Amy Houghton

The UK isn’t a big place, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of breathtaking destinations to uncover. Whether you’re a hiker, a biker, or a lover of wild swimming, this country’s rural areas are jam-packed with stunning landscapes and various terrains, many of which are tucked away in our glorious national parks.  But with so many to explore, from the lochs of Scotland to the coasts of Wales, it can be tricky to know where to start. Fear not, weary hiker, as we’ve handpicked the very best spots across the UK for soaking up those hills, valleys and views. So, read on for the most beautiful national parks the country has to offer. RECOMMENDED:🚞 The most breathtaking hikes in the UK🌤️ The best places to visit in the UK🏄 The best extreme outdoor activity breaks in the UK🏝️ The most beautiful islands in the UK🌲 The best treehouse Airbnbs in the UK

It’s hard not to fall in love with Wales. This nation may be small but best believe it is crammed with irresistible Celtic charm, spectacular wilderness and vibrant culture. Even after growing up in Bannau Brycheiniog and spending family holidays up north and along the coast, I still cannot get enough. It’s the perfect place to rejuvenate, to give your mind a rest and to bathe in the warm hospitality of Welsh people. It’s also a hugely overlooked arts and music hub. From Michelin-star establishments, to gorgeous hikes, an official book town and several critically acclaimed festivals, whatever kind of getaway you're after, this is the very best of Cymru.  RECOMMENDED: 📍 The best places to go in Wales 🍴 The best things to do in North Wales 👀 The best things to do in Cardiff🌤️ The best things to do in the UK This article was recently updated by Amy Houghton, a writer from Bannau Brycheiniog, Wales. 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, 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.

The UK’s rental market has people chasing desperate measures, from serial pet sitting to leaving the country altogether. But in recent years, one means of saving on rental costs has taken off more than any other: subletting. Social media call-outs for subletters have become prolific to the point of meme-ification. Ads verge on the edge of ridiculous — rent a living room for a couple months from these two cats, stay in my windowless box in Camden for two weeks while I jaunt off to Spain — but nonetheless, sublets have become an entrenched part of the London renting experience, particularly for those putting up with the worst of the London’s housing crisis.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by @real_housewives_of_clapton In a general sense, subletting means renting out a property to that you are already renting from someone else. But in recent years, it’s most often used to refer to specifically letting out rooms: usually when tenants who are renting a place long-term leave for a short period of time and (often unofficially) get someone into their empty room, helping to offset cost of living expenses and ensure they’re not sinking money on an empty pad. If you’re going away for a longer period, it’s a means of holding onto a good place and of avoiding the gruelling search for a new one when you arrive back. For those who have to move to London and face that increasingly soul-destroying process of finding an afford

You might never want to leave Edinburgh, and we get it. The Scottish capital is loved the world over for its culture, restaurants and Fringe Festival (to name a few). But if you limit your time in Scotland to just Edinburgh, trust us, you’re missing out.  Scotland is full of gems, but the best part is a whole lot of them can be reached by train or car in just one day – with enough time left to get back in time for dinner. From hilly hikes to wide-open beaches and from pretty towns to full-blown city breaks, these day trips from Edinburgh are not to be missed. Here are our favourites.  RECOMMENDED:🌤️ The best things to do in Edinburgh 🎨 The best art galleries in Edinburgh🏰 The best attractions in Edinburgh🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Edinburgh This guide was updated by Edinburgh-based Arusa Quereshi, and Time Out editors. 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, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Greece is one of our favourite countries on the planet (and one of the world’s most visited), but where do you begin exploring it? The beauty of this sprawling country is that from its mainland to its many islands, there’s enough to visit again and again. And every single place on this list is worth visiting at least once, guaranteed.  Along with our Greece expert Demetrios Ioannou, who grew up in Athens but has travelled all over Greece, our editors have shared tips from their own travels. That means we’re bringing you a list of the absolute best spots in the country right now. And one newcomer to our list is the latest destination dupe, Paros, which is set to be the ‘new Santorini’ in 2025 (just without the crowds). For this and so much more, here are our top destinations in Greece.  ☀️ Autumn 2024: Parts of Greece were seriously hot this summer – Athens’s Acropolis was even forced to close during a 43C heatwave. So we think autumn is the best time to visit, as temperatures settle at a pleasantly warm 28C in September and 23C in October.  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, see our affiliate guidelines. 

