Barbican Centre renewal plan
January 30, 2025
The Barbican, London’s iconic arts centre, unveils renewal plans for the Foyers, Lakeside, and Conservatory ahead of its 50th anniversary, with public consultation open before construction begins in 2027. Photo by Dion Barrett. More
Former South Bank ITV studios to be redeveloped
January 29, 2025
The £500m redevelopment of the former ITV studios on London’s South Bank will feature a 25-storey tower, two mid-rise buildings, 40,000 sq ft of affordable workspace, cultural venues, two public squares, and a rooftop restaurant. Mitsubishi Estate and CO-RE are leading the project, with Multiplex appointed as main contractor. More
V&A East Storehouse opens 31st May 2025
January 29, 2025
The V&A’s new working store and free visitor attraction will open as part of East Bank, the new cultural quarter in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford. Photo © Diller Scofidio + Renfro. More
Somerset House marks 25 years as an internationally acclaimed arts destination
January 22, 2025
Somerset House on the Strand in central London marks 25 years with a new visual identity, major courtyard commissions, a riverside bar, and exhibitions like SOIL: The World at Our Feet, alongside the Talent 25 initiative. Image by Kevin Meredith. More
£10.5m investment to transform Neasden town centre
January 21, 2025
Brent Council has approved a £10.5m investment to revamp Neasden Town Centre with more green spaces, a rejuvenated high street, and The Lighthouse, a community pavilion. Funding includes £3.1m from the Mayor of London and £7.4m from Brent Council. More
New exhibition space at Battersea Power Station
January 16, 2025
NEON’s new immersive exhibition space, opening in Spring 2025, will host two major exhibitions per year and join Battersea Power Station’s 150+ shops, bars, and cultural venues. Image by EPG | UAU-Studio More
Silvertown Tunnel planned to open on 7 April 2025
January 6, 2025
A new 1.4km tunnel under the Thames, linking Silvertown in east London to the Greenwich peninsula, is expected to reduce journey times by up to 20 minutes during peak hours. More
UK house prices rise 4.7% in 2024 according to Nationwide
December 31, 2024
House prices in the UK rose by 4.7% in December 2024 compared to a year earlier, with northern regions seeing higher prices than the southern regions. More
GAILS Bakery and Pret a Manger open in Golders Green
December 31, 2024
In late 2023, GAIL’s opened in a Grade II listed former bank building in Golders Green, followed by a Pret A Manger on Golders Green Road in late 2024. More
Artist run studios open in Wandsworth
December 20, 2024
Georgian Grade II listed Wentworth House became home to WIP Space in 2024. The site includes 17 studios, a gallery, residencies, communal rooms, and a bookable community meeting space. More
Bank of England maintains the Bank Rate at 4.75%
December 19, 2024
The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee voted by a majority of 6 -3 to keep the interest rates at 4.75%, with 3 members preferring a reduction to 4.5%. The 12 month CPI inflation figure increased from 1.7% in September to 2.6% in November. More
ONS reveals record private rent increase in London in year to November 2024
December 18, 2024
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows average UK private rents rose 9.1% to £1,319 in the 12 months to November 2024. London saw the highest annual increase at 11.6%, a record rise for the capital, pushing average monthly rent to £2,206. More
City of London approves Square Mile’s tallest tower
December 13, 2024
The 74-storey 1 Undershaft is set to be the tallest tower in the Square Mile, located between the Gherkin and the Leadenhall Building. It will provide 154,156 sq m of Grade A office space, a 1,000 sq m elevated public space, and a 2,500 sq m publicly accessible podium garden. More
VANS Oxford Street concept store features a stone skate ramp
December 11, 2024
VANS, the Californian lifestyle and skateboarding brand, has transformed its Oxford Street store into a retail and community hub featuring a 200 sq m Roman travertine stone skate ramp. More
Moncler’s new London flagship on New Bond Street W1
December 6, 2024
