Things to do in London in August 2023
It’s the height of summer, but the weather is anything but balmy. Raincoats and jumpers are the order of the day, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a good time in London this weekend. The city is always buzzing with energy, no matter what the weather, and there are plenty of things to do to keep you entertained.
1. Dance in the W11 streets at Notting Hill Carnival
Dancing, music and masquerade – make the most of the Notting Hill Carnival with our full guide to all the info, dates, timings details and tips.
For a lot of Londoners, Notting Hill Carnival on the August Bank Holiday Weekend flashes by in a blaze of feathers, Red Stripe and tinnitus. To those who make it happen, it’s a year-round operation to create one of the biggest and oldest street parties in the world. This Carnival weekend, it’s expected that more than two million people will flock to west London to dance in the streets of W11. It’s free to join family day on the Sunday and the Monday which is for the hard partiers. It’s a celebration of freedom and Caribbean culture, with an iconic parade showcasing the best of mas, soca, calypso, steel bands and soundsystems. What are you waiting for?
When is Notting Hill Carnival 2023?
West London is getting taken over again with dazzling floats, kaleidoscopically dressed performers, rib-shaking soundsystems, the sweet, smoky smell of jerk chicken and steel bands over the August Bank Holiday weekend from Sunday August 27 to Monday August 28.
When is family day for Notting Hill Carnival?
Family day is on Carnival Sunday August 27 2023. The official opening ceremony will take place from 10am to 10.30am on Great Western road, before the children’s day parade and Carnival Parade kicks off and runs until 5pm.
Which is the better day at Carnival?
If you’re after a more chilled NHC experience, go for family day on Sunday, or if you like the sound of a hard-partying parade, make sure to go on Carnival Monday. The festivities kick off with an opening ceremony on Sunday morning, with the parade starting at 10am. Monday’s adult’s day parade starts at 10.30am and afterparties run until after dark. There’s nothing stopping you from going both days, of course.
Do I need a ticket for Notting Hill Carnival?
The NHC parade is free for anyone to attend and everyone is welcome. But, if you want to join in with the parade, you need to be part of a group authorised to do so, or pay to join the procession. If you want to continue the festivities into the night, you will need to buy a ticket for one of the countless afterparties across the city.
Travel by tube:
As Notting Hill’s roads will be closed off throughout the Bank Holiday weekend, you won’t be able to get an Uber or catch a bus into the heart of the action. But there are plenty of nearby tube stations are within walking distance of the main event including Notting Hill Gate, which will be ‘exit only’ from 11am to 7pm each day, to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of people using the station that day. FYI: there will be no interchange between the Circle and District line and Central Line on both days.
Royal Oak and Westbourne Park will be ‘exit only’ from 11am to 6pm, with Royal Oak closing thereafter and Westbourne Park closing after 11.30pm. Also don’t forget: Latimer road will be closed from 11.30pm on both days. Avoid Ladbroke Grove and Holland Park as they’re both closed on Sunday and Monday.
Want a Carnival hack? Don’t forget to pick a meeting point in advance for when you inevitably lose your mates in the crowd.
2. Glowing animatronic swans will fill the Thames at this year’s Greenwich + Docklands Festival
London’s spectacular free outdoor Greenwich + Docklands International Festival is back for 2023. The free line-up once again features the sort of spectacular installations that have become its hallmark since the pandemic moved the focus away from street theatre. Look out for ‘Cygnus’ by Denis Bivour and Florian Giefer, which will see illuminated animatronic swans fill the Thames at the Royal Docks (Aug 31-Sep 3), the festival opener ‘Open Lines’ (Aug 25) and the return of GDIF regulars Greenwich Fair (a big Greenwich-wide family fun day on Aug 26).
3. Dance to Stormzy, The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, HAIM, Erykah Badu and more at All Points East
Since its inception in 2018, All Points East has earned a reputation for a varied blend of musical styles and genres. Back in Vicky Park for another instalment, it’s confirmed big-hitting headliners Stormzy, HAIM, The Strokes, Jungle and Dermot Kennedy. The support acts are just as enticing, with the likes of Erykah Badu, Amyl and the Sniffers, Confidence Man, Angel Olsen, Tove Lo and more warming up the stage. This all comes bookended with free activities around the local area from In The NBHD.
Line-up: Stormzy, The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, HAIM, Erykah Badu, Dermot Kennedy, Jungle.
This year’s headliners are Stormzy (August 18), Field Day (August 19), The Strokes (August 25), Jungle (August 26), Dermot Kennedy (August 27) and Haim (August 28).
The rest of the line-up features a huge range of artists, from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Erykah Badu to Angel Olsen, Confidence Man, Sampha and Kehlani.
How to get tickets
You can get tickets for each day on the official website here.
Ticket prices differ depending on the tier and entry time you choose. Some dates still have primary entry available, and ticket prices can start from £57.05. However, it looks like it’s selling out, so be sure to book now to avoid disappointment.
4. Tuck into six-course tasting menu inspired by fantastical tales at Six by Nico
Get a nostalgic captivating dining experience, inspired by fantastical tales
Word about Six by Nico has spread across the country thanks to its novel concept: its ever-evolving six-course tasting menu changes every six weeks each time with a different theme inviting you on a journey of discovery to experience new flavours. Whether you are a food novice or connoisseur, enjoy a carefully curated experience with everything from an amuse-bouche to an indulging dessert. Right now you can tuck into the ‘Once Upon A Time: Chapter II’ menu inspired by fantastical tales.
Highlights
- A carefully curated six-course tasting menu inspired by nostalgic memories
- Offer also includes a glass of Prosecco
- Vegetarian menu also available
- Over 30% off
Time Out says
Famed for its ever-evolving restaurant concept, where the menu changes every six weeks, Six By Nico invites you on a journey of discovery to experience new flavours. Whether you are a food novice or connoisseur, enjoy a carefully curated experience with a six-course tasting menu with everything from an amuse bouche that pleases the palate to an indulging dessert. Enjoy the ‘Once Upon A Time: Chapter II’ menu, a captivating dining experience, inspired by fantastical tales that are sure to delight with every bite.
What’s on the menu?
Once Upon A Time: Chapter II
Course One
Bird Pie – The Twits; Chicken & Duck Leg Ragu, Pickled Celeriac, Prune & Caramelised Puff Pastry
Course Two
Just Right Porridge – Goldilocks; Spaetzle, Barbecue Maitake, White Turnip, Black Garlic Dressing
Course Three
I Like Them, Sam-I-Am! – Dr. Seuss; Smoked Ham Hough Sandwich, Garden Pea Pesto, Egg Yolk Jam
Course Four
Dip Face, Have A Carrot – Matilda; Sole Ballotine, Tandoori Baked Carrot, Carrot Top Pesto, Lobster Jus
Course Five
I’ll Huff, And I’ll Puff! – Three Little Pigs; Pork Roulade, Pumpkin, Sweet & Sour Choucroute, Smoked Ash Emulsion, Bourguignon Jus
Course Six
Brucey! Brucey! – Matilda; 54% Chocolate Cremeux, Miso Caramel, Mango & Passion Fruit
Need to know
- This voucher is valid for six courses and a glass of Prosecco at Six By Nico.
