India Lawrence

By August you might be feeling burnt out by the preceeding months of beer-garden-drinking, day-festivalling and sun-lounging. But we’re here to tell you to rally, because there are plenty of reasons to get excited about the final month of summer in London. The biggest thing happening? It’s Notting Hill Carnival – the biggest festival of its kind in Europe that takes over the streets of west London for the bank holiday weekend.  When you’re not having a riotous time dancing to tinnitus-inducing dance hall with a pocket full of Red Stripe, there are plenty of other ways to get your fill of live music this month. All Points East, Body Movements and Boiler Room Festival are just a few of the festivals pitching their tents and blasting music across various parks in London. UK Black Pride is also back for its 20th anniversary this year, with what promises to be its biggest and boldest event yet. It’s also your last chance to catch huge theatre shows and art exhibitions, including Evita starring Rachel Zegler, Inter Alia with Rosamund Pike and Leigh Bowery! at Tate Modern Before September hits, let’s hope there’s enough sun for a London lido swim, lazy days in the city’s parks, outdoor-cinema sessions and all the other alfresco pleasures that summer in London has to offer.  Plan your whole year with our BIG London events calendar.

In August things slow down a bit in the dance world – ballerinas need summer holidays too, you know.  However, that doesn’t mean that Londoners will be totally deprived of dance on stage this month. The Peaky Blinders ballet comes back to town, and Stratford East is staging a new version of Romeo & Juliet, co-produced with emerging dance artists and local community talent. Meanwhile Camden Fringe will include several new and experimental works.  Here’s our pick of the best dance in London this August.  India is in charge of dance listings at Time Out. She was first shoved into a leotard and ballet shoes aged four, and has loved it ever since. Nowadays India prefers contemporary (or dancing in a sweaty club) to ballet, but still has a soft spot for the odd grand jeté every now and again. India has been reviewing dance in London since joining Time Out in 2022.  MORE STAGE: Dance classes in London Best theatre shows this yearBest theatre shows this monthBest comedy shows this month

Peckham locals have always been proud of the area’s brand: a melting pot of cultural vibrancy, eccentric individuals, and an artsy, young DIY crowd thanks to nearby Goldsmiths University and Camberwell College of Arts. It rivals Dalston and all those other East End upstarts as the place to hang out, and it’s the perfect spot for new restaurants to find their feet. Here are some of the best in the area, as well as a host of notable places to eat just down the road in Camberwell, too.  RECOMMENDED: The best 50 restaurants in London. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

It’s sometimes easy to forget that London is home to world-leading nightlife. Sure, we have cracking pubs on every corner, amazing restaurants and a buzzy bar scene, but often what you really need is a full-on dance: I’m talking smoke, strobe lights and an absolute stomper of a sound system. I promise you, it’s good for the soul. Since I moved to London, I’ve been making my way around the city’s many dancefloors, and I like to think that by now I know a thing or two about what separates an average club from a venue which will have you itching to come back week after week. From Sunday day raves at FOLD to secret line-ups at Venue MOT and no-nonsense pop nights at Moth Club, we are home to some absolutely banging nights out in this city. You just need to know where to look. That said, the best thing about going out in London is the sheer variety on offer. You can go to a huge daytime party at Drumsheds with international superstar DJs then head to an underground warehouse party in the Docklands the very same weekend. You can try your best to master Northern Soul footwork, sing your heart out to some serious cheese or dance the night away at one of the capital’s many LGBTQ+ institutions. Want a big night out? Not sure where to go? We’ve got you. Our list features clubs in central London, east London, west London, north London and in south London, and all of them have been selected for their quality of programming, sound system and straight-up vibes. These are the best nightclubs

The future of some of London’s day festivals may have been thrown up in the air earlier this summer, but Londoners are still exceptionally lucky to have an abundance of day-long musical extravanganzas to choose from, with something taking place almost every weekend throughout the warmer months. Forget trekking across the country to live in a field for five days. When you live in London, you can hop on the tube, and an hour later 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. We Londoners love live music, so it’s no surprise that we’re absolutely spoilt for choice when summer rolls around. You’ve got festivals devoted to hip-hop, jazz, leftfield pop, disco, afrobeats, heavy rock ‘n’ roll. Whatever your taste may be, my god does London have a day festival for you. We are right in the thick of festival season right now. You’ve probably already secured the tickets and started planning your outfit, but if you’re doing things a little last minute this summer, there is still time to plan your day festis. 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

