India Lawrence

It’s sometimes easy to forget that London is home to world-leading nightlife. Sure, we have cracking pubs on every corner, amazing restaurants and a buzzy bar scene, but often what you really need is a full-on dance: I’m talking smoke, strobe lights and an absolute stomper of a sound system. I promise you, it’s good for the soul. Since I moved to London, I’ve been making my way around the city’s many dancefloors, and I like to think that by now I know a thing or two about what separates an average club from a venue which will have you itching to come back week after week. From Sunday day raves at FOLD to secret line-ups at Venue MOT and no-nonsense pop nights at Moth Club, we are home to some absolutely banging nights out in this city. You just need to know where to look. That said, the best thing about going out in London is the sheer variety on offer. You can go to a huge daytime party at Drumsheds with international superstar DJs then head to an underground warehouse party in the Docklands the very same weekend. You can try your best to master Northern Soul footwork, sing your heart out to some serious cheese or dance the night away at one of the capital’s many LGBTQ+ institutions. Want a big night out? Not sure where to go? We’ve got you. Our list features clubs in central London, east London, west London, north London and in south London, and all of them have been selected for their quality of programming, sound system and straight-up vibes. These are the best nightclubs

Want a drink? You've come to the right place. This is Time Out’s list of best bars in London, our curated guide to London’s drinking scene, featuring the buzziest booze dens in the capital right now. If it’s on this list, it’s excellent. These are the 50 places we'd recommend to a friend, because we love drinking in them and have done many times over. From classy cocktail joints to delightful dives, hotel bars, speakeasys, bottle shops, rooftops and wine bars, London's got them all. But what makes a truly good bar? Well, our critieria for inclusion on this list is simple; a menu of genius drinks is important, but so is overall vibe – there’s no point having the perfect paloma if you have to drink it in a bar that smells of bins. To make the Top 50, a bar has to be fun, inclusive, and full of lovely folk as well as looking the part.  April 2025: A rash of great new bars have opened in London over the past year or so and many of them have made the immediate jump to our hallowed Top 50. The latest additions to our list include rowdy sports bar meets 80s horror movie set Bloodsports in Covent Garden, whisky wonderland Dram Bar on Denmark Street, the hypnotic Bar Lotus in Dalston, Below Stone Nest in Chinatown, Rasputin’s by London Fields, and Bar Lina, an Italian aperitivo spot underneath a famous Soho deli. Now go forth and drink. RECOMMENDED: Like bars? Then you'll love London's best pubs.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor, and she'll have a gibson marti

When you think of London fashion, you’ll probably think of Nova check, Kate Moss and Princess Diana’s revenge dress. You might think of Naomi Campbell taking a tumble on the catwalk and Vivienne Westwood’s iconic ‘DESTROY’ shirt. But your mind might also go elsewhere, far from studios and runways and photoshoots. To the smoking areas of nightclubs, to moshpits, to drag queens with extra-long acrylic nails and to the girl popping to the offy in an Adidas tracksuit and Ugg boots.  The point is, while Paris and Milan will always take the crown for sophistication and an elusive level of chic, London fashion is fun. It’s a bit punky, it’s loud and it’s always changing, always moving: fusing together all sorts of different cultures to reflect the diversity of the city itself. And we wouldn’t want it any other way.  It’s not exactly easy for younger designers right now: rents are rising, production costs are skyrocketing and Brexit has brought in a whole host of challenges. But there’s still a load of exciting talent pushing on, pushing boundaries – and showing that London isn’t only still relevant in the global fashion scene, it’s thriving. These designers are mindful of sustainability, functionality and the importance of making clothes for a diverse audience. In other words, they’re making us hopeful that London fashion in another 40 years’ time will look radically different than it does now: no more runways of exclusively thin white women, relentless microtrends (‘Mob wife’, we’

Covent Garden is so rammed with restaurants that decision fatigue can easily threaten the quality of your dinner. Weave through the tourists and theatregoing crowds and you'll discover that this area hosts many of the best restaurants in London, including French-styled Story Cellar, and The Portrait by Richard Corrigan, as well as old faves The Savoy Grill and J Sheekey. We’ve compiled a list of the best in the area, from cutting-edge eateries and classy counter joints to party-ready and casual hangouts, with pre-theatre favourites and cheap eats among them. Think of it as your Covent Garden bucket list. RECOMMENDED: The absolute best restaurants in Soho. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

