Huw Oliver

Everyone makes a massive deal out of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and all that, but one thing you absolutely should not be sleeping on in 2025 is Mardi Gras. Otherwise known as Carnival (and even Fat Tuesday) it’s a day where you are permitted to eat loads and loads of food, among other things. What is the history of Mardi Gras? Shrove Tuesday was born out of Anglo-Saxon Christians being absolved from their sins after 40 days of fasting before Easter (which we call lent). The day would be marked by the sound of a bell, which would call each person to make their confession. That became known as the ‘pancake bell’, which became ‘Pancake Day’. While plenty of places have taken that name and run with it, still hungrily rustling up pancakes every year, Mardi Gras is just a day to indulge in foods you don’t normally get to indulge in – and there’s a smorgasbord of variety across the world.  How is it celebrated? The UK, Ireland, Australia and Canada have stuck with the OG pancake day set up, but in the deep south of the US (particularly in New Orleans), a whole different feast is on the menu – we’re talking king cakes and jambalaya, guys.  Then there’s the rich, sweet fried doughnuts, of central Europe, and the crispy, snappable biscuits rustled up in Italy. So, if you’re ready to get eating, here’s seven traditional Mardi Gras dishes to sample for the big day. RECOMMENDED:🍝 The best cities in the world for food🛍️ The coolest neighbourhoods in the world right now🌎 Th

Going to Paris en couple? Lucky you – it ain’t called the City of Love for nothing. At this point, it’s pretty much a rite of passage to escape to Paris with your significant other. So how do you avoid the tourist traps and find the date spots you can really fall in love with? That’s where this list comes in. It’s all well and good to walk hand-in-hand along the Seine, but what about a romantic (and crucially, less crowded) promenade along the leafy La Coulée Verte? And yes, you could snuggle up on a picnic blanket in the Luxembourg Gardens, but we reckon Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, with its meandering paths and waterfalls, is a whole lot more enchanting (and crucially, original). Here’s our list of the most romantic things to do in Paris. RECOMMENDED:🍴 The most romantic restaurants in Paris🍮 The best restaurants in Paris🎨 The best things to do in Paris📍 Where to stay in ParisAt Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Boasting the likes of Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan, it’s no surprise that Italy is one of the most visited places in Europe (and the world). And the magic of Italy is that you can travel there every year and never, ever have a similar holiday twice. From the Dolomites’ sweeping mountains to the gritty city life of Sicily’s Palermo, this country has every kind of holiday destination imaginable.  How should you decide where to go in Italy? Deciding where to go in Italy is a tough call, but it also really depends on what kind of holiday you want (and what time of year it is). For a packed few days seeing sights and eating lovely food, go for Florence, Rome or Venice. But for a laid-back, villa-style escape in nature, consider the Tuscan countryside. The best bit? You don’t even have to choose – Intercity trains mean you can jump from city to city easily and affordably, and tick a bunch off in one holiday. We’ve included recommendations for all the best spots in Italy on our list below – enjoy! Recommended:🏖️ The best beaches in Italy🏝️ The best islands in Italy🏫 The best small towns and villages in Italy☀️ The best things to do in Italy Ella Doyle and Grace Beard are Time Out’s travel editors. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affi

Perhaps you’ve got a 10-year-old who’s exclusively interested in heart-thumping rollercoasters, or maybe a four-year-old who doesn’t have quite that appetite for adrenaline yet. Feeling daunted by the prospect of ushering them around Disney? Our run-down of the best Disneyland Paris rides ranges from the frightful to the easy-going to the just plain magical. With queues and the frankly overwhelming choice – there are 54 rides overall – it’s evidently not possible to indulge in every single one. So if you need some help making those tough decisions, read on for our pick of 10 attractions you shouldn’t miss. Then book online here. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Paris

Maybe you’re into history and politics. Perhaps you’re a foodie. You might just want to meet some fellow travellers – or, who knows, even a local. Whatever you want to see in a city, and however you want to do it, the best Berlin tours have you covered.  This German capital’s rich, chequered past makes it as ripe for a casual wander as it is for a hardcore history lesson. Whether you’d prefer to see Berlin from the perspective of a street artist, a Syrian refugee or 70s-era David Bowie, our run-down of the best tours in the city will help you see this marvellous place in a fascinating new light.  One thing we will say: make sure you don’t overlook the city’s more obvious attractions, museums and things to do (because they’re darn good too).  RECOMMENDED: 📍 View our full guide to the best things to do in Berlin🌭 See the 24 finest restaurants in Berlin🍻 Check out the 11 best bars in Berlin🪩 Want to discover these 17 best clubs in Berlin? This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

If you’re new to Edinburgh, it can be hard to know where to start. From a castle in the middle of the city to a palace a mere mile away, it can feel like there’s something worth exploring everywhere you turn. Even for locals, it’s sometimes easy to forget exactly what’s on your doorstep, whether it’s museums and art galleries packed with history, penguin parades or tea with waterfront views. So here’s our pick of the best attractions in Edinburgh – whether you’re a first-time visitor or if you’ve lived here all your life. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in EdinburghThe best Airbnbs in EdinburghThe best hotels in Edinburgh This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