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. 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 Vanilla Ice. 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 pop songs of all time  

At Time Out, we’re big fans of all things Manchester – the city has got pretty much everything you could ask for, after all. Excellent restaurants, cool museums and plenty of football mania are what the city is known for, but Manchester is also a renowned destination for going out out.  And whether you’re after somewhere for a chill drink with friends or a venue to kick-off a proper night out (where you might even bump into some celebs), Manny has got you covered. There are New York-style speakeasies, former skateboard shops and dazzling skyrise locations on this list, so get ready to shake things up and check out our favourite bars in Manchester right now. RECOMMENDED:🍹The best bars in Manchester🍽️The best restaurants in Manchester🖼️The best attractions in Manchester 🎭The best things to do in Manchester This guide was written by Rob Martin, a writer based in Manchester. 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.

With all its cobbled alleyways, grand cathedral and romantic bridges, Durham knows how to impress just on its quaint aesthetics alone. But behind the pretty facades of old-fashioned buildings is a smorgasbord of kitchens serving up enticing, flavour-packed, lip-smacking food.  Whether you’re looking for a fancy spot overlooking the River Wear, pub classics with contemporary twists, decent, hearty, dirty burgers or a snack in a literal UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s all crammed into this tiny little town. So, here’s our pick of all the very best places to eat in Durham. RECOMMENDED:🍃The best things to do in Durham🎭The best things to do in Newcastle🍝The best restaurants in the UK 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.

Need a place to stay in London? We’re here to make it easy for you. Even now, a wealth of new hotels are opening – which we reckon is a testament to the fact that London remains one of the most desirable places to visit in the world. Many of the hotels listed below are incredible enough to have made it straight into the Time Out top 20, but our hand-picked list of the best hotels covers locations right across the capital, and every category from blowout luxury (including having your own butler, might we add) to budget basic and brilliant.We’ve listed everything from five-star hotels in Mayfair to incredibly affordable hotels in some of London’s very best neighbourhoods. Plus you’ll be able to check out one or two of the capital's many Michelin-starred restaurants because yep, loads of them call London hotels their home. But if spending a small fortune on food isn’t your bag? There’s also an ever-increasing number of good-value food options for budgeteers, too. Throw great design and architecture into the mix, plus superb bars, world-class hospitality and the opportunity to have a home-from-home in the best city in the world and, well, you’re laughing. Basically, you’re totally spoilt for choice. So, read on, decide where to stay in London, and ready yourself for a hotel visit like no other. Enjoy! Looking for even more options? Check out London’s best Airbnbs. Keen on a steamy night in? Check out London's best hotels for sex. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in eve

Nottingham is somewhat overlooked when it comes to the go-tos for days out in the UK, but more fool those who pass on this East Midlands marvel. This is the city that inspired Neverland and gave us Robin Hood, afterall, but its excellence doesn’t stop there – it’s got a bounty of outstanding places to eat, too.  All food groups are taken very seriously in Nottingham, and the chefs here take enormous pride in showcasing locally sourced ingredients. Prepare your tastebuds for everything from filthy burgers and sexy (yes, sexy) pasta to Michelin-star magic and huge portions of lovingly crafted desserts. Grab your knife and fork – it’s time to tuck in. RECOMMENDED:🎭The best things to do in Nottingham🍃The best things to do in the UK🌤️The best road trips in the UK🍝The best restaurants in the UK 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.