- To redeem, please book here, with your preferred date and time. Please include your voucher, and security code in the comments section.
- The Once Upon A Time: Chapter II menu will be available to book during the valid dates of this voucher. Please visit Six by Nico to view all menu options at both Fitzrovia and Canary Wharf locations.
- The six-course tasting menu is priced at £48 per person with the option to enjoy an expertly selected wine. Specialist drinks pairing for an additional £35 at each restaurant.
- All Six by Nico menus can cater to dietary requirements and can be made vegan upon request and if enough notice is given to our team of chefs.
- Voucher valid until September 24, 2023.
- Please present your voucher upon arrival.
- Offer not valid on Saturdays.
- Maximum booking of six people.
- One voucher per person.
- Menu subject to change.
- The restaurant must be informed of any changes/cancellations – if the booking is cancelled within 24 hours of your booking, the voucher will be deemed to have been redeemed for the current booking and cannot be used towards a new booking.
- Location(s): Six by Nico Fitzrovia, 41 Charlotte Street, London W1T 1RR and Six by Nico Canary Wharf, Chancellor Passage, London E14 5EA.
- This voucher cannot be cancelled, amended, exchanged, refunded or used in conjunction with any other offer. For full terms and conditions.
The Best Upcoming Events in London in July 2023
The Best of London in July 2023: Your Ultimate Guide to Events and Things to Do.
July is a great time to be in London. The weather is warm and sunny, the city's parks are lush and green, and there are plenty of exciting events happening.
1. The BBC Proms is back with a whole load of classical treats
☆ Music, ☆ South Kensington, ☆
Another year, another spectacular line-up of classical music, kicking off with a series of Nordic music and a world premiere from Ukrainian composer, Bohdana Frolyak on July 14, and waving us off in the traditional flurry of Union Jacks and bow ties on September 9. In 2023 the BBC Proms will be treating us to a huge range of programming featuring composers and orchestras from Berlioz to Bollywood, large scale symphonic and choral work, as well as intimate chamber concerts and exciting debuts. Look out for big classical hitters like Sir Stephen Hough, Sir Simon Rattle and Chineke! orchestra as well as more off-the-wall editions like orchestral collaborations with non-classical artists, including Rufus Wainwright, Self Esteem and Jon Hopkins, the first Bollywood Prom, Northern Soul Prom and the first concert featuring fado with Portuguese singer Mariza. For little ones, the Horrible Histories present ‘Orrible Opera, while unusual experiences for young and old include a late night Moon and Stars Prom and the Fantasy, Myths and Legends Prom featuring music from film, TV and gaming. Booking ahead is recommended.
2. Head to London Zoo after dark" with "Embark on a unique adults-only adventure
☆ Zoo Nights are back for 2023!
A reincarnation of Zoo Lates (which ended in 2015), Zoo Nights brings ‘after hours’ fun to ZSL London Zoo. Explore the zoo without crowds or kids in the way (this is an adults only experience), hear the Birds and The Bees guided tour where expert guides reveal what animals get up to after dark, play animal-themed games, graze on delicious international street food (there’s plenty for herbivores and carnivores alike) or grab a drink at one of the bars. Time to unpack that elephant onsie?
Highlights
- See the zoo without the kids or the crowds!
- Animal-themed games
- Street food and bars also available
- Get tickets now for just £19.50
When and where?
Fridays, June 9 until July 28 from 6 pm at London Zoo
Need to know
- This is valid for a ticket to Zoo Nights at London Zoo.
- This event is restricted to those aged 18 and over.
- This booking is only valid for your selected date/time option.
- Arrival from 6 pm, last entry at 9 pm, event ends at 10 pm.
- Please note the majority of the animal exhibits will close at 9 pm, with some exceptions closing at 9.30 pm.
- *Additional charges apply for the Birds and The Bees guided tour.
- Please present your booking confirmation upon arrival.
- Location: Outer Circle, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY.
- This ticket cannot be cancelled, amended, exchanged, refunded or used in conjunction with any other offer.
3. Immerse yourself in the excitement of Wimbledon on a giant screen
☆ Things to do
Missed out on tickets in the Wimbledon Tennis Championships ballot? Can’t face camping out on the street for day tickets? No problem. London is a city that gives back and this summer it will be peppered with big screens showing all the Murray Mound (okay, Henman Hill) action in so much blown-up high-res glory that you might as well be court-side.
This year the tournament (which started in 1877!) runs from Monday 3rd July 2023 to Sunday 16th July 2023 and you’ll catch screens across the capital showing most matches on each day of the event, so there are plenty of opportunities to spend an afternoon or evening in a sweet viewing spot.
There will be more big screens announced nearer the time, many of which will also have extras such as special edition cocktails, food offers and even pop-up tennis coaching. Take that Centre Court.
4. Ballie Ballerson: The ultimate adult playground for kidults
Highlights
- Ticket includes all-night entry, two-hour ball pit session and a cocktail
- Ball pits, dance floor & more
- Just £6!
Need to know
- This voucher is valid for a two-hour ball pit session, all-night bar entry and 1 signature cocktail at Ballie Ballerson.
- Availability: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6 pm until close.
- Please present your Time Out booking confirmation to the door team upon arrival to claim your cocktail.
- To book your ball pit session, select your preferred time slot and enter the unique voucher code from your Time Out booking confirmation, here.
- Voucher must be purchased and ball pit session booked before entry to the venue.
- Voucher valid until 30 September 2023.
- This offer is restricted to those aged 18 and over. Valid ID is required for entry.
- Offer not valid on student nights.
- Ballie Ballerson reserves the right to offer another cocktail choice of the same value if necessary.
- Location: 97-113 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3BS.
- This voucher cannot be cancelled, amended, exchanged, refunded or used in conjunction with any other offer. For full terms and conditions, please see here.
5. Sit down and tuck into a grand Italian feast at the Museum of the Home
☆ Things to do, ☆ Food and drink events ☆ Hoxton, ☆
Think of your dream dinner party... then dial that vision up to 11 because mightly quaffable Italian beer Birrificio Angelo Poretti is offering Londoners a seat at it’s very own summer banquet and you can expect something straight out of your tablescaped dreams. Poretti has teamed up with Insta famous Mob Kitchen for the feast with recipe developer Jordon Ezra King creating an authentic three-course Italian menu that pairs perfectly with, you guessed it, ice-cold carafes of Poretti beer.
The beautiful Museum of the Home in Hackney will be hosting a huge banqueting table where 100 guests will sit down and tuck in over three sittings (12.30pm-2.30pm; 4pm-6pm; 7.30pm-9.30pm). Expect dishes you’ll want to photograph for posterity, the chance to chat to new people and decorations that’ll transport you straight to northern Italy. Bellissimo.
Buy Ticket
Experience an array of unmissable events and things to do in London June 2023.
