Annie McNamee

Television used to be considered one of the lowest forms of entertainment. It was derided as ‘the idiot box’ and ‘the boob tube’. Edward R Murrow referred to it as ‘the opiate of the masses’, and the phrase ‘I don’t even own a TV’ was considered a major bragging right. And for a long time, it was hard to say that television’s poor reputation was undeserved.  A lot has changed. Television is now the dominant medium in basically all of entertainment, to the degree that the only thing separating movies and TV is the screen you’re watching on. Now, if you don’t own a television – or a laptop or a tablet or a phone – you’re basically left out of the cultural conversation completely. The shift in perception is widely credited to the arrival of The Sopranos, which completely reinvented the notion of what a TV show could do. But that doesn’t mean everything that came before is primordial slurry. While this list of the greatest TV shows ever is dominated by 21st century programs, there are many shows that deserve credit for laying the groundwork for this current golden age. Chiseling them down to a neat top 100 is difficult, so we elected to leave off talk shows, variety shows and sketch comedy, focusing on scripted, episodic dramas, comedies and miniseries.  So don’t touch that dial – these are the greatest TV shows of all-time. Recommended: 📺 The best TV and streaming shows of 2023 (so far)🔥The 100 greatest movies of all-time🎬The most bingeable series on Netflix

What makes a city great? Some would say it’s all about buzzing neighbourhoods, affordable food and drink and a mighty selection of things to do, from art galleries and museums to live music and theatre. Others might highlight things like the happiness of its locals, access to green space and strong community vibes. We factor in all that and more in our annual survey, which asks city-dwellers around the world to tell us what it’s like to live, work and play in their hometowns right now. Thanks to the opinions and insights of locals on the ground and our global network of city experts, we’re able to create a global ranking of the world’s best cities – and the 2024 results are in. As in previous years, the basis of the ranking remains our global survey of the people who know their city best: the locals. Working with research company Potentia Insight, we surveyed thousands of city-dwellers about the quality and affordability of food, culture and nightlife in their city. We also asked locals how their city makes them feel: are they happy there? Is it a beautiful place? Is it easy to make social connections? Their thousands of responses gave us a unique insight into the reality of living in the world’s greatest cities right now. Now that international travel is forecast to bounce back to the highest levels since 2019, many travellers will be planning a city break this year – so in 2024, we added a little extra weight to a city’s global appeal. Each survey respondent was asked which

It’s that time again. Every year, we ask thousands of city-dwellers to tell us the coolest spots in their cities. What are the places locals love and visitors flock to? Where are the exciting new openings across food, drink and culture? Where are people going out, hanging out and having fun? For the sixth year running, the results are in. Over 12,000 people had their say in this year’s shortlist, naming the neighbourhoods in their hometowns where everyone wants to be right now. Then, we narrowed down the selection with the insight and expertise of city editors and local experts who know their cities better than anyone else. To create and rank the final list, we considered factors including community and social ventures, access to open and green space, and thriving street life. In 2023, our neighbourhoods are more global than ever before. The rise and rise in post-pandemic digital nomadism has led to an explosion of brand-new community spaces, multi-purpose culture centres and more cafés than we can count on two hands. But while most of these neighbourhoods have experienced a transformation over recent years, they remain resolutely local at heart. Slick new developments and cool cafés might bring in new crowds, but neighbourhood stalwarts – from old pubs to family greengrocers – keep it real.  The world’s coolest neighbourhoods this year are, therefore, places with big personalities. Each area’s diversity is reflected in its food, culture and festivals. Community is key: local

