Ella Doyle

Being in love tends to make you want to shout from the rooftops about how great it all is, so it’s no surprise it dominates the music world. And that means it’s a very, very saturated market. So we’ve gone ahead and picked the absolute best, and ranked them too. Things are getting romantic at the minute, but we’ve got it all on this list; heartbreak tunes, the occasional bit of yearning, and (mostly) a bunch of lovey-dovey, feel-good tunes that celebrate all things lovin’.  What is the number one love song of all time? Rumour has it that the best selling love song of all time is Whitney Houston’s ‘I Will Always Love You.’ No surprise there. It’s a banger. And yes, we’ve got it on our list, but controversially we’ve got Dolly Parton’s version instead (fun fact: Dolly’s version was actually released first, Whitney’s was just more famous). Oh, and it’s not our number one either – for that, you’ll have to read on. Here are the best love songs ever written.  RECOMMENDED:🎙️ The best karaoke songs🎉 The best party songs🕺 The best pop songs of all time💔 The best breakup songs This guide was updated by NYC-based arts and culture journalist Alessandra Schade. Entries are by Time Out Editors. For more about how we curate, have a look at our editorial guidelines. 

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.

There's nothing quite as romantic as a dinner date. London is full of romantic things to do, and flowers, gifts and grand gestures are all very well and good, but we reckon sharing a meal is the best way to conjure up some love – and don't worry if a little sauce dribbles down your chin. 'Eating with abandon couldn't be more of a turn-on: it shows that you're comfortable with yourself,' said the late, great Anthony Bourdain, and we're inclined to agree. The places in our list of London’s most romantic restaurants all provide excellent opportunity to shove food in your face while flirting.  From chic French spots to amazing Japanese joints, we’ve got somewhere for every amorous encounter, whether a big date, anniversary dinner or a ‘We finally got a babysitter’ celebration. Really want to push the (love) boat out? Then visit one of London's Michelin-starred restaurants with your beau. To paraphrase Shakespeare: if food be the food of love, munch on. RECOMMENDED: The most romantic hotels in London. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

January is (thankfully) nearing its end. You know what that means? It’s high time you book that trip you’ve been thinking about. The question is, where to go? Well, we at Time Out have some ideas. We asked our editors for the number one destination they think should be on travellers’ radar this year, whether for unmissable events or cool new hotels, unspoiled nature or a growing dining scene. Our sights are set on foodie trips in Spain, starry skies in Norway, surf breaks in Siargao – and much more where that came from. Here are 12 amazing places we think you should explore in 2025. RECOMMENDED:🌇 The best cities in the world in 2025🗺️ The 25 best things to do around the world in 2025🧳 Five countries that really need more travellers this year

Of course greasy spoons are great – but our national cuisine is about way more than fry-ups, roasts and even fish and chips. London is a veritable goldmine of national culinary treasures: from 220-year-old aristo joints and top-hatted doormen to smoked eel sandwich-slinging brasseries, modern British steakhouses and poshed-up Victorian canteens, we’ve rounded up all the eateries that will make you come over weirdly patriotic with their exemplary takes on homegrown cuisine.  RECOMMENDED: London's 50 best restaurants.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor, and likes nothing more than feasting on a well-stuffed meat pie. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Crying out for that taste of summer freedom, heat on your face and more festivals than you can shake a stick out? You’ve got to book a holiday in July. And it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to burn up either: we’ve included destinations on our list that are great for ‘coolcations’, sunbathing and more.  Our list of the best places to visit in July touches every corner of the globe (the globe doesn’t have corners, for the record), from Montreal and Madagascar to the Netherlands and New Zealand. So bring out your swimsuits or shorts and get ready for the summer of a lifetime. Just make sure to book ahead: it goes without saying that July is a very, very busy month indeed. Happy travels! RECOMMENDED: 📍 The best cities in the world for 2025🏘️ The world’s coolest neighbourhoods📸 The world’s best cities for culture  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. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

