Amy Houghton

Every week, a frankly silly amount of brilliant new restaurants, cafés and street food joints arrive in London. Which makes whittling down a shortlist of the best newbies a serious challenge. But here it is. The 20 very best new restaurants in the capital, ranked in order of greatness and deliciousness. All of them have opened over the past 12 months and been visited by our hungry critics. So go forth and take inspo from this list, which is updated regularly. Check in often to find out what we really rate on the London restaurant scene. And look here for all the info about the best new openings in March 2026. London's best new restaurants at a glance: 🍝 Central: Osteria Vibrato, Soho 🍠 North: Ling Ling’s, Islington 🇹🇭 South: Kruk, Peckham 🍝 East: Tiella, Bethnal Green 🥗 West: Martino’s, Chelsea March 2026: We have a new Number 1! The newly-opened Tiella in Bethnal Green has scooped the top spot thanks to knockout regional Italian dishes from chef Dara Klein. Other fresh additions include Cafe Kowloon in London Fields, the slinky Martino's in Chelsea, Osteria Vibrato in Soho, Cambodian residency Barang at The Globe in Borough Market, perfect produce at Dockley Road Kitchen in Bermondsey, Korean fusion spot Calong in Stoke Newington, Hunanese heat at Fiery Flavors in Surrey Quays, cool diner energy at Dover Street Counter in Mayfair, Georgian classics at DakaDaka in Mayfair, and veggie-friendly Thai at Kruk in Peckham. Hungry yet? Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food

July is the month where London really lets its collective hair down and has some fun. It's just too hot to stay cooped up indoors so everyone descends on lidos en masse, or assembles in fun-seeking hordes at rooftop bars, beer gardens and alfresco restaurants. We can already taste the sweet, sweet golden hour Aperol Spritz.  And as ever, this year's July line-up of massive festivals and other prospects that are exciting enough tempt you away from yet another tinny in the park. Some massive music names are descending on central London for BST Hyde Park, ravers will be heading west for Junction 2, electronic music artists from around the world are playing Labyrinth by the Thames. Or, if you like your outdoor entertainment to be deeply weird and feline-inspired, spring for the long-awaited revival of Cats at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.  Other London music festivals are popping off throughout the month, and it’s also a chance to take in the city’s lavender and sunflower fields, which are going to be at their blooming loveliest. Here’s our guide to the best exhibitions, shows and things to do this July 2026 in London.  RECOMMENDED: The definitive London events calendar

In 2026, European travel is shifting fast. We’ve seen overcrowding, overheating and plenty of anti-tourism measures across the continent – and as a result, travellers are actively seeking out quieter, lesser-known destinations away from the tourist crowds. And if that sounds like you, you’re in luck – here at Time Out, underrated destinations are our bread and butter.  This list has been updated for 2026 by Time Out’s global network of local experts who have been to every single destination featured (often multiple times), highlighting destinations that are not only overlooked, but genuinely worth visiting right now. We’ve got alternative Scandinavian city breaks, remote islands only accessible by ferry, and destination dupes for some of Europe’s hottest beach holidays, from the Algarve to the Amalfi Coast.  ➡️ Discover the best city breaks in Europe for 2026 Why travel to underrated destinations in 2026? Sure, we love the classics for a reason. But if you’ve ever queued an hour for a pastry, spent your day’s budget on a coffee or had to book a museum three months in advance, you’ll know why more and more of us are searching for under-the-radar breaks: it’s the crowds. In fact, in some cities – the likes of Amsterdam, Venice, Barcelona – overtourism is so bad, they’ve been forced to clamp down on crowds with anti-tourism measures, from daily visitor limits to outright bans on new hotels. If you’re coming up against these, then we’d say that’s a pretty good reason to head some

We’ve made it through the most depressing month of the year, the endless wait for that post-Christmas payday is finally over, and festival season 2026 is on our minds. By the time summer rolls around, Londoners will be absolutley spoilt for choice. With something taking place almost every weekend throughout the warmer months, you can forget trekking across the country to live in a field for five days; simply hop on the tube and before you know it you’re listening to your favourite artists, tinny to hand, knowing that there’s a hot shower and a cosy bed waiting for you once the day is over.  The future of events in Brockwell Park was thrown up in the air in 2025, but you’ll be glad to know that most of the south London park’s usual lineup of events will return in 2026, with Cross The Tracks, Field Day and Mighty Hoopla all in the diary for late May. And the line-up announcements for next year’s events are already coming in thick fast, with huge acts like Tyler, The Creator, Lewis Capaldi, Lorde, Lily Allen, Blood Orange and Deftones all set to take to London stages come the summer. Have a scroll through our comprehensive guide – which we keep meticulously updated with all the latest line-up announcements – and see what takes your fancy. RECOMMENDED: ⛺ The best UK music festivals🌍 The best festivals in Europe

