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Metro
04-07-2025
- Business
- Metro
The ‘underrated' neighbourhood Londoners are flocking to for £20,000 discounts
Whether it's an independent coffee spot, a microbrewery or a record shop, there are a few ways to identify an increasingly trendy area. Tucked away between Crystal Palace and Anerley, Penge in South London was shaped as a Victorian suburb after the railways were built. Fast forward to 2025, though, and it's one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the UK. It's notably cheaper than its slightly bougier neighbour (to the tune of almost £20,000), making it a solid choice for those wanting to soak up the vibes of Crystal Palace without shelling out quite to the same extent. Earlier this year, Penge even made it onto The Sunday Times' list of the coolest neighbourhoods in the UK, recommended for 'under-the-radar Londoners' for its abundance of independent coffee shops, flourishing high street, and rooftop art gallery. So, if you're looking for new digs with plenty of character that have a trendy vibe with a slightly lower spending requirement, Penge could be the one. You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from: – Award winning service from the UK's leading mortgage broker – Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week – Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won't charge you a fee for their advice. Find out how much you could borrow online Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Penge might increasingly cool, but the house prices aren't necessarily super affordable. While the UK average currently rests at £268,400, the going rate in SE20 over the last year has been £455,689 – almost £200,000 more expensive. Ouch. However, there's some respite to be found in the fact that it's a little cheaper than its undoubtedly bougie neighbour, Crystal Palace, where properties over the last year have sold for around £474,802. So, if you're willing to live a seven-minute drive down the road, you could be saving yourself almost £20,000. It's all roughly the same, right? When it comes to renting, nearby Anerley was recently named the cheapest London station to live near, with average costs for tenants coming in at £1,400 per month. Yes, it's zone 4, but it's only 32 minutes from central London, located along the Windrush Line and connected to London Bridge. It also fares relatively well compared to the rest of the capital, as average rents come in at £2,235 per month, according to the ONS. If a coffee, a pastry and a walk is your idea of heaven, Penge could be just the ticket. There are flat whites aplenty to be found at Brown & Green Life, Mabel, and Carnival Coffee Roasters. Chatsworth Bakehouse famously serves up focaccia, cheesecake, buns, and pizza, and it was even hailed by TikToker @kristabelplummer as having the 'best sandwiches in London.' Thirsty for a pint? Grab yourself a tipple at local watering holes The Alexandra, Southey Brewing, and the Goldsmiths Arms. A little further afield, Gipsy Hill Brewing Company is a favourite among southeast Londoners, set in an industrial estate. And if you're a fan of a market, Crystal Palace Park Market is held every Sunday, while Maple Road Market hosts local food, as well as arts and crafts stalls, vintage traders, and even face painting for the little ones. Locals are completely enamoured with Penge, and over on the r/London Subreddit, @tatilujanr previously described it as 'very peaceful.' 'Penge is SUCH an underrated area,' @ooft54 added, noting that they're 'torn between wanting to shout about how good it is and keeping it a secret.' @CautiousSir9457 lives between Sydenham and Penge, and adores it as it has 'plenty of parks and independent shops, but [it's] not too hipster-y.' 'As someone who lived in many different parts of London over the years, that corner of SE was by far my favourite and definitely where I'd choose to live again,' @Even_Pitch221 added, joking that before the 'tentacles of gentrification' crept in Penge was deemed as having 'no glamour' and being 'deeply unfashionable.' Don't let South London-haters convince you that it's a poorly connected area just because there isn't a Tube station: Penge has plenty of transport links going on. More Trending Penge East is connected to the Southeastern train service, with the service to Victoria taking 18 minutes (or five stops). View More » Penge West is also on the Windrush Line and is 20 minutes (or seven stops) from Canada Water. Not too shabby, hey? Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Oasis superfan wants to be front row so Liam Gallagher sees tattoo of his face MORE: 5 simple ways to add £100,000 to your home before valuation MORE: First picture of 'hardworking' man found dead at his flat in Victoria Park
Perth Now
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Lena Dunham 'in the process' of expanding family
Lena Dunham is "in the process" of "expanding" her family. The Girls creator - who married musician Luis Felber in 2021 - previously revealed she had undergone a hysterectomy after years of struggling with endometriosis and although she can't carry her own children as a result, she revealed she and her husband are planning to have kids, but didn't explain how. She told The Sunday Times' Style magazine: 'It was a grief but it was also a relief. I thought I would have the opportunity to experience my fertility and my cycle waning and it never was. Instead it was a very quick, sharp cut-off… "I will say we're in the process of expanding our family in new ways. 'I want to safely meet our children and then figure out how to talk about it.' Lena and Luis married after just seven months together and the 39-year-old actress-and-writer admitted she is relieved she didn't meet him earlier in her life. She said: 'Whenever I look at old photos of Lou, I just think he would have ruined my life in my twenties. "We would have spent an afternoon together and it would have been the best time of my life and I never would have heard from him again. And then he would have popped up six months later being like, 'I'm back from tour.' ' When they first met, Lena thought Luis was the weirdest person she'd ever met but they quickly fell hard for one another. She said: 'It wasn't possible to resist it. It just felt like: this is what's happening. This is what it is.' The couple are very happy together but argue over Lena's obsession with reality TV shows. She said: 'Lou thinks it's an expression of the apocalypse, and I'm like, 'It is a medium for women and queer people to express themselves and allows previously unseen people and communities to show their talent.' "If I came up with some of that as a comedy writer, I would retire. I love it all.' The pair share their "ropey house" in north London with two dogs and five cats. Lena said: "There are so many animals in the bed. I can't believe I've found someone who is as with it as I am.' The Too Much creator rose to fame when she created and starred in Girls, and looking back at the show, she thinks it is a clear reflection of her own life at the time. She said: 'That was clearly a reflection of how I saw my twenties. 'It's interesting — when I am reminded of the seasons [of Girls], I can see what I was thinking, what place I was in, when I was falling in love, when I was in pain. It's all in there. "I also felt in my twenties there was something embarrassing about writing things that were saccharine or sincere or happy. I was much more interested in irony and satire and harshness and surprising and sometimes scandalising people. " I felt like I needed to reflect the toughest aspects of life back to people so that they would feel less alone. And now I think maybe you can reflect the sweeter parts of life to people so they can feel hopeful.'
