Grace Goslin

We know that living in London can be tough on the skin, what with all the pollution and air-conditioned offices. And that’s before we even think about harsh weather, alcohol, sun exposure, dehydration and the inevitable passing of time (the joys). Just thinking about what we put our skin through is enough to give you frown lines. Luckily, though, there are loads of great spas and treatment rooms in London where you can give your face a break. Whether you’re after a relaxing, soothing facial massage, some instant radiance, a total skincare overhaul or something a little more intense, read our pick of facials in London. You won’t regret it. RECOMMENDED: The best spas in London

Money makes the world go around. Sometimes it also makes the turntables spin. It may be the root of all evil, but money’s a hell of a muse – as this list of the best songs about money proves. Like the power of love and the pain of a broken heart, cash – too much of it or too little – has inspired some of the best pop songs of all time, from classic-rock standards to 99 percent of ’90s hip-hop. With dollar signs in our eyes, we’ve rounded up 23 of the best songs about money. Time to make it rain. RECOMMENDED:🎉 The best party songs ever made🎤 The best karaoke songs🎧 The best podcasts right now🎵 The best new songs of the last year Written by Nick Levine, Andy Kryza, Grace Goslin, James Manning and Ella Doyle. 

Are robots really taking over the world? Maybe. They’re definitely changing the city we live in. As the Barbican launches its ‘AI: More than Human’ exhibition, which explores creative and scientific change, we’re looking at the ways artificial intelligence is making London life easier. Did you know the technology is already being used by TfL and Citymapper to help us get around? Or that hospitals are using it to make sure Londoners turn up for appointments and the police have robots on hand to work out where crimes might happen? London’s even home to an AI football coach, an AI cocktail maker and, er, an AI bin. Find out more...

In May 1719, the royal private road from Whitehall to Hampton Court opened to the public. Chelsea’s main drag has since seen punk, protest and parties. Here are the King’s Road’s iconic moments... Photograph: Paul Revere/Shutterstock 1800s: Cremorne Gardens is the place to party From 1845 to 1877, privileged Londoners headed out of town to Viscount Cremorne’s Pleasure Gardens at the westerly end the King’s Road. There, they were treated to fireworks, galas and performances. In 1874, a daredevil/ idiot known as ‘The Flying Man’ was released from a balloon above the gardens in a birdlike machine with wings he could flap. But things went terribly wrong, and he plummeted to his death on Sydney Street. 1935: Chelsea-ites celebrate a silver jubilee It’s no surprise that a road literally named after a king has thrown its fair share of royal celebrations. But before punks did their takedown of Liz’s 1977 jubilee, there was a more demure one for George V and Queen Mary. They celebrated their silver jubilee with a carriage ride along the King’s Road in June 1935. Sounds like a right royal knees-up. Photograph: Getty 1960s: The King’s Road starts swinging The ’60s in London were famously swinging, especially among the ‘Chelsea Set’. Women were hopping straight out of Mary Quant’s clothes store Bazaar and into Fantasie at 128 (one of the first espresso bars in London) sporting the designer’s iconic mini skirts. Meanwhile, Christian, an actual lion cub, was the resident party animal a

Whether you're into pilates and yoga or prefer HIIT and boxing, we spoke to some of London's best fitness instructors to find out where they break a sweat.RECOMMENDED: 37 ways to feel good in the city

Imarni Nails is founded by creative manicurist genius, Imarni Ashman. With the likes of FKA Twigs and Lily Allen as clients, this salon specialises in affordable, comfortable star treatment. Based on level -3 of luxury Shoreditch hotel The Curtain, the salon will have you feeling equally as at home as you do celeb. With an option to watch Netflix and listen to the ultimate ‘chill out’ playlist, you’ll come out feeling totally pampered. Go for some of their more wild nail designs – they’re just as brilliant as they are flamboyant and exactly what Imrani Nails are known for (just take a look on their Instagram). If you’re willing to part with slightly more cash the dreamy luxury mani and pedi’s include a complimentary glass of bubbles. 

Female Trouble and Karaoke Hole are poaching London Pride's party people from Trafalgar Square and sending them East to boogie. Shake up your plans from yet another night in Heaven (we still love you) and head to sweet, sexy and sometimes sordid Dalston - London's mecca for all things, drag, glitz, and eccentric - and make Kingsland Road your catwalk of choice. The ever so exquisitely dressed and lovely gals at Female Trouble have teamed up with the much-loved Karaoke Hole to bring you this amazing lesbian night, pride edition. Expect Karaoke (obvs), DJ's, absolute looks and all the sapphic joy a good Pride deserves. 

