Experience 25: Isle of Wight Festival
This year marked the 25th edition of the Isle of Wight Festival, including the three original events held in 1968, ‘69 and ‘70. To celebrate this landmark in music history, Experience 25 – an exhibition dedicated to the festival’s history – will run at the O2’s Innovation Centre until 13 November.
The space will play host to an archive documenting the festival’s most magical moments. Visitors will travel back in time and be invited into the office of Ray Foulk, the original curator of the first three festivals.
On display are original images and footage of performances by The Doors, The Who, Joni Mitchell, and even Hendrix shredding in front of a full crowd in 1970.
Guests will then be transported to 2002, when promoter John Giddings revived the festival, beginning its run to present day. The Isle of Wight Festival now hosts 60,000 music fans a year.
Relive David Bowie’s headline set in 2004, Jay Z’s performance in 2010 and Dave Grohl in 2011, all the way through to Green Day taking the reins as 2024’s headliner.
Date: Showing until Wednesday 13 November 2024
Tickets: Free
O2, Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX
isleofwightfestival.com/news/experience-25-is-heading-to-the-o2
Design District Yoga
Take a break with weekly lunchtime yoga run by instructor Sophie Wilkinson at Greenwich Peninsula’s Design District.
You will work through a range of poses during the Vinyasa yoga session while also strengthening your mental practice, breathwork and meditation. The class welcomes all levels of experience. So whether you are an expert in downward dog, or have just started in child’s pose, you are invited to join in.
Each class is free for Design District community members via the Design District app and £5 for non-members. Remember to bring your own yoga mat.
Dates: Every Thursday, 12pm to 1pm
Tickets: £5
13 Soames Walk, SE10 0AX
www.greenwichpeninsula.co.uk/whats-on/design-district-yoga

Monteverdi Choir at the Old Royal Naval College
In celebration of the 200th anniversary of Anton Bruckner’s birth and the 60th year of the Monteverdi Choir, the Old Royal Naval College hosts an evening of music and conversation in the Chapel of St Peter & St Paul.
This event offers a rare opportunity to explore the deep connections between two composers, Bruckner and Carlo Gesualdo, separated by 250 years.
Before the concert begins, Sara Mohr-Pietsch will engage in a conversation with the concert’s conductor, Jonathan Sells. And then you will enjoy a programme of music in two parts.
Date: Sunday 20 October 2024
Tickets: Adult £31.50 to £76.50, student £18, child £9
Chapel of St Peter & St Paul, Old Royal Naval College, SE10 9NN
ornc.org/whats-on/monteverdi-choir-bruckner-gesualdo-echoing-across-the-centuries
Lewisham Multicultural Writers’ Group
Get those creative juices flowing with support and laughter at the Lewisham Multicultural Writers’ Group hosted at Deptford Lounge. The group invites you into a positive space to enjoy writing of all kinds.
Whether you’re a writer of poetry or novels, please contact the library to register your interest: deptfordlibrary@lewisham.gov.uk or call 020 8314 7299.
Dates: Every Third Saturday, from 2pm to 4pm
Tickets: Free
9 Giffin Street, Deptford, SE8 4RJ
deptfordlounge.org.uk/whats-on/event/lewisham-multicultural-writers-group
Oktoberfest at the Fox & Firkin
Firkin Brewery is bringing the Bavarian spirit to life with steins of its freshest craft beer, brewed just steps away. Savour authentic German dishes while live bands set the perfect festive vibe for Fox & Firkin’s Oktoberfest party.
As the night heats up, gather around for a spirited piano sing-along that’ll have everyone raising their voices and their glasses. Whether you’re a beer lover, a music fan, or just in it for the bratwurst, this is the Oktoberfest experience you won’t want to miss. Prost to that.
Date: Saturday 19 October 2024
Tickets: £5
316 Lewisham High Street, SE13 6JZ
foxfirkin.com/events/oktoberfest-2