Moncler’s new 540m², three-floor flagship on New Bond Street features a façade inspired by Victorian architecture. Inside, a central roundabout with dynamic LED walls and an LED-lined staircase lead to immersive sensory spaces, showcasing curated artworks and installations. More
Stroudley Walk, Bromley-by-Bow regeneration to deliver 274 new homes and part-pedestrian street
December 3, 2024
Stroudley Walk will see 274 new homes, including 115 for London Affordable Rent and shared ownership, plus a park, shops, a community café, and a part-pedestrian street. Construction is underway, with completion expected in Winter 2025. More
Waterstones opens new stores in Streatham, Lewisham, and Oxford St W1
December 1, 2024
Waterstones opened new stores in Streatham and Lewisham in November 2024 and returned to Oxford Street with a shop inside John Lewis in October 2024. Founded in 1982 by Tim Waterstone, the bookseller now operates over 300 stores across the UK and Europe, continuing to expand its high street presence. More
Urban meadow to transform Lewisham town centre
November 4, 2024
Landsec has submitted plans to transform Lewisham Shopping Centre into a 17-acre mixed-use district with 1,700 homes, student housing, a pedestrianised high street, and an urban meadow, prioritising sustainability by retaining existing structures. More
Mud Australia and Ahkeke open in Islington
October 31, 2024
Ceramics brand Mud Australia, known for minimalist handmade tableware, opens on Upper Street in October 2024, while boutique Ahkeke, offering contemporary fashion and accessories, launches on Cross Street, adding to Islington’s vibrant retail scene. Image by Dean Hearne. More
Elephant Park Market brings independent food and craft traders to Elephant & Castle
October 12, 2024
Elephant Park Market is a new outdoor market in the heart of Elephant & Castle, open every Saturday and Sunday. Located outside The Tree House, it features over 20 independent traders offering street food, artisanal produce, and designer-made crafts, supporting ethical and sustainable businesses. More
Gail’s, Crate, and 17&Central bring new openings to Walthamstow
October 4, 2024
Gail’s Bakery has opened in Walthamstow, adding to the area’s growing food and retail scene. Crate Walthamstow has launched with street food vendors, a craft beer bar, and mini-golf, while the 17&Central redevelopment is bringing new shops, homes, and transport upgrades. More
Earls Court 7.5 million sq ft masterplan submitted
September 26, 2024
The Earls Court Development Company has submitted a 7.5m sq ft masterplan for central London’s largest cleared site. The scheme includes 4,000 homes, 2.9m sq ft of workspace, 3 cultural venues, a 4.5-acre urban park, and targets net zero carbon. More
Loxton Walk, a new retail and leisure destination in Marylebone
September 24, 2024
Launching in 2025, Loxton Walk is a new 28,500 sq ft retail and leisure destination in Marylebone by The Portman Estate and Derwent London. Featuring 17 ground-floor units and a central open-air courtyard, it forms part of a wider mixed-use scheme with 218,000 sq ft of offices. More
Plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street W1
September 17, 2024
The Mayor of London, in partnership with the Government, has announced a plan to pedestrianise Oxford Street and designate it as a Mayoral Development Area. The initiative aims to restore Oxford Street as a world-leading destination. More
BOXPARK launches new site in Camden
September 5, 2024
BOXPARK will open its new Camden site in late September, transforming Buck Street Market into a 3-floor venue with 60 independent traders, two bars, and a rooftop terrace. It will host food, retail, and cultural events in partnership with Transport for London. More
£17.75m restoration of Crystal Palace Park approved
July 31, 2024
Planning approval kicks off a £17.75m phase of Crystal Palace Park’s £52m regeneration. Historic features like the Grade-I dinosaurs and Italian Terraces will be restored, supporting a wider community-led vision for a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable park. More
Hampstead Heath receives prestigious Green Flag and Heritage awards
July 24, 2024
