Amy Houghton

There’s no season more welcome than the start of summer. Brighter days, warmer temperatures and more time outdoors results in an uplifted mood and a general lust for life. It also helps when you have a stellar summer playlist – the kind that draws on golden classics and modern hits alike to really add a healthy dose of that feel-good feeling we all love. Here at Time Out, our team of writers and editors have you covered when it comes to the most essential summer anthems. From a Bill Withers staple to some Sabrina Carpenter sparkle, our playlist of the best summer songs captures all the fun, warmth and mood-lifting magic you want when it comes to soundtracking your summer months. RECOMMENDED: 🎤 The best karaoke songs ❤️ The best love songs🎉 The best party songs🕺 The best albums of 2025 so far

Work-dos are a hard art to master. How do you find something that strengthens your team spirit and that everyone in the office, across multiple generations, is actually going to find fun?  Stuck for ideas? You’re in the right place. Whether you’re after some healthy competition among co-workers or an activity that requires all your colleagues to work together, London has a load of classic and quirky ways for your team to let their hair down. So, take notes, we’ve rounded up the best of them. These are some of the top places in the city to go to build your office bonds.  RECOMMENDED: The best office party venues to hire in LondonThe top London venues for a private bash 

In the sweltering city heat, few things are more inviting than the prospect of plunging into one of London's finest al fresco swimming pools. And everyone knows it. The capital has well and truly caught the open-air bathing bug over the last few years. Even in the depths of winter, you’ll spot a brave bunch – wetsuits and all – diving head first into the immensely cold waters of London lidos. But that also means that on the hottest days of the year, you’ll need to book well in advance if you want to secure a poolside spot. The good news is that there’s a bounty of places for getting your outdoor swim fix in the city. That’s not to mention all the wild swimming spots a little further afield. Heated or unheated, regimented lanes or wide open water, serious fitness or chilled family fun – these are all of London’s best lidos and outdoor swimming pools for whatever floats your boat. RECOMMENDED:🏊 The best swimming pools in London.🌡️ The best saunas in London. 💦 The best waterparks in London

Morocco is a place where ancient ruins neighbour glistening new skyscrapers, and where souks, unchanged for decades, live a stone’s throw from world-leading cultural centres. It’s also a place where one day you’re chugging through rural mountain villages, the next you’re hopping on a double decker bullet train – the first and only high-speed train in Africa and one of the fastest in the world, in fact.  Since launching in 2018, that speed shuttle (named Al Boraq) has opened up Morocco in a whole new way. It connects six Moroccan cities, including Casablaca, Marrakech and Fez, but with just three days in the country, we used it to explore two places that tend to fly a little more under the radar – Tangier and Rabat.  Tangier: where the ocean meets the sea With the wild Atlantic ocean to one side and the warm Mediterranean sea to the other, Tangier is thought of as Europe’s ‘gateway into Africa’ – we flew there in just over two hours from London, but you can also get an hour-long ferry from Marbella. We stay in the swish but very conveniently located Hilton Tanger City Centre, but our introduction to Tangier begins further out, on the outskirts of the city.  Photograph: Amy Houghton for Time Out We spend the next morning a half hour drive from the centre at Cape Spartel, the northwesternmost point of Africa. The headland, topped by the oldest lighthouse in Morocco, overlooks the exact point that the Mediterranean and the Atlantic meet. Spread with pine trees and roamed by wil

Whether you’ve got the voice of an angel or you’re totally tone deaf, karaoke unites us all. But heed our warning: choosing the right song is crucial (aka, don’t opt for that Whitney Houston tune if you haven’t the range. And if you don't have good enough flow, steer clear of rapping. Kapeesh?) So we thought we’d help out a little bit. In our list of the best karaoke songs ever, we’ve got everyone from Adele to Toto, and from Frank Sinatra to Ricky Martin. There's even recent singalongs from Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan. Something for everyone. So down that shot, grab that mic and take to the stage. Your audience awaits you. Here are the best karaoke songs ever.  RECOMMENDED:❤️ The best love songs☀️ The best summer songs🎉 The best party songs🕺 The best albums of 2025 so far  

Cardiff is arguably one of the best-kept foodie secrets in the UK. While it might get overlooked in favour of some more famous destinations, all that means is there’s more scrumptious food on offer for those who are wise enough to buck trends and head to the Welsh capital.  Many of the UK’s most innovative chefs have set up shop here, including the likes of Pembrokeshire’s Tom Simmons, and restaurants across the city have inventive, artistic dishes flying out of their kitchens – but don’t get us wrong, Cardiff also knows a thing or two about classic, hearty, comforting food too. Be you after a posh, Michelin-starred spot for a special occasion or just a trusty, locally-recommended spot for a day of sightseeing, here is our handpicked roundup of the city’s best restaurants. RECOMMENDED:🎨 The best things to do in Cardiff🏩 The best Airbnbs in Cardiff🌉 The best things to do in Wales☀️ The best things to do in the UK This guide was recently updated by Sophie Williams, a writer based in Cardiff. 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. 