Grace Goslin is sick of the straights co-opting Valentine’s, so she’s out to make this February the queerest yet. Ah yes, queer dating in London. The pool of potential matches spans far beyond the realms of the countryside village where I grew up, but navigating that pool can be daunting. But worry not, among the chaos, there are beacons of hope. The confused teenager who moved to the capital four years ago would be ecstatic to see the fully fledged dykonic woman I have morphed into, and I have London’s LGBTQ+ nightlife to thank: club venues, parties and people who have created spaces for queers (single or otherwise) to meet and thrive. Whether you’re looking for someone to shack up with after a club night, or just tired of trawling through dating apps, there are plenty of queer events on Valentine’s weekend where singles can meet their match. Go forth, my LGBTQ+ friends and make this heteronormative holiday your own. The actual dating events... Oh Queer Cupid This might just be the triple threat of Valentine’s nights out. Buckle up for speed dating, comedy and partying. They even hand out goodie bags. What better way to get over yourself and meet new people than to be thrust into a fleeting five-minute conversation that resembles a real-life Tinder swipe? Oh Queer Cupid is about forming friendships as well as potential romance and it’s one of the few dating events that doesn’t enforce a gender- or sexuality-specific structure. It’s just about meeting, chatting, and having a

Ever wondered exactly what the hell goes on behind the closed doors of 10 Downing Street…. or how about just what it’s like up that big old BT Tower? Well, you could be in for a treat.  This weekend marks the last chance to enter the annual Open House ballot.  The wizards behind granting access to some of London’s most well-known buildings are once again giving us normies the chance to catch a glimpse of otherwise strictly-shut spots.  Who knows what you might see, Bojo hanging out in pinstripe PJs? Oh, and the US Embassy is also on the list of places you could be able to visit, pretty cool, right?  The doors will open to the lucky winners on Sep 21 and 22, and you really do have to be in it to win it. The ballot closes on Monday, Sep 9, so be quick. You can enter the ballots here and find out more about Open House.  Prefer being outside? Check out these hidden gardens and green spaces in London. 

We can’t quite con-seal our excitement... A recent tally has shown that there are currently 138 seal pups living in the Thames!  The count, which was conducted by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), was part of an initiative aiming to monitor seal numbers across the UK. The final total of seal pups chilling in London’s mighty river was found by looking at photos of the mammals that were taken during their 2018 summer pupping season. Cute.  These pups, which were all born in a single season, have plenty of food options that they can choose from while residing in the Thames. In fact, they have a menu of more than 120 fish that they can choose to feed off (seahorses and eels included). This is fab news for the Thames’ ecosystem, especially considering that during the 1950s it was declared pretty much dead! And while the current environmental crisis is still very much doom and gloom, it’s great to hear that our slippery friends are thriving.   Can’t get enough of London nature? Check out where to see wildlife in the city all year round. 

If you’re not well acquainted with BBC mega-series ‘Killing Eve’, where on earth have you been!?  The series’ protagonist, fashion-conscious hitwoman Villanelle (as played by Bafta winner Jodie Comer), is an undeniable force to be reckoned with. When she’s not killing, well... pretty much everyone, she is pulling off looks left right and centre.  Now not only is production for series three well underway (screams internally) but also Bafta is set to open its otherwise firmly closed doors to the public to launch a ‘Behind the Screens’ exhibition.  The exhibition is going to feature clothes as worn by Villanelle in the show, and yes, that does include that pink Molly Goddard number from season one. Also on display will be an exploration of the hair and makeup from Olivia Colman’s Oscar winner ‘The Favourite’, as well a celebration of 50 years of kids’ telly icons The Clangers. Other worthy mentions go to outfits from American epic ‘12 Years A Slave’ and sci-fi flick ‘Interstellar’.  The exhibition will open on Sep 17 and will run for a lengthy two years with new outfits being added throughout. You can find out more about the exhibition here. Fanatical about film? Why not have a look at our best new movies to check out this month.

Do you fancy the thrill of an intimate theatre experience, but hate to break the bank? Well, you’re in luck! Small Truth Theatre is bringing the Kensington Karavan Festival to the streets of Notting Hill. This free theatre festival boasts a meaty program of new and original plays that tell stories inspired by Kensington itself, all set to be performed inside a tiny caravan. That's right, a caravan! There’s definitely no room for loud popcorn chewing or sweet rustling at any of the Karavan Festival’s shows, as this souped-up motor-turned-theatre-space only has room for ten people at a time (we did say it was intimate). If the idea of being trapped in a caravan for the whole duration of a play causes you some anguish, worry not, there’s no lengthy Shakespeares here. All the plays are pretty digestible, with most only lasting up to twenty minutes. The perfect length for a millennial attention span!  The Kensington Karavan Festival will get its show on the Portobello-Road (literally) from Sep 21-22 and 28-29, and also on Oct 12-13. You can find out more about the festival here. Want to see what else is going on in the theatre world this September? Check out our list of the best new theatre shows opening this month.

