Chiara Wilkinson has been with Time Out since June 2021, first as Staff Writer on the London team, then as Chief Features Writer on the UK team. These days, she is Features Editor across the UK and London sites, covering everything from music, culture and nightlife to social issues, lifestyle trends and local community stories. 

In 2022, she was named one of the PPA’s 30 Under 30 winners and was shortlisted for Best Features Writer at the 2022 BSME Awards. Chiara has also written for titles including Vice, The Guardian, Vogue, Dazed, i-D and DJ Mag.

The token Scot of the editorial team, Chiara grew up in Edinburgh and is now based in London. She likes clubbing, yoga, going to music festivals, Italian food and The Pub. Follow her on Twitter @ChiaraWilkinson.

Chiara Wilkinson

Chiara Wilkinson

Features Editor, UK

Follow Chiara Wilkinson:

Articles (171)

The 34 best restaurants in Edinburgh you need to try

The 34 best restaurants in Edinburgh you need to try

‘Scran’ is the old Scots word for ‘food’. Historically, it was used to refer to food of ‘an inferior quality’, but these days, we’d argue that’s no longer the case. In fact, we can bet you’ll find all sorts of delicious scran to get your teeth stuck into when visiting the Scottish capital – you probably won’t know where to start. Edinburgh’s food and drinks offering is well respected, with a buzzing hospitality scene that attracts some of the best chefs in the country. What’s more, many new, exciting ventures have popped up since the pandemic, offering everything from super-fresh seafood and gorgeous local produce to daring twists on international flavours and innovative plant-based dining.  So whether you want to go all-out with an elaborate Michelin-starred meal or would rather fill up with some loaded focaccia at a mouth-wateringly good sandwich shop, the city has you sorted. Here’s our pick of the top restaurants in Edinburgh, which are all well worth your attention (and bellies) if you’re on a trip up here. RECOMMENDED: 🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Edinburgh🥑 The best brunch in Edinburgh🥪 The best cheap eats in Edinburgh📍 The best things to do in Edinburgh🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Where to stay in Edinburgh This guide was last updated by Time Out’s features editor Chiara Wilkinson, who is originally from Edinburgh. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

The 28 best things to do in Edinburgh right now

The 28 best things to do in Edinburgh right now

We all know that Edinburgh is a great place to visit in August, when the city hosts the Fringe: the world’s largest arts festival, bursting with hundreds of theatre and comedy shows. But if you’d rather visit at another time, fear not: the Scottish capital is an excellent place to explore all year round.  From tucking into its top-notch restaurant scene and exploring charming boozers to navigating its rich, fascinating history and checking out the city’s busy cultural offerings, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Oh, and did we mention the scenery? Absolutely braw (that’s the Scots word for ‘glorious’).  So, whether you’re planning a quick getaway, a longer holiday or even a Fringe-long trip, you won’t be short on options. Better get packing: here are the best things to do Edinburgh. RECOMMENDED:🪩 The best clubs in Edinburgh🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Where to stay in Edinburgh🏨 The best hotels in Edinburgh🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Edinburgh🏰 The best attractions in Edinburgh This guide was last updated by Time Out’s features editor Chiara Wilkinson, who is originally from Edinburgh. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

London’s best sushi restaurants

London’s best sushi restaurants

Sushi doesn’t just mean raw fish, rice and seaweed – although there’s plenty of excellent examples of that kind in the capital. No, sushi can have many forms: fishy forms, meaty forms and even vegan forms. In London, you can eat it in Michelin-starred restaurants, at cosy omakase counters and with breathtaking views. Our list of London’s best sushi restaurants covers all this ground and more, so have a browse and then book your next Japanese feast. RECOMMENDED: London’s best Japanese restaurants.

The best new restaurants in London

The best new restaurants in London

Every week, a frankly silly amount of brilliant new restaurants, cafés and street food joints arrive in London. Which makes whittling down a shortlist of the best newbies a serious challenge. But here it is. The 20 very best new restaurants in the capital, ranked.  Go forth and eat, featuring everything from Fallow offshoot Roe in Canary Wharf, Oma's Greek-ish cuisine in Borough Market, to hyped Mayfair spot The Dover, the Whitehall wonder that is Kioku, French bistro bangers at Josephine in Fulham, fire and fish at Lita in Marylebone and Med sharing dishes at Morchella in Clerkenwell. We also show some love for the sublime small plates at Hackney's Sune, modern Malaysian cuisine at Mambow in Clapton, tasty sausage at Bistro Freddie in Spitalfields and Filipino sharing feasts at Donia in Soho.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. RECOMMENDED: The 50 best restaurants in London.

The 24 best hotels in Edinburgh

The 24 best hotels in Edinburgh

If you’re after a quaint, picture-postcard alternative to gritty, cosmopolitan Glasgow, you’re in the right place. The city of Edinburgh is a trusted destination for enchanting strolls, whether you're walking among the elaborate medieval attractions or through the scenic natural sights of Arthur's Seat or Holyrood Park. Your adventures could even lead you to a street or landmark that inspired the Harry Potter books – not something that can be said about many cities. Apart from being visually stunning, it's a hotspot for nighttime revellers thanks to the colourful array of bars, music venues and restaurants that bring its historic streets to life.  The arts and cultural scene is celebrated through a variety of events throughout the year, the most notable being Edinburgh Fringe – the world's largest performance arts festival that attract visitors from all across the globe.  Many hotels live up to the Scottish capital’s history and innate sense of drama. There are some in gothic buildings, some stuffed with antiques, and others with rooms boasting views to swoon over. To help you find the perfect base, here’s our pick of the absolute best hotels in Edinburgh.  RECOMMENDED:🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The best Airbnbs in Edinburgh🍻 Get out and about in Edinburgh💰 The best cheap hotels in Edinburgh💰 Free things to do in Edinburgh Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial

The 30 best beaches in the world

The 30 best beaches in the world

When you think about it, beaches are actually pretty simple. All you need are some crystal-clear waters, long stretches of sun-kissed shoreline and you’ve got yourself a gorgeous, ‘gram-worthy patch to lie down and chill out (whilst, obvs, slathered in a healthy dose of sunscreen).  Though plenty have sun, sand and sea in common, no two beaches are truly alike – nature just doesn’t work that way. The glistening white shores of tropical, palm tree-lined bays are a million miles away from volcanic black pebbles along rugged Nordic coastlines. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t all magnificent, and the ones in this list are the very best this planet has to offer: take a look. RECOMMENDED: 🌍The best things to do in the world🏊‍♀️The most spectacular places to swim in the world 🤿The best places to go snorkelling in the world🧗‍♀️The best caves in the world to explore

Glastonbury 2024: line-up, stage splits, dates and tickets

Glastonbury 2024: line-up, stage splits, dates and tickets

The full Glastonbury 2024 line-up (with stage splits and timings!) has finally dropped and you may have had some thoughts. A far cry from 2023’s all-male line-up, this year you’ll see Dua Lipa and SZA take to the Pyramid stage, as well as Coldplay and Shania Twain. A load of other acts have also been announced and the full line-up has been confirmed – minus, of course, a few surprise sets.  Fancy winning a pair of tickets to Glastonbury 2024? Enter Time Out’s competition with Brothers Cider here. Even if you didn’t manage to get your hands on those golden tickets this year, there’s always watching the festival from the comfort of your own sofa and trying again next time. So, whether you have plans to camp, glamp, or catch up on TV, here’s everything you need to know about Glastonbury Festival 2024. RECOMMENDED:  🎟️ When is the Glastonbury 2024 resale? How to get tickets as lineup revealed🎶Here are some tips to help you hack the ticket sale🏕️The best campsites in the UK🌤️The best things to do in the UK When is Glastonbury 2024? Glastonbury 2024 starts on Wednesday June 26 and runs until Sunday June 30. Most of the music will be on June 28, 29 and 30, so if you’re not lucky enough to be heading to Worthy Farm IRL and you’re watching on the TV instead, those are the dates to pencil in your calendar.  What’s the lineup this year? Dua Lipa, Coldplay and SZA will headline this year’s Glastonbury Festival and Shania Twain will take the Legends Slot. Little Simz, Burna Boy, K-p

The best restaurants in Dalston

The best restaurants in Dalston

Dalston may be known for its buzzing bars and thriving nightlife, but its dining-out scene is just as thrilling. The area boasts killer kebabs – thanks to several of London’s best Turkish restaurants – alongside global cuisine and tons of excellent cafés serving up mouthwatering and hangover-curing breakfasts. From Angelina (a chic Italo-Japanese mash-up) and the Littleduck Picklery (a ‘fermenting kitchen’ related to Ducksoup) to Dusty Knuckle Bakery, and trendy daytime spot Snackbar, there's something for everyone. Try reliable old faves: Andu Café (Ethiopian, vegan and BYO) and Del 74 (a garish, grungy Mexican bar/taqueria) if you don't know where to start your culinary quest.      RECOMMENDED: The very best restaurants in London.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

The best Stoke Newington restaurants

The best Stoke Newington restaurants

Eating out in Stokey is always a good time. A perfect day in N16 would start with shakshuka at brilliant brunch spot The Good Egg, followed by lunch tacos at Sonora Taqueria and then an all-out Indian veggie feast at Rasa or maybe Scottish-Spanish tapas at Escocesa. But we'll leave it up to you to make your own edible agenda; to help, here are the very best restaurants in Stoke Newington.  RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in Hackney.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Stefflon Don: ‘You get too comfortable if you’re not around people going harder than you’

Stefflon Don: ‘You get too comfortable if you’re not around people going harder than you’

‘Is it strangling me?’  A five-foot-long carpet python is coiling itself around Stefflon Don’s chest. She appears unphased: her voice is calm, her face upturned and still, standing like a life-sized Oscars trophy under the Fitzrovia Chapel’s golden mosaic ceiling. It’s a strange scene for a Wednesday evening. Sunlight filters in through stained glass, the windows showing scenes of Saint Paul and Saint Christopher. Drake’s ‘Rich Baby Daddy’ plays from a tinny Bluetooth speaker, and the snake (named Diesel, four-and-a-half years old, from Hackney), is the centre of attention – not the superstar rapper, despite her having a cool six-and-a-half million monthly listeners on Spotify. Diesel writhes behind her left ear, his small head darting. But Stephanie Victoria Allen seems more concerned about other things. ‘My eye makeup is giving: ‘‘I’ve had a night out’’, it’s too harsh,’ she says, looking over the photographer’s head to the flashing stream of pictures popping up on the computer monitor. Then it’s back into the makeup chair.  Photograph: Jess Hand From the six-odd hours I spend around Allen, I learn one thing very early on: she’s a perfectionist. She has her vision and if she doesn’t like something, she’ll say. She’s not afraid to keep people waiting to get something just right. It’s why her highly anticipated debut album, ‘Island 54’, has been three years in the making and how she landed a seven-figure record deal with Universal back in 2017. It’s why she remains one of t