It’s been a fantastic year for new music. We’ve had long-running artists finally break through (hello, Chappell Roan), what felt like the longest and most carefully calculated album roll-out of all time (Charli, we’re looking at you), as well as niche new finds and epic comebacks from old faves (The Cure).  As the year draws to a close, it’s time to share our favourite albums of 2024. From intergalactic post-punk to gritty, lyrical hip hop, dance floor-ready pop and everything in between, grab your best headphones or line up the speakers: these are the albums Time Out had on repeat this year. RECOMMENDED:The best movies of 2024The best TV shows of 2024 you need to streamThe best songs of 2024

‘Party songs’ are a broad genre, and throughout the eras, they’ve come in all shapes, sizes and vibes. However, for a song to be a proper, hip-shaking party song, there are some rules: it’s gotta be a banger, and it’s gotta give you absolutely no choice but to get up and boogie.  No wonder then that this list includes everything from funk, soul and disco classics to ‘90s RnB tunes and 2025 chart-toppers. There’s a tonne of variety on here, but pass the aux cable over to us and we’ll have your party shaking in no time. Ready to throw some shapes? You’re in the right place – these are the best party songs of all time.  RECOMMENDED:🎤The best karaoke songs🍻The best drinking songs🎶The best ’80s songs🎊The best pop songs This guide was recently updated by Georgia Evans, who covers Time Out’s music section. Entries are by Time Out Editors. For more about how we curate, have a look at our editorial guidelines.

Greece is, quite simply, king of the holidays. It’s a country full of sprawling cities, beautiful islands and some of the best beaches in the entire world, and the food? Don’t even get us started on the food. There’s a hell of a lot of islands, and our editors have been to a hell of a lot of them, but for the on-the-ground knowledge that only a local has, we’ve roped in our Greece expert Demetrios Ioannou, who grew up in Athens but has travelled all over the country. Whatever you’re looking for, here are the best places to visit in Greece.  Where should I go for my first time in Greece? We’re firm believers that everyone should go to Athens at least once in their lives. So if it’s your first time visiting the country, you should probably start there. But the good news is that in Greece, you can pretty much do it all. So don’t stay in Athens for a full week – spend a perfect weekend there before heading out on a ferry to Aegina, Poros, Hydra and more. If you’ve ticked off Athens already, consider Greece’s latest destination dupe, Paros, which is set to this year’s ‘new Santorini’ (just without the crowds).  RECOMMENDED:🏝️ The most beautiful Greek islands🏖️ The best beaches in Greece🏨 The best hotels in Greece 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. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information,

Hearing the squawk of a nearby gull while you inhale the salty sea air is almost as integral to the fish ‘n’ chip ritual as mushy peas and tartare sauce. But that’s not to say that excellent landlocked chippies don’t exist in the UK: you just need to know where to look. Thankfully, no matter where you are, you can trust that this list has got the best of the best when it comes to fish ‘n’ chips, whether that’s at a beachfront cafe frying up daily catches or a city-centre institution which has really mastered its batter craft. Get the salt and vinegar in hand and tuck in: here are the best places for fish and chips in the UK. RECOMMENDED:🍺The best pubs in the UK🍝The best restaurants in the UK☀️The best beer gardens in the UK🏖️The best seaside towns in the UK This list was written by Lucas Oakeley, a freelance food writer for Time Out. 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.

There’s no shortage of excellent hotels in Birmingham, so you’ve got no excuse not to make a weekend of it in England’s second-largest city. How else do you expect to tick off the many magnificent things to do here? Knackered from wandering the city’s extensive waterways? Need to lie in a curry-induced coma after visiting the ‘Balti Triangle’? Or maybe you are planning a big night out and only plan to need a bed for three hours? These hotels are all conveniently located and ready to cater to your every need. And whether you want a beautiful independent, a reliable chain or some proper luxury, we’ve got all tastes covered.  Business or leisure, comfort is key and Brum’s best hotels offer it in abundance. Here’s where to stay in Birmingham the next time you’re in town. RECOMMENDED: The best Airbnbs in BirminghamBrilliant restaurants in Birmingham Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews 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.

