Caitlin Barr

Philadelphia has no shortage of things to do: great restaurants, brilliant bars and breweries, and a huge amount of history to soak up. It’s the City of Brotherly Love, home of the cheesesteak, and boasts no end of excellent hotels. But when you want to vacation like a Philly-local, look no further than the city's coolest Airbnbs.  We've picked out some of the best across neighborhoods including Old City, Rittenhouse, Fishtown and South Philly, with options for couples, families and big groups. Think historic details, quirky interiors, outdoor space and, crucially, locations that make it easy to get out and explore. Updated September 2026: We’ve given this list a refresh, with added tips and a gorgeous new loft in an old shoe polish factory.  The best Airbnbs in Philadelphia, at a glance:  👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for families: The comfy townhouse ❤️ Best for couples: The speakeasy suite 🏛️ Best for history buffs: The historic firehouse apartment 🍺 Best for exploring the beer scene: The artist’s flat Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we’ve based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Dallas may be famous for cowboys, barbecue and its larger-than-life reputation, but there’s plenty more to get stuck into here. Spend the day hopping between brilliant restaurants, bars and shops, find some green space when you need a breather, then head out for a night on the town. And after all that? You’ll need somewhere good to crash. Luckily, Dallas has an Airbnb for pretty much every kind of trip, whether you’re after a central base for exploring, a sprawling house with a pool for a group, a cosy B&B or something a little more out there. Yes, there’s an Airstream in the mix. Here are the best Airbnbs in Dallas. Updated September 2026: We’ve given this list a refresh, and added a fun mega-game house for the whole family and a swanky mid-century property with its own saloon bar.  The best Airbnbs in Dallas, at a glance:  👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for big groups: The all-out game house 🌿 Best for getting out of the city: The charming cabin 🎷 Best for a fun night in: The mid-century saloon house 🏊 Best for a pool day: The high-style home Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we’ve based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Hawaii is the kind of place where you can spend the morning swimming in the Pacific, the afternoon driving past lava fields and the evening watching the sun disappear behind the mountains. Across the islands, there are black-sand beaches, lush rainforest, coffee farms, waterfalls and volcanoes, with plenty of small towns and local spots to explore in between. Basically, there’s a lot more to do here than sit on a beach, although we certainly wouldn’t discourage that. And the Airbnbs are just as varied. You can sleep in a bamboo treehouse, wake up on a working farm, stay beside a volcano or settle into a clifftop house with the ocean below. We’ve rounded up some of our favourites, from gloriously simple cabins to bigger homes with pools and hot tubs, all with a little more personality than your average hotel room. Updated September 2026: We’ve given this page a refresh, and added four new properties including a Kona farm cabin and a Honoliʻi cliffside house. The best Airbnbs in Hawaii, at a glance:  ❤️ Best for romantic honeymoon stays: The peaceful treehouse in Volcano 🌲 Best for fancy forest relaxation: The luxury A-frame cabin ✨ Best for eco glamping and stargazing: The glamping dome in Naalehu 🚣‍♀️ Best for active water sports and river views: The charming riverside cottage Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we’ve based our list on top reviews, hosts, and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. The

Atlanta does a pretty good job of giving you a bit of everything: brilliant food, galleries and museums, leafy parks, a huge events calendar and plenty of neighborhoods worth getting lost in. You could easily fill a long weekend here without running out of things to do, whether it’s your first visit or you’ve been coming back for years. And when you’re ready to call it a day, there’s more choice than your standard hotel room. Atlanta’s cabins and tiny homes range from treehouses and woodland hideaways to quirky little stays right in the city, many with private gardens, fire pits and plenty of character. We’ve rounded up the best of them, so all that’s left is to pick your favourite, which, admittedly, might be the hardest part. Updated September 2026: We’ve given this page a refresh, and added a new tiny cabin with a dreamy loft in East Atlanta. The best Airbnb cabins in Atlanta, at a glance:  ❤️ Best for couples: The treetop escape with a hot tub 🎉 Best for large group gatherings: The fairytale cabin with a pool 🏙️ Best for urban walkability and location: The magical central cabin 🌲 Best for waterfront relaxation: The lakeside hideaway Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we’ve based our list on top reviews, hosts, and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

