Ellie Muir

Life in London can be pretty tense. Just think of all the time we spend each week contorting into gaps on the tube during our overcrowded commute or the hours a day hunched over laptops, sitting through stressful meetings or chained to our desks late into the evening before slumping over our phones at home to scroll through TikToks for several hours. Even if we find time in our days for an hour or two of proper fun, mindful quiet, or the endorphin hit of a sweaty exercise class, we still have tired feet, tight muscles, and shoulders that need soothing. Enter these amazing London spas and studios dedicated to massaging the city back to health. Permit yourself a break, put your slippered feet up and let these amazing treatments work their magic.   RECOMMENDED: Check out the best spas in London for more top treatments Want to save money on your massages? Loads of great deals at Time Out Offers

London life can leave you needing to find your zen. Thankfully, in this city, you’re never far from a yoga studio and great instructors just waiting to help you de-stress and stretch all your worries away – at least for an hour or so. Whether you’re a sun salutation newbie or a veteran yogi with all the moves down, or you’re looking for a sweaty Bikram sesh or an ultra-soothing candlelit class, London’s yoga scene has something for you. Get down to one of these studios across the capital and get those endorphins flying. Fancy something a bit different? Check out hot yoga or rooftop yoga. If intensity is more your thing, take a look at our top picks for outdoor exercise classes or best boxing classes. RECOMMENDED: More ways to be active in London.

If the only thing you want to hear going bump in the night is a thudding soundsystem, then Halloween in London won’t disappoint. This year, the day of spooks and scares falls on Thursday, October 31 2024. Partying til the early hours might not be seen as a good move in the middle of the week normally, but Halloween is different – a time to embrace the more terrifying sides of life, just like having to make it through the work day with a hangover that’s as resilient as the club entry stamp ink that refuses to budge from your hand. But while there’s plenty of options for Halloween night itself, there will also be opportunities to join in the fun on the ‘Halloweekend’ just before, or the weekend after. There are scary club nights aplenty, but also gothic cabaret shows, frightful live music, spooky museum lates and scary movie screenings. If you go out on actual Halloween, be prepared to spend the following days like a zombie at work. It’ll be so worth it, though... RECOMMENDED: Our complete guide to Halloween in London.

Autumn has officially arrived. The leaves are golden, it’s getting dark at 7pm, there’s a familiar chill in the air, and big orange orbs have started popping up all over London and beyond. Yep, October means many things to different people. For some it’s horror season, for others it’s cosy candle-lit evenings in front of the telly with a hot, spiced drink. For others, it’s pumpkin time.  Whether you want to stock up on pumpkins to carve into a Halloween lantern or grab up gourds to transform into pies, soups and other cosy autumnal dinners, there are loads of places where you can pick your own bulbous squash – all very close to the capital. Here are our favourite places to go for making the most of pumpkin season in 2024. RECOMMENDED: Halloween in London.

It’s time to say goodbye to the summer sun – but we promise that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Sure, it might be too chilly to lounge around in the park all weekend, but nothing beats a brisk autumn walk – perhaps on a day trip to one of the many lovely pumpkin patches around the city – before curling up next to a roaring fire in a cosy London pub, or finding a cosy nook in your favourite reading room.  Autumn, after all, is all about cosy comfort. Think infinitely squishy sofas, blankets and fairy lights aplenty, plus an excuse to warm your cockles with hot chocolate, delicious soups or hot toddies. Missing the summer sun now? We didn’t think so. RECOMMENDED: London’s most cosy pubs

