Annie McNamee

There’s honestly nowhere in the world like Soho. The haunt of poets, gangsters, trendsetters and many a louche genius, the seedy, sleazy and impossibly romantic heart of London’s West End is also home to loads of great independent shops, cafés, bars and, most importantly, restaurants. Its culinary diversity has been fuelled by centuries of immigration and cultural cross-pollination. From rustic French fare to Mediterranean small plates and tasty tapas, here is Time Out’s list of our absolute favourite Soho restaurants. Whether you fancy a slap-up meal or are just in the market for a mid-town pitstop, we have you covered. Recent additions include Filipino bistro Donia, old school Soho fonude joint St Moritz, Cambodian pop-up Mamapen and revamped classic Kettner’s. RECOMMENDED: Here are London’s best restaurants. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor and spends so much time eating in Soho that she basically lives on Greek Street. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. The hottest new openings, the tastiest tips, the spiciest reviews: we’re serving it all on our London restaurants WhatsApp channel. Follow us now.

On March 25, 1925, at London’s Selfridges department store in central London, Scottish inventor John Logie Baird made the first public demo of his latest creation: a way to broadcast visual information from a camera to a screen. A full century later, Baird’s discovery has led to perhaps the most vital, creative and popular mode of artistic expression in the entire world. But it’s only in the past 25 years that television has really fulfilled its artistic potential.  The result has been the so-called ‘Golden Age of Television’, a boom kickstarted roughly around the turn of the century with the rise of shows like The Sopranos and later Breaking Bad, and continuing with awards-winners from Succession to Shōgun to Slow Horses. So while our list of the 100 greatest TV shows may pay tribute to the unmissable programs of yesteryear, you’ll find that the majority hail from our own century – meaning there’s no excuse not to watch every single one. Paring the list down to only 100 was a painful process, so we decided to omit sketch shows, talk shows, news and non-fiction in order to focus on scripted drama and classic comedy. Time to go goggle-eyed.

This is about the time when the January blues start to hit pretty hard. It’s dark at 4pm, you’ve got no money left after Christmas and winter feels like it’s dragging on forever. But we’re here to tell you that things are looking up, because 2025 is going to be a corker of a year for the UK.  It turns out that 2025 is going to be a bit of a big one, with a number of landmark occasions being celebrated across Britain. There’s Jane Austen’s 250th birthday in Southampton, as well as the art-packed Folkestone Triennial, a celebration of 200 years of the British railway in York and Bradford’s 2025 City of Culture festivities. Then, there are up-and-coming foodie towns in Cornwall, music scenes that are popping off in Cardiff and Belfast, and the reopening of grand cultural insitutions like the Tate Liverpool.  If there’s ever been a good time to book a trip, it’s now (it might even help keep some SAD at bay). There is so much fantastic stuff happening across the country this year, so read our list curated by local experts of the best places to visit in the UK in 2025, and get stuck in.  RECOMMENDED: 🇬🇧 The 25 best new things to do in the UK in 2025📍The 12 most underrated city breaks in the UK 🏨 The UK’s 13 best new hotels opening in 2025👨‍👩‍👧 6 amazing places to stay with Kids in the UK

This bustling coastal city is absolutely steeped in history, maritime heritage, and of course, there's loads to see. It’s roots date back as far as the Stone Age, and it's first ever museum (the Tudor House) remains a top attraction, with gorgeous gardens and guided tours on offer.  There’s plenty of modern-day action too, with a treasured football team, The Saints, and their fans bringing life to the city on match day. Southampton is also only a 20-minute drive away from the New Forest, or a ferry-ride away from the Isle of Wight, there's plenty going on that makes this city worth a visit. Check out our list of top picks for all the best things to do in Southampton.  RECOMMENDED: ⛰️ The best things to in the New Forest🏖️ The best seaside towns in the UK💕 The best things to do in the UK Annie McNamee is a writer at Time Out 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. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

If people make Glasgow, music is what fuels it. The city's music scene was thriving long before the rest of it had caught up, with places like the Barrowlands and the Old Fruit Market offering locals good, cheap live music when general attitudes of Glasgow were, let's just say, less than favourable.  But those days are behind us, and Scotland's biggest city is now known across the UK for its vibrant cultural heritage, nightlife, and, of course, its music scene. Whether you're looking for an arena of people to scream along your favourite songs with, or a small makeshift stage at the back of a bar to find your new favourite band, Glasgow's got you sorted. Fair warning though: crowds here are famously rowdy. They're a lot of fun, but don't be surprised if you end up beer-soaked. Oh, and brush up on our local chants. You don't want to be the only person not shouting along with 'here we, here we, here we f'ing go!'. 

