museums

ONE of the world’s most famous museums is set to nearly double its entry fee for tourists.

The Louvre museum in Paris will increase its ticket prices by 45 per cent for most non-European Union visitors, which includes Brits.

The price hike is set to be introduced early next year, with tourists from countries including the UK, US and China having to pay €32 (£28) to enter the museum.

It is set to raise millions of euros each year to fund a huge overhaul of the Louvre’s most famous gallery.

The price increase follows a heist that took place in October that hit the news globally.

Security and management have been criticised since the incident, which saw four people steal jewellery worth over £76million from the museum.

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After the heist, an audit on the museum was carried out which highlighted how the museum has inadequate security systems and aging infrastructure.

As a result, from January 14, visitors from countries outside the European Economic Area (EU member states, as well as Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) will need to pay an extra €10 (£8.76) to enter the museum.

The new price jump is estimated to raise between €15million (£13.1million) to €20million (£17.5million) each year for the museum, which will go towards supporting the Louvre’s modernisation plans.

Over the past year, the museum has faced a number of issues to do with its structure.

Back in January, French President Emmanuel Macron and the Louvre announced that the museum would be getting improvements and as a part of that suggested higher fees for non-EU residents in 2026.

As part of the report, Macron also said that the Mona Lisa would be moved to a new room to deal with the overcrowding.

It followed the leak of a letter from the museum’s director Laurence des Cars, which highlighted how the museum had several structural issues, water leaks and even that the museum could no longer cope with the current numbers of visitors heading to the attraction each day.

The Louvre will also have a number of other areas renovated, with new facilities added too, such as toilets and restaurants.

And earlier this month, the museum announced that the gallery which houses Greek ceramics was closed due to structural issues.

Each year the Louvre welcomes around nine million people, and more than a 10th of visitors are from the US.

Complaints about overcrowding and long queues at the museum have been going on for a while now, especially through the Salle des Etats gallery, which is where the famous Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is displayed.

Many visitors note how you actually only get a few seconds to see the painting and snap a picture.

The report carried out after the heist last month also revealed that the museum was spending more money on buying new artworks than actually maintaining the attraction itself.

In other museum news, the UK’s newest national museum is more like an IKEA store – and Kate Middleton is already a fan.

Plus, a new £12.5 million museum based on a very famous children’s artist to be ‘world’s largest of its kind’.

Nestled in North York Moors National Park, this charming village features red-roofed cottages, a babbling brook and a fascinating museum that ‘takes you back in time’

Tucked away in North Yorkshire, approximately seven miles from Pickering, this delightful village attracts visitors and locals seeking a peaceful existence.

Within North Yorkshire’s Ryedale district lies Hutton-le-Hole, a petite yet enchanting village that sits within the breathtaking North York Moors National Park. It offers the perfect quintessentially English village retreat, complete with grazing sheep, crimson-topped cottages and a gentle stream meandering through its lanes.

A key draw for the area, enabling guests to explore the village’s past, is the Ryedale Folk Museum, which displays regional traditions. The facility comprises various structures designed to educate about life across different periods – from a blacksmith’s workshop to a Victorian classroom.

One TripAdvisor reviewer said: “This was my third visit, and each time I see something new because there is just so much to see. It’s not the sort of museum with loads of information boards to read; it’s buildings and artefacts. You see what a great hall or roundhouse was actually like.”

Another added: “Our first visit here, and we were not disappointed. We loved exploring all the different areas, and it was really interesting to learn about the history, essentially travelling back in time.”

The village boasts a pub, a tearoom and a collection of charming shops flogging souvenirs, crafts and gifts, perfect for a gentle stroll around the locality before tackling a more ambitious trek. Hutton-le-Hole’s enchanting appeal has caught the attention of television and film producers, featuring in productions such as Death Comes to Pemberley, a BBC adaptation of the novel, and the outdoor adventure programme, Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes.

The peculiar name derives from the ancient English expression ‘Hoh Tun’, signifying ‘a settlement on a spur of land’ or possibly ‘high farm’. From its very name, it’s obvious just how much wilderness and pristine countryside encompasses Hutton-le-Hole, establishing it as a perfect destination for keen hikers and walkers.

