James Manning

It’s that time of year again – time for the legendary, heroic and what some are calling era-defining Time Out Christmas sandwich taste test. Our team have tirelessly trawled London’s high streets, foodie markets and bakeries for the mightiest seasonal sarnie of the year, leaving no chiller cabinet unturned. After all, the true meaning of Christmas is surely all about putting some vaguely festive fillings between two slices of bread. Let battle commence. RECOMMENDED: For more festive fun here’s our guide to the best Christmas markets in London.  And don’t miss the best Christmas events, either. 

Love them, hate them, or just accept them as a sort of immutable fact of life, it's officially Christmas song season in 2023. And although there’s been a fair amount of disposable novelty rubbish written over the years, the reality is that a lot of Christmas songs are bangers. There are plenty of keepers from the ‘40s-‘70s heyday of the Christmas record as an art form, for example, but even more cynical later generations of pop have produced plenty of gold. Festive cheer has found its way into pop, hip-hop, R&B, metal, punk, indie… you name it. So as a gift, we've rounded up the very best Christmas songs going. Ho ho ho.  RECOMMENDED:🎅 The best places to go at Christmas 🎉  The best party songs🎤  The best karaoke songs🕺  The best pop songs of all time Written by Andrzej Lukowski, Oliver Keens, James Manning, Alim Kheraj, Ed Cunningham, Liv Kelly and Ella Doyle.

It only took about 70 years, but television is finally getting some respect. In the decades leading up to this point, TV was largely considered among the lowest forms of entertainment. It was smeared as ‘the idiot box’, ‘the boob tube’. Edward R Murrow referred to it as ‘the opiate of the masses’, and Bruce Springsteen even wrote a song about the malaise of fruitless channel surfing. Was its poor reputation deserved? Certainly, the ratio of garbage to gold was high, and though it’s hard to quantify if it was worse than any other artistic medium, the fact that it was all being beamed directly into your living room made the dreck much harder to avoid.  That’s all changed. Television is now the dominant medium in basically all of entertainment, to the degree that the only thing separating movies and TV is the screen you’re watching on. The shift in perception is widely credited to the arrival of The Sopranos, which completely reinvented the notion of what a TV show could do, and the advent of streaming has made it so that hundreds of new shows are now continually flipping the script every few years, if not months.  But that doesn’t mean everything before 1999 is pure dross. Far from it: television has been popular since World War II, after all. And while this list is dominated by 21st century programs, there are hundreds of shows that deserve credit for pushing TV forward into its current golden age. Chiselling them down to a neat hundred is tough, so we elected to leave off tal

Of all the many things that the last few years have upended, office life is one of the biggest. Tools like email and video chat apps have (at least in theory) untethered many of us from the workplace, meaning there may be very little need for many restless workers to stay rooted in one place. And that makes moving somewhere sunnier, cheaper or just more fun sound incredibly tempting. As nations around the world have reopened their borders to travellers, many popular destinations have emphasised longer-term stays over short-term breaks. And at the very extreme end, some are even trying to sell themselves as idyllic remote-working spots, with new ‘digital nomad’ visas that would allow you to live and work there for up to a year – or sometimes even longer. Here’s a guide to the countries offering digital nomad visas right now, and how you can qualify. And here’s what it’s actually like to be a digital nomad – and how to become one yourself.

In the movies, love gets all the love. But what about friendship? Platonic relationships can often loom larger in our lives and define who we are even more than romantic ones. Certainly, it’s a more universal experience. Not everyone can claim to have been in love, but everyone has bro’d down and/or girl crushed at some point. So let’s raise a glass to those films about buddies, pals, homies, mates – whatever you want to call them. We asked the Time Out staff to name their personal favourite friendship flicks. We  enjoy the company of these cinematic friends so much, it’s almost like we’ve come to see them as friends themselves. Recommended: 🤣 The 100 best comedy movies💓 The 100 best romantic movies of all-time✍ The 100 best animated movies of all-time

Don't listen to what Radiohead said: pop will never, ever die. It's 2023, and banging new pop songs are getting released every week. Madonna's 2023 anthem ‘Padam Padam’ has even made it to our top spot on this list, with its euphoric electropop vibes, and Dua Lipa's ‘Barbie’ tune ‘Dance the Night’ is up there with the greats.  But of course, the 21st century is a long one, and you've got to make space for the classics too. There are fabulous pop songs from every era, and they all deserve a spot on our ultimate list. Here you'll find everyone from Outkast to MIA, and from Kelis to Harry Styles. The only criteria? It has to be feel good, and it has to make you want to get up and dance. All of these tunes do just that, and then some. Read on for the best pop songs ever made.    Contributors: India Lawrence, Andrzej Lukowski, James Manning, Ella Doyle, Nick Levine, Amy Smith, Alyssa Ammirato, Jess Phillips, Matthew Singer.  RECOMMENDED:🎉 The best party songs ever made🎸 The best classic rock songs🎤 The best karaoke songs🎶 The best ’80s songs🎵 The best ’90s songs