Why not enjoy your dinner with a side of strange? London is home to hundreds of amazing restaurants, but sometimes everyone hankers for a talking point with their tapas. We’ve rounded up a serious bunch of entertaining eateries: oddball decor, kooky culinary concepts and – yes – cats. Our list of unusual restaurants will delight animal lovers, garlic fans, and yodellers and more. You’ll find these joints in venues as varied as a boat, a prison and a church crypt. This is dining with a difference.  RECOMMENDED: The best weird bars in London. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

When you think of London fashion, you’ll probably think of Nova check, Kate Moss and Princess Diana’s revenge dress. You might think of Naomi Campbell taking a tumble on the catwalk and Vivienne Westwood’s iconic ‘DESTROY’ shirt. But your mind might also go elsewhere, far from studios and runways and photoshoots. To the smoking areas of nightclubs, to moshpits, to drag queens with extra-long acrylic nails and to the girl popping to the offy in an Adidas tracksuit and Ugg boots.  The point is, while Paris and Milan will always take the crown for sophistication and an elusive level of chic, London fashion is fun. It’s a bit punky, it’s loud and it’s always changing, always moving: fusing together all sorts of different cultures to reflect the diversity of the city itself. And we wouldn’t want it any other way.  It’s not exactly easy for younger designers right now: rents are rising, production costs are skyrocketing and Brexit has brought in a whole host of challenges. But there’s still a load of exciting talent pushing on, pushing boundaries – and showing that London isn’t only still relevant in the global fashion scene, it’s thriving. These designers are mindful of sustainability, functionality and the importance of making clothes for a diverse audience. In other words, they’re making us hopeful that London fashion in another 40 years’ time will look radically different than it does now: no more runways of exclusively thin white women, relentless microtrends (‘Mob wife’, we’

Covent Garden is so rammed with restaurants that decision fatigue can easily threaten the quality of your dinner. Weave through the tourists and theatregoing crowds and you'll discover that this area hosts many of the best restaurants in London, including French-styled Story Cellar, and The Portrait by Richard Corrigan, as well as old faves The Savoy Grill and J Sheekey. We’ve compiled a list of the best in the area, from cutting-edge eateries and classy counter joints to party-ready and casual hangouts, with pre-theatre favourites and cheap eats among them. Think of it as your Covent Garden bucket list. RECOMMENDED: The absolute best restaurants in Soho. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Summer is officially here, and the current 30C heatwave has us excited about sweating it out on the streets of west London with Red Stripe pulsing through our veins, because Notting Hill Carnival is just around the corner. As you gear up for one of the capital’s most fun weekends of the year, it’s understandable if you might want to do a little more prep than simply stocking up on Red Stripe and paint powder.  Carnival is an incredible knees-up, but with all its sounds, sights and crowds, it can get a little overwhelming. An estimated 2.5 million punters head to west London for the celebration, so it’s totally normal that you might get turned around, lost or just need a handy reminder of where you're going after several rounds of Wray & Ting.  Never fear! We’ve created the interactive map below, soundsystems and all, to help you navigate your way around the famous west London parade. Check it out.  What is the schedule for Notting Hill Carnival 2025? Notting Hill Carnival 2025 starts on Sunday, August 24 and continues on Bank Holiday Monday, August 25.  What is the Notting Hill Carnival 2025 parade route?  NHC likes to keep attendees on their toes and is famous for releasing all the details, including stage headliners, at the last minute. In that ilk, the official route map for 2025 hasn’t been revealed yet. However, it’s pretty similar every year so we have a good idea of what it will look like.  Sunday is the day of the children’s parade and the adult’s parade takes place o

There’s a reason why so many romantic comedy films are set in London; quite simply, it’s one of the best places in the world to be loved up. The picturesque Little Venice, the historic Whispering Gallery at St Paul's Cathedral, and Waterloo Bridge (which has breathtaking views of the city) are among the many romantic places to visit at any time of year – and we can’t get enough. But to encourage your love to reach full bloom, it's important to pick a hotel with the right kind of vibe. Breakfast in bed, complimentary cocktails upon arrival, and pampering spa packages are the sort of special touches that can make all the difference when you’re in the mood to woo... or maybe even pop the question. Take a look at our favourite romantic hotels in London.  Updated in May 2024: To keep our curated lists tip top we always keep an eye out for any new or trending properties. And this time around we've set our sights on this hidden sanctuary in Shoreditch, and this luxury hotel in South Kenso that's all about British elegance.  Looking for more options? 🛏 Check out London’s best Airbnbs ❤️‍🔥 or London's naughtiest hotels. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel 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.

