polaroids, which includes a shirtless Bill Murrary flexing his biceps on the set of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, and close ups of a young Jason Schwartzmann. A series of Anderson’s notebooks are laid out showing his ridiculously neat and boxy handwriting. Of course he writes like that.  The Archives shows visitors just how much detail has been poured into each of Anderson’s films: this is the crux of the whole display. We learn about

Sadlers Wells launches its inaugural dance film festival, Dance Digital, in 2026. Held in the Lilian Baylis studio, the three day event will be packed with film screenings, talks, VR/XR installations, networking sessions and mentoring opportunities. The line-up of films is still TBA, but it promises to include the UK premiere of a dance feature film. Sadlers Wells is currently on the lookout for submissions to the festival, with awards to be given out for the following categories: best dance on screen; best documentary / behind the scenes; best film by young artists; best social first film; best cinematography; best dance (choreography, performance). Tickets go on sale in January 2026. 

I have always had a soft spot for hotel bars. To some they may seem stuffy, but not to me. With their polished  interiors, sleek seats and lo-fi music, drinking in them always feels classy and sexy. The cocktails are usually good, they’re not too noisy, or trendy, and you can almost  always get a seat. I have also always wanted to go to Los Angeles, but alas, have never managed to make the trip. At Chet’s Bar I got to fulfill my dream of drinking in a slinky LA hotel bar, without leaving London.  The Hoxton Shepherd’s Bush has been home to Chet’s, from Silverlake-hailing chef Kris Yenbamroong, since 2023. Now they’ve opened Chet’s Bar, an offshoot of the vibrant and addictive Thai eatery, in the same building.  The Thai Sour – fragrant and frothy with banana liqueur – is a beach holiday in a glass Sitting on a dusty pink bar stool, I found the room pleasantly dim-lit, with each table kitted out with its own spaceship-looking lamp. There are also marble and chrome accents and wood panelling. Very nice. As for the crowd, it’s sort of what you’d expect from a hotel in west London – fairly middle-aged, and a decent amount of people who look like they could be business travellers. But that doesn’t mean that Chet’s Bar is boring – the trendy people simply haven’t found it yet.  To sip, you can order Chet’s classics, like the Lychee Martini – sweet and girly with a pleasingly green lychee at the bottom; and the Thai Sour – fragrant and frothy, made with Dewars 12 scotch, Thai spiri

London’s biggest pop festival returns, and this is going to be a biggie. Like every year, next summer Mighty Hoopla is presenting all of London’s gays and theys with a mighty line-up of nostalgic pop acts, disco-leaning dance music and megastars. The 2026 edition will be headlined by the one and only Lily Allen, who will be performing her searing and brutal new album West End Girl on Saturday, May 30. Allen will be joined by Jessie J, JLS, Horse Meat Disco and Agnes. On Sunday, the Scissor Sisters will bring their legendary show to the Brockwell Park stage. They’re joined on the billing by Perrie, Five, Alexandra Burke and Cascada. 

I am staring at a machine that resembles a torture device from the future. A dozen spindly and black robot arms, each with a bright yellow light on its tip, are attached to two parallel black tracks. Suddenly, the machine starts zooming towards me, its arms squirming like a creepy spider.  It sounds like something out of Blade Runner, but the contraption is actually a kinetic robot sculpture, made as a collaboration between Wayne McGregor and art collective Random International. Separately, in a video, I see two dancers eloquently interacting with the apparatus. Simply put, the work explores the relationship between humans and machines, and you can see it for yourself now at Somerset House’s landmark dance exhibition.  Wayne McGregor: Infinite Bodies takes a look at the work of virtuoso choreographer Wayne McGregor – resident choreographer of The Royal Ballet, and the brains behind the ABBA Voyage avatar’s dance moves. Ever since the ’90s, when he created his first choreographic work inspired by robots (Cyborg, 1995), McGregor has been obsessed with the relationship between the body and technology. Over the years, he’s worked with cognitive neuroscientists at Cambridge, developed an AI choreography tool, and put a sci-fi ballet on the Royal Opera House stage. Now, an impressive display of his lofty work has been put on in London for all to see.  It’s a sensory delight; you can feel soundscapes vibrating in your body Walking through the dark space, visitors are taken through