History has it that Pollokshaws Road was once home to a merry band of Flemish weavers – known as the ‘Queer Folk’ – who were brought over to work in the city during the 19th century by local landowners. These days it’s still a thriving creative hub, threading down Glasgow’s Southside and linking up the districts of Govanhill, Strathbungo and Shawlands. Rows of sandstone tenements loom over traffic separated by wide pavements, behind which stand ornate townhouses designed by Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson. There’s a juicy chunk of Pollokshaws Road where bars, cafés and boutiques jostle for space; pick it up from Allison Street and wander down past Queen’s Park. Since it’s a largely residential area, there’s a distinct feel of community – something that’s enhanced by the indie businesses that have popped up over the past few years. In particular it’s a brunch haven, with queues leaking out of living-room-sized cafés come rain or shine. You can also expect to find organic fruit and veg at Stalks & Stems, a fresh produce emporium with a florist next door, and (almost) a different coffee shop for every day of the week. It’s not all hipster territory, though. Punters tired of mustachioed baristas and bar staff will be cheered by the decent selection of old man pubs complete with smoked-glass windows. Recommended: Full guide to the best things to do in Glasgow

How easily could you be persuaded to shave off an eyebrow, or take a shot for every stair you climbed? Perhaps you’d feel more compelled if you were half a bottle of ‘Chicken Wine’ deep, 18, and surrounded by new friends that you were trying to impress? If you attended university in the UK you might have an uncomfortable feeling of deja-vu, perhaps being whisked back to the time you were ‘hazed’ as a first year student. If you didn’t, you’ve likely heard the rumours about former prime ministers getting it on with pigs, or rugby teams shoving carrots in places vegetables should never go. Hazing, or ‘initiation’ as it more commonly goes by this side of the Atlantic, is a practice which usually consists of ritualistically embarrassing rookie members of a given group in order for them to prove themselves. It’s also nothing new. There’s evidence of rowdy schoolboys dating as far back as 420 BCE when Plato recounted ‘practical jokes played by unruly young men’ which left both spectators and haze-ees injured. Somehow, this bizarre custom has survived the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, the birth of Jesus Christ, several international plagues and found a home for itself in the modern age on university campuses. But for the past decade or so, hazing’s millenia-long reign has been threatened by a generation who supposedly care more about their physical and mental health than they do about banter and ritual humiliation. Today, hazing has met its match: Generation Z. So what do these

In 2024, what exactly makes a neighbourhood cool? Craft breweries, natty wine bars and street art are well and good, but the world’s best, most exciting and downright fun neighbourhoods are much more than identikit ‘hipster hubs’. They’re places that reflect the very best of their cities – its culture, community spirit, nightlife, food and drink – all condensed in one vibey, walkable district. To create our annual ranking, we went straight to the experts – our global team of on-the-ground writers and editors – and asked them what the coolest neighbourhood in their city is right now, and why. Then we narrowed down the selection and ranked the list using the insight and expertise of Time Out’s global editors, who vetted each neighbourhood against criteria including food, drink, arts, culture, street life, community and one-of-a-kind local flavour. The result? A list that celebrates the most unique and exciting pockets of our cities – and all their quirks. Yes, you’ll find some of those international hallmarks of ‘cool’. But in every neighbourhood on this list there’s something you won’t find anywhere else. Ever been to a photography museum that moonlights as a jazz club? Or a brewery with a library of Russian literature? How about a festival dedicated to fluff? When communities fiercely support and rally around their local businesses, even the most eccentric ideas can become a reality. And that, in our eyes, is what makes a neighbourhood truly cool. From formerly overlooked sub

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. 

