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Hey Neighbour,
Two things this week. The winter fairs and markets guide is finally here, have a look and plan your December. I’ll keep adding to it as more get announced, so check back.
And I’ve been working on something: MNL is teaming up for a free community event. I’ll let the details below do the talking, but I’m really excited about this one.
Now, over to your weekend plans.
—Maryam
PS - if you attend any events listed, feel free to tag on Instagram stories and share how it's all going.
Plan Your Weekend:
🥳 We’re Bringing Show ‘n’ Tell to Colindale!
📋 Round Up ( bits and bobs worth knowing)
🎉 Diwali At Brent Cross
🔔 Down The Road
⭐ Top Events
🥳 We're bringing Show ’n’ Tell to Colindale!
My North London and The Avieli Arthouse are teaming up to bring you This Is Me: A Community Show ’n’ Tell!
Think about the people you pass every day. Your neighbour might be an artist. Someone at the bus stop could be a poet or a musician recording songs in their bedroom. The thing is, you'd never know.
That's the idea behind this event. Giving people a chance to share what they make, do and love, and the rest of us a chance to discover it.
On Friday 27 November, we're bringing art, fashion, crafts, music, performances and more to Grahame Park Community Centre. Expect stalls to browse, things to try, pizza to eat and neighbours to meet.
On Friday 27 November, we're bringing art, fashion, crafts, music, performances and more to Grahame Park Community Centre. Expect stalls to browse, things to try, pizza to eat and neighbours to meet.
Patrick, founder of The Avieli Arthouse, used to live in Colindale, and I lived nearby in Burnt Oak. So this event feels personal to both of us.
It's supported by artsdepot's In Our Hands grant, which helps local people bring creative ideas to life in their own neighbourhoods. And who better to show us what a community has to offer than the people who live there?
You don't have to make anything to come. Just bring yourself and a little curiosity.
Fancy showing something? Whether you paint, sew, write, perform or make something else, reply to this email and tell me about it.
📋 Round Up
Bits and bobs worth knowing.
🗑️ Barnet Council has a £200 million hole in its budget and needs to make cuts. Two things almost certain to happen: Bin collections going from weekly to fortnightly. Food waste stays weekly. Council tax rising by more than the usual 5% cap. For a typical Band D home that could mean around £8 extra a week. Council is waiting for government permission to do this.
🚇 Angel Tube station going exit-only at weekends from 2 January: The escalators at Angel are nearly 35 years old and breaking down more often. They’re also the longest on the entire Tube network. To keep them going longer, TfL is making the station exit-only on weekends and bank holidays until further notice. Station works normally on weekdays. If you need to start a journey from Angel at weekends, nearest alternatives are King’s Cross (buses 30, 73, 205) or Old Street (buses 43, 205, 214).
🚶 Camden High Street is being permanently pedestrianised: After an 18-month trial, Camden Council has made it official. The stretch from the Tube station up to The Elephant’s Head pub is now car-free for good. 57% of consultation respondents agreed with making it permanent. Council also exploring extending it over Camden Lock bridge towards Chalk Farm Road. Decision on that coming next spring.
🎉 Diwali At Brent Cross
Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, celebrated by over a billion people worldwide with fireworks, sweets, candles and gathering together.
Source: Brent Cross
Brent Cross has marked it with a free community event for 26 years running, and this Sunday the shopping centre fills up with live Dhol drumming, Garba dancing, Bhangra, Bollywood performances, henna artists, diya making, a cultural parade and so much more.
** Full transparency: this is a paid partnership with Brent Cross Shopping Centre
🔔 Down The Road
New places you should know about
🥯 Oren Delicatessen (NW3): a new deli opening on Heath Street on 1 November, from the chef behind Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant Oren. Pick up hummus and warm pita, a challah bun stuffed with Tunisian tuna, or a slice of chocolate and hazelnut babka, then sit out in the courtyard with a glass of something from the bottle shop. Weekends bring hot sharing plates like beef short rib with Persian lime.
🦁 The Black Lion (NW6): the West End Lane pub is back open after a refurb. New look inside, tidied up beer garden, and a new menu. Relaunch party on 5 November from 5pm with a free drink, food tasters and live music.
🌶️ PAM (EC1): a new Thai restaurant on Charterhouse Street from Karla Knowles, former head chef at Kiln. Thai cooking over fire, plus cocktails and art on the walls.
Something opening down your road?
Reply to this email. A photo, link or a few lines is plenty.
⭐️ Top Events
Día de los Muertos at Camden Market |Camden Market, NW1 | 1 November | Free
Day of the Dead is a Mexican tradition of remembering loved ones who’ve passed, not with mourning but with altars, marigolds, sugar skulls and celebration. Camden Market brings it to life at Hawley Wharf for a full six hours: mariachi bands, Catrina parades, face painting, a chocolate workshop and papel picado crafting, plus Mexican food and drink stalls throughout.
