<![CDATA[The S.E. London]]>https://www.theselondon.comhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!K4_V!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F86e0df7c-d287-4637-907e-713935062d3a_1280x1280.pngThe S.E. Londonhttps://www.theselondon.comSubstackSun, 25 Oct 2026 22:32:16 GMT<![CDATA[The S.E. London | October 22nd - 25th]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-se-london-october-22nd-25thhttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-se-london-october-22nd-25thThu, 22 Oct 2026 07:45:33 GMT

Happy Thursday, South East London!

🏋️‍♀️ A FREE bootcamp for readers

This week we have joined forces with Shenda Falvey Personal Training, STOTT Pilates & Bootcamps to offer EVERY S.E. LONDON READER the chance to take part in a FREE BOOTCAMP at her award-winning sessions which have been running for 15 years!

Held in North Greenwich, her classes are designed for all abilities and offer a whole body workout. Everyone can work at their own pace but with a fun and exhilarating group morale.

The sessions run:
Monday & Wednesday 7.30-8.30pm
Saturday 9.30-10.30am

To book your class, here’s what you do:

Head to SHENDA’S WEBSITE HERE, click the GET IN TOUCH tab, and mention S.E. LONDON in your message.

And that’s not all! Shenda is also offering our readers a FREE PT or STOTT PILATES telephone consultation, which you can sign up for in the same spot.

SPOTLIGHT ON…

🍞 The Baker’s Art, Deptford’s 24-hour sourdough bakery

This week, we’re putting a spotlight on The Baker’s Art, which just had a great profile done in Southwark News. The Baker’s Art turns out more than 1,500 sourdough loaves a day, all from a starter that’s over 20 years old. Read the story here.

PUT IT IN YOUR CALENDAR…

🎆 The Blackheath Fireworks are back

The Blackheath Fireworks return on 7th November with more space, more rides, and more food. Plus, there will be DJ Luck & MC Neat to keep the party going. They sold out last year, so get your tickets while you can. Book here.

Now here are your weekend events below. Stay safe. Stay cosy. Have a great weekend.

-Anton

All Weekend Long

🎃 Halloween Half-Term at Eltham Palace
Half-term and Halloween collide at the art-deco Eltham Palace, with a family pumpkin party running Saturday through the following week. There will be trails, games and autumn fun in the grounds. Plan a visit here.

🗻 36 Views of Mount Fuji at Dulwich Picture Gallery

Dulwich Picture Gallery brings together the complete set of Hokusai’s “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji.” Check out the famous Japanese printmaker’s most famous mountain muse in every light and season in this exhibit that just opened. Have a look here.

🦑 Half-term at the Horniman
The Forest Hill favourite is primed for half-term, with the family exhibition Voyage to the Deep and an Octonauts museum trail. See the full programme here.

📖 London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre
The Southbank Centre’s London Literature Festival, which is curated by Dua Lipa (because when you think literature, you think Dua Lipa), runs through the weekend. There are a huge number of events and lots to do running now until November 1st. See the programme here.

🧶 So Last Century autumn vintage fair in Catford

A big indoor vintage fair over two days at St Dunstan’s College on the South Circular in Catford. There will be mid-century homeware, clothing, vinyl and lots more from dozens of sellers. Find out more here.

🐻 The Gruffalo at Blackheath Halls
The stage version of The Gruffalo is running through the weekend. There are songs, laughs, and lots of family fun to be had. Book here.

Thursday, October 22nd

🎭 The Seafarer at the Greenwich Theatre (final week)
Last chances this week for Conor McPherson’s darkly funny show about a boozy Christmas Eve card game in a Dublin front room. Book your seats here.

🦇 Bat Walk at Creekside, Deptford
An after-dark guided walk through Deptford Creek with the Creekside Discovery Centre guides, listening out for bats as the light fades. A little spooky with a bit of urban nature thrown in for good measure. Find out more here.

Friday, October 23rd

🥁 Sounds from West Africa at Blackheath Halls
An evening of West African music to celebrate Black History Month, with music from across the continent. And afterwards, there will be a late-night jazz session at the bar. Book here.

