Alex Sims

Spring is most definitely here and another sun-soaked weekend is on the cards for London. According to our weather app, temperatures are set to climb to nearly 20C on Saturday and Sunday, so make sure to take advantage of the long bright days by exploring London’s parks and gardens, which are suddenly coming into bloom, looking at all the beautiful spring blossom popping up across the capital and spending some time in London’s brilliant beer gardens.  London’s cultural scene also has a spring in its step. This weekend, head to the Tate Britain to see a huge body of work by Ed Atkins, one of the UK’s most influential contemporary artists.  Explore how style and design have shaped the way we swim at The Design Museum’s latest blockbuster exhibition Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style, and visit Now Play This at Somerset House to play some of the newest and most cutting-edge board and video games out right now.  There’s also a slew of brilliant annual events to join. Pick a place on the riverside and cheer on the teams competing in the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, sip on sweet suds at BrewLDN – one of the best craft beer festivals in the country, and collect new fern babies for your garden at The Garden Museum’s spring plant fair. What are you waiting for? Get out there.Looking for some budget-friendly fun? Here are 5 of the best free things to do in London this weekend.  Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight t

Easter is an underrated holiday. It doesn’t get anywhere near as much hype as Christmas, but is almost as good. Sure, you might not get sacks full of presents, but you still get an excuse to stuff your face with chocolate, tuck into a big roast dinner, and a whole four-day weekend to spend however you like. This year, this glorious double bank holiday lands with Good Friday on April 18 and Easter Monday on April 21. The only thing standing between you and a glorious four days of fun is figuring out how to fill all your extra time off. Don’t worry – as always, Time Out has your back. There’s tons to do in the capital over Easter weekend, from checking out spring flowers and other kid-friendly activities to making the most of the spring sun (hopefully) at one of London’s top rooftop bars and parks. You could also spend your time checking out a free art exhibition or, of course, treating yourself to a proper pub roast on Easter Sunday. Make the most of your extra-long weekend with our top things to do in London this Easter. RECOMMENDED: Check out our eggcellent guide to Easter in London.

Is that blue sky and actual sun we can see? We’ve been treated to glorious weather in London lately and it looks set to continue this week with temperatures set to climb to nearly 20C over the weekend. It certainly seems this big dose of Vitamin D has unleashed a sunny sense of optimism across the city and it feels like spring is ours for the taking. Use the long bright days to take advantage of London’s parks and gardens, which are suddenly coming into bloom, look at all the beautiful spring blossom popping up across the capital and spend some time in London’s brilliant beer gardens.  London’s cultural scene also has a spring in its step. This week, head to the Tate Britain to see a huge body of work by Ed Atkins, one of the UK’s most influential contemporary artists.  Explore how style and design have shaped the way we swim at The Design Museum’s latest blockbuster exhibition Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style, and visit Now Play This at Somerset House to play some of the newest and most cutting-edge board and video games out right now.  On top of this, there’s also a slew of brilliant annual events to join. Go crate-digging for Record Store Day, pick a place on the riverside and cheer on the teams competing in the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, sip on sweet suds at BrewLDN – one of the best craft beer festivals in the country – and collect new fern babies for your garden at The Garden Museum’s spring plant fair. What are you waiting for? Get out there.Start planning:

March has cherry blossom, April has bluebells and May has wisteria. But come late summer, you might suddenly smell a sweet, herbal aroma in the air. It can only be lavender season.   The fragrant purple flowers typically arrive between June and September, peaking in August, and there are plenty of opportunities to lay your eyes – and nose – on the stuff around the city. Kennington Park, Kew Gardens and Vauxhall Park are top London destinations for lavender, or there are whole farms dedicated to the mauve blooms just outside the capital, in Kent, Surrey and Hertfordshire. Immerse yourself in a purple haze this summer by visiting one of London’s fragrant lavender gardens, or head out of town on a day trip to find sweeping fields of the stuff. Got the bug for a wholesome, sweet-smelling day out? Pay a visit to some of the blooming, beautiful lavender farms further afield across the UK.  RECOMMENDED: The best things to do outdoors in London.

