Rhian Daly

If you boil a sauna down to its nuts and bolts, it’s essentially just a really hot room and some water to create steam with. Wild, then, how much of a positive affect those two simple ingredients can have on our bodies, healing weary muscles, doing wonders for our skin, and helping all the horrible toxins we insist on putting in our insides get back out. Saunas originated back in Finland back in the Middle Ages, where almost every house had one – imagine! In modern London, we’re not all so lucky as to have our own personal spa, but there are a wealth of top saunas around the city. From plunge pools and infrared therapy rooms to Finnish-style homages and ones soundtracked by DJ sets, you’ll find the steam sesh for you in the capital. Check out our video of 10 of the best spas in London: RECOMMENDED: The best spas in London

Getting through the daily grind can be tough, but affording luxurious treatments that will help you unwind and de-stress, at least for a moment, can be even tougher. If you don’t have tons of spare cash to part with in exchange for a masseuse to stroke, knead, prod and pamper you, there are thankfully still some reasonably-priced spas in London that will give you the rejuvenating experience you deserve. Whether you want to sweat it all out in the sauna or relieve your aching muscles by being thrashed with twigs (whatever floats your boat), you can find it on a budget. These are our picks of affordable London spas to help you relax without eating into your rent and bills funds. RECOMMENDED: our full guide to the best spas in London 

Even if you’re the biggest Scrooge in the game, you can’t deny that London looks pretty magical once the Christmas lights have been turned on and tinsel-covered trees greet you at every turn. Luckily, the city is never in short supply of festive light displays, whether you’re looking for something classic – like Regent Street’s trumpet-playing angels, or a themed display, like those found on Carnaby Street. Each string beams bright enough to warm the coldest of hearts quicker than you can say ‘Bah, humbug’. Here are the best London illuminations to check out to get you in the Christmas spirit this year. RECOMMENDED: sign up to our excellent, free London newsletter. It's full of great suggestions.  What dates do the Christmas lights go on in London? London starts to fill up with Christmas light displays in early November each year, with Oxford Street's decorations leading the charge, followed by countless local displays across the city as December hits full swing. We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of switch-on dates here.Recommended: ❄️ Find out about the most Christmassy events in the city. 🎄 Check out London's very best Christmas markets. 🌟 See our full festive guide to Christmas in London.

As fun and festive as Christmas is, the idea of having to head out into the crowds and scour the shops for the perfect presents for everyone in your life might not fill you with excitement. Instead of turning to the temptation of online ordering, skip the high street and head straight for one of London’s many markets. In the run-up to Crimbo, the capital becomes home to tons of wintry fairs, stacked with stalls selling unique pressies from small businesses and independent designers that you’d never find in the big shops online or off. They’re perfect for browsing as the big day looms and a good excuse to treat yourself to Christmas snacks and mulled wine as you tick gifts off your list. You’ll find everything you need to make someone’s Christmas Day memorable at London’s pop-up markets, from ceramics and plants to pressies from around the world. While many markets will require you to think about gift-getting weeks in advance, there are still options for those who thrive on last-minute chaos, too. Recommended: Our complete guide to Christmas in London.

The countdown to Christmas has begun. London’s major festive events are back on the scene, including Hyde Park Winter Wonderland – which opens this week – the Christmas transformation of the atmospheric Dennis Sever’s House, and Hampton Court Palace’s pretty ice rink. Of the opinion that it’s disgustingly early to be leaping into all things festive? We hear you. There are plenty of non-tinsel-fringed events to fill your diary with too. Check out Lily Bunney’s fun, poignant paintings of ‘Girls Peeing On Cars’ at Guts Gallery, embrace the final days of the London Jazz Festival with exciting gigs in a bunch of stunning London venues, see a ballet production of Margaret Attwood’s post-apocalyptic sci-fi trilogy ‘MADDADDAM’, or vibe along to Khruangbin’s 70’s funk and psychedelic rock at their Eventim Apollo show. What are you waiting for?! Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.