Saturday, October 24th

📖 Black Book Festival & Education Expo at Goldsmiths
One of the UK’s leading celebrations of Black literature returns to Goldsmiths in New Cross. There will be authors, talks, workshops, a marketplace and family activities all supporting authors, publishers and booksellers in the African and Caribbean community. Find out more here.

🎻 Peter and the Wolf at the Greenwich Theatre
You know the story. The musical is being brought to life for families and children aged 2-7 at the Greenwich Theatre. Book the family in here.

🎤 Back to Black: Amy Winehouse big-band night in Nunhead
Rob Howat’s Big Band play Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black” in full at Nunhead’s Ivy House, the first community-owned pub in London. Grab tickets here.

⛴️ Architecture on the Thames boat tour

Open City has a three-hour boat tour from Greenwich Pier down to the Dartford Crossing and back, taking in all the sights, and it’s all led by an architect guide who will tell you more about your neighbourhood than you’ve ever known. See the details here.

Sunday, October 25th

💇🏾 In Our Hands: Hair, Memory & Making with Charlotte Mensah
Award-winning hairstylist and author Charlotte Mensah leads a hands-on family celebration of Black hair, creativity and memory at the Horniman. Find out more here.

⏰ The Restless Clock: a pub talk in Greenwich
On the day the clocks go back, Pints of Knowledge host a talk at The Dial in Greenwich on how we measure and experience time. PLUS, everyone gets a free pint with their ticket. Grab a ticket here.

🎃 SoLo Craft Fair: South Bank Halloween Market
Sixty independent makers take over for a Halloween market. There will be spooky-season gifts, a free drop-in Halloween workshop, a treasure hunt, plus bars, street food and DJs. Have a browse here.

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]]><![CDATA[The S.E. London | October 15th - 18th]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-se-london-october-15th-18thhttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-se-london-october-15th-18thThu, 15 Oct 2026 07:45:16 GMT

Happy Thursday, South East London!

📰 🍗 Kudu is coming back to Nunhead

Good news for Nunhead: the much-loved team behind Kudu are returning to their old Kudu Grill site on Nunhead Lane with a new restaurant, Braai Bird. After they left for Marylebone last year, the space has been sitting waiting, and now it’s getting a proper South African makeover.

The star is wood-fired rotisserie chicken alongside house sauces, big sharing plates, cocktails and South African wine. It’s due to open in November, so not quite yet, but very much one to look forward to. Read more here.

Stay safe. Stay cosy. Have a great weekend.

-Anton

All Weekend Long

🔭 Observatory Unlocked at the Royal Observatory

Every weekend this month, the Royal Observatory’s team of explainers are out with telescopes and the kind of space facts that make you feel pleasingly tiny. Have a go on a telescope and poke around Greenwich’s most famous hilltop. Included with Observatory entry. Find out more here.

🎬 The BFI London Film Festival (final weekend)
The 70th BFI London Film Festival wraps up this weekend, with premieres and world cinema at BFI Southbank and venues around town. See the programme here.

🍺 Portobello Beer Festival at the Royal Albert in New Cross
Four days of beer (Thursday to Sunday) at New Cross’s grand old Royal Albert, pouring the likes of Portobello, Deptford’s Villages, Bianca Road and Anspach & Hobday, with German sausages, a Sunday roast, and live folk, jazz and a Battle of the Bands across the weekend. They’re also donating 10p from every festival pint to the “Only a Pavement Away” charity. Raise a glass here.

🎃 Family Spook Fest at Crystal Palace Park
This family-friendly, no-jump-scares Halloween event includes a haunted house walk-through, Frankenstein’s bouncy castle, a haunted artisan market, face painting, a daily costume contest and a free afternoon West End concert. Book here.

Thursday, October 15th

📚 Hermione Lee in conversation at Blackheath Halls
One of the country’s finest biographers sits down with critic Suzi Feay for an evening on writing lives and the art of biography. Book your seat here.

Friday, October 16th

🪩 ABBAMANIA in Catford

The long-running ABBA tribute brings Dancing Queen, Waterloo and the whole singalong back catalogue to Catford’s Broadway Theatre. Get tickets here.

