Abi Burnham

With its leafy parks and countryside and plentiful offerings for eating, drinking, and partying, this city is criminally underrated in my opinion. I might not be a Leeds native (in fact I'm pretty firmly a southerner…), but as a uni student here this place has provided me with everything I could ever want – most importantly, a ton of cheap, lively, absolutely killer pubs.  Whether you’re a student looking for a post-lecture pint, a long-time local looking for a new haunt or just looking to kickstart your night out on the town, you’re spoiled for choice in Leeds. We’ve got it all on our list; old-school boozers, student-friendly prices, industrial-style taprooms for the craft beer heads and a whole lot more. Here are the best pubs in Leeds right now. Abi Burnham RECOMMENDED:🍝 The best restaurants in Leeds📍 The things to do in Leeds🍸 The best bars in Leeds🏙️ The UK’s most underrated city breaks This guide was last updated by Abi Burnham, who is currently based in Leeds for university. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

We are spoiled for choice when it comes to beautiful walks in the UK – trails passing rolling hills, dramatic cliffs and rugged mountains can be found all over our isles. Some of these routes are along National Trails (specific routes recognised by the government and are maintained to high standards) and others are slightly more ad hoc – but all of them are breathtaking. We’ve rounded up the best hikes in the UK, from easy beginner-friendly stuff to 12-day extravaganzas. So pop on your boots, grab a waterproof (just in case) and get out there in nature, folks.  What is the most beautiful National Trail in the UK? All of the National Trails are very well established and super popular with walkers, but the South West Coast Path is generally regarded as the most beautiful of the bunch. It might be 630 miles long but the entire route is home to gorgeous views of the coast, amazing wildlife and more than its share of great pubs. The path crosses through, UNESCO world heritage sites, flower fields and more, you’ll never be short of gorgeous views.  RECOMMENDED:🌤️ The best places to visit in the UK🚃 The most scenic train journeys in the UK🏝️ The most beautiful islands in the UK🏊‍♀️ The best wild swimming spots in the UK

Getting a seat on a packed tube might feel like a small miracle – but spend too much time thinking about the last time that seat was thoroughly cleaned and the joy might start to wear off. Each seat has seen so much, so many spills and so many bums… it gets you wondering: how often are they actually cleaned? We’ve done some digging and found out how and when the thrones of the Underground get washed, and turns out not all tube lines are equal in the matter. The frequency and methodology of cleaning tube seats varies from line to line, and a Freedom of Information (FOI) request last year revealed the juicy details. RECOMMENDED: What are London’s pink Oyster card readers and when should you use them? How often are tube seats cleaned? According to TfL’s most recent data, here’s how often each train is deep-cleaned on the tube.  Piccadilly line carriages are only thoroughly cleaned every 43 days Bakerloo, Central, Northern and Victoria line trains all get properly scrubbed up once every 25-28 days The Jubilee line receives a deep clean, on average, every 18 days But there are different levels of clean on the tube. While the above refers to ‘deep cleans’, TfL also cleans tube carriages on a daily basis, as well as embarks on mini cleans and external cleans. Here’s when those cleans are scheduled to take place, and what they entail.  Daily pre service checks take place where obvious messes need to be cleared up Mini cleans are every three days, mostly involving touch point clea

We weren't all perfect little angels growing up (and most of us still aren’t, tbh) so there's no denying that the mums in our life deserve a bit of pampering – at least one day of the year. If you’ve suddenly just clocked that that Mother’s Day is coming up and are now frantically trying to find out a) how long you’ve got and b) what you’ll do to celebrate, worry not – we’ve got you covered.  Here in the UK Mother’s Day is traditionally called Mothering Sunday – and, originally, it wasn’t named after mums. The ‘mothering’ part was in reference to ‘mother’ churches, aka the big church in your hometown. The tradition, dating back to the middle ages, was that on this day people would come back to where they grew up and families would reunite all over the country at these mother churches.  These days however the day has taken on the meaning of celebrating all the mums, nans and female caregivers of the world. Chocolates, fizz and flowers are staples of the celebration – but when is it in 2025? And what can you do to celebrate? When is Mother’s Day 2025? This year Mothering Sunday falls on March 30, exactly three Sundays before Easter, so you still have lots of time to check out our guides and plan something special for your dear old mum.  Due to Mother’s Day falling pretty late, we will be well into spring by the time the big day rolls around – so into spring will we be, in fact, that the clocks will go forward in the very early hours of Mothers Day itself. If you’re planning a f

