Find it on the edge of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. Image: Londonist

In London, it can be hard to find somewhere that'll let you linger.

Most cafes — understandably — want their tables turned over as quickly as possible. Your long-overdue catch-up with a friend cut short by a hovering waiter just as you're getting to the juicy gossip.

So somewhere that not only allows, but actively encourages, lingering is a rarity worth shouting about.

"We are trying to be different. We will not hurry you" proclaims the beautiful laminated opening page of the leather-bound menu at Vauxhall's Tea House Theatre.

"If this is your lunch break, then have one, you will be more productive in the afternoon. If you want to have a meeting, we will not disturb you. If you are 'working from home' we have WiFi. If you have children, we have highchairs, a chest of toys, and milkshakes"

This is not your usual cafe. Image: Londonist

Such a combination of purposes and needs seems impossible on paper... and yet, at the Tea House Theatre, it works. Very well in fact — we're writing this article in situ, surrounded on a weekday morning by a trio having a meeting 'on stage', a young couple tucking into brunch, and a solo woman ploughing through a novel.

A while later, a young man in a suit rocks up and whips out his laptop. A pair of students settle in for a lengthy study session. At some point, a lively dachshund — origin unknown — does a lap of the place, having a quick sniff of everyone's toes before being called away.

Wander the tables to view the day's cakes. Image: Londonist

On entering, a theatrical floor-to-ceiling velvet curtain acts as a holding area while you wait to be seated, surrounded by antique books and a wall of many, many leaflets for local groups and events, a taste of how community-minded the Tea House Theatre is.

Stepping through the curtain though, theatricality slides away as you take a seat in what could be someone's cosy living room. Pleasingly mismatched wooden chairs gather around tables, some just big enough for an intimate lunch for two, others pushed together to accommodate up to 10. A pair of chesterfield-style brown leather armchairs huddles around each of the three fireplaces, turned towards each other as if sharing a secret.

Outdoor seating is available when the weather's good, and while it's lovely to kick back and watch the world passing by in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, the real charm lies inside.

Image: Londonist

Trinkets abound. A marionette puppet hangs from a lighting rig. A cuddly toy Peter Rabbit, perhaps left behind by a young guest and hoping for a happy reunion, takes centre stage on a mantelpiece. An African-style wooden carved mother-and-child statuette adorns a windowsill. Each table has its own mini-display of fresh flowers, a couple of stems protruding from repurposed glass milk bottles, and standalone floor lamps are squeezed in anywhere there's room.

Like a kid in a sweet tea shop. Image: Londonist

On the back wall, a small counter is overshadowed by glass jars of tea, arranged as sweets would be in an old-fashioned confectionery shop. The counter itself is barely visible beneath all manner of paraphernalia, including bottles of beer, jars of jam and honey, the latter from three hives atop the Tea House's own roof.

Handmade cards by a local artist are for sale, and a stack of Holy Bibles lingers nearby ("Please take one if you need it" implores a handwritten sign atop that particular pile). When it comes to paying your bill, there's something very worth knowing: The Tea House Theatre encourages the use of cash, a poster in the toilets promising a discount to anyone who proffers it:

Image: Londonist

As for the menu, the clue's in the name. The Tea House Theatre (wait for it)... doesn't serve coffee. Not a latte, nor a cappuccino, not even a basic coffee-with-milk is available to customers here. They take tea so seriously, its caffeinated rival is blacklisted.

When staff relay this information to surprised customers, it's usually met with a brief glimmer of consternation, quickly swept aside with an accepting chuckle at the quirky rule. Honestly, it's a refreshing change to enjoy such an intimate venue without the grinding and hissing of a coffee machine every few seconds (Classic FM appears to be the soundtrack of choice most days, Aled Jones's voice drifting out from a speaker obscured somewhere behind a bookcase).

Neapolitan cake is the order of the day. Image: Londonist

Tea, on the other hand, comes by the pot, with a staggering 60+ brews to choose from. No wonder they don't hurry you. TL;DR? We've always found the 'peach tea with flowers' hits the spot.

What pairs perfectly with tea? Cake, which they take almost as seriously, an impressive spread of home-baked layer cakes available by the slice each day. Neapolitan, Nutella & orange marmalade, or passion fruit cake were all available on our most recent visit, along with almond flan and pecan pie. Everything is served on charmingly mismatched crockery, teapots covered in hand-knitted cosies.

A cake on each table: wander around to see today's selection. Image: Londonist

Sometimes the vast cake display, unable to be contained by the main counter, spills out onto a cafe table nearby, as if the chef started baking and couldn't be stopped. At other times, a cake sits on each table throughout the room, its glass dome acting as a centrepiece, encouraging gentle interaction as customers explore the walkable menu.

More substantial meals are available too. In fact, the Tea House Theatre serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea and very popular roasts on Sunday (though the rest of the menu is slimmed down on Sundays, so if it's a light lunch you're after, you're best choosing another day). Time's an irrelevance: breakfast is available until 6pm, and we've seen people tucking into afternoon tea — the full tiered-stand shebang — at 10.30am.

Almost all of the Tea House staff are incredibly friendly. Image: Londonist

The 'theatre' part of the venue's name mainly comes into play in the evenings, when scheduled events range from spoken word and poetry evenings to performances by the Tuneless Choir, jazz jam sessions and the occasional murder mystery night.

The stage is a small raised area at the front of the room, barely noticeable by day as it's part of the cafe seating (do heed the warning signs about falling off the edge if you choose to sit there). This near-daily transformation from daytime venue to evening theatre means you may find yourself dining among lighting rigs and other stage paraphernalia. It's all part of the fun.

The small stage area, surrounded by curtains. Image: Londonist

The Tea House Theatre, 139 Vauxhall Walk, SE11 5HL. Vauxhall station (National Rail and Victoria line) is a five-minute walk away. It's just around the corner from Vauxhall City Farm, and across the road from 'Taylor Swift pub' The Black Dog. A short walk away is Vauxhall Park (different from Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens) with its lavender patch.

Bryan Batt (left) stars as an all-singing all-dancing FBI director, alongside his lifetime assistant, Clyde (Hugo Bolton). Image: Here Comes J. Edgar!

The London stage is giving us the quite the crash course in American politics right now — at least through a glitzily cockeyed lens.

With Mary Todd Lincoln stirring up shit on the West End, Here Comes J. Edgar! brings us the story of the puissant FBI director, with added jazz hands. And let's not beat about the bush: the real carrots here are the two comedy vets behind the script; Tom Leopold (who wrote for Seinfeld and Cheers) and Harry Shearer — Spinal Tap's Derek Smalls, and the man who breathes life into a shedload of Simpsons characters.

Brits will know a smattering about Hoover, the director of the FBI who went power-crazed, and dug his heels in (literally, if the crossdressing rumours are to be believed), grasping onto the role for almost half a century. You needn't know much more in order to enjoy Here Comes J. Edgar!, which riffs on the spouse-like relationship between Hoover (played almost too adorably by Mad Men's Bryan Batt), and his 'lifetime assistant' Clyde Tolsen (Hugo Bolton; also brilliant). Clyde wants a cat. J. Edgar wants unchecked power. Mr Burns and Smithers spring to mind, probably no coincidence, given that Shearer voices both.

A barbershop quartet of presidents wonder if they shouldn't have quelled Hoover when they had the chance. Image: Here Comes J. Edgar!

At their best, the musical numbers are as touching as they are witty. Once Upon a Face has Hoover dancing amid a sea of fans printed with Clyde's bespectacled visage. The lines zing ("If you're Victor, then I must be the spoils). A cameo from Judith Owen as a flamboyant brothel keeper pining for the cornfields of Indiana is the surprise hit of the night.

Thinking about it, Here Comes J. Edgar! is the kind of musical that used to crop up on The Simpsons (who can forget Planet of the Apes and its "Dr. Zaius! Dr. Zaius!"). All very chucklesome, except those lasted a few seconds, whereas — even with a runtime of two hours plus interval — Here Comes J. Edgar! still can't convince us what's propelling the antihero's insidious coup d'état. Maybe it should learn the lesson that the machiavellian FBI director never did, and quit while it's ahead.

Here Comes J. Edgar! A Comedy Musical, King's Head Theatre, 17 July-16 August 2026

Image: DavidPMaynard, Creative Commons

Arise Lord Khan of Tooting.

Congratulations to Sir Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, who has now been further honoured with a peerage. The three-times Mayor will now be able to take his place on the red seats of the House of Lords, after receiving the nomination from Keir Starmer. He is one of 26 new Peers approved by the King.

It's not yet clear how active a Lord Khan will be. He still has almost two years to serve of his current term in City Hall, and has hinted that he might seek a fourth go at the job. That said, riding two horses simultaneously is not unprecedented in this job. In 2015-16, Boris Johnson spent a year as both Mayor of London and MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.  

The appointment throws up any number of questions. For example, would Khan accept a ministerial role from PM presumptive Andy Burnham? Serving as a Lord would qualify him for cabinet. Then there's the matter of the Lords itself. Both Burnham and Khan have spoken of the need for complete overhaul in the past.

The House of Lords. Photo: UK Parliament

The quirkiest upshot, though, is the potential confusion the new title brings. Sadiq Khan is now both Mayor of London and a Lord... but he is not Lord Mayor of London.

