TfL said on its site that no service is expected on the:
Circle line,
Piccadilly line,
Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate, and
the Central line between White City and Liverpool Street
Though “Service is expected on all other lines,” this will be reduced. The TfL added that “disruption to journeys” is expected; disruptions may continue later into the week.
What other transport links are open?
Services including buses, the Elizabeth line, the DLR, and the London Overground aren’t going to be on strike during these days. They are, however, predicted to be incredibly busy.
Why are these strikes happening?
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It started with a four-day work week.
The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF), a train drivers’ union which represents thousands of Tube drivers, previously campaigned for a four-day work week, which the TfL recently began trialling on an optional basis in their Bakerloo line.
But RMT, a trade union covering the public transport sector more broadly, has said that they’re not on board with the “compressed” work week, claiming it packs five days’ work into four in a manner which could impact the safety of drivers and passengers.
RMT members are the ones striking in these upcoming cases.
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The union also claimed it could mean drivers only get 24 hours’ notice before their shifts are announced and that TfL “U-turned” on negotiations.
In response, TfL pointed out that the four-day offering is completely optional and said it could help to make services more reliable and flexible.
Reproductions of works by Monet, Picasso and Van Gogh are being hung in town centres to bring art closer to communities
Masterpieces from the National Gallery are being displayed in the London suburb of Croydon as part of a travelling project designed to bring art closer to local communities.
High-quality reproductions of works by Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, JMW Turner and Vincent van Gogh are on show in prominent town centre locations, including Croydon Minster and Queen’s Gardens.
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The Croydon displays form part of Art on Your Doorstep, a three-year initiative that aims to share paintings from the national collection with audiences beyond the gallery’s London base in Trafalgar Square. The programme runs until 5 July, and also features a series of free exhibitions in Coulsdon, New Addington, Purley, Thornton Heath and Upper Norwood.
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Further stops are planned for 2026, including Torquay, Derry, Birstall, near Bradford, and the Isle of Wight, extending the reach of the scheme across the UK.
In Essex, the Creative Mile Brentford Art Trail will collaborate with residents to identify unexpected settings for the artworks, from high streets and community venues to public parks. Locals will help decide which pieces are shown, embedding the project within each area it visits.
Works from the National Gallery are going on tour as part of Art on Your Doorstep, an initiative to share paintings beyond a gallery space
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Hannah Widgington, exhibitions manager at the National Gallery, said: “The trail will offer a rare chance to encounter these works beyond the familiar gallery walls and weave them into everyday life. Local residents will help select the artworks featured on the trail and will contribute their own creative responses.”
Images: The National Gallery
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More Tube and bus strikes are fast approaching, threatening another challenging week for commuters.
The RMT union has announced two 24-hour walkouts, kicking off at midday on Tuesday, May 19 and again on Thursday, May 21, with the effects spilling across four working days.
During April’s strikes, stations were packed with long queues as frustrated commuters searched for alternative routes home, with many turning to bikes to get around.
E-bike provider Lime reported a 22% jump in trips on April 23 compared with the previous week, while Forest saw evening rush-hour rides soar by more than 50%.
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With strike action looming again, all signs point to a repeat of that pattern.
TfL sources say they will have a clearer picture soon, but for now, Londoners might want to start thinking about a backup plan.
Commuters squeeze into busy train carriages during strike action on April 21
Getty
Everything we know about the upcoming Tube and bus strikes
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Strikes are planned by some Tube drivers from midday on Tuesday, May 19, to Wednesday, May 20, and again on Thursday, May 21 to Friday, May 22.
Under the proposals, the working week for most drivers would be cut from 36 to 35 hours, but contractual hours would not change due to the introduction of paid meal breaks.
This means, essentially, that drivers would work longer days but fewer days each week and fewer overall hours each week.
RMT instead wants a 32-hour week over four days, meaning drivers would work three fewer hours each week for the same salary.
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Drivers belonging to the union Aslef will not be participating in the strike, meaning that most Underground lines will be able to operate on a reduced service.
But disruption is expected across the Underground network.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at the Queen’s park depot picket line during the strike action in April
PA
Only the Elizabeth line, the DLR and London Overground services will be operating as usual.
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A spokesperson for Aslef previously said they were “surprised that the RMT has decided to take this action”.
The union has agreed to the voluntary four day working week, saying it gives drivers an extra 35 days off a year “in return for some fairly minor changes to working conditions”.
“It will be the first strike in the history of the trade union movement designed to stop people having a shorter working week and more time off,” Aslef’s spokesperson added.
Further 24-hour strikes are planned for Tuesday, June 16 and Thursday, June 18.
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London bus controllers strikes
Meanwhile, further strike action by Transport for London bus workers is taking place on Thursday, May 21, and Friday, May 22, in an ongoing dispute about rota changes.
Walkouts by over 150 bus controllers and network traffic controllers will coincide with the strike action taken by London Underground drivers.
Bus controllers and network traffic controllers do safety critical roles for TfL, which include dealing with incidents and accidents, managing bus stations and putting in place bus stop closures and diversions due to traffic or emergencies such as accidents.
