Visit
One of the oldest working cinemas in the country, the Electric Cinema’s interior reflects its long history. Plus it’s one of the most comfortable places to watch a film, with double beds, sofas and armchairs for your viewing pleasure!
The Lexi Cinema is run almost exclusively by volunteers, meaning 100% of its profits goes to charity! Showing a variety of mainstream, indie films and live opera, they hope to improve the lives of north-west Londoners, whilst also helping those in South Africa, by donating all proceeds to the Sustainability Institute.
Opened in 1833, Kensal Green Cemetery is based on the infamous Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris and is one of London’s ‘Magnificent Seven’. If wandering round graveyards is your thing, there are tours that take place monthly, which aim to make sense of the higgledy-piggledy gravestones as well as pick out some of the more famous occupants.
Voted London’s Best Conservation Area in 2015, this 2.8 hectare nature reserve is home to 244 species of plants, 94 species of birds and 24 types of butterflies. Offering education on sustainable living, gardening and wildlife, there is something for everything to learn.
This 4.5 mile stretch between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace is a local nature reserve and passes through some of the greenest areas in London. It follows the route of an old railway line, which is mostly demolished save for a few parts that can be seen through the trees. Now overgrown with plant life, the walk is great way to spend an afternoon!
Converted in 2013 from a miserable office block into a state-of-the-art performing space, the Park Theatre is more than just your average neighbourhood theatre. With support and endorsement from huge-name actors such as Sir Ian Mckellen and the late Alan Rickman, it aims to take on the world by providing affordable quality theatre for everyone. It also offers several courses, designed to engage the diverse local community and include those of any age or ability.
Calling all culture vultures! Battersea Arts Centre is one of the best places to check out new plays, live music and youth activities in the area. Working with over 400 artists to put on at least 650 shows EVERY YEAR, they really know how to get things done. Feeling peckish? There is also a bar and cafe open all day so you never have to leave… well, you may have to eventually… but you get the idea!
Foodies be warned: this market might just be the undoing of you and your bank balance. Venn Street Market is giving independent producers and farmers the opportunity to come face-to-face with consumers every Saturday. From fruit and veg to bread, fish, eggs and street food, this food-lover’s paradise is a great place to pick up fresh produce and hear about its provenance from the people in the know.
Another of Brixton’s iconic landmarks, the Brixton Academy was built in 1929, starting out in life as a theatre. Since then it’s been reopened (in fact, it’s currently closed – here’s more info on that) many different times under many different names but has never lost its musical roots. The venue has had many a legend pass through its doors, including The Smiths, Madonna, The Clash, The Prodigy and the Sex Pistols to name but a few, and is likely to see many more in the future. Rock on!
DAVID BOWIE MURAL
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
Exactly what it says on the tin, this Bowie tribute, painted by Aussie street artist James Cochran in 2013, suddenly became a site of an overwhelming outpouring of public grief following Bowie’s death in January 2016. If you were a fan of the legend that inspired it, it’s definitely worth a look.
The Windmill turned 200 in back 2016, making it MEGA OLD. Considering its age, however, it’s still a looker and perfect for an unusual South London selfie op. Fancy having a nosy? The windmill is open for guided tours between April and October.
Now over 100 years old, the Ritzy Cinema is an iconic part of Brixton’s fabric. Restored to its original turn-of-the-century charm, it still has all those amazing architectural features and a red velvet curtain. Classy! Owned by Picturehouse Cinemas, there are loads of great deals to get money off your tickets, plus there is an upstairs live music venue called named ‘Upstairs’ (duh!) for when you decide your night isn’t over after the end credits.
Just a stone’s throw away from Brixton station is the environmentally friendly, up-cycled shipping container space Pop Brixton. It hosts some of the local community’s most exciting restaurants, bars and businesses like The New Zealand Cellar and Container Records, and has a 200-capacity event space for gigs, cinema screenings, fitness classes and places where you can play bingo.
CLIFF RAILWAYS
Don’t leave without riding the rails. Heading up the Cliff Railways will give you some beaut views over the coast, and the East Hill lift has the added accolade of being the steepest funicular railway in Britain. Go tick that one off the bucket list.
1066 SPORTS
If all the war-themed history that Hastings has to offer gets you in the mood, you can have a go yourself with archery, crossbow and axe-throwing – allegedly a great way to unwind – at 1066 Target Sports.
Looking for something a little (or a lot) less quaint during your stay at the seaside? Why not check out The True Crime Museum. Set in 3000 sq/ft of underground caves, The True Crime Museum has a whole host of unusual artifacts to offer, including a bed used for lethal injections, a hangman’s noose and original artworks produced by murderers and criminals from across the world.
If you’re all about old stuff, make time to check out the Shipwreck museum, which is guaranteed to float your boat (sorry!)
Obvs Hastings is also a town with a LOT of history, so you won’t be running out of old stuff to look at. Hastings Castle was the first motte-and-bailey castle to be built on English soil, and if you ever had to make a model one of those at school, you’ll know it’s a big deal.