https://www.scmp.com/rss/521329/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Associated Press Associated Press Fans of William Shakespeare know that the great playwright came from Stratford-upon-Avon, the English riverside town where tourists still throng to see his childhood home. But he made his name in London – though few traces of him remain in the British capital. A newly discovered 17th century map sheds new light on the Bard’s London life, pinpointing for the first time the exact location of the only home Shakespeare bought in the city, and where he may have worked on his final plays. Shakespeare... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3350395/william-shakespeares-only-london-house-located-newly-discovered-17th-century-map?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3350395/william-shakespeares-only-london-house-located-newly-discovered-17th-century-map?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s finance chief has expressed confidence that the city will climb to at least second place in the global ranking of international financial centres within 10 to 15 years. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Wednesday at the HSBC Global Investment Summit that the city offered stability and prosperity in uncertain times, citing its strong gross domestic product growth of 3.5 per cent last year, as well as robust export performance and rising private investments. “We went through... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350155/hong-kong-set-rise-no-2-global-financial-hub-within-15-years-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350155/hong-kong-set-rise-no-2-global-financial-hub-within-15-years-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:58:36 +0000 Oliver Giles Oliver Giles Winnie Wong, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, was on holiday in the summer of 2019 when she received the kind of call historians dream of. “I started screaming,” Wong says, laughing. “My family was like, ‘What?’” On the line was fellow historian Jordan Goodman, who had just visited the Canterbury Cathedral Archives & Library in England. There, he had discovered a trove of documents belonging to John Bradby Blake, an English botanist who worked for the East India Company in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3348746/extraordinary-tale-chinese-british-collaboration-revealed-new-exhibition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3348746/extraordinary-tale-chinese-british-collaboration-revealed-new-exhibition?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa Armed police guarding London Mayor Sadiq Khan left a bag of guns outside his home which was found by a member of the public, it was reported. Scaffolder Jordan Griffiths told The Sun that his pregnant girlfriend found the bag in south London on Tuesday evening. Inside the bag was an MP5 semi-automatic Heckler & Koch carbine, a Glock pistol, taser and ammunition, the newspaper reported. “My partner saw the bag sitting in the road by the kerbside and became suspicious. She went over to it and... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3349014/london-mayors-protection-officers-relieved-duties-after-bag-guns-misplaced?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3349014/london-mayors-protection-officers-relieved-duties-after-bag-guns-misplaced?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 03:09:02 +0000 Gloria Tso Gloria Tso One look at the queue for a Chopova Lowena sample sale feels a little like peeking inside a high school auditorium filled with an eccentric, yet effortlessly well-dressed congregation of cool girls and quirky kids. You’ll see fans united by their love for London’s most punk rock brand on the block, lining up for a chance to nab one of Chopova Lowena’s highly coveted carabiner skirts. You wouldn’t be mistaken for thinking they were queuing up for a celebrity sighting. But the passion of Chopova... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3348513/how-london-brand-chopova-lowena-and-its-cult-carabiner-skirt-came-be-interview?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3348513/how-london-brand-chopova-lowena-and-its-cult-carabiner-skirt-came-be-interview?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre March brings a full slate of art openings for enthusiasts across the globe, from New York to Hong Kong. Highlights include Carol Bove’s sculptural works at the Guggenheim, Catherine Opie’s three-decade survey at London’s National Portrait Gallery, and the 82nd Whitney Biennial spotlighting contemporary voices from around the world. In Asia and Europe, notable shows include Lee Bul’s retrospective at M+, the Palace Museum’s “Heavenly Horses” in Hong Kong, Inez and Vinoodh’s 40-year photography... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3345220/8-worlds-most-exciting-art-exhibitions-visit-march?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3345220/8-worlds-most-exciting-art-exhibitions-visit-march?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Gloria Tso Gloria Tso Susanna Lau, better known to her legion of followers as Susie Bubble, got her start as a fashion blogger in 2006 with the launch of her blog, Style Bubble. Since then the London-based Lau has emerged as one of fashion’s most exciting voices, and as a respected journalist who regularly contributes to publications like The Business of Fashion. Here are some of her favourite looks from the past 20 years, in her own words. 