What words come to mind when we mention the Olympics? Prestige? Excellence? Medals? Or is it: ‘Grom’?  The Olympic games have been around for nearly three millennia. As the entire planet tunes in to watch as the top sports people compete for those coveted gold medals, there’s some stuff you’ll probably want to get your head around to make the most of your viewing experience: jargon for you normies to weave into your vocab that will have you sounding like proper Olympic pros in no time.  RECOMMENDED:How to watch the Paris 2024 Olympics in the UK for freeHere’s the full schedule and timings for the Summer Games We’ve done some digging and unearthed some 100 percent real words and phrases that will almost certainly be used by professional Olympians and commentators across the next few weeks. What’s more, there’s something inherently funny about words which sound out of place to the average Joe. There’s nothing worth giggling about hearing the word ‘jaeger’ at a bar (especially as it’s usually followed by a friend trying to convince you to neck a shot of sweet battery acid and gone-off liquorice), but watching it earnestly come out of the mouth of a world-class gymnast? Now that’s entertainment. So what are you waiting for? Brush up on your sporty lingo and drop these into convo next time you’re watching the Games to impress your mates. Skateboarding  ‘Goofy stance’: Refers to when a skateboarder has their left foot on the back of the board. Also used in surfing and snowboarding

You remember the days. Assuring your friend that she definitely looks like her older cousin’s co-worker, especially with a ponytail in. Hovering awkwardly around the corner from the off-license as your one 18-year-old pal does God’s work for the rest of you. The pit in your tummy as you recite a fake birthday to the bouncer of a sticky-floored nightclub – remembering your star sign, memorising your imaginary postcode – and the elated relief when he lets you in with a raised eyebrow and a reluctant nod. Finding increasingly inventive ways to get around age-restrictions was half the fun of being 17, but today’s teens seem to be going off going out altogether. ‘You definitely see fake IDs less than you used to,’ says one bouncer at a popular student nightclub in Bristol. When he started working at the venue a decade ago, he’d encounter a load of fakes on any given night – but not so much anymore. ‘The worst one I ever saw had the back on upside down,’ he says. ‘The ones we do see are getting a lot better and it can be harder to catch them. But they’re definitely rarer now.’ Something has certainly shifted. A few weeks ago, as I walked through the Triangle, Bristol’s premier hotspot for stumbling freshers and lovers of three for two Jägerbombs, I noticed that the local Sainsbury’s was busier than all of the clubs combined. Two years ago, dancefloors would’ve been filling up at 11pm on a Monday. This wasn’t a fluke: since that night, two of the clubs in question have closed their

For all of the stick we give the UK – the grey skies, the pigeons, the Greggs sausage roll packets littering the pavements – it’s actually a pretty gorgeous country. In London alone, you can be goggling over the Barbican’s brutalist beauty one moment, the next, you might be basking in the tranquility of Hampstead Ponds. Add the turquoise coasts of Cornwall, the rugged mountains of Snowdonia and the fairytale wonder of Scotland’s highlands and islands to the mix, and you’ve got a country which is as good looking as they come.  When we set about curating this list of the most beautiful places in the UK, we called on our network of expert travel writers. These guys have have personally experienced the pinch-me moment of seeing every place on this list IRL – so we can guarantee you there is no catfishing going on here. Of course, you’ll find the usual suspects – you can’t argue with the magic of the Isle of Skye, after all – but you’ll also find some more surprising beauty spots to add to your travel bucket list. RECOMMENDED:🚂 The UK’s most beautiful train stations🇬🇧 The best things to do in the UK🏝 The most beautiful places in the world🏠 The best Airbnbs in the UK Chiara Wilkinson is Time Out’s UK features editor, based in London. 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

