Seconds away from The Old Vic, Backstage Cafe & Bar is one of Waterloo’s best-kept secrets — a relaxed and stylish destination where theatre heritage meets community. Whether you are heading to a performance, catching up with friends or simply looking for a welcoming place to eat and unwind, Backstage offers a vibrant atmosphere in the heart of the capital’s creative scene. Backstage By Day...

Few theatre experiences blur the line between performance and participation quite like Faulty Towers The Dining Experience. For more than a decade, audiences have flocked to London’s West End to immerse themselves in the gloriously dysfunctional world of Basil, Sybil and Manuel, where comedy reigns supreme and no dinner service ever goes according to plan.   This summer, there is even...

Cameron Mackintosh’s revival of Oliver! dazzles at the Gielgud Theatre, transforming Dickens’ London into a feast of music, colour and character. Cameron Mackintosh’s dazzling new production of Lionel Bart’s beloved musical Oliver! has returned to the West End, lighting up London’s Gielgud Theatre with heart, humour and a host of unforgettable songs. Opening to a...

The actor and singer, who plays Dexter Haven in Cole Porter’s famed musical, High Society at the Barbican, shares his passion for the city. Kathryn Conway reports. From a café with a rooftop view in Peckham to Persian food in Borough Market, here are the moments that make Julian Ovenden’s day. What’s it like to step...

London’s rooftops are serving up skyline views, sunset cocktails and elevated dining experiences as the capital heads into summer, writes Chris Johnson. As summer settles over the capital, London rises. In a city long celebrated for both its exceptional restaurants and its rooftop bars, the finest addresses now bring the two together effortlessly. The result is...

From roaring World Cup fan zones and Test cricket at Lord’s to grass-court tennis and the glamour of Royal Ascot, the capital becomes a giant sporting stage this month, reports Jimmy Johnson. The biggest story of the summer is the FIFA World Cup, with fan zones and screenings running from 11 June to 19 July....

Budding illustrators and seasoned sketchers alike can ready their pencils and prepare for inspiration to strike as the UK’s first permanent public arts space dedicated to illustration opens on 5 June in Clerkenwell. Beatrice Squires reports. The Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration is the outcome of a 25-year campaign by the beloved children’s illustrator, Sir...

Celebrate Paddington’s birthday with immersive adventures, West End magic and marmalade-filled experiences inspired by London’s most beloved bear. Lisa Hylton reports.   There are few fictional characters that feel as intrinsically tied to London as Paddington Bear. First introduced by Michael Bond in 1958, the small bear from Peru has long since graduated from page...

Celebrate Beer Day Britain with historic London pubs, riverside taverns, Soho favourites and perfectly poured pints across the capital. By Chris Johnson. On 15 June, Britain raises a glass for Beer Day Britain, an annual celebration of the country’s brewing heritage and the pub culture that has shaped social life for centuries. More than 800...