London is a pretty cultured city, a multicultural melting pot that everyone benefits from through art, music, food and more.

But it's multicultural design that set to get the spotlight soon, as a major new exhibition all about contemporary Black design heads to the capital this autumn.

Called The Nue Black Aesthetic, the exhibition will be heading to London’s Design Museum from November 2026, running until August 8th 2027. The exhibition has been guest curated by author and journalist Charlene Prempeh and charts some of the most innovative contemporary Black designers working right now. From clothing to carpentry, the selected artists all show case the best and quite frankly coolest designers who all help answer the question (and displace the stereotypes about) what Black design looks like, and who gets to shape design culture.

The exhibition will take visitors on a journey across six different individual sections. The first, 'Towards a Nue Black Aesthetic' presents the background and context to the current moment, followed by 'Identity as Inspiration', before going onto the 'Community Building' segment. Next up the 'Rethinking the System' section will look at the Black designers challenging the norms, leading to the penultimate section which will see a new film specifically created for the exhibition in 'Black by Design'. The finale (unsurprisingly) concludes the exhibition with a brand new site-specific commission by Nigerian American designer Ini Archibong.

'A landmark exhibition'

Artists will be sharing their different experiences of their communities, balancing shared experience with the distinct traditions of their specific heritage, showcasing their varied approaches to identity, culture and community. The featured designers include Tejumola Adenuga, Taiba Akhuetie, Ini Archibong, Simone Brewster, Mac Collins, Phoebe Collings-James, Foday Dumbuya, Feben, Nifemi Marcus-Bello, Andu Masebo, Saul Nash, Tosin Oshinowo, Bianca Saunders, Rachel Scott, Samuel Ross and Giles Tettey Nartey.

There will be some additional works and graphics by over 20 designers, from Yinka Ilori whose colourful designs you will have spotted everywhere from Dunelm to M&S, to the trailblazing Althea McNish, the first Black British textile designer to earn international reputation for her stunning creations.

The title of the show references the cultural movements of the ‘Black Aesthetic’ of the 1960s and the ‘New Black Aesthetic’ of the 1980s. But this exhibition proposes a ‘Nue’ era — one defined by nuance, where there is no single way to be a Black designer. The museum has praised the showcase as a “landmark exhibition”, calling it “thought provoking and nuanced” and added it will “enrich our understanding of what is happening in design today.”

Tickets have already gone on sale for the exhibition, priced at £19 for a standard adult ticket. You can find them at The Design Museum’s website where you can browse the rest of the exhibitions being hosted throughout the year.

• The best exhibitions in London this summer: From Escher to Bowie to Marilyn Monroe

A London art gallery is closing up shop this week, and we bet there’s a good chance you’ve never even set foot in it. This is the Science Gallery, part of King’s College London.

There are just a couple of days left to visit the gallery, which ends its run when the current set of exhibitions close on 31st July.

The Science Gallery’s closure was announced a while back, in April 2026.

Why? It’s all part of a rather bland-sounding “refocusing of institutional resources towards education, research and innovation priorities."

It’s perhaps no great surprise, though, given you don’t have to try too hard to hear about University funding crises.

What's on at the Science Gallery?

But, back to the point: we have just a couple of days left to visit the Science Gallery, so what’s on?

There are three exihibitions on at the gallery.

A Thread That Binds Us comprises a couple of “tapestry-based works” exploring themes of mental health in families.

The pieces are by Amber Roper and there’s a visitor interaction element here too, with the public encouraged to add threads to one of the exhibits. We’re not sure this part is still active, though, just handfuls of hours away from the place shutting up shop.

Directly linked by medium but not theme, Threads of Protest features textile works about inequality in maternity care. It merges artworks with research from Dr Gemma Mckenzie, who has looked into the issue as part of her postdoctoral work.

“Building on the historic use of thread as a form of protest in women’s art, the exhibition uses crochet as a practical and accessible creative language to communicate experiences that are often unheard,” says the Science Gallery.

The gallery’s most recent opening, from late May, is The Art of Care: Through the Eyes of Tomorrows Doctors. It features works produced by King’s College London students, following placements in GP surgeries as part of their study.

“Working in teams and supported by clinicians and artists, students responded to their experiences through a wide range of creative media — including painting, sculpture, poetry, photography, film, and interactive work,” reads the exhibition description.

It’s a kind of insider’s view of a theme, with an outsider art bent, at least assuming many of those taking part likely did not have a life-long interaction with these mediums. Fascinating stuff.

The Science Gallery is a different kind of art gallery, and we bet some of you will be passing right by it in the next couple of days. It’s part of the King’s College London campus just outside of London Bridge station. Give it a visit before it's too late.

It’s open until 6pm each day this week, with Friday 31st July the last day it’s set to open. The Science Gallery originally opened in 2018.

• The best exhibitions in London this summer: From Escher to Bowie to Marilyn Monroe

We’re entering our 112th heatwave of the summer (okay, our fourth) and 30 degree weather is scarily becoming the norm. With the incessant hot weather comes the heightened risk of wildfires across the UK. With blazes having swept across France, Scotland, and already moving further down south, Londoners are now frantically searching to see if they could be at risk.

Civic chiefs have warned that London is at extreme risk of wildfires, after fires already broke out near Walthamstow last week. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged Londoners to create firebreakers to protect their homes, while a new map has highlighted the areas of London most at risk from wildfire threats.

The geospatial analytics company Map Impact analysed the risks in every borough across the city, marking out Havering as the spot most in danger. It’s the only borough which stretches across the M25 at the far east of the capital. The second highest borough at risk is Hounslow, to the West of the capital.

Just over 11% of Havering’s land was analysed as being at high risk or very high risk of wildfire, with Hounslow slightly behind it at 10%. According to the research, wildfires are more likely in Outer London boroughs where there are more dry green spaces versus the city centre.

The borough with the third highest risk was Ealing, with just over 9% of the borough at high or very high risk of wildfires. Barking & Dagenham was next, at 8.69%, followed by Bexley at 8.21%, Redbridge at 7.14%, Richmond-upon-Thames with 6.28%, Hillingdon at 6.23%, Enfield with 6%, Merton with 5.81%, Harrow at 5.54%, and Brent 5.04%. At around half the wildfire risk as the boroughs with the highest dangers was Sutton and Greenwich, both on 4.84%. Some of the lowest were Westminster, Croydon, and Lambeth, which were all under 4%.

Another factor in the map of risk was how populated the areas are, including how many people visit the area, as this makes accidentally sparked blazes more likely. Which is a polite way of saying that humans are often stupid and/or irresponsible. Think barbecues, cigarettes, etcetera. Wildfires can also be caused by sunlight on a glass bottle or shard (like when you learn how to burn something using a magnifying glass in the sunshine), or sparks from machinery and vehicles.

The London Fire Brigade has issued guidance around the wildfires, including advising people to clear two to three metre strips around their garden to create firebreaks, which was echoed by Sir Sadiq Khan.

LFB Assistant Commissioner Tom Goodall said: “As these very warm and dry conditions continue, we encourage all landowners, including households, to take any precautionary measures they can to protect properties in the event of a fire.

“Residents can also help minimise damage by keeping grass cut low and cutting back trees and shrubbery, particularly around the edges.”

• The best exhibitions in London this summer: From Escher to Bowie to Marilyn Monroe

Right now you can get from London to Antwerp by train fairly easily, but it involves a stop in Brussels. That changes this December.

Eurostar’s London-to-Antwerp direct line launches this December.

From 14th December, four trains a day will run from London St. Pancras to Antwerpen-Centraal. It will take two hours 41 minutes, a pretty healthy time saver compared to the roughly 3.5 hours it takes today, thanks to that stop off and train change in Brussels.

Searching through the Eurostar booking system, you can already book these direct journeys, with the cheapest fares we found starting at £44.

There’s just one snag. You can’t also book a direct return journey. This is because there’s no border and customs outpost at the Antwerp end, which we do have in London. And this also means it’s not something likely to be remedied any time soon.

Journeys back from Antwerp typically take around 3.5 to 4 hours, with a 40 minute or so stop over at Brussels — plenty of time to change platforms.

We were able to snag a return fare for £88, although you do have to be a little loose on timings to get such a low-cost total.

You may be able to get even cheaper travel during one of Eurostar’s regular sales. These take place a few times a year, with the lowest rates typically at £35 each way.

Get in early with these £44-a-leg tickets and you’re not doing too bad already.

Antwerp joins Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels and Rotterdam among Eurostar’s direct destinations, beating Cologne to the punch for a direct line.

But is Antwerp worth a visit? Its train station is one of the city’s most famous sights, so you’ll definitely catch that following your Eurostar journey out there.

The city also offers a beautiful main square, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, and it’s known for both its food and fashion.

Should you pick it over a first visit to Paris or Amsterdam? Probably not. But the upcoming direct route makes Antwerp a top pick for Londoners looking for an easy weekend away.

• Forget the airport queues, London is set to get direct trains to Cologne by 2030

There’s more train-related faff ahead for London commuters, and for once it’s not down to strikes,

London Charing Cross and Waterloo East are closed, and will remain shut until 16th August.

The closure began on Sunday 26th July, and runs for three weeks in order to accommodate major engineering work.

Trains will instead head to Victoria, London Bridge, Blackfriars or Cannon Street, depending on the route. It likely means a whole lot of trains effectively terminating early at London Bridge.

This work affects Southeastern trains, and the provider warns the schedule will change during the affected period too. You’re advised to check the timetable for more details.

The works are part of a renovation project of Hungerford Bridge, which connects Charing Cross to the other side of the Thames. £20 million is being spent on works including the replacement of around a mile of track and associated switches, letting trains more smoothly transition to the six platforms at Charing Cross station.

That station’s platforms nearer the bridge end will also be rebuilt, having suffered from subsidence, according to Network Rail.

It’s part of a wider refurb of the bridge, which was built in the 1840s. That project began in earnest in 2025 and is planned to conclude in 2028.

“The £20 million investment we are delivering will see 1990s track and platforms upgraded to make journeys safer and more reliable, and Victorian-era structures strengthened to remain fit for the future,” says South Eastern Railway’s Scott Brightwell.

This three week stint isn’t the only closure of the stations we’ll see this year either. Charing Cross and Waterloo will also be figuratively shuttered on 22nd and 23rd August, and on 10th and 11th October, as part of the same works plan.

If you travel retro and have paper tickets that cover travel to these stations during the affected periods, they will apparently be accepted on Jubliee line services into Waterloo, relevant Thameslink trains, Southern services heading into Victoria and London Bridge, and a handful of buses serving the affected area.

These include the 24, 26, 148, 188, 139 and 453 routes.

Want some good news? There’s no London Underground strike action planned at the moment, although East Midlands Railway staff associated with the RMT union do plan to strike 2-7 August, 9-14 August and 16th August, which will affect some trains going out of St Pancras. And the LNR network will be affected by strike action this week on 31st July and 1st August, impacting some services running out of London Euston.

• Forget the airport queues, London is set to get direct trains to Cologne by 2030

A museum dedicated to the secret spy and intelligence operations that went on during World War Two has opened in North London.

I don’t think we can do much better than to regurgitate the museum’s own explanation of the Trent Park House of Secrets. It sounds more like the synopsis of a Netflix show than a museum intro:

“In the 1920s and 1930s, Trent Park House was Sir Philip Sassoon’s glamorous country retreat, host to prime ministers, royalty and film stars.A decade later it held a darker secret,” the museum team explains.

“POWs including captured German generals and senior officers were housed here in apparent comfort, never knowing that the Secret Listeners were monitoring their conversations and gathering intelligence that helped change the course of the war.”

We're already halfway through our popcorn.

A hidden slice of history

On the outside the Trent Park House of Secrets looks like a lush stately home, and inside it has been restored to how it would have appeared in the 1930s — also pretty stately home-like, to be honest. But behind the luxury there are the listening rooms, decked out with replicas of the sort of equipment that would have been used back in the day.

Before it took on this unlikely role, the house was owned by Sir Philip Sassoon, who was friend to both Winston Churchill and Edward VIII. But after his death in 1939 the place was requisitioned by the government.

Trent Park House of Secrets director Dr Giuseppe Albano invites us to “discover the covert intelligence operation that took place here during the Second World War.”

But the museum also apparently digs into the place’s wider context as a part of 20th century British history.

You can find out what this entails by visiting yourself. Adult tickets cost £14 a pop, those aged under five get in for free and 5-17-year-old and students pay £12.

The Trent Park House of Secrets is clearly going to be compared to Bletchley Park, the famous code-breaking country house that was a key part of the Allied war effort. And while Trent Park doesn’t quite have the gravitas or significance of that place, it sure is easier to get to for Londoners.

The Trent Park House of Secrets sits just a few hundreds metres away from the Cockfosters Underground station, on the Piccadilly line.

The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm, and tickets are available for slots up to six weeks in advance. You specify an hour slot when booking, but the website suggests the staff will be lenient if you miss your slot thanks to Tube delays or similar.

• Pop, pots and prints: V&A museums' full exhibition schedule for 2027 and beyond revealed

The V&A has announced its line-up of major exhibitions for 2027, covering off a decent chunk of 2028 too.

V&A’s London South Kensington museum is getting three exhibitions next year, while the second exhibition for the new V&A East site has been announced.

Let’s take a closer look at what's in store...

V&A 2027 exhibitions

First up at the main V&A site in South Kensington is Punk to Pop. It opens on 13th March, 2027, and covers the changing face of art from 1972 to 1985.

But as the name suggests, this one will be represented through the prism of music and pop culture — which in this era were closely tied to UK politics. Acts the V&A team mentions in an early teaser include Wham!, Eurythmics, Joy Division, The Slits and The Sex Pistols.

Punk to Pop will include upwards of 300 exhibits, from photographs and music videos to costumes.

It will be a long-running exhibition, set to run until 2nd January 2028.

Sculpture in Clay opens slightly later in the year, from 29th May, and will stick on until 6th February 2028. The name tells you a lot of what you need to know here too.

The show will feature the work of British artists working from the 1980s onwards within the medium of ceramics. It’s about “how clay and ceramic have expanded the possibilities of sculpture.”

Featured artists include Antony Gormley — known in part for his series of human figures (cast in his own likeness) peppered around London’s South Bank from 2007 — Edmund de Waal and Jacqueline Poncelet.

The final V&A South Kensington exhibtiion we know about has what initially seems a slightly more opaque title: Chintz.

However, it really is about the history of Chintz fabric, a flowery pattern that emerged from South India more than 400 years ago, and has since been weighed down with all sorts of preconceptions and cultural baggage.

It “re-discovers the story of chintz” according to the V&A, which it dubs one of the “most coveted, copied and contentious fabrics in history.”

Over on the other side of London, we’ve also heard about the second major exhibition coming to V&A East, which only opened in April.

South Asia Now: Fashion. Art. Design. takes over from the current exhibition on black British music on 24th April 2027, and runs until 23rd January 2028. It will feature upwards of 200 pieces with roots in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Tickets for these four exhibitions will be “available soon.” And if they are enough to make you consider a V&A membership, those start at £86 a year via direct debit, or £60 for those aged 16-25.

• The best exhibitions in London this summer: From Escher to Bowie to Marilyn Monroe

Any fans of sausages, beer, punctuality, and stunning gothic castles, listen up. The good news – or should we say Gute Nachricht – is that you could soon be zooming over to the capital of Christmas markets, as the UK is one step closer to getting direct trains between London and Cologne.

At the end of 2025, it was announced that the trusty Eurostar was unveiling plans to launch the high-speed rail routes between London and Germany. The plans included multiple destinations including Cologne and Frankfurt rather than a focus of the country’s capital Berlin. However, Eurostar just got some competition as a UK start up is also entering the rail race, and could be bringing us a Cologne link up sooner than originally thought.

Gemini Trains has announced plans to run service to Cologne as early as 2030. This isn’t the only ambitious plan the British brand has got in the works, having announced they also want to create a journey direct to Paris which would stop at both Disneyland and Charles de Gaulle airport. Also, they have revealed plans to have routes running to Brussels, Frankfurt and Dusseldorf in the near future.

Whilst international rail travel is traditionally associated with Kings Cross, Gemini would see routes running from Stratford International, widening the current offering of spots you can head to for international travel. Trains would also stop at Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International outside of London – two stops also used by Eurostar in the past.

Gemini has confirmed it plans to use electric trains – at least eight specifically, which will accommodate around 550 passengers at maximum capacity. It also plans to start out with around 11 services running daily, although has hinted it plans to increase this significantly once they’re up and running. To give some context, Eurostar runs roughly 26 services every day.

If you find yourself trying to travel to Cologne via rail at the moment, you’d be looking at around a six hour journey with at least one change. By contrast, the Gemini offering would take around four hours, shaving a good couple of hours off the route. And whilst prices haven’t been officially released yet, Gemini has estimated that the initial one-way fares to Paris will retail at around £59.

So, if you are looking for a more sustainable way of hopping across to Europe without spending ages on the tracks, Gemini’s speedy routes might be one to keep in mind as you’re perusing AirBnBs.

• This new app shows you a map of every hidden set menu across London’s best restaurants – including Michelin starred spots for less than £30

Perhaps the most important London exhibition of the year is the Bayeux tapestry showing at the British Museum.

It opens in September, but the most important precursor milestone has just been passed: The Bayeux Tapestry itself turning up in the UK. It's in the British Museum right now.

The tapestry arrived at the tail end of last week, its transfer confirmed by the British Museum on 10th July.

It was transported using the Channel Tunnel, and was of course given a police escort for the journey.

The tapestry arrived at the British Museum at 2:48am according to the museum, where it was taken out of its transporter lorry to a crowd that included the French ambassador and museum director Nicholas Cullinan.

