IN PICTURES: Flags, robes and specialist merch – how Londoners are preparing for the Coronation Weekend April 28, 2023 London retail is set for a big boost from the coronation, according to figures released today by the New West End Company. The company, which represents 600 retail and hospitality businesses in the West End, forecasts that sales over the Coronation Weekend will hit £50m. Total footfall is predicted to reach 1.75m, 24 per cent [...]
Half of Londoners think Sadiq Khan doing ‘badly’, new poll finds April 27, 2023 Half of Londoners say they think Sadiq Khan is doing “badly” at City Hall, polling has found. Exactly 50 per cent rated him as doing “badly” while almost a third (32 per cent) – think the mayor is doing “very badly”, pollsters at YouGov said. Over a third of Londoners – 35 per cent – [...]
London Underground could face summer of strikes as Mick Lynch’s RMT re-ballots 10,000 members April 25, 2023 10,000 RMT members are set to be re-balloted for strike action today, in a continuing row over jobs and pensions which looks set to pile more misery on London commuters. The RMT, Transport for London and Sadiq Khan have been in a fierce dispute over the past year, after plans were announced to cut 600 [...]
Taste the Metaverse: Maison Assouline’s cocktail inspired by the digital world April 25, 2023 Best known as a publisher of opulent coffee table books on topics including culture, art, fashion, luxury goods and travel, Maison Assouline, nestled in the heart of Piccadilly, is a self-proclaimed “bastion of elegance”. Its London flagship is located in a century-old bank building, designed by the Cenotaph architect, Edwin Lutyens. With its high shelves [...]
Tory heavyweights endorse former Boris Johnson adviser to run for London mayor April 25, 2023 A former Downing Street adviser to Boris Johnson has emerged as the Conservative front runner for London mayor next year after earning the backing of three party heavyweights. Energy secretary Grant Shapps and Northern Ireland Office minister Steve Baker, along with former home secretary Priti Patel, announced on Monday they were endorsing Samuel Kasumu to [...]
May bank holiday traffic: 17 million car journeys in ‘busiest weekend’ since 2016 April 25, 2023 Traffic levels are set to soar, with this weekend set to be the busiest since 2016, according to research conducted by the RAC and transport analytics firm Inrix. Over 17 million journeys will take place over the long weekend, beating the 14.6 million predicted for the King’s coronation, as Brits opt to watch the event [...]
HS2 boss: We didn’t know how much Euston would cost to deliver until last year April 24, 2023 HS2’s chief executive Mike Thurston told the Public Accounts committee today that the Euston development of the project was a long way from its initial target – and that the costs of the last stretch of the line into London were poorly understood until 2022. Thurston told the committee “candidly, it was only until we [...]
Medica becomes latest London-listed private equity target in £269m deal April 24, 2023 A medical technology firm which supplies the NHS has become the latest company to fall into the sights of private equity today, as bidders capitalise on low prices and swoop on listed British companies.
Elizabeth Line: More trains and improved timetable to mark new London favourite’s first birthday April 24, 2023 The Elizabeth Line will mark its one year anniversary with speedier travel and an improved timetable, TFL announced today. The popular line will see a swathe of improvements from Sunday 21 May, as it reaches the final milestone of the Crossrail project. Londoners can expect more trains and faster journeys on a number of routes, [...]
Why Turkey’s south western beaches are taking flight this spring April 24, 2023 Ancient sites and untouched beaches: Angelina Villa- Clarke on a fab corner of Turkey’s Turquoise Riviera In the abandoned town of Kayakoy, the streets are dusty and thyme grows tall and wild, scenting the air with a sweet piquancy. Derelict houses have gaping windows; ancient churches are in ruins, their frescoes faded and mosaics crumbling. [...]