St. Barts knows how to do a holiday. Spend the morning hiking through the hills to Colombier Beach, the afternoon swimming in clear turquoise water, then swap your walking shoes for something a little more cocktail-friendly at a beach club in St Jean. The tiny French Caribbean island may have a reputation for being eye-wateringly expensive, but it’s also packed with gorgeous places to stay, from tucked-away hillside hideouts to big villas made for bringing the whole gang. We’ve rounded up the best Airbnbs in St Barts, so all that’s left to decide is whether you want a private pool, a sea view, or both. Updated in September 2026: We’ve given this page an update, with several brand new stays including an ocean-view bungalow for two and a poolside studio in Gustavia.  The best Airbnbs in St. Barts, at a glance:  🥳 Best for luxury group milestone stays: The Gouverneur hillside villa ❤️ Best for romantic couples & views: The ocean-view bungalow for two 🍹 Best for walkability & nightlife access: The Gustavia poolside studio Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, we’ve based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Florida is a pretty easy place to book a holiday, but choosing where to stay is a different matter. There are beach houses, enormous villas, cabins tucked into the woods, treehouses, boats and some even whackier options, too. So, rather than trawling through hundreds of listings yourself, we’ve picked out some of the best Airbnbs across the state, from Miami and St Augustine to the Florida Keys and beyond. There’s something here for most kinds of trip, whether you want a log cabin by the river, a big villa near Disney World for a group, or a sailboat anchored in Biscayne Bay. We’ve focused on places with something worth travelling for, whether that’s a great view, a brilliant location or simply the fact that you can tell your friends you stayed in a shipping container in Gainesville. The best Airbnbs in Florida, at a glance: 🌴 Best for luxury resort living: The luxe condo with resort amenities 🏰 Best for large family groups: The adult playground with a bowling alley 🌊 Best for unique ocean escapes: The unique tiny home on the water 🌲 Best for budget nature getaways: The log cabin in Fort White Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, we’ve based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities, and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affi

Seattle is a city of neighborhoods, and each one has its own personality. You’ve got the buzz of downtown and Capitol Hill, the waterfront views of Alki Beach and the leafy residential streets of Magnolia, while just beyond the city there are forests, lakes and mountain escapes waiting to be explored. And while Seattle has plenty of great hotels, an Airbnb can give you a much more personal way to experience the Pacific Northwest. From characterful lofts in historic Pioneer Square and modern apartments with rooftop views to lakeside cabins and tiny homes hidden among the evergreens, we’ve rounded up the best Airbnbs in Seattle for 2026. Whether you’re after a walkable city base, somewhere to gather with friends or a peaceful retreat away from the crowds, there’s a perfect place to stay waiting in this list.  Updated September 2026: We’ve given this list a refresh, including a stunning Craftsman cottage near Capitol Hill and an architect's dreamhouse in Magnolia.  The best Airbnbs in Seattle, at a glance:  💓 Best for romantic lake views: The Hawaiian-inspired cabin in Lake Tapps 🍃 Best for large group getaways: The rustic A-frame cabin on Bonney Lake 🪩 Best for nightlife: The historic brick loft in Pioneer Square 🌊 Best for unique nature escapes: The handcrafted A-frame in Snohomish Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, we’ve based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hote