Londoners are potty for clay. Places on pottery courses across the city are getting snapped up quicker than a discounted Edmund de Waal vase, so if you want to sink your hands into some wet clay and imagine you’re in ‘Ghost’, you’d better book your London pottery class in advance. Here are four things to remember before you get behind the wheel: Be ready to get messy Bring an apron, unless you don’t mind walking around in clay-splattered clothes for the rest of the day. Some places will provide one, but check before – you know what happens if you assume.  Stay centred It can take a while to centre your clay on the wheel, but it’s worth getting it spot-on so your pot’s walls are an even thickness. You'll thank yourself for your patience when you see your finished product.  Go slow Any quick movements can throw your pot off-centre and that can be the beginning of the end. Remember the old saying: slow and steady wins the race (or, in this case, makes a stunning piece of pottery).  Be philosophical Just when it looks like you’ve made a beautiful vase, it collapses! Take a deep breath and start again. That one just wasn’t meant to be – and that 'failure' was just opening the door to something even better next time.  Recommended Need for more inspiration for new hobbies? Check out our list of the best classes in London.

Many of us love a good old-fashioned Christmas complete with trips to festive markets, ice skating, carol services and all the trimmings. But it’s not everyone’s glass of eggnog. Thankfully, London is abuzz with unusual Christmas events come winter. Whether you fancy switching up your usual gift-shopping with a trip to the Satanic Flea Market’s Antichristmas Fayre, making the Yuletide gayer than ever at a camp as Christmas drag show, or watching hardy swimmers go for an icy plunge on December 25 in the Serpentine’s famous Peter Pan Cup race or watching some alt Christmas movies with only the most tenuous of links to the festive period, have yourself a quirky little Christmas with our round-up of the ultimate unusual festive events in London. We’ll be updating this page with alternative events for Christmas 2024 as they are announced. RECOMMENDED: Find more festive fun with our guide to Christmas in London.

Shoreditch is constantly evolving. Over the years, it’s played host to art school kids, tech bros, a ball pit bar, the Cereal Killer Café (RIP to a real one). The team of erstwhile fixie bike-riding, horn-rimmed spectacle-wearing, fourth wave coffee-drinking reformed hipsters that comprise Time Out’s editorial team have been there to witness it all, and we’d like to think that we know a thing or two about what’s good in the area, however much it refuses to stand still.  Despite Shoreditch’s constant metamorphosis, some things remain the same – a weekend wandering round these parts still always has to include a stroll down Brick Lane, long home to great Bangla curry houses, rival bagel institutions and vintage shops stuffed with treasure. For a wholesome vibe, the blooms of Columbia Road Flower Market should always be on your radar, as should the hidden gem that is Dennis Severs’ House.  But this is Shoreditch, where weekend nights see it turn into a field of hen and stag dos and people on the hunt for a party. If you’re part of that crew, then you’ll find top bottomless brunches and brilliant after-dark fun in the ramshackle bars around the rough triangle made up by Old Street, Great Eastern Street and Shoreditch High Street. Then, for the thrill of trying something new, head to a performance at creative space Rich Mix, check out an exhibition at Raven Row or sample cultural delicacies from a nearby street-food pop-up.  Essentially, Shoreditch has plenty to offer you, no mat

Whether you’re a regular in church or only step into one occasionally to admire the architecture, you can’t deny the impact that hearing carols reverberating around the spires can have on your festive mood. Carol concerts are peak Christmas and London plays host to a variety of them in the run-up to the day. There are events to suit all styles and moods, from the iconic splendour of St Paul’s annual concerts to glam charity bashes and events that highlight cultural traditions. In between all the hubbub of the Christmas season, from light displays, festivals and big events, one of the city’s carol concerts will provide the perfect moment of respite and reflection. RECOMMENDED: Our comprehensive guide to Christmas in London