Priceless packing

It was of course not just shoved in the back of a lorry like removal men packing up your old living room rug. The Bayeux tapestry was stored for the journey in a folding metal contraption that arranges the artefact into an accordion-like sandwich, helping to avoid any damage from travel vibrations — which were limited to 2mm per second as part of the plan to get the tapestry to England safely.

How you do that in practice when moving the thing by lorry still remains a mystery to us.

The transport of the relic was celebrated with a tapestry graphic, projected onto the white cliffs of Dover, which of course are nearby the route of the Channel Tunnel.

It took 90 workers seven hours to pack the Bayeux Tapestry up. And the transfer process was actually attempted twice with a placeholder rug rather than the real deal beforehand.

The UK Treasury insured the tapestry for £800 million, intended to cover any mishaps during its travels or while the exhibition is on. And while that is of course a fortune, some art historians reportedly criticised the cover — for the amount as well as the terms involved.

This is the first time the Bayeux Tapestry has been in England for more than a thousand years, despite having made here, as per the consensus of today’s historians.

Talks to make the upcoming Bayeux Tapestry exhibition actually happen have been happening for almost a decade now. And they have finally come to a head.

The British Museum’s exhibition opens on 10th September. And while it runs all the way until 11th July 2027, you will have to be quick off the mark to be in with a chance of seeing it.

A first wave of tickets, covering dates up until the end of 2026, sold out within 24 hours. The British Museum offers a sign-up page for those wanting updates on the next tranche. But for the earliest access you’ll need to be a member — memberships start at £82 a year.

Members’ booking restarts in October, for visit dates in January to March, while the final set of tickets for dates from April to July, go on sale in January. General sale will be some time after the members’ booking window.

Members can book up to two visits to the exhibition. And given adult tickets start at £25, or £33 during peak times, a membership may sound pretty attractive right now for the history buffs out there.

• The best exhibitions in London this summer: From Escher to Bowie to Marilyn Monroe

After years of debate, funding rows and ever-changing repair plans, Hammersmith & Fulham Council has effectively accepted that getting cars and buses back on the historic crossing isn't financially realistic, at least for now.

Instead, the council is focusing on securing government funding for a £128 million programme of essential repairs designed to keep the bridge safely open for pedestrians, cyclists and river traffic, rather than restoring it for full motor use.

The money would come from the Government's £1 billion Structures Fund, which the council had originally hoped would cover the estimated £300 million needed to fully reopen the bridge. However, hopes of securing that level of funding have faded after officials indicated the bridge's lengthy restoration wouldn't meet the fund's deadline, which requires projects to be completed by the 31st of March 2030.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting this week, council leader Stephen Cowan said the authority simply couldn't afford to fund the remaining work itself.

"We have to be honest with residents," he said. "If it was a magic money tree, we could fix it. But we don't live in a something-for-nothing society."

The 139-year-old Hammersmith Bridge has been closed to motor traffic since 2019 after engineers discovered dangerous micro-fractures in its cast iron pedestals. It reopened to pedestrians and cyclists in 2021 following emergency stabilisation works, but buses, taxis and private vehicles have never returned.

Since then, the bridge has become the centre of a long-running funding dispute between Hammersmith & Fulham Council, the Department for Transport and Transport for London. The council says it has already spent around £54 million maintaining and stabilising the structure and believes it's still owed almost £23 million under a previous agreement that split repair costs equally between the three organisations.

Richmond Council's deputy leader, Alexander Ehmann, criticised the decision to prioritise walking and cycling over reopening the bridge to public transport, arguing it would leave older and disabled residents facing longer journeys.

"If we accept that buses will never return, we're not just making an engineering decision," he said. "We're making a social choice about who benefits and who is left behind."

Opposition councillors also questioned why Labour, which currently controls Hammersmith & Fulham Council, the London mayoralty and the UK Government, had failed to secure funding for a full restoration.

For now, though, the priority is simply keeping one of London's most recognisable bridges standing. Whether cars ever return to Hammersmith Bridge will largely depend on whether the Government is willing to stump up hundreds of millions of pounds beyond the current funding programme. At the moment, that looks a long way off.

• Bringing back the Barfly: Frank Turner and the Camden venue’s new owners on the importance of London’s grassroots music scene

It feels as though London is flocked with bikes – between the die-hard lyra-donning pedal pushers to the flock of bright green lime bikes, Londoners simply love donning two wheels to get from A to B. Now, cycling around the city just got a little bit lighter on the wallet thanks to Santander bikes.

Across July, TFL will be handing out passes that will let you cycle around the city completely free. On the last day of each week in July, the Santander Cycles Day Pass will have a 100% discount, costing you nada instead of the usual £3.50.

It’s the second year the initiative has run, originally launched in 2024 as part of the Cycle Sundays scheme, which aimed to get city dwellers cycling. Now, it’s making a comeback to help encourage people to use TFL’s fleet of electric bikes.

Obviously, the free rides are exclusive only to Santander bikes, but there are over 800 docking stations across the city for said bikes, so it will be pretty easy to find a suitable two-wheeler. To get a free ride, you’ll just need to grab one of the discount codes. You can access the codes via the discounts page of the Santander Cycles app. Other than that, you’ll just follow the normal process to unlock and access a bike, just remembering to enter the promo code when you go to checkout, which will give you unlimited 60-minute rides over a 24-hour period.

The codes are valid for both normal and e-bikes, although you will need to become a member first, and membership is free.

Although most Londoners, especially seasoned ones rival an old school A-Z of the city’s roads, knowing exactly where they’re heading to and from, as part of the scheme TFL has mapped out a selection beginner friendly routes, in case you want to take time and explore the city rather than the head down pedalling you usually do when you try and shave 5 minutes off a 20 minutes route. There are more than 50 routes spanning across the capital, from scenic scenes in Hampstead Heath to the panoramic views of Primrose Hill.

The codes are:

• 5 July - CYCLEJULY5
• 12 July - CYCLEJULY12
• 19 July - CYCLEJULY19
• 26 July - CYCLEJULY26

Whether you want to find a docking station, rent a bike, or explore some of the routes, TFL’s website has all the information you need to get biking.

• This new app shows you a map of every hidden set menu across London’s best restaurants – including Michelin starred spots for less than £30

Most Tube journeys aren't exactly memorable. Delays, packed carriages and someone eating tuna at 8am tend to see to that.

One weekend later this month, you can swap the usual Metropolitan line service for something far more special, as the London Transport Museum brings its beautifully restored vintage trains back to the tracks.

Taking place on Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th of July, the heritage journeys depart from Amersham and give passengers the chance to travel aboard authentic London Underground trains dating back almost a century.

The headline act is the museum's meticulously restored 1938 Tube Stock, complete with Art Deco styling, red and green wool upholstery, polished wood interiors and period light fittings. These trains were a genuine milestone for the Underground when they first entered service, becoming the first fleet to house all of their electrical equipment beneath the floor, creating more space for passengers. They remained in service for almost 50 years before being retired.

If that's not enough nostalgia, there's also the chance to ride in elegant 1950s railway carriages hauled by the legendary Sarah Siddons, one of the Metropolitan Railway's iconic electric locomotives from the 1920s. Named after the celebrated Welsh actress, Sarah Siddons is one of the few surviving locomotives of its kind still in operation today, making appearances only at special heritage events.

Passengers can choose between several different routes across the Metropolitan line. Saturday's return trip runs between Amersham and Watford, while Sunday's return service travels to Harrow-on-the-Hill before heading back. Single journeys to Harrow-on-the-Hill are also available across the weekend for those after a shorter trip.

Unlike your usual Tube journey, though, you won't be tapping in with an Oyster card. Adult tickets start from £22, rising to £40 depending on the journey, with concessions available for children.

Whether you're a lifelong railway enthusiast or simply fancy seeing London from a very different seat, it's one of the capital's most unique heritage experiences, and one that only comes around a handful of times each year.

• This new app shows you a map of every hidden set menu across London’s best restaurants – including Michelin starred spots for less than £30

Office workers across London were treated to an unexpected sight on Wednesday morning when the famous Goodyear Blimp drifted over the capital for the first time in four years.

The enormous aircraft crossed the English Channel after taking off from Calais Dunkerque Airport in France before making its way over Kent and following the Thames into central London.

Flight tracking showed the blimp passing over Canterbury and Rochester before looping across the capital and continuing further north. It later appeared to begin turning back.

Despite its huge size, the Goodyear Blimp isn't exactly built for speed. The semi-rigid Zeppelin NT airship measures more than 75 metres long, stands almost 18 metres high and has a top speed of 73mph.

That didn't stop plenty of Londoners from doing a double take. Social media quickly filled with photos of the blimp.

The comparison has a historical basis. During the First World War, German Zeppelins carried out bombing raids over London. Nicknamed "silent raids" because they could approach with relatively little warning, the attacks killed 668 people and caused widespread damage across the capital. The destruction was later dwarfed by the Blitz during the Second World War, but the sight of a giant airship over London still catches plenty of people off guard.

What is the Goodyear Blimp?

Despite the name, today's Goodyear Blimp isn't technically a traditional blimp at all.

The aircraft flying over the UK is a Zeppelin NT, a semi-rigid airship with an internal framework that helps it keep its shape. Traditional blimps rely entirely on the pressure of the lifting gas to stay inflated.

Airships were once seen as the future of long-distance travel, carrying passengers across continents before advances in aeroplanes and disasters such as the Hindenburg crash in 1937 brought the era to an end. Today, they're a genuine rarity. Aviation experts estimate there are only around 25 operational blimps and airships left worldwide, making any appearance in the skies a fairly unusual event.

Goodyear has used airships for nearly a century, with the first taking to the skies in 1925. Over the decades, they have become one of the world's most recognisable corporate symbols, acting as giant floating billboards while also providing aerial TV coverage of major sporting events including motorsport, American football, golf and baseball.

While the blimp is a familiar sight in the U, UK appearances are much rarer. Before Wednesday's flyover, it was last spotted over London in 2022.

For anyone who happened to glance out of an office window today, it was a reminder that one of aviation's most unusual aircraft is still very much in business.

• The BIG London gig list 2026: Your guide to this year's very best shows, festivals and concerts

I can’t drive. I don’t hike. I ‘touch grass’ only when politely declining a drag on my high friends’ smoke. I look on in envy at my active mates’ countryside retreat reels, but appease my soul with the fact that I’m a city boy and that the pollen count anywhere beyond the M25 will probably do me in. A break in the country isn’t for me, I say.

Or at least that’s what I thought before visiting the new Mad Swans resort in the South Downs, a rural escape with enough activities to give Takeshi’s Castle a run for its money. Built around a renovated golf course, it totally defies expectations.

Reachable from London in around an hour by public transport, it feels less like a traditional golf resort and more like someone squeezed together a boutique hotel, a sports club and an indie festival. It’s like an all-ages summer camp — one minute you’re hitting a golf ball, the next you’re learning the rules of padel from an enthusiastic staff member, and before long you’re arguing over digital darts while a soundtrack of alternative bangers follows you around the clubhouse.

If you’ve ever fancied getting out of the flat, out of the city, and opening those lungs to a more lively slice of life, Mad Swans may be the break for you.

WHERE IS IT?

Mad Swans sits in the South Downs, making it an easy escape from London without the usual three-train pilgrimage that many rural resorts seem to require. The journey is surprisingly painless: roughly an hour on public transport via Waterloo and then a short transfer.

Once you arrive, the first thing you notice is that the place doesn’t look like a golf resort at all. The decor is bright, playful and modern, with bold colours, quirky artwork and a clubhouse that looks more like a designer’s lounge than a fusty members club. Which is appropriate, as Mad Swans isn’t a members club — there’s no membership fees to come and check out the resort, no dress code, and no arm-long list of rules to follow.

As for the surroundings, the South Downs scenery is still very much present — rolling hills, open skies and plenty of fresh air — but the vibe is contemporary rather than tweedy.

WHAT’S SPECIAL?

The big sell here is accessibility. Mad Swans has taken activities that can sometimes feel intimidating — particularly golf — and made them approachable for absolutely everyone.

The full-sized, 12-hole golf course is designed so beginners don’t feel like they’ve accidentally wandered into the Open Championship. There are on-site pros offering lessons, but there’s none of the stuffy etiquette that puts newcomers off. No one is glaring at your swing; they’re more likely to be offering encouragement.

That same philosophy runs through the entire resort. Never played padel? Staff will happily explain the rules. No idea what pickleball is? You’ll be taught and offered gear to rent. Fancy a competitive game of shuffleboard after dinner? Take your time perfecting that glide.

It’s a sports-focused getaway that doesn’t require you to already be sporty — which is great, as me and my partner ended up working out muscles we never even knew we had.

WHAT’S NEW?

Though built from the bones of the Blacknest Golf and Country Club, which used to sit on the site, the whole Mad Swans concept is the fresh element. As one of the UK’s newest golf and family entertainment resorts, it’s part of a growing movement to reinvent country clubs for a younger, more casual audience.

Instead of building around exclusivity, it’s built around participation. The mix of golf, padel, pickleball, digital darts, shuffleboard and modern accommodation makes it feel far more contemporary than the traditional golf-resort formula. There are even electric bikes to rent if you want to explore the surrounding countryside.

WHO SHOULD YOU BRING?

Rather than focusing solely on serious golfers, Mad Swans has been designed around groups of friends, families and younger visitors who want a countryside getaway with plenty to do. The atmosphere is lively without being rowdy, and the young, friendly staff help create a sense that everyone is welcome, whether you’ve come for a serious golf lesson or just want an excuse to spend a weekend in the countryside. There’s romance in the eco-cabins for couples, digital pub games to help entice kids away from their screens, and terraces for a sun-kissed drink for anyone just looking to relax.

WHAT ARE THE ROOMS LIKE?

Though you can stay in the clubhouse’s boutique B’n’B style rooms, the standout accommodation option is the eco cabins, where we spent our downtime.

These aren’t basic camping pods; they’re stylish, modern spaces, each with its own patches of wildflower planting and outdoor furniture to sit among. Inside, all fittings are new and fresh, with the cabins including built-in, mechanized, roll-up cinema screens that make bedtime like a visit to your own private IMAX.

It’s the kind of place where muddy trainers don’t feel out of place, but you still get the comfort of a proper hotel stay.

However, in the blazing summer heat we’ve recently had, our eco cabin did get swelteringly hot, and the provided fan, though powerful, couldn’t quite battle the elements. It’s the one area of Mad Swans that needs a rethink, or our increasingly hot summer months may not be a comfortable time to visit.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO DURING YOUR STAY?

This is where Mad Swans really earns its recommendation, and changed the way I thought about weekend breaks:

Start with pickleball or padel

Both sports are having a huge moment, and Mad Swans leans into that trend without making newcomers feel clueless. Staff are on hand to explain the rules, and within ten minutes you’ll be wondering why every local leisure centre doesn’t have pickleball courts. The Mad Swans pickleball court is particularly impressive — though outside, it’s fully covered and floodlit, with speakers blasting out tunes while you play.

It’s hard to get annoyed at a missed drop shot when Pavement’s ‘Range Life’ is floating over the PA. Don’t worry about bringing gear either — the onsite shop has all you’ll need for a game available to rent, and the same goes for golfing equipment.

Get competitive indoors

Dodging the rain? Or, perhaps more pertinently this summer, the incessant heat? Mad Swans has plenty to do indoors, too. The digital darts setup is ridiculously entertaining, with all the maths handled by computers and cameras, letting you focus on your triple 20s. The same goes for shuffleboard, fully digitised here, with both games talking players through the rules if it’s not something you’re familiar with.

Give golf a go (even if your crazy golf handicap is dire)

Even if you’ve never picked up a club before, the Mad Swans course is designed to be welcoming to everyone. A 12-hole course, it’s a fair-sight shorter than a standard course, letting you more easily fit it into a day of play — regular players will get around in under three hours.

Back tees make for a 4,030 yard course, with beginner-friendly front tees reducing that to 3,210 yards, with the course split over three par-fives, five par fours and four par 3s. It’s a well-kept and attractive course (robot lawnmowers are amusingly always going about their rounds, there are goose-filled water hazards, and the route around the course lets you easily cut back to the clubhouse if you’re not playing the full 12).

The course was busy the day we visited, but unlike traditional courses, we didn’t feel rushed or under observation. If there’s such a thing as a 10x bogey, it’s the ballpark we were playing in, but were able to enjoy the experience without scrutiny, making it a perfect place for wannabe pros to perfect their game.

We’d recommend starting with the Swing Barn driving range, whether you’re a newbie or a vet, though. Equipped with Toptracer digital tracking systems, and kitted out with speakers, sofas and bar service, it’s a really fun (and addictive) way to get used to golfing in relative privacy. On-site professionals can give beginners enough guidance to avoid launching balls into neighbouring counties, too — our session with Mad Swan’s wonderful go-to pro Paul saw us double our driving average in just a couple of hours.

Relax with some mini-golf

Now you’re ready to challenge Rory McIlroy, the mini-golf ‘Putt Patch’ feels like a breeze by comparison. A really neat little course designed to look more like an actual golf course than a zany knockabout, you can bring a beer from the bar with you and get the kids involved. With the golf, not the boozing…

Enjoy the soundtrack

As mentioned, one of the most distinctive touches at Mad Swans is the music. Instead of generic lounge jazz, you get a steady stream of alternative and indie tracks that follow you around the clubhouse, driving range and sports areas. It makes the whole resort feel younger, more relaxed and infinitely less intimidating than a traditional golf club.

For anyone who has ever felt out of place in a country-club environment, that detail makes a surprisingly big difference.

WHERE SHOULD YOU EAT AND DRINK?

You’ve got two excellent, relatively affordable eateries at Mad Swans’ South Downs location. The Potting Shed is the main restaurant, with an à la carte menu offering British comfort classics, while The Hangout is a pizzeria with a bar that also has a snug for shuffleboard and darts.