While there are brilliant speciality coffee shops scattered across the UK’s towns and cities, Bristol’s caffeine scene is hard to beat. From bullet-strong espressos to increasingly complex cold brews, the city’s cafés serve up coffee in all its most delicious forms and plenty source their beans from the huge host of expert Bristolian roasteries.  And it’s not all about the oat flat whites and macchiatos. The best coffee shops should offer up the food and vibes to match, and Bristol certainly does not disappoint. The best cafés here serve up heavenly freshly-baked goods and proper brunches to nourish you before a day of sightseeing. So, here are the very best coffee shops and cafés in Bristol. RECOMMENDED:🥐The best breakfast and brunch places in Bristol🍖The best restaurants in Bristol🍹The best bars in Bristol🎨The best things to do in Bristol 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 are some hotels designed for ultimate laziness, where you can unapologetically embrace the art of doing nothing. Sometimes, that’s all that’s needed. But with gorgeous cragged surroundings and Ullswater Lake on the doorstep, it would, quite frankly, be a waste to come to Another Place and spend your time indoors and immobile. That’s where this hotel excels — it leaves you no excuse not to get out into the open.  Though there’s still a level of understated luxury, it’s fair to say that muddy boots and knotty windswept hair are fully encouraged here. In the hotel lobby you’ll find a blackboard decorated with a handwritten weather forecast and the nearest hiking routes, plus a collection of wellies available to borrow. At the Sheep Shed lakeside cabin, there are wetsuits free to use whenever you fancy a wild dip (from the hotel’s private jetty), kayaks and paddle boards available to hire and a schedule of expert-led water activities (we explored the lake via paddle board, led by a cheery and encouraging local instructor). In spite of this emphasis on the outdoors, Another Place hasn’t skimped on indoor comfort. There are 40 rooms in the main Georgian house and adjacent contemporary wing, as well as six shepherd huts, which are a stone's throw from the central building, offering an extra level of privacy and a more glamping-esque experience. Ours consisted of a double bed, a copper bath, a compact living room, a stargazing roof and a little patch of land complete with fairy

Resting on the edge of Akamas National Park, Cap St Georges is one of the largest resorts on the whole of Paphos. Opulence resides here in droves, from the marble lobby and Michelin-star residencies to the glimmering spa and exclusive nightclub. Gazing over the Mediterranean and under the rays of the Cypriot sun, every part of this luxury retreat literally sparkles.  Cap St Georges is an easy place to fully indulge in the joy of doing nothing – lazing on a poolside sunbed or sprawled across the beach cabanas – or to dive into an array of activities that get you closer to the Cypriot landscape and culture. Among the experiences on offer are sunset horse rides (from the hotel’s own ranch), private fishing trips, olive oil making (at the hotel’s own vineyard) and wine tasting. As you may have gathered, this place does nothing by halves.  I stayed in one of the Residence Rooms. It was elegant and airy, decked out with bright neutrals, white oak, a generous king-sized bed and a large round bathroom window with an optional frosted setting for privacy. But the jewel in this room’s crown was the large terrace complete with sunbeds and your very own private infinity pool. It may not have had the same panoramic sea views you get with other rooms, but it’s a worthy sacrifice (a view of the horizon and the shore is only a short walk through the resort). When it comes to food, once again, guests are spoiled for choice. Cap St Georges has four permanent restaurants: Kohili for traditional