London is full of tranquil parks, cosy pubs and bustling cafés where keen readers can bury their noses in a good book. But true bookworms will always be drawn to libraries, with their peaceful atmosphere and their abundance of delicious reading material to chomp through. Fortunately, this city is full of some of the world's best and most beautiful libraries, from teeming university study spaces to specialist collections to local community hubs. Architects have taken on the challenge of creating spaces that are gorgeous enough to distract you from whatever fascinating tome you're reading, creating domed Victorian temples to literature or Brutalist masterpieces supplied with every possible comfort. Here are London's very best libraries. Some are famous, others are tucked away gems, but all of them are fantastic spots to linger as you study, write, or immerse yourself in a good story.  RECOMMENDED: The best bookshops in London

Given its dreaming-spires background, you’d be forgiven for associating the Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race with more hoity-toity events in the sporting world. But unlike the polo and the horse racing anyone can rock up for free along the four-and-a-quarter mile race route from Putney to Mortlake. In fact, more than 300,000 spectators are expected to cram on to the banks of the Thames in west London on Sunday April 13 to get a load of the action. The men’s race kicks of at around 2.20pm, but the riverside will be bursting with activity from around noon, with fan zones and pubs along the course putting on a whole host of food, drink and entertainment in anticipation.  So, where will you be? We’ve put together a list of prime locations along the route, in Putney, Fulham, Hammersmith, Barnes and Chiswick, all perfect for spectating. RECOMMENDED: Everything you need to know about the Boat Race

When it comes to dining out, don’t sleep on Leeds: the food scene here is one of the most eclectic and exciting in the UK with thriving independent restaurants. And while we’ve seen some pretty sad, and surprising closures in the city recently (including the city’s only Michelin-star restaurant), long-time favourites continue to thrive, and new eateries seem to be opening up every week. So whether you fancy a romantic dinner at an award-winning French bistro, a steaming bowl of ramen and karaoke, or a hot honey smothered rotisserie chicken in the basement of an old greasy spoon, here’s our round up of the very best restaurants in Leeds right now. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Leeds🍸 The best bars in Leeds🖼️ The best art galleries in Leeds🌳 The best things to do in the UK This guide was recently updated by freelance food and drink editor Vicky Chandler, based in Yorkshire. 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. 

April is an underrated month if you ask us. Winter is finally over and everyone starts to emerge from hibernation, ready to properly commit to socialising again. The sun has put in a few appearances, London’s parks and gardens are in full bloom and the city feels alive with all the possibilities of summer, but without all the sunburn and sweltering, sleepless nights.  Easter weekend is on the horizon, meaning a double bank holiday jam-packed with fun, from family-friendly days out to club nights galore.  There’s also a handful of spring music festivals, some cracking art exhibitions and theatre (including the first open-air shows of the year) and plenty more amazing things going on around the city, including the London Marathon and the Boat Race.  Check out our roundup of the best stuff happening throughout the month, and start planning an amazing spring now. RECOMMENDED: Find more inspiration with our roundup of the best things to do this week

If you’ve ever struggled to line up a big shot at your local pub pool table thanks to hoards of rowdy pub-goers nudging into your cue, you’ll know just how essential a dedicated pool hall is for keen billiards players. Thankfully, London has a huge collection of game rooms dotted across the city where you can play among like-minded folk.  From glitzy spots where you can pot balls with fancy cocktails on hand to independently run halls with well-cared-for tables or old-school spots that take the game seriously with tournaments and championships, there’s a pool hall out there to suit you. Here’s our pick of the best places shoot your shot.   Most of the places listed require membership to visit. Please check in advance for membership requirements and prices. Recommended: Best pubs for playing games in LondonBest board game venues in London

While you shouldn’t wait for just one day a year to shower your mum with love and appreciation, you’ll definitely be in the doghouse if you forget to make her feel special on Mother’s Day (Sunday March 30 2025). Keep yourself in her good books and ªas well as a thoughtful present and card, of course) treat your ma to a wholesome day out at one of London’s top mum-friendly events. You can’t move for lovely afternoon teas across the city around this time of year, or you can take your mum on a stroll around some of London’s prettiest shops, take in some culture at one of the best current art exhibitions or sit back and watch a fab new theatre production. Personally, I like to take my mum to a cosy restaurant for a fancy meal – a tasty Sunday lunch hasn’t failed me yet. Check out our top picks for the best events to take the most important woman in your life this Mother’s Day 2025. RECOMMENDED: the full guide to Mother’s Day in London 

February half-term is here again – oh joy. Usually the coldest and wettest of school holidays, it’s not that promising on paper, but London always rises to the challenge magnificently – of all the half-terms, this is the one that boasts the large number of things for kids to do indoors, with the mighty Imagine Festival at the Southbank Centre probably the biggest annual event in the London kids’ calendar, and plenty more on besides, from a Robot Zoo at the Horniman to the new Ancient Egypt exhibition at the Young V&A. I’m Time Out’s lead kids’ writer – because I have to amuse my own children over the holidays – and here are my top suggestions for the half-term, from brand new exhibitions and plays to your last chance to see a couple of excellent attractions for younger audiences. And remember: this is London, and there’s always loads of things for youngsters to do, from enjoying the city’s many child-friendly museums and galleries that really come into their own when school is out, to taking in one of the many, many children’s theatres that our glorious city and its surrounds have to offer. When is February half-term this year?  This year, London’s February half-term officially falls between Monday February 17 and Friday February 21 (ie they will continuously be off Saturday February 15 to Sunday February 23).  Here’s our roundup of all the best things to do with your children this February half-term. 

