Happy Friday, South East London!

You may find the newsletter looks a bit different today. We’ve migrated to Substack, so - a bit of housekeeping - please add our email to your contacts and move this message to your primary inbox if it landed in promotions or spam.

Okay, on to the good stuff…

The summer holidays are officially here, which means you need to figure out what to do with yourself (and possibly your kids) for the next few weeks. Well, there’s plenty on this weekend.

But first, some good news out of Peckham…

📰 Major services saved for both young and old

The Nest, the free mental health service for young people on Rye Lane, was set to close its doors this November. This week, Southwark Council reversed that decision and confirmed The Nest will stay open.

Since opening, The Nest has been a genuine lifeline: a place where under-25s can walk in and get support without a referral or a long NHS waiting list. The council has committed to keep funding it and to push for the NHS to secure its long-term future.

The same meeting also saved the borough’s Dementia Adviser service, which supports people living with dementia and their carers, with four years of funding confirmed.

We’re bringing you a little more local news each week, so hit reply and let us know what you’d like to see more of.

Stay safe. Stay cool. Have a great weekend.

-Anton

All Weekend Long

🚴 South London Grand Prix at Herne Hill Velodrome

Two days of high-speed bicycle racing come to the historic Herne Hill Velodrome, the last surviving venue from the 1948 London Olympics, this Friday and Saturday. There are going to be the top cyclists from the UK and internationally racing it out. And our friends at the Velodrome have given SE London readers 10% off one-day tickets with code SLGP10. Grab tickets here.

🍜 Peckham Food Weekend 2026

Organised by Mr Bao, 19 Peckham restaurants, bars and cafés are serving up £10 specials from Friday to Sunday, with £1 from every dish going to Peckham Pantry. Taking part this year: Mr Bao, Forza Wine, Peckham Cellars, Shorty’s, Taca Tacos, Janda Diner and so many more. They’ve got everything from crispy pork belly bánh mì to swordfish tostadas. See all the venues and dishes here.

🥁 Steel Scenes at the Southbank Centre
I feel like with steel pans, you either love ‘em or hate ‘em. Well, if you love ‘em, the Southbank Center is throwing a three-day party marking 75 years of the steel pan in the UK, with youth ensembles, UK steel bands and brand new commissions across the Royal Festival Hall. And most of the weekend is free! Find the full schedule here.

🎬 Rooftop Cinema Club Peckham

The rooftop screenings roll on with a stacked weekend: Sinners, Love & Basketball, Fight Club, About Time, Love Jones, The Great Gatsby, Before Sunrise, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Interstellar, all with wireless headphones and skyline views. See the schedule and book.

🎭 Romeo & Juliet in Greenwich (final performances)
Last chance to catch the Greenwich Theatre’s production of Romeo & Juliet, which wraps up its run this weekend. If you’ve been meaning to go all month, this is it. Book your tickets here.

🛍️ Canada Water Craft & Flea Market
Craft & Flea takes over Canada Water for the weekend with independent makers, designers and collectors from across the country. Browse handmade ceramics, jewellery, illustrations, homewares, candles and textiles, plus genuine vintage finds, all sold by the people who actually make them. Find out more here.

Saturday, July 25th

🎉 Caribbean Takeover at the National Maritime Museum
The Caribbean Social Forum returns to Greenwich for a free, family-friendly celebration across the National Maritime Museum campus. This is the fifth-anniversary edition, honouring 60 years of the Notting Hill Carnival, with African drumming, calypso dance, carnival headwear workshops, a film screening and even a game of dominoes with the experts. And it’s free! Find out more here.

🎶 KISSTORY On Blackheath

Old skool, garage and anthems take over Blackheath Common for a huge all-dayer just up the hill. The lineup is a proper nostalgia trip: Ms. Dynamite, So Solid Crew, DJ Luck & MC Neat, Todd Terry, Baby D, Oxide & Neutrino and loads more across four stages. Get tickets here.

🎉 Haflah at the Horniman
The Horniman Gardens in Forest Hill is hosting a celebration of South-West Asian and North African culture, with live music at the bandstand, a souq market selling Palestinian produce, food trucks serving Syrian and Lebanese street food, plus a dabke dance tutorial and Arabic calligraphy. Find out more here.

🐟 Heritage Craft & Mudlarking Festival at Southwark Cathedral

Spend a day on the shore of the Thames with mudlarks, archaeologists and conservators. Expect craft demos, talks, family drop-in activities and an exhibition of finds pulled from the river. Get tickets here.

🎉 Pride at Elephant Park
A full day of music, celebration, and joy at Elephant Park celebrating queer culture. It’s sure to be a good time. Find out more information here.

🏛️ Woolwich: Arsenal to Art Deco walking tour
A guided walk through Woolwich’s riverside, from 18th-century gun factories to grand Victorian buildings, taking in the origin story of Arsenal FC and the area’s recent regeneration. Find out more about your neighbourhood and book here.

Sunday, July 26th

🏺 Ceramics Market at Dulwich Picture Gallery

The gallery’s Sculpture Garden hosts its first-ever Ceramics Market, bringing together local potters and special guests. Browse everything from everyday mugs to sculptural one-offs and chat to the ceramicists about how it’s done. Find out more here.

🎶 Tokyo Riddim at the Fox & Firkin

Close out the weekend with a laid-back afternoon of Japanese-Caribbean crossover sounds, blending jazz, reggae and dub. Kicks off at midday. Get tickets here.

Know someone who would like this newsletter?

Share The S.E. London

Happy Thursday, South East London!

Everybody doing okay after last night’s World Cup match? Well, there are plenty of events this weekend to keep our minds off of that. AND if you prefer a little drink to ease the pain, there’s a massive beer festival in Southwark!

But first, some very exciting food news out of Deptford…

📰 One of London's best bakeries just opened in Deptford

If you've ever walked past TOAD in Camberwell, you've seen the queue snaking down the street. Well, the bakery, crowned London Bakery of the Year at the 2025 National Bakery Awards, has just opened a second, bigger location right here in Deptford Market Yard.

It opened its doors on the 8th in a former rectory on Deptford High Street.

Expect the cult favourites (the Everything Bagel Croissant, the maple cinnamon swirl, the soy sauce cookie), plus space for the team to experiment with new things. Check out their Instagram for the pictures of all this amazing food.

Stay safe. Stay cool. Have a great weekend.

-Anton

All Weekend Long

🎭 Greenwich Comedy Garden

This huge stand-up comedy festival is back at the Old Royal Naval College. The festival already began yesterday and lasts through tht weekend. The line-up is genuinely stacked: Jack Dee, Tom Allen, Sara Pascoe, Josh Widdicombe, all playing shows along with bars and street food in this amazing setting. Grab tickets here.

🍺 London Craft Beer Festival in Southwark Park

A massive celebration of beer is on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are a little pricey but they get you unlimited pours from 100+ breweries. Plus, there’s street food and live music. Find info and tickets here.

🎬 Rooftop Cinema Club Peckham
The rooftop screenings continue all summer with a packed weekend. On the bill this weekend: Poetic Justice, Sinners, Wicked, Grease, Inception, School of Rock and 10 Things I Hate About You. See the full schedule and get tickets.

🎭 Untold Stories in Greenwich
Running Thursday through Saturday, Untold Stories is an immersive theatre experience. Silent Rocco, a modern mime artist crafts stories and brings you into different worlds. It’s happening at the Greenwich Theatre this weekend only. Book tickets here.

Thursday, July 16th

🎶 Buena Vista Live at the Fox & Firkin
A live tribute to the legendary sound of the Buena Vista Social Club comes to Lewisham. The group is made up of the best Cuban musicians based in the UK. Get tickets here.

🎻 Sunset Quartet at the Horniman Museum
If you’ve been to the Horniman museum, you know that amazing view from the hill. Well, they’re putting it to good use for a sunset concert by enSEmble26, a collective of classical musicians who are from SE26 (get it now?). Music starts at 7pm tonight! Find out more about the collective and get tickets here.

Friday, July 17th

🎶 Afternoon Frequencies at the Queen's House
Free live electronic music fills the Great Hall of the Queen's House in Greenwich Friday afternoon. Drop in, take it in, and enjoy one of the most stunning rooms in the borough. And it’s free! Find out more here.

🌙 Daytime Moon Observing at the Royal Observatory
This is the second and last time this event is taking place this summer in which you’ll be able to see the moon during the day! Join the astronomers at the Royal Observatory to check out the moon through their telescopes from 12 to 4pm. More info here.

Saturday, July 18th

🎉 XOTIC Global Garden Party at the Fox & Firkin
The big outdoor space at the Fox & Firkin turns into a daytime party with baile funk, dancehall and global beats from 2pm. Check out the lineup and get tickets.

🏳️‍🌈 Queer Crossings at the Queen's House
A free live-art performance exhibiting in tandem with the Queen's House's new 'Crossings' display. The performance explores migration, generational care and survival through a queer lens. Find out more here.

🎶 South London Soul Train
An evening of funk and RnB at the Fox & Firkin, with the Butter Funk Family joining for a fun night. Get tickets here.

🛍️ Young Traders Market in Cutty Sark Gardens
Seventy-five young entrepreneurs aged 16 to 30 take over Cutty Sark Gardens for the London and South East regional final of the Young Traders Market. Browse food, drinks, groceries and arts and crafts, all run by the next generation of local traders. Find out more here.

Sunday, July 19th

🎶 Sunday Music at Eltham Palace and Gardens
Spend the afternoon in the beautiful gardens of Eltham Palace with live music playing throughout the day. I was there last weekend and it’s such a nice relaxing time. Bring a blanket, settle in, and while you’re there you can wander through one of the most unique houses in London. Find out more here.

🕰️ So Last Century Vintage Fair at Beckenham Place Park
Around 50 vintage traders set up in and around Beckenham Place Mansion, selling mid-century furniture, lighting, homeware, posters, records and summer fashion. Outside, the Beckenham Place Park Food Market brings roughly 15 food stalls, with the Mansion Bar and Café open for drinks. Runs 10am to 5pm. Find out more here.

LAST THING!

We’re looking for businesses to sponsor the newsletter and help us cover costs.

Do you have a business or event and want to get the word out to over 4,600+ members of the South East London community?

Drop us a message at theselondon@gmail.com or reply to this email.

Know someone who would like this newsletter? Send them this link 👇 www.theselondon.com

Happy Thursday, South East London!

We are in a nice little pocket of perfect temperatures right now. So, get out and enjoy it before it gets scalding again next week.

There’s a little something for everybody this week, from food to painting, comedy to drama, Shakespeare to pirates.

And scroll to the end to complete our survey. We want to hear if you went to any of the events last week.

Stay safe. Stay cool. Have a great weekend.

-Anton

All Weekend Long

🎉 Taste of the Caribbean Festival in Beckenham

A huge food festival with activities, music, and of course lots of Caribbean food is taking over Beckenham Place Park this Saturday and Sunday. Check out all the incredible food and more and get your tickets.

🎭 A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Greenwich Park
The East London Shakespeare Festival is starting their tour throughout the parks of London. And this weekend they’re coming to the Old Royal Observatory Gardens in Greenwich Park. Check out information about the festival here. And find tickets here.

👦 Pirate Takeover in Greenwich
This weekend, the Old Royal Naval College will be overrun with pirates. An super fun day for the family, learn all about piracy, their flags, their songs, and sample food from the era of pirates. Learn more here.

🎭 Edinburgh Fringe Comedy Preview
Before they go up north to perform, these comedy shows are happening here in South East London. Catch two nights of double billings on Thursday and Friday only. Check out the lineup here and discover these performers before the rest of the world does.

🎶 A fantasy opera dance in Blackheath

The incredible musicians and dancers at Trinity Laban are putting on this performance that mixes a fairy tale with Ravel based on a libretto by French novelist Colette. This inventive production is playing through the weekend.

🎭 Slaughterhouse-Five is finishing its run this weekend
Kurt Vonnegut’s famous book has been turned into this award-winning production at Southwark Playhouse. They’ve been running for a month and finish on the 4th of July. Get the last few tickets left here.

🎬 Rooftop Cinema Club Peckham
Movie screenings are happening throughout the summer and they have a ton every week. This weekend is no exception. They’ll be showing Dirty Dancing, Aftersun, Romeo & Juliet, Notting Hill, The Parent Trap, 10 Things I Hate About You, Almost Famous, Inside Out, Clueless and The Notebook. And that’s just this weekend! Get tickets here.

🎭 Romeo & Juliet begins its run in Greenwich
This new production is starting its month-long run at the Greenwich Theatre this weekend. Find out more about this production and make sure to book your tickets here.

Thursday, July 2nd

🎶 The London Bollywood Orchestra
This show takes you through the evolution of Bollywood music starting with its beginnings in Hindustani classical music. Priyani Vani Panditt leads the orchestra filled with renowned jazz and classical musicians. Learn more and get tickets here.

Friday, July 3rd

🎶 Snow Patrol in Crystal Palace Park

The alt rock legends are taking the stage for one night only in Crystal Palace. And there’s a huge lineup of incredible bands leading up to the main event. Get your tickets here.

Saturday, July 4th

🎉 Latin American DJ Day Party in Lewisham
A huge lineup of incredible DJs turn the Fox and Firkin into a party from the afternoon into the evening. Chancha Via Circuito x El Búho are coming back to the outdoor garden space, and they have a lineup of friends coming with them. Check out the full lineup here.

🎨 Portrait Painting Masterclass in Dulwich

Award-winning painter James Hague is leading this one-off workshop to teach you how to use bold layers, texture and to dive into colour. And you’ll be doing it in an amazing space at the Dulwich Picture Gallery. Find out more and get tickets here.