Discover a vibrant lineup of exciting events taking place in London throughout the month of June. Immerse yourself in the cultural, entertainment, and artistic offerings that the city has to offer during this time.
June in London is one of those months that’s filled with a sense of excitement. It’s that ‘school’s out!’ feeling, until you remember that you left school years ago, and ‘summer holidays’ don’t really exist for adults. Shame.
June is also the start of summer in London, which means the capital’s beer gardens are at their prime, the city parks are at their prettiest, the open-air theatre season gets into full swing and eating alfresco is on the cards at some of London’s best restaurants. Plus, expect to see long queues in south west London as tennis fans line up to bag a place at the epic Wimbledon championships.
1. Summer Exhibition 2023
it’s back. The RA’s annual showcase of all the artists you need to know about right now returns for its 255th edition to brighten up the summer holidays. The world’s oldest open submission exhibition (which means anyone can enter their work to be considered for inclusion), the artist with the big job of sifting through the works and curating them this year is David Remfry. He’ll be exploring the theme ‘Only Connect’, inspired by a quote from the novel ‘Howards End’ by E. M. Forster.
Here are the three things you'll see at the Summer Exhibition
Big names
Now in its 255th year, the Summer Exhibition still knows how to get the big art names in. Expect work from the likes of Frank Bowling, Michael Craig-Martin, Tracey Emin, Gillian Wearing and the late Paula Rego, as well as Honorary Royal Academicians Mimmo Paladino, Pipilotti Rist and Kiki Smith. Newly elected Royal Academicians Roger Hiorns, Hew Locke, Veronica Ryan and Barbara Walker will be submitting works, as well as newly elected Honorary Royal Academician Kara Walker.
Little names
The great thing about the Summer Exhibition is that it’s open to all, and the selectors pick from thousands of entries. That means that your mate’s mum’s weird little whittled sculptures of George Michael might be shown alongside something by Antony Gormley. It’s a good opportunity to spot an art star of the future. And also see weird stuff by your mate’s mum.
And a huge amount of art
There are usually hundreds of works in this sprawling show. From miniature paintings to enormous canvases, architectural models to photography, there’s something for everyone. And hey, most of it is for sale, so you may just be able to nab a bargain.
2. Serpentine Pavilion
As sure as the sun will rise and winter will turn into spring, Hyde Park will play host to a new Serpentine Pavilion every year, and 2023’s has just hatched into the world. This one was designed by French-Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh and is inspired by the Mediterranean urge to sit around a dining table and put the world to rights. The name of the pavilion is ‘À table’, French for ‘sit the f**k down at the dinner table or you’re going to get a whack around the ear’. The idea is that it’s meant to make visitors think about the table as a place of discussion, engagement, dialogue and exchange, all while sharing a meal.
3. River Stage
4. Pub in the Park
5. ‘Newsies’
✡ till June 25 at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, Wembley
Highlights
-
- Olivier Award-winning musical now in the UK
- Performing at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
- Tickets from just £16.50!
Imagine a cross between ‘Annie’, ‘Les Miserables’, and one of those elaborate gymnastic-based spectacles staged by communist countries and you’re halfway there to imaging Disney’s cult classic musical ‘Newsies’ about striking that has finally hit the UK. The Troubadour Theatre’s high-octane production captures all its vigorous spirit, sending its huge cast of plucky, rebellious paperboys tumbling and leaping across its mammoth stage as they stand up to the big bosses who are determined to grind them down.
Need to know
- This is valid for a ticket to Disney's Newsies at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.
- This booking is only valid for your selected date/time option and band.
- E-tickets will be sent directly from the box office via email, please present your tickets upon arrival at the venue. If you do not receive your e-tickets by the day of your performance, please contact the box office via wptboxoffice@kxtickets.com, for assistance.
- Time Out booking confirmations cannot be used to gain entry as seats are allocated by the box office and not by Time Out. Customers purchasing multiple tickets in the same transaction under the same name will be sat together.
- Doors open 30 minutes before each performance. The show runs approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, including interval.
- Location: 3 Fulton Road, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 0SP.
- This voucher cannot be cancelled, amended, exchanged, refunded or used in conjunction with any other offer.
6. ‘Crazy for You’
The legendary Susan Stroman directs this massive new West End production of the beloved retro musical
‘Crazy for You’ is a golden age musical comedy that’s actually from 1992: writer Ken Ludwig took a load of classic songs by George and Ira Gershwin – largely from the 1930 musical ‘Girl Crazy’ – and spun them into a shimmeringly delightful retro confection that’s almost indistinguishable from the era it’s paying homage to, the odd knowing flourish aside. Following Bobby Child, a rich banking scion who must – for complicated reasons – stage a successful musical in a backwater Nevada town in order to win over the woman he loves, it’s a loving tribute to a bygone era of great American musicals that probably seemed more distant in the Lloyd Webber-dominated early ’90s than it does now.
The original production was choreographed by the great Susan Stroman; for this revival – which has already played to great acclaim at the Chichester Festival Theatre – she also directs a cast headed up by Charlie Stemp and Tom Edden.
Details
- Event website: www.CrazyForYouMusical.com
- Address: Gillian Lynne Theatre. 166. Drury Lane (corner of Parker Street), London. WC2B 5PW
- Transport: Tube: Covent Garden/Holborn
- Price: £25-£250
7. Gouqi
Chef Tong Chee Hwee, who helped earn Mayfair Chinese spot Hakkasan its Michelin star is back on the London food scene cooking up elevated and refined dishes using techniques and ingredients from across China at Gouqi. Try the Angus tenderloin beef with black pepper sauce, sautéed crystal jumbo prawns with yellow chive in XO sauce, or clay pot silken egg tofu with wild mushroom and vegetable for yourself with this eqclusive deal letting you enjoy top-tier dining for just £45 per person.
Highlights
- Three courses of Chinese fine dining from seven Michelin-starred chef Tong Chee Hwee
- Plus a glass of wine
- Now just £45 per person (minimum booking of two required)
Everyone loves a comeback. This restaurant marks a return to London’s restaurant scene for Chef Tong, who worked across Singaporean and Malaysian restaurants, before securing a spot at Hakkasan (when the restaurant earned its Michelin star). Now, he’s cementing his place as a figurehead at Gouqi, where he creates elevated and refined dishes using techniques and ingredients from across China. Enjoy top-tier dining for just £45 per person, where you indulge in dishes like Angus tenderloin beef with black pepper sauce, sautéed crystal jumbo prawns with yellow chive in XO sauce, or clay pot silken egg tofu with wild mushroom and vegetable. How dreamy does that sound?
What's on the menu?
Starter - choose one:
Crispy aromatic duck salad
Lotus root salad with courgette and black fungus (V)
Main - choose one:
Angus tenderloin beef with black pepper sauce
Sautéed crystal jumbo prawns with yellow chive in XO sauce
Claypot silken egg tofu with wild mushroom and vegetable (V)
with seasonal vegetables and steamed Jasmine rice (V)
Dessert - choose one:
Banana, Miso, Caramelised White Chocolate and Coffee
Mango, Passion Fruit and Coconut (V)
Need to know
- This voucher is valid for three courses and a drink at Gouqi.
