Chiara Wilkinson

There’s nothing more quintessentially Christmassy than a good ’ol festive market. Need to bulk buy stocking-fillers for your family? Christmas market. Fancy a boozy, mulled-wine-filled evening with your mates? Christmas market. Keen to show off your excellent ice-skating skills? Christmas market. Dazzling destinations are dotted all over the UK. They come alive with the festive spirit once a year, glittering with everything from cosy grottoes and wholesome gift stalls to your favourite Christmas songs. We’re not just talking about London’s Christmas markets and Winter Wonderland, either (although they’re definitely worth a visit, too). We’re talking about the cobbled streets of York and the majestic castle surroundings of Edinburgh. Don’t know where to start? Here is our pick of the best Christmas markets in the UK. Hey, if you’re lucky, you might even get a bit of snow.  RECOMMENDED:🎄The most beautiful Christmas light trails in the UK❄️The best winter walks in the UK🌤️The best things to do in the UK💕The best romantic weekend getaways in the UK 🌜The best Airbnbs for large group getaways At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Want a drink? Well you've come to the right place. This is Time Out’s list of best bars in London, our curated guide to London’s drinking scene, featuring the buzziest booze dens in the capital right now. If it’s on this list, it’s excellent. These are the 50 places we'd recommend to a friend, because we love drinking in them and have done many times over. From classy cocktail joint to delightful dives, hotel bars, speakeasys, bottle shops, rooftops and wine bars, London's got them all. The latest additions to our list include Bar Lina, an Italian aperitivo spot underneat the famous Soho deli, Jumbi listening bar in Peckham, Oranj's vertitable wine warehouse in Shoreditch, and Helgi's, a suggestively Satanic rock bar in Hackney. Now go forth and booze. RECOMMENDED: Like bars? Then you'll love London's best pubs.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

It’s that time again. Every year, we ask thousands of city-dwellers to tell us the coolest spots in their cities. What are the places locals love and visitors flock to? Where are the exciting new openings across food, drink and culture? Where are people going out, hanging out and having fun? For the sixth year running, the results are in. Over 12,000 people had their say in this year’s shortlist, naming the neighbourhoods in their hometowns where everyone wants to be right now. Then, we narrowed down the selection with the insight and expertise of city editors and local experts who know their cities better than anyone else. To create and rank the final list, we considered factors including community and social ventures, access to open and green space, and thriving street life. In 2023, our neighbourhoods are more global than ever before. The rise and rise in post-pandemic digital nomadism has led to an explosion of brand-new community spaces, multi-purpose culture centres and more cafés than we can count on two hands. But while most of these neighbourhoods have experienced a transformation over recent years, they remain resolutely local at heart. Slick new developments and cool cafés might bring in new crowds, but neighbourhood stalwarts – from old pubs to family greengrocers – keep it real.  The world’s coolest neighbourhoods this year are, therefore, places with big personalities. Each area’s diversity is reflected in its food, culture and festivals. Community is key: local

Sometimes, just sometimes, living in a city that never sleeps can get a little too much. And you know where does sleep? Upstate. NY State is filled with incredible resorts fit for relaxing in once the city has gotten too much. Luckily, upstaters do much more than just snooze. Upstate New York resorts are packed with wonderful activities, from paddleboarding, fishing, and golf, all the way through to wineries, hiking trails, and picturesque apple-picking farms. Plenty of stuff that you just don't really get in the concrete jungle.  There are so many different things to do, all around upstate, that it can be difficult to know how best to spend your time. And once you've had a taste of the chillaxation on offer, you'll surely be back. These are some of our favorite upstate New York resorts, handpicked by our team of experts. We're sure we'll see you soon.  RECOMMENDED: The best Airbnbs in Hudson ValleyRECOMMENDED: The best hotels and B&Bs in Hudson, NY Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Choosing the best Santa Barbara hotel isn't the easiest thing. After all, there are so many options, each with a different vibe and aesthetic. Do you want to hang by the beach or opt for a hidden gem nestled up in the hills? Sleep next to the nightlife or doze without a party in sight? Is a pool non-negotiable? And what about entertainment for the kids? Surely you want to be right by the city’s great attractions (don't miss Old Mission Santa Barbara!), tastiest restaurants, and top wineries? See, there's a lot to consider. This central coast hot spot attracts tourists year-round, with temps in the 60s and 70s all year long and an easily accessible location just 90 miles north of Los Angeles. There are more than 200 wineries located throughout Santa Barbara, so your itinerary should definitely include a day of wine tasting. The Funk Zone is the place to bar hop, and the Santa Barbara Courthouse is a very popular place to visit (and get married!) while in town.  But whatever your hotel requirements may be, we’ve scrolled through Santa Barbara's many hotels and whittled them down to the cream of the crop. Now you just have to pick the right place for your perfect stay.  🎭 The best things to do in Santa Barbara🛏 The best Airbnbs in Santa Barbara Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you