2010 At this Lanvin H&M party which was super fun, I love that I was wearing... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3345214/flashback-susie-bubble-remembers-her-fave-fashion-looks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3345214/flashback-susie-bubble-remembers-her-fave-fashion-looks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Paul French Paul French You could be forgiven for thinking that the UK has gone samurai mad of late. Director Michihito Fujii’s Last Samurai Standing remains high up the Netflix UK chart, Penguin Books is enjoying a massive bestseller in Shotaro Ikenami’s multi-volume The Samurai Detectives, and the FX miniseries retelling of James Clavell’s Shogun (originally a 1975 novel) was a surprise hit and won various awards. The samurai-inspired Assassin’s Creed Shadows was the fastest-selling video game in Britain in 2025,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3345076/gripping-london-samurai-exhibition-explores-japans-warrior-class-and-cuts-through-myths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3345076/gripping-london-samurai-exhibition-explores-japans-warrior-class-and-cuts-through-myths?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:15:07 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre Burberry is a British institution – this year marks the 170th anniversary of the storied house – and its fashion shows, which always mark the end of London Fashion Week, are grand affairs with star-studded front rows. Top celebrities ranging from Seungmin from Stray Kids to Olivia Dean, Bright Vachirawit and Kate Moss attended the fall/winter 2026 show, held on a rainy evening at Old Billingsgate, a Victorian building on the banks of the River Thames that was home to the largest fish market in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3344395/london-fashion-week-2026-burberry-pays-rainy-homage-its-british-heritage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3344395/london-fashion-week-2026-burberry-pays-rainy-homage-its-british-heritage?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 02:19:25 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre King Charles’ appearance at the fall/winter 2026 show of British-Nigerian designer Tolu Coker dominated headlines at London Fashion Week. While this is not the first time a royal has shown up at a London Fashion Week event, King Charles attended Coker’s show hours after the arrest of his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The former Prince Andrew was detained on Thursday and questioned over allegations that he sent confidential government... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3344286/london-fashion-week-2026-simone-rocha-chet-lo-erdem-and-tolu-coker-king-charles-front-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3344286/london-fashion-week-2026-simone-rocha-chet-lo-erdem-and-tolu-coker-king-charles-front-row?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 02:35:27 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa We paired fellow Central Saint Martins graduates Chet Lo and Celine Kwan, two rising Hong Kong talents shaking up London fashion with nostalgic prints, spiky textures and unfiltered vibes, and got them talking about their friendship and industry heartaches. Disney, togas and kawaii Chet Lo: So how did we become friends? Celine Kwan: We were in foundation [a pre-degree course in art and design] together. CL: Yeah, and I was walking in the hallways, and I heard a b**** singing – was it like... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3344070/conversation-designers-celine-kwan-and-chet-lo-trade-inspirations-and-industry-talk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3344070/conversation-designers-celine-kwan-and-chet-lo-trade-inspirations-and-industry-talk?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Ishani Sarkar Ishani Sarkar The third season of the hit Hulu series Tell Me Lies was one of the most highly anticipated releases of 2026. The drama explores the messy web of relationships in which a group of Baird College students find themselves entangled. It has been dissected, analysed and judged to no end on social media, as fans were left stressed by the antics of heroine Lucy Albright, played by Grace Van Patten, and her toxic romance with Jackson White’s character Stephen DeMarco. Ahead of the show’s conclusion,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3343707/meet-branden-cook-who-plays-evan-hulu-drama-series-tell-me-lies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3343707/meet-branden-cook-who-plays-evan-hulu-drama-series-tell-me-lies?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 10:00:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A UK court on Tuesday denied a legal challenge brought by the Freemasons against a new London police policy requiring officers to declare membership of the historically secretive society. In a 17-page judgment handed down at London’s High Court, judge Martin Chamberlain said the Metropolitan Police’s policy “serves a legitimate aim, maintaining and enhancing public trust in policing, and is proportionate”. He said the grounds of the challenge were not “reasonably arguable”, and the policy was... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3343841/uk-court-backs-london-police-rule-forcing-officers-declare-freemasonry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3343841/uk-court-backs-london-police-rule-forcing-officers-declare-freemasonry?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 13:31:22 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A new London exhibition is aiming to inspire children to follow in the footsteps of the creators of Wallace & Gromit and their beloved animated world. The British capital’s biggest children’s museum is giving a behind-the-scenes look at Aardman, the studio that created Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Chicken Run and others. “Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends”, which opened at the Young V&A museum in East London on February 12, uses interactive and colourful displays to explore how... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3343410/chicken-run-wallace-gromit-london-exhibition-marks-50-years-aardman-animations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3343410/chicken-run-wallace-gromit-london-exhibition-marks-50-years-aardman-animations?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:15:11 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre London draws art lovers from around the world, but the pull is even stronger right now thanks to exhibitions featuring the works of two big names of recent decades: Tracey Emin and the late Lucian Freud. Tracey Emin Controversial and celebrated artist Tracey Emin – of the notorious unmade bed that caused an uproar in the late 90s – is the subject of a retrospective at Tate Modern. Covering her 40-year career, the show, titled “Tracey Emin: A Second Life”, was created in collaboration with Emin... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3341845/2-must-see-london-exhibitions-artists-tracey-emin-and-lucian-freud?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3341845/2-must-see-london-exhibitions-artists-tracey-emin-and-lucian-freud?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 20:00:12 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre Hong Kong-born, London-based Robert Wun made history as the first Hong Kong designer to show at Paris Haute Couture Week back in 2023. Since then, his shows have become a hot ticket and a highlight of Paris Fashion Week. Wun’s dramatic gowns, often inspired by horror films, have attracted such A-list fans as Lady Gaga and Lisa from Blackpink. Here, the designer shares his favourite finds from around the world. What I’m watching I really enjoyed Dandadan, created by Japanese mangaka Yukinobu... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/article/3339255/style-according-hong-kong-born-london-based-designer-robert-wun?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/article/3339255/style-according-hong-kong-born-london-based-designer-robert-wun?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The definition of “luxury travel” is changing. As hotels by big-name interior designers with outposts of renowned restaurants get copy-pasted all around the world, they’re coming off as overly predictable and even cookie-cutter. With demand at the top end of the luxury travel market higher than ever, hotels have to work harder to stand out. That means the most anticipated hotels for 2026 have one of two things in common: a true independent spirit or an ability to raise the bar in unquestionable... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3338293/four-seasons-aman-11-most-exciting-luxury-hotel-openings-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3338293/four-seasons-aman-11-most-exciting-luxury-hotel-openings-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 06:00:16 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press When the MetroCard replaced the New York City subway token in 1994, the swipeable plastic card infused much-needed modernity into one of the world’s oldest and largest transit systems. Now, more than three decades later, the gold-hued fare card and its notoriously finicky magnetic strip are following the token into retirement. The last day to buy or refill a MetroCard is December 31, 2025, as the transit system fully transitions to OMNY, a contactless payment system that allows riders to tap... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3337953/new-yorks-subway-joins-london-singapore-and-retires-metrocard-and-embraces-tap-and-go-fares?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3337953/new-yorks-subway-joins-london-singapore-and-retires-metrocard-and-embraces-tap-and-go-fares?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Dec 2025 16:00:09 +0000 Zoe Suen Zoe Suen Faye Toogood had worked at London-based design bible The World of Interiors for eight years when she decided to leave the two-dimensional world of glossy magazines behind in favour of things she could grasp and shape. From her kitchen table, she sowed the seeds for a multidisciplinary design studio that, alongside interior design, played with food, fragrance, sound and light – an approach that is de rigueur now in our age of food stylists and multi-hyphenate creative directors, but which set her... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/design/article/3337444/british-designer-faye-toogood-her-humanist-playful-homeware-interiors-and-clothing-interview?