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742 stories from and about London, mostly transport & tfl, council & politics, crime & safety. The most recent ran on 14 September 2026. Page 18 of 38.
The London Latino Film Festival launches in October 2026 at the Barbican, featuring screenings, Q&As with Latino stars, and a three-week exhibition of hand-printed Cuban film posters at Eclectic Gallery in Fitzrovia. The event is backed by National Lottery funding and the City of London.
Heathrow Airport has told all passengers to check their travel insurance covers existing medical conditions. Officials warn failing to declare conditions could invalidate policies, leaving travellers liable for costs exceeding £25,000 for treatment and repatriation.
Londoners can explore free art trails, family activities, film screenings and exhibitions this week, including a solar system walk in Kingston, open-air cinema in Canary Wharf, and a Paddington-themed fun day in Norfolk Square Gardens.
Monty Don’s bespoke Doghouse, designed for the 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, has been moved to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home as a sensory and training space. The structure, once part of Don’s Herefordshire garden, now aids rescue animals after his tribute to late dog Peggy.

All lanes of the M25 near Heathrow Airport were stopped on 3 August 2026 after a crash, causing severe delays. Emergency services attended the scene, though details of injuries or vehicles involved remain unclear. Drivers were advised to avoid the area.
Barnet residents will experience warm weather until 16 August, but the Met Office confirms it will not meet the heatwave threshold. Temperatures will peak at 28°C but fail to sustain the required three-day streak, according to BBC and Met Office forecasts.
A crash involving two lorries on the M25 near Barnet’s Junction 23 caused significant delays for morning commuters on 16 May 2025. One lane remained closed for three hours, with tailbacks stretching to the A1(M). National Highways confirmed the incident and advised drivers to avoid the area.
July 2024 marked the first month without recorded rainfall at Kew Gardens since 1871, confirmed by Met Office data. Surbiton’s Hogsmill gauge also registered zero precipitation. The dry spell highlights London’s unpreparedness for prolonged droughts, with implications for water management and urban planning.
Pembroke Walk in Kensington, a quiet cul-de-sac off Pembroke Road, contains a rare surviving artists’ studio block built in 1902. The studios, once home to sculptor Gilbert Ledward, remain private residences alongside small mews-style houses.

A man owing £2,000 in unpaid Elizabeth Line fares was caught at Whitechapel Station after TfL officers tracked his card use for 12 months. The case highlights TfL’s enforcement push as fare evasion costs the network £165 million annually.
Gatwick Airport has warned airlines of a fuel shortage caused by a technical fault at its fuel farm. Barnet residents flying with British Airways or easyJet may face delays or cancellations, with long-haul flights most affected. The airport expects the issue to last two days.
A Birmingham man has been ordered to pay £3,905 after dumping mattresses, a fridge freezer and other waste outside Buzz Bingo Hall in Barkingside. Redbridge Council prosecuted Martin Stokes in his absence after he ignored a court summons and previous fines.
The UK government will introduce legally binding sale agreements by 2029 to stop buyers reducing offers just before completion. Barnet conveyancers report 90% of local deals now involve last-minute price cuts, costing sellers £400 million nationwide each year.
The London Latino Film Festival opens 2 October 2026 at the Barbican, featuring Q&As with Carlos Acosta, Óscar Martínez and Jorge Perugorría. A Cuban film poster exhibition runs from 28 September at Eclectic Gallery, with proceeds supporting the festival and Cuba.
Residents in Barnet can visit Eltham Palace’s Orchid House Café during Afternoon Tea Week, 10 to 16 August 2026. English Heritage is offering a 25% discount on memberships, allowing free entry for up to six children per adult until the end of the year.
Bridesmaids in Barnet and across London are increasingly buying second-hand dresses to cut costs, with 52% of women in the capital paying for their own outfits. A Vinted survey reveals 24% have considered declining the role due to expenses.
John Lewis is relaunching sports departments in 36 stores, including Brent Cross, as part of an £800 million investment. The new 5,000 sq ft spaces will combine apparel, wearable tech, and recovery services, with free gait analysis for shoppers. The rollout begins this autumn.
Sally Kenyon, a professional cellist from Somerset, is seeking over £2 million in damages from Starbucks after a wooden fridge surround fell on her at a London Embankment branch. The High Court case centres on whether the incident caused career-ending injuries or worsened pre-existing conditions.

Ariana Grande has pulled out of the 2027 London revival of Stephen Sondheim’s musical at the Barbican. Empire Street Productions confirmed the production will proceed with a new cast, with details to be announced later.
Barnet residents face an amber health alert from 3 to 5 August 2026 as temperatures reach 33°C. The UK Health Security Agency warns of higher mortality among older adults and pressure on care services. Cooling measures are advised, with fresher weather expected by midweek.
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.
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