What do an Enigma machine, an Apple AirTag and Lady Mountbatten’s silk underwear all have in common? Well, they’re all currently on display at the British Library’s riveting Secret Maps exhibition. Why are they all together? Because they all tell stories about how information is created, concealed, disseminated and controlled, via mapping. And that’s exactly what Secret Maps is all about.  Through more than 100 items, from hand-drawn naval charts gifted to Henry VIII, to Soviet Cold War-era cartographies, and modern-day satellite tracking technology (TL;DR: a whole lotta maps), the British Library illuminates how maps can be powerful political tools, create communities, and act as a form of protest.  It’s a dense, information-packed display with plenty of granular detail to get stuck into, so if you’re not, like, really into maps, then it may not be for you. But it’s sort of what you’d expect for an exhibition dedicated to maps hosted by the British Library. There are a few fun and interactive elements, too; visitors are invited to peer through secret spy holes, place their phones on a futuristic screen that tells them exactly how the tech overlords are mapping and harvesting their data (gulp), and find Wally in an original drawing from the children’s book.  For £20 you are guaranteed to see a lot of cool old shit The most compelling aspect of the exhibition is its anti-colonialist streak (other London museums could do with taking a leaf out of the British Library’s book). S

Known for her surreal and avante garde haute couture creations – often with striking silhouettes, gilded accents, and unusual appliqués – for the first time in the UK an exhibition will be dedicated to the work and legacy of the groundbreaking fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli. The show will trace the origins of the house, from its first, paradigmshifting garments, through to its present-day incarnation in the hands of its creative director Daniel Roseberry, whose contemporary designs worn by the likes of Kylie Jenner and Bella Hadid have seen gowns adorned with faux-taxidermy lion heads, and a lung dress fashioned from a delicate network of golden veins. 

BST will be back again next summer, bringing some of the world’s biggest pop stars to Hyde Park for its 13th edition. Already announced as headliners for 2026 are Lewis Capaldi, Pit Bull and Garth Brooks, with more to be confirmed. Taking place across weekends in June and July, Hyde Park will host an upmarket festival vibe complete with food, drink and a posh VIP area. Here’s all you need to know about the BST Hyde Park’s 2026 edition.  When is BST Hyde Park 2026? As in previous years, BST Hyde Park takes place over several dates in late June and early July. So far, dates have been announced for Saturday, June 27, Friday, July 10, Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12.  How much are tickets? Tickets typically range in price depending on who’s playing and what kind of access you want. The cheapest general admission tickets cost £99.95 plus booking fee, with VIP tickets costing up to £350.95 plus booking fee. Check the website for the full range of tickets and prices. There are also a number of free community events taking place throughout the weeks as part of the BST Open House series. These usually include things like Wimbledon screenings, an outdoor cinema, outdoor theatre shows, DJ sets and gigs. Who’s on the lineup? Country singer Garth Brooks will headline on June 27. This will be his only European performance in 2026. Pitbull will play on July 10, joined by Kesha, and Lewis Capaldi will headline two shows on July 11 and 12. More acts are to be announced in the future. 

Living in London is amazing – we’ve got many of the country’s best restaurants, museums, public parks, live music, theatre and more, all on our doorstep. But being surrounded by all that capital city concrete can also get a bit depressing, especially combined with the extremely high cost of living.  Property platform Rightmove has just unveiled its annual Happy at Home Index, revealing the locations in Britain where people are the most – and least – happy, at home. Rightmove surveyed thousands of Brits about where they live, taking into account not only how residents felt about their properties, but their thoughts on their community, local area and proximity to amenities.  The least happy borough in London, according to Rightmove’s data, was Barking and Dagenham. Coming in dead-last place out of the capital’s 33 boroughs, the east London area ranked 220th nationally.  To the residents of B&D, we say chin up, because we don’t actually agree. Not only is the postcode poised to receive a £200 million investment from the National Lottery Heritage Fund soon, but the area is home to a number of fascinating and beautiful historical attractions, including the Elizabethan Eastbury Manor House, and the Grade II*–listed manor with a medieval moat Valence House Museum.  Photograph: Abdul_Shakoor / Shutterstock.com B&D is also London’s most affordable location, where the average house price is just £335,500. This is much, much cheaper than London’s happiest borough, the affluent Richmon