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/design/article/3337444/british-designer-faye-toogood-her-humanist-playful-homeware-interiors-and-clothing-interview?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Dec 2025 23:00:09 +0000 Divia Harilela Divia Harilela Ultra-high-net-worth individuals are becoming especially discerning when it comes to choosing hotels. While top-notch amenities, luxe accommodation and customised services are now a given, a sense of seclusion and exclusivity is becoming more important. Hoteliers have risen to the challenge by experimenting with strategies ranging from launching new “exclusive” spaces and brands, to simply increasing rates, but many properties still struggle to deliver when it comes to important intangibles like... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3337422/private-members-clubs-offering-luxury-accommodation-soho-house-saint-james?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3337422/private-members-clubs-offering-luxury-accommodation-soho-house-saint-james?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 23:00:08 +0000 Gloria Tso Gloria Tso Are tote bags the new status symbol? Trader Joe’s seems to think so. The popular American grocery store chain is having a big year thanks to its US$3 mini totes, a product so popular the brand just dropped even tinier micro versions for a fraction of the price. But Trader Joe’s is far from the only company cashing in on the idea of toting around an accessory which feels, if not quite luxury, somewhat exclusive. From cult favourite bookstores like Daunt Books and Shakespeare & Company to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3334061/8-viral-tote-bags-trader-joes-gentlewoman-and-emily-ratajkowskis-daunt-books-tote?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3334061/8-viral-tote-bags-trader-joes-gentlewoman-and-emily-ratajkowskis-daunt-books-tote?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 06:00:10 +0000 Angela Hui Angela Hui Sean Warmington-Wan is a man who wears many hats: chef, food anthropologist, entrepreneur. But these days, he is best known as the founder of Fragrant Knives, a small but fast-growing brand built around one simple idea: to spread his love of Chinese knives. Born in Hong Kong but raised in the UK, Warmington-Wan grew up straddling two cultures. During university, he lost his mother, who had been the cook in the family, and felt cut off from his heritage, which reignited his interest in food. He... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3333502/how-hong-kong-born-chefs-chinese-kitchen-knives-are-cutting-through-stigma?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3333502/how-hong-kong-born-chefs-chinese-kitchen-knives-are-cutting-through-stigma?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Nov 2025 23:15:11 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre As 2025 draws to a close, we look at four retrospective exhibitions opening around the world, which celebrate remarkable creatives who continue to have a lasting impact on the cultural psyche. Here are some landmark exhibitions to look out over the next few months, from an overview of Asia-inspired works by American artist Robert Rauschenberg to an exhibition that envisions a creative conversation between legendary designers Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo. Robert Rauschenberg – Hong Kong A... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3331735/4-notable-art-exhibitions-opening-around-world-showcasing-likes-vivienne-westwood-and-wes-anderson?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3331735/4-notable-art-exhibitions-opening-around-world-showcasing-likes-vivienne-westwood-and-wes-anderson?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 10:00:15 +0000 Bernice Chan Bernice Chan Opening any restaurant is a huge undertaking, but launching in Somerset House, an 18th-century historic building overlooking the River Thames in London, comes with its own set of challenges. “Basically, you can barely breathe in the building without asking permission,” jokes culinary entrepreneur Amy Poon, who launched Poon’s at Somerset House on November 5. Poon says that restrictions became a problem when the builders discovered dampness in the basement just over a month before the restaurant... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3331902/london-chinese-restaurant-owner-amy-poon-keeping-things-steamy-her-new-venture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3331902/london-chinese-restaurant-owner-amy-poon-keeping-things-steamy-her-new-venture?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 08:15:09 +0000 Fionnuala McHugh Fionnuala McHugh In 1992, a British newspaper sent me to New York to interview a man called Paul Mellon. He was 85 and was said to have been wealthier longer than any other living American; the family fortune flowed from the Mellon Bank, founded in 1870. He was also, according to a London gallery owner, “the last civilised collector”. In his Manhattan town house off Park Avenue, one of his seven residences, there was a Canaletto, a squad of Constables, a Stubbs, some Bonnards; the dining room alone had a... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/design-interiors/article/3330044/moving-through-life-without-collecting-lessons-nomadic-childhood?