India Lawrence

When it comes to art and exhibitions, London has it all. From the niche spaces, to the avant garde galleries, and the massive crowd-pleasing museums, our city is packed with shows that will perplex, challenge, inspire, educate and leave you feeling awestruck.  The problem is... there’s absolutely tons to see. Too much, you could say. Lucky for you, Time Out exists. For decades, our experts have been visiting and reviewing all the sculpture, painting, performance, photography, history, fashion and other types of exhibitions on offer. You name it, we’ve (probably, most likely) seen it. If you’re wondering what’s actually worth your time, start here. Check out the best museum exhibitions and art in London right now, and be sure to come back weekly for the latest picks. Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: Best photography exhibitions in LondonBest free exhibitions in London

2026 has officially landed. An entire year of adventure awaits, with Britain set for a deluge of thrilling new things to see and do. Beyond the individual openings, however – the new bars and restaurants, museums and attractions – where should be on your radar for places to visit in the UK?  If you’re up for being inspired here at Time Out, as always, we’ve got you covered. We’ve scoured the listings of all that’s happening in Britain in 2026 and consulted our nationwide network of writers and editors, harnessing all that info to put together a guide to the places that should be on your radar over the next 12 months.  Destinations made it onto Time Out’s list for a vast range of reasons. Some have swaggered onto the scene with a quickfire burst of thrilling new attractions. Others have built their cred slower and reached a point of quiet brilliance, while others still are established spots that simply remain very much worth their rep. Several places will be made even more tempting by those aforementioned 2026 openings, whether that be delicious places to eat and drink, game-changing new transport options or unmissable cultural events.  From trendy seaside towns to revived industries cities, medieval forts to ‘the new Berlin’: here are the UK’s 14 top places to visit in 2026. RECOMMENDED: Looking for just London stuff? Here are 26 new things to do in the capital in 2026. 

As much as Christmas trees, turkey and a mildly overworked Santa have become staples of the festive season, so has the music that soundtracks this cheer-soaked time of year. Christmas songs don’t just endure – many end up becoming the crown jewels of an artist’s entire career. From golden oldies by Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Bing Crosby, to ‘80s icons like Wham! and The Pogues, to modern favourites from Ariana Grande and Leona Lewis, these tunes have embedded themselves into our seasonal rituals. What is the best-selling Christmas song of all time? That honour still belongs to Bing Crosby’s 1942 classic ‘White Christmas’. With over 50 million sales, it’s not only the biggest Christmas record in history – it’s the best-selling song of all time, full stop. Guinness World Records first crowned it back in 1955, and it’s held onto the title ever since. What is the most-streamed Christmas song of all time? Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ may trail Crosby in pure sales (a mere 16 million), but streaming has turned it into a seasonal juggernaut. It finally hit No.1 in both the UK and US decades after its release and became the first Christmas song to pass 2 billion Spotify streams. Hot on its heels: Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’ (1.83 billion) and Brenda Lee’s ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ (1.27 billion). Are there any new Christmas songs for 2025? The past decade has delivered plenty of modern holiday staples, from Ariana Grande to Sabrina Carpenter to Cher. As

As the nights draw in and the chill sets through the air, there’s no denying it: spooky season has officially arrived. The pumpkins are carved, the costume’s nailed and now there’s just one thing left to summon… a Halloween playlist wicked enough to get even the undead on their feet. Sure, the classic Halloween songs still reign supreme – we’re talking ‘Thriller’, ‘Ghostbusters’ and all the usual heavy-hitters. But lately, a new wave of pop phantoms has emerged to soundtrack your October nights. From Olivia Rodrigo’s ex-boyfriend bleeding her dry, to the enchanting spellwork of Lady Gaga a.k.a Mother Monster herself, with a detour through the slick, otherworldly beats of K-Pop’s most stylish demons – Halloween playlists have, quite literally, come back to life. Our favourite Halloween playlist songs for 2025 at a glance: Most iconic Halloween track: ‘Thriller’ by Michael Jackson Best new Halloween anthem: ‘Abracadabra’ by Lady Gaga Most dramatic Halloween song: ‘There Will Be Blood’ by Kim Petras Best Halloween anthem with a K-Pop twist: ‘Your Idol’ by Saja Boys Best Halloween track to dance to: ‘Monster Mash’ by Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers RECOMMENDED: 👻 The best Halloween movies of all time 🎤 The best karaoke songs 🎵 The best songs of 2025 so far 🕺 The best albums of 2025 so far