London is a marvellous place to be on Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re flying solo, newly coupled-up or you’ve been with your other half for yonks, this city is guaranteed to have something for you to get busy with on Friday February 14 2025. Go down the tried-and-trusted route and plan a romantic dinner or hotel stay for a belated celebration. Or opt or opt for something a little unorthodox and alternative, like a spoken word night themed around bad Valentine’s poetry, a love-themed art market or a trip to the theatre to see a spoofy take on Titanic. Prefer to hunker down in the dark of the cinema and immerse yourself in a good film? Pop-up cinemas and special Valentine’s screenings rule London’s film scene this February. Whatever kind of Valentine’s date night you’re after, you should find the perfect match in our roundup of 45 great things to do on the big day. And be sure to check out our comprehensive guide to Valentine’s Day in London for advice on everything from romantic wine bars to fancy spa trips to where to pick up flowers and chocolates. It’s got something to tickle everyone’s fancy.

What is it?  It’s something when a museum can lay claim to having been opened as Queen Victoria’s last public engagement. In 1899, the current premises of the V&A enjoyed that privilege. It has gone on to become one of the world’s – let alone London’s – most magnificent museums. It is a superb showcase for applied arts from around the globe, appreciably calmer than its tearaway cousins the Science Museum and Natural History Museum on the other side of Exhibition Road. All three museums would be must-visits in another city, but it is the sheer beauty of the V&A that keeps it closest to our hearts. The details? There are some 150 grand galleries over seven floors. They contain countless pieces of furniture, ceramics, sculpture, paintings, posters, jewellery, metalwork, glass, textiles and dress, spanning several centuries. You could run through the highlights for the rest of this guide, but key artefacts include the seven Raphael Cartoons, painted in 1515 as tapestry designs for the Sistine Chapel; the finest collection of Italian Renaissance sculpture outside Italy; the Ardabil carpet, the world’s oldest and arguably most splendid floor covering, in the Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art; and the Luck of Edenhall, a 13th-century glass beaker from Syria. Over more than a decade, the V&A’s ongoing FuturePlan transformation has been a revelation – more than 85 percent of its public spaces have been restored and redesigned. The completely refurbished Medieval & Renaissance Galleries a

Bootylicious – one of London’s longest-running club nights for queer and trans people of colour – was one of the earliest clubs in the capital to strive for diversity on the DJ lineup and the dance floor when it began back in 2001. It’ll be taking over the entire three floors at Scala in King’s Cross for a one-off Easter special. Expect a line-up of hot selectors including the scene’s fast-rising DJs, artists, performers and hosts. Head to the top floor for UK funky house, GQOM, Afro electronic and House with DJs NG and Kyma, the main floor for to hear Bootylicious resident DJs Kartel Brown (promoter of Vogue Rites) ,Biggy C (daddy of Dancehall), Randall Watson and DJ Tyom keep. Or keep it old-school in the Glassbar with a set from Jeffrey Hinton and guests. Starting at 11am and ending at 6am, it’s going to be one big bank holiday blowout.   

Whatever sort of night you’re after, this glitzy spot can provide it. If you’re feeling competitive there are 11 pool tables to choose from in its stylish pool hall – four luxury American pool tables and seven English tables – surrounded by modern art, chandeliers and leather sofas. Anyone wanting to improve their cue game can book a session with Q’s resident trick shot pro Rico Diks, or if you’re just there for a laugh, book a pool package which can include drinks, food and even bottomless brunch. As well as pool, you’ll find blackjack, poker, and roulette tables as well as a well-equipped bar fully stocked with prosecco. Keep the action going late into the night by heading downstairs to the Q night club where DJs spin a mix of disco, funk, old-school R&B, rock and house into the early hours. There are plenty of dedicated club nights here too, including London favourites like Supa Dupa Fly and R’n’B Brunch Party. If you like your gaming with a side of glamour, Q has you covered. 