London is full of perfect pizza. The finest of fast foods, this delicious staple has been elevated far beyond its humble roots by great Italian restaurants in London, pop-ups, street food vendors and pub residencies, and we know just where to find these world-class wonders. Whether it’s delivered in a cardboard box or served in a swish restaurant, excellent pizza is hard to beat. Browse our list of the best pizza parlours in town and try not to drool on your screen. Recent additions to the list include some nifty kitchen residencies; Dough Hands at east London pub the Spurstowe Arms (and the Old Nun’s Head in Nunhead) and Bing Bong Pizza at You Call The Shots in Hackney.  RECOMMENDED: The finest fish and chips in London.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Grab the mini toiletries, fetch your suitcase from the loft (perhaps dust it off) and get texting your pals: it’s time to sort your next big trip away. And we have a good idea. Hey, it’s not exactly rocket science – or one you’ve not thought of before – but it is a good one. You see, getting a group of you together means you can book a massive Airbnb and it won’t cost the earth. And boy are there some massive Airbnbs hanging about. While you might fancy sunning it in the Caribbean rather than heading to Manchester or the Lake District, we’re pretty sure a getaway with your nearest and dearest could be a pretty good alternative. Plus, with what Airbnb has on offer – including a whole host of super-luxe properties that become totally affordable when there’s a bunch of you – we reckon this could be an awesome way to get away on a getaway.  With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some of the coolest Airbnbs for groups of eight to 16 across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, from a converted church in Essex to a hunting lodge in the Scottish Highlands. January 2025 update: We've added two new properties in size extra-large, both located in the West Country (Cornwall and Somerset).RECOMMENDED: 🏰 20 castles you can actually stay in ⛺ The best UK campsites🚗 The best road trips in the UK Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts, and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate l

Europa és cada vegada més cara i moltes de les nostres ciutats tradicionalment 'barates' ja no ho són tant. Les destinacions més populars de Grècia, Espanya, Itàlia i més països estan afectades pel turisme massiu, i els preus comencen a assemblar-se a tot arreu. Però no patiu: si enguany viatgeu amb un pressupost ajustat, encara hi ha molts llocs que podreu visitar. El millor? Aquests indrets reben molts menys turistes i aglomeracions, i els vols per arribar-hi probablement també seran molt més econòmics. A la nostra llista hi trobareu de tot: des de capitals vibrants fins a pobles poc coneguts. Preparats per descobrir una altra cara d’Europa que us permetrà anar a sopar fora? Continueu llegint per descobrir les ciutats més barates per visitar aquest any a Europa. NO T'HO PERDIS: 🏝 Les 25 millors platges de Catalunya 🌱 Les 14 platges nudistes més boniques, amagades i salvatges d'Espanya 🌺 Els jardins més bonics i singulars de Catalunya 🏡 Els pobles més bonics de Catalunya 😋 15 restaurants boníssims a prop de Barcelona per a una escapada gastronòmica ❤️ Escapades romàntiques a prop de Barcelona

Europa está cada vez más cara y muchas de nuestras ciudades tradicionalmente 'baratas' ya no lo son tanto. Los destinos más populares de Grecia, España, Italia y otros países están afectados por el turismo masivo, y los precios comienzan a ser similares en todas partes. Pero no os preocupéis: si este año viajáis con un presupuesto ajustado, aún hay muchos lugares que podéis visitar. ¿Lo mejor? Estos destinos reciben muchos menos turistas y aglomeraciones, y los vuelos para llegar probablemente también serán mucho más económicos. En nuestra lista encontraréis de todo: desde capitales vibrantes hasta pueblos poco conocidos. ¿Preparados para descubrir otra cara de Europa que os permitirá salir a cenar fuera? Seguid leyendo para descubrir las ciudades más baratas para visitar este año en Europa. NO TE LO PIERDAS: Los pueblos más bonitos de Cataluña  

Philadelphia has no shortage of things to do with easy access to all the best Philadelphia attractions, the best restaurants in Philadelphia, and the best bars in Philadelphia. In 2023, the City of Brotherly Love welcomed over 40 million people, so needless to say, lodging is at the top of the list for visitors. These days, neighborhood properties on Airbnb are popular overnight accommodations that offer hotel-like luxury and home-y amenities for visitors to experience the city like a local for similar hotel pricing.  Below, we rounded up Philadelphia Airbnbs that put you at the heart of neighborhoods across the city and have enough space for individuals, families, groups, and even pets. Bonus: Several listings are run by “Superhosts” or “Guest favorites”—the most loved homes on Airbnb based on ratings, reviews, and reliability. Here are some tips for booking a short-term rental: Get familiar with local regulations, cross-check host listings and reviews for legitimacy, scope out the house rules and fees, and study up on the neighborhood. RECOMMENDED: The best hotels in PhiladelphiaThe best Airbnb cabins in PhiladelphiaThe best luxury hotels in Philadelphia Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Amsterdam is one of the world’s best cities, no doubt about it. Every wander down a cobbled street will take you somewhere excited, whether you're a foodie, curious about the Red Light District, or in the mood to party for 24 hours straight. And as a tourism capital, it’s no surpise that it’s overrun with exceptional places to stay, from 18th-century canalside mansions to converted bridge keepers’ houses and seriously high-grade establishments.  So if you’re looking for a tip-top place to bed down after a day of exploring the city’s best museums, attractions and coffee shops, you’ve come to the right place. From the city centre through to De Negen Straatjes, here are the best hotels in Amsterdam right now. Updated January 2025: We re-reviewed Amsterdam’s five-star Conservatorium Hotel to see if it’s up-to-scratch (spoiler: it is). See where we ranked it below! RECOMMENDED:🏠 The best Airbnbs in Amsterdam🌳 Where to stay in Amsterdam 📍 The best things to do in Amsterdam🍴 The best restaurants in Amsterdam🎀 The best boutique hotels in Amsterdam Ella Doyle and Grace Beard are Time Out’s travel editors. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by experts. 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. 