It might already feel like the City of London is packed with skyscrapers – but apparently there's still plenty of room for new ones. Nine new towers are currently either under construction or have confirmed planning permission in the ever-changing Square Mile – and the City of London has just revealed what they’ll all look like, if and when they’re built.  The image makes one thing very clear: the Square Mile is set to get bigger and shinier than ever. Here’s the City’s (potential) future skyline.  Image: City of London Corporation So, what’s being built and where? Here’s the lowdown. Bishopsgate There’s a lot going on down on Bishopsgate, as the 62-storey tower recently completed at 22 Bishopsgate (with the highest restaurant in the UK, by Gordon Ramsay) will soon be joined by two more. The 26 storey tower at 99 Bishopsgate will soon be replaced with a massive 54-storey version structure consisting primarily of offices but with some commercial and cultural spaces, too.  Over at 55 Bishopsgate two new buildings will be popping up, as planning permission has been confirmed for both a 63-storey tower and a 22-storey mixed-use building. The taller tower is also planned to have a publicly accessible roof garden and 360-degree viewing platform. Gracechurch Street We might have to wait a bit to see the new, taller Gracechurch Street, as its three proposed towers are still relatively early days. Construction at 70 Gracechurch Street is proposed to start in 2028 and will see a 33-s

Ducking and weaving through crowds, angry cabbies beeping at tourists standing in the road and a million and one shopping bags being swung into your legs sums up a pretty standard trip to Oxford Street – but Sadiq Khan is looking to change that. Khan has long advocated for an at least partly vehicle-free Oxford Street. Instead the street is envisioned as a sort of ‘pedestrian plaza’ with plenty of space for shoppers and tourists alike to spread out a little.  The idea of a pedestrianised Oxford Street has been kicking around for a while. Khan first broached the idea in 2017, and while initial attempts were shot down the current Labour government has given the London mayor some control over the Oxford Street area, and major transformational plans are now afoot.  Image: Mayor of London’s Office This week Sadiq Khan’s vision for a pedestrianised Oxford Street has taken a big first step. An online public consultation on the future of the area has been launched, and the responses will be used to gauge public opinion on pedestrianisation, make sure the plans will deliver for the local community, and iron out other details.  Back in September 2024, a YouGov poll found that Londoners in general support the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street, with 63 percent of those surveyed in support of the plans and only 11 percent strongly against them. The official consultation will provide deeper insight into what Londoners think the future of Oxford Street should look like. Sadiq Khan has en

We’ve accepted our fate that living in London will never be cheap but, as of the past few months, average rent prices have actually been falling across the capital (year-on-year). The knowledge that rent prices have fallen a whole two percent on average across the capital might bring you a sliver of comfort the next time you are wincing while forking out the best part of a fiver for a flat white.  Don’t rejoice too soon however, as the dip in rent cost has not been spread uniformly across the capital. While some areas have fallen significantly, others have continued to rise. Areas outside of the city centre have been the ones on the up with, Forest Hill, West Norwood and Muswell Hill all seeing rent hikes of up to 13 percent, whilst more central locations are seeing the biggest drops. Lower Edmonton has snagged the top spot on the list of areas with the biggest rent decreases but it is closely followed by the notoriously expensive SW1 postcode (including Westminster, Belgravia and Victoria) coming in second and star-studded Chelsea not far behind at spot number four. These latter two areas are still outrageously pricey but landlords have realised they’ve been pricing themselves out of the market and have had to drop rents. With more rental properties popping up in the city centre and renters looking further afield for rooms, the supply of properties has started to outweigh the crazy demand for accommodation in the centre that was allowing for such high prices in the last few