The future of some of London’s day festivals may have been thrown up in the air earlier this summer, but Londoners are still exceptionally lucky to have an abundance of day-long musical extravanganzas to choose from, with something taking place almost every weekend throughout the warmer months. Forget trekking across the country to live in a field for five days. When you live in London, you can hop on the tube, and an hour later you’re listening to your favourite artists, tinny to hand, knowing that there’s a hot shower and a cosy bed waiting for you once the day is over. We Londoners love live music, so it’s no surprise that we’re absolutely spoilt for choice when summer rolls around. You’ve got festivals devoted to hip-hop, jazz, leftfield pop, disco, afrobeats, heavy rock ‘n’ roll. Whatever your taste may be, my god does London have a day festival for you. We are right in the thick of festival season right now. You’ve probably already secured the tickets and started planning your outfit, but if you’re doing things a little last minute this summer, there is still time to plan your day festis. Have a scroll through our comprehensive guide – which we keep meticulously updated with all the latest line-up announcements – and see what takes your fancy. RECOMMENDED: ⛺ The best UK music festivals🌍 The best festivals in Europe

In July and August things slow down a bit in the dance world – ballerinas need summer holidays too, you know.  However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t still an exciting selection of ballet and contemporary shows to pick from in London this month. We’re most looking forward to the legendary Sharon Eyal’s ROSE, which will see Sadler’s Wells East transformed into a nightclub, with beats provided by the exceedingly cool DJ Call Super.  The Quadrophenia ballet also continues its run throughout July, and the National Ballet of Japan is staging romantic classic Giselle at the Royal Opera House.  Over at the Southbank Centre, don’t miss a number of original and new choreographies as part of the Dance Your Way Home programme.  Here’s our pick of the best dance in London this July.  India is in charge of dance listings at Time Out. She was first shoved into a leotard and ballet shoes aged four, and has loved it ever since. Nowadays India prefers contemporary (or dancing in a sweaty club) to ballet, but still has a soft spot for the odd grand jeté every now and again. India has been reviewing dance in London since joining Time Out in 2022.  MORE STAGE: Dance classes in London Best theatre shows this yearBest theatre shows this monthBest comedy shows this month

By August you might be feeling burnt out by the preceeding months of beer-garden-drinking, day-festivalling and sun-lounging. But we’re here to tell you to rally, because there are plenty of reasons to get excited about the final month of summer in London. The biggest thing happening? It’s Notting Hill Carnival – the biggest festival of its kind in Europe that takes over the streets of west London for the bank holiday weekend.  When you’re not having a riotous time dancing to tinnitus-inducing dance hall with a pocket full of Red Stripe, there are plenty of other ways to get your fill of live music this month. All Points East, Body Movements and Boiler Room Festival are just a few of the festivals pitching their tents and blasting music across various parks in London. UK Black Pride is also back for its 20th anniversary this year, with what promises to be its biggest and boldest event yet. It’s also your last chance to catch huge theatre shows and art exhibitions, including Evita starring Rachel Zegler, Inter Alia with Rosamund Pike and Leigh Bowery! at Tate Modern Before September hits, let’s hope there’s enough sun for a London lido swim, lazy days in the city’s parks, outdoor-cinema sessions and all the other alfresco pleasures that summer in London has to offer.  Plan your whole year with our BIG London events calendar.

Summer is officially here, and the current 30C heatwave has us excited about sweating it out on the streets of west London with Red Stripe pulsing through our veins, because Notting Hill Carnival is just around the corner. As you gear up for one of the capital’s most fun weekends of the year, it’s understandable if you might want to do a little more prep than simply stocking up on Red Stripe and paint powder.  Carnival is an incredible knees-up, but with all its sounds, sights and crowds, it can get a little overwhelming. An estimated 2.5 million punters head to west London for the celebration, so it’s totally normal that you might get turned around, lost or just need a handy reminder of where you're going after several rounds of Wray & Ting.  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 2025? Notting Hill Carnival 2025 starts on Sunday, August 24 and continues on Bank Holiday Monday, August 25.  What is the Notting Hill Carnival 2025 parade route?  NHC likes to keep attendees on their toes and is famous for releasing all the details, including stage headliners, at the last minute. In that ilk, the official route map for 2025 hasn’t been revealed yet. However, it’s pretty similar every year so we have a good idea of what it will look like.  Sunday is the day of the children’s parade and the adult’s parade takes place o

