Annie McNamee

Planning your travels for the new year? You should absolutely factor in those long-standing bucket list entries, but if you’re looking for some fresh inspiration, 2026 promises a world of brand-new travel experiences.  From sleeping over in an open-air museum to journeying through ancient landscapes on e-bikes, ziplining over glorious wildlife reserves and partying through a solar eclipse – yes, really – there’s a shedload of off-the-beaten-track, out-of-the-box stuff happening over the next 12 months. Scroll on for our handpicked selection of the 26 coolest, weirdest and most exciting things to do in 2026.  RECOMMENDED:🎶 The biggest and best music festivals in 2026🛍️ The coolest streets in the world🏘️ The coolest neighbourhoods in the world🌃 The best cities in the world right now Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.

Reminiscing on festival season 2025? Well, the good times ain’t over yet, and if you ask us, it’s never too early to start planning which festivals to book in next year. Loads of great music festivals have already announced their headliners, and some of them kick off as early as January.  It’s worth noting that, in 2026, one of the planet’s biggest and best music festivals is not happening. That’s right – after an electric 2025, good old Glastonbury is on a fallow year to allow the land a bit of TLC. Not to worry, mind. No matter your music taste, who you’re going with, your weather preference or your capacity for camping, the world will have a festival that’s right for you, from Europe to the USA, Canada to Japan and Australia to India.  The best festivals in the world at a glance: ☮️ Best for hedonists and hippies: Boomtown 🔈 Best for beat freaks: Outlook 💡 Best for discovering something new: Tremor 🎵 Best for R&B and afrobeats: Afro Nation 🗽 Best city festival: Governors Ball 🎸 Best rock festival: Fuji Rock 🤩 Best for big names: Primavera Sound 🌠 Best for escaping reality: Big Red Bash Overwhelmed? Don’t sweat – here’s our comprehensive roundup of the best festivals in the world taking place in 2026. RECOMMENDED:🌍 The 26 best new things to do in the world in 2026🌤️ The best festivals in Europe in 2026🎭 The world’s coolest neighbourhoods to explore🌃 The best cities in the world right now

It’s been another stellar year for music in 2025, packed full of belters, breakouts and hook-laden earworms.  Lorde returned to her angsty roots, Pulp dropped their first album since, and Bad Bunny reigned supreme on the streamers. We were blessed with new music from pop heavyweights Lady Gaga, Lily Allen and Robyn. In a plot twist, Rosalía dropped a classical album packed with religious references, and Turnstile made hardcore mainstream. Breakout stars CMAT, Addison Rae and Jim Legxacy proved that they are here to stay. Here Time Out editors and contributors have hand-picked the tracks they’ve had on repeat this year. These are the 40 best songs of 2025.  RECOMMENDED: The 25 best albums of 2025. 

This year of music has started with a bang. We’ve seen Chappell Roan go country, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco smothering audiences with gushy love songs and Playboi Carti’s rapturous return from the underground. We've even been blessed with the return of Lorde! Alongside these pop heavyweights, we’re witnessing rap superstar Doechii continue her chart domination and the breakthrough of Gen Z artists like 2hollis, Tate McRae and Kai Bosch. What songs are defining 2025? Well, we’ve searched through our playlists and extracted the best songs of the year so far, to give you a mid-year vibe check of where we are currently at. But it doesn’t stop there. Keep your eyes peeled for updates to this list throughout the year as we’re still awaiting albums from Turnstile, Miley Cyrus, Pulp, A$AP Rocky and many more. RECOMMENDED: 🎧 The best albums of 2025 (so far)🎥 The best movies of 2025 (so far)📺 The best TV of 2025 (so far)

Even after a couple of vintage years for new music, 2025 has been special. Sure, we didn’t get a clear-cut ‘song of the summer’, but artists have been instead putting out defining works in a longer format. The past 12 (well, 11) months have featured all manner of extraordinary album releases.  Belted-to-the-rafters country pop, plunderphonic majesty, ecstatic dance music, intimate electronic world-building, history-collapsing art rock, triumphant hip-hop… these are just a few of the sounds and styles that have been executed marvellously in 2025. Here are the year’s finest 25 albums, chosen by Time Out editors and contributors.