Rich Hall: Shot from Cannons
For comedy lovers, you’ll want to mark this date in your diary: Rich Hall brings his new show Shot from Cannons to Blackheath Halls this November.
Fresh off the heels of his critically acclaimed memoirs, Nailing It: Tales from the Comedy Frontier, Montana’s transatlantic messenger returns with new rants, observations, musical interludes and an ever-formidable knack for laughs on the fly.
Date: Sunday 10 November 2024
Tickets: £17
23 Lee Road, Blackheath, SE3 9RQ
www.blackheathhalls.com/whats-on/rich-hall-shot-from-cannons
Nairy Baghramian: Jumbled Alphabet
The South London Gallery presents a solo exhibition by artist Nairy Baghramian. For over 20 years she has been making sculptures that ask you to reconsider your sense of self, space and relation to the object.
Made from materials such as marble, wood, metal and resin, her sculptures often respond to the surrounding environment, engaging with architecture and people.
“Jumbled Alphabet” brings together sculptures from the artist’s “Misfits” series, disrupting the idea of children’s building toys in which pieces fit together perfectly. “Misfits” celebrates the beauty of things that don’t fit, and the creativity found in what’s considered “dis-functional”. The series recognises the magic of being an outsider and seeing the potential in imperfection.
These ideas are taken further in new hybrid sculptures created by Baghramian in a process of exchange with other artists. They play on ideas of the hand-me-down and the fitting together of mismatched parts. This spirit of playful collaboration is also seen in an evolving drawing made by children who visit the SLG during the exhibition.
Dates: Showing until 12 January 2025
Tickets: Free
65 Peckham Road, SE5 8UH
www.southlondongallery.org/exhibitions/nairy-baghramian-jumbled-alphabet

Lost Gardens of London
Did you know that Southwark once had a zoo? Or that for a short spell, Britain’s first ecological park was built within a stone’s throw of Tower Bridge? Or that one of the capital’s most celebrated botanical gardens now lies beneath the platforms of Waterloo station?
The Garden Museum’s new exhibition “Lost Gardens of London” will reveal the secret history of some of London’s forgotten gardens.
Thousands of gardens have vanished across London over the past five hundred years – ranging from princely pleasure grounds and private botanical gardens to humble allotments and defunct squares. This is your chance to discover them.
Date: 23 October 2024 to 2 March 2025
Tickets: £15
5 Lambeth Palace Road, SE1 7LB
gardenmuseum.org.uk/exhibitions/lostgardensoflondon

Brixton Black History Walking Tour
Take part in a walking tour of Brixton that takes you on a journey through culture, heritage and significant landmarks, plus hear about pivotal moments and iconic figures that have shaped the community and area.
You will learn how a much-loved building was saved from demolition and is fast becoming a popular community asset and about Lambeth Town Hall, which helped to build cultural bridges.
Exploring all aspects of Brixton life, the tour takes in Brixton Village, a home of food, goods and community with more than 100 independent vendors representing over 50 nationalities, as well as Bon Marché (the department store), Brixton Recreation Centre and much more.
It all begins in Windrush Square, at 10:30am.
Date: 23 October 2024
Tickets: From £16.80
Windrush Square, Effra Road, SW2 1JQ
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/brixton-black-history-walking-tour-tickets-1002786610747
Deeper Into Movies
Peckham Levels welcomes the return of Deeper Into Movies, back for more expertly curated screenings of cult classics, overlooked gems and important contemporary cinema.
This October, explore Jennifer’s Body. When small-town high-school student Jennifer is possessed by a hungry demon, she transitions from being “high-school evil” – gorgeous, stuck up and ultra-attitudinal – to the real deal – evil-evil.
Date: 23 October 2024
Tickets: From £5
95a Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4ST
peckhamlevels.org/events/jennifers-body