Commanding the stage on the ground floor, the Dry Rock Bar isn’t just a bar—it’s a movement. Indulge in cocktails that are as much a conversation starter as they are a drink. Wines? They’ve been handpicked, each with a backstory more captivating than a bestseller. For the pure of palate, our non-alcoholic concoctions stand tall, offering flavours every bit as enthralling.

What is it? A cornerstone of the Amsterdam scene, the city’s top live music venue was once a church – and it’s in such high demand that it often hosts several events in one day. Is it worth visiting? For music lovers, this is a bucket list kind of destination. The main hall has a rare sense of grandeur, with multiple balconies and stained-glass windows peering down upon the performers. The smaller hall upstairs is a great place to catch new talent before the big time. Both are wonderfully intimate; bands feed off the surroundings, making for some special nights.  Who has played there? An easier question would be ‘who hasn’t played there?’. We’re talkin Adele, David Bowie, Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay, Dua Lipa and more.  📍 Want to stay up really late? Check out our list of the best clubs in Amsterdam. 

Hotel de Rome has got history. A nineteenth-century manse, originally built as the headquarters of Dresdener Bank, was transformed in 2006 by Rocco Forte into what is now probably the grandest hotel in Berlin. Part of the Leading Hotels in the World, you don’t really get better than this in terms of location; it’s on Bebelplatz, one of the city’s most beautiful squares, which is oddly peaceful even when it’s crammed with tourists and tour guide groups. You’re waking up to a serious view if you get a front-facing room.   The 145 rooms are flat-out plush with polished wood, marble and velvet, complete with huge, sprawling, cloud-like beds, Irene Forte toiletries, thick, heavy bathrobes and underfloor heating in the bathroom. Having left my multiple chargers strewn out on the desk, I came back to find them wound up neatly with a Hotel De Rome branded velcro cable tie. It’s that kind of turn down service.  For dinner, head to onsite restaurant Chiaro for upscale Milanese dishes – scallop ceviche, linguine al limone, cacio e pepe with lobster – or opt for the €38 lunch deal. The restaurant space extends out into a leafy garden, filled with plants and fairy lights. Mornings are particularly peaceful out here, and the breakfast buffet is spectacular: the dedicated smoked salmon station features a whopping great tin of Forellen caviar, so big that I couldn’t help but imagine a group of men prizing it open with spades each morning.  At the very top, find Hotel de Rome’s rooftop bar,

A platter of three glimmering grilled oysters are garnished with spring onions and thin slices of lemon; slices of wagyu sit plump and perfectly formed; bowls of ramen are topped with chopsticks poised perfectly in the air. Feeling hungry? Wait till you see it in person. But these dishes aren’t there to eat: every single one is made entirely from plastic. Welcome to ‘Looks Delicious!’, a tasty exploration of one of Japan’s centuries-old traditions, Shokuhin Sampuru - Japanese food replicas.  If you’ve been lucky enough to spend time in Japan, you will have seen food replicas locked in glass cabinets outside restaurants, or displayed proudly at the entrance. They might show classic Japanese cuisine - razor-sharp sushi, perfect little bento boxes, yakitori with caramelised edges - or they might show Western food - spaghetti alfredo, beef burgers with pillowy buns, and melty cheese on toast, stretching into a satisfying cheese pull. You’re definitely going to leave hungry Against the backdrop of these brightly-coloured meals, visitors are treated to some tasty little morsels of Japanese culinary history. A long table in the middle represents Japan’s islands, taking you from north to south via dishes from each of its 47 prefectures, forks floating above each of them (thanks to some nifty hidden wires) and little placards detailing what’s on each plate; oysters from Hiroshima Bay, Bara-sushi from Okayama, Naporitan spaghetti in Yokohama.  You’ll leave primed with new facts about