Sure, winter has its perks. Cosying up by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate in hand is lovely. Big woolen jumpers are ever-chic. But there’s no warm, fuzzy feeling that comes close to feeling actual warmth. In our eyes, you just can’t beat the sunshine: sitting on a rooftop terrace, ice-cold cocktail in hand… bonus points if everyone back home is stuck with endless grey drizzle. There are plenty of places across the world still basking in glorious sunshine from October to February. Our list of the best winter sun destinations this year spans six continents and five months, giving you 20 recommendations for the very best places you can visit during the winter months. Whether it’s Thai beaches, African safaris or sunny city breaks in Europe, we’ve got you covered. The best winter sun destinations at a glance: 🏖️ Best for beaches: Thailand 🏙️ Best for a city break: Cape Town, South Africa 🌡️ Warmest in Europe: Tenerife, Spain 🐘 Best for wildlife: Namibia 🎭 Best for an arty break: Cartagena, Colombia 🍜 Best for food: Vietnam 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 and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts. RECOMMENDED:☀️ Europe’s 10 best winter sun destinations

This list is from 2024. Our latest ranking for 2025 is live here. 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

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. Recommended: 🔥 The best TV and streaming shows of 2025 (so far)🍎 The best shows to watch on Apple TV+ right now📺 The best Netflix original series to binge🎮 The best ‘90s TV shows

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 its 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 day trips from London⛰️ 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. 

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

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

Inn Deep is like spending the evening at your mate’s house, only with ten times the energy and fresh pizza available without a delivery fee. The low-lighting and stripped-back interiors create a space you can relax in, but it’s the staff that really make you feel at home.  The prime location – underneath a railway bridge 30 seconds from Kelvinbridge tube station – helps to make this a prime meet-up spot, and provides glorious river views to anyone sitting outside. Add to that a huge (and we mean huge) selection of beers and spirits, and this could become your new West End go-to for ‘a chill one’. Having originally opened more than a decade ago, in recent years the Great Western Road pub has been on a mission to keep things fresh by welcoming new pop-ups to its kitchen every so often. The latest guest is Sub Rosa, a local pizzeria with two permanent locations in the southside, and a delicious marinara sauce.  What should I order? The menu is small for all the right reasons. Sub Rosa knows what it’s good at, and each of the six pizzas on offer play to those strengths. Our favourite was the pepperoni & pickled chili, as the tang and bite of the chilis cuts through the sweetness of the tomato sauce perfectly. Any pizza can be made vegan or gluten free upon request. Sides include chicken tenders in a gochujang honey butter glaze, and a range of chips. If you’re hungry opt for the Mexican loaded fries, but if you just want a snack the regular portions are crispy, salty, and definit

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

How do you plan to start 2026? In a bar? At home on the sofa? If you’re still on the hunt for something special to do this New Year’s Eve – and have a lot of spare cash – we may have just the activity for you. La Dolce Vita Orient Express is a super-swish train service, as you might expect from the name. It’s a ‘love letter to Italy’, influenced by the classical grandeur of the most iconic train of all time, the Orient Express, and taking it through the very best bits of the country – through vineyards, past shimmering waters and into the heart of historical cities. Now, the operator has announced a brand-new route, ‘Whispers at Midnight’, designed to give you the perfect start to the new year. The journey begins and ends in Rome, bringing passengers through Tuscany to Venice and into 2026. The trip takes three days and two nights in total, departing on December 30 and returning to Rome for January 1. RECOMMENDED: I’ve spent New Year’s Eve in 10 European cities – these are the ones worth travelling for. So, what exactly can passengers expect for a cool €11,280 per person? Obviously, the food will be excellent – there’ll be a sumptuous spread from 3-Michelin-star chef Heinz Beck every evening and breakfast served directly to your cabin. You’ll also be able to book culinary experiences at Montalcino, the Tuscan town on the route, and Venice. If food isn’t your thing, you can look forward to a canal boat trip, or a range of other ‘curated experiences’. The New Year festivities t

Picture this: it’s a crisp, freezing winter’s afternoon. You might be doing some Christmas shopping, or just strolling through a market, but either way you’re in need of something to keep you warm. Clearly, a hot chocolate is in order. If you’re a real fan, you’ll know that not all hot chocolates are made the same. Some are watery, some are rich, some are creamy; but according to a new study, one European city gets it right more than any other. As Christmas gets nearer, ferry company DFDS has done some digging on behalf of cocoa fans everywhere. Using data from Google and its own survey, it has analysed customer reviews and ratings to calculate an overall ‘sentiment’ score for major European cities in order to figure out where to get the very best hot choc on the continent. Budapest came out on top, with an ‘average hot chocolate sentiment’ of 95.7 out of 100. That means that most reviews of most of the drinks in the city were positive. The Hungarian capital is well known for its signature hot chocolate concoction, which is slightly thicker and much richer than your typical cup. This stuff is properly sweet and usually served with a hefty dollop of thick cream, but when you’re craving it, nothing else will do. If you want to sample the very best of the drink, check out Time Out’s local guide to Budapest’s best hot chocolate cafés. @budapestfortourists If you’re looking for the teddy bear coffee and hot chocolate in Budapest, this is the place! Sirap Brunch & More is a smal