  How does one define the ’80s? That's the big question. There are plenty of songs from the ’80s, but what constitues an ’80s song is something quite particular. This was the golden era of some of our most beloved stars, even in 2023, from Madonna to Prince, characterised by big hair, scrunchies, and weirdly big shoulder pads.  And the music? Well, it's utterly timeless. In our list of the best ’80s songs ever, we've got Marvin Gaye and Paul Simon alongside New Wave artists like the Talking Heads, as well as NWA and Biz Markie. This was a golden time era for music, and let's never forget it. Here are the best ’80s songs ever recorded.  Contributors: Andrzej Lukowski, Andy Kryza, Georgia Evans, Ed Cunningham, James Manning.  RECOMMENDED:🎶 The best ’90s songs🎉 The best party songs ever made🎸 The best classic rock songs🎤 The best karaoke songs

Well, it's been a rough old few years, hasn't it? And sure, it's 2023, but even without the global pandemic, life can get a little sad from time to time. Sometimes the only antidote is a tub of ice cream, some incredibly sad songs and a seriously good cry. So don't worry, we've got you. In our opinion, the best sad songs don’t just whine and gesture at bad feelings - they wallow in the depths with you.  As they say, misery loves company, and songwriters sure know how to capitalise on our sorrow. And we love them for it. Newcomers to our list include Labrinth's ‘Never Felt So Alone’ (2023), Celeste's ‘Strange’ (2019) and of course, ultimate sad girl anthem ‘Drivers Licence’ by Olivia Rodridgo (2021). All have earned their crowns as sad anthems. All have reduced us to tears. It doesn’t matter if it’s an RnB tune, 12-bar blues or indie rock bummer jam – there are tearjerkers for everyone here. Here are the best sad songs ever.  Contributers: Andrzej Lukowski, Oliver Keens, James Manning, Tristan Parker, Hayley Joyes, Nick Levine, Andy Kryza, Ella Doyle, Georgia Evans, Ed Cunningham, Chiara Wilkinson, India Lawrence, Henrietta Taylor.  RECOMMENDED:😭 The best breakup songs💔 The best heartbreak songs😊 The best happy songs🎤 The best karaoke songs 

No cal dir que Europa està plena de llocs increïbles. Però molts d'aquests llocs són també bastant obvis. Venècia, Amsterdam, la costa Amalfitana... sí, són impressionants. Però el problema és que tothom vol anar-hi, i moltes de les capitals del continent, hubs culturals i paisatges bonics estan plens de turistes i amb preus desorbitats. Algunes d'aquestes destinacions fins i tot han començat a dir que volen que els turistes no hi vagin. Però per cada lloc que està atapeït de visitants, n'hi ha d'altres que passen injustament desapercebuts: llocs on pots passar-te hores sense veure un altre turista, o almenys alternatius a les tradicionals destinacions de vacances. De manera que això és el que suggerim: aquest estiu, eviteu trencar-vos el coll intentant veure la Mona Lisa. Estalvieu-vos les cues del Vaticà i viatgeu a algunes de les destinacions menys conegudes del continent. Des dels Balcans fins als països bàltics, des de l'Atlàntic Nord fins a la costa Adriàtica, hem reunit escriptors de viatges i experts locals per tal de descobrir les ciutats infravalorades d'Europa, les illes, regions, platges, pobles, llacs i tot el que hi ha al mig.  NO T'HO PERDIS: Les 10 millors destinacions per viatjar el 2023

No hace falta decir que Europa está llena de sitios increíbles. Pero muchos de estos sitios son también bastante obvios. Venecia, Ámsterdam, la costa amalfitana... sí, son impresionantes. Pero el problema es que todo el mundo quiere ir, lo que significa que muchas de las capitales europeas, hubs culturales y bonitos paisajes están llenos de turistas y con precios desorbitados. Algunos de estos destinos incluso han empezado a decir que quieren que los turistas no vayan. Pero para cada sitio abarrotado de visitantes, hay otros que pasan injustamente desapercibidos: lugares donde puedes pasarte horas sin ver a otro turista, o al menos alternativos a los tradicionales destinos de vacaciones. Así que esto es lo que sugerimos: este verano, evitaos romperos el cuello intentando ver la Mona Lisa. Ahorraos las colas del Vaticano, y viajad a algunos destinos menos conocidos del continente. Desde los Balcanes hasta el Báltico, desde el Atlántico hasta la costa Adriática, hemos reunido a escritores de viajes y expertos locales para descubrir las ciudades infravaloradas de Europa, las islas, regiones, playas, pueblos, lagos y todo de por medio. NO TE LO PIERDAS: Los 10 mejores destinos para viajar el 2023

Hi there! We’re Time Out, and we’ve been writing about the best things to do in the world’s greatest cities since 1968. Today we cover more than 300 destinations, with online travel guides full of expert tips and recommendations, alongside travel stories and round-ups to inspire your next adventure. What sets us apart from other travel publications is our in-the-know recommendations from experienced locals. We uncover the places others don’t – food trucks, hole-in-the-wall bars, brand-new cultural hotspots – because our travel tips are written by local experts, who know the city like no-one else. Want to contribute to our travel coverage? Here’s what you need to know.