There’s a reason why so many romantic comedy films are set in London; quite simply, it’s one of the best places in the world to be loved up. The picturesque Little Venice, the historic Whispering Gallery at St Paul's Cathedral, and Waterloo Bridge (which has breathtaking views of the city) are among the many romantic places to visit at any time of year – and we can’t get enough. But to encourage your love to reach full bloom, it's important to pick a hotel with the right kind of vibe. Breakfast in bed, complimentary cocktails upon arrival, and pampering spa packages are the sort of special touches that can make all the difference when you’re in the mood to woo... or maybe even pop the question. Take a look at our favourite romantic hotels in London.  Updated in May 2024: To keep our curated lists tip top we always keep an eye out for any new or trending properties. And this time around we've set our sights on this hidden sanctuary in Shoreditch, and this luxury hotel in South Kenso that's all about British elegance.  Looking for more options? 🛏 Check out London’s best Airbnbs ❤️‍🔥 or London's naughtiest hotels. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Need a place to stay in London? We’re here to make it easy for you. Every year, a wealth of new hotels open in the capital which is a testament to the fact that London remains one of the most desirable places to visit in the world. However, that can make it tricky to decide which hotel to choose. But worry not because we have slept our way across the city and hand-picked our favourites for the ultimate list of London hotels, which covers locations right across the city, and every category from blowout luxury (including having your own butler, might we add) to budget basic and brilliant. In this mega list, we've listed everything from our favourite five-star hotels in Mayfair to more affordable hotels outside of zone 1. Plus you’ll be able to check out one or two of the capital's many Michelin-starred restaurants because yep, loads of them call London hotels their home. But if spending a small fortune on food isn’t your bag? There’s also an ever-increasing number of good-value food options for budgeteers, too. Throw great design and architecture into the mix, plus superb bars, world-class hospitality and the opportunity to have a home-from-home in the best city in the world and, well, you’re laughing.  Which area is best to stay in London? It's not just the range of hotels that's so impressive – you're also spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a neighbourhood to stay in London. The city is made up of a sprawling network of dynamic neighbourhoods, all with their own uniqu

After temperatures soared above 30 degrees in June, we’re holding out for a sun-soaked July this summer, which would mean lidos, rooftop bars, beer gardens and alfresco dining galore. We can already taste the sweet, sweet golden hour Aperol Spritz.  When it comes to stuff going on, this July is going to be a biggie. Drake is in town for a whopping three nights at Wireless festival (playing an entirely different set each evening), Rosamund Pike is hitting the West End stage starring in Inter Alia, and BST at Hyde Park is in full swing, with Noah Kahan and Sabrina Carpenter both topping the bill in July.  Other London music festivals are popping off throughout the month, and it’s also a chance to take in the city’s lavender and sunflower fields, which are going to be at their blooming loveliest. Here’s our guide to the best exhibitions, shows and things to do this July 2025 in London.  RECOMMENDED: The definitive London events calendar

Why not enjoy your dinner with a side of strange? London is home to hundreds of amazing restaurants, but sometimes everyone hankers for a talking point with their tapas. We’ve rounded up a serious bunch of entertaining eateries: oddball decor, kooky culinary concepts and – yes – cats. Our list of unusual restaurants will delight animal lovers, garlic fans, and yodellers and more. You’ll find these joints in venues as varied as a boat, a prison and a church crypt. This is dining with a difference.  RECOMMENDED: The best weird bars in London. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

  I’m going to say it: I’m not a fan of rock ballets. Pop ballet, electronic ballet and soul ballet are all things I can get on board with. But rock ballet? Please god no. I don’t want to see a ballerina in an edgy black tutu playing air guitar, à la the 2023 Black Sabbath Ballet. So, I’m pleased to say that Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet, using music by The Who and inspired by the 1979 film of the same name, manages to avoid all the usual pitfalls of a classical dance show desperately trying to attract, lets face it, probably boomer men who would usually be averse to spending three hours in the theatre watching men and women leaping about in tights.  For starters, the music of this show created by Who guitarist Pete Townshend isn’t simply  recordings of the original songs, but a moving, bombastic and sweeping live orchestral rendition of the album Quadrophenia (with a few other songs, including ‘My Generation’, thrown in for good measure) by Rachel Fuller, AKA Mrs Townshend. Secondly, the stunning lighting, set and projections (videos are by YeastCulture) keep the production feeling sharp and modern. And most importantly, the themes of the story ring as true today as they did when the film was made – it explores toxic masculinity, and an increasingly dissatisfied and restless younger generation, facing an existential crisis in the face of capitalism, class struggles, and world-wide conflicts (in this ballet’s case, it’s the aftermath of World War II).  Quadrophenia tells the sto

The UK Green Film Festival returns to cinemas across the country this July with a programme of award-winning environmental documentaries. Dalston’s Rio Cinema will be hosting the London screenings of five urgent documentaries that explore global stories of environmental justice and hope. These include: Nanna Frank Møller and Zlatko Pranjic’s The Sky Above Zenica, a portrait of civic resistance which follows citizens of Zenica, Bosnia as they confront pollution, corporate negligence, and political indifference; Searching For Amani, a deeply personal story exlporing the relationship between climate change and social justice that picked up awards at Tribeca and Raindance film festivals; and Once Upon A Time In A Forest, that follows a passionate young activist resisting deforestation. 