A few hundred years ago, the average diet was mostly determined by the crops that could be grown in local farms. Today, however, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, you can have a wider range of dishes in one day than your ancestors had in their whole lifetimes. There is one downside though: sometimes when foods are transported overseas, they become diluted or altered, so finding properly authentic examples of regional cuisine outside of its country of origin can be a challenge. That’s where the Korean government has decided to step in. The nation’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has teamed up with the Korean Food Promotion Institute to create an official stamp of approval for international Korean restaurants. So far, only seven spots across three cities have been given the ‘Excellent Korean Restaurant’ badge of honour. Photograph: Courtesy Wonho Frank LeeThe regular rice course at Baroo. In order to earn the accolade, eateries must meet a laundry list of criteria, including exceptional food, service, hygiene, good-quality ingredients and more. In total, there are 27 different elements that a business has to ace before it can receive the accolade. The government hopes to upgrade 100 places to ‘Excellent’ status before 2030 in hopes of ‘contributing to expanding the exports of K-Food’. Once a restaurant gains its certificate, it’s eligible for discounts on ingredients and tableware from Korea. This year, only one European restaurant made the cut – th

Viajar es fantástico, pero también es caro, y si elegís Japón, lo es aún más. Eso sí, si decidís viajar durante los próximos meses, quizá la escapada os salga mucho más económica, ya que el gobierno ha anunciado que ofrecerá vuelos nacionales gratuitos a los viajeros europeos este invierno. All Nippon Airways (ANA) se ha asociado con la oficina nacional de turismo para ofrecer a los pasajeros vuelos internos gratuitos. La oferta permitirá a los clientes hacer dos escalas complementarias con cualquier vuelo internacional de entrada, para que puedan ver más partes de Japón. Foto: All Nippon Airways ¿Qué condiciones hay? Aunque es una gran oferta, hay unas cuantas condiciones que se deben cumplir para poder beneficiarse de ella. Primero, debéis ser pasajeros procedentes del Reino Unido o de Europa, y tendréis que pagar vuestro vuelo de entrada a Japón. Viajaréis en clase estándar, y la oferta solo se aplica a los trayectos entre el 24 de noviembre de 2025 y el 31 de enero de 2026. El objetivo es alejar a los turistas de los puntos calientes como Tokio y Kioto, y dirigirlos hacia algunas de las destinaciones menos exploradas del país, en las zonas rurales y costeras. Foto: Shutterstock ANA vuela a más de 40 destinos japoneses, todos incluidos en la oferta, así que hay mucha variedad para quienes buscan una auténtica aventura. Entonces, ¿qué lugares podréis visitar sin coste adicional? Podréis explorar las montañas y los paisajes espectaculares de Tohoku, o si sois más de play

It’s a tough time to be working in the aviation industry. Faced with staff shortages and huge levels of disruption, many workers at airlines and airports are facing long, stressful hours and poor working conditions. And, thanks to the cost of living crisis, loads of them are doing it all for lower wages, too. Needless to say, it’s no wonder that so many staff at airports and airlines have been going on strike. From Italy and Belgium to Greece and France, airports across Europe have seen thousands of flights delayed and cancelled by industrial action. Strikes can, of course, have a serious impact on your holiday, so it’s best to be as informed about them as possible. Read on for our guide to who’s going on strike in Europe right now, where and when those strikes will happen – and whether you need to worry about them.   General strike in Italy Workers across Italy are gearing up for a general strike on December 12. Although airport staff may be less affected, transport to and from the airport could be delayed or cancelled, so it might be worth making alternative arrangements or booking a taxi ahead of time. Additionally, ITA Airways will hold a four-hour walkout on December 17 between 1pm and 5pm, which will see ground and air crews down tools. This could cause disruption to flights arriving or departing from major Italian airports. You can keep up to date with your flight on your airline's website or app. Airport strikes in Portugal A national general strike is expected to tak