Picturesque trails include a moderately demanding 15 km circular route across the moorland, requiring just over four hours to finish. Alternatively, there’s a more relaxed choice that leads you on a 6.4 km journey to Lastingham, linking the two villages for an enjoyable day of discovery.

Following a day of trekking, the classic country boozer, The Crown, provides the ideal stopping point for a comfortable evening. One recent guest said: “Excellent food served up in a very cosy country pub.”

They added: “Prices aren’t bad considering the food is top-notch. A good range of drinks are on offer, including non-alcoholic for those who drive. Well worth a visit for a Sunday lunch.”

Another visitor praised: “Hutton le Hole is a beautiful peaceful town and well worth a visit. Sheep roam freely, which adds to its charm. The Crown is the only pub, but it’s a good one. Sit outside and enjoy the village scene.”

A Southeast Asian nation has leapt from 33rd place in 2018 to become the world’s most populous city, surpassing Tokyo and Dhaka with a staggering population of almost 42 million in 2025

Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, has soared 32 places to become the world’s most populous city, with more than 40 million residents. The Southeast Asian metropolis has jumped from 33rd place in 2018 to the top spot in a new United Nations report ranking the world’s most populous cities.

Overtaking Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh (in second place with nearly 37 million people) and Tokyo, Japan (third with 33 million), Jakarta boasts an impressive population of almost 42 million in 2025. Intriguingly, all but one of the top ten cities are in Asia, with Cairo, the capital of Egypt, being the exception at seventh place.

The report also emphasises that more than half of the world’s 33 megacities (defined as having 10 million or more inhabitants) are located in Asia. The other cities making up the top ten include New Delhi, the capital of India (with 30.2 million), Shanghai, China (29.6m), Guangzhou, China (27.6m), Manila, Philippines (24.7m), Kolkata, India (22.5m), and Seoul, South Korea (22.5m), according to NBC News.

So where exactly is Jakarta?

Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia, a sprawling Southeast Asian nation nestled between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, made up of thousands of unique islands – reportedly more than 17,000 in total.

Indeed, Indonesia boasts so many islands that authorities have never managed to count them all or assign names to each one, according to the BBC. The capital, Jakarta, sits on Java, the world’s most populous island with an extraordinary 150 million inhabitants.

The Ring of Fire

Located between Sumatra to the east and the tourist hotspot of Bali to the west, Java is dotted with 129 active volcanoes across the Indonesian archipelago, according to Sky News.

Indonesia sits within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a series of volcanoes and areas of seismic activity that line the Pacific Ocean. Java’s Mount Semeru actually erupted just this month.

Life in the capital

A bustling metropolis in Java’s west, Jakarta is “sometimes overlooked” by visitors exploring the island’s stunning historical sites, according to Lonely Planet, but they’re “missing out”.

The travel guide praised the capital’s food scene and coffee, its museums, art galleries and historic quarter, describing it as offering “exciting” nightlife and some of the “best shopping” across Southeast Asia.

Highlights include Old Jakarta, featuring the cobblestone square of Taman Fatahillah, Merdeka Square, the Museum Nasional, Glodok (the city’s Chinatown), and more than 150 shopping malls.

What’s the weather like?

It also noted that the city suffers from congested roads and smog and is both hot and humid throughout the year. Average temperatures reportedly range from 23°C to 33°C.

What type of food can I expect?

The menu boasts traditional Indonesian dishes, such as the fried rice dish nasi goreng, alongside more localised meals — perhaps babi guling (a roast pig dish from Bali) or seafood inspired by the island of Sulawesi.

Migrationology notes two common types of street food: Warung (small restaurants) and Pedagang kaki lima (street vendors).

Other culinary delights spotlighted by the website include Nasi uduk (rice cooked in coconut milk), a soup called Soto Betawi, Woku, Sop kaki kambing (a soup made with goat), and the grilled fish dish Ikan bakar.

The picturesque European destination only has a population of around nine million people – but it welcomes around 32 million international visitors on an annual basis

A European country has been named the world’s most overcrowded tourist destination – and it might come as a bit of a surprise.