Paris: the food, the fashion, the fromage, the fantasy. No matter how many times we visit the French capital, its charms never ever grow old. And we’re not alone in thinking that. Paris is a major tourist destination that attracts thousands upon thousands of enthusiastic travellers with heads filled with images of Breton jumpers, tiny dogs, and decadent pastries - the kind you can dip in your hot chocolate. But how do you enjoy this gorgeous city without just succumbing to the age-old clichés (as much as we do love all of them)? We’ve compiled a list of the 51 best attractions in Paris, from the big-name ‘must-see’ paris attractions to something a little bit more bespoke and treasured locally. So whether you’re looking for lesser-known museums, late-night live music, or the best places for shopping, we’ve got plenty of ideas - and they’re all as tasty as a Ladurée macaron. Time Out tip: If you want avoid taxing, RATP App and Citymapper will be essential for getting around Paris like a local.  RECOMMENDED: 🇫🇷See our full guide to the best things to do in Paris🥖Check out the best food tours in Paris📍Here's where to head for the best tours in Paris🛏 Stay in the best airbnbs in Paris🚍The best Paris bus tours This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

What are the attractions in Frankfurt that you simply cannot miss? Well, read on and find out, intrepid explorer. Much of this marvellous city was obliterated during the Second World War, meaning many of its magnificent constructions aren’t quite as old as they look, but the modern side of Frankfurt offers spectacular architecture too. Germany’s financial capital is home to a great restaurant scene and a museum quarter that demands attention, and fabulous embellishments to the many attractions here that take centre stage. Frankfurt is, quite frankly, fabulous. RECOMMENDED:🏨Check out the best hotels in Frankfurt📍See the best things to do in Frankfurt This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

The best attractions in Munich represent everything that makes this city such a thrilling visit, from its outstanding art museums to delicious food markets. Munich is famous for its beer gardens and for good reasons, but the best things to do here will offer you plenty of distractions to keep you out of the booze tents – for a while at least.  When you come to Munich, you often come for the infamous beer scene, but leave with memories of the glistening mountain spas, musing over the vast and unique collections of Brandhorst alongside other noteworthy museums, and meandering through the sublime gardens. So, if it's the best of the best you're after – the cream of the crop, the top table – you've come to the right place because we've rounded up our favourite Munich attractions. And if you do want to explore more things beer-related, we've recommended a great contemporary organic brewery to visit.  RECOMMENDED:📍Check out the best museums in Munich🏨 Book a stay at one of the best hotels in Munich This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

Also known as the Lunar New Year, the Spring Festival, Tet and Seollal, millions of people all over the world are gearing up to celebrate Chinese New Year at the end of January. It marks the official start of the new lunar calendar, which will mean wiping clean the slate of the past 12 months and opening the door to an exciting new year.  In 2025, celebrations across the globe will be as vibrant as always, filled with many of the same traditions, customs and super-delicious food as usual. Here’s everything you need to know about the huge annual holiday this year. RECOMMENDED:🖼️The best art exhibitions in the world🛶The best things to do in the world🌃The coolest neighbourhoods in the world When is Chinese New Year 2025? The Chinese New Year marks the first day in the lunar calendar, which in 2025 falls on Wednesday, January 29. The celebrations usually start on the evening preceding the first day of the new year (Jan 28), and run until February 12, when the period of New Years celebrations traditionally culminates in lantern festivals. The Lantern festival is held on the fifteenth day of festivities, and celebrates families and society. While the rest of the holiday is traditionally devoted to spending time with family, during the lantern festival, people of all ages and gender will take to the streets for a time of socialising and freedom.   Where is Chinese New Year celebrated? All over China, for a start: the period from January 28 to February 4 is a national public holid

What an incredible city Vienna is. Once referred to as the Capital of the World, Vienna is a place that resonates with the soul long before you arrive here, such is the power of its reputation and aura. You might feel familiar with much of the Austrian capital already, be it the glittering State Opera, the engaging museums, unbeatable coffee houses, and all the rest. Vienna is a place that everyone must visit at least once in their lifetime. With a roster such as this, it can be difficult to identify exactly what the best attractions in Vienna are. Vibrant and cosmopolitan, there’s so much more to this charming capital than the picture-postcard sights and bucket-list things to do. The restaurant scene is as good as any other, for a start, and a night out in Vienna is a night you won’t forget in a hurry. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in ViennaThe best hotels in ViennaThe best Airbnbs in Vienna This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

Eiffel Tower – tick. Louvre – tick. Notre Dame – tick. We’re sure you’ve got the most famous of Paris sights and attractions right at the top of your holiday hit list. But what else should you try to squeeze into your packed Parisian itinerary? There’s almost too much to see and do in the French capital, let’s be honest, so we’re here to give you some guidance. From a charming mecca for bibliophiles to a stunning off-the-beaten-track park near Belleville, trust us: you’ll never get bored in the City of Light. This is our ultimate guide to sightseeing in Paris. So here we go, strap in, and get ready to say bonjour to these incredible sights.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in ParisThe best tours in Paris This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here. 