London landmarks are iconic for a reason. You’ve got your London Eye, your Hyde Park, your Big Ben, and even if you’ve lived here for years and have steadfastly been avoiding ‘tourist traps’, you really ought to check these places out at least once. Whether you’re a day-tripper or a local, marvelling at the capital’s museums, galleries, monuments and parks is a London rite of passage – and they’re all really bloody great. But where to begin? We’ve pulled together a list of the best attractions in London for you to start ticking off your bucket list. And the best news? Loads of these must-see London attractions won’t cost you a penny. For those that aren’t, you can book below. Still after some sightseeing inspiration? Check out our list of 101 things to do in London, and find out what’s happening in London today, this week, and this weekend. RECOMMENDED: the best hotels in London RECOMMENDED: the best alternative attractions in LondonRECOMMENDED: the best London bus tours This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. London’s best attractions

The arrival of winter might make you want to do nothing else than hunker down in your toasty home under a pile of blankets. But, if you go into hibernation mode, you’ll miss out on a truly magical time in London. Luckily, there’s heaps of wintry pop-ups that spring up across the city at this time of year, each with their own cosy vibe that will recreate the feeling of being in your living room – and elevate it far beyond the possibilities of a night on the sofa. We’re talking riverside heated igloos, Alpine-themed lodges and kitschy nostalgia-themed bars that will keep you warm with atmosphere and, most importantly, yummy food and festive drinks. Here’s our round-up of the best hideaways, markets and quirky festive experiences waiting to lure you in from the cheek-tingling cold and warm your socks off.  RECOMMENDED: Here are the best things do in London this Christmas

Please note, this list includes commercial partners, so suggestions are not curated by Time Out. Planning a party? Then you’ll already know how tricky it can be to find the right venue. Luckily London is so stacked full of weird and wonderful bars, clubs and nightspots, so you can’t really go wrong. You’ll discover some great venues on this list, for any sort of occasion – so whether you’re pulling together a birthday party, planning your next Christmas do, hen do or stag do, your venue selection skills will never be questioned. And if you just want one of the capital’s finest private dining rooms for something a little more sophisticated? No sweat.

You don’t need to be a local to take part in Urban Food Fest’s Christmas Market at Get Living’s East Village development. The event promises to be an evening filled with festive fun – with a twist. It will marry traditional fare with multicultural delights, whether that’s on the food front (with Greek, Caribbean and Turkish tastiness on offer) or in the entertainment, which will see a mariachi band performing. All the standard Christmas fare will also be part of the extravaganza, so you can tuck into a plate of mince pies while listening to the angelic sounds of carol singers still. Elsewhere, there’ll be LED stilt walkers and, of course, a market selling stocking stuffers, jewellery, kids crafts and much more, while the little ones will be kept busy with free face painting, balloon modelling, festive arts and crafts and a visit from Saint Nick himself.

This time, the event – which celebrates the best in South Asian music, film, art and more – will take over The Cause, bringing with it over 30 DJs and live acts set across six stages. There’ll also be terrace parties and installations of both the AV and art kind. The line up includes esteemed DJ and producer Mighty Zaf, and DJ and creator of South Asian creative collective The Beatriarchy Gracie T, plus many, many more. If previous years are anything to go by, Dialled In is a good time. 

To celebrate 15 years since it opened its doors to what has become an integral part of London’s LGBTQ+ scene, Dalston Superstore is taking over nearby Gillett Square for one day for a big birthday bash. Dalston Supersquare will feature a very special line-up, including renowned party-starters Hannah Holland, Angel D’lite, Marie Malarie and more, plus MC Miss Sharon Le Grand and gogos Cherry, Nadia, Wet Mess and Bobby Harding. Tickets are free, but make sure you grab yours in advance to secure your spot.

This globetrotting queer party has popped up at some of the world’s most famous clubs since it first launched at the Ministry of Sound in 2018. It returns to Koko this Pride for a big post-parade party headlined by Hercules And Love Affair, and featuring some debut appearances from Kitten and Bestley. They’ll also be bringing over Tama Sumo & Lakuti, who’re residents at Berlin’s Panorama Bar.

