#london

#london

If you own a property in London, you have almost certainly thought about your EPC rating in the past twelve months. Mortgage lenders are paying closer attention to energy performance. Tenants are factoring running costs into rental decisions. And with the government signalling stricter minimum EPC thresholds for rented properties, a poor rating is no longer just a line on a certificate - it is a financial liability.

To celebrate, everyone's favourite ball-shaped cocktail is bringing a 10-foot gacha machine to the capital where thirsty Londoners can win a chance to try the new BuzzBall. Arriving in the flavour 'Berry Cherry Limeade' (we're guessing it's got notes of berry, cherry and lime), the bright blue drink will be London's to try for the day, at a pop-up taking place on Friday February 27 at Observation Point on the Southbank.

Analysis by insurer Aviva reveals that 11% of the 396,602 new homes in England built between 2022 and 2024 were built in areas of medium or high risk of flooding, while more than a quarter (26%) have some flood risk. While comparable statistics have not been published since 2022, Aviva said its assessment showed the number of homes built in flood risk areas has accelerated as housebuilding increases. The problem is particularly acute in and around the capital, the analysis reveals.

The court was told witnesses heard him shouting "let them die" and "I want them to die" as the animals were dropped. He later told police he did not know "what came over me". Prosecutor Manisha Kukadia said police had been called to the scene and one kitten was caught before it hit the water, while the other two were found by officers "wet and muddy" and "in shock" but alive.

Natanya tears genres open and rebuilds them in her own image. Her drums swing loose and jazzy over heavy 808s; synths drift dreamily before snapping into gritty guitar riffs. Writing, producing and arranging all her own work, she weaves together neosoul silk, R&B groove, indie edge, and flashes of grunge, all carried by a buttery falsetto that nods to Aaliyah, Amy Winehouse, Janet Jackson and early Destiny's Child.

I first visited The Fall Bride for my best friend's first wedding dress appointment, and immediately fell in love with the space. Squirrelled away in the Dalston backstreets, this bright, soothing store is the ultimate go-to for brides looking for elegant, hand-picked dresses from a series of world-renowned designers. So, as soon as I got engaged, I booked an appointment for myself - and it didn't disappoint the second time round.

A 25-year-old man has appeared in court accused of chasing and fatally stabbing his mother in the back in front of bus passengers. Najiib Raytaan, 25, allegedly murdered 50-year-old Amaal Raytaan after she visited his home in Willesden, north-west London, on the afternoon of January 31. Soon after arriving, she allegedly ran out and banged on neighbours' doors, pursued by her son on an e-scooter and holding a large knife.

Prices for blood tests in London depend on a few things. These include the type of test, whether it's from a vein or finger, and the lab's quality. How quickly you need the results also affects the price. Getting a doctor's review can add to the cost but can also help clarify the results. Details like fasting requirements and the time it takes for the blood test matter too. You might get a small bruise or feel faint, but serious problems are rare.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

New figures have indicated a record-breaking 206 ebike and escooter fires broke out in London during 2025, according to the London Fire Brigade (LFB). Two Londoners died in the fires last year, with a total of five people since 2023. A brigade spokesperson said the blazes were often caused by faulty or poorly built vehicles, usually bought online or second hand, leading to failures in lithium-ion batteries, conversion kits or chargers.

The conversation around workplace productivity has shifted. For years, the focus sat squarely on output: longer hours, faster responses, and relentless availability. But a growing body of evidence suggests that sustainable performance depends less on time spent working and more on how effectively professionals recover between periods of high demand. This shift is playing out visibly across the capital's business districts, where mobile massage in London is becoming increasingly popular as a scheduled necessity rather than an occasional indulgence.

Cold temperatures are set to hit the UK next week, which could see snow fall in the capital. Sleet and snow are expected to arrive in London across five days next week from January 27 until February 1. The BBC has predicted wintry showers will fall on Tuesday, starting at around 6am, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It will average around 6C with nighttime temperatures dropping to 1C, so it's unlikely the snow will stick.

Seventy-two different metrics were assessed and divided into these categories: economy (GDP per capita, employment levels, wage rate); research and development (number of patents, startups and presence of top universities); cultural interaction (proximity to World Heritage Sites and number of theatres, museums, stadiums and hotel rooms); livability (life expectancy and rent prices); environment (air quality and waste recycle rate); and accessibility (the price of a cab and the number of international flights).

As well as growing up from an eight-year-old boy into a twenty-year-old man at 4 Plaistow Grove in Bromley, the years 1955 - 1967 also saw David Robert Jones transform into David Bowie. The south London terraced house was the place where Bowie's musical journey started and it's where he wrote one of his most iconic songs, 'Space Oddity'.

As UK small businesses gear up for a new year of trading, research from Novuna Business Finance reveals a five-year peak in percentage of small business owners (84%) that are starting 2026 with plans to invest in new growth initiatives in order to make their enterprises stronger for the year ahead - and that growth agenda is being driven from the Capital

Across the country, highways authorities are responsible for nine out of every 10 miles of road - approximately 225,000 miles throughout the UK. They grit on average 40% of roads - a total of around 80,000 miles. In London, local councils and Transport for London (TfL) grit major roads. Gritter lorry on A9, south of Inverness. Amber weather warnings have been expanded after coming into force in parts of Scotland, as forecasters warn of heavy snow that could bring blizzard conditions and travel disruption. Picture date: Friday January 2, 2026.

Thousands of revellers lined the streets of London to watch the capital's dazzling New Year's Day parade as the party atmosphere rolled on into 2026. More than 8,000 performers took part in the spectacular procession from Piccadilly to Whitehall, treating crowds to marching bands, acrobats and eye-catching floats. A large inflatable in London Parade, the New Year's Day parade through the West End (Ben Whitley/PA) Spectators braved bitterly cold temperatures to watch dancers twirling in daffodil costumes

Following a public appeal, officers arrested Abdel Dedour on suspicion of murder at an address in north-west London on Friday. Four others were arrested at the same address in connection with the killing. Det Ch Insp Allam Bhangoo, of the Metropolitan Police, said Mr Dedour had "tried many ways to evade capture, but thanks to the efforts of officers, we are now one step closer to securing justice."

Jason Hawkes has been capturing the capital from the skies for over 25 years, and his method is not for the faint-hearted. Flying in a helicopter with the doors removed, Mr Hawkes climbs between 500ft and 2,400ft. Both himself and the camera are harnessed to the helicopter so nothing falls out when it turns on its side to get the perfect shot.

As a family, we are deeply concerned for Abdul's safety and are asking for the public's help in locating him.

"It's a huge, huge cultural loss for not just the current musicians, but the musicians of the future, especially working-class ones that used to have this as one of the few possibilities of getting inside the craft," she said.

Analysis by Deutsche Bank investigated how much a 5km journey cost in a cab in cities across the world, as part of its Mapping the World's Prices 2025 report. The data included both traditional taxis and cabs ordered through an app like Uber or Bolt. London came in fifth place, with around £17.26 per 5km ride, ahead of other expensive cities including Amsterdam, Milan and Tokyo.