A great bar is a great bar, wherever it is. But a bar with a view? Well, that changes the game entirely. And there are few things better than sitting up high, cocktail in-hand and taking in some sweet, sweet views. Whether you’re on the umpteenth floor of a skyscraper or plonked atop something like a car park, shopping mall or hotel, rooftop bars are as much an experience as they are sweet places to brill with a snifter.   Plenty of rooftop bars are very, very swanky places indeed, but lots are also surprisingly down-to-earth (despite, obvs, being pretty far from the ground). Featuring top-notch estabs all over the globe, our pick of the best rooftop bars in the world ranges from the seriously swish to thoroughly easy-going. But they’ve all got one thing in common – a stonking view. Prepare for a popped ear or two! RECOMMENDED: 🍷 The best bars in Europe🍸 The best bars in North America🍹 The best bars in Asia

Anyone who’s seen ‘Cabaret’ knows that the ’20s in Berlin were a riot… sometimes literally. Okay, so life in the Weimar Republic was no picnic – but the nightlife was undeniably fabulous, darling. And if you’re looking to bring a little of that Jazz Age glamour into your Berlin trip today, look no further than the Provocateur hotel in old West Berlin. The fantasy starts at the front door: this place is seven floors of velvet, parquet, marble, brass, mirrors, pot plants, parquet, Persian rugs and chandeliers, all linked by a delightfully rickety vintage lift. (The décor is by London’s SZ Design, in case you were wondering.) Some of the rooms have freestanding baths; others (including ours) come with a spacious balcony to catch the sunset. The soundproofing is excellent and the beds are massive. Sexy times are gently encouraged by a couple of particularly raunchy mini-bar items and a mysterious ‘Provocateur Mode’ wall switch – you’ll find no spoilers here… Down on the ground floor, there’s an appropriately ritzy bar (check the luscious velvet booths) and a Franco-Chinese restaurant, Golden Phoenix (sadly closed for our Sunday/Monday stay), plus a lovely, secluded terrace. Minor niggles included the odd questionable design choice (a profusion of plastic plants, some tacky photography on the walls) and the occasional whiff of understaffedness. But if you’re after a decadent, stylish and fairly affordable stay with a heap of character, Provocateur serves it up on a silver platter.

An hour’s drive from the swarming streets of Florence and Pisa, Villa Lena could have settled for being just another gorgeous hilltop agriturismo. Instead, it’s something quite unique: an art foundation based in a nineteenth-century villa, with a stylish hotel sprawling across the outbuildings. Artists of all sorts come here from all over the world for month-long residencies, and – as well as rubbing shoulders with hotel guests at the breakfast buffet – they run workshops for all comers in the on-site artists’ studios; donate their work to the hotel’s art collection; and put on gigs and performances throughout the summer. There’s no shortage of inspiration up here, with sweeping views in every direction over fields and woods, every hilltop crowned by a picturesque little village or farmhouse, and a backdrop of cloud-capped mountains. And then – because even artists can’t survive on views alone – there’s the food. The laidback on-site restaurant, Osteria San Michele, would be worth the trip even if you weren’t staying the night, with a menu of souped-up Tuscan classics (ribollita, pappa col pomodoro), superlative pasta dishes and decadent beef- and pork-based secondi piatti. Herbs and vegetables come from the on-site kitchen garden; the 500-hectare estate also turns out top-notch olive oil and sparkling rosé. You’re free to explore pretty much anywhere, and I did – but in the Tuscan summer heat, you might not want to drift far from the striped parasols of the San Michele pool