The capital’s streets may be lined with all the big names in hospitality, but there are also loads of great cheap hotels in London that you needn’t trek out to the sticks to find. Yep – we’re telling you that you can stay somewhere better located and more fun than many of the city’s grand five-star hotels, all for less than you’d pay for a slap-up meal at one of London’s best restaurants. Whether it’s a dorm bed in the heart of Soho, a traditional family-run guesthouse on a period square, or a tech-smart room near St Pancras you’re searching for, London’s got it covered. Have a peek at our list of the best cheap hotels in London and save your pennies for exploring. Looking for more options? 🇬🇧Check out London’s best Airbnbs 🏨Or how about a stay in London's best hotels? Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

What is it?  Big Ben is technically the name of the 13-ton bell that chimes the hours from the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. Since 2012, the tower itself has officially been called the Elizabeth Tower. And before that, it was known very unimaginatively as just ‘the Clock Tower’. Still, when most of us talk about Big Ben, we mean the whole thing –bell, clock, tower and all.  Designed by architect Charles Barry as part of the Palace of Westminster, the Clock Tower was completed in 1859. The Great Clock started on 31 May that year, with the chimes of the Great Bell (that is, Big Ben himself) heard for the first time on 11 July and the quarter bells first chimed on 7 September. The Victorian clockwork still keeps surprising accuracy, thanks to a counterweight that relies on the stacking of old pennies.  You may recall that the tower was shrouded in scaffolding and its bells went silent from 2017 to 2022. The clock underwent a major five-year renovation, marking the first time that it had been removed from the Elizabeth Tower during its 160-year lifetime. It emerged more glistening and golden than ever.  Why go?  So you can say that you’ve seen what is arguably London’s most legendary landmark in the flesh.  Don’t miss The Big Ben tours. Sure, seeing it from the street is nice, but you miss out on so much of the structures details and intricacies if you never step foot inside. You climb 334 spiral steps from the bottom of Elizabeth Tower to the belfry r

What is it?  Never mind the river buses. If you want some excitement on the Thames – the kind that 007 himself would encourage – step aboard the super speedy RIB. This ‘rigid inflatable boat’ will have you hurtling up and down the river in no time with 740 horse power behind you and ‘V8’ twin turbo thrust. No, we don’t know what that means either, but we do know that the RIB can do speeds of up to 30 knots (roughly 35 mph). It’s a pure adrenaline experience. Journeys range from 20-minute blasts to a full 75 minutes. The former either takes you from Tower Millennium Pier past The Shard, Tower of London and HMS Belfast or from The O2 Arena past the Thames Flood Barrier and Greenwich. The longest trip includes the lot. You can choose to have detailed commentary along the way, or there are experiences that keep it to a minimum. Life jackets and waterproof clothing is provided, and all ages are welcome, but there is a minimum weight requirement of three stone (15kg). Why go?  For the fastest, most thrilling way to travel the Thames. Don’t miss The Thames chase scene in ‘Spectre’ was filmed on one of these vehicles, so naturally, Thames RIB offers an ‘Ultimate Spy Experience’. Passengers are taken past some of the most recognisable Bond locations, zooming down the river with the likes of Paul McCartney’s ‘Live and Let Die’, Adele’s ‘Skyfall’ and Shirley Bassey’s ‘Diamonds are Forever’ blasting through the speakers. There’s also an onboard quiz with a chance to win a 007-themed pri

What is it?  Spread across floors 69 to 72 of Western Europe’s tallest skyscraper, the View from the Shard provides the most magnificent 360 views of the city you can get.  Your journey starts the minute you step foot in the lift. Look up, because screens in the ceiling provide fascinating facts and hypnotic visuals as you hurtle 800ft skywards to the first viewing gallery on floor 69. From here you can explore three more levels by foot (don’t worry, there is another lift if you can’t manage the stairs), with walls of windows providing an incredible backdrop and an open-air skydeck on floor 72. There are London experts dotted about the deck to guide you through your view (if you want), sharing stories of the city’s past and offering recommendations fror whatever kind of London experience you’re after.   Why go?  To look down on the Big Smoke in all its shining glory. All of London’s most legendary landmarks should be visible, including Buckingham Palace, Parliament, Wembley Stadium and the Tower of London. On a good day, views stretch as far as Southend-on-Sea.  Don’t miss Watch out for the different events going on here throughout the year. Every Wednesday from 2pm-4.30pm, there’s live music to make your visit even more atmospheric and every so often there are yoga classes offering a chance to practice sun salutations in the clouds.  When to visit Opening times change throughout the year depending on events taking place. Check website for available times. Once you’re inside