The Lord Mayor of London* is a year-long ceremonial appointment in the City of London (Square Mile)... the kind of mayor who goes around in gold chains and robes acting as a figurehead and ambassador for the City. Mayor of London Lord Khan, in contrast, is a political appointment with responsibilities over transport, policing and other weighty matters, and concerning the whole of Greater London.

Know the difference. Left: the Lord Mayor of London. Right: the Mayor of London, who currently happens to be a Lord. Image: Matt Brown, with knitted figures by Heather Brown

They are two very different roles, but now with even more similar names.

*The current Lord Mayor is Dame Susan Langley, the third woman who has held the role, and the first to use the title "Lady Mayor".

Adapted from a feature that first appeared in July 2025 on Londonist: Time Machine, our much-praised history newsletter. To be the first to read new history features like this, sign up for free here.

Lyme Regis is the place for fossils. Visit the Dorset town at low tide and I guarantee you’ll find something, even if you couldn’t spot a goose in a bath tub. The ammonite fossil shells are unmissable. I had my first prehistoric encounter within seconds of gaining the beach ⬇️:

It’s easy to get blasé about fossils, but just consider this for a few seconds. It was once a living creature, and died, perhaps, 70 million years ago. Now imagine some as-yet-unevolved animal sharing photographs of your remains 70 million years from now. Quite a thought. Image: Matt Brown

Lyme Regis is justly famous for its fossils, and for the work of fossil hunter Mary Anning (1799-1847). Anning and her brother Joseph made some stunning finds on this stretch of coast, including important examples of ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs and pterosaurs.

Her life story is very well told above the beach at the superb Lyme Regis Museum, which stands on the site of her house and fossil shop. But the museum also draws us into the lives of other remarkable women associated with Lyme Regis. Jane Austen, for example, set much of Persuasion in the town. Meryl Streep brought it to the big screen in the adaptation of The French Lieutenant's Woman. And before you even reach the museum door, you must step over the the legacy of a famous London businesswoman, Eleanor Coade:

Image: Matt Brown

Eleanor Coade (1733-1821) made fake stone. She was really good at it. The curly forms in my photo above are not real ammonites, and nor are they sculpted. These are Coade-stone casts, and they are very convincing.

Coade stone was a revelation in the late 18th century. Others had made artificial stone before, but Eleanor perfected a recipe that was durable and weather-proof. Its chief advantage over real stone was that it could be poured into a mould, then fired until it became hard. Statues and architectural ornaments could now be mass produced without the need for expensive chisel-hours.

Georgian London was awash with Coade stone, and you can still find examples all over the city. The most famous is surely this dazzling white lion who guards Westminster Bridge. I hope I’m looking as robust as this when I approach my 200th birthday:

Coade-stone lion of Westminster Bridge. Image: Matt Brown

Eleanor Coade was a serial entrepreneur. By the mid-1760s (still in her early 30s) she was running a linen drapers in the City of London. By the 1770s, she was directly managing the artificial stone factory in Lambeth. You don’t need me to tell you how rare it was for a woman to run a business in the 18th century, let alone a highly successful firm with royal warrants to both George III and the Prince Regent. Coade must have been exceptionally skilful to overcome the male gatekeepers of the time, even with wealth on her side.

Incidentally, the ‘recipe’ and firing technique for Coade stone were lost in the 1840s after the factory closed down. Only in recent years has it been revived. The ammonite pavement at Lyme Regis Museum is one such modern example.

The museum didn’t choose Coade stone arbitrarily. Eleanor Coade had strong links to the area. She was born a little to the west in Exeter, into a wealthy Devon/Dorset family. She would later move to London, but also maintained an enviable bolt-hole in Lyme Regis. Here it is:

Image: Matt Brown

It’s called Belmont because it’s beautiful (bel-) and practically on a mountain (-mont)… or, at least, the biggest hill in the exceptionally hilly Lyme Regis. It also happens to be adjacent to the long-stay car park, for those of weaker leg.

Coade was given the recently built house by her uncle in 1784, to be used as a holiday villa. The various urns, quoins, swags and rustications you see in my photo are all made of Coade stone. Belmont was as much a product showroom as a seaside retreat.

Belmont had another celebrity occupant in more recent times. It was here that the novelist (and former Londoner) John Fowles lived from 1968 until his death in 2005. And it was here that he finished writing The French Lieutenant’s Woman, which includes Belmont as a setting.

Eleanor Coade’s wider story is well told inside the museum, and numerous accounts can be found online (Katie’s is particularly good, and gives many examples of where to spot Coade stone in London; meanwhile, Historic England has a map of Coade across the country). But Eleanor Coade is just one famous Londoner to have links with this part of the Jurassic Coast. Let’s meet another.

The foundling father

Recognise this fellow?

Image: public domain

This is Thomas Coram (1668-1751), as painted by his friend William Hogarth. Coram may have saved the lives of more Londoners than anyone outside the medical professions. It was he who, in 1739, set up the Foundling Hospital in Bloomsbury. This charitable institution took in, cared for, and educated an estimated 25,000 vulnerable children over its two centuries of operation. Most were orphans, or came from families unable to cope with another child. Without Coram’s charity, many would have died.

Coram’s own early childhood was spent in Lyme Regis, and also involved parental loss. His mother died in 1671, when the boy was just three. His father, probably a master mariner, packed him off to sea aged 11. He eventually washed up in Massachusetts, where he pursued various maritime trades for the next two decades. He did not arrive in London until 1704, but thereafter became a dogged campaigner for children’s welfare. Coram poured everything into his foundling project, often at personal expense.

“Dear old Coram died in 1751 a complete pauper,” wrote our old friend John Fowles, more than two centuries later. “Every penny of his fortune had been ‘lost’ in the hospital. Lyme has more famous names attached to it, but none of kinder memory”.

Coram’s links with Lyme are limited to his early childhood, but his formative years, tinged with the tragedy of his mother’s death, must have been important in the shaping of his character. The museum devotes a small display to the good captain, including these buttons and dolls from the Foundling Hospital.

Image: Matt Brown

The Foundling Hospital moved out of London in the 1920s, and eventually closed in the 1950s. The original site in Bloomsbury is, however, still devoted to child welfare. Here you’ll find the Coram charity, which serves as an adoption agency and advisory centre. Next door is the Foundling Museum, which tells the story of Coram and his young charges. It also displays important works of art, including the March to Finchley painting that was the subject of a recent newsletter. A large open space is now the Coram’s Fields Playground, which adults can only enter ‘if accompanied by a child’.

Henry Fielding’s despicable behaviour

Our third noted Londoner is perhaps the most famous. Henry Fielding (1707-1754) was a prominent judge who set up the Bow Street Runners, London’s first attempt at a professional police force. He was also a playwright and novelist, best known for the highly influential Tom Jones (1749), though I’d give him more credit for writing a parody of Samuel Richardson’s Pamela, puntastically called Shamela.

The grown-up Fielding was a leading light of both judiciary and proto-constabulary, but the youthful Fielding seems also to have dabbled in villainy. How else to explain this Lyme Regis plaque?

Image: Matt Brown

The plaque marks a narrow path called Long Entry, and records that here, in 1725, the novelist Henry Fielding attempted to abduct Sarah Andrew. What gives?

Fielding, aged 19, was spending the summer in Lyme Regis where he met distant cousin Sarah Andrew (then aged 15). She was an elegant young heiress on the cusp of a vast inheritance. He had a profile like a bottle-opener, and a wallet that was more accustomed to crumbs than currency.

Later accounts relate how Fielding had fallen desperately in love with the heiress. His attempts to woo her, though, were thwarted. Sarah was under the guardianship of her uncle Andrew Tucker, who hoped to see her married to his own son John Tucker. Fielding was an annoying rival.

Things came to a head one Sunday in November 1725. Sarah and the Tucker family were on their way to church (the same one, incidentally, where Mary Anning would be buried in the following century). One street away, Fielding and his servant grabbed the young lady and attempted to spirit her away. Mr Tucker was having none of it, and fought off the attempt on his niece.

Tucker went to the Mayor with his grievance. A surviving record states that Fielding and his man were “bound over to keep the peace, as he [Mr Tucker'] was in fear of his life or some bodily hurt to be done or to be procured to be done to him by H. Fielding and his man. Mr A. Tucker feared that the man would beat, maim, or kill him.”

Fielding fled town to avoid prosecution. As a parting shot, he posted a sour public notice, which still survives in Lyme Regis Museum:

Image: Matt Brown

The note reads: “November 15 1725. This is to give notice to all the World that Andrew Tucker and his son John Tucker are Clowns and Cowards. Witness my hand Henry Feilding [sic].”Clearly, there’s more to this episode than the scraps of documentation disclose. Was Fielding really trying to abduct Sarah, or was that Tucker’s spin on a more orthodox street confrontation? What was Sarah’s side of the story? Why did Fielding view Tucker as cowardly?

We may never know. The experience — whatever its true nature — certainly left a lasting impression on Fielding. His novels and plays are littered with kidnappings. As a judge, meanwhile, Fielding would go on to preside over many cases of abduction, including the famous mystery of Elizabeth Canning. Lyme Regis had left its mark on Georgian London’s pre-eminent judge and novelist.

I began with Mary Anning and I’ll finish with Mary Anning. The great fossil hunter had only tenuous connections with London (though many of her best fossil discoveries now hang in the Natural History Museum). As a woman of the early 19th century, she was barred from joining the learned societies of the capital, though she did correspond with many of the leading lights. Anning spent almost all of her time in Dorset, contributing much to our understanding of ancient life and the vastness of geological time. Tragically, her own time was to be short. Anning died of breast cancer aged just 47. Had she lived another 12 years, she would, I’m sure, have been utterly thrilled to see the publication of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, which finally made sense of the “endless forms most beautiful” that she had chiselled from the rocks.