What is it? The Science Museum features four floors of educational and entertaining exhibits, including the Soyuz capsule, which brought Tim Peake back from theInternational Space Station Apollo 10 command module and a gamingexperience. The West Hall showcases developments in contemporary science, medicine and technology. Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries contains a substantial collection of medical history treasures. The Pattern Pod is a multi-sensory area for under-eights, Wonderlab holds demonstrations and explainers for bigger kids and Technicians: The David Sainsbury Gallery lets teenagers discover more about STEM careers. Or, explore the creative work of engineers which change our everyday lives in the Engineers gallery. Exhibits in the Exploring Space gallery include a piece of the Moon and real space rockets suspended from the ceiling and Making the Modern World holds items like the Apollo 10command module. The Clockmakers' Museum, previously held at the Guildhall, is the oldest display of clocks and watches in the world, with most of the 1250 exhibits dating from between 1600 and 1850. The shop is also worth checking out for its wacky toys.  Why go? To see a fascinating showcase of human ingenuity, and get involved with a wealth of enthralling interactive exhibits.  Don’t miss: The museum has its own in-house IMAX: The Ronson Theatre cinema which shows scientific films in 3D, allowing visitors to be surrounded by space or submerged in the depths of the ocean. Ticke

Staying up late in one of the Barbican’s iconic Brutalist foyers to listen to the best of London’s DIY music scene sounds like a pretty epic evening. The Barbican’s ClubStage will be making way for south London producer and multi-instrumentalist Wu-Lu, who’ll be spinning his eclectic record collection that’s inspired his punk-rap sound at this night celebrating the capital’s grassroots music scene. He’ll be joined by goth hardcore rapper Denzel Himself and queer multi-instrumentalist and producer Sheiva, who’ll all be making noise until 2.30am. If you’re looking for a club night with a difference, you’ve found it. 

It might have had a makeover a couple of years ago, but Jeremy Lee’s Quo Vardis still oozes old-school Soho and has been rustling up some of the capital’s finest food since 2012. Now it’s collaborating with its favourite producers and suppliers for a programme of tasty-sounding culinary events.  Announced so far is a celebration of caviar and vodka on February 19, a supper focussing on quality British meat from famous butcher Swaledale on March 19, Basque cooking from Tomos Parry on April 23, a menu paired with Journey’s End’s wines from the West Cape of the Stellenbosch on May 7 and a supper from four of London’s most interesting wine-focused restaurants – 40 Maltby Street, Planque, Camille and Cadet – in June. They’ll be sure to sell out fast, so keep an eye out for ticket releases for each event by signing up to the Quo Vadis Rocket newsletter. 

Do you have a dog-eared copy of Hamnet on your bedside table? Meet Maggie O’Farrell the author behind the best-seller, as well as eight further novels, at this talk with BBC culture journalist Katie Razzall. Expect the evening to touch on everything from O’Farrell’s writing practice, her memoir, I Am, I Am, I Am, detailing 17 near-death experiences which have punctuated her life and her most recent novel, The Marriage Portrait, which was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize.

Brilliant news for bookworms: London has a brand new literature festival. The Fleet Street Quarter Festival of Words will be exploring how words shape our world all while celebrating its heritage as the home of London’s printing press. The headliners already on the bill include  Booker Prize-winning author Ben Okri and Kate Mosse OBE. Elsewhere there’ll be talks from screenwriter Ed Docx and author Mick Herron on the process of bringing TV hit Slow Horses from book to screen; Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, Iain Dale, and Sir Richard Evans will discuss history’s lessons from its most notorious dictators, Jeremy Vine will present new crime fiction series Murder on Line One; Nick Wallis (The Great Post Office Scandal) and Caroline Wheeler (Death in the Blood) will spotlight the power of long-form investigative journalism and there’ll also be talks on Samuel Pepys’ Diary, the real Wolf Hall and the life of Thomas Cromwell and breakfast events with The Times and the Daily Telegraph to explore the biggest news headlines for the day. The whole festival will be analysing how words can shift the balance of power from censorship to freedom of speech to technology and AI, so expect some especially insightful discussions.  Full line-up and ticket information to be announced in March

The famous and historic London rowing contest between the UK’s oldest two universities returns for its 170th edition on Sunday April 13, when crews from Oxford and Cambridge go head-to-head in eight-oared rowing boats across the Thames. Beginning in 1829 for chaps and 1927 for ladies, the annual fixture now attracts around 250,000 spectators to south-west London every year. The four-and-a-quarter mile course runs along the Thames from Putney Bridge to Mortlake and takes around 16 to 18 minutes (Cambridge holds the course record of 16 minutes 19 seconds, set in 1998). The women’s race is usually up first, followed by the men’s race an hour later. Spectators can watch the BBC’s coverage of the race large screens at two riverside Fan Zones in Hammersmith and Fulham, where they’ll also find covered seating, street food vendors, bars and toilet facilities. Putney Bridge, Hammersmith and Kew Gardens tube stations will all be in use on the day, as will Putney, Barnes Bridge, Mortlake or Chiswick rail stations, while Putney Embankment, Thames Bank, Hammersmith Bridge and Barnes Bridge will be closed to vehicles for much of the day.

