Articles about London

When people hear the name Jason Atherton, they often think of white tablecloths, tasting menus and prices that make you pause before ordering another round. But Sael and The Blind Pig quietly challenge that idea, both delivering the quality you'd expect from an Atherton venue, just without the hefty...

In a neighbourhood where restaurants open, close and change direction at a moment's notice, sticking around tends to mean something. For Nima Safaei, growth has never been about chasing buzz or expanding for the sake of it. What started at 40 Dean Street only grew when demand and a loyal crowd of re...

If your idea of festive music stretches beyond choirs and the classic carols, award-winning Tim Edey's Celtic Christmas offers a slightly different way into the season this Saturday, 20 December. Taking place at Kings Place, the evening centres on Edey's guitar-led take on Christmas music from acros...

Big Game is back at Twickenham Stadium, and after last year's sold-out edition became the biggest event in Harlequins' history, this one arrives with a fair bit of expectation attached. It's also happening slightly earlier than usual, landing on Saturday, 20 December. The afternoon starts with Harle...

Rivoli Ballroom already feels extra Christmassy before anything festive is added, with its red-and-gold interior and slightly faded glamour. It's the sort of place that naturally suits a December event, so a Christmas pop-up cinema here feels less like a novelty and more like a sensible way to use t...

This weekend, 13 December, Songhaven is bringing one of its dementia-friendly concerts to Conway Hall in Holborn, offering an afternoon of live music in a relaxed and supportive setting. The organisation specialises in creating professional concerts for people living with dementia and their carers,...

If you're anywhere near Oxford Circus on 19, 20 or 21 December, there's a good chance you'll hear carols drifting above the noise of last-minute shopping. That'll be All Souls Langham Place, whose annual free carol services have quietly become a fixture of the London festive calendar. Held inside th...

Taking over the space for a festive weekend, this special edition of Black Eats at Boxpark Croydon on 20 and 21 December is all about picking up something a little different for loved ones (or yourself), all while supporting a charitable cause. There will be more than 40 independent Black-owned bran...

Inspired by the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things,” the Hawkins Diner serves 12980s-style comfort food and is available for delivery only. Coinciding with the release of the fifth and final season of the global smash hit “Stranger Things,” Netflix has teamed up with the Sessions platform for...

Flat Iron Square has kicked off the season with Yuletide Yard, a winter takeover running until 22 December that brings Christmas trees, glowing lights, festive drinks and a lot of fun to its London Bridge home. The terrace has been turned into a small winter garden, and inside you'll find neon fairg...

This year, Pyro's terrace has been reworked into Baráki Bar, a gorgeous Greek-inspired snug where heaters keep things toasty, cocktails flow, and everything seems to be cooked over fire. It's open Tuesday to Saturday, which makes it a fab option for an after-work drink or a cosy spot to settle in wi...

American quick-service chain Five Guys has always kept it simple, sticking to the principle of doing a few things, but doing them right – burgers, hotdogs, and sandwiches, with their signature fries on the side and a creamy milkshake to top things off. Now, for the first time ever, it's expanding it...

Wasabi, the popular Japanese food brand, has opened a new restaurant at Euston Station, offering a fresh dining option for commuters and travellers. To celebrate the launch, Wasabi is hosting a 'Spin to Win' event on December 11th, where visitors can win exclusive goodies, vouchers, and merchandise.

Right, it's that time of the year again – reflecting on the 365 days behind us, planning for the 365 days coming up, checking the calendar if an extra leap day snuck in anywhere (nope), lingering wistfully over those sweet, sweet summer months, before finally snapping back to the present to start wo...

There's no shortage of quality Asian restaurants in Covent Garden, and we don't just mean the ones on its doorstep in Chinatown. Asian cuisine is famously varied, however, so if you're trying to accommodate different tastes or are unsure of what you'll be in the mood for by the time you take your se...

74 Charlotte Street has opened in Fitzrovia as Ben Murphy's newest chapter, shaped by years working with Pierre Koffmann and time spent in the Michelin-starred kitchens of southern France, Paris and New York. All that experience shows up in dishes that are carefully put together yet still familiar,...

If you only think of Canary Wharf as a place for spreadsheets and suits, it might surprise you how much good Asian food is packed into the area. There are sleek Japanese joints, classic crowd-pleasers, cosy neighbourhood spots and plenty of grab-and-go options for when you're in a rush. Here are the...