Thanks to a campaign by locals, she now has a statue on the Lyme Regis seafront. Lovely though this is, her real tribute is down in the ammonite beds of low tide. To paraphrase Christopher Wren’s tomb in St Paul’s “If you seek her monument, look around you”.

Limpets shelter in the remains of an ammonite shell. Image: Matt Brown

Robert O.N. Torto, aka Rasta Rolla, is bringing much-needed joy to London's streets. Image: Rasta Rolla

"I got on the bike, fell off it almost immediately."

The first time Robert O.N. Torto took to his beloved penny-farthing bicycle — a test ride, to see if buying one of these eccentric contraptions was really a good idea — he was face-planting into the ground seconds later. "I forgot it was a fixed wheel bicycle," the chipper celeb cyclist tells me. He went straight over the handlebars, or rather with them — on a penny-farthing they basically strap you into your seat, like the bars on a fairground ride.

Dusting himself off, Robert bought the penny-farthing anyway. It was a decision that would change his life.

"There are absolutely no benefits to riding a penny-farthing!"

Penny-farthings occupy a short-lived chapter in the annals of cycling history, but people still love the sight of them today. Image: California Historical Society Digital Collection via creative commons

A short-lived chapter in the annals of cycling history, the penny-farthing (also once known, for very apparent reasons, as a 'high wheel') was invented in 1869 by Frenchman Eugène Meyer. Its comically oversized front wheel allowed a faster speed and smoother rides than earlier velocipedes, and with modifications made by James Starley from Coventry, the penny-farthing became a common sight in Britain. By the end of the 1880s, however, the safety bicycle had arrived, and penny-farthings were relegated as something to be gawked at in museums; a wonky footnote of engineering prompting incredulous mutterings of: "Did people really used to ride those?"

In fact, a select group of people still do ride them — one is Robert, aka Rasta Rolla (a name he brainstormed with two of his four daughters back when he was more of a roller skater). Maybe you've chanced upon him pedalling through the streets of London; otherwise you may recognise him from Instagram, where he entertains some 37k followers.

He's hard to miss; the vision of an English gent with Ghanaian flair — plus fours, bright socks, bowties, kente-inspired waistcoats and pocket squares. Robert was born in London at a time when race riots were raging. "Someone threw a molotov cocktail through the neighbour's window on Christmas day," he tells me, "So my family thought 'this is inherently unsafe'. In 1981, my mother, father, and sister and I moved to Jamaica — and I lived there for about 11 years."

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Subsequently moving to Ghana for six years, Robert came back to England in 1998, "to pick up where I left off in the 80s really". This is when he fashioned his look, inspired by a sharp-dressed grandfather, and a mother who'd made clothes for Rita Marley.

Gliding through London — or rather, floating just above it — Rasta Rolla prompts double-takes from van drivers and wondrous smirks from children. When riding up alongside vehicles on the road, he makes a point of doing so on the driver's side of the vehicle: "From the passenger side, they don't know what's going on. On the driver's side they can just look down and see 'OK, he's on a bicycle'. As opposed to 'What is this guy doing up in the air?!'"

Penny-farthings are somewhat hairy to ride. Not only are they high up, the direct-drive mechanism means that as soon as you stop pedalling, the bike comes to a stop. "There are absolutely no benefits to riding a penny farthing to a normal bicycle!" Rasta Rolla laughs, and he is not joking. So how did he get to riding one of these beautifully farcical machines around in the first place?

"It's something everyone should try at least once in their life"

"I thought she was joking, just fun and games. Two weeks later, she sends me a link to an eBay page with this penny farthing. I was like 'here we go... no excuses now!'" Image: Rasta Rolla

It started with an invite to marshal at the London Tweed Run, where one participant convinced Robert to climb on her 50-inch penny farthing. "She said 'You really look good riding this — you really should get one!'. I said 'Ah nah, this wouldn't be for me, it feels really awkward to ride.' She said 'OK, well if I find one your size, would you get it, or at least try it?'. I said 'Yeah I'll take that bet'.

"I thought she was joking, just fun and games. Two weeks later, she sends me a link to an eBay page with this penny-farthing. I was like 'here we go... no excuses now!'"

Robert went for a test ride in Stratford, deciding to don a black suit and tie. "I thought I'd be in keeping with the theme of the bicycle". This was the moment he ended up on the floor, but sensing there was something special about the bike, Robert stuck at it. A love affair twixt man and bike blossomed.

Penny-farthing cyclists, explains Rasta Rolla, should stick to a couple of golden rules. Always mount from the back, not the front or side. And once you're up and running, get up and down as little as possible during your journey. The main obstacle to this rule is traffic lights and busy junctions. But given his disarming charm, Rasta Rolla gets away with asking motorists if he can momentarily lean against their vehicle. He's even done this with police vans. "Your average Lycra clad cyclists — they wouldn't dare lean again someone else's vehicle!".

"I'm genuinely commuting on my bicycle"

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A post shared by RASTAROLLA (@rastarolla)

As much attention as Rasta Rolla garners, the penny-farthing is not just for show. "I'm never just cycling — I'm always doing something. I'm never just frivolously going for a bike ride just to catch people's reactions. I'm genuinely commuting on my bicycle."

In his day job as a road safety engineer, Robert is able to check out issues with junctions and cycle lanes, and feed this back. He's arguably doing something more important, too. Road rage might stalk London's streets — particularly at rush hour — but the sight of Rasta Rolla wheeling down the cycle lane is singularly disarming; an unexpected moment of joy. "With this bicycle the conversation flows readily," he says. Rasta Rolla finds himself chatting with strangers at junctions. Refitting children's bike chains. Even on the occasion he was almost flattened by a van, the situation ended amicably.

Rasta Rolla reckons his trusty steed has even bled into his own personality. "The bicycle has turned me into a much calmer person. I feel an obligation when I'm riding it to be that English gent, albeit with African flair."

Having bought up a few penny-farthings of varying sizes, Robert is now planning to establish somewhere people can learn how to ride them, and go on affordable experiences. "It's something that everyone should try at least once in their life," he says "a bucket list item."

Until then, he'll remain one of the few penny-farthing cyclists in London — if not the only one. Occasionally, Robert runs into his friend, Alan, another proud owner of one of these skew-whiff bikes. "I'll be riding along and bang, there's Alan on his penny farthing, you know! It's happened about three times and it's hilarious. People are thinking we're in a convention or something!"

As for the getup? Even with the sweltering temperatures London's been having recently, Rasta Rolla refuses to get more pared down than chinos and a shirt. "It's about respecting this bicycle. I wouldn't dare get on in a tracksuit. That's just too uncouth, you know what I mean?!"

The jazz-infused street party runs from 11.30am-4.30pm. Image: Ronnie Scott's

There'll be dancing in the streets of Soho this August, as legendary jazz venue Ronnie Scott's throws a street party.

The free al fresco blowout — happening on Frith Street on Saturday 1 August 2026 — features two stages laying on live jazz, soul, R&B and gospel throughout the day. There'll also be family activities, outdoor bars and street food — making this an event for all.

Performers include Blue Lab Beats, Daniel Casimir Big Band and Ronnie Scott's Gospel Choir. Image: Ronnie Scott's

The full schedule is as follows:

South Stage

Blue Lab Beats
Summer Pearl
NEONE the Wonderer
GRAMN.
Jackson Mathod
DJ Jon Jules

North Stage

Daniel Casimir Big Band
Shae Universe
Guvna B
Ronnie Scott's Gospel Choir
Marlon the Pannist
DJ Mike Vitti

"The Street Party is our way of opening Ronnie Scott's up to everyone." Image: Ronnie Scott's

Says Fred Nash, Managing Director of Ronnie Scott's:

Before the festivals, the awards and the headline tours, there are independent venues where musicians can experiment, find their voice and connect with audiences for the first time. Those spaces are absolutely essential to the health of British music. The Street Party is our way of opening Ronnie Scott's up to everyone. By bringing free live music into the heart of Soho, we want to celebrate the incredible artists performing today while also recognising the wider network of grassroots venues that helps make careers like theirs possible.

One to two thousand people are expected to show up. Image: Ronnie Scott's

Ronnie Scott's was established in 1959 by saxophonists Ronnie Scott and Pete King, opening its doors on 39 Gerrard Street. In 1965, the club moved to its current home at 47 Frith Street. In its time, it's been graced by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and Chet Baker.

Ronnie Scott's street party takes place on Frith Street, Soho, on Saturday 1 August, 11.30am-4.30pm. Free, just turn up.

628 of these babies are now live. Consider this your prompt to gently commence planning your September. Image: Open House Festival

A list of over 600 Open House Festival 2026 venues and walks has just dropped on the official website.

Started in 1992 as Open House London (a name which many still call it), the free event opens doors to venues across the capital, and has garnered a reputation as a 'Christmas for architecture lovers'. In recent years, Open House expanded to cover two weekends, with a sprinkling of mid-week events. 2026's festival runs from 12-20 September.

At the moment, the website only shows which venues/tours are happening. Specific dates and booking don't kick in until 12pm on Wednesday 19 August. But consider this your clarion call to start gently perusing what tickles your fancy, and putting together a 'to visit' list. The extremely handy map of locations will presumably become available in August too.