Need a place to stay in London? We’re here to make it easy for you. Every year, a wealth of new hotels open in the capital which is a testament to the fact that London remains one of the most desirable places to visit in the world. However, that can make it tricky to decide which hotel to choose. But worry not because we have slept our way across the city and hand-picked our favourites for the ultimate list of London hotels, which covers locations right across the city, and every category from blowout luxury (including having your own butler, might we add) to budget basic and brilliant. In this mega list, we've listed everything from our favourite five-star hotels in Mayfair to more affordable hotels outside of zone 1. Plus you’ll be able to check out one or two of the capital's many Michelin-starred restaurants because yep, loads of them call London hotels their home. But if spending a small fortune on food isn’t your bag? There’s also an ever-increasing number of good-value food options for budgeteers, too. Throw great design and architecture into the mix, plus superb bars, world-class hospitality and the opportunity to have a home-from-home in the best city in the world and, well, you’re laughing.  Which area is best to stay in London? It's not just the range of hotels that's so impressive – you're also spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a neighbourhood to stay in London. The city is made up of a sprawling network of dynamic neighbourhoods, all with their own uniqu

After temperatures soared above 30 degrees in June, we’re holding out for a sun-soaked July this summer, which would mean lidos, rooftop bars, beer gardens and alfresco dining galore. We can already taste the sweet, sweet golden hour Aperol Spritz.  When it comes to stuff going on, this July is going to be a biggie. Drake is in town for a whopping three nights at Wireless festival (playing an entirely different set each evening), Rosamund Pike is hitting the West End stage starring in Inter Alia, and BST at Hyde Park is in full swing, with Noah Kahan and Sabrina Carpenter both topping the bill in July.  Other London music festivals are popping off throughout the month, and it’s also a chance to take in the city’s lavender and sunflower fields, which are going to be at their blooming loveliest. Here’s our guide to the best exhibitions, shows and things to do this July 2025 in London.  RECOMMENDED: The definitive London events calendar

‘Instagram face’, CGI influencers and AI sex dolls are all going under the microscope in the new Somerset House exhibition, Virtual Beauty.   Through more than 20 works, this pay-what-you-feel show explores the impact of digital technologies on how we define beauty today. The exhibition traces the origin of the digital selfie from the first flip phone with a front-facing camera, to today’s minefield of deepfake pornography, augmented reality face filters and Instagram algorithms. It’s primarily concerned with the ‘Post-Internet’ art movement, a 21st-century body of work and criticism that examines the influence of the internet on art and culture. In the first room, we encounter early artworks that comment on society’s gruelling beauty standards, like ORLAN’s disturbing 1993 performance that saw her going under the knife live on camera, and taking recommendations by audience members over the phone. Famous celeb selfies like Ellen DeGeneres’ A-lister packed Oscars snap are shown on a grainy phone screen, then we’re taken on a whistlestop tour of digital artworks, each one providing some sort of comment on beauty, society and the online world.   There’s a lot in Virtual Beauty that is pretty on the nose. We are shown a Black Mirror-style satirical advert for a pharmaceutical company called ‘You’, that offers people the chance to alter their appearance without plastic surgery – simply have a chip inserted into your brain, and the technology makes you appear different, essentially

From the outside it looks like just another flat roof pub, but inside is one of London’s best intimate nightclubs. Hidden inside a Hoxton estate, the Lion and Lamb has been a favourite with London’s electronic heads for quite some time now. The dark cavern (which happens to have one of the best ceilings in London, covered in dangling aux cords) is known for booking the finest DJs in house, techno and tech house. Regulars behind the decks include fabric resident Craig Richards, Radioactive Man, Voigtmann and more. Bear in mind: the Lion and Lamb hasn’t got the latest licence, but parties often start early at 6pm to make up for it. 

  I’m going to say it: I’m not a fan of rock ballets. Pop ballet, electronic ballet and soul ballet are all things I can get on board with. But rock ballet? Please god no. I don’t want to see a ballerina in an edgy black tutu playing air guitar, à la the 2023 Black Sabbath Ballet. So, I’m pleased to say that Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet, using music by The Who and inspired by the 1979 film of the same name, manages to avoid all the usual pitfalls of a classical dance show desperately trying to attract, lets face it, probably boomer men who would usually be averse to spending three hours in the theatre watching men and women leaping about in tights.  For starters, the music of this show created by Who guitarist Pete Townshend isn’t simply  recordings of the original songs, but a moving, bombastic and sweeping live orchestral rendition of the album Quadrophenia (with a few other songs, including ‘My Generation’, thrown in for good measure) by Rachel Fuller, AKA Mrs Townshend. Secondly, the stunning lighting, set and projections (videos are by YeastCulture) keep the production feeling sharp and modern. And most importantly, the themes of the story ring as true today as they did when the film was made – it explores toxic masculinity, and an increasingly dissatisfied and restless younger generation, facing an existential crisis in the face of capitalism, class struggles, and world-wide conflicts (in this ballet’s case, it’s the aftermath of World War II).  Quadrophenia tells the sto