🎭 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at Severndroog Castle
Not just a kids’ show, this performance is great for all ages. Taking place outdoors outside the unpronounceable castle, this is a great afternoon for the whole family. Find out more about the performance and get tickets here.

Sunday, July 5th

🎶 The Big Firkin Band
Always a delight, the Big Firkin Band, the resident big jazz band at the Fox and Firkin, are playing this weekend. Generally they’re in the big outdoor space and it’s a great time for the whole family. It runs from 3.30-6pm and as always it’s free.

🎶 Sunday Music at Eltham Palace and Gardens

A band will be playing at the gardens at Eltham Palace throughout the day. Bring picnic blankets or chairs and sit and enjoy. Plus, you can wander through the incredible and unique art deco space. Find out more here.

⛵ Shipyard Tours at the Golden Hinde

I’m sure you’ve passed it a million times, but how much do you really know about it? Now you can explore the shipyard and learn about the Golden Hinde on the Southbank. Learn about the history of the ship and the dockyards, while also seeing how they’re conserving history. Tickets can be found here.

🌿 The Backyard Botanic Garden is opening its doors
Part of the National Open Gardens Scheme, this tiny botanic garden with over 200 plant families crammed into it is opening to the public. The garden was featured on the BBC programme Gardners World in 2023. Come see it for yourself.

🏛️ First Sundays at the Painted Hall
Get into the Painted Hall for only £5. Usually it’s a lot more than that, so take advantage of the savings today. Book your ticket here. 

🎉 Stand-up Comedy and a Mini-Rave
Come to the Piehouse Co-op in Deptford for a night of stand-up comedy followed by a mini rave. Find out more and get your tickets here.

Which event(s) did you go to last weekend?

Catford Community Festival

Catford Weekender

Pride in Southwark

Windrush Migrations Opera

Stand-up Comedy for Lewisham Donation Hub

Cool Runnings movie screening

Lambeth Palace Open Day

Greenwich Parents and Carers Village Summer Fair

Ruskin Park Summer Fete

Van Gogh House Tour

LAST THING!

We’re looking for businesses to sponsor the newsletter and help us cover costs.

Do you have a business or event and want to get the word out to over 4,600+ members of the South East London community?

Drop us a message at theselondon@gmail.com or reply to this email.

Know someone who would like this newsletter? Send them this link 👇 www.theselondon.com

Happy Thursday, South East London!

Guys, it’s f-ing hot out there. That’s news to absolutely no one. So, I wanted to point everyone to some places you can get some relief during this record-breaking heatwave.

London has designated special “Cool Areas” all over the city. These are public facilities where anybody can come to cool off, including libraries, leisure centres, etc.

And there are plenty in the South East area…

Click here for the interactive map.

Now, a few things to know about the map. The cool areas are ranked in a tier system, with Tier 1 being open the most and having the “coolest” amenities. However, “cool” on this map just means it’s cooler than it is outside, which could potentially still mean pretty hot.

So, make sure to click the “ONLY SHOW AIR CONDITIONED PLACES” tick box for the best, coolest options.

We also have some great outdoor events we’re featuring this weekend for when temperatures become a bit more bearable.

LAST THING!

We’re looking for businesses to sponsor the newsletter and help us cover costs.

Do you have a business or event and want to get the word out to over 4,500+ members of the South East London community?

Drop us a message at theselondon@gmail.com or reply to this email.

Stay safe. Stay cool. Have a great weekend.

-Anton

All Weekend Long

🎉 The Catford Community Festival is on!
There are so many events happening across Catford this weekend. We’ll be featuring many of them below, including the main event on Saturday. But, just to give you a taste, there will be a craft market, the foodie trail we mentioned last weekend, a queer self-portrait workshop, stand-up comedy, and so much more. Find the full list here.

🎉 The Catford Weekender is ALSO on!

The Catford celebrations are hitting all over the place this weekend. This is a celebration of local creativity and talent. There will be music, live performances, an open-air screening of Back to the Future, and lots of stuff for kids on Sunday in particular. Find the full programme here.

📸 4-Day Photography Summer School
The Photography Foundation is putting on a 4-day intensive to take your photo skills to the next level. Beginners and intermediates are welcome to join and will be guided by experts in the field. BUT the course starts today, so if you’re keen, sign up ASAP and get moving! Find out more here.

Thursday, June 25th

🎶 Windrush Migrations

A night of opera celebrating journey, resilience and belonging. It will be performed by the Pegasus Opera Company and accompanied by the Brixton Chamber Orchestra. This is one of the performances that are part of the Catford Community Festival. Get tickets here.  

🎶 TAOSOL Jam
A band, an art collective, an activist group, a community of creatives. This group does it all. And it fosters an inclusive space for musicians, dancers, poets, singers, rappers, DJs. Be a part of this really unique performance.

🎬 Lower Marsh Lates movie screening: Cool Runnings
Lower Marsh is a historic street near Waterloo. By day it hosts a market, and this evening they’re having a free screening of the classic ‘90s movie, Cool Runnings. So, kick back in the outdoors and enjoy the adventures of the Jamaican bobsled team with your community. More info here.

Friday, June 26th

🏛️ Lambeth Palace Open Day
Lambeth Palace (close enough to SE!) is only open once a month and each time tickets are hosted by a different charity, so you can explore the space for a good cause. This month is hosted by Arts for Dementia. Take a look inside this amazing historical place. 

Saturday, June 27th

👦 Greenwich Village Summer Fair 2026

The Greenwich Parents and Carers community is celebrating five years with a huge fair for kids 0-8, and entry is absolutely FREE! The Boppin’ Bunnies will be there, a bouncy castle, a fire truck, face painting, balloons, a dance party. What more could you ask for? Find out more about the event here. And subscribe their their amazing newsletter here.

🎉 Ruskin Park Summer Fete
This annual event is back at the bandstand with face painting, craft workshops and storytelling for the kids and beer and Pimm’s for the adults. You can settle down for a picnic or walk around and take part in the activities. Here’s the website for more info.

🏛️ Retrace Vincent Van Gogh’s footsteps in London
Tours of Vincent Van Gogh’s London residence are happening Saturday and Sunday this weekend at various times. These are offered every last weekend of the month. However, there’s a separate tour that’s much more rare on Saturday. This is a walking tour from Van Gogh’s office in Covent Garden to his home, retracing what life was like for Van Gogh in Victorian London. Find out more here.

⚽ Watch England vs. Panama
Obviously, you can go to any pub to get a glimpse of the game. But if you’re looking for something a little bit different, Peckham Levels will be showing the match with air conditioning and their skyline views in the background. Or you can watch the game while getting some fresh air at Fox & Firkin’s watch party.

🎉 The Catford Community Festival Main Event
Join the community on Saturday on Catford Broadway for the culmination of nearly two weeks of community-inspired events. There will be a market for food and crafts, a stage with music playing all day long, 3×3 basketball, aerial workshops, face painting, and more. More info on Lewisham’s site.

🎉 Stand-up for Lewisham Donation Hub

A night of stand-up comedy for charity as part of the Catford Community Festival. This will be a fun, funny, and helpful event all in one. Get tickets here.

👦 Summer in the Park at Gallions Park
One of two Summer in the part fairs happening in parks across Greenwich. This is a fantastic day out for kids and families, with music and activities all afternoon long. Find out more here.

🎉 Pride in Southwark
Starting with a march to Mint Street park to protect and defend LGBTQIA+ rights, this is a community-led event to celebrate diversity. There will be music, spoken word and poetry, drag shows, and more. Find out all about it here.

Sunday, June 28th

🎉 Sunday All-Dayer at the Fox & Firkin with Wookie and Stush
Summer festival vibes starting at 2pm with a great lineup of DJs and good energy this Sunday. Get tickets for the event here.

🎉 Summer in the Park at Maryon Park
The second of Greenwich’s Summer in the Park parties happening this weekend. This one is in Charlton and features FONDA, a jazz-pop duo kicking off the day. There will also be plenty of activities for the whole family all day long. Check out the full website here.  

Know someone who would like this newsletter? Send them this link 👇 www.theselondon.com

Happy Thursday, South East London!

Let’s start with some news out of Lewisham…

📰 Lewisham’s Model Market is reopening in late summer

Model Market, the food hotspot right by Lewisham shopping centre, closed in 2021. However, there are new owners who have cleared the space out and plan on a brand new foodie central coming very soon.

The market will be run by German Kraft, the same company behind Mercato Metropolitano in Elephant and Castle. That location is closing down at the end of the summer, just in time for Model Market’s opening here.

This is part of the larger work to revamp Lewisham Shopping Centre and the surrounding area.

We’re trying a slightly different format this week, so please write to us and let us know what you think. We’re experimenting and definitely open to feedback.

LAST THING!

We’re looking for businesses to sponsor the newsletter and help us cover costs.

Do you have a business or event and want to get the word out to over 4,300+ members of the South East London community?

Drop us a message at theselondon@gmail.com or reply to this email.

Stay safe. Stay dry. Have a great weekend.

-Anton

All Weekend Long

🎉 Open Gardens Festival 2026 - last weekend!

The Open Gardens Festival is finishing up this weekend. Gardens open up their doors all over Greenwich and Bexley. Many gardens offer refreshments and have plants for sale. Check out the map here and find some gardens close to you.

🎶 Harry Styles’ Meltdown at the Southbank - last weekend here too!
This is the 31st edition of Meltdown, in which an artist curates a series of events and concerts over the course of a couple weeks. Well, the last few shows curated by Harry Styles are this weekend. There are too many shows to mention. Check them all out here.

🎭 Ride the Cyclone
A wild play starting its run at Southwark Playhouse. Six teenagers are in a freak roller coaster accident and, now in limbo, need to prove why they should be given a second chance at life. This is a darkly comic wild ride. Find tickets here.

🍽️ Catford Foodie Trail
Starting Friday until the 28th, there will be a string of restaurants and stores in Catford offering discounts and all sorts of goodies. This is all leading up to the Catford Community Festival next Saturday. Don’t worry, we’ll remind you next week. For now, go eat some food and enjoy! The full list of restaurants and their offers are here. Click on ‘Catford Foodie Trails details.’

👦 The Spongebob Musical is coming to Blackheath
Trinity Laban is putting on the Spongebob Musical at Blackheath Halls, featuring all the characters you and your kids know and love. Find tickets here.

Thursday, June 18th

👦 Bermondsey Puppet & Story Festival
As part of the festival this year, they’re featuring a shadow puppet workshop. This event for ages 11 and up is led by Sarah Sparkes and will feature a show and tell where kids can bring their own shadow puppets or optical illusions to share with the crowd. More information on the event here.

🎉 Roller Disco in Deptford

Practice your skating, dancing and get your groove on at The Albany in Deptford. All ages are welcome and you only pay what you can. Just remember to bring your own skates. Find out more about the event here.

Friday, June 19th

🎶 A Moroccan band in Lewisham
Berber Diffusion is playing a free set at the Fox & Firkin. Catch this band that puts a contemporary feel on indigenous North African music. And hang out until late when they’ll be showing the Morocco v. Scotland game. Find out more here.

🎉 Queer Euphoria in Woolwich
It’s a cabaret, it’s a circus, it’s a celebration of queer culture. An amazing performance coming to Woolwich Works this Friday. Find tickets here.

Saturday, June 20th

🎉 Beer Festival in Lewisham
The Fox & Firkin is cooking up something on Saturday. The Firkin Good Beer Festival is featuring 12 guest breweries on tap and an open-air concert in their great outdoor area with music featuring Norman Jay. Find out more about the lineup and get tickets here.

🍽️ Late night wine and hot dogs in Lee

Wine & Such is celebrating the Summer Solstice in style with dressed beers, cocktails, many different styles of hot dogs, and of course wine. This super unique pairing is worth checking out. Find out more here.

🏛️ Windrush Day 2026 at the National Maritime Museum
A full day of events from 10am-5pm of talks, film screenings, Q&A sessions and exhibits. There are a lot of family-themed activities, but these exhibits are open to anyone. Find out more and see the full programme of events and exhibits here.

👦 Summer Solstice Open Day at Wildcat Wilderness
This community green space in Catford is opening up for a day of activities and exploration for the whole family. Find out more here.

🎉 Manor House Gardens Festival 2026

A big community festival is coming to Hither Green on Saturday. There will be funfair rides, craft stalls, lots of food, sports activities, music, and a children’s workshop area. Find out all the details here.

🎉 The Great Get Together SE1
One of the biggest free community events in London, The Great Get Together is back for its 10th year. Full of music and performances and all in the name of the Living Bankside charity which celebrates unity and fights division. Find out more about it here.

🎉 Okinawa Day 2026
A day celebrating Okinawan culture in Bermondsey. Expect music, dance, performances, and food. Find out more on the event website here.

Sunday, June 21st

🏛️ Family Day at the Painted Hall
It’s a family takeover of the Painted Hall in Greenwich. A ton of activities will be available including sketching, building your own building, costumes and storytime. Each Family Day has a theme and this Sunday’s is TV & Film, celebrating the many shows and movies that have been shot here. Get tickets here.

Happy Thursday, South East London!

Let’s start with some news out of Lewisham…

📰 Lewisham’s Model Market is reopening in late summer

Model Market, the food hotspot right by Lewisham shopping centre, closed in 2021. However, there are new owners who have cleared the space out and plan on a brand new foodie central coming very soon.

www.modelmarket.london

The market will be run by German Kraft, the same company behind Mercato Metropolitano in Elephant and Castle. That location is closing down at the end of the summer, just in time for Model Market’s opening here.

This is part of the larger work to revamp Lewisham Shopping Centre and the surrounding area.

What do you think about Model Market reopening?

Love it!

Hate it!

It's complicated.