Rather than places like Spain or Greece, which attract holiday-makers in their throngs, there is a landlocked location which welcomes the most visitors per local – Austria. Research carried out by MoneyTransfers.com in 2024 found that for every resident in Austria, there are almost four times the number of tourists, at a ratio of one resident to 3.6 tourists.

The country only has a population of around nine million; however, Austria accepts around 32 million international visitors yearly. Most of the tourists are concentrated in Austria’s capital, Vienna.

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The capital city is the country’s top tourist draw. Known as the ‘City of Dreams’, it’s no wonder so many people are eager to explore it. Top attractions include the Schonbrunn Palace, the Vienna Opera House, and the Museum of Natural History. It is packed with beautiful baroque architecture, historic landmarks and a great nightlife thanks to the bustling bars and restaurants.

But while Vienna is used to catering for huge numbers of visitors, other areas of the country are becoming increasingly popular – but they are not equipped to take on the influx of tourists.

One example is Hallstatt, a small town known for its picturesque Alpine houses, waterfalls and salt lakes, all backed by a beautiful snowy mountain range.

The town, the rumoured inspiration for the kingdom of Arendelle in Disney’s Frozen, was previously caught up in a battle with overtourism.

Wooden fences were constructed to obstruct the view of the lake, which had become a famous selfie backdrop, amid attempts to scale back the number of visitors to the area.

But they were later dismantled following backlash on social media. In a statement to local website Upper Austrian News in 2023, Mayor Scheutz said: “The only thing that would help is if the photo point is no longer a photo point.”

The town, a protected Unesco World Heritage site, has seen over a million tourists a year since it was rumoured to be the muse for Frozen.

Before the pandemic, foot traffic in the small town rose to around 10,000 visitors a day, causing Hallstatt’s mayor, Alexander Scheutz, to introduce a cap on the number of tour buses and cars allowed to enter the area.

The town itself only has around 800 residents, leading Scheutz to declare at the time that he’d like to slash tourist numbers by a third.

We are taking you back to Roman Britain with one of the country’s most stunning villages

If you’re after a truly special day out this little-known village cannot be beaten.

The jewel in the crown of Corbridge in Northumberland is undoubtedly Corbridge Roman Town, one of the country’s most important archaeological sites. Not only that, this charming village was once the northernmost town of the mighty Roman Empire.

Located just a mile from the village centre, it’s a captivating snapshot of history, with original Roman streets you can stroll along and a museum brimming with finds from the renowned Corbridge Hoard – a trove of 2nd Century armour, tools and personal items unearthed in the area.

A stone’s throw away is Hadrian’s Wall, a testament to Corbridge’s central role in Roman Britain. But Corbridge isn’t stuck in a time warp.

Its marketplace and nearby streets are bustling with independent traders, many nestled within old stone buildings and hidden courtyards, reports Chronicle Live.

You can meander between artisan bakeries, a traditional grocer, florists, fashion boutiques, jewellers and beautifully stocked homeware shops, all within a few hundred metres.

Forum Books, housed in a breathtakingly converted Methodist Chapel complete with an intact pulpit, is worth the journey alone.

If you’re hungry, Corbridge is a foodie’s paradise. With cosy cafés for leisurely lunches, a deli, a wine bar, top-notch gastropubs, and a variety of Italian, Indian and English restaurants, it’s easy to turn a day trip into a night on the town.

Nestled by the breathtaking St Andrew’s Church, you’ll discover The Pele Tower (no connection to the Brazilian footie legend), which has been transformed into a charming pub.

St Andrew’s itself is one of Britain’s oldest churches, boasting Saxon roots that trace back to the 7th century. The bridge over the Tyne, the river’s oldest, offers scenic riverside strolls.

For those keen on a longer walk, Aydon Castle is just a stone’s throw away, while the surrounding moorlands and countryside make Corbridge a prime spot for cycling and hiking.

Despite its tranquil, rural vibe, Corbridge is surprisingly well-connected. The railway station sits on the Tyne Valley Line between Newcastle, Hexham and Carlisle, and the A69 and A68 are conveniently nearby.