Key West may be small, but it packs a lot into its four-ish miles. There’s the historic Old Town, Duval Street’s bars and restaurants, plenty of beaches and a whole lot of boats coming and going from the harbour. You can spend the morning exploring, the afternoon swimming and the evening deciding which bar to wander into next. Or, if that sounds exhausting, you can just stay by the pool. Where you stay makes a big difference here, too. Key West’s Airbnbs range from apartments in the middle of the action to quiet homes with private pools, waterfront views and room for the whole family. We’ve picked out some of the best, so you can spend less time scrolling through listings and more time figuring out what to do once you arrive. Updated September 2026: We’ve refreshed this list and added some great new places, including a canal-front hideaway with its own pool and a houseboat based right in Key West Harbor.  The best Airbnbs in Key West, at a glance:  🌴 Best for bucket-list & unique stays: The grand tiki on the Atlantic Ocean 🏊 Best for luxury group getaways: The luxe secret villa off Duval Street 🏖️ Best for beach access: The upgraded apartment on Atlantic Boulevard 🐚 Best for historic charm: The conch cottage in Old Town Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, we’ve based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities, and in-depth research to find you the best stays.

Planning a California road trip, or just fancy a few days seeing what the Golden State is all about? There’s a lot to get through, from beaches and big cities to national parks, forests, mountain towns and enormous stretches of desert. So, naturally, the question becomes: where are you actually going to sleep? That’s where things get interesting. You could bed down in a treehouse among the redwoods, soak in a hot tub beneath the desert stars, wake up by the Pacific or hole up in a cosy cabin near Yosemite. We’ve rounded up some of the best Airbnbs in California for all sorts of trips and budgets. If you’d rather keep things a little more traditional, take a look at our guide to the best hotels in California. The best Airbnbs in California, at a glance:  ⛰️ Best for large group gatherings: The mountain top cabin in Ahwahnee 🌊 Best for luxury oceanfront views: The luxury beachside villa in San Diego 🏜️ Best for unique desert stargazing: The guard tower suite in Joshua Tree ❤️ Best for cozy romantic escapes: The cozy cabin in the Redwoods Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, we’ve based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities, and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Short of checking into one of NYC’s most iconic hotels, there’s no better way to settle into the city than by staying somewhere with a bit of personality. And Brooklyn makes a pretty good case for it. Across the East River, you’ll find more space for your money, neighborhoods packed with brilliant places to eat and drink, and easy access to Manhattan when you want to get stuck into the big-ticket attractions. So, if you’re looking for somewhere a little more interesting than a standard hotel room, start here. We’ve rounded up some of the coolest Airbnbs in Brooklyn, from characterful brownstones and garden apartments to modern city pads and proper group-friendly homes. Whether you’re after somewhere to crash after a day of sightseeing or a place you’ll actually want to hang out in, there should be a stay here with your name on it. Updated September 2026: We’ve given this list a much-needed edit, this time with a spotlight on a brownstone apartment in Crown Heights, and a handy duo of studios in Bay Ridge.  The best Airbnbs in Brooklyn, at a glance:  ☀️ Best for outdoor space & summer vibes: The garden apartment in Bushwick 🍎 Best for group trips & classic NYC style: The huge loft in Greenwood Heights 🗽 Best for chic interiors & location: The cozy private suite in Bushwick Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These lin

Heading to Austin for the barbecue, live music and general promise of a very good time? Good call. There’s plenty to get stuck into here, from legendary food and packed music venues to outdoor adventures when you need a break from the city. After a day of eating, exploring and dancing your way around town, you’ll need somewhere decent to collapse. Sure, you could book a hotel, but Austin’s Airbnbs are much more fun. Think private pools, garden hideaways, quirky architectural gems and big houses made for groups. We’ve rounded up the best of them, so all you need to do is pick your favourite. Updated September 2026: We’ve added a unique stay in West Lake Hills and a historic Travis Heights bungalow. The best Airbnbs in Austin, at a glance:  🍃 Best for wellness: The calmest of places in East Austin 🎉 Best for parties & large groups: The historic manor in Central East Austin 💞 Best for couples and cozy retreats: The vintage cottage on North Loop Boulevard 💦 Best for families and pool days: The South Austin pool house Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts, and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