You’ve been here before. Almost.  With a clientele which would be perfect for a Love Island spin-off featuring exclusively people with ‘entrepreneur’ in their bios and a healthy amount of exposed pipework, The Counter is what those in the know would probably call ‘trendy’. Its dim lights, small plate selection, and strategically chipped brick feature wall put it on the verge of parodically hip, but a glance at its menu and a quick chat with any member of its team reveal it to be much more down to Earth than some of its equally Instagrammable peers. If you close your eyes you can almost feel the Istanbuli breeze flowing through your hair The sense of deja-vu you feel may not be coming solely from its open-plan bar though. Chef Kemal Demirasal’s first UK venture, opened up two years ago in Notting Hill to much success. Originally from Turkey, he’s taken much of the charm of the original joint (as well as its most popular recipes and excellent cocktails) and transported it to Kingly Street – and combined it with a series of fresh ideas and a lot of seafood. Fresh is definitely the operative word. The cocktails are infused with real fruit. The tomatoes have been imported from Turkey. There’s sort-of-caviar sprinkled on avocado-topped fish. If you close your eyes and just bite, you can almost feel the Istanbuli breeze flowing through your hair. A series of enthusiastic staff members recommended a variety of dishes to us. Some, like the tomato salad or prawns, were familiar classi

Enjoy an evening of modern classical music composed by Black artists whose work did not get the spotlight that it deserved in its time at this Southbank Centre concert. The night will involve three different pieces from three different composers, performed by up and coming American violinist Randall Goosby, who made his debut with the Jacksonville Symphony orchestra at just nine, and award-winning Chinese pianist Zhu Wang. 

There are a lot of great places to eat in Glasgow, plain and simple. Whether you’re after a brilliant curry, a traditional Scottish meal, or a deep-fried mars bar, Scotland’s biggest city has got you covered. At Time Out, our editors and reviewers have eaten at thousands of restaurants over the years. We’re constantly trying new spots and updating all of our lists, and we’ve just published our newly-updated guide to the very best spots to eat in Glasgow. Taking the crown for the city’s very best eatery is… Brett in Kelvinbrige! Time Out’s Olivia Simpson, who is a born and bred Glaswegian, said: ‘The food is undoubtedly elevated, but dishes like the mushroom XO linguini or the duck with blackberry and white turnip are designed not to shout about their cleverness, but to delight and comfort. ‘Choose from the à la carte menu, chef’s menu, or set menu (with two courses starting at £32). The wine list (helpfully organised according to flavour profile) is equally as impressive.’ Small bistro Brett opened in 2019, and after surviving lockdown, it’s going from strength to strength. It appeared on both the Good Food and Michelin guides for 2024, the latter of which described it as having ‘a relaxed, welcoming feel’. It’s no surprise that Brett is such a success, being the sister restaurant to Cail Bruich, one of Glasgow’s two Michelin-starred restaurants. Cail Bruich also appears at number five on our list. Elsewhere on our guide is the brand-new opening from the team behind Ox and Fi

If you’ve been into town recently, you know what’s up. You’ve seen the boarded up windows, you’ve noticed your usual haunts disappearing, you’ve benefited from an ‘everything must go – half off!’ sale once or twice. You can see that it’s a shop-ageddon out there on UK high streets, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. In 2023, we lost Wilko, and then in 2024 we got it back. Then we said goodbye to a bunch of Marks and Spencers, some Boots, a few Body Shops, and plenty more. In fact, some studies have estimated that Britain lost up to 37 shops a day in 2024. Although we all hoped that the new year would bring good news for our high streets, it’s looking like 2025 might just be more of the same. It’s not all doom and gloom, but it’s useful to know exactly what’s coming and going so that you don’t plan an entire shopping day around a store which has closed its doors for the last time. Here’s an exhaustive list of all the big places shutting up shop this year across the country. All the UK high street closures in 2025 New Look New Look has this year announced it is completely winding down its operations in Ireland, at the cost of nearly 350 jobs. This side of the Irish Sea, it’s announced four closures for 2025 (find out more here). Those are: Carillon Court Shopping Centre, Loughborough (already closed) Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf (already closed) St Austell, Cornwall – closing March 4 Team Valley Retail World, Gateshead – closing March 9 WH Smith There’s no need to panic b