One of London’s biggest dance music festivals is back to take over Boston Manor Park in 2025. If previous years are anything to go by, you can expect Junction 2 to provide a careful balance of massive names and hotly-tipped up-and-comers across the last Friday, Saturday and Sunday of July. The festival has just released its final lineup, and it’s got some huge names on it. This year you’ve got a stacked selection of house and techno juggernauts like deadmau5, Christian Löffler, Ahmed Spins, Amber Broos and Kolter. They come alongside the likes of Nina Kravitz, Bashkka, Mount Kimbie, Moxie, Midland, DJ Koze and Soul Wax. Basically, it’s the holy grail of raves. Lineup includes: deadmau5, Christian Löffler, Nina Kravitz, Bashkka, Mount Kimbie, Moxie, Midland, Palms Trax, DJ Koze. 

The UK Green Film Festival returns to cinemas across the country this July with a programme of award-winning environmental documentaries. Dalston’s Rio Cinema will be hosting the London screenings of five urgent documentaries that explore global stories of environmental justice and hope. These include: Nanna Frank Møller and Zlatko Pranjic’s The Sky Above Zenica, a portrait of civic resistance which follows citizens of Zenica, Bosnia as they confront pollution, corporate negligence, and political indifference; Searching For Amani, a deeply personal story exlporing the relationship between climate change and social justice that picked up awards at Tribeca and Raindance film festivals; and Once Upon A Time In A Forest, that follows a passionate young activist resisting deforestation. 

A new wholesome day festival has entered the chat. From the people behind Brainchild, Desire Lines promises to be an all-day extravaganza of DJs, live music, theatre, works-in-progress performances, local craft, zine and art vendors, and a selection of eats from some of southeast London’s finest independent restaurants. It’s taking place at the Shipwright, a multi-purpose venue by the river in Deptford. The line-up features some of London’s hottest home-grown DJs, including Rohan Rakit, Lagoon, Shivum Sharma, otta, Bushbby, Papaoul and more.  Line-up includes: Rohan Rakit, Lagoon, Shivum Sharma, otta, Bushbby, Papaoul and more.

What is it? The V&A East Storehouse is perhaps London’s best new museum, found in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Inside, you will find rows and rows of steel shelves, filled with treasures that make up the V&A’s vast archive, that is now on display for all the see.  Purpose-built to house more than 1,000 archives from the museum’s collection, comprising more than 250,000 objects and 350,000 books, the storehouse promises to offer a peek behind the scenes to show how a working museum goes about cataloguing artefacts, from vintage footie kits and Glastonbury festival ephemera to a collection of samurai swords. Oh, and did we mention it will house the David Bowie Centre, a massive archive of more than 80,000 objects related to the music icon? We can’t wait to have a good old poke when it opens slightly later, in September.  It is a ‘working museum’, meaning it doesn’t have permanent displays (it doesn’t really have proper displays at all, just shelves), and every one of its objects is free to be moved around by the people at work behind the scenes at any time. Why go? This is a genuinely radical new museum offering, and it could just change the way we think about viewing artefacts forever. There are no lengthy gallery texts, instead just library-like barcodes and the odd QR code, meaning it’s all down to your own interpretation. The randomness is part of the fun, and the objects get to speak for themselves.  Don’t miss:  The six prized large objects that have been b

What is it? Brixton club Phonox has been an important part of London’s electronic music scene since it opened a decade ago in 2015.  A sleek, dark dance cavern with plenty of space for dancing, Phonox has been a favourite with the heads for a while. It stays ahead of the curve, booking the best current and underground DJs – over the years pretty much any selector who’s worth their salt has graced its decks, with recent bookings including DJ EZ, Laurent Garnier, Sherelle and Call Super.  Phones are not banned, but taking photos and videos is strongly discouraged in this space that wants punters to enjoy the music and use the dance floor for well, dancing.  Why go? Killer DJs, a Funktion One soundsystem and gorgeous disco ball make nights out at Phonox an always stellar experience. If you want to experience properly good house, techno, garage, UK bass, disco and everything in between, chances are that Phonox will have something decent on.  Don’t miss: The legendary residencies. Phonox has a revolving list of the hottest DJs taking over the club as part of its ‘4 Fridays at Phonox’ series. Past editions have seen Peach, Daytimers, Saoirse and Ross From Friends curate four weeks of parties at the south London venue.  When to visit: If you want to attend the DJ-curated residencies, it’s Friday nights. Saturdays are the regular club night, which could see record-label takeovers, all-night-long sets or special one-off events.  Ticket info: Depending on the entry time or the release,