Music streaming platform Boiler Room are returning with their biggest party yet. The 2024 festival will feature full-stage takeovers from the likes of Club Heartbroken and Teletech, while the line-up is stacked with names that’ll make you go ooh. There’s still a secret stage announcement to come, too. Line-up includes: Giggs, Skream & Benga, Mr Scruff, Optimo, Marlon Hoffstadt

Beaujolais Nouveau Day is one of the biggest days in a wine drinker’s calendar, but it’s also a great excuse for a party. This year, Bojo Novo Day takes place this Thursday November 21 – and, as always, London will be marking the occasion.  Now, a fair few of you may be thinking: what on Earth is ‘beaujolais nouveau’? And why does it have its own day? Beaujolais nouveau is a red wine produced in France’s Beaujolais region. It’s a vin de primeur, which means it’s a wine sold in the same year it’s harvested – and it’s famously released at 12.01am on the third Thursday of November. In France the day is famous for its festivals, celebrations and parties. But France doesn’t hog all the fun when it comes to Bojo Novo. The day is marked all around the world, including London. Whether you’re a Frenchie abroad or simply fancy a bit of wine-based fun, here are the best places to mark Beaujolais Nouveau Day 2024 in the capital.  Le Beaujolais  Where else? The clue’s in the name at Le Beaujolais, which currently sits at third in Time Out’s list of the best wine bars in London. On Thursday Bojo Novo Day will be marked by Le Beaujolais in a very classic, French sort of fashion – which is no less than we’d expect from a very classic, very French sort of place. 25 Litchfield St, WC2H 9NJ. Find out more. Marceline  Looking for a bit more than a few glasses of fresh gamay? Canary Wharf joint Marceline has both vino and a solid deal to celebrate Bojo Novo Day, offering a steak French dip sandw

If you’ve walked along the Grand Union Canal in recent weeks, you might have witnessed some worrying sights. A number of swans and other birds have been found dead in the waters, the London stretch of which runs through the north west of the capital, causing concern among environmentalists. Now, government specialists have confirmed the cause behind this spate of avian deaths, which have hit geese and other wild birds like ducks and coots, in addition to swans. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has investigated the wave, conducting post-mortems on dead birds pulled from the canal. The results showed that the birds were in good condition before they died – but had not eaten well in the lead-up to their deaths, suggesting they had suffered poisoning. The agency says botulism is to blame for the deaths, with specialist tests returning a positive result for it. Ingesting bacteria causes avian botulism and can paralyse birds’ wings, legs and muscles, leading them to drown or suffer respiratory failure. ‘The bacteria grow in environments without oxygen and thrive on the protein from putrefying plant and animal material, and is often found in urban lakes, canals, and reservoirs,’ APHA said in a statement to The Standard. Sadly, there could still be more deaths in London’s population of feathery friends to come. ‘Outbreaks of avian botulism usually involve waterbirds, can last several weeks, and can result in hundreds of deaths,’ APHA continued. ‘Outbreaks can recur as once i

The Euros and Wimbledon might have wrapped up for another year, but there’s still plenty of thrilling live sport to catch over the next couple of weeks, as the 2024 Olympics begin in Paris. On Friday July 26, the French capital will host what promises to be an epic opening ceremony along the Seine, before two weeks of world-class sporting competitions.  If you’ve failed to snag tickets, don’t worry – London is a dab hand at showing sporting antics on the big screen, and plenty of locations will be popping up across the city where you can (hopefully) bask in the sun and catch everything from diving to curling. Below are ten of our favourite screenings, most of which are free of charge. RecommendedParis 2024 Olympics: everything you need to know, from start date to ticketsParis 2024 Olympics opening ceremony: start time and everything you need to knowHow to watch the Paris 2024 Olympics in the UK for freeHow to watch the Paris 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony in the UK Spots to watch the Olympics in London Photograph: Mayfair Olympic Screenings Grosvenor Square, Mayfair If you’re after a picturesque spot to watch the great sporting feast this summer, look no further than Grosvenor Square. The grassy Mayfair patch has been made an official Team GB Fanzone, so you can grab a deckchair and watch the world’s most talented athletes do their thing from the heart of this swanky neighbourhood. There’ll be food stalls and an al fresco bar on site, too.  Grosvenor Square, W1K 6AN. Free. 