Flying from Heathrow sometime soon? You’re going to want to be aware of changes to the major flight hub’s drop-off policy. In short, you’ll only be able to wait for a certain amount of time, and will have to fork out a bit more money.  In the New Year, the UK’s busiest airport will introduce a strict time limit on drop-offs for the first time ever. Bosses at the airport said this would be to ease congestion in the zones outside the terminals. They added that free drop-offs using the Park and Ride were still available to all terminals, should you not want to pay the fee.  Here’s everything you need to know about the changes.  When is Heathrow changing its drop-off rules? The new rules come into force on January 1 2026.  How much is Heathrow increasing the drop-off fee by? The fee to drop off a passenger at one of the Heathrow terminals in a car will increase by only £1, from £6 to £7.  How long will drivers have to drop-off passengers? People dropping off will only be allowed to wait for 10 minutes before they will be issued a Parking Charge Notice (PCN). This should still give you plenty of time – the Heathrow spokesperson said that 95 percent of drop-offs are currently under 10 minutes.  How to pay the drop-off charge Visitors to the drop-off zones can pre-pay online or by phone. Alternatively, if drivers are paying after using the drop-off areas they must do it before midnight the following day otherwise they could be charged an £80 fine. Did you see that London Heathrow is

The London Overground could be about to get a new route, as a north London train route running from Moorgate to Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage might soon be taken over by Transport for London (TfL).  According to the government’s New Towns Report published in autumn, TfL could take over part of the Great Northern route called the ‘Great Northern Inners’. The route runs from Moorgate to Alexandra Palace via Finsbury Park, before splitting towards Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage via Hertford North. If the proposal is accepted, the route may become part of the London Overground. According to a Freedom of Information request submitted by IanVisits, TfL’s business case says it could double the frequency of Welwyn off-peak services from two to four trains per hour. TfL also wants to increase the Hertford North service to six per hour, meaning there could be one train every 10 minutes.  The business case also mentioned a previous proposal that wanted to implement 12 trains per hour to Moorgate during peak hours, and 14 per hour during the busiest times. However, this suggestion feels more pie-in-the-sky at this stage, as there would need to be a lot of intricate timetable planning and station upgrades before it could come to fruition.  The upgrades could see the stations along the route get a TfL makeover, with new branding, roundels, seating, ticket machines and departure display screens. Transport honcho estimate the takeover could cost around £47 million, which could rise to £

By this point, Guinness has firmly cemented itself in the London drinking canon. And let’s not forget that the Irish stout was a delicious drink long before it was co-opted by Palace-wearing G-splitters. Now Guinness has published its first ever Harp Guide, telling thirsty drinkers where in Britain has mastered the art of the pour. Think of it as like the Michelin guide, but for the black stuff.  And it’s good news for the stout connoisseurs of the capital, because according to the guide nine of the UK’s best pints of Guinness are served right here in the capital.  The inaugural annual list has crowned the 35 top boozers for Guinness in Blighty, and almost a third of them are in the Big Smoke. Pubs were chosen not just for their flawless pours, but also for their service, atmosphere and dedication for learning the craft of the stout. Each pub selected will be given a brass harp plaque to be displayed proudly.  Making the Harp Guide in London were the trendy Soho gastropub The Devonshire, south London Irish haven Skehans Freehouse, and the legendary Carlisle Street joint the Toucan. Also on the list was Stoke Newington icon the Auld Shillelagh, Soho institution (and beloved Time Out watering hole) the Coach & Horses and south London Irish pub Mc & Sons.  Photograph: Shutterstock And remember, when tasting Guinness, do say: this one has strong notes of dark chocolate and coffee. Don’t say: I think I’d prefer a Murphy’s, actually.  Full list of London pubs in the Harp Guide He

Foodies, set your alarms, because a much-loved street food market in south London is about to make a huge comeback. Lewisham’s Model Market will reopen in the spring, having been closed for the past five years.  Landsec, the developer that owns the area, has announced it will bring back the market as ‘a hub for independent kitchens, local makers and creative spaces’. The market’s return comes amid Landsec’s wider plan to demolish the 1970s-built Lewisham town centre to build 1,700 new homes, alongside a new Lewisham shopping centre.  Operating as a street food market since 2014, the hugely popular market closed in 2021 when its operator, Street Feast, collapsed. Before becoming a street food hub, Model Market was a trading site for many small Black-owned businesses dating back to the 1950s.  Despite the nearby upcoming demolition, due to begin in 2027, Model Market will return to its original building, serving food as well as hosting live events including DJ sets, pop-ups and live music. Its new look will take inspiration from the original 1950s style, with retro shopfronts and string lights.  ‘The revived Model Market will serve more than food, it will be a social hub in the heart of Lewisham, delivering DJ sets and genre-spanning music, alongside a host of events, pop-ups and cultural programming that blends food, music and art,’ said Landsec. ‘By honouring the original architecture and preserving the site’s time-worn patina, the market will retain the character and charm t