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 

The Irish really know how to celebrate, so when it comes to St Patrick’s Day in London, the city’s Celtic community has no problem showing us how it’s done. With an estimated 170,000 expats from the Emerald Isle living in the city, and many more Londoners with Irish heritage, the celebration of Ireland’s patron saint is always one big welcoming bash, involving plenty of dancing, hearty traditional dishes, a huge parade and as many pints of Guinness and drams of whiskey as you can handle. The Mayor of London’s annual St Patrick’s Day Festival celebration will take place on Sunday, March 15 – two days before the official holiday – and, as usual, thousands of revellers are expected to watch the parade wend its way from Hyde Park Corner to Trafalgar Square for a giant free party with Irish music, food and performances from 12noon to 6pm. If you don’t fancy braving the crowds of central London for the main event in the capital, there are still plenty of St Patrick’s Day parties and events to check out. We’ll be rounding up the best of them below as they get announced, so you’ve got plenty of time to get planning for a very green week. RECOMMENDED🍻 The best Irish pubs and bars in London☘️ Our ultimate guide to the St Patrick’s Day parade and festival🌱 The best London events in March

The Six Nations rugby tournament is almost wrapped up for another year, but not before one last weekend of action. For the final time in 2026, rugby fans will be taking over boozers, beer gardens and outdoor screens across London on Saturday to watch the three climactic fixtures. And it’s an especially exciting final round this year, with three teams battling it out at the top of the table.  France, Scotland and Ireland all have a shot at taking home the championship trophy, depending on the results of their fixtures, at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin and the Stade de France in Paris.   You could just watch on your telly at home, but if you’d prefer to catch every scrimmage, try and conversion in a lively atmosphere with a nice freshly-poured Guinness in hand, head to one of the rugby pubs, bars, beer halls, markets and social clubs listed here, where you’ll find free-flowing pints, special guest appearances and countless renditions of ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’. RECOMMENDED: More great things to do in London this weekend  Fifth Round Fixtures Here are the final three matches of the Six Nations 2026: Saturday 14 March 2:10pm kickoff – Ireland vs Scotland 4:40pm kickoff – Wales vs Italy 8.10pm kickoff – France vs England Best Spots to Watch Six Nations: At A Glance 🏉 Best for pre-match fun: Bat & Ball, Stratford 🍀 Best for Irish fans: London Irish Centre, Camden 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Best for Welsh fans: London Welsh Centre, Bloomsbury 🍻 Best for big groups: Flat Iron Square, Boroug

May truly is one of London’s finest months if you ask us. Not only is the city pleasantly warm and bursting with colourful spring blooms, but everyone is giddy with the possibilities of the coming summer. And most excitingly of all, there are not one, but two bank holidays on which to embark on inaugural rooftop bar excursion of the summer, rock out at one of the year’s first music festivals, lounge about in your favourite park, check out all those must-see exhibitions you’ve been meaning to catch or escape the city on a day trip or mini-break. And if that isn’t enough to keep you entertained, here’s our guide to the best events, parties, pop-ups and things to do in May 2026 in London. You’re in for one sweet, sweet month. London’s best things to do in May at a glance: 🪩 Best for party people: GALA 🌷 Best for botanists: RHS Chelsea Flower Show  🎶 Best for pop music stans: Mighty Hoopla  ✏️ Best for something new: Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration 🎭 Best for theatre-goers: 1536 at the Almeida

London has never exactly been known as a bargain destination. But the good news is that The Capital still has plenty of great places to stay without blowing your entire travel budget. Every hotel on this list has been picked by Time Out’s editors because it offers something special – whether that’s a brilliant location, standout design, or simply excellent prices. Book one of these and you’ll get the kind of buzz only a great deal can deliver. Then spend the money you’ve saved on the really important things. Like, erm… the pub. What do we mean by ‘budget’? In a city like London, ‘budget’ is always relative. Prices can vary hugely depending on the neighbourhood, time of year and even the day of the week, so finding a good deal is often about knowing where to look and booking smart. For this list, we’ve focused on places where rooms come in under £200 a night, with plenty dipping well below the £100 mark if you book ahead or travel off-peak. You’ll also find a few hostels offering dorm beds for as little as £12 per person, making them some of the cheapest ways to stay in the capital. 🛌 Our guide to the best Airbnbs in London What's the cheapest area to stay in London?  Honestly, it depends on what you're looking for! Budget hotels and hostels are scattered all over the city, so it often comes down to how far you’re willing to travel. Central areas like Shoreditch, King’s Cross and parts of the South Bank can still offer surprisingly good-value stays (which means you're in wal