The injured man was taken on to hospital following the incident
A man was taken to hospital after being punched in the head and knocked unconscious in a weekend assault.
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Police in north Belfast are appealing for witnesses and information following the incident in the Tomb Street area in the early hours of Sunday morning, May 17.
Police received a report at around 12.30am that a man had been punched to the head by another male and knocked unconscious.
Officers attended the scene and the injured man was subsequently taken on to hospital.
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A PSNI spokesperson said: “Our enquiries are ongoing and we would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and has any information, including dash-cam, CCTV or other video footage, to contact police on the 101 number, quoting reference 50 of 17/05/26.”
If your neighbour’s hedge has grown too large and is encroaching on your garden, it’s important to know your legal rights and the boundary rules before you start trimming.
Arguing with your neighbours is never enjoyable, no matter the cause. Disputes over gardens are very common, and determining who’s right isn’t always straightforward.
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Take, for instance, a situation where your neighbour’s hedge becomes overgrown and begins creeping into your garden space. You may feel tempted to cut back the branches, but before grabbing the secateurs, it’s important to understand what’s permitted by law and what crosses the line.
Not sticking to the regulations could get you into trouble, and your neighbour might even pursue legal action against you for property damage.
Based on the official government website, you’re allowed to trim your neighbour’s hedge if it extends into your property from their home or a public highway – but only under specific circumstances.
It’s only permissible to cut back up to the property boundary. If you go beyond this, your neighbour could pursue legal proceedings against you for damaging their property.
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Your neighbour has a duty to care for their hedges so they don’t damage your property or grow excessively tall. If any damage does occur, your neighbour may be held responsible.
To prevent potentially breaking the law, it’s recommended to check who actually owns the hedge before trimming it. The solicitors at Bonallack and Bishops said: “If it transpires that you have trimmed or moved a hedge which belongs to someone else, you could be held liable and forced to pay substantial legal costs.
“There are no hard and fast rules with regards to boundary ownership, and the only way to find out who owns a boundary border is to check the deeds at the Land Registry. Often, there’ll be no definitive answer and it’ll ultimately be a shared responsibility.”
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On the other hand, if your hedge has spread so that it extends over your neighbour’s property, they are entitled to trim back the portion that has crossed the boundary line, though they must return any cuttings to your land.
If any trimming occurs on your side of the boundary, this could be considered an offence under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, unless there’s a lawful excuse.
You are within your rights to pursue a civil claim for any resulting damage, though it’s always recommended to attempt a conversation with your neighbour beforehand.
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If confronting them feels daunting, consider writing a letter that clearly outlines the issue while keeping strictly to the facts.
Earlier this month it was reported that Glenn Gibbins, who was recently elected as a Reform councillor in Sunderland, had complained about the “amount of Nigerians in town” in a social media post made in 2024.
According to the campaign group Hope Not Hate, the later-deleted post read: “Should melt them all down and fill in the pot holes!!”
Speaking to Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, Conservative leader Mrs Badenoch branded the comments made by Mr Gibbins as “disgusting” and said that it “worried” her that Reform UK deputy leader Mr Tice would not directly condemn it.
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She said: “I think that was a disgusting comment that that Reform candidate made, and the Reform (deputy) leader… Richard Tice, wouldn’t even condemn it.
“That’s what I’m worried about. People say all sorts of stupid things, they should get slapped down when they do that.
“We cannot have a climate of violence against people based on their ethnicity in this country, but you need the leaders of the party, you need the senior ones, to be able to say that’s not what we’re about, that we’re very much against it. When they don’t say that, then we need to be worried.
“And I was really shocked when Richard Tice was interviewed that he would not condemn those comments.”
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Last week, Mr Tice was asked whether he was happy for someone with those views to represent the party on BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme.
In response he said: “This weekend we are celebrating our incredible successes.
“Like any party, we have internal party processes to look where people have said or done the wrong thing.”
He continued: “I condemn everything that is wrong and inappropriate.
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“Voters have heard all of this smearing and this sneering against all of us, and they have voted for more Reform.”
A Labour Party spokesperson later criticised his alleged failure to “call out clear racism”, adding: “It speaks volumes that Richard Tice tried to brush off these comments.”
Mr Tice later posted on X: “I literally said in the interview that I condemn anything that is wrong or inappropriate. Which obviously includes those (Mr Gibbins’s) remarks: simple.”
The Hovercraft Museum, Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire has been named “Volunteers of the Year” at the prestigious Museums + Heritage Awards 2026, recognising the extraordinary contribution of its volunteer team in sustaining one of the UK’s most unique and nationally significant collections.
Sally re-opened the Ebor Inn at Bishopthorpe on Wednesday, which had been closed since last year.
Until his sad death of Covid in 2021, the popular pub had been run by her late father Gordon Watlins for 39 years.
The pub’s owner, Tadcaster-based Sam Smith’s Brewery, recently gave the pub a new look with an exterior restoration of its brickwork. Further renovations have taken place inside, with more planned.