Both are delicious and reasonably priced, with The Potting Shed menu including favourites such as roast suckling pig and crab linguine. A shoutout especially goes to Mario’s pizza’s at the Hangout — thin, crispy and light, they’re proper Italian-style slices cooked with care.

WHAT WILL YOU PAY?

There’s plenty to do at Mad Swans, so let’s break this down bit by bit.

Accommodation:
Clubhouse lodge rooms from £110 per night.
Eco cabins from £233 per night.

Food:

The Potting Shed: Mains from £16 - £23
The Hangout: Pizzas £12 - £14

Activities:

Golf: From £42 per person
Swing Barn driving range: 1 hour, £15 off peak / £20 peak
Padel: 1 hour, £33 off peak / £40 peak
Pickleball: 1 hour, £15 off peak / £30 peak
Mini golf: £12 per person
E-bikes: £33 for 8 hours
Darts: 1 hour, £20 off peak / £25 peak
Shuffleboard: 1 hour, £20 off peak / £25 peak

Given the range of activities all within a stone’s throw of each other, it proves a very affordable short break away for a weekend away — all-in, a couple can have a jam-packed itinerary and overnight stay with meals for around £250 a head.

GET ON THE GUESTLIST?

Absolutely.

Mad Swans succeeds because it understands there’s a generation of people who don’t actually want a formal golf-club experience. In fact, it’s a barrier to entry, if not downright intimidating.

The combination of beginner-friendly sport, colourful design, excellent pizza, cinema-equipped cabins and an indie soundtrack at Mad Swans gives it a personality that many countryside hotels lack.

Book an eco-cabin, bring a few competitive friends and sing-a-long to The Cure while dropping an absolutely disgusting cross-court pickleball drop shot. It’ll change the way you think about holidays forever.

Reservations can be made through the Mad Swans website, with accommodation and activities bookable in advance.

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Westminster council is reportedly blocking Soho’s restaurants from offering al fresco outdoors dining, but Sadiq Khan may have plans to overrule the nimbys out to spoil the fun.

London major Khan has announced that 13 London boroughs will get a share of a £500,000 fund intended to help bring outdoors dining and later openings to part of London. But Soho is not one of the areas on the list.

Westminster council failed to apply for the funding, powering accusations the council is overly influenced by nimby groups keen to, quite literally, keep the noise down.

Unlike other areas in London, Soho won’t be pedestrianised this summer, but in future Khan will get more say in what happens to local businesses.

A change in licensing powers means the Mayor will be able to make formal representations on licensing decisions, based on a London-wide licensing plans.

This will effectively give Khan further ability to pushback against councils who attempt to block measures intended to support local restaurants and London nightlife.

“For the first time ever, City Hall has a direct say in ow licensing decisions are made across the capital,” says Khan.

“By making it easier to extend opening hours and expand what’s on offer, I’m determined to support out hospitality and nightlife.”

Councils that have been awarded substantial grants as part of the al fresco dining initiative include Barking & Dagenham, Brent, Greenwich and Lambeth.

One area already announced to be embracing al fresco, car-free weekends this summer is Clapham’s Northcote Road, which will be closed to cars each weekend from 11^th July to 30^th August.

Soho was part-pedestrianised in 2020 during Covid, and again in 2021, but hasn’t been since. The hope is Khan’s new powers could help bring back periods of car-free areas in one of the more buzzy parts of London in 2027.

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Londoners are collectively panicking at the upcoming 37 degree plus temperatures melting the city, and collectively if frantically Googling which tube lines actually have air con. For all the jokes that a UK 35 degrees feels nothing like a Europe 35 degrees it turns out there’s actually some proof to this, which is a relief as it’s too hot for gaslighting right now.

According to a study by officials from UK Health Security Agency, Londoners could be at greater risk in heatwaves due to numerous factors like commuting, overcrowding, and the city’s wealth distribution.

Here's the breakdown of your heat-induced breakdown.

1. 'Urban Island Effect'

Temperatures are generally higher in London thanks to the “urban heat island effect” which often increases exposure due to indoor overheating risk. Basically, the ratio of concrete to green space is particularly unbalanced in cities, and whilst London does have some lovely public parks, the amount of built up areas and the density of their populations means temperatures will be higher than elsewhere in the country.

2. Cost of living

The old cossie livs crisis rears its expensive head once again, and this time it’s responsible for heatwave rises. It's not exactly breaking news that London is expensive. From rent to pints, the average price of things in the capital is often higher.

According to the survey, the heat risk can be increased by less capacity for “adaptive behaviours to reduce the overheating risk” due to socioeconomic factors “unique to the capital”. Inequality in London is far higher than the rest of the UK with over a quarter of Londoners living in poverty. Things like “security concerns or the necessity of income” can contribute to lower income Londoners heading to work during intense heat, putting Londoners at a higher risk.

3. Overcrowding

It’s not exactly news that London is a pretty packed city, and anyone who's ever tried to get on a Northern Line tube during a midweek rush hour will be all too familiar with overcrowding. Turns out that it’s having an effect on the heat and how people will cope. “Evidence suggests that, in London, more affluent areas also have more access to green space, which is also linked with cooler urban environments, potentially reducing risk,” according the study.

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London is certainly not short of parks, pubs, galleries, and pleasingly relaxing Sunday walks. Still, there are times when you want the day to feel a little more like a proper escape – ideally without spending hours on a train.

Enter the National Trust.

Within around 90 minutes of the capital, you can find grand houses, riverside gardens, deer parks, rose-filled borders, walking trails, and even Churchill’s painting studio.

Some are easy Tube-and-train trips; others work best as a low-effort drive out of the city. All of them offer a useful change of scene without demanding a full weekend away.

We’ve rounded up some of the best National Trust places near London, grouped by the kind of day out you’re after – from easy escapes inside the M25 to big historic houses and fresh-air favourites made for walkers, garden lovers, and picnic people.

Please note: A National Trust membership gives you free access to every location, and there are individual, family, joint, and lifetime options available. If you plan to visit multiple places on this list, we definitely recommend getting one.

Easy escapes inside or near London

For days when even “getting out of London” sounds like a bit much, these are the National Trust trips that keep the faff to an absolute minimum.

You still get gardens, history, tea room energy, and a proper change of scene, but without needing to plan the day like a military operation.

Osterley Park and House

• Best for: A low-effort culture fix

Osterley is one of the easiest National Trust escapes from central London, which makes it a handy choice when you want fresh air and a grand house without the full countryside schlep.

The estate sits in west London, with formal gardens, parkland, and an impressive Georgian house known for its Robert Adam interiors.

It is a good all-rounder: relaxed enough for a picnic, interesting enough for a history-minded wander, and convenient enough to squeeze into a half-day if you start early.

The gardens bring the colour in summer, while the house gives the visit a bit more substance than a standard park walk.

Getting there: Take the Piccadilly line to Osterley, then walk from the station. It is one of the simplest options on this list by public transport.

Ham House and Garden

• Best for: Riverside walkers and history buffs

Ham House has the rare advantage of feeling tucked away while still being firmly within London’s orbit. Set near the Thames in Richmond, it combines a handsome 17th-century house with formal gardens and one of the capital’s best riverside strolls.

Inside, the house leans into the drama of the Stuart era, with richly decorated rooms and a strong sense of old-world intrigue. Outside, the gardens and nearby river path make it an easy pick for anyone who wants a gentle day out with a pub or café stop folded in.

Getting there: Travel to Richmond, then walk along the Thames or take a short bus/taxi connection.

Red House

• Best for: Design lovers

Red House is a smaller, more specific trip than some of the big estate days on this list, but that is exactly the appeal. Built for William Morris, it is one of the key Arts and Crafts houses, with a strong design story and a quieter feel than the headline National Trust properties.

This is the one to choose if you would rather spend a couple of thoughtful hours with architecture, interiors, and creative history than roam around hundreds of acres of shrubbery.

It’s worth noting that visits are more structured than at many National Trust places, so it suits people who enjoy a guided, detail-rich experience.

Getting there: Head for Bexleyheath by train, then continue by local bus, taxi, or on foot depending on your route.

Big houses, bigger stories

Some National Trust places are best approached as a gentle wander. These are more like stepping into someone else’s extremely dramatic life.

Expect political history, old money, grand rooms, sweeping parkland, and the sort of views that make you briefly consider buying a linen suit.

Chartwell

• Best for: History lovers

Chartwell is the obvious choice for anyone with even a passing interest in Winston Churchill, and it’s more personal than a standard “great man lived here” historic house.

This was his family home from the 1920s, and the rooms still carry the feeling of a private retreat rather than a formal memorial.

There is plenty to see outside the house too, from gardens and lakes to the studio where Churchill painted. The wider estate gives the visit a softer edge, so it works just as well for a summer wander as it does for a deep dive into political history.

Getting there: Chartwell is easiest by car. By public transport, take a train to Sevenoaks, Oxted, or Edenbridge, then continue by taxi or local bus, depending on the day.

Knole

• Best for: Deer spotters and grand-house wanderers

Knole has scale on its side. Set in a huge deer park in Sevenoaks, it combines open parkland with one of England’s great historic houses, making it a strong pick if you want a day that can be as relaxed or as culture-heavy as you like.

You can keep things simple with a walk through the park, watch the deer from a respectful distance, or head inside for ornate rooms, portraits, tapestries, and centuries of aristocratic history.

Getting there: Take the train to Sevenoaks, then walk uphill through the town and park. The walk is part of the experience, but it is worth factoring in comfortable shoes.

Polesden Lacey

• Best for: Rose gardens, picnics, and Edwardian fanciness

Polesden Lacey is the sort of place that seems built for a lazy summer afternoon. The former country retreat of Margaret Greville mixes elegant interiors with gardens, lawns, and long views across the Surrey Hills.

The estate has a pleasingly sociable feel, helped by the fact Greville was known for entertaining royalty, politicians, and society figures.

Today, the appeal is a little more low-key: bring a picnic, wander through the gardens, let children loose in the play areas, and soak up the grand-house atmosphere without making the day feel too formal.

Getting there: Polesden Lacey is simplest by car. By train, head to Box Hill & Westhumble or Dorking, then continue by taxi.

Cliveden

• Best for: Riverside glamour

Cliveden does not do subtle. Set high above the Thames, it brings together formal gardens, woodland, river views, a maze, and one of the most storied country house settings near London.

The house itself is now a hotel, but the estate has more than enough to fill a day.

Come for the gardens and views, stay for the whiff of scandal, politics, and old-school glamour. Families get plenty of space to roam, while anyone after a more indulgent visit can look at boat hire or seasonal river trips.

Getting there: Cliveden is easiest by car. For public transport, take the train towards Taplow, Burnham, or Maidenhead, then use a taxi for the final stretch.

Gardens, views, and proper fresh air

If your ideal National Trust day involves fewer corridors and more colour, these are the destinations to aim for.

These places still come with history, but the main event is outside: gardens, trails, viewpoints, rivers, meadows, and the useful reminder that London is not the whole world.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

• Best for: Serious gardeners

Sissinghurst is one of those gardens that even non-garden people have vaguely heard of, and for good reason.

Created by writer Vita Sackville-West and diplomat Harold Nicolson, it is famous for its series of garden rooms, each with its own mood, structure, and planting style.

The White Garden is the headline act, but Sissinghurst is at its best when you let yourself drift through it slowly. Climb the tower for views over the estate, wander the wider grounds, or simply enjoy the rare pleasure of a place where every corner feels deliberately composed.

Getting there: The nearest mainline station is Staplehurst, around five miles away, so you will usually need a taxi for the final leg.

Mottisfont

• Best for: Rose lovers and gentle summer wandering

Mottisfont earns its place on this list in early summer, when its walled garden becomes one of the National Trust’s great rose-season draws.

It is a soft, pretty, unhurried sort of place, with lawns, river walks, and the remains of a medieval priory folded into a later country house.

The roses are the obvious reason to go, but they are not the only ones. A chalk stream runs through the grounds, there are meadow walks beyond the formal gardens, and the whole estate has a slower pace that suits a long picnic and a lazy afternoon.

Getting there: Take the train to Mottisfont & Dunbridge, then walk just over a mile to the estate. Mottisfont sits at the outer edge of this article’s 90-minute rule, so check journey times before committing.

Box Hill

• Best for: Walkers, cyclists, and big-view hunters

Box Hill is the one to choose when you want a National Trust day with a bit more puffing involved, swapping grand interiors for chalk downland, woodland, stepping stones, and sweeping views across the Surrey Hills.

You can keep it gentle with a short viewpoint walk, or make more of a day of it with one of the longer circular routes.

Cyclists know it from the 2012 Olympic road race, families come for fresh air and picnic spots, and Londoners come because it feels like a proper countryside reset without needing to go very far.

Getting there: Take the train to Box Hill & Westhumble or Dorking, then continue on foot.

• One of London’s tiniest and most mysterious islands is opening up to the public

Eel Pie Island is firmly up there in London history – and not just because it has one of the oddest, quasi historic names in the city, sharing the podium with Elephant & Castle, and Cockfosters Isle of Dogs. It’s also steeped in more Rock n Roll history than one of Jimmy Hendrix’s guitars, and for a few days next month, the usually private island is opening up to the public.

Whilst London is home to many quirky spots and hidden historic gems, none of them quite have a history like this private island in South-West London. Currently, it’s home to a selection of artist’s studios which open to the public for a couple of weekends a year, which are the only occasions average joes can actually visit the island. Dubbed a hedonistic hideaway, Eel Pie Island is basically the urban island equivalent of dungarees – mainly used by artists with a slightly bohemian vibe.

As well as the artist studios, there are also some locals too, with around 120 people living on Eel Pie Island. The island is only 8.9 acres in total, in the River Thames just off Twickenham. Otherwise it’s pretty much off limits. Luckily one of the coveted weekends where it opens up is coming our way, welcoming in new, curious faces in July

It will give you a chance to revel in some true musical history, sharing pathways which have been trodden by famous artists including Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, and The Who – even The Rolling Stones were known to play at the Island’s hotel every week in 1963. Towards the end of the sixties, the hotel was forced to close, and the island was inhabited by the kind of hippie communities you think exist solely as a side-joke in sitcoms and your Auntie Pam’s Christmas anecdotes that only come out after three glasses of sherry.

The island will be throwing open its doors, or rather, opening up its footbridge across two weekends in July, the 4th and 5th, and 11th and 12th, from 11am-5pm each day. The best part is that it’s free to grab a ticket, although what would you expect from a group of hippies? The tickets give each visitor a 2-hour time slot to explore the island. You won’t be able to visit without one, even though they’re free, as the Open Studios have pointed out tickets are in place to create a safe and enjoyable weekend for visitors and neighbours alike across the island. Visitors will be allowed to wander around the island, exploring the unusual landscapes and gardens, look at the artists’ workshops, and even commission them to do a specific piece for yourself if you’re feeling inspired / flushed with cash.

If you can’t make the July dates it’s worth keeping an eye out for future open days across Autumn and Winter, and even into 2027. And if you can’t wait, there’s always the Eel Pie Museum in Twickenham to tide you over.

You can find out more and book tickets here.

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London City Airport is renowned among Londoners for being quick to get to, and quick to get through. But from 2027 you may want to spend a bunch more pre-flight time there.

The airport is opening its first airport lounge in 2027, coinciding with London City Airport’s 40th anniversary, having first opened in 1987.

Its lounge will be called Aspire Pre‑Flight Hospitality, and Aspire is of course already responsible for a whole heap of lounges, including Club Aspire at London Gatwick, Aspire Lounge Birmingham and another at Manchester’s Terminal 3.

London City Airport’s Aspire lounge will have an entrance designed to mimic the vibes of a 5-star hotel, while just like London’s other airport lounges, it’s going to be packed with comestibles.

There will be a cocktail bar at the heart of the space, a coffee station and a food buffet.

The Aspire lounge will be open to all travellers, for a fee that is yet to be announced. But for a reference, the Club Aspire lounge at Gatwick South typically costs £36.

One of the first questions that may come to mind for frequent London City Airport travellers: where are they going to put it? One of the rendered images suggests its entrance will sit down a flight of stairs, perhaps leading off the main departures area.

Another rendered preview shows off the art deco inspired look of the space, including a classic staffed bar with high stools. It’s all looking pretty swish.

“The introduction of this exclusive experience is answering a clear demand from passengers and will elevate our unrivalled customer offer and reputation as London’s most loved airport,” says Andy Cliffe, London City Airport CEO.

“We’re delighted to be partnering with Aspire Pre-Flight Hospitality on this project, who have a proven track record of designing and operating luxury lounges in airports around the world.”

We don’t yet have a specific opening date for the airport lounge, but are assured the plan is to open up its doors “by early 2027” and that its construction is “well underway.”

• London's Underground is getting closer to full mobile coverage

In what felt like a very Black Mirror, 1984-esque move, the Met Police announced the roll-out of live facial recognition software being used across several transport hubs. The devices have previously been trialled across London Bridge station and Brixton. Now, they’re heading for central.

The devices attach to street furniture and allow the Met to monitor crowds remotely. The Soho and West End devices are set to be in place by the end of 2026. The extension follows a six month pilot in Croydon which wrapped in May 2026, and led to 173 arrests, including one woman sought for over two decades.

According to the Chief Super, the cameras work by scanning faces and comparing them to a watchlist of offenders wanted for serious offences. If there’s a match – very Tinderesque – then the system generates an alert (again, not dissimilar from a dating app). Then, an officer will review it and carry out further checks to determine if the person is a suspect and if further action is needed. This scanning and comparison system has already been used by the police on London streets, with the Metropolitan Police confirming thousands of arrests have been made since the technology was introduced.

