In June, the company announced plans with Uber to begin trialing Level 4 fully autonomous robotaxis in the capital as soon as 2026, part of a government plan to fast-track self-driving pilots ahead of a potential wider rollout in late 2027. Alphabet-owned Waymo, now a staple fixture of US cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, also has its eyes on London, announcing plans for its own fully driverless robotaxi service in 2026, one of its first efforts to expand beyond the US.
The core ideas of Watch Dogs have always been as engrossing as they are prescient. Playing as a hacker on the fringes of a surveillance state is an inherently cool setup for an open-world game, and when you add in a bunch of novel tech-based abilities that let you alter the world around you, you've got a franchise that meaningfully breaks away from more popular titles in the genre.
While the UK is in the middle of a northern lights boom , London hasn't seen so much of the borealis this year. The capital's southerly location is at a disadvantage when it comes to catching a glimpse of the phenomenon, and on the very rare occasion when the lights do make it down here they're often obscured by light pollution. But that could all change this week. Forecasters are predicting that London could be in for some spectacular shows of the northern lights this week,
Despite the rise of smart technology, physical keys remain the most familiar and universally understood way for guests to access a property. They don't require power, Wi-Fi, or batteries - and even the least tech-savvy guest can use them without issue. However, the way you manage those keys makes all the difference. Handing them over in person isn't always practical in a city like London, where hosts may live miles away or manage multiple listings.
Getty Two men who used the dating app Grindr to trick victims into letting them into their homes have been found guilty of carrying out a string of burglaries across London. After arranging to meet their targets at their homes, Rahmat Mohammadi, 22, and Mohammed Hotak, 21, stole mobile phones and passwords to access their money, the Met said. The pair, both Afghan nationals, carried out 35 burglaries and 20 related frauds within six months, the force said.
Battersea's ice rink will take up its usual spot right next to the Thames for a fourth year. Glide is one of the most aesthetic ice rinks in the city, with views over the river and across London's glistening skyline. Besides the rink itself, there's a vintage fairground and a bar with DJs. Opening date: November 7
FSB's Small Business Index (SBI) for Q3 shows overwhelming pessimism among small firms in the London region, with a headline confidence reading of -46 points. The proportion of small firms in the London region are bracing for contraction, be it downsizing, closure, or a sale, in the next 12 months has risen to 30% per cent.
London hosts plenty of the world's mightiest global hotel chains. Don't get us wrong, many of those are supremely fancy hotels - but all too often they're a tad generic. Perfect if you want to stay somewhere familiar, but not-so-great if you're looking for a bit of character and identity for your London stay. Fortunately, the capital also has plenty of boutique hotels that are just as luxurious as those aforementioned chains but far less predictable.
These days, Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez only take on murders in their block of flats. Hulu renewed Only Murders in the Building for a sixth season on October 28. Like the seasons before it, the upcoming season will be ten episodes. Unlike the previous seasons, it will find the main characters heading overseas, landing them in London. Will Gomez's Mabel like beans on toast? Will Short's Oliver enjoy the West End?
A one-year-old child has died following a hazardous materials incident at a flat in east London, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said. Fire crews were called to a property in Barking Road, Upton Park, in Newham, after two adults and two children attended hospital complaining about a smell of chemicals in a flat. The one-year-old child later died in hospital while receiving treatment. Around 12 people were evacuated from surrounding properties as a precaution as crews responded, LFB said.
London saw more than 440,000 fly-tipping incidents in the year 2023/24, with 50 incidents per every 1,000 residents more than double the English average. Data reveals that eight out of the ten worst locations in the country for fly-tipping are in the capital. It comes after more than a dozen London authorities increased fly-tipping penalties to 1,000 and hired more enforcement officers in an effort to combat the city's spiralling waste problem.
Every year World's 50 Best Hotels enlists the help of 600 experienced hoteliers, travel journalists and 'seasoned luxury travellers' to compile its ranking of the greatest hotels on the globe. The list features establishments that go well beyond just providing a comfy overnight stay. They have magnificent buildings, huge glistening pools, Michelin-starred restaurants, some of the most opulent spas you've ever seen and brigades of the most polished, professional staff around.
What were you hoping for? A new experience, and the chance to meet someone the Guardian thinks I'd get along with. First impressions? She was very smiley and chatty! What did you talk about? Our jobs, what brought us to London, the differences between British and Australian humour (Isla is Australian), and our shared love of tiramisu. Most awkward moment? I was sweating quite a lot for the first five minutes.
