In October last year, permission was given by councillors in London to turn the iconic Trocadero building into a two-storey casino and restaurant. Situated on Coventry Street, it is perfectly situated between Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square. This meeting place and bustling hub has long been at the heart of London's entertainment scene.
Getty Images Footfall in London's West End reached its highest level since 2020 over the 2025 festive season, new figures show. The Heart of London Business Alliance (HOLBA) said visitor numbers in December were up 19% on the same month in 2024 across its central London district. The area, which includes Piccadilly, Leicester Square and Haymarket, also recorded longer visits, with people staying an average of 42 minutes more than in December 2024.
But saving up doesn't mean resigning yourself to weekends full of nothing. Especially in London. Sure, there are countless things in the city that can very easily tempt you to part with your cash, but there are also plenty of art exhibitions, cultural festivals and annual gatherings happening this weekend that are completely free of charge. Even if you're not trying to be money conscious right now, they're worth your time.
took me out for lunch at... the Hampstead branch of Ottolenghi. You see, the former Londoner, who now mainly lives in LA but still has a flat in Notting Hill, is a regular at her local Ottolenghi, and knew it was a failsafe. (Our order? Sharing plates of the roasted carrot and feta, aubergine, and lemony cabbage salads, the lamb koftas and a glass of Riesling for Robbie.)
Does a gorilla playing the drums along to Phil Collins mean anything to you? What about surfers that turn into horses as they're riding the waves? Or a fisherman boxing with a bear over some salmon? Those are just a few of the most iconic adverts to have graced our TV screens over the last five decades. And soon, you'll be able to see them on a humungous scale.
London is a city that rewards curiosity. Beyond the iconic landmarks, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye, lies a quieter, more intimate version of the capital. This is the London locals know: tucked-away streets, overlooked parks, independent cafés, and historic corners that rarely make it into guidebooks. For travellers willing to stray from the obvious routes, the city offers countless hidden gems that reveal its true character.
Fiona Twycross, the heritage minister, is to be congratulated for finally giving London's Southbank Centre Grade II listing (Campaigners welcome long overdue' listing of brutalist Southbank Centre, 10 February). I remember being shocked when I first saw it in the 1960s, but it has become a remarkable symbol of the zeitgeist. Its grey concrete and its childlike composition together express the fatalism and despair of a nation in economic and political decline.
Despite its proximity to one of London's busiest tourist attractions, its back street location is remarkably quiet and peaceful. Leading off Stafford Place, it was originally, and unsurprisingly, called Stafford Mews, as it was built as stabling for houses on Buckingham Gate, facing the palace. Constructed around 1860, the stables were simple two-storey houses, built initially with stables at the ground and accommodation above.
At Troubadour, we are driven by a belief in creating extraordinary spaces that inspire artists, audiences, and the stories they come together to share. The 3,000 seat venue is to be built in Greenwich Securing planning permission for the new Troubadour Greenwich Peninsula Theatre marks a major milestone for us, and an exciting new chapter in our commitment to bold, large-scale live performance.
With more than 100 cinemas, London is a wonderland for cinephiles . Pull back the curtain of some the most beloved picture houses and you'll find fascinating histories galore. The Regent Street Cinema is one of those places. This month it celebrates 130 years since it became the birthplace of British cinema with screenings of the Lumière brothers' groundbreaking Cinématographe show in 1896. It changed entertainment forever.
The first floor of the iconic pub on Lower Richmond Road will be extended to create the new terrace, which will have a retractable roof and spiral staircase. The venue will also get new equipment to allow it to sell a better range of food, while it will undergo some internal reorganisation and redecoration. An artist's impression of the refurbished pub The Half Moon on Lower Richmond Road
A Valentine's date doesn't have to be anything extravagant. Sure, a fancy meal is nice and all, but St Valentine's Day is really about giving quality time to your favourite people, whether that be a partner, pals or a situationship that you're trying to turn into something a bit deeper. This year V Day falls on a Saturday, which means there's an awful lot of time to fill. But, like we said, that doesn't have to involve big spending.