There's always something to remember and buy gifts for. Birthdays, anniversaries, house warmings, new babies, promotions... you name it. They deserve a gift, too. But, hold on a second. Don't rush to your nearest grocery store for a bouquet of wilting roses just yet, we have your back. Luckily, we live in NYC in the 21st century where you can get flowers delivered straight to your door for the very next day – or in some cases, that exact same day. And who doesn't love being gifted a bunch of flowers? And it’s not just bouquets you can get sent to your loved one. You can get potted plants (perfect for plant fanatics) and even more brought straight to their door. We’ve saved your bacon by rounding up all of the very best flower delivery services in NYC, ready for you to choose your fave. Read on folks.  RECOMMENDED: 🍫Check out the best chocolate deliveries in the USA How do we know it's the best of the best? Our lists are expertly curated by our local experts far and wide to offer you the lowdown on the best delivery services in NYC. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

Flea markets are good and all, but what if instead of selling second hand clothes, old records and knick knacks, they flogged real human teeth, voodoo dolls and ‘demon spawn’? If you think this sounds like the kind of place that could only exist in an episode of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, you’d be wrong. London has its very own bewitched bazaar, offering all kinds of peculiar, demonic and occult objects. From clairvoyant tarot card readers, to a taxidermied puffer fish, as long as it’s related to black magic, almost anything goes at the Satanic Flea Market. If you’re looking to hex your ex, or simply get an insight into London’s occult scene, we’d recommend paying a visit to this uncanny fair that takes place four times a year at Electrowerkz, a three-floored cavernous venue in Angel.  So in honour of spooky season, we popped down to London’s biggest monthly gathering of goths, ghouls and witches to see what it was all about. Ahead of Halloween, these are the freakiest things we saw at the Satanic Flea Market, curse free.  Photograph: Chiara Wilkinson A bag of human bones Ever wondered where you could buy actual human bones?  We told you that at the Satanic Flea Market, anything is possible. For £75, you can purchase a mysterious little black bag of human cartillage, sort of like a skeletal lucky dip. Or if you're looking for a real bargain, human teeth were also on offer for £7.50. We don’t know who they belonged to or where they came from, but it’s probably better not t

The UK's stunning landscape and gorgeous coasts take on a new life in the winter months, and make the perfect backdrop for those of us keen to shake the seasonal blues, and get some good old fashioned fresh air. Whilst the unpredictable weather might tempt you to curl up and binge-watch Friends all day, we can guarantee that the icy grass, frost-tipped trees and vast frozen lakes will make you feel a whole lot better.  Wrap up warm (we’re talking gloves, hat, scarf and thermals) and get ready to indulge in the best scenery around. Here are our top picks for the best coastal winter walks in the UK.  RECOMMENDED:❄️The most dazzling Christmas light trails in the UK🎄 The most magical Christmas markets around the UK💕The best romantic weekend getaways in the UK🌳The most amazing treehouses in the UK you can actually stay in🌤️The best things to do in the UK At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

  The UK really comes to life at Christmas, thanks to the twinkle of the country's fantastic festive light trails. Where would Christmas be without them, after all? From the smallest sparkles glinting in windows to the massive illumated tunnels and gardens taking over towns, nothing can put a smile on the face of even the grumpiest of Grinches quite like some Christmas lights. We've handpicked eight of the most dazzlingly beautiful light trails in the UK, which are sure to brighten up those darker days ahead.  RECOMMENDED:❄️The best (and most beautiful) winter walks in the UK 🎄 The most magical Christmas markets around the UK🎉The best Christmas movies of all time🌳The most amazing treehouses in the UK you can actually stay in At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

The last time Rhys Herbert performed to a crowd at the Royal Albert Hall, he was nine. ‘It was for something called “raps and gaps”,’ he says, 14 years later. ‘All the schools in the borough were competing against each other.’  These days, Rhys is competing against major pop personalities rather than local schools. Known to most people as Digga D, he’s celebrated as one of the pioneers of UK drill; his hoppy flow and clever, ear-worm lyrics landing him millions of fans from all over the world. He’s released multiple top 10 tracks, been the subject of a BAFTA award-winning documentary and put out a mixtape which reached number one in the album charts, beating the likes of Ed Sheeran and Olivia Rodrigo. But he’s also a controversial figure. Rhys has been in and out of prison and has a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), restricting who he can see and where he can go. It means he’s not allowed to talk about certain subjects in public and that his solicitor, Cecilia Goodwin, has to dial in on Zoom during this interview (she never interrupts). Rhys is the first person to have a CBO which controls his musical output: he’s even required to submit lyrics to the Metropolitan Police within 24 hours of release. It’s like walking on eggshells: every day, every hour, every bar. Photograph: Jess Hand / Time Out I meet Rhys two weeks before his big gig, on a warm October afternoon, inside the Royal Albert Hall. It’s rare to see the hall like this: silent apart from workers setting up the stag