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/design-interiors/article/3330044/moving-through-life-without-collecting-lessons-nomadic-childhood?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Oct 2025 23:00:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Actress Prunella Scales, best known for her role as the long-suffering Sybil in the British TV comedy classic Fawlty Towers, has died aged 93, her family said on Tuesday. The actress died “peacefully at home in London” on Monday, her sons Samuel and Joseph said. “She was watching Fawlty Towers the day before she died,” they said in a statement on social media, adding that her last days were “comfortable, contented and surrounded by love”. Scales was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013, but... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3330669/prunella-scales-sibyl-fawlty-towers-dies-peacefully-home-93?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3330669/prunella-scales-sibyl-fawlty-towers-dies-peacefully-home-93?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Oct 2025 13:34:32 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The opening of the new legal year in London, like its equivalent in Hong Kong, features judges and lawyers dressed in traditional costumes. But the occasion, which has its origins in the Middle Ages, provides a valuable opportunity for the profession to reflect on today’s challenges. Participants from overseas are invited and this year there were around 100 from 40 jurisdictions, including Hong Kong’s Bar Association chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet. The visit bore fruit, allowing interaction... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3329420/hong-kong-has-room-grow-global-hub-arbitration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3329420/hong-kong-has-room-grow-global-hub-arbitration?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Oct 2025 23:15:14 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak Every immigrant story is different, but Calif Chong Ngai-man, a Hong Kong-born, London-based filmmaker, has found a way to make one relatable as well as humorous. Chong’s debut feature, High Wire, premiering at the BFI London Film Festival in the UK on October 15, is a coming-of-age film centred on a Hong Kong-British girl wanting to join the circus in a rural part of England. It is a story about taking risks, chasing dreams and realising them. “This could be an impulsive decision, but it is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3328083/high-wire-hong-kong-born-filmmaker-uk-reflects-her-immigrant-experience?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3328083/high-wire-hong-kong-born-filmmaker-uk-reflects-her-immigrant-experience?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 09:15:08 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre If you find yourself in Europe this autumn, here are three exhibitions celebrating the artistry of fashion and photography to fit into your schedule. London’s National Portrait Gallery offers a look at photographer Cecil Beaton’s world through his photos, sketches and costumes. Over in Amsterdam, the Stedelijk Museum reflects on Erwin Olaf’s bold and often controversial photography, while Paris’ Musée des Arts Décoratifs celebrates a century of art deco through the world’s largest collection of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3327986/3-must-visit-exhibitions-london-paris-and-amsterdam-presenting-photography-and-fashion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3327986/3-must-visit-exhibitions-london-paris-and-amsterdam-presenting-photography-and-fashion?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Oct 2025 22:15:14 +0000 Peggy Sito Peggy Sito Hong Kong maintained its position as the world’s third-ranked financial hub, narrowing the gap with leading cities New York and London, according to the latest Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) report on Thursday. The report, which is published twice a year, said Hong Kong’s overall rating rose 4 points, just 1 point below London and 2 points behind top-ranked New York. “This ranking is not an endpoint, but a validation of our strategy” said Benjamin Hung, chairman of the Financial Services... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3326875/hong-kong-retains-no-3-rank-global-financial-hub-behind-new-york-and-london?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3326875/hong-kong-retains-no-3-rank-global-financial-hub-behind-new-york-and-london?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2025 11:38:52 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Luxury hospitality brand Raffles Hotels & Resorts has rolled out the second chapter of its witty global campaign The Butler Did It, this time setting the action at one of the brand’s newest properties, Raffles London at The OWO. A continuation of the story first set at Raffles Singapore last year – under the creative direction of Trey Laird, with photography by Dylan Don and styling by Robert Rabensteiner – the cinematic campaign once again stars model Tim Easton as Raffles’ “most charming... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3326799/raffles-butler-did-it-campaign-arrives-london-starring-crazy-rich-asians-henry-golding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3326799/raffles-butler-did-it-campaign-arrives-london-starring-crazy-rich-asians-henry-golding?