A new wholesome day festival has entered the chat. From the people behind Brainchild, Desire Lines promises to be an all-day extravaganza of DJs, live music, theatre, works-in-progress performances, local craft, zine and art vendors, and a selection of eats from some of southeast London’s finest independent restaurants. It’s taking place at the Shipwright, a multi-purpose venue by the river in Deptford. The line-up features some of London’s hottest home-grown DJs, including Rohan Rakit, Lagoon, Shivum Sharma, otta, Bushbby, Papaoul and more.  Line-up includes: Rohan Rakit, Lagoon, Shivum Sharma, otta, Bushbby, Papaoul and more.

One of London’s biggest dance music festivals is back to take over Boston Manor Park in 2025. If previous years are anything to go by, you can expect Junction 2 to provide a careful balance of massive names and hotly-tipped up-and-comers across the last Friday, Saturday and Sunday of July. The festival has just released its final lineup, and it’s got some huge names on it. This year you’ve got a stacked selection of house and techno juggernauts like deadmau5, Christian Löffler, Ahmed Spins, Amber Broos and Kolter. They come alongside the likes of Nina Kravitz, Bashkka, Mount Kimbie, Moxie, Midland, DJ Koze and Soul Wax. Basically, it’s the holy grail of raves. Lineup includes: deadmau5, Christian Löffler, Nina Kravitz, Bashkka, Mount Kimbie, Moxie, Midland, Palms Trax, DJ Koze. 

What is it? The V&A East Storehouse is perhaps London’s best new museum, found in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Inside, you will find rows and rows of steel shelves, filled with treasures that make up the V&A’s vast archive, that is now on display for all the see.  Purpose-built to house more than 1,000 archives from the museum’s collection, comprising more than 250,000 objects and 350,000 books, the storehouse promises to offer a peek behind the scenes to show how a working museum goes about cataloguing artefacts, from vintage footie kits and Glastonbury festival ephemera to a collection of samurai swords. Oh, and did we mention it will house the David Bowie Centre, a massive archive of more than 80,000 objects related to the music icon? We can’t wait to have a good old poke when it opens slightly later, in September.  It is a ‘working museum’, meaning it doesn’t have permanent displays (it doesn’t really have proper displays at all, just shelves), and every one of its objects is free to be moved around by the people at work behind the scenes at any time. Why go? This is a genuinely radical new museum offering, and it could just change the way we think about viewing artefacts forever. There are no lengthy gallery texts, instead just library-like barcodes and the odd QR code, meaning it’s all down to your own interpretation. The randomness is part of the fun, and the objects get to speak for themselves.  Don’t miss:  The six prized large objects that have been b

What is it? Brixton club Phonox has been an important part of London’s electronic music scene since it opened a decade ago in 2015.  A sleek, dark dance cavern with plenty of space for dancing, Phonox has been a favourite with the heads for a while. It stays ahead of the curve, booking the best current and underground DJs – over the years pretty much any selector who’s worth their salt has graced its decks, with recent bookings including DJ EZ, Laurent Garnier, Sherelle and Call Super.  Phones are not banned, but taking photos and videos is strongly discouraged in this space that wants punters to enjoy the music and use the dance floor for well, dancing.  Why go? Killer DJs, a Funktion One soundsystem and gorgeous disco ball make nights out at Phonox an always stellar experience. If you want to experience properly good house, techno, garage, UK bass, disco and everything in between, chances are that Phonox will have something decent on.  Don’t miss: The legendary residencies. Phonox has a revolving list of the hottest DJs taking over the club as part of its ‘4 Fridays at Phonox’ series. Past editions have seen Peach, Daytimers, Saoirse and Ross From Friends curate four weeks of parties at the south London venue.  When to visit: If you want to attend the DJ-curated residencies, it’s Friday nights. Saturdays are the regular club night, which could see record-label takeovers, all-night-long sets or special one-off events.  Ticket info: Depending on the entry time or the release,

Picture your classic hotel bar. It’s probably got dark wood panelling, a wall of leather-bound books to rival an Oxbridge library, low lighting, squidgy arm chairs, and maybe a jazz band playing smoothly in the background. This is Scarfes Bar, an elite embodiment of the quintessential hotel watering hole. This is the kind of place where you might find Gossip Girl’s Chuck Bass moodily sipping a Scotch alone at the bar. The crowd gives an equally sophisticated vibe; millennial couples on date night, people who look like they have important jobs and cash to spend, and fashionistas dressed all in black. The name is not an ode to having a warm neck, but to the cartoonist Gerald Scarfe, whose jaunty drawings line the walls. They’re probably not to everyone’s taste – think a giant-nosed caricature of King Charles, and an ultra flamboyant David Bowie – but they certainly add a unique flavour to décor that could otherwise be seen as identikit. Order this  The gimlet on the vine was my winner of the evening, a trendy riff on a gimlet, with a base of Bombay Premier Cru. But instead of lime-y sweetness, this savoury delight tastes just like a ripe cherry tomato, and a saltiness is supplied by a pleasingly massive floating caper. Time Out tip Get down earlyish, because after 8pm there was already a line at the door. Plus you’ll want to have ample time to have a bash at the 20-strong list of inventive, complex drinks (hello Smoky Maria, a concoction of tequila, smoked clamato juice and Mar