London summer has officially kicked into gear. And that means that the Wimbledon Tennis Championships – aka the oldest, and arguably the very best, tennis tournament in the world – is back very, very soon.  This year the tournament is happening from Monday June 29 - Sunday July 12 2026. Thousands will be descending on SW19 to see the matches go down in real life but live screenings will be peppered all over London for thousands more who missed the ticket ballot or can’t be bothered to queue in the hopes of getting in day of.  With a jug of Pimms in one hand and a punnet of strawberries in the other, you’ll hardly know the difference. Even better – most watch parties won’t cost you a single penny. So, pack your picnic blanket, fill your flask and pull up a pew at a summery screening near you. Most haven't been announced for 2026 yet, but check back and more will be added closer to the time. RECOMMENDED: Our full guide to Wimbledon 2026.

Twice a year, fashion Christmas comes to London, bringing with it whole closets full of covetable new looks you’ll dream of wearing. London Fashion Week returns next week for another deep-dive into the trends and styles that will be dominating red carpets, shops and streets in autumn and winter 2026 (AW26).  Across five days, the city’s most stylish will be hanging out around the Strand and sitting front row to see fresh looks from the likes of Simone Rocha, Chopova Lowena, Harris Reed, Burberry and Fiorucci. Yes, the majority of shows are invite-only, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be in the know. Here’s all the information you need ahead of London Fashion Week AW26.  When is London Fashion Week 2026?  LFW takes place twice a year: in February and September. The next fashion week will be from Thursday February 19 to Monday February 23.  Where is London Fashion Week held?  London Fashion Week usually takes place at the British Fashion Council’s own show space at 180 The Strand. The closest tubes are Holborn and Temple. Several events will also be held at external locations across the city. How do I get tickets to London Fashion Week 2026?  We hate to be the ones to tell you but unfortunately, most of the LFW shows are invite-only, so you can’t buy tickets.  What designers should I be watching out for?  Although you may not be able to see the shows in real life, you will be able to watch them live on the London Fashion Week website. So, these are all the one’s worth tuning in

Tell someone you’re taking a city break to Belgium and you’re generally met with a painfully unenthusiatic ‘oh, that’s cool’. For one reason or another, that small nation bordered by holiday heavyweights like France and the Netherlands, has long been cursed with a reputation for being the most beige country on the continent. Travellers are slowly starting to see through that myth, though. Increasingly, people are booking trips to the likes of Brussels for its grand political prestige, Antwerp for its fashion crowd or Bruges for its historical cobbled streets. But what if I told you there’s another Belgian city that gives all three of those, as well as Europe’s more famous cities, a run for their money?  Thirty miles east of Bruges, Ghent is a small and endearing city that’s understatedly cool. It’s packed with stunning cycle routes and environmentally and socially conscious communities, littered with fantastic slow fashion stores and a wealth of organic shops. It’s also the veggie capital of Europe – every week its cafes and restaurants focus on serving plant-based fare as part of the ‘Veggie Thursdays’ initiative – and in 2024 it held the title of the European Youth Capital. Oh, and here’s an adorable fun fact: every time a baby is born in one of Ghent’s maternity wards, parents can press a button that causes the city’s streetlamps to flicker in celebration. Does it get more wholesome than that?  ➡️ READ MORE: The best city breaks in Europe for 2026, picked by Time Out edito

What is it?  Brockwell Park is a much-needed slab of green (84 acres) just south of Brixton. Locals from the surrounding areas flock here in summer to sun-worship (if they’re lucky), fly kites, play football, swim in the outside pool, garden in the community greenhouses and parade a stunning array of dogs. The vast space was once the private grounds of Brockwell Hall and was opened to the public in 1891 by the London County Council. The hall still stands today and is one of several grade II listed buildings dotted about the park, including the emerald green Tritton Tower Clock, which was gifted to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.  Why go?  It's big, diverse and interesting, with numerous areas to appeal to different tastes, from the calm, rolling meadows around Tulse Hill and walled ‘Old English’ flower garden to the BMX track and sloped football pitches by the Dulwich Road. The playground in Brockwell Park is a favourite, with its aerial slide, massive sandpit and sections for different age groups; nearby you’ll find duck ponds and a huge paddling pool. There’s also a lovely little minature railway open at the weekends May to October, weather permitting – it’s not particularly massive but it’s been just £1 for a return for years now. Don’t miss:  Regular events at the park include circuses and a busy schedule of summer concerts and festivals including Wide Awake, Mighty Hoopla, Field Day and Cross the Tracks. But one of the most beloved annual events is the Lam