Horror’s coming home, it’s coming home, it’s coming – back to the very library where Bram Stoker researched ‘Dracula’ between 1890 and 1897. Oxford company Creation Theatre has pulled off two impressive feats here: firstly by persuading the members-only London Library to host a production in its historic Reading Room (where Stoker almost certainly boned up on Eastern Europe and the occult) and secondly by devising a version of the vampire story in which no one plays the title role. In fact, Creation’s site-specific ‘Dracula’ features just two actors, Sophie Greenham and Bart Lambert, playing Mina and Jonathan Harker in a sexually repressed post-war setting. Solicitor Jonathan hasn’t been the same since his business trip to Romania, and a stay in Whitby to sort through the possessions of Mina’s late friend Lucy Westenra isn’t helping – especially when the weather turns, claustrophobia sets in and Jonathan’s Transylvanian flashbacks start to get very real. Projected visuals help collapse huge chunks of backstory into effective, supernatural fever dreams, and there are even a few laughs in some original scenes by writer/adapter Kate Kerrow, as the recently hitched Harkers fail to seal the deal on the chaise longue in Lucy’s library. The weaker bits of Creation’s production are when the plot strays from the Jonathan-and-Mina psychodrama, with Greenham and Lambert donning some iffy accessories and voices to play other characters from the novel. (As dodgy ‘Dracula’ accents go, Lam

The India Club is one of the city’s most fascinating post-colonial relics: a bar, lounge and Indian restaurant (one of the UK’s oldest) that’s hardly changed in 65 years. Last summer it was saved from redevelopment, and this week the National Trust opens an on-site exhibition which explores its history and celebrates the survival of a London institution. Opened on this site in 1964 by the India League, which had campaigned for the former British colony’s independence, the India Club became a first port of call for new arrivals from the subcontinent and a hub for the capital’s burgeoning Asian community. ‘A Home Away from Home: The India Club’ is an immersive oral history consisting of interviews with club regulars over the decades plus archive photos and documents. You can book in for a series of themed supperclubs and cooking classes too – because history is always better with snacks.

Here’s a sobering fact for you: young people from a BAME background are less likely to have a job than any other Briton. Being unemployed between 18 and 25 can have a major impact on later life chances, and the biggest barrier to work is lack of experience. So a big hand for Circle Collective: a social enterprise that helps young Londoners get jobs – and runs a very cool streetwear shop in Dalston (there’s another branch in Lewisham). Since 2012, the charity has helped more than 350 disadvantaged young people into work by providing them with CV advice, mentoring, training and, crucially, experience working in retail. For nearly half of Circle Collective participants, it’s their first time in the workplace. Want to help? Just pop along to one of Circle Collective’s outlets next time you need to buy someone a present (there’s an online shop too). They stock independent designers alongside the big labels, all profits are reinvested in the charity, and you’ll be helping young locals perfect their sales technique.

There’s plenty of history on Blackheath – former hotspot for highway men and an urban oasis – but it wasn’t until 2014 that this expanse of common ground in south-east London hosted its first proper music festival. OnBlackheath returns this September for a fifth year, once again bringing together the worlds of music and food for some end-of-the-season festival action. On the music front, there'll be the likes of Squeeze, Paloma Faith, Billy Bragg, Corinne Bailey Rae, De La Soul, Lightening Seeds and London Afrobeat Orchestra (performing Talking Heads) on the line up.  Beyond the live acts, they'll be a food village where you can see pro cooks in action, and there'll be family fun of all varieties to get involved in. Find out more here.

Thought you knew every nook and cranny of Hackney? Here’s a bit you’ve probably never even heard of. Tucked between a railway line and a bus depot opposite Hackney Central Overground, Bohemia Place was once a tram shed. Until last year, you would only have gone down there to get your car fixed. But now, like other arch-lined streets across the city, Bohemia Place is getting a makeover. Pressure Drop (based here since 2012) has shacked up with Verdant Brewing Company to turn its former brewery into a joint taproom. Another brewery tap, St John at Hackney, has just opened its doors, as has a new cocktails-and-food spot from party stalwarts Night Tales. Zero-waste grocery shop Bulk Market and madcap cocktail crew ABQ are moving in this summer too, and in the long term, there are grand plans for a ‘creative maker yard’. Hackneyed? Not yet it isn’t.

Ever got drunk in the Tardis? From the Kingsland Road pavement, this bar on the Shoreditch/Hoxton border doesn’t look like much more than a cute little bottle shop. But wander on in and you’ll discover there’s a whole world of bevvying to be had inside this converted police station. Past the front-room ‘liquor store’, stacked high with beers, wines, spirits and mixological gear, you’ll find a wood-panelled drinking parlour. And in a further space upstairs, TT also hosts supper clubs and pairs cocktails with cult movie screenings: think ‘The Big Lebowski’ with white russians. And then there’s the main event: a speakeasy-style bar tucked away in the cellar, its brick walls lined with caged bottles and the obligatory old-school filament bulbs. This is the former cop-shop lock-up, now a drunk tank of a much more upscale variety. The cocktail menu references different eras of barmanship with a lean towards gin, though the staff are more than happy to go off-road. Adding jasmine tea and soda, the Groglet spun out the classic gimlet into something longer and more laid back, while the Rosetta came over like a short and floral margarita. Service is affable and unshowy, drinks are gimmick-free and the crowd is refreshingly short on the kind of wankers you might expect to find in a basement bar on the Kingsland Road. If you’re acquainted with the two bars that TT’s founders also helped set up, Discount Suit Company or the Sun Tavern, you’ll recognise the stripped-back vibe – but this se