If you like a good bargain but find regular flea markets a bit too, well, regular, the quarterly Satanic Flea Market might be just the thing. The Satanic Flea Market brings together purveyors of exotic and mysterious goods you won't find on the high streets. All sorts of curiosities are available fo...

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is a magical festive experience, but if the weather sours, it can be like a lump of coal in your Christmas stocking. A new funfair that opens in London on 13 December has no such issues. Based at the Olympia exhibition centre in West London, Winter Funland is an indoor Ch...

Soho is jam-packed with some of London's very best Asian restaurants, from tiny counter spots to buzzy two-floor dining rooms. You can walk a single street here and pass everything from bustling Thai grills to Japanese udon bars and modern Indian kitchens doing their own thing. This guide rounds up...

Alley Cats is keeping its pace with another west London opening, this time on Portobello Road. The New York-style pizzeria has been rolling out sites steadily since its Marylebone debut in 2024, and this fourth spot will land early next year. The space is spread over two floors with a slice hatch at...

If you're curious about the world behind 'Hamnet', the much-talked-about Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley drama, there's a free exhibition popping up in Fitzrovia that should scratch the itch.  'Even as a Shadow, Even as a Dream' opens at 6 Fitzroy Square and gives a close look at how Chloé Zhao...

Every second Sunday of the month, aspiring writers meet up at the Vagina Museum in Bethnal Green to flex their storytelling muscles in the Writer's Gym. Held in the museum café, the Writer's Gym provides a relaxed and welcoming space for storytellers to explore the written word, with a new variety o...

“Let It Snow” at Woolwich Works provides a window into the future of British musical theatre. For one night only, performers and musicians from British Youth Music Theatre's 2025 season will reunite on stage to present standout songs and scenes from twelve new musicals. Six of these works have been...

Dr. Martens has opened its first-ever beacon store on Brewer Street, and it's a mix of flagship, workshop and local hangout all in one place. The two-floor space is designed to be immersive rather than just another spot to try on boots, and it brings together classic Made in England styles, collabor...

The Mirror Bar at the Landmark London has settled into winter mode with a little help from Beluga Vodka, and the result is a gorgeous, cosy retreat, perfect for those colder evenings. Inside, it is all low lighting and glossy mirrored panels, which gives the whole place a sleek feel. You can tuck in...

If you have somehow reached December without plotting at least one reason to gather your favourite people around a table, EREV in Notting Hill is making a fairly strong case for doing exactly that. Their new festive feast is a mouthwatering spread designed for people who would rather skip the turkey...

From 1 to 30 December, Monday to Friday between 4 and 7 pm, guests visiting the lounge bar at elegant Mayfair restaurant Novikov will receive a complimentary glass of prosecco. During these hours, they can also take part in a festive lucky dip, with surprises ranging from signature cocktails to dess...

If you've ever watched an action movie and became all fidgety when the countdown started or the laser grid went up because you thought you could do a better job at defusing the situation than the protagonist, well, here's your chance to prove it. Boom Lab is a new adrenaline-pumping gaming experienc...

Step into 2026 in unforgettable style at The Conduit's New Year's Eve Green Cabaret — where an evening of elegance, intrigue, and a touch of decadence awaits. Your journey begins with a glass of bubbles on the fifth floor, setting the tone for an indulgent five-course à la carte dinner at Rucola. Di...

If you want to fully embrace the start of the festive season, the Museum of the Home is running its annual wreath-making workshop, led by long-time Head Gardener Heather Stevens. It's taking place on Saturday 6 December inside the Hoxton museum, and is a cosy way to spend an afternoon getting into t...

Christmas is arriving early in Walthamstow as the Blackhorse Beer Mile throws its annual festive party on Saturday 6 December. The whole stretch of Blackhorse Lane will be busy from midday, with breweries and bars running their own take on Christmas eating, drinking and the usual December drama. Big...

This December, Eel Pie Island is opening its doors for its Christmas Open Studios weekend on 6 and 7 December, which means you can step inside the usually off-limits workshops and meet the artists who live and work there. Across the two days, you can browse handmade ceramics, oil paintings, jeweller...

