Bits and bobs worth knowing.

🐌 The Idler Festival returns to Hampstead this summer: get ready for a weekend full of talks, music, poetry in Fenton House's 300-year-old orchard near Hampstead Heath. Celebrating slow living, lie under apple trees, catch interesting conversations, and wandering through a 17th-century mansion. This year Prue Leith talking about ageing, Irvine Welsh on Trainspotting, Chris Difford from Squeeze on rediscovered songs. Plus comedy, beekeeping workshops, ukulele, dancing.


💡 Kenwood House light trails not coming back: long story short it didn't sell enough tickets. Turns out not enough people in the 21st century want light trails anymore? maybe they've had their moment. Last year had Halloween event with witch and headless horseman, Peter Pan Christmas trail. Some loved it, others said skeletons traumatised kids.


🎤 Roundhouse Comedy Festival back this summer: after 2023 lineup with James Acaster, Katherine Ryan, Ed Gamble, Rose Matafeo, Nish Kumar - they're doing it again. Tickets on sale Friday 24 April, 10am.

Classic Car Boot Sale | 📍Granary Square, King's Cross, N1C | 18- 19 Apr | (£)
Whether you're there for the clothes or the cars, the Classic Car Boot Sale at Granary Square has been doing this long enough to have both covered. Over 100 vintage fashion traders with clothing, jewellery, homeware and vinyl alongside 75 polished classic vehicles from across the decades. Live vinyl DJs spinning everything from the 20s to the 80s, street food and cocktails served from vintage vehicles, and a Routemaster Bus Bar. Runs 10am to 6pm both days, last entry 5.30pm.


Good to Grow Week | 📍Various locations across London | 18-26 Apr | Free
Good to Grow is a week of free events at community gardens across London, running until 26 April. Over 80 gardens are opening their doors with seed swaps, plant sales, bug hunts, workshops, volunteering sessions and more. If you've ever been curious about community growing spaces but never quite made it through the gate, this is a good week to go. In North London, Wolves Lane Centre in Wood Green are hosting a spring market with glasshouse tours, a plant-based lunch and workshops.


Transient Radio Live Stream | 📍The Horatia, N7 | 18 Apr | Free
Transient Radio is an online station and this Saturday they're broadcasting live from The Horatia on Holloway Road. DJs, interviews and talks running throughout the day, record and book stalls in the pub, Yard Sale Pizzas on site. You can watch the stream from home at or just turn up and be part of it. Starts 1pm, runs till late.

Hackney Flea Market | 📍Stoke Newington Church St, N16 | 18-19 Apr | Free
Hackney Flea Market's monthly vintage market is back on Church Street this Easter weekend, spread across Abney Hall and Room 71-73 next door. Over 40 traders, free to get in, dog friendly. Runs 10am to 5pm across all three days.

Record Store Day | 📍Rough Trade Denmark Street, WC2H | 18 Apr | Free
Once a year, independent record shops across the UK release special limited edition vinyl that you can only buy in store on the day. Rough Trade on Denmark Street are open from 8am for Record Store Day 2026. It gets busy early so arrive with a list of what you want, staff will help you track down your selections. One copy per person, strictly first come first served.


For the Love of Books Festival | 📍Dugdale Arts Centre, EN2 | 18 Apr | (£)
Dugdale Arts Centre are hosting their first book festival this Saturday, all genres, all voices, all readers. Author signings throughout the day with a lineup including Roxy Dunn, Justin Myers, Sophie Loxton and Celia Silvani, plus publishing industry professionals on hand if you want to pick their brains. Book swap table, craft workshops and coffee on site. Bring books you want to get rid of, buy new ones, or just come and read. £10 adults, £5 children. Runs 10am to 5pm.

Spring Jumble Sale | 📍Primrose Hill Community Centre, NW1 | 18 Apr | (£)
Primrose Hill Community Centre are running their spring jumble sale later this month. Clothes, books, bric-a-brac, toys, DVDs, jewellery and more at bargain prices. £1 entry, under 16s free, refreshments on site. Proceeds go towards the upkeep of the centre. Runs 11am to 1pm on Saturday 18 April.