Austrian wine: it’s a thing. Although it’s no titan of viniculture, Austria still produces plenty of the stuff – 470 times more than the UK each year, in fact. The 1985 ‘antifreeze scandal’ didn’t do the country’s vinous reputation any favours, but Austrian winemakers have staged a comeback by concentrating on quality over quantity, and an aptly named new arrival on Dalston Lane aims to showcase their very best. By day a bottle shop, by night a fairly chichi wine bar, Newcomer claims (and we’ve no reason to doubt it) to stock the biggest selection of Austrian wine and beer in London. The bar at the front pours a daily selection (£6.50 for a small glass), and the walls are lined with an absolutely enormous selection of bottles, all available to drink on or off the premises. Bottles tend to hover between £40 and £50, with only a couple below the £20 mark. With prices like that, it’s clear that Newcomer isn’t exactly pitching itself at the wider population of Hackney. But Dalston hasn’t (yet) turned into Islington: it’s a long way from wine bar saturation point, and Newcomer definitely has a niche as a cute love letter to its co-founders’ homeland. I’ll confess that I’m not big on the dry white wines that are Austria’s speciality, but my Jurtschitsch pinot noir was a minor revelation, with a light mineral come-on that segued into unexpected depths. If you don’t care what accent your wine speaks with, it’s a little hard to be bothered about Newcomer’s alleinstellungsmerkmal (that

'No red liquids inside the house,' says the sign on the bar at this site-specific promenade play – which you'd think would be a bit of a problem for any company looking to stage the vampire story, but makes sense when you remember the venue is a wood-panelled Tudor manor house meticulously looked after by the National Trust. Despite sitting on the traffic-choked A102, Sutton House is pretty much the most atmospheric venue in Hackney, and it turns Tea Break Theatre's 'Dracula' from an entertaining evening to something that's often genuinely chilling. Whether via Bram Stoker or Francis Ford Coppola, you're probably familiar with the basics of the 'Dracula' story, but Tea Break's time-travelling, site-specific twist (complete with what might be a reference to season five of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer') should ensure that even dedicated gothic-lit fans won't see the ending coming. Showers of insects, sudden blackouts and things going bump in the night notwithstanding, there isn't much to trouble the seriously immersive theatre-phobic: most of the audience gets to stay behind the fourth wall, although my SO did get a one-on-one psychiatric appointment with Dr Seward. The racier undercurrents of Stoker's original manifest themselves as gender switches and a bit of supernatural homoerotic hanky-panky, and lapses into blank verse, local history and Latin suggest that writer-director Katharine Armitage has done quite a bit of homework. The conclusion is a tad confusing, and an unnecess

It’s all go in Aldgate, where new towers are springing up like expensive mushrooms and boring old office blocks are transmogrifying into co-working spaces and photography galleries. This place is at the sharp end of London’s contradictions: swanky flats versus strip clubs, chicken shops versus shiny wine bars, builders’ caffs versus aspirational/casual restaurant/bar/cafés like Treves & Hyde. It’s a bit of a fine-dining blackspot round here, and in that respect this modern European kitchen is a welcome arrival. But like the neighbourhood itself, T&H is suffering a bit of an identity crisis. Downstairs it’s a coffee shop; upstairs a restaurant and cocktail bar. And it’s full of weird dichotomies. The flashy presentation (stacks and streaks everywhere) belies the solid, reliable flavours: a small-but-mighty wodge of pork belly, a salty, buttery, fresh prawn pasta. The house red was from super-classy vintners Berry Bros & Rudd, but the coconut panna cotta came pre-refrigerated in a jar. Confused? I was. The restaurant is too relaxed and reasonably priced for a fancy treat, but too upmarket to become a bargainous neighbourhood stalwart. Though there’s plenty that’s impressive here (even delicious), the lasting feeling is confusion: not so much Treves & Hyde as Jekyll & Hyde.

Please note, The Whitechapel Refectory is now closed. It has been replaced by a new restaurant, called Townsend, on the same site. Time Out Food editors, March 2020. As part of the changing of the culinary guard at the Whitechapel Gallery, the old café has been taken over by Luke Wilson and Cameron Emirali, founders of 8 Hoxton Square and 10 Greek Street. Not only that, but they’ve gone for the double and split the existing business in two: in the evenings, the wood-panelled café space is a pretty great wine and charcuterie joint called After Hours. During the day it’s a gallery café called The Whitechapel Refectory. Though the civilised gallery café atmosphere hasn’t changed much under the new regime, the daytime rebrand isn’t cosmetic. There’s a new approach to the food, too, with a varied menu that changes daily. The kitchen was closed when I dropped in at around 4pm, meaning no hot food for late lunchers. But the cold selection was lovely: a big wholemeal salt beef sandwich (nodding to nearby Brick Lane); a strong aubergine salad with sweet potato, roasted garlic and unexpected cumin and fennel; and, to finish, a delicious prune and almond frangipane. Granola bars, breakfast pastries and other good-looking baked bits are also available, and the coffee’s lovely. There’s nothing really cutting-edge about the Refectory – it’s more William Morris than Eduardo Paolozzi. But for hungry art lovers it’s a nifty new pit-stop.