Head cheese. What do those two words conjure up for you? Cheese that’s so complex only connoisseurs will really enjoy it? The rare Eurovision entries that err on the subtle and sophisticated? Motherese for ‘bogies’?  As a relative newcomer to the meat landscape, I had no clue. Fortunately, at The Counter, a Turkish grill restaurant near Portobello Road, they spell it out for you. Brain. Tongues. Plus salad and spices. I simply had to try it. If you search for pictures of head cheese (aka brawn), what you see isn’t very appealing. Meat terrines set in aspic, straight out of a 1960s cupboard. The Turkish version is much fresher, though no less intimidating if you’re only an occasional carnivore. You can make out the curves of the tongue. By deduction, you can work out which bits are brain. It’s basically a bowl of brown mush (costing £12), so there’s no getting away from what you’re eating. But with the added distraction of the za’atar-y flatbread, it is really rather moreish. And you get quite the thrill out of chowing down something so objectively grisly in such a refined setting. This is essentially Notting Hill remember, so as much thought has gone into the crockery and furniture and general vibes as the food. You get quite the thrill out of chowing down something so objectively grisly in such a refined setting. It’s easily the most interesting thing on the menu. But the rest – posh dips, healthy salads, incredibly tasty grilled meat – is largely good, if unrevolutionary,

Let me introduce poitín (pronounced potcheen): an Irish moonshine commonly made using potatoes or barley that only started being produced legally in 1997. ‘It’s not typically very nice,’ says chef Sacha Henry, the solitary presence in the kitchen at Indian-Irish fusion restaurant Shankeys. But nice is definitely one word you could use to describe the two things it’s in here. They’re extremely nice, in fact. First, there’s Spuds & Butter, a cocktail served in a coupe that looks like melted Kerrygold. It is exactly that, plus lime, salt, pepper and this mysterious poitín: a winning combination that makes for a creamy, peppy margarita-style drink. And second, there are the chaat potatoes. Gosh, the chaat potatoes. These crispy cubes are silky-smooth inside and come slathered in a turmeric and poitín butter, turning oily and lightly spicy and finding a surprisingly cooling foil in a green chilli chutney. Like every dish at the fantastic Shankeys, it’s a beautiful, colourful mess, served on floral crockery straight off Grandma’s dresser. Like every dish at the fantastic Shankeys, it’s a beautiful, colourful mess, served on floral crockery straight off Grandma’s dresser. The name may give ‘Irish pub in small European capital’, and keeping the façade of previous inhabitants Loafing (a bakery-café, apparently struggling on this stretch of Well Street) is pretty confusing. But get past all that and, courtesy of Sacha and smiley, front-of-house mixologist Eoghan, you’re in for treat a

What do you think the path to heaven looks like? A cobbled alleyway lined with smiling pals, past and present? A technicolour highway fringed with waving Maneki-neko cats? A cool, alluringly lit staircase filled with bottles of only the nicest wines? Maybe. Just maybe. Because in this new dining space at the top of a pub in Fitzrovia, you’ll find just that, opposite the toilet. Head down the corridor, tipsy, mid-meal, and you’ll feel almost like you’re about to ascend to the promised land. The charcuterie platter: moreish, every last bit Much else about this place is dreamy. It helps, of course, that the food is excellent. It’s no surprise when the kitchen is led by chef James Knappett, who’s known for running two Michelin star restaurant Kitchen Table. The food is less fancy chef’s counter diner experience and more top-shelf pub grub. The charcuterie platter: moreish, every last bit. The juniper steelhead smoked trout: an abundance of flavours, perfectly matched. The Cornish lemon sole with brown shrimp and mussels: just the right amount of buttery. The steak tournedos rossini: three layers of brown that don’t look like much but taste formidable, so good in fact that you can almost forgive yourself for accidentally ordering foie gras. Any place that prides itself on serving up ‘the best of British’ is inherently a bit annoying, but these lot smash it.   And these lot, it turns out, are a friendly bunch. And they’re super-attentive to annoying things like a coeliac coming in

If you’ve ever floundered when asked to tell a joke off the cuff, you’ll feel Roman’s pain. Except he has it much worse. He has to weave an entire story. All night long. Surrounded by 200 jeering prisoners nicknamed things like ‘Half-Mad’ and ‘Petrol’. Not ideal.The real name of this new arrival isn’t Roman – that’s the title assigned to him by the Dangôro, named Blackbeard, the supreme master who rules over this prison in the Ivorian rainforest. It’s a place of superstition and folklore, evocatively captured by Philippe Lacôte in this meandering movie which blends myth and reality, fact and fiction, with a generous sprinkling of song and dance.A guard describes the place as the ‘only prison in the world run by an inmate’, but the real power in Night of the Kings lies in their beliefs. One is that whenever the leader falls ill, he must kill himself. Another, which Blackbeard (Steve Tientcheu, playing a frailer version of his mayor in Les Misérables) uses to distract rival factions vying to topple him, is that whoever he assigns as Roman must tell a story that lasts the duration of the red moon. If he doesn’t, he dies too.So the basis of this story is another story: the ruminations of this young kid (Koné Bakary, fear and anxiety welling in his eyes), whose real name we never find out. Through his narrative, we learn of the period when royals still reigned over the Côte d’Ivoire. The civil war that shook the country in the mid-2000s. And a certain gangster called Zama King.Wit