Stampex International | 📍Business Design Centre, N1 | 28 - 31 October | Free
The world's biggest stamp fair comes to Islington for four days, with 65 dealers and collectors from across the globe. Whether you're adding to a collection, thinking of selling one, or just curious what the fuss is about, it's free to walk in.
Remembrance Service and Parade | 📍Royal British Legion, N10 | 1 November | Free
The Muswell Hill and Highgate branch of the Royal British Legion holds its annual Remembrance service this Sunday, ahead of the national Remembrance Sunday on 8 November. It starts at 10.30am with a wreath-laying at PC Keith Blakelock’s memorial on Muswell Hill Broadway, then a parade back to the branch with the London Metropolitan Brass Band and Lambretta riders. The service at 11am is in the memorial garden with North London Voices choir. Refreshments afterwards, everyone is welcome.
Town Park Fireworks: Halloween Spooktacular | 📍Enfield Town Park, EN2 | 31 October | (£)
Enfield’s big annual fireworks display falls on Halloween this year, so fancy dress is coming to Town Park too. Thousands usually turn out for this one, and alongside the fireworks there’ll be a funfair, fire dancers, music and a fancy dress competition for anyone arriving in costume. Gates open at 5pm, costumes are judged at 6.30pm and the fireworks start at 7pm. You’ll need to book beforehand as there are no tickets on the gate, and unusually, online tickets are physical tickets that need to be collected from DAC on London Road by 5pm on 30 October.
Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery | 📍British Library,NW1 | Until 20 June 2027 | (£)
Agatha Christie wrote 66 detective novels and is the best-selling fiction writer of all time, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. The British Library’s new exhibition goes behind the books, her real-life travels on the Orient Express, her work as a WWI pharmacy dispenser that gave her an encyclopedic knowledge of poison, her archaeological digs in the Middle East with her second husband. The exhibition recreates those worlds as physical spaces you walk through, and displays her actual typewriter, teenage manuscripts and personal letters for the first time. Hidden clues throughout for anyone who wants to play detective. From £20.
Spooky Walk at Firs Farm | 📍Firs Farm Wetlands, N21 | 31 October | Free
The volunteers who look after Firs Farm Wetlands are turning it into a Halloween trail on Saturday evening, skeletons hidden in the dark, mystery boxes, axe throwing, a BBQ and s’mores. Free entry, but bring a torch because they mean it when they say it will be dark. Families with children up to 12, 4pm to 8pm.
Finsbury Park Cabaret: Halloween Spectacular | 📍The Old Dairy, N4 | 31 October | (£)
Finsbury Park is getting its own cabaret night, and the first one lands on Halloween. The launch show brings together different acts rather than one continuous performance, with singing, comedy, dance and a little old school cabaret glamour. Kiki Noir is among the performers, mixing cabaret with Portuguese and Brazilian music and dance. Doors 7pm, show 8pm. There’s also an optional Thai dinner you can order in advance.
Classic Car Boot Sale at Walter | 📍Walter The Garage, N8 | 31 October | Free
Walter is a vintage denim and clothing shop on Middle Lane Mews in Crouch End, and this Saturday they’re hosting a car boot in the garage with Twocees and Second Hand Gav. Vintage clothing and denim goods, 11am to 5pm.
elrow Horroween | 📍Drumsheds, N18 | 31 Oct | (£)
elrow’s theatrical Halloween rave is back in London for the first time since 2024. It takes over Drumsheds in Edmonton with three stages and around 14,000 people in fancy dress. Patrick Topping, MK and Sarah Story are on the line up. 1pm to 10.30pm, last entry 5pm, 18+..
Rising Forms | 📍The Art Studio, N20 | 29 October - 1 November | Free
Five professional artists from around Whetstone got together, formed N20 Collective, and this weekend is their first ever show. The work spans five completely different styles, paintings you can browse and buy, and the artists will be there in person.
Halloween Dog Parade | 📍Claremont Park, NW2 | 31 October | Free
Your dog deserves a Halloween too. Dress them up, bring them to Claremont Park, and parade them through the park in front of judges deciding on Best Dressed, Spookiest Pup, Best Homemade Costume, Cutest Puppy and more. There’s free professional photos at Arthur’s, dog treats from local retailers, face painting, and all proceeds go to Pets As Therapy. Participating dogs must register in advance — spectators just show up.
Wallace & Gromit with Live Brass Band | 📍Alexandra Palace Theatre, N22 | 1 November | (£)
Wallace and Gromit are the claymation duo behind some of the best-loved British films ever made, a bumbling inventor and his long-suffering dog. Alexandra Palace is screening three of the classics with Julian Nott’s original scores played live by a brass band in the room. The afternoon show pairs A Grand Day Out with the world premiere live performance of A Close Shave. The evening show is The Wrong Trousers, preceded by a 25-minute brass band concert. Ages 5 and up, family discount available with code W&GFAMILY25.