Gulf Today
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Dua Lipa's Wembley debut: Another mind-blowing performance
Dua Lipa isn't exactly known for being a mind-blowing performer. Clips of her early performances have been memeified online ad nauseam, with one in particular, of the singer on stage woodenly rotating her right hip, doing the rounds back in 2018. "Go on girl, give us nothing," read one viral comment at the time. The meme, which Lipa has since said was hurtful and humiliating, suggested the pop star with heaps of hits didn't have the performance prowess to match. How things have changed. At her Wembley Stadium debut, a more apt comment might be: "Go girl, give us absolutely everything!". The 29-year-old, who is seven months into her Radical Optimism tour in promotion of her electro-inflected third album, emerges atop an S-shaped bridge, her stage presence irrefutable as she commands the crowd into silence with a single swish of her hair. For the opening track "Training Season", Lipa's Abba-inflected wish list of qualities in a romantic partner, the singer wears a diamanté-encrusted leotard as she struts down the catwalk. A gaggle of male dancers trails behind reverently like a colony of bees surrounding their queen. Watch that 2018 clip now and marvel at the metamorphosis. "I feel like I've been waiting for this moment my whole life," Lipa tells the 90,000-strong crowd. All the stops have been pulled out tonight: the confetti cannons are working overtime, and Lipa has no less than four outfit changes. Providing even bigger spectacle than any pyrotechnics, though, is her surprise guest, Kay Jay of the Nineties funk-soul icons Jamiroquai, who breezes onstage in a lavender fedora hat and tassel shirt, for a raucous duet of 1996's hit "Virtual Insanity". "He's a trailblazer for British music," Lipa says of the band's frontman. "He's paved the way, and I feel so lucky to share the stage." Sonically, it's a match made in heaven, with Lipa's deep, raspy vocals right at home on the song's funky chorus. The pomp surrounding tonight's show is a testament to Lipa's scintillating first decade in music - and her new-ish status as one of the UK's biggest pop powerhouses. There's been three Grammy wins, a string of No 1 hits, and, last year, a headline slot at Glastonbury Festival. In May, she was named the youngest person on The Sunday Times' under-40 rich list, with an estimated wealth of £115m, thanks to her prodigious (and lucrative) touring schedule, her two media companies, an influential book club, and the fact she bought back the rights to her music in 2022. Yet despite such cultural omnipresence, Lipa's personality remains a mystery. Interviews are relatively rare and always cordial, sprinkled with vague stories of rubbish ex-boyfriends and not much else. Tonight, we don't glean anything new from Lipa - her asides can be boiled down to generalised thank-yous and musings on how hard she's worked to get where she is today. She is the consummate professional, but sometimes that guardedness leaves you wanting more. Still, Lipa finds other ways to connect. As she rattles through her hits, it's the nightclub-inspired section of the evening that proves most electrifying. Her 2018 collaboration with Calvin Harris "One Kiss" is beefed up with a drum'n' bass-style dance break, followed by a pulsating mash-up of her 2017 breakout hit "New Rules" with DJ duo Bicep's "Glue". Tracks from her earlier albums, including 2020 lockdown relic Future Nostalgia, stand out against the Radical Optimism cuts, with "Levitating" and "Physical" propelling the crowd into a perpetual two-step. Perhaps in recognition of how far she's come, Lipa performs "Hotter Than Hell" for the first time in six years. The smoky belter is what got her signed to Warner Bros back in 2014. By the end of the night, she is quite literally doing a victory lap of Wembley Stadium, weaving through fenced walkways to high-five the crowd, hug them, and fulfil selfie requests. At one moment, Lipa gets lost in the teary eyes of a group of fans from Spain. She snaps back. "I've got a show to put on. Grazie!" she says, scurrying back to the stage. We may not know her fully, but we're fortunate to have her. The Independent
Glasgow Times
02-06-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow company named one of the UK's best workplaces