If you could choose one special feature to add to your home, what would it be? A swimming pool? A walk in wardrobe, maybe a library? How about a series of winding tunnels resembling something from an Arthurian legend? They might not be the most common ‘dream home’ addition, but a complex of secret passageways are by far the most fun. Why are they there? What do they lead to? What did the people who dug it know that we don’t? All of these questions and more can be asked of one five-bed property in Sandwich, Kent, which is currently up for sale. On the surface (literally), this is a lovely, if pretty standard, five bedroom countryside cottage. The dining room has exposed beams and a wood-burning fireplace, there’s an Aga in the kitchen, and the roofs are just the right amount of higgilty-piggilty. It’s straight out of a Beatrix Potter story; until you look below. This home has the only entrance to a series of tunnels which sprawl nearly 50 feet below the nearby village of Eastry. The Rightmove listing casually lists this as a feature, stating: ‘Outside there is a Victorian stable… trees and a front garden with specimen trees and a treehouse’, and ‘caves access’. You know, standard stuff. To make matters even more mysterious, nothing is known for sure about why the caves exist, or who built them in the first place. Local legend states that Thomas Becket used them as a hiding place from King Henry II in the 12th century, but other sources suggest that they weren’t built until the

There are loads of places worth visiting in and around the British Isles – we even created a list of our top recommendations here – but there’s so much to see that a lot of great destinations get overlooked. The Isle of Man (which is not in the UK but is definitely pretty close) is one such destination. Last year, the Isle of Man announced that it had big ambitions to attract an additional 500,000 visitors by 2032, almost doubling the size of the local tourism industry. They reckon their gorgeous scenery and bustling capital city makes for a great holiday – if you don’t mind the ferry trip. Like the UK, the Isle of Man is introducing a system of Electronic Travel Authentication (ETA) which will require people to pay £10 for a security check before visiting. The authentication is similar to the British ETA, which was introduced earlier this year and grants visitors from 40 different nations who do not need a visa, like the USA, Australia, and Canada, entry into the UK for two years at a time. It’s not quite a visa and and nor is it a tourist tax, but a sort of in-between with added security clearance – you can learn more about the details of that system here. The Isle of Man’s ETA will operate very similarly. It will cost £10, and allow travellers to enter a ‘Common Travel Area’ which will include the Isle of Man, the UK, Ireland and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey and Guernsey, so you’re getting pretty good bang for your buck. British and Irish citizens will not need to appl

Beautiful things can be done with some potatoes, a cod, some batter, and a fryer. You already knew that, and so do the roughly 11,000 chippy owners across Britain. A lot of those chip shops are sensational, but which is the absolute best? Thirty-seven years ago, the National Federation of Fish Fryers (NFFF) set out to answer that question, and thus the annual National Fish and Chip Awards, aka the chippy Oscars, was born. There are categories recognising excellence in various forms, from takeaways to sit-down restaurants, to mobile fryers and commitment to sustainability; basically as long as your chips are fluffy and your fish is battered, there’s a space for you in this competition. That’s not to say it’s easy to become a winner; first you have to be named as one of the nation’s top 40, then shortlisted into the top ten. It’s been a long journey to get to this final, but one unlikely county has come out with winners in two of the biggest categories. Think of ‘Takeaway of the Year’ and ‘Restaurant of the Year’ as the ‘Best Picture’ and ‘Best Director’ of the ceremony; these are the awards that everyone wants, and the ones which can turn you from a wee local into a nationally renowned destination. This year, both of the big winners were based in County Durham. Usually better known for its mining towns and excellent accent, you might not think of Durham as the fish and chips capital of the UK, but Yarm Road Fish and Chips in Darlington, which was named ‘Takeaway of the Year’,

Winter can be cold and rubbish. It can be frosty and wet and dark, but that’s why we have things like fairy lights, hot chocolate, and ice skating.  Ice skating has become a quintessential Christmas activity, taking the freezing temperatures of winter and turning them into something fun, albeit treacherous for the uncoordinated among us. Across the world, temporary ice rinks start popping up in mid-November, and remain until we are plunged into the real darkness that is January. They tend to be in Christmas markets, or town squares, or sometimes randomly outside of shopping centres, and there are a lot of them. But the very best is in London, according to research from ferry operator DFDS, which has used Google search data find the most popular outdoor ice rinks in Europe. And, by some way, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland has taken the crown. With more than 115,000 searches, it beat Budapest’s Városligeti Műjégpálya, which came second, by more than 40,000. Not too shabby.  The ice rink at Winter Wonderland is the biggest of its kind in the UK. Built around a Victorian bandstand underneath hundreds of ‘twinkling lights’, it’s open for 12 hours a day between 10am-10pm. Admittedly, like everything else in London, it’s a bit pricey, between £11.50 and £16.50 for a single adult for only 45 minutes, but at least your skates are included. Sometimes there’s even live music from the bandstand. It’s also worth noting that depending on when you go, you might have to pay a separate admission