This is one for fans of Glastonbury’s NYC Downlow. The former Panorama Bar resident and Downlow big cheese Prosumer will bring his house and disco goodness to Phonox for an all-night-long set of pure vibes this Easter Thursday. Expect a night of euphoric house, uplifting soul and disco deep cuts, the perfect start to the bank holiday weekend. 

As anyone who has ever tried to secure a booking at the London Fields Lido on a warm summer day will know, us Londoners love a good dip. So it’s only natural that the capital’s Design Museum should stage an exhibition dedicated to our adoration of swimming.  With more than 200 objects, Splash! presents a whistle-stop tour for water babies taking us all the way from bizarre Victorian bathing carriages, to the present-day mermaidcore TikTok trend. From the politics of the pool (and who gets to learn to swim) to the evolution of swimwear and pool architecture, Splash! covers a lot of ground. The show is split into three sections – the pool, the lido and nature – and perhaps the most fun part, each section is designed to mimic different swimming spaces which feature in the exhibit, including the London Aquatics Centre and the art-deco Penzance Jubilee Pool.  In the first part, ‘the pool’, is quite the collection of stuff, focussing largely on Olympic swimming – a model for the London Aquatics Centre, a swimming cap belonging to Syrian swimmer Yusra Mardini, a jumper knitted by Tom Daley, and a 1984 David Hockney poster for the Los Angeles Olympics are all show. It also wouldn’t be an exhibition about pool design without some pretty Wes Anderson-style photography. The highly controversial LZR racer swimsuit is another gem on display – the suit designed by Speedo and NASA was responsible for 94 percent of swimming gold medals at Beijing 2008, and was subsequently banned for ‘techni

What is a spatial audio festival, you might be wondering? If you go to Polygon Live LDN, you’ll probably find out. The gist is seeing live music in a 360-degree arena surrounded by high-tech lights and loads of crystal-clear speakers – a spectacle which event organisers actually call a ‘spaceship’. Artists on the lineup so far include dreamy Pakistani-American singer Arooj Aftab, electronic legend Jon Hopkins, and composer Cosmo Sheldrake. This is one for audiophiles looking for something a bit more immersive. 

Wake up babe, a new house and techno festival in London just dropped. Legendary house DJ Jamie Jones has announced he is bringing a brand-new festi to the capital this summer, taking over Boston Manor Park with one of his world-famous Paradise parties. Spread across four stages, Paradise in the City promises to have ‘cutting-edge sound and state-of-the-art production’, all produced by partners LWE. The line-up hasn’t been anounnced yet, but it’s going span to a variety of techno and house DJs, all hand-selected by Jones. Expect a day of four-to-the-floor belters with an Ibiza vibe. 

40FT brewery is teaming up with neighbouring ‘live fire’ restaurant Acme Fire Cult for a proper Irish knees-up this St Paddy’s Day. The Dalston brewers will be launching their Nitro Deep Stout for the occasion, with boozy Jameson Boilermaker cocktails also on offer. On the food menu? Spice bags! For anyone unacquainted, these are an Irish takeaway staple, featuring chips, fried chicken and peppers all shaken up in a paper bag with loads of spices. Chef Andrew Clarke’s take on them will feature grilled, herb-fed chicken, chicken fat potatoes, peppers, onions and chicken skin doused in a special Acme Vadouvan curry sauce. And there’ll also be DJs on from 7.30pm. 

Soon, visitors staying overnight near Wembley Stadium could have to pay a tourist tax, as the local council is looking into ways to fund improvements to the area. Brent Council said a new levy could unlock a ‘vital new source of funding’ and help turn Wembley into a ‘world class cultural destination’, while also tackling issues caused by the area’s success as a cultural destination.  In a recent council meeting, a motion was brought forward to introduce a mandatory ‘visitor levy’ on hotel and short-stay accommodation in Brent. Councillors agreed to seek permission to impose the fee.  Nearly three million people attended events at Wembley in 2024, and there are several hotels in the areas surrounding the stadium to cater to concert and sports visitors. This summer, Wembley will host Coldplay, Oasis and Blackpink, having already held concerts by Lana Del Rey, Linkin Park, Guns n Roses and Dua Lipa.  The council wants to make sure that the benefits of these large-scale events are felt by everyone in the borough, including residents. While concerts bring many advantages – it’s thought that every non-sporting event at the stadium brings in around £4.35 million to the local economy – the council noted that they also create some ‘very real challenges’, which include increased noise, congestion, waste, and pressure on council services.  Councillor Mary Mitchell said Brent should follow the example of models already in place in cities across the UK and Europe, like Manchester and Edin