Picture your classic hotel bar. It’s probably got dark wood panelling, a wall of leather-bound books to rival an Oxbridge library, low lighting, squidgy arm chairs, and maybe a jazz band playing smoothly in the background. This is Scarfes Bar, an elite embodiment of the quintessential hotel watering hole. This is the kind of place where you might find Gossip Girl’s Chuck Bass moodily sipping a Scotch alone at the bar. The crowd gives an equally sophisticated vibe; millennial couples on date night, people who look like they have important jobs and cash to spend, and fashionistas dressed all in black. The name is not an ode to having a warm neck, but to the cartoonist Gerald Scarfe, whose jaunty drawings line the walls. They’re probably not to everyone’s taste – think a giant-nosed caricature of King Charles, and an ultra flamboyant David Bowie – but they certainly add a unique flavour to décor that could otherwise be seen as identikit. Order this  The gimlet on the vine was my winner of the evening, a trendy riff on a gimlet, with a base of Bombay Premier Cru. But instead of lime-y sweetness, this savoury delight tastes just like a ripe cherry tomato, and a saltiness is supplied by a pleasingly massive floating caper. Time Out tip Get down earlyish, because after 8pm there was already a line at the door. Plus you’ll want to have ample time to have a bash at the 20-strong list of inventive, complex drinks (hello Smoky Maria, a concoction of tequila, smoked clamato juice and Mar

This is one for fans of Glastonbury’s NYC Downlow. The former Panorama Bar resident and Downlow big cheese Prosumer will bring his house and disco goodness to Phonox for an all-night-long set of pure vibes this Easter Thursday. Expect a night of euphoric house, uplifting soul and disco deep cuts, the perfect start to the bank holiday weekend. 

As anyone who has ever tried to secure a booking at the London Fields Lido on a warm summer day will know, us Londoners love a good dip. So it’s only natural that the capital’s Design Museum should stage an exhibition dedicated to our adoration of swimming.  With more than 200 objects, Splash! presents a whistle-stop tour for water babies taking us all the way from bizarre Victorian bathing carriages, to the present-day mermaidcore TikTok trend. From the politics of the pool (and who gets to learn to swim) to the evolution of swimwear and pool architecture, Splash! covers a lot of ground. The show is split into three sections – the pool, the lido and nature – and perhaps the most fun part, each section is designed to mimic different swimming spaces which feature in the exhibit, including the London Aquatics Centre and the art-deco Penzance Jubilee Pool.  In the first part, ‘the pool’, is quite the collection of stuff, focussing largely on Olympic swimming – a model for the London Aquatics Centre, a swimming cap belonging to Syrian swimmer Yusra Mardini, a jumper knitted by Tom Daley, and a 1984 David Hockney poster for the Los Angeles Olympics are all show. It also wouldn’t be an exhibition about pool design without some pretty Wes Anderson-style photography. The highly controversial LZR racer swimsuit is another gem on display – the suit designed by Speedo and NASA was responsible for 94 percent of swimming gold medals at Beijing 2008, and was subsequently banned for ‘techni

What is a spatial audio festival, you might be wondering? If you go to Polygon Live LDN, you’ll probably find out. The gist is seeing live music in a 360-degree arena surrounded by high-tech lights and loads of crystal-clear speakers – a spectacle which event organisers actually call a ‘spaceship’. Artists on the lineup so far include dreamy Pakistani-American singer Arooj Aftab, electronic legend Jon Hopkins, and composer Cosmo Sheldrake. This is one for audiophiles looking for something a bit more immersive. 

Around 300,000 rainbow-clad punters are expected to arrive in Brighton this weekend to celebrate Pride 2025. The seaside town is the UK’s LGBTQ+ capital and hosts the UK’s second biggest pride parade after London every year.  Brighton Pride always pulls out all the stops, and in the past has seen Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue and Pet Shop Boys headline the event. The 2025 iteration will be no exception, with a headline performance expected from the queen of belters Mariah Carey. Here’s everything you need to know about the event.  Brighton Pride 2025 date Bright Pride 2025 takes place on Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3.  Parade route This year’s parade takes place on Saturday, August 2 – the theme is ‘Ravishing Rage’.  The route begins at Hove Lawns before travelling east along the waterfront and then up through the city centre via Gloucester Place, London Road and Preston Road, before finishing on the southern corner of Preston Park, where more festivities will be taking place.   Parade route map Here’s the full map for Saturday.  Image: Brighton Pride Festival map Here’s a map of the Pride in the Park site.  Image: Brighton Pride Timings The parade kicks off at 11am on Saturday morning and then takes as long as those taking part want it to. It usually finishes at around 3pm.  Stages and performances As well as the parade, Brighton Pride hosts the massive festival Pride on the Park in Preston Park across the weekend. This year it’s headlined by Mariah Carey, Fat