LFR (live facial recognition) has an exceptionally low false alert rate too, with current statistics showing false alerts occurring in 0.0003% of cases out of three million facial scans. According to the Met Police, the technology has proven to be both effective and accurate.

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “Facial recognition is one of the most revolutionary technology advances in policing in recent years.

“Public confidence in this is clear – around 80 per cent of Londoners support its use. That backing reflects a simple truth: it works.

“We have already seen the impact in Croydon, where a six-month pilot delivered over 170 arrests, a reduction in crime and a significant fall in violence against women and girls.” He added that “The technology supports officers to target wanted criminals and registered sex offenders. Crucially it is supporting officers – not replacing them.”

So long as there are no major disasters, it wouldn't be surprising if the software will be rolled out across more of London on a permanent basis in the future.

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London’s Madame Tussauds will offer a new attraction next month for those visiting during school holidays: a 4D Jumanji experience.

Only a handful of the most important Tussauds venues across the world are getting this one, including Hollywood, Las Vegas, London, New York, and Singapore.

But what is it exactly? The Jumanji: Safari Tours 4D Expedition is a seven minute experience in which a cinema-like presentation is given some extra oomph with 3D, seat motion and “wind, water and more” effects — that’s the fourth of your dimensions for this one.

It arrives ahead of a third Jumanji film in the rebooted Jack Black lineage, Jumanji: Open World, which lands in cinemas on 25th December, 2026. But exactly when it will open in the London Madame Tussauds is still to be confirmed.

“From July” is the wording for the roll-out of Jumanji: Safari Tours 4D Expedition globally, while the Singapore location will get it in “mid-August” for example. Madame Tussauds London is yet to confirm its date.

Welcome to the jungle

Jumanji: Safari Tours 4D Expedition features Jumanji actor Rhys Darby — because who can afford the Rock’s or Jack Black’s rates? — as he takes you on a wildlife tour that includes scenes with ostriches, anacondas and rhinos.

“Visitors will embark on an immersive jungle tour that quickly spirals into humorous chaos that can only be found in the universe of Jumanji,” reads the experience’s description.

“At Merlin, bringing iconic entertainment franchises to life is central to what we do. With this new Jumanji 4D cinematic experience, we’re bringing families together through play by taking them deeper into the jungle action than ever before,” says Paul Moreton, Chief Development Officer at Merlin Entertainments, which runs Madame Tussauds.

The Jumanji attraction will be offered as part of a standard Madame Tussauds ticket. Book online and these will cost you £32.38 per adult or £29.31 for kids in July — although prices vary slightly based on date and time.

Alternatively, Merlin annual passes start at £139 per person, and offer access to other sites including Alton Towers and Chessington World of Adventures too. There’s currently a summer sale on for the more expensive tiers of passes too, which provide less restricted access to Merlin’s locations.

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For generations of Londoners, hopping on the Tube has meant temporarily vanishing from society.

One minute you're replying to messages, checking football scores and pretending to listen to a voice note. Next, you're trapped in a signal-free metal tube beneath the city, blissfully unaware of whatever fresh chaos has unfolded online.

That increasingly rare moment of peace is rapidly disappearing. Transport for London has announced that more sections of the London Underground now have 4G and 5G coverage, bringing the network another step closer to full connectivity by the end of the year.

The latest rollout covers sections of the Bakerloo, Circle, District and Metropolitan lines, while stations including Vauxhall, Gloucester Road, Temple and Nine Elms have also gone live.

Major transport hubs, including King's Cross St Pancras, Victoria and Paddington, are now beginning to receive coverage too, although TfL says these stations will be connected in phases because of their size and complexity.

The new additions mean around 60 per cent of stations classified as underground now have mobile coverage.

Among the newly connected stretches are:

• Bakerloo line between Queen's Park and Edgware Road
• Metropolitan line between Euston Square and King's Cross St Pancras
• Metropolitan line between Barbican and Moorgate
• Circle and District lines between Cannon Street and Monument
• Circle and District lines between Sloane Square and Victoria
• Circle line between Bayswater and Paddington

It's all part of TfL's long-running mission to eliminate one of London's most persistent blackspots.

Hundreds of engineers have been working overnight to install the infrastructure, squeezing the project into the few hours available when trains stop running. TfL says most of the Northern, Bakerloo and Metropolitan lines will have tunnel coverage by the end of the summer, with the entire Underground network expected to be connected before the end of 2026.

The rollout involves all four major UK mobile operators: EE, Vodafone, Three and Virgin Media O2.

And while uninterrupted Instagram scrolling might be the most obvious benefit, TfL is keen to stress there's a more serious side to the project. The network will also support the Emergency Services Network, allowing first responders to access critical data and communications underground during emergencies.

Still, for most Londoners, the biggest impact may simply be that familiar panic when a message won't send becoming a thing of the past.

Whether that's progress or the final death of the last socially acceptable excuse for ignoring emails on your commute is another question entirely.

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Returning on Sunday, the 14th of June, the World Naked Bike Ride event will once again see cyclists shed their clothes and take to the capital's streets in one of London's most unusual, eye-catching and surprisingly wholesome traditions.

What started as a protest has become something of a summer institution, drawing riders from across the city and plenty of confused tourists wondering whether they've accidentally walked into the wrong version of London.

Despite the sea of bare flesh, there is actually a serious point behind it all. The ride aims to highlight the world's dependence on oil, challenge car culture, campaign for safer conditions for cyclists and promote body freedom. It's essentially a political demonstration. It just happens to be one where everyone's forgotten their trousers.

Last year's ride attracted more than 1,200 participants, and organisers are hoping for another strong turnout in 2026. The event has been running in London since 2004 and remains completely free to join. There's no registration process, no ticketing system and no complicated sign-up forms. You simply turn up with a bike and decide exactly how much clothing you're comfortable wearing.

Despite the name, complete nudity isn't mandatory. The official rule is "as bare as you dare", meaning some riders go fully nude while others opt for costumes, body paint, strategically placed accessories or just enough to avoid upsetting your nan.

Where does the ride start?

There are nine starting points spread across London, allowing riders from different parts of the city to gradually merge into one giant rolling mass of cyclists before heading through central London together.

The 2026 starting points are:

• Clapham Junction – Grant Road, SW11 2NU (arrive 2pm, depart 2.15pm)
• Croydon – 233 Shirley Church Road, CR0 5AB (arrive 10.45am, depart 12.45pm)
• Deptford – Piehouse Co-op, Edward Street, SE8 5HD (arrive 12pm, depart 1.30pm)
• Hackney Wick – Thingy Cafe, 1 Trowbridge Road, E9 5LD (arrive 9am, depart 1.15pm)
• Kew Bridge – North end of Kew Bridge, near W4 3NQ (arrive 12.45pm, depart 1pm)
• Regent's Park – Outer Circle, near NW1 4NA (arrive 2.05pm, depart 2.20pm)
• Tower Hill – Trinity Square Gardens, EC3N 4DJ (arrive 1.15pm, depart 2.15pm)
• Wellington Arch – Hyde Park Corner, W1J 7JZ (arrive 1.45pm, depart 2.15pm)
• Accessible route – SE1 7GQ (arrive 3pm, depart 3.15pm)

Several locations, including Croydon, Deptford and Hackney Wick, will also have body-painting stations before departure.

The ride itself is expected to finish around 5.30pm/6pm before participants head to the official afterparty at The Steel Yard near Cannon Street. There'll be food, drinks, entertainment and life-drawing sessions.

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Bright summer evenings are a basically nature’s antidepressant, and The National Gallery will soon sync up better with them to let you make greater use of the season.

At the moment, The National Gallery closes up at 6pm, bar Fridays. But from 3rd July to 31st August we’ll get an extra hour of art browsing. It will stay open until 7pm Saturday through to Thursday, while the usual 9pm late opening on Friday will remain.

This window, a nod for those without kids, covers almost the entire school Summer holiday period. So if you’d rather avoid those family crowds, think about attending earlier in July ahead of that season.

Last entry is typically 15 minutes before closing, but to even make a dent in the permanent collection without running through its halls you’ll need at least an hour. And as ever, entry to the National Gallery is free.

The National Gallery’s current lone paid exhibition features works from Spanish painter Francisco de Zurbarán — his first major exhibition in the UK, despite having died well over 350 years ago.

“From the rind of a lemon to the timeless gaze of a saint, he finds an intensity in the ordinary. Strong light and deep shadow bring real faces, soft fabrics, fresh fruit and flowers to life. His paintings unite stillness, focus and faith,” reads the description. This exhibition is on show until 23rd August.

Alongside the permanent collection, which offers a tour through hundreds of years of art and painting history, The National Gallery is also displaying Take One Picture.

This is a freebie exhibit of works by children from 35 UK primary schools. Their brief: make something inspired by Canaletto’s A Regatta on the Grand Canal, an absolutely detail-packed painting that depicts an annual Venice regatta, a painting that is itself part of the gallery’s permanent collection.

The National Gallery memberships that grant you access to as many exhibition visits as you like start at £68 a year.

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Robotaxis have been one of those "coming soon" technologies for what feels like forever, but Londoners are now one step closer to actually hailing one.

Uber has opened an interest list for its upcoming partnership with autonomous driving company Wayve, giving users in the capital the chance to register ahead of the public launch of self-driving rides in London.

From the 8th of June (today), users can opt into Uber's autonomous vehicle preference through the app, increasing their chances of being matched with a Wayve-powered vehicle once the service launches. The rollout marks a major milestone not just for Uber, but for the UK tech sector too, with Wayve's self-driving technology having been developed and trained on British roads.

Unlike many autonomous vehicle companies that rely heavily on pre-mapped routes and tightly controlled operating areas, Wayve has taken a different approach. The "AV2.0" system uses AI that learns from real-world driving experience in a way that more closely resembles human drivers, allowing it to adapt to unfamiliar roads, changing weather conditions and new environments without relying on detailed HD maps.

That flexibility has already seen the technology tested across more than 500 cities worldwide, but London remains its spiritual home. The company has been navigating the capital's famously chaotic streets since 2018, arguably one of the toughest environments on the planet for autonomous driving technology. If a self-driving car can survive a busy afternoon around Soho or negotiate a delivery van parked across half a lane in Camden, it can probably handle most things.

At launch, riders will be transported in all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles fitted with an array of cameras and radar systems that provide full 360-degree awareness of the world around them. The experience inside the vehicle has been designed specifically for autonomous journeys, with interactive displays allowing passengers to view routes, manage their ride and access support if needed.

Importantly, despite the autonomous technology, the first phase of the rollout won't be fully driverless. A licensed operator will remain behind the wheel — even if they're not touching it — while the service is introduced, with totally driver-free operations expected further down the line as regulations and public confidence continue to develop.

The move is part of a much bigger plan. Uber first invested in Wayve back in 2024, with ambitions to deploy self-driving vehicles across multiple global markets. Since then, the partnership has expanded significantly, including a recent collaboration with Nissan and plans to launch autonomous services in more than ten cities worldwide.

For London, though, it feels like another sign that autonomous vehicles are edging out of the realm of tech demos and sci-fi clicks into everyday life. Whether you're excited about the future or simply curious to see what a driverless Uber feels like, the opportunity to find out may not be far away.

To join the interest list, users simply need to update the Uber app and head to Account > Settings > Ride Preferences > Autonomous Vehicles. Once live, autonomous rides will be offered at the same price as standard UberX, Uber Comfort and Uber Electric journeys, with passengers free to opt out if they'd prefer a human driver.

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If you've ever thought a standard London sightseeing tour could do with more toys, flags and general Hamleys-style joy, then good news: the famous Regent Street toy shop has launched its very own open-top bus experience.

Starting this month, Hamleys is taking its particular brand of magic beyond the walls of its flagship store with the launch of the Hamleys London Sightseeing Bus Tour, a new year-round attraction that promises to put a family-friendly spin on seeing the capital's biggest landmarks.

The 90-minute tour departs from Embankment and winds its way through central London, passing some of the city's most famous sights along the way. Highlights include St Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Piccadilly Circus before eventually arriving at what is arguably the capital's most famous destination for children: Hamleys itself.

Unlike your average sightseeing bus, this one leans heavily into the retailer's playful reputation. Guests are greeted with a Hamleys flag before boarding, while a live host provides entertainment and storytelling throughout the journey. It's designed to feel less like a history lesson and more like an extension of the store experience, bringing some of that famous Hamleys energy onto the streets of London.

The idea grew out of the retailer's festive Christmas lights bus tours, which proved hugely popular last winter. Following the response to those seasonal trips, Hamleys has decided to make the concept a permanent fixture, giving tourists and London families another way to experience the city.

As a neat nod to the store's remarkable history, Hamleys is also giving away 266 family tickets, one for every year it has been open. The competition will run through the retailer's Instagram account later this month, with families able to enter by following the account and keeping an eye out for further details.

It's a fitting expansion for a brand that has become as much a London attraction as a toy shop. Founded in 1760, Hamleys predates most of the landmarks featured on the tour and has welcomed generations of visitors through its doors. For many tourists, particularly those travelling with young children, a trip to Regent Street is already an essential part of a London itinerary.

For those who miss out on the ticket giveaway, prices start from £25, with tours departing from Stop 40B at Embankment Station. In a city already packed with sightseeing buses, this one at least offers something a little different: a tour designed with families firmly in mind, complete with a toy-shop finale waiting at the end.

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The last round of planned Tube strikes was called off. But this time we’re not so lucky, with strikes planned for June 2nd and June 4th.

Here’s your shot-sized primer.

Unlike the last round of London Tube strikes, these ones are limited to the days on which they are set. In theory, anyway.

Action began at the very beginning of Tuesday June 2nd, and ends at midnight. The same is true for the June 4th action, with the 24-hour strike beginning at a minute past midnight on Thursday.

For those looking for an excuse not to head to the office on Wednesday and Friday, TfL says a relatively normal service will run on both of those days.

Not all lines are affected during the strike days. But these ones definitely are:

• Circle line
• Piccadilly line
• Metropolitan line
• Central line

The Circle and Piccadilly lines will be out of action in their entirety. The Met line is affected between Baker Street and Aldgate, while the Central line is down between White City and Liverpool Street.

TfL recommends “customers should complete their journeys before 21:00 on both days,” and the general advice appears to suggest we should anticipate issues elsewhere on the transport system.

“Service levels will vary across the Tube network,” is the slightly ominous-sounding line from TfL.

Need to get to Heathrow Airport during the strikes? There will be a replacement bus service running, but it may be worth checking if you can get the Elizabeth line instead. That Piccadilly route is interminable even when the tubes are running.

As in the other recent bouts, these June Tube strikes are actions by RMT union members. Their concerns include plans to shift to a four-day work week schedule, and its impact on shift lengths, among other issues.

TfL recommends you use the TfL Go app to get the latest travel advice, including making your way around London in the moment, although old favourites like Citymapper will also offer up-to-date info.

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When it comes to capitals, London has a famously green reputation. With over 20% of the metropolis designated as public green space, it’s no wonder it earned the moniker ‘the City of Parks’; finding foliage within walking distance of wherever you might be doesn’t usually take long.

However, many bipedal city dwellers will know that much of the best greenery is locked away; in fact, there are around 600 private gardens throughout the city, fenced off for the exclusive use of their well-to-do residents. Many times, I’ve been caught clutching the black iron railings, my face squished between the bars like a prisoner trying to break into the meticulously manicured spaces.

Well luckily, this summer, across the weekend of June 6th and 7th, gardens in 12 London boroughs will pull back the railings for us regular types. The London Open Gardens Day unlocks over 120 gardens throughout the city, accessible for two-days (some for just one day) with a modestly-priced ticket (free to under 12s), the proceeds of which go to the London Parks and Gardens charity which helps maintain the city’s green spaces. This year, there'll also be events such as walks and tours – and even a cycle ride – for keen participants.

You can plan which ones to visit based on your interests, whether its history, horticulture or simply location using the London Garden Trust’s Garden selector. Each garden opens at different times, so be sure to check carefully ahead of travel.

Here are five of our faves to get you started:

1. Middle Temple

• Where to find it: Entrance near Blackstone Chambers. Nearest postcode: EC4Y 9AT

Often whooshed past by commuters travelling along Victoria Embankment, this treat of a park behind the Church of the Knights’ Templar is usually the exclusive purview of barristers practising at the Inns of Court.

A visit inside reveals a flourishing vegetable garden, mulberry trees planted to celebrate Queen Victoria's Jubilee and beds of scented lavender and rose. Dating back to the 12th century, this cocoon of greenery was galvanising to many artists: Charles Dickens found inspiration here for the likes of Great Expectations, while The Bard was prompted to set a scene of his play Henry VI, part 1, in this very spot.

2. Rosmead Garden

• Where to find it: Rosmead Road (step access only), Notting Hill. Nearest postcode: W11 2JG

Part of the larger Ladbroke Estate, this garden is one of a number conceived in 1823 by London architect Thomas Allason, laid out in concentric crescent shapes throughout the area (see also Arundel Gardens).

Sitting at the bottom of Notting Hill, Rosmead flanks multi-million pound, stuccoed houses and is filled with evergreen shrubberies and three large, oval-shaped lawns. However, what makes it stand out from its neighbours is its blockbuster credentials: this beautiful pocket of serenity is the very same Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant clambered into one night in the classic 1999 rom-com Notting Hill. If you’re after a set-jetting snap, we don’t recommend breaking in, simply visit between 10am-5pm on Sunday 7th (it’s not open on Saturday 6th).

3. Eversheds Sutherland rooftop garden

• Where to find it: 1 Wood Street. Enter the main reception. Nearest postcode: EC2V 7WS

Focused on bee-friendly flora, this rooftop garden is a wild hideaway in the heart of the City of London. Hidden on the top of a Superdrug near St. Paul’s, it provides a thriving pocket of biodiversity essential to insect life.

