From food to films and music to a microbrewery, here's how to spend the year.
Hello, 2025. London is welcoming new restaurants, bars and events. Big brands continue to move between the GCC and the UK, and new restaurant openings range from CÉ LA VI to Shanghai Me. This year marks major anniversaries: Railway 200 looks back at 200 years of the modern railway, Jane Austen celebrates her 250th birthday, and Somerset House turns 25 years old. Here are the top 25 things to do in London in 2025.
22 Bishopsgate
London is home to one of the world's most famous skylines. Now there's a new addition, thanks to 22 Bishopsgate. The location is already home to the viewing gallery, Horizon 22, and is set to welcome new restaurants. In February, Gordon Ramsay will open Lucky Cat Bishopsgate, Gordon Ramsay and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High. If you want to know what to expect, check out our review of his sister venue, Lucky Cat Mayfair.
Art exhibitions in London
It's time to paint the town and catch a new exhibition. Jenny Saville: The Anatomy of Painting at the National Portrait Gallery is the first exhibition by the artist to take place at a major museum in London. Highlights include Radical Harmony at the National Gallery from 13 September, Kerry James Marshall at the Royal Academy of Arts from 20 September, and Gilbert and George: 21 Century Pictures at the Hayward Gallery from 7 October.
BOXHALL
Londoners will be familiar with BOXPARK. The team behind the shopping centres will launch new food halls. Opening in 2025, BOXHALL is located in Liverpool Street and brings together 13 different vendors. Take your pick from bars, delis and restaurants, which offer a range of cuisines. Plus, it will be home to a rooftop terrace with views across London.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Bridget Jones once declared: "Any girl who's been single in London knows how to handle herself". Now, Renée Zellweger is slipping back into the character for the fourth time – sans the granny pants. After the death of Mark Darcy, she finds herself with two children and two admirers. The cast includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Leo Woodall and the return of Hugh Grant.
Grand Sumo Tournament
One of the world's oldest sports is making its way to the Royal Albert Hall. Running from 15 to 19 October, The Grand Sumo Tournament takes place in the hall, which will be transformed into a Shinto-like shrine. More than 40 of Japan's wrestlers will compete and showcase the sport's ancient traditions.
Guinness Microbrewery
Raise a pint (or three) to Ireland's great export, Guinness. Located in Covent Garden, the Guinness Microbrewery is scheduled to open in 2025. The venue will include a rooftop restaurant with views, tours by experts, and a microbrewery with limited edition beers as well as classic stouts. Cheers to that.
Hip new hotels
Rise and shine at sensational hotels. In 2025, London will welcome The Chancery Rosewood in Mayfair, which is on the site of the former United States Embassy. Hotel openings include Admiralty Arch Waldorf Astoria, ERGON House Covent Garden, Newman Hotel, Sircle London, Six Senses London, The Other House Covent Garden, and The St. Regis London.
London Soundtrack Festival
Do you know your John Williams from Hans Zimmer soundtracks? The first-ever London Soundtrack Festival runs from 19 to 26 March and takes place at BFI IMAX. The event celebrates music from film, television and games. Join talks by David Cronenberg and Howard Shore and experience guest appearances from Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant and Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears.
Making Egypt exhibition
Ancient Egypt comes alive at the Young V&A's new exhibition, Making Egypt. Opening on 15 February, it is located in the Bethnal Green Museum. The show explores how Egypt continues to influence art, culture and design today. The highlights range from a 3,000-year-old Wooden Funerary Boat to a LEGO re-creation of the Great Pyramids of Giza.
Mega music festivals
London's live music scene is alive and buzzing. BST Hyde Park's line-up includes Zach Bryan on 28 and 20 June, Hugh Jackman on 6 July, and Jeff Lynn's ELO on 13 July. Field Festival takes place on 24 May, Lido Festival takes place from 7 to 14 June, Mighty Hoopla takes place from 31 May to 1 June, and Wireless Festival takes place from 11 to 13 July.
Museum of Shakespeare
Bompass & Parr is famous for its immersive experiences in London. Now, it is behind the Museum of Shakespeare. Scheduled to open in 2025, it will be located in what was previously the Curtain Playhouse in Shoreditch. Step back in time to the 16th century and enjoy a retelling of the day in the life by William Shakespeare. The experience combines state-of-the-art technology alongside the sights, sounds and smells of the period.
Muslim International Film Festival
In 2024, Britain broke cinematic ground with its first Muslim International Film Festival. In 2025, a second festival is set to take place, although the screenings have not yet been confirmed. Last year's line-up included films featuring actors from Riz Ahmed to Nabhaan Rizwan. Sajid Varda, Festival Director, explained: "We're on a mission to weave together cultures through the magic of cinema. MIFF is not just a festival; it's a vibrant celebration of cultures and stories from across the Muslim world".