As Canadian cities go, Montreal knows how to have a good time. Spend a few days here and you’ll find yourself bouncing between museums and galleries, excellent coffee shops, LGBTQ+ bars, late-night clubs and a jazz scene that really comes into its own in summer, when free gigs and festivals spill out across the city. There’s plenty to Montreal beyond the nightlife, too. Its French heritage is woven into the city, from its architecture and food to the historic streets of Old Montreal. And then there’s the Underground City, the enormous network of shops, restaurants and passageways beneath downtown, which is particularly handy when the weather decides not to play ball. Before you get carried away planning your itinerary, though, you’ll need somewhere to sleep. We’ve rounded up some of the best Airbnbs in Montreal, from slick city apartments to characterful homes, so all that’s left to do is pick your favorite. Updated in September 2026: We’ve given this page an update, with several brand new stays including a Mile End hangout with a rooftop hot-tub, and a swanky one-bed in Old Port.  The best Airbnbs in Montreal, at a glance:  🥳 Best for large groups: The port-view penthouse in Old Montreal 💻 Best for remote working: The digital nomad’s dream in Downtown Montreal ❤️ Best for romantic getaways: The characterful studio in Old Montreal 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for multi-family stays: The luxurious home in Le Plateau-Mont-Royal Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review e

If you’re planning a stay in the capital, you’ve got a lot of choice when it comes to luxury. From Claridges to The Standard, 1 Hotel Mayfair to The Berkeley, there are frankly loads of five-star hotels and we’ve written about the best of them here. But one posh place has made this year’s World's 50 Best longlist, coming in at number 56. Rosewood Hotel on High Holborn made the ranking and landed in 56th place next to legendary spots like LA’s Beverly Hills Hotel (aka The Hotel California, from the song), La Réserve Paris and the Hoshinoya in Tokyo, which made it to our worldwide list of excellent hotels. Gleneagles in Scotland was the only other UK hotel to get a mention on the longlist. The Rosewood London is really quite fancy indeed, and it’s also the biggest five-star hotel in central London, with 308 rooms and 44 suites.  Photograph: Jack Hardy/ Rosewood LondonBedroom at the Rosewood London   It’s got several dining spots, including The Pie Room, which our London local expert Sonya Barber raved about when she visited: ‘These beautiful creations arrive like shiny pastry crowns, stuffed with braised beef steak, chicken and wild mushroom or Lincolnshire poacher cheese and potato. So comforting, elevated and totally delicious.’ And it might even embroider your initials into your pillowcase, as Sonya discovered. Either way, it's a prime spot if you want friendly doormen, a bamboo spa and an afternoon tea menu inspired by the works of Claude Monet. Check out the full longlis

Nearly two decades after the Olympic crowds descended on Stratford, the area’s enormous post-games transformation is finally edging towards the finish line. Plans have been submitted for the last phase of development at Stratford Cross, with around 2,000 new homes, a new public park and more shops proposed for the east London neighbourhood. The proposals, submitted to the London Borough of Newham, would mark the final phase of Stratford Cross, the large-scale development between Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Westfield Stratford City. If approved, the new neighbourhood would also bring improved walking and cycling routes connecting Stratford station with the Olympic Park and surrounding areas. The 2,000 homes would include a mix of affordable and market-rate housing, alongside student accommodation and co-living homes. The proposals also include ground-floor retail space and new public areas. It’s another major milestone for an area that has changed dramatically since 2012. Stratford Cross has developed into a hub for business, education and culture, with the Turing Building sitting alongside the East Bank cultural quarter.  The plans are part of the wider Impact Partnership Joint Venture between Lendlease and The Crown Estate, which is aiming to deliver a range of developments across the UK, including up to 9,000 homes in its first phase. If the latest plans get the green light, construction is expected to begin in 2028, with the final phase taking around three years to co