After a year out, Dialled In is returning to the capital city for its fifth birthday celebrations. Once again, the all-dayer will bring established and emerging artists from all over diasporic and South Asian countries and cities to east London. Unlike past editions, this year’s event will take over multiple venues throughout Dalson, from Café OTO to The Divine to Rio Cinema. It’ll see former member of The xx, Baria, make her first return to the London festival circuit in fifteen years, a rare London live set from rising star Gayathri Krishnan and the London debut of Lifafa, frontman of Peter Cat Recording Co. That’s alongside appearances from the likes of Sarathy Korwar, Mya Mehm, Anish Kumar and Raf Reza. This year will also see the festival expand into the realms of food, film, dance and comedy. 

Afternoon tea is a classic Mother’s Day activity, so you can’t go wrong with this offering from Biscuiteers, available at both its Notting Hill and Belgravia cafés for a month from March 8. The spread will include Biscuiteers’ signature hand-iced biscuits, Tregothnan tea, plus the mini sandwiches (with fillings like cheese and fig, ham and truffle and smoked salmon and cream cheese), patisserie (think coconut and mango mousse cake and strawberry and champagne macarons) and freshly baked scones crucial to any good afternoon tea. If you’re willing to spend a little extra on mumsie, you can add a glass of bubbly or a DIY biscuit icing session. There’s also a complimentary (undisclosed) gift included for the woman of the hour.

Gather your brood and join Hackney’s ceilidh band Cut A Shine for its afternoon of family friendly St Patrick’s barn dancing. The bandmembers will teach you and the little’uns all of the crucial ceili moves and ensure that everyone is kept fueled with traditional Irish stew and champ (vegan option available). Things will round off at 3.30pm with a disco where the kids can show off all their newly-learned Celtic choreography. Oh, and there’s a fully stocked bar of Guinness and whiskey for the grown ups. 

Prepare to have your senses thrown into chaos. Anish Kapoor’s first major UK exhibition in the UK took place at the Southbank Centre’s Hayward Gallery in 1998. Nearly 30 years later, the internationally acclaimed sculptor’s work is coming back to the gallery for his largest UK show to date. The exhibition displays recent pieces by Kapoor made with futuristic light-absorbing nanotechnology, as well as works that defined the early part of his career.  There will be huge disorientating mirror sculptures, a colossal PVC installation, a foreboding mass of red and black wax drooping from the ceiling, and a striking collection of carnal paintings made using silicone, resin and pigment.  

Homely isn’t quite the word that comes to mind when you pull back the heavy velvet curtain separating Casa Felicia from the dozy Queen’s Park street outside. Chic, for sure. Elegant, certainly. A parade of two-cover tables are packed close together in the main whitewashed dining room, and over in a far corner, there’s a booth for larger groups which is painted entirely in an intense sultry red. But the deeper into the evening we go, the more we’re taken in by this place’s unexpected down-to-earth charm.   Fettuccine porcini and paccheri with mussels and squid are simple but impeccable Casa Felicia is helmed by chef Francesco Sarvonio, formerly of Manteca and currently of Elephant. The menu switches up daily, but always promises southern Italian ‘soul food’. A pleasing heap of puntarelle salad embellished with pear and hazelnuts, and a faultless seabass crudo speckled with crispy red pepper starts us off. We’re then presented with the most intriguing take on parmigiana I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t come in the traditional form of layered aubergine coins, but as the whole vegetable roasted, skinned and fried in a tempura batter, then cocooned in cheese fondue with a pool of marinara on the side. It’s fantastic – the batter lightly encases the vegetable like a chiffon blanket and the aubergine manages to be both firm and completely melt-in-the-mouth.   Don’t get carried away with the antipasti, as the bowls of pasta (handmade with just semolina and water, no egg) are truly generou

Adoh! (Sri-Lankan for ‘oi!’) is loud.  Sat on Maiden Lane in frenetic, tourist-packed Covent Garden, this Sri Lankan spot from Kolamba duo Eroshan and Aushi Meewella fits right in. While Kolamba and its sister restaurant on Liverpool Street are sleek, sophisticated haunts, this is a maximalist whirlwind. Chopped roti gets more heavenly with each chewy bite Adoh’s goal is to emulate the rapid, chaotic energy of Colombo and its street food culture. The decor is raucous – the tables a striking shade of red and the walls busy with storybook murals depicting hand-painted trucks of South Asia. As for service, it’s full speed ahead. You can very easily be in and out within an hour, and fully satisfied. In the throbbing heart of the theatreland that’s no bad thing.  The menu features a blend of authentic bits (isoo vadai, mutton rolls or roti and curry) and some milder hybrid dishes (fried chicken and curry leaf waffles are best suited to less adventurous members of your party). Shiny squares of prawn toast dolloped with tamarind sauce start us off, swiftly followed by a supple dosa spread with smoky masala, alongside a rather dry coconut roti with eye-wateringly hot lunu miris chilli paste.  The must-order main (which at £17 is the priciest item on the menu) is crab kothu, a late-night classic in Sri Lanka. The bronze mountain of chopped roti, egg and stir fried crab meat (mutton, chicken or jackfruit kothu are available too) isn’t particularly pretty, but drenched in curry sauce (p