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2025 10:00:14 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Clashes erupted on Saturday as more than 100,000 people turned out in central London for a rally organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, with police arresting nine people after facing “unacceptable violence” trying to control the crowds. The huge crowds, many draped in English and British flags, gathered from late morning in and around Westminster for what Robinson, a veteran of UK far-right organising, branded the country’s “biggest free speech festival”. Around 5,000 people turned out... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3325441/1000-london-police-brace-simultaneous-anti-immigrant-anti-racism-protests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3325441/1000-london-police-brace-simultaneous-anti-immigrant-anti-racism-protests?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Sep 2025 10:36:39 +0000 Reuters Reuters Commuters in London turned to bikes, buses and boats on Tuesday as a staff strike shut down the British capital’s underground Tube network for a second day. With almost no underground trains running until Friday, demand for shared bike services and river transport surged as Londoners looked for alternative ways to get to work, causing longer journeys and crowding on other parts of the transport network. The London-based Centre for Economics and Business Research estimates the strike will have a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3324916/bikes-boats-demand-londons-tube-strike-puts-brakes-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3324916/bikes-boats-demand-londons-tube-strike-puts-brakes-city?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 10:52:29 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A new mural by elusive street artist Banksy showing a judge beating an unarmed protester with a gavel will be removed from a wall outside one of London’s most iconic courts, authorities said on Monday. The mural appeared on Monday and depicts a protester lying on the ground holding a blood-splattered placard while a judge in a traditional wig and black gown beats him with a gavel. Banksy posted a photo of the work on Instagram, his usual method of claiming a work as authentic. It was captioned... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3324802/new-banksy-mural-judge-beating-protester-be-removed-outside-london-court?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3324802/new-banksy-mural-judge-beating-protester-be-removed-outside-london-court?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 18:10:14 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Rush-hour commuters faced chaos on Monday as staff on the London Underground train network staged a five-day strike, shutting stations and forcing people to work from home or use alternative modes of transport. Thousands queued to try and get on crammed buses, while others reluctantly walked or cycled. Transport for London (TfL), which manages the Underground, also known as the Tube, warned there would be little or no service between Monday and Thursday as a result of the first major strike in... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3324767/travel-chaos-hits-commuters-london-underground-train-workers-strike?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3324767/travel-chaos-hits-commuters-london-underground-train-workers-strike?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 10:39:35 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok With binoculars in hand, I am gazing out over the London skyline from an entirely new perspective. The shimmering pods of the London Eye slowly churn, while the iconic spire of St Martin-in-the-Fields Church stands in contrast to the striking glass skyscraper known as The Shard. Shifting my view to the streets below, tiny figures bustle down St Martin’s Street and Orange Street, possibly on their way to the nearby National Gallery and Trafalgar Square. My vantage point is about six floors up... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3324490/best-places-eat-near-londons-leicester-square-and-history-area?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3324490/best-places-eat-near-londons-leicester-square-and-history-area?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Sep 2025 09:15:13 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre Fashion is taking centre stage in exhibitions worldwide this autumn. In New York, “Dress, Dreams and Desire: Fashion and Psychoanalysis”, curated by Valerie Steele, explores themes of the body and the unconscious. Meanwhile, “Glen Luchford. Atlas” in Milan highlights the British fashion photographer’s bold vision. London celebrates royal fashion and period costume design with “Marie Antoinette Style” and “Costume Couture: Sixty Years of Cosprop”. In Hong Kong, “A History of China in Silk: The... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3323572/5-fashion-exhibitions-see-fall-downton-abbey-looks-chinese-silk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3323572/5-fashion-exhibitions-see-fall-downton-abbey-looks-chinese-silk?