Holly Munks

This Saturday June 29 is the big day for London's LGBTQ+ community: the London Pride parade is back. Kicking off at noon in Hyde Park, over a million people are expected to be in central London for the mega event. Here’s everything you need to know about travel restrictions and road closures.  RECOMMENDED:Here's when the Pride parade will startOur ultimate guide to Pride in London Which roads in London will be closed for the 2024 Pride Parade? To make way for the parade a lot of roads are going to be closed throughout central London. These are all the closures: Soho The following roads will be closed from 6am to 4am: Archer Street Dean Street Frith Street Golden Square Soho Square And these roads are closed from 11am to 4am: Little Argyll Street Argyll Street Great Marylebone Street Beak Street Warwick Street Glasshouse Street Brewer Street Air Street Hopkins Street Poland Street Great Windmill Street Wardour Street Greek Street Old Compton Street Ramillies Street Berwick Street Broadwick Street Lexington Street Area around Hyde Park Corner Roads in this area will be closed from 10am to 9.30pm.  Piccadilly  Piccadilly Underpass Hamilton Place Down Street White Horse Street Clarges Street Berkeley Street Bolton Street Old Bond Street Down Street Park Lane Roads in this area will be closed from 8am to 7pm. North Row Green Street Deanery Street Brook Gate Culross Street Dunraven Street  Green Street Mount Street Park Street  South Street Stanhope Gate Curzon Street Achil

Say what you want about British weather, but it’s highly conducive to movie-watching. Whether it’s just another rainy day, or one of those rare scorchers when the UK remembers its chronic lack of air conditioning, there really is no bad time to go to the cinema. But business may not be booming enough for US chain Cineworld. The multi-million-pound movie theatre company is in talks with bidders over the sale of their UK sites, which adds up to over 100 theatres. They’re pretty tight-lipped about the details, but if a deal goes through, it is likely to lead to a major restructuring – and possibly the closure of Cineworld’s UK theatres.  Last year, Cineworld officially stopped trading as a public company and was delisted from the London Stock Exchange after its share prices collapsed. A notice issued on July 31, 2023 revealed that Cineworld had entered the administration of Alix Partners, a business consulting firm. At the time, the cinema chain said it would continue with ‘business as usual’, stating: ‘The Group continues to operate its global business and cinemas as usual without interruption, and this will not be affected by today’s appointment of the Joint Administrators nor by the cancellation of Cineworld Group PLC’s listing.’ But this didn’t stop the rumour mill turning – particularly given that Cineworld’s parent company went bankrupt last year. And over the past few days, sources revealed the chain was considering selling its UK theatres and ending operations here, alth

The City of London’s eastern fringe has been blessed - or cursed, depending on your tastes - with an iconic collection of towers which is still growing. Architects at Fletcher Priest have published their plans for a new office block which will rise 40 storeys into the clouds. To put that in perspective, Centre Point in Tottenham Court Road is 34 stories. The tower will be located at 63 St Mary Axe, neighbouring the ‘Can of Ham’ and its gleaming glass façade. The location means that the building will be just on the edge of the City’s official limits. Just down the road is ‘the Gherkin’, one of London’s most recognisable buildings, which is getting its first makeover since it was built in 2004.  Plans for the new building show the predictable supply of offices, alongside cultural and educational space. They also promise to carve out some much-needed green space for this very man-made corner of the City, with a new garden called Camomile Park.  Fletcher Priest is planning garden terraces for some levels of the tower, which sounds lovely, though we’re not sure if you’ll need to be a banker, or have access to a banker’s salary, to visit them.  Credit: Fletcher Priest Two 1980s-era office buildings will have to go to make room for the project. Fletcher Priest has yet to submit their planning application to the council, but it is due in later this year. The second round of design consultations will run over the summer, as the French investment firm Axa IM Alts reviews proposals fo

Reconstruction of an architectural icon is in full swing. The clock tower of the Littlewoods building in Liverpool is being torn down, but developers plan to reconstruct it.  The restored tower will preside over the Littlefields Project - a new film and entertainment hub, complete with studio space, offices, screening rooms and education facilities. Littlewoods is located on Edge Lane, just east of the city centre, and is famous for its art deco architecture. Built in 1938, the building served as the headquarters of the Littlewoods football pools until closing in 1994. It remained empty until 2018, when it suffered serious fire damage, before being purchased by property developers Capital&Centric (C&C).  Their redevelopment fits into Mayor Steve Rotheram's wider vision to transform Liverpool into ‘the Hollywood of the North’. At the moment, it's the UK's second most filmed city outside of London. Besides production space to rent, the site will have a roof terrace and garden open to the public. Photograph: Capital&Centric C&C are working in partnership with Liverpool council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, who have committed a total of £17 million to fund the project. Remediation teams started work last December. Their review of the tower’s structural integrity found that it was highly vulnerable to collapse.  ‘We are entering a critical phase of the restoration, as we peel back the layers of the building following decades of it sitting empty,’ said C&C’s