The Opening Ceremony of next year’s Paris Olympics is less than a year away, and the French capital is gearing up to host the world. Now an upcoming proposal from the Parisian Green Party is set to get tongues wagging at the next city council meeting. They’re suggesting that, for the six weeks of the Games – from the eve of the Olympics to the end of the Paralympics – Paris (and nearby towns affected by the event) should go totally car-free. Not only that, but the city should offer free public transport. To back up their case, the group has laid out 14 reasons, touching on everything from plain common sense to environmental and safety issues. They’re also reminding folks of commitments made by various layers of government. For instance, they point out the challenge of managing a flow of 15 million people in public spaces and on public transport; carbon emissions estimated at 1.58 megatonnes; and Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s statements about the Games being a ‘catalyst for ecological transition’. Plus, they're suggesting the whole free transport thing could be funded by an eco-levy on ecommerce deliveries. So that’s the proposal. Now comes the hard part: making it happen. When it comes to free transport, let’s be honest, it’s a bit of a long shot. The fate of the transport network is in the hands of IDF Mobilités, chaired by Valérie Pécresse, who seems more likely to hike up travel pass prices than hand out free rides. And as for getting this motion through the council, it’s a bit of

It’s always great when cities get greener, and the latest European capital to announce a major new park is Madrid. The Cuatro Caminos neighbourhood, not far from Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium, is in for a significant redevelopment. Following the approval of the project, the area is set to see an influx of residential housing, car parks, office spaces, and green areas. There will be nearly 60,000 square metres of new built-up space, and more than 9,400 square metres will be allocated for public green spaces and new community areas. The plan also aims to improve connectivity between several key streets, namely Bravo Murillo, Reina Victoria, and Pablo Iglesias. The residential spaces will be centred around a large green area, and beneath it will be railway transport facilities, particularly for metro carriage maintenance. The green space will complete Esquilache Street to connect it to Ramiro II and Reina Victoria Avenue. Additionally, a new public road will be opened to link Bravo Murillo, Esquilache, and Pablo Iglesias. Virgen de Nieva Street will also be extended to better connect with Bravo Murillo and Esquilache, making it easier to get around. On the preservation side, two buildings on Esquilache Street are to be protected. There’s also a special plan for the El Porvenir school on Bravo Murillo, aiming to improve both environmental quality and the visibility of the school’s landmark chapel from public spaces. The plan also involves preserving the heritage of old metro tun

Finding life a little tough right now? Feeling ground down by city living? Then you may – passport allowing – want to consider a move to Vienna. The Austrian capital just topped an authoritative study of the world’s most liveable cities… for the second year running. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released its annual Global Liveability Index on Thursday, and Vienna came in at number one out of 173 cities analysed. What makes it such a great place to live? According to the report: its ‘winning combination of stability, good culture and entertainment, reliable infrastructure, and exemplary education and health services.’ Which, I’m sure we can all agree, are pretty important factors. In second place was Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, followed by Melbourne and Sydney in Australia. Here’s the full top ten… Vienna, Austria Copenhagen, Denmark Melbourne, Australia Sydney, Australia Vancouver, Canada Zurich, Switzerland Calgary, Canada Geneva, Switzerland Toronto, Canada (=) Osaka, Japan and Auckland, New Zealand Some of the biggest losers were cities in the UK and USA such as London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Los Angeles and San Diego, all of which dropped way down the list compared to 2022. Vienna retained its place at the top of the ranking for the second year running, having previously dominated the list prior to the disruption of 2020 and 2021. And that’s not all: earlier this week it was also named the world’s most liveable city by Monocle magazine. Planning your trip