We’re trying a slightly different format this week, so please write to us and let us know what you think. We’re experimenting and definitely open to feedback.

LAST THING!

We’re looking for businesses to sponsor the newsletter and help us cover costs.

Do you have a business or event and want to get the word out to over 4,300+ members of the South East London community?

Drop us a message at theselondon@gmail.com or reply to this email.

Stay safe. Stay dry. Have a great weekend.

-Anton

All Weekend Long

🎉 Open Gardens Festival 2026 - last weekend!

The Open Gardens Festival is finishing up this weekend. Gardens open up their doors all over Greenwich and Bexley. Many gardens offer refreshments and have plants for sale. Check out the map here and find some gardens close to you.

🎶 Harry Styles’ Meltdown at the Southbank - last weekend here too! 

This is the 31st edition of Meltdown, in which an artist curates a series of events and concerts over the course of a couple weeks. Well, the last few shows curated by Harry Styles are this weekend. There are too many shows to mention. Check them all out here.

🎭 Ride the Cyclone
A wild play starting its run at Southwark Playhouse. Six teenagers are in a freak roller coaster accident and, now in limbo, need to prove why they should be given a second chance at life. This is a darkly comic wild ride. Find tickets here.

🍽️ Catford Foodie Trail 
Starting Friday until the 28th, there will be a string of restaurants and stores in Catford offering discounts and all sorts of goodies. This is all leading up to the Catford Community Festival next Saturday. Don’t worry, we’ll remind you next week. For now, go eat some food and enjoy! The full list of restaurants and their offers are here. Click on ‘Catford Foodie Trails details.’

👦 The Spongebob Musical is coming to Blackheath
Trinity Laban is putting on the Spongebob Musical at Blackheath Halls, featuring all the characters you and your kids know and love. Find tickets here.

Thursday, June 18th

👦 Bermondsey Puppet & Story Festival
As part of the festival this year, they’re featuring a shadow puppet workshop. This event for ages 11 and up is led by Sarah Sparkes and will feature a show and tell where kids can bring their own shadow puppets or optical illusions to share with the crowd. More information on the event here.

🎉 Roller Disco in Deptford

Practice your skating, dancing and get your groove on at The Albany in Deptford. All ages are welcome and you only pay what you can. Just remember to bring your own skates. Find out more about the event here.

Friday, June 19th

🎶 A Moroccan band in Lewisham

Berber Diffusion is playing a free set at the Fox & Firkin. Catch this band that puts a contemporary feel on indigenous North African music. And hang out until late when they’ll be showing the Morocco v. Scotland game. Find out more here.

🎉 Queer Euphoria in Woolwich
It’s a cabaret, it’s a circus, it’s a celebration of queer culture. An amazing performance coming to Woolwich Works this Friday. Find tickets here.

Saturday, June 20th

🎉 Beer Festival in Lewisham
The Fox & Firkin is cooking up something on Saturday. The Firkin Good Beer Festival is featuring 12 guest breweries on tap and an open-air concert in their great outdoor area with music featuring Norman Jay. Find out more about the lineup and get tickets here.

🍽️ Late night wine and hot dogs in Lee

Wine & Such is celebrating the Summer Solstice in style with dressed beers, cocktails, many different styles of hot dogs, and of course wine. This super unique pairing is worth checking out. Find out more here.

🏛️ Windrush Day 2026 at the National Maritime Museum
A full day of events from 10am-5pm of talks, film screenings, Q&A sessions and exhibits. There are a lot of family-themed activities, but these exhibits are open to anyone. Find out more and see the full programme of events and exhibits here.

👦 Summer Solstice Open Day at Wildcat Wilderness
This community green space in Catford is opening up for a day of activities and exploration for the whole family. Find out more here.

🎉 Manor House Gardens Festival 2026 

A big community festival is coming to Hither Green on Saturday. There will be funfair rides, craft stalls, lots of food, sports activities, music, and a children’s workshop area. Find out all the details here.

🎉 The Great Get Together SE1 
One of the biggest free community events in London, The Great Get Together is back for its 10th year. Full of music and performances and all in the name of the Living Bankside charity which celebrates unity and fights division. Find out more about it here.

🎉 Okinawa Day 2026 
A day celebrating Okinawan culture in Bermondsey. Expect music, dance, performances, and food. Find out more on the event website here.

Sunday, June 21st

🏛️ Family Day at the Painted Hall
It’s a family takeover of the Painted Hall in Greenwich. A ton of activities will be available including sketching, building your own building, costumes and storytime. Each Family Day has a theme and this Sunday’s is TV & Film, celebrating the many shows and movies that have been shot here. Get tickets here.

Know someone who would like this newsletter? Send them this link 👇 www.theselondon.com

Happy Thursday, South East London!

Quick story! I was in Berlin for a friend’s wedding this weekend and was told about a street name that was unusually relevant to myself and the readers of this newsletter.

Special thanks to Erika for the photo!

This translates to Lewisham Street… and it’s right in the heart of Berlin!

Here’s the story…

It turns out Lewisham and Charlottenburg, a beautiful neighbourhood in Berlin, are sister cities.

They’ve named a street after us, and we’ve named a park after them. Charlottenburg Park is nestled between New Cross and Deptford.

But this isn’t Lewisham’s only sister city. There’s also Antony in France and Kingston, the capital of Jamaica.

Lewisham also has a “friendship link” with Ekurhuleni, an area outside of Johannesburg, and Matagalpa, a city in Nicaragua.

That’s all the borough info I have for now. On to the events!

Stay safe. Stay dry. Have a great weekend.

-Anton

All Weekend Long

• The London Illustration Fair in Peckham. Get over to the Copeland Gallery for the Summer showcase and affordable art from the UK’s best illustrators. It’s running from 10-6 Saturday and Sunday. Take a look here for a preview of some of the amazing stuff on offer.

• Go East Creatives Market. Cutting-edge, sustainable design, art, stationary, ceramics. There’s a lot going on at this week’s Go East market, which usually goes vintage. But they’re doing something a little bit different this week. Check it out.

• Forest Hill Walking Festival 2026. Six different walks across Forest Hill throughout the weekend. Put on by the Forest Hill Society, come out to meet people, learn about the history and different areas of your neighbourhood. Each walk has a theme, including music & arts, a pub tour, architecture and more. More information on their site here.  

• Ferreira Weekend at the Cutty Sark. Celebrate Portugal Day at the ship and learn about its history when the Cutty Sark got sold to a Portuguese company in 1895. There will be crafts, costumed characters and natas in the cafe. Find out more here.

• Harry Styles’ Meltdown at the Southbank Centre. This is the 31st annual Meltdown, an artist-curated music festival - this year curated by the one and only Styles. There will be events happening from the 11th to the 21st, so be on the lookout for some great concerts. Highlights this weekend include Warpaint and Kamasi Washington. (And Harry Styles himself will be playing with an orchestra on Tuesday the 16th!)

• Thamesmead Tapestry Exhibition. Part of the London Festival of Architecture, this exhibit brings together the community with themes of home and belonging. Find out more here.

• The Last Man ends its run on Saturday at the Southwark Playhouse. A one-person musical set in Seoul after the apocalypse. This unique show is ending its run on Saturday. Get the last tickets here.

• Cockpit Open Studios Summer 2026. This is one of only two times a year that Cockpit opens its doors to the public and let you into the studios of some incredible artists to see how they work. Find out more about the 40th anniversary of this event here.

Thursday, June 11th

• Lie Down and Listen at the Painted Hall. An event meant to promote wellbeing. Lay down on beds in the hall and listen to music that evokes peace and calm in this incredible surrounding. Tickets are selling out quickly, so get yours now.

Friday, June 12th

• Ghana Groove and Afro-fusion. Okailey is bringing their sounds to the Fox and Firkin on Friday. There are a ton of different influences on their style, but mostly it’s just a good time. See videos of prior performances and get tickets here.

Saturday, June 13th

• Creekside Low Tide Walk in Deptford. Put on your waders and enjoy this evening stroll in a place most Londoners never get to experience. There’s lots of nature that we pass by every day. This is a chance to stop and experience it. Find tickets here.

• Celebrate National Gin Day on the HMS Belfast. Weird combo, I know. First, hear a talk on the history of gin and how its history has intertwined with the Armed Forces. And then, of course, there will be a gin tasting. Find out more about the event here.

• Southwark Healthy Bike Ride through the Royal Parks. A 3.5 hour-long bicycle ride to promote healthy living. Join a group of bikers starting in Burgess Park. It’s free to join but they do limit numbers so reserve your spot here.

• The Greenwich Dog Show is back! They unfortunately had to reschedule a few weeks ago due to the high temperatures, but the cute dogs will be back on Saturday. There will be lots of competitions including waggiest tail, handsome hound, and prettiest bitch. (That’s true.) Get your tickets to the event here.

• The Dualers Jamaican rhythm and blues. This 9-piece band with several hits in the UK are taking the outdoor stage at the Fox and Firkin this weekend. They’re particularly well known for their live shows, so this is a great one to catch. Tickets can be found here. 

Sunday, June 14th

• World Naked Bike Ride takes on London today. This is a global event of nudist cycling enthusiasts taking over the city from many different starting points, including Deptford in our corner of the city. Last year’s event saw 1,200 naked bicyclists take a leisurely windy ride. Find out more about the event here. And maybe avoid any public bikes for a few days afterwards.

LAST THING!

Do you have a business or event and want to get the word out to over 4,000+ members of the South East London community?

Drop us a message at theselondon@gmail.com or reply to this email.

Know someone who would like this newsletter? Send them this link 👇 www.theselondon.com

Happy Thursday, South East London!

At this point, we’re definitely all missing that blast of heat we had last week. But hopefully there’s some more sun on the way soon.

This is a great weekend of events. Brockley Max is ending its 9-day festival. Open Gardens Festival is happening all over the city. We’ve got workshops, crafts, music, and a bicycle-based touring Shakespeare troupe is coming to Southwark. Scroll down to see what that means.

Stay safe. Stay dry. Have a great weekend.

-Anton

🎸 Events & Concerts

All Weekend Long

• Brockley Max Festival is celebrating its last few days! A festival with events all around Lewisham is here right now. The festival promotes local artists from South East London and features performances, markets, food, and community events in venues all over the area. We’ll be featuring some of the events below, but if you want the full list, you can find it here.  

• Woolwich Open Studios 2026. Thames-side Studios in Woolwich is putting on their annual open studios event. The event includes tons of art galleries and workshops happening throughout the weekend. There’s also street food and activities for kids. Learn more about the event here.

• Puregold 2026. Final year popuplar music students at Goldsmiths will be performing music at the Albany in Deptford starting June 3rd to the 13th. See the artists before they’re famous.

• An Audience with Abraham Lincoln. A one-man show bringing Lincoln to life at the Greenwich Theatre. Tickets here.

• Open Gardens Festival 2026. A celebration of gardens you may know as well as hidden gems across Greenwich and Bexley. Meet the gardeners and enjoy the amazing spaces, and there’s also a Jazz in the Garden event happening in one of the gardens. Learn all about this cool event here.

• Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five. The theatrical version of one of the most banned books of all time. It’s funny, ambitious and poignant. It’s starting this week and will be playing for the next month. Get your tickets here.

• Peckham Salvage Yard. This incredible flea market is back on Saturday and Sunday. Scrounge for bargains, find unique vintage pieces. It’s on from 10am-5pm and there’s only a small £2 entry fee. All the details are here.

• Crystal Palace Museum is officially re-opening. The museum was shut due to damage from a fire. But thanks to the Crystal Palace Park Trust and their volunteers, the museum is back and continues its 35 year history! Find out more about the re-opening.  

Thursday, June 4th

• Brockleywood Nights. A showcase of short films made by South East Londoners. They’ve got everything from animation to documentary to fiction. This showcase is celebrating its 20th anniversary. And it’s free. Find out more here.

• The Handlebards at Southwark Cathedral. This Shakespeare troupe pedals from gig to gig on their bicycles. And that includes their props and costumes and everything for an environmentally friendly event. And they’re putting on a classic of course, As You Like It. Get your tickets here.

Friday, June 5th

• Love’s Labour’s Lost at the Crystal Palace Bowl. This is part of the Shakespeare in the Squares summer tour, which is celebrating their tenth anniversary. This is a really nice evening event where you can picnic if you want to. Find tickets and find out more here.

• Spirit of Tibet. A special performance celebrating Tibetan culture through music, dance, and costumes. The Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts is putting on this performance in Woolwich. Find out more about the event and get tickets here.

• Knickers Chaos Cabaret in Peckham. This is a mix of the wildest alternative comics in London. And the event is followed by a dance party at Peckham Levels. Get tickets here.

Saturday, June 6th

• Cut, Collage, Create Workshop. Part of the Object to Art craft workshop series at the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre. Experiment with textures, composition and storytelling through mixed media. Get tickets to the workshop here.

• Bushbby Block Party. DJ Bushbby is bringing her favourite DJs to the Fox & Firkin for an all-day event on Saturday, celebrating Latin music. Get tickets here.

• Folk music in the beer garden at The Wickham Arms. Live music from 12.30-11pm with urban folk all day long. This is part of the Brockley Max festival.

• Max in the Park. The closing event of Brockley Max features a huge amount of artists playing all day. There are workshops, an art fair, food stalls, bars, storytelling, and lots and lots of music. Check out the event here.

Sunday, June 7th

• 3D Paper Flower Making Workshop. Cruise up to the South Bank for this great workshop. And it’s happening at a market, so before or after the workshop you can check out tons of crafts and makers. Here’s the ticket page.

• Summer Jazz Series: Women in Jazz. The Firkin Brewery Summer Jazz Series is starting Sunday with Women in Jazz, with music all day long from 2pm-7.15pm. Find tickets here.