Some Open House venues can easily be visited as drop-ins, while others will require booking (these are often major buildings, or otherwise those with limited space, as well as walking tours).

Separately, ballots for extra special venues (think 10 Downing Street; the BT Tower) open on Wednesday 29 July, with the winners announced on Monday 17 August.

For us to even begin cherrypicking suggestions from the extensive list of houses, high-rises, churches, civic centres, theatres, museums and what-not would be quixotic to say the least (especially as we aren't sure which are the 'new for 2026' entries). The most helpful thing we can do is suggest you put aside an hour or two, visit the site yourself and get jotting and plotting.

For more of all things London history, sign up for our newsletter and community: Londonist: Time Machine.

Image: Rob Hill/Chelsea History Festival

Walking tours and talks by famous faces are on the programme for this year's Chelsea History Festival, curated by broadcaster and journalist John Simpson.

Now in its eighth year, the festival is hosted by local institutions the National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Chelsea and Chelsea Physic Garden, offering visitors an insight into the neighbourhood's history, as well as national, international and military heritage. Chelsea Old Church, Chelsea Theatre, Royal Court Theatre and Garrison Chapel also take part this year.

Around 100 events make up the 2026 programme, offering something for history buffs, book lovers, families — and those of us who just love a good nosey around fancy buildings. Here's our picks of things to book right now:

Image: Rob Hill/Chelsea History Festival

⌛ Tours of the Royal Chelsea Hospital: A staple of the festival, led by a Chelsea Pensioner, who offers insight into what it's like to live in the magnificent building (1-4 October)

⌛ Old London Slang: A Cockney Chat: A workshop delving into the origins of some common Cockney rhyming slang phrases (FREE, 1 October)

⌛ Women Who Ruled The World: Historian Dr Elizabeth discusses 5,000 years of female rulers, from Cleopatra to Elizabeth I, looking at how women have fought to hang onto their crowns in male-dominated societies  (1 October)

⌛ Spies Of Chelsea: A walking tour exploring the locale's espionage links, from Soviet spies to Nazis to James Bond (2 and 3 October). Other themed tours throughout the festival include Queer Chelsea, Tudor Chelsea, 1960s Chelsea and Chelsea Village

⌛ Hex In The Garden: A haunting evening of after-dark storytelling, history and performance at Chelsea Physic Garden exploring women herbalists, cunning folk and the Witch Craze. (3 October)

⌛ Agatha Christie's London: Christie researcher and expert Tina Hodgkinson talks about the author's London, and the places she knew which inspired her work (4 October)

Image: Rob Hill/Chelsea History Festival

That's just a taster of events on this year's programme, including child-friendly options such as storytelling walks through the Royal Hospital Chelsea, and a printmaking workshop inspired by patterns from around the world.

Chelsea History Festival 2026 takes place 1-4 October. Tickets are available now.

A second consultation has launched for what is set to become a major London attraction. Image: Orms

The first proper mock-ups of the new-look BT Tower complex have been released by architects Orms — along with an estimated opening date.

Back in May we reported that the Fitzrovia landmark's makeover into an MCR hotel will feature access to the top of the tower (a privilege currently only afforded to a handful of occasional ballot winners) and a rooftop swimming pool.

76% of those asked in the first consultation said they'd likely visit an observation deck. Image: Orms

Now, plans produced for a second public consultation give us a clearer picture of what to expect. Here are some key takeaways:

🔭 The public will have access to the revolving observation deck already in place at the top of the tower. There's no mention of bringing back the long-lost revolving restaurant, though we expect there will be special events where food and drink feature.

🏊 The rooftop swimming pool will be inspired by the one at MCR's TWA Hotel in New York; a heated, infinity-edge pool, open year-round. Hotel guests will get first dibs, but the public will be able to book subject to availability.

Visitors will access the observation deck and pool from a new publicly-accessible square. Image: Orms

🚪 Visitors will access the experience through a new square accessible from Howland Street and Maple Street, where they'll go through security, then queue before taking the lift to level 34.

🏨 The 1930s Howland Building on Howland Street — originally a telephone exchange — will be repurposed into hotel rooms, with an extension on top for extra space.

Another angle of the square. Image: Orms

🛏️ The Stick — aka the main body of the tower running from floors 7-23 — will also become hotel rooms (presumably prime ones). A second set of stairs will also be added. (A myth has circulated for years that the BT Tower has no staircase at all, which is nonsense, especially given it's hosted charity stair climbs.)

🏬 Retail, food and beverage outlets will occupy the surrounding buildings on Howland Street, Cleveland Street, Maple Street and Cleveland Mews. Orms says the shopfronts will take their cue from the 1960s aesthetics of the era in which the BT Tower was built, which sounds pretty cool.

Shopfronts at the base of the complex will be inspired by 1960s aesthetics, although we can't tell if this one is or not. Image: Orms

⏱️ The proposal also now reveals a schedule. Once the second consultation is over in July, planning consent will be sought from Camden Council in September 2026. All being well, construction will begin in late 2029, with the complex opening in 2033.

You can read more about the second public consultation in this pdf.

This is a sponsored article on behalf of the Laver Cup.

Ace news for tennis fans suffering from Wimbledon withdrawal: this year, the Laver Cup is happening in London.

This is an elite tournament like no other. A chance to see fierce rivals transformed into loyal teammates, under the mentorship of some absolute legends of the sport. Tennis' own multiverse of madness, if you will. Here's everything you need to know...

What is the Laver Cup?

An international men's tennis tournament, played indoors on a hard court and hosted in a different city each year. It's an official ATP Tour event, meaning that the results count towards each player's career stats (so the stakes are high). It's also a team competition, pitting six of the best players from Europe against six of the best from the rest of the world. Golf fans can think of it as the Ryder Cup of the tennis world.

When and where is the Laver Cup 2026?

The Laver Cup alternates between European and non-European host cities. In 2026 — for just the second time in Laver Cup history — it's London's turn. The tournament takes over The O2, 25-27 September. After that, who knows when Laver Cup will be back in the capital?! It's truly a bucket-list worthy event for sport-loving Londoners.

What makes the Laver Cup so special?

The sheer volume of talent involved, for a start! Not only are the players some of the world's best (more on them in a bit), they're also captained by International Tennis Hall of Famers, in the form of Yannick Noah for Team Europe and Andre Agassi for Team World. The vice-captains are similarly starry, with homegrown hero Tim Henman on Team Europe and two-time grand slam winner Patrick Rafter on Team World.

This tournament is a chance to see superstar players in first-time doubles pairings, coaching each other on the bench, and celebrating as a unified squad. As you might expect, the atmosphere here is absolutely electric, with plenty of camaraderie alongside fierce competition.

Who is playing the Laver Cup 2026?

We won't leave you hanging any longer. At the time of writing, five players for Team Europe have been announced: two-time Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz, 2026 Roland-Garros winner Alexander Zverev, Flavio Cobolli (the other 2026 Roland-Garros finalist), 2025 Miami Open winner Jakub Menšík, and and 2026 Grand Prix Hassan II winner Rafael Jódar.

All six players for Team World have now been announced (though watch out for alternates who'll be on standby in the event of injuries). They include Ben Shelton, Alex de Minaur, and Alexander Bublik — all of whom are, at the time of writing, the No.1 men's singles players of their respective nations of the USA, Australia and Kazakhstan. They're joined by Taylor Fritz, Learner Tien, and Tommy Paul.

How does it work?

The Laver Cup consists of five two-match sessions played over three days, with captains exchanging lineup cards the day before each session to determine the match-ups. We won't get into the nitty gritty of how match-ups are determined, but just know that it combines luck and strategy, with plenty of drama and suspense as they are unveiled.

Each player has just one singles match, but can play multiple doubles matches, with different partners each time. Each match is worth one point on the first day, two points on the second day, and three points on the third day. The first team to reach 13 points wins.

How can I get Laver Cup tickets?

It's easy-peasy (no ballots or massive queues here!) Simply browse and book single, multi-session and full tournament tickets on the Laver Cup website. There are some incredible hospitality packages available if you fancy really treating yourself, featuring all-inclusive food and drink, Q&As with tennis legends like Andy Murray, and the best seats in the house. Book now to avoid missing out!

The Laver Cup 2026. 25-27 September at The O2.

Visit Pooh Corner in Hartfield. Image: Londonist

Through copse and spinney marched Bear; down open slopes of gorse and heather, over rocky beds of streams, up steep banks of sandstone into the heather again; and so at last, tired and hungry, to the Hundred Acre Wood.

So writes author AA Milne in Eeyore Loses A Tail, one of his many stories about Winnie the Pooh and friends. The landscape is instantly recognisable to anyone who knows the Ashdown Forest, the slice of East Sussex where Milne wrote and based the books. Almost a century since the publication of Winnie the Pooh's first adventures, the gorse- and heather-strewn landscape has barely changed, and many of Milne's landmarks remain, still recognisable as the homes of various woodland creatures.

Views over the Ashdown Forest in 'Pooh Country'. Image: Londonist

Known affectionately as 'Pooh Country' or 'Winnie the Pooh Forest', the Ashdown Forest draws visitors from all over the globe each year, all keen to follow in the footsteps of the world-famous bear.

AA Milne's links to the area began when he bought Cotchford Farm as a country home in 1925. The farmhouse is still standing today on the outskirts of the village of Hartfield, albeit privately owned and situated on a private lane — so don't go hunting it out as part of your 'expotition' (though do keep an eye out for occasional garden open days at the property).