Back for its fifteenth edition, the Cinema Made In Italy festival will be celebrating the best new Italian cinema and filmmakers at its new home at BFI Southbank. Over five days, the festival will screen 10 of the best contemporary Italian films, including biopics, period drama, historical epics, noir thrillers and documentaries. Much of the programme will be receiving its first screening in the UK and some screenings will feature talks from the directors and cast members. This year look out for Francesca Comencini’s The Time It Takes charting her relationship with her famous filmmaker father, Anywhere Anytime from Milad Tangshir portraying Issa, an African migrant scratching out a living in Turin, a special archive screening of the classic Italian comedy Bread, Love and Dreams and Andrea Segre’s biopic of a popular communist Italian political leader Enrico Berlinguer, The Great Ambition. 

This mammoth Art Deco building has a history of illustrious guests. Over the years, musical icons including Diana Ross, Madonna, Lady Gaga, The Killers and Jimi Hendrix have bedded down here, largely due to the fact it was just around the corner from the original Hard Rock Café, with the place eventually branding itself as the Hard Rock Hotel in 2019.  In 2023, however, the Hard Rock branding was removed and the hotel reverted back to its previous name – The Cumberland, so-called after The Duke of Cumberland pub that used to exist nearby. Cue a big renovation and rebrand of the huge 900 hundred-room site. But, while the entrance shows no sign of its former musical associations, inside there are still plenty of references to its roots. Musical memorabilia and artwork fill the walls and corridors, each room has a record player and a selection of vinyl, and some suits even have an electric guitar to play. It’s also kept Hard Rock’s VIP ‘Backstage Area’ where, for a premium, guests can access a room off the main lobby with free refreshments.  The former Hard Rock Cafe on the ground floor has been transformed into the Sound Cafe, and it still retains its previous layout of tables fanned out around a main stage, where live music – an acoustic cover artist on our visit – is on the bill nearly every night of the week. The staff are friendly, but the food is an underwhelming mix of US-style classics and pub fodder. Considering guests have the whole of Mayfair on their doorstep, it may

What is it?  Seven books and nine films down the line, the world has lost none of its appetite for all things Harry Potter-related, which is why people just keep on coming to Warner Bros’ special exhibition, ‘The Making of Harry Potter.’  Just north of Watford, you’ll find the very warehouses and movie studios that played an integral part in the making of the Harry Potter film franchise. When the crew weren’t at real locations, they were creatively mocking up most of the scenes here in Leavesden. And they’re still standing strong. Given the sheer volume and Potter nerds, Warner Bros decided to leave everything where it was and expand the studios, so other films could still be produced here without interruption. It truly is a magical place. The props, sets and costumes have been lovingly maintained for what has become a permanent exhibition of the memorabilia. Wander through the workshops, storerooms and life-sized sets that were used for the series. Fans will be in heaven here. Step into some of the most iconic locations from the movies: the Great Hall at Hogwarts, Diagon Alley and, of course, Platform 9¾ with the gleaming Hogwarts Express steam train. General cinephiles will also appreciate learning more about behind-the-scenes trickery: the special effects, animatronics and methods by which more outlandish characters were brought to life.  You can also get your chops around a flagon of butterbeer (don’t worry, as fans know, it’s kid-friendly), and if you fancy taking a souv

Spring has officially sprung this week, but for many Londoners the first weekend of a brighter, warmer new season comes just before pay day. Counting down the days your bank balance is no longer in the red?  Resigned to a weekend spent indoors, eating leftovers with the heating off? Never fear!  There’s loads of great fun to be had around the city this weekend, if you know where to look. From free club nights to late openings, an arty market and a last-chance exhibition, here are five fabulous free events happening in London over the next few days. Science Gallery Spring Equinox Late The Science Gallery celebrates the arrival of brighter, warmer days with a Friday night late themed around the ‘Pulse of the Planet’. Visitors can check out DJ sets curated by Club Sol, take part in creative writing workshops and reflection sessions, and watch a screening of emerging artist Julianknxx’s film Black Corporeal (Breathing by Numbers) exploring the start realities of environmental poverty. Tickets are free, but be sure to book in advance.  Science Gallery. Fri Mar 21. Free. BFI Flare DJ Nights The UK’s largest queer film event is back this week, with over 130 films plus a whole bunch of talks, panels, creative workshops and after-hours events to check out over the next eight days. The BFI’s Southbank headquarters are a vibey place to hang out during the festival, regardless of whether you’ve nabbed tickets to some screenings. And this is particularly true on weekend evenings, when a h