• First Sunday at the Painted Hall. The first Sunday of the month means that entry is only £5! Get tickets and see the amazing space and don’t spend a fortune doing it. More info here.

🧒 Family-friendly Activities

• World Ocean Day at the Maritime Museum. Celebrate World Ocean Day with your little ones on Saturday. There will be performances, activities, games, and music. Plus, you can always explore the galleries. There’s more info about the event here.

• Family Film Club in Deptford. This Saturday, they’re having a film screening for kids at the Deptford Lounge. Check this page where they have a phone number you can call to see what they’re showing.

That’s all for now. Have a great week!

Know someone who would like this newsletter? Send them this link 👇 www.theselondon.com

Happy Thursday, South East London!

Hope everyone’s staying cool out there. I’ve been hiding away and sleeping on the floor in the one cool room of the house. Sadly, it’s not the bedroom.

Well, we have a special one this weekend. The Brockley Max festival is back for its 25th year with events all over Lewisham. You’ll notice a few of their events sprinkled throughout the newsletter but the full programme is in the main listing below.

And stay tuned! Because we’re cooking up our own S.E. London meetup event in the next few weeks.

Can’t wait to meet some of you soon!

Stay safe, stay cool, and have fun this weekend.

-Anton

🎸 Events & Concerts

All Weekend Long

• Brockley Max Festival is celebrating 25 years! A festival with events all around Lewisham is back for 9 days starting on Friday. The festival promotes local artists from South East London and features performances, markets, food, and community events in venues all over the area. There’s also a big party to kick off the event and at its conclusion. We’ll be featuring some of the events below, but if you want the full list, you can find it here.  

• Time Train: The story of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe in song. A theatre production lasting just today and Friday following students as they time travel through the area’s history. This musical is a production of People’s Co., an inclusive theatre company based in Southwark Theatre. Find tickets here.

• The Wasp at Southwark Theatre - last chance! A two-hander thriller about two friends from two sides of the socioeconomic spectrum. Get the last tickets here.

• Next Up Festival at Blackheath Halls. Thursday and Friday, emerging talent from Trinity Laban’s honour’s program perform at Blackheath Halls. Solo performers and bands will be playing both nights. Find out more here.

Thursday, May 28th

• An evening of Radiohead at Southwark Cathedral. Experience your favourite Radiohead songs in the magical surroundings of the Southwark Cathedral with a band, singers, and string quartet. There are two seatings for this event.

Friday, May 29th

• Sip and Paint on the Greenwich Peninsula. A relaxed painting session led by experts that gets more relaxing with a glass of wine. This is a very chill event where you can let loose and indulge in some calming art after a long week at work. You can find tickets here.

• Crystal sound bath and Reiki session - FREE. This is part of Spring Thrive, a mental wellbeing programme of events being held in South East London. Make sure you book before your spot. You can find out more and book here.

• Brockley Max 2026 Opening Night. The opening night of the Brockley Max festival means an outdoor concert with a whole slew of bands. From 4pm-10:30pm, there will be everything from rock, to folk, to funk. This is the event that kicks off the 9 day event. Find out more here.

• Calligraphy Art in Crofton Park. Another Brockley Max event, this is your chance to learn the art of mindful calligraphy. You can book tickets for this workshop here.

Saturday, May 30th

• BFEG Africa Day Celebration. This free event brings includes markets, workshops, live theatre, family activities, and music. This celebration is meant to uplift, educate and inspire. Put together by the Black Female Entrepreneurs of Greenwich, the event runs from noon to 6pm. Here’s more info.

• Free pilates. Another event on the last day of the Spring Thrive mental wellbeing programme. Book the pilates session here. 

• Aircraft Circus in Woolwich. It’s cabaret. It’s a circus. It’s aerialists. It’s sexy. It’s all over the place. The Sizzling Hot Circus is bringing their crazy show to Woolwich. Check out the preview of their show.

• Guided tour of Brockley and Ladywell Cemetery. Learn about the history of this cemetery as well as some of the notable people buried there in this 2 hour tour hosted by the Friends of Brockley and Ladywell Cemetery. It’s a free event. Find the time here.

Sunday, May 31st

• Space Station Earth. A concert about space matched with a film… you guessed it… about space. An orchestra and choir are paired with a film put together from footage shot from space designed to give you an overwhelming experience and allow you to look at Earth the way you never have before. Find tickets and more information about this unique concert/event/film here.

• Theon Cross open air show in Lewisham. Part of the Brockley Max festival of events, local musician Theon Cross brings his revolutionary music to the Fox and Firkin with a whole day of amazing musicians with Theo as the headliner. The show will be followed by an indoor DJ set. Check out the lineup and get tickets here.

• Counterpoints x Footnote Prize Readings. Listen to the shortlisted authors for this prize in fiction focusing on authors of migrant and refugee backgrounds. Find out more here.

• A history walk through Crofton Park. Join historian Mike Brown as he guides you through southern Crofton Park and tells you about the ancient forests and farms that were once there. Find out the times here.

• Crochet and knitting workshop. A relaxed environment with gentle teaching, this workshop takes newbies and people with experience alike through some chill crocheting and knitting. Find out more here.

🧒 Family-friendly Activities

• Community Quilting Family Workshop. All weekend long, this free event invites families to come help put together a giant collective piece of quilt art. Learn how to quilt and weave in your own stories. Ages 7+ and their families are welcome to drop-in during quilting hours. 

• DanceDanceDiscoPartyFunShow. That’s a mouthful. A fun-filled dance party led by circus performers and acrobats. Ages 2+ are welcome to this free event at the Southbank Centre. Find out when.

• The Very Busy Bumblebee. An introduction to live ballet for kids at Blackheath Halls. It’s a sweet, funny show that follows a bumblebee being chased by Grumpy the Gardener. There are two showings on Friday.

• Everybody Dance Kids Disco. DJ Clee-J is spinning the tunes while your little ones dance, play games, and have a blast. Here’s the info.

That’s all for now. Have a great week!

Know someone who would like this newsletter? Send them this link 👇 www.theselondon.com

Happy Thursday, South East London!

I was away last week, and when I got back I was immediately hit with what I like most about South East London.

We’re so close to the centre of London but it feels like its own world entirely.

Tourists know about some of it (Greenwich), but don’t know about most of it (the rest). And this bank holiday weekend really made me appreciate the area, because there is a ton of stuff going on.

Cheese supper club.

Electronic music festival.

Music underneath the Cutty Sark.

And one of my favourite bands of all time.

Check out the good stuff below, be safe, and enjoy the long weekend.

-Anton

🎸 Events & Concerts

All Weekend Long

• Peckham Fringe Week 3. The theatre continues with limited run plays every week. This week features Cornershop Chronicles, work-in-progress show, HOT DAWWG, and The Infinite Colours on the Drinks Aisle, among many others. Check out the shows here.

• Love Your Local Market 2026 at Greenwich Market. This nationwide campaign celebrating local markets and encouraging shopping local is coming to Greenwich Market. What does that mean? Music, a photo installation and all the regular street foods and art stalls you already know and leave. This weekend features Latin music on Thursday, jazz on Friday, vintage motown and disco on Saturday, and contemporary jazz on Sunday. Check out the full lineup here.

• Free From Festival 2026. The UK’s only gluten- and dairy-free food festival is happening this Saturday and Sunday in Woolwich. So much good food to explore. Check out the preview video here.

• The Crawl at Greenwich Theatre. Two elite swimmers compete for gold in this comedy without water. Physical comedy with a “heartwarming undercurrent” is how one reviewer described the show. It’s only playing this weekend.  

• GALA Electronic Music Festival in Peckham Rye Park. The 11th anniversary of GALA festival is happening this weekend Friday through Sunday. Find out more about the festival here. Saturday is already sold out but there are still tickets for Friday and Sunday.

Thursday, May 21st

• The Boleyn Secret: Best-selling author talk at Southwark Cathedral. Author Alison Weir is coming to give a talk about her new Tudor novel, “The Boleyn Secret.” She is the UK’s best-selling female historian. Get tickets to the event here.

• A plant-based supper club in Brockley. This is a four-course vegan menu that is designed to foster kindness and kinship through cooking. It’s at the Broca Cafe right outside the station. Tickets are available here. Get them quick!

• Roller disco in Deptford. Every third Thursday of the month, The Albany in Deptford puts on their roller disco. Come to practice, dance, show off your skills, and get in the groove. Pay-what-you-decide tickets are available here.

• A night of Egyptian Jazz. Singer Amena and composer/guitarist Ziad Hisham take the stage for a night of contemporary Egyptian Jazz in Lewisham. Find out more about the artists and get tickets here.

• Opera underneath the Cutty Sark. The Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras perform Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. I don’t know what that means, but I’m sure the opera lovers among us will. And besides, it will be incredible to experience this concert literally underneath the Cutty Sark at night. Get tickets here.

Friday, May 22nd

• Textiles and Self-Soothing Workshop. “Soft Ground” is a free weekly session designed to pair art with textiles with self-soothing techniques. The workshop aims to support mental wellbeing, creativity, routine, and community. This is a gentle, sensory-aware environment. Find out more about this programme here.

Saturday, May 23rd

• Hole-punch collage workshop. Experiment with this collage technique inspired by pointilism led by artist Sophie Rawlingson. This event takes place at the Dulwich Picture Gallery and takes inpiration from the Konrad Magi exhibit currently on display. Get tickets here.

• Spring Cheese Supper Club in Deptford. A three-course spring-inspired meal, each one served alongside a selection of cheeses that complement the dish. It’s led by Lucy, the cheesemonger (what a dream job) at The Cheeseboard in Greenwich. Find out more about the event and get tickets here.

• Rodrigo y Gabriela. These guys are incredible. I’ve seen them twice in the past. They are a Mexican guitar duo who started as a metal band and now are this crazy fusion of acoustic Latin classic rock. Google their most famous song, Tamacun, to get a sense of them, and click here for tickets.

• Six bands performing at the Brockley Brewery Taproom in Hither Green. The taproom is continuing their Saturday concert series with a ton of music this Saturday. We had a great time visiting a couple weeks ago. Check out the website for directions.

• Soapbox Science at Gabriel’s Wharf. From 1-4pm on the Southbank, 12 scientists will literally get on their soapboxes and share their research and work in STEM. The event is aimed at raising the profile of women and non-binary people in science. Learn more about the organization here.

Sunday, May 24th

• Cuban All-Stars Outdoor Party. A vibrant collection of Cuban musicians playing together in the outdoor garden at Fox & Firkin. Party the day away on Sunday with this incredible group.

• Greenwich Dog Show 2026. An entire day of canine festivities. Enroll your pooch into the competitions or just bring your dog as a spectator. There will be street food for pets and humans, a gin and pimms bar, a relaxation zone, and of course competitions like “Waggiest tail” and “Prettiest bitch” (Not kidding - that’s actually on the Old Royal Naval College’s website). Check out all the festivities here.

• Mulholland Drive - the TV pilot. Before David Lynch’s groundbreaking movie, Mulholland Drive was a TV pilot and The Ivy House in Nunhead is screening the unaired show. Get tickets here.

Monday, May 25th

• On the Rye Festival. A free community festival in Peckham Rye park with three stages, live music, DJs, local food, activities for the whole family, and much more. The festival runs from 1pm-9pm and you can come and go as you please. Find the full program of events here.

• Vintage market at the mansion. So Last Century is having their vintage market at Beckenham Place Park. Check out some of the goodies at previous events.

🧒 Family-friendly Activities

• Handpuppet workshop with storyteller Baden Prince Jr. Children will get regaled with special Anansi stories, and then they’ll be able to make their own handpuppet. This is part of an ongoing puppet and storytelling festival happening through the summer in Bermondsey. More details here. 

• Green Shoots! Family art workshops. Artist-led eco-friendly workshops for families, carers, and children ages 0-12. The artists keep nature at the core of their programmes. No booking required, you can just show up. Find out where and when.

• Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet. A new children’s play at the Unicorn Theatre, following the adventures of an 8-year-old with an active imagination. This play is for ages 7+. Get tickets here.

• Rapunzel. The award-winning children’s theatre company, Wrongsemble, are putting on this classic fairy tale in Deptford. Children ages 3-10 will enjoy this production in Deptford on Saturday.

That’s all for now. Have a great week!

Know someone who would like this newsletter? Send them this link 👇 www.theselondon.com

Happy Thursday, South East London!

We have 4 different festivals and fairs this week. That must be a record. There’s so much to do this weekend. Let’s hope the weather cooperates. (Now that I’ve said it, it definitely won’t. Sorry.)

Quick reminder for anyone who’s been in need of a trip to the salon. S.E. London subscribers can get 20% off any service at the Blue Tit salon in Blackheath for the entire month of May. Book here and use code, SELondon20 during checkout. (You can find all the details in last week’s newsletter here.)

Last thing… today is voting day for your local elections, so head to your local polling station!

Last last thing… scroll down for one of the silliest events we’ve featured so far, the London Hat Walk.

Have a great weekend everyone!

-Anton

🎸 Events & Concerts

All Weekend Long

• The Dulwich Festival is on! (We had the dates wrong in a previous newsletter but we promise it’s actually on now!) Comedy, kids shows, silent discos, music, movies, talks, walks. There is so much going on between Friday and the 17th in Dulwich. Luckily their website splits the events up by category because there’s too many things to scroll through. See the entire list here.

• A psychological thriller musical about the apocalypse. “The Last Man” premieres Friday at Southwark Playhouse. This play is coming to London following sold-out performances in Seoul. Get tickets and see some stills from the production here.

• London’s biggest hot sauce festival. 40 different hot sauce makers with hundreds of different sauces are coming together this weekend in Peckham to show off their spice. And there will be plenty of beer, cocktails and street food to wash things down. Get tickets here.