Yesterday morning, I woke up on a shiny metal carriage rolling through the suburbs of Berlin. I had gone to bed the night before somewhere just outside Amsterdam. In the eight hours in between, I had (mostly) slept like a baby while the wheels beneath me gobbled up the roughly 400 miles between two of Europe’s most spectacularly entertaining cities. Let’s backtrack. There was much excitement when, in 2021, a brand-new Dutch company called European Sleeper announced plans for an overnight train between Brussels and Berlin – a route that hadn’t seen sleeper trains in donkey’s years. The announcement was hailed as part of the wider revival of European sleeper trains, after decades when the rise of budget airlines had seen many overnight rail routes mothballed. After a few delays, European Sleeper’s ‘Good Night Train’ finally made its debut on May 25 2023. And just a few days later, I hopped on a Eurostar from London to see what the fuss was about. I left London bound for Brussels, where there’s an easy change to the European Sleeper service at Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid station. A Eurostar train from London to Brussels leaves at 15.04 each day, giving you just over an hour at Brussels to grab a beer, change platforms and board the Berlin sleeper in time for golden hour. Photograph: James ManningThe European Sleeper train pulls into the platform at Brussels Midi/Zuid Alternatively, you could catch a train from London to Amsterdam and catch the Good Night Train there. The last

European train travel is back in a big way. A slew of new European sleeper trains have been announced for 2023 and beyond, including Nightjet’s Germany to Croatia service and an exciting new route from Prague to Switzerland via Czech national rail operator ČD. But surely the most anticipated is the brand-new European Sleeper service – and it’s about to make its first official voyage. Initially billed to launch in 2022, the so-called ‘Good Night Train’ will link Brussels and Berlin via Amsterdam and Rotterdam, letting travellers shuttle between three dazzling European capitals via one overnight service. What’s more, the route will link up with Eurostar, meaning passengers from the UK will be able to join the sleeper train service to Berlin with one quick change in Brussels. That’s right: from this week, you’ll be able to hop on the 15:04 from London St Pancras, enjoy a quick beer in Brussels and wake up in Berlin. The service from Brussels will initially run three times a week, and tickets from Brussels or Amsterdam to Berlin start at €49 for a seat – though you’ll want to spend a bit more and book a couchette or sleeper bed for a better night’s kip. Depending on the size of your group, taking a sleeper train could be cheaper than flying. And all services will include free wifi, coffee and a light breakfast – something you wouldn’t get on a budget flight, that’s for sure. If that’s not exciting enough, the pan-European sleeper route is set to extend even further in 2024, swe

Last year, the Hong Kong tourist board announced plans to give away half a million free plane tickets to encourage tourism in 2023 – and now it’s finally, officially happening.  Details of the giveaway were unveiled on February 2 by Hong Kong’s leader John Lee Ka-chiu, as part of the ‘Hello Hong Kong’ campaign.  How to get free air tickets to Hong Kong Hong Kong Airport’s website allows travellers to select their departure location and enter a draw to win a round-trip ticket. The giveaway periods are staggered, depending on what part of the world you live in. Travellers from Europe The ticket giveaway has now ended for travellers from the UK and Europe. Entrants were asked to register for tickets on Cathay Pacific’s website and complete a quiz. Tickets will be allocated to those who answered the questions correctly on a first come, first served basis. Winners from the UK will be contacted with details on how to redeem their prize on June 5. Travellers from North America Starting May 17, travellers from the USA and Canada can apply for tickets from Cathay Pacific. The US giveaway opens at 5pm PST/8pm EST, while the Canada giveaway opens at 6pm PST/9pm EST. The entry period will close on May 24. Travellers from Australia and New Zealand The giveaway will open to travellers from Australia and New Zealand on May 29.  Travellers from Asia The giveaway is now closed for Southeast Asian travellers, but travellers from Seoul can apply from now until the end of June. Those from Japa

訪日外国人客（インバウンド）が復活し、国内でも延期や中止となっていたさまざまな文化イベントが再開され、「アフターコロナ」のにぎわいを謳歌（おうか）している人は多いことだろう。ここ数年、世界もまるで「ひっくり返ったような状態」になっている。そんな中、タイムアウトは世界の各都市に向けてカルチャーアンケートを実施する。 東京のカルチャーシーンは今どうなっているのだろうか、何が良質とされ、楽しめるコンテンツなのか。簡単なアンケートに答えて、あなたの意見を聞かせてほしい。「カルチャー」は幅広いカテゴリーを指す言葉だが、アート、ライブミュージック、映画、演劇、伝統芸能、コメディーなど、東京のあらゆる文化的な施設や活動が対象だ。 今すぐ「タイムアウトカルチャーアンケート」に参加する   （上記にフォームが表示されない場合は、こちらからもアンケートに参加可能） 調査は完全に匿名で、回答は2分ほどで終わる。2023年の東京の文化を鼓動させるものは何なのか、そして今世界中で最も輝いている文化的なホットスポットを明らかにしたい。 関連記事 『京都の伏見稲荷大社が「世界で最悪な観光地」にランク入り』 『「世界のベスト空港」が発表、日本からはトップ10に2つの空港がランク入り』 『日本から2都市が選出、タイム誌が2023年に訪れるべき場所を発表』 『タイムアウト東京 読者アンケート 2022-23』 『日本のレトロな温泉街ランキングをじゃらんが発表』 東京の最新情報をタイムアウト東京のメールマガジンでチェックしよう。登録はこちら  