TIRED of visiting the same old spots? Finding new places for a day out in your area can be difficult but now the UK’s best hidden gems have been revealed, great for discovering destinations.

Visit England recently announced the UK’s best hidden gems as part of its Visitor Attraction Accolades for 2024-2025.

And there is something for everyone from museums to brewery tours – here are their best 15 across Britain, per region.

East Midlands

The first hidden gem can be found in Donington le Heath in the East Midlands – the 1620s House & Garden.

Formerly known as the Donington le Heath Manor House, visitors can explore the 13th century building which inside is decked out with 17th century furnishings.

There are also gardens to explore at the attraction, laid out in early 17th century style.

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Also make sure to head to The Old Barn Tearoom for a quick drink, cake or warm bowl of soup.

A second site in the East Midlands that has been named a hidden gem is Melton Carnegie Museum at Melton Mowbray.

The museum is located inside Melton Mowbray’s former Carnegie Library, which was built back in 1905.

Inside, visitors can discover the local history of Melton from the Bronze Age right to the present day.

It is also free to visit.

And finally, Mrs Smith’s Cottage in Navenby was also named a hidden gem.

The heritage house belonged to Hilda Craven, who lived there throughout the 20th century.

Now as a museum and learning centre, visitors can explore the home and daily diaries kept by Hilda.

Admission costs £3.50 per adult and £2 per child.

East of England

Heading to the East of England and the Bushey Museum & Art Gallery in Hertfordshire was named a hidden gem.

The museum and gallery is entirely run by volunteers and inside visitors can explore the local history and heritage of Bushey.

It is free to visit.

Also recognised in the East of England was a hidden gem activity called the Celtic Harmony Camp, which can be found in Brickendon.

The camp is set in around 13 acres of ancient woodland and features life-sized, reconstructed Iron Age roundhouses, a Palaeolithic Cave and a Prehistory Centre.

The experience is also free to visit.

Then, the final one in the East of England is a tour of Ipswich Town Football Club, in Suffolk.

The guided tour allows fans to explore key and iconic areas within the stadium such as the Directors Box or the Boardroom.

North West

In the North West, Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester was named a hidden gem.

The attraction celebrates the life of Elizabeth Gaskell, one of the UK’s most important Victorian writers.

Visitors can explore the lavish interiors as well as pretty gardens.

Another spot in the North West made its way onto the list – moviESCAPE in Stockport.

This escape room has a movie theme and there are different rooms including the Haunted House II: Demon’s Curse and SAWtopsy.

For a more family-friendly option there is Merlin’s Magic Academy, where players solve puzzles and challenges.

Prices vary but the more players you have the cheaper it works out per player.

South East

In the South East, Shepherd Neame Visitor Centre tour in Faversham has been named a hidden gem.

Located at Shepherd Neame Brewery, visitors can head on a tour to learn more about their beers and brewing process.

Next up is St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery in Lymington – a historic coastal market town.

Inside, visitors can explore the history of Lymington and the New Forest Coast.

Another hidden gem in the South East is a tour of The Hook Norton Brewery Co Ltd.

Costing £20 per person, on the tour you will wander around the five-storey Victorian Tower Brewery for an hour and a half.

The tour then ends in the cellar bar, where you of course get to try the beer.

The brewery rather unusually is also home to three shire horses.

If beer isn’t to your taste, then you can head on a tour of the Wildshark Vineyard in Harrietsham.

For £20 per person, you can head on a self-guided tour of the vineyard, thanks to a handy map that shows different walking routes.

Alternatively, for £28 per person you could head on an hour and a half guided tour with a tasting.

South West

In the South West, one spot was named as a hidden gem – Sherborne Museum in Sherborne.

The local museum in Dorset features local history exhibits and a large archive of local records and photos.

It also is free to enter.

West Midlands

Over in the West Midlands, Stourbridge Glass Museum in Wordsley, visitors can explore the region’s history in glassmaking through interactive galleries.

There is even a live hot glass studio.

Last but not least, a tour of the Cotswolds Distillery in Stourton is also a hidden gem.

The tour costs £25 per person and includes tasting the spirits and liqueurs.

Alternatively for £37, you could do a tour and tasting with lunch included.