Whether you’re a Brat, a Swiftie, or, indeed, a lover of a refreshing ‘me’ espresso, pop girlies are really having a moment this year. 2024 is the year of the pop princess.  While Sabrina Carpenter has been in the game for while, she’s really been launched into pop superstardom this year. Between going viral for her raunchy ‘Nonsense’ outros and the double smash hit singles ‘Espresso’ and ‘Please, Please, Please’, she’s blown up massively. She's become known for her girly aesthetic and unserious lyricism, firmly cementing herself in the pantheon of girls who really do just wanna have fun.  Last week (on July 17) multiple UK venues nearly made fans across the country go into cardiac arrest by posting images with the caption ‘I’ve got a fun idea babe...’ to their social media channels. The next day (July 18), Carpenter officially announced a tour of the UK and Europe next year. Presales went live this week – and extra dates have already been added in Manchester and London.  Eager to snap up tickets to the show? We’ve got everything you need to know about Sabrina Carpenter’s 2025 Short n’ Sweet UK dates right here. When is Sabrina Carpenter going on her UK tour? Sabrina’s Short n’ Sweet tour to the UK next March, where she’ll play five shows across the UK and Ireland between March 6 and March 14. When do tickets go on sale?  General sale begins on July 26 at 10am BST. You’ll be able to buy ticks on Ticketmaster here or from venue websites.  Is there a presale? Yes, there is a

It’s impressive to do one arena tour. It’s more impressive to do two. It’s even more impressive to be relevant enough nearly 40 years after forming to still be selling them out. Nine Inch Nails have been big players in the worlds of industrial, rock and experimental music since the late ’80s, which is no mean feat. In the three and a half decades since, Trent Reznor has toured the UK many, many times, and chances are that if your dad hasn’t seen them, your best mate’s dad has. NIN last came across the Pond three years ago to play five nights scattered across the country, and now they’re back for more. There’s no new album to celebrate, because there doesn’t need to be. These shows are bigger and, we’re sure, even better than before. It’s time to get ready, NIN fans – tickets go on sale this week. Here’s everything you need to know to make sure you can see Nine Inch Nails on their 2025 ‘Peel it Back’ tour in the UK.  When are Nine Inch Nails going on their UK tour? Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross will land in Britain this June, so you don’t have very long to wait. They’re set to play two nights, one in London and one in Manchester, before hopping over to our neighbours in Dublin and then continuing across the continent until August.  June is also the beginning of festival season in Europe, so keep your eyes peeled for potential further opportunities to see the boys at a festival or two this summer. Full list of UK tour dates Here is the full list of UK tour dates for Nine Inch

There’s being multi-faceted in the workplace, and then there’s being international experts in both car tyres and luxury restaurants. Talk about having eclectic tastes. Michelin has been manufacturing tyres since 1889 and reviewing eateries since 1900, so it really knows what it’s doing on both fronts. The brand’s prestigious diner rating system was originally set up as a ploy to get more people driving and thus sell more tyres (that’s true, we promise), though it’s more than developed a life of its own. These days, gaining a Michelin star is one of the highest honours that can be bestowed on a restaurant – and quite a few new British starred restos were named earlier this week. Across the world, the star represents flawless dining, but that perfection typically comes at a pretty steep price. Although there are a few semi-affordable starred eateries, the vast majority of us can’t shell out £400 for a countless-course tasting menu, no matter the occasion, and that’s where the Bib Gourmand come in. Michelin defines Bib Gourmand restaurants as ‘eateries [rewarded] for their quality cooking at a reasonable price’, so that us commoners can enjoy them too. They may not quite have earned stars, but they’re as close as you can get without the price tag. This year, 36 new Bib Gourmands have been named in the UK, including 11 in London which you can learn more about here. Among the 36 are five in Scotland. One of these, Margo, is the sister to other popular Glasgow joints Ox & Finch and

