Hey Neighbour,
Alright, first things first, huge shoutout to you for being here and making this little newsletter adventure possible. It’s just me over here, your friendly neighbourhood storyteller, juggling tabs and typing away like a caffeine-fuelled squirrel. I’m always on the lookout for ways to make this the absolute best North London newsletter experience you could ask for. So, if you have any tips, ideas, or just want to say hey, I’d absolutely love to hear from you.
Just simply hit reply to this email and let’s chat.
This week’s read is about 5 minutes down the road and your vape might not make it there.
Single-use vapes are banned from Sunday. 600 puffs = 600 years underground.
TfL wants to raise the congestion charge to £18. Just in time for summer, of course.
Barnet’s throwing a full-blown medieval festival.
Plus a ‘party’ section. For those who believe sleep is optional and vibes are essential.
Alright, let’s get into it.
— Maryam Bitege
Borough News
📍 Camden
Camden’s new fund opens soon. This will be for businesses led by diverse founders or helping young people. Free sessions start 3 June. Book now
Kids Wanted for New Theatre Show (8–11 year-old in Camden or Islington). Award-winning arts group Fevered Sleep is casting for Time Keeps the Drummer — a playful, movement-based performance full of dance and bold visuals. Click here to register.
📍 Enfield
Calling Enfield Employers. Be part of the #EnfieldWorks campaign, aiming to create thousands of job opportunities for young people by 2030. Launching 12th June, Register here.
Are you a food and beverage entrepreneur looking for a unique space? Angel Yard is looking for someone to take over its unique bus café space in N18. It’s part of a growing community hub supporting local entrepreneurs, backed by Enfield Council and the Mayor of London. Contact: [email protected]
📍 Brent
Brent Council Promises Housing Safety Overhaul. Brent Council has admitted it fell short on building safety follow-ups including record-keeping around fire, smoke alarms, asbestos, and water checks. The Regulator of Social Housing says “significant improvement is needed.” The council says major risks have been addressed. An independent audit is underway. More contractors are being brought in to speed up repairs. No action is needed from tenants right now. Read more here.
📍 Barnet
Got a question for the council’s politicians? Barnet Question Time returns on Monday 9 June, 7-8.30pm. The quarterly live online Q&A gives residents the opportunity to put their questions to the Leader and his Cabinet.
📍 Haringey
Haringey has launched the next phase of its Your Bruce Grove project. This will be a multi-million-pound upgrade to streets and public spaces in the town centre. View the designs online or join a local event to share your thoughts.
📍 Islington
A new day-and-night patrol team is now tackling anti-social behaviour in Islington hotspots . The team, run by Islington Council, Parkguard and the Met Police, will adjust routes daily based on real-time data and resident reports. Uniformed officers can issue fines up to £1,000.
Islington gov website
📍 Harrow
Bakerloo Line Upgrade Gets Major Support. New research shows overwhelming backing for TfL’s Bakerloo Line upgrade and extension — with 75% of Harrow residents and 84% of local businesses in favour. The project would improve journeys from Harrow to Bromley, boost train frequency, and open up new jobs and growth across London.
🗣 A shout-out — to a neighbour, barista, bus driver… even your ex boss.
📖 A story — funny, sweet, weird, or just very London.
The Noticeboard
From 1 June, it’s illegal to sell or supply single-use vapes in the UK.
Why the ban?
– Bad for wildlife and the environment
– 600 puffs = 600 years in landfill
– In 2022, we binned enough lithium to power 5,000 electric cars
Transport for London has proposed raising the congestion charge to £18 — a 20% increase. Read the full report by Harry Low for BBC London.
Thames Water has been hit with a £123 million penalty following investigations into its wastewater practices and shareholder payouts.
New Restaurant Openings
HARRY’S | 📍3 King’s Blvd, N1C | Opening: 3rd June | All-day Italian from Richard Caring with pasta, spritzes, and people-watching from morning till late.
My North London Pick
Highgate Fair in the Square | Saturday 7 June | 📍Highgate Village | FREE | One of Highgate’s best days out — stalls, music, food, and a proper village feel. Run by locals, for locals (and anyone else who wants in).
Happenings
Want a Featured Event with a poster? Reach out. Want to add an event? Use this link.
Barnet Medieval Festival | 📍Lewis of London Ice Cream Farm, EN5 4RA | Sat 7 & Sun 8 June | (£) | Live battle re-enactments, traders, food, and medieval fun — now at a bigger Barnet venue.
London Open Gardens Weekend | 📍Across London | Sat 8 – Sun 9 June | (£) | Explore 100+ hidden gardens, courtyards, and green spaces — open to the public for one weekend only. Proceeds support London Parks & Gardens.