What does the colour pink mean to you? Forced femininity? Rose-tinted positivity? For Sylwia (Magdalena Koleśnik, magnetic), it’s both. She’s a fitness influencer and wears a lot of the stuff. In bougie Warsaw, her job gets her loads of freebies. Through her videos, TV appearances and workout demonstrations, she remains poised and professional. Occasionally she feels liked – but she wants to be loved. Her eyes betray anxiety and unhappiness. Loneliness, too. Sweat, assuredly helmed by writer-director Magnus von Horn, follows Sylwia in the build-up to a chat show interview. By the end, she’s hit breaking point. She’s misunderstood by family. Misunderstood by her 600,000 followers. Misunderstood by men. And then there’s the small matter of the stalker parked by her flat. As she tells her family, there’s a dark side to what she does. There are good days and there are bad days. But the cleverest thing? The film also poses the question: is she really so unhappy, or is that a performance too? Von Horn’s second feature is a sharp critique of the influencing world and the nefarious impact it can have on its practitioners. It could so easily have been patronising, but it feels honest. The direction is sharp, the camerawork in-your-face, and the lilting synth score by Piotr Kurek recalls Drive – as do Sylwia’s neon outfits. And through it all, Koleśnik gives a remarkable performance that nails the public/private schism at the heart of Instagram celebrity. In UK cinemas and streaming on

Danger has many flavours in Those Who Wish Me Dead. Ferocious fires rage across the Montana wilderness. So do nightmarish storms. And most unsettlingly of all, so do two damn suave assassins: an unlikely duo, played by Aidan Gillen and Nicholas Hoult, who’ve been charged with hushing up a big political corruption case.Unhappily for the protagonists in this impressively silly yet gripping western thriller, they will slay pretty much anyone who gets in their way. That even applies to Connor (Finn Little), a wise-for-his-years kid whose dad is a forensic accountant. He knows stuff he shouldn’t. They flee to the forests, Connor ends up lost and alone. And then, fortuitously, running along a creek, he meets Hannah (a fierce, assured Angelina Jolie), a ‘smoke-jumping’ firefighter who surveys the picturesque woodland from her watchtower.It’s immediately apparent she is traumatised by a recent blaze. She blames herself for failing to save three boys who were caught up in it. And so – with pacy, stylish direction from Taylor Sheridan (Sicario, Hell or High Water), who also co-wrote the script with author Michael Koryta – Those Who Wish Me Dead tracks Hannah’s attempts to save this other young kid. Ridden with flashbacks and with a punchy orchestral score, it’s a thoroughly improbable story of her internal redemption. And it’s largely pretty great.The plot abounds in ridiculousness. Twice – twice! – Hannah is struck by lightning. For some reason, the assassins start a forest fire thems

The Place Charles Dullin, in the lower reaches of Montmartre, is one of those Parisian squares that is always so damn busy it feels like its own self-contained world. People come and go, kids hang, there’s always a spot waiting for you at the café-terrace. This sprawling quartier acts as the stage for Suzanne Lindon’s debut feature Spring Blossom: an age-gap romance that sweeps you up in the joys and disillusions of youth.Making us all feel like underachievers, 21-year-old Lindon (daughter of actors Sandrine Kiberlain and Vincent Lindon) directs in a confident and cheerily brisk style – while also playing a version of her 16-year-old self. This Suzanne is bored. She doesn’t fit in at parties, the conversation is crap. Her parents (Florence Viala and Frédéric Pierrot, particularly loveable) are a little too sweet. Everything – and everyone – is embarrassing. Then she meets an actor at the local theatre, Raphaël (a moody and rugged Arnaud Valois), who somehow seems just as fed up with his lot. He’s 35, which makes their liaison questionable, but the film avoids overt sexuality in favour of simple emotions that make you long for the fun and freedom of early adulthood. It helps that everything is seen from her perspective. She’s fleetingly enamoured. Who is this bloke with a motorbike who parks up outside the theatre? She engineers another accidental meeting. And another. Their affinity is their ennui, the sense that their life is on pause – even if it isn’t, really. Creepiness s