🎭 The Seafarer at the Greenwich Theatre
Conor McPherson’s darkly funny modern classic: a boozy Christmas Eve card game in a Dublin front room, with the Devil himself pulling up a chair. Runs through the weekend and beyond. Book your seats here.

Saturday, October 17th

🎧 Refugee Community Kitchen takeover at the Fox & Firkin
The Fox hands over the kitchen for an afternoon of great food, DJs and good company, all for a good cause. Find out more here.

🐸 The Frog Princess in Sydenham
A joyful 45-minute family show mixing Bollywood-inspired music, Indian dance, puppetry and plenty of audience participation. Shows at 2pm and 3.30pm. Book a show for the family here.

🎭 Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky at Southwark Playhouse
The final weekend for Patrick Hamilton’s 1920s London tale of three lonely souls and a Fitzrovia pub, in a new stage adaptation at Southwark Playhouse Borough. Catch it here.

🌿 Open day at Garthorne Road Nature Reserve
A rare chance to wander Forest Hill’s hidden railway-embankment nature reserve. This is a quiet green oasis that opens just once a month, March to October. Have a wander here.

🚂 Beckenham Model Railshow in Forest Hill
Two dozen working model-railway layouts take over Forest Hill Boys School for the day, with trade stands and demos. Proper nostalgic fun for kids and collectors alike. Find out more here.

Sunday, October 18th

🪔 Diwali on the Peninsula in Greenwich

A Diwali celebration is taking over Greenwich Peninsula, with lantern-making, street food, a drumming procession and an illuminated rickshaw, building to a mass Garba dance under the lights. Join the celebration here.

💃 Diwali Dinner & Dance at Blackheath Halls
A more intimate way to mark Diwali: classical Bharatanatyam from the Natyasri Dance Company, then everyone can get up and dance. Plus, there will be food from local restaurant, Everest Inn. Book here.

🌾 Harvest Festival at the Garden Museum
Just across Lambeth Bridge, the Garden Museum marks the season with a harvest celebration. Food, workshops and family fun in one of London’s loveliest little museums. See what’s on here.

🎏 Horn Fair at Charlton House
The centuries-old Charlton tradition returns to the lawns of Charlton House. Live music from Global Fusion, a textile artist at her loom, food and craft stalls and a fancy-dress contest. Join the fun here.

🌊 Low Tide Walk in Deptford Creek
Pull on some waders and climb down into Deptford Creek at low tide with the Creekside guides, learning about the wildlife and the river’s history. Buy tickets here.

👺 Goblin Market at Stanley Arts

A Halloween-season comics-and-zines market “for goblins and by goblins,” with indie creators, free drop-in workshops, a trinket trade and an afternoon animation screening. Check it out here.

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]]><![CDATA[The S.E. London | October 8th - 11th]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-se-london-october-8th-11thhttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-se-london-october-8th-11thThu, 08 Oct 2026 07:45:51 GMT

Happy Thursday, South East London!

There’s a whiff of Halloween in the air (the zombies are back, more on that below), and a huge film festival’s rolled into town.

Stay safe. Stay cosy. Have a great weekend.

-Anton

All Weekend Long

🎬 The BFI London Film Festival

The 70th annual BFI London Film Festival takes over the Southbank, and other screens around town, from the 7th to the 18th. They’re having galas, premieres, talks, workshops, and of course, films from around the world. Under-25s can grab £6 tickets. See the full programme here.

🎨 The Catford Arts Trail

The Arts Trail is back for its 10th year. More than 100 local artists throw open their homes, studios and shopfronts across Saturday and Sunday so you can wander, nose about, meet local artists and buy some amazing art. Plan your route here.

🛍️ Black Culture Market in Brixton
Just over the border in Brixton, the Black Culture Market returns for Black History Month with 40+ Black-owned businesses selling food, fashion, art, books and more, across Saturday and Sunday at Lambeth Town Hall. Have a look at the event here.

🌈 Pink Floyd: Mega Laser Show at the Greenwich Theatre
Exactly what it sounds like: Dark Side of the Moon and the rest soundtracking a full laser spectacular at Greenwich Theatre. Find out more here.