One hundred years ago, a strange curtained box appeared on Broadway in New York City. If you went inside and slotted in 25 cents, you’d emerge with eight sepia tinged photos of yourself in a matter of minutes. It was the Photomaton – the world’s first fully automated photobooth. Fast forward to the 21st century and photobooths are in bars, train stations, cinemas, record shops and on streets all over the world. The Photographer’s Gallery is marking a century of the machines with Click!, an archival exhibition exploring their imperfections, their quirks and their most famous fans. Naturally, there’ll be a working photobooth for visitors to take their own snap.

In 1978, Zofia Rydet decided that was going to photograph the inside of every Polish household. Aged 67, she began knocking on doors and asking occupants if they’d be willing to partake in her project. She continued to knock on doors for the next three decades, collecting everyday stories and creating ‘one of the most important achievements in 20th century Polish photography’. More than 100 of Rydet’s prints will be on display at the Photographers’ Gallery alongside books and personal letters offering extra insight into her sociological mission.

The UK’s first major retrospective of acclaimed Ukrainian artist Boris Mikhailov is coming to the Photographers’ Gallery. A ‘kind of proto-punk’, Mikhailov has been capturing and commenting on life in Ukraine since the 1960s – from the everyday consequences of the collapse of the Soviet Union to the realities of people living on the edges of society – through photography, conceptual work, painting and performance art. Ukrainian Diary brings much of that work together to illustrate the tumultuous social and political changes that have shaken Eastern Europe over the past fifty years.

When a place rates itself as assuredly (in huge bold letters, no less) as Good Hotel does, it’s natural to feel a little sus. But it’s true: Good Hotel really does make you feel good. Service is cheery and laid-back without being overly casual, the food leaves nothing to complain about and – maybe it’s the luxurious silence of the area or perhaps the proximity to gently lapping water – I visited in 2024, and I don’t know if I’ve ever had a better night’s sleep in the city. Aside from all that, guests can walk out of Good Hotel feeling extra gratified by virtue of its ‘do good’ DNA. Why stay at Good Hotel? As you walk along Royal Victoria Docks, this huge black shipping container is impossible to miss. Originally built as a Danish prison, this floating hotel docked in London in 2016 after sailing across from Amsterdam. Its founder, Marten Dresden, had come up with the Good Hotel concept four years prior while travelling in Guatemala. Now, each night you spend there pays for a week of school for a child in South America, with profits also going towards hospitality training for long-term unemployed locals (lots of whom become Good Hotel employees).  The hotel also hosts regular community workshops and events that guests can attend. There are comedy nights, yoga classes, salsa classes, kids art clubs and, if you’re in the mood to be extra good, litter-picking around the local area. What are the rooms like at Good Hotel? Throughout the hotel, the interiors are slick, earthy-toned

One of the more recent additions to Wimbledon Village, Good Fortune Club is bright and buzzy with a sprawling menu of Cantonese dishes, the best known of which is its handmade dim sum. Stop by with a large, hungry posse to pack your table with bamboo steamers and sample har gau (shrimp-filled dumplings,) xiao long bao (pork soup dumplings), cuttlefish cake and more.

Wales could be getting it’s first new national park since 1957. On the face of it, a brand new officially designated and protected stretch of land might sound like a great thing. But not everyone is excited at the prospect.  Glyndŵr National Park (pronounced glin-door), named after the last Welsh-born Prince of Wales Owain Glyndŵr, would be Wales’ fourth national park. If approved, it would stretch from the northeast of the country to the centre and encompass the existing Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – an already protected landscape.  Between 2022 and 2025, Natural Resources Wales went through the official process of checking whether the proposed area fit the criteria for a national park. Then in January this year, the organisation’s board voted to back the proposals. The next step is for a public inquiry to take place, in which planning inspector scrutinises the arguments for and against the park, then makes a recommendation to ministers.    Photograph: Shutterstock   Local opinion over whether the area should become an official national park is split down the middle. Of 1,678 responses to a public consultation back in 2024, 53 percent were in favour, 14 percent offered at least conditional support, 31 percent were opposed and 3 percent were undecided.  Supporters of the idea argue that a national park designation would result in more funding to help better manage tourist pressures, grants for farmers to manage the land sustainably, ra

