Sarath Novas

I learned to swim, hung out with my friends and even got my heart broken at a disco, all on Kensington High Street. It’s the street where I started performing as a child and the place that got the ball rolling in my career. I ended up being part of the Christmas concert at our local church, then was asked to do a solo when I was about six. This street has been in and around my life for as long as I can remember.   Similar to the way  I’ve grown up, the street has also changed. I remember  a quiet alleyway that was next to Gap, where I used to work. Sometimes I would sit there and have lunch, and one day  I put an apple sticker on a pipe. That sticker stayed there for about 12 years: I would walk past and always see it. Then, one day, I passed by and it had been completely covered up. The building had been remodelled. It was definitely needed, but I remember feeling like it was a monumental day when the sticker finally disappeared. At the time I was applying to drama school, so it was a significant moment to walk back and see that the sticker had gone after my career had finally taken off.  You can catch Rupert Young on stage in ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ at the Noël Coward Theatre. Read more Street That Changed My Life stories here.

  So, it cost £18.9 billion. Hopefully this huge project will have some environmental benefits. It should do. ‘It could move people out of cars when cycling wouldn’t be an option,’ says Helena Titheridge, professor of mobility and sustainable transport at UCL. ‘[But] over the last couple of years, the number of people travelling into London has fallen. In hindsight, it might have been better to invest in the cycle network or an outer London rail link in the suburbs, where the infrastructure is quite poor.’ How does it compare to other transport options? Crossrail estimates it will use about 32g of CO2 per passenger-kilometre, compared to about 41g for domestic rail and 170g for single-occupancy cars. Not bad. Crossrail is powered off the National Grid, run by the government. If that used more renewable sources, that figure could be lower. Got it. What about carbon use from construction? ‘The Elizabeth Line is going to pay back its construction carbon,’ says Rob Paris, former head of sustainability and consents at Crossrail. ‘The trains are energy-efficient, with regenerative braking. And around 99.6 percent of excavated material from the construction was beneficially reused.’ However, Titheridge says that part of this estimated carbon payback was based on moving people from diesel to electric trains, which could have happened even without Crossrail. The verdict For a construction project of this size, it’s a pretty impressive feat. Cycling and walking are obviously preferabl

Get in touch with your wild side. There are plans to ‘rewild’ London, bringing back wild green spaces that are unkept and diverse and where nature is allowed to take its course without intervention.  The idea is currently being drafted by a panel of rewilding experts commissioned by the London mayor, Sadiq Khan. Ben Goldsmith, a financier and environmental crusader who sits on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’s board of directors, came up with the ingenious idea. Nick Bruce-White of the RSPB says, ‘We want people to connect with and enjoy these places. They should be wonderful places to go. If people aren’t connected with nature and connected with their landscapes then we’re all doomed? Nature only wins when people care about it.’ There is speculation that these kinds of spaces will see the return of bird species such as the redshank and lapwing. It is already underway in Rainham Marshes Reserve, where there is a plan to turn part of the Thames estuary into a grassland full of paddling birds and other kinds of wild animals. There is even a plan to reintroduce beavers to the capital’s marshes as soon as the conditions are right for them. There has already been a great success with their release in Enfield and more will be released in parts of Ealing. So, soon Londoners will be able to take a stroll and see a plethora of wildlife they’ve never clapped eyes on before in the capital.  Where to find spring flowers in London. Kew Gardens’ Food Forever festival

Abba. Jedward. Bisexual Italian glam rockers maybe or maybe not doing lines under the table. Australia, for some reason. The Eurovision Song Contest truly has it all. The 2022 edition takes place in Turin this weekend, and with London’s bars, cinemas and nightlife venues able to host proper screenings for the first time since 2019, it’s likely to be bigger, camper and more fun-filled than ever. To help you make the most of the occasion, we’ve rounded up the best screening events happening across the city. The smart (and morally aware) money is on Ukrainian rap group Kalush Orchestra this year, of course. Head to Bethnal Green’s famous drag queen-hosted screening Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club is doing its rowdy and irreverent Eurovision screening party. In the main space, drag performers will be hosting a ‘shout-a-long, dance-a-long and boo-a-long’ screening of the song contest complete with ‘Wogan-worthy off-the-cuff commentary’. You have been warned. Downstairs, you’ll find more subdued screenings in two other rooms for those who’d prefer not to miss a single note. Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club. 7pm-2am. From £8. Tickets available on the door.  Scream for your favourites while stuffing your face with fancy cheese After a more sophisticated Eurovision soirée? Hit London Art Bar’s wine and cheese event, where you can gobble a load of proper fancy fromage while cheering on Kosovo or Finland. Guests are encouraged to come in costume with flags in hand, and tickets include