Red Meets Green: Vintage Bus Running Day | 📍Potters Bar to Camden Town, N20 to NW1 | 1 November | Free
Vintage buses running the old 134, 303 and 716 routes through North London for the day, from Potters Bar down through Barnet, Whetstone, Friern Barnet, Muswell Hill, Highgate and Archway to Camden Town. Free to ride, but programmes with full timetables are on sale on the day with proceeds going to the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.
Spine-Chilling Cellars & Ghost Hunt | 📍Stephens House & Gardens, N3 | 30 - 31 October | (£)
Stephens House opens its cellars for Halloween, with ghosts hidden in the trees and a prize for anyone who finds them all. Hunt runs from 1pm, closes at 4pm. £5.50 per person, children over 2.
Halloween Late: Comic Fair | 📍Quentin Blake Centre, EC1R | 31 October | Free
The Quentin Blake Centre is the world’s largest space dedicated to illustration, and Queer as Comics, the first major UK exhibition of queer comic-making from the 1940s to today, is in its final weekend. To mark it, the centre is hosting a free Halloween evening fair with comics, graphic novels and small press works from LGBTQIA+ creators, live drawing projected in the café, make-your-own comics and drinks. Costumes encouraged, ages 15 and over, 5.30pm to 8.30pm.
First Dip of Winter | 📍Parliament Hill Lido, NW5 | 1 November | (£)
IceBreakers is a free men’s community built around cold water swimming and mental health, with a North London chapter at Parliament Hill Lido. Chilly Dippers, founded by Liv Sharron, is a cold water and mental health community that grew from Edinburgh into London. This Sunday the two are combining for their first dip of winter, breathwork to ease you in, a group swim, then coffee and birthday cake because IceBreakers North London turns three. Never done cold water before? Getting in is entirely optional.
Camden Vintage Furniture & Flea Market | 📍Cecil Sharp House, NW1 | 1 November | (£)
The Vintage Furniture Flea sets up in Cecil Sharp House, with specialist dealers selling mid-century furniture, homewares, ceramics, lighting, glassware and textiles. From £3 pre-booked, £2 on the door after 1pm, under 16s free.
Hot Lemon Halloween | 📍43 De Beauvoir Road, N1 | 31 October | (£)
Hot Lemon and Batch Baby are throwing a joint Halloween party to celebrate Batch Baby’s fifth birthday. DJ sets, natural wine, tarot cards and spooky surprises at their De Beauvoir Road spot. Costumes required, free welcome drink before 9pm, runs until 3am.
Click below to see full weekend list.👇
🎄Your Winter Markets & Fairs Guide Is Here
30+ Christmas markets, craft fairs and festive pop-ups across North London, all in one place, from Danish gløgg in Hampstead to Mexican piñatas at King’s Cross. I’ll keep adding more as they’re announced, so bookmark the page.
👀 Spotted
Caught our eye, might catch yours
🍷 De Beauvoir Wines is running a guest chef supper club every Wednesday through December (N1). A different chef takes over the kitchen each week, with highlights including a Día de Muertos feast, a Singaporean supper club, handmade dumplings and a small plates night with Provisions.
🌿 There’s up to £60,000 available for community-led nature projects across London, and Brent and Islington are among the eligible boroughs. The Nature Communities Fund supports projects benefiting people, animals, plants and fungi, whether it’s a new idea or something you want to develop further. Applications close 2nd December.
🏰 Bruce Castle Museum in Tottenham turns 120 this year. The museum first opened its doors in 1906 and has spent the last century telling stories of innovation, migration, radicalism and resilience in Haringey. Special events and an exhibition are planned over the next year to mark the milestone. If you have memories of Bruce Castle, they’d love to hear them at [email protected] with the subject line ‘Bruce Castle 120’.
Got something your neighbours should know about?
Opening or launching something? Noticed a change in your neighbourhood? Got a local story, observation or point of view worth sharing? Reply to this email.
🎟️ Heads Up
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.
Good Housekeeping Live & Country Living Christmas Market | 📍Business Design Centre, Islington, N1 | 11 - 14 November | (£)
Four days of artisan sellers at the Business Design Centre, with hundreds of makers selling handmade gifts alongside food tastings, celebrity talks and craft workshops. Self-gifting is actively encouraged. Apparently Mary Portas, Clare Balding and the Oliver sisters were all spotted leaving with full bags last year.
Jingle Bell Funny | 📍Dugdale Arts Centre, EN2 | 21 November | (£)
Resistance Comedy sold out Dugdale last Christmas. They’re back with Aurie Styla headlining, a BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky regular with seven more acts on the bill. Eight comedians, one night in Enfield Town.
THANKS FOR READING!
While you're here:
Fancy more reading? Try our guides to Halloween in North London 2026 or North London Fireworks 2026.
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If you’re interested in getting your product, service or event in front of 5k+ North Londoners → Partner with us