Ever wanted to know what life as student is really like in 2023? We asked 20-year-old student-turned-amateur-anthropologist Annie to tell us her observations about the people, parties and juiciest secrets of the UK’s unis. Here’s her verdict. Universities. National institutions. Places of learning and research, incubators of intellect. Unfortunately, also the land of the ‘student’. Student is a varied species which feeds mainly on pasta and rice. British students can often be found at the nearest Wetherspoons, getting drunk on vanilla flavoured vodka because the regular one is 30p more expensive. They tend to be slightly nocturnal and the males are known for going to extraordinary lengths to attract mates that they will subsequently ‘leave on read’.   Subtypes of ‘student’ vary based on location and each British uni comes with its own set of defining characteristics. So, buckle up: this is an entirely imaginary but 100 percent accurate investigation into the private lives of students in the wild, in their most natural habitat – on what they like to call, ‘a night out’.  Newcastle Image: Genie Espinosa We start in Newcastle and encounter Georgia moments after arriving at Market Shaker, an underground bar. She promptly begins chatting about the time she almost jumped into the Tyne ‘just for laughs’, which seems common for the ‘Geordie’ student species. Other notable characteristics appear to include: studying Geography, being obsessed with the North/South divide, Nike Air Max

Enjoy an evening of modern classical music composed by Black artists whose work did not get the spotlight that it deserved in its time at this Southbank Centre concert. The night will involve three different pieces from three different composers, performed by up and coming American violinist Randall Goosby, who made his debut with the Jacksonville Symphony orchestra at just nine, and award-winning Chinese pianist Zhu Wang. 

Ah, private schools. Although most of us will never set foot in them, their students end up making a lot of the big decisions about life in this country. Last month we discovered Britain’s most expensive private schools and which UK schools are considered the best on the planet and now, thanks to Carfax Education’s ‘Schools Index’, we’ve got another perspective on the best of the best.  The ranking is specifically for senior schools – so exam age students doing GSCEs, A Levels, or the International Baccalaureate, which is an exam board you won't have heard of unless you attended one of these schools (or went to Bristol/Exeter/Edinburgh Uni with someone who did).  Each school gets a short, one line commendation from Carfax detailing what makes them so special. For instance, Eton College is described as promoting ‘independent thought and learning in the pursuit of excellence’, which sounds like a lot of nothing if you’re being cynical. Although, it’s at least better than Gordonstoun, Scotland’s most expensive elite college, which sums up its mission with the line, ‘there is more in you’. With a price tag of £48,000 per year per student, they’re probably referring to money.  The UK’s 30 best independent senior schools, according to the Carfax Schools Index (in alphabetical order) Benenden School, Kent Brighton College, Brighton Charterhouse, Surrey Cheltenham Ladies College, Cheltenham Concord College, Shrewsbury Downe House School, Berkshire Dulwich College, south London Eton

Daffodils are blooming. Jumpers are optional. Spring has arrived, and it’s time to celebrate. If you find your joie de vivre inexplicably returning by the day and want an appropriately whimsical activity, visiting a flower field might just be the thing for you. It’s the perfect time of year to frolic, and luckily enough we’ve got some world class flower farms right here in the UK. Famous research body ‘Premier Inn’ has been running some experiments to scientifically discover the world’s most beautiful floral pastures. By tracking people’s eyeballs and showing them pictures of various different flower fields, the hotel company was able to determine which were the most and least aesthetically pleasing.  Hitchin Lavender Farm for Sunflowers in Hertfordshire came tenth globally, making it the highest ranked field in the UK. The confusingly named floral hotspot contains acres of both lavender and sunflowers, and is known for producing high quality lavender based soaps and smelly things you might buy your mother-in-law, and opens for visitors during the summer months. Unlike tulips, these crops are in bloom for much longer, so your window for visiting Hitchin is much wider.  The farm is currently still closed with no dates announced yet for their summer opening times, but the lavender is generally in season between mid June to mid August, and sunflowers aren’t at their best until late July or early August, so you’ve got plenty of time to plan your visit.  The top spot on Premier In