The 18 best breakfast and brunch spots in Edinburgh

The 18 best breakfast and brunch spots in Edinburgh

There’s a reason why breakfast is often referred to as the most important meal of the day. The Scottish capital does it brilliantly, with plenty of places for morning diners to soak up their sins from a night at one of the city’s many whisky bars or clubs, or to kick-start the day with a strong cup of coffee before packing in some sightseeing.  Known for its vibrant food and drink scene, Edinburgh naturally has an abundance of breakfast options: from restaurants that serve up a full Scottish breakfast, haggis and all, to healthy veggie choices with the freshest of ingredients. So, whether you’re longing for a good ’ol greasy spoon or would rather opt for one of the city’s more swanky joints, look no further. Here are the best breakfast and brunch spots in Edinburgh. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in Edinburgh

The 15 most beautiful places in the UK, according to travel writers who’ve seen them all

The 15 most beautiful places in the UK, according to travel writers who’ve seen them all

For all of the stick we give the UK – the grey skies, the pigeons, the Greggs sausage roll packets littering the pavements – it’s actually a pretty gorgeous country. In London alone, you can be goggling over the Barbican’s brutalist beauty one moment, the next, you might be basking in the tranquility of Hampstead Ponds. Add the turquoise coasts of Cornwall, the rugged mountains of Snowdonia and the fairytale wonder of Scotland’s highlands and islands to the mix, and you’ve got a country which is as good looking as they come.  When we set about curating this list of the most beautiful places in the UK, we called on our network of expert travel writers. These guys have have personally experienced the pinch-me moment of seeing every place on this list IRL – so we can guarantee you there is no catfishing going on here. Of course, you’ll find the usual suspects – you can’t argue with the magic of the Isle of Skye, after all – but you’ll also find some more surprising beauty spots to add to your travel bucket list. RECOMMENDED:🚂 The UK’s most beautiful train stations🇬🇧 The best things to do in the UK🏝 The most beautiful places in the world🏠 The best Airbnbs in the UK Chiara Wilkinson is Time Out’s UK features editor, based in London. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content

Listings and reviews (110)

Nobu Hotel Portman Square

Nobu Hotel Portman Square

4 out of 5 stars

In many ways, Nobu Portman Square is completely what you’d expect. Professionals with blindingly shiny watches and rich girl hair balance laptops in the lobby, typing last minute emails before snapping the lid shut and swaggering to the ajoining bar for a martini. Couples dressed to the nines hold hands over tables in the upstairs restaurant, gazing into each other’s eyes and posing for Instagram stories between sips of sake. I even overheard women on their way to the fitness suite ask: ‘are the glasses Gucci or Loewe’? In other ways, though, it’s refreshing – because although you’d not be too surprised to bump into Chloé Kardashian in the ladies’ loos, you swiftly learn that none of this is for show. Nobu’s not riding a wave of reputation at the expense of quality: Nobu is Nobu for a reason. And it’s a place us normal folk can enjoy too (even if only on special occassions), because it doesn’t feel snooty or intimidating. There’s no unnecessary extravagance and the staff seem genuienly happy to help. Of course, the brand’s globally-renowned lustre all harks back to its culinary history via the namesake chef Nobu Matsuhisa, so you’d be a fool to skip eating here. An open kitchen and sushi counter sets a relaxed tone; tasteful, lo-fi music hums from speakers, meanwhile the menu boasts classics like black cod miso, Matsuhisa sashimi salad and A5 wagyu beef. There’s also a bar and a heated concrete terrace if you just fancy a tipple, as well as a large ballroom for event hire an

Nijū

Nijū

4 out of 5 stars

Mayfair is no stranger to sushi. Chisou, Taku, Sexy Fish, and Umu are all within walking distance, though some of them are more lavish and built for Insta-stories than others. Joining their ranks is NIJŪ, the brainchild of third-generation sushi chef Endo Kazutoshi of the Michelin-starred Endo at The Rotunda and fellow new opening Kioku at the OWO Raffles. The focus here is on ‘katei ryori’ cooking, which translates to ‘home-cooked food’ and, in Nijū’s own words, means ‘informal yet decadent’. It certainly feels more relaxed than some of the neighbouring Mayfair restaurants: it’s giving chic, but not overly flashy. Situated in an elegant townhouse, you enter through a heavy velvet curtain to find two separate dining rooms decked out with sunset-hued lights and tasteful indoor plants – the one on the left hosting a bustling open sushi counter, headed up by David Bury (formerly of Notting Hill’s Sumi), and the kitchen by Chris Golding (formerly of The Pantechnicon). We mopped up a dollop of yuzu butter with delightfully fluffy shokupan bread The menu is organised into different sections: snacks and small dishes, nigiri and sashimi, big katei ryori plates and their selection of konro grilled house-aged beef. To kick things off, we mopped up a dollop of yuzu butter with delightfully fluffy shokupan bread – the unami kick of the MSG meddling gorgeously with the citrusy twang – followed by blistered padron peppers scattered with katsuobushi flakes. By this point, we’d downed our s

Gillian Cosgriff: Actually, Good

Gillian Cosgriff: Actually, Good

4 out of 5 stars

This review is from the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. ‘Actually, Good’ took home the top award at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival, so the stakes were already high enough for Gillian Cosgriff’s ruthlessly cheery interactive hour. The show is also all about finding happiness in the mundane – which is a hard enough mission at the best of times. The Aussie performer structures her performance around a game she vox-pops to the (very willing) audience, where you’re asked to come up with a ranking of ten things you ‘like’, before she writes them down in her ‘Book of Good’. Often, these will be as simple as ‘wearing a wireless bra’ or ‘getting a USB in the socket for the first time’ – or, in Cosgriff’s case, ‘bus drivers waving at each other’.  Cosgriff’s manic nods of approval at people’s ‘likes’ occasionally feel disingenuous, especially when it came to some of the more bland responses. But, overall, the optimism is endearing. The real humour came in with her various flashback stories and musical numbers she weaved throughout the game with a zesty flair and considerable pace. (A hilarious longer sketch of an unfortunate phone meeting with a councillor is especially good). There is also a darker undercurrent, which functions to counter the stickier sweet shell and remind us that with good, there is always bad, and with life, there is always death (yes, she is really blunt).  Her game could have quickly become tired or cringe – or risk sounding like a particular