The garden, which is managed by a group of volunteer gardeners, is specifically designed to promote a breeding ground for the endangered black restart, a small, Sparrowlike bird in the flycatcher family. The gardeners’ efforts have been acknowledged by a number of awards, including the Most Innovative Design Award. It’s a wonderfully wild patch of nature to explore, crowned by beautiful views across the city, including across the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

4. Emery Walker's House

• Where to find it: 7 Hammersmith Terrace. Nearest postcode: W6 9TS

Once owned by notable 19th-century artist Emery Walker, this garden is like a time capsule; it’s been kept much the same as it was over 100 years ago. To wander its terracotta-tiled path is to tread on ground over 120-years old (the tiles are original from 1898) and the plants are primarily those found in the diaries of Emery’s daughter, Dorothy, who inherited the house on his death in 1933. Roses, wisteria, an ancient jasmine and vine planted over 100-years-ago are highlights.

Those with a design mind may notice nods to Emery’s friend, the seminal designer William Morris. Some flowerbeds feature plants popular in his designs, and inside, the house sports many of Morris’ original textiles and furnishings.

5. Eccleston Square

• Where to find it: Outside no. 15 (north/west gate). Nearest postcode: SW1V 1NP

It’s hard to believe this beautiful private garden in Pimlico was once a swamp, but that is indeed its heritage. Now with a tennis court at one end and a circular walkway at the other, it’s a cookie-cutter example of London’s much coveted residential squares.

What makes it truly stand out though, is its global nature. A collection of ceanothus, hailing from California, can be seen flourishing alongside giant Mexican Dahlia, a Guatemalan white sunflower tree and, remarkably, a Wollemi pine donated from Australia, once thought to be extinct. Tree peonies and a variety of climbing roses make for enthusiastically colourful accents, all part of a smart planting plan which has something blooming year-round.

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Canary Wharf is about to get a very different kind of swim spot. From Friday the 19th of June, Sea Lanes Canary Wharf will open at Eden Dock in, bringing a floating, Olympic-sized lido to one of London’s most high-rise corners.

It is a 50-metre, six-lane pool sitting on natural water, operated by the team behind Sea Lanes Brighton, the UK’s first National Open Water Swimming Centre. While Canary Wharf already has an outdoor swimming area at Eden Dock during the summer months, this new addition is designed to take things further, offering year-round access to swimming in a controlled open-water environment.

The idea sits somewhere between a traditional pool and wild swimming. It is designed as a “stepping stone” for people building confidence in open water, but still wanting the structure of lanes, sessions and supervision. Swimmers of all ages and abilities will be able to use it, with both pay-as-you-swim sessions and membership options available.

Alongside the pool, the site will include two saunas powered by renewable energy, a community clubhouse and a waterside seating area serving food and drinks. It is very much pitched as a full dockside hangout rather than just somewhere to do a few lengths and leave.

Water quality at Eden Dock is regularly tested against EU Bathing Water Standards and is consistently rated “excellent”, which is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in making this feel slightly less like swimming next to office towers and more like an actual outdoor swim destination.

Joe McNulty, Director at Sea Lanes, said: “This is about so much more than swimming; it’s about creating a space where people can feel better, move more, and reconnect with nature and each other. Bringing open water swimming into central London in this way is something truly special, and we can’t wait to welcome people in.”

The lido opens on the 19th of June 2026 and will operate year-round, weather permitting, adding yet another option to London’s increasingly busy roster of places to take a cold dip and pretend you are living a healthier life than you probably are.

• The best London lidos for summer 2026, ranked by actual vibe, not lane count

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London Rivers Week will return from 23-31 May 2026, marking ten years of encouraging Londoners to reconnect with the waterways flowing through the capital.

This year’s theme, “know your local river”, shifts the focus away from the postcard views of the Thames and towards the smaller rivers, tributaries and hidden waterways that quietly cut through neighbourhoods across the city.

Across the week, organisers have planned dozens of free events, including guided walks, river clean-ups, photography workshops, wildlife surveys, film screenings and boat trips, all aimed at helping Londoners better understand the role rivers play in the city around them.

While the Thames remains London’s most recognisable waterway, many of the rivers feeding into it remain overlooked despite playing a crucial role in biodiversity, flood management and public green space.

The festival also hopes to raise awareness around the growing pressures facing London’s rivers, including pollution, urban run-off and climate change.

Among this year’s events are a guided “What the River Wants” walk along the River Lea with artist Emma Smith, a community soundwalk tracing the Thames from Rotherhithe to Deptford, and a free screening of the documentary London’s Last Wilderness. Elsewhere, volunteers can take part in river restoration projects, wetland walks and citizen science sessions monitoring river health.

Some events have already booked out, particularly the more hands-on experiences like river wading sessions and bat walks, which probably says something encouraging about Londoners’ appetite for escaping screens and spending more time outdoors.

The festival runs from Saturday, the 23rd of May until Sunday, the 31st of May, with events taking place across London, including Wapping, Deptford, Battersea, Richmond, Clapton and Greenwich.

Many activities are free, though several require booking; you can see what's happening on the Thames21 website.

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It’s a last-minute reprieve for London commuters after this week’s planned Tube strikes were called off just before they were due to begin.

It was set to be round two for London’s major 2026 Tube strikes. And judging by the April walkouts, we were likely in for more minor travel chaos across the coming week. The May strikes were due to begin at midday on Tuesday (19 May), meaning plenty of Londoners had already started figuring out how they’d get home from work.

However, the RMT union confirmed on Monday that the two planned 24-hour stoppages on May 19 and May 21 have now been suspended following fresh talks with London Underground.

An RMT spokesperson said: “At the 11th hour the employer has shifted its position, allowing us to further explore our members’ concerns around the imposition of new rosters, fatigue and safety issues.

“The dispute is not over, and more strike action will follow if we fail to make sufficient progress.”

The strikes involved drivers who are members of the RMT union, and centre on an ongoing dispute with London Underground over proposed changes to working patterns. The plan is to move drivers onto a four-day work week by compressing their hours, something the union has pushed back on, citing concerns around fatigue, safety and work-life balance.

Transport for London says the proposals would initially be trialled voluntarily. Rival union Aslef, which represents a slight majority of Tube drivers, has already endorsed the plans.

While this week’s disruption has now been avoided, the dispute itself is still very much ongoing. Strikes previously scheduled for June 16 and 18 have also been cancelled, although the RMT has announced replacement dates below:

• June 2-4 (12pm Tuesday – 11:59am Wednesday)

The good news for Londoners is that the network should now run as normal this week. The bad news is that there may still be some disruption elsewhere. Separate strike action involving more than 150 TfL bus controllers and network traffic controllers is still due to take place on Thursday, May 21 and Friday, May 22, in a dispute over rota changes.

During the April walkouts, a number of Tube lines were either fully suspended or part-suspended, while alternative transport services saw a major spike in demand. Lime reported a 22% jump in rides on April 23 compared with the previous week, while Forest said evening rush-hour journeys rose by more than 50%.

Nick Dent, director of customer operations for London Underground, said: “We are pleased that RMT has withdrawn its planned industrial action this week. This is good news for London.”

The now-cancelled May strikes were the third and fourth in a planned series of six 24-hour walkouts between April and June.

The root issue of these strikes is a plan to take Tube drivers down to a four-day work week. While Aslef union members agreed to these plans, the RMT has taken issue with them, citing concerns over safety regarding a compressed work week.

However, when you crunch the numbers, the drivers’ actual hours working each day aren’t that different. The plans would see drivers work eight and a half hours each day, but with a 30-minute paid break, which isn’t part of the current deal.

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Travelling to a new country is always exciting, and whilst you're obviously there for the culture – the galleries, the museums, the architecture, if most people are being totally honest, it's just as much about going to a supermarket, hunting down a restaurant in a cave you saw on TikTok, and mostly, drinking your way through each new stop. Luckily for anyone planning a trip to Belgium, there’s a new Guidebook from CAMRA which will help plan your journey, purely based on the best of the country’s beers.

Spending the night with a nice Belgian blonde is probably quite an idyllic way to spend an evening abroad for most men, and CAMRA’s fully revised version of the Good Beer Guide Belgium showcases over 1,500 beers and 400 brewers for you to explore.

As well as beers, brewers, and blenders, most importantly the book shares the top 650 places to actually sit down and enjoy them. The book explores all regions of Belgium, including Brussels, Antwerp, Flanders, Brabant (Flemish and Wallonian), Luxembourg and Liege, with useful travel tips and recommendations on what to eat and where to stay. All this really means is that you can be one of the few people who can confidentially claim you didn’t use ChatGPT to plan your trip.

Beer is as historic and culturally important as the somewhat more traditional tourist activities, which is probably one of the reasons the guidebook is in its ninth iteration, this time with two forewords. The first has been written by Tim Webb, original creator and long-time curator of the guide, and the other by Yvan De Baets, co-founder of the famous De La Senne Brewery in Brussels.

The ninth edition has been written by beer and travel guide writer Tim Skelton, set to be published on 14th May. On writing the book, Tim explained: "I’ve lived in Benelux for over 30 years, visited Belgium more than 100 times, and thought I knew everything about the country. But researching this new edition of CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide Belgium still led me to find undiscovered beer-y gems that I’d never previously been aware of." Sounds like you could almost out-expert a local…

• London is getting a Biscuitorium inside one of the fanciest food halls

When I told people I was going on a Hurtigruten cruise around Norway in the middle of December, the reactions were broadly split into two camps. The first group assumed I’d suddenly developed the hobbies of a recently retired geography teacher.

The second seemed convinced I was about to spend 10 days trapped on a floating shopping centre somewhere in the Arctic Circle, eating disappointing buffet food while someone in a captain’s hat attempted to liven things up with a bit of ABBA. In fairness, I probably would’ve assumed the same thing a year ago.

Cruises have never really felt like they belonged to people my age. They occupy a strange cultural space where they’re either associated with massive party ships full of all-inclusive chaos or quiet luxury holidays aimed squarely at an older demographic. As someone who still instinctively associates holidays with airport queues, overpriced city breaks and the vague pressure to make every second feel productive, the idea of spending nine days slowly sailing down the Norwegian coastline alongside hundreds of retirees didn’t immediately scream “ideal trip”.

Then we arrived in Tromsø.

In the early afternoon, after flying in from London via Oslo, the city was already in complete darkness. Not gloomy winter darkness either, but proper pitch black, illuminated only by street lamps, Christmas lights and the glow coming from windows across the snow-covered streets. The temperature had dropped well below freezing, the harbour was lined with boats dusted in ice, and looming in the middle of it all was the MS Trollfjord, the Hurtigruten ship that would take us south towards Oslo over the next nine days.

Within a few hours of boarding, it became obvious that this wasn’t going to resemble any cruise I’d imagined. There were no giant waterslides or endless casinos. Instead, there were lectures about Sami culture, locally sourced menus based on whichever stretch of coastline we’d visited that day, and an expedition team whose job largely involved encouraging passengers to go outside and experience Norway properly.

Outside of families travelling with parents, we were comfortably among the youngest passengers, which became increasingly funny as the trip went on. Fellow passengers regularly stopped to ask where we were from, why we’d booked the cruise and whether more young people were starting to discover trips like this. By the end of the week, it felt like we’d become a novelty.

1. More adventure than you think

One of the biggest misconceptions younger people seem to have about cruises is that they’re passive holidays built around sitting down as much as possible. In reality, several passengers onboard this ship had more energy than most people I know in their twenties.

A couple of days into the trip, we found ourselves driving ATVs through a snowstorm towards the North Cape, the northernmost point of mainland Europe. Wrapped in survival suits and thermal layers, we spent miles travelling through Arctic conditions that felt pretty extreme, passing frozen landscapes that looked more like film sets than real places. That set the tone for the rest of the cruise.

One day, we were husky sledding through forests outside Alta, meeting sled dogs being trained for long-distance Arctic races. Next, we were sitting inside a traditional Sami lavvu listening to stories about Indigenous culture and history from a Sami family in Narvik. By the end of the trip, we were walking through former World War Two bunkers and archives in Kristiansund, learning about Norway’s occupation during the war from guides with deeply personal connections to the stories they were telling.

What surprised me most was how intentionally the route had been designed around these experiences. André Pettersen, Hurtigruten’s Chief Product and Hotel Officer, explained that the company uses more than 130 years of sailing experience along the Norwegian coast to “cherry pick” destinations where passengers can properly experience the landscape and culture, rather than simply passing through quickly.

In winter, that means snow-heavy areas where excursions focus on things like husky sledding, reindeer experiences and the Northern Lights. During summer voyages, ships head further north towards Svalbard beneath the midnight sun. The activities change with the seasons, but the idea remains the same: getting people properly immersed in Norway itself.

Far from being sleepy or sedate, the entire experience was surprisingly active, immersive and adventurous in a way that many holidays marketed towards younger people could only dream of.

2. Culture over excess

I think a lot of younger travellers hear the word “cruise” and immediately picture all-inclusive excess, which is understandable given the reputation many cruise holidays have developed over the years. What surprised me most about Hurtigruten’s approach was how much the entire trip felt connected to Norway itself.

Everything onboard seemed designed to deepen your understanding of the places you were travelling through rather than distract from them.

The food changed constantly depending on where the ship had recently docked, with menus featuring regional ingredients and local specialities that reflected whichever stretch of coastline you’d spent the day exploring. Following our Sami cultural excursion, the evening menu in Flora included reindeer and Sami-inspired dishes, creating a really natural connection between what we’d experienced during the day and what arrived on the table that evening.

Pettersen described the ship as a place where passengers can “feel and taste and drink Norway”, with ingredients sourced locally and menus changing daily depending on where the ship is sailing. “Every food item we have comes from Norway,” he explained. “You will taste the local produce in every stretch we are going.”

That commitment extended far beyond the restaurants. The onboard bars serve cocktails made using Norwegian herbs and spirits, while most of the crew are Scandinavian themselves, many having grown up along the same coastline passengers are travelling through. Rather than feeling like a generic luxury cruise that could be anywhere in the world, the entire ship felt deliberately rooted in Norway.

The lectures onboard worked in much the same way. Before excursions, members of the expedition team would host talks about the history, geography or culture surrounding the next destination, helping give context to places that many passengers, myself included, previously knew very little about. Rather than feeling overly academic, it made the whole trip feel richer and more connected.

“You’re not just seeing Norway,” Pettersen told me. “You really get deep into the culture, the food culture, drink culture, the cultural way of living.”

You weren’t simply passing through Norway. You were gradually building an understanding of it.

3. No decision anxiety

Modern travel increasingly feels like it comes with an exhausting amount of decision-making attached to it. Holidays are supposed to be relaxing, yet most people now spend weeks building spreadsheets, researching restaurants, booking attractions months in advance and worrying whether they’re making the “most” of wherever they’ve travelled to.

Onboard the ship, that pressure disappeared almost immediately.

Meals were handled. Transport was handled. Excursions were organised. Every evening, we’d sit down for dinner knowing the staff already recognised us, remembered our preferences and could talk us through whatever we were about to be served. During the afternoons, there was enough structure to keep things interesting without the constant feeling that you should be rushing somewhere else.

Even the day at sea, which I originally assumed might feel repetitive, became one of my favourite parts of the trip. After several busy days of excursions and travelling through Arctic conditions, having time to sit quietly with a drink, watch the coastline drift past the windows and properly slow down felt unexpectedly luxurious.

Part of that comes from the way Hurtigruten approaches these voyages. Unlike the company’s traditional coastal route, which stops at dozens of ports, the Signature voyages are built around spending far longer in fewer destinations. “You stay there all day, almost,” Pettersen explained. “You get more of a deep dive in the handpicked places we want you to see.”

That slower pace changes the feel of the trip entirely. Instead of constantly arriving and departing, there’s time to properly settle into each place before moving on again.

4. Norway deserves much more recognition for its food

Before this trip, my understanding of Norwegian cuisine was embarrassingly limited.

Over the course of the cruise, that changed very quickly. Because so much of the menu onboard focused on regional ingredients and local produce, meals became one of the most memorable parts of the experience. Seafood tasted noticeably fresher than almost anything I’d previously eaten, while dishes inspired by Sami traditions introduced us to flavours and ingredients that were completely new.

One of the nicest aspects of the dining experience was how closely connected it felt to the journey itself. You’d spend the day travelling through fishing towns and coastal villages before sitting down to meals that directly reflected those places a few hours later.

Pettersen, who originally trained as a chef himself, spoke passionately about the food onboard, explaining that Hurtigruten wanted passengers to experience “really authentic Sami Norwegian-inspired food” throughout the trip. In the ship’s more relaxed bistro-style restaurant, inspired by a traditional Sami lavvu, guests gather around a central fireplace sharing stories from the day while eating dishes developed alongside Sami culinary ambassadors.

There was also a surprisingly relaxed atmosphere throughout the restaurants onboard. Despite the quality of the food, nothing ever felt stiff or overly formal. By the second or third evening, dinner started to feel less like a scheduled service and more like part of the rhythm of life onboard the ship.

That warmth seemed intentional. Pettersen described the atmosphere Hurtigruten aims for as “down to earth, but really honest and authentic”, rather than overly polished luxury. It’s probably why the experience feels far more personal than many traditional cruises appear from the outside.

5. Shifting sense of time

Nothing fully prepares you for the experience of arriving in Northern Norway during winter and realising the sun’s gone on holiday and won’t be back for a while.

For the first few days, it felt deeply disorientating. We’d wake up in darkness, eat breakfast in darkness and return from excursions in darkness, with only a brief period of dusky blue light appearing during the middle of the afternoon. Looking out across snow-covered mountains and frozen harbours while the sky remained permanently dim gave the entire trip an almost surreal atmosphere.

Strangely, though, after a while, the darkness became one of the things I loved most about the experience.

