Weather in central London
Loading live conditions…
Area
742 stories from and about London, mostly transport & tfl, council & politics, crime & safety. The most recent ran on 14 September 2026. Page 17 of 38.
National Highways will close westbound Marling Cross, Cobham Services and Darenth Interchange slip roads on 3 August, eastbound Cobham slip roads on 4 August, and eastbound Wick Lane on 6 August. All closures run overnight with signed diversions in place.
c2c is offering a £15 return fare for day trips from most London stations, including those in Barnet, to Southend-on-Sea and nearby stations throughout August 2026. The deal requires advance booking and is valid on off-peak services only.

A former Metropolitan Police constable who worked in Barnet has been barred from policing after a misconduct panel found he abused his position to pursue a sexual relationship with a woman he met while responding to a mental health crisis in Bexleyheath in 2016. The panel concluded he would have been dismissed without notice had he not already resigned.
An Amber health alert is in force across London after Kew Gardens recorded its first rain-free July in 155 years. Barnet Council and Thames Water have imposed water-saving measures as temperatures exceed 30°C, increasing risks for vulnerable residents.
A collision on the M40 near Beaconsfield has caused stationary traffic for drivers heading towards London. The incident was reported on 3 August 2026, with no immediate details on injuries or lane closures.
Charity Super.Mkt brings 50 pre-loved fashion stalls to Coal Drops Yard from 6 August. KERB hosts 50 street-food traders at Canada Water on 8 to 9 August. Whippies opens in Seven Dials Market on 8 August with 99p 99 Flake cones.

Aldi has listed Barking among 30 London locations where it wants to open a new supermarket. The chain plans to invest £370 million in UK stores in 2026 and aims to reach 1,500 sites nationwide. Landowners can submit potential sites by email.
A cash machine was torn from the pavement outside a Londis in Teddington early on 29 July 2026. Police are investigating after thieves used a car to drag the ATM away following an unsuccessful hammer attack. No arrests have been made.
Southeastern will cancel, divert or replace trains in Bromley from 3 to 7 August due to overnight engineering work. Replacement buses will serve key routes, including between Maidstone East and Ashford, while Victoria to Orpington services will run non-stop to Shortlands.

Overnight closures on the A2 in Barnet and Bexley begin on 3 August, affecting slip roads at Darenth, Cobham and Wick Lane. National Highways has published times and diversion advice for drivers travelling between 8pm and 6am.
A crash on the M25 near junction 19 has caused traffic queues stretching several miles. National Highways has confirmed one lane is still shut, with recovery expected to take hours. Drivers are advised to use alternative routes.

A poll of 2,021 Londoners suggests the Conservative Party’s next mayoral candidate should avoid ties to the previous government. Former Home Secretary James Cleverly’s potential bid faces scepticism, while business and policing experience are favoured traits. The 2028 election is still four years away.
Overnight closures on the M25 begin on 3 August, affecting the clockwise carriageway between junctions 8 and 9 and the anti-clockwise entry slip road at junction 13. National Highways advises motorists to allow extra time and follow diversion routes.

Aldi is scouting locations in Wembley, North Harrow, Wood Green and Maida Hill for new stores, part of a £370 million UK expansion. A Willesden High Road branch is already under construction, with staff earning £14.88 an hour within the M25.
Now You See Me Live, a stage-magic show at the Peacock Theatre, showcases performers Enzo Weyne, Andrew Basso, Gabriella Lester, and Matthew Pomeroy. The production includes three astonishing tricks and a Houdini tribute, with no connection to the Jesse Eisenberg films. It moves to Las Vegas next.

Michelle Ryan has announced a new project after filming her final scenes as Zoe Slater in EastEnders. The character’s exit will air later in 2026, following a return that divided fans. A new family, the Hawkins, will join the soap soon.