January is here, which means we’re entering a brand new year. Despite all the January goals, resolutions and hopes we have for 2026, it’s no secret that January can ostensibly become the most depressing month of the year. The days are short and dark, it’s cold, and our bank balances are severely depleted after the December festivities. But, we’re here to help you realise it’s not all bleak.  For one thing, it’s the ideal time to discover London on a budget and without the crowds, while many of city’s very best theatre and musicals, restaurants and bars – ranked definitively by Time Out's crew of expert local editors – offer discounted tickets and cheap meal deals to entice you out of the house during the coldest and darkest days of the year. Believe it or not, but January can also a time for celebration, too. London will once again be playing host to plenty of Burns Night ceilidhs, haggis suppers and poetry readings commemorating Scotland’s most famous poet, plus dinners and parades in celebration of the Lunar New Year, which falls nice and early in 2025, on January 29. If you’re someone who likes to commit to a month of sobriety or a punishing new exercise regime at the start of the New Year, London definitely has your back too. The city is home to countless excellent sports clubs and fitness classes, plus dozens of glorious parks and spectacular walking routes, and there’s arguably nowhere that better caters for the sober and sober-curious. Of course, if you’d rather just s

It’s a brand new year, and the dance world is leaping into 2026 with some absolute bangers returning to the London stage this month.  Akram Khan’s dystopian and haunting take on Giselle is back for a limited run with the English National Ballet, while Wayne McGregor’s stunning Woolf Works will take to the Royal Opera House stage. Another one not to miss is Gecko’s The Wedding at Sadler’s Wells East – a truly unique piece of dance theatre that will leave you questioning the concepts of marriage, capitalism and more.  India is in charge of dance listings at Time Out. She has been dancing since she could walk and 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

Even after a couple of vintage years for new music, 2025 has been special. Sure, we didn’t get a clear-cut ‘song of the summer’, but artists have been instead putting out defining works in a longer format. The past 12 (well, 11) months have featured all manner of extraordinary album releases.  Belted-to-the-rafters country pop, plunderphonic majesty, ecstatic dance music, intimate electronic world-building, history-collapsing art rock, triumphant hip-hop… these are just a few of the sounds and styles that have been executed marvellously in 2025. Here are the year’s finest 25 albums, chosen by Time Out editors and contributors.

It’s easy to leave planning New Year’s Eve to the very last minute – often you get so tangled up in the tinsel-decked glories of Christmas that you forget there's another big bash, just a week later. But New Year's Eve is the kind of night that you forget at your peril. Attempt to wing it and you might well end up stuck at home with a glass of flat prosecco in front of Jools Holland’s Hootenanny, because all London's best clubs and parties book out weeks or months in advance.  But fear not, we're here to make sure you give 2025 a seriously good send-off. Here's our list of London best NYE bashes for ringing in 2026, from never-ending club nights to LGBTQ+- friendly celebrations. Assemble your crew, book your tickets, plan the perfect ‘fit and prepare to say a big fat goodbye to the year gone by. London’s best NYE parties at a glance 🎆 Best for views of the fireworks: New Year’s Eve at Sky Garden 🦖 Best for a one-of-a-kind party: NYE at the Natural History Museum 🍴 Best for midnight snacks: New Year's Eve at Aram, Somerset House  🏳️‍🌈  Best for LGBTQ+: Horse Meat Disco at Village Underground 🌟 Best for glitz and glamour: New Year's Eve at W London RECOMMENDED: Find things to do in London on New Year’s Day.

Let’s be honest, with all the pressure that gets put on New Year’s Eve, often it ends up as a disappointment. You’re lying if you say you haven’t spent at least one countdown with your head over a toilet after getting too razzed before midnight, or the night is spent jostling with what feels like everyone in London to get into an average club night. This year, spare yourself the pain and save the hardest partying for New Year’s Day instead.  New Year’s Day raves have taken off over the last few years. They tend to last longer than the events of the night before and there aren’t the same enormous NYE crowds to battle with. Of course, celebrations on Jan 1 needn’t be instead of NYE revelries – soldier through your hangover and combine the two to create one big 48-hour blowout.  The capital’s venues are ready to welcome you with open arms for the first rager of 2026, with all manner of day and night parties to check out. Because who says the fun needs to stop as soon as the countdown’s over? Here are London’s best New Year’s Day parties.   RECOMMENDED: Find New Year’s Eve parties in London.