From the moment you turn down its rhododendron-framed driveway, The Tawny is nothing but bliss. This ‘deconstructed hotel’ next to the Peak District is essentially a collection of 55 huts, boathouses and treehouses dotted around a beautiful 70-acre estate that feels like one big secret garden. Built on an old quarry site rewilded by a Mr William Podmore (who fittingly sounds straight out of a Beatrix Potter tale), the grounds of The Tawny take around an hour to explore fully and are decorated with quirky follies, five man-made lakes, pristine lawns and woodland that has been allowed to thrive, untamed. The only noisy neighbours you need worry about are the chorus of resident songbirds and the happy chatter of geese.   We were set up in a Retreat cabin, which sits level with the treetops and — despite its wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling glass window looking over the canopy — offers luxurious amounts of privacy. The room is furnished with tasteful green and gold decor and some Scandi touches. It includes a dressing room, a sunken bath gazing up through a skylight, and decking complete with a spa-bath (these come with every room) and an outdoor shower hidden around the corner.  From there, you can stroll 10 minutes to the hotel’s heated outdoor pool which, surrounded by stone arches, towering trees and a spectacular view over the valley, feels lifted out of a Mediterranean villa. Behind that sits The Plumicorn, the hotel’s glass-fronted restaurant. Here, you can indulge in brilli

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. Besides the cheery, first-rate service and a night of impeccable sleep, you walk out feeling extra uplifted by virtue of its ‘do good’ DNA. Originally built as a Danish prison (be prepared for door alarms that serve as a small reminder), the 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.   Rooms come in varying sizes but each one gets views over the calm Royal Victoria Dock. The interiors are soft, earthy and paired back — think low-hanging lights, origami-style lamp shades and charging ports hidden inside bed frames. Five hangers dangle on the wall in lieu of an actual wardrobe, favouring the lighter packers among us. There’s little in the way of colour besides two teeny hand-crafted worry dolls perched on your pillow (a nod to the hotel’s Guatemalan links) and a gorgeous red sunrise reflecting on the water the next morning.   It’s absolutely worth staying on site for dinner. The kitchen offers a delicious tapas menu made up of locally sourced produce (shoutout to the caramelly,

The Silver Birch was unlucky enough to launch in 2020, right before you-know-what. Four years later, and it still feels like a newly-launched spot, relatively unknown beyond Chiswick. But there are sure signs that that’s about to change.   Led by young chef Nathan Cornwell, the restaurant is vying for Chiswick’s second Michelin star (the first being La Trompette), following his celebrated stints at Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham and The Barn at Moor Hall in Lancashire. The interior is a neat canvas of neutral, wooden tones, with exposed brick, hefty aircon ducts, and delicate placements of dried flowers. It’s unfussy, soft and minimalist, giving plenty of space for the spectacular, playful dishes which came our way.  Beautifully soft, mildly sweet Devonshire crab, was hidden under a layer of foam and piquant discs of pickled Granny Smith First up: an adorable array of Alice in Wonderland-style amuse bouche, which featured a miniature version of its Devon smoked eel with pink fir potatoes and pickled leek and rich, velvety parmesan sablés with blue cheese mousse. Then, layered curls of delightfully bright green lovage butter embellished with purple petals to go with some Guinness sourdough – a warm, comforting slab of stodge that only comes from home-cooked bread.  My starter was the star of the evening, so magnificent in fact, that I forgot it was, technically, only the first course. Beautifully soft, mildly sweet Devonshire crab, was hidden under a layer of foam and pi

Walking up the red carpet and through the doors of Kettering Hotel and Spa into the traditional country house-style foyer, you’ll be embraced by an immediate wave of zen. Unassumingly tucked within an industrial estate (that doesn’t exactly scream luxurious getaway, I might add), the feeling comes as a pleasant surprise. Everyone’s shoulders here hang a little lower and their voices carry a little softer. One thing is clear within minutes of entering: you’re going to be well looked after here.  With a 13-metre-long pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and four treatment rooms, the sensory overload of the city quickly evaporates. The spa corner of the hotel is set beneath a bright ceiling with blonde wood beams and a soundtrack of ambient music playing is playing in the background. Around the pool are alcoves fitted with cushioned loungers where you can easily stretch out with a book for hours on end. If you fancy a hot choc, herbal tea, a glass of fizz or even a pint while you bathe, just ask and you shall receive. There’s also a small adjoining gym and class studio, if you’re that way inclined. As the facilities went, they were pretty bog-standard. But your biggest struggle here will be choosing what spa experience to indulge in. There are 17 different rituals, scrubs, peels and massages on offer, as well as ‘finishing touches’ in the form of nail and wax treatments. I opted for the Temple Spa Glorious Mud treatment and spent 50 blissful minutes being exfoliated, moisturised an