This short is a starburst of immaculate Almodóvar. The emotions are big and histrionic. Alberto Iglesias’s soundtrack is punchy and opulent. The set is drenched in rich, kaleidoscopic colour. The Human Voice is the Spanish director’s first English-language film and you’ll inevitably go away yearning for more as soon as the half hour is up.An outlandishly attired actress (Tilda Swinton) is pacing about her apartment. She’s on the phone to her lover, who has now eloped with another woman. The movie, ‘freely based’ on the play of the same name by Jean Cocteau (also an inspiration for Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown), follows that conversation through despair and anger and indifference before finally reaching some form of muddied closure. She monologues on their relationship, her career, her morbid fear of knives. They appear to speak for hours. The film dips in and out, showing her journey from meltdown to catharsis. But what does she do? What does she say? And what does she simply think? The woman readily admits that much of what she tells him is made up. Maybe some of the things we see – the pills, her swinging a literal axe into a suit he’s left behind – are made up too. Pedro Almodóvar makes The Human Voice a comment on artifice and theatricality: Swinton’s glances break the fourth wall and the woman’s technicolour flat, it transpires, is a soundstage in a film studio. We say – and see – unreal things in the throes of heartbreak. Swinton acts out this idea perfectl

That night by the fire. Wine, giggles – then what happened? He seemed sweet. She knew him well. It must have been a drunken slip-up. And just like that, rape-revenge horror Violation dexterously exaggerates and exposes your prejudices before summarily dismantling them. The aftermath is unforgettably brutal. You actually see the act of revenge before you see what triggered it; the two events are woven together in a muddle of memory. This daring and disturbing debut, by Canadian directing duo Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli, cuts back and forth between the night of trauma and the subsequent dismemberment, exsanguination and burning of the perpetrator. Perhaps that’s why you didn’t necessarily side with Miriam (played by Sims-Fewer, fantastically physical and ambiguous) in the first place.There is little plot to follow, instead a complex jumble of flashbacks – you’re processing that night just as she is. Miriam and husband Caleb (Obi Abili) were visiting her younger sister Greta (Anna Maguire) and brother-in-law Dylan (Jesse LaVercombe). The former relationship is tired; the latter fizzes with sexual energy. But then, one night, Miriam and Dylan – long-time friends – teeter on the edge of something else too. While the rape scene is suggestive rather than explicit, the ensuing violence is anything but. The attacker is stripped, beaten and strung up – a rare reversal of horror’s typical gender roles. She even grinds his bones and sprinkles it in ice cream. (A darkly com

This is a story ostensibly about a love affair, but really just about Hélène (Laetitia Dosch), a divorced lecturer from Paris who is lost in infatuation. It’s a subtle and exquisite performance. The object of her desire is Alexandre (ballet star Sergei Polunin), a Russian diplomat and hunk with little substance beyond being able to explain the provenance of his tattoos. They couldn’t be more different. And yet this imbalance enhances the film’s central message. He likes fast cars, Putin and Dior suits. She likes the seventeenth-century English playwright Aphra Behn. But still, they are together – secretly, on snatched afternoons, consumed by their thirst. Particularly her. In one scene she goes to the cinema to see Hiroshima Mon Amour, Alain Resnais’s French new wave classic. Not a fan. It’s a male fantasy run wild, she says, the camera lingering far too long on a beautiful, lusted-after woman. And so here is another kind of film, based on the 1991 autofictional work by Annie Ernaux, in which the female gaze gets sumptuous free rein. Directed by Danielle Arbid (Parisienne), Simple Passion brims with close-ups: cheeks, ears, thighs. Time appears to slow as the camera observes Alex hazily, blearily, just as she does. There are many intense sex scenes. These are candid, realistic, unglamorous. And their relationship goes no deeper than that. They rarely speak to each other outside of her bedroom – and when they do, it’s in a broken franglais. He circles freely in and out of her

Michael describes himself as ‘a guy who used to do stuff, but doesn’t do stuff any more because he’s in a bar’. He shaves in the loos. He even sleeps on the sofas. The other regulars are his family. Today the Roaring ’20s is closing for good – and he doesn’t know what he’ll do without it. Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets is a document of that final piss-up: a diverse bunch of Michael-like eccentrics getting plastered over the course of one very long and very hilarious night. Things quickly get messy. Conversations go in on the weighty questions du jour – the time is around the 2016 US election – but wind up going off on tangents like: ‘Senses – now that’s something I appreciate.’ There are a lot of heartfelt deep and meaningfuls and even more hiccupping. Boobs are flashed. Arguments sizzle. Two of the barflies take an acid trip. And the jukebox? Well, it’s never not on. It all feels brilliantly chaotic and immersive and so compellingly real. Except it’s not. This so-called ‘documentary’ was shot in New Orleans, not Las Vegas. Most of the cast had never met before filming. Michael, the supposedly out-of-work central figure, is a professional actor. And yes, they’re all tearing up over a bar that isn’t actually their local and isn’t actually closing.Directors Bill Ross IV and Turner Ross have had you, basically. The brothers, known for their documentaries, auditioned hundreds of barflies from around the Big Easy, chucked them in a ‘bar that looked right’, and let them get as mashed a