As the new year approaches, we’ve got festival season 2026 on our minds. And we can’t wait.  By the time summer rolls around, Londoners will be absolutley spoilt for choice. With something taking place almost every weekend throughout the warmer months, you can forget trekking across the country to live in a field for five days; simply hop on the tube and before you know it 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.  The future of events in Brockwell Park was thrown up in the air in 2025, but you’ll be glad to know that the south London park’s usual lineup of events – which includes Cross The Tracks, Wide Awake and Field Day – will all return in 2026.  And the line-up announcements for next year’s events are already coming in thick fast, with huge acts like Tyler, The Creator, Lewis Capaldi, Lorde, Lily Allen, Blood Orange and Deftones all set to take to London stages next summer. 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

You’re probably not even thinking about February right now. There’s still an entire Christmas party season, followed by the inevitable January hibernation to get through. But February will be coming on the horizon sooner than you think, so why not get ahead and start planning now? February’s social calendar is surprisingly busy, with a bunch of important dates packed into its short four weeks including Valentine’s Day, London Fashion Week and LGBTQ+ History Month. It’s also half-term, again. But fear not, there’s plenty to entertain the kids in London this Feb.  And there’s plenty more on besides all that. Seize your chance to have some fun this February, with our guide to the best things happening in London over the month. London’s best things to do in February at a glance: 🛏️Best for art lovers: Tracey Emin, Tate Modern 🎭Best for thespians: Dracula, Noel Coward Theatre  🪄Best for magicians: Abracadabra!, Somerset House 🏉Best for sports fans: Six Nations, various RECOMMENDED:🎨 The best art exhibitions opening in London this February 🎭 The best theatre shows opening in London this February🍽️ The best new London restaurants opening this February🎤 The best gigs happening in London in February😂 The best comedy show to see in London this February

Urgently in need of some cool pressie inspo for your nearest and dearest? Don’t worry about it! Our London gift guide is here, and it features loads of lovely pressies to suit just about any Londoner you can imagine.  From nifty gadgets to stylish accessories, covetable homeware to kids’ gifts, our editors have got every base covered, including plenty of sustainable options and handmade bits from some of London’s coolest indie brands and makers.  Need even more present inspiration? Check out our roundup of London’s best Christmas hampers for 2025. Time Out’s 2025 Christmas Gift Guide at a glance 🏰 Best for tech nerds: Nothing headphones 💷 Best for foodies: Allday Goods knife 🔬 Best for style queens: Peachy Den scarf and mitten set 🎡 Best for cool blokes: Percival martini cap 🎨 Best for youngsters: Ty Beanie Bouncers RECOMMENDED: More Christmas fun in London. 

Get ready to scream, because the ‘rockstar of the English baroque’ – yep, you heard that right – is getting his own major exhibition in London this spring. Three hundred years after his death,  the OG ‘starchitect’ Sir John Vanbrugh will get a show dedicated to his iconic architecture at Sir John Soane’s museum. Vanbrugh brought England some of its most-admired country houses, including Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard, and is known for his dramatic use of light and shadow, recessions and projections. 

The first major European exhibition of James McNeil Whistler’s work in 30 years arrives at Tate Britain in 2026. Known as a truly global aritst, The Victorian oil painter re-wrote many of the rules of art, and was an early adopter of ’art for art’s sake’. The retrospective brings together the artist’s world-famous paintings such as ‘Whistler’s Mother’ (Mr Bean fans will recognise this one, IYKYK) alongside rarely, or never seen, works. It includes exquisite portraits, drawings, prints, and designs, from as early as his teens in St Petersburg to the enigmatic late self-portraits.   