This brand-new exhibition is the first solo show by London-based photographer Billy Barraclough, based over at the lovely Ensō House in Southwark. ‘Fodder’ is a collection of photographs documenting the practice of haymaking in rural Romania, following Barraclough’s time there this summer. Haymaking (essentially, turning grass into huge and strangely beautiful hay bales) has been practised there for centuries, but you can’t really imagine how striking the series is until you see it in person. The exhibition explores this ancient farming practice, how it coexists with nature and how the farmers preserve and protect the hay bales for the coming seasons.  There will also be an installation by Cynthia Fan, who helped curate the show. ‘Fodder’ opens on Wednesday October 30, but you’ll want to get down quick to see it – the exhibition is running for one month only, closing on November 23. Find more information on the photographer’s website.  📍 Discover more of the best photography exhibitions in London

What is it? This museum had a big switch up in 2023, when it changed from Heritage Museum to H’ART Museum. Partnering with London’s British Museum, Paris’s Centre Pompidou and more, it’s now all about international, contemporary art.  Why go? This beautiful museum is located along the Amstel River, with a courtyard (in summer, they show films out there) and a very nice café. Check out their website for upcoming exhibitions showcasing international artists.  📍 Discover the best things to do in Amsterdam

What is it? Formerly the Jewish Historical Museum, the Joods Museum + Junior is now the main attraction in the Jewish Cultural Quarter. Here you’ll also find the Portuguese Synagogue and the National Holocaust Museum.  What exhibitions are on there? Religious paraphernalia, photographs and paintings detail the rich history of Jews and Judaism in the Netherlands. Housed since 1987 in four former synagogues in the old Jewish quarter, the permanent displays focus on religious practice and Dutch Jewish culture. The Rintel chanukiah is not to be missed, which was donated to the Amsterdam’s Great Synagogue in 1753.  There are a number of family-friendly exhibits (note the ‘junior’ in the title), which you’ll find to the right of the main lobby. Here kids can learn about Jewish history in an interactive way, from learning how to make challah to writing their name in Hebrew.  📍 Discover the best things to do in Amsterdam

It used to be the case that if you were eating at the South Bank, it was probably for convenience’s sake. Which meant you might end up in Giraffe for the first time in a decade, or you’d sack off dinner altogether and do two-for-one cocktails at Las Iguanas.  Lasdun – from the same team behind the Marksman in Hackney – officially changed the game when it opened in May 2023. In league with the first central London outlet for Forza Wine, they succeeded in making the National Theatre (and the South Bank at large) an actual destination to meet for actual dinner, whether you were seeing a show or not.   Pork chop, breadcrumbed and deep-fried with anchovy and sage, is about as delicious as it sounds Having said that, the crowd at Lasdun is largely your parents going to the theatre, make no mistake. Between 6 and 7.30pm the restaurant is rammed and buzzing with pre-theatre excitement; waiters whip round, making sure everyone gets their bill before their play starts, and final toilet trips are hastily made. The weird bit is when everyone suddenly leaves at once, leaving behind just a few tables of non-theatre going folk. That said, there’s something quite exciting about it. We start with some lovely wine and fat green olives, and get the lowdown on Lasdun’s signature dishes; the beef bun, the smoked eel, the pork chop and the chicken pie for two. Prices are hefty but you are literally on the South Bank, so I don’t want to hear any complaints, and the pre-theatre menu is a pretty dec

Pula is probably more well-known for its music festivals than for its luxury travel scene, but that just makes Grand Hotel Brioni even more special (and is probably partly the reason for its reasonable prices). One of the newer hotels in the Radisson collection (and the first on the Adriatic coast), Grand Hotel Brioni is the result of £30m of renovations on the historic Hotel Brioni. Let’s get one thing straight first: this place is huge, with 227 rooms and 12 suites. But it feels far from touristy and overcrowded. In fact, Grand Hotel Brioni’s most alluring quality is its total seclusion, set on its own little slice of sea with its very own private beach, surrounded by a pine tree forest. The whole building is vast, grand and draped in blue, with small Roman details if you look close enough. Rooms are clean and beautifully furnished, with Acqua di Parma toiletries in the bathroom and your very own pillow roulette (three rows of fat hotel pillows, each of them differently stuffed, feathered and plumped). If you can afford to, it’s worth paying a little more for a sea-facing room, which look out over the infinity pool, the beach and further out across across the Istrian Riviera. Each morning at the Brioni Forum Restaurant, breakfast is the star of the show: all fresh fluffy omelettes, champagne, chia pudding and pastries (and an actual barista making actual coffee). But dinner’s got you covered too, featuring rows and rows of pasta, sushi, salads and Croatian starters. The be