This year’s been tough on the wallet. Everyone is feeling the pinch, and if you, like so many others, are not able to fit an international holiday into the budget this summer, we’re here to be the bearers of good news. You need not worry about trying to get out of Britain this year, as the people over at Dog Friendly Cottages (DFC) have scientifically (sort of) figured out the top 10 whitest beaches in the country. There will be no need for Bora Bora. There will be no reason to travel all the way to Tenerife. Between this research and the fact that two of our beaches were recently named amongst the world’s most sustainable, 2024 is the perfect time for a beachy staycation. And there’s no better place to make that happen than Holkham beach in Norfolk, which is officially home to the UK’s whitest sand. How did DFC figure this out, you ask? Well, by using Google satellite images and digital colour analysis of course. This technique also discovered that Woolacombe Beach in Devon has the second best sandy shores in Britain, and Barafundle Bay in South Wales the third. According to DFC, the latter is an ‘expansive stretch of white sand and crystal-clear waters [which] is frequently voted among the best beaches in both Britain and the world.’ The UK’s whitest sandy beaches Holkham Beach, Norfolk Woolacombe Beach, Devon Barafundle Bay, South Wales Bamburgh Castle Beach, Northumberland Tenby North Beach, South Wales Porthcurno Beach, Cornwall Camber Sands, Sussex Rhossili Bay, South

Everyone knows that finding somewhere to live in London is an absolute nightmare, to put it lightly. After countless calls to letting agents to book viewings for flats out of your budget, restless mornings refreshing Rightmove, and a deposit that is half your annual salary, you’re lucky if you find somewhere with only minimal amounts of damp.  London’s housing crisis is caused by lack of available places for people to go, so obviously it makes sense that there are over 5,000 properties currently completely empty – and that’s only in one borough. Research done by SBA Property Management found that Southwark is the worst London borough for vacant homes, with a grand total of 5,143 houses filled with nothing but air.  Across the entire city, the company estimates that London’s empty housing stock could be worth somewhere in the region of £50 billion. No, your eyes do not deceive you. That's ‘billion’ with a b. That’s a lot of money to be tied up in places that are of no use to anyone at the moment.  Barnet, Camden, Croydon, and Newham are all apparently also full of completely uninhabited spaces, with the four of them plus Southwark accounting for over a quarter of the city’s deserted homes. According to Habib Mogul, who is SBA’s director, these are a big problem for London at the moment – but things are looking slightly up. ‘Local councils will soon be able to impose heavier premiums on properties that have been vacant for a year or more and there may be more regulatory changes

At the end of the day, the cost-of-living crisis gets us all. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, no one is safe. Today, the victim is Edinburgh’s Jazz Bar.  The does-what-it-says-on-the-tin music venue was popular amongst students and locals, and was opened nearly two decades ago by Scottish drummer Bill Kyle. He ran it until his death in 2016, when Jazz Bar was taken over by his wife and daughter. A spokesperson posted an emotional goodbye to the bar’s website, saying: ‘It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden closure of The Jazz Bar.’ ‘It has been particularly challenging for The Jazz Bar with a massive variety of issues and challenges to work though. Despite extremely hard work and very positive progress to overcome these issues, the cost of living crisis coupled with operational challenges proved too much.’ The statement continues by thanking the community formed around the club, and explaining that it will be ‘quite literally irreplaceable to the Edinburgh music scene and gig economy.’ The post also honours the late owner, stating ‘We must also mention our gratitude to Bill Kyle, whose vision and passion brought The Jazz Bar to life, we extend our deepest appreciation. His legacy will forever resonate within the hearts of all who were touched by his kindness and dedication.’ Finally, the message ends with a heartfelt thanks to anyone whose patronage or work helped the venue in its 19-year lifespan: ‘As we announce the closure of The Jazz Ba

Budget airlines may have killed off the British seaside resort, but the pandemic brought it back in a big way. Since 2020, the staycation is cool again, which has led to some long forgotten waterside towns finally getting the attention they so desperately need. Millom in Cumbria is one of these towns. Historically, Millom’s not had the easiest go of it, contending with decades of low investment. Multi-million pound renovations planned for the coming years are sorely needed.  According to Millom’s website, this is a ‘turning point’ and will lead to a ‘revitalised and better-connected town’. The place hopes to become ‘a welcoming peninsular town, with thriving independent businesses and a distinctive culture, arts and tourism offer’. That all sounds grand, but what is Millom actually doing to achieve such lofty goals? Primarily, the town is regenerating some old buildings, including a disused bank that is set to become home for a cafe, market, and retail space for local vendors. There will also be a brand new leisure centre built, and a beachside venue constructed which will feature spaces for art installations, community use, and gorgeous views of the nearby lagoon. Additionally, plans are in place to modernise and upgrade the town’s railway infrastructure.  Planning permission has just been approved for an ‘arts and enterprise centre’, which David Savage, chair of the Millom Town Deal Board says will play ‘an integral part of the transformation of a forgotten town into someth