El mundo ha cambiado mucho en estos últimos años. Así que nos preguntamos: ¿cómo van las cosas en Madrid? Concretamente, ¿qué hay de bueno en la escena cultural de tu ciudad ahora mismo? 'Cultura' es una categoría amplia, lo sabemos, pero queremos conocerlo todo, desde el arte visual hasta la comedia, desde la música en directo hasta los museos. Ahora, si tienes dos minutos, ¿por qué no llenas nuestra encuesta Time Out sobre cultura? Nos ayudarás a saber qué hace que late el corazón cultural de tu ciudad en 2023 y rastrear los centros culturales que más brillan en el mundo en estos momentos. (¿No ves el formulario? Haz la encuesta aquí.) NO TE LO PIERDAS: Los planes imprescindibles de este invierno en Madrid Lee la revista de invierno de Time Out Madrid, con entrevistas, reportajes y las mejores recomendaciones de ocio y cultura de la ciudad. O descárgala gratis aquí.

El món s'ha capgirat aquests últims anys. De manera que ens demanem: com van les coses a la teva ciutat? Concretament, què hi ha de bo a l'escena cultural de la teva ciutat ara mateix? 'Cultura' és una categoria àmplia, ho sabem, però volem conèixer-ho tot, des de l'art visual fins a la comèdia, des de la música en directe fins als museus. Ara, si tens dos minuts, per què no omples la nostra enquesta Time Out sobre cultura? Ens ajudaràs a saber què fa que bategui el cor cultural de la teva ciutat el 2023 i a rastrejar els centres culturals que més brillen al món en aquests moments. (No veus el formulari? Fes l'enquesta aquí.) NO T'HO PERDIS: Les millors exposicions de Barcelona Ja pots llegir el número de febrer de Time Out Barcelona amb entrevistes, reportatges i les millors recomanacions d'oci i cultura de la ciutat   

El mundo ha cambiado mucho en estos últimos años. Así que nos preguntamos: ¿cómo van las cosas en tu ciudad? Concretamente, ¿qué hay de bueno en la escena cultural de tu ciudad ahora mismo? 'Cultura' es una categoría amplia, lo sabemos, pero queremos conocerlo todo, desde el arte visual hasta la comedia, desde la música en directo hasta los museos. Ahora, si tienes dos minutos, ¿por qué no llenas nuestra encuesta Time Out sobre cultura? Nos ayudarás a saber qué hace que late el corazón cultural de tu ciudad en 2023 y rastrear los centros culturales que más brillan en el mundo en estos momentos. (¿No ves el formulario? Haz la encuesta aquí.) NO TE LO PIERDAS: Las mejores exposiciones de Barcelona Ya puedes leer el número de febrero de Time Out Barcelona con entrevistas, reportajes y las mejores recomendaciones de ocio y cultura de la ciudad

The world has been turned upside down these last few years. So: how are things going in your city? Specifically, what’s good on your city’s culture scene right now?‘Culture’ is a broad category, we know – but we want to hear about all of it, from visual art to comedy, live music to museums. So if you’ve got two minutes to spare, why not fill in our Time Out Culture Survey? You’ll be helping us learn what makes your city’s cultural heart beat in 2023, and track down the cultural hotspots shining brightest around the world right now. Take the Time Out Culture Survey now: (Don’t see the form? Take the survey here instead.)Thanks for taking the survey! Sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter and you’ll be the first to hear about the results.

Open-water swimming is, a) great and, b) increasingly popular these days. And yet London is still a bit crap when it comes to splashing around under wide-open skies. Sure, there are a few decent outdoor swimming places, but they’re heavily oversubscribed – especially during the heatwaves that roll around increasingly frequently these days. Dip demand is definitely higher than supply. So we’re thrilled to bits that a new campaign to turn an east London industrial site into a park for wild swimming and nature has just hit its ambitious fundraising target. The site in question is a waterworks depot on Lea Bridge Road, between Clapton and Leyton. You’ve probably been past it on the 56 bus. Seen from above, it’s a big grey blob on the otherwise blue-and-green lower Lea Valley. It was once a Victorian water-filtering facility, then a Thames Water lorry park. Now an opportunity has come up for the local community to buy the site, rewild it and let the public back in for the first time in centuries. The East London Waterworks Park campaign wants to buy the site and create two Olympic-sized, naturally-filtered swimming areas. The new pools will be free to use all year round and might become one of London’s safest wild swimming spots – think Hackney’s answer to Hampstead Ponds. The plans also include restoring natural habitats, reconnecting walking routes between the Hackney and Walthamstow Marshes (alongside part of the Capital Ring), and turning depot buildings into places for learni