How did you spend all those interminable school summers? Hard to say, probably. Nothing really happened; nothing really could happen. Yet back then, time appeared to stretch out to infinity. It felt as if everything could change in a matter of weeks: your friends; what you were into; perhaps even your entire sense of self. It usually either totally sucked, or was totally the best time ever.For Nora (Lena Urzendowsky, understated yet magnetic), the hot Berlin summer of 2018 sways languidly from one extreme to the other, eventually settling somewhere happy-ish between the two. She’s 14 – not a good age, we can all agree – and this is her year of self-discovery and transformation. The slow, meditative, occasionally brilliant Cocoon, the second film from German director Leonie Krippendorff, captures it all before the memories begin to fade.With her alcoholic mum pretty much off the scene, Nora whiles away the summer months peering in her jars of caterpillars, and reluctantly tagging along to parties with her older sister. It’s awkward and intimidating. She feels very much out of place.Then comes her first period, her first love, her first sucker-punch rejection. Romy (a charming Jella Haase), a new girl and another outsider, enters the picture, and after a few drowsy, sunny afternoon snogs, summarily leaves. And so, as in the manner of so many coming-of-age films, Nora realises romance isn’t all it’s made out to be.But she comes out stronger. By the summer’s end, she has a firmer

The high street isn’t having a great time of it right now. From Marks & Spencer and New Look to Boots and literally thousands of local banks, over the past couple of years stores of all shapes and sizes have had to close their doors as shoppers flock online.  The latest shopping heavyweight to be impacted? The British supermarket chain Iceland, which has closed several branches around the country. Twelve of the stores have already shut their doors for good, and two others are set to close down by the end of September. Here’s everything we know. RECOMMENDED: Here’s the full list of high street stores closing in 2025. Which Iceland stores are closing down and when? These Icelands have already closed in 2025: Shenley Road, Borehamwood (closed January 4) Alphington Road Retail Park, Exeter At the tail-end of 2024, Iceland revealed that its 10 stores in the Channel Islands would all be closing. This is because of a new franchise agreement meaning Iceland goods will be sold in Alliance stores.  Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country. 

Con las fronteras cerradas y restricciones para viajar por todo el mundo desde el pasado marzo, pocos de nosotros hemos sido capaces, realmente, de disfrutar de unas vacaciones en un lugar remoto en el último año, más o menos. De hecho, sobre todo nos hemos tenido que conformar con mirar nuestros 'feeds' para inspirarnos y soñar despiertos con el momento en que podamos explorar el mundo de nuevo. Con la llegada de las vacunas, nos ilusionamos pensando que los viajes internacionales volverán a ser posibles pronto, pero, mientras tanto, seguimos viajando desde el sillón de casa, ahora babeando con los alojamientos de Airbnb que acumularon más 'likes' en 2020. ¿El número uno? The Stone Cottage, una gran propiedad con piscina en la zona de Gard, en el sur de Francia. Tiene torres románicas, una vegetación frondosa y una piscina que te desencaja la mandíbula. ¿Qué más se puede pedir? La segunda vivienda con más 'likes' es una cabaña costera en la región de Valparaíso, en Chile; y la tercera, una cabaña junto al lago Atitlán, en Guatemala. Estos son los diez primeros alojamientos.   La cabaña de piedra (Saint-Victor-la-Coste, Francia):  Photograph: @bonitte La mejor vista de Quintay (Casablanca, Chile): Photograph: @josefinalopezphoto Con vistas al lago (San Marcos La Laguna, Guatemala):  Photograph: @megaann.p Cabaña Tanglebloom (Brookline, VT, Estados Unidos):  Photograph: Ethan Abitz Casa Mami (Pioneertown, CA, Estados Unidos):  Photograph: @workingholidaystudio Escuela del sigl

One of the least romantic things about the City of Love, surely, is the constant hum of traffic. Thankfully, post-lockdown Paris may well feel a little less hectic: the French capital is to ban cars from the iconic Rue de Rivoli, which stretches from the Louvre museum right across the city centre. Anne Hidalgo, Paris’s mayor, said the ban would allow locals more space to exercise within the city centre as social-distancing measures continue. The initiative will last through the summer, and could be made permanent after that. Hidalgo told a press conference: ‘I would like there to be a lane dedicated exclusively to bikes and another reserved only for buses, taxis and emergency and trade vehicles – but not cars.’ Equivalent to London’s Oxford Street or New York’s Fifth Avenue, the 3km-long Rue de Rivoli is home to sights including the Tuileries gardens, the Louvre and the Angelina tearooms, and is also one of the city centre’s main shopping strips. From May 11, when France is set to ease lockdown restrictions, Paris is also planning to accelerate its ‘Plan Vélo’ – ‘Cycle Plan’ – and lay down 65km of new bike lanes across the city. The French capital isn’t the only European city putting pedestrians and cyclists first as lockdown measures are lifted. Berlin has already widened cycle lanes in an effort to maintain physical distancing outdoors, while Milan’s council has announced ambitious ‘Strade Aperte’ plans to install new bike lanes, introduce 30kph (20mph) speed limits, and cr