Gillian Cosgriff: Actually, Good

Gillian Cosgriff: Actually, Good

4 out of 5 stars

This review is from the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. ‘Actually, Good’ took home the top award at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival, so the stakes were already high enough for Gillian Cosgriff’s ruthlessly cheery interactive hour. The show is also all about finding happiness in the mundane – which is a hard enough mission at the best of times. The Aussie performer structures her performance around a game she vox-pops to the (very willing) audience, where you’re asked to come up with a ranking of ten things you ‘like’, before she writes them down in her ‘Book of Good’. Often, these will be as simple as ‘wearing a wireless bra’ or ‘getting a USB in the socket for the first time’ – or, in Cosgriff’s case, ‘bus drivers waving at each other’.  Cosgriff’s manic nods of approval at people’s ‘likes’ occasionally feel disingenuous, especially when it came to some of the more bland responses. But, overall, the optimism is endearing. The real humour came in with her various flashback stories and musical numbers she weaved throughout the game with a zesty flair and considerable pace. (A hilarious longer sketch of an unfortunate phone meeting with a councillor is especially good). There is also a darker undercurrent, which functions to counter the stickier sweet shell and remind us that with good, there is always bad, and with life, there is always death (yes, she is really blunt).  Her game could have quickly become tired or cringe – or risk sounding like a particular

One Hundred Shoreditch

One Hundred Shoreditch

4 out of 5 stars

A Scandi-inspired spot of calm in the hustling heart of Shoreditch You’d be forgiven for thinking the lobby of One Hundred Shoreditch was the office of some edgy millennial’s start-up, with its fizzy trap-house soundtrack, large statement sculptures and cool twenty-somethings tapping away on their laptops. Head upstairs, though, and it’s a very different story. The bedrooms – all whitewashed walls, feature tapestry hangings and pine – radiate an instant calm. The design is subtle, but carefully calculated: curved vases clash with hard corners, rough natural textures sit next to excruciatingly soft sheets. There’s an attention to detail here which makes it feel like you’re staying in the spare room of some impossibly fashionable friend, what with the cult DS & Durga toiletries and Jacu Strauss artworks. But it’s not all about sleeping. Formerly home to the hipster haven the Ace Hotel, this landmark east London building is now as much a social destination as it is a place to rest your head. Head to the buzzy rooftop for drinks – a cacti-dotted terrace with a pink-tiled bar and panoramic skyline views over the city – and you’ll see why. Neighbourhood Shoreditch might have lost its crown to its Dalston neighbour as London’s king of cool, but that doesn’t mean this area has completely forgone its edge. Nearby, you’ll find a tonne of late-night bars, music venues, art galleries and indie fashion boutiques – in addition to Dickensian-era cobblestone streets and a Palladian church wi

Brooks & Brooks

Brooks & Brooks

If you’re after a ticks-all-the-boxes salon, look no further than Brooks and Brooks, which has been shaping and snipping the barnets of Londoners for more than two decades. Carrying a heady reputation in the hairdressing world for nurturing young, up-and-coming talent, they recently relocated from their home in Sicilian Avenue to a bright and breezy salon space in Covent Garden which previously housed Charles Worthington. I visited with a head of dodgy faded red dye, my dark natural roots beginning to peak through, and tasked Artistic Director Marlon with the mission to get my locks back as close to my original shade as possible. The consultation was in-depth and holistic, taking into account my washing routine and long-term goals – and I was impressed with the results, walking away with a mop of deep, rich, chocolate brown which blended perfectly with my natural hair. At Brooks, you really feel like you’re being listened to: your concerns and hairy ambitions are taken into account with genuine care and attention. You won’t find any pretence here: they do hair, and do it extremely well. 

Camille

Camille

4 out of 5 stars

From the same minds who brought you Ducksoup in Soho and Little Duck The Picklery in Dalston comes a new venture with its sights set on France. Camille is unassuming at first, with classic French dishes using local British produce (you’re in Borough Market, after all), lots of wine and a packed chalkboard of daily specials. But once you’re a course or two in, windows steamy with condensation and a few glasses deep – perhaps fighting the temptation to run your finger over those last drops of sauce – you might as well be on a backstreet of Montmartre as opposed to Southwark. The interiors are rustic, but not gaudy; bottles are displayed on the walls, candles dot the tables and the whole place hums with a just-loud-enough bustle. And the food? It delivers. We started with oysters and rhubarb (very fresh), before the smaller starter plates arrived: zesty shredded crab toast with garlic and bisque and gorgeously tender pig’s head schnitzel with a crunchy, bitter puntarelle salad. You might as well be on a backstreet of Montmartre as opposed to Southwark A highlight was the Jerusalem artichoke with serious bite, all disguised in a joyous, fluffy cloud of Lincolnshire poacher cheese. When it comes to mains, prepare yourself for some serious meat damage. The langoustine cassoulet – a stew of flesh in a deep, rich trad sauce – was topped with two delicate but disappointingly slim pink morsels. The pork special was on the dryer side, but saved by a swimming pool of velvety shallot a