Life onboard naturally slowed down to match it. People read books, sat quietly looking out at the coastline and spent longer over dinner. There was less pressure to constantly fill every hour with activity, partly because the landscape itself encouraged a slower pace.

Then there were the Northern Lights.

Whenever they appeared overnight, the ship would put a message out over the PA system to passengers directly in their cabins so nobody missed the chance to see them. Fortunately, with us boarding in Tromsø, we didn’t have to wait long before seeing them for ourselves.

It’s one of the few travel experiences that somehow manages to exceed the ridiculous expectations people place upon it, feeling deeply moving and personal when you finally see it happen above you.

At the same time, it became obvious that this kind of trip isn’t only valuable during winter. While the Arctic darkness and Northern Lights create one version of the experience, Hurtigruten’s routes shift dramatically throughout the year, from spring wildlife and coastal hiking to summer sailings towards Svalbard beneath almost endless daylight. Norway itself changes completely depending on the season, which means the experience onboard changes with it.

6. Embrace the experience

One thing I noticed repeatedly throughout the cruise was how open older passengers seemed to be to every part of the experience.

People attended lectures enthusiastically. They spoke to strangers at dinner. They tried unfamiliar food without turning it into a performance. Nobody seemed particularly concerned with documenting every second of the trip or proving they were having a good time online.

There was something quite refreshing about that.

Because we were among the youngest couples onboard, people regularly struck up conversations with us throughout the trip, whether during excursions, over dinner or ordering at the bar. Instead of feeling awkward, the atmosphere onboard felt warm and communal surprisingly quickly.

Pettersen said that sense of closeness is one of the things guests remember most. “It’s more than a trip,” he told me. “It’s more memories.” He explained that passengers often become genuinely close with crew members and fellow travellers over the course of longer voyages, creating an atmosphere that feels “more like a family feeling that you are part of a family onboard.”

I’m not sure whether that openness comes naturally with age or whether younger travellers have simply become too self-conscious, but it definitely changed the atmosphere of the trip for the better.

7. Younger people are overlooking this kind of travel entirely

Before this trip, I’d never really considered cruises as something aimed at people my age, other than a booze cruise. Looking back now, I think that assumption says more about me than what these experiences are actually like.

During our trip, we drove through Arctic blizzards on ATVs, learned about Sami culture from Sami families, went husky sledding through snow-covered forests, explored World War Two history along the Norwegian coastline and watched the Northern Lights appear above the ship late at night.

At the same time, we also managed to relax, sleep well, eat exceptionally good food and spend long periods simply enjoying where we were without feeling pressure to constantly move onto the next thing.

By the time we reached Bergen, wandering through Christmas markets as the weather gradually became milder further south, I realised I’d stopped thinking about the cruise as something unusual for younger people to do. If anything, I was starting to wonder why more people our age weren’t considering trips like this already.

There’s also a reason these voyages seem to resonate so strongly with the people onboard. Hurtigruten’s entire approach feels built around authenticity rather than scale. “We really want guests to feel welcome,” Pettersen said. “Not arrogant service, but warm service. Honest and authentic.”

That probably explains why the trip never once felt like the version of cruising I’d imagined beforehand. Instead, it felt immersive, adventurous and unexpectedly personal. The kind of experience younger travellers constantly claim they want more of, while somehow overlooking trips like this entirely.

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Hamleys is continuing its slow takeover of London’s transport hubs, with two new travel-focused stores set to open at Liverpool Street Station and Heathrow Terminal 2 over the next few weeks.

Which means your stressful airport dash or delayed train journey now has a much higher chance of ending with you impulse-buying slime, a teddy bear or a tiny Lego set.

The openings build on the retailer’s growing “travel estate”, which already includes shops at London Bridge station, St Pancras railway station, Heathrow Terminal 4 and London Stansted Airport. The idea is simple: catch people while they’re trapped in transit and tempt them with brightly coloured distractions before they board a train or flight.

The first of the new stores arrives this month inside Liverpool Street Station. The 500-square-foot pop-up will focus heavily on smaller, easy-to-carry products, including Hamleys’ signature plush toys, pocket-money gadgets, card games, sticker books and compact travel games designed to keep kids occupied for more than seven minutes on a train.

Then in mid-June, a larger 1,000-square-foot branch will open inside Heathrow Terminal 2, joining the retailer’s existing Terminal 4 store. Alongside the usual stuffed bears and novelty toys, the airport location will also stock tech toys, dolls, action figures and construction sets from LEGO and Playmobil.

Heathrow probably makes perfect sense for this kind of thing. The airport was recently named the best in the world for shopping, which means Hamleys will now be sharing terminal space with luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Burberry and Harrods. Slightly surreal company for a place where you can also buy fake poo and a screaming rubber chicken, but that’s airport retail for you.

According to Hamleys UK head of retail Keane Herman, the company’s travel locations consistently perform well globally because they’re designed around “grab-and-go speed” and quick gifting ideas. Which is corporate language for “people panic-buy toys when they’re bored at airports.”

Still, the expansion says a lot about the continued strength of the brand. Despite first opening all the way back in 1760, Hamleys remains one of London’s most recognisable retail landmarks. The flagship Hamleys Regent Street store still pulls huge crowds thanks to its seven floors of organised chaos, costumed staff and aggressively enthusiastic toy demonstrations.

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A big Wes Anderson exhibition is currently being held in London, and who you do think is holding a run of screenings to celebrate? No, it’s not the Prince Charles Cinema, it’s a hotel.

The W Hotel in Soho is staging a run of Wes Anderson movie screenings as well as a special night that will dig far deeper into Anderson’s process with a key collaborator and the exhibition’s curator.

But before we dig further into details, let’s touch on what inspired this run of events. London’s Design Museum is currently holding a major exhibition on the filmmaker, dubbed Wes Anderson: The Archives.

It’s been on since November 2025, and runs until July 26th. We’re well into the run, but there’s still plenty of time to check it out.

Wes Anderson: The Screenings

At the W Hotel in Soho, you can take in a screening of The Grand Budapest Hoel on Saturday May 9th, Fantastic Mr. Fox on 16th May, Moonrise Kingdom on 23rd May or The Darjeeling Limited on 30th May. Yep, all Saturday screenings, and all at 7pm.

A ticket with a serving of popcorn costs £10, or you can get a ticket with a cocktail bundled in for £19. That’s not too shabby when tickets at the lovely Curzon Soho down the road will set you back £18.95, plus a £2 transaction booking fee.

The W Hotel’s primary screening room is a 38-seater venue with a screen estimated to measure three metres across. It’s no IMAX, but this is an altogether more intimate kind of movie screening.

There are four cocktails on the menu, each inspired by a character from the Wes Anderson cinematic universe: The Bellboy, The Prison Guard, The Fixer and The Detective. You’ll find the full list of their ingredients below.

But we can’t go any further without mentioning what’s easily the most exciting night in this W Hotel run. It’s a live discussion between graphic designer and regular Anderson collaborator Annie Atkins, who worked on the look of Grand Budapest Hotel (among other movies), and Johanna Agerman Ross. She is the Design Museum’s chief curator. It’s happening on May 13th.

This night is secretly the biggest bargain of the lot. It costs £25, but that nets you not just entry to the night, but access to the Design Museum’s exhibition (£23), one of the hotel's screening nights plus one of the themed cocktails (£19). Absolute bargain, and you don’t have to be staying at the hotel to book a ticket either. Get on it.

Alternatively, if you’re a massive Wes Anderson fan with plenty of cash to splash, you can book a themed stay at the W Hotel itself. It offers “Wes Anderson-inspired amenities,” Polaroid camera and themed city guide. But at £698 per night or more, and with a 2-night minimum stay, this isn’t an impulse jaunt. A fun one? Sure.

Here are those Wes Anderson themed cocktails on offer at the W Soho:

• The Bellboy – Cognac, Cointreau, peach liqueur, elderflower, lemon and Champagne
• The Prison Guard – Grapefruit and rosemary-infused Tanqueray with pineapple, lemon and sugar
• The Fixer – Italicus, prosecco, soda and olive brine
• The Detective – Amaretto Disaronno, Antica Formula, sour cherry and chocolate bitters

• Wes Anderson collaborator turns 5 coffee machines into stunning city scenes

Sometimes the walk from the tube station to your front door can feel a bit of a journey, even if your paltry step count says otherwise. Or maybe your walking prowess peaked with the finally-made-it-out-of-the-group-chat actually-used-something-from-your-TikTok-saved-folder hike across Seven Sisters last summer. But whether you're an ambitious hiker or a weekend walker, the news of a new 2,700 waterside walking route will come as a seriously big announcement – and it connects every cliff and coastal spot in England.

The new walking route is officially titled King Charles III England Coast Path, and it spans the entirety of England’s shoreline. Like any huge project it has been in the making for years – the best part of two decades actually, and it’s finally open for all your rambles. If you were an avid reader of Raynor Winn’s The Salt Path, then this will get you dusting off those (probably unused) walking boots and donning the wet weather gear.

The path has been curated and created by Natural England – the Government’s adviser for the natural environment. The project was first optioned in 2004 under Gordon Brown’s government, taking 18 years, 7 Prime Ministers, and 23 seasons of Strictly Come Dancing to come to life. It connects rugged coastal paths with sandy beaches, tumbledown coves, and some of the most breathtakingly stunning scenery. It stretches a whopping 2,689 miles around the country’s coast, opening up England’s countryside for everyone.

A large portion of the route already existed; anyone who has taken an optimistic pause from sunbathing and daytime drinking on a UK staycation will probably have encountered a stretch of coastal path, trudging along gorse laden cliffs and thought, 'lovely'. And also, 'how long before it's socially acceptable to suggest going to the pub?' But some 1700 miles of existing pathway has been upgraded with added signage (so you don’t get lost), bridges, and boardwalks to make the route as safe and accessible as possible. However an additional 1,000 miles or so was created especially for the route, even requiring new legislation to be passed. But it was worth it as the official King Charles III England Coast Path (catchy) has opened up stretches of land that were previously off limits to public punters.

Most of the route is already open, stretching from the North East coast, round the Lincolnshire coast, East Anglia, and the South – all the way down to Cornwall’s Lands End, and back up. When completed, it will secure the title for the longest managed coastal path in the whole world. The official route stops at the Wales Coast Path, but is designed to link up with it, meaning you can continue an uninterrupted round trip of the UK coast. The Wales Coast Path is an existing and well-trodden 870 mile route around – you guessed it – Wales’ coast. Whilst there’s no official route in Scotland, you can still walk fairly easily around a large proportion of it thanks to the right to roam law. The final parts of the path are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

And if you don’t fancy doing the whole 3,000 (nearly) mile route, there are some great short walks to enjoy along the path which you can find on the National Trail's interactive map.

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Each year London attracts more than 30 million visitors. Most of those tourists, however, will tend to gravitate towards this world city’s many iconic landmarks.

That’s perfectly understandable. How many other cities in the world can boast the UK capital’s combination of grand history, sprawling green spaces, and modern architecture? And that’s not to mention its peerless art and culture scene.

But there’s much more to London than the usual roster of perfectly preserved palaces, monuments and parks. As the more discerning of its 9.1 million permanent residents will tell you, it’s a city of hidden gems and secret delights.

Here, then, is a run down of some of the less well travelled attractions, from quirky art experiences to street food paradises and less-well-known stately homes.

The very fact that they’re all housed within the tight confines of London means that they’re not exactly what you’d call off the beaten track, while some of them are pretty popular in their own right.

All, however, are joined by the fact that they’re not typically considered among the first ports of call for your average tourist.

1. God’s Own Junkyard in Walthamstow

London is packed full of world class galleries, but its artistic spirit simply can’t be contained within a bunch of ornate buildings and prestigious colleges. God’s Own Junkyard exemplifies this. It’s a warehouse situated on the otherwise unpromising Ravenswood Industrial Estate in humble Walthamstow, and it’s filled to the brim with neon signs and movie props. Founded by the late artist and prop maker Chris Bracey, visiting it is like stumbling into a hallucinogenic dream of a fun fair – albeit with free entry and an on-site cafe and bar to help sooth your frazzled synapses.

• Find out more

2. Dennis Severs’ House in Spitalfields

American artist Dennis Severs bought this Grade II listed Georgian pad in the 1970s, before restoring it and employing it to tell the story of successive generations of a fictional Huguenot family. Each of its 10 rooms depicts a particular era, spanning the 18th to the 20th centuries. Don’t expect carefully framed artefacts and stuffy descriptions here, but rather a fully immersive experience that gives you a strong impression of how real people would have lived in the British capital. It’s a genuine assault on the senses, in the best possible way.

• Find out more

3. Barbican Conservatory in the City of London

There’s every chance you’ve heard of London’s Barbican before. It’s a one-of-a-kind arts venue, concert hall, cinema and residential housing estate set within a remarkable brutalist complex. Not everyone who visits this iconic venue, however, realises that it also houses a 23,000-square-foot glass house filled with some 1,500 species of plants and trees, not to mention various species of fish. It’s the second largest conservatory of its kind in the capital, and entry is completely free, though you do need to book in advance.

• Find out more

4. Ham House in Richmond

Right on the edge of leafy Richmond, not far from the famous Richmond Park, sits Ham House. No, it’s not one of those hot new belly-busting sandwich shops that seem to be taking over the capital right now. Rather, it’s a beautifully preserved and lavishly appointed 17th-century country house located right on the south bank of the River Thames, packed full of authentic period detail and surrounded by pristine gardens. What with it being managed by the National Trust, you can expect a good tea room too.

• Find out more

5. Maltby Street Market in Bermondsey

Food-obsessives from around the globe flock to London to eat at the city’s many world class restaurants, not to mention its various food halls and historical markets. It’s all too easy to overlook Maltby Street Market in all the rush. Housed along an extended section of railway track, both within and alongside the arches (the temporary stalls are only there at the weekend), it plays host to wide range of world cuisine. The wider stretch is the permanent home to several of London’s craft beer taprooms (including the iconic Kernel Brewery), making it a great location for a tipple or two.

• Find out more

6. Dulwich Picture Gallery in Dulwich Village

Well away from the broadly central location of London’s biggest and most famous art galleries, Dulwich Picture Gallery sits in the quaintly but appropriately named Dulwich Village – a surprisingly quiet and verdant portion of South East London that feels like it should be located the other side of the M25 motorway. The 200-year-old gallery itself holds the considerable claim of being the world's first purpose-built public art gallery, and it has managed to keep up the good work by maintaining an impressive collection of 17th and 18th century paintings from various artists both great and small.

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7. Leake Street Arches in Lambeth

One of London’s most exciting art exhibits is hidden away beneath one of its busiest transit hubs. Some of the informal names that have been given to the eight former railway arches underneath Waterloo station hint at their unique appeal. Some call it The Graffiti Tunnel, while to others it’s the Banksy Tunnel in honour of the Bristol artist that opened it in 2008. In practice, it’s a 300-meter-long stretch of tunnel featuring an unbroken collection of legal graffiti. It also plays host to a vibrant art and events space, as well as several independent restaurants and bars.

• Find out more

8. St-Dunstan-in-the-East in the City of London

We’ve featured this little gem of a place before as one of the most romantic places in London, but it’s also perhaps one of the most incongruous. How does a faintly magical bombed out church-turned-public garden exist in such close proximity to the cold, steely financial district? And more to the point, how do more people not know about it? This 12th century church has survived the Great Fire of London and the World War Two blitz – more or less – and is now a leafy oasis in the heart of the city.

• Find out more

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Each year a list of the best new hotels is released, and in 2026 two new London establishments have made the cut.

Would we actually rather spend a weekend in a more picturesque location — the photography alone published alongside the list over at Travel + Leisure will make you pine for a holiday — sure we would. But these places are something special.

The Chancery Rosewood

First up is The Chancery Rosewood, which opened in September 2025. We’ve written about this world-class hotel before, when it made Luxury Travel Intelligence’s list of major new openings just months after it opened its doors.

It’s based in the old American embassy building, a Grade-II listed place in Grosvenor Square. It was built in 1960 and served as an official chancery until 2017.

Since then it has had quite the spruce-up to become The Chancery Rosewood, where you can expect to pay upwards of £1500 a night for a simple room. Or upwards of £20,000 a night for one of the site’s incredible “house” accommodations.

These are the hotel’s four lavish apartments, named to reflect the building’s history: Saarinen, John Adams, Kennedy and Chancery. Eero Saarinen designed the building, if you’re wondering.

The Rosewood group commands no less than four spots on Travel + Leisure’s 100 best new hotel of the year list, the others going to Rosewood Amsterdam, Rosewood Mandarina and Rosewood Miyakojima in Japan.

The Newman

London’s other entry is The Newman, a Fitzrovia spot that opened in early 2026.

It is at least somewhat more within reach of mere mortals’ budgets, with nights in a Classic room starting at around £540. As usual, the price varies based on the night(s) required.

It’s an 81-room hotel with an Art Deco style that aims to represent “where Bloomsbury’s culture meets Soho’s style.”

There’s a rooftop bar with views, while a spa and pool takes over a whole floor of the place. A stay includes access to this “Wellness Floor,” which features a sauna and steam room, a salt room and ice lounge — as well as of course a pool and a gym.

Or you can book a 3-hour session at the spa on its own for £95.

For dining at The Newman there’s Brasserie Angelica, which serves a fairly broad — if familiar — range of dishes from steaks to burgers and confit duck leg. There’s also a “pre-fix” menu for early mid-week dining, 11:30 to 18:30, with two courses for £30 or three for £40.

If you fancy a look at something more exotic, the full list of 100 new hotels is well worth a browse over at Travel + Leisure.

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In the understatement of the century, it’s fair to say we owe a lot to William Shakespeare. Without his poetic turns of phrase and proliferation of plays, British culture today would not only be lacking some top-notch quotes, but an entire pantheon of artistic expression meted out through literature, theatre and art.