- Minimum of two people to book
- Availability: Monday to Friday noon - 2.30 pm, daily 5.30 pm - 6.30 pm / 9.30 pm - 10 pm. Blackout dates may apply. Subject to availability.
- To redeem, please send your booking confirmation to reservations@gouqi-restaurants.co.uk or call 0203 771 8886 with your preferred date and time. Your voucher, security code and QR code must be clear.
- Please present your voucher upon arrival.
- Voucher valid until > July 30, 2023.
- Menu subject to change. Offer includes house wine only.
- Please inform the restaurant of any allergies or dietary requirements in advance.
- The restaurant must be informed of any changes/cancellations within 48 hours of your booking. If the booking is cancelled after this time, the voucher will be deemed to have been redeemed for the current booking and cannot be used towards a new booking.
- Dress code is smart casual.
- Prices and menus online are subject to changes.
- Gouqi is located opposite the Canadian Embassy on Cockspur Street, and next to Trafalgar Hotel.
- Location: 25-34 Cockspur Street, London, SW1Y 5BN.
- This voucher cannot be cancelled, amended, exchanged, refunded or used in conjunction with any other offer.
The best coronation events in London to celebrate King Charles III
London is filled with events and gets a big bank holiday weekend to mark the King’s coronation.
It’s time to ring off a big long weekend in your calendar in regal purple. Yep, there’s another big royal event on the horizon: King Charles III’s coronation, and it’s shaping up to be one big, long party. Plans for the shindig have been in the works since Charles took the throne back in September and the festivities are expected to include no less than two processions, a religious service and big ol’ concert at Windsor Castle.
Whether you’re a flag-wielding monarchist or a staunch Republican, there’s no getting away from the celebrations and one thing we can all get behind as part of the proceedings is that Monday May 8 will be a bank holiday. So we can all *fingers crossed* bag an extra day off.
You’ll probably be spared being marched up the Tower of London if you don’t fancy taking part in the festivities. But if you do want to have a royally good time there’s plenty going on across London in the name of a ‘National Celebration’. Here are the best ways in London to celebrate the start of Charles III’s reign in London.
When is King Charles’s coronation and where is it taking place?
The coronation will take place on Saturday May 6 2023, eight months on from his appointment as King on September 8 2022. Get excited.
We’ll all be getting an extra bank holiday to mark the occasion. Monday May 8 2023 has been named as the day. two days after the official coronation service at Westminster Abbey.
The ceremony will be held at Westminster Abbey. Charles will be crowned alongside the Queen Consort Camilla.
1. King Charles III Coronation Procession
Heads of state, British VIPs and other important-sounding people will descend on London for the coronation of King Charles III taking place on the morning of Saturday May 6 2023. The service will take place at Westminster Abbey, but you’ll have to have an invite in order to see that. However, if you still want to glimpse a slice of the action you can line the parade route to the service for free, also known as ‘The King’s Procession’.
The procession is due to start at Buckingham Palace and will head down The Mall before turning right around the corner of St James’s Park, through the Horse Guards Parade, down Parliament Street before ending at Westminster Abbey.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to line the route, so best get there early if you want a front row spot. There’ll also be screens in key areas if you sleep through your alarm.
2. The Coronation Concert
How do you celebrate a King’s coronation in the twenty-first century? With a big ol’ concert apparently. The Royal Family has confirmed a massive shindig will take place in Windsor Castle the day after King Charles III’s official ascension to the throne, promising to ‘bring together music icons and contemporary stars’. A world-class orchestra will play interpretations of musical favourites fronted by musicians and other performers and spoken word performances, all topped off with staging and effects on the Castle’s East Lawn.
3. The Royal Palace at Madame Tussauds
Marylebone
Step into Buckingham Palace and meet the Royals (kind of). Okay okay, it’s actually a recreation of the Royal gaff at Madame Tussauds, but on your visit you’ll be able to brush shoulders with the King and the Queen Consort (in wax form, of course) and snap as many pictures as you like, have a spot of afternoon tea and wave from the Royal Balcony.
4. Coronation Events at Biscuiteers
5. Mayfair’s Coronation Garden Party
Grab a deckchair, sip on some sparkling wine and watch the Coronation on a big screen in Grosvenor Square at this garden party. The soiree will also include plenty of food and drink stalls, immersive floral installations, live music and special offers in the nearby shops and eateries.
6. London Eye ‘Coronation Capsule’
The best Easter events and activities in London
The first bank holiday of the year is also a double one – here are our top ten things to do over the Easter weekend in London.
Easter weekend isn’t just a time to scoff loads of chocolate and have a big roast dinner: it’s also a double bank holiday. We get four whole days off between Good Friday on April 7 and Easter Monday on April 10, so the world – or at least London – is our oyster.
Worried about filling up all your extra time off? Time Out has your back. There’s plenty to do in the capital over the Easter weekend: from checking out spring flowers and other kid-friendly Easter activities to swinging by one of London’s top rooftop bars and coffee shops. Hopefully, the weather will be glorious and hanging out in the park for four days straight won’t involve dashing away from freak rain storms.
But if not, you can still spend your time checking out a free art exhibition, seeing some top theatre or treating yourself to a proper pub roast on Easter Sunday. If you’re looking for something truly special to do over the extra-long April break, read on for our top ten things to do in London this Easter. From a resurrection-themed pub crawl to Good Friday club nights, there’s absolutely no way you’ll be bored.
How to spend your Easter weekend in London
1. Kick off your four-day weekend with a ‘very, very good Friday’ party at The Cause
Dance your way through the Easter bank hol at one of The Cause's famed day parties. Chicago-based Hiroko Yamamura will make her UK debut behind the decks at the 60 Dock Road venue. Cause fave and Berghain stalwart Ryan Elliott will also be going B2B with Evan Baggs and there’ll even be a slap-up brunch and £5 bloody marys for sustenance. This one finishes at 10pm, so you’ll be in ship shape for your fam on Easter Saturday.
2. Sup the hops of life on a crucifixion-themed pub crawl
Worship at the altar of the pint on this Easter crucifixion-themed charity pub crawl, which is being resurrected after a three-year hiatus following that biblical-scale situation we all lived through recently. Participants on the Easter Sunday sesh dress like Jesus and visit biblically-named pubs to raise money for charity – you will be asked for a small donation – starting at The Trinity in Borough and finishing at Whitehall’s Silver Cross. Prepare to make a holy show of yourself.
3. Enter an immersive David Attenborough documentary
The Attenborough supremacy continues with this immersive experience that thrusts you into the heart of the BBC’s recent opus ‘Seven Worlds, One Planet’. The general vibe is that enormous 360-degree screens give you the sense that you’re stepping into the programme’s awesome vistas – and while the footage is all from that particular show, you’ll be treated to extended scenes, alternative camera angles, and the obviously seismic difference between this and your puny telly. Plus we’re promised ‘bespoke’ commentary from David Attenborough himself.