🏛️ Queen’s House Anniversary Celebration in Greenwich
The Queen’s House marks 10 years since its big refurbishment with a weekend of talks, tours and storytelling. A stunning building and a nice, low-key way to spend a Sunday. Find out more here.

Friday, October 9th

🖼️ Late Night at the Garden Museum
The Garden Museum is throwing open its doors for an after hours event full of art, live music, drinks and drop-in workshops, marking 400 years of British tapestry alongside two brand-new exhibitions. Book here.

🎭 A Trio of Tennessee Williams plays at the Greenwich Theatre
Three short Tennessee Williams plays in one evening at Greenwich Theatre. If you’re into Southern drama, and a little heartbreak, book your seats here.

Saturday, October 10th

🧟 World Zombie Day is taking over London
Drag yourself out of bed and smear on some fake blood. The annual World Zombie Day charity walk is shuffling through central London on Saturday. This free annual event takes place in cities across the world, and benefits a charity that supports digital literacy, aiming to keep us human in a technologically consuming world. The event is just what it sounds like. Dress like a zombie and walk with other zombies. Join the horde and learn more here.

🎶 Queens of Lovers Rock: Janet Kay & Carroll Thompson at the Fox & Firkin
Janet Kay (of “Silly Games” fame), and Carroll Thompson (“I’m So Sorry”), share a stage in Lewisham for a night of pioneering voices from the British Reggae movement. Grab tickets here.

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]]><![CDATA[The S.E. London | October 1st - 4th]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-se-london-october-1st-4thhttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-se-london-october-1st-4thThu, 01 Oct 2026 07:20:38 GMT

Happy Thursday, South East London!

We took a little hiatus to stretch our legs at the tail end of summer, but we’re back to bring you weekly goings-on throughout the tri-borough area… (I’m giving “tri-borough” a shot - what do we think?)

First, however, we have some exciting news for anybody who’s a fan of the most popular Indian chain in the city…

📰 🍛 Dishoom is coming to Borough

Has anyone been to the Hop Exchange? It’s a beautiful grade-II listed building in Borough right by London Bridge. And, though it’s pretty, I’m not really sure what happens in there these days… until now.

Dishoom is taking over a large section of the space, officially opening in a few weeks. But here’s the good part. They’re having a soft launch the 12th–20th of October where they’re accepting walk-ins who will receive 50% off their meal! Worth stopping by. Check out their website for more info here.

📰 🧖 A new sauna & cold plunge in Bermondsey

Another welcome addition to the South East, Druid Street Saunas has opened in the Bermondsey railway arches. After a soft launch this summer, this sauna and cold plunge is fully up and running now.

There are a few of these types of spots popping up around the city and it’s about to be the perfect time of year to take advantage. Take a look here.

Stay safe. Stay cosy. Have a great weekend.

-Anton

All Weekend Long

🎙️ A star-studded comedy festival in Peckham

Peckham Playground is on for its third annual comedy festival in Copeland Park all weekend. They have a huge bill of big-name comics: Dara Ó Briain on Thursday, Eddie Kadi on Friday, then Sara Pascoe, Ed Gamble, Tim Key and Fern Brady across Saturday and Sunday. Get tickets here.

🖼️ Ghosts of the High Street art exhibition
This is just outside the South East London zone in Brixton, but close enough. Ghosts of the High Street gathers 25 years of David Western’s paintings, prints and drawings of a fast-changing South London. Much of what he captured has since been demolished or changed entirely. This is a trip down South London memory lane. And Saturday’s the last chance to see it. Have a look here.

🎭 My Name Is Rachel Corrie at the Greenwich Theatre
A moving, one-woman play drawn from the diaries and emails of the young American activist, adapted by Alan Rickman and Katharine Viner and starring Cassie Bradley. This play just started its run this week. Book your seats here.

Thursday, October 1st

🎭 Drive at the Greenwich Theatre
One night only: Drive is a high-energy blend of live music, spoken word and storytelling following four friends from an East London estate who start a band. This show was born in South London at Theatre Peckham, went to the West End, and is now back across the river. Grab tickets here.