Eilashes and Avocados (or whatever you want to call yourselves) of London, the week is finally here, because Billie Eilish is playing a mega six shows in the capital this week as she brings her Hit Me Hard And Soft tour to town.  This has been a long time coming, because the Gen Z singer last played in London in 2022 during her Happier Than Ever tour, when she also had a mega six-show run at the same venue. This time she will be celebrating her hugely successful third album, which includes hits like ‘Birds Of a Feather’ and ‘Lunch’.  Heading to the concert? Here’s all you need to know about Billie Eilish in London.  When is Billie Eilish playing at London’s O2? Billie is taking over the O2 for nights over the next week or so on the following dates: July 10, 11, 13, 14, 16 and 17.  What are the timings? According to the O2’s website doors to the arena will open at 5.30pm every night. Billie’s stage time hasn’t been officially announced, but she came on at 8.20pm in Glasgow earlier this week. Expect something similar in London. What’s the setlist? There is no official setlist, but Billie has been playing a broadly similar set throughout her tour. It will probably go something like this: CHIHIRO LUNCH NDA Therefore I Am WILDFLOWER when the party's over THE DINER ilomilo bad guy THE GREATEST Your Power SKINNY Halley's Comet bury a friend Oxytocin Guess everything i wanted lovely / BLUE / ocean eyes L'AMOUR DE MA VIE What Was I Made For? Happier Than Ever BIRDS OF A FEATHER Who

Robbie Williams, Adrien Brody, Bob Dylan, and now Ed Sheeran. The British singer is the latest to join the ranks of celebrities trying to make a name for themselves in the visual arts.  Sheeran’s Jackson Pollock-style paintings, featuring layers of multi-coloured drippings and splatters, have gone on display in central London. They’ll make up an exhibition called Cosmic Carpark Paintings at Heni gallery in Soho which opened today (July 11) and will run until Friday, August 1. It’s a free exhibition, with no appointment required.  The name of the exhibition comes from Sheeran himself, as he created the paintings in a disused London carpark while he was in between tours over the past few years.  ‘I started painting at the end of my Divide Tour in 2019 and it's something that I've used as a creative outlet ever since,’ Sheeran told the BBC. ‘When I was growing up, both of my parents worked in art, so I've naturally always been interested in it, and I always enjoyed studying art at school. ‘I was back and forth on tour last year, and I used a lot of my downtime in the UK to paint. ‘I'd run to a disused car park in Soho each morning, paint, then run home and I'd do that daily until I headed back out on tour again.’ The paintings on display will also be up for sale, with proceeds going to The Ed Sheeran Foundation, which works to offer music education and opportunities to young people from all backgrounds. Sheeran said the artist Damien Hirst, alongside Heni’s founder Joe Hage, enc

In case you haven’t heard, Billie Eilish is in town this week, as she brings her Hit Me Hard And Soft tour to the O2 arena for a whopping six nights.  If you want to cop some of the ‘Birds Of A Feather’ singer’s merch but don’t fancy queueing up at the O2, you’re in luck, because Billie has opened an entire pop-up shop in the capital this week dedicated to her various tour t-shirts and hoodies and hats and vinyls etcetera.  If you want to shop for Billie Eilish paraphernalia in London this week, here’s everything you need to know.  Where is the Billie Eilish pop-up in London? The Hit Me Hard And Soft shop has opened in Shoreditch, near Old Street station. The address is 347 Old Street, EC1V 9LP.  How long will the Billie Eilish pop-up be open for? Fans have only got three more days to visit the store, as its final day is Sunday, July 13.  Do you need a ticket? Nope. Just turn up and shop, but be warned it will be busy and there are likely to be queues to get in.  Full opening times for Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard And Soft merch pop-up in London July 11 – 12pm–7pm July 12 – 12pm–7pm July 13 – 12pm–7pm The best London gigs and concerts in July. The London beer that was just crowned the best in Britain for 2025.  Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.