What is it?  You want stunning views of London? You’ve got to earn it. In this adrenaline-pumping experience, you’ve got to scale the height of the O2 in order to see unique vistas of Greenwich, Olympic Park, Canary Wharf and beyond. But it’s worth it.  You’ll be kitted out with boots, a suit and a harness and get a quick safety briefing before you start your 170ft  ascent. For the 90 minute experience, one of The O2’s guides will lead you along the springy walkway all the way to the top. You pull yourself via safety lines, clipping and unclipping carabiners along the metal bars leading to the top. The steepest incline you’ll have to tackle on your way up is about 28-degrees. Once you reach the summit, you’ve got 20 minutes to breathe in the fresh air, admire the panorama of the city, take a selfie or two and discover some facts about London’s landmarks before reattaching yourself to the rail and heading back down. The return route a little longer and steeper.  It’s suitable for ages 8+ and anyone at least 1.2 metres tall.  Why go?  For thrills and views.  Don’t miss If you ask us, the best experience at Up at the O2 is the sunset climb. You head up the venue as the sun goes down, meaning you get incredible shades of pink, orange and yellow backdropping your London views. Just make sure to wear an extra layer or two.  When to visit In the summer climbs are from 10am-8.30pm daily and in the winter 10am-6.30pm daily. Peak season is from June to August.  Ticket info  Prices depe

Brockwell’s 50-metre pool is surrounded by art deco Grade II-listed buildings that house the Lido Café and exercise studios that offer year-round dance and pilates classes and activities for pre-school children. Once you’ve perfected your backstroke, enjoy an eclectic range of events on site, from film nights to furniture fairs. 

Tooting’s vast pool, with its multicoloured changing huts, has been treasured by fortunate locals since it opened as a bathing lake in 1906. At just over 90m, it’s the largest outdoor freshwater pool in the whole of the UK and inspires devoted swimming all through the year. To swim in winter you must be a member of the well-established South London Swimming Club, which has been based at the lido almost as long as it has existed. Facilities include a paddling pool for kids, a café, and lockers for small valuables.  

This south-facing, 36-metre open-air pool, with grassy areas for sunbathing, is open and heated to a balmy 28C all year round. Built in 1922, it was saved from closure in the 1980s by a group of local residents, who continue to take part in fundraising activities. The group has rebranded itself as the Poolside Swim & BBQ Club and holds swimming and social sessions outside of normal pool hours – anyone is welcome to join. It’s also possible to book moonlight swim sessions. Which is cool.

Finchley’s lido is housed in a complex which includes an indoor pool, cinema and bowling alley. The lido is petite (and unheated) with a grassy terrace for lazy days in the sun. Opening is weather dependent – you won't get an alfresco swim if it’s less than 20C outside. Indoors, swimmers can plough up and down the main pool or enjoy the leisure pool’s wave machine. And you’d be a fool not to take advantage of the spoils of the rest of the complex – catch a movie or grab a meal at one of the many restaurants onsite. 

Formerly known as Uxbridge Lido, the Grade II-listed, 50m, open-air swimming pool has been recently restored to its 1930s glory, complete with cascades (fountains) at either end and a new, heated shallow splash pool for children. The outdoor pool is now part of a new leisure centre that includes an indoor pool of the same size.