Friday, October 2nd

🎬 Date-night cinema in Peckham

Rooftop Cinema Club is showing two very different kinds of date night movie on Friday. They’re starting with the time-hopping romance About Time at 6.15pm, followed by the very much non-romance, Obsession, at 9.05pm. I can’t speak for About Time, but I just saw Obsession. It’s worth seeing with a crowd. Find tickets here.

Saturday, October 3rd

👗 Threads of Heritage: Black women’s fashion in Lewisham
A Black History Month celebration of Black women’s fashion, heritage and creativity, with exhibitions, storytelling and a fashion showcase at Lewisham Shopping Centre. See the details here.

🥁 Taiko Meantime’s 25th anniversary at Blackheath Halls

Japanese taiko drumming takes centre stage with Taiko Meantime, an ensemble that was actually founded in Greenwich 25 years ago. And now they’re having a special anniversary show at Blackheath Halls. Book your seats here.

🎸 Talking Heads tribute at the Fox & Firkin
Speaking in Tongues bring the songs of the Talking Heads to Lewisham for a night of singalongs. Grab tickets here.

🎭 Hundred Watt Club cabaret at Woolwich Works
An evening of vintage-inspired burlesque at Woolwich Works, with comedy, circus and vaudeville thrown in for good measure from the internationally-touring Hundred Watt Club. Read more about it here.

Sunday, October 4th

🎷 FREE big band jazz at the Fox & Firkin
The Big Firkin Band, a Lewisham-based collective of amazing players, brings jazz back to the Fox & Firkin on Sunday afternoon. It’s always a good time. Find out more here.

🎤 Soulsation at Greenwich Theatre
A feel-good celebration of classic soul and Motown comes to Greenwich Theatre. All the soul oldies you remember. It may be a theatre show, but expect people to be dancing along. Book tickets here.

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]]><![CDATA[The S.E. London | August 13th - 16th]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-se-london-august-13th-16thhttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-se-london-august-13th-16thThu, 13 Aug 2026 07:31:04 GMT

Happy Thursday, South East London!

Before we get to this weekend, some news about one of the biggest free festivals in South East London…

📰 Greenwich’s biggest free festival just dropped its lineup

The Greenwich+Docklands International Festival has revealed its full 2026 programme. Running from 21st August to 6th September, it fills Woolwich, Greenwich and Thamesmead with outdoor theatre, dance shows and music all built around this year’s theme, “We Move.”

It kicks off with a huge open-air dance piece in General Gordon Square in Woolwich, and the Greenwich Fair returns that opening weekend. Best of all, it’s almost entirely FREE. See the full programme here.

Stay safe. Stay cool. Have a great weekend.

-Anton

All Weekend Long

🎬 Rooftop Cinema Club Peckham
Open-air films all weekend: Paprika and The Devil Wears Prada 2 on Friday, then La La Land, the new Michael Jackson biopic and Interstellar on Saturday. There’s also a special Thursday night pairing Almost Famous with a live Sofar Sounds sets, and for dog owners, scroll down to Sunday. Pick a film and grab your seat.

Friday, August 14th

🧘 FREE community yoga in Pasley Park
Hannah Maher’s free Friday-morning yoga in Pasley Park, Walworth continues. All levels welcome, just bring a mat. Roll out your mat here.

Saturday, August 15th

🎶 Afrobeat orchestra in Lewisham

Fela Kuti’s disciple performs a special open-air show at the Fox and Firkin Saturday afternoon. If you haven’t heard of Dele Sosimi or Fela Kuti, picture an amazing danceable rhythm and great musicians. They’re playing from 1-9pm. Get your tickets here.

🎉 Free summer fete at the Albany in Deptford
Deptford’s arts hub the Albany throws open its garden for a FREE summer fete packed with live music, DJs and creative workshops, including a Guinness World Record–holding hula hoop troupe and soul singer Laville. Advance tickets have sold out, but there’s room for walk-ups. See the full lineup here.

🎻 12 Ensemble at Bold Tendencies in Peckham

The string collective 12 Ensemble perform an evening of Schubert inside Peckham Levels a striking setting for a striking sound. Book a seat here.