Feeling thirsty? Desperate for a funky sour, cheeky saison or a fruity IPA? You’re in luck. The Capital’s biggest beer celebration is back for 2024, taking place across both floors of London’s Tobacco Docks, for four hours of non-stop-beer-drinking bliss. Set over two days, you’ll get to sample London’s best beers as well as some international standouts, including our faves Gipsy Hill, Orbit, Queer Brewing and more. Hungry? The food line up is pretty serious too, this year featuring Flesh & Buns, Bone Daddies and Chick N’ Sours. A £54.50 ticket gets you a four-hour session drinking every beer you can possibly image, and there are group discounts available too. Happy drinking, folks. 

Since this review was written, ex Brat chef Aidan Richardson has taken over Half Cut Market’s kitchen as head chef.  What makes a perfect wine bar? Well there’s the wine, for starters. Lots of it. The classics and the stuff you want to take photos of. Then there’s the vibe of the place; cosy, dimly lit, but fun enough to laugh obnoxiously loudly and not get looks. The music mustn’t be too loud (I don’t like to shout) but definitely not too quiet either. The food should come out on little plates at random times so I feel like I’m in Spain.  Half Cut Market, found in that no man’s land between Holloway, Kentish Town and King’s Cross (I’d probably say it’s in Cally Road, if one can be ‘in’ Cally Road), is a perfect wine bar. It’s a bit of a nothingy strip of shops, so Half Cut was welcomed with open arms when it launched in 2021, then got even more love after appointing Jack Newton as head chef and becoming one of the best restaurants in the area. It knows its target market; young and cool, with knowledgeable staff, good tunes, a wine rack labelled with multicoloured fridge magnet letters (‘zippy whites,’ ‘weird whites,’ oranges and more), as well as tables outside for that final glass of chilled red and a ciggie.  The focaccia here reigns supreme, so mighty soft I want to curl it around me and sleep for three days Every small plates spot worth its dough in London will start you off with focaccia, but the focaccia here reigns supreme, so mighty soft I want to curl it around me

Freak Scene Sushi & Robata is the second branch of the pan-Asian fusion restaurant headed up by ex-Nobu chef Scott Hallsworth (the other is in Parsons Green) and kind of a strange place. But on my visit it was completely packed out – I couldn’t get a reservation for two weeks – so I had an inkling they were doing something right here in Balham. There’s two floors, but they’re very different; upstairs is full of (very) tightly-packed tables, an open kitchen and alarmingly loud rock music, which later on shifted to ’90s RnB. The basement is quieter, more sultry, with thick curtains and just a few tables. Downstairs is much more like an actual omakase restaurant, and would be better for a date. There’s graffiti in the toilet, which feels as though it’s been written on for effect; there’s no way that much could have accumulated in the month or so since opening.   Some things sound gimmicky yet end up delicious, like sushi tacos with truffle ponzu and shallot salsa Staff are great and not over-the-top polite. Normal, chill types who talk to you like human beings. It’s nice. And make sure you go with their recommendations – some things on the menu sound gimmicky yet end up delicious, like sushi tacos with truffle ponzu and shallot salsa, salty, citrusy and full of flavour, served on what is basically an XL pop chip. It works! To start, we washed down edamame (charred and deeply smoky, tossed through butter and sake) with cucumber margaritas. We followed with crab sushi, made with f

At midday tomorrow (July 5, 2024), Barcelona will gain a new landmark, and it will make history. We don’t say that lightly: Time Out Market Barcelona is the largest permanent space dedicated to dining in the city. The upper floor of the Maremagnum will host a gastronomic and cultural market of over 5,000 square metres, bringing together a plethora of culinary offerings – from the best tapas in the city to dishes by Michelin-starred chefs – to make quite literally the best dining experience in the city. Not convinced yet? Here are eight reasons to get yourself to Barcelona as soon as you possibly can.  1. It’s (actually) the best of the best At the Market, we don’t have just one spectacular restaurant. We have 14! And all have been selected by the editorial team at Time Out Barcelona, the same team that has been recommending the best places to eat and drink in the city for the past 16 years. Oh, and each of those restaurants has chosen its top dishes to offer at the market. That’s why our motto is the best of the city under one roof. Get it? It’s the best of the best. Foto: Cinc SentitsCinc Sentits 2. You can choose your own adventure Why should you miss out on a dish by a Michelin-starred chef if your companion fancies sausage and beans? Why should you forgo devouring a good grilled steak after starting with a seafood appetiser? Why can’t you begin with an authentic Mexican taco and continue with a pizza? At the Market, every food combo is possible. Both for what you fancy