Financial mutual Scottish Friendly was included in The Sunday Times' list of the top 115 large employers for 2025, earning praise for its "friendly" and "supportive" environment. The recognition highlights the company's strong employee experience, as well as its focus on wellbeing. Read more: New park could become 'destination' attraction for Glasgow families Stephen McGee, chief executive officer at Scottish Friendly, said: "This achievement reflects the dedication, passion, and teamwork that make our company such a fantastic place to be. "It's based on our engagement scores for 2025 – scores that are a direct result of the commitment and positivity that each and every one of you brings to work every day. "Creating a workplace where people feel valued, empowered, and inspired is at the heart of everything we do. "This recognition is not just an award – it's a testament to the culture we've built together." The Sunday Times' Best Places to Work list, compiled in partnership with employee experience platform WorkL, celebrates organisations that excel in employee engagement and inclusive workplace culture. The list also recognises excellence in supporting women, the LGBTQIA+ community, disabled employees, ethnic minorities, and workers of all ages. Organisations are ranked using WorkL's employee engagement survey, which measures factors such as rewards, recognition, pride, empowerment, wellbeing, and overall job satisfaction. Read more: Glasgow city centre road to close for 2 months tomorrow - what we know Scottish Friendly, which employs 352 staff members was commended for its employee wellbeing initiatives, including a dedicated wellbeing week, regular events, and development opportunities through its learning team. The company's customer service team does not work evenings or weekends, and employees benefit from flexible hybrid working arrangements. Other perks include a company pension, private healthcare, generous annual leave, and an upcoming electric car scheme.
Edinburgh Live
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
BBC period drama series 'better than Downton Abbey' as fans demand return of show
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The 2007 BBC period-drama series 'Lilies', spanning eight episodes and crafted by Heidi Thomas, captivated audiences with its tale of the Ross sisters - Iris, Mary, and Ruby - navigating life in post-WWI Liverpool alongside their father and brother. Heidi Thomas, the mastermind behind 'Call The Midwife', moulded 'Lilies' from the rich tapestry of family anecdotes about her grandmother's upbringing in Liverpool after the war. In a heartfelt revelation in 2007 prior to the show's debut, Thomas shared with the BBC: "My family were all terrific raconteurs, and I grew up hearing tales that could make you weep, and rock with laughter. They evoked a hard world, but one that thrilled with energy." READ MORE - Netflix's new crime thriller hailed 'mind-blowing' as viewers demand multiple seasons READ MORE - Steven Gerrard's off-screen life from famous wife, massive net worth and 'career return' She continued to share the personal legacy embedded in her work: "There is not one single episode that doesn't contain something handed down in anecdote." Despite scoring exceptionally well with viewers, to the point of being hailed as The Sunday Times' pick of the week for a relentless two months, 'Lilies' did not return for further seasons, reports the Express. Yet, admiration for 'Lilies' continues to flourish amongst its fanbase, with numerous loyal viewers even rating it above the treasured ITV series 'Downtown Abbey', which has since expanded into a successful film series. TV fans have taken to IMDB to heap praise on Lilies, the period drama that's caught viewers' imaginations with its raw portrayal of post-WWI life. "I found this mini-series by accident, and what a delight. From beginning to end, I felt transported back in time. Throughout the series, you get a slice, perhaps, of a less sugar-coated time of transition after the First World War. This story unfolds through the eyes of three close but very different sisters and the surrounding family and friends." wrote one admirer of the show. Another avid watcher exclaimed: "I was totally drawn in from the first episode. The spirited Moss family, so much like my own family, was that believable? It was written from the reminisces of a grandmother of her family and that is probably why it rang so true. This is one of those shows that so deserved a much longer run that it is a travesty that it was not given one. What WAS made is a gem to be savoured for eight episodes." The series has even been held in higher regard than Downton Abbey by some, as evidenced by the following feedback: "The series did portray the division between Catholics and Northern Irish Protestants very well." They continued, discussing the religious tensions depicted: "Unless you grew up in that environment, it is hard to understand today that neither could enter a church of the other faith without condemning their immortal soul to hell forever more." Over on Rotten Tomatoes, another viewer gave kudos for the show being rooted in realism: "Well done, and a lot more grounded than some of the BBC's other costume pieces. It dealt with touchy topics in a realistic manner. Shame it was cancelled." Although currently out of reach on BBC iPlayer or Prime, Lilies can still be purchased on Amazon for viewers looking to immerse themselves into this highly regarded series.