Henry Moore’s bulbous and undulating sculptures were designed to be seen outside and surrounded by nature. So we’re happy to say that Kew is displaying a huge collection of his works as they were intended at this mega exhibition. The world’s biggest ever exhibition of Moore will open at the botanical gardens, with 30 sculptures on show in the open air and more than 90 works including carvings and drawings displayed in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery. Several of his famous and iconic reclining figures will be on view, as well as more abstract and amorphous pieces like the massive bronze marvel ‘Large Two Forms’. 

This is huge, because the Bayeux Tapestry is going on display in Britain for the first time in 900 years. The 70-metre-long artwork is an intricately embroidered depiction of the 1066 Battle of Hastings, in which William the Conquerer took the English throne, and it’s coming to the British Museum. Although it’s believed to have been embroidered in Canterbury, the tapestry has resided in Bayeux, Normandy for the past nine centuries. Despite numerous attempts from Brits to borrow the masterpiece over the past century, it will finally be on show on British soil for the first time since it was made. 

If you’ll always carry a torch for your teenage celeb crush, then this one’s for you. From the internet’s impact on beauty trends to all things cute and cuddly, Somerset House has a history of delving into contemporary pop cultural trends with its exhibition programming, and it continues in a similar vein with its spring 2026 exhibition. In Holy Pop! Somerset House will explore the power of fandom and the world of modern shrines. Through art, memorabilia, letters, photographs, and interactive installations, the pay what you can exhibition will uncover the rituals of idolisation, showing how fandom shapes identity, values, and community. 

Groundbreaking Colombian artist Beatriz González gets her first solo UK show – and biggest ever European show – at the Barbican this spring. Famed for her vibrant, Pop Art-influenced depictions of Colombia during the decade-long civil war known as La Violenca and known in her native country as ‘la maestra’, González draws on found images to tell stories about power, grief, conflict, community and more. Featuring over 150 artworks made between the 1960s and the present day and spanning painting, sculpture, furniture and monumental printed curtains, this major will look at Gonzalez’s work not only from a Colombian and Latin American perspective, but a global one. 

This one is not for the faint-hearted. The Cause is going all out for 2026, bringing in the new year with a massive 16-hour day into night party. They have assembled what can only be described as the Avengers of party starters for this shindig, with takeovers from Gottwood, Bugged Out!, Origins, picnic records and more. The bash will take place across at least seven dancefloors, with more maybe to be announced. Big headliners include Francesco Del Garda, Young Marco, Helena Hauff, Lukas Wigflex, Factory Floor, Spray and Special Request. Don’t forget to pack a Snickers. 

Floating Points will be on the decks all night long at FOLD this NYE, warming up the club before its bumper 24-hour Unfold sesh on New Year’s Day. FP will dig into his deep collection to take clubbers on a sonic journey, playing everything from disco, to garage, to techno. Skip the Jools Holland and lose yourself in here instead. 

Since launching in 2019, Cross the Tracks has firmly made its name for itself as London’s go-to festival for funk, jazz, RnB and hip hop heads. Its groove-heavy curation leads to a laid-back and open-arms atmosphere, which means you’ll find all sorts of people of having a boogie at the one-dayer.  When is Cross the Tracks 2026? Cross the Tracks is taking place in its usual slot on Sunday May 24, in Brockwell Park. How much are tickets? Next year’s ticket prices haven’t been revealed yet, but in 2025 General Admission started at £54.50 + booking fee, while VIP tickets were from £89 + booking fee. What’s the Cross the Tracks 2026 line up? Little Simz is leading the line up for 2026, joined by the likes of Joy Crookes, KOKOROKO, Obongjayar, DON WEST and WAR.  Find more London music festivals here!

Two acclaimed choreographers who you might expect to work together – the remarkable ballet creator Crystal Pite alongside commercial dancer and Taylor Swift collaborator Kameron N Saunders – have come together to create Body and Soul with ENB, which recieves its UK and world premiere at Sadlers Wells. Pite’s Body and Soul (Part 1) explores bereavement, featuring two dancers in funereal black suits and white shirts. Meanwhile Saunders presents a new work in three parts that looks at the quest to find our authentic self under crushing societal scrutiny, inspired by his own experiences.