You can dive headfirst into the Royal Docks in safety as swimmers are tagged to make sure nothing goes wrong and qualified coaching is available should you feel you’ve thrown yourself in the deep end. Race distances are marked to help those training for competitive events, but there’s also a casual area for leisure swimmers. Children aged six and over are permitted but they must be able to swim 200m without stopping, wear a wetsuit and a tow float and be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

What is it? NQ64, a neon-splattered bar with venues in the likes of Manchester, Liverpool, and Edinburgh, brings an adult twist to arcade-style gaming. There are classic consoles that you can play for free (as long as you buy a drink), and more than 30 vintage shooting, driving and dancing arcade games requiring tokens –we’re talking the likes of Mario Kart, Pac-Man, Space Invaders and Dance Stage. DJs are there to soundtrack your game night with classic hip-hop tunes and the bar serves up themed cocktails including a Crash Bandicoot-inspired ‘Aku Aku Fruit Punch’ and a Super Mario-inspired ‘Power Star Martini’.  Why go? For all-round nostalgia and some healthy competition.  Don’t miss One of everyone’s favourite childhood video games – Guitar Hero. See how far your finger muscles can recall the sequence for ‘Ace of Spades’, ‘Higher Ground’ and ‘Smoke on the Water’. When to visit NQ64 is open 3pm-3am from Monday to Friday and 12pm-3am on Saturday and Sunday.   Ticket info  Entry is free, except after 10pm Thursday-Friday and after 9pm on Saturdays when there is a £5 charge at the door. Tokens cost £12 for 20.  Time Out tip Save your memories at NQ64 with a trip to the photobooth.   

What is it? Spanning three floors of an old Georgian townhouse building, The Conran Shop’s flagship store in Sloane Square (which replaces the former flagship in Marylebone Village) offers contemporary designer homeware including furniture, lighting, textiles and art. It’s not just any old homeware shop. The store was established by renowned modernist Sir Terence Conran, the same guy that founded the Design Museum in 1989, so careful curation, impeccable craftsmanship and unique design are of upmost importance here. It’s all arranged by rooms that demonstrating the ideal Conran interior landscape.  What does it sell? Basically anything that’s gonna give your home that extra zhuzh. Much stock is exclusive and Conran mixes them in among classics to create inspirational room settings on the ground floor. Expect an eclectic spread of wacky lampshades, colourful chairs and one-of-a-kind sofas. Design classics can be found nestled in among innovative design and 'one-off' vintage pieces that blend practicality and fun. In addition to design classics, there are plenty of portable accessories, gadgets, books, stationery items and toiletries that make great gifts or souvenirs. Opening times  From Monday to Saturday, The Conran Shop is open 10am-6pm. On Sunday, it opens 12pm-6pm.  Time Out tip Fuel your furniture shopping with lunch at the nearby Ottolenghi and browse through titles to fill your brand new shelves at the charming John Sandoe Bookshop.  As featured in the 100 best sho

The Scottish Highlands are one-of-a-kind. Nowhere in the world do you get scenery quite as dramatic or magnificent as its vast lochs and towering mountains. And compared to the intense non-stop frenzy of the city, life up there seems pretty calm and straightforward. If you’ve just about had enough of the corporate 9-5 grind, this is your sign to make your Highland dream a reality. Right now there’s a cottage up for sale on the spectacular Knoydart Peninsula.  RECOMMENDED: I went on a road trip through the Highlands and discovered a food-lover's paradise.  For less than the cost of an average flat in London, you can get your hands of Doune Bay Lodge – your own Scottish hideout complete with five en-suite bedrooms, a boathouse, a workshop out back with its own shower room. To top it off, the porch leads down onto your own beach and there are priceless panoramic views over the Sound of Sleat to the Isle of Skye and the Cuillin mountain range.  All that can be yours for £395,000. And don’t worry, it’s not a doer-upper. The cottage has been fully renovated with wooden panels, a modern kitchen and floor-to-ceiling glass doors and has been used as a holiday let for the past several years. Oh, and there’s also a charter boat, a dingy, an eight-seater car and a quad bike that can be thrown in if you’re up for paying a bit extra.  The only catch? The property isn’t accessible by car alone. To get there, you’ve either got to take a ferry from Mallaig, drive 5.5 miles on the only road t

The sun is shining, the weather warm and it’s only right that now, we start thinking seriously about our summer plans. While the UK is rich with wonderful places to go for a holiday, sometimes all you want is to get out of the country and explore somewhere further afield.  These days, airports offer thousands of destinations at your fingertips. And they’re always adding more. One of the latest additions to the routes on offer from the UK? Bristol to Türkiye. This summer budget Turkish airline Pegasus Airlines is launching a service that’ll fly from Bristol to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport three times a week.  It’ll start taking off from Bristol on July 8 and from then operate there year-round. As well as getting holidaymakers to the Turkish city, the service will allow travellers to get onwards connections to places like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Egypt and Qatar.  Dave Lees, chief executive at Bristol Airport, said: ‘We're delighted to welcome Pegasus Airlines to Bristol Airport, which will open up an extensive range of destinations for onward travel to countries including Türkiye, UAE and Saudi Arabia. ‘It will also allow for more visitors to explore our local region, who would previously have visited the UK through London airports. ‘This is good news for inbound tourism; for those who want to connect with family and friends; and for businesses in the south west and south Wales who have overseas interests.’ The Turkish capital was named Europe’s best city to visit by