Somehow, every Brit has the image of BBC Broadcasting House’s front entrance etched into their brain. The Beeb’s HQ is a landmark of British TV and hosts all sorts of influential and powerful individuals. But in recent years it has also been at the centre of several protests.  Now the BBC has submitted a bid to Westminster Council to close its receptions and Media Café to the public. In its application it cites security concerns and says that its headquarters ‘has been a focus for protest and criminal damage most recently in 2022 and 2023’.  Broadcasting House first became accessible to the public in 2003 when it was given planning permission on the condition that the general population had access to specified areas. Entry was limited again in 2017 over terror threats and the BBC has submitted now submitted a request to keep it that way.   There have been 119 protests outside of the building over the last five years. The BBC worries that reopening parts of its interior to anyone could make it more vulnerable to security risks.   It said: ‘Whilst protest is not terrorism, the potential impact that disruptive protest has on the BBC ability to broadcast must be taken into consideration. ‘Whilst Broadcasting House has already been subject to a number of targeted protests, these have been largely contained to the exterior of the building or the immediate reception area and as such have had limited/no impact on the ability to broadcast.’ A BBC spokesperson added: ‘We wouldn’t comme

It may not officially be winter yet (technically the season starts on December 21), but it certainly feels like it in London. And, naturally, as temperatures drop into single digits and we dig out our gloves and scarves, there’s talk of whether we will see snow anytime soon.  And this week we’ve already been caught off-guard. On Tuesday (November 19) Londoners woke up to proper snowfall – while the white stuff didn’t last long, we caught lots of pictures and videos of it. Will it snow again this week in London? So, what about the rest of the week? Well, it’s certainly going to stay chilly until at least Friday (November 22). The city could see lows of -1C. However, one forecaster (Netweather) which previously said we may get snow on Thursday November 21 has now updated its predictions to say that we now won’t get snowfall, with a flat zero percent chance.  As for other forecasters: the Met Office, Accuweather and the Weather Channel also all currently reckon it won’t snow again this week.  RECOMMENDED: The UK areas expected to be hit by snow this week. What can I expect?   Instead of snow, all four above forecasters reasonably agree on a trend which will see London weather stay cold until the weekend, then we’ll likely see warmer but rainier weather on Saturday and Sunday. The rain should clear by Monday. If you’re after a proper white blanket of the stuff, you’d be best off heading to one of Britain’s 10 snowiest places.  Are trains going to be affected by snow? There are

Umming and ahhing over whether you should take a quick winter vacay? Take this as your sign — easyJet has just launched a bunch of new flights to help even more Midlanders escape their dreary nine-to-five at an affordable price. Go on, treat yourself.  Soon holidaymakers will be able to fly from Birmingham International Airport to Hurghada, Marrakesh, Reykjavik, Prague and Krakow with easyJet.  Weekly flights to the Egyptian city of Hurghada launched on November 13, with one-way fares starting from £119. There are also twice-weekly routes to Marrakech in Morocco starting at the dirt-cheap price of £20.  If you want to stay a little closer to home, the new twice-weekly flights to Prague start at £16 one-way, journeys to Krakow begin at £20 and if you want to get to Reykjavik with easyJet, it’ll cost you as low as £26 one-way.  Ali Gayward, easyJet’s UK country manager, said: ‘It’s fantastic to launch another five new services from Birmingham Airport, providing our customers across the Midlands with even more choice for a winter sun holiday or city break.’ The brand new journeys are all part of easyJet’s big expansion at Birmingham International Airport. Earlier in the year it also  introduced new links from the West Midlands to Alicante, Barcelona, Fuerteventura, Malaga and Tenerife. And, while low-cost airlines don’t always get the best rep, easyJet was actually recently named one of the best budget carriers in Europe.  Those aren’t the only flights taking off for the first t