You can’t swing a pair of pointe shoes in London at Christmas without hitting a production of The Nutcracker. So it’s nice to see that there’s finally a new festive dance show on the block (one that isn’t by Matthew Bourne, anyway).  Hip hop honchos ZooNation are taking on the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, this winter. However, at the beginning we are told that writer/director/choreographer Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe’s version is absolutely not going to be the tale you recognise, with Tiny Tim et al. Instead, the recorded opening narration explains that Ebony Scrooge is about a ruthless fashion mogul (there’s certainly a bit of Miranda Priestly in there), hellbent on completing her monochrome fashion show in time for Christmas Day. It’s also spelled out that this is a story of belonging and finding your roots, which is perhaps a bit unnecessary – we all know the moral of A Christmas Carol.  Ebony Scrooge offers up a fun and inventive cast of characters, and I’m sure people will have their favourites. There are the mischievous content editors Tren and Dee (see what they did there?) with iPhones in hand; Scrooge’s sweet niece Freddie, always dressed in pink; and the kind natured Bob who just wants to put colour in Scrooge’s strictly black and white designs, played by a wonderfully fluid Malachi Welch. Leah Hill is a fabulous Scrooge, vogueing onto the stage in a pair of sparkling killer platforms over a house beat. Marley (that’s Janet Marley in this version) is quite te

Are you looking for something fuzzy to warm your heart this Christmastime? Then boy does the National Theatre have the show for you.  Katy Rudd’s seamless production is adapted by playwright Kendall Feaver from the Noel Streatfeild children’s novel of the same name. It follows the story of the three Fossil sisters: Pauline (Nina Cassells), Petrova (Sienna Arif-Knights) and Posy (Scarlett Monahan) who are adopted by the eccentric explorer and palaeontologist Great Uncle Matthew, aka Gum (Justin Salinger). After Gum goes missing on one of his many, many expeditions, the girls are looked after by his steadfastly loyal niece Sylvia, aka Garnie (Anoushka Lucas) and the matronly Miss Guthridge, aka Nana, played by the charming Lesley Nicol with a drawling West Country accent.  Set in the 1930s, the five women live in a tumbledown house filled with fossils on the Cromwell Road in Chelsea, until they realise they are desperately running out of money and assemble a motley crew of lodgers to take up rooms. There’s the stern but kind-hearted English professor Doctor Jakes (Pandora Colin), glamorous dance teacher Theo Dane (Nadine Higgin), and the bumbling car repair man Jai Saran (Raj Bajaj). After being booted out of every state school in the area, the girls are enrolled in the Children's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training, where luckily Dane is the teacher. Here they discover their passions for acting, ballet and er… being a mechanic. The whole plot is basically implausible – espec

From towns filled with cosy pubs to luxurious spas and quaint countryside trails, there are tonnes of escape options for weary Londoners in need of a countryside fix during the colder months. Winter doesn’t all have to be about drinking zero percent beer, going to the gym and staying inside watching Traitors.  And if you’re feeling so over the London crowds this January, why not head to a bucolic village in the Cotswolds for a frosty day out? We have named it as one of the best day trips from the city for winter 2026, after all.  Time Out crowned Broadway in the Worcestershire as the seventh best day visit outside the capital this cold season. Often referred to as the ‘jewel of the Cotswolds’, this historic village has ample open space for strolling across frosty fields, as well as an abundance of honey-coloured cottages, sweet shopfronts, independent art galleries, country inns and rustic pubs to hunker down in with a hot toddy. For a day well spent, we suggest strolling up to the grand turrets of Broadway Tower and admiring the view or, if you’re feeling energetic, hike part of the idyllic Cotswolds Way from Broadway to pretty market town Chipping Campden.  Photograph: Ed Cunningham for Time Out Broadway can be reached in one hour 35 minutes by train from London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh then bus to Broadway, or in around two hours by car. For more pastoral day trips out of the capital this winter, here’s our guide to the best things to do in the Cotswolds. Plus, rea