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While the UK has many iconic attractions from the London Eye to Edinburgh Castle, the one that comes out on top with the most five-star reviews on TripAdvisor is one you’ve likely never heard of

The UK has a wealth of places to visit, and if you’re planning a staycation, you certainly won’t be short of ideas. When it comes to visiting a new place, many of us use TripAdvisor to look at reviews and work out what the top attractions are locally.

Now, research from Iglu Cruises has used TripAdvisor data to determine the ultimate day out across 108 countries. Using this information, the cruise line identified which attractions had the highest number of five-star reviews, and a surprising winner emerged at the top.

With 98.1% of reviews giving it five stars, the top spot went to Ascent Aviation, based in the west central lowlands of Scotland. If you know someone interested in planes, this could be the ultimate day out for them, as it hosts a flight simulator and pilot training centre. Visitors can experience flying to over 26,000 airports on a 220-degree wrap-around, which makes you feel like you’re right in the cockpit.

Both children and adults can fly the simulator, although those under 14 will need an adult with them and may require assistance with some of the controls.

One TripAdvisor reviewer said: “I bought this experience for myself and a friend who loves all things aircraft and our experience could not have been better. Our pilot, Chris, was excellent and made us feel instantly comfortable and answered all our (many) questions patiently. A fascinating experience that was really good fun!”

Another commented: “Booked as a present for my son’s 12th birthday, he had an amazing time. The Pilot provided the tuition, treated him as an adult, and provided excellent instruction and patiently answered all his questions. Highly recommend for all flying enthusiasts out there.”

And in a double victory for Scotland, number two on the list is Glenkinchie Distillery in East Lothian. 91.1% of its reviews gave a glowing five stars to the iconic distillery, which is renowned for producing the Edinburgh Malt.

Whiskey fans can tour the distillery and learn how their single malt is made, before visiting the bar for a tasting, and picking up a bottle to take home with them. One visitor said: “Willie gave us the tour and did an amazing job. He told everything with passion, humor and involved everybody in the tour. It’s the best whisky experience near Edinburgh.”

In third place, the Victoria Tunnel in Tyne and Wear boasts 90.5% five-star reviews. This historic underground wagonway was built in the 1840s and originally transported coal, before being used in World War II as an air raid shelter. Guests can take a private tour of the tunnel and learn about its fascinating history and what it was like for the people sheltering there.

Wales gets its first mention in fourth place for the Big Pit National Coal Museum in Torfaen, for which 89.8% of reviews were five-star. This one has an experience that’s best avoided by the claustrophobic; you can go 300 feet underground on a guided tour which is led by a miner. Deep underground, you’ll see the original mine workings and machinery from its days as a working mine.

If you prefer to stay in daylight, there are also surface tours, which take you around various colliery buildings and allow you to learn about the rich history of the mine.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at [email protected].

Flights to Orlando, New York, Miami and Los Angeles are all set to be affected by the historic US government shutdown

Thousands of British travellers headed to the United States face either severe delays or flight cancellations as the US government’s shutdown shows no sign of ending.

Those with plans to fly to or return from the States are being advised that they could face disruption after the Trump administration announced a ten per cent to air traffic control. The ongoing US federal government shutdown is also affecting other areas of travel, airport staffing, and access to major tourist attractions.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated its guidance for UK travellers, cautioning that those flying to or through the US may face longer queues, delayed flights and reduced services at airports. Officials have also advised visitors to check in advance whether famous landmarks, national parks and museums remain open, as many are federally funded and may now have limited access or be closed altogether.

The warning comes after Washington lawmakers failed to agree on new funding for government operations, leading to a shutdown on 1 October that has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers unpaid and key services running on skeleton staff. The situation has become the latest flashpoint in the deepening political standoff between Democrats and Republicans in Congress.

In its updated travel advisory, the FCDO states: “There could be travel disruptions, including flight delays and longer queue times at some airports, due to the current US federal government shutdown. Check for messaging from your travel provider or airline and follow their guidance. There may also be restrictions on access to some federally-managed tourist attractions. Please check the relevant websites in advance.”