Picture this: your cat-eye contacts are turning you half blind, you’re trying not to accidentally spit out your fake fangs, and you’re on your third double vodka and coke of the night. It’s Halloween, baby, and that means it’s time for a serious party. A spooky party. A Halloween party to remember.  And d'you know what you’ll need for that (other than the fake fangs, the witch hats and the vodka, that is)? It’s a properly banging Halloween playlist. And fear not, friends, we’ve got the playlist for you. From The Cramps (of ‘Wednesday’ fame) to Olivia Rodrigo’s ex-boyfriend bleeding her dry, we’ve got the ultimate Halloween soundtrack right here. Time to get freaky, people.  Written by Brent DiCrescenzo, Christopher Tarantino, Andy Kryza, Adam Feldman, Kate Wertheimer, Andrew Frisicano, Sophie Harris, Carla Sosenko, Nick Leftly, Ella Doyle, India Lawrence, Chiara Wilkinson and Georgia Evans. RECOMMENDED:🎉 The best party songs ever made🎸 The best classic rock songs🎤 The best karaoke songs🎶 The best ’80s songs

What’s better than a stay-cation? A stay-cation involving a spa, of course. If you’re looking for a bit of well-earned R&R to get away from it all, the UK is brimming with top quality spas and wellness centres to help you wind down. Hot tubs to soothe aching muscles? Check. A facial to cleanse tired skin? Yup. A deep-tissue massage to sort out all of that tension from being bent over a computer all day? Sounds good to us.  From glorious country houses to trailblazing eco-spas, lake view hot tubs and city centre hideaways, this country has it all. Don’t know where to start? Our editors have been out and about, trying and testing spas to sort the good from the fantastic. Now, all you need to do is lay out your comfy clothes and hit the road. And… breathe.  Recommended: the best wellbeing and yoga retreats in the UKRecommended: the cosiest cabins and log cabins in the UK

Calling all facon fanatics and tofu enthusiasts. Billing itself as London’s largest plant-based party, Vegan Nights is going all spooky on us with a halloween special at Truman Brewery. Showcasing the best that the vegan food scene has to offer, a curated line-up of excellent food stalls will be be serving up delightful plant-based grub alongside some seasonal thrills. Once you’ve gobbled your way through all of that, you can wash it down with pints of vegan beer and boogie to live DJ sets that cover reggae, roots, bashment, grime, house, and party classics. Four legged friends allowed, and it's all ages, with under 12s in for free.   

Pub grub takes on a whole new meaning in east London these days. Out: sloppy plates of haddock and chips, pork crackling and salted peanuts. In: lobster bisque and scallops, natty wine and Perelló olives. It’s gentrification in action, but that aside, the concept of trendy-pub-plus-trendy-chef has proven itself to be a winner.  The Prince Arthur, tucked into a corner of Victorian terraces near London Fields, was re-launched in 2020 by Emma Piggott and Jonathan Mercer, who also own The Plough in Homerton. Since then, it’s earned a reputation for attracting voguish kitchen talent, boasting a hyped Hot 4 U pop-up residency (which led to Papi, which you can find around the corner) and a stint from chef Vivienne Duffy. This summer, it welcomed Joe Couldridge, whose culinary career spans the likes of Hawksmoor, Leroy, and more recently, The Clarence Tavern in Stokey. Besides being a great pub, the food at the Prince Arthur is knife-and-fork-down brilliant. There’s a proper neighbourhood feel about The Prince Arthur, making it just as likely to be bustling with Salomon-wearing creative couples popping in for some mid-dog walk hydration as it is with tables of foodies tucking into a celebratory dinner. It’s a charming, laid-back place, with high-quality fittings, well-worn wooden tables and classic pub signage. Walk past in August and you’ll see punters licking Guinness froth from their moustaches, spilling out from the pavement into the gutter; in winter, the windows are steamy as

The flagship site of Trevor Sorbie is a quick stroll away from Covent Garden tube station, tucked away behind the main shopping street. It’s a beautifully sleek, open salon with large windows letting in plenty of light (so you can be sure that colour is just right). All of the stylists here are top-tier, oozing with quality and – importantly – great chat. As a customer, the experience feels truly personalised – they’re crafty with more classic cuts but will also be open to get creative with bolder colours and looks – and are always upfront about what will or will not suit your face and hair type (which, let’s be real, we’re always be grateful for). A lot of these guys have been pros for many years or are hair educators, they’re in high demand, so be organised: you’ll want to book an appointment well in advance to get the hands (and scissors) you’re after.  One thing which feels especially forward-thinking about this place is the salon’s gender neutral pricing: prices start at £89 for a cut and finish for all genders. Oh, and if you take up their offer of a glass of fizz while the stylist snips away, there’s a very high chance you’ll walk out of your appointment with a runway-ready locks that could convinced that Floral Street is, in fact, a LFW catwalk. 