The UK is packed full of fabulous destinations worth visiting, but every year new openings and cultural events make some places more worth the trip others. That’s why Time Out has just revealed its annual list of the best places to visit in Britain in 2026 – and, excitingly, one of them is in London.  We named Strand in central London as one of Britain’s must-see destinations this year, ranking it in 11th place on the list. Why now? You might be thinking about this street that has literally been there since the Roman times. Well, as well as being one of the capital’s most ancient and historic streets, it’s also absolutely stacked with culture, restaurants, hotels and sites to see. And 2026 is looking to be an even more stellar year than most for the Strand.  In 2026, art and theatre fanatics will be able to get their fix at Somerset House, The Courtauld and the Strand’s several theatres. Things to look out for include exhibitions about marine ecosystems, music fandoms and edible earth at Somerset House; retrospectives on artists Barbara Hepworth, Salman Toor and Georges Seurat at the Courtauld; and of course, the production that won everybody’s hearts in 2025: Paddington the Musical at the Savoy Theatre, which is set to run all the way through to 2027. Photograph: Shutterstock Foodies will want to know about the relaunch of the legendary restaurant Simpson’s In the Strand, headed up by famed restauranteur Jeremy King and expected to open in February. Other eateries to try i

Here’s something we didn’t have on our bingo card for 2026: TfL will be giving out free beers on the Bakerloo line this January. The catch? It’s alcohol-free, and all part of a temporary Bakerloo rebrand which will see TfL promoting Heineken 0.0.  For two weeks this January, the Bakerloo line will become the Bakerl0.0, as part of TfL’s partnership with the alcohol-free beer brand. The transport bosses will be making an exception to the ‘no boozing on the tube’ rule thats been in place since 2008 so long as you are sipping on a can of TfL-approved Heineken 0.0. So don’t take this as an excuse to start chugging BuzzBallz on the Central line.  This is a brand-new kind of advertising campaign seen on TfL, with the transport authority using branded roundels for the first time. As well as the Bakerloo’s temporary name change, travellers will see the use of ‘Oxf0.0rd Circus’ and ‘Waterl0.0’ on Underground signage throughout the period of the brand activation.  Photograph: TfL The travel honchos also hope that by giving out drinks they will encourage busy commuters to stop for a chin-wag with a stranger, instead of doing the usually thing of whacking on a pair of noise-cancelling headphones and wilfully ignoring one another. This comes after a study that found that 63 percent of Londoners said they would be ‘very unlikely’ to start a conversation on the Underground, with 16 percent of people saying they’ve faked sleeping to avoid chatting, while 14 percent have worn sunglasses, and

There’s nothing quite like a good bookshop. That delicious new book smell, shelves stacked with endless beautiful covers and spines, and the lingering possibility that you just might bump into a bumbling Hugh Grant (we can dream). And even better if it’s a pretty location. So, we have some good news for bibliophiles and hopeful romantics – a new book shop and café has opened right next to Hampstead Heath, and it looks ever so charming.  Funny Weather, a bookshop and café, has opened its doors at 31 Grove Terrace in NW5. The yellow-painted store opened just before Christmas on December 22 2025. Inside, it’s stocked with a range of fiction, non-fiction, contemporary and classic books. There are also reading nooks and places to sit with a coffee, or to work. Funny Weather also serves barista coffee and pastries, making it the perfect place to spend a few hours with your nose in a novel.  Photograph: Funny Weather In other London literary news, one London bookshop was named one of the best in the world in December 2025. The independent seller Donlon Books in London fields was crowned as one of Cultured magazine’s top bookshops on the planet. Founded in 2008, the Broadway Market store is known for its idiosyncratic selection of books and magazines covering counterculture, art, photography, music and fashion, many of which are rare and sourced directly from indie publishers and individual creators.  And if that isn’t enough inspiration to get you to pick up a book in 2026, here’s

Developments in London don’t seem to be slowing down in 2026. As well as new museums, hotels and music venues, the city is tipped to get a number of spanking fresh neighbourhoods in the future too. All four corners of the have new homes, town centres and facilities in their future pipelines. For north London, the final plans to complete the Woodberry Down development were approved in 2025.  In September Hackney Council gave the green light to the final phases of the Woodberry Down regeneration masterplan. This has been a long time in the making, as the Woodberry Down regeneration officially began 20 years ago. Developers Berkeley Homes have now been given the go-ahead to complete the final stages, officially known as phases 5-8.  Berkeley sought permission to build up to a 3,083 new homes in the area across the four phases, of which the developer said 43 percent would be affordable. Originally built as a 100 percent social housing estate in 1949, the final stages of the development plan want to see the demolition of 692 social rent units, which will be replaced with 583 new social units. The plans also include 950 square-metres of space for local community use.  RECOMMENDED: All the major developments that will transform London in 2026. Some concerns about the plans were expressed by the Woodberry Down Community Organisation (WDCO), with locals particularly worried about the reduction in social homes, and the potential loss of biodiversity in the area.  Once all the new homes

