Grace Clift

London’s iconic music street is set to become a whole lot more lively with a new themed hotel.  For more than a century, Denmark Street has been a beacon for musicians, songwriters, artists and music fans. Known as Britain’s ‘Tin Pan Alley’, the tiny avenue became packed with recording studios, rehearsal rooms and guitar shops after a slew of headline names made it their regular haunt.  Now, Universal Music Group and entertainment brand Outernet are opening a hotel in celebration of the area’s deep connection to British music culture – where acts like the Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix have written and recorded hits.  There’s not long to wait – UMusic Hotel Denmark Street is set to open near the end of 2026 as the brand’s first hotel in the UK. It launches alongside a number of music-focused experiences across the district, including food and beverage ‘concepts’, lounge spaces and more Universal-signed acts at Outernet’s grassroots live music venue, The Lower Third.  Photograph: ShutterstockRegent Sounds Studio on Denmark Street Jordi Solé, the president of UMusic Hospitality & Lifestyle (UMHL), said: ‘We are incredibly proud to be part of its next chapter. Together with Outernet, we have the opportunity to honor that legacy by creating hospitality and cultural experiences that inspire discovery, support emerging artists, and ensure this remarkable destination continues to shape the future of music for generations to come.’ UMHL has created one other music-th

The Monument  – you know, that tall, climbable stone column in the City made to commemorate the Great Fire of London – could soon get its first ever proper visitor centre. The memorial currently only has a small entrance and a ticket desk, but that all might be about to change. As revealed by IanVisits, the demolition of a nearby office block will make space for a potential visitor centre at the ground floor of the Monument. Inside the centre is set to be an exhibition about the Great Fire and its aftermath, as well as a cafe.  The Great Fire of London started 202 feet from the current base of the Monument in 1666. Sparked by a baker, the fire quickly spread and destroyed 86 percent of the City. The rebuild, which was led by Sir Christopher Wren, took nearly 50 years. Wren created the Monument alongside Dr Robert Hooke in the 1670s.  Photograph: Nick Bragger / Shutterstock.comMonument, London A whopping 200,000 people climb the Monument’s 311 spiral steps each year for one of the most iconic aerial views in the Square Mile. Dame Mary Beard called it ‘one of the most lasting memorials to a disaster ever.’ A new visitor centre could draw in even more human traffic to the staircase. If plans are approved, construction is set to start next year.  RECOMMENDED: 50 best attractions in London for 2026. ICYMI: Two dazzling London buildings are in Time Out’s 2026 list of the most beautiful places in the UK Plus: The Bayeux Tapestry exhibition opens in London next week  Get the latest

Are you brave enough to come face-to-face with a vengeful mummy? This year’s London Dungeon Halloween show will bring you under the deadly curse of a loo roll-wrapped fiend – if you can stomach it.  From October 17 to November 1, visitors will be transported into the spooky tale of the ‘Curse of the Mummy’. Based on a terrifying true story, guests will become immersed in 1880s London across three theatrical shows. Actors playing real historical figures, including the Victorian clairvoyant Madame Helena Blavatsky, will help guests uncover the chilling truth behind the tale – and find out why some tombs are best left undisturbed.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by The London Dungeon (@londondungeon) Why is the London Dungeon doing a thing about mummies? Well, during the Victorian era, the city’s elite was throwing its money into Egyptomania and started importing Egyptian mummies to the capital. According to myth, trouble began when four young English travellers took home the ‘Unlucky Mummy’ after visiting the mummy pits of Deir el-Bahri in Egypt. RECOMMENDED: Halloween in London 2026. The travellers’ fates were sealed after crossing paths with the cursed corpse, and disaster followed. One was accidentally shot and lost his arm, another suffered financial ruin, while others died in poverty or mysteriously disappeared. As each owner rid themselves of the body, the next was doomed to a treacherous fate.  Last year, the London Dungeon brought in

For more than 800 years, Winchester and Canterbury have been cities. 2028 could see them lose the title.  New local government reforms could see some cities turned into towns, with the scrapping of two-tier county and district councils. Cities currently have their own council, but new plans would combine them with county councils to create one unitary governing body. This means that Winchester – once the capital of England during the Anglo-Saxon era – would become a part of the wider Mid Hampshire council.  Cities set to be merged into these new unitary councils will need to set up charter trustees – bodies designed to protect the area’s ceremonial rights and civic traditions – to maintain their city status. However, these trustees come with hefty legal fees and council tax increases of up to £18 a year to the average bill. If local governments fail to set up trustees, they will lose their city titles.  Photograph: ShutterstockPriors Gate, Winchester Canterbury draws in 7.2 million tourists each year thanks to its 11th century charm, classic afternoon tea cafés and storied cathedral (which counts among the oldest in the UK). The city council has existed since 1448, but would become part of the East Kent authority according to the new plans.  Winchester brings in even more tourists at an average of 8 million per year – aided in part by its well-renowned Christmas market. Its traditional charm, historic architecture and proximity to London (it’s only an hour away by train) m

Star Trek fans will be gathering where many have gone before – London’s Science Museum – to break the record for the largest simultaneous Vulcan salute.  Almost 60 years on from its first appearance, Trekkies will pay tribute to the gesture and its owner, Leonard Nimoy’s character Spock, at a special Star Trek Lates event. The attempt will take place on the September 8, which is known to fans as Star Trek Day.  The gesture involves raising the hand with the middle and ring fingers parted, and is often paired with the phrase ‘live long and prosper’. It’s one of many iconic moments from the TV series, which has become a major franchise across TV and cinema screens since its launch in the 1960s.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Paramount+ UK & Ireland (@paramountplusuk) There is, perhaps unsurprisingly, no record currently set for the largest simultaneous Vulcan salute. If verified by an adjudicator, though, the attempt will create a new record category. Fans are also invited to what will be the final opportunity to experience the Star Trek Warp Trail, a free museum route celebrating the 60th anniversary of the series. Featuring items including chief engineer Scotty’s uniform (worn by Simon Pegg) and a model of the USS Enterprise, it’s an opportunity to reminisce on 60 years of interstellar adventure.  Glyn Morgan, principal curator at the museum, said: ‘For 60 years, Star Trek has connected bold storytelling with big questions about scie