The worst types of vegans are the ones who constantly remind you. They’ll have ‘plant-based’ in their Instagram bios and introduce themselves as a vegan like they’re a duke or doctor. They’ll shove it down your throat when you open your mouth to speak to the waiter, almost like you could have possibly forgotten about their delicate dietaries.  I’m joking, obviously, but the point is: Mallow does none of that. Its vegan-ness is merely a footnote, and I’m sure if you were blindfolded you’d find it hard to say if some of the dishes had animal products in them or not. The menu spans cuisine from all over: Middle Eastern, Italian, Indian, Malaysian – or just burger and chips.  The first Mallow opened in Borough Market in 2021, from London mainstay veggie chain Mildreds, which has been on the scene since the late eighties. This second branch on Wood Wharf, feels a little less upmarket than its elder sister. But then again, it’s looking out over cold concrete and hurried commuters grappling with umbrellas rather than the Thames, so we’ll let that slide. Large, leafy murals are painted on the ceiling and lights reflect off vast glass windows, giving the whole thing an open, warm feeling. The menu spans cuisine from all over: Middle Eastern, Italian, Indian, Malaysian – or just burger and chips.  After wetting your palette with house cocktails – there are flirty twists on the classics, like a raspberry basil Margarita and lemongrass tepache sour – you’ll want to reach for the small p

Ever wanted to have a nosy around some of London’s coolest private buildings? Open House London gives city dwellers free access to some of the capital’s architectural wonders that aren’t usually open to the public – from schools and offices to domestic homes and places of worship. The hugely popular, capital-wide fortnight-long festival is back for 2023, with properties open for your to peak in – for free – all across the capital's 33 boroughs. All you need to do is create an account online and you can register to see as many buildings in the programme as you like. As well as the festival’s usual line-up of community events, drop-in sessions and tours, this year, there are also plenty of events tailored specifically to young people. As ever, lots of the tours and buildings are extremely popular so get planning which buildings you’d like to see well ahead of time to beat the queues.  Check out last year's Open House highlights

Hannah Maxwell’s one-woman show is both endearingly funny and cripplingly sad. It starts in Luton, where she’d moved to look after her recently widowed nan, who leads a slow life, consisting of daytime TV, microwaved Oat-So-Simple and ready-made cottage pie. Meanwhile, Maxwell daydreams about the French Eurovision star Barbara Pravi, lurching into far-flung fantasies and coming up with a ridiculous masterplan to learn French fluently and seduce her.  Maxwell is an absolute pleasure to watch: she has a way of filling the room and a gentle cheekiness, for example when she comically leaves the audience just sitting there, awkwardly, while she puts headphones on to do chores. Her storytelling is stirringly evocative but, despite the mundane subject matter, never dull. The clever staging and charming use of audience participation helps her routine tasks feel urgent, while the near-constant pinging of her phone reminds us of her sacrifices as a carer. It’s obvious that she’s never truly present, yet she continues to crack jokes and flirt with the audience to trick us into thinking that she’s fine; happy perhaps. Even her delusional infatuation with Pravi seems, for a minute, not completely out of the question.  Fast-forward and we soon find out that, actually, nan is fine: it is Maxwell who is struggling to go at life alone. At the end, a confessional twist is revealed and the fast pace of the play is brought to a sobering halt. This is a story about addiction, obsession and grie

These days, it seems like everyone is very online. Widespread social media use means that no-one is safe – apparently, not even if you’re meeting under Chatham House Rules (that is to say, where it’s agreed an interviewee will not be identified). As performer Louis Rembges explores in his surreal, compelling hour, it can be very hard to ignore the urge of turning every waking moment of our lives into content for momentary validation. In the play, Rembges is ‘Host’, a nameless zero-hours contract worker who is doing bleak agency hospitality work for a very high-profile tech conference. The guests are the super-rich Elon Musks of the world and former conservative prime ministers. Host is the self-described ‘Alan Sugar of memes’ and is trying to break into the TikTok world. This gig could be the perfect opp to get some stellar content, destined to go viral – but, of course, it’s under Chatham House Rules. Expertly crafted, the story jumps between online and offline, past and present, so that we never quite know what is real in Rembges’s scatty fever dream. He doesn’t lose us, though. Instead, the structure reminds us of how badly the near-constant flow of information has shortened our attention spans. He covers a lot of ground in his hour – billionaires, Etonians, greenwashing, the Tory government, NHS cuts, AI, Florence Pugh – but it never feels too much. Vivid writing and a carefully-crafted plot means that even the more abstract characters are convincing, aided by the use of

Ruby McCollister is one tragic girl. The raspy American actress brings her darkly entertaining one-woman show to the Scottish capital, exploring everything from addiction and ghosts to ‘being a cool girl’ and death. Frankly, it’s a bit of a marmite hour, peppered with lots of squealing, growling rock ’n roll singing intervals and cabaret-style numbers, all while a ghostly slideshow moves the story on in the background. For the most part, the bizarreness of it all is charming – a credit to McCollister’s irresistible energy and sass. The story follows her unlikely childhood, which she largely spent in her father’s haunted theatre in downtown LA, becming obsessed with the glitz and glam of showbiz. Romanticising dead actresses and singers, she decided from a young age that if she was to live a life worth living, it would have to be a tragic life. Growing up, though – navigating the likes of weight loss and abusive boyfriends – she learned that there was a much darker side to being tragic (no shock there).  She’s ridiculously over the top and zealous while the story is so surreal in places that you can’t help but find it entertaining. Yet the brattiness of her character can get grating, and the humour – despite her best try to encourage us to join in with her quirky, high-pitched laughs – can sometimes feel surface-level. But she gets stronger as hour progressed, slipping into a more reflective, mature persona, and the hour ends on a high. It’s a lament on the passing of childho