The weekend sun seems to have given London a shake up, as though it has injected colour back into the city. Blossom is growing on trees, flowers are shooting up from grass, and the city’s museums and galleries are also gearing up for a new lease of life, with all sorts of exciting exhibition openings in the calendar for this month.  From striking Munch portraits at the National Portrait Gallery to evocative photography documenting everyday life in northern Britain, these are the best new exhibitions arriving in the capital as spring starts to show.  Six London art exhibitions to see in March 2025  Photograph: Seated Model on the Couch, Birgit Prestøe, Edvard Munch, 1924 © Munchmuseet. Photo: Munchmuseet / Sidsel de Jong. Edvard Munch Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery We all know Edvard Munch’s masterpiece ‘The Scream’, but there was a lot more to him: this show at the National Portrait Gallery catalogues the great Norwegian expressionist through his portraits of family, friends, fellow artists, writers, art collectors and others in his lifetime. Intimate, energetic and deeply human, this exhibit is set to remind us why Munch had such influence in his sphere and far beyond.   Edvard Munch Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery, March 13-June 15 2025. More details here. Textiles: The Art of Mankind From the clothes we wear to the furniture in our homes, textiles are functional, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be art at the same time. Since ancient times humans

When it comes to American sports, it doesn’t get any bigger than the Super Bowl. The NFL’s most prestigious competition is arguably the most important annual fixture in the country’s sporting calendar, with millions of Americans getting together at screening parties to watch the action on TV. But with over 200,000 Americans living in London, and the sport steadily growing in popularity among Brits, it’s also a reasonably big deal here too. Thousands of Londoners will be staying up til the early hours this Sunday to watch all the action from the New Orleans Superdome, where the game kicks off at 11.30pm UK time. Super Bowl LIX sees the Kansas City Chiefs attempt a three-peat against the Philadelphia Eagles, in a replay of 2022’s event, the first of the Chiefs’ back-to-back titles. As well as all the cheerleading, interceptions, touchdowns and numerous cutaways to Taylor Swift cheering on boyfriend Travis Kelce from the stands, there’s also the epic half-time show from Kendrick Lamar, who arrives in New Orleans fresh from picking up five awards at the Grammys last weekend. Of course, you could catch all the action on your TV at home. But for a raucous atmosphere, freshly-poured pints, themed snacks and all manner of live entertainment, head to one of these Super Bowl screening parties around the city.  The best places to watch Super Bowl LIX in London Bad Sports: Super Bowl LIX Remember Hackney’s Bad Sports Bar? The now-closed (but never forgotten) US-style bar that served slam

Fancy yourself a bit of an oenophile? Then you’ll probably already know that this coming Thursday is a pretty big day in the wine world. That’s because the third Thursday of November is Beaujolais Nouveau Day, i.e. the first day on which this year’s bottles of the good stuff are allowed to be sold. A gamay grape wine from the Beaujolais district of Burgundy, Beaujolais Nouveau is one of the few varieties of plonk that’s sold during the same year in which it’s produced. The juicy red has gained a bit of a following in London in recent years, with many of the capital’s favourite wine bars throwing special events to celebrate the cult cuvée. Here are some we especially like the look of.  Gordon’s Beaujolais Breakfast If Beaujolais Nouveau Day is the equivalent of Christmas in your world, then Gordon’s should be the first place you head to on the Big Day. London’s oldest wine bar is playing every oenophile’s St Nick, letting you sip on glasses of the good stuff bright and early from 8am on, so you can sample this year’s crop before everyone else. They’ll be serving up Full English brekkies to soak up all the booze, and nice strong coffees for anyone needing to sober up quickly. All the same, we’d probably still advise going into the office on this particular Thursday. Gordon’s Wine Bar. Thu Nov 16. Free entry. Top Cuvée Beaujolais Nouveau Masterclass If there’s a burgeoning trend on the British wine scene, you can bet that London’s most ‘banter’ wine merchants will be heavily i

Like NFTs and Orlando Bloom, sherry has long been tipped by those in the know to be due its big moment of glory, but somehow the giddy heights of ultimate popularity never came. No matter how successfully the fortified wine has shaken off its reputation as the sickly sweet drink your Gran would drag out every Christmas, unlike port or tequila, sherry has never fully experienced its moment in the sun. But, passing over the Spanish delicacy is a big fat miss on the part of any discerning oenophile. ‘Sherry is actually the driest wine in the world because of the way it's made,’ says Sandra, bar manager at Spanish importer and restaurant group Brindisa. ‘There are lots of completely different styles that are dry, fresh, salty and refreshing.’ The Jerez-made wine also has a far more storied heritage than you might think. ‘Sherry is a super classic ingredient in traditional mixology,’ says Sandra. ‘If you go to that golden era of mixology in the 18th and early 19th centuries you get a lot of sherry and old recipe books feature a lot of it too.’ A drink called the ‘Sherry Cobbler’ became hugely popular in the 1840s coinciding with the invention of the drinking straw, while another sherry cocktail, the ‘Artist’s Special’, was invented in Paris in the 1930s, becoming a favourite with Picasso and other artists living in the city at the time.  This week – November 6 to 12 – marks National Sherry Week and in celebration of its glitzy history we’ve rounded up the very best sherry cocktail