One thing the UK really excels at (alongside pubs, moaning and rain) is castles. From Corfe Castle in Dorset all the way up to Stirling Castle in Scotland, we’ve got heaps of them, and many have been turned into tourist hotspots with gift shops, cafes and ten-minute long introductory videos that we feel duty-bound to sit through every single time.  Some castles are simply too ruined to open to the public, though, and for a while, Haverfordwest Castle in southwest Wales was part of that group. But, thanks to a huge cash injection, plans to rejuvenate the twelfth century Pembrokeshire stronghold have been announced. First recorded in 1188, the castle was ordered to be destroyed by Oliver Cromwell in the 1600s before being repurposed as a prison during the eighteenth century. Since then the site has consisted of parts of its original inner keep, as well as the shell of the inner ward and several towers. The £17.7m redevelopment plan involves a new cafe serving locally sources snacks and drinks, an outdoor event space with 500 seats, and a ‘fun, immersive and interactive exhibition space’. The wider castle site will also host a refurbished Haverfordwest Museum in the Governor's House.  It’s being funded by the UK Government, National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Welsh Government Transforming Towns fund, with match funding from Pembrokeshire County Council.  The site remains closed while restoration work takes place, with a a prospective opening date in 2028. Check out our guide to

The UK is full of beauty spots which have become chock-a-block thanks to TikTok. Durdle Door in Dorset is a favourite thanks to its picturesque shape and photo opportunities, while ruined church St Dunstan in the East in London is often overrun by influencers.  South Wales’ Brombil Reservoir, nicknamed the ‘blue lagoon’, sits in a valley on Margam mountain and went viral on TikTok during the pandemic. It’s accessible via a steep 900m slope and has become a popular spot for a wide range of activities including wild swimming and camping.  But its owners aren’t happy, and have banned anyone from accessing the site near Neath Port Talbot unless they're willing to pay a £2 ‘conservation fee’ and refrain from swimming, biking, filming and camping. The managers of Leisure Estate Investments Ltd, who bought the site for £20k in 2024, have erected barriers and warned prospective visitors that they ‘reserve the right to initiate legal proceedings against any individual or organisation acting without prior written consent’. They say it’s because it costs a lot to protect the reservoir and prevent flooding, but trespassers have already removed the barriers and it seems that the crowds haven’t been deterred. Eventually, the owners want to open the site up for ‘community health and well-being’, but for now it seems like visitors will either have to forgo their blue lagoon Instagram carousels, or risk getting slapped by the cold hand of the law.  Craving a nature fix? An incredible 2,300-mi

Shopping can be an exhausting experience, especially when you find yourself on Oxford Street, navigating through hoards of tourists. Collapsing with a coffee and cake as post-retail therapy is often needed, and John Lewis has always done us nicely with its cafe and restaurant offerings. But if you’re after something a little more special post-shop, you’re in luck. John Lewis is stepping up its game with its brand new in-store restaurant concept, and the first site has just launched at its Oxford Street store. Known as Platter, it will replace restaurants at 32 of the brand’s locations by the end of 2027, including Bluewater, Chichester and Reading where the new eateries have also just opened to the public.  Platter on Oxford Street is now one of the largest restaurants in the area, with space for 300 guests. It boasts an open kitchen serving hand-stretched pizza, a deli, a dessert parlour, a bar overlooking the shop’s foyer, as well as fifty outdoor covers on its fifth-floor terrace. Basically, you can now buy an airfryer and then eat a margherita with panoramic views without leaving the building, which sounds like my idea of a very nice day out.  The new spot also has its own roastery, where customers can drink fancy coffee and buy bags of exclusive single-origin Arabica beans, and a pop-up site called The Residency, which will rotate different offerings. At the moment, it’s hosting London patisserie The Eclectic Collection. Each of the new restaurants will vary according to

Hampstead Heath has some serious standing as a wellbeing haven, with three separate ponds open for pretty chilly dips. In the summer, queues regularly snake around the water’s edge as Londoners desperate for a bracing swim flock to the north London spot. Now, that hype might just be about to balloon as a prospective new sauna and plunge pool complex is in discussion. Planning applications have been submitted by Sauna and Soul for two timber saunas and three cold plunge baths near the car park at Kenwood House, the seventeenth century stately home near the Heath’s North Wood.  The plans would involve making temporary alterations to the Grade II-listed former dairy buildings, which were built in 1794, so that an electrical current can be routed through them. Working with English Heritage, who own Kenwood House and keep it open for free for the public, Sauna and Soul is seeking to establish the site for an initial period of 12 months. The complex, which would include two bell tents for changing, a willow screening, a reception hut and an outdoor shower, would be run on a bookings basis with a maximum capacity of 16 people. It’ll operate during the same hours as Kenwood House, and Sauna and Soul has stated that it will be electrically heated and no music or alcohol will be allowed. It’s hoped that these considerations will limit the impact to the Heath, Kenwood House, and local residents and visitors.  If approved, the new hotspot is slated to open by the end of January 2027.  It