While the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and air traffic control services are still operating, many employees are either working without pay or calling in sick, placing pressure on staffing levels. Travel industry analysts warn that prolonged shortages could lead to further delays, particularly at major international gateways such as New York’s JFK Airport, Los Angeles International, Orlando, and Atlanta.

Tourists planning domestic flights within the US may also see longer wait times at security checkpoints, which could disrupt connecting flights and cause knock-on delays across the country. Airlines operating transatlantic services have begun issuing their own advisories. Some are advising passengers to arrive at airports earlier than usual for check-in and security screening, and to regularly monitor their flight status.

Another area of concern is the possible closure of major tourist attractions. National parks, including Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Great Smoky Mountains, are overseen by the National Park Service, which is affected by the government shutdown. Historically, visitor centres, museums, restrooms, guided tours, and safety patrols have all been suspended during previous shutdowns, leaving tourists with little access or support.

In major cities, museums such as the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, the National Air and Space Museum, and the National Museum of American History may also face reduced opening hours or temporary closure if funding is not restored.

Holidaymakers are being encouraged to verify opening times before visiting, and to have backup plans in case venues are closed. Travel providers say travellers should be prepared to be flexible, especially those on multi-stop itineraries.

The Foreign Office guidance is precautionary rather than alarmist. Flights between the UK and US remain operational, most major tourist hubs continue to function, and hotels, restaurants and privately-run attractions are unaffected. But experts say travellers should avoid assuming everything will run as normal.

The shutdown stems from a political deadlock in Congress over government spending.

Republican lawmakers, particularly those aligned with President Donald Trump, have blocked funding bills in a bid to push for cuts to public services and changes to government programmes. Democrats have refused to agree to the proposals, saying they would damage key areas of the economy and the welfare system.

Without a funding agreement, government departments have been forced to limit operations. Essential services, including national security and emergency response, continue to operate. But many civil servants are furloughed without pay, and non-essential federal programmes are pausing operations until funding is restored.

List of airports that will see thousands of flights cancelled starting Friday

Anchorage International

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International

Boston Logan International

Baltimore/Washington International

Charlotte Douglas International

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International

Dallas Love

Ronald Reagan Washington National

Denver International

Dallas/Fort Worth International

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

Newark Liberty International

Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International

Honolulu International

Houston Hobby

Washington Dulles International

George Bush Houston Intercontinental

Indianapolis International

New York John F Kennedy International

Las Vegas McCarran International

Los Angeles International

New York LaGuardia

Orlando International

Chicago Midway

Memphis International

Miami International

Minneapolis/St Paul International

Oakland International

Ontario International

Chicago O’Hare International

Portland International

Philadelphia International

Phoenix Sky Harbor International

San Diego International

Louisville International

Seattle/Tacoma International

San Francisco International

Salt Lake City International

Teterboro

Tampa International

A village in the UK has been hailed for its “insane” chippy and for providing visitors with an accurate taste of life in the past thanks to its “trapped in time” aesthetic and feel

A village in the north of England has been praised for its “insane” chip shop and its ability to transport visitors back in time with its “trapped in time” atmosphere. The UK is home to a wealth of scenic and historical locations that are well worth a visit.

One such place is Beamish, an open-air museum village located in County Durham, England – north-east of Stanley. It offers 350 acres of rural countryside, as well as being a “living” museum, complete with vintage shops and restaurants, Georgian gardens, historic modes of transport like trams and buses, and much more. This charming and fascinating destination has been designed to give visitors a realistic glimpse into the history of northern England, attracting hundreds of thousands of people each year who come to experience it first-hand.

The official Beamish website states: “Step into the past at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North.

“Beamish is a world famous open air museum which brings the history of North East England to life at its 1820s Pockerley, 1900s Town, 1900s Pit Village, 1940s Farm, 1950s Town and 1950s Spain’s Field Farm exhibit areas.”

It’s a mix of original buildings, replicas, and relocated structures that together create a functional “living museum” that visitors can experience as if it were the real thing.

Food content creator Callum recently embarked on a journey to the village, which look like a seemingly untouched, historic British town.

He made a stop at the renowned Davy’s Fish and Chips, known for its traditional cooking methods.