Sally posted on social media at the weekend that she is ‘astounded’ at the support received.
She said: “I sat down at around 3pm with my friend who had never been to the Ebor Inn before. I was thinking I’ll have an hour catch up as I’d not seen her for a while and then one by one you lovely people started coming in…
“Before I knew it it was 7.30pm!!! And still you kept coming in….
The pub exterior (Image: Apple Photos Clean Up)
“What an afternoon/evening!! I am totally overwhelmed by the numbers that have come through the door not just today (although today was insane) but every single day we’ve been open!!!
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“I have loved every minute… the support is just amazing! I’m so hoarse from talking so much!!! But every moment is so heartwarming and to hear you all speak so highly of my late father. I love it!”
Sally added: “We know it’s not just a job for me and I can confirm that I am eternally grateful and flattered by everyone’s support. I hope you all keep coming in and we can keep the pub going with this wonderful sentiment.”
Among the dozens who have commented underneath on Facebook, one said: “I am so glad that everything has gone well for you and the team at the Ebor. It is such a lovely pub and you deserve every success for taking the challenge on, Gordon would be so proud of you. Well done and keep up the good work.”
As the Press previously reported, initially, the Ebor Inn will be a ‘wet’ pub, meaning drinks only, before it starts serving food from June.
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Press advert (Image: NQ)
The re-opening comes amid others, including the Blacksmith Arms at Skelton, near York, which is also owned by Sam Smith’s Brewery.
The Punch Bowl at Marton-Cum-Grafton, now owned by Boroughbridge hospitality entrepreneur Simon Wade, also reopened this month after a major refurbishment.
However, as reported earlier today, the tenants of the community-owned village pub, the Black Lion at Skelton on Ouse will be leaving venue this Saturday, blaming an ‘unsustainable’ business model.
One person who was seriously injured was in the house at the time of the crash
10:54, 18 May 2026Updated 11:00, 18 May 2026
Two people have been seriously injured after a car crashed into a house. Cambridgeshire Police and paramedics were called to the crash in Paston Ridings, Peterborough at around 6pm on Sunday (May 17).
A blue Ford Mondeo was driving along the road when it crashed into a house and stationery vehicles. The driver of the car, a 40-year-old man from Peterborough, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
A 70-year-old woman, who was in the house at the time, was also taken to hospital with serious injuries. Cambridgeshire Police is appealing for information after the incident.
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Anyone with information or dashcam footage should call police on 101 and quote Operation Perranwell. Alternatively, they can report it online.
The 16-year-old daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury and her new husband were spotted at Manchester Airport days after tying the knot on the Isle of Man
Venezuela Fury has been spotted at Manchester Airport as she heads off on her honeymoon after marrying her fiancé, Noah Price, over the weekend.
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The eldest child of Tyson and Paris Fury tied the knot in a grand affair on the Isle of Man on Saturday (May 16), The extravagant ceremony at the Royal Chapel of St John the Baptist on the Isle of Man, where the Fury family recently relocated after giving up on life in Morecambe, Lancashire.
Wythenshawe-born boxer Tyson arrived at the church with the bride in a vintage wedding car, while his wife Paris helped make sure everything was in place ahead of the ceremony, spotted outside where the church was decorated with an archway of blue hydrangeas and yellow roses, and a long blue carpet had been rolled out to the entrance.
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Venezuela wore a stunning white lace fishtail dress with a 50-foot-long train for her big day, and there was even a glimpse of the infamous white Crocs the bride said she would wear, despite her mum’s uncertainty that it was the right look for the wedding. Her now-husband, meanwhile, was sporting a smart white suit, while his new father-in-law looked dapper in a black ensemble.
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After the teens tied the knot, it is believed that the wedding reception took place at the nearby four-star Comis Hotel and Golf Club, which is where, according to reports, police were called after an incident occurred just moments after nineties popstar Peter Andre performed a string of chart-topping hits at the lavish wedding reception.
Now, the new Mr and Mrs Price have been seen at Manchester Airport on Monday (May 18) morning as they prepared to fly off on their honeymoon. A newly-married Venezuela was seen sporting a bright yellow co-ord, and kept her oversized black glasses from her big day, covering her eyes.
The couple were seen stopping for a spot of breakfast as they waited for their flight, and were also pictured browsing duty-free as they wandered the airport.
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It comes after Tyson took to social media and reflected on his daughter’s big day. Late on Sunday (May 17), he shared a video on Instagram of the moment Venezuela made her entrance into the church, with him proudly walking alongside her. It also revealed that the choice of entrance song was The Notorious B.I.G track, Juicy.
Alongside the sweet clip, he wrote: “A beautiful day of celebrating my daughter’s wedding day, @venezuelaprice1, she was amazing & I’m very proud of her! We both were crying like babies,” (sic).
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It came after Paris shared some snaps of Venezuela posing in a white less dress, which she wore as she prepared for the nuptials. Alongside the photos, the mum-of-seven gushed: “My beautiful girl, so proud I was of you today. You looked beautiful, @venezuelaprice1”.
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