More often than not, date night involves food. With so many amazing restaurants in NYC (not to mention romantic restaurants), it’s not hard to find a new spot to take the love in your life for a meal. But if you’re a foodie in search of unique date ideas to shake things up a little bit, a cooking class might be right up your alley. More specifically, check out the best couples' cooking classes in NYC to brush up on your culinary skills while having a fun night out. We’ve tried them and boy are they good. There’s a lot there, too. From basic culinary skills to cooking with wine, rolling sushi, or cooking authentic Thai food of exceptional quality, these couples' cooking classes aim to entertain and educate. And the best bit? You’re sure to grow even closer as you mix ingredients with your special someone. Just make sure it doesn’t turn into a kitchen competition — these classes contain knives! And peelers. Peelers can be dangerous, too.  Whatever the focus of the cooking class you decide to book, you’ll learn something new and taste something delicious. Plus, you’ll have the skills you need to cook a delicious meal for a stay-at-home date night or to impress your pals a-deux. And if you’re looking for more ways to develop skills while kindling a romance, consider one of NYC’s best pottery classes — fun, functional, and you might even get to recreate that scene from Ghost. Here’s hoping, huh? RECOMMENDED: Full guide to date ideas in NYCRECOMMENDED: The best hotels in NYCRECOMME

You might not think it when you’re running late for work and fighting for the tiniest spot on the Tube, but London can be pretty magical. We don’t mean because of its scenic skyline, top food scene or wealth of opportunities, but in the real witchy definition of magic. Look close enough and you’ll find shops, events and communities all dedicated to the art of everything spells and occult. There are 21st-century witches working their magic all over the city and dispelling the notion that witchcraft is all broomsticks and black cats. They’re more than ready to help you get in touch with your witchy side, so visit one of these hotspots and unlock your Wicca potential. Recommended: Find spooky atmosphere galore at London's most haunted pubs.

  In just a few days, Notting Hill will be bumping to beats and bass, soundtracking the bank holiday weekend with reggae, roots, lover’s rock and so much more. It’s not just live performances bringing the noise to the area, though, with Carnival’s famed static soundsystems and host of DJs keeping the party going all day long. There’s something for everyone over the weekend-long extravaganza, whether you’re a hip-hop head, lover of bashment or want to feel dub rattling in your chest. Every corner of W10 over the weekend will become part of a smorgasbord of sound and we’re mapping out the best spots to get stuck in. Give yourself a headstart and check out Carnival’s best soundsystems below. What day are the soundsystems playing at Notting Hill Carnival 2024? On Carnival Sunday and Monday, over 30 static soundsystems will play from noon to 7pm at various locations across the parade map, which you can find here. Check back nearer the date for the official locations of each soundsystem. Here’s Time Out’s A-Z of Notting Hill Carnival soundsystems this year:

Notting Hill Carnival, one of the best weekends of the year, is almost upon us. It's incredibly fun, but the sounds, smells, sights and crowds of Carnival can make it a little overwhelming. An estimated 2.5 million punters head to west London for the celebration, so it’s totally understandable that you might get turned around, lost or just need a handy reminder of where you're going are after several cans of Red Stripe. Never fear! We’ve created the interactive map below, soundsystems and all, to help you navigate your way around the famous west London parade. Check it out.  What is the schedule for Notting Hill Carnival 2024? Notting Hill Carnival 2023 starts on Sunday, August 25 and continues on Bank Holiday Monday, August 26.  What is the Notting Hill Carnival 2024 parade route?  Sunday is the day of the children’s parade and the adult’s parade takes place on Monday. The route for 2024 is yet to be officially confirmed, but both are likely to begin near Westbourne Park tube station. Last year, the adult parade then moved down to Westbourne Park Road, down Cheapstow Road to Westbourne Grove, turning up Ladbroke. It then looped down Kensal back to the starting point. The whole thing is three miles long in total. Most of the participating soundsystems have now been announced. Find out where to find them over the weekend with our guide.  What time does the Notting Hill Carnival parade start? If you want to catch the very start of the parade at Carnival, you’ll

Whether it’s hidden London history, bat colonies or candle-lit concert halls, there’s a lot more to London’s graveyards than just timely places to celebrate Halloween. Head to these quiet slices of city greenery at any time of year, and you’ll find intriguing graves belonging to some of London’s most famous residents, spectacular architecture, hidden histories and lovingly-preserved parks and gardens. Some of history’s most famous thinkers and creatives are commemorated by ornate blocks of stone in these patches of tranquillity including Karl Marx, Daniel Defoe and William Blake. Others are home to macabre catacombs and diverse nature reserves that put on birdwatching walks and foraging workshops. So why not swap an afternoon in a London park for a peaceful wander through one of these grand and picturesque cemeteries? RECOMMENDED: The 50 best attractions in London.  