  Those facing homelessness are vulnerable all year round, but particularly at Christmas, when the temperature drops and many homeless people face extreme weather conditions. Across the UK, there are a number of ways that we can all support the homeless, whether it's setting up a monthly donation to a charity or offering food, clothing or money to individuals wherever we can. Wherever you are based, here are eight ways you can help this Christmas.  1. Download Streetlink Streetlink is a website and phone app that allows users to alert authorities to someone sleeping rough in England and Wales. Volunteers can help people facing homelessness find a bed for the night, as well as point them to long-term support services. Download the app here. 2. Contact your local council Streetlink is the quickest way to find support for those sleeping rough, but it does not guarantee the person will receive help. You can also contact your local council, which can help locate a bed for those facing homelessness. In some UK areas, SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol) has been activated, which means more beds will open up in local shelters.  3. Speak to the homeless Facing homelessness is extremely challenging, and there can be days where they might not communicate with anyone at all. If you are able, you can ask a homeless person what they need, and help them source food, a hot drink, money for shelter or warm clothing. The Big Issue has some helpful tips for reaching out to homeless people

So the festive season has finally arrived, meaning it’s dark at 5pm and we’re all getting Monzo warnings to chill on the spending. But though it doesn’t necessarily feel like it, it’s still technically autumn right now. It’s not actually winter until we reach the Actual Shortest Day of the Year, aka the winter solstice. But that moment is coming up relatively soon, and you know what that means? The days are going to start getting brighter again. Final push, eh? Here’s everything we know. What is the winter solstice? It basically just means the shortest day of the year (and the longest night of the year, obvs). The winter solstice occurs when the Earth turns on its axis, to the point where its poles reach their maximum tilt away from the sun. It happens twice a year – creating the shortest day and the longest day. The actual winter solstice only lasts for a moment, but the name refers to the whole day. When is the shortest day of the year in the UK? The winter solstice usually falls on December 21 to 22. This year, it will fall on Friday December 22. The exact time of the solstice is 3:27am. For some context, you’ll get eight hours and 49 minutes less daylight on that day then what you get on the June solstice.  How do we celebrate the shortest day of the year? There are a whole load of ways people celebrate the winter solstice all over the world. Prehistoric monuments like Stonehenge are aligned with the sunset for the winter solstice, so people often visit them on the day. P

What with all the Christmas cheer, summer seems a long way off right now. But the more organised among us know that this is the time to start getting events booked in. And if you want to avoid having to stay in while your pals all get wrecked, we’d strongly advise getting on those early-bird ticket sales ASAP. And if you don’t know where to start? Reading and Leeds have just announced their line-ups for next year, and they’re looking pretty promising. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 editions of these two banging festivals. RECOMMENDED:Here’s the full Reading and Leeds 2023 line-up and stage timesThe best UK music festivals to book for 2023How to get tickets for Reading and Leeds festival 2024 When are Reading and Leeds Festivals? Both of the three-day events will take place from August 25 to 27 2023. Leeds Festival will be in Bramham Park, while Reading Festival will take place at Richfield Avenue.  Who are the headliners? The headliners for both festivals were announced today on BBC Radio One, with Billie Eilish, Sam Fender, Lewis Capaldi, Foals, the Killers and Imagine Dragons all set to top the bill. Other performers will include Shy FX, Yung Lean, Slowthai and Bicep. Headliners play both festivals on different days throughout the weekend. Reading and Leeds is traditionally a rock festival, but features artists across indie, dance, pop and more. Scots singer Lewis Capaldi tweeted that he expected some backlash from rock music lovers for headlining the fe

So, it’s officially Euro Summer. And if you don’t know what that means, well, we don’t blame you. It’s not entirely clear. But all the Americans are doing it on TikTok (the hashtag alone has nearly 700m views), and ‘Europecore’ is now its own category on Depop (it features cowboy boots, Nike t-shirts and long jean shorts, obviously). Essentially, young Americans travel to unspecified countries in Europe, and post about it on TikTok. And thus their Euro Summer commences. But quickly, Euro Summer turned from a highly-anticipated travel opportunity into hurtling controversy. Americans discovered that ‘Europe’ (exact location still unclear) ain’t all sunshine and roses. And onto our TikTok ‘for you’ pages tumbled a series of American bugbears: Europeans don’t eat vegetables. Europeans charge you for the toilet. European train stations smell bad.  The most controversial of all? That Europeans don’t drink water. Apparently.  But is it true? Do Europeans simply not drink water? And if so, how do they survive? There was only one way to find out. We’ve asked Time Out editors in Barcelona, Madrid and Paris the big question. Do you drink water, or not? @taylorhuntleigh Maybe it’s just me? #europeansummer ♬ Summer - Calvin Harris First thing’s first: Do Europeans drink water? María José Gómez, Time Out Barcelona: ‘Many tourists act as if they don't know that people from Barcelona are actually living beings, but, certainly, we are, so if we don't drink water, we die. ‘T