England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are all packed with beauty. We’ve got gorgeous mirror-like lakes, undulating hills, foreboding mountains, craggy cliffs and mesmerising coastline. The UK’s landscape is so stunning, it has inspired some of most beautiful writing in the English language, from the Yorkshire Moors in Wuthering Heights to the Wye Valley in Wordsworth’s Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey. So, of course, it had to feature on Time Out’s list of the most beautiful places in the world.  On our roundup of 51 spectacular spots, four parts of the UK made the cut:  Ullswater Photograph: Richard Whitcombe / Shutterstock The highest-ranked UK area in the list was Ullswater in the Lake District, which landed at number six. Curving seven and a half miles, it’s the second largest lake in the Lakes and is surrounded by majestic mountain vistas, including Hellvellyn to the west and Arthur’s Pike to the east. You can read more about why we love it here.  Bannau Brycheiniog Photograph: Amy Houghton for Time Out Next up was Bannau Brycheiniog in 13th place. The Welsh national park’s spectacular landscape stretches 520 lush square miles from mid to south Wales. Soak up the best views from the peaks of Pen Y Fan, Corn Du and Craig Gwaun Taf or explore the cluster of fairytale falls in Waterfall Country, a stunning area in the southwest of the park with over a dozen publicly accessible waterfalls. Explore the best of the Beacons with our curated guide. Ne

With its rugged volcanic landscapes and gleaming turquoise waters, the Portugese island of Madeira is often thought of as the ‘Hawaii of Europe’ (albeit with much more rain). And over the past few years, more and more Brits have cottoned on to its beauty.  Reflecting the island’s growing popularity (at the start of the year, TripAdvisor revealed that the island was the world’s top trending travel destination) this summer it’ll going to be even easier for Brits to visit Madeira. There’ll be an 11 percent increase in flights from London to the island, with easyJet introducing twice weekly services from Luton and Jet2 adding an extra departure on Mondays. Those flights typically take close to four hours and in the summer, start from around £42.  There’ll also be an extra flight per week from Bristol airport and the return of weekly Jet2 flights from Bournemouth to the island’s capital Funchal for the summer season. Across the whole of the UK, those additional services mean that there’ll be a total of 55 flights to Madeira per week for travellers to choose from at the height of the season. That includes routes from Belfast, Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle.  Photograph: zedspider / Shutterstock The archipelago is particularly popular for its spectacular hiking trails with panoramic views over the North Atlantic Ocean. In the summer temperatures tend to be no more than 25C – perfect for when you’re being active al

London’s collection of free-to-visit galleries and museums is one of its greatest assets. People from any and every walk of life can access ancient treasures like the Rosetta Stone and Pantheon Marbles at the British Museum, world renowned masterpieces like Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ at the National Gallery, or Raphael’s Cartoons at the V&A. But now, they could be at risk of turning into paid attractions.  In an effort to boost arts funding, UK ministers are reportedly considering charging international visitors for access to permanent collections at national museums. Brits would still be able to enter for free.  The capital’s national museums and galleries have been free for all visitors since 2001 and their accessibility has been cited as a ‘one of the top motivators for international tourism to this country’. Around 43 percent of those who visit Britain’s major museums and galleries come from overseas.  Photograph: Old Town Tourist / Shutterstock.com The idea to charge international visitors was laid out by politician Margaret Hodge in December in her Arts England independent review. In response to the recommendations, the government said: ‘We will work with the museum sector to explore the potential opportunities that charging international visitors at national museums could bring to support access to arts everywhere, and the timeframes for this. ‘The government believes charging international visitors at national museums could provide significant benefits. It could underp

With pride of place on the promenade, Worthing Lido is one of the town’s standout landmarks. The art deco-style structure began life as a performance space back in 1897 and a seawater pool opened to the public in 1957. That pool closed to humans and it was temporarily home to a group of dolphins while they waited for Brighton Sea Life Centre to be renovated. Then, in 1989, it was covered over and the site around it was turned into an entertainment centre. It’s continued operating with a cafe and arcade in the decades since, but has become increasingly dilapidated and is now at risk of crumbling into the sea But locals are on a mission to save the Grade II-listed lido and restore it back to its former glory. The council says that the site is in need of significant investment in order to ensure its long-term safety and has been exploring options for strengthening its substructure since the end of 2024.  Last year, more than 1,500 people signed a petition called for the urgent repair and renovation of the attraction. The petition read: ‘Our beloved lido, once a symbol of local heritage, now stands in disrepair, marked by graffiti and perilously close to falling into the sea. The Worthing Lido is more than a structure, it's an embodiment of Worthing's rich cultural history and cherished memories, enjoyed in the past by locals and visitors.’ Of course, one of the major things that stands in the way is money. But in some uplifting news for the project, it has been given its first b