There's more to London fashion than catwalks, streetwear influencers and designer boutiques. If you want to source stylish one-offs that come with bags of personality, thrift and vintage stores are the places to go. Yep, you'll find bigger bargains at charity shops, swap shops or weekend car boot sales. But the joy of thrift stores is the curation: the personal tastes of their owners bloom across their multicoloured rails, with sections that reference the latest street trends or high fashion directions. Shopping secondhand is also an easy way to get eco-friendly: gallons of water and shedloads of pesticides go into the production of each new cotton t-shirt, so do both the planet and your wardrobe a favour and go vintage. Here are the best places to start your retro fashion journey.  RECOMMENDED: The best markets in London

As much fun as London is, sometimes it’s refreshing to get out of the capital and into one of the many picturesque villages within easy reach of the city. Swap cramming onto the tube for relaxing country walks, plunging into London’s lidos for a dip at a seaside town, and city parks for fields of outstanding natural beauty – you won’t regret it. The UK’s countryside offers up a wealth of worthwhile day trips year-round, but where should you head on your next venture into the great outdoors? We’ve collected ten of the prettiest villages you can easily visit, taken from the book ‘Escape London’ by Yolanda Zappaterra. You may have experienced their period charm in a film or TV show, but nothing beats a leisurely stroll through their winding streets, followed by a well-earned pint by a roaring pub fire.This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

Peruse 1000s of handpicked paintings, sculpture, photography and prints from 200 galleries at this springtime edition of the Affordable Art Fair in Hampstead Heath. With a mission to democratise art, works are priced between £50 and £7,500. Hampstead Heath visitors will get the opportunity to view Jackson’s Painting Prize finalists' work up close, whilst families can bring a buggy and get creative between 11am and noon. This year, highlights include a new installation by Belgian artist Jules Wittock that’s described as “labyrinthine”, a dog photobooth (because why should humans have all the fun?), outdoor art classes, and much more. 

The Pelham is the sort of hotel you’d see in an American Christmas rom-com when the main character visits England during winter vacation. The hotel itself is comprised of two townhouses, developed together to create an intimate home away from home. Common areas for guests include the library room and drawing room; both dimly lit and wood-laden with traditional twentieth-century furnishings, toasty enough to curl up under a blanket next to the fire. All of the rooms are an acceptable size, with the junior suite being bigger than most flats in London. The decor is slightly kitsch, at times, given that each room has a bright colour scheme. That’s all forgiven by the sweet, festive feeling of the place (we’d recommend going during the holiday season for the real cosy experience). And while The Pelham is definitely upmarket, evident in its plush, tranquilising beds and beautiful bathrooms in each room, it still has a clumsy English charm; the floors in the hallway creek as you walk and the lift is absolutely tiny. Yet, it all adds to the undeniable, comforting appeal of the place. The Neighbourhood: Situated in the heart of South Kensington, opposite the Tube station and up the road from Exhibition Road, where you’ll find the V&A, Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and rows of boutique restaurants and cafes on the way. It’s convenient for people looking to explore the city’s cultural, upmarket side. There are also direct connections to central London via the Underground an

Comb your way through the wash of Simmons and Be at One chain bars scattered across Soho, you’ll find the best cocktails in London’s buzzy hub lie in more understated spots. Henson’s Bar and Social, on the ground floor of Mimi’s Hotel, is just that. With its oak-panelled lounge, fuzzy red velvet curtains and low ceilings, it has an old boys’ club vibe, but thankfully minus the stuffy men. There’s nothing OTT about Henson’s, but it still maintains a sense of grand, classic bougieness. It’s the sort of place you’d take someone if you wanted to impress them, but also show that you’re both down-to-earth and refined. The atmosphere was pleasant, but not as bustle-y as I was hoping for on a Thursday night in Soho. The generic, swish bar music was also a bit dull and could have done with more consideration.  The menu, however, was exacted with painstaking precision, because the drinks were absolutely delicious. Henson’s extensive offering showcases a range of classics done absolutely right. It’s a blend of drinks you know and more rogue blockbuster concoctions, such as the exuberant Truffle in Paradise, but nothing ridiculous or overdone. The cocktails – all £13 – are broken down into four categories: Signature, Aperitivo, Classic and Forgotten Classics. The Mezcal Negroni was a smoky delight, strong and fragrant and topped off with a shaving of orange over the top of a gigantic ice cube. The Daiquiri was crispy, zesty and fresh.  Next up was the show-stopping Joy of Life – a delic