It’s no secret that pubs are struggling at the moment, especially independent ones. But the one guy you’d think would be fine is ol’ Wetherspoons, with its nearly 900 pubs across the UK and Ireland.  But it looks like even Spoons isn’t thriving in the current climate. The chain has just announced it will be selling another seven of its pubs – bringing the total to 39 this year.  The location of those seven pubs hasn’t been revealed yet. Owner Tim Martin announced in July this year that the chain could be set to lose around £30 million in revenue this year, but it looks like the sales haven’t been as bad as predicted. A spokesperson said trading at the minute is ‘broadly’ in line with its expectations, though it had dipped in October. And if your local does hit the market, don’t fret – the venues are going to stay as Wetherspoons for now, until someone buys them. And if no one does, they’re just going to stay as Wetherspoons, so you can still get your pink gin pitcher and chips ‘n’ gravy fix. Martin said that ’in the absence of further lockdowns or restrictions, the company remains cautiously optimistic about future prospects’.  The list of the 32 venues we do know are up for sale are as follows: Barnsley – Silkstone Inn Beaconsfield – Hope & Champion Bexleyheath – Wrong ‘Un Bournemouth – Christopher Creeke Cheltenham – Bank House Durham – Water House Halifax – Percy Shaw Hanham – Jolly Sailor Harrow – Moon on the Hill Hove – Cliftonville Inn London Battersea – Asparagus Lond

What with the cozzy livs and commuting and all that, city life can get a bit much sometimes. You might find yourself wishing you could throw your phone into the ocean or go live in the woods in the middle of nowhere. Well, it turns out there’s a bit of a market for that – sans phone-throwing – and it’s really catching on.  Unyoked is an Australian company offering city dwellers the chance to hide away in a cabin and immerse themselves in nature for the weekend. It now has cabins in different spots throughout the UK, including Norfolk and Wales, and they’re mostly reachable by a short-ish train journey from London or another major city. We popped down to our cabin in the South Downs National Park after work on a Friday. Simples.  The 20-minute cab ride from the station to the cabin cost an eye-watering £28 each way, something you definitely might want to bear in mind as an extra expense when choosing your spot. Arriving in the dark is vaguely horror movie-esque, but the bright yellow ‘Unyoked’ signs quickly remind you that you’re not quite as in the middle of nowhere as it seems in the dark. I wondered whether we’d be able to spot signs of life from where we were staying (I hoped not), but although you pass a whole house and another Unyoked cabin on the way, once you reach it, you really do feel isolated.  Photograph: Intone Films Photograph: Intone Films Photograph: Intone Films The cabin is cute and shed-like, with a tiny little kitchen, fridge and shower room. You c

Getting a bit of déjà vu? Normal life in London – and much of the UK – pretty much came to a standstill as the Queen’s funeral took place at Westminster Abbey last September. And today pretty much the same thing has happened.  The King’s coronation is in full swing at Westminster, with central London now pretty much on lockdown as royalists and curious people come to have a gawp at the new monarch. The whole thing is a bit weird, but definitely interesting. And it also may have you got feeling a little misty-eyed about our previous sovereign, Elizabeth II.  Her funeral last year culminated in a committal service and private burial at the King George VI Memorial Chapel (part of St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle) in the evening. The Queen was buried alongside her mother, father and sister. The body of her late husband Prince Philip was also removed from the Royal Vault to be laid next to Her Majesty. Now, a ledger stone has been laid and members of the public are able to visit her grave. Here’s everything you need to know if you want to pay your respects. RECOMMENDED: Here’s the full schedule for the King’s coronation Will you be able to visit the Queen’s grave at Windsor? Windsor was said to be the Queen’s favourite home (even over Buckingham Palace) and is the longest-inhabited royal castle in the world. The property is estimated to be worth around £235 million. But many have been wondering whether this means they will be able to visit Windsor to see the Queen’s tomb. The

