Hey Neighbour,
Hope the week’s treated you well. No ramble today, just straight into the good stuff. And as always, my inbox is open if you want to say hey.
— Maryam
Plan Your Weekend:
3 New North London Restaurants That Opened This Year
I haven’t eaten at any of these yet, but they keep showing up. In Reddit threads. In DMs. On my walks. I nearly walked into one of them last week but got distracted by a bakery. Typical.
So this week, I went full local Sherlock. Dug through reviews, skimmed blogs, lurked hard in the comments. Just to get a sense of what the real verdict is (not the PR gloss).
Some of these spots are getting serious love. Others? Mixed reviews at best.
I’ve pulled a few real quotes so you can see what people are actually saying.
If you’ve been, let me know if it checks out or if people are overhyping. Otherwise, help me decide:
Which one should I go try first? I’ll report back next issue.
📍 50–52 Salusbury Rd, NW6 6NN — Reopened July 2025
Local pub reboot with a fancier menu. Seems like a place for everyone: wine bar, pizzeria, family-friendly pub.
What people are saying:
“Food was surprisingly good. Highly recommend the artichoke soup. Good and relaxed atmosphere, 100% will come back.” — Google review
“The priciest in the area. But they’ve levelled up.” — Yelp
“Best roast I’ve had in NW London in years.” — Blog comment
📍 157 Kentish Town Rd, NW1 8PD — Opened May 2025
Filipino-European dishes from the team behind Ramo Ramen and Mamasons.
What people are saying:
“The flavours are unreal — everything’s grilled, smoky, and rich.” — Google review
“You’ll leave smelling like BBQ pork. Worth it.” — Reddit
“Completely exceeded expectations.” — TikTok
📍 6–8 Caledonian Rd, N1 9DT — Opened Jan 2025
South Indian counter-service spot from the team behind The Tamil Prince. Rotis, thali trays, tandoori chicken, and a big charcoal grill behind the counter.
What people are saying:
“Tamila, King’s Cross is my recent favourite.” — Reddit
“The tandoori chicken reminded me of a meal in Delhi.” — Google
“The Tamil Prince is better… but Tamila is still solid.” — Reddit
🗳️ Which one should I try first?
My North London Top 5 Events
Clocktower Festival | 📍Caledonian Park | 3 August, 12-5pm | Free
The Clocktower Festival is back at Caledonian Park with dog competitions, food stalls, live music and a bouncy castle. Sunday afternoon from 12-5pm - bring the family and see if your dog can win something ridiculous.
Camden Fringe | 📍Multiple venues, Camden | Now-24 August | (£)
Camden's month-long theatre festival is underway with 400+ shows. Think musical comedy about Rabbie Burns, satirical Elon Musk lost in space, plus this weekend's King Tut's Lover and How To Belong Without Joining A Cult.
Gilmore Girls Quiz | 📍Big Chill House, N1 | 3 August, 12pm | (£)
Think you know your Kirk jobs from your coffee orders at Luke's Diner? Gilmore Girls superfans can test their knowledge at this themed quiz covering all seasons. Prizes for winners, runners-up and best dressed. Play solo or grab your bestie - doors 12pm, quiz starts 12:30pm. Get there early for tables. Over 18s only.
Free Comedy @ 📍Camden Head, N1 | 2nd Aug | doors open at 7pm
Free Saturday night comedy shows at Camden Head - Time Out calls Angel Comedy "a comedy institution" and they put on quality acts. Turn up early as it's first come first served, once it's full that's it.
Ronnie Scott's Street Party | 📍Frith Street, Soho | 2 August | Free
Ronnie Scott's is closing Frith Street for a day-long jazz street party. Jazz Jamaica, Theon Cross, and Tomorrow's Warriors Youth Ensemble performing, with DJ AG opening at 11am. Outdoor bars and street food until 5pm. Free entry, no tickets - just show up.
Don’t gate keep the good stuff.
Got an event coming up or know someone who does?
Send it over here and it might just make the next edition.
🎟️ Heads up
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.
Twelfth Night | 📍Kenwood House, NW3 | 24 August, 7pm | (£)
The Lord Chamberlain's Men doing Shakespeare's Twelfth Night in the open air at Kenwood House. All-male cast in Elizabethan costumes like Shakespeare's original productions. Beautiful setting on Hampstead Heath, runs about 2 hours with interval. Bring low-backed chairs and a picnic. Gates open 6pm.
Norman Jay MBE presents Good Times | 📍The Terrace, Alexandra Palace, N22 | 24 August | (£)
Norman Jay’s bringing the Good Times bus to Ally Pally for a bank holiday Sunday of proper tunes and skyline views. Expect house, disco, hip-hop, rare groove – the lot. Kicks off at 2pm, wraps by 8. Street food and cocktails on deck. 16+ only (under 18s need an adult).
Room 187: 4 Year Anniversary | 📍Islington Assembly Hall, N1 | 6 Sept | (£)
Part gameshow, part karaoke, all old-school R&B. Room 187 turns four this year, and they’re celebrating with team battles, 90s/00s slow jams, and audience karaoke that might get dangerously loud. Doors at 6.30, show starts sharp at 7.30. 16+ only — ID might be checked.
London Podcast Festival | 📍Kings Place, King’s Cross | 5–15 Sept | (£)
If you’ve ever said “I heard it on a podcast,” this one’s for you. The 10th London Podcast Festival is back with live tapings from No Such Thing As A Fish, Wrestle Me!, Wrong Turns with Jameela Jamil and loads more.
What’s On This Weekend: 2nd - 3rd August 2025
Your guide to what’s happening in and out of North London this week. Events marked with (£) require a ticket in advance.