Image: Londonist

Milne wrote all of his Winnie the Pooh books there, inspired by his explorations of the forest with his son, Christopher Robin, and he died at Cotchford Farm in 1956 (bonus fact: Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones drowned in Cotchford Farm's swimming pool in 1969).

Image: Londonist

So important was the landscape in which Milne set his tales, that he brought EH Shepard to the area to capture it in his illustrations for the books. The iconic map of Hundred Acre Wood is based on the Ashdown Forest — though don't try using it to navigate to the landmarks today. Whimsical it may be, but its geographical accuracy leaves a lot to be desired.

Where to find Winnie the Pooh landmarks in the Ashdown Forest

Visit the real Pooh Sticks Bridge

Pooh Sticks Bridge in the Ashdown Forest. Image: Londonist

Which Winnie the Pooh landmarks can be found in Pooh Country today? The best-known is Pooh Sticks Bridge (originally called Posingford Bridge), located over a stream in a wooded area, a few minutes' walk north of Pooh Car Park. The original bridge is long gone, but due to public interest, a replacement was built in the 1970s, officially named Pooh Sticks Bridge, and opened by the real Christopher Robin. When it needed repair work by the late 1990s, Disney contributed to the cost.

The OG Pooh Sticks location. Image: Londonist

The route from Pooh Car Park on Chuck Hatch Lane to Pooh Sticks Bridge is well signposted, via a wide path through the woods, largely gravel, though it can get muddy in places. As you head down the hill, keep your eyes high in the trees on the right and you might spot Owl's house.

Owl's House near Pooh Sticks Bridge. Image: Londonist

A couple more minutes walking takes you to the bridge itself. Other than the discreet signs explaining the rules of Pooh Sticks, it looks like any other wooden bridge over any other stream in the English countryside. Consider taking some of your own sticks to avoid damaging the forest, and as Pooh himself said, "always watch where you are going. Otherwise, you may step on a piece of the forest that was left out by mistake."

Stick to the Pooh Sticks rules. Image: Londonist

Once you've played a few rounds of Pooh Sticks, continue across the bridge and follow the footpath uphill. After a couple of hundred metres, a gap in the hedge on the left opens up to reveal Winnie the Pooh's house, complete with 'Mr Sanderz' sign, and, on our visit, pots of 'hunny' left as gifts by previous visitors.

Winnie the Pooh's house near Pooh Sticks Bridge - note the jars of 'hunny' left on top by adoring fans. Image: Londonist

From here, if you're feeling strong you can continue your walk towards Pooh Corner in Hartfield (more on which below) or turn back towards Pooh car park to explore the rest of the forest.

Other Winnie the Pooh landmarks can be found about 1km further south — either take a walk through the forest, but be warned it's hilly, or drive down Chuck Hatch Road, which dissects Pooh Country, and park up in one of the other car parks (Piglet's, Quarry and Gills Lap are closest to the landmarks). Maps tend to vary on the exact location of some of the landmarks, but we found Footpath Map to be fairly accurate.

Visit the AA Milne and EH Shepard Memorial

Memorial to AA Milne and EH Shepard in the Ashdown Forest, with flowers left by a previous visitor. Image: Londonist

The AA Milne and EH Shepard memorial is the most obvious Pooh landmark in this area. Situated in a small clearing at the top of the hill, just a couple of minutes' walk from both the Piglet's and Quarry car parks, a large stone is topped with a plaque dedicated to both the author and his illustrator, EH Shepard. Scenes from 2017 film Goodbye Christopher Robin were filmed here, and the views across the forest are spectacular.

Views across the Ashdown Forest from the AA Milne and EH Shepard memorial. Image: Londonist

Visit the Heffalump Trap and Lone Pine Tree

From here, continue along the main footpath and branch right to visit the Heffalump Trap and Lone Pine Tree, located on a cliff edge with more of those spectacular views.

No heffalumps today. Image: Londonist

At least, it's what's generally believed to be the Heffalump Trap — no-one knows for sure where exactly some of Milne's landmarks are these days, which can make it tricky to track some of them down.

Visit The Enchanted Place/Galleons Lap

Known to Pooh and friends as The Enchanted Place. Image: Londonist

No heffalumps have been trapped on our visit though, so we wander back to the main track and branch left towards a clump of tall pine trees. It's officially called Gills Lap but was given the name Galleons Lap by Milne, and known to Pooh and friends as The Enchanted Place, due to the fact that nobody knows if there are 63 or 64 trees there.

Count the trees in The Enchanted Place. Image: Londonist

We've never counted ourselves, but it's something to keep the kids busy for a few minutes while you have a rest and enjoy the scenery.

Visit Roo's Sandy Pit

Roo's Sandy Pit is inaccessible to visitors. Image: Londonist

Roo's Sandy Pit is nearby too — it's the old quarry which gives the Quarry Car Park its name, and being sunk into the ground, isn't all that accessible to anyone on an 'expotition'.

Visit The North Pole and Eeyore's Gloomy Place

The view towards Five Hundred Acre Wood from The Enchanted Place. Image Londonist

The final stops on the Winnie the Pooh tour of the Ashdown Forest are on the other side of Chuck Hatch Road, towards the area called Five Hundred Acre Wood, which no doubt inspired Milne's own Hundred Acre Wood. Take the footpath almost opposite Quarry Car Park and bear right through the woodland until you reach a bridge at the bottom of the valley, which was Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin's North Pole. Eeyore's Sad and Gloomy Place is nearby too but again, exact locations are hazy — even the adult Christopher Robin couldn't be sure where it was.

Ashdown Forest views. Image: Londonist

Despite the obvious tourism benefits that would arise from making a bigger deal of the forest's famous fictional resident, visitors are left in no doubt that this is the world of AA Milne and EH Shepard's Pooh, rather than the later, Disneyfied version. It remains a forest rather than a theme park, with the landmarks left in completely natural environment, the only clue to their significance being the occasional wooden signpost. Though the lack of directions can be frustrating for tourists on the Pooh trail, it's an understandable and admirable decision by those managing the forest.

Visit Pooh Corner tea room and museum, Hartfield village

Pooh Corner in Hartfield village. Image: Londonist

That said, there is one place where Pooh fans can really go nuts — Pooh Corner. Located inside a cottage in the village of Hartfield, Pooh Corner is a tea room, shop and small museum dedicated to all things Winnie the Pooh.

Tea and toast at Pooh Corner. Image: Londonist

Rumbly in your tumbly? Tuck into sandwiches, cakes or Pooh Bear shaped toast, and drink tea from a Pooh teapot, either inside in the tea room, or outdoors in the garden, before visiting the small museum and gift shop. Posters and prints of all versions of Winnie and friends line the walls, the museum tells the Pooh story, and cuddly toys, keyrings, books and other souvenirs are available to buy.

There's a museum and shop at Pooh Corner in Hartfield. Image: Londonist

From Pooh Corner, a walking route to Pooh Bridge is signposted, but from our experience, it's one for the more intrepid walkers, and certainly not for families with young children in tow.

It's quite a walk... you've been warned. Image: Londonist

Heading south-west from the village centre along Newtons Hill, the route then joins a somewhat overgrown (and in August of the extremely wet summer of 2021, very muddy) footpath around the back of some houses, before crossing a field on quite a steep hill downwards.

The walk from Pooh Corner to Pooh Sticks Bridge, August 2021. Image: Londonist

A couple more fields, a private lane and another footpath later brings you to the bridge. Allow at least 45 minutes walking time each way between Pooh Corner and Pooh Bridge, and wear footwear that's suitable for serious walking.

Visiting Pooh Corner and the Ashdown Forest

Pooh Corner in Hartfield. Image: Londonist

Pooh Corner can be found on Hartfield High Street, TN7 4AE. There is limited, free on-road parking in Hartfield village, but finding a space can be tricky. If you can bear (!) the walk, head to Pooh Car Park and walk up from there. All Ashdown Forest car parks are free to park in at time of writing, but note that there are plans to introduce charges in the not too distant future. Spaces are limited and they get full quickly when the weather's good. This Ashdown Forest map is useful for tracking down the Winnie the Pooh landmarks.

Nods to Pooh and co are spread throughout the Ashdown Forest. Image: Londonist

Arriving by public transport is slightly more tricky, but Pooh Corner offers some useful directions. Bear in mind that the Ashdown Forest is exactly that — a forest — so facilities such as toilets and cafes are limited. The only official Ashdown Forest toilets are in the Visitor Centre, a couple of miles away from the Winnie the Pooh attractions, though there are pubs and tea rooms dotted all over the forest.

Where will you visit first? Image: Londonist

The Big One Hundred: Winnie the Pooh centenary celebrations in the Ashdown Forest

Image: David Levene

In summer 2026, the centenary of AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh is celebrated in a series of events in the Ashdown Forest and surrounding areas. Despite its inspiration, The Big One Hundred has very little to do with Milne's familiar characters, and instead celebrates the local landscape while inspiring people to protect it for future generations. Poppet, the giant inflatable puppet (pictured above) takes centre stage, and the summer of events begins with a launch weekend at Ashdown Forest Visitor Centre on 18-19 July.

All weekend

See a Kensington landmark in miniature. Image: Jaron James/Leighton House Museum

WORLD CUP FINAL: Big weekend in football, as the 2026 World Cup comes to a close. The third place play-off match takes place on Saturday (K/O 10pm) followed by the all important final (8pm on Sunday). At time of writing, we don't know which teams will make it that far in the competition, but check out these London bars, pubs and other venues which are doing screenings.