London is pretty stressful, right? In fact, complaining about stress – that annoying neighbour playing hardcore techno right under your bedroom ceiling every night or the mindfuck of trying to exit any Central line platform at Oxford Circus – is a time-honoured London pastime. But if you were forced to relax and then timed on how long it takes you to reach a calm level of zen? Well, that might well sound like the most disquieting experience of them all. However, in the name of peace and tranquillity, that’s exactly what’s coming to London this month.  The Extreme Relaxing UK Championships will be landing in the Kia Oval, a venue usually known for anxiety-inducing cricket matches. It’s Europe’s first-ever competitive event dedicated to relaxing and involves 30 frazzled people going head-to-head to see who can achieve a relaxed state against the clock in the face of stressful ‘obstacles’.  Each contestant will have their resting heart rate taken before competing in three heats. They’ll be tested, scientifically, for their speed at relaxing and their ability to recover from stressful surprises like car alarms and jarring TV clips, presumably playing scenes like accidentally cc’ing the wrong person into a *sensitive* email chain or being made to re-watch the Lionesses’ penalty shootout against Nigeria in the Fifa World Cup this week. The winner will be able to take these fraught experiences in their stride and reach a state of calm in the fastest time possible.  It may all sound

London is already doing its bit to reassess the patriarchy. The city is home to The Women’s Library at the London School of Economics and The Feminist Library in Peckham, and now a new glass-ceiling mashing institution is about to join the feminist fold.  Barking and Dagenham Council has announced plans to open a Women’s Museum later this year. If you live around Barking Wharf Square you may have already spotted the future site which is covered with a mural designed by artist Clare Mason displaying a timeline of local women’s history stretching from 600AD to the present day and featuring female trailblazers such as Mary Wollstonecraft, Muriel Lester and Doris Lester, Sandie Shaw and Zara McFarlane.  Psst! There’s no better day than #InternationalWomensDay to share a little SNEAK PEAK of what we're working on to celebrate the amazing women from our borough. Keep your eyes peeled 👀 for more info coming soon. #WomensMuseum pic.twitter.com/V70MgpdjsU — Barking and Dagenham (@lbbdcouncil) March 8, 2023 The space, which is linked to the local history service at timber-beamed Tudor manor Valence House Museum and Archives, aims to ‘showcase the history, heritage, stories and role of women from the local area and beyond.’ Due to open in late 2023, the programming will kick off with an exhibition by curator and artist Nephertiti Oboshie Schandorf on the Abbesses of Barking Abbey, exploring how the former Royal Monastery was home to radical and highly-educated women

London has one of the best public transport systems in the world. But anyone who’s spent a hot, sticky journey on the coach to Luton Airport or faced a long meandering trundle down the Piccadilly Line stressing about making a flight at Heathrow knows that travelling to the capital’s airports can be a trying experience.  That’s where the Heathrow Express comes in: the Uber executive of train journeys, the snazzy express service whisks passengers from Paddington Station to Heathrow Airport in just 15 minutes, making it the fastest direct rail route between central London and the UK’s biggest airport. But there’s a hefty price to pay for the speedy journey. The Heathrow Express is the second most expensive rail journey in Britain, costing £25, or £1.50 per mile for the 16.5-mile trip. This didn’t stop the Heathrow Express from generating a whopping £31 million in revenue in the first quarter of 2019, with people opting to pay a premium for stress-free travel. But things might be about to change for the high-speed service.  According to reports seen by The Times, the opening of the Elizabeth Line appears to have made a dent in the Express’s revenues. Heathrow Express’s passenger numbers apparently haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels despite flights at the airport being pretty much back to normal. Heathrow said revenues from Heathrow Express in the first three months of 2023 were at £22 million – a third less than during the first quarter of 2019. The new Lizzy Line gets you t