Now in its tenth year, Southbank Centre is returning with its nostalgic through the decades party. Across its five floors, each of which is themed around a different decade from the 1920s to the present day, the venue will be transformed with six themed nightclubs and dance classes, plus performances from live acts, orchestras and specialist DJs. Once the countdown to midnight begins, the outdoor spaces and terraces will be the ultimate viewing point for the iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks display. New Year's Eve ticket prices come as package bands, from 'Party Only' to 'Roof Garden Spectacular' to 'Golden Dining', ranging from £130 to £345.

Unless you’ve been living under a massive arancini ball, you’ll know that sourdough, neapolitan pizza is all the rage these days. And with good reason: it’s proper, authentic Italian comfort food, which 081 Pizzeria serves up to near perfection. Its original branch is a street-food set up in Peckham Levels. Now, it’s added a cosy new spot in Fitzrovia (inside Smuggler’s Tavern on Warren Street), which moves it into more refined terrain, offering a selection of hand-crafted Neapolitan pizzas and Napoli-inspired tapas dishes. A red neon sign on the wall reads: ‘Pizza is a very serious thing.’ I couldn’t agree more. And 081 wasn’t lying when they drilled that sign into the wall. The menu expertly delivers on honest, Italian comfort food, brimming with small plates and inventive pizzas served up in cosy surroundings that make you feel like you’re having dinner at a talented neighbour’s house. For starters, the courgette flower was a mouthwatering, crispy delight, stuffed with ricotta and smoked mozzarella cased in a deep fried tempura shell, served on a bed of asparagus cream — a tasty, textural dream. But the aubergine parmigiana was the showstopper of the antipasti. Made with slices of velvety, slow-cooked, melt-in-the-mouth aubergine, smothered with cheese and tomato sauce sandwiched in a delicious salty, deep fried Sicilian dough, it was a delectable warmup. Now for the pizza, which we know by now is serious business. The composition of the house pizza — the 081 — was almost

Keen to stay fit while also eschewing the pressure to go dry in January? This exercise class is perfect for you. Every Monday throughout the first month of the year, Gymbox is putting on an anti-dry January, bar crawl-inspired class, where you leave with the best kind of six-pack: a six-pack of beer that is. Taking inspiration from the pub, the circuit class replaces regular equipment with kegs and includes keg lifts, squats, bunny hops and rope pulls, with beer pong challenges at the drinking game rest station (with a forfeit for ten burpees if you lose). Once you’ve sweated your way around the circuit, you’ll leave with a six-pack of Tiny Rebel low-cal beers to take home as a reward, which you can sink guilt-free in the knowledge that you burned off all the calories beforehand! That’s our kind of workout!

Welcome the year of the Tiger in with an array of wellbeing-focused workshops and classes. Terra Chokubaiten will be leading an incense burner making workshop, encouraging visitors to rejuvenate and recharge their energies as they bring in the Lunar New Year. A selection of mind and body workshops will take place throughout the day, from ceramic workshops to mindful movement classes.

Grab your best platonic pals and head to Vauxhall for the Royal Vauxhall Tavern’s fourth annual Galentine’s Pub Quiz, a celebration of friendship, pop culture and London’s best queer spaces. This year’s event is bigger and better than ever before, with an aim to raise £2,500 for the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre. We recommend you get revising the latest pop culture hot-topics for a chance to win first place this Galentine’s Day.

Bring the whole family to this paper lantern-making workshop where you’ll learn about and celebrate the Lunar New Year. Each participant takes home their own lantern, adorned with their wishes for the Chinese New Year, ushering in the Year of the Tiger. 