GREENWICH COMEDY GARDEN: Jack Dee, Sara Pascoe, Jen Brister and Thanyia Moore are on the bill for the final couple of days of Greenwich Comedy Garden, a laughter-inducing festival taking over the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College for eight shows across five days. There are street food stalls and pop-up bars aplenty too. 15-19 July 2026

LEIGHTON HOUSE MINIATURE: To mark its 100th anniversary as a public museum, a one-twelfth scale miniature of Kensington's Leighton House is on display for just a few days. Head to (the real) Leighton House to view the 2.5m-wide replica, which showcases the Silk Room, the Narcissus Hall and the Arab Hall in painstaking detail. 15-20 July 2026

GRAYSON THE MUSICAL: Catch the preview run of a new musical comedy inspired by the life and work of Sir Grayson Perry. The show tells the story of one of Britain's most celebrated contemporary artists — though note that Perry doesn't appear in the performances — at Soho Theatre Walthamstow. 16-19 July 2026

Jack Dee is on Saturday's line-up. Image: Greenwich Comedy Garden

CLOTHES SWAP: SoLo Craft Fair hosts its first clothes swap in the City, taking over Leadenhall Market for four days. Take along clean and undamaged items from your wardrobe which you no longer need, and swap them for tokens which can be used to collect garments donated by others. Mending and crafting workshops are also part of the fun. 16-19 July 2026

SUMMER SERIES: Lightning Seeds and Thee Sacred Souls, are the headliners for the first weekend of this year's Somerset House Summer Series, a programme of open-air gigs taking place in the building's courtyard, continuing into next week. 16-26 July 2026. See other music festivals taking place in London this summer.

CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL: Over 100 breweries are expected to pour into London Craft Beer Festival, which moves to Southwark Park for 2026. Sample from 800+ different brews from established and newer breweries. All beers are included in your ticket. 17-18 July 2026

ROUGH TRADE 50: Check out the programme for a three-day takeover at Southbank Centre marking 50 years since the first Rough Trade shop opened. The line-up mixes gigs, film, live performance and literature, with highlights including Pulp, Scritti Politti, caroline + My New Band Believe, and a live soundtrack screening of Ken Loach's Kes introduced by Jarvis Cocker. 17-19 July 2026

Watch Kes, accompanied by a live soundtrack. Image courtesy of Park Circus/Amazon MGM

SUMMIT PHOTO: The Royal Geographical Society hosts the three-day Summit Photo featuring talks, exhibitions and practical workshops that look at how photography and filmmaking can drive positive change. Confirmed speakers include Areeba Hamid (Greenpeace), climate change photographer James Balog, National Geographic photographer Bertie Gregory and human rights defender Shahidul Alam. 17-19 July 2026

SWAN LAKE: The State Ballet of Georgia brings Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake to the London Coliseum, with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia in the pit. The production tells the story of Prince Siegfried, Odette and the evil Rothbart, with a 12-performance run. 17-26 July 2026

BBC PROMS: We can't even type those words without Land of Hope and Glory firing up the record player inside our heads — but that's Last Night of the Proms, and there's almost two months' worth of live music to enjoy before that. For all your info on tickets, highlights, promming and the like, peruse our guide to the BBC Proms 2026. 17 July-12 September 2026

Saturday 18 July

Work out on high. Image: Sky Garden

SKY GARDEN PILATES: Begin your weekend 36 floors above London, with a pilates session in the Sky Garden. Women's fitness platform Shreddy leads today's session, which is a full-body pilates sculpt session followed by a post-workout smoothie and pastry. 8.30am-10am

GORES BROOK REVIVAL: Help restore the riverbank in Dagenham by joining a community conservation day at Gores Brook. Work alongside the Thames21 team to remove litter and tackle invasive non-native species to help local biodiversity flourish. All necessary equipment, including waders and wellies, is provided on-site, and there are even biscuits and tea to keep you going. FREE, 11am-3pm

ELSYNG PALACE: Discover the royal history of one of Enfield's most significant Tudor sites. This family-friendly day at the Forty Hall Estate offers a rare chance to watch archaeologists excavating the grounds of Elsyng Palace and examine 400-year-old artefacts uncovered from the site. Younger visitors can join in with a hands-on mini dig in a dedicated sandpit excavation area. FREE, 11am-4pm

FAMILY DANCE DAY: Take the kids along to Family Dance Day, a programme of free performances and interactive workshops at Coram's Fields in Bloomsbury. Aimed at children up to 12 and their families, the schedule includes interactive workshops and live dance performances. FREE, 11am-4pm

JURASSIC JUNGLE: Meet a roaming T-rex, Bumble the Brontosaurus, a Megalosaurus, two baby dinosaurs, and another two dinosaurs which you can climb on and ride, all at Jurassic Jungle at the Brunswick Centre in Bloomsbury. The free, family-focused event includes meet-and-greets, photo opportunities and dinosaur encounters. FREE, 11am-4pm

ILLUSTRATORS' FAIR: Over 100 hand-picked illustrators and collectives sell prints, zines, comics, cards, pins, stickers, ceramics and children's books at the Illustrators' Fair in Granary Square. Buy directly from both emerging and established artists. 11am-5pm

Buy direct from artists at the Illustrators' Fair. Image: King's Cross

WHARFSIDE WATERCOLOURS: Artist Annamaria Antonazzo leads a relaxed afternoon of plein air painting by the water at Royal Albert Wharf. Experiment with watercolour techniques while enjoying live music from Jon Howell's jazz duo and a provided picnic spread of vegan and vegetarian sandwiches. The session is open to all skill levels, with all necessary materials provided. FREE, 12pm-3pm

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM: An outdoor production of Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream is on at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre until today, telling the enchanting story of a bitter dispute in the fairy kingdom, and four fleeing lovers who find themselves in an enchanted forest. 12.30pm/7.45pm

FOOTBALL EMBROIDERY: Artist Nicole Chui and the Migration Museum lead an embroidery workshop at the Whitechapel Gallery exploring the intersections of sport, migration and belonging. Take your own football jerseys along to learn hand-embroidery techniques, transforming your shirt into wearable archives of personal heritage and identity. FREE, 2pm-3.30pm

KOKUM GRILL-OUT: East Dulwich Indian restaurant holds a hands-on grilling workshop on its terrace teaching you how to whip up Indian-spiced smash burgers, seekh kebabs and charred sweet potato over live flame. Marinades, charcoal technique, heat zones and flare-ups are also covered in the session, after which you can eat what you've cooked. 2pm-5pm

THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND: Last chance to see The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind at Soho Place, a musical about William Kamkwamba. Based on his book and Chiwetel Ejiofor's film, the show tells the story of a boy who figures out how to build a windmill to save his village from a devastating drought. 2.30pm/7.30pm

GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS: David Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Glengarry Glen Ross is at The Old Vic in a production featuring an all-female cast, coming to a close today. Set in a cutthroat Chicago real-estate office, the play charts four salespeople as a brutal competition unfolds. 2.30pm/7.30pm

TRANSATLANTIC FOOTIE FRIENDLY: East London's fan-owned club, Clapton CFC, welcomes American visitors for a special exhibition match at the Old Spotted Dog Ground in Forest Gate. The CCFC Men's First Team vs New York International fixture offers a rare cross-continental meeting at London's oldest senior football ground. 3pm

THREADS OF SOUND: Emerging musicians from the Waltham Forest Music Service take over the café at the William Morris Gallery for a summer evening of live performance. The show features local bands playing a mix of original material and covers in the gallery's ground-floor Deeney's Café. FREE, 4.30pm-6.30pm

HUW LEMMEY: Radical author Huw Lemmey visits Housmans Bookshop in King's Cross to celebrate the reprinting of his cult novels, CHUBZ and RED TORY. In a conversation with Juliet Jacques, Lemmey discusses his visceral satires of the last decade, which blend eye-watering sexual potency with a terrifyingly predictive look at British political life. FREE, 7pm-9pm

AFRIQUE EXPRESS: Collective AfroDesi takes over the decks at SJQ in Dalston for Afrique Express, a vinyl-only journey through the sounds of Bamako, Lagos, Abidjan and Kinshasa. Expect a night of analog heat featuring rare Afro-funk, driving Afrobeat and vintage Congolese rumba played entirely from wax. 9pm-2am

POUR IT UP: Unpretentious party vibes take over the upstairs club room at the Old Queens Head in Islington for a late-night session of R&B and hip-hop. Pour It Up features a heavy rotation of club bangers from the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Peggy Gou and Burna Boy. 11pm-3am

Sunday 19 July

It's festival time at Walpole Park. Image: LatinoLife

VINTAGE FAIR: Around 50 vintage traders are selling mid-20th-century furniture, lighting, homeware, posters, maps, books, records and summer fashion in and around Beckenham Place Mansion, as the So Last Century vintage fair returns. Outside, the Beckenham Place Park Food Market offers about 15 food stalls, and the Mansion Bar and Café is open for drinks and snacks. 10am-5pm

CRAFTY FOX MARKET: Crafty Fox brings more than 100 independent designers and makers to The Crossing in Granary Square (King's Cross) for a one-day summer market. Browse handmade jewellery, artwork, clothing, ceramics and homewares at the free-entry event. 11am-5pm