So Last Century is heading back to Dulwich Picture Gallery for a two-day Christmas Vintage Market, taking place on 6 and 7 December. Around twenty vintage traders will be spread across the Linbury Room, Art Studio and Cloisters, each selling a curated mix of mid-century pieces and winter finds. You...

South London's beloved Model Market is set for a major revival in spring 2026, returning with an expanded and upgraded vision. The new edition will take over part of Lewisham Shopping Centre, blending retro 1950s market design with its trademark gritty-artsy atmosphere. The organisers of Model Marke...

This December, Mercato Mayfair is getting even more theatrical with the arrival of Tirami Sin, a new tiramisu confession box that invites you to swap your deepest darkest secrets for a slice of the beloved Italian dessert. It's the latest addition to the Grade I listed food hall inside St Mark's Chu...

London winters have met their match. Mama Shelter Shoreditch is returning with its Ski Club pop-up, transforming frosty mornings and snow-dusted daydreams into a cosy celebration throughout January and February 2026. Inspired by alpine cabins, crackling fires, and après-ski vibes, the pop-up offers...

London's magical seasonal steam train is getting ready to roll back into the capital, offering Londoners a rare chance to board a beautifully restored vintage locomotive for a festive voyage through the city.  This year's journey once again features the historic 61306 Mayflower at the front – a...

The long-awaited National Cookie Day arrives on 4 December, bringing with it a welcome excuse to indulge in something sweet. This year, a small London bakery is preparing to mark the occasion by giving away hundreds of its popular NYC-style cookies. Chocolate Dino Bakery is an award-winning spot tuc...

London's LGBTQ+ nightlife is famed around the world, but there's more to the city than Soho clubs, with lots of different inclusive spaces, sights, and services available to queer individuals. From restaurants and bars flying the rainbow flag to gender-neutral hair salons and libraries delving into...

Swift Shoreditch, the award-winning cocktail bar that's already a hit amongst people who know their mezcal from their martinis, is opening its doors to a pop-up dedicated entirely to pickled onions. So, if you have ever looked at a jar of Garner's and thought you would happily drink the brine, this...

HOP Vietnamese has opened its latest site right by King's Cross St Pancras, bringing quick, tasty Vietnamese dishes to a part of London already spoiled for fast food. To celebrate the launch, HOP is giving away 500 free HOP Boxes from midday on Wednesday, 26 November.  The menu sticks to what H...

Despite the Beer Orders of 1989, independent pubs in London still seem very much a dying breed, often being sold off or even shuttered due to rising economic costs. That said, there are still quite a few excellent London free houses standing their ground in order to offer the best of what a pub is s...

If you're a fan of festive feasting and sandwiches galore, this is one event you won't want to miss. The Christmas edition of Sarnie Party, a food festival that brings together top sandwich masters from across the UK, is setting up shop at Somerset House this Saturday to showcase the outrageously de...

The Big Cathedral Knit returns to Southwark Cathedral for a relaxed day of knitting, chatting, and crafting blankets for people experiencing houselessness in London. Visitors can drop in anytime between 10am and 3pm on 29 November to knit or crochet 20x20cm squares that will become part of Craft For...

London's Christmas shopping scene covers everything from classic bookshops to arts and crafts stores and big-name department stores, so it is easy to map out a route that suits how you like to browse. You can pick up cute stationery in Exmouth Market, handmade ornaments in Seven Dials or nostalgic t...

The London International Animation Festival celebrates the full breadth of animated filmmaking, highlighting that this art form truly has something for everyone. Founded in 2003, it has grown into the UK's biggest and longest-running animation festival, championing independent creators from across t...

If you've ever rolled your eyes at yet another plastic Big Ben or a mug with “I heart London” on it, you'll be pleased to know there's finally a place that gets it. Love and London has launched The London Souvenir Shop (That Doesn't Suck), a pop-up on D'Arblay Street packed with souvenirs made by ac...

This festive season, Mayfair institution Novikov is inviting patrons to enjoy a set Christmas lunch in the Italian dining area of the elegant restaurant. Not only is it a tasty option for a special holiday meal, it's great value for money as well. This festive set lunch menu invites you to settle in...

If you fancy kickstarting the festive season somewhere that feels a bit more fun than your average tinsel-filled lobby, Sea Containers is giving its spot on the South Bank a colourful little glow-up. The hotel has teamed up with Colours of Arley for this year's Christmas tree, which means you can ex...