Spicy marg girls, tequila lovers, and wannabe mixologists: pay attention. London’s most knowledgeable bar proprietors have just named the best margarita in the city.  Time Out asked seven experts in the industry – including Mr Lyan of Seed Library and Lyaness, Tayer + Elementary’s Monica Berg, and co-owner of Three Sheets Max Venning – where they would go to sip the capital’s very best margarita.  According to the experts, you can get your hands on London’s top marg at Satan’s Whiskers. The Bethnal Green cocktail spot is a longtime favourite with the city’s drinkers; the modish drinking den, filled with 2015 hipster era taxidermy, is known as one of the best places in the capital for proper, high-quality mixed drinks.   ‘Classic cocktails are the speciality at Satan’s Whiskers, they are always on point.’ said Carina Soto Velásquez, co-owner of Hackney listening bar Equal Parts.  Stephanie Randle-Solley from Walthamstow brewery Exale also named Satan’s Whiskers as London’s best margarita.  ‘I always order a Tommy’s,’ she said. ‘Or I would sit at the bar and get the bartender to make me whatever kind of margarita they want. ‘I love that you can sit at the bar, open a tab and just keep ordering drinks – it feels like you’re in New York.’ As for the runners up for the best margarita in London, Trailer Happiness, a Notting Hill tiki bar was recommended by Monica Berg; Dalston agave spirit specialist Hacha was nominated by Mr Lyan; and Max Venning named Side Hustle at the Nomad Hot

News flash: renting in London is still extremely expensive! Who’d have thought it? New figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) have revealed exactly how much it costs to rent in every London borough as of July 2025.  It’s no surprise that things in London are still eye-wateringly pricey. In fact, a thinktank recently called our housing market ‘impossibly unaffordable’, and things only seem to be getting worse. Rent freeze when? According to the figures, rent increased by 7.3 percent across the whole of London over the past year, and private rents are now at an average of £2,252 per month. This is more than double the current rate of UK inflation, which was measured at 3.6 percent in June 2025. Per the data, private rents increased in the capital every month over the past 12 months, and have risen by £152 from £2,100 in June 2024.  Prices were averaged across all property types, from the smallest studio flat to a multi-roomed town house.  London’s most expensive borough was the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, where renters pay an average of £3,616 per month. This is also the most expensive private rent in the whole of the UK. Shortly behind was Westminster, with an average of £3,251 per month.  In Camden renters are now paying and average of £2,804 per month (an increase of more than 10 percent from 2024), and in Islington the average private rent is £2,697. In Hammersmith and Fulham the average cost of a rental is £2,759.  Rents in Hackney have risen by

The best time of day is surely aperitivo hour. Luckily, you won’t have to be sunning yourself on the Amalfi Coast to get a bit of la dolce vita this summer, because London is home to a fabulous number of Italian bars and restaurants serving up delicious spritz, salty snacks and, of course, negronis. So where should you go in the city to find the best concoction of gin, Campari and vermouth? Time Out asked seven bar experts – including Tayer + Elementary’s Monica Berg, Carina Soto Velásquez from Hackney cocktail bar Equal Parts, and co-owner of Three Sheets Max Venning – to name the number one negroni in the capital.  According to the experts, London’s best negroni can be found at Bar Italia, an Italian coffee shop with a super late licence in Soho. Kicking back with a negroni at this authentic caff is less about fancy ingredients or innovative twists, and more about soaking up the vibes.  ‘If you want a negroni like how you’d have it in Italy, go to a divey place like Bar Italia,’ said Missy Flynn, cocktail expert and co-founder of the American-inspired Rita’s in Soho. ‘The negroni is so simple, the most important thing is to have the right ratio and enough dilution. Most simple Italian restaurants and cafés should make a good one.’ ‘Bar Italia is somewhere you can go after work. It’s inexpensive, you can just stop in and have one outside. It’s fun.’ Photograph: Cktravels / Shutterstock Mixologist Mr Lyan also said some of the best negronis could be found at London’s casual

