Bits and bobs worth knowing.

🥩 Troy's Butchers just opened on Swain's Lane in Highgate: Troy Dickerson took over the old Meat N6 spot where he's been head butcher since 2021. Now running it himself with a young local team. He is gonna Focus on high welfare, ethically sourced British meat. Teaching traditional butchery skills to his team. Has a 15-year plan to build something lasting on Swain's Lane.



🏗️ Great North Leisure Park tower block development approved & community fighting back: Deputy Mayor overruled Barnet Council's unanimous refusal to approve 1,485 flats in North Finchley. Hollywood Bowl, Vue cinema affected. Campaign pursuing Judicial Review. They want to raise £10,000 (currently at £7,000). There’s also a Community Gathering 14 June to help raise money for campaign and four charities.

💷 Vote on which animals go on future UK bank notes: Bank of England notes are getting their biggest redesign in 50 years. Historical figures like Churchill are being replaced with wildlife. 44,000 people voted nature as their preferred theme. Now you can vote on which animals make the cut. 18 shortlisted: dolphins, puffins, hedgehogs, barn owls, kingfishers, bumblebees, common frogs, basking sharks and more. Vote for up to six favourites before voting closes next month.

London Open Gardens | 📍Across London | 6 - 7 June | (£)
Once a year, over 100 private gardens across London that are normally locked open to the public for one weekend. Rooftop gardens, hidden green spaces and historic walled gardens, including spaces in Haringey and Islington. One ticket covers the whole weekend and you plan your own route. Guided walks and behind the scenes talks available as add-ons for £5. Under 12s free.


Barnet Medieval Festival | 📍Lewis of London Farm, EN5 | 6 - 7 June | (£)
The Barnet Medieval Festival marks the 555th anniversary of the Battle of Barnet, fought just up the road in 1471. Two days of battle re-enactments, jousting from two equestrian teams, falconry displays, cannon firing, archery, a medieval market and live music at Lewis of London Ice Cream Farm just north of Barnet. Adults £10, children 12 to 17 £5, under 12s free. 10.30am to 5pm both days.


Summer Street Fiesta | 📍Camden High Street, NW1 | 6 June | Free
Camden High Street closes to traffic for the afternoon as part of a pedestrianisation trial, with samba from London School of Samba, Babel Brass, dance workshops, face painting, arts and crafts and table football. 1pm to 5pm between Camden Town tube and Buck Street.


London Gallery Weekend | 📍Galleries across London | 6 - 8 June | Free 
A free weekend where commercial galleries across London open up for talks, events and exhibitions. Some in North London too like Harlesden High Street gallery, showing Gloria's, a group exhibition that turns the space into a working community café. Five artists exploring Caribbean heritage through abstraction, with ceramics used as actual plates to share food.

Heavy Horse and Country Show | 📍Capel Manor Gardens, EN1 | 7 June | (£)
The annual Heavy Horse Show is a full day of competitions and demonstrations featuring Shire horses and other heavy breeds. The horse programme runs from 10.30am with judged classes, a ridden class, harness displays and a grand parade at 3.15pm. Also a fun dog show, mini zoo, bouncy castle and 30 acres of gardens to explore. Adults £12, children £6, family £35.

Community Legacy Rug: Shark in the Park | 📍West Green Market, N15 | 6 June | (£)
Our neighbour Lucy Ansa-Addo is a Tottenham-based artist who makes community rugs live at events, with everyone who takes part getting their name on a plaque alongside the finished piece. This one is based on the Nick Sharratt children's book Shark in the Park, with permission from the author himself. The finished rug will be permanently displayed at Harris Primary Academy on Philip Lane. Turn up, tuft your section, leave your mark. No experience needed, pay what you can from £1. Arrive early to secure your turn. 10am to 2pm.


Dons of Comedy | 📍Alexandra Palace Theatre, N22 | 6 June | (£)
Go see a showcase of UK urban comedy at Alexandra Palace Theatre headlined by Richard Blackwood, alongside Slim, Curtis Walker, Felicity Ethnic, Kat, Quincy and Mr Cee. Doors open 7pm.