• “The Wasp” premieres in Southwark. A two-hander thriller starts this week which the Guardian called “An enjoyable nasty thriller….” Get your tickets for this show at the Southwark Playhouse.

• Women in Art Fair 2026. Dedicated to supporting women artists, this event is happening May 7-10th at the OXO tower. They have a lot of events and talks and of course galleries. Find out more here.

• Peckham Fringe is on Week 2. Just a reminder. The full listings page is here. Check it out and plan out your month.

Thursday, May 7th

• Live jazz in Peckham. Grassroots, which supports London-based emerging jazz musicians, is presenting the Kavis Band sextet at the CFL Arts Lounge. Find out more about the group and the organization here. Grassroots will also be putting on a one-day jazz festival on May 23rd, so stay tuned for that.

• The Moth London Grand Slam Championship. If you’re not familiar with The Moth, it’s a storytelling event held in cities all over the world. But only the best storytellers make it here. Hear amazing stories from former winners. Tickets can be found here. 

Friday, May 8th

• 60’s pop, R&B and Soul in Blackheath. Ronnie Scott’s is presenting Natalie Williams’ Soul Family at Blackheath Halls coming with a Motown Review. They’ve had tons of sold-out residencies at Ronnie Scott’s and they sound amazing. Tickets and a video of their performance here.

• Late night at the Tate Modern. They’re celebrating the last weekend of the Nigerian Modernism exhibit and are throwing a late night party to celebrate. You’ll also get access to the exhibit itself. Find out more here.

• UK Acid Jazz legends, Incognito, play with a full orchestra. They’ve done a lot in the band’s 45 year career, blending jazz and funk. This will be a fun concert with a full orchestra behind them. Check it out.

Saturday, May 9th

• Musical theatre workshop in Blackheath. For any budding musical theatre aficionados, this one-day intensive lets you rehearse and perform songs from Les Miserables, West Side Story, Oklahoma and The Sound of Music. Singers and instrumentalists are welcome.

• Orchard Open Day at Greenwich Park. Learn fun facts about the garden and get great composting and gardening tips from the pros. You’ll also be able to leave with something from your garden. More info here.

• Sonic Spheres in Woolwich. I can’t put this event into my own words so I’ll let them do the talking. “Sonic Spheres transforms Woolwich Works into a living, resonant environment where multiple spherical loudspeaker arrays animate the space with fully immersive 3D sound.” For any audio-heads out there, there will also be talks, panel discussions and workshops. Here’s the full description.

Sunday, May 10th

• A brand new food market between Catford and Hither Green. The Mountsfield Park Market will be starting their weekly pop-up this Sunday. Expect to see a selection of street food, produce and artisanal stalls, so come hungry. Check out their Instagram page to see some of the food on offer.  

• London Hat Walk 2026. Got a fancy hat? Want to see people wearing fancy hats? Yes and yes? The London Hat Walk is a collection of hatters, cosplayers, retro-enthusiasts, collectors and really anybody who loves a good hat, wearing their finest and walking from the Tate Modern to Tower Bridge. Anybody can join… you just need a hat. Find out more about the event here.

• Hubfest 2026: A celebration of everything the Lewisham Donation Hub has accomplished is happening at the Fox & Firkin. It’s an all-day music festival for a good cause. Get tickets and support them here.

🧒 Family-friendly Activities

• Family Silent Disco in Dulwich. The Dulwich Picture Gallery is getting in on the Dulwich Festival festivities on Friday with a silent disco in their sculpture garden for children ages 8 and up. Get tickets here and check the Dulwich Festival link above for many many more child-friendly activities in Dulwich over the next couple weeks.

• Spring Fair at Surrey Docks Farm. This fundraiser for the farm includes sheep sheering demonstrations all day long, animal petting, and lots of stalls with cakes and farm-made jams. Check it out.

• Bring Your Own Baby Comedy in Greenwich. Stand-up comedy for parents and carers at the Greenwich Picturehouse. This super unique event is happening on Thursday (today!) at 11:30am so get your tickets quick!

• Rug Rhymes. A playful event with puppets where under-5s can sing their favourite nursery rhymes and learn new ones. It takes place on Friday. Find out more here.

That’s all for now. Have a great week!

Know someone who would like this newsletter? Send them this link 👇 www.theselondon.com

Happy Thursday, South East London!

You’ll notice the newsletter’s a little longer today. That’s because it’s filled with events in preparation for the three day weekend.

But that’s not all…

Just below my little message here, we have a special discount for our readers.

And before I go, I just want to very quickly acknowledge the many people who have reached out with nice things to say about the newsletter.

I very much appreciate your continued support as we grow and make a special community out of this thing.

-Anton

In partnership with…

Many of you already know there’s a new Blue Tit salon in Blackheath. But what you don’t know is they’re offering The S.E. London subscribers an EXCLUSIVE 20% OFF ANY SERVICE FOR THE MONTH OF MAY!

The offer is valid at the Blue Tit in Blackheath, which is in an incredible remodeled Georgian building. Check out the space below…

The offer has to be used from Wednesday to Saturday from 11am-5pm, it can’t be used with any other offers, and you have to book online or on the app.

Here’s what to do: Choose your service, then on the booking page, put in the code…

SELondon20

And just like that, you’ve got 20% off of a blowout, colouring, styling, treatment, or literally ANY OTHER SERVICE!

Special thanks to Ricky, Smitha, and the team at Blue Tit for offering this to our subscribers.

Now, CLICK HERE to book your service, and enjoy!

🎸 Concerts & Events

All Weekend Long

• Peckham Fringe begins on Saturday. Now on its fifth year, Peckham Theatre is bringing you 5 WHOLE WEEKS of amazing shows from emerging artists. These are musicals, plays, spoken word poets, immersive theatre experiences, and a whole lot more. The full listings page is here. Check it out and plan out your month.

• Into The Woods at the Bridge Theatre. Playing just off the West End on the South Bank, this production of Into the Woods is getting incredible reviews. It’s on for the next month, so get your tickets now.

• Full Bloom Music and Beer Festival in Deptford. A whole weekend of music, beer, and workshops is happening, led by Villages Brewery. There is so much going on across so many different venues. There are DJ's, folk sessions, jazz, open mics, zine-making workshops, bookbinding and embroidery workshops, and of course, independent beer makers. The full list is here. It’s definitely worth a gander.

• 20th Anniversary of Hoopla Improv continues! The celebrations are still happening with a performance from LadyProv, and Hoopla’s shortform improv showcase, Whoop Ass! Get tickets here.

• Closing weekend of ‘Invisible Me’ and ‘Lifeline’ in Southwark. These shows at the Southwark Playhouse are playing their last few performances this weekend. ‘Invisible Me’ focuses on three older Londoners who discover it’s never too late to start again. And ‘Lifeline’ is a musical about the people behind extraordinary medical discoveries.

• The New Cross and Deptford Free Film Festival is almost over! It’s the last few days, so get some free movies in while you still can. Highlights include Almost Famous with a live band, and School of Rock to close out the event. Check out the schedule here.

Thursday, April 30th

• Violin-led jazz quartet. Luke Doyle, a virtuoso jazz violinist is playing this Thursday. I’m a big jazz fan and you don’t often find a lead violinist fronting a quartet. This is an interesting one to see. And check out the booking page where there’s a clip of him performing.  

• Experimental watercolour workshop in Mottingham. Designed to learn new skills and build your artistic confidence, this workshop is open to beginners. It’s super relaxed and focusing on building your technique. Find out more.

• Spring Salon showcase at London Performance Studios. Dance, music, sound, and movement make up this night of performances by amazing artists. Get tickets here.

Friday, May 1st

• Reggae night at The Rivoli Ballroom. Ska, rocksteady, and reggae all from the ‘80s and ‘90s. Join this fun Friday night at The Rivoli Ballroom, one of the last remaining 1950’s-style ballrooms left in London. Get tickets for the event here. 

Saturday, May 2nd

• Danny Baker live in Blackheath. You know him from the BBC and all over the radio. Now, Danny Baker is coming to Blackheath to tell his humorous stories live in this one many show. Get tickets here.

• Jazz Saturdays in Deptford. Students from Trinity Laban Conservatory play The Albany in Deptford. It’s super casual so drop into the cafe and grab a coffee and listen at these times.

• A silent zen meditation in Greenwich. Beyond the bustle of the weekend crowds, find a little peace in this donation-based practice put on by the London Zen Community. Book your slot here.

• Soul music from 3pm ‘til 3am in Lewisham. It’s a 12-hour music marathon at the Fox and Firkin with this Fast Soul music session. Check out the lineup.

• Latin jazz brunch in Peckham. Charanga Mariposa is playing a rhythmic soulful mix of latin jazz while you eat or drink at the CLF Art Lounge. Find out more about the event here.

• A terrarium workshop in Dulwich. Head gardener of the Dulwich Picture Gallery, Jack Townson, is putting on this workshop for all levels in honour of the Konrad Magi exhibit. And it includes a ticket to the exhibit.

Sunday, May 3rd

• Low tide walk in Deptford Creek. Learn about your neighbourhood in a way few have with this early morning stroll in Deptford Creek. Learn about everything the Creekside Discovery Centre is doing to improve the creek while experiencing the variety of wildlife inside. This is a really unique walk. Find out more here.

• A journey through 75 years of British music, dance, theatre, fashion, and film in one performance. This is a freewheeling theatre piece that is at the core of Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary celebration. It’s hard to describe just what this performance will be like, but if it helps, Danny Boyle is one of the creators, so you know it’s going to be impressive. 

• Got a wedding coming up? A wedding showcase is happening at Dulwich Picture Gallery. Get inspiration and meet vendors in preparation for your special day. Find out more.

🧒 Family-friendly Activities

• A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It’s the second to last weekend to see The Unicorn Theatre’s production of the classic Shakespeare play specifically for children ages 7 and up. Find out more about the production, including all the incredible reviews, here.

• Wordplay: Song, dancing, and games for young kids at the Southbank Centre. This event is happening on Friday with a session for 0-2s and another for 3-5s. Singing, musicians, and interactive play, and all for free.

• Mini Masterpieces at Dulwich Picture Gallery. A monthly exploratory session for under-5s at the Gallery. It’s happening on Friday. Find out more about the event here.

📰 News in your borough

GREENWICH

GREENWICH LABOUR FORCED TO SCRAP AND REPRINT LEAFLETS
Greenwich Labour has been forced to scrap thousands of local election leaflets after mistakenly including a photograph of a rival Liberal Democrat candidate, Roger Spence, without his permission.

The Liberal Democrats reported the "unlawful use" of the image, which led Labour to apologize and agree to withdraw and destroy all undistributed copies. This is a pretty rough mistake just two weeks before the election and will cost roughly £15,000 in reprinting.

LEWISHAM

LEE RESIDENTS ACCUSE LEWISHAM COUNCIL OF FLY-TIPPING HYPOCRISY
Some residents in Lee are accusing Lewisham Council of hypocrisy for "effectively fly-tipping" on Woodyates Road. What they mean is street cleaners regularly leave rubbish bags that are ignored by collection teams for days. These bags are then of course torn apart by the rampant foxes and rubbish is strewn all over the place.

Locals are particularly frustrated because the council recently increased fly-tipping fines to £1,000, yet they’re nowhere to be found when it comes to their own waste management standards. A council spokesperson has asked for "patience and understanding," claiming the bags are only placed there temporarily as part of their standard cleaning routine.

That’s all for now. Have a great week!

Know someone who would like this newsletter? Send them this link 👇 www.theselondon.com

Happy Thursday, South East London!

First of all, a warning to all. The London Marathon is on Sunday, so plan accordingly. The start times and course is linked below.

Second of all, I want to point parents, grandparents, or any caretakers to an amazing resource…

GREENWICH PARENTS & CARERS

Every week, Aster puts together an incredibly extensive list of events for parents and carers in her newsletter. I don’t even understand how she finds so many great things to do. But that’s not all. There are meetups, networking events, and a lively Whatsapp community. Check out all the great stuff in store! 

-Anton

🎸 Concerts & Events

All Weekend Long

• The London Table Football Masters is on! A massive table football, or foosball, tournament is happening in Peckham this weekend. This is an international tournament with amateurs and semi-pros alike and it’s part of the British Foosball Association, which I’m sure we’ve all heard of. Learn more about this crazy event here.

• The New Cross and Deptford Free Film Festival 2026. The festival, which features free movies in various locations across New Cross and Deptford, is starting on Thursday with Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion. Grab a drink, watch the movie with a good crew and have a party afterwards. There will be events like this happening for the next week. Find the schedule here.

• Here Comes the Sun Spring Craft and Beer Festival. The good folks at The Exchange in Erith are teaming up with Bexley Brewery for an incredible weekend of events and beer. This is a little outside of our usual radius, but it sounds like such a fun event, we wanted to include it. There will be free craft sessions all weekend long, music, a record fair, food, and of course, beer. Find the whole schedule here.

Thursday, April 23rd

• World Book Night at Southwark Cathedral. This is a really special event. Come with your book and just read in this amazing space with fellow book lovers. Then stay for the book swap where you can trade books and stories. Plus, every 30 minutes, there will be a tour of this historic cathedral. And this event is free!

Friday, April 24th

• A night of Cumbia in Lewisham. La Yegros is a performer known for her Nu Cumbia, combining the genre with a distinct style that’s all her own. But she’s only one of three acts this night. It kicks off with tropical psychedelia electronic music by Xaman X and then finishes with a cumbia DJ set. This is going to be a fun, Cumbia-heavy night.