Looking for something to do with your film-obsessed boo this Valentine’s Day? The BFI Southbank’s plush cinema is screening programme of six award-winning films exploring the themes of love, sexuality, growth and self-exploration across the weekend before February 14. Hunker down in the BFI Southbank’s iconic movie theatre with your lover and enjoy an intertnational selection of romantic picks ranging from iconic classic movies like ‘Casablanca’ and ‘Jules et Jim’, 20th century LGBTQ+ love stories ‘Maurice’ and ‘Beautiful Thing’ and recent cult queer picks ‘Rafiki’ and ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’. No making out in the back row though, please!

What’s more charming than a night at the cabaret? Spend a glamorous evening watching a big band burlesque performance, with a three-course menu and a glass of bubbly on arrival. Pete Saunders (Dexy’s Midnight Runners) and his band will put an exclusive twist on classic live band burlesque, transporting you back to the romantic Roaring Twenties.

Forget fast fashion and become a vintage fashion connoisseur at Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair, one of the longest-running retro markets in the city. Browse pre-loved Chanel, YSL, Dior and more  to discover hidden designer treasures, from accessories, jewels to trimmings and textiles. With over 50 vintage dealers trading at the fair at Freemasons Hall, expect rails filled to the brim with eclectic styles from the 1900s through to the 1990s. After you’ve picked out some pieces, you can even visit an on-site alterations team to make sure your new purchase fits like a glove, or bring along your old wardrobe to be revamped into something more up-to-date.

So, you’re probably here right now because you forgot all about Glastonbury tickets going on sale back in November and are now feeling extremely sorry for yourself. You might have also missed out on this year’s resale, which took place in April. Or maybe you’re among the hundreds of thousands who went to eye-watering lengths to get their mitts on a ticket, but missed out when they sold out in under an hour. But fear not – if you’re still desperate to trudge through the mud and enter the gates at Worthy Farm, there are several other ways you could (legally) get into Glasto this year, without even having to stump up the hefty ticket price. Here are your options. RECOMMENDED: Everything you need to know about Glastonbury 2024. Volunteer with a partner charity Every year, more than 2,000 people volunteer at the festival. WaterAid and Oxfam are among the charities that partner with the festival every year. Each organisation needs volunteers. Typically, you’re expected to commit to working three to four eight-hour shifts over the five days. This could include anything from cleaning the loos to litter picking, checking tickets or being a steward. The rest of the time is yours to enjoy the festival. And there are apparently a lot of other benefits (other than getting free entry to the biggest music festival in the UK). If you volunteer with Oxfam, for example, you get access to a communal marquee for volunteers, free boiling water, tea and coffee supplies, free phone-charging, access

As far as theme parks go, the UK has a pretty great offering. Chessington, Alton Towers, Legoland... not to mention the GOAT that is Thorpe Park, notorious for its ‘Fright Night’ at Halloween and extreme rides like ‘Saw’. And now the park has upped its game, announcing plans to open a brand-new roller coaster that will be 72 metres high – making it the tallest in the UK. Eeeeek. Though the new ride is yet to be given a name (it’s only been referred to as ‘Project Exodus’ in planning documents), it will be partly positioned over water and tower ten metres above the park’s infamous ‘Stealth’ ride. At 72 metres high, it would be just a tiny bit taller than The Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. The attraction is expected to create a huge 89 jobs during the construction period, along with 31 full-time and 123 part-time seasonal jobs. This is the first new roller coaster since ‘Swarm’ opened in 2012, and will lead to several other major changes, with other rides being removed to make space for the roller coaster.   It’s not yet clear when the new ride will drop, but it’s just been given the green light by planning authorities, so it’s probably only a matter of time before the mega-coaster opens. Find out more here. ICYMI: this hotel chain has just been named the worst in the UK. Plus: you can bag cheap tickets to Paris and Amsterdam in the Eurostar flash sale.