We’re mere weeks away from a brand new year, so it’s the perfect time to start looking back on 2025. It’s not just Spotify who keeps track of what we’ve all been up to; market research company Euromonitor International has done some number crunching of its own to reveal the biggest travel trends of the past 12 months. Every year, Euromonitor creates a list of the 100 best cities in the world, based on criteria including tourism infrastructure, sustainability and economic growth. It also released information on the busiest cities for international arrivals in 2025, highlighting the spots that people have been flocking to in their droves this year. Asian cities made up three of the top five most visited places in 2025, with Bangkok coming out on top. This year some 30.3 million people flew into the Thai capital, which was also first in tourism policy and ‘attractiveness’. Despite that, it didn’t make it into the top 10 in the overall ranking. The city has long been popular with backpackers and is seeing a growing number of visitors drawn to its nightlife, excellent restaurants and booming hotel scene. It’s also home to one of the world’s coolest streets this year in Charoen Nakhon Road, while the ‘White Lotus effect’ has undoubtedly attracted more visitors to Thailand this year.  Bangkok. Shutterstock In second place was another bustling east Asian metropolis – Hong Kong saw roughly 23.3 million overseas visitors in the past 12 months. That’s just under three times its entire

Earlier this year Poundland was sold, fittingly, for just £1. The entirety of Poundland was sold by its owners Pepco to a US investment company for a ‘nominal fee’ of a single quid. The low cost was not quite the deal that it appeared at face value. It was estimated that it could cost the new owners Gordon Brothers up to £100 million to get the brand back on its feet. Following the sale a huge restructuring plan was announced and approved, with dozens of stores confirmed to be closing before the end of 2025. More are set to close over the winter months.  Before the closures, Poundland employed over 16,000 people across 792 branches in the UK and Ireland. That portfolio is expected to shrink to between 650 and 700 locations.   Which Poundland stores are closing in 2025? Below are all the Poundlands that either have or will close in the remaining month of 2025.  Christchurch (Meteor Retail Park), Dorset - December 5 Arnold, Nottinghamshire - December 6 Worthing, West Sussex - December 6 Droitwich, Worcestershire - December 9 Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland - December 13 Oldham, Greater Manchester - December 13 Weston Favell, Northamptonshire - December 19 Lancaster, Lancashire - December 19 Portishead, Somerset - December 24 Grantham, Lincolnshire - December 24 Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset - December 24 Hammersmith, Greater London - December 24 Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland - December 31 Farnham, Surrey - December 31 Brighton, East Sussex - December 31 H

Chaque année, les analystes de données de Euromonitor International passent au crible les villes du monde entier selon des critères clés (politique touristique, infrastructures, performances économiques, durabilité, santé et sécurité) pour établir le classement des 100 destinations urbaines les plus attractives de la planète. Leur liste 2025 vient tout juste de tomber. Pour la cinquième année de suite, Paris domine le classement, portée par des scores particulièrement élevés en matière d’infrastructures et de politique touristique. La ville a prouvé sa capacité à absorber un trafic massif l’an dernier avec les Jeux olympiques, et elle a continué d’attirer les foules en 2025 : elle se hisse même au neuvième rang des villes les plus visitées, d’après les arrivées internationales. Autant dire que c’est le moment idéal pour les touristes de (re)découvrir la Ville Lumière. Côté nouveautés, l’été verra une immense « œuvre caverneuse » investir son plus vieux pont (la meilleure chose à faire en 2026 selon Time Out). Sinon, pour un premier séjour, il suffit de se laisser porter par l’avalanche de musées et de monuments iconiques. Paris a récemment décroché la troisième place d’un classement publié par le cabinet Resonance Consultancy, derrière Londres et New York. Pourtant, la capitale britannique ne figure même pas dans le top 10 d’Euromonitor International : elle atterrit en 18ᵉ position. La médaille d’argent revient à Madrid. Malgré les tensions liées au surtourisme dans certaine

Each year, the data analysts at Euromonitor International compare cities across the world on key criteria including tourism policy, tourism infrastructure, economic performance, sustainability, and health & safety, in order to create a ranking of the planet’s top 100 city destinations. It’s just released its 2025 list. Recommended: Time Out’s best cities in the world in 2025 For the fifth consecutive year, Paris is on top, scoring particularly well on infrastructure and tourism policy. It proved its ability to handle heavy tourist traffic last year when it hosted the Olympics, but continued to welcome huge amounts of visitors in 2025 – it was also the ninth most visited city, based on international arrivals.  Now is a great time to visit the City of Light. For something brand new, the summer will see a huge ‘cavernous artwork’ take over its oldest bridge, which is Time Out’s pick for the best thing to do on the planet in 2026. Alternatively, if you’re a first-time visitor, just head around the many iconic landmarks and museums on offer.  Paris recently came third in a list of the best cities from Resonance consultancy, where it lost out to London and New York. However, the UK capital didn’t even make it into Euromonitor’s top 10, instead landing at 18th overall. In second place was Madrid. Although Spain has been battling with overtourism in cities like Barcelona, the nation’s capital is still a brilliant place to visit whether you’re on the hunt for great food, rich culture,