W Edinburgh

W Edinburgh

4 out of 5 stars

As soon as the designs for the £1 billion St James redevelopment were drawn up, controversy followed – with locals fearing that the spiralling ribbon-shaped building would ruin Edinburgh’s skyline. But now construction is complete and you’re able to take in the city from the twelfth floor of the W Hotel – martini in hand – it seems like a lot less people are complaining.  Sometimes brand spanking new hotels can feel a little soulless, like they could be anywhere – and it’s true that the slick, modern design of W feels a little more spaceship than Scotland – but there’s a careful attention to detail here which helps to tie everything together elegantly, without stuffing the fact you’re in Edinburgh down your throat. Artworks by Scottish photographers hang on the walls, books on the history of tartan line shelves, and you’re greeted with an uber-friendly local welcome as soon as you step through the door. With luxe suites, top-class facilities, vast glass windows and private terraces looking out onto dramatic views of Arthurs Seat and the Scott Monument – as well as Georgian townhouse rooms available across the square, an onsite restaurant, bars and spa – this is a destination hotel boasting style and maximum comfort.  Neighbourhood Situated in the St James Quarter moments away from Waverley Rail Station, convenience is part of what makes this hotel so bloody great. It’s bang in the city centre, meaning you’re minutes away from Princes Street Gardens, a short tram ride away fro

Scully St James’s

Scully St James’s

4 out of 5 stars

Tomato skins, preserved lemons, vietnamese pepper, blueberry vinaigrette, pickled daikon, dehydrated corn, nettle leaves. Walk into Scully’s restaurant from the concrete monotony of St James’s market and you’ll greeted with jars upon jars of ingredients – dried, fermented, preserved – all arranged like curious specimens in a science lab. The experiments, of course, are what forms the basis of Scully’s culinary wizardry: these curiosities, lined up in every colour of the rainbow, help the kitchen to be as zero waste as possible while making the best of different global cuisines, nodding to the chef’s eclectic heritage. (Scully is Malaysian-born, Sydney-raised, with a mother of Chinese/Indian descent and father of Irish/Balinese.)  The whole thing feels understated and clean, allowing the dishes – which were definitely not understated – to sing, like paintings on a white gallery wall The ex-Ottolenghi chef decided to add a vegan tasting menu to his offering in autumn of 2023 – an ambitious eight course arrangement clocking in at £95 per head plus an extra £75 for the wine flight. Your money goes a long way: the portions are on the healthy side of generous and you’ll leave feeling fully stuffed in a nice, plant-based kind of way. The interiors are chic with natural finishings, soundtracked by the clinking and clanking of an open kitchen, making it the sort of place to go for something special but unfussy. The whole thing feels understated and clean, allowing the dishes – which

Sunset Bay Retreats

Sunset Bay Retreats

Taking place in a beautifully renovated church in the gentle coastal town of Tywyn, in the shadow of southern Snowdonia, Sunset Bay Retreats offer nourishing yoga getaways multiple times a year. Experiences are sculpted around the season – choose from the likes of Summer Solstice, Autumn Equinox and Veganuary – and take place over long weekends as well as during the week. While some yoga retreats can seem stuffy or pretentious, these are far from it. Your hosts, Maggie and Graham (as well as their friendly pooch, Smudge), welcome you into the chapel with a family-like warmth and instantly put you at ease. You’re able to adapt the activities of the stay to your own pace and, importantly, you won’t be frowned upon if you use your phones or have a glass of wine. I visited in mid September, arriving with my joints stiff with stress from the work week. But after the long weekend, I left with clarity of mind and feeling the most relaxed I had in months.  The yoga studio – a vast hall-like space in the centre of the chapel – was the stage for twice-daily yoga practice. (If you’re lucky, you’ll get to do some yoga sessions by the epic sunset on the beach – hence the name – and while the weather didn’t quite allow it this time, it’s a great excuse to come back.) This was by no means a ‘hardcore’ yoga retreat: the sessions were on the slower side with a focus on deepening stretches and holding poses, meaning they were extremely relaxing and easily adapted to different skill levels. A

Vegan Nights

Vegan Nights

Calling all facon fanatics and tofu enthusiasts. Billing itself as London’s largest plant-based party, Vegan Nights is going all spooky on us with a halloween special at Truman Brewery. Showcasing the best that the vegan food scene has to offer, a curated line-up of excellent food stalls will be be serving up delightful plant-based grub alongside some seasonal thrills. Once you’ve gobbled your way through all of that, you can wash it down with pints of vegan beer and boogie to live DJ sets that cover reggae, roots, bashment, grime, house, and party classics. Four legged friends allowed, and it's all ages, with under 12s in for free.   

The Prince Arthur

The Prince Arthur

5 out of 5 stars

Pub grub takes on a whole new meaning in east London these days. Out: sloppy plates of haddock and chips, pork crackling and salted peanuts. In: lobster bisque and scallops, natty wine and Perelló olives. It’s gentrification in action, but that aside, the concept of trendy-pub-plus-trendy-chef has proven itself to be a winner.  The Prince Arthur, tucked into a corner of Victorian terraces near London Fields, was re-launched in 2020 by Emma Piggott and Jonathan Mercer, who also own The Plough in Homerton. Since then, it’s earned a reputation for attracting voguish kitchen talent, boasting a hyped Hot 4 U pop-up residency (which led to Papi, which you can find around the corner) and a stint from chef Vivienne Duffy. This summer, it welcomed Joe Couldridge, whose culinary career spans the likes of Hawksmoor, Leroy, and more recently, The Clarence Tavern in Stokey. Besides being a great pub, the food at the Prince Arthur is knife-and-fork-down brilliant. There’s a proper neighbourhood feel about The Prince Arthur, making it just as likely to be bustling with Salomon-wearing creative couples popping in for some mid-dog walk hydration as it is with tables of foodies tucking into a celebratory dinner. It’s a charming, laid-back place, with high-quality fittings, well-worn wooden tables and classic pub signage. Walk past in August and you’ll see punters licking Guinness froth from their moustaches, spilling out from the pavement into the gutter; in winter, the windows are steamy as