This is opera meets Korean traditional theatre meets Euripides’s ancient Greek tragedy – and it all works together brilliantly. Put on by the National Changgeuk Company of Korea and directed by Ong Keng Sen, it’s a beautiful production of an epic scale, with an exhilarating sound bed and glorious displays of pansori (that’s Korean storytelling through song, accompanied by percussion).  Through the war-torn eyes of the left-behind Trojan women, the story follows the aftermath of the fall of Troy via the female struggle for power and rare, fleeting moments of maternal love. The nature of the story is unforgivingly bleak and, at times, it can be tough to watch. Gloom and doom aside, though, Euripides’ tragedy is interpreted magnificently here with successful nods to the Korean tradition.  The sound, by K-pop producer Jung Jae-il (who did the score for ‘Parasite’), is piercing and evocative, grounded by near-constant pounding drums and pervasive strings. It did well to roll over tension from one scene to the next and leave the spotlight to the pansori: a ​​visceral, throaty song that often sounded like weeping, it complemented the competing narratives of female anguish and resilience.  A simple white set, with its symmetrical stairs and considerable height, works as a backdrop for the projected video, with swirls of fire and water consuming the cast and creating a visual spectacle that only added another layer to all the drama. There’s a lot of finger-pointing and power-switch

The pink-haired Anglo-French comic Tatty Macleod has amassed a sizable TikTok following for her online skits that revolve around the formidable froideur of her ‘French’ persona. But – as is the question for many internet stars who are tackling the Fringe this year – can she hack it live?  Her hour-long debut ‘Fugue’ is an autobiographical show in which Macleod considers the pitfalls of cultural appropriation, exploring her experience of being too English to fit into France and too French to fit into England. (Despite growing up in rural Brittany, she explains she’s ‘not technically French’.) And while the red wine-drinking, cigarette-smoking character that Macleod owes her online success makes a handful of appearances, the show is much more complex – emotionally and thematically – than that (thank God). What follows is a slick, whistle-stop tour of just about every French and English cliché out there, delivered with a zesty elegance via audience digs, witty personal anecdotes and funky, observational sketches. She talks about being a tour guide in Paris, about dating French men versus English men, agonises over memories of ‘reverse culture shock’ and examines how hen dos differ on either side of the channel.  Despite being faced with a largely British room with a presumably finite knowledge of French culture, it’s the more leftfield gags which click best – some of her sketches lean a little too heavily on stereotypes to the point where they feel predictable. That said, it’s

The comedy story of pretty much every Fringe in the near future is destined to be ‘can successful TikTok comics hack it live?’ The stars of ‘Knock, Knock’ – that’s host Coco Sarel (pictured) plus Henry Rowley, Steven McKell and Ayamé Ponder – have racked up kajillions of views, likes and swipes between them, and for the first time pretty much ever, they’re taking on comedy IRL. So, can they hack it? The short answer: yes and no.  Sarel opens the show with a disclaimer: the show is an ‘experiment’. It’s a sort of real life version of a TikTok For You Page where each artist is given a short stint on stage before being whisked off and replaced with someone else. By the very nature of it, some acts are more polished than others – but it’s still a brightly entertaining hour, even if you aren’t already familiar with the personalities. It becomes clear very quickly that Sarel is the stand-out. A confident, chirpy, cheeky host, she rattles off hilarious riffs about different personalities in female friendship group chats which had the crowd – and admittedly, herself – in stitches. McKell themed his content around his experiences of being one of eight siblings growing up in Fife, and while he rolls on with an excellent, cheery rhythm, some of his self-deprecating jokes feel slightly dated and lazy. Ponder is disappointing, too: her cocky woo-girl persona feels entitled rather than engaging and her closing skit fell flat thanks to its nervous, rushed set-up. Luckily, Rowley is on hand

Having written for the likes of ‘Bad Education’ and ‘Never Mind The Buzzcocks’, young comic Leila Navabi is making her Fringe debut with a show that explores the ethics of ‘exploiting marginalised identities for social gain’. It’s a frantic musical comedy about being Gen-Z, gay, Welsh and brown – interspersed with sketches, songs and some intentionally awkward piano playing.  There are some laugh-out-loud parts, like sketches about identifying as an imp and falling in love with a Claire’s accessories employee, or the song about potatoes (‘from patatas to vodka’), which feels fully fresh. Yet, as a whole, the whole thing doesn’t quite click. Some of the material was overly obscure and could have done with more explanation, like the Rishi Sunak and Prince Charles number.  Navabi comes across as very switched-on, but the hopeful takeaway message which she (luckily) spelled out at the end of the show was hard to decipher in all of the noise. It’s an okay start for somebody tipped as an emerging star, but it’s in need of some tightening up.