Museums are where we go to discover history, and learn about the past. Despite this, we don’t usually expect them to be relics of a forgotten era themselves. This was the situation that one of Glasgow’s oldest museums, the People’s Palace, unfortunately found itself in this year, and why it is set to close this Sunday (April 14) for three years’ worth of refurbishments.  Last year, it was announced that the People’s Palace was seeking funding for a refresh, and between the owner’s own cash and help from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, it’s managed to pull together the necessary £35.9 million.  The Palace, which spotlights Glasgow’s social history since the late 18th century, has been favoured by primary schools and local history enthusiasts alike since it opened in 1898. Once a steadfast celebration of Glaswegian culture, it has since been left to mind itself with no aid for a little too long.  These days, punters can enjoy such exhibits as ‘these items have been returned to their owner’ and signs with insights such as ‘today in the 1990s, there are over 40 discotheques in Glasgow.’ Clearly, the collection is in need of a little bit of love.  Photograph: Annie McNamee for Time Out And so love it shall get! This Sunday (April 14)  is not only the last chance to see the gallery before it closes for three years, it’s your last opportunity ever to see a perfectly preserved museum from the ’90s, complete with contemporary photography, historiography, and the odd line that yo

It’s been a long, dark winter. The end, however, is now in sight. There’s a light at the end of the dreary, drizzly tunnel. The sun is finally returning to the United Kingdom.  Temperatures are set to reach the dizzying heights of 19 or 20 degrees in the south east of the country, with London, Kent, Sussex, and Essex seeing the best of the weather today (Thursday April 11). Elsewhere across the country, we can expect a dry, warm day with highs of 16-18 degrees. The good times are set to continue into tomorrow (April 12), but nothing good lasts forever. According to BBC forecaster Helen Willetts, ‘The warmer Atlantic air is with us through Thursday and indeed Friday to end the week and perhaps even to start the weekend but not full on as we get some colder air starting to dig in behind it.  ‘By the weekend or by the end of the weekend it’s a return to slightly cooler weather.’ Sadly, the Met Office predicts that by Saturday (April 13) or Sunday (April 14), those in the north and west of the country can expect a return to regular programming, with temperatures dropping back down and some wind and drizzle creeping over the country. Although, they do say that the southeast is likely to retain some of that April sunshine well into next week.  Hopefully this is just the beginning of a dreamy British summer, and the worst is behind us. It won’t be long until 20 degrees is no big deal, we’re all enjoying pints in sun-soaked beer gardens after work, and life has meaning once again.  W

At this point, delays are basically just a part of the flying experience. The likelihood of you going somewhere and getting back without a single hitch is pretty low – but not all delays are created equal.  As we at Time Out have discovered in the past, some airports are worse than others and terminals differ even within the same airport. Today it has been revealed which exact routes involving UK airports are most likely to leave you waiting in an uncomfy plastic chair, cold Burger King in hand. Communications provider Esendex has published its findings after having analysed more than 250 flight paths at 20 airports here in the UK to discover which are worst for timings.  If you’re headed from Leeds Bradford airport to Lawica, Poland anytime soon, it’s bad news. That journey was an average of 36 minutes late, making it the worst in the country. On the bright side this is a more niche route than say London to Paris, so at least not as many people will have to suffer. Next up it’s Birmingham to Dubai, where you should factor an extra 30 minutes onto any onward plans. This is swiftly followed by the journey between the East Midlands Airport and Paris Orly, which is held up by 28 minutes on average. Basically, if you can, avoid flying from the Midlands. Although it only appeared at ninth in a recent study of the worst UK airports for delays, Bristol Airport actually appears the most frequently on the list, occupying three out of the top ten spots. Perhaps it’s just these three se