A month ago, the Bookseller revealed the 76 British and Irish bookstores nominated for Independent Bookshop of the Year. Ahead of the overall winner being crowned in May, the top shops for each of the nine regions has been announced. More than just places to pick up your next read, the finalists are all considered pillars of the community and have demonstrated resilience and determination against the ongoing struggles faced by British high streets.  There are six winners in England. For London, Backstory in Balham was named the best while FOLDE in Dorset picked up first prize for southwest England and P&G Wells in Winchester was the victor in the southeast. Up north, Truman Books in Farsley (near Leeds) won for it’s ‘energetic team’ and weekly events; to the east, Norwich’s The Book Hive claimed victory and in the Midlands, The Rabbit Hole in the small town of Brigg rose to the top.  Photograph: Backstory Scotland’s winner, Book Lovers Bookshop in Edinburgh, was the UK’s very first bricks-and-mortar romance store when it opened in 2024. Enemies to lovers, friends to lover, workplace fling, fake relationship – whatever romance trope you want, Book Lovers will have it. It’s crowdfunded and hosts regular community events that have previously sold out in minutes. One visiting author told the Bookseller that the shop has created a space that ‘feels inclusive, welcoming and joyful’.  Over in Wales, Griffin Books in the seaside town of Penarth has claimed the top spot for the four

The weekend has crept up on us once again, gifting (most of) us with 48 glorious hours to do whatever the hell we want with. No 6am alarm, no Slack messages, no two-hour meetings. Bliss. The only thing that may limit what you do with the next few days is how much money you’re willing to spend.  Being on a budget tends to rule out things like fancy dinners, star-studded theatre shows and blockbuster art exhibitions. But it doesn’t rule out a good time altogether. Of the many, many things London has going for it, one of them is that there are always fantastic free events you can get involved in.  This weekend, there’s a free protest rave bringing people together in Trafalgar Square, a free night blending videogames and performance at the V&A, free luxury pamper sessions at Westfield and more. Read on for the best things to do this weekend that won’t make a dent in your wallet.  The best free things on in London this weekend, March 27-29 2026 1. Reset your nervous system at the Westfield’s wellness sensorium Westfield White City might not be the first place you’d think of going when you need to relax your nervous system. But for the next two weekends, the mall has a luxury wellness experience offering visitors some calm in the middle of all the shopping chaos. You’ll find ‘Feel the Frequency’ in Westfield’s home of luxury fashion, The Village. There’ll be pilates sessions, facial masterclasses, sound bath workshops, meditations and custom-crafted mocktails, all for free! The Vi

Ever since lockdown in 2020, the number of Londoners taking the city’s buses has been dropping. Part of that has been put down to the fact that the buses have been getting slower, now running at an average of 9.17mph – much of the time, you’re better off walking.  In response to the falling number of passengers, TfL has been making adjustments to its bus network. At the start of the year, it unveiled proposals to either axe or reduce a bunch of London’s busiest bus routes. And over the next two weeks, it’ll implement changes to around a dozen routes across the city, designed to ‘better reflect current traffic levels’.  From Saturday March 28 the number 13 between North Finchley and Victoria will be reduced to one bus every 10 minutes while the 32 between Kilburn and Edgware will temporarily be cut to one every 11 minutes.  There will be revisions to the timetables of routes 60 (between Old Coulsdon and Streatham Station), 278 (Ruislip Station to Heathrow Central) and 372 (Hornchurch Town Centre and Lakeside Bus Station). The 320 (Biggin Hill Valley and Catford Bridge Station) is being temporarily reduced to run once every 14 minutes during weekday peak times.  Photograph: Ko Aun Lee / Shutterstock.com   People who normally rely on the 493 between Richmond Bus Station and St George’s Hospital in Tooting, the E6, E7 or E10 will notice that services have been reduced to just four an hour. The D3 between Leamouth and Bonner Road in Bethnal Green will only run every 17 minutes d