Christmas, Easter, the birthday of that colleague you don't really know – all are synonymous with a box of Lindt truffles. But London's upcoming new flagship Lindt store promises more than just standard boxes of chocolates. When will Lindt’s London flagship store open? The brand new megastore by Lindt & Sprüngli will open under the bright lights of Piccadilly on March 21. What to expect from the store Once the new store opens, London will be home to the biggest Lindt pick ’n’ mix in the UK. With a huge selection of flavours available, you’ll also be able to get your treats personalised and prettied up by Lindt’s in-store gifting team. The new store will also house an aptly named ‘chocolate bar’ serving coffee, hot chocolate, milkshakes and house-made gelato ice cream. While you enjoy your sweet treats there will be plenty to marvel at, from a model of the London skyline made of truffles to the UK's first Lindt master chocolatiers hard at work. Three classically trained chocolatiers will be using their expertise to whip up chocolate creations within the shop. If that isn't enough to entice you to the store, Lindt will also be offering the first 200 visitors a filled goodie bag (if they’ve spent at least £10), so Lindt-obsessed Londoners should make sure they are there for the opening at 2pm on March 21. Time Out’s ultimate guide to the best chocolate shops in London. Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Ti

It's a well-known fact at this point that run clubs, half marathons and Hokas have taken over London. However, if you (like me) are fed up with painfully boring conversations of split times and optimised hydration then fear not because Hackney Moves has partnered with Friday Night Lights to bring some fun back to the lives of obsessive runners in the capital.  The two have come up with a new race, the Hackney Quarter, and it’s the Hackney Half’s cooler little brother. Yes, there will be a timed 10km race around the Olympic Park – but that’s just the start of the fun. After the more serious timed run there will be one of the 5km ‘party runs’ that Friday Night Lights is known for. Forget about trying to beat your PB and instead enjoy the glow sticks and portable sound systems providing great vibes along the route. Once all the running is over, participants can grab a complimentary finisher’s beer and break a sweat in a different (more fun) way – a huge party at Riverside East headlined by resident DJs FARHANNAH and Howard. As well as music, the party will have food vendors, yoga classes, pilates, physio sessions and even sports massages available for the recovery sesh.  The race will take place on the May 16 and will kick off at 5.30pm, with the festivities coming to a close at 11pm. To find out more or get on the waitlist for the Hackney Quarter you can check out the Friday Night Lights website here. Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to eve

Sure, hot air balloons seem like an impossibly impractical way to travel, but the sight of them floating across the sky will get pretty much anyone to look up and smile. And now a bunch more Brits will have the chance to do just that, as the whimsical air crafts will be taking flight across the UK this summer as a part of a new ‘Balloons and Beats’ festival. Kicking off in Nottingham this May, Balloons and Beats will head to three more locations in Wrexham, Manchester and Chepstow, and offer delights for die-hard balloonists and more curious ballooners alike. Festival organisers have promised fairground rides, BMX stunts, Punch and Judy shows and live music performances, alongside the main event of balloon displays. The festival is currently booked in for four dates and locations: Nottingham, Wollaton Park - May 16-18 Wrexham, Penyllan Farm - June 6-8 Manchester, Platt Fields Park - June 27-28 Chepstow, Chepstow racecourse - September 13-14 Now, it should be noted that hot air balloons are very fickle creatures. Organisers have warned that in order for them to take to the skies weather conditions have to be pretty perfect (no rain, clear visibility and low winds are apparently the big three). For an example of how the UK’s notoriously bad weather can scupper balloon events, look no further than London’s Hot Air Balloon Regatta, which was cancelled over countless dates from 2019 to 2024. Don’t let this burst your bubble (or balloon) though, as even if the balloons don’t tak

The nights might be getting shorter, but if you need some sparkle and shine to get you through the last leg of winter Coventry Street is the place to go. The West End street is being decked out with over 30,000 LED bulbs and an interactive aerial installation to celebrate Ramadan. This year will be the third annual display of Ramadan lights in London, and will light up gloomy London nights from February 28 until March 29, 5pm to 5am. The display is apparently inspired by ‘Islamic geometric patterns and the celestial symbols of Ramadan’, and when Ramadan ends on March 30 the lights will change to display a ‘Happy Eid’ message that will continue glowing for the rest of that week (until April 6). This year’s London Ramadan display is helmed by the Aziz Foundation, and it’ll boast more than just lights. Visitors can also participate in the fun this year with a button in Leicester Square that send beams of light representing the ‘spirit of Ramadan’ soaring into the sky (this installation closes on April 1). Photograph: Aziz Foundation London foodies will be happy to hear that an Iftar Food Trail will be running until March 30th, featuring discounts, freebies, and Ramadan specials across several food spots including Bone Daddies, Shake Shack, Farzi London and many more. Rahima Aziz BEM of the Aziz Foundation is ‘inviting people of all ages, faiths, and backgrounds to take part in this special celebration’, so whether you are celebrating Ramadan or not, Coventry Street will be wel