The LGBT community has long been marginalised, forced out of their communities and towns into shame or silence, so it’s only natural that they’ve formed some real tight knit communities. From Brighton to Hebden Bridge, queer folk in Britain have cultivated spaces for themselves where they can live freely and safely.  When you think of such places in the UK, places like London’s Soho or Manchester’s famous Gay Village (which is getting a pretty nice upgrade soon) probably spring to mind. None of these obvious places, however, are currently bidding to host EuroPride 2027.  The county of Gloucestershire, home to Gloucester, Cheltenham and lots of pretty fields, isn’t typically what you think of when you think of the UK’s LGBT havens, but it hopes to change this with its bid to host Europe’s celebration of all things queer.  EuroPride was first held in London in 1992, and it has since gone from strength to strength. In 2019 over 500,000 people took to the streets of Vienna, and this year the week-long celebration will be hitting of Thessaloniki in Greece, which finally made same-sex marriage legal earlier this year.  So, why Gloucestershire? According to Richard Stevens, the chairperson of Pride in the county: ‘With Gloucestershire’s reputation for hosting world-class events, coupled with our reputation for being inclusive and community-focused, across a whole region, we feel we’ll be able to deliver a EuroPride with impact that empowers the LGBTI+ community not just in the UK bu

London is out. It’s not as cool as it once was. It’s not even the most popular city in the UK anymore. All the cool kids have moved to Brighton or Manchester or, apparently, Wakefield.  Soho’s Groucho Club was first founded in 1985, and has since seen some pretty famous faces grace its doorstep. From Harry Styles to Stephen Fry, it’s safe to say the Groucho has seen wild success in the private members’ club industry.  The Groucho is getting its first-ever permanent location outside of London, and it has chosen the small Yorkshire town of Wakefield to grace with its presence. The venue? The huge Grade II listed Bretton Hall, which sits on the edge of Wakefield Sculpture Park. The building is so big, in fact, that the club will have 40 bedrooms available and be open even to non-members. Here’s what Bretton looks like. Photograph: Shutterstock The owners of the original London club are currently working with Wakefield Council to renovate the country house with the support of the adjacent sculpture park. They’ve said that the project will have ‘a life of its own, separate from the original Groucho, but equally with a uniquely eclectic style and personality rooted in both people and place’. The owners of the Soho spot were enticed by the heritage of the house, which was formerly an arts college, and then part of the Uni of Leeds campus. According to the chief executive of Artfam, which owns Groucho: ‘Our plans will be respectful of these traditions while reinventing its appeal b

For a very long time now, London has been at the centre of the UK for, well, everything. Food and drink, the arts, history, tourism, nightlife... the capital has been the go to city for too long. Finally, its long reign of being Britain’s favourite city might be over, as a recent YouGov poll has revealed that it has fallen out of favour in recent years. Perhaps that’s a little bit dramatic. After all, London is still the third most popular city in the country – but it used to be the first, so this is a win for the underdogs. Where has taken its place? In a shocking turn of events, the small cathedral city of York is now winning over the people’s hearts and minds.  Why York? Well, the poll (which was by YouGov) didn’t actually ask that, but it did discover that 74 percent of people said they liked the town. We in the UK must not have many good cities if that’s the absolute highest percentage we can muster. Narrowly missing out on first place was Edinburgh, which was also liked by 74 percent of respondents.  London’s approval rating sat at 63 percent, gaining it a bronze medal. That 11 percent difference is pretty telling, Londoners. Your time as the country’s darling it up. 17 percent of people noted that they actively disliked London, while only 3 percent and 1 percent said the same about Edinburgh and York respectively.  The rest of the top ten most popular cities were as follows: Cambridge: 62 percent approval rating Oxford: 61 percent approval rating Brighton: 60 percent