Saturday 2nd
🎪 Festivals & Fairs
Regent's Roots Festival | 📍Old Diorama Arts Centre, NW1 | 2 August, 1-6pm | Free
Free afternoon festival with South Asian dance, circus performances, Ukrainian singing workshops, and local youth groups performing. Free food from Masala King plus craft activities. Fourth year running - good mix of entertainment and activities for families in Camden.
Black Marketplace Popup | 📍St Michael's Church, Camden NW1 | 2-3 Aug | Free
Big Black-owned business showcase with 50+ brands selling fashion, art, beauty and home stuff, plus Caribbean and African food. Fashion shows, workshops and live performances throughout the weekend. Free entry but you need to book early bird tickets online. Claims to be London's largest Black retail event.
Coggers Family Funfair | 📍Friary Park, Friern Barnet N20 | 1-17 August | Free
Funfair taking over Friary Park for three weeks - rides, games, candy floss and all that. Open daily 12pm-8pm, free to get in but you buy tokens for rides (cash preferred). Toilets and security onsite.
🎨 Culture
Frankie Knuckles vs Ron Hardy | 📍Camden Courtyard | 2 August, 2:30pm | (£)
Open-air tribute to the founding fathers of house music, recreating the legendary Chicago club battle between Frankie's Warehouse and Ron's Muzic Box. Expect classic Chicago house, acid house, early techno and rare disco cuts in the Camden sunshine. It will be held at Camden courtyard, that’s behind the Electric Ballroom on Kentish Town Road.
British Library Building Tour | 📍British Library,NW1 | 1-31 August | (£)
Behind-the-scenes tours of the areas you can't normally access - the massive underground storage, book delivery systems, and staff-only Reading Rooms. They'll show you how the building works like a giant book machine and why it's designed to look like a ship.
🧊 History & Heritage
Ice Weekend | 📍London Canal Museum, King's Cross N1 | 2-3 August | (£)
The Canal Museum was once an ice warehouse, so they throw an annual ice-themed weekend. Climb down into the Victorian ice well on Sunday, follow the ice trail on Saturday, plus family activities throughout.
Sunday 3rd
🎶 Music
Berlioz Presents Deep In It | 📍Finsbury Park, N4 | 3 August | (£)
Day-long house and techno party in Finsbury Park with two stages and big sound systems. berlioz, Jacques Greene, Laurence Guy and others playing from 1pm-9:30pm. Street food, craft beers, and summer cocktails on tap. They've got VIP options and stage access passes if you want to splash out. Tickets selling fast so get moving if you're interested.
UK Small Band Panorama | 📍artsdepot, N12 | 3 August, 2pm | (£)
Top UK steelbands compete for the championship in an afternoon of loud Caribbean music. They're going head-to-head at artsdepot's Pentland Theatre - first time this competition's been indoors. Presented by Just Incarnival, who run the carnival circuit.
Opera + Jazz Concert | 📍Monken Hadley Common, EN4 | 3 August, 6:30pm | (£)
Outdoor concert featuring jazz singer Tara Minton, who performs while playing harp. One hour show by the lake, bring chairs and a picnic. Suggested £10 donation goes to the Common Trust and a music scholarship. Backup venue is St John's Church if the weather's bad.
Bandstand Concert | 📍Golders Hill Park, NW11 | 3 August, 3-5pm | Free
London Saxophone Band playing jazz, funk and pop at Golders Hill Park's bandstand. Free Sunday afternoon concert organized by the City of London - bring a blanket and enjoy some music in the park.
London Metropolitan Brass Band | 📍Alexandra Park, N22 | 3 August, 2-4pm | Free
Brass band concert in Alexandra Park - they're back for their second visit this year playing catchy tunes in the Grove area. Chairs provided, fingers crossed for decent weather. Two hours of music on Sunday afternoon.
🧒 Family & Community
Kids' Fun Fair Day | 📍Canons Park, Edgware | 3 August, 11am-6pm | Free
Family fun day in Canons Park with bouncy castles, rides, face painting and a dog contest. Free activities include kids' art, tai chi sessions and health checks. Food from Liam's Coffee House plus the park's got adventure playground, open spaces for picnics and ball games.
Community Food Garden Celebration | 📍Church Road Open Space, NW4 | 3 August, 10:30am | Free
Help plant and maintain a community food garden in Hendon, then stay for a free celebration picnic at 12:30pm. They planted the initial trees and plants in December and now want the community back to add more. Bring gloves if you have them, or just come for the picnic and chat if you're not into the digging. Food provided.
🦕 Exhibition
Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs | 📍Lightroom, King's Cross | Now-1 November | (£)
Step into the world of dinosaurs with 360-degree projections surrounding you from floor to ceiling. Hans Zimmer music, Damian Lewis narration, and dinosaurs from 66 million years ago filling the space around you. Must-see for families and dinosaur fans at Lightroom in King's Cross.
Is It Worth Leaving North London for?
I don’t know, but here’s what caught my eye.
Action Arena | 📍Chiswick House, W4 | 31 July-3 August | (£)
UK's biggest inflatable assault course comes to London - 600ft of slides, tunnels and towers in Chiswick House's Walled Garden. One hour unlimited access to bounce around like a maniac. XXL course for anyone over 1.2m (£13.50), Mini version for under-7s (£8.95). Sessions run 9am-7pm daily. Your inner child will thank you.
MLB Takeover | 📍Hackney Bridge, Hackney Wick | 1–3 Aug | Free
Baseball’s crashing into Hackney for the weekend — think team-themed zones (Yankees, Dodgers, Giants, Red Sox), live games on screen, and a big slice of American ballpark chaos. Even if you don’t know the rules, it’s a fun one to wander into. Free to attend, all weekend long.
Thanks for reading!
Now get out there and create new memories.
— Maryam