The S.E. London | June 25th - 28th

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 [email protected] or reply to this email.

Stay safe. Stay cool. Have a great weekend.

-Anton

🎉 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.

🎶 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.

🏛️ 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.

👦 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 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.