We’re always ahead of the curve. Why do we say that? Only because we at Time Out named Folkestone our top place to visit in the UK earlier this year, and now, based on statistics gathered on social media, the same town has been deemed one of the most up-and-coming beach destinations in the entire world.  According to research from travel agent Planet Cruise, TikTok searches for the southeast English coastal town have gone up 1,000 percent in the past month or so. Yes, with three zeros. And no, it wasn’t previously at one or two, in fact Folkestone reached 241,000 individual searches on the social media app. Not too bad for a little coastal village. Other spots named as up-and-coming by the cruise specialists included Seven Mile Beach in Jamaica, Waikiki Beach in Hawaii, and Greece’s Paros. Although Folkestone can’t offer the weather of the Caribbean or the Pacific islands, we like to think it has its own sort of charm. Plus, if you’re already in Britain, it’s far more accessible.  So why is Folkestone having such a moment? The experts at Planet Cruise reckon it’s partially thanks to its location, noting that the Kent town is a popular ‘coastal getaway, particularly among Londoners’, and that it offers ‘easy access to the nearby White Cliffs of Dover, making it a perfect spot for both relaxation and exploration’.  And we couldn’t agree more. Folkestone is not just a nice beach with a view of France (on a clear day), it’s full of cute cafes, boutiques and indie shops, and, this

If you’re anything like the average person, you haven’t used a physical map since your Duke of Edinburgh’s award. In the digital era, paper maps are mostly a thing of the past, relegated to the back of old glove boxes and attics. The cause of death? Online maps.  But directions aren’t all that Google Maps has to offer. It also acts as a sounding board for the court of public opinion, where anyone from anywhere can rate anywhere you can physically go. Although we recommend listening to experts (such as us) when planning your days in London, it doesn’t hurt to know if the general population loved or hated a certain attraction before you spend a small fortune on it. To celebrate Google Maps’ 20th birthday, its top 20 attractions have been revealed as rated by their users, and the top one is in London. In fact, the top three are all in or around the capital. They also listed the nation’s favourite restaurants, with a London joint topping that list too. We can’t say we’re surprised, this is a pretty excellent city. But what actually is the best place to visit in the country? Well, the people’s pick is… Buckingham Palace! Buckingham has a rating of 4.5 stars out of five based on more than 177,000 reviews. That’s a pretty good average. In second was the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio tour which, being in Watford, isn’t in London but is on the tube. Although it had a higher average score – 4.8 out of five – the studio tour has only been reviewed around 89,000 times, so it couldn’t

Who doesn’t love burgers? Whether they’re a guilty pleasure or a weekly staple, burgers are one of the only foods that everyone can generally agree on. These days even vegans can appreciate the gooey goodness – there’s been a lot of innovation in the world of veggie burgers in recent years. Both meatless and meat-ful burgers are celebrated by the National Burger Awards, who held the final round of their 2025 contest at the Big Penny Social in London on Tuesday (February 11). A panel of expert judges, including our very own food and drinks editor Leonie Cooper, sat down to have a bite of all 16 of the finalists and crown the nation’s very best burger. There were five categories the nominees were competing in, including: Plant-Based Burger of the Year, Freakshake of the Year, Bloggers’ Choice Award, Burger Chef of the Year, and the big one, National Burger of the Year. If ‘burger’ has already stopped sounding like a word to you, imagine being a judge. So what is this year’s best bun-meat-bun creation? The gold went to the Miso Bacon Burger from the London based Black Bear Burger. This behemoth consists of two 45-day aged beef patties, cheese, bacon, miso butter mayo and onion, all squished together in between a sesame bun. Stewart Down, owner and head-chef of the restaurants, said he was ‘pretty surprised’ by the win but that: ‘We’ve competed two times before – came third last year and won the Bloggers’ Choice Award after that, but this was the one we wanted… This changes thing