In a video tour of the chippy and the town, Callum said in a voiceover: “This is the fish and chip shop trapped in time – one of the last in the world that uses coal to heat the original 1950s fryers, with fish and chips cooked in beef dripping.”

He added: “The sweet shop makes candy by hand, the bakery makes the same cakes as a century ago. There’s no mobile phone reception up here so people actually have to talk to each other.

“A slice of England unchanged. It’s one of the most incredible fish and chips, it’s Davy’s in Beamish.”

In the caption alongside the video, he added: “Insane chippy stuck in history. Absolute scenes. Davys Fish and Chips, Beamish”.

TikTok users were quick to share their thoughts in the comments section. One user enthused: “Beamish museum if you’ve not yet been then go, it’s brilliant, them chips and fish best ever”.

Another reminisced: “We went on a school trip to Beamish when I was about 10. Loved it! I’m 57 now”.

A third said: “Wonder if no mobile reception is a specific tactic. What a world with no mobiles and social media.”

One enthusiastic fan shared: “I’ll just tell ya right now fish in beef dripping from that shop heated by coal is the BEST fried fish you will ever eat in your f***ing life”.

Another declared Beamish’s fish and chips the “best fish and chips [they] have ever had.”

While another user pleaded: “Make the WHOLE of the UK like this”.

A final commenter confessed: “Not me Googling if people live here, in attempt to escape modern society”.

Somehow in Los Angeles, everything comes back to traffic.

While making their works featured in the Hammer Museum’s Made in L.A. biennial, artists Patrick Martinez, Freddy Villalobos and Gabriela Ruiz set out to capture the essence of the city’s crammed streets through different lenses.

For over a decade, the Hammer has curated its Made in L.A. series to feature artists who grapple with the realities of living and making art here. It’s an art show that simultaneously pays homage to legacy L.A. artists like Alonzo Davis and Judy Baca, and gives a platform to newer faces such as Lauren Halsey and Jackie Amezquita.

This year’s show, which opened last month, features 28 artists. As part of that cohort, Martinez, Villalobos and Ruiz bring their lived experiences as Latinos from L.A. to the West Side art institution, drawing inspiration from the landscapes of their upbringing.

While creating their displayed works, Martinez took note of the many neon signs hanging in stores’ windows, leading him to make “Hold the Ice,” an anti-ICE sign, and incorporate bright pink lights into his outdoor cinder block mural, “Battle of the City on Fire.” With flashing lights and a shuttered gate tacked onto a painted wooden panel, Ruiz drew on her experiences exploring the city at night and the over-surveillance of select neighborhoods in the interactive piece, “Collective Scream.” Villalobos filmed Figueroa Street from a driver’s perspective, observing the street’s nighttime activity and tracing the energy that surrounds the place where soul singer Sam Cooke was shot.

This year, Made in L.A. doesn’t belong to a specific theme or a title — but as always, the selected art remains interconnected. These three artists sat down with De Los to discuss how their L.A. upbringing has influenced their artistic practice and how their exhibited works are in conversation. Made in L.A. will be on view until March 1, 2026.

The following conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

All three of you seem to put a spotlight on various elements of L.A.’s public spaces. How is your art affected by your surroundings?

Ruiz: I really got to explore L.A. as a whole, through partying and going out at night. I prefer seeing this city at night, because there isn’t so much traffic. That’s how I started my art practice. I would perform in queer nightlife spaces and throw parties in cheap warehouses. With my commute from the Valley, I would notice so much. I wouldn’t speed through the freeway. I’d instead take different routes, so I’d learn to navigate the whole city without a GPS and see things differently.

Martinez: That’s also how I started seeing neons. I had a studio in 2006 in downtown, off 6th and Alameda. I would wait for traffic to fade because I was staying in Montebello at the time. I would drive down Whittier Boulevard at night. And you see all the neon signs that have a super saturated color and glow bright. I thought about its messaging. None of the businesses were open that late. They were just letting people know they were there.