Oasis comeback
Don't look back in anger, as the British rock band Oasis is reuniting. The group parted ways in the early 2000s and included the famously feuding siblings, Noel and Liam Gallagher. The group will play a string of major shows kicking off at Cardiff Principality Stadium on 4 and 5 July. The tour heads to Manchester's Heaton Park on 11, 12, 19 and 20 July. The tour continues in London's Wembley Stadium on 25 and 26 July, and 2 and 3 August. The tour concludes at Dublin's Croke Park on 16 and 17 August.
Piccadilly Line trains
Even if you're a fan of Uber over the London Underground, there's no denying that the Piccadilly Line covers key destinations – Harrods and Heathrow, anyone? New carriages have been rolled off the production line at the factory in Goole, Yorkshire. This marks the first new trains on the Piccadilly line for 50 years. The fleet includes 94 air-conditioned, walk-through trains.
Restaurants in London
London restaurants come and come. Berenjak and Din Tai Fung can already be found in London and around the world, and they have opened new venues in the city. The highlights include Carbone's new restaurant in Chancery Rosewood, Mr Porter's Steakhouse, Nammos in Mayfair, Shanghai ME at London Hilton on Park Lane, and Simpsons in the Strand's refurbishment.
Roundhouse Three Sixty
The Roundhouse is launching a new festival, Roundhouse Three Sixty. Running from 1 to 30 April, it takes place in the iconic Camden venue. The event brings together club nights, live music, spoken word and podcasts. Highlights range from a celebration of Donna Summer, with performances by Katy B and Le Gateau Chocolat on 10 April, to the Roundhouse Poetry Slam on 24 April.
Sadler's Wells East
Located in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, Sadler's Wells East is scheduled to open in February. The venue will celebrate diverse forms of dance including ballet, kathak and street. The inaugural show is Jasmin Vardimon's NOW from 5 to 8 March. Upcoming shows include Carlos Acosta's Ballet Celebration and Aakash Odedra's Songs of the Bulbul.
Silvertown Tunnel
If you like to drive in London – we're not judging – we have a traffic update. Silvertown Tunnel will open on 7 April, and link North Greenwich to Silvertown. Spanning 0.9 miles, the crossing is not open to cyclists or pedestrians, and only open to vehicles. It will start from £1.50 to cross, but discounts and exemptions are available.
Soho Theatre Walthamstow
Curtain up at Soho Theatre Walthamstow. Opening in early 2025, the theatre is a glorious regeneration project. The EMD Cinema and Walthamstow Granada have been redeveloped and aim to create a local theatre with a national profile. The venue is home to 1,000 seats, and will showcase local as well as international cabaret, comedy and theatre.
Somerset House 2025
Somerset House served many purposes, from the house for royal consorts to a tax office. In 2000, it was turned into a cultural hub. In 2025, it marks its 25th anniversary with special events throughout the year. The highlights include the exhibitions SOIL: The World at Our Feet and Wayne McGregor: Infinite Bodies. Plus, the premiere of Akinola Davies Jr's new film.
SXSW Festival
What do Barack Obama, Deepak Chopra, Mark Zuckerberg, Meghan Markle and Steven Spielberg have in common? They've all spoken at South by Southwest. The festival is now making its European debut, and SXSW London is heading from Texas to Shoreditch. Running from 2 to 7 June, it focuses on creativity, culture, science and technology. Randel Bryan, Managing Director of SXSW London, explained: "I truly believe that it's more than an event – it's a movement, a platform where the world's greatest minds, musicians and motivators come to share their passion and their vision of the future.
Sport in London
On your marks, get set, London. The capital hosts a range of sporting events including the Grand National from 3 to 5 April, Royal Ascot from 17 to 21 June, British Grand Prix from 23 to 25 July, and Wimbledon Championships from 30 June to 13 July. Football season kicks off with the UEFA Champions League (the final takes place on 31 May) and Premier League (the final takes place on 25 May).
Theatre in London
All of London is a stage, thanks to the incredible number of theatres in the capital – there are more than 100 and counting. If you want to catch a star on stage, this year's highlights include Brie Larson in Elektra from 24 January to 12 April, Cate Blanchett in The Seagull from 26 February to 5 April, and Brian Cox in The Score from 25 February to 26 April.
V&A East Storehouse
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, is set to welcome V&A East Storehouse. Scheduled to open on 31 May, it will span four floors and bring together more than a quarter of a million objects. At its heart, it gives you the chance to go behind the scenes and explore untold stories. In September, the David Bowie Centre opens with more than 90,000 items, which range from hand written lyrics to instruments. In spring 2026, the V&A East Museum will open in the park.
Women's Rugby World Cup
Join the scrum. England is hosting the Women's Rugby World Cup, and it will be held across the country in Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Exeter, Manchester, Northampton, Sunderland and York. A range of matches will also take place in London. The capital's Twickenham Stadium will host the final on 27 September. Tickets go on sale on 25 February.