If you live in London and love bakeries, you’re guaranteed to be able to find a good spot on almost any high street. Many big names have made their name in the capital, including Pret a Manger and Gail’s, and now have locations all across the nation. Now, Bread Ahead, founded in Borough Market in 2013, is following suit and opening a new bakery just outside the Big Smoke in Harpenden. The new initiative will involve an owner-operator model (meaning that long-standing members of the team can transition into ownership roles with shares), and Bread Ahead has stated that it has designed the new venture to celebrate people who have put ‘time, talent and commitment’ into the business, and nurture experienced owners with ‘genuine roots in their local communities.’ Photograph: ShutterstockDoughnuts from Bread Ahead in Borough, London Harpenden High Street will host the independent bakery in a 2,500sq ft space which will also house an all-day dining location. A baking school will be opening on the first floor and offering classes from January 2027, and the main space will be holding children’s activity sessions during the October half term.  Punters will be able to buy Bread Ahead's signature bread, pastries and beloved doughnuts, as well as tucking into brunch and lunch.  The Harpenden hub will be the independent bakery’s eighth UK location, joining London branches in King's Cross, South Kensington and Wembley. Bread Ahead also has bakeries in Dubai, the US, Saudi Arabia, Thailand

After a false start last October, the DLR’s new and improved trains are now back in service in east London. The long-awaited trains were supposed to finally enter service in autumn 2025, but, after one of the three introduced in the rollout failed to stop correctly in the rain at Canning Town station, all new stock was removed from the tracks for more testing after just a month.  Now, after rigorous braking trials, the first of the DLR’s new trains reappeared on the Woolwich Arsenal to Stratford International branch on Monday September 7. There are a total of 54 trains in the new fleet, and they’re going to be rolled out gradually. Once all of them are in operation, they’ll increase capacity on the line by 50 percent. They feature air conditioning, power points for charging phones, and a walk-through design rather than having doors between carriages.  Photograph: Tom PageInside the new DLR train carriages Apart from October's mishap delaying proceedings, new stock was held up by a contractor entering administration, halting the building of new sidings in Beckton. Trains had to be stored in Spain where they were built. In the meantime, DLR service has been affected by weekend and evening cuts which have tanked Transport for London's revenue, but the shiny new locomotives are now ready to go.  Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: ‘This is an exciting day for east and south London, as the first new state-of-the-art DLR train enters service. ‘These modern new trains are fantastic

You’re far from hard-pressed to find a sauna in east London. There are 48 confirmed sweat-cabins in the region according to SaunaMap's database. Hackney alone boasts three options, including the popular Rooftop Saunas.  But there could soon be a fourth place to relax if plans to build a new sauna at the Grade II-listed Stoke Newington Pumping Station are approved.  The site, commonly known as ‘the Castle’ due to its gothic vibes, was built in the 1850s as a solution to London’s growing need for clean water for its rising population, and fell out of use in the late twentieth century. It was rescued from total disrepair in 1995 by being converted into an indoor climbing centre, and it’s now been earmarked by Community Sauna CIC (which runs the nearby Hackney Wick Sauna) to host a new sauna facility suitable for up to 16 people.  According to proposals, there’ll be a dry heated timber sauna structure and two cold showers towards the southern boundary of the climbing centre, but there are no plans for a cold plunge pool at this stage.  Don’t get too excited yet though – there have already been 12 formal objections from residents who claim that noise, glare from LED-lighting, over-development of land set aside for community gardening, and potential crowding of pavements, could all be major issues. The council has stated that adjacent land will not be disturbed, so the gardens will be safe, and that it doesn't predict footfall will rise significantly.  At a planning meeting, Stephe