Time Out’s best restaurant in Edinburgh, Lyla, is about to expand into a fancy boutique hotel.  Time Out’s Chiara Wilkinson said she was left ‘speechless’ by the Scottish resto, which has a focus on sustainably caught seafood and foraged goods. Soon guests will be able to stretch out their stay at the Michelin-starred restaurant for as long as they please, as it will become a hotel in the new year.  Opened in 2023, Lyla currently has four rooms above its restaurant in the Georgian townhouse where it resides. From February 2026 Lyla will have even more rooms, as it has just acquired the rest of the building. The Lyla rooms will take over the former 21212 hotel rooms, which closed in 2023.  To be restored by Glasgow based interior architects Scarinish Studio, the new rooms will mirror Lyla restaurant’s Scottish leanings and calm nature. They will allow the natural structure of the townhouse to come through, with lofty ceilings and detailed cornicing, large sash windows and light washed oak chevron flooring. Inside, all the rooms will be dressed in Scottish designs with fabrics from the Isle of Bute, cushions by Roros Tweed and throws by Hilary Grant lighting pieces by Tom Dixon and Parisian DCW éditions. And the best part – the minibars will be stocked with Lyla’s own batched cocktails, Champagne and caviar, perfect for a wee high-end getaway. The expansion will also see the introduction of a new private dining room in April, which will feature a sculptural solid oak table and

When ABBA Voyage first opened in London in May 2022 it was only scheduled to run for six months until December of the same year. Three years later, it’s not just still going – the show remains hugely popular. Soon, a Beatles version of the mind-blowing virtual gig could be coming to Liverpool, and it could be funded by a tourist tax.  Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region (LCR), has been campaigning for an overnight tourist tax since 2017. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he had been ‘looking at ways [Liverpool] might be able to deliver something similar but not identical to the Abba Voyage experience in London’.  Liverpool’s compulsory tourist tax for overnight visitors will officially come in in 2027, covering all of LCR and including Airbnbs. Until then visitors will pay a voluntary £2 per night City Visitor Charge, which came into effect in June 2025.  RECOMMENDED: Is Liverpool getting fed up with Beatles tourism? Rotheram said every pound raised fro the levy could help fund cultural events in the city. He said he wanted to create a purpose-built Beatles stadium, similar to London’s ABBA Arena, to host a cyber concert of the iconic four-piece band.  He told the LDRS that he hoped a Beatles cyber gig could encourage tourists to make visiting Liverpool a priority over London in the UK, instead of vice versa.  Liverpool would need to save up a lot of money before being able to built the Beatles arena – London’s ABBA Voyage cost £140 million to b

Huge redevelopments taking place at many of the UK’s major airports, from Gatwick’s second runway and Heathrow’s plans for millions more passengers to improvements at Birmingham. Next up to receive a mega facelift is Bristol Airport, which is set to undergo a massive £60 million makeover.  Bristol Airport has started works on the £60m overhaul of its terminal, which is part of a wider £400 million plan. The project involves creating more space and almost doubling the number of shops and restaurants. Seventeen new units will be built, housing shops – including premium brands – and places to eat (which already includes a bigger and better M&S).  But most exciting of all is that the airport plans to open a new a hidden speakeasy bar, where you can complete the ritual of a pre-holiday pint, no matter the time of day.  Bristol is also improving accessibility, with the assisted travel lounge doubling in size and including tables, so that customers are able to sit, eat and work comfortably. New and improved accessible toilets will be installed, as well as a baby feeding room and more washrooms.   Photograph: Shutterstock Kate Gwyther, head of retail at Bristol Airport, said: ‘We’re excited about what’s coming. The new departure lounge will be bright and spacious where customers can relax, explore a variety of new shops, and enjoy a wider range of dining options to suit every schedule, taste and budget. It’s all designed to make the holiday feel like it starts the moment passengers