It's been almost two years of unrelenting train strikes in the capital, and they don't seem to be letting up any time soon. Now, tram engineers in London have announced they will be striking too. Here's everything you need to know about the London tram strikes.  RECOMMENDED: All you need to know about the train strikes across the UK. When are the London tram strikes? The first strike will take place from 30 June to 8 July and there'll be a second one from 11 to 15 July.    Which tram lines will be affected? The action is going to affect the Croydon Tramlink in south London, but there will also be a reduced service on the whole of the London Trams network for some of the planned strike days. How long will the strikes last? The first strike will last eight days, followed by another four days of the second strike.  How will travel to Wimbledon be affected? Those heading to the Wimbledon tennis championships, which start next Monday July 1, should know that no tram service is expected before 7am or after 6pm on strike days, with a reduced service running between 7am and 6pm. There'll be no service through Croydon town centre, or to or from Elmers End. The first weekend of the tournament will only be served by trams between Wimbledon and Reeves Corner. On finals weekend, there will be trams running between Wimbledon and Reeves Corner, East Croydon, Beckenham Junction and New Addington.  Services are expected to start later than usual on July 8 and July 15. TfL has warned that s

Airports are many people’s least favourite thing about travelling. But this summer, good old Heathrow is hoping to make the switch from travel purgatory to concert venue.  Europe’s busiest airport has launched the ‘Heathrow Introducing Stage’ in partnership with music events organiser Sofar Sounds. Located in Terminal 5, the temporary stage offers up-and-coming British artists a chance to perform for an audience bigger than Glastonbury’s – sort of. In 2019, Heathrow’s busiest year, around 90,000 passengers passed through the terminal per day – that would make Terminal 5 equivalent to Glastonbury’s second biggest stage in terms of capacity.  But this summer is predicted to be the busiest on-record, with Heathrow expecting over 30 million passengers from June to September. Total traffic is set to exceed pre-pandemic highs, it should hit more than 82.4 million by the end of the year.  China Bears, The Halfway Kid and Olivia Nelson – Glastonbury’s Emerging Talent runner up – performed for passengers waiting to board flights on Monday night. The stage will move between the arrival and departure levels for the remaining performances. Victoria Canal and Kevin Davy White will play on July 12 while the final performance on July 24 features Hohnen Ford and Latir.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by heathrow_airport (@heathrow_airport)  ‘We're providing people from around the globe the chance to experience [...] a taste of UK culture from the moment

As a tourist destination, Scotland is having something of a moment in the sun – metaphorically speaking, of course. After years of neglect in favour of tourist-ridden beaches on the Med, more than ever are opting to explore Scotland’s glorious coastlines, majestic landscapes and general rugged charm.  And if you’ve been thinking of upping sticks and move north of Hadrian’s Wall, we might now have just the thing. A dramatic cluster of islands off Scotland’s west coast is up for sale. The centrepiece is the 453-acre Sanda island, though a couple more are thrown in for good measure: 32-acre Sheep Island and four-acre Glunimore Island. An excellent three-for-one deal.  Now, if you’re thinking: well, that’d make a terrific lair. You’d be correct. The private paradise comes with all the amenities an aspiring Bond villain could desire. There are seven fully-furnished properties powered by generators where 23 of your closest friends/enemies can enjoy underfloor heating. Besides spectacular sea views, Sanda has its own lighthouse, mediaeval chapel ruins and, of course, an all-important helipad.  Completing the picture is a herd of sheep, the perfect Highland army to intimidate your enemies – and mow your lawn. Tom Stewart-Moore from Knight Frank, the estate agent which listed the property, provided this glowing description: ‘The sheep look after themselves, they’re the island lawn mower and require little management. They are included as part of the sale.’  Bird-lovers will be happy t