Every year, lifestyle guide Muddy Stilettos names ‘the best of’ independent businesses in the UK, including pubs, bars, shops, cafés, hotels and more. Listen up, because this year’s Muddy Awards, naming the ‘Best of the Best’ winners, have just been revealed.  According to the 2025 awards, the UK’s best hotel is in London. The winners were judged by the Muddy Stilettos editors. Judges from 35 countries selected the number one entry from shortlist of regional entries across 21 lifestyle categories.  Britain’s best hotel for 2025 is Broadwick Soho in, you guessed it, Soho. The central London boutique hotel is known for its OTT interiors with clashing colours and prints, and seriously glam old-school atmosphere. Opened in 2023, the eight-storey, 57-bedroom bolthole is quickly becoming known as one of London’s top places to stay. It’s so good that Time Out gave the hotel five stars when we reviewed it back in February.  Talia Stanton ‘Taking inspiration from the loud-and-proud exuberance of London’s West End, there’s no holding back at Broadwick Soho,’ wrote Time Out’s Talia Stanton.  ‘It’s an independent hotel to its core, with intricate interiors that can’t be replicated and a clockwork standard of service that takes a one-of-a-kind team to achieve. You can sense you’re about to experience some serious hospitality magic from the moment you enter through that big pink townhouse door.’ Talia Stanton Runners up for the best hotel in the UK were No.15 Bath, by Guest House in Ba

At the rate we’re going, most Londoners working now will be lucky to retire in their 70s. But if you’ve already reached retirement age, congratulations, and listen up. A new study has named the top 20 places to retire in Britain, and one is here in the capital.  Pensions firm Legal & General ranked constituencies across the UK taking into consideration six different measures for wellbeing in retirement, which include housing, health, community, finances, nature and access to amenities. This was based on an analysis of a wide range of existing data including Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, census data and housing and house price reports.  According to the analysis, most of the best places to retire in Britain are in the south east of England. As for the capital, the only location named in the list of 20 was Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner in outer London. This northwest London constituency came in 14th place with an index score of 68. London scored highly across the board when it came to access to amenities like pharmacies, supermarkets, post offices, banks, libraries and theatres, but the city was let down when it came to financial security and house prices.  Photograph: Lois GoBe / Shutterstock.com Residents of Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner have access to plenty of green spaces, including Ruislip Lido and Pinner Memorial Park. According to Rightmove data, the average house price in Pinner is £733,053, while the average flat sold for £411,115 in the past year. H

Glasgow’s riverside could soon be set for a gorgeous green glow-up, as plans have been revealed to build a brand-new waterfront destination along the River Clyde.  Glasgow City Council has submitted plans to redevelop the riverfront at Custom House Quay and Carlton Place, called the project a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity. In the proposals, the council wants to transform the eight-hectare area with new cycle routes, pedestrian walkways and public parks. The designs are led by HawkinsBrown architects.  If approved, the development would see the quay walls upgraded and Carlton Place cleaned up and reopened the public, while new play parks and riverside parks would also be created. New green spaces and outdoor lighting on both sides of the river are also in the pipeline. Image: HawkinsBrown architects Many of the current 1970s-built structures and landscapes will be removed to make way for new, more aesthetically pleasing designs. The council also promised to add in colour with corten steel features, after public consultations revealed that young people wanted the space to be more vibrant.  According to planning documents, the council wants to ‘enhance pedestrian and cycle connectivity along the river edge and to create active public spaces which bring vibrancy to the area’.  The plans added: ‘Located on the River Clyde, the project presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to meet our waterfront again and create a unique, resilient, and sustainable destination within t

Arcade games, fairground rides, doughnut kiosks and a rickety wooden floor. You can’t beat a classic Victorian pier.  Now, one of England’s traditional old boardwalks is getting a major £1 million glow-up. The 1838-built Deal Pier in Kent has revealed plans for a huge renovation.  Since opening in the 19th century Deal Pier has been rebuilt twice: it was fully destroyed in an 1857 storm, and then a ship crashed into it in 1940. Now the 1,026-foot pier will get a thoroughly modern makeover, which Dover District Council (DDC) says will ‘secure the valued asset for future generations to enjoy’. Deal Pier already underwent an £140,000 renovation at the end of 2024, during which repairs were made on the concrete and steel structure. But the second phase of works has just been approved by the council.  The pier’s 21st century upgrade will involve replacing the covering on the six pier legs, as well as works to protect the structure from corrosion underwater. DCC decided more work needed to be done on the pier after surveys found it had significant storm damage, mainly affecting its concrete legs.  Council leaders told the BBC that these repairs should give the pier at least another 50 years of life. Works are expected to take place during spring and summer 2026.  One of best shopping centres in Scotland is getting a huge makeover.  The UK area with the most fish and chip shops revealed.  Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the b