Remember in January when a massive part of the Northern line closed? Well, she’s back and better than ever.  The Northern line is going to be fully functional again next week. TfL has said that the Bank branch will be reopening on Monday May 16 after its 17-week closure. This is something we have been eagerly waiting for since it announced the closure and now that the time is finally here, we are antsy.  Stuart Harvey, Chief Capital Officer at Transport for London, said: ‘I’m delighted to confirm that we’re on schedule to fully reopen the Northern line on Monday 16 May after successfully completing the challenging next phase of vital upgrade works at Bank station. I’d like to thank our customers for their patience during this closure. The improvements we’re making at Bank station will be finished by the end of this year and will totally transform customer journeys through the station. Anyone who’s familiar with Bank station will know how its labyrinthian layout can be confusing and time-consuming to navigate.’ What new improvements can you expect to see? When work on the Bank’s upgrade is complete, the station’s capacity will have increased by 40 percent, with more improvements on the way, including step-free access to the Northern line and improved access to the DLR platforms, two new moving walkways, 12 new escalators and two new lifts. All this, plus a new station entrance on Cannon Street. The Route 733 bus, which was established specifically for the Bank branch shutdown

It’s officially that time of year again. It’s finally getting warmer after months of grey, drizzle and the occasional hailstorm. It’s time to actively slap on the sunscreen and dig those sunnies out of your ‘everything else’ drawer.  Sunshine is on its way to the capital, with temperatures not expected to fall below 19C for the next few weeks. According to news forecasts, temperatures will reach 25C next Thursday and Friday, with a zero chance of rain expected for the next several days in May. This is wonderful news because I have many outfits that are getting old in the depths of my closet while I've been waiting for warmer weather.  As a person of Hispanic descent, I am not used to the sun not kissing me all of the time so, for my fellow sun dependents, here are some things I like to do when it’s hot enough to sit under a tree but not hot enough that you want to run back inside. Have a picnic in one of these awesome London parks: Now, I’ll admit I don’t really like sitting on grass but on a nice day I will be under a tree basking in the fresh air. Beware of insects, though. No one wants ants in their pants. Set out on a mission to find London’s best ice cream: Good weather deserves outstanding ice cream. That’s all I have to say. Ice cream needs to be involved in your plans.  Have a water balloon fight in a secret garden: You have to have friends for this – some of us don’t – but if you do find yourself in need of a cooling off, grab 5-6 friends to enjoy an hour or two of f

Excellent news, Londoners It’s the fifth of the fifth today, which means Cinco de Mayo celebrations are happening all across the city. Cinco de Mayo, for the uninitiated, is a holiday marking the anniversary of the Mexican army defeating the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 during the Mexican-French War. But it’s also a great excuse to feast on Mexican food and smash a couple of margaritas, something which us gringos are more than happy to do at the slightest opportunity. And to help you do just that, we’ve rounded up five cracking Cinco de Mayo events happening in London over the next few days.  Practise your Spanish at a Mexican mezcal tasting Fancy brushing up on your Español? This Cinco de Mayo celebration is a great way to learn a few key phrases. Language class Stripey Spanish is hosting a night of mezcal-fuelled fun where you’ll get to try a selection of artisanal varieties of the agave spirit from small Mexican producers. And you’ll also learn a variety of alcohol-related Spanish phrases in the process, which — let’s be honest — are probably some of the key parts of the language to master if you’re ever going to head off on a Mexican holiday. The event is suitable for beginners and all with up to 6 months of learning. And if you mess up, everyone will just blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol. The Impact Hub, EC1V 8BR. Thu 5 May. £30. Tickets available online here. Hear some mariachi magic while feasting on enchiladas Covent Garden barbecue restaurant temper is put

The wait is over. After almost five years, Din Tai Fung is finally opening its doors at Centre Point. All of our dumpling cravings will be sated at last.  If you’re just as excited as we are, then you’ll be happy to know that they are planning to open the restaurant sometime in the later half of Spring 2022 which is like … now. This plan has been in the works since 2019 and was paused because of The Awful Thing we would rather forget about. Now the plans have been resumed and D-Day is sometime soon. The Taiwanese chain’s famous xiao long baos are the star of the show when coming here, but if you want a not-so-popular feel good you can try their prawn and egg fried rice, the chicken noodle soup, or the nai bai with garlic. All good choices.  Read Time Out's review of Din Tai Fung A time for firsts: Dumpling Shack opens its first restaurant in Hackney

Billie Eilish, Grammy-winning sensation and climate change activist has announced her eco-event ‘Overheated’ happening alongside her ‘Happier Than Ever: The World Tour’ in June.  Across six days - June 10, 11, 12, 16, 25 and 26 - Overheated will bring together advocates for climate change and fans of Eilish as an opportunity to get involved in the race to save our floating sphere. This special event will focus on all things involving sustainability, how to make the music industry more ‘green’ and the benefits to eating a plant-based diet. So if you find you want to learn more about how to save the home that is our globe, or you just fancy fangirling over Eilish, try to get your hands on a ticket.  ‘Overheated live’ not to be confused with the overall event ‘Overheated’, is a panel event taking place in indigo at The O2 on 10 June, featuring introductions by Billie Eilish, her brother, FINNEAS and a special keynote speaker to be announced.  Presale opened today, May 4 at 9am, with general sale opening on Friday, 6 May 2022 at 9am. Tickets will be priced at £40 for the first Overheated Live panel session or £65 for both sessions. All profits will be donated to charities Support + Feed and Reverb. This six day event will feature panel discussions, live performances, a documentary viewing, and opportunities for the public to take climate action. This is your chance to get a little greener and maybe a teacher to others willing to learn.  To see all five days worth of planet saving