Disputes between unions and train companies in the UK have now been dragging on for well over a year, with rail workers taking action to protest poor pay and working conditions. So, it's a surprise to absolutely no one that further strikes are set to happen over the coming months. The RMT union recently voted to continue striking for at least the next six months, while ASLEF has also voted to continue taking action. Worried you might be affected? Here's everything you need to know.  RECOMMENDED: All you need to know about the train strikes in London. When are the next train strike dates? Following ASLEF and RMT action in early October, no more strike dates have been announced. However, both unions have voted to continue taking action, so expect more strikes in the near future.    What train lines will be affected? When RMT and ASLEF workers go on strike, these are the lines that are usually affected.  Avanti West Coast CrossCountry East Midlands Railway Great Western Railway LNER TransPennine Express c2c Greater Anglia GTR (Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern, Thameslink) Southeastern South Western Railway Chiltern Railways Northern Trains West Midlands Railway In addition, the Island Line on the Isle of Wight is affected by ASLEF action.  How will rail travel be affected by the strikes? Workers at most rail firms take part in strike action, so rail travel typically comes to a standstill all over the country. You can find out more about how services are affected on

When Seb Lowe started uploading videos of him singing to TikTok during the pandemic, it wasn’t long before he catapulted to viral success – connecting with tens of thousands through his witty, social commentary-style lyrics. ‘It all happened really fast,’ he says. Despite their more serious undertone, many of his songs have a distinctly cheeky feel to them, poking fun at authorities and scrutinising every day British life. ‘Some people write from a personal place and find therapy in that, but I prefer to write externally about what I see,’ he explains. Now, Seb has racked up more than eight million likes on the platform, has released a mini album and a handful of EPs, and recently embarked on a headline tour. Born and raised in Oldham, a town in Greater Manchester, he gives Time Out a tour of the best things to do.  Eat ‘I used to go to Molino Lounge all the time in college and get the Mexican pork tapas and halloumi fries. It’s pretty inexpensive, but still feels nice: it has quite an oldy-worldy, Victorian feel, but is colourful with paintings everywhere.’ Drink ‘Abaco in Uppermill is a small Italian coffee shop which has now expanded. It throws all sorts of events: like Christmas cocktail night, Spanish wine night. It’s a really nice vibe, I go literally all the time.’ Do ‘I used to be part of Oldham Theatre Workshop, who do lots of things with young people and have a professional team as well. I remember dressing up in a penguin mascot costume with a top hat one Christm

Did you watch Glastonbury 2023 on TV and wished you were right there in the crowd, surrounded by flags, singing along – rather than being propped on your sofa holding a cup of tea instead of an icy beer? We don’t blame you. There’s a reason why Glastonbury is near-impossible to get tickets for, and if you’re hoping to secure your spot in front of the Pyramid Stage in 2024, you’re going to need to start planning now. More than 200,000 revellers descended on Worthy Farm for the 2023 edition, but demand was unsurprisingly much higher. You might be an optimistic first-timer to the annual ticket scramble or a resilient regular – either way, you’re probably already well aware that it’s more likely to end in failure than success. One thing’s for sure, though: you’ll definitely regret not trying at all. Though 2023’s line-up proved a controversial one, the event was still, by all accounts, a roaring success. More than 3,000 acts performed across four days filled with surprise appearances, meaning that if none of the 2024 headliners float your boat (there’s a strong rumour that Taylor Swift will be there), there’s bound to be some music that does.  So, are you ready to plan ahead for 2024? Here’s everything you need to know about when tickets will go on sale – and how to register to buy them. Next year could well be your year. RECOMMENDED: Glastonbury 2023 review – controversial line-up doesn’t let the sun go down When will Glastonbury 2024 tickets go on sale? Coach and ticket package

Holidaymakers, we’ve got bad news. Baggage handling staff at Heathrow (the UK’s biggest and busiest airport) have announced that they’ll be going on strike for 13 days in October. The strike will coincide with October half term (October 23-27) – here’s everything you need to know about the strikes, from the dates they are taking place to the expected amount of disruption. When are the Heathrow strikes meant to take place?  Workers are set to strike for two periods. The first walkout will be from 5:30pm on October 6 to 6am on October 9. Then second strike will take place for ten straight days from October 20 (October 20-29).  Who is going on strike at Heathrow Airport? Around 170 baggage handling staff who work in the maintenance and servicing of baggage carousels will go on strike. The striking workers are members of the Unite union. What airlines are affected? The scale of the potential disruption at Heathrow hasn’t yet been quantified. The airport is apparently taking precautionary measures to ensure passenger services are not impacted.  Why are baggage handling workers striking? The workers are striking as part of an ongoing pay dispute.  What’s been said about the strikes?  Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘Workers at Heathrow Airport employed by Vanderlande do a safety and security critical role that passengers depend on. The fact that their employer refuses to recognise this, as shown by their pitiful pay offer, speaks volumes. ‘Our members will have