News (430)

Taylor Swift in the UK: Eras Tour timings, setlist and everything you need to know

Taylor Swift in the UK: Eras Tour timings, setlist and everything you need to know

Hot Swiftie summer is officially underway. After over a year pouring over set lists and constantly refreshing our feeds to hear news about the star, Swifties of Britain are finally getting to experience the Eras Tour live and in person. Her UK run of shows kicked off last week in Edinburgh – Liverpool is up next.  On her US leg, we saw the mega star perform through a torrential storm, dive head first into the stage, partake in a short-lived relationship with The 1975 frontman Matty Healy (that then inspired a whole new album), and bring her ex Taylor Lautner out to do a few backflips. We can only hope that the UK leg will be just as exciting and spectacular.  So make the friendship bracelets and pick your Era. Here’s everything we know about Taylor’s Eras tour in the UK.  RECOMMENDED ERAS TOUR GUIDES🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The Eras Tour in EDINBURGH🎤 The Eras Tour in LIVERPOOL🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 The Eras Tour in CARDIFF👑 The Eras Tour in LONDON When is Taylor Swift coming to the UK as part of her 2024 Eras tour? She’s over in two rounds throughout June and August playing stadiums in Edinburgh, Liverpool, Cardiff and London. The dates are as follows:  June 7 2024 – Edinburgh, BT Murrayfield StadiumJune 8 2024 – Edinburgh, BT Murrayfield StadiumJune 9 2024 – Edinburgh, BT Murrayfield Stadium June 13 2024 – Liverpool, Anfield StadiumJune 14 2024 – Liverpool, Anfield StadiumJune 15 2024 – Liverpool, Anfield Stadium June 18 2024 – Cardiff, Principality Stadium June 21 2024 – London, Wembley

When is the next train strike? Dates and affected lines in June 2024

When is the next train strike? Dates and affected lines in June 2024

Disputes between trade unions and train companies in the UK have now been dragging on for two whole years, with rail workers taking action to protest poor pay and working conditions. So, it’s a surprise to absolutely no one that more train strikes are expected in the coming months.  Following the ASLEF strikes in May – which saw train drivers at 16 operators across the UK walk out over three days – there is no further action planned on British train services. Yippee! Enjoy this glorious strike-free moment while it lasts.  But don’t get your hopes up too high. The ASLEF union’s members previously voted to continue striking until at least August 2024, so we can expect more industrial action in the coming weeks and months. They're required to give at least two weeks notice.  In better news, the RMT says that it has come to some sort of agreement with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) over pay and job security that will pause action by RMT members. Here's everything you need to know about upcoming industrial action on the UK’s rail network.  RECOMMENDED: All you need to know about the train strikes in London.Heathrow Airport strikes 2024: full list of May and June dates and airlines affected. When are the next train strike dates? Following a ‘rolling programme’ of ASLEF strikes on May 7-9, no further strike action is planned. What train lines will be affected?  When ASLEF workers go on a nationwide strike, these are the lines that are typically impacted.  Avanti West Coast CrossCoun

Blood-covered cavalry horses are on the loose in central London

Blood-covered cavalry horses are on the loose in central London

In what might be one of our most apocalyptic-sounding headlines of 2024, five escaped Household Cavalry horses have been on the loose in central London this morning.  The horses were partaking in the Household Cavalry’s daily morning exercise on Horseguards Parade, Whitehall, when they threw off their riders, made up of the Lifeguards and Blues & Royals.  Videos of the horses, one blood-covered, surfaced online. The horses were spotted bolting through streets in Victoria and down to Aldwych, even getting as far as Tower Bridge.  Two horses have just been seen running down Aldwych in central London. One covered in blood. Filmed by @itvnews. pic.twitter.com/0M6A1bot6Q — Daniel Hewitt (@DanielHewittITV) April 24, 2024 The Telegraph reported that five people have been injured at three different locations. The ambulance service has been called to horse-related incidents at Buckingham Palace Road, Belgrave Square and the junction of Chancery Lane and Fleet Street.  In a statement, London Ambulance Service said: ‘We were called at 8.25am today (April 24) to reports of a person being thrown from a horse on Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W. ‘We sent resources to the scene including ambulance crews, a paramedic in a fast response car, and an incident response officer. ‘Our first paramedic was on the scene in five minutes.’ Just before 10.30am, the City of London police force said two of the horses were ‘contained’. An Army spokesperson has since confirmed that all hor

London Marathon ballot 2025: here’s how to enter next year’s race

London Marathon ballot 2025: here’s how to enter next year’s race

Fancy yourself a bit of a runner? The London Marathon is one of the biggest sporting events of the calendar, boasting 50,000 runners and millions of pounds raised for worthy causes each year. It’s not as simple as just lacing up your trainers and showing up on the day, though. Not only will you need serious preparation, but you’ll also have to be allocated an official place via a competitive ballot system. Do you think you have what it takes? Here’s everything you need to know about entering the London Marathon 2025.  How to enter the 2025 London Marathon To secure your spot in next year’s race, make sure you’re ready to enter the ballot, which opens on Saturday April 20, one day before the 2024 edition of the race and closes on Friday 26 April. You’ll find out if you got a spot before the end of July.  When is the London Marathon 2025? Mark those calendars: the London Marathon 2025 is on Sunday, April 27, 2025.  When is the London Marathon ballot announced? The ballot opened on April 20, 2024, and will close on April 26, 2024. The results of the ballot are then announced in July. How much does entering the ballot cost? It depends. For UK participants, the cost of a place is £69.99 with the option to donate their entry fee to The London Marathon Charitable Trust.  For international entrants, it costs £120 for a place, plus a £26 carbon offset levy. Can anyone enter the London Marathon? They can, but if you’re entering from outside the UK you will need to enter via a recognis