As 2026 rolls around, we’re already starting to make plans for our summer festivals. There’s a huge Glastonbury-shaped hole in our calendars this year, but not to worry, because London festival season is already promising to be a belter. However, the future of events in Brockwell Park could be thrown into uncertainty for a second year in a row.  In 2025 the group Protect Brockwell Park (PBP) launched a legal campaign to cancel events and festivals in the public park. After a court battle, the events – which included Field Day, Cross the Tracks and Mighty Hoopla – still went ahead. Now the group has submitted an objection to the planning proposal submitted by the festival organisers.  RECOMMENDED: The best music festivals in London to book for 2026. PBP has sent an objection to Lambeth Council after Summer Events Ltd, which runs Brockwell Live festivals, applied for planning permission to temporarily build in the park over the summer. Brockwell Live has applied to use the park for up to 32 days for four one-day events, to take place at the end of May 2026. This is the first time the events company has had to apply for planning permission to run the festivals, which previously operated under permitted development rights until PBP won its legal challenge in 2025.  Taking what it called a ‘new approach’, Lambeth Council opened a public consultation into the 2026 events at the end of 2025, which closed on December 31. But PBP is continuing to oppose the festivals, and has demanded

South London footie fans, pay attention: Southwark Council has officially approved plans to refurbish Dulwich’s historic Champion Hill football stadium.  The council has given the green light to plans that will see Dulwich Hamlet FC’s old stadium transformed into a new 4,000-seat ground with a brand-new pitch and modern facilities. The footie club has been based in the borough for 123 years, and the new stadium is expected to secure the future of the team for years to come.  The all-weather pitch will replace the dilapidated astroturf that’s currently on the site. The main pitch will be open for public rental for use by the community when not in use for matchdays. The wider development will also get a new kickabout space for public use.  The council confirmed that the nearby Greendale Playing Fields will not be directly affected by the development and will remain protected as open green space. The stadium’s makeover will coincide with the construction of 219 new homes in the surrounding area.  Image: Southwark Council Councillor Richard Leeming, Deputy Cabinet member with responsibility for Leisure & Sports said: ‘This is the most vital win of the season for Dulwich Hamlet FC, a cherished club in Southwark’s history and culture, who can now plan for a bright future supported by thousands of fans in a modern new stadium. ‘It’s also really important to the council and the community that this arrangement includes access to the new facilities outside of matchda

Do you know your peonies from your chrysanthemums? Are you a fiend for freesias? Do you prefer plants to people? Then you’re probably going to be excited to hear that tickets for the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show are officially on sale.  Every spring the fabulous floral extravaganza takes place in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in west London. Tickets to the event are highly covetable, as world class growers and garden designers travel from all over the planet to display at the prestigious show.  If you want to get stuck in to the horticultural heaven this year, pay attention to this guide and everything will be coming up roses.  2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show dates Green-fingered gardeners will be showing off their plant babies, projects and creations at the flower show on May 19-23 2026.  When is it open to the public? The first few days of the show are always only open to members of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). The 2026 flower show will open to the public from Thursday May 21 until Saturday May 23. The annual plant sell-off begins at 4pm on the Saturday, which is the final day of the show.  Ticket prices Brace yourselves, because tickets don’t come cheap and start at from £107 per person – they can be bought online here. There’s also a show guide with a map, which costs an extra £18. Gardens to look out for at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show Every year there is a selection of blooming beautiful Edens not to miss, with prizes awarded to the top design