It’s March, and we’re all gagging bit of spring sunshine – jacket weather, perhaps, so we could put the puffer coats away for a while. But it’s the UK, so all we’re getting is more cold weather, wind – and a hell of a lot of rain.  And you know what? We’re over it. At times like this, there’s really only one antidote. Yep, ladies and gentlemen, what we all need is a holiday – ideally, a holiday that won’t break the bank. With that in mind, budget airline Wizz Air has just dropped some all-new, seriously cheap flights to Turkey, one of the hottest holiday destinations around (yes, we mean in both senses of the word).  The new flights from the UK go directly to Istanbul, year round, as well as to Antalya and Dalaman on the Mediterranean coast. You can book them right now on Wizz Air’s website and via the Wizz app.  And yes, it’s going to be cheap. Like, as low as £30.99 cheap. So for the price of a takeaway for two, you can instead head to Istanbul for beautiful architecture, ancient mosques and some seriously good stuffed Turkish flatbread.  Want all the deets? We’ve got you covered. Right now, you can fly from Luton to Istanbul for £30.99, and from Gatwick to Dalaman for £35.99. Not too shabby, right? For more info, visit Wizz Air or GoTürkiye.  Stay in the loop: sign up to Out There, our free newsletter about all the best stuff to do across the UK.

Anyone remember the UK’s highest railway? Much to the disappointment of railway lovers (and skiers), it was shut down back in 2018 due to a ton of structural problems. But fear not, readers, we have great news: the UK’s most elevated railway is officially back in business, and it’s opening very soon indeed: January 26. The Cairngorm Funicular shut down five years ago, but the Scottish government has since poured around £25 million into fixing it up so it’s ready to go again. Running up the Cairn Gorm mountain in the Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands, it connects the mountain’s base station with its skiing area and restaurant way up the mountain – 1,097 metres up, to be exact. It was meant to reopen last year, but got delayed by blizzards (and Covid). Now, after receiving the necessary safety certificates from the UK Department of Transport, it’s back just in time for the end of snow sports season. Scotland ski trip, anyone?  Stay in the loop: sign up to Out There, our free newsletter about all the best stuff to do across the UK.  

So, after months of waiting, it’s nearly the big day. The eve of the eve. Festive lights line every street, trees can be spotted in every window, and Christmas tunes are blasting in all of the high street shops. But what song has actually got to the top this Christmas? What is the Christmas number one? It’s all very Love Actually, we know, but the Christmas number one thing is still happening, and only one can win. The Christmas number one isn’t the most popular song of the whole year, it’s just the one that tops the charts on the final week (so from December 16 to 22). Here’s everything we know about the race this year.  When is the Christmas No 1 announced? Drum roll please, the Christmas Number One is announced… today! At 4pm today (Friday, December 23), you’ll have to tune into BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart Show with Jack Saunders to hear the winner announced.  Who is in the running for the Christmas No 1?  Surprisingly, it’s YouTubers. A YouTube group named LadBaby have topped the charts for the Christmas Number One for the last four years, and all of the songs have been sausage roll themed: ‘We Built This City’ (2018), ‘I Love Sausage Rolls’ (2019), ‘Don't Stop Me Eatin’’ (2020), and ‘Sausage Rolls For Everyone’ with Ed Sheeran and Elton John (2021).  If LadBaby win this year with their song ‘Food Aid’, a parody of Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’, they will be the first act ever to get five Christmas Number Ones. LadBaby’s song features Money Saving Expert’s Mar

This year was a pretty monumental one in the UK. We saw the death of the late Queen in September, and a new King was crowned following her 70 years on the throne. Since then, we’ve got used to a new national anthem, and the first King Charles III coin was announced two weeks ago. It will be the King’s coronation in March next year, but before we get to that, there’s another tradition to get ready for. King Charles III will make his first speech on Christmas Day this year, which will mark the second time Charles will address the country following the death of his mother. Here’s everything we know about the King’s 2022 Christmas speech. When will King Charles III make his speech?  The King will give his first speech as King at 3pm on Christmas Day. The speech itself was actually pre-recorded by His Majesty on December 13 at Sandringham, but will be shown on the telly on December 25. Where can I watch it? King Charles III’s speech will be shown at 3pm on BBC One, BBC Two, ITV One and Sky One. You can also catch up with it afterwards on BBC iPlayer and ITVX.  How long is the speech? Definitely set your alarms, because it’ll be over before you know it. The King’s speech lasts just ten minutes from start to finish.  What will the King say in his speech? We don’t know exactly what he’ll say, of course, but it’s likely he will speak about his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Last year, the Queen paid tribute to her late husband Prince Philip, who had died in October 2021.  Historian Jerem