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Aug 2025 22:00:09 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Among the many challenges facing those of us who have moved from Hong Kong to Britain is adapting to the country’s notoriously cold, wet and windy weather. But climate change is making us feel more at home. The UK is experiencing – or, more accurately, enduring – its third heatwave of the year, with temperatures hitting 34.7 degrees Celsius on Friday. This weekend, it has been as hot as Hong Kong. Fresh concerns about Britain’s ability to cope with the soaring temperatures are being raised, from... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3318004/todays-forecast-347-degrees-no-its-not-hong-kong-its-uk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3318004/todays-forecast-347-degrees-no-its-not-hong-kong-its-uk?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Jul 2025 14:40:07 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre London is one of the few cities in the world to boast two Mandarin Oriental properties, and much like in the hotel chain’s hometown of Hong Kong, they complement each other. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park opened its doors 25 years ago and has built a loyal following among Asian, Middle Eastern and American clients who like its proximity to the green expanse and the luxury shops of Knightsbridge, including the legendary department stores Harrods and Harvey Nichols. The hotel, which underwent a... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3317875/looking-luxury-stays-london-mandarin-oriental-hyde-park-and-mandarin-oriental-mayfair-offer-unique?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3317875/looking-luxury-stays-london-mandarin-oriental-hyde-park-and-mandarin-oriental-mayfair-offer-unique?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Jul 2025 06:00:10 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Actress Rachel Zegler has been serenading passers-by from a street-facing balcony of a London theatre with a six-minute rendition of “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” nearly every night for a month – and she’ll continue to do so until early September, per CNN. Zegler, who previously received criticism for voicing her opinion on the Israel-Gaza conflict and feuding with her Snow White co-star Gal Gadot, is not singing to onlookers for her own amusement. The performance is part of composer Andrew... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3317674/meet-rachel-zeglers-new-boyfriend-dancer-nathan-louis-fernand-pair-currently-star-andrew-lloyd?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3317674/meet-rachel-zeglers-new-boyfriend-dancer-nathan-louis-fernand-pair-currently-star-andrew-lloyd?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jul 2025 10:00:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press There is a part of London that few people have seen: a place where the city prepared for the Blitz, James Bond’s creator got inspiration, and secret Cold War messages passed between Washington and Moscow. It is a network of tunnels 100 feet (30 metres) below the streets that was secret for decades – but could be the city’s next big tourist destination. Local authorities have approved plans to fill the 90,000 sq ft (8,360 square metre) site with an intelligence museum, an interactive World War II... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3315860/secret-wartime-tunnels-below-london-become-spy-museum-memorial-and-bar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3315860/secret-wartime-tunnels-below-london-become-spy-museum-memorial-and-bar?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Jun 2025 09:15:07 +0000 Gloria Tso Gloria Tso A quick Google search of Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi’s name brings up multiple headlines hinting at his many lives in the spotlight. He is, after all, the husband of Princess Beatrice, a descendant of Italian nobility himself, and the founder and CEO of London-based design studio Banda, which now boasts high-end, high-profile projects everywhere from Hyde Park to the Hamptons. First and foremost, however, the luxury property developer will have you know he’s also a child of divorce, speaking with... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3314934/how-edoardo-mapelli-mozzi-redefining-bespoke-design-princess-beatrices-husbands-latest-project-us74?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3314934/how-edoardo-mapelli-mozzi-redefining-bespoke-design-princess-beatrices-husbands-latest-project-us74?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Jun 2025 11:00:13 +0000 Sarah Keenlyside Sarah Keenlyside It was 2013 when Kiran Dhingra-Smith decided she’d had enough. Opening the sports cupboard at her local football club, she cast her eyes around for anything the girls’ squad she was coaching could practise with. For the umpteenth time that season, barely anything remained after the boys’ teams had picked it clean. Naturally, they’d been given an earlier slot on the pitches. “Sometimes I would email and be like, ‘Can we at least make sure we have balls?’” she recalls. “And it would just get... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3313193/finally-london-football-club-asian-women-and-non-binary-and-trans-folks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3313193/finally-london-football-club-asian-women-and-non-binary-and-trans-folks?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Jun 2025 07:00:08 +0000