Fans of heist movies, listen up! Soon, visitors will be able to visit site of a notorious bank robbery in London, as it’s being turned into a new shopping and dining destination. Let’s just hope no robbers get any ideas about this spot.  185 Baker Street was the location of an infamous 1971 bank raid. Built in 1931, the Lloyds Bank branch in central London was where a team of four burglars tunnelled 40 feet from an adjoining basement, successfully breaking into the bank vault and safety deposit boxes. It’s thought that the thieves stole up to £3 million worth of goods, but only £231,000 was recovered by the police. The crime has never been fully solved to this day, and even inspired the 2008 Jason Statham film The Bank Job. It’s been a Lloyds for more than 70 years, but the building is now up for rent by estate agents Knight Frank. The property renters are marketing the former crime scene as a brand new retail or dining spot. The unit is part of the Berkeley Court Quarter, which houses a variety of shops, restaurants, cafés and residences.    Photograph: Berkeley Court Quarter   Josh Braid, partner at Knight Frank, said: ‘Baker Street has a special place in London’s history and popular culture. It was where the first underground train station opened, the home of Sherlock Holmes and also the scene of one of the capital’s most notorious bank robberies. ‘We are delighted to bring this exciting corner flagship opportunity to the market for a new occupier to create a unique dini

Members of the public in Ilford will soon be given access to east London’s ‘almost forgotten’ River Roding, developers have said.  A £3 million regeneration scheme will see the river turned into a new public paradise, with bridges, green spaces and riverside walks. In the project which the Mayor of London hopes will see neglected public places given a new lease of life, developers will rewild a local golf course, alongside building a new bridge, pocket park and boardwalk.  The scheme, officially called the Ilford Arrival, is being designed by spatial design agency Periscope.  It’s being funded by an investment scheme from the Mayor’s office, called the Greater London Authority's Civic Partnership Programme (CPP). CPP aims to target suffering and disregarded areas that are poorly affected by ‘long-standing inequalities that have been exacerbated by Covid-19, the cost-of-living crisis and the climate emergency’. Image: Periscope Daniel Rea, founding director of Periscope, said: ‘Redbridge is one of London's greenest boroughs and Ilford is blessed with the River Roding and the Roding Valley. ‘But, as it stands, what should be a public amenity is almost forgotten.’ The green regeneration is still in its development stage. Most recently the developers met with a group of girls and young women between the ages of 16 and 25 as part of a consultancy to make sure the project will make life better for all the different demographics in the area.  Rea added: ‘At a time of housing need

Do you know what a standpipe is? Us neither, until this week when we heard that London’s tallest one could soon be re-opening to the public.  A remnant of the Victorian era, standpipe towers (not to be confused with the also Victorian stinkpipes) are towers that were used to regulate water pressure in the era of early steam-powered pumping engines. Fascinating stuff, eh? So, if you’re a fan of engineering from the olden days, you are going to want to hear this news. The London Museum of Water and Steam is crowdfunding so that it can re-open its 1867-built standpipe. The 210-foot-tall tower is a bit of landmark in Brentford, west London. Its design is inspired by the architecture of Italian church towers and inside it contains five impressively large vertical cast-iron pipes – it’s the only surviving full-height standpipe tower in the world with its original pipework intact. The tower had to close to the public in 2019 due to internal decay and contamination. The biggest problem? During the pandemic the tower became infested with pigeons, leaving it to become absolutely caked in pigeon poo. But it could be about to make a comeback, if the museum can raise £15,000 to go with the £30,000 grant it has already received to restore the landmark.  Once all the bird crap is removed, visitors will be able to climb the structure to get panoramic views over Brentford, Kew Gardens, and central London landmarks like the Shard and Canary Wharf. The museum is hoping to have raised funds by A

Every year TripAdvisor analyses thousands of reviews from around the world to come up with the highest rated attractions and experiences on the planet. They call it the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards, and the 2025 edition has just been unveiled. Under the ‘Top Experiences’ category in the awards, TripAdvisor has revealed its top-rated tourist activities in the UK – these are day trips, walking tours, outdoor adventures and more. The awards recognise experiences that receive a high volume of exceptional reviews over a 12-month period. According to the platform, out of its eight million listings, fewer than one percent make it into the Travellers’ Choice rankings.   This year, the UK’s number one experience was awarded to the London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs. With a five-star rating across more than 7,000 reviews, this history-steeped pub crawl was recommended by 99 percent of people who went on it. On the boozy walking tour visitors will encounter some of London’s oldest pubs in the city centre, like Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, while hearing tales of the local neighbourhood, literary legends and getting insider tips from the tour guides. Reviews of the tour called it ‘funny and informative’, while others praised the guide for his ‘charisma’ and ‘quirky fun facts’.  Runners up in the Top Experience category included a guided walking tour of Edinburgh Castle in second place, the tour of Manchester City football stadium in third, and a canoeing excursion along the P