Look out London. You might be the UK’s first city, but Manchester is coming hot on your tail. It’s got the culture, food and history to rival the capital, and now it’s got its sight set on similarly massive skyscrapers, too. The UK’s new tallest building outside of London has been approved for Manchester. Viadux 2, as the skyscraper is currently known, is being masterminded by development firm Salboy. It’ll boast 76-storeys and reach a height of 246m. That’s just over 60m shorter than the UK’s tallest tower, the Shard and nearly 50m higher that the current tallest non-London building, South Tower, which is also in Manchester.  Plans for the tower were first drawn up in 2017 and unveiled last year, and now the project has been given the official go-ahead by Manchester City Council (and has backing from none other than Robert de Niro).  Built on land between Manchester Central and the Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink station, when the tower is complete, it’ll house 452 luxury flats and a 160-bed hotel. There’ll also be an exclusive swimming pool, spa, podium garden and gym.  So where does Robert De Niro come into it? Well, the Hollywood legend is actually also the co-founder of global luxury lifestyle brand Nobu. It runs hotels and restaurants in cities across the world (including several in London) and has signed up to open a new hotel, restaurant and residences inside the skyscraper. Simon Ismail, managing director of Salboy, said: ‘Manchester is a fast-expanding city that is

From googley-eyed pencil cases for primary school and scientific calculators for GCSEs to stacks of chunky textbooks for uni and the cans of RedBull we needed to get through them, WH Smith has been satisfying all of our stationery needs and more since 1792. But WH Smith has gone through quite a bit of upheaval in the past few months. Most recently, it was revealed that the brand would soon disappear from UK high streets, selling off branches so that it can focus on its shops in airports and train stations.  Eventually all high-street WH Smiths will rebrand, but in the meantime some are closing. Sites in London and Manchester are among those shutting between now and July.  But it’s not completely bad news for the stationers. Smiths previously announced plans to open 110 new branches in airports, railway stations and hospitals – places where its profits tend to be higher than average. The chain also said that it’s going to start selling vinyl records for the first time in 30 years.  Many of the WH Smith stored have launched ‘everything must go’ sales in their last days, so keep an eye out for bargains if a Smiths near you is closing soon.  RECOMMENDED: All the UK high street closures so far in 2025. Full list of confirmed WH Smith closures in 2025 Here are the WH Smith shops closing this year, and the date each one will shut.  Halstead, Essex – April 12 Woolwich, London – April 12 Halesowen, West Midlands – April 19 Diss, Norfolk – April 19 Newport, Wales – April 19 Haverhill,

The ultimate Oxford v Cambridge competition is back. More than 300,000 spectators will line the Thames in southwest London with their Pimms and cardigans hung over their shoulders to watch the 2025 edition of the historic Boat Race.  The men’s rowing competition has been going on since 1829, while the ladies only began taking part nearly 100 years later in 1927. Cambridge has dominated the event in recent years, coming up trumps in the women’s race the past seven in a row and in the men’s for six out of the last eight competitions. So, the stakes are high.  Here’s everything you need to know if you plan on watching the world’s most famous university contest on TV this weekend.   🚣‍♀️ Time Out London’s guide to The Boat Race 2025. When is the Boat Race? This year’s race is happening on Sunday, April 13.   How can I watch the Boat Race?  If you’re not able to watch in person, you can catch the Boat Race live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer or the BBC Sports website.  What are the timings? Coverage leading up the the races will begin on the BBC at 12.45. If you want to skip all that and just watch the races themselves, the timings are below. The broadcast will end around 3.45.  Women’s  Tune in to watch the Women’s Boat Race start at 1.21pm. The women’s presentation to award the winners will be at 2.45pm.  Men’s  The men’s event will kick off an hour later at 2.21pm. Their presentation will take place at 2.55pm.  Where is the race? The race down the Thames begins downstream of Putney B