Southern will cancel late-night trains between 3 and 7 August 2026 due to engineering work near Streatham Hill and Sydenham. Affected services include the 11.58 pm London Bridge to Streatham Hill train, with replacement buses operating for passengers.
A person died after being hit by a train at Bethnal Green Underground station on 31 July, followed by a second fatality near Alexandra Palace railway station on 1 August. Both incidents were ruled non-suspicious, with files prepared for the coroner.
Chini & Chutney’s The First Table supper club arrives in Tottenham on 22 August 2026, featuring a Bengali multi-course meal, live music and storytelling. Tickets start at £10, with advance booking required. The event is alcohol-free and open to all.
Leyton Orient have completed the signing of Omani striker Tariq Al Sadi on a contract that runs to February 2027 after his work permit was approved. Director of football Scott Mitchell said the club intends to arrange a loan for him next season.
Borough-wide and national stories that name London or bear directly on it.
A man has died following a fire at Neutron Tower in Poplar, east London, on 13 September 2026. Residents reported that building alarms failed to sound, with many alerted by neighbours banging on doors.
NQ64 has opened its largest arcade bar yet in Soho, occupying two floors at Orange Yard on Manette Street. The venue houses more than 60 arcade machines, UV‑lit pool tables, AR darts and two cocktail bars, while a Vevo study notes that 65% of Gen Z feel borrowed nostalgia for the era the bar celebrates.
Lambeth Council has approved a £2 billion development in Vauxhall, featuring 1,097 flats and 1,164 co-living units across seven buildings. The decision follows concerns over reduced affordable housing and high carbon emissions, with developers contributing £79.9 million off-site.
Transport for London will start talks this month with the city’s 16 private bus operators about creating a publicly owned bus company, a step made possible by the Bus Services Act. Unions and Labour welcome the plan, while a Conservative mayoral hopeful warns of higher costs.
After smoking for five decades, Ealing resident Mohamed has successfully quit with the help of the Ealing Smokefree Service. The service offers free, funded support for up to eight weeks, including behavioural advice and medication, to help residents become smoke-free.
The Museum Tavern in Camden is showcasing an eight-metre-long embroidered tapestry illustrating the history of beer in Britain throughout September 2026. Greene King, the pub's owner, has also launched a limited-edition ale to coincide with the display.
From 10 pm to 5 am on 30 September, the westbound A406 will close as TfL starts the Brent Cross flyover renewal. The two‑year scheme, funded with £10.8 million by the DfT, will remove a 7.5‑tonne weight restriction and involve lane changes through October.
Zola Bitshuangu, 48, died of heatstroke after staff left him in the rear garden of Forest Lodge care home on 26 May 2026. An inquest opened on 10 September 2026, led by Senior Coroner Graeme Irvine, with the CQC named as an interested person.
Traffic on the M4 was brought to a complete standstill near Heathrow Airport on Tuesday morning following a medical incident. The halt in traffic caused significant delays for motorists in the area.
Firefighters tackled a blaze at a fast food restaurant on Mile End Road in Stepney Green on September 11. Six fire engines and approximately 40 firefighters responded to the incident, which affected the ground floor kitchen and ducting.
Comedian Fatiha El-Ghorri performed her show "Cockney Stacking Doll" at Hackney Empire in September 2026. The show touched on personal experiences, including her womb cancer diagnosis and hysterectomy in 2025, and her Edinburgh Fringe Best Newcomer nomination in August 2026.
The City of London Corporation is reviewing its long-standing ban on corporate signage, a rule in place since at least 1911. The potential change aims to enhance the Square Mile's financial hub status, though it requires committee approval and could take 18 months.
Greenwich Council is proposing a borough-wide 20mph speed limit to improve road safety and make rules easier for drivers. Data shows most serious road incidents in the last decade occurred on roads with higher speed limits.
Hackney Council has awarded £1,500 grants to seven community groups to establish Repair Cafés across the borough. These initiatives, running from September to December 2026, aim to reduce waste by offering free repairs for household items and foster community resilience through skill-sharing.
The City of London Corporation has named Victoria Smith as its Executive Director of HR and Chief People Officer. She joins in November, bringing experience from the NHS and previous senior roles in defence and foreign affairs, while Policy Chairman Chris Hayward praised the appointment.
The Met has recorded 1,379 antisemitic offences in the year to July, a 25 percent rise. In July the government allocated £86 million for extra officers. Barnet’s Golders Green will see new community protection teams, boosting the current 36 dedicated officers.
Transport for London says work on the Oxford Street pedestrian scheme will start soon, with the first section expected to close to traffic in October 2026. Westminster’s Conservative leader claims the mayor shortcut the process, while the government confirmed no assessment was needed.
Five rare‑breed ewes have been placed on Hampstead Heath between 9 and 21 September as part of a conservation grazing trial run by the City of London Corporation. The flock is on loan from Mudchute City Farm and will be visible to the public during daily opening hours.
A man who failed to validate his contactless card more than 240 times at Abbey Wood station has been identified by TfL. Unpaid fares total £2,515.40 and the maximum penalty could raise the debt to £3,515.40.
A technical fault in NATS’s flight‑processing system forced the cancellation of over 400 flights on Tuesday. Ryanair, British Airways and EasyJet all reported large numbers of disrupted customers, while the transport secretary said she is seeking assurances that the problem will be prevented in future.
Loading live conditions…