All the London Marathon 2024 road closures and traffic disruption you need to know

All the London Marathon 2024 road closures and traffic disruption you need to know

The London marathon happens (pretty much) every year, but somehow that doesn’t stop it coming as a huge surprise to even the most seasoned city-dwellers. So if you’re not already clued up, please be warned that this Sunday April 21, you’ll find 48,000 sweat-drenched runners stampeding through the city, trailing cheering fans, road closures, traffic restrictions in their wake. If your weekend plans involve a pleasant stroll through Blackheath, motoring over Tower Bridge, or picnicking in St James’ Park, please read on. Knowledge is power.  RECOMMENDED: Here’s the full guide to the 2024 London MarathonCheck out the 2024 route here What roads will be closed for the London marathon 2024? This handy map marks the overall route.   Image: Courtesy London Marathon But the roads on it aren’t necessarily closed all day. Instead, their closing times are staggered as the runners make their way from Greenwich to central London, meaning that an afternoon browsing the chichi shops of Blackheath is far from off the cards. Read on for a full breakdown of road closures and times:Charlton Way, Greenwich: 4am to 1pmShooters Hill Road: 4am to 1pmSt John’s Park: 7am to 1pmCharlton Park Road: 7am to 1pmOld Dover Road: 7am to 1pmLittle Heath: 7am to 1pmCharlton Park Lane: 7am to 1pmArtillery Place: 7am to 1pmJohn Wilson Street: 7am to 1pmWoolwich Church Street: 7am to 2pmWoolwich Road: 7am to 2pmTrafalgar Road: 7am to 3pmCreek Road: 7am to 3pmEvelyn Street: 8am to 4pmSurrey Quays Road: 8am to 4pmS

Here’s when the London Marathon 2024 will start and how to track the runners

Here’s when the London Marathon 2024 will start and how to track the runners

Not sure if you’d heard, but there’s quite a big race happening in London at the weekend. Big enough for the city to be brought to a sort-of-standstill and for your office manager to send out email after email reminding you to sponsor those very fit colleagues of yours. It’s even big enough for your mate to excuse themselves from your birthday pints on Saturday night. Must be pretty big, then. We are – of course – talking about the 2024 London Marathon, which will see around 48,000 people chuck on their trainers and run a hefty 26.2 miles this Sunday, 21 April for some worthy-ass causes. And even if you’re not running, even if you’re not cheering someone on from the sidelines, chances are you’ll sense some of the marathon energy if you venture into central London this weekend. The pubs will be packed, roads will be closed and you’ll probably see one or two people wondering around in tinfoil cloaks.  So what are the all-important deets? Here’s all of the essential timings you need to know about the London Marathon 2024 this weekend.  Where and when does the London Marathon 2024 start? The race kicks off in Greenwich Park on Sunday morning at around 8.30am with professional athletes leading the way. The masses then set off in waves. From 10am to 11.30am a sequence of start waves will take place, with short gaps in between to allow the course ahead to clear. All start lines will be closed by 11.30am.  Does everyone start the London Marathon at the same time? No: imagine the chao

When do the clocks go forward in the UK? Daylight savings 2024 explained

When do the clocks go forward in the UK? Daylight savings 2024 explained

This winter has felt particularly long, hasn’t it? Finally, spring is within sight. The biannual clock change will take place at the end of this month, meaning the UK is about to return to longer, brighter days. And with that, comes all of the good stuff: picnics in the park, beer gardens, beach days and music festivals.   Once the clocks go forward, sunlight will finally stretch into evening, though sunrise will happen a little later than in the past weeks. Here’s everything you need to know about when the clocks go forward in the UK in 2024.  When do the clocks go forward in 2024?  Mark your calendars: in 2024, the clocks will go forward on Sunday, March 31 at 1am.  Will I lose or gain an extra hour in bed? With all the different dates and times, it’s easy to get confused about what it actually means for us in practical terms. But as the time change occurs at night (at 1am, the clocks will go forward to 2am), most of us will be sleeping. The March time change means we lose an hour in bed. When will the clocks go back again? In autumn 2024, the clocks will go back on October 27 at 2am.  Why do we change the clocks in the UK? The tradition of changing clocks began in 1916 in an attempt to make better use of daylight hours. Daylight Saving Time (or British Summer Time) meant people could work for longer and could save fuel during the war.  Which other countries change the clocks? More than 70 countries around the globe change their clocks, with most European countries chan

Heathrow Airport strikes 2024: potential dates, disruption and everything you need to know

Heathrow Airport strikes 2024: potential dates, disruption and everything you need to know

Holidaymakers, we’ve got bad news. Border Force staff at Heathrow (the UK’s biggest and busiest airport) are threatening to walk out from April onwards in a dispute over changes to workers’s shifts. If the strike is approved by a ballot of 600 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCSU), industrial action could impact the Easter holidays.  Travelling in or out of Heathrow this Easter? Here’s everything you need to know about the potential strikes, from the dates they could take place to the expected amount of disruption. When are the Heathrow strikes meant to take place?  The ballot of PCSU workers will run until March 22. The earliest a strike could take place is April 5.  Who is going on strike at Heathrow Airport? Around 600 Border Force officers who are members of the PCSU could strike.  What airlines are affected? As the strike hasn’t been confirmed, the scale of the potential disruption at Heathrow hasn’t yet been quantified.  Why are Border Force workers striking? The PCSU has said workers are unhappy about Heathrow’s changes to rosters and shift patterns, which will apparently leave Border Force employees working long, exhausting shifts.  What’s been said about the strikes?  PCSU General Secretary Fran Heathcote said: ‘Our members at Heathrow are united in their opposition to these draconian plans. ‘One aspect of the plans would force workers to choose between finding another job or losing their allowances. Another would see others having to sign u