It’s that time of year again when the Michelin Guide bestows its shiny stars on the great and the good of the British and Irish restaurant scene. Yep, it’s Michelin awards ceremony day when chefs across the two nations wait in anticipation to see who has received new stars (and retained them) for 2023.   Whether or not you think that the awards are too highbrow, too European or too dwindling in relevancy, there’s no denying the clout that the big fat white man mascot still holds. Plus, those little stars can have a huge impact on a restaurant’s footfall, which is especially important right now after years of turbulence thanks to the pandemic, not to mention inflation, and rising food and energy costs.   As any proud London foodie knows, the capital is home to a wealth of brilliant restaurants. So it’s no surprise that London’s dining rooms usually occupy a good chunk of Michelin’s list. This year, there are four new one-star restaurants in the capital and two new two-stars. No new three stars were awarded in London this year. Only one restaurant has been given the proverbial chop and lost a star: Seven Park Place in Mayfair. Sadly one of the restaurants that held a Michelin star in 2022 has permanently closed: The Glasshouse in Kew.  Here’s the full list of new Michelin stars for London restaurants, and who’s in, and who’s out.  Which London restaurants have won a 2023 Michelin star? NEW ONE-STARS Cycene, Shoreditch – Theo Clench Luca, Clerkenwell – Robert Chambers St Ba

It rains in London. Lots. Even in the summer. It can also be quite chilly. This means you’ll frequently find Londoners on the hunt for interesting places to hide away from the elements. So, it’s sweet relief to know that our fine capital city houses the UK’s most popular indoor attraction, which surely makes it the UK’s very best indoor attraction (that’s what we’re claiming, anyway).  A ranking of visitor numbers by The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions has crowned the much-loved Natural History Museum in South Kensington the most-visited indoor attraction in the country. According to the data, a whopping 4,654,608 people passed through the grand doors of Alfred Waterhouse’s landmark romanesque building in 2022.  It’s no wonder that visitors flock to the capital’s cathedral of nature. The 142-year-old museum and research centre is home to more than 80 million items, including a cup made from a human skull, a life-size animated T-Rex, an earthquake simulator, cabinets full of sparkling gemstones and beautiful glass models of marine invertebrates. Even the entrance hall has a massive 25-metre-long blue whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling (called Hope, fyi). What’s more, it’s totally free to see all the main collections making it the perfect spot for a family-friendly day out or a fun pitstop to hide away from the weather on a day out.  The Cromwell Road institution isn’t the only indoor attraction in London to make the list. Ranked close behind it are the British

Huge news for anyone with a bladder who travels through London Waterloo Station on the reg: the UK’s busiest rail terminus is getting a massive toilet refresh, which will include the addition of gender-neutral lavs to ‘improve inclusivity’.  It’s all part of a big project to make the passenger experience at the station better. It involves giving the bathrooms a complete revamp with new and improved facilities and the installation of a ‘balanced number of female and male facilities’ as well as the new gender-neutral loos. Extra baby-changing areas and better access for those with reduced mobility are also promised. Network Rail has even released a fancy CGI graphic of what the new lavs will look like.  Photograph: Network Rail Construction of the new WCs is due to start in mid-February and be completed during the summer. Cem Davis, Network Rail’s London Waterloo station manager, hoped the new facilities ‘will make journeys a lot more pleasant and comfortable’. Ironically, given its name, Waterloo needs a real lav spruce-up. It’s repeatedly crowned the busiest railway station in the UK (an estimated 41 million passengers passed through its concourse in the 12 months to the end of March 2022). And it’s pretty clear that London is long overdue better toilets in general. A report from ​The London Assembly in 2021 found 90 percent of Londoners thought there weren’t enough public toilets in the capital, while another survey from the same year found 30 percent of the city’s so-call

Not since Bimini Bon Boulash sashayed down the runway on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race UK’ back in 2021 has anyone become a nationally revered gay icon as fast as Amanda Lovett from ‘The Traitors’.  The BBC reality TV show described as ‘the ultimate game of detection, backstabbing and trust’ became an unlikely hit at the end of last year. The premise: 22 people are taken to a remote castle in the Scottish Highlands. Among their number are three ‘traitors’ – a group of contestants selected by host Claudia Winkleman and tasked with covertly ‘murdering’ the other players – the ‘faithfuls’ – without being detected to steal a £120,000 prize fund for themselves. Basically, it’s a chaotic, long and very emotional version of ‘wink murder’.  Out of all the players, Welsh grandmother Amanda – who was picked as a ‘traitor’ on the first day of the contest – quickly stole our hearts. Her camp mix of warm, maternal energy and merciless ability to mastermind the perfect game-playing strategy made it feel like she’d wandered straight out of a Love of Huns Insta post.  It was only a matter of time before Amanda – aka the Welsh Dragon – did the rounds of the UK’s premier LGBTQ+ venues and tonight you’ll find her at Clapham’s long-established gay pub and club The Two Brewers.  She’ll be appearing at The Betray Ball alongside drag queen host Poppycock (who may or may not be channelling Winkleman in an overly chunky knitted jumper) for a meet and greet where guests can snap a picture with the star and catc