Londoners have been awaiting the return of the former Museum of London – now rebranded as the snappier London Museum (admittedly now very difficult to Google) – since the OG site at London Wall closed its doors in December 2022. In 2026 the museum all about the Big Smoke officially returns. We are so back.  Time Out has named the London Museum as the best new thing to do in the capital in 2026. We can’t wait for its reopening not only because of its dashing new rebrand (which features a logo of a ceramic pigeon), but also because of its its shiny new home in Smithfield Market.  The new venue will boast an underground gallery space in the old Great Northern Railway depot and a big window in the market’s old salt store allowing visitors to watch trains carry passengers through Farringdon – a feature meant to connect the museum to the ‘London of today’. The reborn London Museum has been a decade in the making and is expected to open towards the end of the year, just in time for the museum’s 50th anniversary. The museum is keeping shtum for now about the details of its opening exhibitions, but with all of London to choose from, we expect there will be some bangers.  In the meantime, check out Time Out’s guide to the London Museum in Docklands here. 📍The 26 best new things to do in London in 2026, according to Time Out. The world’s first museum of youth culture will open in Camden in 2026.  Nine huge developments that will transform London in 2026.  Get the latest and greatest f

Living in London, it’s fun to dream about what sort of grand property you would live in if money were no object. We now have another very swanky home for your daydreams, because the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has revealed its House of the Year for 2025. One London building was on the HOTY shortlist, making it the de facto best house in London for the past year.  Clinching the title for London was the ‘Chelsea Brut’ by Pricegore Architects. The minimalist’s dream home is an extension, refurbishment and retrofit of a four-storey 1960s townhouse in a dense part of west central London.  The house, which was unveiled in a special episode of Grand Designs, features a sleek grey brick façade, while its inside has been stripped back to its structure, also finished in grey using raw materials like lime plaster, lime slurry and clay-block floors. Photograph: Johan Dehlin / RIBA / Pricegore Architects When renovating the house, the architects were overjoyed to discover the foundations were 1.5 metres lower than the existing floor level, which allowed them to lower the ground and create a kitchen, dining and living space with 3.5-metre ceilings.  Chelsea Brut also features a small ‘oasis’ garden at the back, as well as a lust planted roof that sits atop the extension. On the second floor, the posh digs has a film room which doubles up as a spare bedroom, while the house’s previous five bedrooms on the top floor have been converted into three larger bedrooms.  Photogr

Londoners take a lot of flights. Not only was Heathrow this year named the most-connected flight terminal on the planet, but vast expansions have been approved for Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton. Now the world’s busiest flight routes for the past year have been revealed, and one is in London.  Aviation data platform OAG has revealed the most well-trodden airline routes around the world for 2025.  It turns out that Londoners couldn’t get enough of the Big Apple this year, and vice versa, because one of the most-frequented cross-border journeys on the planet was from London Heathrow (LHR) to New York JFK.  The LHR to JFK route saw 3,971,000 bums on seats throughout 2025, making it the world’s 10th most popular journey. London to New York also ranked 10th globally in 2024, and its popularity has increased by 4 percent since 2019.  According to OAG, the route had the highest one-way economy fare in the top 10 at an average of $585 (£432.74). The fare has increased by two percent year-on-year, with five carriers operating the route. The Big Smoke to the Big Apple was the only flight path in the top 10 outside of the Middle East and Asia.  Hong Kong to Taipei was the world’s most-used cross-border flight route in 2025, followed by Cairo to Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Changi and Seoul Incheon to Tokyo Narita in second to fourth, respectively.  The world’s longest flight will launch from London in 2027.  First look: inside the huge revamp of a Northern line station in n

If you live in London, or are just a fan of odd architecture, you might be familiar with No 1 Poultry, a postmodern-style building in the City of London. Built in 1997, the structure designed by architect James Stirling has a striped pink and yellow limestone façade, as well as a mish-mash of columns, turrets and and angular windows.  Now the quirky building on the corner of Bank junction is going to get a major renovation, which will include a brand-new roof garden that will be free for the public to use.  John Robertson Architects (JRA) have revealed their plans for the renovation, which will include retrofitting the Grade II*-listed landmark to make it net zero.  No 1 Poultry has been mostly empty since October 2025 when its last tenants, WeWork, moved out (though there’s currently an ongoing cultural programme in part of the building). The structure has always had a roof garden, but this is the first time it will be open to the public for free. The terrace has been part of the Coq D'Argent restaurant since 1998, however London site IanVisits reported that the old restaurant site is to be converted into offices, with the roof garden being opened up to the public.  The Apex Garden, which has views right over Bank, will be open for anyone to access. The inner circular garden will remain closed to the public, however the planning application suggests it might be opened on selected dates for special events. Planning documents revealed that the garden would be paved with plant