On l’oublie toujours jusqu’au jour où un classement britannique vient nous le rappeler. Paris n’est pas seulement une ville-musée, c’est aussi un pays du rail. La preuve ? Deux gares franciliennes viennent de se glisser parmi les plus « spectaculaires » du monde, selon la dernière sélection du Telegraph.  Après Londres, Paris figure parmi les villes abritant les gares les plus époustouflantes de la planète Le journal britannique, qui a confié ce classement à ses experts voyage, a passé au crible 17 pays répartis sur presque tous les continents habités. Et si Londres rafle les deux premières places (les gare de St Pancras et de Paddington), Paris n’est pas en reste. En tête du contingent parisien, la gare de Lyon, qui continue de tenir son rang avec assurance. Ses volumes monumentaux, sa tour-horloge qui découpe le ciel comme un métronome et ce mouvement perpétuel de voyageurs en transit… Tout rappelle que Paris se raconte autant par ses quais que par ses boulevards. Et puis il y a Le Train Bleu, son théâtre intérieur. On entre, on respire ce parfum Belle Époque (dorures, fresques, lumières tamisées compris) et on comprend pourquoi les Anglais y voient « le » restaurant de gare par excellence. Villejuif–Gustave Roussy fait une percée dans le top 10. Une station flambant neuve, surgie du Grand Paris Express comme un signal lumineux vers l’avenir. Ses courbes futuristes et sa manière de réinventer le quotidien des trajets disent quelque chose d’important : l’audace architectura

Edinburgh’s food scene is on a roll. The other week the Scottish capital was named among the best places for a foodie city break in Europe, and that reputation is only going to grow with the opening of a brand new food and drink destination in nearby Leith. Brown’s of Leith started welcoming visitors at the end of November. The building used to be home to an engineering firm, but it left last year, leaving the space completely empty and in need of some TLC. Now the site is under the ownership of Custom Lane, a local creative space which has turned it into something special for the local community.   Brown’s plans to be a hybrid space for food, drinks, socialising, and creating, complete with a workshop for local creatives. That’s the long-term plan – for now, the focus is on locally-renowned restaurants. And four of them have just moved in.  First up is Haze, an all-day bar which intends to ‘blur the lines between morning coffee and evening wine’ with small plates and an extensive wine list. It’s the latest project from the team behind Montrose and Timberland, two popular high-end restaurants in Edinburgh. For a local catch, head to Shuck. Selling fresh Scottish fish and seafood, this is the sister location to Shrimpwreck, a Portobello hut which offers a delicious range of buns, burgers, and fries, all based around fried shrimp. If Shrimpwreck is anything to go by, Shuck could offer some properly creative seafood dishes. Civerinos, a hugely successful New York-style pizza cha

Oasis wrapped up their huge reunion tour earlier this week in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Despite plenty of rumours that the band would be playing more shows in 2026, nothing has yet been confirmed – but it’s not all bad news for Gallagher-heads. An Oasis pop-up shop has just been announced for London this December. The store will be welcomed by anyone who refused to queue up to buy a t-shirt outside Wembley Stadium this summer, or, worse, those who did queue up only to find the merchandise they wanted was sold out. The pop-up won’t just be flogging the tour’s leftovers. All the most popular merch items have been restocked, and this time you’ve got six entire days to grab your jumpers/tote bags/posters. There will also be a one-of-a-kind ‘Content Room’, which will be showcasing highlights from this year’s gigs and celebrating fan-made content of the tour. Where and when will the London Oasis pop-up shop open? The temporary stall will settle in for three weeks across the next month, starting on December 4 and wrapping up on December 21. On weekends – that’s December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 – you’ll be able to personalise your goodies as well. From Monday-Saturday, it will be open from 10am-8pm, but on Sundays (December 7, 14, and 21) there will be reduced hours, remaining open between 11am-5pm. Walk-ins are welcome for shopping, but if you want to visit the Content Room, you’ll need to book ahead. You can do that here. The store will be located at 44-46 Regent Street. What Oasis merch