This is it. After weeks of highs and lows, of last-minute goals and watching through our fingers, England are through to the final of Euro 2024. The game kicks off tonight (July 14), with Gareth’s boys heading to Berlin to battle it out against Spain and become the UEFA Euro 2024 winners (here’s how to watch the game at home). The Three Lions’ attempt to go one better than their last European Championship tournament got off to a solid – if slightly tepid – start, and they’ve since topped Group C, defeated Slovakia in a nail-biting 2-1 win, beaten Switzerland on penalties and now, after that awesome 90-minute goal by Ollie Watkins in their semi-final game against the Netherlands, have gone and made it to the final.  The boys will go up against Spain on Sunday July 14 at 8pm BST, in a bid to claim the Euros 2024 trophy – could it actually be coming home? Whether you’re a diehard footie fan or just along for the ride, you’re going to want to know all the best spots in London to catch the matches. From screenings to sports pubs, these are the best places to watch Euro 2024 final in London. RECOMMENDED:🎉 All the big screens in London for the Euros 2024 final that are still taking bookings.⚽️ The 11 best fan parks in England to watch the Euro 2024 final.📺 Euros 2024 final at The O2: how to get tickets to watch the final at London’s largest screening.☀️ Will there be a bank holiday if England win Euro 2024?🛒 All the UK stores changing their opening hours for the Euro 2024 final.

Next year, London will get a new monument dedicated to the Windrush Generation and the design for it has been unveiled.  Jamaican sculptor Basil Watson’s proposal has been selected from a shortlist of four potential sculptures by an independent Windrush commemoration committee chaired by Baroness Benjamin.  Londoners and visitors to the city will be able to see the 12ft high sculpture at Waterloo Station from June 22 2022 – aka Windrush Day. The tribute piece, which is being paid for with £1m of government funding, will show a man, woman and child dressed in their Sunday best, standing on a pile of suitcases.  While this will be Watson’s first piece of public artwork in the UK, he’s no stranger to creating celebrated monuments. He is the artist behind a sculpture of Usain Bolt, displayed in Jamaica, and Atlanta’s statue to Martin Luther King. In 2016, he was also awarded the Order Of Distinction (Commander Class) by the Jamaican government for his achievements in the art world. In a statement, Watson said that he is ‘truly honoured to be chosen’ and feels ‘privileged that I now have this opportunity to express the aspirations, vision and courage of my parents, who took the long sea voyage to England in 1952’.  ‘I look forward to bringing my design to life because I know how much this means to the Windrush community,’ he added.  Baroness Benjamin said of the sculpture: ‘This Windrush monument represents the past, present and future and I hope it will be the catalys

This Hackney one-day fest is spread across eight venues and has bags of underground bite. Let us solve those scheduling dilemmas for you by mapping out a top day – by the clock... NoonDog show! You came to see a dog show...!...as the great Peaches might have said. Not quite ready to throw yourself into live music after a big Friday night out? Visions’ very own dog show at St John at Hackney will soothe your head and soul with all manner of good boys and girls doing their best tail wags and showing off their most impressive tricks. Even better: there’s a prize for best ‘Twin Peaks’ costume, so you’ll get to see miniature canine versions of Agent Cooper et al. Photo: Rebecca Hughes 2pmDiscover one of the city’s best new bandsIt’s hard to pick just one white-hot and unmissable new London band playing Visions, but Goat Girl’s set at Mangle just edges it (catch Matt Maltese, Sorry, Puma Blue, Cosmo Pyke and Shame too, though, if you can). They’re sardonic and moody – singer/guitarist Lottie’s voice is rich and deadpan, while the grooves from bassist Naima are deep and catchy. Go for the loping, scornful ‘Scum’ and stay for their sinister power to ensnare any audience. 5pmGo get friendly with Frankie CosmosNew Yorker Frankie Cosmos is one of those prolific artists who always seems to be up to something. She might have only made two studio albums, but she’s got a whopping 16 other collections of songs on her Bandcamp, all full of intriguing, odd and unique gems. Live, she’s just as