Bottle Factory Flea Market
Held in a beautifully restored old bottling factory in the heart of south east London, Peckham Carboot presents Bottle Factory Flea Market.
You’ll find over 30 vintage and designer clothing, homeware and furniture traders for you to explore. Pick up a coffee and pastries from Coffee Vantastic, or pizza from Tracks Pizza, and hunt for a bargain.
Plus, dogs are welcome.
Date: 20 October 2024
Tickets: From £6.13
The Bottle Factory, 12 Ossory Road, SE1 5AN
Whispers of the Infinite
The autumn exhibition at Firepit Art Gallery and Studios, Whispers of the Infinite, delves into the ephemeral beauty of nature and the human soul, weaving together the mystical and ethereal elements that transcend our everyday perceptions.
This collection of works invites you to step into a world where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur, and the essence of the infinite reveals its most subtle and profound secrets.
Each piece in this exhibition is a testament to the fragile and intricate connections that exist within the natural world. Through a diverse array of mediums and techniques, the artists capture moments that are both fleeting and eternal, drawing attention to the quiet power and sublime elegance that often go unnoticed.
As you journey through Whispers of the Infinite, allow yourself to be transported to a realm where the mystical and the natural coexist in perfect harmony.
Dates: Thursday 24 October 2024 to Saturday 18 January 2025
Tickets: Free
10 Cutter Lane, SE10 0XX
Guided bird walk
Join in a guided autumn bird walk around the Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park this October with knowledgeable local birdwatcher Rich Green.
You may spot birds like the Kingfisher, Grey Heron, Kestrel and lots of smaller birds, too, including fully-fledged Robins from this spring.
Suitable for those 8 and over – and remember to wear suitable clothing and footwear.
Date: Sunday 27 October 2024
Tickets: Free
Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park, John Harrison Way, SE10 0QZ
www.tcv.org.uk/greenwichpeninsula/events

History’s Most Epic Fibs: Live
Join comedian, writer and podcaster Athena Kugblenu on a journey to debunk history’s most epic fibs live at The Albany. Think you know history? Think again.
Athena might surprise you as she takes you on a setting-the-record straight ride. Prepare to see a host of queens, knights, sailors, wolves, and maybe even the world, in a whole new light.
Athena will also be hosting a pay-what-you-decide interactive workshop at Deptford Lounge before the live event. It will get to the bottom of some of history’s most epic fibs while providing a funny, safe space for people to get in touch with their inner fibber.
There will also be fun games (with prizes) that prove just how easy it is to be hoodwinked. By the end of this session, kids and grownups will have all the tools they need to be able to spot a fact from a fib when watching TV, reading the news or even listening to parents/carers.
Date: Friday 1 November 2024
Tickets: £9.50
Douglas Way, SE8 4AG
www.thealbany.org.uk/shows/athena-kugblenu-historys-most-epic-fibs-live/
The Big Market
Blazing back into Lewisham at The Fox and Firkin, warm your winter blues with The Big Market.
Featuring over 40 stallholders, the line-up is bursting with the best independent local makers and artists. You’ll find jewellery, art, homeware, records and more, plus DJs keeping the vibes up.
You’ll be able to browse the stalls and discover hidden gems, chat with passionate traders, and also get a tipple or bite to eat from the bar.
Date: Sunday 3 November 2024
Tickets: Free
316 Lewisham High Street, SE13 6JZ
foxfirkin.com/events/the-big-market-12

Ugly Duckling
Feeling different, teased by his friends and not accepted by his family, the Ugly Duckling is sad and lonely. Through a series of adventures, he soon learns who he really is, and his family realises it doesn’t matter what you look like but how good your heart is.
Let’s All Dance Productions brings this brand new ballet for the whole family to Woolwich Works this October.
Ugly Duckling tackles themes of social acceptance and liking yourself in a child-friendly, charming manner. Great for the whole family, especially children aged 2-11, including people with special needs.
Date: Wednesday 30 October 2024
Tickets: Adults £14, children £12, babies free
The Fireworks Factory, 11 No 1 Street, Royal Arsenal, SE18 6HD
www.woolwich.works/events/ugly-duckling
Echoes of the Sea and Sky
It’s Cutty Sark’s 155th birthday; join in the celebrations with an enchanting performance by Trinity Laban Chamber Choir, under the directorship of choral director and music education specialist Charles MacDougall.
The programme will feature music inspired by the beauty and drama of the sea, sky and stars. Take the helm and enjoy an evening of birthday festivities for the Cutty Sark.
Date: Thursday 14 November 2024
Tickets: £15, members, students and under 25s £10
King William Walk, SE10 9HT