A glossy golden oasis is coming to Westfield Stratford. Luxury makeup and skincare brand Charlotte Tilbury has announced the opening of a new store – nay, a ‘Beauty Wonderland’ – in Westfield Stratford, which is set to open by late summer 2024.  The outpost will be the brand’s third standalone London branch, following successful Beauty Wonderlands – that’s what the brand calls its shops – in Covent Garden and Westfield White City.  Charlotte Tilbury is known for its cult liquid foundation, Pillow Talk lipstick and Hollywood-glam aesthetic. The high-end image matches the price tag, and celebrity ad campaigns featuring such London icons as Jourdan Dunn and Kate Moss. Now the brand is expanding its offering for those who prefer to stay east of Liverpool Street.  Charlotte Tilbury products are already stocked in department stores and beauty specialists like SpaceNK and Sephora, the US cosmetics company which opened its second UK store in Stratford last year. But the new shop will offer bonuses like facials and one-on-one sessions with makeup artists.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Charlotte Tilbury, MBE (@charlottetilbury) Tilbury herself is known for working on runways and red carpets. Catchphrases include ‘follow the hollow’ and ‘keep the curl’, and the word ‘darling’ used as frequently as possible.  The UK market made up over £260 million of Charlotte Tilbury’s £310 million turnover in 2022. If the numbers are anything to go by, eve

Tailàndia és una de les destinacions vacacionals més populars gràcies a les seves platges de postal que contrasten amb el caos i el bullici de Bangkok, però ara ja no només associarem aquest país amb el descans: Tailàndia té ara un nou visat de nòmada digital. La 'Destination Thailand Visa' (DTV) va entrar en vigor el passat 1 de juny i permet als treballadors que fan teletreball quedar-se al país fins a cinc anys. El visat segueix uns esquemes molt similars als que van llençar Malàisia i Indonèsia, que també volen promocionar els seus respectius països no només com a llocs de vacances, sinó també per a tothom que treballa amb els nous models laborals híbrids. Foto: Shutterstock Fins ara, els nòmades digitals només podien estar a Tailàndia amb visats de turistes fins a 60 dies, un límit que ha augmentat quatre anys i deu mesos més. L'única alternativa que existia a aquesta opció era el visat de residència a llarg termini, que era força complicat d'aconseguir, ja que presentava uns requisits força exigents, com gaudir d'una molt bona situació econòmica. El nou visat forma part d'un esforç per augmentar el nombre de visitants i reactivar l'economia tailandesa, i és una de les ofertes més generoses d'arreu del món per als nòmades digitals. Si treballeu des de casa i voleu combinar el paradís amb la productivitat, aquí teniu tot el que necessiteu saber sobre la nova visa nòmada digital de Tailàndia i com demanar-la. Qui pot sol·licitar el visat nòmada digital de Tailàndia? Els

Tailandia es uno de los destinos vacacionales más populares gracias a sus playas de postal que contrastan con el caos y el bullicio de Bangkok, pero ahora ya no solo asociaremos a este país con el descanso: Tailandia tiene ahora un nuevo visado de nómada digital. El 'Destination Thailand Visa' (DTV) entró en vigor el pasado 1 de junio y permite a los trabajadores que hacen teletrabajo permanecer en el país hasta cinco años. El visado sigue unos esquemas muy similares a los que lanzaron Malasia e Indonesia, que también quieren promocionar sus respectivos países no solo como lugares de vacaciones, sino también para todo el mundo que trabaja con los nuevos modelos laborales híbridos. Foto: Shutterstock Hasta ahora, los nómadas digitales solo podían estar en Tailandia con visados ​​de turistas hasta 60 días, un límite que ha aumentado otros cuatro años y diez meses. La única alternativa que existía en esta opción era el visado de residencia a largo plazo, que era bastante complicado de conseguir, ya que presentaba unos requisitos bastante exigentes, como gozar de una muy buena situación económica. El nuevo visado forma parte de un esfuerzo por aumentar el número de visitantes y reactivar la economía tailandesa, y es una de las ofertas más generosas de todo el mundo para los nómadas digitales. Si trabajáis desde casa y queréis combinar el paraíso con la productividad, aquí tenéis todo lo que necesitáis saber sobre la nueva visa nómada digital de Tailandia y cómo pedirla. ¿Quién