Wave goodbye to tins in the park and summer get-ups,  and hello to jumpers and central heating bills. It’s as scary as it sounds but Halloween is not far from rearing its spooky head. But worry not, with Halloween comes something to look forward to... the inevitable big night out.  To all you 9-5 ers and party animals alike, you’ve only got a month and a bit to buy your fake blood and get thinking about what the hell you’re going to get up to on All Hallow’s Eve. If you’re stuck for ideas, Kiss has just announced the first wave of acts for their annual Haunted House party, and you betcha – Sean Paul’s on the list! While the celebrations are taking place on October 25 at the SSE Arena, rather than the 31st itself, that just means there’s more room to get monster mashed-up multiple times. Joining Sean Paul on the first wave of acts is Young T & Bugsey, and more performers due to be announced before the big night.  We know that it can be tricky (or a treat) to find a night that appeals to a whole ghoulish group, but then again, we don’t know a lot of people who can’t agree on the excellence of Sean Paul!  Tickets for the Kiss Haunted House Party are on sale now here.  If it doesn’t sound like your thing, or if you’re up for a more than one celebratory night, why not check out some of the other Halloween parties that are going on right here.

As autumn begins to creep closer and festival season approaches its final curtain call, Clapham Common prepares for one last hurrah of summer fun with the thirtieth anniversary of its annual Colourscape Festival.  In case you’re not already familiar, it’s a whole programme of events dedicated to ‘invented’ instruments (whatever that means, aren’t they all invented?), space and colour. Expect all sorts of wacky and weird workshops, all taking place inside a giant winding rainbow maze. Think of it as a little bit like when Alice fell down the rabbit hole, but instead of bumping into the Mad Hatter and a Cheshire Cat she meets a bunch of experimental musicians and dancers, sans shoes (podophobes may want to avoid this one).  Not only is the festival very aesthetically and audibly pleasing, the chromatic celebrations take place across one whole acre of land and span an epic nine days. That’s even longer than Glasto, and you don’t have to camp!   Summer isn’t over just yet, so whether you’re a self-confessed music buff or simply down for losing yourself in Colourscape’s pleasing visuals,  all you need to do to bag a ticket is turn up and join the end of the queue. It’s at the end of the rainbow, if you can find it... Catch the Colourscape Festival at Clapham Common from Sep 14-22. Want to see what else is on in September? Check out our handy hotlist.

We’re all so obsessed with sex that it’s now possible to learn about London’s debauched history on a ‘sex run’ in the city. One writer joins the curious joggers As someone whose main flirtation with running involves working up a light sweat to catch the closing doors of the 172, a 10km jog around London isn’t my activity of choice. However, throw in some stops at the city’s most sordid sexual history spots, and I’m immediately invested. Welcome to Secret London Runs’ Sex and the City tour, a sex run around the capital. You may ask: what is a sex run? Thankfully it’s not a sped up version of the walk of shame. It is, in fact, a 10km running tour solely focused on uncovering London’s erotic past. Let’s face it, we have a notorious reputation for housing some of history’s horniest residents: from the ‘too randy to rule’ Charles II to Samuel Pepys, writer of his own sexual autobiography. The founder of Secret London Runs, Vanessa, has kindly agreed to informatively guide me through London’s most shockingly lewd spots. As we begin the tour and happily romp along the streets of Farringdon we stop off at a sprinkling of dirty destinations. One that sticks in the mind is ‘Gropecunt Lane’, a street reserved for those who couldn’t quite afford ‘the full works’. (If there’s anything I’ve learned it’s that medieval London was extremely sexually liberated.) Novices fear not: your running speed will be matched with the greatest sympathy and quite frankly you’ll be too busy thinking about c