A ticket to the top of the Shard used to set visitors back up to £38, with a deluxe option that stretched to a whopping £51 per person. But not any more.  For the summer only, the View from the Shard has slashed its prices.  From now, visitors can head up London’s tallest building from £22. Prices go up to £32 for standard entry and range between £36 and £48 for the deluxe package (which includes a crisp glass of champagne). According to the Shard, the new pricing is part of a seasonal initiative aimed at making the attraction more accessible during peak tourist months.  The View from the Shard is just a stones throw away from several of London’s free viewing galleries: Sky Garden, Horizon 22, and The Lookout at 8 Bishopsgate. The benefit of going up the Shard? You get 360 views of the city, whereas the other platforms only face south or west.  Want more sky-high fun in the city? Why not check out one of London’s fantastic rooftop gardens (many of which have great bars, so you can enjoy a cocktail with your view)? Some of our favourites include the Culpeper, the Garden at 120 and rooftop bar Forza Wine at the National Gallery.  The best rooftop gardens in London, according to Time Out. The best beach in southern England is less than 90 minutes from London.  The City of London is getting a new ‘sky garden’.  Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel. Stay in the loop: sign u

Who said a pint has to set you back £6.50? Things may be getting eye-wateringly extortionate in the UK right now, but there are still some places in this country you can go to to get a nice crisp pint of lager on the cheap. Thank heavens for that.  A new study has done the lord’s work and looked into where you can get the cheapest pints in Europe. To our surprise, a mega six British locations made it into the top 10 cheapest places for boozing on the continent. Cheers to that. According to the report by credit card company Aqua, one of Europe’s least spenny pints can be found in Llandudno in Wales. At this Welsh seaside resort a pint of the good stuff apparently costs an average £2.71, which is only 70p cheaper than Europe’s cheapest pint, which was found in Prague. Llandudno came in a respectable fifth place in the ranking.  Not far behind, coming in joint seventh place was the Lake District, Forest of Dean and the Cotswolds, where an average pint was £3 in all locations. These spots were followed by Blackpool where a lager costs an average £3.25. Finally, in 10th place was Deal. The price has crept up a bit here, but it’s still less than a fiver – the average price of a pint in the Kent town was £4.10.  It’s good to know that cheap boozing is still possible on our fair isle. We’ll see you in Llandudno.  The London beer that was just crowned the best in Britain for 2025.  The best pub in Britain has been crowned at the 2025 Pub and Bar Awards.  Stay in the loop: sign up to

Riding a Belmond train is like getting to enjoy the opulent luxuries of a bygone era. The people behind the Orient Express and the British Pullman, put together some of the world’s bougiest train experiences – and they’re about to launch a brand-new route in the UK.  If you want to experience Belmond’s very glam, very old-fashioned type of train travel, complete with fine dining, ample champagne and bed sheets with a very high thread count (and you’ve got the money for it) we have good news.  Photograph: Belmond / Salva Lopez This summer Belmond is launching the Britannic Explorer, a brand-new train that will chug along between London and Snowdonia (Eryri) in Wales. Travelling at a top speed of just 75mph, the three-day trip will allow passengers to take in the scenic views and participate in off-train excursions. The 10-carriage train will have space for just 36 guests, with twin cabins priced at £11,000 and suites with double beds rising to a whopping £16,000.  Deep-pocketed passengers will be riding off into the Welsh hills on this luxury locomotive from July 21 this year.  Photograph: Belmond / Salva Lopez The Britannic Explorer will also offer journeys to the West Country, the Cumbrian coast, and the Lake District. If you want to ride it you’ll need to be quick, because Belmond said that cabins are already 70 percent booked for the remainder of the year. Gary Franklin, head of Belmond’s train division, said: ‘Cornwall, Wales and the Lake District really lend themselv

The summer holidays are almost upon us, and that means it’s soon going to be all-go at Britain’s airports. Air travel is rarely fun at the best of times, but when you’re running late for your flight and then met by a massive queue for security it can be even worse.  Now, new research by the Independent has revealed exactly when British airports will be at their busiest this summer. The newspaper analysed data from airports and flight data from aviation data analyst Cirium to work out when terminals will be most crowded.  According to the paper, Fridays, Sundays and Mondays will be the most crowded days in UK airports throughout the summer.  In Scotland’s biggest airports, the later days in July will see the terminals at their most crowded.  British airports that cater to more than 30 million passengers each year – Manchester, Stansted, Heathrow and Gatwick – will see their busiest days in the second half of August.  At Gatwick, the world’s busiest single-runway airport, a plane will land or take off an average of every 95 seconds around the clock on a couple of days in August – with just 65 seconds between departures and arrivals in peak hours. Major airports in Northern Ireland and Wales have already seen their busiest days this summer, but Cardiff airport will see its highest number of departures on August 28, when 2,684 passengers are expected to take off. As for London’s business-oriented airport London City, that will have its most crowded day after the summer hols have