• Sip and Paint in Greenwich. It’s the classic mix of wine and painting happening on the Greenwich Peninsula. Don’t worry about bringing any materials. Everything is provided for you. Just bring your creativity… or your ability to drink wine. Sign up here. 

• An internationally recognised jazz quartet. This amazing foursome is coming together at Oliver’s Jazz Bar in Greenwich for the night. Check out these amazing musicians.

• Yoga in the Painted Hall. It’s that time again. It’s Feel Good Friday at the Painted Hall and they’re holding a Vinyasa Flow yoga class in this incredible space. Book your tickets here.

• A gardening club in Deptford. ‘Come and Grow’ helps you reconnect with nature and learn all about gardening, while helping to protect the urban oasis where the club is held. No experience necessary, and the event is free. Find out where and when.

Saturday, April 25th

• Rick Astley at the O2. Get your Rick roll on and check out this icon at the O2 on Saturday. We usually don’t mention O2 concerts in here, but it’s a big weekend for them. Comedian Matt Rife is performing on Thursday and Yungblud on Friday. Here’s the full calendar.

• Find your way back to creativity with this creative writing group. This is an unstructured place to just come and write. No prompts, no talking unless you want to. Come join other writers, pick a spot and let your creative writing freak flag fly. Find out more here.

Sunday, April 26th

• Karaoke for a cause. A night of karaoke in support of Lewisham’s Green party. This is a fundraising event for the local party. Expect a lot of songs featuring the word “green” in them. Here’s the link to the event.

• The London Marathon is on! For residents and non-runners, this is more of a warning to plan accordingly than anything else. If you do have things to do on Sunday, first of all, don’t. But if you can’t get out of it, here’s the course and the start times so you can make sure to avoid the chaos. 

• Art from the Heart. Artists sharing short stories and their personal truth. These are messages, questions, provocations and personal experiences. They may be funny, dark, poetic, or something else entirely. Find tickets to this one-night-only show here.

🧒 Family-friendly Activities

• Last Unicorn Airways. This sensory-immersive experience is based on a Hans Christian Andersen story and follows baggage handlers working at Last Unicorn Airways. Get tickets here.

🍺 Food & Drink

• Free food and drinks for marathon runners. We found a huge list of giveaways for anyone enduring the 26.2 miles on Sunday. Franco Manca is giving away free pizza. Free burgers from Bill’s. Free pints. Free pasta. The list goes on and on.

📰 News in your borough

GREENWICH

GREENWICH COUNCIL BEGINS NAMING AND SHAMING FLY-TIPPERS
Greenwich is now publicly sharing CCTV footage and images of suspected fly-tippers to help identify those illegally dumping waste across the borough. And they’re also asking residents with footage to snitch, offering a £100 reward for tips that lead to a fine or successful prosecution.

Penalty have recently risen to £1,000, with maximum fines reaching £50,000 and five-year prison sentences for the most serious cases. Here’s the email address where the council is collecting tips for suspected fly-tippers: report-reward@royalgreenwich.gov.uk.

SOUTHWARK

CANADA WATER IS GETTING A FANCY NEW BRIDGE
Southwark Council has officially approved plans for the "Albion Bridge," a striking new 170-square-metre crossing designed to span the Albion Channel in Canada Water. This modern structure will replace a cramped, 1980s-era faux drawbridge that was frequently criticized for being too narrow for more than one person to cross at a time.

Designed to resemble a floating timber raft, the new bridge features a generous, accessible deck with dedicated amenity spaces and leaning rails for residents to pause and enjoy the waterfront. Influenced heavily by public feedback, the final design ensures a spacious thoroughfare for both pedestrians and cyclists. This is another major milestone in the ongoing £4 billion regeneration plans for the area.

LEWISHAM

LEWISHAM’S BIKE BUS IS A SUCCESS
Pupils and parents cycled from Bridgehouse Meadows to Hatcham, Kender, and Edmund Waller primary schools in a grassroots initiative aimed at combating the high rate of vehicle-related injuries during the London school run. The idea is to use safety in numbers to foster confidence and independence in young riders.

During the inaugural ride on April 17, children cycled alongside teachers and local marshals, demonstrating the co-benefits of fitness, fun, and reduced vehicle emissions in the community. The group will continue alternating Friday routes to provide a safe, supported environment for families to embrace active travel on our local roads. Read the full story here.

That’s all for now. Have a great week!

Know someone who would like this newsletter? Send them this link 👇 www.theselondon.com

Happy Thursday, South East London!

Last week, we asked if anybody would be up for an in-person gathering of South East Londoners, and hundreds of you said yes. So, stay tuned! We’re organizing it as we speak!

There’s a wild weekend of activities happening, including the Old Royal Naval College making their buildings and campus into an entire Tudor-themed event.

And scroll down for what reviewers have called “the best sandwich shop in Britain” right in Deptford.

-Anton

🎸 Concerts & Events

All Weekend Long

• A Tudor Takeover in Greenwich. This weekend, the Old Royal Naval College is turning their entire grounds into a fun-filled step into the past. There will be talks about the Tudor era, calligraphy workshops, costumed characters (including King Henry VIII and Queen Anne Boleyn), along with food, crafts, and music. Kids can even go to Knight School. And there are even more events we haven’t mentioned. Find out more about this cool experience here.

Thursday, April 16th

• A groovy roller disco in Deptford. Disco, skates, dancing and rolling. This monthly roller disco is back on Thursday for another go ‘round. All skill levels are welcome but you need to bring your own skates. This is a ticketed event, but you can pay what you want.

• A music-filled fundraiser for Cuba. An event showing solidarity and raising money for the people of Cuba, and it’s right here in Lewisham. Find out more about the event, and if you can’t make it, you can donate here as well.

Friday, April 17th

• Award-winning trumpeter in Woolwich. Byron Wallen leads a trio of rising jazz stars in the UK. But it’s not just jazz, expect a mix of genres in this exciting set. Find tickets to the concert here. 

• Arm knit your own blanket. This isn’t the needles and knitting that generally comes to mind when you think of knitting. All you need is your arm and some big chunky yarn. Check out what you could make at this session in Deptford. 

• A gardening club in Deptford. ‘Come and Grow’ helps you reconnect with nature and learn all about gardening, while helping to protect the urban oasis where the club is held. No experience necessary, and the event is free. Find out where and when.

Saturday, April 18th

• Take a spiritual tour of Southwark Cathedral. Learn about the history of the church which has been a place of worship since the 12th century! Southwark Cathedral puts on a lot of tours, but it’s rare to get one focused purely on this aspect of its history. Check out the times here.

• Spring Fair at Eltham Palace. Truly a unique place. If you haven’t been, this is a good excuse to go. It’s an old palace that got refurbished in the ‘30s in art deco style. It’s a great mix of old and… old. And this weekend, they’ll have artmakers, crafts, stalls selling plants, and all sorts of things happening around the grounds. Find out more about this English Heritage site here.

• Stand-up Comedy in Blackheath. You’ve seen him on Britain’s Got Talent, on Have I Got News For You, and so many other places, and now he’s coming to Blackheath. Daliso Chaponda is performing his new set at Blackheath Halls this Saturday.

• The West End Tenors are coming to Greenwich. This touring show brings three stars of the West End to perform songs from everyone’s favourite musicals. Find tickets for the show here.

• High-energy Brazilian band from Leeds. Not what you expected, is it? This band packs a punch of fun, dancey Brazilian tunes. And they’re playing right here in Lewisham. 

• The UK Buster Keaton Society is meeting at The Cinema Museum for a screening. Once every quarter, Buster Keaton aficionados come together for a gathering and to watch some classic Keaton. This time they’ll be showcasing the film, Speak Easily, along with some Buster Keaton shorts before the movie begins. Get tickets here.

• Thamesmead Wildlife Wanders. A free walk through Thamesmead’s nature, led by ornithological expert, J.D. Swann. Learn about the ecology and the bird life in this calming walk. Find out more here.

Sunday, April 19th

• Poetry and Painting in Peckham. This event put on by Live and Lit is back, showcasing spoken word, an open mic night, a live band, a painting session, and of course, food and drinks. Find out more about this crazy mix of events here.

🧒 Family-friendly Activities

• Open day at the Dockhead Fire Station. For any families in Bermondsey, in honor of St. George’s Day, the fire station is opening their doors for a free fun event, with magicians, food stalls, music, badge-making and more! Find out more here.

• Baby and toddler yoga in Peckham. This is an ongoing session for 2-6 year olds run by a yogi with ten years’ experience in child development. Check out their classes.

• It’s Lambing Day at the Woodlands Farm Trust. Oh, you’ve never heard of Lambing Day? Me neither. It’s a day for families to come and meet some newborn lambs, buy some local produce, and take a tractor and trailer ride throughout the grounds. Here’s some more info about the annual event.

🍺 Food & Drink

• “Probably the best sandwich shop in Britain” has just opened in Deptford. Mondo To Go, the second shop from the Mondo Sando guys, has just opened and has just gotten the above rave review from The Standard’s restaurant critic. I’ll definitely be going. A truly great sandwich is a work of art. Check out some pictures of their artpieces here. 

📰 News in your borough

GREENWICH

GREENWICH DEMANDS CHANGES TO ITS CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE
Greenwich Cyclists, part of the wider London Cycling Campaign, has officially launched its campaign for the 2026 local elections, calling on all candidates to commit to safer and more extensive cycling infrastructure.

The group argues that the current pace of development is insufficient to meet environmental goals or to protect cyclists. They demand more segregated cycle lanes and the removal of dangerous through-traffic in residential neighborhoods. The advocates hope to transform Greenwich into a borough where cycling is a safe and natural choice for all residents.

SOUTHWARK

GREEN PARTY BOOSTS NUMBERS AHEAD OF ELECTIONS
The Green Party has expanded its numbers, nearly doubling its number of candidates for the upcoming local elections. Southwark is traditionally a Labour and Liberal Dem stronghold, so this is a significant shift.

Campaigners are focusing their platform on pressing local issues such as housing quality, air pollution, and sustainable urban development. They will also be campaigning on growing demand for aggressive climate action.

LEWISHAM

FREE FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES LINEUP
The New Cross and Deptford Free Film Festival is coming back in almost two weeks and the lineup just came out. This annual event shows free screenings of movies all over New Cross and Deptford.

The festival is run entirely by volunteers and aims to ensure high-quality film culture remains open to everyone regardless of income. Beyond the movies themselves, the program is a great celebration of the creative and independent spirit of Lewisham.

That’s all for now. Have a great week!

Know someone who would like this newsletter? Send them this link 👇 www.theselondon.com

Still, no better time to get a jump on planning your events. Here’s the website to peruse: https://dulwichfestival.co.uk/

Sorry for the confusion. I’d like to say it won’t happen again, but it might, and I appreciate the readers for keeping me on my toes.

See you next week!

Stop scrolling, South East London!

Just for a second. Because I want to run something by you. There’s over 4,000 of you reading this every single week.

And since you’re reading this, I have to assume you like getting out, doing things, and meeting people.

That’s why we’re planning an S.E. London social.

The idea is simple. Meet at a cafe or pub, get a discounted drink, and meet and chat with your neighbours.

No cost, no pressure. If you don’t like the look of it, you can pretend you’re not with us.

We’re in the planning stages. But what I need to know from you right now is…

Would you be up for an S.E. London meetup?

Yes, I want to meet my fellow South East Londoners!

No, I prefer to stay home and read emails.

Hope to see you all soon!

-Anton

🎸 Concerts & Events

Thursday, April 9th

• Collage making and social in Deptford. Creativity and socializing. No experience necessary. Bring along any scraps you’ve got to make a collage and meet other collagers. Find tickets here.

Friday, April 10th

• QueerScore Festival in Deptford. A night of incredible queer artists combining a mix of live performances, music, and live art. Ticketing is flexible, so you can come for the whole event, or pick and choose which performances you want to see. The full lineup is here.

• Jazz live at the Crypt in Camberwell. Every week, St. Giles Church has a jazz showcase in their crypt. General admission for this week is sold out, but the waiting list is open and there are still student tickets available. If that doesn’t work, check out their schedule for future dates.

Saturday, April 11th

• Horniman Spring Fair in Forest Hill. Music, games, crafts, street food, and lots more. Definitely a family focused event, but everybody is invited. Learn circus skills, participate in the “Smallympics.” There’s a lot going on Saturday at Horniman. Here’s info on the full day of events.

• Danish-Italian Afro-Jazz in Lewisham. This is a very cool blend of jazz and electronic music spanning many different countries. It’s a new collaboration between Sunborn and CLAP! CLAP!, comprising three musicians mixing their genres and coming up with something that sounds great. Tickets are here and here’s what they sound like.

Sunday, April 12th

• Contemporary blues in Lewisham. What a great way to end the weekend with one of the UK’s premiere blues musicians playing at the Fox and Firkin on Sunday night. Tickets are available here.

• Mini mural painting workshop in Deptford. An award-winning artist known as Survival Techniques will take you through how to create a typographic mini poster to display in your home or office. You’ll also reflect on powerful phrases or actions to inform your art. Scroll through the photos to see what the mini murals look like.

• Big band jazz in Lewisham. The Big Firkin Band, an amazing jazz orchestra, is coming back to their home venue, the Fox and Firkin, this weekend. They sound incredible, and hopefully the weather’s good enough for it to be outdoors… fingers crossed! Check out the times here.

All Weekend Long

• Hoopla’s 20th Anniversary Improv Festival. Hoopla’s an improv school and theatre that’s been around a long time. You guessed it… twenty years. And they have several shows this weekend to mark the occasion. The shows start this weekend and continue on to next weekend.

• A play about Britney Spears’ hair giving a young girl superpowers. You heard that right. That’s the kind of creativity brought by the National Theatre’s annual nationwide youth theatre festival. Find out more about the play and the organization here.