4. Craft an eco-friendly Easter wreath
Wreaths aren’t just for Christmas. Craft your own Easter-themed donut of foliage at this hands-on workshop from the green-fingered gurus at Petersham Nurseries. Director of horticulture Thomas Broom-Hughes will be on hand to school you on how to make an environmentally friendly willow-based wreath using woodland materials, seasonal British foliage and flowering bulbs, meaning the design you take home won’t just be beautiful but also compostable. A win for your front room and for nature.
5. Rent a boat and go for a float along London’s canals
With GoBoat in Paddington, you can hire and self-drive your own boat make your way across London’s canals. Depending on how good your steering skills are, you’ll be travelling past London Zoo, through Regent’s Park and Camden Lock. Prices start at £95 for one hour. Sound good? Each GoBoat can have a micro crew of up to six people. Your days as a lonely sea captain are over.
6. Play new, experimental games at Now Play This
7. Take yourself off to the pub for a top Easter Sunday roast
Sunday lunch. There’s nothing quite like it. An elemental meal that Londoners take incredibly seriously, debates about what constitutes the ‘perfect’ Sunday roast have been known to last for hours. There is no shortage of top roasts in London. We’ve rounded up the city’s best Sunday meals from a host of homely pubs and restaurants all around town. From snug neighbourhood staples to more bijou gastropubs. A lot of these places get quite busy, by the way. So you’re always advised to book ahead to avoid disappointment.
8. Witness Trafalgar Square’s enormous reenactment of the crucifixion
Wintershall Players return with their huge (for which read horses, donkeys, doves and a cast of more than 100) open-air re-enactment of ‘The Passion of Jesus’ on Good Friday, featuring volunteers from in and around London. Huge crowds are expected but big screens will ensure nobody misses any crucial plot twists.
9. Embrace the season at the Horniman Museum’s spring fair
This gem of a museum and gardens in south-east London has a lovely spring fair on the Saturday of the Easter bank holiday weekend. Wow your wee’uns with towering stilt walkers and enchanting bubble performances, or battle it out on the green with UrbanCrazy minigolf. Or take your pick from the rest of the array of family-friendly fun including face painting, garden trails, arts and crafts and live music.
10. Frolic among the flowers at Kew Gardens
London’s botany HQ should be booming with blooms in April, making it the perfect spot for an Easter weekend walk. From its Cherry Walk lined with pink-blossomed Japanese cherry trees to its primrose and crocus-filled woodland garden, there’s plenty of pretty petals to spot here.
Mega Events To Make The Most of March 2020 In London
London events in March
Our guide to the best events, festivals, workshops, exhibitions and things to do throughout March 2020 in London
A bright, blossom-filled March 2020 in London is definitely our bag. As spring arrives and the days start to get sunnier and longer, there’s plenty going on in London to embrace the new season. Why not take a stroll around London’s best parks and gardens as they start to burst with colour, check out the city’s best restaurants or sink a drink in one of London’s neon-filled bars. St Patrick’s Day and Mother’s Day. It also holds WoW: Women of the World Festival, Earth Hour, London Book and Screen Week and the big St Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival in Trafalgar Square. For more fun in the city, check out our guide to the best events, free stuff, art and music. This lot should keep you busy in London for the whole of March 2020. You’re welcome!
St Patrick’s Day in London
You don’t have to go to Ireland to enjoy the party atmosphere of St Patrick’s Day 2020, there’s plenty going on right here in London
The Irish really know how to celebrate, so when it comes to St Patrick’s Day in London, the city’s Irish community have no problem showing us how it’s done. A day to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland, the occasion is always one big welcoming bash. Expect lots of dancing, hearty traditional dishes, a huge parade and as many pints as you can handle.
The official holiday lands annually on March 17 (a Tuesday in 2020), but this year the main London celebrations take place in Trafalgar Square March 13-17.
At this year’s three-day shindig, more than 50,000 revellers are expected to descend on Trafalgar Square for a lively parade of music and ceilidh dancing, plus plenty of things to do with the kids, from an Irish folk show and film festival to Irish walking tours. Feeling peckish? Fill up on traditional grub from the Irish Street Food Market.
If you can’t face the crowds, we’ve rounded up the best St Patrick’s Day happenings below. Or if you want more cultural inspiration, check our pick of the best London events in March. Get ready for a very green weekend.
When is St Patrick’s Day?
It’s always March 17, but in true Irish fashion, St Patrick’s Day sessions usually run throughout Paddy’s weekend.
What is St Patrick’s Day?
The date supposedly marks the death of this guy called (yep, you guessed it!) St Patrick, who travelled to Ireland in the fifth century to convince Irish pagans that Christianity is where it’s at. Do you associate Ireland with shamrocks? That’s down to him too: the story goes that St Patrick used the three-leaved clover to describe the Holy Trinity to non-believers. Oh, and legend says he banished snakes from the country by chasing them into the sea. Best mull that last part over with a Guinness.
Where is the London St Patrick’s Day Parade?
London’s St Patrick’s Day parade lines the streets from Piccadilly to Trafalgar Square and cheers on a stream of leprechaun floats, traditional musicians and squads of Irish dancers. The main stage at Trafalgar Square will be surrounded by a street food market and a ‘tea tent’, with a line-up of Irish bands. Basically, it’s a big, rip-roaring one-day festival, only the pints are a shade of Gaelic green.
Rare Birds Bohemian Market
The festival-themed market at 93 Feet East has everything you want in a market and more. Head along to Brick Lane to gobble down street food, sip on cocktails, pick up wavey garms from independent designers and vintage stalls and join denim customising workshops, all to a soundtrack from banging DJs and live acts.
Details
| Event website: | https://www.rarebirdsmarket.com |
|---|
| Venue name: | 93 Feet East |
|---|---|
| Address: | 150 Brick Lane London E1 6QL |
| Transport: | Tube: Liverpool St |
| Price: | Free entry |
Dates And Times
- 93 Feet East Free Entry
Rare Birds Bohemian Market
The Oxford v Cambridge Goat Race
Polish your horns and belt out those bleats, because London’s favourite farmyard fracas is back for an eleventh year in 2020. The Goat Race is fast becoming as popular as its Thames-based rival (at least around the Time Out office), and sees two goats – one representing ‘Oxford’, the other ‘Cambridge’ – take part in a dash around the farm.
The gates open at noon with lots to enjoy on the farm, including bands, booze and other fun, goat-related nonsense. The race takes place at some point between 4.30pm, although the exact time depends on the mood of the athletes. There’s an official bookie and sweepstake if you or your nanny fancy a flutter. Young bucks at heart can join the Goat-e-oke, take part in the Coat Race or the Goatry Slam. By the end of it, you might just pass out from goat-pun fatigue. Book tickets well in advance – the animals mustn’t get overcrowded and places sell out fast.
This year you can upgrade your goat race ticket to a VIP experience. For out £50 and as well as a front-row seat at the goat race, you’ll also get close up and personal with the farm’s goats. Help groom, feed and walk them and bring along up four people with you to help you do it. All proceeds go to the upkeep of Spitalfields City Farm.