London’s annual Citadel Festival has everything you need for a super summer Sunday. This ace one-day festival is way more than a regular music fest, and on top of having a sweet line-up including Tame Impala, The Horrors, Leon Bridges and more, there’s a big heap of other fun activities to get stuck into. Here’s our seven point plan to Sunday success... 1 Get topical at Sunday Papers LiveWe all like the idea of reading the broadsheets from cover to cover over breakfast – just like real adults. But when Sunday morning comes around, you’re hungover – again – and even the thought of scanning the Uber Eats menu is just too much. So let someone else do the hard work as writers, musicians, politicians and poets break down different sections of the Sunday papers so you don’t have to. 2 Have some quality (Fat White) Family timeYou remember south London’s scuzziest band – the squalid-looking crew responsible for such sweet little ditties as ‘Breaking into Aldi’ and ‘Who Shot Lee Oswald?’ Despite rumours they were done, Fat White Family have actually been working on a new album. They’re back at the live thing for Citadel, where they’ll play new songs and generally make you feel like you need to take a piping hot shower, ASAP. 3 Stretch and flex with mass yogaDoes your perfect Sunday involve more matsyasana than moshing? Get in position at the Spandex Stage, where you can attain enlightenment (or at least aim for it) before enjoying the rest of the festival. 4 Go to Sunday worship with

After months of training, on Sunday (April 21), 50,000 runners will descend on the streets of central London as they attempt to smash their PBs and make it to the end of the London Marathon. The 26.2-mile endurance test will break some; others will triumph. But all can reap the rewards of the free offers being doled out to those brave enough to even try.  There’s a whole heap of goodies to make the most of, from things to help with your recovery to food to refuel on after you’ve pounded your way along the route. There’s even stuff up for grabs for those heading down to cheer those doing the leg work on. Check out the full list below and read up on all things marathon in our handy guide. Deliveroo and Boots’ Marathon Roo-covery hub What you get: A code worth £10 for things from the Marathon Roo-covery hub, from bath salts to protein barsHow to claim: Enter the code ROOCOVERY10 on Deliveroo, but be quick - there are only 1,981 codes available Greene King pubs What you get: A free drink at one of 115 participating pubs. Choose from a pint of Guinness or Guinness 0.0, single G&T, or a glass of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, or Schweppes Lemonade.How to claim: show your medal, ID and proof of your results on the marathon website at one of the participating pubs (find those here) between April 21-23.  Brockwell Lido and Park Road Leisure What you get: Free swimming before and after the race.How to claim: Show your ballot entry at either pool until April 28. Brompton Bikes What yo

In news set to rock the London retail world to its already shaky foundations, the huge now-empty Topshop right on Oxford Circus has been bought by flatpack Swedish light-industrial estate icons IKEA. It’s reported that the boys in blue and yellow bid nearly £400m to acquire the premises (which include a former Nike Town and an ex-Vans store) from Philip Green’s kaput Arcadia Group.  Reaction in the Time Out office to the news ranged from Nikki’s ‘That’s really weird’ to Anne’s ‘I don’t know how I feel about that’ to Esther’s ‘I don’t think there should be meatballs near that many people’. I mean, it is pretty bizarre to think of the quintessentially ring-road experience that is the trip to IKEA suddenly being recreated in the middle of London’s most famous shopping street. Fair enough, there was an IKEA on nearby Tottenham Court Road, which closed in July this year, but it was just a showroom (or so-called ‘planning studio’) and it was on a street that already has several big-name homeware brands (Habitat, Heal’s). Oxford Street, home of dodgy perfume auctions, weird US sweetshops and about 400 McDonald’s is a very different kettle of herring. Now we’ve got some more details on what to expect when the Swedish furniture giant moves into W1C. The doors won’t open until autumn 2023, but when they do they’ll usher you into browse through around 5,000 products. It won’t all just be flatpack furniture that will make you the most hated person on the Tube should you try and catch the

