The Open Guide to London: the free London guide

Top-selling London listings weekly, with extensive coverage of art, theatre, music, cinema and other events, plus general blurb on shopping, restaurants and celebrity interviews. Main rival is probably [Metro Life]? which comes free with the Standard on Thursdays.

At �2.35 Time Out is too expensive to be a weekly purchase, but heavily discounted subscription deals are generally available for under �50 a year.

Time Out remains independent, under the control of its founder, and it shows. The critical writing and coverage is far superior to Metro Life, if you discount the inept Books section.