Someone once said the fewer ice cream flavours available, the happier you’ll be with your choice. Clearly, they never had the pleasure of choosing between Branston Pickle and Maldon Sea Salt.  Luxury accessories brand Anya Hindmarch will revive its summer ice-cream pop-up for the third year running, scooping up flavours on the stranger end of the spectrum. The Ice Cream Project launched in 2022, when it went semi-viral for Heinz ketchup-flavoured tubs. It returns to Chelsea by popular demand, apparently. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anya Hindmarch (@anyahindmarch) Known for tongue-in-cheek designs like Kellogg’s branded journals and handbags with googly eyes, Anya Hindmarch has brought logomania to the dessert market. McVitie’s Penguins, Jaffa Cakes and Kikkoman Soy Sauce are just some of the flavours making an appearance. Crucially, London meme account favourite Perello Olives is making an appearance this year.  The full list of flavours this year are: Bird’s Custard Branston Piccallili Filippo Berio Pesto Heinz Baked Beans Kenco Coffee Kikkoman Soy Sauce Maldon Sea Salt McVitie’s Penguin McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Perello Olives Robinson’s Lemon Barley Water Sarson’s Vinegar Sun-pat Peanut Butter Tiptree Orange Marmalade Tropicana Orange Juice Hindmarch reassures customers that their desserts are made from only the finest Devonshire cream. The main hazard is the long queues likely to form on hotter days. After all, what do Londoners

タイといえば、熱帯性気候のため年間を通じて太陽の光が降り注ぐ、緑豊かなビーチと都市のにぎわいがどちらも楽しめる人気の休暇スポット。同地への旅を夢見る人にとっても、リピーターにとっても、「いつでも行きたい国」であろう。 しかし、新たに開始されたデジタルノマドビザのおかげで、タイはもはや休暇旅行のためだけの国ではなくなった。2024年6月1日に開始された「デスティネーション・タイランド・ビザ」（DTV）により、リモートワーカーなどが、これまでより簡単に長期間滞在できるようになったのだ。 これは、マレーシアやインドネシアが導入した同様の制度に続く動き。タイもハイブリッドワークモデルを採用して、世界にその魅力をアピールしようと試みるリゾート地の一つになることを選択したというわけだ。 この取り組みはまた、観光客数を増加させて、タイ経済を活性化させるための努力の一環として導入されるものでもある。 これまで、デジタルノマドたちがタイに滞在できた日数は、観光ビザで60日。「長期滞在ビザ」というオプションもあったが、かなり厳しい財政要件で取得が難しく、悪名高かった。そのため、今回の新制度はまさに「大きな飛躍」といえる。 楽園と仕事の融合を考えているのであれば、世界中のデジタルノマドにとって最も寛大なオファーの一つとなるタイの新しいデジタルノマドビザをチェックする価値は十分にあるだろう。このビザについて知っておくべきことは、以下の通りだ。 タイのデジタルノマドビザは誰が申請できる？ 自営業か、タイ国外の会社で働いている20歳以上の人が申請可能。このビザはフリーランスやリモートワーカーだけでなく、料理教室に通う人やムエタイを習う人など、タイで文化的な活動を追求する人にも門戸が開かれている点が珍しい。 ビザの有効期間は？ 5年間有効で、1年で180日間の滞在が可能。1万バーツ（約4万2,796円）の追加料金で、最大180日間延長できる。 最低必要所得は？ 現時点で最低必要収入は規定されておらず、50万バーツ（約213万8,781円）の貯蓄があることを証明できる人にビザが開放される。ちなみに、これまではタイに長期滞在したいリモートワーカーは、最低年収8万ドル（約1,258万円）をクリアする必要があった。 そのほかの条件は？ ビザの申請料を1万バーツ（約4万2,796円）支払う必要がある。また、申請者はタイに本社を置く企業で働くことができない。 このビザの申請方法は？ イギリス、アメリカ、ブラジル、オーストラリア、ヨーロッパのほとんどの国のパスポートを持っている人は、電子ビザ（eVISA）　の公式ウェブサイトからオンラインで申請が可能。（日本を含む）これ以外の国は、最寄りのタイ大使館や領事館で申請する必要がある。 関連記事 『Thailand has launched a five-year digital nomad visa – here’s how to apply（原文）』 『夢の「甘い生活」を実現？ イタリアがデジタルノマドビザを導入』 『ヨーロッパでデジタルノマドビザの取得が最も簡単な国は？』 『ドイツが外国人の就労機会を拡大、「チャンスカード」制度がスタート』 『デジタルノマドが最も急成長している都市、東京が1位に』 『デジタルノマドが最も安く暮らしやすいヨーロッパの首都は？』 東京の最新情報をタイムアウト東京のメールマガジンでチェックしよう。登録はこちら