🔊 Jumbi day party & Phonox afterparty in Peckham
An all-day-into-all-night electronic showcase at Jumbi, with DJ Paypal and electro-master Ikonika, rolling into a late afterparty with DJ Assault. Starts at 3pm. See who’s playing here.

💘 A live Blind Date in Canada Water

You know the old dating show. Well, the show is getting a live revival at Corner Corner in Canada Water. Grab a seat to watch contestants try out their best pick-up lines, or put yourself forward if you’re feeling brave enough. Get involved or get tickets here.

Sunday, August 16th

🎭 National Theatre props, samples and seconds sale
The National Theatre is selling some of their own props, AND as an added bonus, there’s going to be a whole market of independent sellers as well. This super unique market is happening Sunday at 10am. Find out more here.

🐶 Dog-friendly films at Rooftop Cinema Peckham
Bring the pup: Rooftop Cinema goes dog-friendly on Sunday with screenings of Best in Show and 101 Dalmatians. Book you and the pup in here.

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]]><![CDATA[The S.E. London | August 6th - 9th]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-se-london-august-6th-9thhttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-se-london-august-6th-9thThu, 06 Aug 2026 07:46:41 GMT

Happy Thursday, South East London!

Festivals upon festivals this weekend, from hip-hop to crafts to food, there’s a little something for everyone. But first, some good news for fans of fireworks…

📰 🎆 The Blackheath Fireworks are coming back

The Blackheath Fireworks have had somewhat of a “will they / won’t they” ever since 2020. But it is confirmed that they will return in 2026. It will follow in the footsteps of last year’s paid version, or as the council calls it, “cost-neutral.” That means they’ll be funding it through ticket sales, and that a return to free displays is unlikely in future.

Officials say they’re keeping prices as affordable as possible, with some concessionary tickets for Lewisham residents. Last year’s festival, which included live entertainment, DJs, a food village and funfair, is expected to return.

Stay safe. Stay cool. Have a great weekend.

-Anton

All Weekend Long

🎵 Roots Picnic London at Crystal Palace Bowl

A full weekend of music for hip-hop heads. The Roots Picnic has been happening for years in Philadelphia and now it’s coming to the Crystal Palace Bowl this Saturday and Sunday. It’s a huge soul-and-hip-hop lineup and tickets are still available for either day. Find out more and get tickets here.

🛍️ Korean creative market in Peckham
This Korean-founded, artist-led market takes over Copeland Park in Peckham with over 60 curated independent creatives: fashion, jewellery, ceramics, homeware, illustration, contemporary art from emerging Korean artists, and a lounge full of Korean food and desserts. The first 1,000 visitors each day get a free mango makgeolli slush. Find out more and book.

🍜 KERB Goes East at Canada Water

Street-food heroes KERB take over Canada Water for the weekend with around 50 traders serving East and Southeast Asian food, from Japanese comfort food and Singaporean curry puffs to Korean-Mexican mash-ups. Find out more here.

🎬 Rooftop Cinema Club Peckham
A big weekend of open-air screenings: In the Mood for Love and You, Me & Tuscany on Friday; Mamma Mia!, Bend It Like Beckham and The Wolf of Wall Street on Saturday; and Ratatouille, Pretty Woman and Whiplash on Sunday. See the schedule and book.

Thursday, August 6th

🪩 Disco orchestra at the Horniman in Forest Hill
Disco classics get the full orchestral treatment as the brilliant Brixton Chamber Orchestra takes over the Horniman Museum on Thursday. Find out more and book.

🇯🇲 Jamaican Independence Day at the Fox & Firkin
Celebrate Jamaican Independence Day in Lewisham with Rum ‘N’ Bass and DJ Croc spinning reggae, dancehall and more. Find out more here.

Friday, August 7th

🎶 South London Miniteca Latin & Portuguese Festival at Burgess Park
A free, all-ages celebration of South London’s Latin and Portuguese communities. Curated by DJ Bushbby with the main stage hosted by Latin-music legends Como No, expect live salsa collectives, music, dance, workshops and street food. Find out more.

🏰 Street food at Severndroog Castle - last chance!
The summer’s popular outdoor food gatherings at the fairytale Severndroog Castle are on for one more evening. There are tons of food stalls, drinks, music and dancing. Check it out.