Get ready, London, the Elizabeth line – aka Crossrail – is almost ready to open up and we are happily waiting to get onboard. Citymapper has now introduced the option to plan your trip ahead of time ‘using’ the new line.  The Elizabeth line has been under construction since 2009, meaning we’ve been waiting 13 bloody years to finally see this exciting new development. It is intended to reduce the length of the commute of thousands of Londoners by a significant amount so if you’re still late to your next work meeting cos of waiting for a Crossrail train, don’t blame us, we just relay the news. Oh, and it means that the house prices of loads of new bits of London will suddenly become completely out of reach, but let’s not worry about that right now. Unfortunately, we do have to wait for the entire line to come together, so as of right now there are three phases. Phase 1 (imminent) sees ten new stations on the central portion of the Elizabeth line open up. Phase 2 (autumn 2022) connects up services from Reading in the west and Shenfield in the east, with the central section. Phase 3 (spring 2023) sees everything finally fully connected and flowing. This means that by next year we will have the whole cross-London line up and running. Make full use of it, London. You’ve waited a long time for this…  Into fabric designs? Check out the new Elizabeth line moquette. Got no idea what the new line will look like? Check out some snaps here.

From April 28 to September 25, Wembley Park Live will offer a season of free performances, highlighting new talent from across London. You know what that means right? This could be your chance to finally get discovered. Iconic music destination Wembley Park has announced a line-up of free, live, grassroots concerts in partnership with Busk in London. So if you know someone who busks or do a bit of busking yourself, step up and step out to Wembley park for good music and vibes. Key dates to look out for are Thursday May 19 when BBC Introducing will be programming a day of up-and-coming talent and Saturday 16 July when the programme will celebrate International Busking Day. So if you’ve never been to Wembley Park, now you have an excuse.  Jess Iszatt, presenter of BBC Introducing in London, said: ‘It’s fantastic that live music is back after such a long time without it during the pandemic. We’re excited to be able to programme a full day of music in such an iconic music destination as Wembley Park. So many acts dream of headlining at Wembley Stadium and for Wembley Park to give grassroots talent this platform, shows how your musical career can kick start in a place where the biggest acts headline.’ For more information go to Wembley Park’s website Looking for other things to do in Wembley? Head over to Little India Market Want more music in general? Go to Wide Awake Festival

Very slowly it’s beginning to feel a bit more summery and you know what that means … rooftop bars. But we’ll do you one better; what if you could get paid to test rooftop bars? Now you’re all intrigued.  This incredible opportunity is exactly what online casino MrQ is offering. If selected you and a friend (if you don't mind sharing) would go to 10 different rooftop bars to drink (or test) free cocktails. They are also offering a £250 cash prize just for travelling around London going to different bars. How cool is that? This is a valuable opportunity to get drunk and get paid. Think you have what it takes to be the next rooftop bar tester? Everyone interested should email rooftopbartester@kaizen.co.uk explaining why they might be the perfect candidate. Applicants have until May 23 to sign up. Check out all the tantalising details here.  Word of warning: if I apply, it’s over for the rest of you. Fancy a high quality meal in the sky? Check out London's best rooftop restaurants 10 bars aren't enough? Here's 100 of the best pubs in London

Harry Potter fans can already sate their wizard thirst on theme parks, spin-off movies, shops and video games. And yet... The Harry Potter fandom is still hungry for more. And more they are about to get. The confusingly named ‘Warner Bros Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter’ in Watford represents a chance for fans of the franchise to walk among a load of exterior sets used in the films. Periodically organisers add to the tour, and that’s what’s happening now, with the addition of a tantalising Mandrakes and Magical Creatures area. Other new additions includes a fountain from the Hogwarts courtyard and a scale-version of the Weasleys’ Burrow (aka their house). Visitors to the greenhouse will will have the opportunity to mess around with a potted Mandrake, just like a Hogwarts student. It's part of an ‘interactive presentation’, apparently. Visitors will also get to experience the Great Hall to the Frog Choir scene as seen in ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’, featuring the actual costume of the conductor, Professor Flitwick played by Warwick Davis). For fans of filmmaking, there will be tons of opportunities to see how the movies were made using CGI and scale models for the plants in the greenhouse. So who knows, with all your newfound skills in cinematic production, you might become the next producer of a Harry Potter spin-off.  Leavesden, WD25 7LR. July 1 to September 12, 2022. Details of how to book can be found here Everything you wanted to know about