Slowdive’s Neil Halstead shares his guide to Newquay

Slowdive’s Neil Halstead shares his guide to Newquay

Neil Halstead speaks to me over the phone from Cologne, where Slowdive are currently on tour. It’s been a busy few months – they’ve just returned from South America, where they played Argentina, Chile and Brazil – so it’s been a while since the frontman has spent any substantial time in Newquay, the Cornish town he’s called home since 1994.  ‘It used to be just a little sleepy surf town that would get busy in the summer; a lot of families would come down for holidays,’ he says. ‘Now, it’s changed a bit. There’s lots of nice coffee shops and many different surf schools. In some ways I miss when it was a little less gentrified. But it’s still a lovely place.’ Neil recommends visiting in September or April, when the surf and weather is good but the crowds are at bay. Here are his top things to do.   Eat ‘Pachanga is quite close to where I live. They do simple Mexican food, like huevos rancheros for breakfast. The couple who run it used to have a food truck parked up in town and they finally got their own spot. If you want fancy food there’s a place called Verbena, from chefs Adam Banks and Mariana Chaves, which does small plates. If you’re feeling a little bit flush, it’s a good place to go.’ Drink ‘The Red Lion is the most traditional pub still in Newquay. It overlooks the harbour and they do a good quiz night on Tuesdays. It’s always busy. The pubs in Newquay close at about 11, but there’s a bunch of clubs that are open until two or three in the morning. In summer, it gets pre

House music pioneer Marshall Jefferson on how to spend a weekend in Manchester

House music pioneer Marshall Jefferson on how to spend a weekend in Manchester

When speaking to Marshall Jefferson – the American producer responsible for the legendary late eighties house track, ‘Move Your Body’ – with his warm, thick Chicago accent, you might be surprised to hear that these days, he’s an adopted Mancunian. ‘I was living in London in Chelsea, paying £3500 a month for a studio apartment,’ he says. ‘I visited some friends in Manchester and saw it was a lot cheaper, then moved in 2006. Now I’m living in Prestwich, a very nice neighbourhood.’ But as one of the original architects of the house music genre, Jefferson living in Manchester also completely makes sense. ‘The crowds are just enthusiastic to house now as when I started,’ he says. ‘The only difference is that in the ’90s, you had a lot of hits: there are no hits anymore. There’s thousands of new songs every day. You can’t just hop in the music business one day and come up with a hot song because nobody will ever hear it – and they’ll forget it, because nobody’s played it twice.’ This month, Jefferson is heading over to Leeds to play the 30th anniversary party of Love To Be, the established house music party series. ‘Certain people just do great events, they have it down to a science – Love To Be is one of them,’ he says. Ahead of the night, he talks us through his favourite spots in his adopted hometown of Manchester.  Eat   ‘My area is home to a lot of Orthodox Jewish people and you can get the best kosher at Shefa Mehadrin: fresh food, breads, duck eggs. It’s kinda expensive, but

Air quality is about to be majorly improved at these two London tube stations

Air quality is about to be majorly improved at these two London tube stations

We all know the air quality in London isn’t great. In fact, it’s pretty worrying – especially when we look at the levels in our widely-used tube network.  A recent study by Cambridge University academics, published in December 2022, found that ultrafine particles – those primarily generated by friction from wheels, tracks and brakes – are found in ‘abundance’ on the Underground. The study said that it ‘could have particularly adverse health impacts as their smaller size makes it possible to pass from lungs to the blood stream’. Thankfully, new technology is about to be trialled in an attempt to improve the air on the Underground. Transport for London will be deploying the tech at Baker Street and Green Park stations this winter, tackling dust on the network.  The Mayor’s Budget for 2024/25 said: ‘In winter 2023/24, we will trial a new air filtration system at Baker Street and Green Park stations. We are funding the trial as part of our work to test innovative solutions to improve air quality on the Underground.’ They’ll also be funding a team to explore the capturing and re-use of thermal energy from the tube’s ventilation shafts, which could then be used by external suppliers for nearby buildings. Want to find out more about how the capital is tackling pollution? Take a read of our interview with clean air campaigner Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, our 2023 Time Out Community Hero of the Year.  Did you see that a Queen Elizabeth II memorial garden is coming to Regent’s Park?

Now on the market: a spectacular penthouse in Battersea Power Station

Now on the market: a spectacular penthouse in Battersea Power Station

Ever since the Battersea Power Station re-opened its doors to the public in 2022, its luxury penthouses at the top of the building have been shrouded in mystery. Who’s living there? Does Harry Styles actually own one? What we do know, though, is they’re not cheap – as this lavish property to recently hit the market shows.  Situated in the Boiler House at Battersea Power Station, a four-bedroom property is up for grabs with a hefty price tag of £31 million. It actually combines two penthouses into one space – meaning you’ll have 5,167 square feet of the iconic building to call your own.  The main bedroom suite comes with two dressing rooms, a bathroom and ‘dual aspect’ bedroom with its own private roof terrace. On the top floor, there’s a media and family room, plus a study with balcony, two river-facing guest bedrooms, a kitchenette and utility room.   Photograph: Courtesy of Right Move   Photograph: Courtesy of Right Move You’ll also get an outdoor seating area under one of the former power station’s four chimneys, plus an internal roof garden – all with pretty enviable views over London’s skyline. That’s not all, though: also included is secure underground parking for four cars (because obviously you’ll own more than one if you can afford this kind of place), plus access to the eleventh floor communal resident garden and use of a 24/7 concierge service. To break a sweat, you’ll have access to a residents leisure facility, complete with gym, classes and a pool. The tran