Office blocks overlooking the Barbican Centre on Silk Street are soon to be unoccupied as the current residents, law firm Linklaters, move around the corner to Ropemaker Street. The building won’t be uninhabited for long though, as developers have been quick to jump on the property with a big idea: namely a 21-story ‘best-in-class’ office building.  The plan comes from Lipton Roger Developments and a team of architects, including SOM, the people responsible for the new Harrow Square development (the big shiny buildings by the Harrow on the Hill station). Mock-ups of the new design were published earlier this month, allowing Barbican residents to get an idea of what their new neighbours might look like – if they are still living there in 2032, the proposed finish date of the project. While it looks like the building will mainly function as offices, a spokesperson for One Silk Street says it’ll also boast a ‘combination of cultural, amenity and sustainable uses’. It is not yet clear what this means exactly, but there is mention of a public route through the development with potential for retail, food and art spaces. Image:SOM The project has been gauging residents’ opinions of the project since 2023. The feedback hasn’t been all positive, as some locals have concerns over the height of the new building, as well as how it could block sunlight and lead to increased noise. Residents seem keen on retrofitting the existing building rather than tearing it down and starting again,

Thanks to a new government arts and culture fund, two London museums are getting a financial boost. The Brentford-based London Museum of Water and Steam will receive a hefty £2.6 million, while the Foundling Museum in Brunswick Square will get £319,000 of financial support. Smaller museums like these are the target of the new ‘Arts Everywhere Fund’, which aims to aid institutions in danger of closing or in need of infrastructure improvements. The £270 million fund’s cash will be spread across the UK, and the fund itself marks the 60th anniversary of the first ever culture policy document published by the government. But let's get back to the London museums receiving funding – who are they, what are they about, and what will they use the money for? The London Museum of Water and Steam’s name is a pretty big giveaway. Based in a Victorian engine house, the Brentford institution concerns all things steam engines, pipes, sewers and tunnels. The director of the museum, Hannah Harte, has said that the ‘funding is vital’ and will be used to restore its Great Engine House, making sure the building is watertight. Photograph:London Museum of Water & Steam In Bloomsbury, the Foundling Museum works to bring historic stories of children in care to light on the grounds of a 1700s ‘foundling hospital’ for abandoned infants. The museum works with artists, musicians and designers to put on thoughtful exhibitions centring on children and the people who care for them. Emma Ridgway, the Foun

Swimmers, surfers and fossil fans on the Isle of Wight will likely be familiar with Yaverland Beach, a gorgeous stretch of sand on the southeast of the island. For those less acquainted with the southerly isle, Yaverland is located just north of popular tourist spot Sandown and is home to the Wildheart animal sanctuary and Dinosaur Isle, a museum that is, unsurprisingly, dedicated to dinos. Alongside those animals (both alive and long-dead), Yaverland’s main draw is its mile-long beach with waters perfect for swimming and surfing. However, the Environmental Agency and the Isle of Wight Council are concerned that the beach might not look the same for long. Rising sea levels and aging coastal defences mean Yaverland’s town and beach are at risk of flooding and erosion. So the council and Environmental Agency have come up with a plan to save them.  The plan will involve strengthening and refurbishing the existing sea wall that runs along Yaverland’s coastline. The council will also replace and refresh the groynes (those big wooden barriers on beaches that stick into the sea) which are spread across the beach. Reinforcing the wall will protect the areas behind from flooding, especially during stormy English winters, and replacing the groynes will help trap sand, stopping it washing down the coastline and keeping the beach intact for years to come. It’s projected that the scheme will cost around £22 million and won’t be fully complete until 2030. However, according to the Yaverlan