Ruiz: Specifically in this piece [“Collective Scream”], there’s a blinking street lamp. It reminds me of when I would leave raves and would randomly see this flickering light. It’s this hypnotizing thing that I would observe and take note of whenever I was on the same route. There’s also a moving gate, [in my piece,] that resembles the ones you see when you’re driving late at night and everything’s gated up.

Villalobos: You do experience a lot of L.A. from your car. It’s a cliche. But f— it. It’s true. When I moved out of L.A., I felt a little odd. I missed the bubble of my car. You can have what seems to be a private moment in your car in a city that’s packed with traffic and so many people. It made me think about what that means, what kind of routes people are taking and how we cultivate community.

Patrick Martinez’s “Battle of the City on Fire,” made in 2025, was inspired by the work of the muralist collective, named the East Los Streetscapers.

(Sarah M Golonka / smg photography)

It’s interesting that you all found inspiration in the biggest complaints about L.A. Maybe there’s something to think about when it comes to the way those born here think of car culture and traffic.

Martinez: I see its effects even with the landscapes I make. I’ll work from left to right, and that’s how we all look at the world when we drive. I always think about Michael Mann movies when I’m making landscapes, especially at night. He has all those moments of quiet time of being in the car and just focusing on what’s going on.

Beyond surveying the streets, your works touch on elements of the past. There’s a common notion that L.A. tends to disregard its past, like when legacy restaurants shut down or when architectural feats get demolished. Does this idea play any role in your work?

Martinez: The idea of L.A. being ashamed of its past pushed me to work with cinder blocks [in “Battle of the City on Fire”]. One of the main reasons was to bring attention to the East Los Streetscapers, the muralists who painted in East L.A. [in the 1960s and ‘70s as a part of the Chicano Mural Movement]. There was this one mural in Boyle Heights that was painted at a Shell gas station. It was later knocked down and in the demolition pictures, the way the cinder blocks were on the floor looked like a sculptural painting. It prompted me to use cinder blocks as a form of sculpture and think about what kind of modern-day ruins we pass by.

Villalobos: Speaking about L.A. as a whole feels almost too grand for me. But if I think about my specific neighborhood, in South Central, what comes to my mind is Black Radical Tradition. It’s where people are able to make something out of what other people might perceive as nothing. There’s always something that’s being created and mixed and mashed together to make something that, to me, is beautiful. It’s maybe not as beautiful to other people, but it’s still a new and creative way to see things and understand what comes before us.

Ruiz: Seeing my parents, who migrated to this country, come from nothing and start from scratch ties into that idea too. Seeing what they’ve been able to attain, and understanding how immigrants can start up businesses and restaurants here, speaks so much to what L.A. is really about. It’s about providing an opportunity that everybody has.

So it’s less about disregarding the past and more about making something out of nothing?

Martinez: It ties back to necessity, for me. Across this city, people come together by doing what they need to do to pay rent. It’s a crazy amount of money to be here. People need to regularly adjust what they do to survive. Recently, I’ve been seeing that more rapidly. There are more food vendors and scrolling LED signs, advertising different things. Once you understand how expensive this backdrop can be, that stuff sits with me.

Freddy Villalobos’ “waiting for the stone to speak, for I know nothing of aventure,” is an immersive work in which viewers can feel loud vibrations pass as they, figuratively, travel down Figueroa Street.

(Sarah M Golonka / smg photography)

We’ve talked a lot about how the past affects L.A. and the role it plays in your art. Does a future L.A. ever cross your mind?

Villalobos: I feel very self-conscious about what I’m gonna say. But as much as I love L.A. and as much as it helped me become who I am, I wouldn’t be too mad with it falling apart. A lot of people from my neighborhood have already been moving to Lancaster, Palmdale and the Inland Empire. When I go to the IE, it feels a little like L.A. and I’m not necessarily mad at that.

Ruiz: It’s really difficult to see what the future holds for anybody. Even with art, what’s going to happen? I don’t know. It’s really challenging to see a future when there’s a constant cycle of bad news about censorship and lack of funding.

Martinez: It’s murky. It’s clouded. This whole year has been so heavy, and everyone talking about it adds to it, right? We’re facing economic despair, and it’s all kind of heavy. Who knows what the future will hold? But there are definitely moves being made by the ruling class to make it into something.