🧒 Family-friendly Activities

• Free creative family workshop in Southwark. These workshops are held outside and encourage children up to age 11 to explore the gardens outside the Southwark Park Galleries to inform their creativity. No need to book, just drop in. Here are the times.

• Family day rave in Deptford. Children and parents alike can come and dance in this fun, music, dance-a-thon. Find out more about the event here.

• Unboxing the universe in Greenwich. This is a new event at the Royal Observatory. It’s a live science theatre show in which you will blast off into space and learn all about our galaxy. Tickets are available here.

• Easter Crafternoon in Woolwich. The Easter festivities continue with these craft workshops on Thursday and Friday, each featuring a different Easter-themed craft creation.

🍺 Food & Drink

• Picasso Tap Takeover at the Tate Modern. Picasso and beer… they go together nicely, don’t they? To celebrate the Picasso exhibit ending its run this weekend, Tate Modern is teaming up with Left Hand Giant brewery to offer 7 beers on tap. But it’s not just beers, it’s a whole event, with art-making and DJs throughout the evening. Here’s some of the really impressive artwork made specially for the beer collab. And if you’re more into food then beer…

• Picasso dinner at the Tate Modern. The festivities continue with a French bistro-style dinner at the Tate Modern. The evening begins with a talk about one of Picasso’s pieces, and after dinner you’ll be able to stroll through the gallery on one of the last days it’s open. You can see the food menu and wine list here.

• Morley’s is going Malaysian. You know Morley’s, the ubiquitous fried chicken chain. Well, they’re teaming up with Roti King for a pop-up called Bossman Mamak, a Malaysian fried chicken combo that’s just happening this weekend in Brixton. (I know, that’s technically SW, but close enough!)

• Brazilian supper club in Deptford. Jazu is having a chef takeover this weekend into next week. And their supper club is happening on Tuesday. So many delicious looking things. Check out the menu here. 

• Mezcal tasting in Deptford. And if the supper club isn’t your thing, Jazu is also hosting a mezcal tasting on Thursday. Six rare artisinal mezcals on offer. Check out the info here.

📰 News in your borough

GREENWICH

MORDEN WHARF REDEVELOPMENT TO INCLUDE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Plans for the controversial Morden Wharf development on the Greenwich Peninsula could deliver more affordable housing after new planning rules introduced by Mayor Sadiq Khan.

The changes allow schemes to proceed as long as they commit 20% to affordable housing. The developers had originally been stuck, unable to get funding to proceed with the previous goal of 35%. A delicate balance is being played out in London between the need for more housing in general, and the increasing need for affordable housing.

SOUTHWARK

LARGE-SCALE LIGHT INSTALLATION FOR ELEPHANT & CASTLE
Plans for a “city-scale” light installation have been approved as part of a multi-billion-pound regeneration scheme in central Southwark. This would entail a series of projections illuminating the sky from Elephant and Castle’s tallest buildings.

Council leaders say the idea behind the project is to help transform the area into a cultural destination, boosting footfall and supporting the local economy. The installation is intended to form part of a broader push to embed arts and culture within long-term redevelopment plans.

LEWISHAM

ILLEGAL HOMES DEMOLISHED IN LEWISHAM
Lewisham Council has ordered the demolition of eight illegally built homes at Kanli Mews, after developers constructed housing on land only approved for storage use.

The properties had been rented out to tenants, most of whom were unaware the homes were illegal. They’re now facing eviction. The case has raised serious concerns about planning enforcement and the risks posed by rogue developments in the borough.

That’s all for now. Have a great week!

Know someone who would like this newsletter? Send them this link 👇 www.theselondon.com

Happy Thursday, South East London!

You’re almost at the 4 day weekend. Just hang in there for one more day.

This is a good one this weekend. We’ve got lots of Easter activities for the kiddos, of course.

We’ll tell you what a “community pub” is and where to find one.

Plus, the results of our poll about Peckham Rye Station is in and you spoke loud and clear.

Happy Easter everyone and enjoy the holiday!

-Anton

In partnership with

Adventures led by women, designed to make a difference.

Imagine a vacation that’s not only transformative for you but helps open doors for the local women you meet along the way. That’s what Intrepid’s new Women’s Expeditions in Peru, Cambodia and Bhutan are all about.

Designed specifically for women travellers, these trips offer immersive local experiences that support women-run and owned businesses in each destination. With an expert local leader out front, you could trek the lesser-known Chinchero to Urquillos route in the Peruvian Andes alongside an all-female crew, dive into Cambodia’s street food scene on a women-run tuk tuk tour, or unwind with a traditional herbal hot stone bath at a women-owned farmhouse in Bhutan.

First launched in 2018, Intrepid’s Women’s Expedition range is designed to break down barriers, foster discussion and create meaningful connections for travellers and locals alike.

Find your next adventure

🎸 Concerts & Events

Thursday, April 2nd

• Synth, jazz and hip-hop in one concert. Futuretense combines the jazzy soul of Catherine, with the trip-hop style of Sola. There’s no ticket required for this free show.

Friday, April 3rd

• A party with music from 2004 only. If you’re anywhere near my age, you will be very excited for “Class of ‘04.” We’re talking Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Jay-Z, Usher, Destiny’s Child, and more. Find out more about the event here.

Saturday, April 4th

• A plant fair in Forest Hill. Small and independent nurseries bring their plants to the Horniman Museum and set up shop at the Horniman Plant Fair. Loads of specialist plants and you can talk to experts before you buy anything. These are the nurseries planning to attend.

• A 17-mile healthy bike ride from Dulwich. This is a ride for all ages and abilities. It starts and ends at the Dulwich Clock Cafe. And halfway through there’s a pit stop for a coffee break. It is FREE but you still need to sign up.

• Inclusive yoga in the Luminarium. This session, at Woolwich Works, is taught by Emma Levy, who specializes in beginners. And it’s taking place in one of the coolest areas in Woolwich Works. So, take a breath and reset. Get your tickets here.

Monday, April 6th

• Vintage market at a mansion. So Last Century is back with another amazing market, this time at Beckenham Place Park. There will be 50 of the best vintage traders alongside street food that includes bao buns, spicy burritos, and brownies. Oh, and there will be some New Orleans jazz for good measure. Find out the times here.

All Weekend Long

• A new musical about love in space. Flyby is opening at the Southwark Playhouse this weekend, and it’s perfect timing since NASA is launching their moon mission. The show was developed by the National Theatre and is playing here for six weeks only. 

• Easter jazz, blues and Brazilian guitar on the Southbank. There’s a celebration on Saturday and Monday at Gabriel’s Wharf. There will be chocolate, ceramics, coffee, cocktails, and of course music. This is a free event happening from 12-4pm. Check out the lineup here.

• Immersive theatre in Woolwich. Punchdrunk, the pioneers of immersive theatre, started their new show in January. It’s called Lander 23 and it describes itself as a live action video game. You receive a distress signal from a crew in an alien city and you have to go investigate. Sounds pretty crazy, right? Learn more about the experience and book tickets here.

🧒 Family-friendly Activities

• The Koala Who Could. Puppets and singing combine to bring to life this popular children’s book. This is an empowering and funny show perfect for kids ages 3 and up. It’s happening all weekend long, so find the times and book your tickets here.

• Easter Quest at Eltham Palace. An Easter hunt, a trail, and questions along the way that lead to chocolate. And if you’ve never been, Eltham Palace is the perfect place for something like this. Book your visit here.

• The Queen’s House is loaded with Easter activities. Craft workshops, musical storytelling, and historical characters roaming the halls. There’s something on almost every day this weekend.

• Easter egg trail at the Cutty Sark. Get your eggs with a little bit of history at this egg hunt happening all weekend long. Ideal for explorers ages 5 and up. Find out more.

• Easter crafts sessions at Charlton House. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to make everything from an Easter hat to an iced bunny biscuit, to Easter hanging decorations. Book your tickets.

🍺 Food & Drink

• A community pub in Catford. The Catford House opened in November of last year. This place is really interesting. After Lewisham Council refurbished the space, the GCDA, a not-for-profit, took it over and now runs. It’s kind of half-pub, half-community space, half-social club. I know that’s three halves! And this is a great weekend to check them out because they have a Japanese comfort food pop-up on Friday. Find out more about the pub here.

• A delicious, sustainable, pay-what-you-can supper club. DINE supper club happens the first Thursday of every month. It’s focused on community, so you never know who you’re going to be seated next to. This delicious vegan menu is something you can feel good about.

📰 News in your borough

GREENWICH

ROYAL OBSERVATORY GRANTED £21.9 MILLION
The Royal Observatory Greenwich has been awarded £21.9 million in government funding to support a major £77 million redevelopment. The money will be put towards new galleries, landscaping, and improved access.

The “First Light” project is looking to ease overcrowding, enhance visitor experience, and better connect the site with Greenwich Park while expanding its educational offer. Work is already under way, as you’ve seen if you’ve walked past, with many parts of the site remaining open during construction.

SOUTHWARK

ELEPHANT AND CASTLE REGENERATION PROJECT APPROVED
The final phase of the £1.5 billion Elephant and Castle regeneration has been approved by Southwark Council. That means hundreds of new homes, along with shops, workspace, and community facilities.

The plans will transform the last major part of the former shopping centre site, completing a multi-phase redevelopment that has reshaped the area over more than a decade. Supporters say it will boost housing and local infrastructure, while critics continue to raise concerns about affordability and the long-term impact on existing communities.

LEWISHAM

FREQUENCY OF 484 BUS ROUTE REDUCED
We all know getting from east to west or west to east in South London is a huge pain in the a**. Well, it just got a little bit worse. The 484 bus route between Camberwell and Lewisham has had its frequency reduced to every 15 minutes, and people are rightly speaking out.

The service is a key link connecting multiple stations, town centres, and major hospitals, with concerns the cuts will disproportionately affect vulnerable passengers who rely on it. Transport for London says the change is intended to improve efficiency and reliability, but campaigners are calling for the decision to be reversed.

THE PECKHAM RYE STATION DEVELOPMENT

Last week, we asked you what you thought of them tearing down Holdron’s Arcade outside of Peckham Rye station. Here’s how you responded…

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Holdrons Arcade is an historical landmark and should have been protected. 30.77%

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 That thing was an eye sore and needed to come down years ago. 69.23%

With an overwhelming nearly 70%, you said you were ready to get rid of that thing. I’ll admit, I was one of those votes as well.

That’s all for now. Have a great week!

Know someone who would like this newsletter? Send them this link 👇 www.theselondon.com

Happy Thursday, South East London!

A few things about me… I’m a writer, I’m a film lover and I listen to a lot of jazz music. And that’s why this is my kind of weekend in South East London. There’s a creative writing group, a brassy jazz band, and a free movie in Deptford. Not to mention, this weekend is the last weekend of the Deptford Literature Festival. (Scroll down for the full programme!)

But this is also a particularly good weekend for any parents out there. You have to give it up to the Dulwich Picture Gallery, who almost have too many great childrens' activities to mention.

Get out there, have fun, be safe, meditate, stretch, stay hydrated, and be well!

-Anton

🎸 Concerts & Events

Thursday, March 26th

• Films in the Foyer. A special cinema club in Deptford, and this one is geared towards female empowerment with an ‘80s feminist classic in honour of Women’s History Month. Register here for a free spot!

Friday, March 27th

• Tate Modern comes alive at night. Music, talks, workshops, films. One of the exhibits is explored and an entire night of activities is built around it, all taking place in the amazing huge Turbine Hall. Learn more about the exhibit.  

• Concert at the Queen’s House. An evening concert by the Trinity Laban Chamber Choir. Experience some incredible music in an amazing location. And you get a free drink with your ticket.

• Servesmith’s Up Late is serving up cocktails, natural wine, beer, and DJ’s only spinning vinyl. Catford is the place to be this weekend. Normally a cafe, once a month, Servesmith’s comes alive at night and turns into a drinking, music-listening great hang. Here are some shots from last month. 

Saturday, March 28th

• Creative writing group in Peckham. Somewhere Else was developed as a prompt-free writing session to let your creativity run wild. This is a free event. Come, talk, or don’t talk, and get some writing done.

• South London Soul Train. This looks to be a great event with two rooms full of music. In one, the Riot Jazz Brass Band. In the other, DJ’s spinning Northern Soul all night long. Get tickets here.

All Weekend Long

• The Deptford Literature Festival - last few days! A crazy number of events celebrating the writing, creativity, and artistry of South East London. Stories, workshops, talks, readings. There’s something for everyone. Check out the full programme here. Quick! The festival ends on Saturday.

• Lifeline: A musical about medical professionals. Not what you were expecting, was it? This musical just came from a successful run off-Broadway and is now playing in Southwark. Check out the previews here.

• Peckham Salvage Yard. 70 traders selling all sorts of amazing vintage gems at this Copeland Park flea market. Stroll, find some bargains, refresh your space with some quirky, vintage finds. Find out more here.

🧒 Family-friendly Activities

• The Marvellous Myth Hunter and the Magical Market. This interactive show is part of the Deptford Literature Festival. The story leads families through classic myths but weaving in local Deptford and Lewisham spots and values. And thanks to a last-minute donation, the show is now free!

• Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat. Mischief and mayhem all weekend long at the Greenwich Theatre. This show is a blast for families of children 3+. Multiple performances on Saturday and Sunday. Get your tickets here.

• How to Tame a Mummy Monster. Another pick from the Deptford Literature Festival. This reading of the “How to Tame a Mummy Monster” book by the author is perfect for kids ages 4-6. Find out more here.

• Astronomers Take Over. This is a brand new space adventure at the National Maritime Museum all about the wonders of space. Perfect for space fans 4 and up and their families. There’s so much cool stuff in this exhibit.