The World Cheese Awards is a prestigious annual occasion. Normally, goudas, gorgonzolas, gruyères and more from over 40 different countries compete for the grand title of best cheese in the world. But this year, cheesemakers from the UK were robbed of that opportunity.  On their way to this year’s awards in Viseu, Portugal, it’s thought that up to 257 cheeses from 67 British producers didn’t get past customs. It’s not unusual for some cheeses not to make it to the awards, but the Guild of Fine Food (which organises the awards) has a special licence to import cheeses, and organisers say British cheesemakers complied with all the conditions.  John Farrand, the director of Guild Find Food: ‘The reasons are unclear to me, even on Friday we were still fighting to get some clarity and clear instruction on what wasn’t right, but we had no success. He added that Britain leaving the EU is likely a factor: ‘Before Brexit, this wouldn’t have been a thing. That’s a fact.’ James Grant, a judge and co-founder of the Real Cheese Project, told the Observer that the incident is ‘devastating’.  He said: ‘The UK’s going through an incredible change as far as cheese is going. There’s an incredible amount of hard work from these cheesemakers who are putting handmade artisan cheese back on the map. It’s really, really sad.’ One producer, Sam Wilkin, added: ‘What it really shows is that it’s very hard to export cheese post Brexit. The Guild will have done everything in their power to make it happen

These days, buying a house in Britain is not an easy process. And it certainly isn’t cheap. The average cost of a house in the UK right now is £267,500. According to property portal, Zoopla, that’s almost four times average household incomes. But there are still pockets of the country where a house isn’t going to cost you an arm and a leg.  Researchers at Zoopla set out to discover the most affordable area in the UK and crunched data around house value-to-earnings ratios, based on a two-earner household on an average salary for the local area.  The study’s findings revealed that Cumnock in Scotland is the UK’s most affordable town to buy a house. Properties there cost an average of £80,300, which is just over its estimated household income of £75,800 a year.  In England, Shildon and Peterlee in County Durham and Ashington in Northumberland are the most affordable areas to buy your own home, with properties valued at less than 1.4 times local household incomes. In Wales, houses in the town Ferndale will give you the most bang for your buck, with an average price of £101,600.  The data also revealed that house prices have fallen over the last year in two-thirds of southern England. The largest improvements in affordability are apparently in the south east, south west and east of England.  Over in the capital, the most affordable area had a much higher average house price of (cue eye roll) £417,800. You can read more about London house prices in Zoopl’s study here.  All things h

It’s here: the UK’s first fall of snow of the season. While it looks very pretty and is one of Britain’s favourite forms of winter weather, snow can wreak havoc on our rail services and cause a lot of really annoying delays.  Snow and ice can build up on the rail lines, coat overhead lines and the electrified third rail, which stops vehicles from getting the power they need to run and can leave them stranded. So, if you’re meant to be catching a train today (November 19), read on for what you need to know.  RECOMMENDED: Britain’s 10 snowiest places. Are trains running normally during the snow? Trains rarely run as normal when it snows in the UK. With a yellow weather warning in force across much of the country, train operators have warned passengers to prepare for potential disruption.  National Rail has warned that the current chilly spell and severe weather could affect lines across the country until tomorrow (Wednesday, November 20).  Which train lines are affected? Most train lines in the Midlands, northern England and Wales, Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland are likely to be affected by the snow and ice, so make sure to check their websites before you travel. Those trainlines include:  Transport for Wales TransPennine Express Merseyrail Cross Country East Midlands Northern Rail What advice has National Rail given? National Rail has warned that various routes could be impacted until at least midday today. It recommends that you check your entire journey before tra