Details
| Event website: | https://www.thegoatrace.com/ |
|---|
| Venue name: | Spitalfields City Farm |
|---|---|
| Address: | Buxton Street London E1 5AR |
| Transport: | Tube: Whitechapel |
| Price: | £17.50, kids £5 |
Dates And Times
-
- Spitalfields City Farm £17.50, kids £5 Book online
- Spitalfields City Farm £17.50, kids £5 Book online
The Mikvah Project
Achingly intimate remounting of Josh Azouz’s drama about two men drawn to each other at a Jewish bath
Two men exist awkwardly, nakedly together in a single Jewish ritual bath (the title’s ‘mikvah’). Josh Azouz’s tender story is soaked in healing water and other, harder-to-shift substances: tradition, self-doubt, hypocrisy.
‘The Mikvah Project’ was first staged at The Yard; translated to the more intimate Orange Tree, Georgia Green’s production is an example of the alchemy that happens when you get the perfect combination of play and theatre. In Cory Shipp’s set, a mosaic-tiled pool is recessed into the stage, its water reflecting Eitan and Avi’s limbs as they meet, first by accident, then more deliberately. The Orange Tree’s in-the-round set-up means that the audience becomes the walls of the mikvah. Sometimes the two performers are showmen, acknowledging us and explaining snippets of Jewish tradition from their warm, if sometimes claustrophobic, community. Sometimes they act like they’re alone.
Josh Zaré plays 17-year-old Eitan. He’s still a kid, really, and Zaré has this incredible energy that makes him visibly fizz with excitement as he mimes driving his first car, or drifts into confused monologues about the girls he’s meant to fancy. Avi doesn’t have time to help him work things out, because he’s married and trying for a kid. In theory. Alex Waldmann captures the contradictions of this man who always knows the right thing to say, the right thing to do, but can’t make himself stay within those lines he’s drawn out so neatly.
Religious tradition. Forbidden lust. We’ve seen it all before. Except we haven’t, because Azouz’s play takes what could be a familiar clash between religion and homosexuality and makes it strange. His writing dances, torturing unspoken truths into weird metaphors, like when Avi tries to use football to codedly explain why Eitan should choose a heteronormative life. It doesn’t work. But Azouz’s play doesn’t soar into queer wish fulfilment fantasies either: there’s an incredibly tense pattern of release, denial, release which makes it impossible to look away.
The mikvah is an acceptable place for men to be naked, together, and this play is an often-hilarious interrogation of all the intimacies that makes room for. This production doesn’t always find the more mystical side of the mikvah’s symbolism: Avi’s meant to be a talented singer but his voice lacks the strength to bring a spine-tingling spirituality into this small space. But it has the power to transport you from tiny room to bustling synagogue to snatched moment in the sun, with a still, cold pool of water at its heart.
Details
| Venue name: | Orange Tree Theatre |
|---|---|
| Address: | 1 Clarence Street Richmond TW9 2SA |
| Transport: | Rail/Tube: Richmond |
| Price: | £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min |
Dates And Times
-
- Orange Tree Theatre £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min
-
- Orange Tree Theatre £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min
- Orange Tree Theatre £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min
-
- Orange Tree Theatre £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min
-
- Orange Tree Theatre £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min
-
- Orange Tree Theatre £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min
-
- Orange Tree Theatre £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min
- Orange Tree Theatre £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min
-
- Orange Tree Theatre £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min
-
- Orange Tree Theatre £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min
-
- Orange Tree Theatre £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min
-
- Orange Tree Theatre £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min
-
- Orange Tree Theatre £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min
-
- Orange Tree Theatre £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min
-
- Orange Tree Theatre £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min
- Orange Tree Theatre £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min
-
- Orange Tree Theatre £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min
-
- Orange Tree Theatre £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min
- Orange Tree Theatre £15-£32, £15 concs. Runs 1hr 5min
The best Things to do in February
London events in February
Our guide to the best events, festivals, workshops, exhibitions and things to do throughout February 2020 in London
February 2020 in London is going to be great. We’ve said goodbye to January and now London is beginning to brighten up. Use the – slightly – longer days to enjoy the month’s brilliant batch of events and celebrations. Get loved-up in London or join in the heaps of brilliant events, fun pop-ups and exciting new exhibitions happening. Here are our February 2020 highlights. February in London is also the month of Kew Garden’s Orchid Festival, London Fashion Week Festival, the London Classic Car Show and Brew LDN.
Hey, and while you’ve got your diary out, remember that it’s never too early to start planning for March either.
Pancake Day in London
Have your frying pans at the ready because Pancake Day is just around the corner. In 2020 Shrove Tuesday falls on Tuesday February 25 and London’s best restaurants will be going flipping mad for it.
Make the most of the flipping marvellous Pancake Day in London with our guide to races and celebrations happening around Shrove Tuesday
Have your frying pans at the ready because Pancake Day is just around the corner. In 2020 Shrove Tuesday falls on Tuesday February 25 and London’s best restaurants will be going flipping mad for it. Others will be perfecting their toss at a pancake race and some will be going for the DIY approach and creating crepes at home. Have a blast whatever you get up to, just don’t get too battered in the process. Here’s our guide to Pancake Day in London and our pick of the best races, celebrations and other events across the capital.
What is Pancake Day?
Shrove Tuesday marks the last day before Lent, traditionally a period of abstinence, associated with clearing your cupboards of things like sugar, fat and eggs. It’s known as Pancake Day because it represents a good opportunity to use up such ingredients. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
When is Pancake Day?
Pancake Day takes place 47 days before Easter Sunday. Because the date of Easter Sunday is dictated by the cycles of the moon, Pancake Day can occur anytime between February 3 and March 9. This year’s batter action takes place on Tuesday February 25 2020.
Imagine Children’s Festival
Southbank Centre, South Bank
Bringing much-needed pizzazz to an otherwise dreary February half term holiday, Imagine is a mix of family-oriented shows and workshops, play experiences and exhibitions, music, art and literature. With events for all ages (from babies to teens) and lots of options which are free and drop-in, Imagine is the perfect way to fire young minds and allow the kids to let off steam when the weather is usually foul and parks are knee-deep in mud.
How cool that one of London’s greatest annual arts festivals is for an audience half of which are scarcely out of training pants
Bringing much-needed pizzazz to an otherwise dreary February half term holiday, Imagine is a mix of family-oriented shows and workshops, play experiences and exhibitions, music, art and literature. With events for all ages (from babies to teens) and lots of options which are free and drop-in, Imagine is the perfect way to fire young minds and allow the kids to let off steam when the weather is usually foul and parks are knee-deep in mud. The festival takes place at Southbank Centre, February 12-23.
On any day during half term you can swing by the Royal Festival Hall and join colourful, weird and wonderful family events. Some of them are free; just turn up and enjoy the eco-inspired games of ‘Earth Activity Trail’, scrawl your designs on the fest’s ‘Giant Chalkboard’, drop into the buzzing line-up kid-friendly music performances in the venue’s Clore Ballroom or, if you’re a worn-out grown-up, get a luxurious hand massage at the ‘Imagine Wellbeing Zone’.