There’s finally been an opening date set for the grand re-opening of Sicilian Avenue.  The street might sound rather Mediterranean, but its true location is less White Lotus, and more Slow Horses, because it’s right next to Holborn station.     The Grade II-listed pedestrianised street, which runs diagonally between Southampton Row and Bloomsbury Way, has been getting a lot of work done. And we mean a lot – the marble thoroughfare has been closed for the past five years as developers Tristan Capital Partners have performed a ‘complete restoration’ of the area.  The avenue is named after its luxurious architectural style, which feels almost European. Built in 1906, it’s home to several turrets, golden building names, and Grade II-listed buildings, and is also a pretty convenient shortcut. It opened back up last year for pedestrians, but its buildings have remained uninhabited.  Photograph: Sicilian Avenue London But the passage is going to be repopulated any day now, and Sicilian Avenue has just revealed its first line-up of businesses that are going to occupy the street. Trendy coffee joint Flying Horse Coffee has opened its doors at 1 Sicilian Avenue (opposite the red telephone box) this December. This is Flying Horse’s fourth London outpost and first location in the city centre.  The roastery will be joined by Backworks in the spring. The drop-in massage studio will offer fully-clothed seated back, head, neck and shoulder massages, with sessions starting from 15 to 45 min

It’s December, which means we can finally stop feeling embarrassed about whacking on The Holiday and cracking open a bottle of Baileys (even though we’ve actually been drinking it since October). Christmas lights have arrived, festive trees have been erected, and people are embarrassing themselves at office parties all over the city. It really is the most wonderful time of the year.  Time Out has just crowned London’s very best Christmas tree for 2025. It’s... the spruce at St Pancras International train station. Titled ‘Powered by Dreams’, this year’s tree is made in collaboration with Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). Sitting in the intersection between trad and inventive, this year’s St Pancras Christmas tree isn’t particularly whacky, but it’s not a total bore either. Inspired by a music box, the 2026 design features a 12-metre-high tree, adorned with 180 metres of fairy lights and a spiral of 158 glowing baubles, with an ornamental clockwork winder at the bottom. Just like a traditional music box, the tree gently turns to a soothing tune and is topped by a ballerina (based on a real dancer from the GOSH Charity-funded GOSH Arts programme, who visits children and their families on the hospital wards).  Photograph: Sam Lane Photography Thirty-eight children from GOSH were invited to draw their ‘wishes for the future’ that were then printed on the baubles that decorate the tree. Their dreams include becoming an Olympic gymnast, training to be a pilot, or travelling int

One of London’s best known shopping streets could be about to undergo a big makeover. Carnaby Street – the shopping spot home to zeitgeisty brands including Rixo, Tala and Pangaia – could be transformed by plans to improve its public realm.  The main improvements that developers Shaftesbury Capital want to make to the area include new signage, upgrading the lighting and introducing more planting. The plans also want to take Carnaby back to its roots by making it look more like a road again. The street would remain pedestrianised, but could have a ‘road’ and pavements re-installed. The developers want to un-do a lot of the changes that were made in the ‘80s and ‘90s when artificial stone paving was installed.  ‘We believe there is an opportunity to refresh Carnaby Street’s public realm with high-quality, contextually appropriate materials that celebrate the street’s heritage while improving comfort and accessibility,’ says the public consultation website. ‘This includes replacing existing artificial stone with a refined mix of natural stone and subtly reintroducing a visual distinction between pavement and carriageway, reflecting the proportions and character of the original street.’ There is also a proposal to create a new art and cultural programme in the area, which could see art integrated into façades, paving, and key sightlines. The plans are still currently in their very early stages. If you want to have your say you can take part in the public consultation online here.

Less than half of London households own a car – which is why it’s useful for Londoners to have access to car sharing services like Zipcar. In bad news for anyone that uses the service regularly, Zipcar is officially cancelling all its services in the capital – and the UK – very soon. Londoners will have to rely on Uber or other rental services from now on.  If you haven’t used a Zipcar before, it’s essentially like the Lime bike of four-wheeled vehicles. Cars and vans can be rented off the street for between £6 and £15/hour including fuel, insurance and breakdown cover, all unlocked through a phone app. Users are charged for their time used.  Zipcar, which is owned by US car rental group Avis Budget, has announced it will withdraw all of its vehicles from the capital by the end of December. The end of Zipcar coincides with the introduction of a new £13.50 daily congestion charge on electric vehicles, which begins on 2 January 2026. In November London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced the congestion charge would increase in 2026 for the first time since 2020.  The heightened levy appears to be the final nail in the coffin for Zipcar, which already finds itself in a tricky financial situation thanks to decreasing levels of travel, the cost of living crisis, and competition from services like Uber and Lime.   Another problem for Zipcar, as reported by London Centric, is that the Mayor of London doesn’t have the central powers to create a city-wide contract with the company. Instead co