Yesterday (November 19) the Met Office issued snow and ice warnings for northern parts of the UK as the country was set to get its ‘first taste of winter’. London wasn’t forecast to be hit but this morning, it was greeted by a heavy flurry of snow stretching across the city.  Health experts, London Fire Brigade and rail operators have all urged travellers to be cautious, warning of risk of injury and travel disruption as a result of the chilly weather. More icy conditions are expected over the week, with temperatures plummeting as low as -3C overnight.  Where has it snowed today? Early this morning, snowfall was spotted all over London. Affected areas included Clerkenwell, Canary Wharf, Muswell Hill, Kilburn, Regent’s Street, Barnet and Finchley. Loads of Londoners took to social media with videos of the snowfall in their area. Conditions were too wet for the snow to settle, so if you weren’t awake to witness it, here’s what you missed.  London in the snow this morning ❄️ pic.twitter.com/XZkg3DMJpt — metweather 🇺🇦 (@alex_wx_) November 19, 2024 Snow very heavy now in East Finchley, north London #uksnow #londonsnow pic.twitter.com/IgryWXhpPc — Jordon-Lee (@JordonLee) November 19, 2024 Snowing in London ❄️⛄️ #Cricklewood #London pic.twitter.com/rYplWksFMb — Natalia Ojeda Soto (@NataliaOjedaS1) November 19, 2024 It was only raining two stops away… #London #Snow pic.twitter.com/hFLhemyqYB — Pauline (@AuntiePauline5) November 19, 2024 Snow in London … in November! #sno

In big news for those of you still putting off getting your drivers licence, the Department for Transport (DfT) has promised that a huge £1 billion will go towards bringing ‘London-style’ bus services to every corner of England. Viva la public transport!  What exactly makes a bus ‘London-style’? A bright red exterior? A £1.75 fare cap? The fact that they actually move really, really slowly? Well, according to the DfT, they are bus services that exist under a franchise system, allowing local authorities to decide routes, timetables and fares. The funding will reportedly help areas introduce new routes, make services more frequent and reliable and protect crucial routes, particularly in rural areas. It’ll amount to just under £1bn, with £712m allocated for local authorities to improve services, and £243m for bus operators. Torbay, the Isle of Wight, Southend, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are areas set to receive ‘unprecedented’ levels of funding through the scheme. South Yorkshire and Liverpool City Region authorities are also set to get a significant boost.  The news comes ahead of the government’s new Buses Bill, which will be introduced to give local transport authorities across England new powers to take control of their bus services. Sadly, the national bus fare cap won’t be cut to match London’s – it’ll still rise from £2 to £3.  Britain by bus What else is going on in the world of buses, you ask? Well, junk food ads are being banned across UK buses, Flixbus recently

Go-op, the UK’s first ever co-operatively owned rail service, is one step closer to becoming a reality. The Office of Road and Rail (ORR) has just given Go-op’s bid to run journeys around southwest England the thumbs up and agreed to its application for track access.  The open-access operator will be owned and managed by staff and the local community with all of its profits invested back into improving the service. It’ll compete with Great Western Railway, running return weekday and weekend journeys between Taunton and Weston-super-Mare, Taunton and Westbury, Taunton and Swindon, and Frome and Westbury.  Go-op doesn’t plan to use any public subsidy and instead will be funding a mix of loans and crowdfunded investment. Members will be able to invest in ‘community shares’ focusing a blend of social and financial reward and broad-based, democratic management.  Before it gets going, Go-op still has to provide evidence to ORR that it has the money to start operating, can fund £1.5m  enhancements to level-crossings and has secured all of the railway vehicles that it needs. If everything goes to plan, it’s hoped that Go-op services will start running in December 2025 at the earliest and no later than December 2026.  Alex Lawrie, Go-op’s chair, said: ‘We’ve been working on this project for over a decade now and it has its origins in a group of frustrated rail passengers in the West Country. ‘We noticed that there were plenty of statements, plenty of train tracks but the trains seem

