05.11 2025 With Monday’s announcement from the Maybourne Group (who just had three properties named in the World’s 50 Best Hotels, congrats!) that Burberry’s Daniel Lee will be designing the Claridge’s Christmas tree this year, it seems like we can officially say… we’re starting to look ahead to all things that twinkle. On that note, Carnaby Street have their lights switch-on tomorrow; Disney’s magic launches at Selfridges then too; and Winter Wonderland’s opening is around the corner. Let’s embrace it. Have great weeks all. xx Taryn and Team UJ xx Seasonal It’s about this time of year we’re tempted to house swap with just about anyone, which has got us thinking about the Cotswolds. The Holiday home might not be there (yes, we know it was fake; they’ve reconstructed it in Georgia though, go figure), but a few things on our Oxfordshire radar include: The Bamfords now have 34 Bamford-curated cottages for rent, complete with a concierge and access to their wellbeing club, to add to their seemingly never-ending empire (does anyone remember when they were just JCB?). There’s also Matthew Freud’s excellent-looking Bull hotel close-by in Burford, which has three restaurants and two bars – impressive for an 18-bedroom inn – and was recently awarded a Michelin Key. We were also thinking it would be a brilliant time of year to walk around the Cotswolds: warm pubs, roaring fires, crisp air. If you can get away, here are three routes. Art Basel Miami Just in time for Art Basel Miami (it’s starting to always be art season!) is this FUN capsule collection from Colombian-American designer Esteban Cortázar. MORE INFO Yes, there are still some chunky shoes around, but we’re definitely seeing a shift with trainer shapes lately. The silhouettes coming through are slim, light, and sleek… a nice change. Nike Black | Margiela | Nike White | Simone Rocha | Adidas Wales Bonner | Adidas Stan Smith Sifnos and Antiparos If you’re looking for travel inspiration in 2026, check out our podcasts from Greece, including an interview with chef Giorgos Samoilis from the brilliant seafront restaurants Cantina and Pelicanos, and an interview with Athanasia Comninos, founder of the beautiful, curated resort The Rooster in Antiparos. Both give us insight into how their venues came to be, as well as their tips for where to go and what to do on each island. They gave us such gems; we hope you like them. Sifnos with Giorgos, Episode 4 | Giorgos’ Digital Guide and More Antiparos with Athanasia, Episode 5 | Athanasia’s Digital Guide and More DIALLED-IN TRAVEL ON UJ Around Town We’re going to keep it to a quick edit this week. Just opened UJ fave, Passione Vino, are opening another wine bar and restaurant in Exmouth Market, where they’ll continue to focus on Italian wines with their usual, bespoke recommendations. Amy Poon’s new restaurant, Poon’s, has opened at Somerset House – we love this partnership – which is ‘where you come if you don’t have a Chinese friend to cook for you at home.’ We’re there. The Oak is now The Good Oak in Notting Hill, following a refurb and a shift to a lighter LA-inspired Italian menu, and Ria’s – also from Notting Hill – has now opened in Soho, serving their Detroit-style pizza and natural wines. Coming Soon They may have closed their Covent Garden sites, but the founders of Petersham Nurseries are opening a trattoria in (again!) Notting Hill with a Florence-inspired menu; Hawksmoor is opening a new restaurant at St. Pancras, which will excitingly have a martini bar (train travel just got a whole lot more exciting); and Sale e Pepe are heading to The Langham – we hope they bring their white tablecloths and good lighting with them. Don’t Forget Barcelona’s excellent Bar Brutal is at Seabird until 2 December; book in now. Toys The 90s are calling! Here are some blasts from the toy past, with 2025 updates. Rubik’s Cube | Hot Wheels | Care Bears St Clement We love what Nick Jones is doing around 180 Strand – the Corner Shop really filled a definite gap in the market – and we can’t wait to hear more about his new development there, especially the 15 loft-style apartments. 180 Strand is really starting to feel like less of a diversion and more like the centre of town. W New York Union Square If you missed it, W relaunched its Union Square property after a $100 million refurb, and it’s looking suitably grown-up; it’s a definite step in the right direction for the brand. The Lake Como EDITION This new property may have just finished its preview season, but from what we saw it looked great, and like a much-needed addition to the hotel offerings in this area. Book now for March 2026. And while we’re on Schrager, he recently gave an interview on The Stanza full of flashbacks, anecdotes and advice; listen here. Manor Place Palace x Nike Palace x Nike launched a collection last Friday, but the more interesting part of their partnership was that they also opened Manor Place, a free public space in south London with three areas – The Park and The Cage (for skate and football), The Front Room, and The Residency – altogether a place to inspire sport and creativity. Finally: a partnership that’s actually adding something to the community. MORE INFO Eye Spy Some fun homewares. Placemats | Coasters | Placemats 2 | Coasters 2 Our Picks Cynthia Erivo: Simply More, In Conversation Fresh off the back of Prada Mode at the newly restored Town Hall in King’s Cross comes a talk on 8 November with Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo at this new cultural centre. Romeo and Juliet Featuring the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall, 12 November. 10 Years of Choose Love The names are coming together at the Royal Albert Hall on 20 November to celebrate this anniversary, with 100% of profits going to Choose Love. Wes Anderson: The Archives From 21 November, dive into Wes Anderson’s cinematic archives at The Design Museum. David Bowie Centre In case you missed it, there’s now a permanent home for the world of David Bowie. It’s an intimate space at the V&A East Storehouse, and will have a rotating mini display showing 200 pieces (of his 80,000!) at a time. Beauty It’s beauty-a-go-go in London right now… Noteworthy things to mention include Space NK’s shiny new flagship on Oxford Street, complete with a station showcasing current ‘viral drops’ and a digital quiz to help you find the perfect scent; Liberty has just launched a Beauty Studio, with ‘next generation beauty and wellness innovations’; and Tottenham Court Road has a sprawling new(ish) Korean skincare emporium, Skin Cupid. Three years in the making, Londoner/supermodel/Gurls Talk founder Adwoa Aboah and Georgie Wright have a new bag brand, The Veil, and we love it. Reviews Read all about them! Labombe by Trivet | MIMI Curated by Yakuza Memoirs It’s three men this week, all of whom spent a large part of their career in NYC. Restauranteur I Regret Almost Everything Keith McNally DJ/Producer How to Be a DJ in ‘90s NYC By Mark Ronson Editor When the Going was Good By Graydon Carter Tickets for Lily Allen’s “West End Girl” tour go on sale 7 November, 10AM; London Palladium performances are 20, 21, and now also 22 March. FOLLOW US (c) 2025 Urban Junkies. All rights reserved. Reproductions of any portion of this website only with our express permission. Urban Junkies is a free weekly mailer. All listings and features are editorial: We do not receive any payment from venues, artists or promoters. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of information listed but we cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions. We have updated our terms and conditions link and privacy policy link to make it easier for you to understand what information we collect, how we use it and what rights are available to you to control your information. The privacy and security of your information are very important to us. 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