In exciting news for anyone with a thriving Vinted side hustle, Royal Mail has just unveiled its new and improved ‘postbox of the future’, set to make sending stuff across the UK much, much simpler.  This is the biggest change to Britain’s postboxes since they were born more than 175 years ago. They don’t look significantly different – they’re still sporting that iconic bright red – but they’ve been given a few futuristic upgrades. Most notably, the boxes have built-in barcode readers powered by the sun. How very modern!   There’s a extra large hatch so that people can now send bigger parcels without having to queue up at the post office. You simply scan a barcode then the drawer will open for you to drop the package in. And if you have the Royal Mail app, you’ll still be able to request proof of posting.  Photograph: Royal Mail The first of the modernised postboxes will be piloted in Ware, Hertford, Letchworth and Fowlmere before they’re rolled out throughout the rest of the UK.  Emma Gilthorpe, the CEO at Royal Mail, said: ‘In making this historic change to our postboxes, our goal is to maximise choice and convenience for our customers. In an era where letter volumes continue to decline and parcels are booming, we are giving our iconic postboxes a new lease of life on street corners across the nation.  ‘You can now drop your parcel in any postbox where it fits - you just need a label with a barcode.’ ICYMI: The first Universal theme park in Europe is coming to the UK in 2

Full moons grace our skies around every 29.5 days, so you’d think we’d be used to them by now. But every month, when it becomes fully visible from Earth, the moon still manages to wow us with it’s brightness and brilliance. Each full moon gets a different name. In March we got the spectacular blood moon (and a rare lunar eclipse) and now it’s almost time for the April edition – the pink moon. It’ll emerge in UK skies right this weekend as a ‘micromoon’ (more on that later) and coincide with views of a blue giant star. Exciting, eh?  Here’s everything you need to know if you want to catch sight of the UK’s next lunar spectacle.  RECOMMENDED: All the stargazing events to look forward to in 2025.  Why is it called ‘pink moon’? Don’t be fooled – the pink moon isn’t really pink, though it may have an orange tint or a subtle rosy glow if there’s dust in the air. It’s the fourth full moon of the year and in Native American culture is named after the pink wildflowers that bloom all over North America at this time of year. In other cultures, the April full moon is called the sprouting grass moon, the egg moon and the fish moon. What is a ‘micromoon’? This full moon is a micromoon, which happens just before the moon reached apogee (its farthest point from Earth). That means it’ll look slightly smaller and dimmer than other full moons. Basically the opposite of a supermoon. What is the best time to see the pink moon? It’ll rise at 9.08pm on Sunday, April 13 in the east-southeast of the

Airport security checks are one of the most tedious parts of travelling. Most times, you’ve got to pour out your water bottle, take off shoes, belts and jewellery, remove electrics and decant all your liquids into a little plastic bag. The good news is that slowly but surely, UK airports are beginning to reduce the need for all that faff, thanks to some new tech.  Brand new airport scanners, intended to speed up the security process, were announced way back in 2018. They were originally meant to be installed at every UK airport by June 2024, but very few airports actually met that deadline. And many of the ones that did get the machines up and running on time had to make a U-turn.  But finally, more and more UK airports have successfully had the machines installed, meaning there are new hand luggage rules you need to know about next time you catch a flight. These are all the details.  What are the new hand luggage rules? It’s hoped that the new rules will help passengers get through security quicker. The new CT scanners can create a 3D X-ray reconstruction of the contents of your bag, meaning that you don’t have to take anything out of it. That means that liquids can stay in your hand luggage and you don’t need to put them in a separate clear bag. There’s also no longer a need to take electrical items like your laptop, camera, phone or tablet out.  However, the 100ml limit for each individual liquid still applies. That includes any gels, pastes, lotions, make-up, snow globes

Is it just us, or does everyone in London feel an emotional affinity towards one particular bus number? Whether it’s the 37 from Peckham to Putney Heath, the 29 from Trafalgar Square to Wood Green or the D3 from Old Ford Road to Bethnal Green, it’s easy to develop a soft spot for the big red vehicles that get us safely (and cheaply) from one part of a city to another.  But have you ever wondered how your favourite bus route got its digits? Well, there’s actually not much of a chronological or geographical order to them. London’s bus routes first started being numbered in 1906. Before that, they had line names, kind of like the tube. Bus operators realised that names like ‘Vanguard’ were popular and added numbers to better distinguish between routes and help the public remember them better.  There wasn’t an official numbering system in place until 1924 with the introduction of the Bassom Scheme. Double-decker bus routes were numbered 1 to 199, single-decker routes from 200 and trolleybuses from 500.  These days numbers 1 to 599 are attached to everyday routes, 600 to 699 denote school day services and 700 to 899 are for regional and national coach services.  Some routes, such as the 24 from Pimlico to Hampstead Heath, have the exact same numbers as their predecessors from back when Londoners got around via horse-drawn carriages. Others take their numbers from the old trolleybuses or trams that used to follow the same or a similar route.  Photograph: Neil Lang / Shutterstock.c