LATINOLIFE FESTIVAL: The UK's largest Latin Festival, LatinoLife celebrates its 10th edition at Walpole Park in Ealing. Britain's only Latina-curated festival offers salsa, reggaeton, samba, jazz, fusion, folk, funk, bolero, tango, hip-hop and more across four stages. 12pm-10pm

SOHO VILLAGE FETE: A tug of war between the police and fire brigade, a best in show where pooches must dress like royalty, and a music stage are all part of the Soho Village Fete. But surely the highlight is the Soho Waiters' Race, which sees serving staff from different restaurants legging it around the area while balancing a bottle of fizz, wine glass and ashtray on their tray. FREE, 12pm-6pm (Waiters' Race at 3.15pm)

Entertainment galore at the Soho Village Fete. Image: Peter Clarke/Soho Village Fete

COMICS AND ZINES: Small press creatives and independent publishers gather at Stanley Arts in South Norwood for the fifth instalment of the South London Comics and Zine Fair. Browse a diverse range of graphic novels, picture books, and zines, or head to the room hosted by WIP Comics to discover work from first-time exhibitors. The afternoon also features a free programme of panels and talks alongside an extra-large communal table for sharing new work. FREE, 12pm-6pm

IRISH MUSIC: The Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith opens its summer season of live performances with the ICC Concert Session. Host and guitarist Tad Sargent is joined by uilleann piper James O'Grady and flute player John Rynne for an afternoon of traditional Clare tunes and set-dance music. O'Grady, a veteran of Cara Dillon's touring band, and Rynne, a co-founder of the Ennis Trad Festival, bring a wealth of experience to this intimate session. FREE, 1pm-3pm

SLACKER SHAKESPEARE: The Slacker Shakespeare season continues at the Rio Cinema in Dalston with a screening of 1998 rom-com Shakespeare in Love. Season curator Travis Elborough introduces the film, about the famous playwright overcoming writer's block when he falls for a woman who disguises herself as a man to appear in one of his plays. 2pm

THE ODYSSEY LIVE: The London Literary Salon presents readings from Homer's Odyssey, performed by Toby Brothers with actor Jane Wymark at Theatro Technis in Camden. The reading is followed by a Q&A, and brings key episodes such as the Cyclops, the Sirens and Circe to the stage. 3pm-5pm

DIVERGENT BOOK CLUB: Dystopian YA novel Divergent by Veronica Roth is the subject of a special book club at Rooftop Cinema Club in Peckham, led by Caitlin Curry from London Girls Book Club. Discussion focuses mainly on the first book in the Chicago-set post apocalyptic series. 5.45pm, followed by a screening of the film adaptation (7.45pm)

Norman Osland knows his pie and mash. After visiting over 70 establishments in London and beyond, he turned his experiences into a guidebook, Norman's Conquest. Here, he writes about his love affair with that most Londony of dishes.

The author at Barney's in Walthamstow. Image: Norman Osland

I was just two when I first had mash and liquor. I then moved up to pie when I was about four.

I've always loved the shops' link to tradition. It must be the only sit down meal that you can still get that you could get over 100 years ago. A number of shops have tried to stay original with their fixtures and fittings (Manze's in Tower Bridge Road and Peckham are two of many). You can look around and remember back to days gone by very easily. Remember, the Tower Bridge Road shop has been an M.Manze since 1902, and a lot of it has remained the same... and looks superb.

Castle's of Camden. Image: Norman Osland

I decided to undertake the 'conquest' following a number of comments on a Facebook group when I posted up little reviews of the three shops I would normally visit, and I got many comments to say I should try certain others. I started to do just that, but the list of pie shops that others thought I should try was growing... I upped the list to 20 shops to try, but still the list grew. At this point I thought 'What the hell, let's just do them all!' And that is exactly what I did. I'm still doing it too, as new pie and mash outlets open.

Eastenders Pie & Mash, Poplar. Image: Norman Osland

If I had to pick one pie and mash shop to eat in for the rest of my life... while G Kelly in Bow is my favourite, if there was only one shop left, I would like it to be Manze's in Tower Bridge Road — such an iconic shop, steeped in history. Every visit I make is memorable.

M.Manze of Tower Bridge Road. Image: Norman Osland

Though I've never spotted a celebrity in a pie and mash shop personally, many notable figures are known to enjoy it: David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand, Jimmy Tarbuck, Tommy Steele (a fellow Bermondsey boy), Ray Winstone too. If you asked that question of other people, some might even say me! I actually get recognised in the street from time to time by people that have seen social media and local news posts about me, and have even done a few selfies with them.

A poem written in honour of Norman's conquest. Image: Norman Osland

The biggest loss to London's pie and mash scene in recent years was when Manze's in Deptford closed. It was a memorable place to go and the last time I went, a month or so before they closed, highlighted that while chatting to George Maskell, the owner. Prior to that would be Manze's in Walthamstow — always a fantastic shop to visit. The atmosphere was awesome.

Manze's of Peckham. Image: Norman Osland

There is, however, a newfound appreciation for pie and mash among some Londoners — not just with the newer shops like Barney’s in Walthamstow and Hughes in Ruislip opening — but also the whole social media thing. People like Alfie Hak (Noted Pie & Mash in Leytonstone) is often doing Instagram posts with a little GoPro on his head, doing videos showing things he does in a typical day, and responding to comments by showing the answer in a video.

Robins of Wanstead. Image: Norman Osland

Then, of course, there is Robins; six shops in key locations; they are always rammed with people of all ages enjoying pie and mash, often for the first time.

Hughes of Ruislip. Image: Norman Osland

Given I have eaten pie and mash about 250 times since I started researching the book back in March 2024 — and because I used to eat it a lot in my late teens/early 20s too — I would suggest I've eaten it approximately 600 times.

Norman's Conquest, by Norman Osland

Free things to do in London this week.

Image: Be In Vauxhall

Lancelot Ribeiro

As part of South Asian Heritage Month, Swiss Cottage Library hosts Lancelot Ribeiro: A Retrospective Revisited, bringing together works from the late Expressionist painter, who hailed from Mumbai and experimented with polyvinyl acetate and oil paints.

Until 6 August.

Cool Runnings outdoors

One of London’s much-loved free outdoor cinemas fires up the screen on Tuesday evening. Vauxhall Summer Screens turns Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens into an open-air movie theatre to show Cool Runnings, the 1993 Disney film about the plight of an unlikely Jamaican bobsled team. Free tickets available here.

14 July.

Experimental poetry

The Horse Hospital in Bloomsbury marks 60 years of small press collecting at UCL with Slowly, slowly, the tongue unrolls, a showcase of performance poetry and sound art. The Tuesday evening event features veteran poet Allen Fisher alongside contemporary artist Tris Vonna-Michell and the experimental choir Vocal Constructivists. Expect a blend of sonic projects and rare cassette sound poetry dislodged from the university's archives.

14 July.

Coffee dans la maison

Image: Paul

Tuesday is Bastille Day, and to mark it, French bakery PAUL is slinging 50 free barista-made drinks to the first 50 folks at its outposts (including various ones in the capital) between 8am-9am. Note: you must be wearing stripes (whether a Breton top, trousers, scarf or chic beret) to qualify. From 3pm the same day, the PAULs at Kings Road, Marylebone, Marble Arch, Holland Park and South Kensington are each handing out 200 free baguettes. Pain-tastique!

14 July.

Lying-in-State

The Palace of Westminster opens its new, free exhibition, A Historic Farewell: Elizabeth II's Lying-in-State, on Tuesday. On display in Westminster Hall, the exhibition showcases works by six artists depicting the Lying-in-State of the late monarch in 2022. Both ceremonial aspects and wider activity surrounding the tradition are covered.

14 July-October 2026.

Backyard Biennial: East

Whitechapel Gallery launches its free summer arts festival Backyard Biennial: East this week. Exhibitions, installations, screenings, performances, workshops, residencies, walks, open studios and special events take place at venues, and through organisations, across the East End until September.

15 July-6 September.

We Go Way Back

Ancient DNA research comes under the microscope in We Go Way Back, a free exhibition opening at the Francis Crick Institute in St Pancras. Find out how ancient DNA — fragments extracted from the bones and teeth of generations long past — is revealing new insights into human evolution, migration, culture and disease. Learn how cutting-edge science can add context to known historical events, or surprise us with new ones, from the Neanderthal and Denisovan times, through the metal ages and the Roman period.

From 16 July.

Free ice cream

Image: Charlie McKay

Marylebone restaurant Kitchen at Holmes teams up with Hackney Gelato to give away 500 free scoops of gelato on Friday, ahead of National Ice Cream Day on Sunday.

Head to the summer gelato terrace on Baker Street from 12pm on Friday to claim your free scoop, with flavours including including clotted cream & strawberry, pistachio, and alphonso mango sorbetto. It's one scoop per person, subject to availability, and doesn’t include toppings, cones or extras.

17 July.

Songs on the Steps

Once again, performers from Opera Holland Park offer a free lunchtime performance, open to everyone, on Friday. Songs on the Steps takes place on the open-air stairs outside the seasonal venue, with artists from the company putting on a 40-minute show for passers-by. No ticket required.

17 July.

Thai festival

The Royal Thai Embassy takes over Potters Fields Park by Tower Bridge for three days of free-entry festivities celebrating (and let's be honest, plugging) Thailand, courtesy of stalls selling Thai cuisine, wellness and aromatic workshops, a marketplace showcasing Thai fashion — and plenty more.