We’ve been hearing about the death of the high street for the best part of a decade now. But with iconic stores closing down and boarded-up shopfronts in basically every town, it feels like it’s finally upon us. The latest in high street closures comes in the form of bank branches and building societies shutting down, with a whopping 5,355 closed (or planned to close) since the start of 2015. There have already been dozens of physical bank closures this year, with nearly 300 more scheduled to shut down by the end of this year. More branches have been announced to shut in 2024 as well.     Here’s everything you need to know about the bank branches closing for good in the UK.  RECOMMENDED: Here’s the full list of high street stores closing in 2023. Why are bank branches closing down?  Building societies and banks are closing their doors and disappearing from the high street as more customers move to online services and mobile banking to manage their money (and as a result, use physical branches less and less). Banks are also looking for ways to cut costs, and closing branches is an easy option.  What can I do if my local branch has closed down?  The easiest option would be to get to grips with online and mobile banking, which allows you to do most (if not all) of the services available at in-person banks. However, it’s not always an option for everyone. A new scheme which recently launched allows people to pay in or withdraw money from accounts held at most major banks at UK

Young Fathers have always been familiar faces in Edinburgh’s Cowgate nightlife scene, having first met at a hip-hop night at the Bongo Club while still in their teens. It was a few doors down, though, at Sneaky Pete’s, where they first felt properly at home as a band in their Scottish hometown. Fast forward to 2023 and the band’s new album, ‘Heavy Heavy’ – a joyfully eclectic record fusing rap, gospel, churring percussion and reverberating bass – has been nominated for a Mercury Prize, nine years after the trio took home the award back in 2014. Ahead of the awards ceremony on Thursday, Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole and Graham ‘G’ Hastings speak to Time Out about how integral Sneaky Pete’s is to their hometown’s music scene.  ‘Sneaky Pete’s is a dingy wee place on Edinburgh’s Cowgate. It’s dark, sweaty and very loud, and it never disappoints. As soon as you walk through the door you can see the stage straight away. It’s only about 100 capacity, so it’s very social – you’re so crammed in, you kind of have to be. The space doesn’t even have a dressing room: if you’re playing, you have to walk through the crowd, which is a really nice, humbling thing. It’s a sad fact that Edinburgh doesn’t have as big a scene as other cities for up-and-coming bands or alternative artists ‘The first time we played at Sneaky’s, we got changed at Alloy’s flat – he lived across the road for about 14 years – and just walked over. At this point, we’d already played some shows in Glasgow, but had

I can’t be the only one who has whipped their phone out at a gig, thinking – for a split second – that I could be 2023’s version of The Cobrasnake. You scramble with the flash and stand on your tip-toes, lurching over the back of someone’s sweaty head to sneak a photo of a guitar solo. ‘This is the shot,’ you think. But when you look at your phone the next day, all you have is one big blur, staring back at you in disappointment. Thankfully, there are some people out there who actually do a good job of music photography – and they can normally do it without ruining the vibe of the crowd, too. Abbey Road Studios (you know, the recording studio where the Beatles did their thing), launched the Music Photography Awards last year to showcase some of that talent, and it is back in 2023 for another go.  More than 14,000 images from 30 countries were submitted to this year’s competition, spanning categories like live music, ‘in the studio’, underground scenes and editorial. You can spot plenty of familiar faces in the shortlist, like Stormzy, Billie Eilish, Harry Styles and Caroline Polacheck – as well as more left-field subjects, like the Margate Mod Weekender and alt UK rapper Onoe Caponoe. The judges for this year included Rankin, Cat Burns, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Mae Muller – and their verdict is in. Check out a selection of the shortlisted images below.  Photograph: Tom PallantYUNG BLUD Photograph: Alex AmorósMargate Mod Weekender Photograph: Nicole Fara SilverBillie Eili

Stand-up superwoman Jordan Gray grew up in what she calls dark Essex – ‘deep, dark Thurrock, Grays, Stanford and Tilbury’ – and moved to Southend six years ago, a classic seaside city with a renowned pleasure pier and seven-mile-long coastline. ‘It’s 45 minutes on a train from London, but with the ocean at your door’, she says. ‘So, it’s impossible to feel claustrophobic.’ Jordan performed at the opening gala of at this year’s first-ever Roundhouse Comedy Festival, which according to her, ‘has a solid lineup of top-tier comedy,’ with appearances from the likes of Sophie Duker, James Acaster and Katherine Ryan. Here, Jordan tells us about her favourite plays to eat, see, and have fun in Southend – just in time for the last weeks of summer.  Eat ‘I had my wedding party above the Ask Italian in Southend. We weren’t going to do anything and then a friend of ours also had their reception upstairs. My partner’s picky about food, so it was either we don’t have a reception or we have it at an Italian chain restaurant. But the staff were so wonderful and it was really sweet. And it was such good food: just consistently good food.’ Do ‘Little Smash Comedy is an open mic comedy night at The Alex pub in Southend (it’s also at the Temple Café and the Shoeburyness Hotel). I tried out my show there that I’m touring this year, which I took to the Edinburgh Fringe. The night is run by a guy called Ross McGrane and some of the best people in the country right now will perform, as well as peopl