Henry Moore’s bulbous and undulating sculptures were designed to be seen outside and surrounded by nature. So good news then, because soon a bunch of them are going to be displayed just as Moore intended as part of a landmark exhibition in London.  From May 2026, Kew Gardens will host the world’s biggest ever Henry Moore exhibition on its grounds. Thirty of Moore’s most monumental sculptures displayed in the open air, while 90 more, including carvings and drawings, will be shown in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery. The wild botanic garden at Wakehurst in Sussex will also show some sculptures as well as newly commissioned pieces from contemporary artists. Henry Moore: Monumental Nature, will run from May 9 to September 27 2026 and will reflect Moore’s lifelong fascination with nature and its many materials and forms. It will include several of his famous and iconic reclining figures, as well as more abstract and amorphous pieces like the massive bronze marvel ‘Large Two Forms’.  Photograph: Jonty Wild‘Reclining Woman’, Henry Moore Kew has partnered with the Henry Moore Foundation in Hertfordshire, which is lending most of the artworks to the botanical gardens.  Sebastiano Barassi, head of collections at the Henry Moore Foundation, said: ‘[Moore] had a strong preference for nature over architectural cityscapes because he felt that the organic forms of his sculpture respond better to the organic forms of nature. We’re trying to show visitors that close connection.’ Tickets for t

Are you heading to Wireless this weekend? You’ve probably already gathered a gang of mates, booked in the pre-festival manicure and started preparing the presumably Drake-heavy pre-drinks playlist. But there is one more thing you need to do before the festival, and that’s check all the items you’re not allowed to bring.  The festival is headlined by Drizzy three days in a row, which isn’t something we’ve ever seen before. The Boy will be joined by PARTYNEXTDOOR, Burna Boy, Vybz Cartel and more across the three days, and he’ll be playing a different set on each day apparently, so you won’t be stuck listening to ‘Hotline Bling’ three days in a row.  Don’t want to get caught out by forbidden items at Wireless? Here’s everything you need to know.  RECOMMENDED: The best music festivals in London. The full list of banned items Aerosols over 250ml Air horns and megaphones Alcohol All gas canisters of any size (including nitrous oxide) Animals (other than registered hearing dogs or guide dogs) Any goods for unauthorised trading with unauthorised logos Anything that could reasonably be considered for use as a weapon including oversized lighters or any item which may cause danger, offence or disruption to any other person Audio recorders Bags larger than A4 size Balloons Blowtorches Cameras, film or video equipment. Lenses must be less than 6 inches. Professional cameras and video / audio equipment are strictly prohibited. Cans Catapults Chairs, stools, inflatable loungers, floor seat

It was first built in 1675, after King Charles II ordered a warrant for the construction of the Royal Observatory. Now, 350 years later, the Christopher Wren-designed observatory overlooking Greenwich Park is getting a major £77 million renovation.  Jamie Fobert Architects will be heading up the major glow-up, after the firm won a public competition to take ownership of the project in 20222.  The project, called ‘First Light’ will add a new entry pavilion and garden walk, accessible routes to the Great Equatorial Telescope and Planetarium (including a lift tower), refreshed galleries with interactive displays, and new space with shops and cafés called ‘Astronomers Court’.  Image: Jamie Fobert Architects Work will begin in September 2025, with the gardens and the accessible routes getting an overhaul which will mean they reach the telescope for the first time.  Of the £77 million budget, £50.5 million has been secured so far. The project is due to be complete by spring 2028.  Image: Jamie Fobert Architects Paddy Rodgers, chief executive of Royal Museums Greenwich, said: ‘Founded 350 years ago, the Royal Observatory Greenwich is Britain’s oldest purpose-built scientific institution. It is the birthplace of modern astronomy and the home of the Prime Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time. ‘Through this project we aim to inspire new audiences and advance our remit as a place for the public understanding of astronomy as decreed by our Royal Warrant. The Royal Observatory has long be

First announced in back 2023, the finer details of the V&A East Storehouse’s new David Bowie Centre have finally been revealed.  The V&A East Storehouse opened in May this year. Spoiler: it’s amazing. But visitors have had to wait a bit longer for the arrival of the massive David Bowie archive, which will contain more than 80,000 items and span six decades of the life of Ziggy Stardust.  It’s been revealed that the David Bowie Centre will officially open on September 13 2025. And that isn’t the only additional info that the V&A has revealed – we also now know more about the opening exhibits, which are going to be curated by BRIT-winning indie band The Last Dinner Party and living musical legend Nile Rodgers.  Rodgers, who produced Bowie’s albums Let’s Dance and Black Tie White Noise has selected items including personal correspondence between himself and Bowie, a bespoke Peter Hall suit worn by Bowie during the Serious Moonlight tour and Chuck Pulin photographs of Bowie, Rodgers and guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan recording Let's Dance in New York Rodgers said: ‘My creative life with David Bowie provided the greatest success of his incredible career, but our friendship was just as rewarding. Our bond was built on a love of the music that had both made and saved our lives.’ The Last Dinner Party have mainly selected items from the 1970s which show how Bowie continues to inspire musicians today. Their choices include Bowie’s handwritten lyrics for ‘Win’ from the 1974 album Young A