When the spring sun comes out, it’s Bavarian custom to head to the nearest beer garden for a foaming stein under the trees. That tradition has been hampered in recent weeks. But now Germany’s biggest state is gradually lifting lockdown measures – and in less than two weeks, its world-renowned biergartens will be allowed to reopen for business. Markus Söder, the state’s governor, has announced that beer gardens and outdoor restaurants can reopen from May 18. Indoor restaurants will be allowed to reopen a week later, though customer numbers will be limited and they must close at 10pm. And from May 30, hotels will be able to welcome travellers again. Söder told a press conference: ‘The time has come for a cautious reopening.’ Bavaria, whose capital is Munich, was the first state to implement a lockdown and its restrictions were among Germany’s strictest. Hubert Aiwanger, the state’s economics minister, has called the reopening of the food and drink industry a ‘big step towards normality’. He is appealing for authorities to temporarily hand over more outdoor space to restaurants whose indoor capacity has been drastically cut by distancing measures. Last month it was announced that Munich’s annual Oktoberfest celebrations would be cancelled this year. But once the beer gardens are up and running again, we’ve no doubt more than enough steins will be consumed to make up for it. Most popular on Time Out - Daniel Radcliffe is reading you ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’- The

Alzándose en medio de un mar de cartas, pancartas y ramos de flores, George Floyd se mantiene alto y desafiante delante de un girasol descomunal. Los nombres de otros hombres y mujeres negros asesinados por la policía estadounidense llenan el centro de la flor, mientras que una nota en la parte inferior dice simplemente: "Ahora puedo respirar". Este deslumbrante mural, realizado por los artistas Xena Goldman, Cadex Herrera, Greta McLain, Niko Alexander y Pablo Hernández, apareció la semana pasada en la tienda de Minneapolis en la que Floyd fue asesinado por la policía el 25 de mayo. Un vídeo mostró al oficial Derek Chauvin arrodillado sobre su cuello durante casi nueve minutos, mientras Floyd repetía "No puedo respirar". Desde la muerte violenta de Floyd, las protestas que comenzaron en Estados Unidos se han extendido por todo el mundo. Y siguiendo el ejemplo de los 'street artists' (artistas urbanos) de Minneapolis, grafiteros de casi todos los rincones del mundo han honrado a Floyd con enormes murales públicos. Desde un tren belga garabateado con "por favor, no puedo respirar" a una muestra de solidaridad de dos artistas en medio de las ruinas de Idlib en Siria. Estas son algunas de las mejores obras que hemos visto.   Nápoles, Italia Ver esta publicación en Instagram #Lenin × #MLK × #MalcolmX × #AngelaDavis "Per favore, per favore, non riesco a respirare. Per favore amico, per favore... Non posso respirare. Non posso respirare... Per favore, non riesco a respi

It’s named after one of the most famous musicians of all time – and recently felt a whole lot busier thanks to the Eurovision Song Contest. Now Liverpool John Lennon Airport is set to expand its offering even further, with new routes to 20 destinations across six countries. The budget airline Jet2 has announced it will start flying from the airport in March 2024. It will operate up to 54 weekly flights, including 12 to both the Canary Islands and the Balearics each week. The new flights include seven exclusive routes (i.e. serving destinations not already available from Liverpool) to Gran Canaria, Menorca, Rhodes, Zante, Madeira, Paphos and Burgas in Bulgaria. Want to see the full list of new places you can jet off to? Here’s the full list of new Jet2 routes from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, set to launch next spring. What are the new Jet2 destinations from Liverpool John Lennon Airport? Mainland Spain Alicante – up to four weekly services Canary Islands Fuerteventura – up to two weekly servicesGran Canaria - up to two weekly servicesLanzarote – up to three weekly servicesTenerife – up to five weekly services Balearic Islands Ibiza – up to three weekly servicesMallorca – up to seven weekly servicesMenorca – up to two weekly services Portugal Faro – up to four weekly servicesMadeira – weekly Monday services Greece Corfu – up to two weekly servicesCrete (Heraklion) - up to two weekly servicesKos – weekly Friday servicesRhodes – up to two weekly servicesZante – weekly Wednesda

If you were watching the King’s coronation yesterday, then you may well have noticed some familiar musical faces in the crowd. Lionel Richie? Yep, he was there. Katy Perry? Her too. Weird. So... why? Well, tonight (Sunday, May 7) the official coronation concert will take place, and those two are among the biggest names who are set to appear. Also on the line-up are the likes of Andrea Bocelli, Sir Bryn Terfel, Tom Cruise and Winnie the Pooh (yes, really). This gig is arguably the most populist element of the three-day affair, which began with the main coronation ceremony yesterday and ends with an extra bank holiday on Monday. RECOMMENDED: What time is the coronation concert and how long is it? Around 10,000 tickets for the concert have already been given away free to the British public. And if you didn’t manage to get your hands on some? Well, happily, the gig will also be broadcast on the BBC, as well as on a big screen in St. James’s Park in London. So who can we expect to see? Here’s everything we know about the line-up for King Charles’s coronation concert on Sunday, May 7.  Who is going to perform at King Charles’s Coronation Concert? Take That will appear with three of its original members: Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen. The boy band’s other member, Robbie Williams, reportedly turned down the offer.  Lionel Richie, who was the first global ambassador of the Prince’s Trust, a charity founded by King Charles III, has also been confirmed as a performer.  In a