The Tower of London could be placed on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites in danger unless plans for new skyscrapers in the City of London are changed. Historic England has warned of ‘serious concerns’ about the impact of potential high-rise developments on the famous fortress, as a long-running battle over the City’s plans for new offices continues. The Tower is already a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but the World Heritage Committee has warned that it could be added to its ‘in danger’ list. The UK Government has been asked to report back on the site by February 2027. At the centre of the row is the City of London Corporation’s draft City Plan 2040, which sets out where new development could take place across the Square Mile. Historic England wants the plan amended to create more space between the Tower and the cluster of skyscrapers to the east of the City. The heritage body says its alternative boundaries would better protect the Tower’s Outstanding Universal Value (in layman’s terms, the qualities that make it worthy of World Heritage status) while still allowing the City to meet its target for additional office space. The City Corporation disagrees, arguing that Historic England’s proposals would limit new office space, jobs and investment while making little meaningful difference to the Tower’s protection. The dispute has already delayed the City Plan 2040. The plan had been expected to be adopted this summer, but housing minister Matthew Pennycook intervened in June,

One of the UK’s best budget hotels is in Belfast, according to Time Out, and it costs around £100 a night. Second Nature Belfast, formerly known as Room2, has been named the best budget option in Time Out’s annual ranking of the 20 best hotels in the UK, appearing alongside a whole host of much pricier stays across the country. The list, which was compiled by Time Out editors and expert contributors, spans everything from grand London institutions to remote countryside retreats. At the very top is Gleneagles Townhouse in Edinburgh, named the UK’s best hotel overall, with its canopy beds, rooftop bar and restaurant The Spence. Meanwhile, Somerset’s The Newt was crowned best boutique hotel, while London’s legendary Claridge’s took the title of best luxury hotel. Rooms at those hotels start at £340 and £930 a night respectively, making Second Nature’s roughly £100 starting price look particularly tempting. The Belfast hotel describes itself as the UK’s first ‘hometel’, with apartment-style rooms designed to combine the comforts of a flat with the sociability of a hotel. Rooms come with kitchenettes, sofas and workspaces, while downstairs there’s Winnie’s bar, an all-day dining space and plenty of living room-style areas for guests to hang out in. Photograph: Second Nature BelfastBar at Second Nature It also scores highly on the practical stuff. It runs on 100 percent renewable electricity and has a zero-waste-to-landfill policy, while rooms are pet-friendly. Breakfast is anoth

Londoners are spoilt for choice when it comes to food markets. From the historic, splendorous Borough Market and bougie Spitalfields to the Southbank Centre’s food offerings, the capital has plenty of places where you can pick up all sorts of dishes under one roof.  And now we’re getting another one. TBC.London, a new workspace being developed by real estate investment firm FORE in an old office block near Tower Bridge, has leased 16,000 square feet of its ground floor to Blend Family for the company’s first London food hall. The development next to Tower Bridge will host 13 food vendors and operate at net zero carbon, using fully electric systems rather than gas cooking. Blend Family, which already runs food markets in Cambridge, Manchester and Sheffield, prides itself on championing independent chefs from a wide variety of cuisines. Its Cambridge market won ‘Best Food Hall’ at the 2024 British Street Food Awards.  Matt Bigland, CEO of Blend Family, said: ‘Our food halls offer guests a trip around the globe one dish at a time. In each of our spaces, we create a diverse and vibrant community hub. We are looking forward to welcoming people in and are so excited to be bringing this experience to such an iconic London location, next to Tower Bridge. We can’t wait to contribute to TBC.London’s mission, to strengthen ties within the neighbourhood.’ TBC.London will also feature a cultural hub adjacent to the food hall, as well as office space across its eight-floor, 110,000-square-