Times TV Guide: Today’s TV Listings & Schedule for UK

A solid TV guide saves you from aimless channel-surfing, but the best one depends on what you need. The Times TV guide offers daily listings across major UK channels like BBC, ITV and Channel 4, complete with editorial picks for the best programmes.

Source: The Times (thetimes.com) ·
Channels listed: BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and more ·
Type: Online TV listings ·
Additional: Also available in print edition

The pattern across these four guides is editorial curation paired with broad channel coverage. The Times leads with daily, filtered picks while others offer deeper or narrower options.

What is the Times TV Guide?

The Times TV guide is a daily listing of television programmes broadcast on major UK channels, published online at the Times TV & Radio section and in the print newspaper. It highlights recommended programmes each night, curating a selection of “best” picks for viewers. The guide also appears in a dedicated topic section called “What to watch on TV”, which collects viewing guides and related articles. Unlike raw schedule dumps, The Times frames its listings with editorial context – a sentence or two about why a show is worth catching.

The implication: if you want a quick, editor‑filtered view of tonight’s options rather than a raw grid, The Times TV guide saves you the scrolling.

How Can I Find the Times TV Guide for London or Manchester?

Using the online guide to search by postcode

Regional TV schedules vary because BBC and ITV split their coverage into areas. For London, BBC One London HD and BBC One South East may differ from Manchester’s BBC One North West. The Times online guide does not currently offer a postcode filter, but you can use third‑party services such as My Telly postcode-based region selector to see which channels are available in your area. BBC Schedules page also exposes pages for each region – South West, Wales, West Midlands, and others – so you can pin down the exact lineup for your postcode.

Navigating the Times website for local listings

On the Times TV & Radio page you simply choose a date and view the national schedule. The guide does not split by region; what you see is the default UK feed. If you live in London or Manchester, the channels listed (BBC One, ITV1, etc.) are the same, but the actual programmes may differ. For truly localised listings, cross‑reference with TV Guide UK homepage or the BBC’s regional pages.

The catch: The Times gives you a national picture – for hyper‑local schedules you need a second source.

What’s on TV Today and Tomorrow in the Times TV Guide?

How to view today’s TV schedule

Visit The Times TV & Radio page and the current day’s listings load by default. The guide shows programmes from early morning through to late night, with editorial highlights flagged. You can scroll hour by hour or jump to a specific channel using the navigation tabs.

How to view tomorrow’s schedule

Change the date using the calendar picker at the top of the page. The Times updates its schedule daily, so you can see programmes for the next day or even several days ahead. The same page also offers a “What to watch” list that prepicks the strongest shows for each evening.

“Find out what’s on television tonight with our full TV listings guide, showing you the best programmes to watch across the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and more.”

The Times website

Why this matters: you don’t need to hunt across multiple websites – one click changes the date and you see the full lineup, including editor’s picks.

What is the Radio Times TV Guide and How Does It Compare?

Overview of Radio Times TV guide

The Radio Times is a weekly magazine that has been publishing TV and radio listings since 1923. Its schedule covers every major UK channel with detailed programme information, often including cast, crew and behind‑the‑scenes notes. It is distributed in print and also has a digital edition.

Key differences between Times and Radio Times

• Frequency: The Times guide is daily; Radio Times is weekly.
• Depth: Radio Times gives more editorial content per programme, while The Times offers brief highlights.
• Coverage: Both include BBC, ITV, Channel 4; Radio Times also includes radio schedules.
• Cost: The Times online guide is behind a paywall (subscription required); Radio Times requires purchase or subscription.

Compared side‑by‑side, the Times guide is a quicker daily snapshot, while Radio Times is a deeper, leisurely weekend read. The trade‑off: convenience vs. completeness.

How Does the Times TV Guide Cover BBC and Other Channels?

BBC channels in the Times guide

The Times TV guide lists BBC One and BBC Two (including regional variations where available), plus BBC Four and children’s channels like CBBC. The editorial picks often highlight BBC dramas, documentaries and live events.

ITV, Channel 4, and more

ITV1, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, Channel 4, Channel 5, and several digital channels (e.g., Sky Atlantic, Dave) are also listed. The guide does not currently include streaming‑only services like Netflix or Disney+ – it sticks to traditional broadcast and Freeview channels.

TV Guide UK’s Freeview page shows a similar set of channels, confirming that The Times’ coverage matches the standard UK free‑to‑air lineup.

The pattern: The Times covers every major terrestrial and Freeview channel, but if you need Sky‑exclusive or on‑demand listings, you’ll need a dedicated entertainment guide.

“BBC Schedules exposes regional schedule pages for areas including South East, South West, Wales, West Midlands, and England.”

BBC Schedules page

For viewers in London, the Times guide will show BBC One London HD; for Manchester, BBC One North West HD. The underlying channel is the same but local news and programming will differ – a fact verified by My Telly’s West England listings page, which displays separate entries for each region.

The implication: if you rely solely on The Times, you might miss local opt‑outs. Always double‑check with BBC Schedules or a postcode tool for exact regional content.

Frequently asked questions

For London and Manchester viewers, the decision is clear: use The Times for a curated list of tonight’s best shows, but pair it with BBC Schedules or My Telly to confirm local regional programming. Otherwise, you might plan your evening around a showing that doesn’t air in your area.