South London’s cathedral of electronic music Printworks is closing its doors this week, but it's not going out without a bang. Offering its biggest programming yet as a culmination of its six brilliantly successful years of operation, taking us through the final weekend is a banging line-up of dance stalwarts including Peggy Gou, Roisin Murphy, Camelphat, Sub Focus and some very special guests.  The iconic Surrey Quays venue opened in 2017 and can hold 6,000 two-stepping partygoers. It has hosted the hottest DJs across electronic music including Peggy Gou, Bicep, Defected and Aphex Twin. The venue is renowned for its humongous size and excellent programming that attracts flocks of ravers from far and wide. Just last week (April 21) Printworks was ranked the second best club in the world, beating Berghain and Ibiza heavyweights Ushuaïa and Pacha. DJ Mag also ranked it the seventh-best club in the world in 2021.  Printworks won’t be gone for ever, though. The team behind it assured its Twitter followers that discussions around the design, planning and delivery of a future Printworks continue. They confirmed in a statement that the venue will stay shut for ‘a number of years’ but remain dedicated to reopening it, hopefully in the same building, as soon as possible. In a statement, Printworks owner Broadwick Live said it was ‘delighted’ to be in discussions with developer British Land ‘about our return to the venue following the site’s redevelopment’. It added: ‘While there is s

The UK is already well catered for when it comes to waterparks, but there’s a new resort coming to town that’ll really put the rest to shame. Work has just kicked off on the £250 million Therme complex, which is due to open opposite the Trafford Centre in Manchester in 2025. So, what does it have that the others don’t? Well, for starters, it’s massive: there will be a ridiculous 25 pools, 35 water slides and 30 saunas. The latter will feature traditional Aufguss aromatherapy experiences where you can expect a rub down with frozen iced tea or honey. Photograph: Rule 5 / Therme Group Elsewhere, we’re talking real palm trees, constant 30C temperatures and a huge cocktail bar. The park will also have a dedicated family zone with splash parks for the little ’uns and a ‘living slide’ (aka a slide covered in plants). The original Therme opened in Bucharest, Romania, and has proved a huge success. It’s hard to imagine the Manchester one not being a hit too. Stay in the loop: sign up to Out There, our free newsletter about all the best stuff to do across the UK.

A Western lowland gorilla called Kiburi made his debut at ZSL London Zoo this week after global logistics experts DHL Express flew the whopping 193kg silverback to London from Tenerife.  The 5ft 4, 18-year-old arrived as part of an international breeding programme for critically endangered species, joining females Mjukuu and Effie, and youngsters Alika and Gernot in the family’s Gorilla Kingdom home at London Zoo. There are high hopes that a match-making effort will increase the gorilla population to bring the species out of endangered status. Unsustainable logging practices, commercial hunting and fishing, and oil and gas development threaten the western lowland gorilla across its habitats. Kiburi, who travelled from Zoo Loro Parque in Tenerife, was apparently flown business class by DHL for the 1,903-mile door-to-door journey travelling in a custom-built crate supported by a team of zookeepers, cargo handlers, security teams, aircraft engineers, pilots and drivers.   Photograph: ZSL London Gorilla keeper Glynn Hennessy said: ‘Kiburi enjoyed an in-flight meal of nutritious leafy greens, snacked on leeks and a banana and had a refreshing drink of cold fruit tea during his first-class trip.’ Hennessy added: ‘We flew out to meet him last November and spent five days getting to know him and watching how he interacted with other gorillas. We found him to be a calm, friendly individual and a great fit for our own gorilla family’s dynamic.’ ‘Kirubi loves a lie-in in the mornings

South London has some epic parks and nature reserves. Greenwich, Crystal Palace and Brockwell Park are some of the city’s most beautiful and rightly celebrated parks. But there’s an incoming contender that might steal the crown for the best south London green space. Beddington Farmlands in Sutton (near Croydon) is set to be restored as a nature reserve and will be transformed from its former use as a landfill site and sewage works. The new greenspace will be bigger than Hyde Park (phwoar!) and will provide habitat and species resilience amid environmental worries. The restoration of the land was one of the conditions of the building of the ominous-sounding Beddington Incinerator, a rubbish-burning facility, which was granted in 2013.  It might be some time before south Londoners can run around the green space and feel the wind blow through their hair, though. The original plan was for the nature reserve to be completed by the end of 2023, but work on the site has been delayed due to management issues. Sutton Council is now considering taking legal action against Valencia Waste Management, formerly Viridor, the company in charge of the project.  At a meeting on Monday night, Councillor David Bartolucci said there had been no real progress on the farmlands since January. He said: ‘The creation of the Beddington Farmlands will create the single biggest site dedicated to nature in Sutton and will help provide habitat and species resilience in the face of the changing climate.’ Ba