Put your money away! Here are the week’s best free events Uniqlo Tate Lates This month’s Tate Late is all about celebrating DIY party culture. Listen to talks on London’s nightlife scene and DIY queer spaces, make your own club culture collage and see archive footage and photos from cult club night Maxilla. It’s not a party without banging tunes and the folks from NTS Radio have that covered, as well as DJ sets from party collective Nine8. Tate Modern. Tube: Southwark. Fri Aug 31, 6pm-10pm. Streatham Common Kite Day Channel your inner Mary Poppins and go fly a kite at this one-day festival. Expect live music, food stalls and loads of wacky creations, including a kite which lifts its owner into the sky.Up, up and away! Streatham Common. Streatham Common rail. Sun Sep 2. 11am-5pm. Chinese Food Festival Ditch the luminous sweet-and-sour chicken from your local takeaway and learn how to make proper Chinese fare at this food fest. Pro chefs are hosting cooking demos so you can learn your way round a wok. Potters Fields Park. Tube: London Bridge. Fri Aug 31-Sat Sep 1. Camberwell Fair The Camberwell Fair dates back to 1279, but it was shut down in the 1800s for ‘riotous behaviour’. It re-launched in 2015 and is returning this year for a day of fun with a vibrant mix of street food and live music. Just behave yourself, okay? Camberwell Green. Denmark Hill Overground. Sat Sep 1. ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ screening What better way to make the most of your long weekend than kicking bac

Hackney nightlife has been a hot topic of conversation in recent weeks following the council’s decision to enforce a curfew on all new late night ventures. The controversial curfew, which was announced last month, will see new venues forced to close at 11pm on a weekday and midnight on a weekend, in a bid to cut anti-social behaviour in the area.  It is, therefore, with great joy that we can announce that a new club, by the name of UNDR will be opening on Stoke Newington Road. The venue, which was formerly known as basement club favourite, The Nest will be given a revamp and launched on September 7.  The venue will be one of only a handful of clubs in the area with a 4am late licence and will have additions such as 20 new lasers, a Martin Audio Soundsystem and reprogrammed lighting. If that doesn’t sound enticing enough, the venue plan to create a programme of weekday and weekend events showcasing the best of clubbing and live music talent. There will even be a chance to catch well-known artists in an intimate setting! Despite this obvious good news for Hackney clubbers, venues in the area are still continuing to shut. This week, clubbing staples, The Alibi and Visions (who are just a walk away from one another) announced that they would be closing their doors.  This bittersweet news suggests that more can be done to maintain London’s status as a clubbing capital and it is pivotal that we continue to support the cities nightlife spots.  Read more about the Hackney curfew here

Running from Elephant & Castle all the way to Harrow & Wealdstone, the Bakerloo line has been a trusty transport vessel for Londoners since 1906. Now Southwark and Lewisham Councils have announced a call to arms to drum up support for the extension of the line to Lewisham. The campaign aims to get the whole of London to back the extension through Old Kent Road and New Cross Gate. Sadiq Khan and TfL are on board with the plan to make these south London areas more accessible than ever. The extension would help alleviate the strain on already extremely busy local Overground services from New Cross Gate as well as the Jubilee line. The works, which would cost £3.1 billion, are part of a wider proposed regeneration of the Old Kent Road area, which (according to Southwark Council) would bring 20,000 new homes, including 7,000 affordable homes, plus 10,000 new jobs and at least two new schools. Sound good? Whether you’re a born-and-bred south Londoner or don't know your Catford from your Crofton Park, you can sign up now to back the Bakerloo. Sign up here to get the latest from London straight to your inbox.

Put your money away! Here are the week’s best free events Leelee Kimmel: ‘Wormhole’ Flying VR blobs? 3D-printed art? A bucket-load of wild colourful stuff? Err... count us in! This exhibition is the first in the UK from ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ actor-turned-legit artist Leelee Kimmel (née Sobieski). Get yourself down to Simon Lee to see her show of bright abstract art that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Simon Lee. Tube: Green Park. Until Aug 30. House of Vans: Summer Films Waterloo’s hip skate centre is hosting loads of free film fun this week. With no need to book, just get comfy and cosy up for the screenings of  ‘Forrest Gump’ and ‘Dirty Dancing’.  You’ll have the time of your life! House of Vans. Tube: Waterloo. Until Sep 2. King Arthur Head on down to London Bridge’s ‘Summer by the River’ series for an open-air performance of ‘King Arthur’. Think romance,  action, royalty and knights of the Round Table –what’s not to love?  London Bridge City. Tube: London Bridge. Wed Aug 8-Sep 2. Snack Like You Café Loved Laughing Cow cheese as a kid?  Bop along to Spitalfields to try dishes like mac ’n’ cheese and strawberry desserts whipped up from the triangles of dairy joy. You ’ll leave as jolly as Ms Cow herself. Spitalfields Market. Tube: Liverpool St. Fri Aug 10-Sat Aug 11. Leicester Square film screenings Brave the tourists in Leicester Square this weekend to watch a bunch of films alfresco. The bill’s full of family favourites including ‘Finding Nemo’, ‘The Incredibles’ and loads