17-19 July.

Jurassic Jungle

Image: The Brunswick

Meet a roaming T.-rex, Bumble the Brontosaurus, a Megalosaurus, two baby dinosaurs, and two others which you can climb on and ride — all at Jurassic Jungle at the Brunswick Centre in Bloomsbury on Saturday. The free, family-focused event includes meet-and-greets, photo opportunities and dinosaur encounters.

18 July.

Family dance day

Dance theatre The Place takes over Coram's Fields in Bloomsbury for a free Family Dance Day on Saturday. Aimed at under-12s and their families, the programme includes interactive dance workshops to get everyone moving, as well as a series of performances. Bug sees performers dressed as giant insects, while Prisma is inspired by children's books, and No Sugar No Milk combines physical theatre, martial arts and circus stunts.

Note: Coram's Fields is a very short walk from the Brunswick (above), with both events running 11am-4pm, so you could easily fit in both for a free family day out.

18 July.

Soho Village Fete and the Waiters’ Race

Image: Peter Clarke

It's the Soho Village Fete this Sunday, offering a glut of live music, a dog show, a spaghetti-eating contest, morris dancing, and a tug-of-war between the police and fire brigade. The most anticipated event of all is the Soho Waiters' Race, which sees service staff from local restaurants dashing around the area, while holding a tray laden with a bottle of fizz, a glass and an ash tray — all in one hand. It's an absolute hoot, and free to enjoy/cheer on.

19 July.

Grosvenor Square has had a woodland style makeover. Image: Grosvenor

Grosvenor Square will reopen to the public for the first time in over a year on Monday 20 July, following a £25m makeover.

Owned by the Grosvenor Group — the Duke of Westminster's private property company, which also owns swathes of Mayfair and Belgravia — Grosvenor Square closed last June to undergo its fourth major redesign since it was first constructed in the first half of the 18th century.

There's a new cafe kiosk. Image: Grosvenor

Taking on a woodland theme with winding paths, Grosvenor Square is now filled with some 150,000 plants and bulbs, 44 new trees and two (admittedly small) wetlands — a vivacious contrast to its previous austere, be-lawned layout. "At a time when conversations about heat, flooding and the future of our cities couldn't be more relevant," says Grosvenor, "the project asks a simple question: how can urban green spaces work harder for both people and nature?"

Loving the benches too. Image: Grosvenor

One practical answer to this is that the Square can now absorb up to 1.4 million litres of stormwater at a time, doing its bit against urban flooding. We're also told that wildlife is already returning, with ducks, butterflies and dragonflies all sighted in the last few weeks. An education centre run by London Wildlife Trust has been installed, along with a new café kiosk.

The paths are now winding, rather than straight and austere. Image: Grosvenor

Set out by gardener John Alston in the 1720s, Grosvenor Square was initially reserved for the use of the Square's residents, only opening to the public after the Second World War. From 1938 until 2018, the US Embassy overlooked the Square, making the green space a popular spot for protests, including those against the Vietnam War.

This latest revamp has been largely funded by Grosvenor Group, which, it's fair to say, has a few quid kicking around. In 2017 the Guardian revealed that, benefitting from previous offshore investment in the dukes of Westminster empire, the current Duke of Westminster, billionaire Hugh Grosvenor, didn't have to pay the 40% death duties imposed on most British taxpayers.

Can you track down these 14 oddities of Covent Garden?

Click/tap for larger version. All images: Matt Brown. Background map: OpenStreetMap, (c) OpenStreetMap contributors

Just for a bit of fun, we've put together this 'oddity hunt' around Covent Garden. Can you track down all 14 of the plaques, sculptures and other features?

We've deliberately left the precise locations vague. Each oddity could be anywhere beneath the photograph that represents it. The idea is that you have fun trying to track them down, while paying closer attention to the streetscape.

You can tackle the 14 oddities in any order you choose. It's suitable for all ages, though might make for an intriguing family activity.

Further clues

Each of the photographs covers a sizeable chunk of land, so you might have to hunt hard to find some of these. If you need a little help, here are some further clues, listed in alphabetical order.

Che Sara Sara: Look up, and you'll encounter no im-pediment to finding this phrase, which is the ancestral motto of the land-owning Russell family. You'll have the song in your head all day now.

Dancer and Pride phone boxes: An easy one to find; no clue needed.

Giant coin: Penny from heaven? Well, it's certainly close to a church.

Inventor of the fire extinguisher: Half-way up the hill.

Magic memorial: One of many unusual bench plaques in the church yard.

Market rules: One of two giant wooden boards within the market. Find them both.

Mathematical facade: Log this one by looking up.

Mercers' maid bollard: The symbol of the Mercers can be found all over the area. To see this bollard, it (cryptically) sounds like you should kneel.

No bells: Near a crossroads for pedestrians.

Pelican and hummingbird: You don't need wings to reach this peculiar plaque.

Picasso woz ere: Did Picasso paint flowers?

Poet nearly done to death: You'll find two plaques saying this. The one here is higher up.

Stabbed archbishop: One of a number of miniature scenes in the alleys around a famous map shop.

Tiny sculpture: A portable house, beside a business that sounds like one?

Your weekly roundup of Londonist news and features.

Flying Over London In The Goodyear Blimp

What does the capital look like from above?

Image: Matt Brown

What Might A Count Binface Cabinet Look Like?

If the space warrior were to go all the way to the top of the rubbish heap.

Image: Count Binface

Free Things To Do In London In The 2026 Summer Holidays

Family-friendly activities that won't cost a penny.

© David Parry courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum, London

A Ride On The Tube In 1911

What was it like to catch the Underground in the early 20th century?

Image: public domain

Brixton Village And Market Row Listed As Assets Of Community Value

Points scored for local community.

Image: Matt Brown, Creative Commons

The Best Picnic Spots In London

Pack your blanket and tuck in.

Image: maggie jones., Creative Commons

Ride On A Vintage Tube Train This July

Met line goes heritage for three days.

Image: Roger Carvell, Creative Commons

What Did Norway Ever Do For London? Lots...

The close ties between London and Norway.

Image: Matt Brown

This Vintage Open-Top Double-Decker Is Doing A Free Pub Crawl Of South London

One bus, three pubs.

Image: Shirk, Rust & Pray

Prawn On The Lawn: Islington Seafood Restaurant Closes This Week

Three Padstow outlets will remain.

Image: Kake ., Creative Commons

50 Years Of The City's First Skyscraper

The NatWest Tower's half-century on the skyline.

Image: Colin Park, creative commons licence

London Trans+ Pride Returns This July

Most "politically urgent" year in march's history.

Image: Max Seigel/London Trans+ Pride

Memories Of A Post-War East End Street At Night

An extract from Juniper Street.

Image: Henry Say

Once-In-A-Year Chance To Visit These Victorian Ice Wells In King's Cross

Special Sunday at London Canal Museum.

Image: London Canal Museum

Are You A Labyrinth Hunter? There's An App For That

Keep track of all the Tube labyrinths with this free app.

Image: Matt Brown

The Wandering Tomb Of Richmond: Inside the Kilmorey Mausoleum

A visit to a hidden tomb in Richmond.

Image: Matt Brown

Looking Ahead: Things To Do In London This Week: 13-19 July 2026

Free outdoor cinema and a certain cup final.

Image: Tom Webb/Boxpark

Click or tap for larger size. Image: Matt Brown

What are the commonest baby names in your borough?

Every year, the Office for National Statistics releases data on the commonest baby names registered over the past year. The 2025 data have now been released. As usual, the London stats are broken down by borough, allowing us to make the graphic above.

Commonest girls' names in London boroughs

Among girls, Sophia and Sofia are the commonest name, topping 10 boroughs between them. That's quite a surge, as the name only featured in two boroughs last year. Maryam is also on the rise. Last year, only Tower Hamlets recorded this as the most popular choice; now five boroughs do.

The biggest decline is in Amelias. A whopping 14 boroughs favoured the name in 2024, now it's just two. Olivia has also stagnated, from seven boroughs last year to seven this.

And welcome to the new entry of Rehmat, the commonest girl's name in the London Borough of Hillingdon.

Image: Matt Brown

Click or tap for larger image.

What if Count Binface became Prime Minister?

It could never happen, of course. (Could it?) But in a flight of trash-can fantasy, we thought we'd speculate about his potential cabinet, were he to become PM.

We've assumed that he would choose fellow bin-shaped individuals to form his Government. So we've rounded up some of London's most charismatic rubbish receptacles to put together a prospective team.

All images are by Matt Brown, except the photo of Binface (from Count Binface himself), and the background image, by jpdfive, creative commons licence.

Croydon Pride returns in August. Image: Croydon Pride

London's major Pride festival might be over for another year, but fret not, because Croydon Pride is on the horizon!

The event returns on Saturday 15 August 2026, with a glitzy parade making its way through town — starting outside M&S on North End at 11.30am, heading southward, and finishing up outside Grants on High Street. The route is fully step-free, and you can register to be a part of it here.

Image: Croydon Pride

Community stalls and an acoustic stage can be enjoyed from 10am-4pm at Croydon Town Hall, while over at Boxpark Croydon, drag performers, singers and dancers do their thing from lunchtime till late. (It's all free, but you must pre-book a ticket for Boxpark).

The event is free for all to enjoy. Image: Croydon Pride

Croydon Pride, Saturday 15 August 2026, free, book ahead for Boxpark