Got plans to fly from Gatwick this year? Already feeling the stress bubbling through your body? Relax, we’ve got some good news. Security checks at the airport have just been made a little bit easier – the days of faffing about with clear plastic bags and digging out your laptop are officially over.  On Monday, April 7, it was announced that passengers will no longer need to remove liquids or electronics from their hand luggage. That’s thanks to the arrival of new ‘cutting-edge’ CT scanning machines that can create 3D images of the contents of your bag. It was teased that the 100ml limit on liquids would also be scrapped as a result of the new scanners, but alas, that’s not the case. At least for now. Passengers will still need to make sure all their liquids, including gels, pastes, lotions and make-up are each no more than 100ml.  Photograph: Shutterstock Still, the change means that security checks should now be quicker and more efficient. Cyrus Dana, head of security at Gatwick, said that the tech is ‘positive news’ for travellers. He said: ‘More than 95 percent of passengers already pass through security at Gatwick in under five minutes. ‘As we continue to grow, our top priority is the safety of our passengers and the security of the airport. This cutting-edge technology ensures a safe and robust experience for our passengers.’ Gatwick joins a bunch of other UK airports that have officially launched the new machines, including London City and Luton. But remembe

London’s airports get a lot of shtick. Whether it’s strikes, delays, tech glitches or, most recently, fires, it’s rare that British travellers look upon the capital’s aviation hubs with fondness. Just one made it onto a recent roundup of the UK’s top 10 best airports, while four were named and shamed among the 10 worst. In another study London terminals made up half the worst in the country. Not a great look.  But not everyone thinks London’s aviation hubs are so awful. In a brand-new ranking of the world’s top 100 best airports for 2025 by Skytrax three of London’s airports made the cut. Not bad, eh?  London Heathrow, one of the busiest airports on the globe and home to one of the best airport restaurants, earned a very respectable rank at number 22 (down one from last year). It also did well in other Skytrax rankings, placing 6th in the world for the best airports with more than 70 million passengers, 10th best in Europe, and third best in Western Europe.  Photograph: Colinmthompson / Shutterstock.com Rising 12 places since Skytrax’s list last year, in 36th place was London Gatwick, which was also named the 5th best Western European hub. London City, the only airport in the capital recommended by Which?, just made it into the ranking at number 91. LCY earned 7th place in Skytrax’s list of the planet’s best regional airports and ranked 6th best in Western Europe.  And, though it didn’t make it into the top 100, London Luton (which is due to get a massive expansion soon) d

London hosts fantastic music events year-round. But it’s this time of year in particular that reminds us just how great we have it. Now that the sun’s out and the days are longer, months and months of glorious gigs and festivals are about to begin. From enormous stadiums to intimate dance floors, London is truly world-class live music destination, if we say so ourselves. And now, a new study has confirmed it.  Travel booking site Omio looked at city’s across Europe to find out which one is the continent’s live music capital. With 75 nightclubs, 26 concert halls and 25 music festivals (more than any other European city) London topped the list. It was awarded a perfect score of 100.  RECOMMENDED: The best albums of 2025 so far.  We won’t argue with that. The city is packed full of outstanding arenas, stadiums, jazz bars and clubs that make it an essential stop for the planet’s biggest artists (Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, Oasis and Lady Gaga are all playing here this year) and an excellent stomping ground for up-and-comers.  Kicking off festival season, there’s Brick Lane Jazz Festival and Roundhouse Three Sixty (featuring Corinne Bailey Rae and Katy B) to look forward to in April and the likes of GALA, Field Day and Wide Awake will get Londoners dancing in May. There’ll be plenty more to follow.  In Time Out’s ranking of the world’s best cities, London editor Joe Mackertich said: ‘London’s nightlife scene has seen some serious investment in the last year or so, meaning now is ex