Alternatively, book in advance for special events targeted at kids of all ages. Imagine started life as a literature festival for children and there is still a strong showing of authors and illustrators – this year, Michael Rosen, Dermot O’Leary, Cressida Cowell and Konnie Huq will all be running kid-oriented storytelling and poetry sessions. Many of these sell-out before the festival starts so it’s worth checking the website now.
There’s also a pretty hefty array of theatre shows to pick from. ‘Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo’ (February 15-21) will thrill Jurassic-obsessed kids with its strokable display of puppet lizards. There’s also ‘Slime’, a slug-inspired movement piece for toddlers (February 15-16); hip hop and classical Indian dance storytelling in ‘Same Same… But Different’ (February 23); and a chance to meet a pigtailed literary icon in ‘Meet Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking’ (February 23).
You’ll find the full schedule on the Southbank Centre website.
| Event phone: | 0844 847 9910 |
|---|
London Bookshop Crawl
Get the rounds in on a crawl of London’ß finest establishments. By ‘rounds’ we mean indulgent flicks through novels, and by ‘establishments’ we mean nice bookshops – but who says you can’t get drunk along the way too?
Dates And Times
-
- Free
-
- Free
-
- Free
Details
| Event website: | http://www.bookshopcrawl.co.uk |
|---|
| Venue name: | Various London locations |
|---|---|
| Address: | |
| Price: | Free |
Orchids Festival at Kew
Kew Gardens’ celebration of the orchid returns for its twenty-fifth year, this time with a focus on the plant life of Indonesia. Kew’s Orchids Festival will see the botanical gardens’ tropical greenhouse bursting with colourful species, and in 2020 they will reflect the country’s diverse landscape – from tropical rainforests to spectacular volcanos.
Kew Gardens’ celebration of the orchid returns for its twenty-fifth year, this time with a focus on the plant life of Indonesia. Kew’s Orchids festival will see the botanical gardens’ tropical greenhouse bursting with colourful species, and in 2020 they will reflect the country’s diverse landscape – from tropical rainforests to spectacular volcanos.
The Prince of Wales Conservatory will be filled with the sights, smells and sounds of Indonesia. Highlights will include a dramatic central pond display filled with bright orange orangutans, life-sized animals and an erupting volcano all made up of hundreds of stunning orchid blossoms. There’ll also be an impressive carnivorous pitcher plant archway.
Don’t miss rare flowers that can only be found on certain islands in the archipelago. Take the infamous Titan Arum aka ‘corpse flower’ from the island of Sumatra, it gets its name from the unbearable smell of rotting flesh it produces when in bloom.
Details
| Event website: | https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/orchids-festival |
|---|
| Venue name: | Kew Gardens |
|---|---|
| Address: | Royal Botanic Gardens London TW9 3AB |
| Transport: | Tube: Kew Gardens/Kew Bridge rail |
| Price: | Free with admission price |
15 Best Day Trips From London When You Need A Break From The City
The best day trips from London
Looking to get out of the city for a few hours? Here’s the definitive list of best day trips from London, featuring spa cities, seaside towns and adventures in the great British countryside
Sometimes the best way to truly appreciate a place is to leave it for a short while. We suspect that's the case with London – much as we adore life in the Big Smoke, we also relish the occasional change of scene.
Helpfully, England is really quite small, which means getting from the city to the coast is a doddle – grab a coffee, hop on the train and you'll be breathing in fresh, salty sea air before you know it.
Whether you're in the mood for pony-filled forests, picture-postcard towns or pebble beaches, here are fifteen sweet spots, complete with cute pubs and ace restaurants – and all close enough to the capital to get there and back in a day.
1. Whitstable
It’s hard to think of a lovelier seaside spot than Whitstable. Kick off a day there at Blueprint Coffee and Books with a pot of something strong and ethically sourced (and maybe a mini orange-and-rosemary bundt cake). Next, rent a bike from Whitstable Cycle Hire and pedal your way along the five-mile seafront Oyster Bay Trail. And for lunch? Oysters, natch – watch them being shucked in front of you at The Forge. Stay on the beach for a drink as the sun sets: Whitstable is one of the few in the UK with a pub, the Old Neptune, right on the shingle.
How far? 61 miles
Get there one hour 20 minutes by train from London Victoria or one hour 10 minutes from St Pancras International to Whitstable; around one hour 40 minutes by car.
2. Deal
It doesn’t get as much attention as Margate and Whitstable, but with its tidy rows of Georgian townhouses, quirky independents and thriving Saturday market, Deal ticks all the day-trip boxes. Start at Deal Castle (built by Henry VIII as part of an ambitious chain of coastal forts), then treat yourself to lunch at 81 Beach Street or Victuals & Co. Parisian-style bottle shop Le Pinardier is great for stocking up on gluggable goodies, and make sure you stop by gallery-cum-homewares boutique Taylor-Jones and Son, where Delilah the sheepdog will welcome you with open paws.
How far? Just over 80 miles
Get there one hour 20 minutes by train from London St Pancras International; around two hours by car.
3. Margate
The Turner Contemporary opening in 2011 was the long-neglected Margate’s invitation to the ball. Today, the Kent coast’s most famous Cinderella story is awash with cold-brew coffee and craft beer, with just enough salty charm to still give it an edge. Start at the Turner, then mosey over to retro theme park and roller-disco Dreamland. Once the effects of the Waltzer have worn off, head to Hantverk & Found for a lunch of the freshest seafood and natural wines. Spend the rest of the afternoon shopping: browse immaculate vintage piece in Breuer & Dawson, and stock up on seaweed-based skincare at Haeckels.
How far? 76 miles
Get there one hour 25 minutes by train from London St Pancras International; around two hours by car.
4. Bath
Water wonderful day awaits you here! Start as you mean to go on with a tour of the baths the Romans built (no paddling allowed), before making a splash in the Thermae Bath Spa – the rooftop pool has stunning views of the city. Once you’ve dried off, make like Jane Austen and stroll along the Royal Crescent, then try on some reproduction Georgian garms at the Fashion Museum. Peckish? Sally Lunn’s teahouse is home to the Sally Lunn Bun, a kind of sweet brioche bap – for a Bath take on the cream tea, order one toasted and spread with strawberry jam and clotted cream.
How far? 115 miles
Get there one hour 30 minutes by train from London Paddington; two hours 30 minutes by car.
5. Box Hill
Biking to green and pleasant Surrey is a wheely nice way to spend a Sunday (sorry) – plus, Box Hill was part of the 2012 Olympic road-cycling route. Start in Richmond Park and pedal down past Hampton Court – it should take you about two hours. After a 1.6 mile climb and some hairpin bends (easier than it sounds!), you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the North Downs from the top of Box Hill itself. Grab a slice of cake from the National Trust café, but save space for lunch at The Tree, which serves homemade pies and crumbles. Your last stop is Box Hill and Westhumble station, where you can load your bikes on to a train back to Waterloo. Whewf!
