#london-weekend

#london-weekend

The Page & Overton's Brewery started in a small red brick building on Overton's Yard and slowly expanded into buildings on the other side of the yard, dominating the area for decades.

The annual National Pub & Bar Awards nominees have just been announced, and eight London pubs have made the list of 252 pubs and bars across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland vying for pub supremacy.

The museum, which displays Walthamstow's colourful cultural history - not to mention Britain's first ever petrol-fuelled car - closed for renovation in December 2023.

In October last year, permission was given by councillors in London to turn the iconic Trocadero building into a two-storey casino and restaurant. Situated on Coventry Street, it is perfectly situated between Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square. This meeting place and bustling hub has long been at the heart of London's entertainment scene.

We've loved being part of these communities and just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who's walked through these doors. It's been a privilege to serve you.

But saving up doesn't mean resigning yourself to weekends full of nothing. Especially in London. Sure, there are countless things in the city that can very easily tempt you to part with your cash, but there are also plenty of art exhibitions, cultural festivals and annual gatherings happening this weekend that are completely free of charge. Even if you're not trying to be money conscious right now, they're worth your time.

Getty Images Footfall in London's West End reached its highest level since 2020 over the 2025 festive season, new figures show. The Heart of London Business Alliance (HOLBA) said visitor numbers in December were up 19% on the same month in 2024 across its central London district. The area, which includes Piccadilly, Leicester Square and Haymarket, also recorded longer visits, with people staying an average of 42 minutes more than in December 2024.

'Excellently-done rotisserie chicken with a series of vintage sides,' said our four star review of the restaurant, which opened in 2023.

took me out for lunch at... the Hampstead branch of Ottolenghi. You see, the former Londoner, who now mainly lives in LA but still has a flat in Notting Hill, is a regular at her local Ottolenghi, and knew it was a failsafe. (Our order? Sharing plates of the roasted carrot and feta, aubergine, and lemony cabbage salads, the lamb koftas and a glass of Riesling for Robbie.)

London is a city that rewards curiosity. Beyond the iconic landmarks, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye, lies a quieter, more intimate version of the capital. This is the London locals know: tucked-away streets, overlooked parks, independent cafés, and historic corners that rarely make it into guidebooks. For travellers willing to stray from the obvious routes, the city offers countless hidden gems that reveal its true character.

At Troubadour, we are driven by a belief in creating extraordinary spaces that inspire artists, audiences, and the stories they come together to share. The 3,000 seat venue is to be built in Greenwich Securing planning permission for the new Troubadour Greenwich Peninsula Theatre marks a major milestone for us, and an exciting new chapter in our commitment to bold, large-scale live performance.

But at the end of this month, there's a brand new festival arriving to inject some colour into the financial district. 'Vibrance' will light up Roman ruins, medieval churches and secret gardens across the Square Mile on Thursday January 29 and Friday January 30 from 5.30pm until 8.30pm. Created by Guildhall Production Studio, it brings together more than a dozen artworks and live performances by emerging artists from Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

A Valentine's date doesn't have to be anything extravagant. Sure, a fancy meal is nice and all, but St Valentine's Day is really about giving quality time to your favourite people, whether that be a partner, pals or a situationship that you're trying to turn into something a bit deeper. This year V Day falls on a Saturday, which means there's an awful lot of time to fill. But, like we said, that doesn't have to involve big spending.