In 1973, Elton John wrote a song about the death of Marilyn Monroe with lyrics by Bernie Taupin called ‘Candle in the Wind’. Most people know it, though, for its second incarnation, ‘Candle in the Wind 1997’ (aka ‘Goodbye England’s Rose’), a new version of the song with different lyrics about Princess Diana, who tragically died on August 31 1997 in a car crash in Paris, aged just 36. Elton John performed the reworked version at Diana’s funeral at Westminster Abbey on September 6 1997 (its only live performance) and released it as a single, with all sales going to the charities that Diana supported. It peaked at Number 1 in the UK, Elton John’s fourth UK Number 1 single. It then went on to be the biggest-selling physical single in chart history. Legend has it that the music megastar recorded the second version of the song at Richard Branson’s Townhouse Studios in Shepherd’s Bush almost immediately after Diana’s funeral. The studio was created in 1978 by Branson’s Virgin record label, and other stars who have laid down tracks there include Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, Oasis, the Sex Pistols and Queen. The studio closed in 2008, and the building was subsequently sold off to developers and converted into residential properties. Now the site where ‘Candle in the Wind 1997’ was recorded is on the market again for a deep-pocketed buyer to own a piece of London’s musical history.  Photograph: Dexters Listed with agents Dexters, the west London pad has hit the market for £1,895,0

A brand-new airline called Fly Atlantic plans to launch cheap flights to North America from the UK. There’s one catch, though: you’ll have to go to Northern Ireland first, as the airline will only operate from Belfast International Airport.  The new flights from Belfast are due to start in summer 2024, offering cheap connections between the UK various US and Canadian destinations. The airline aims to serve a whopping 35 airports overall. Belfast International is about 300 miles closer to New York than London’s airports, which might explain why Fly Atlantic plans to make Northern Ireland a hub for flights to North America. The main airline operating from Belfast International right now is EasyJet, which means there are loads of handy existing connections to airports across the UK and the rest of Europe. The new airline plans to use narrow-bodied aircraft, but it’s yet to decide on which particular model – it’s apparently between a Boeing 737 Max or Airbus A321. Initially, Fly Atlantic says it will employ 50 people at Belfast International Airport and 250 crew, with a long-term plan to create 1,000 jobs over the next five years. It hasn’t been confirmed how much the transatlantic flights will set you back, but the airline is billing itself as a budget option. Andrew Pyne, Fly Atlantic’s chief executive, said: ‘Our vision is of Belfast as a strong aviation hub linking Europe and North America.’ He claimed the airline would be a ‘game-changer’ for customers, Belfast residents an

It’s nearly the end of year, and that means it’s a good time to reminisce about all the trends that took off in 2022. So, what about baby names? Well, parenting site Baby Centre has just released a list of the most popular names for boys and girls – and we’ve got the results right here. This year, the most significant changes can be seen in the top names for baby girls, with Olivia knocked off the number-one spot from 2021 and replaced by Sophia in first place and also beaten by Lily in second. Tens of thousands registered their new baby names on the site this year, and experts used the data to figure out where the inspiration may have come from. The new entries are the most telling, with Maya and Ivy jumping into the top ten. BabyCentre suggested that the popularity of Maya may be down to Love Island’s recently announced celebrity presenter Maya Jama. The website also noted that parents seem to be showing their 1990s nostalgia when naming their newborns, opting for names like Gabrielle and Aaliyah – two of the decade’s biggest R&B icons.  As for the boys’ names, two fell down a huge 27 places each, with Joseph dropping to 88th place and Hugo down to 90th. Edward fell 20 places to 92nd and Ollie 22 to 76th. The top five names were Muhammad, Noah, Theo, Leo and Oliver. Here are the top ten baby girls’ names for 2022: Sophia Lily Olivia Isla Ava Amelia Freya Aria Maya Ivy And here are the top ten boys’ names: Muhammad Noah Theo Leo Oliver Jack George Luca