🧘 FREE community yoga in Pasley Park
Local teacher Hannah Maher kicks off her free Friday-morning community yoga classes in Pasley Park, on Friday. All levels welcome, just bring a mat. These free sessions are running Fridays through August. Reserve your spot here.

🎨 Fabulous Fridays at Charlton House
Free family craft sessions continue every Friday at the beautiful, FREE Charlton House & Gardens in Greenwich. An easy way to keep the kids busy during the holidays. Find out more here.

Saturday, August 8th

🎉 Thamesmead Festival is back!

The award-winning, resident-led Thamesmead Festival returns to Southmere Park with four stages of soul, jazz, gospel and funk, headlined by Natalie Williams’ Soul Family. There’s also free workshops, a dog show, boating on the lake, a craft and food market, and dedicated kids’ zones. And it’s FREE! Find out more here.

👦 Dog Man: The Musical at the Southbank Centre

Dav Pilkey’s smash-hit kids’ graphic novels come to the stage in an energetic, very funny family musical at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Evening show plus daytime matinees. Find out more and book.

Sunday, August 9th

🎸 Live acoustic guitar on the Golden Hinde
Something a little different: guitarist Kris Dollimore brings his solo instrumental project Sirkus Post aboard the Golden Hinde near Borough Market, for an evening of atmospheric, alternative-tuned acoustic music on a 16th-century galleon. Tickets and times here.

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]]><![CDATA[The S.E. London | July 30th - August 2nd]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-se-london-july-30th-august-2ndhttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-se-london-july-30th-august-2ndThu, 30 Jul 2026 07:45:28 GMT

Happy Thursday, South East London!

Here’s a bit of good news, then after that, lots of good stuff in store for this weekend…

📰 🚌 Unlimited weekend bus travel for £1.75

Listen up, discount-seekers! TfL’s new Weekend Hopper fare caps all your bus and tram journeys across a single Saturday or Sunday at just £1.75 total.

Normally the Hopper only gives you unlimited travel for an hour before the £1.75 charge resets. The Weekend Hopper stretches that across the whole day, so you can ride as many buses as you like from morning to night for the price of one trip. Just tap on as usual with the same card each time and it caps automatically.

It’s a limited-time thing, running until 31 August (including the August bank holiday Monday). Perfect timing for a summer of getting out and about across the South East. Check out the TfL website for more info.

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

⚔️ Medieval Jousting at Eltham Palace

Four mythic knights go head-to-head in a medieval tournament in the grounds of the incredible Art Deco-infused Eltham Palace. The Middle Ages are being brought back to life on both Saturday and Sunday. Book via English Heritage and save 15% when you book online.

🎬 Rooftop Cinema Club Peckham
A big weekend of screenings: 10 Things I Hate About You, Pulp Fiction, La La Land, Sinners, The Parent Trap, Scarface, Pride & Prejudice and Romeo & Juliet, all happening in the open air. See the schedule and book.

🎭 The Little Mermaid in Greenwich
Greenwich Theatre’s new family show opens this weekend and runs through August. It’s the story everyone loves. Find out more and book tickets here.

🖼️ American Photo Gallery in Dulwich
A brand-new exhibition just opened, gathering a century of American photography from 34 influential photographers capturing the people who built and transformed the modern city. Find out more here.

Thursday, July 30th

🚗 Park it in the Market in Greenwich

Greenwich Market goes retro for the day with classic cars, vintage stalls and a nostalgic twist on the usual line-up. Find out more here.

🎷 Wayne Tucker & the Bad Mothas at the Horniman

New York trumpeter Wayne Tucker brings his funk-and-soul band to the Horniman in Forest Hill, joined by vocalist Natalie Williams. Find out more, book, and listen to this awesome band here.

Friday, July 31st

🎨 Fabulous Fridays at Charlton House
The summer holidays roll on with family craft sessions every Friday at the Charlton House & Gardens in Greenwich for free. Keep the kids busy in one of the borough’s most beautiful historic houses. Find out more here.

Saturday, August 1st

🛍️ Bottle Factory Flea Market at Canada Water

Vintage fashion, designer labels, furniture and homeware dealers set up a curated flea market right by the dock. Come for a rummage and leave with something with a bit of history. Find out more here.

