culture – Southwark News

Why is Bermondsey hosting an Oktoberfest in April?

Staff Reporter — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:54:00 +0000

The Bermondsey Bierkeller will be throwing a rare celebration of the traditional German Springfest starting this weekend and running every Saturday for a month, writes Rich Brann… While most people will be familiar with the traditional festival of Oktoberfest, held across Bavaria and Southern Germany and now popular in the UK and USA, fewer will […]

Royal Festival Hall set to receive millions from central government for urgent repairs ahead of Harry Styles’ Meltdown Festival

Staff Reporter — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:08:40 +0000

The Southbank Centre is set to receive £10 million from a capital grant to make critical repairs on the Royal Festival Hall ahead of its 75th birthday celebrations, writes Oliver London… After 75 years of hosting legendary acts such as Count Basie, David Bowie, and Jimi Hendrix, the Royal Festival Hall is to receive financial […]

Backstory named London’s independent bookshop of the year

Staff Reporter — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 20:03:40 +0000

The 2026 London winner for The British Book Awards 2026 Independent Bookshop of the Year is Backstory, a Balham shop that deals in fiction, non-fiction and wine.

Opera will be held beneath Cutty Sark: Dido & Aeneas to be performed under the Greenwich ship this May

News Desk — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:32:58 +0000

Audiences on 21 May will watch performances of Dido & Aeneas beneath the suspended historic ship.

Come visit one of Greenwich’s most quaint and scenic landmarks

News Desk — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:27:00 +0000

Located at the heart of Shooters Hill, Severndroog Castle occupies a commanding position within the ancient Castle Wood in Greenwich, all whilst offering visitors a hot brew, delicious cakes and a slice of local history about one of Greenwich’s most quaint landmarks, writes Frankie Hills... The castle is a beautifully preserved Grade II* listed 18th-century […]

GALA festival tickets to go on sale tomorrow

Issy Clarke — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:39:48 +0000

Tickets for GALA festival in Peckham Rye Park will go on sale tomorrow morning at 10am (Friday 30 January). The festival is scheduled to take place across the May bank holiday weekend, which falls this year over 22–24 May 2026. The organisers will be continuing their tradition this year of hosting the On the Rye […]

Old Royal Naval College commemorates 300 years since its completion of Painted Hall

News Desk — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 17:03:41 +0000

Greenwich’s Old Royal Naval College is to commemorate 300 years since the completion of its Painted Hall, writes Frankie Hills… Known as the UK’s ‘Sistine Chapel’, the famous Baroque building is hosting an extensive anniversary programme to celebrate the milestone, with a series of events aimed at exploring the halls extensive history and modern day […]

Grand Rotherhithe sculptures which survived WW2 bombs and demolition on Heygate Estate lovingly restored

Issy Clarke — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:30:17 +0000

Two Greek-style sculptures in Southwark Park have been restored a century after they were built with the help of local schoolchildren. The sculptures survived the falling bombs of the Blitz and have been shuttled across the borough over the last century, escaping demolition and regeneration. They are of two female figures in classical dress balancing […]

Tate Modern extends weekend hours after record youth turnout

News Desk — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 13:43:59 +0000

Tate modern has announced it will stay open until 9pm every Friday and Saturday from September 26, expanding access to the world’s most-visited modern art museum and adding new energy to the capital’s night-time culture, writes Tara Russell... The move, giving young Londoners and visitors free evening access to the world’s most popular modern art […]

What does the recently restored Walworth Town Hall have to offer?

Evie Flynn — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 18:16:05 +0000

Standing tall on Walworth Road since 1894, Walworth Town Hall has long been a landmark of South London. But after it was ravaged by a fire in 2013, it lay dormant and damaged for over a decade. Now following a restoration by Southwark Council and developer General Projects, the Hall reopened in January this year, breathing […]