Stardust Vintage Antique Fair | 📍St Stephen's Church, NW3 | 7 June | Free
Sixty dealers inside a Hampstead church, selling vintage fashion, jewellery, homewares, art and furniture. 10am to 5pm.

London Festival of Architecture | 📍Various venues across North London | 1 - 30 June | Free
A month of architecture events across London — talks, guided tours, installations and performances, many in buildings not usually open to the public. North London events in Wood Green, Alexandra Palace, Colindale, Edgware, Fitzrovia and Finchley. On Sunday 7 June, St Mary-at-Finchley (the oldest building in Finchley, Grade II* listed) opens for heritage tours, nature activities and a look at the historic sundial featured on the Antiques Roadshow.



Egypt Exploration Society Open Day | 📍Doughty Mews, WC1N | 6 June | Free
The Egypt Exploration Society has been supporting Egyptian archaeology since 1882, and their Bloomsbury mews building is about to be redeveloped. This is the last chance to visit before work begins. Photography exhibition, self-guided tour of the building, craft activities, and a discount second-hand book sale. No booking needed. 10am to 4pm.

Hampstead Garden Suburb Art Fair | 📍Fellowship House, NW11 | 6 - 7 June | Free
Weekend art fair in Golders Green with work from over 20 local artists — paintings, photography, jewellery, sculpture, ceramics, prints, textiles and glass. Free children's art activities on site. Refreshments from WI Finchley, with proceeds to local charities. 11am to 5pm both days.



Olden Community Garden Music Festival | 📍Olden Community Garden, N5 | 7 June | (£)
Islington's largest community garden celebrates its 40th anniversary with an afternoon of live music. Folk, brass, strings, kora and music for children, played across the orchard, woodland and formal garden. Paella from Highbury Fishmongers, homemade cakes and a bar. Adults £10, children £2. 2pm to 7.30pm.

Black Marketplace Popup | 📍St Michael's, NW1 | 6 June | Free
Over 40 Black-owned businesses in Camden Town for one day. African and Caribbean fashion, handmade crafts, art, jewellery, beauty, books and street food.

Giuseppe's Tiramisu Pop-up | 📍N1C
Giuseppe Federici, the plant-based food creator with over a million followers known for cooking with his Sicilian Nonna, has long talked about opening his own restaurant one day. This weekend he takes a step closer with his first-ever independent pop-up at Coal Drops Yard. Three days, tiramisu only, from 11am until sold out. Opposite Uniqlo. 5 - 7 June


Four Weekends, Four Bakeries at Profile | 📍 N5
Highbury bakery Profile is bringing in four guest bakeries across June, one per weekend. Suba, Forno, Tabula and Tarn Bakery each take over for a weekend with their own seasonal bakes. Expect mango passion fruit coconut danish, oxtail strawberry scotch bonnet croissant, miso chilli tomato focaccia and more. Stock is limited each day so arrive early. Weekends of 6, 13, 20 and 27 June.

Upcoming events you should consider booking in advance or planning ahead for. In and out of North London. Events marked with (£) require a ticket in advance.

Terrific Totteridge: A Guided Walk | 📍Totteridge & Whetstone Station, N20 | 14 June | (£)
Paul Baker, the City of London guide who led the Dickens and Halloween walks, is back with a two-hour tour of Totteridge. One of the wealthiest corners of North London, with grand houses, a village green and more famous past and present residents than you can count. Meet outside Totteridge & Whetstone tube station at 2.30pm.

My North London readers: £12 adults, £3 under 12s (usually £15/£5). Just mention My North London when booking.

Email [email protected] or call Paul on 07506 761294



World Naked Bike Ride | 📍Various routes across London | 14 June | Free
Once a year, hundreds of cyclists ride through central London wearing as little as they please, a peaceful protest against car culture and oil dependency that's been a London fixture since 2004. "Be as bare as you dare" is the dress code. Routes start across London including Regent's Park. Free to take part, just turn up at a start point with your bike.

Everywoman Festival | 📍Business Design Centre, N1 | 13 June | (£)
Women's health festival at the Business Design Centre in Islington, set up by a surgeon tired of women being told their symptoms are just something they have to accept. Honest talks and workshops from puberty to menopause, led by clinicians. Yoga, live music and street food too. Neighbours get 25% off general admission with code MYNORTHLONDON25.