How far? 30 miles
Get there by bike (obviously). Plan the route carefully before you set out, and take a map and a puncture repair kit, plus water and snacks.
05. The New Forest
A trip to the New Forest is about as close as you can get to going on safari without buying a plane ticket. As you make your way down dappled lanes and across the heather-covered heath you’ll be watched the famous ponies, which have grazed there for thousands of years, plus free-ranging Highland cattle and pigs hoovering up fallen acorns. Don’t fancy being stuck in the car all day? Hire a two-seater electric Twizzy buggy to explore in, or book a beginners’ hack at one of the stables. Don’t forget to make time for a proper ploughman’s lunch at the Royal Oak in Fritham.
How far? 90 miles
Get there one hour 30 minutes by train from London Waterloo to Brockenhurst; around two hours by car. Just remember that animals, not drivers, have right of way.
08. Brighton
If Brighton were a stick of rock, it would have GOOD TIMES! running right the way through it. With its perfect pebble beach, wall-to-wall live music venues and buzzing LGBT+ scene, there’s nowhere like it for topping up your Vitamin Sea levels. Start by dodging seagulls on the Palace Pier, then shop up a storm in the Laines, which are packed with independent boutiques, record stores and vegan eateries. Sit down to a zero-waste late lunch at Silo, and finish up with a couple of pints in the Brighton Beer Dispensary, which champions small Sussex breweries like the Hand Brew Co.
How far? A little over 50 miles
Get there one hour by train from London Victoria, Blackfriars or London Bridge; around two hours by car.
09. Canterbury
In Chaucer’s day this was where people came for a big old knees-up. Today its default is a little more sedate, but a large student population means there’s still a pleasingly rowdy edge. Kick things off with a leisurely stroll down the King’s Mile, home to boutiques a-plenty. Lunch-wise you’re spoilt for choice, from gourmet Scotch eggs with slaw and fries at Pork & Co, bento boxes at Tamago or pizza straight from the oven at indoor farmers’ market The Goods Shed. Round off your very own Canterbury tale with a visit to the Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, which features one of the world’s most important collections of cow paintings and an Egyptian mummified cat.
How far? 61 miles
Get there one hour by train from London St Pancras International; around one hour 30 minutes by car.
10. Guildford
Heads up, horror fans: Guildford’s cathedral starred in cult bone-chiller ‘The Omen’. That being said, everything else about Surrey’s county town is bucolic in the extreme: if it’s sunny you can lounge by the water at pretty Dapdune Wharf, or actually get in it at the Guildford Lido. Lunch on locally-sourced nacho boxes at Burrito Loco, before checking out the 400-year-old Star Inn. Still thirsty? Hop on a train to tour the nearby Hogs Back Brewery.
How far? 31 miles
Get there 30 minutes by train from London Waterloo; around one hour by car.
11. Rye
With its antique shops and higgledy-piggledy cobbled lanes, Rye feels like a little piece of the Cotswolds on the coast. After a browse in The Tiny Book Store (does what it says on the tin), treat yourself to a seafood lunch surrounded by lobster pots at Globe Inn Marsh, followed by Sussex real ale or a glass of local wine at The George Tap – the Chapel Down vineyard is just up the road and well worth a visit. Ten minutes away are the pillowy dunes of Camber Sands: roll your trousers up and splash through the shallows, take a kite for a spin or just park your towel and stretch out.
How far? 79 miles Get there by car.
Get there one hour 10 minutes by train from London St Pancras International, with a change at Ashford; around two hours by car.
11. Dungeness
Dungeness’s shingly, shipwreck-dotted beach is so spookily empty that it’s often described as Britain’s only desert (though the Met Office refuses to recognise it as such, the party-poopers). But look a little closer and there’s plenty going on. It’s a nature reserve, for one thing – follow the two-mile trail around RSPB Dungeness for the chance to glimpse glossy ibises and marsh harriers. Come lunchtime, queue up at the famous Dungeness Snack Shack: they’ll serve you their catch of the day in a warm bun, lobster and crab rolls or smoked cod chowder. Finally, go in search of the huge concrete ‘sound ears’, which date from the First World War and were designed to listen out for planes.
How far? 86 miles
Get there one hour by train from London St Pancras International to Folkstone, with a one hour 30 minute bus ride to Dungeness; around two hours by car.
12. Cambridge
Smaller, quieter and (whisper it) prettier than Oxford, Cambridge has its own language: bumps, backs, quads. Start your day with a visit to the Fitzwilliam Museum, then refuel at Fitzbillies and buy a box of the sticky Chelsea buns to take home. Spend a couple of hours wandering around the colleges and King’s Chapel before taking to the river for a spot of punting: behatted guides will do the hard work, or you can hire a boat of your own (beware: it’s trickier than it looks). Come tea time, head for Grantchester and feast on scones in The Orchard Tea Gardens, just like poet Rupert Brooke.
How far? 64 miles
Get there 45 minutes by train from London King’s Cross, or one hour 10 minutes from London Liverpool Street; around two hours by car.
13. Mersea Island
Attached to the mainland by a causeway that floods (and pub quizzers, take note: this is the UK’s most easterly inhabited island), Mersea feels properly, peacefully remote at high tide. The big draw is The Company Shed, which serves seafood platters that pull in crowds from all over the country every weekend. It’s BYOB – bring your own bread – and they don’t take bookings, so get there before noon to make sure you can feast on prawns, smoked fish, oysters and dressed crab. Speaking of which, catch-and-release crabbing is encouraged – there are specially marked areas near the water, and shops selling the kit. Or you can book a boat trip around the bay.
How far? 69 miles
Get there one hour by train from London Liverpool Street to Colchester, then a 45 minute bus to Mersea Island; around two hours by car. Don’t forget to check the tide timetable before you set off...
14. Chichester
Dinky, pastel-coloured Chichester looks like it’s been built of macarons – but it’s more than just a pretty face. Start at the Norman-meets-Gothic cathedral before moving onto the Pallant House Gallery, home to brilliantly curated exhibitions, a first-class bookshop and a courtyard cafe that gives Rochelle Canteen a run for its money. Some of the best bits of Sussex are an easy drive (or, if you’re feeling full of beans, a slightly less easy bike ride) away, from the Goodwood Estate to West Dean Gardens and the gorgeous sandy beach at West Wittering.
How far? 80 miles
Get there one hour 30 minutes from London Vicotoria; around two hours by car. Car is best, so you can really explore.
15. Stratford-upon-Avon
The Bard, of course, is the big draw here, and Shakespeare’s house, his wife Anne Hathaway’s cottage and the RSC’s home theatre are all must-sees. But Stratford’s more than just a Tudor Disneyland, you know. Take a boat tour of the canal basin to find out more about the West Midlands’ waterways, refresh yourselves in the Grade II-listed Old Thatch Tavern, stop for a scoop of Eton Mess ice cream at Hooray’s British Gelato Kitchen and pick up some local Berkswell to take home from posh cheesemonger Paxton & Whitfield (sorry, fellow travellers).
How far? 104 miles
Get there two hours 15 minutes by train from London Marylebone; around two hours by car.