🍺 The Early Swerve at the Hither Green branch of Brockley Brewery
Drop by for an afternoon of local craft beer, street food and a live set from alt-folk/blues outfit The Early Swerve. Relaxed neighbourhood vibes from 3pm. Find out more and listen to them here.

Sunday, August 2nd

🎉 The Big Hoopla Family Day at the Fox & Firkin
A free afternoon in the garden for all ages: hula hoop performances and workshops, face-painting, and giant games like Jenga and Connect 4. Budding DJs can even bring their own vinyl and sign up for a 30-minute slot on the decks. Check it out here.

🏛️ First Sundays at the Painted Hall

Get into the Old Royal Naval College’s spectacular Painted Hall in Greenwich for just £5 on the first Sunday of the month. Book your ticket here.

🎷 Youth Jazz Showcase at the Southbank Centre
Catch the next generation of British jazz for free, as the Tomorrow’s Warriors programme showcases artists from its Young Artists’ Development Programme. Find out more here.

🎶 Huge Music Festival in Camberwell

The Jazz Cafe Festival is on for its third year with a big genre-spanning lineup of live sets and DJs including Ari Lennox, Smino, Nightmares on Wax, Greentea Peng and Dan Shake. Check out the full lineup and get tickets here.

🛍️ SoLo Craft Fair Summer Market on the Southbank
Happening only the first Sunday of the month through September, the SoLo Craft Fair is back with a curated selection of independent makers, designers and artists to the riverside, alongside the usual street-food traders. Find out more here.

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]]><![CDATA[The S.E. London | July 23rd - 26th]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-se-london-july-23rd-26thhttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-se-london-july-23rd-26thFri, 24 Jul 2026 07:34:09 GMT

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.

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]]><![CDATA[The S.E. London | July 16th - 19th]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-july-16th-19thhttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-july-16th-19thMon, 13 Jul 2026 21:28:26 GMT

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

]]><![CDATA[The S.E. London | July 2nd - 5th]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-july-2nd-5thhttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-july-2nd-5thThu, 02 Jul 2026 05:07:55 GMT

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

]]><![CDATA[The S.E. London | June 25th - 28th]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-june-25th-28thhttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-june-25th-28thWed, 24 Jun 2026 08:28:25 GMT

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

]]><![CDATA[The S.E. London | June 18th - 21st]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-se-london-june-18th-21sthttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-se-london-june-18th-21stSun, 21 Jun 2026 20:40:44 GMT

Happy Thursday, South East London!

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

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.

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]]><![CDATA[The S.E. London | June 18th - 21st]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-june-18th-21sthttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-june-18th-21stWed, 17 Jun 2026 15:55:33 GMT

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

]]><![CDATA[The S.E. London | June 11th - 14th]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-june-11th-14thhttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-june-11th-14thWed, 10 Jun 2026 14:30:18 GMT

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

Friday, June 12th

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

]]><![CDATA[The S.E. London | June 4th - 7th]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-june-4th-7thhttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-june-4th-7thTue, 02 Jun 2026 17:28:34 GMT

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

]]><![CDATA[The S.E. London | May 28th - 31st]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-may-28th-31sthttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-may-28th-31stWed, 27 May 2026 15:02:16 GMT

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

]]><![CDATA[The S.E. London | May 21st - 25th]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-may-21st-25thhttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-may-21st-25thWed, 20 May 2026 18:22:14 GMT

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

🧒 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

]]><![CDATA[The S.E. London | May 7th - 10th]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-may-7th-10thhttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-may-7th-10thWed, 06 May 2026 14:27:00 GMT

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

]]><![CDATA[The S.E. London | April 30th - May 3rd]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-april-30th-may-3rdhttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-april-30th-may-3rdMon, 27 Apr 2026 16:03:40 GMT

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

]]><![CDATA[The S.E. London | April 23rd - 26th]]>https://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-april-23rd-26thhttps://www.theselondon.com/p/the-s-e-london-april-23rd-26thWed, 22 Apr 2026 22:22:56 GMT

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

🧒 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

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