London is chock-full of historical landmarks and cool days out. For culture vultures, we’ve got venues like the Barbican Centre and Tate Modern; for shopping addicts there’s Liberty or Harrods and for history buffs, the Natural History Museum and Hampton Court Palace are both good places to start.  In a recent survey of almost 3,000 people, one historic London attraction was voted better than all the rest. According to consumer choice group Which?, Tower Bridge is the city’s best day out.  The attraction received an attraction score of 84 percent, based on overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend, and at £13.40 had one of the cheapest admission fees on the list. The bridge got four out of five stars for value for money, something that Which? points out is unusual for London. It also got four out of five stars for its lack of crowds and a perfect five out of five for entertainment and engagement.  Tours of the bridge include footage of it opening in 1894, a walk across the river via a 25m high, glass-bottomed walkway and a look into the steam engine room that powered the opening and shutting of the landmark in Victorian times.  It might be people’s favourite attraction in London, but Tower Bridge failed to make it into the top 10 attractions in the UK overall. You can see the full Which? ranking here.  If you’re after more London recommendations from people who know it best, you’re in the right place. Look no further than Time Out’s roundups of the capital’s 50 best at

Next year is set to be a biggun for all you Robbie Williams fans out there. The Rock DJ is kicking things off with a biopic set for release at the end of next month, has teased new music, is embarking on a huge arena and stadium tour in the spring and now will be headlining Newcastle’s brand new Come Together Festival.  Come Together is happening June 4 to June 8 and with a capacity of 45,000, is set to be the northeast of England’s biggest outdoor festival ever. Robbie will be taking centre stage on the first day of the event.  The rest of the line-up of ‘rock, pop, and indie favourites’ includes the Kaiser Chiefs, Perrie (former member of Little Mix), Nell Mescal, Lottery Winners and ‘rising star’ Andrew Cushin. More acts will be announced over the coming months.  Image: Come Together Festival   Festival attendees can also expect to see local food vendors, immersive art installations and a ‘strong focus on celebrating the rich culture and community of Newcastle’.  Tickets and presale To be in with a chance of seeing Robbie and co., you can sign up for presale, which begins at 9am on Wednesday, November 20 or try your luck in the general sale, which goes live at 9am on Friday, November 22.  What’s been said about the festival? Robbie himself said: ‘I am stoked to headline what is essentially my own one-day festival, and where better than Newcastle? Howay, it’s ganna be mint man. I can’t wait to see you next year.’ The best UK music festivals to book for 2025.  OneRepublic

Snow can be delightful stuff. Who doesn’t get that warm and fuzzy feeling of excitement when we see the first flakes gently float to the ground and form a pretty blanket of white? But, very often, the reality is nothing like that. Instead, snow and sleet hits us at a harsh, horizontal angle, turns into hazardous grey sludge and can majorly disrupt our day-to-day lives. Unfortunately, that’s the kind of snow expected to arrive in the UK over the next few days.  The Met Office has issued a 15-hour yellow warning for ice and snow from 7pm today (Monday, November 18) until 10am tomorrow, with snow, hail and sleet is predicted for large parts of Scotland, north England and north Wales.  There’s also a cold weather alert in place from the UK Health Security Agency until 9am on Thursday, November 20.  The Met Office has called it the country’s ‘first taste of winter’ and warned that the snow could lead to possible power cuts, public transport delays and disruption of mobile services. Major English cities affected by snow warning Manchester Liverpool Newcastle Leeds Sheffield Nottingham Stoke Chester Lincoln Derby York Durham Hull  The Met Office said: ‘Although most snow is still likely to accumulate on higher ground, with 5-10 cm on ground over 200 metres and possibly 15-20 cm over 300 metres, there is a chance that snow may settle at lower levels within the warning area. This possible 5-10 cm at lower levels is likely to be more disruptive, particularly if travelling and if the