• Dulwich Picture Gallery has loads of events this weekend! Creative Tales, an interactive storytelling session, Art Sundays, for 7-12 year-olds, And ArtPlay session specifically for new parents, and in time for Easter, the Eggstravaganza Festival.

🍺 Food & Drink

• The Catford food market is back! That’s right, it’s the last Sunday of the month and that means foodies rejoice. Last month had a hell of a lineup of great eats. Click here to see a preview of some Brazilian desserts on offer.

• A whiskey festival. Whiskey Live and Fine Spirits is the premiere gathering of UK whiskey enthusiasts. Sample limited editions and the nominees for the World Whiskies Awards. And line your stomach with some street food so you don’t get too toasty. Whiskey lovers need to click here!

📰 News in your borough

GREENWICH

THAMESMEAD SELECTED AS “NEW TOWN,” ALLOWING FOR HOUSING & INFRASTRUCTURE
Plans for a major new Thamesmead Waterfront development have taken a big step forward after being selected as part of the government’s next generation of “new towns,” with the potential for around 15,000 homes to be built.

The project will also transform a large, currently underused riverside site into a new neighbourhood with housing, jobs, and infrastructure, and potential transportation upgrades like a DLR extension.

SOUTHWARK

PECKHAM RYE SHOPPING ARCADE SET TO BE DEMOLISHED
Holdrons Arcade, the old building that encircles the entrance to Peckham Rye station, is finally set to be demolished after about a decade of fighting. The station will be replaced with an open area with benches and planters and stalls for a new and improved little market area.

Southwark is also waiting on £45 million from the Department of Transportation, some of which they’re going to use to make other improvements to the station.

What do you think of them revamping Peckham Rye Station?

Holdrons Arcade is an historical landmark and should have been protected.

That thing was an eye sore and needed to come down years ago.

LEWISHAM

TWO LEWISHAM COUNCILLORS DEFECT TO GREEN PARTY
Two Lewisham Labour councillors have defected to the Green Party ahead of upcoming local elections. This is a big shift, but it’s also the latest in a trend.

The move follows earlier defections and means the Greens continue to strengthen their presence on a council long dominated by Labour, with both councillors set to stand under their new party banner.

That’s all for now. Have a great week!

Know someone who would like this newsletter? Send them this link 👇 www.theselondon.com

Happy Thursday, South East London!

The summer clothing really comes out when the first semi-warm day hits like it did yesterday.

Personally, that wasn’t quite t-shirt weather for me, but more power to those who said 'to hell’ with their jackets. And luckily, we have some more nice days to come.

We have a packed weekend of events this week. And for those looking for a coffee and maybe a pastry, we have something in store for you below…

-Anton

In partnership with…

Listen up! We have deals for you. You’ve probably already seen the new coffee place right outside the station in Blackheath.

Well, this week only, they’re giving our readers 15% OFF any food or drinks when you mention, “The S.E. London.”

Here’s what you do: place your order, tell them The S.E. London sent you, and they’ll apply the discount right then and there.

BUT you only have one week to use it so have a coffee, try their pastries, and check out their downstairs overlooking the garden. It’s very zen!

🎸 Concerts & Events

Friday, March 20th

• An iconic Reggae and Jazz concert. Effra Band have played with all the greats, and are bringing their Jamaica Jazz sound to Woolwich this Friday night. These are legendary London musicians you won’t want to miss.

• Wine masterclass. And this one gets specific. This workshop focuses on Grenache. You’ll explore six premium wines from around the world under the tutelage of the founder of Vinoteca. Get some tips so you can sound fancy at your next dinner party.

• An organ concert in the grand Old Royal Naval College. Experience the restored 235-year-old organ in the Chapel of St. Peter and St. Paul, and heighten that experience with a visit to their pop-up bar, featuring some award-winning gin and rum. Now we’ve got your attention.

• An intro to Ballroom and Latin Dance. The FREE Mix and Move event is a great chance for older adults to dance, socialize, and improve your dance skills. You don’t need experience or a partner. Come and learn some moves.

Saturday, March 21st

• The Deptford Literature Festival is just getting started! Today marks the start of a full week of workshops, readings, talks, signings, and more. The festival showcases emerging voices from Lewisham and the greater South East London area. Find the whole programme of events here. And if you want to get involved, they’re looking for volunteers. Come be a part of this great community event and meet some fellow literature lovers in the process. 

• Urban Elephant is back. A one-day festival of art, dance, and music in Elephant & Castle. They’re taking over three different outdoor squares with great performances all day long. Check out the schedule here.

• Photographers! A colour workshop in Greenwich. This creative gel lighting workshop is suited to intermediate photographers. No gels needed. Come and deepen your craft and meet some fellow photographers in the process.

• Plumstead Community Market. This monthly market has arts, crafts, music, and of course food. And this month’s features a special pottery workshop. Find out more here.

Sunday, March 22nd

• Vinyl reggae fair. Crate diggers unite for a collection of independent sellers, rare finds and specialist labels showcasing an amazing collection of reggae on vinyl. Find out where.

All Weekend Long

• The Telegraph Hill Festival is in its second to last week! This weekend there are chef workshops, DIY workshops, a David Bowie movie, guitar lessons, punk rock karaoke, and an insanely huge list of other amazing things. 

• BFI Flare, London’s LGBTQIA+ film festival is on this week. This is the 40th anniversary of this iconic film festival. Check out all the amazing films to choose from.

🧒 Family-friendly Activities

• Early Easter celebration with the Bunny Egg-Olympics. Explore the gardens at Hall Place while following a trail map filled with activities along the way. Find out more here.

• Boppin’ Bunnies is coming to Woolwich. This interactive show for babies, toddlers, and their parents is on Saturday. The show encourages children to dance, play instruments and be a part of the experience.

• A Midsummer Night’s Dream. No, we didn’t put this in the wrong category. The Unicorn Theatre is collaborating with the Royal Shakespeare Company to put on this retelling of the play for kids 7 and up. The show starts this Saturday.

• Jewelology Creative Arts Classes. A class for kids ages 4-9 to help them create art based on their dreams and ideas. Find out the times here.

🍺 Food & Drink

• A ramen workshop, a homemade pasta workshop, a veggie workshop, and a Palestinian Maqluba workshop. Workshop. We just had to say it one more time. These are all part of Telegraph Hill’s Guest Chef series, where a chef leads a class and teaches how to make some amazing dishes. These are all different events, so check out the full page to find out which one is calling to you. 

📰 News in your borough

GREENWICH

THE CUTTY SARK DLR STATION IS OPENING SOONER THAN EXPECTED
Some good news here! After a 10-month closure and a £5.2 million refurbishment, the Cutty Sark station is opening early.

The upgrade gave the station four new escalators, a lift, improved lighting, and enhanced safety features. These were long-standing issues that caused problems for the 7.6 million annual passengers that went through the station.

SOUTHWARK

SOUTHWARK BEATS BROMLEY FOR MOST EXPENSIVE HOUSES IN S.E. LONDON
You don’t need a reminder that house prices in London are off the charts. But house prices in Southwark in particular have surged to make it the most expensive borough in South East London.

Average prices reached around £597,000 in 2025, giving Southwark the dubious title of ‘most expensive’ in South East London, overtaking the previous number one, Bromley. There’s been a dramatic rise over the past decade, with prices doubling since the mid-2010s.

*We want to hear from you…

Everybody has that story of the family member or friend who purchased their house for nothing back in the day and it’s now worth a TON of money.

If you think you or somebody in your family has the cheapest South East London house purchase, let us know in the survey below…

Take the survey

The intention is not to make us all jealous. But that will be the outcome.

LEWISHAM

NEW PUSH FOR BICYCLE HIRES AT LEWISHAM STATIONS
Plans are being developed to introduce dockless cycle hire parking bays at a range of South East London rail stations, many focused in Lewisham, including Blackheath, Deptford, Catford Bridge, and New Cross.

The proposals are part of a wider council-backed rollout aiming to support growing demand. They’re using funding from several different sources to support this effort, including Transport for London. They are hoping for the rollout to happen later in the year.

That’s all for now. Have a great week!

Know someone who would like this newsletter? Send them this link 👇 www.theselondon.com

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums out there!

I’m happy to say South East London is going very strong for Mother’s Day. There are so many amazing activities, events, and chances to celebrate and be celebrated.

It’s going to get a little cold this weekend, but it looks like it’s staying dry. So, it’s a good time to take advantage of one of the TWO big festivals happening this weekend.

And before we go, a special shoutout to my mum, who is proudly telling everyone she knows about this newsletter, even if it’s entirely irrelevent because they live, in some cases, 5,000 miles away. Happy Mother’s Day!

-Anton

A special Mother’s Day spotlight on…

Take a moment to check out the MINDFUL MUMS RAMBLE ON WALKS, a chance for mums to get outside, meet other mums, and chat. They’re all over the S.E. London area:

THURSDAYS 11am-12pm:
Lewisham
Greenwich
Bromley

FRIDAYS 11am-12pm:
Southwark

No need to sign up. Just show up, get some exercise, feel free to bring your babies or toddlers, and stick around for a coffee/tea afterwards.

Find meeting locations and more about SEL Mind here.

🎸 Concerts & Events

Friday, March 13th

• Special Women’s History Month tour at the Royal Observatory. This tour centres around the contributions women have made to astronomy in the observatory’s 350 year history. This is only happening select days in March and it’s only £5.

• Gardening Club in Deptford. Learn gardening skills, how to grow your own vegetables, and meet people in the process. No experience necessary for this free event. Find out where.

• Sip and Cross Stitch. A relaxing Friday evening of wine and cross stitching. It’s low-key, it’s social. It’s a great way to end the week. Find out more here. 

Saturday, March 14th

• Tour an underground crypt in Greenwich. Twice a month you can tour the historic St. Alfege church and crypt. Learn about the church and the history of Greenwich itself. Find tickets here.

Sunday, March 15th - Mother’s Day

• Bloom & Brew Sake and Ikebana. What’s Ikebana, you’re probably asking? It’s the art of Japanese floral arrangements. This 2-hour workshop introduces you to Ikebana with a sake flight to boot. And there’s no better place to drink some sake.

• Big Band Jazz in Lewisham. The house band at the Fox and Firkin is back on Sunday. We went to see them in December and they were incredible. This is a monthly residency that you should definitely check out.

• Pressed flower art workshop. A relaxed, hands-on workshop that’s perfect for Mother’s Day. Check out some of the pressed flower art that’s been made here.

• Mother’s Day brunch with live music. Still need some plans for Sunday? This limitless buffet accompanied by music might be up your alley. Or take a look at this Afternoon Tea entitled Chai by the Shore. Both are taking place at the InterContinental.

• Two art workshops in one place! A clay workshop that teaches you how to make floral designs or a workshop that teaches you how to paint on pottery. It’s all happening at the Pottery Studio LDN.

All Weekend Long

• The Telegraph Hill Festival starts on Saturday. Celebrating artists and makers in Telegraph Hill and the surrounding South East London area, this festival is chock full of events for adults and children over the next two weeks. Concerts, cooking classes, pilates, readings, music classes, dancing classes, workshops for you and your dog, book readings, stage plays, sound baths, a craft fair… you get it. They have everything. Get the whole list here.

• A weekend-long country music festival of superstars. Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn, Zach Top, they’re all here performing for 3 days at the O2. This is Europe’s biggest country music festival and it starts tomorrow!

🧒 Family-friendly Activities

• Mother’s Day Family Rave in Peckham. The event organisers tout that they’re helping parents be ‘responsibly irresponsible.’ From 2pm-4pm, come party with your family of 0-8 year olds. Get more info here.

• Boppin’ Bunnies at Greenwich Market. A live music session for little ones. Shake maracas, sing along, dance around. Find out more here.

• Introduce your kids to everything theatre can be with ‘Hay!’ The play centres on a scarecrow that comes to life. Perfect for pre-school age kids. Get tickets here.

🍺 Food & Drink

• Blackheath Supper Club. An incredible Spring tasting menu with an even more amazing vegetarian alternative. It’s happening this Friday on the Royal Standard.

• Be a taster for an incredible Indian restaurant. We just learned about this and we’re excited. Babur, an Indian restaurant in Forest Hill, every so often invites regulars to sample new dishes. Tastings are usually Wednesday afternoons, and can last up to 4 hours. Not a weekend activity, but worth a sign-up regardless.

📰 News in your borough

GREENWICH

THAMESLINK HAS PLANS TO IMPROVE GREENWICH SERVICES
Thameslink has outlined plans aimed at improving reliability on services running along the Greenwich line, following the ongoing disruptions and cancellations that have been plaguing the line.

The plan is to hire additional drives and work with national Rail to strengthen infrastructure. A proposed backup signalling system would reduce the impact of signalling failures, which is one of the more annoying announcements to hear on the train.

While the staffing increase may help day-to-day operations, the improvements will also depend on addressing wider infrastructure constraints across the central London section of the network. In other words, the whole system needs a bit of help.

SOUTHWARK

SOUTHBANK CENTRE NEEDS £50 MILLION FOR URGENT REPAIRS
The Southbank Centre is facing a £50 million maintenance backlog, with major repairs needed at the Royal Festival Hall including a leaking roof where water has been pooling on top of the building.

The venue’s chief executive has warned that urgent funding is required, with the organisation seeking around £30 million from the government to help cover essential works. Although the centre receives about £17 million annually from Arts Council England, that funding can only be used for artistic programming rather than building maintenance. A separate £10 million capital grant application has also been submitted to support repairs such as roof work and replacing ageing windows.

That’s all for now. Have a great week!

Know someone who would like this newsletter? Send them this link 👇 www.theselondon.com