🦊 Things to do this weekend in North London Oct 18 -19

Bits and bobs worth knowing.

🛒 New Community Grocery opens in North Finchley with affordable shops: Pay £5 membership per household, then shop for fresh fruit, veg, tinned goods and essentials from just £5 per visit.

♿ Burnt Oak station step-free plans restart after pandemic pause: TfL confirms design work resuming for lift access, but funding still needs securing. Part of Mayor's goal to make 50% of Tube network accessible by 2030. Brent Cross and Totteridge & Whetstone studies start later this year too.

🎅 Camden Market's Ice Grotto returns this December: Meet Mother and Father Christmas, do face painting and crafts, write Santa letters, and take home a snowflake. Runs 1-23 Dec at Hawley Wharf. Early bird tickets £11.55 available now - full release 13 Nov. £1 per ticket goes to Great Ormond Street Hospital.


🎄 Good Housekeeping's Christmas market is coming to Islington: Four days of festive shopping at Business Design Centre 12-15 Nov with Raymond Blanc, Mary Portas, artisan gifts, and a champagne bar. Grab 30% off with code AUTUMN30 before Tuesday 22 Oct - it sold out last year.

🎤 Tyler, The Creator headlines All Points East for two nights: The rapper takes over Victoria Park on Friday 28 & Saturday 29 August 2026 with different lineups each day. Support from Turnstile, Daniel Caesar, Rex Orange County and more. Tickets on sale 27 Oct at 10am.

🪳 Some buses in London are infested with cockroaches: Drivers shared videos of insects in rest areas and food containers. Safety campaigners demand deep cleans and pest control ahead of 5 Nov protest march. TfL says incidents are "rare" and launched urgent investigation.

🚔 Met Police U-turns on Edmonton and Tottenham station closures: Both front desks will stay open after huge backlash, though hours cut to 10am-10pm weekdays and 9am-7pm weekends (currently 24/7). Enfield and Haringey leaders claim "victory for community" after months of pressure. Still saves Met £7m from £260m funding gap.

Prada Mode London Pop-Up | 📍Town Hall, WC1H | 17-19 Oct | Free with registration
Prada's taking over the restored Town Hall in King's Cross for a pop-up cultural event during Frieze week. There's an art installation called "The Audience" by Elmgreen & Dragset, plus talks, film screenings, performances and DJ sets. It's about how we watch and respond to things in an age of constant scrolling and information overload. Preview days 15-16 October are members only, then it's open to everyone 17-19 October, 11am-7pm. Free entry but you need to register online first.



Apple Day | 📍Gillespie Park, N5 | 19 Oct | Free
Community apple pressing day at Gillespie Park with live music and free kids activities. You can help make and taste fresh apple juice from hundreds of apples, get your bike fixed by Dr Bike, plus craft activities and stalls from local makers and charities. Run by Islington Ecology Centre and Friends of Gillespie Park. Free entry but bring cash if you want to buy anything from the stalls.

Muswell Hill Creatives Make and Mend Festival | 📍Hornsey Parish Church Hall, N10 | 18 Oct | Free
Free craft festival from 1-5:30pm where you can wander around browsing or join workshops to make things yourself. Block printing, doll making, paper lampshades, or mending old jumpers - workshops cost extra but book on the day. Local makers selling handmade goods, Stroud Green WI doing cakes and tea, plus sustainability advice if you want tips on fixing rather than replacing stuff.

Frieze London | 📍Regent's Park, NW1 | 15-19 Oct | (£)
One of the world's biggest contemporary art fairs sets up in Regent's Park  this week with galleries showing work by living artists. Attracts over 60,000 visitors each year. 

Bloomsbury Festival | 📍Various venues, WC1E | 17-19 Oct | Many free events
Three-day festival celebrating Bloomsbury's creativity ahead of their 20th anniversary next year. This year's theme "The Paths We Tread" covers music, theatre, literature, art and science. Highlights include "See It. Say It. Sorted. The Musical!" about strangers and secrets at a train station, plus underwater photography exhibition. Music, performances, walks, talks and family events across the weekend - many free.

Shōtengai Market Returns | 📍Lower Stable Street, N1C | 16-19 Oct | Free
Pan-Asian market is back on Lower Stable Street with homeware, fashion and food stalls. Inspired by Japanese street markets, expect rotating vendors like Japanese homewares from (kits) London, Tokyo bikes, bread from Rise Bakery Bar, okonomiyaki pancakes from Okan London, and takoyaki. This month features RE.UNIQLO Studio embroidery counter where you can bring UNIQLO items to get customised. 

Courtyard Market | 📍St Augustine's Church Hall, N6 | 19 Oct | Free
Indoor artisan market from 11am-4pm with local makers selling art, prints, textiles, ceramics, homewares, jewellery and skincare. Free entry with refreshments available.

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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.