Fancy yourself a bit of a vinyl junkie? Reckon that real DJs don’t need a subscription to Serato? Then you’ll probably already know that this Saturday (April 20) marks the return of Record Store Day.  Founded in 2007 in the early days of the vinyl revival, the annual celebration of indie record stores has since become a key fixture in any crate digger’s calendar, with thousands of stores across the globe participating. This includes many of London’s 50-odd independent record shops, where you can pick up limited-edition releases from the likes of Blur, Olivia Dean, Young Fathers, Sinéad O'Connor, Talking Heads, Laufey, Paramore, Pulp and The 1975.  But that’s not all. From fashion collabs and in-store sets to giveaways and immersive listening experiences, there’s all sorts of fun stuff going on around the city in celebration of the humble. Here, we’ve rounded up a selection of the best things happening around the city.  SXSE – Dash The Henge Turn your Record Store Day into a mini festival adventure, aka SXSE. Pick up your wristband – and an armful of new records – at Dash The Henge’s shop in Camberwell, where you’ll also find acoustic performances and DJs on the decks (including La Roux!). From there, move onto The Old Dispensary and The Bear for more musical goodness. Still not had enough? Head to Peckham’s hottest new venue, The Greyhound, for an after-party hosted by The Cause. Grab your ticket here. 348 Camberwell New Road, SE5 0RW. £11.50. Rough Trade East This record sho

Arcade Food Hall Centre Point – formerly known as Arcade Food Theatre – had something of a false start when it opened back in 2019. Less than eight months after it began welcoming diners to its fancy take on a food court, the pandemic hit and forced it to close.  Now it’s regrouped, changed its name and JKS Restaurants (the group behind heavy hitters like Bao, Berenjak, Hoppers and Gymkhana) have brought in some new restaurants to get the central London space buzzing once again. They’ve finally announced the full restaurant line-up and have an official opening date on Friday April 22. Look out for nine kitchens, with food ranging from Michelin-starred Sabor’s little sister Saborcito to American diner-style food at Manna from Bake Street’s Feroz Gajia and Japanese sushi and omakase from Sushi Kamon and heaps more. Alongside all of that, chef Luke Farrell is to open three spaces at the Arcade Food Hall. His inspiration? Fifteen years living in Thailand and experience of working in kitchens across southeast Asia. Plaza Khao Gaeng will pay tribute to southern Thai cuisine, with the restaurant inspired by an old Thai cinema. Its menu will be based around fresh curry pastes from small producers in Thailand, while the curries themselves will be set out on trays filling the ‘box office’ area.  Among Plaza’s offerings will be gaeng tai pla – smoky mackerel with fermented fish innards, bamboo shoots and Thai aubergine; southern sour orange gaeng som curry with garcinia, among other puc

The Docklands in E16 might not be a must-visit cultural hotspot right now, but a new open-air venue is hoping to change that. Later this year, the team behind some of London’s best venues and festivals – including Printworks, The Drumsheds and Field Day – will bring us Dockyards, a new space to get our fix of music and culture.  Located by the waterside in Silvertown Quays, the 400,000 square-foot open-air venue will provide a new home for a dynamic range of cultural events, all year round. Inspired by the flow of imported goods and the role the Royal Docks have played in London’s history, Dockyards will be a place where ‘all forms of culture converge at the gateway to the capital’.  So far, the new space has two massive events booked to close out the summer, with more to be announced soon. There’s a two-day Defected London spectacular from the renowned label Defected Records on September 3-4, while leading electronic music group Above & Beyond are putting on their Group Therapy weekender will bring a banging line-up of dance music’s finest to the venue on September 10-11. As more events get locked in, the venue aims to work with both the world’s best artists and promote local, homegrown talent.  The Dockyards team is also committed to having a positive impact on the area it is making its new home. They will work with the Royal Docks to ensure it delivers a good social, economic and cultural impact in Newham, whether that’s guaranteeing inclusion and representation of the bor