So why not celebrate Shakespeare’s contribution to British history and culture on the day of his presumed birth (and uncannily, death) on April 23rd? The UK’s capital and once home of the playwright has a plethora of ways to big up the Bard, many of which go further than simply watching one of his productions on stage (though you definitely should...)

Here are six ways to enjoy Shakespeare’s Day in London in 2026.

1. Take a tour of Shakespeare’s London

Walk in the footsteps of the world’s most famous playwright by retreading his steps around the UK capital with a dedicated guided tour. Visit the sites of playhouses he performed at, watering holes he drank at and appreciate the modern day landmarks erected in his honour.

For a truly immersive experience, book with Shakespeare’s London Tours who use trained actors as guides, performing for you on the streets of the city while reciting famous excerpts and espousing anecdotes. Prefer to keep the fourth wall in place? Opt for a self-guided tour of London via this handy map from the City of London which will lead you to all his favourite hotspots, at your own pace.

2. Watch a play at The Globe

Though it might not be the original structure built by Shakespeare’s playing company The Lord Chamberlain’s Men back in 1599 (that one burnt down in 1613) its modern day reincarnation is its spitting image – and probably a lot safer.

Experiencing a performance here is unlike any other and a must-do for any fan, whether you’re watching from the wooden benches in the eaves or being pulled into the drama in the pit. 2026 is hosting all the hits – Much Ado About Nothing, Love’s Labour’s Lost, As You Like It – though if you’re visiting on Shakespeare’s Day in April you’ll be graced with one of his best, A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream.

3. See old copies of Shakespeare’s manuscripts at the British Library

Though it’s believed none of Shakespeare’s original manuscripts still exist, some of the earliest printings of his plays are on display in the The Treasures Gallery in the British Library.

The Gallery is free to enter, and, along with the author’s First Folio (a collection of his 39 plays) and a print of the play Sir Thomas More (which is thought to have Shakespeare’s writing on), it houses over 200 of the library’s oldest and most precious works including original lyrics by the Beatles and a copy of the Magna Carta.

4. Tuck into a Shakespeare-themed afternoon tea at the Swan

Afternoon tea probably looked a little different in Jacobean times, but we’re pretty sure if he were about today, Shakespeare would be into it. Soak up views of the Thames while nibbling on an array of mini sandwiches at Swan, the official restaurant of Shakespeare’s Globe.

Salmon, chicken, roast beef and egg and cress sandwiches are served on playfully-designed crockery and pave the way for sweets featuring titles – and inspiration – from Shakespeare’s most famous scripts. ‘My crown is in my heart, not on my head’ from King Henry VI materialises on the plate as Victoria sponge cake topped with a golden chocolate crown, while ‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day’ from Sonnet 18 is in fact a Rose petal and mead tart draped in English Rose syrup.

Vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan menus are available, as are plentiful tea choices; sapphire earl grey, dragonwell green and Egyptian mint among them.

5. Visit ‘Shakespeare’s Window’ in Southwark Cathedral

William Shakespeare was one of Southwark Cathedral’s (then known as St. Saviour’s Church) most well-known parishioners. Head to the South Aisle to discover an extravagant three-light stained glass window depicting numerous characters from his plays including Puck, Othello, Lady Macbeth and Hamlet.

The striking and intricately-designed aperture fills the wall above a memorial sculpture of the playwright reclining on a bankside meadow in front of the Globe and Winchester Palace. Visiting on Shakespeare’s Day is a particularly good idea, as every year the Cathedral runs the Shakespeare and his Theatrical Contemporaries Tour, where an experienced guide takes you on a tour of the historic building, detailing its significance to not only Shakespeare, but playwrights from across the ages (Shakespeare's brother Edmund and playwrights John Fletcher and Philip Massinger are buried there).

6. Take the Shakespeare trail through the V&A

Shakespeare is so ingrained in British culture that London’s museums don’t need a dedicated exhibition, the playwright is simply woven into their existing ones. At the historic Victoria and Albert museum in Kensington, you can experience the British Galleries anew by following the ‘Shakespeare’s Magic’ trail which guides you through various displays while explaining their link to the author.

Reliefs of cupid, grand pieces of furniture such as The Great Bed of Ware and delicate items of jewellery and embroidery are all re-contextualised in light of the poet. Use this page to guide you. If, however, you’re gagging for a dedicated space celebrating the Bard, there’s not long to wait.

A new arts centre is due to open in Shoreditch later this year on the site of the old Curtain Playhouse, which, alongside spaces for offices, housing, a roof terrace and leisure facilities, will also host the ‘Museum of Shakespeare’. Details are sparse, but expectations can be justifiably high.

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A major new London attraction opens this weekend, the V&A East Museum. Here’s what you need to know about it.

V&A East Museum opens on April 18th, with a big exhibition on the history of black music in Britain.

What's on?

The Music is Black: A British Story is all about music figures and movements from 1900 onwards, and features items from performers like Little Simz — due to play at South London’s Cross the Tracks festival next month — and Joan Armatrading.

“Spanning four continents, this is a story of excellence, struggle, resilience and joy,” reads the blurb.

It will also feature Stormzy’s famous stab vest from his 2019 Glastonbury performance, if that will tip you over into a visit.

Entry costs £22.50, or £24.50 at the weekend, although at present tickets for the opening weekend are sold out. You can also get through the gate with a V&A membership, which costs £86 a year for an Individual Membership via Direct Debit.

You don’t need to fork out for the exhibition to visit the V&A East Museum, though. Entry is free, and that gets you into the permanent galleries, dubbed Why We Make.

These comprise “over 500 objects” from figures including Leigh Bowery and Althea McNish.

What is the V&A East Museum?

And now’s probably the time to touch on what V&A East Museum is actually about. The website describes it as “a new kind of museum,” one that looks at “how creativity changes the world, rooted in the communities and voices that are shaping global culture right now.”

A museum about creativity may sound an amorphous concept, but it’s clearly positioned in opposition to a lot of the depressing narrowing and hardening of thought we’re seeing influence politics across the world at present. V&A East Museum director Gus Casely-Hayford said as much in a column for The Guardian last year.

“That drive to be inclusive is what good museums were created to deliver,” he wrote. "It is easy writing the diversity action plan, but having the moral courage to stand up for those principles when they are needed – that is heroic.”

Where is V&A East Museum?

V&A East Museum is found in East London’s Olympic Park area in Stratford, just a 10-minute or so walk from the epic V&A East Storehouse, which opened last year.

Your closest stations are Stratford, Stratford International and Hackney Wick, although each is a solid 10-odd-minute walk away.

The museum building itself is quite something to behold, variously described as alien and ungainly in early reviews. It was a £135 million project, designed by O'Donnell + Tuomey.

• South London's Horniman Museum is getting a major revamp next month

Bad news, Londoners: those Tube strikes that were floating around earlier this year are still very much on — and they’re stretching well into the summer now, too.

While planned walkouts in March were called off after last-minute talks, the same can’t (yet) be said for the upcoming action across April, May and June. So if you rely on the Underground, it’s time to start thinking a few journeys ahead.

The strikes involve drivers who are members of the RMT union, and centre on an ongoing dispute with London Underground over proposed changes to working patterns. The plan is to move drivers onto a four-day work week by compressing their hours — something the union has pushed back on, citing concerns around fatigue, safety and work-life balance.

As it stands, the following dates are affected, and getting around London in general may well be a bit of a nightmare. Note there's a little bit of complexity as to when the action starts and ends — although we wouldn't bet on things suddenly reverting to normal from 6am to 12pm each Thursday:

• April 21–22 (12pm Tuesday – 11:59am Wednesday)
• April 23–24 (12pm Thursday – 11:59am Friday)
• May 19–20 (12pm Tuesday – 11:59am Wednesday)
• May 21–22 (12pm Thursday – 11:59am Friday)
• June 16–17 (12pm Tuesday – 11:59am Wednesday)
• June 18–19 (12pm Thursday – 11:59am Friday)

It’s a fair chunk of midweek travel across the next couple of months.

The good news (relatively speaking) is that this isn’t expected to completely shut down the network. Transport for London is predicting a reduced service across most lines rather than a full stop. The bad news is that “reduced service” in London usually translates to packed platforms, longer waits and a bit of a free-for-all once you actually get on a train.

Other parts of the network — including the Elizabeth line, London Overground and DLR — are expected to run as normal. But, unsurprisingly, TfL has already warned they’ll be significantly busier as people look for ways around the disruption.

There is still a chance things could change. The March strikes were pulled following progress in talks, and negotiations are ongoing, so these dates aren’t completely set in stone just yet, although we would expect the April ones to go ahead.

The root issue of these strikes is a plan to take Tube drivers down to a four-day week. While Aslef union members agreed to these plans, the RMT has taken issue with them, citing concerns over safety regarding a compressed work week.

However, when you crunch the numbers, the drivers’ actual hours working each day aren’t that different. The plans would see drivers work eight and a half hours each day, but with a 30-minute paid break, which isn’t part of the current deal.

• 14 genuinely good “third places” in London to work, read, or meet mates (without getting fleeced)

With modern technology being what it is (i.e. more advanced than the average person) it’s not surprising that there is a daily slew of updates ranging from useful to impressive. Also, thanks to the sheer volume of developments across everything from tech to streaming, it’s not surprising that a recent Google Maps update went slightly under the radar.

The crux of the update is that it shows you the real-time location of each bus on your local area map, nationwide. Amongst the minutiae of the update, we’ve pulled out three of the main things you need to know about the change.

1. It’s a very basic upgrade

Yeah, so not to throw shade, but there’s probably a reason this update has flown pretty much under the radar so far. Aside from a line in a press release from the UK Government (more on that later), there hasn’t been a lot of shouting about it. The main reason for this is likely because the upgrade itself, whilst definitely a step in the right direction, is fairly rudimentary. The official app shows you the real-time location of each bus on the map of the local area, with updates happening every 10 seconds or so, showing delays, diversions, and how far away they actually are.

2. It’s in partnership with the UK Government

So the update itself is a partnership between the UK Government and Google, as part of its 'Better Connected: tap-and-go travel across trains, trams and buses' transport strategy. The service will be especially useful for passengers in rural areas where bus services are less frequent. Google Maps' new update is similar to "ride-hailing" apps, and allows you to see the actual bus moving along the map in real-time, rather than just seeing a countdown timer.

3. It’s not using original data

Like most maps that pop up showing you the real-time location of buses, tubes, and other traffic, the data used isn’t a unique tracked set of stats. It seems to be coming from the Bus Open Data Service (BODS), which features detailed information about buses across England. This includes vehicle location, fares, data and timetabling, and essentially does all the hard work for services like Google and any other interested parties – think City Mapper, Waze, the list goes on. Given the scale of Google as a company and its penchant for pioneering, it wouldn’t be surprising if they start to develop their own in-house metrics to analyse and progress the data.

You may be wondering what makes it different from other apps, as some other services like Apple Maps already have a similar live-map feature for most buses in London, showing the last known location of the bus you’re attempting to take and an estimation of how far away it is in minutes. Apple also shows bus delay information, although Google Maps’ new update should show delays as well as where the buses are across England.

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In 2026, London is still full of good third places, those places that allow you to have an un-demanding time out between work and the rest of life-ing – you just have to dodge the ones that expect a small loan in exchange for a seat and a flat white.

For all the talk of the city becoming less liveable, there are still plenty of spots where you can read for an hour, tap away on your laptop, or meet your mates without immediately haemorrhaging cash, or being frowned at by an intimidating waiter.

The best of them are not always the obvious places, either. Sometimes it’s a library with proper chairs and no pressure to move on; sometimes it’s a big public building where nobody minds if you linger; and sometimes it’s a roof garden, a food market, or steps by the Thames that somehow does the job better than many Zone 1 cafés.

So, with the spring sunshine making London feel briefly generous again, these are genuinely good third places across the city where you can work, read, or just hang out for a bit, without getting fleeced in the process.

Big civic-style living rooms for indoor views

There is a reason you'll be familiar with a lot of the names on this list, as London's big hitters are named as such for a reason. Whilst it's easy to overlook the starry buildings as something reserved for school trips and sanctioned, tickets events only, it's definitely worth remembering that places like National Theatre boast lovely indoor spaces perfect for the public to flaneur.

1. Royal Festival Hall

The Royal Festival Hall is one of the best all-rounders in London because it asks very little of you. You can meet someone there, read for a bit, get some work done, or just sit and watch the South Bank do its thing, and none of that feels out of place. In spring, when the river is busy and the city feels a touch less grim, it comes into its own.

2. National Theatre

National Theatre has a similar appeal, but with a slightly more relaxed, less obvious energy, offering the kind of place that makes you feel clever for remembering it exists: big foyers, decent seating, and enough background life to feel lively without tipping into chaos. Best of all, you do not need a ticket and you do not need a grand plan.

3. The Barbican

The Barbican is a different sort of third place – more cocoon than crossroads. The brutalist masterpiece (or, at least in my opinion) is great for solo time, whether that means reading, laptop work, or just hiding from London for an hour in a building that still feels unlike anywhere else in the city. It helps, too, that the whole place rewards aimless wandering.

4. The British Library

On the other side of the coin – or the river, we have The British Library, which is less romantic but arguably more useful than almost anywhere else on this list. If what you actually want is a seat, a bit of quiet, and the sense that you can stay put without being silently judged, it is hard to beat. Not every third place has to be picturesque – sometimes it just has to work.

Libraries and reading rooms

Is there anything more picturesque than pretending to work on a laptop, a stacked pile of books to the right of you, a domed ceiling or perhaps giant wooden bookshelves with those fun sliding ladders surrounding you? Sometimes the key to productivity is being in an environment that looks like somewhere people in films or TV shows study. If you want to romanticise your life (a more wholesome take on the Spice Girl's advice) then these spots are worth knowing

5. Canada Water Library

This is the sort of place that quietly proves public spaces can still be useful, welcoming, and well-designed. The building is airy, modern, and easy to settle into, whether you have brought a book, opened a laptop, or just want somewhere calm to sit for a while without feeling the meter is running.

6. Senate House Library

Google - or think of - an old, impressive university library and Senate House Library is the sort of place that will come up. Where some of London’s better third places feel casual and improvised, this one leans grand, serious, and faintly cinematic – the kind of setting that makes even a fairly ordinary reading session feel nicely purposeful. You will need a membership or day ticket though, but the latter will only set you back around a fiver.

7. Welcome Collection

Wellcome Collection earns its place because it does not sit neatly in one category. Part library, part museum, part central London breathing space, it suits the kind of afternoon when you want to read a bit, wander a bit, and spend as little time as possible explaining yourself to anyone.

Outdoor hangouts

Sometimes - weather dependent - what you're truly after is a leafy, quiet but atmospheric pocket of London which allows you to soak up a bit of sun without any grass stains, wet benches, or a cold, numb behind from a rather uncomfortable statue. Luckily there are plenty of these dotted across the city from parks to squares which will make you feel downright European on the right day.

8. Granary Square

Granary Square is one of the easiest meeting points in London because it already feels like people are meant to spend time there. You’ve got the steps, the fountains, the canal, and enough places nearby to grab food or coffee without the whole thing turning into a formal plan. And when the weather behaves, it does half the work for you.

9. St Katharine Docks

Offering up a calmer version of central London, St Katharine Docks is seriously appealing for a catch-up here feels less like squeezing into the city and more like stepping slightly outside it, with the water and the boats doing a lot to soften the mood.

10. Victoria Park

Victoria Park belongs on any list like this because sometimes the best third place is just a really good park. You can walk, sit, read, or meet friends without overcomplicating things, and the whole area has enough life around it to stop the day feeling too aimless. Transport links to and from central London are good, too.

11. Hampstead Heath

Hampstead Heath - the green space that launched a thousand celebrity sightings - is a London stallwart. Giving you something bigger and baggier than most London hangouts, it's regularly cited as a gem of the capital for good reason. There is space to stretch out, wander, and turn a quick meet-up into half a day, which is part of why it still feels special. Few places in the city are better for the spring ritual of taking a book outside and barely reading it.

Food halls, markets, and flexible social spaces

No matter how peaceful and productive your day may be in the library or the park, at some point you'll be needing a spot of food, so heading to one of London's delicious foodie markets is in order – especially if it's one where you can while away the rest of your afternoon.

12. Mercato Metropolitano

With outlets located in Mayfair, Elephant & Castle, and Wood Wharf, Mercato Metropolitano is one of the most useful group options in London because nobody has to commit too hard. One person can get a drink, someone else can eat properly, somebody turns up late, and the whole thing still works. There’s also good indoor space for if (or when) the weather turns.

13. Lower Stable Street Market

This one works slightly differently, because the appeal is as much about the wider King’s Cross area as the stalls themselves. You can browse, grab something, sit down nearby, wander off, then regroup without anybody feeling pinned to one expensive table, something London does not always make easy.

14. Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden, Southbank Centre

Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Gardens at the Southbank Centre earns its place because not every good third place needs to be big or busy. Sometimes all you really want is a bit of greenery, a decent view, and somewhere to pause for an hour without feeling trapped in a commercial setting. On a sunny day, this is one of central London’s best-value hangs.

Good (free) cultural spots that are good for a sit down:

• Tate Modern is one of the few central London places where you can drop in with no real plan and still feel like you have done something with your afternoon. You can wander the galleries, pause with a coffee, sit by the river, or just use the building as a base, which is exactly what makes it so useful as a third place rather than just a museum.
• The V&A offers a softer, slightly calmer version of the same idea. There is enough to look at if you want to drift around, but the bigger draw here is the atmosphere: elegant without being stuffy, central without feeling frantic, and genuinely good for a slow catch-up or a bit of reading in between laps of the galleries.
• Somerset House brings a more social energy to the category. The courtyard gives it a built-in sense of occasion, especially once spring arrives, but it still works for the same basic reason as the others: you can spend time there without being funnelled straight into a costly lunch or a timed activity.