The Wainwright Coast to Coast Walk is often thought of as the ‘holy grail’ of British hikes. It was first mapped out by hiking legend Alfred Wainwright in 1973. According to him, it traverses the ‘the grandest territory in the north of England’.  Beginning at St Bees in Cumberland and ending at Robin Hood’s Bay in the North York Moors National Park, the route stretches a more than 190 miles, passing by towering fells, heather moorlands and medieval castles, and crossing three different national parks (the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the Moors). People have been taking on the multi-day route for more than 50 years now, but it will only become an officially designated National Trail this week.  For the past three years, the path has been undergoing a major £5.8 million makeover, to make it more accessible and easier to navigate. Before the upgrade, there were issues around the trail’s signposting, maintenance and there were sections where public access had never actually been formally agreed. Now, new paths and bridges have been laid, there are fresh waymarkers with distinctive acorn symbols, trail officers have been appointed and the legal issues around land access have been resolved. All that’s left is for the trail to open as an official, government-designated National Trail. Thursday March 26 is the big day.  Photograph: Dave Handson / Shutterstock.com As a National Trail, the path will benefit from greater protection and an annual grant from Natural England. I

Your local Dobbies Garden Centre may be getting a new look in the next month or so. The UK’s largest garden centre chain is launching a wave of revamped food halls as it separates from its grocery partner, Waitrose.  Dobbies York is the first store to unveil the business’s new cottage kitchen style food hall. In total, 48 of the UK’s 53 Dobbies Garden Centres are getting the new food shops. The rest are being rolled out over the coming weeks.  Customers will find a selection of more than 2,000 items on the food hall’s shelves, from sweet treats to posh crisps to high-end frozen produce like ready meals from Cook and ice cream from Judes, plus a range of alcohol and premium soft drinks.  The stores are also getting ‘enhanced’ in-house bakeries serving freshly-baked scones, pastries and traybakes are complemented alongside offerings from suppliers like Bothams of Whitby and Patteson’s macaroons.  Dobbies York general manager Darren Dixon said: ‘The food hall is one of the most popular areas in the store and an important part of our garden centre experience. ‘We’ve been working hard on the new format that’s inspired by a cottage kitchen garden and brings together essentials, treats and seasonal variety through a range of both popular and new brands. We’re excited to welcome customers in to see the new ranges and try them for themselves.’ Photograph: richardjohnson / Shutterstock.com The other Dobbies Garden Centres getting new and improved food halls include Aberdeen, Edinburg

If you ever get a craving for a quality cut of beef, but are unwilling to pay the extortionate prices, just head for your nearest Flat Iron. Since it launched as a modest pop-up above a Shoreditch pub in 2012, Flat Iron has grown into a national chain, now with branches in London, Manchester, Leeds, Cambridge, Brighton and Bristol. Next year, it’ll make its debut in Scotland. A new Flat Iron steakhouse will open in a heritage four-storey Renaissance building on Glasgow’s West George Street in 2027, a short walk from Queen Street Station.  The new joint will span two floors with room for 120 diners. Its menu will be very familiar to anyone that’s visited a Flat Iron before – there’ll be ribeye, wagyu and a cheese burger alongside signature Flat Iron sides like the bone marrow garlic mash, beef dripping chops, creamed spinach and truffle macaroni cheese. The all-important sauces to go with your slab of steak include bearnaise, peppercorn, smoked chilli mayo and wild mushroom.  As for drinks, expect to see Flat Iron’s own Malbec – blended from grapes grown in France’s Limoux region – on the wine list, alongside a selection of draught beers and cocktails. We assume that guests at the new Glasgow branch will also get the complimentary cup of beefy popcorn to kick off their meal and Tahitian vanilla soft-serve ice cream to finish.  The chain’s ‘head of beef’, Fred Smith, said: ‘We’ve been serving beef from Scotland since the early days of Flat Iron. Opening a restaurant here is a p

Nine places across the UK are officially in the running to take the baton from Bradford and be crowned the UK’s next City of Culture for 2029.   More than just a name, the winning City of Culture gets a £10 million boost from the government to go towards a year-long cultural programme that’ll generate jobs and attract thousands of visitors. Running every four years, since the scheme started in 2013 the title has been held by Derry, Hull, Coventry and Bradford In order to be considered for the role, applicants had to answer questions around their vision for the future of their hometown, the social and economic impacts of getting the title and how confident they are that they’ll deliver. Each place will now receive a £60,000 grant to help them develop more detailed bids that will be submitted in the summer. After that, the longlist will be whittled down to four in September and the winner will be announced in the winter. Here’s a rundown of every area in the race to become the UK’s City of Culture 2029.  The 9 places bidding to become UK City of Culture 2026 Blackpool Yes, it’s technically a town and not a city, but Blackpool is big enough and gets enough visitors each year to qualify for City of Culture. In 2029, it’ll celebrate the 150th anniversary of its beloved Blackpool Illuminations and 135 years since the opening of The Blackpool Tower (an icon in the world of ballroom dancing) and the Blackpool Grand Theatre. Beyond the big birthdays, Blackpool’s cultural offering incl