Innehållsförteckning för London 2025 från Britain

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a life-long Londoner, the capital never disappoints. And with an array of new openings, shows and events coming up, 2025 is set to be an exciting year. Beyond the world-class sights, from Big Ben to the London Eye, there are numerous smaller museums and galleries to explore – and even if you don’t set foot in a single one, you’ll find endless entertainment exploring Georgian squares, wandering the City backstreets, or people-watching on the South Bank. The London 2025 guide, brought to you by a team of experts, is the perfect travelling companion with which to navigate the city. Start with our hotlist of events and highlights (p7), then tuck into afternoon tea (p42), treat yourself to an immersive experience (p58), pick up souvenirs…

It wasn’t only London’s ‘bright young things’ who emerged in the wake of the Great War determined to embrace everything that was fresh and modern. So too did a dazzling new style of architecture. And a century on, amid medieval churches, Victorian edifices, Georgian townhouses and 21st-century skyscrapers, these handsome Art Deco treasures are still bringing a certain panache to the capital’s skyline. With sleek geometric or curved lines, bold decorative flourishes and use of materials such as concrete, glass and chrome, Art Deco remains one of the most aesthetically alluring – if brief – periods of architectural design. Finding its feet during the Jazz Age and losing its impetus with the outbreak of the Second World War, Art Deco had its origins on the Continent where the Exposition Internationale…

How do you start your day? Breakfast. I get up nice and early so I can enjoy a leisurely breakfast in bed with my partner and catch up on what’s going on in the world. I live in my studio during the week, so I have a four-metre commute to work, and I tumble straight into model boxes and costumes. Can you describe a typical day? Firstly I’ll probably have a bit of quiet time by myself just to catch up on the thousands of emails that have come in. And then my assistants will come into the studio and a director might pop in, and the day starts off with coffee and chat, and little by little you get round to what you’re needing to design. Then, we’ll usually…

DINE WITH A VIEW Not had time to see all of London’s landmarks during your trip? Book a restaurant table with a sky-high view so that you see the sights as you dine. There are spectacular views from Sky Garden, from which you can see landmarks including St Paul’s Cathedral, the Monument to the Great Fire of London and the Shard. Aside from the views, Sky Garden is worth a visit to see London’s highest garden, a lushly planted space with tropical flowers, observation decks and an open-air terrace. There are three restaurants to choose from: Darwin Brasserie for traditional British dining, Fenchurch Restaurant for contemporary creative cuisine, and the classic Italian restaurant Larch. Or simply head to one of Sky Garden’s bars to enjoy a cocktail with a sunset…

Italian art at the National Gallery It’s all about the Italians at the National Gallery in 2025. First, the spotlight is on the Renaissance master Parmigianino, whose Madonna and Child with Saints is on display for the first time in a decade (until 9 March). Spring’s big exhibition is Siena: The rise of painting 1300–1350, for which a stunning array of important works will be brought together, having been scattered across the world for centuries (8 March to 22 June). And for a splash of colour in summer don't miss José María Velasco: A View of Mexico (29 March to 17 Aug), celebrating the distinctive works of the 19th-century painter. nationalgallery.org.uk Masters of Modernism The Royal Academy of Arts is one of the oldest permanent collections of art in the…

Explore Dickens’s home There are sights associated with the great man all over London, but make time for the rewarding Charles Dickens Museum in Holborn, which holds over 100,000 items, from personal keepsakes to original manuscripts. There’s also a lively programme of events, from a tour with a costumed housemaid to readings of the author’s ghost stories at Halloween. dickensmuseum.com Opulent Leighton House is a sensory experience you wonʼt forget Artistic extravagance Opulent, over-the-top Leighton House in Holland Park isn't to everyone’s taste, but the one-time home of artist Frederick, Lord Leighton is certainly a sensory experience you won't forget. This palatial, richly decorated home culminates in the magnificent Arab Hall with its marble, mosaics and gold. rbkc.gov.uk Romantic Hampstead Tucked away in a leafy corner of Hampstead is the…

CHANGING THE GUARD Foot Guards from the Household Division marching in their red tunics and bearskin hats for the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is a must-see for any visitor to London. Household Troops have guarded the sovereign and royal palaces since 1660 and today’s iconic ceremony, also known as Guard Mounting, usually takes place every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Get an early spot at Buckingham Palace gates or on the steps of the Victoria Memorial to watch: the Old Guard form in the palace’s forecourt from 10.30am, joined by the Old Guard from nearby St James’s Palace, before the New Guard marches up from Wellington Barracks to take over responsibilities.  householddivision.org.uk BEATING RETREAT Beating Retreat originated in early times of organised warfare when the beating of…

PORTOBELLO MARKET The world’s most famous market, Portobello can’t be beaten for atmosphere and for the dizzying array of goods on offer. Whether you’re rummaging for a vintage coat, a new bag or a quirky antique – or just want a bit of people watching – you’ll find it here. Portobello is a treasure trove of bargains, with sellers from every corner of the world (don’t miss Golborne Road Market, round the corner from Portobello Road, which is lined with bric-a-brac stalls). Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest days, but stalls are open every day of the week except Thursday. As well as antiques, vintage and quirky gifts, you’ll find food stalls selling everything from falafel wraps and bao buns to homemade cakes. Bargain-hunting is hungry work, after all. visitportobello.com…

BROWN’S London’s oldest luxury hotel, Brown’s, opened in 1837, and in the years since has hosted royals and rogues, politicians and crooks, presidents and bureaucrats. But it’s perhaps best known as a favourite hotel for writers, who are drawn to its bohemian air and arty decor: the rooms are emblazoned with pattern and colour, with an abundance of blossoms and birds in the wallpaper. Authors as diverse as Mark Twain, Stephen King, Joseph Conrad and Agatha Christie have stayed at Brown’s. Christie’s novel At Bertram’s Hotel, the tale of a mysterious disappearance in an upmarket hotel in London, was based on Brown’s; it’s easy to imagine Christie’s genteel detective Miss Marple taking tea and sizing up the guests in the wood-panelled drawingroom. One of the hotel’s most frequent writer-guests was…

GETTING TO THE CAPITAL London officially has six airports, but most international visitors come into either Gatwick Airport or Heathrow. From the former, Southern trains serve London Victoria, as well as London Bridge and Clapham Junction (tickets from £13.20 single; journey time around 30 minutes to Victoria). Thameslink trains run to London Bridge, London Blackfriars, London St Pancras and Farringdon (from £11.90 single; journey time around 30 minutes to London Bridge). The Gatwick Express direct service from the airport to London Victoria takes around 30 minutes. Trains run up to twice an hour and cost from £20.50 single. Booking online gets you ten percent off the train station price, and if you’re travelling in a group of three to nine adults, booking together in advance will save you up to…

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PICTURESQUE & CINEMATIC STREETS CHESTER TERRACE, REGENT’S PARK See how the 1% live on one of the magnificent Georgian streets that encircle Regent’s Park, showcasing John Nash architecture at its very finest. After falling into a serious state of neglect during the Second World War, the restored houses with their fluted Corinthian columns are now all Grade 1 listed, and mostly still owned by the Crown estate. CHURCH WALK & GORDON PLACE, KENSINGTON Turn off busy Kensington High Street down Church Walk, an easily missed leafy passageway that leads to a micro village of charming boutiques and the heavenly Gordon Place, overtaken by wisteria in Spring. Pause for a pint at the Elephant & Castle, the corner pub with a delightful view of the blooms. CLARENDON CROSS, HOLLAND PARK This…

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