Hot Swiftie summer is well under way. Us UK-based Taylor fans have been waiting around for months, pouring over set lists and constantly refreshing our feeds to hear news about the star arriving on our shores. It’s taken the meaning of FOMO to a whole other level. But now, finally, we’ve been put out of our misery. UK Eras Tour dates have been announced, including a total of five massive Wembley shows and support from Paramore.  As her US tour starts to come to an end, we’ve seen TayTay perform through a torrential storm, dive head first into the stage, partake in a short-lived (and bizarre) relationship with The 1975 frontman Matty Healy, and bring her ex Taylor Lautner out to do a few backflips. We can only hope that the UK leg will be just as exciting and spectacular.  RECOMMENDED: Everything you need to know about Taylor Swift’s 2024 London datesExpert tips to get tickets for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in the UKAll you need to know about Pulp at Cardiff International Arena It looks like securing tickets to this tour will take military level planning and strategy (you can check out our top tips here). Not only are there different age restrictions for different venues (you’ll want to check that out on the individual venue websites), there are also different sale dates for different cities. There may be some technical issues involved too. Presale for the US tour crashed the Ticketmaster website due to ‘historically unprecedented demand’ and the general sale was cancelled due t

‘How am I already back in London hearing sirens?’ says Mahalia, a few days after performing at Glastonbury 2023. ‘That place is like a whole other world.’ The R&B singer-songwriter played the penultimate Saturday slot on the West Holts stage during peak golden hour – AKA, the perfect backdrop for a soft, soul-fuelled performance. What’s next? ‘Right now I’m really focused on this album coming out and then I’m probably going to take a big exhale,’ she says. ‘This record is like a letter of independence. I started writing it after I moved in on my own following a break-up. I used to be really co-dependent in relationships – but eventually I loved being by myself.’ Born and bred in the Midlands, she guides us round her hometown of Leicester, sharing the best places to grab a bite to eat and catch live music.   Eat   ‘Bobby’s is a vegetarian only Indian restaurant and takeaway. It’s unbelievable. Anybody who knows Leicester knows it. My dad has been veggie for as long as I’ve known, so whenever we wanted an Indian for dinner, we’d order from there. I used to love going to pick it up: my dad would have his cash in his pocket and Bobby, the guy who used to own the place, would always sit at the front in a little chair. They did these really big samosas – the best I've ever had in my life – and every Christmas, my dad would show up with a box filled with like 50. Now, whenever I do a show at home, I always ask my tour manager if we can stop on the way and get some.’ Drink ‘The Exch

Thinking of moving house this year? If you happen to have a fair amount of money and care about what The Sunday Times has to say, you’re not going to want to miss this. The newspaper has just released its annual ranking of the UK’s best places to live. The Sussex market town of Wadhurst (population 5,000) topped the bill, praised for its rolling hills, starry night skies and quaint cottages. The judges also highlighted the town’s good schools, convenient transport links, bustling high street and close-knit community.  The list took into account factors including transport links, culture, broadband speeds, access to nature and the state of high streets. Seventy-one other locations also made the list, with a winner crowned from each region of the UK. Crouch End was named the best spot to live in London, beating Notting Hill and Beckenham, while Dunkeld, Perthshire, was crowned the best place to live in Scotland and Liverpool beat Manchester for the top spot in north-east England. Here are the best places to live in the UK in 2023, according to The Sunday Times: Overall winner: Wadhurst, East Sussex East of England Winner: Saffron Walden, EssexAylsham, NorfolkBourn, CambridgeshireBuckhurst Hill, EssexDedham Vale, SuffolkFelixstowe, SuffolkNorwich London Winner: Crouch EndBeckenhamHackney borders N1 and E8EarlsfieldKing’s CrossNotting HillWoolwich Midlands Winner: Leamington Spa, WarwickshireDigbeth, Stirchley, BirminghamBishop’s Castle, ShropshireGreat Malvern, WorcestershireM

You’d maybe expect the home of a famous spy novelist to be deep in a secret bunker or hidden away down a discreet passageway. Yet this cosy country house in Somerset – complete with panelled ceilings, a neatly mown lawn, French windows and an intricate Georgian fireplace – was once home to John Le Carré, who wrote ‘The Spy Who Came in From the Cold’ and ‘Tinker Sailor Soldier Spy’.  The novelist moved to Stoppers Lane in Wells, Somerset, after leaving MI6 in 1965. The Grade-II listed property dates back to the seventeenth century, and is now on the market for £1.9 million. The house comes complete with a terracotta-tiled kitchen, a sun-filled conservatory and library to get lost in a spy novel or two. The lucky buyer will also get five bedrooms – one with its own dressing room and ensuite – as well as a roomy attic and luscious gardens.  That’s not all, though. Stoppers Lane is also home to an external cottage east of the main building, complete with its own living room, kitchen, dining room and ensuite bedroom, as well as its own private walled garden and separate access from Stoppers Lane. Le Carré apparently wrote his 1965 novel ‘The Looking Glass War’ here, so you can bet it is a peaceful spot.  The house is for sale via Inigo. Find out more here.  ICYMI: Everything you need to know about the 2023 Cardiff World Naked Bike Ride. Plus: How to get tickets for Glastonbury 2024.