Pizza Hut birthday parties were a staple of growing up in England in the noughties. But soon, ice cream factory unlimited refills and filling up on pasta from the salad bar are about to be banished to the graveyard of nostalgia along with Woolworths and portable CD players, because Pizza Hut is closing tonnes of its restaurants across the UK.
Our world has stood still since Isis went missing, and we desperately want her back home and safe. If you have any information, no matter how small, that could help us find her then I urge you to please contact the police. Even the smallest detail could make a difference.
London had 8,900 claims [12,060], with a total cost of £1,025m [£1,475m]. Inner London - East had 2,800 [3,675], Inner London - West 3,990 [5,145], Outer London - East and North East 530 [860], Outer London - South 460 [745] and Outer London - West and North West 1,130 [1,635]. Information & communication led with 4,050 claims [4,925], followed by professional, scientific & technical at 1,590 [2,010] and manufacturing at 760 [1,060].
London is positively bursting at the seams with unmissable cultural events this month. The London Film Festival is well underway, with hyped films like Frankenstein, Hamnet and No Other Choice all making their UK debuts; esteemed contemporary art fair Frieze London has begun; Black History Month is being marked by book festivals, orchestra showcases and exhibitions and London Literature Festival is kicking off in the coming weeks with appearances from Zadie Smith, Malala Yousafzai, Reese Witherspoon and more.
"I welcome this move from the Mayor of London to help the London Ambulance Service reach their funding goal, giving every community better access to life-saving defibrillators. "This is a brilliant opportunity for community groups in Addiscombe one of the areas identified as a defibrillator desert - and across Croydon to step forward and host one. "By doing so, you could save a life."
The city's theatre district is a classic antidote to rainy weather. A matinee in the West End turns a grey afternoon into an unforgettable cultural experience, whether you choose a long-running musical or a sharp new drama. For something more intimate, London's independent cinemas, such as the Electric Cinema in Notting Hill, offer plush armchairs and a sense of nostalgia that transforms film-watching into an event. It's the same comfort you feel when revisiting a favorite childhood movie, only on a grander scale.
Google A man has been charged with raping a woman who was attacked in central London, the Met Police has said. A 19-year-old called the force at about 03:30 BST on Thursday to report that she had been raped on Euston Road in Camden. Officers attended the location, which was near a hospital, and a crime scene was put in place.
Despite concerns about United States President Donald Trump's proposed plan to end the war on Gaza, which calls for a transitional authority ultimately headed by the US leader, Jamal said there was an immense sense of relief. A sea of red and green, the colours of the Palestinian flag, formed along the embankment of the River Thames in central London, where the largely peaceful march began.
People coming from outside London to watch the city's flagship New Year's Eve fireworks display will face a 5 increase on last year. The first of about 100,000 tickets for London's annual New Year's Eve fireworks display will go on sale on 17 October. Ticket prices for Londoners remain 20 and 35, but those living outside the capital will pay 40 (up 14.5%) and 55 (up 10%), depending on the tier.
The Air Jordan 4 continues to dominate sneaker culture decades after its debut, and 2026 appears to be shaping up as another monumental year for the silhouette. Following a celebrated 35th anniversary in 2024 and a string of high-profile collaborations in 2025, new reports suggest Jordan Brand is preparing to pay tribute to one of the world's most iconic cities with an Air Jordan 4 "London."
This is not who we are as a country. It's un-British to have so little respect for others. And that's before some of them decide to start chanting hatred towards Jewish people all over again.
It sums up a stillness, a sadness and a romantic passion that breathes in this show but you won't notice it straight away. Instead you'll be carried along in a rush of cheeky provocations and ludicrous juxtapositions of word and image: a joyous embrace of modern life or even, pardon my French, a jouissance. The pictures tower and expand in this perfect brutalist setting as if you're walking through a city of art a dirty, disreputable city.
I remember the first time I came here and I was completely relieved about my safety, Mr Galdino said. In Brazil you feel so scared in the streets. When I came here, I was completely free of that feeling. But in the last few years, seeing these things happen all the time, my perception has completely changed. I really do believe London is a paradise (for pickpockets).
People living in 17 boroughs in the capital who need financial support will be automatically enrolled on the water company's social tariff scheme without having to go through the application process. Under data-sharing agreements, Thames Water said it was working with councils and the Policy in Practice social data platform to identify customers whose water bills exceed 5% of their net income. Eligible households will be signed up to the WaterHelp scheme, which cuts bills by 50%.