Mark Your Calendar
Future events, exhibitions & local happenings you’ll want to plan for.
JUNE 15: Raver Tots Outdoor Festival Barnet 2025 (£)
JUNE 18 - 22: Taste of London Food Festival (£)
JUNE 21- 22: West End LIVE ( Free but ticket required)
JUNE 30 - 13 JULY: Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships (£)
JULY 10: All Things Orchestral (£)
What’s On: 30th May - 5th June 2025
Your guide to what’s happening in North London this week.
Events marked with (£) require a ticket in advance.
All Week
London Rivers Week | 📍Across London | 30 May – 7 June | Free & (£) | Boat trips, clean-ups, and riverside walks — a week of events celebrating and protecting the capital’s waterways.
Friday 30th May
Friday Night Funnies: GO LARGE! | 📍Rayne Theatre, Chickenshed | (£) | Resistance Comedy brings a stacked lineup to Southgate — headlined by Aurie Styla, with Lateef Lovejoy, President Obonjo, Samantha Day, Junior Booker + more.
🎮 Wifi Wars | Age: 6+ & 11+ |📍@ Studio Theatre, North Finchley | (£) | Live comedy game show where the whole audience plays along via smartphone.
SoulJam: Bollywood Live Music Night | 📍229 Great Portland St, W1W 5PN | 18+ | (£) | Acoustic sets, DJ beats, and Bollywood classics — from Arijit Singh to Kishore Kumar.
Saturday 31st May
Unlocking Broomfield Park | 📍Palmers Green Station | 10:30am–12:30pm | Free | Guided walk through Edwardian Palmers Green with local Adrian Day — heritage buildings, park history, and even a Harry Potter connection.
West Green Market (N15) | 📍Harris Primary Academy, Philip Lane | 10:30am–3:30pm | Free | A new weekly market near Downhills Park with food, music, kids' activities, and local traders.
Sunday 1st June
Heavy Horse Show at Capel Manor | 📍Capel Manor Gardens, Enfield | 10:00am–5:00pm | (£) | Heavy horses, a dog show, and full access to Capel Manor’s 30-acre gardens — a proper countryside day out in Enfield.
St Mary-At-Finchley Has a Voice | 📍St Mary’s, 26 Hendon Lane, N3 1TR | 2:00–4:00pm | Free | Explore Finchley’s oldest building on a guided tour — including a sundial featured in a Turner painting.
Monday 2nd June
London Festival of Architecture | 📍Across London | 1–30 June | Free & ticketed | Month-long programme of pop-up exhibitions and installations exploring the theme Voices. Monday 2 June: Palace Uncovered @ Alexandra Palace – WWI history hidden inside Ally Pally. Blowing in the Wind @ Brixton – Giant paper boats above the market.
Tuesday 3rd June
East Barnet Valley Bowls Club – Open Evening | 📍Victoria Rec Ground, EN4 9QA | 5:00–8:00pm | Free | Try your hand at lawn bowls — no experience needed. Just bring flat shoes.
New 6-a-Side League @ Potters Bar Town FC | New Tuesday night league on a top 5G pitch. Free kits, trophies, pro refs, and good vibes. Sign up HERE | 📧 [email protected]
Wednesday 4th June
Westminster Abbey Late: Beyond Victory |📍@ Westminster Abbey, SW1P 3PA | 5:30–8:30pm | (£) | Explore the Abbey after hours with swing dancing, crafts, and wartime stories — plus drinks in the garden.
Thursday 5th June
A Space for Mums | 📍Down to Earth Yoga, N19 5AA | Thursdays, 12:00–1:00pm (until 10 July) | Free | A gentle six-week talking group for mums to share, listen, and feel supported. To book: [email protected]
Party
Is there still a party scene in London? well you tell me. While you think about it, here are a few events worth checking out.
KPOP & K-HIPHOP Night: Pride Edition | 📍Fire Vauxhall, SW8 1RT | Friday 6 June, 11:00pm–6:00am | Three rooms of K-pop, K-hiphop, and K-EDM, with Korean food, photo ops, and fried chicken till 6am. 18+ only.
Silent Disco at the Transport Museum | 📍London Transport Museum, WC2E 7BB | Saturday 7 June | (£) | Dance after hours among vintage trains and buses — with three DJs, two silent disco sessions, and one iconic setting. 18+ only.
Not feeling any of these? Reply to this email and let us know what kind of party events you'd like to see and i’ll be on the lookout.
Thanks for reading My North London! Let’s chat again next Thursday!
— Maryam