Hampstead Heath, a 790-acre historic green space managed by the City of London Corporation, has been awarded the Green Flag and Green Heritage Awards. The site features over 25 ponds, ancient woodlands, sports facilities, and panoramic views from Parliament Hill. More
Victoria Park named one of the UK’s favourite parks
July 16, 2024
Victoria Park in East London was named one of the UK’s top ten parks in the 2024 Green Flag People’s Choice Awards. Spanning 86 hectares, the historic park features lakes, canals, and listed monuments, attracting over 9 million visitors each year. More
Bromley-by-Bow Gasworks regeneration gets green light
July 1, 2024
Plans to transform the 23-acre Bromley-by-Bow Gasworks into a vibrant riverside community have been approved. The historic site will feature over 2,000 homes, commercial spaces, and a new park while preserving iconic Victorian gasholders. More
High Road West project transforming North Tottenham
June 30, 2024
High Road West, a $2.5bn project by Lendlease and Haringey Council, will bring 2,600+ new homes, new community facilities, a library, a public park, a civic square, and better streets and transport links, set for completion by 2034. More
Paddington Square a major new development opening in 2024
June 13, 2024
Paddington Square, a Renzo Piano-designed development, opens in 2024 next to Paddington Station. It features 350,000 sq. ft of offices, 33 shops, a new tube entrance, and West London’s highest rooftop restaurant. More
Russell & Bromley and other new retailers in Hampstead
May 31, 2024
In May 2024, Russell & Bromley opened a new concept store in Hampstead. Other new retailers in Hampstead in 2024 include APM Monaco in June, Redemption Roasters in August and The White Company in November. More
Arding & Hobbs in Clapham transformed with workspace, retail, and dining
May 30, 2024
Arding & Hobbs, a Grade II listed department store, has been transformed by architects Stiff + Trevillion into a 90,000 sq ft mixed-use space. It features contemporary workspace, retail, and dining, including Botanica Hall and Prezzemolo & Vitale, with direct access to Clapham Junction. More
New fashion and lifestyle stores open in Islington
May 5, 2024
Recent openings in Islington include fashion retailer Monsoon on Upper Street in June 2023, followed by womenswear boutique Ediit Store on Upper Street and lifestyle brand Oliver Bonas in Angel Central in May 2024, enhancing the area’s retail scene. More
Askew Gallery opens in Shepherd’s Bush, showcasing local creativity
April 30, 2024
CP Architects has launched Askew Gallery at their Askew Road office in Shepard’s Bush, providing a new cultural space for the community. The gallery aims to celebrate local artistic talent through exhibitions and events in its bright lower-ground space. More
VEJA opens first UK store at Seven Dials
April 25, 2024
French sneaker brand VEJA has launched its 137-square-meter London flagship store at 45 Monmouth Street in Seven Dials, between Covent Garden and Soho. The store features a dedicated cobbler station offering repairs and cleaning for sneakers and shoes of all brands. More
Clerkenwell tops Sunday Times’ list of best places to live in London
March 15, 2024
The newspaper highlighted Clerkenwell’s status as the heart of the capital’s culinary and creative scenes. The shortlist also included Crouch End (last year’s winner), Forest Hill, Highams Park, Little Venice, London Fields and Wimbledon Village. More
Waitrose in Temple Fortune, originally opened in 1945, has been refurbished
March 8, 2024
Waitrose Temple Fortune, Britain’s oldest Waitrose trading in the same location since 1945, reopens after a six-week refurbishment. The updated store now features a modern layout, improved refrigeration, revamped produce displays, and enhanced delivery options. More
London’s Michelin star count rises with 15 new awards including a three star in 2024
February 4, 2024
Michelin three stars were awarded to the Ledbury in Notting Hill, and two stars to Gymkhana in Mayfair, Brooklands in the Peninsula Hotel, Belgravia and Trivet in SE1. One star has been awarded to nine restaurants in W1 and one in W11. More
Recently opened shops in Brixton Village’s Market Row
December 15, 2023
PEXMAS has opened in Market Row, evolving from a pop-up to a permanent space for artisans. HAUS is a new plant shop and social hub with vinyl DJ nights. More
