Explore the top 5 enticing reasons to journey to London this season
New Cultural Offerings and Culinary Delights in London
London, a city brimming with history and culture, continues to evolve, offering exciting new experiences for visitors and locals alike. In 2025, East London will welcome the V&A East Storehouse, a significant cultural venue, and the David Bowie Centre, while Westfield Stratford City, a leading retail destination, prepares for further investment.
V&A East Storehouse and David Bowie Centre
East London's cultural scene will be enriched by the opening of the V&A East Storehouse, a museum experience featuring event spaces and a Central Hall filled with over 250,000 objects. The Centre will offer exclusive access to the David Bowie Centre, showcasing curated displays from Bowie's extensive archive, including photos, lyrics, instruments, and multimedia inspired by his legacy.
Ibraaz Cultural Space
Just a stone's throw away from East London, the Ibraaz Cultural Space will launch in central London on 3 October 2025. Housed in a Grade II-listed building redesigned by Sumayya Vally, the space will host Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama's exhibition "Parliament of Ghosts," alongside a library-in-residence, bookshop, and café.
Culinary Delights
London's culinary landscape is diverse and vibrant. At Park Corner Brasserie at Hilton Park Lane, enjoy elevated British cuisine with views over Hyde Park, where dishes like lamb cutlets, Dover sole, tandoori chicken, and duck await, along with Sunday roasts and set menus. For a taste of Sicilian cuisine, head to Sotto Cucina at Hyatt Place London City East at Aldgate.
If you're in Kensington, Dishoom offers regional Indian specials such as Nihari and small plates like Murg Malai and Chicken Ruby. The ambience at Dishoom harks back to 1970s Bombay, and live music adds to the experience – booking in advance is advised.
Rooftop Bars and Landmarks
For panoramic views of The Gherkin, Canary Wharf, and the O2, visit PocketSquare, a rooftop bar on the 9th floor. Lucrezia, the bar manager, presents a cocktail menu that changes monthly with East London-inspired themes.
London's history is on full display at landmarks such as the Tower of London, home to the Crown Jewels and offering insights into its past as a royal palace, fortress, and notorious prison. The Tower of London is a UNESCO World Heritage site with nearly 1,000 years of history.
The Royal Mews near Buckingham Palace showcases the stables used by the Royal Family, with highlights including the Gold State Coach. Shakespeare's Globe theatre, the city's only thatched-roof building, holds about 1,500 guests and is presenting Romeo and Juliet until 2 August and The Merry Wives of Windsor from 4 July to 20 September.
Retail Destinations
Westfield Stratford City, a symbol of East London's renewal since the 2012 Olympics, continues to attract visitors with its 320 shops, 80 dining venues, and over 4,500 parking spaces. As part of more than £25 billion projected to be invested in the area by 2027, the centre includes a sustainable Combined Cooling and Heating Power plant for green operations.
Cartier at the V&A is a major retrospective displaying the jeweller's most iconic creations. Given the expected large crowds, booking ahead is recommended.
In addition to these new offerings, London's cultural scene continues to thrive with exhibitions across the city, making 2025 an exciting year for visitors seeking a blend of history, culture, and culinary adventures.
- Beyond the museum experiences at V&A East Storehouse and the David Bowie Centre, a stone's throw away in central London, Ibraaz Cultural Space will open, offering an exhibition, library-in-residence, bookshop, café, and more.
- To complement the local cultural offerings, London's culinary scene presents diverse delights such as the elevated British cuisine at Park Corner Brasserie, the Sicilian dishes at Sotto Cucina, and regional Indian specials at Dishoom.
- For those who prefer a glimpse into London's lifestyle, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, or just expansive city views, rooftop bars like PocketSquare, with its East London-inspired cocktail menu, are popular choices.
- London's rich history is preserved in landmarks such as the Tower of London, where one can explore a royal palace, fortress, and prison, and marvel at the Crown Jewels, or visit the Royal Mews near Buckingham Palace to see the stables used by the Royal Family.
- For shopping enthusiasts, Westfield Stratford City awaits with its 320 shops, 80 dining venues, sustainable operations, and the upcoming Cartier at V&A retrospective.
- With the upcoming openings and existing cultural attractions, 2025 promises to be an eco-friendly, culturally rich, and tourist-friendly year for visitors seeking a blend of history, culture, and culinary adventures in London.