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

The long-awaited coronation of King Charles III is finally just a day away. It's a life-changing moment for Charley and of course, most eyes will be on him over the weekend. But we can't forget that it's a pretty big deal for his wife, Camilla too.  Prior to the Queen's death, she was known as the Duchess of Cornwall, choosing not to use the Princess of Wales title previously used by Princess Diana. However, just like her husband’s, that title is set to change. Here’s everything you need to know.  RECOMMENDED: Here are all the best coronation weekend events in the UK Will Camilla Queen Consort be crowned Queen? She will be given the title of Queen. As revealed by the official invitations, which were sent out to 2,000 guests today, Camilla will become Queen after the coronation, marking the transition from ‘Queen Consort’.A royal source told the BBC that in the first few months of the new reign it made sense to use ‘Queen Consort’ so as to avoid confusion with the late Queen Elizabeth. During the coronation, on May 6, she will be crowned alongside the King and after that be referred to as Queen. Why is Camilla being crowned queen? It is an unexpected move given that Queen Elizabeth stated it was her 'sincere wish that, when the time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort.' However, a senior royal aid told The Daily Mail that 'all former Queen consorts have been known as Queen plus their first name,' so the decision makes sense.  What title does the wife or husband of t

Here we fucking go, people. As you’ll be well aware by now, Eurovision 2023 is coming to the UK for the first time in 25 years. It’ll take place in Liverpool in the second week of May, and will offer all the usual glittery costumes, weird ballads and sarky commentary – no doubt made all the more special because the show is being hosted here on Normal Island. And today is the last chance to cop some tickets if you want to go to the event yourself, with the final batch of tickets for all shows (semi-finals, final, the lot) going on sale later today. If you can be sure of anything with Eurovision 2023, it’s that these will be in very high demand indeed. Here’s everything you need to know about getting your hands on tickets. When do Eurovision tickets go on sale? The last batch of Eurovision tickets go on sale today, Monday, April 24, at 12pm. Set your alarm and get multiple devices ready! What shows can I attend? There are two semi-finals and one grand final. However, there are several other shows that the public can attend, with nine official events in total. Here’s the breakdown.  First semi-final: May 8 and 9 Evening preview show – May 8, 8pm Afternoon preview show – May 9, 1.30pm Live TV show – May 9, 8pm Second semi-final: May 10 and 11 Evening preview show – May 10, 8pm Afternoon preview show – May 11, 1.30pm Live TV show – May 11, 8pm Grand final: May 12 and 13 Evening preview show – May 12, 8pm Afternoon preview show – May 13, 1pm Live TV show – May 13, 8pm How do I buy

The Queen died at Balmoral on September 8 2022 aged 96 and her eldest son Charles automatically became King. Queen Elizabeth II’s death kicked off a plan for the days to follow called ‘Operation London Bridge’. This involved a series of events including the lying in state, which saw crowds queue for hours on end to see her coffin in Westminster Hall, and a funeral held at Westminster Abbey to mourn the loss of our longest-reigning monarch. But what happens to the new King?  RECOMMENDED: Will there be a bank holiday for King Charles’s coronation? When does Charles become King? Having been the heir to the throne since he was just three, Charles automatically became King when the Queen died, but he won’t be crowned for a while. Charles was officially announced as King at the First Proclamation on Saturday September 10. He was given the title King Charles III at a ceremony at St James’s Palace. So will Camilla become Queen? No. Camilla becomes the Queen Consort, ‘consort’ being the title given to the spouse of the monarch (she and Charles got married on April 5 2005). When is King Charles’s coronation? King Charles will be crowned on Saturday May 6 2023. Camilla, the Queen Consort, will be crowned alongside the king in the historic ceremony. Where is King Charles’s coronation? As per tradition, the new monarch will be crowned at Westminster Abbey. The church has been the setting for coronations for the past 900 years.  What happens at the coronation ceremony? On the royal famil

When Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in September, Charles automatically became King. During the First Proclamation at St James’s Palace on September 10, Charles was announced as King and given the title King Charles III. Now, the date of the new monarch’s official coronation has been announced – and the UK is getting another bank holiday to celebrate. Here’s everything we know so far. When will Charles be crowned King? The coronation of King Charles III will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday May 6 2023. Camilla, the Queen Consort, will be crowned alongside the king in the historic ceremony. According to the royal family’s website, the ceremony is ‘an occasion for pageantry and celebration, but it is also a solemn religious ceremony, has remained essentially the same over a thousand years. ‘For the last 900 years, the ceremony has taken place at Westminster Abbey, London. The service is conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, whose task this has almost always been since the Norman Conquest in 1066.’ Will we get a bank holiday for King Charles III’s coronation?  Yes, it has been confirmed that we will be getting an extra bank holiday to mark the occasion. This is scheduled for Monday May 8 2023, two days after the service at Westminster Abbey. Will the May bank holiday be moved for King Charles’s coronation? A number of MPs had called for the May 1 bank holiday to be pushed back until Monday May 8, giving the country a long weekend. Meanwhile, other MPs