Remember the chaos at airports last summer? There were queues, delays, more queues, lost luggage and cancellations. Our travel plans were in complete disarray.  Now, a survey conducted by Which? has revealed the worst airports for security wait times between February and August this year. The researchers asked 1,300 people who travelled from a UK airport over that period how long they waited at security.  Leeds Bradford Airport has been crowned the unfortunate winner, leaving passengers waiting an average of 35 minutes to get their security checks done. The delays are apparently down to staff shortages and a spike in demand for travel after Covid restrictions were scrapped, leading to huge queues often snaking through the terminals. In August, the West Yorkshire airport installed electronic screens providing passengers with live updates on estimated wait times. Meanwhile, Bristol Airport had passengers waiting half an hour on average, and Birmingham and Manchester had queues lasting for 24 minutes. Heathrow came in fifth place, with wait times averaging at 20 minutes for security checks.  Here’s the full list of the worst airports for security queues in the UK: Leeds Bradford, 35 minutes Bristol, 30 minutes Birmingham, 24 minutes Manchester, 24 minutes Heathrow, 20 minutes Luton, 19 minutes Belfast International, 18 minutes Stansted, 18 minutes Edinburgh, 16 minutes Gatwick, 16 minutes Newcastle, 15 minutes Glasgow International, 13 minutes Belfast City, 13 minutes London Ci

US Fashion brand Guess has come under fire this week after its flagship store on Regent Street was the centre of viral fashion controversy. Anonymous graffiti artist Banksy has encouraged shoplifters to head to Guess on Regent Street and take whatever they want from its newly released capsule collection, which is inspired by the artist’s work. Banksy said the brand had helped themselves to his artwork ‘without asking’. He then asked: ‘How can it be wrong for you to do the same to their clothes?’ The artist shared an image of the shop’s front windows on Instagram, showing items from the capsule collection inspired by his work. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Banksy (@banksy) Behind the mannequins wearing accessories, T-shirts and coats featuring his graffiti, there is a large background image of his famous ‘Rage, the Flower Thrower’ stencil, showing a masked Palestinian throwing a bouquet of flowers. In the windows, the collection is advertised as ‘Guess x Brandalised with Graffiti by Banksy’. After the artist shared his post, Guess shut the flagship store, masked the window display and called in extra security guards to stand outside the shop, according to the BBC.  The Guess website says the clothes were created in partnership with Brandalised, a company that secures the rights to graffiti across the world. The brand says it offers customers the chance to buy ‘affordable graffiti collectables’. In a statement before the clothi

It’s rare that women’s lives are honoured in statue form. In Parliament Square, there’s only one sculpture of a woman — Millicent Fawcett — while the rest are men. And, shockingly, London has twice as many statues of animals as named women (there are about 1,500 monuments across the city, fifty depict specific women while nearly 100 are of animals).  In a history-making moment, the first, full-size bronze statue of one of London's most famous authors, Virginia Woolf, was unveiled in west London last week, overlooking the riverside at Richmond-upon-Thames, where the author set up Hogarth Press and lived for a decade. After a five-year funding campaign that raised £50,000, the sculpture sits on a bench, book in hand, smiling.  The sculptor behind the Woolf sculpture, Laury Dizengremel, hopes that it will challenge stereotypes. ‘There are so few women represented in sculpture,’ Dizengremel told the Guardian. ‘I find it quite remarkable that [Woolf] will be situated where so many people will walk past, where so many women and girls will be inspired.’ But locals have different ideas about the statue. The Richmond Society previously said putting a statue commemorating her near water felt inappropriate, since Virginia Woolf died aged 59 after she drowned herself in the River Ouse near her Sussex home in 1941. She lived in Richmond from 1914 to 1924. Charity Aurora Metro first revealed plans for the bronze statue in 2017 and won permission from Richmond Council in 2018. But campaigne