14/48 London | 📍The Cockpit, NW8 | 17 -18 Apr | (£)
Fourteen brand new plays, written, rehearsed and performed in 48 hours. That's the premise of 14/48, a theatre festival that started in Seattle in 1997 and this weekend arrives in London for the first time. Here's how it works: a theme is drawn, writers have overnight to deliver scripts, directors and actors are paired by lottery the next morning, and by evening there are fully staged world premieres. Then the whole thing repeats. Nobody knows what they're making until they're making it. Friday and Saturday, two shows each night at 7.30pm and 10pm at The Cockpit in St John's Wood. Arrive 30 minutes early. 18+

The Great Quernmore Road Plant Sale | 📍Stroud Green & Harringay Library, N4 | 18 Apr | Free
Last year's plant sale outside Stroud Green and Harringay Library was a success, raising enough to fund new garden beds, a noticeboard and a brand new street tree for the neighbourhood. This Saturday it's back and bigger. Bring plants, seedlings, cuttings, pots or bric-a-brac to swap and sell, or just turn up and browse. There's cake, coffee, bagels, a raffle and plenty of banter. It starts at 10am. Bring a chair, bring the dog, wear a bonnet if you fancy it.



Spring Open Studio | 📍10b Bradbury Street, N16 | 18 Apr | Free
Dalston Clay are opening up their Hackney studio this Saturday. Go and browse handmade ceramics from their members, have a go on the wheel, chat to the makers and see where it all gets made. Free to get in, refreshments on site. Runs 11am to 5pm.


Open Gardens Fundraiser | 📍OmVed Gardens, N6 | 19 Apr | Free
OmVed Gardens in Highgate are opening up this Sunday in support of North London Hospice. Wander the gardens at your own pace, with chai and cake on offer and a charity raffle with prizes from OmVed and local neighbours. Guided tours with gardener Tej are available at 11.30am and 12.45pm for £10, book ahead as the 2pm slot is already sold out. General admission is free with a suggested donation of £10. Runs 11am to 3pm.

Wood Green Craft & Street Food Market | 📍Lymington Avenue, N22 | Every Sat from 18 Apr | Free
A new weekly craft and street food market launching in Wood Green this Easter. Local makers, handmade goods and street food on Lymington Avenue between Lidl and EE, every Saturday from 18 April. Runs 11am to 5pm.


London Ceramics Market | 📍Hornsey Parish Church, N10 | 19 Apr | Free
Twenty-five local potters sell their work at Hornsey Parish Church Hall, from sculptural pieces to functional everyday ceramics. Food and drinks from Wholebowl on site. Just down the road from Alexandra Palace farmers market if you want to make a morning of it. Runs 12pm to 5pm, free to get in.


Feelánco & Friends Studio Popup | 📍127 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 | 18 - 19 Apr | Free
A weekend popup on Stoke Newington High Street where nine independent brands set up in one space. Fashion, curated vintage, candles and homemade desserts, with new season launches alongside sample sale pieces at up to 50 percent off. Free to get in. Saturday 11.30am to 6.30pm, Sunday 11.30am to 5.30pm.


Spring Open Day | 📍The Model Railway Club, N1 | 19 Apr | Free
The Model Railway Club have been based at Keen House near King's Cross since 1910 and this Sunday they're opening their doors to anyone curious about what goes on inside. Several intricate miniature railway layouts will be running, there's a refurbished library, a pre-owned shop and a bar with drinks and sandwiches. If you've ever been vaguely interested in model railways or just want a look, here's your chance. Runs 11am to 4pm, donations welcome.

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.
 

Why should weekends get all the credit. Here's what's worth doing midweek.

🎨 Life Drawing at Crouch End Picturehouse | 📍Crouch End Picturehouse, N8 | 23 Apr | (£)
If life drawing sounds a bit serious and intimidating, this one isn't. Crouch End Picturehouse run a monthly session with themed poses, props and a model who brings real personality to the room. Coming up: Hannah Montana and Twilight themed nights. Untutored but hosts are on hand if you want guidance. All materials provided, step-free access from the street.

Blind Book Swap | 📍GAIL's Bakery Finsbury Park, N4 | 23 Apr | (£)
Wholesome Girls are hosting a blind book swap upstairs at GAIL's in Finsbury Park this Thursday. You bring a book you love, wrap it up and write a deliberately vague synopsis, then swap with a stranger and go home with something you didn't expect. Drinks and pastries included in the ticket. Runs 6.30pm to 8pm.


Taco Bros x Cazcabel Tequila Tasting | 📍Taco Bros, N2 | (£)
Taco Bros in East Finchley are hosting a tequila tasting with Cazcabel brand ambassador Sarah, who'll walk you through the differences between their Blanco, Reposado and Añejo. Tequila is one of the most labour-intensive spirits to make and this is a good chance to understand why the different ages taste so different. Tacos on the side.