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The Horniman Museum will get a handful of new outdoors attractions next month, to be unveiled as part of its 125th anniversary celebrations.

From May 21st you’ll be able to check out the Horniman’s new areas, which include a cafe, kids’ play area, community garden and a revamped nature trail.

The main new area is where you’ll find the cafe and play area, which live in the same blob of land in the Horseman Museum’s 16-acre grounds.

The Kusuma Nature Play area is part of the museum’s Nature + Love revamp project, which was announced in November 2025. It includes a slide and wooden jetty, webbing for kids’ climbing and balance beams.

It backs out onto the cafe, which will offer sourdough pizza as well as more familiar cafe fare. It will be operated by Colicci, which runs numerous comparable sites across London parks and attractions, including the Serpentine Lido Cafe, spots at Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, we all as the Horniman’s main cafe.

Elsewhere in the grounds, you’ll find the Community Garden and Gardens Nursery. These are much chilled-out spaces with a more adult and wellbeing bent, and they will be used as a place for NHS social prescribing, suggesting we can expect regular events to be held there.

A touch of tech

Back to the kids’ stuff, the Horniman Gardens nature trail is getting an AR-based revamp. Using a phone or another internet-connected mobile device, you’ll be able to see 3D animated creatures pasted onto the camera’s view of the Horniman grounds.

It’s been designed to create minimal faff, with no need to download apps or pay any fees. You just scan the sign.

All of these new elements to the Horniman Museum grounds are part of a £10 million revamp of the South London attraction. But there’s still more to come.

The Horniman Museum’s famous Natural History Gallery has been closed since 2024. And while it was originally pencilled in for a 2026 opening as part of this wider Nature + Love project, it’s now not due to re-open until 2027.

However, you can still visit other parts including the aquarium (adult tickets £6.50) and a Natural History pop-up exhibition, which is open until June 30th.

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If you’re staying in London for the early May bank holiday and want something that doesn’t involve fighting for a table in a pub garden, this is a solid alternative.

More than 100 boats are set to moor up in Little Venice for the return of the IWA Canalway Cavalcade, a three-day celebration of the capital’s waterways that’s been running for decades. It takes place from the 2nd of May to the 4th, and it’s completely free to mooch about.

The boats are the main event. There will be a mix of historic narrowboats, residential barges, working vessels, cruisers and widebeams, many of them decked out in bunting and full-on decorations. It’s part floating museum, part very British pageant, with owners on hand and plenty of opportunities to get a closer look at how these things actually work.

The setting helps as well. The Pool of Little Venice, the stretch of water just behind Paddington, turns into a kind of temporary harbour for the weekend, with boats packed in tightly and activity going on pretty much all day.

Even if you’ve got no interest in boats, enough is happening on land to make it worth the trip. There’s live music across the weekend, food stalls, an ale bar, and a run of traders selling crafts, canal bits and general vintage-style finds. It leans properly into that low-key festival feel without ever getting too hectic.

The standout moment, though, is the illuminated boat parade on the Sunday evening. From 9pm, the boats head out covered in lights, turning the canal into something that feels a bit like Christmas but with slightly better weather and fewer arguments about presents.

It’s also one of the more family-friendly things you’ll find over the bank holiday, with plenty going on for kids alongside the usual wandering, eating and drinking for everyone else.

The event runs 10am–6pm on Saturday, 10am–6pm (and then 9pm–10:30pm for the illuminated parade) on Sunday, and 10am–5pm on Monday. You don’t need a ticket, just turn up, although if you were hoping to arrive by boat, you’re out of luck, as moorings are already full.

For a free, slightly different way to spend a bank holiday weekend, it’s hard to argue with.

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Lime bikes are a staple in the city – in fact, you’re barely a certified Londoner unless you’ve been running horrendously late to something and hopped on (and probably later crashed) a bright green e-bike. The only thing that stops people from routinely pushing the pedals is the cost. But now that could be about to change.

Usually, on top of a fee to unlock the bike, you can be paying up to 30p per minute, which quickly adds up to the point where a 20 minute cycle could cost over £7 – meaning that bizarrely, taking Lime bikes sometimes fall into the category of a luxury or splurge. Thanks to LimePrime (10/10 naming), the new subscription service introduced by the e-bike company, prices will be locked in at a flat rate instead.

LimePrime is a monthly subscription, currently costing £6.99, which allows riders to bike for up to 20 minutes at a flat rate of £1.70. That makes it cheaper than both the tube and London buses, with a single journey on each costing £2.20 for the former, and £1.75 for the latter.

After 20 minutes, journeys will be charged per minute again but at a discounted rate. The subscription also gives you free unlimited locks (usually £1), and extended 30 minute vehicle reservations. Also, if you’re party-waving your journey (aka. doing a group ride with friends or family), your mates can access your flat-rate pricing too.

Wayne Ting, Lime’s CEO said: ‘This new pricing model will offer an easy and more affordable travel option for people to get around, whether it is commuting to work, visiting friends or running errands. With more people choosing e-bikes everyday, we want to build on that momentum and support the Department for Transport’s ambitions to make sure active travel is not only cleaner, but affordable and accessible too.’ According to Lime, the new deal will ‘support the department for transport’s aims to make more active travel options affordable and easily accessible for all amid rising costs of living.’

The subscription will likely come as good news to Londoners who are amenable to a green-wheeler, especially with warmer weather and lighter days on the way which makes outdoor cruising slightly more appealing. However, the news comes just after yet another London borough sets to introduce a ban on Lime Bikes, with Richmond Upon Thames looking to follow in Hounslow’s footsteps tire treads and outlaw them.

• London’s Oxford Street is officially getting pedestrianised – and we won’t have long to wait

The only thing that can detract from the magic of wandering around London’s iconic Oxford Street is the barrage of beeps and swerves from the onslaught of buses, cabs, bikers, and pedicabs that are all vying for travel across the same small area. Added to that, at times (we’re looking at you, Christmas) it can feel like a downright battle trying to navigate your way through the multiple lanes of pedestrian traffic all heading in different directions across the narrow pavements. Now, that could all be about to change.

A car-free Oxford Street has been on the cards since 2017, when Mayor Sadiq Khan unveiled official plans for the project.

If it’s giving you flashbacks that you can’t quite place, that might be because there was a mini trial run in 2024. Back in September, the area went totally car-free for the day to give everyone a taste of what it could be like – complete with food trucks, live music, and other festivities.

Now approved (following two rounds of consultations), works are set to begin in the next few months, running until late 2027. According to the BBC, vehicles could be persona non grata on the central streets as soon as September 2026.

Obviously, Oxford Street is a core stop on many travel routes, meaning sixteen buses will get rerouted as a result of the change, including 7, 94, and 98. All double-deckers which currently detour through Oxford Street are set to be redirected through Wigmore Street and Henrietta Palace. According to TFL, this will add just one minute’s difference to the existing journey times. Which, in finance bro speak, is about half an hour and £20.

Currently, about 63% of Londoners support the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street, according to a consultation from June 2025.

Speaking about the plan’s developments, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: ‘I am delighted to be moving forward with my bold vision to transform Oxford Street into a world-leading urban space for shopping, leisure and outdoor events.’

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After a spring that can politely be described as ‘temperamental’, apocalyptic heatwaves mean that there’s only one guiding principle to surviving this summer: get indoors.

Thankfully, London has plenty to offer anyone fleeing hostile weather conditions as the mercury rises. The UK capital isn’t all picturesque parks and buzzing beer gardens, you know.

Our beloved city is packed to the rafters with world class galleries, beautiful exhibition centres and legendary arts venues, many of which will be housing tantalising events and showcases over the warmer months.

Whether you’re looking to scratch an artistic itch, seeking a family friendly cultural visit, or eager to explore our country’s vibrant musical heritage, we’ve got something that should fit the bill – rain or shine.

Murugiah: Ever Feel Like...

• Where: Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration
• When: June 5th to August 31st
• Price: From £15

Sharmelan Murugiah is a British Sri Lankan multidisciplinary artist whose delightfully garish works are apparently inspired by a childhood spent playing Nintendo games, listening to pop punk music, and watching Saturday morning cartoons. You can see each of those influences – and no small amount of child-like wonder – on display in the illustrator’s sense-assaulting works, which have been assembled at the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration’s inaugural solo exhibition this summer. Think Yellow Submarine by way of your favourite anime, and you’re half way there.

Anish Kapoor at the Haywood Gallery

• Where: Southbank Centre
• When: June 16th to October 18th
• Price: From £22

In this industry names don’t come much starrier than Anish Kapoor, the British-Indian artist who has put his name to iconic works such as Chicago’s Cloud Gate and London’s ArcelorMittal Orbit. He returns to the Haywood Gallery some 28 years after the Southbank venue hosted his first major exhibition. Kapoor’s works (with many taken from his most iconic series) have here been positioned such that they seem to emerge from the very fabric of the building, quite literally filling out the gallery space. Expect light-bending surfaces, visceral paintings, and objects coated in Vantablack – aka the blackest substance known to man.

M.C. Escher. The Exhibition

• Where: Somerset House
• When: June 5th to September 6th
• Price: From £16.50

Fans of infinite staircases rejoice – M.C. Escher is in the house! Somerset House, to be precise. The palatial Thames-adjacent venue is playing host to a major retrospective of the famous Dutch artist’s work. Expect more than 150 of his pieces (including famous works such as Day and Night, Relativity, and Hand with Reflecting Sphere) covering the artist’s work with optical illusions, landscapes, tessellations, and other impossible scenes that make your head hurt. This should be a good one for families, given the inclusion of various spatial logic-defying interactive displays.

Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait

• Where: National Portrait Gallery
• When: June 4th to September 6th
• Price: From £25

In celebration of what would have been her 100th birthday, the National Portrait Gallery has teamed up with the Marilyn Monroe estate to exhibit a number of portraits from across the iconic actor’s career. You can expect to see the work of some of the greatest photographers and artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Andy Warhol (of course), Richard Avedon and Philippe Halsman. You’ll also be able to check out a number of Monroe’s personal effects, including film scripts and clothes.

The Music is Black: A British Story

• Where: V&A East Museum
• When: April 18th to January 3rd, 2027
• Price: From £22.50

The Victoria and Albert Museum (or the V&A to its friends) has just opened a new, trendier outpost in multicultural east London. Fittingly enough, its opening exhibition covers 125 years of black British music through a dazzling multi-sensory journey. As 120 music tracks are pumped into the event-supplied headphones (covering funk, 2 Tone, jungle, grime and more), you’ll be told the story of this distinct music and culture through physical artefacts such as instruments, letters, outfits, photos and artwork.

David Bowie: You're Not Alone

• Where: Lightroom
• When: April 22nd to October 10th
• Price: From £25

London has not gone short of David Bowie exhibitions in recent years, such is the enduring hold that the great musical artist has on the capital that spawned him. David Bowie: You're Not Alone is something a little different, however – an exhibition that seems to have been created to appeal to a younger generation who might only have witnessed the tail end of his life and career. This hour-long 360-degree film is beamed onto the vast walls of London’s Lightroom, combining interview material with thrilling live concert footage. It’s a far from comprehensive look at Bowie’s oeuvre, but boy is it visceral.

Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends

• Where: Young V&A
• When: February 22nd to November 15th
• Price: From £12.50

Inside Aardman’s run at the Young V&A is set to run for the best part of a year, but it represents the perfect stop on any summer visit to the capital with young kids. Bristol’s Aardman Animations celebrates its 50th birthday this year, and this exhibition (which is also the cheapest on this list) takes its audience behind the scenes of one of the most magical animation houses working today. Visitors will be able to view early sketches of the Oscar-winning studio’s beloved characters, alongside models, sets and storyboards from the Aardman archives.

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2026

• Where: Royal Academy of Arts
• When: June 16th to August 23rd
• Price: From £23.50

It’s not every art lover’s cup of tea, but there’s arguably no more democratic an art exercise in the capital than the annual Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. This year’s show will once again assemble a vast array of multi-disciplinary artwork from established artists, emerging talents, celebrities, and the Great British public. As such, the one thing we can safely predict is that there will be way more bad art than good on display. But that’s kind of all part of the charm with this cosily eccentric London institution. If all else fails, there’s always the in-gallery gin bar.

Looking for something different...?

Then check out our top exhibition picks from earlier in the year that are still open!

Magical worlds: Fairy Tales

• Where: The British Library
• When: Until August 23rd
• Price: From £11.50

What better place to host a celebration of folkloric fantasy – aka fairy tales – than the hallowed British Library? This family-friendly interactive exhibition will employ books, theatre costumes, puppets, pop-ups, artwork and illustrations to take you on a magical journey through literature. You’ll apparently be able to sit down at the Three Bears' breakfast table (Goldie Locks), tell the genie your wish (Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp), and smell the wicked witch’s potions (take your pick), among other book-based activities.

In Other Worlds

• Where: Barbican Centre
• When: Until September 6th
• Price: Free

London’s beloved Barbican is currently hosting the first UK solo exhibition by Liam Young – an artist, director and BAFTA-nominated producer. As this diverse CV suggests, Young dips his toes into a wide range of media, so you can expect films, costumes, props, movie miniature models, comics, tapestries and soundscapes – all presenting a hopeful vision of the future. It sounds as if Young’s work is going to take the idea of world–building in fiction to another dimension entirely, but this is no mere flight of fancy. Each element is said to be rooted in “real technology and climate-based possibilities”. Read our full review here.

Power Up

• Where: The Science Museum
• When: Permanent
• Price: From £14

OK, so Power Up isn’t strictly speaking a new exhibition. It’s been running as a permanent member of the Science Museum’s formidable line-up since mid-2023. But it pays to remind people that it’s there, because for those with an appreciation for the history of the medium, there’s very little to touch it in this or any other city. This ‘interactive gallery’ has assembled 160 game consoles from across five decades, covering many of the greats and plenty of obscure gems in between. You can go hands-on with the exhibits, of course, and the roster is constantly being added to.

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Forget Taylor Swift, this could be the hot cultural ticket of 2026: the Bayeux Tapestry is coming to London’s British Museum. And we now know when tickets are going on sale.

Tickets will be available from July 1st, for entry to the exhibition on dates between September and December 2026.

We expect these tickets to go fast, as this is quite a special event.

This will be the first time the Bayeaux Tapestry has been displayed in England since it was made almost a thousand years ago.

You know the name, but do you know the history? The famous tapestry depicts the events surrounding the Battle of Hastings — the famous 1066 one — and the Norman Conquest. Some of you may have learned about this stuff in school.

The Bayeux Tapestry is typically held in the Bayeux Museum in Normandy, which has closed for renovations, leaving room for its stint at the British Museum.

It has made headlines recently because some say the risk of shipping it from France to England is just too great for what is a fragile historical artefact. iPad botherer David Hockey called it “madness” in a piece he wrote for the Independent.

But if it does go by without a hitch, this exhibition will be one not to miss.

“It is hard to overstate the significance of this extraordinary opportunity of displaying it at the British Museum and we are profoundly grateful to everyone involved. This will be the first time the Bayeux Tapestry has been in the UK since it was made, almost 1000 years ago,” says Dr Nicholas Cullinan, director of the British Museum.

The British Museum will get both the 70m-long original tapestry and a replica made in 1886 in Staffordshire. They are insured for around £800 million according to the BBC.

While the first tranche of tickets only covers the first three months of the exhibition, it will be on show longer than that. The Bayeux Tapestry will be in London until July 2027, by which time the Normandy museum’s renovation is planned to be done and dusted.

A once-in-a-dozen-lifetimes opportunity? Get that July 1st tickets reminder in the calendar.

• London gets a sweeping new exhibition on the real history of the samurai

You may have heard travel fares are frozen at the moment, but that’s not quite true, with a bump in plenty of fares due in London within days.

Prices for Transport for London services will rise from March 1st — that’s Sunday — affecting travel on Underground, Overground and DLR services. The good old hopper fare for buses and trams is staying at £1.75, if we’re to scramble about for a morsel of good news. Mayor Sadiq Khan has said bus and tram fares will stay as they are until at least July 2026.

How much are we set to pay? Fares will rise by up to around seven per cent, although the exact rise varies by fare.

Zone 1 fares go up from £2.90 to £3.10, or 10p less off-peak. A zone 1-2 journey till cost up to £3.60, from £3.50 right now. And Elizabeth Line fares to London Heathrow will rise from £13.90 to £15.50.

Here’s the basic list of new Underground zone fares:

• Zone 1 only: Peak £3.10, off-peak £3.00
• Zone 1–2: Peak £3.60, off-peak £3.10
• Zone 1–3: Peak £3.90, off-peak £3.30
• Zone 1–4: Peak £4.80, off-peak £3.60
• Zone 1–5: Peak £5.30, off-peak £3.80
• Zone 1–6: Peak £5.90, off-peak £4.00

There’s another sliver of silver lining here, though, because daily caps aren’t changing. Both caps and travelcard prices are frozen until 2027, the cap at £8.90 for zone 1 and zone 1-2 travel, up to £16.30 a day for zones 1-6.

The price bumps are part of a funding deal agreed between Transport for London and the government following the July 2025 spending review. A £2.2 billion package was agreed, contingent on fares rising by inflation plus an additional one per cent.

Sadiq Khan only managed to keep bus and tram fares — including the hopper fare — static for now using City Hall funds.

For a full breakdown on how skint you'll be next week, check out the TfL website.

Is it bad news? Of course, although if you’re always on and off the tube, at least the static (for now) travelcard and cap limits mean you shouldn’t see much of a real-world difference, if any.

• London is getting its first floating park – and there is finally a first glimpse at what it will look like