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London Area Guide

@sourcethearea

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Find your community. Find a place where you belong.
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When Sid was made redundant from her job, a bold idea for the future blossomed: to retrain to be a florist. Her Peckham studio, Sid’s Flowers, is a little corner of colour born out of lockdown in a vastly grey 2020.

Having the support of local businesses she has connected with over the years, she makes sure to give back to the community by organising annual fundraisers for Palestine and gender-affirming care at The Old Nun’s Head.

Hear Sid’s story, and how it feels to be part of the neighbourhood’s diverse mix of people and independent businesses, between long-standing shops like Khan’s Bargains and Peckham Rye, a lovely green getaway from the bustling high street. by @sourcethearea

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5 months ago

A short stroll from London Bridge station and the busy stretch along the Thames, Bermondsey’s streets are lined with relaxed cafés, foodie markets, independent shops and future-forward cultural spots that are never short of something new to discover, yet they feel temptingly tucked away.

What was once a notorious 19th-century slum, forever etched in literary memory through the pages of Charles Dickens, now writes its most compelling chapter as a hub for contemporary art, fashion, craft breweries and global street food, a neighbourhood that breaks the mold without making noise.

From the converted railway arches and industrial warehouses to the sun-kissed Bermondsey Beach, get glimpses of everyday Bermondsey - and don’t forget to share your latest unsung gems in the comments below.

📸: @chanelirvine by @sourcethearea

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5 months ago

Bara is the Welsh word for bread. It’s also something that its founders, Cecily Dalladay and Zoë Heimann, felt perfectly captures the communal spirit behind their joint venture: a café to enjoy great food and feel comfortable enough to keep coming back.

From the tasty bread, baked fresh daily, to the Coaltown coffee and Welsh honey pancakes, theirs is a menu meant to be savoured and shared – starting with the accessible £1.5 filter coffee.

We caught up with Cissy and Zoë to hear more about Bara’s story and their wish to open a space for connection and a cupful of joy in bustling Peckham.

Background song: May Ninth by @khruangbin

Creative studio partner: @ironori.studio by @sourcethearea

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5 months ago

Back at Soho House for the first event of the season, Creatives in the Area brings together four voices shaping culture, community and creativity across London. From podcasting to filmmaking and from hiking to hospitality, this panel dives into the real stories behind the work –the passion that started it, the lessons learned along the way, and what it truly means to build something meaningful in today’s creative landscape.

Expect an evening of honest exchange, shared wisdom and creative sparks flying. Swipe left to meet our guest speakers and join the conversation at the link in bio.

Joining us as host for the evening is model, creative director, radio presenter and founder of SOL Club, Savannah Blake. Her work connects creativity, people and cultural storytelling.

Audrey Akande has co-hosted The Receipts Podcast since 2016, helping it grow into one of the UK’s most influential shows with over 100k weekly listeners, sold-out tours and a bestselling book.

Samuel built EXP Hiking Collective, an outdoor collective that’s taken over 4,000 people hiking across the UK and Europe since 2023, turning solo walkers into a tight-knit community of adventurers.

Edem Wornoo is a Ghanaian-British director known for his award-winning music videos with Dave and Stormzy, as well as short films screened at the London Short Film Festival. He is now developing his debut feature with BBC Film.

Kyra Santiago is the co-founder and editor of Little Places, a curated platform capturing the people and stories behind London’s most genuine hospitality experiences, and nurturing a sense of belonging in the city.

📸: Kiosk (Jeonghyeon Kim)

Location: 180 House

Date: Wednesday 14 October

Time: 18:30 - 20:30 by @sourcethearea

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9 days ago

Follow the heavenly scents to 20A Aromatherapy Studio, where founder and Hackney local Abi Titterington Lough has created a sensorial haven in the heart of her East London neighbourhood. Inspired by the close-knit community of creatives she grew up with in Leith, Edinburgh, she now brings the same sense of connection and calm to time-strapped Londoners in the physical home of 20A on Dalston Lane, NEIGHBOURHOOD APOTHECARY, which also acts as a therapy room, workshop and event space.

Scent has a special way of awakening memories and emotions, often making people who enter the room as curious strangers open up and share rare alchemies and moments with others around the table.

Meet Abi in our exclusive Local Lens video and learn more about the secrets and influences behind her magical world of scents, plants and potions that opens up once you walk through the door. by @sourcethearea

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15 days ago

London is a whirlwind of activity during the school summer holidays. But with the weather on your side and a range of playful and inspiring al fresco treats, especially for this summer – many of which are free of charge – there are countless possibilities to learn, let loose and make new memories with the gang, in squares, parks and even pubs.

Have a refreshing dip @sealanescw.

Travel back in time @museumofthehome.

Live a summer fairy tale @britishlibrary.

Play minigolf courtesy of the colourful @craigandkarl.

Explore science and medicine @wellcomecollection.

Help @globalgeneration’s first permanent community garden grow.

Get crafty @brewdogofficial.

Step into magical story worlds @discover_story.

Swipe through our curated picks of summer activities for kids young and old, and let us know – where will you be making a splash this summer? Spark some family fun in the comments below. by @sourcethearea

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3 months ago

@mafiamoves_ comes to E17 for a fitness collaboration merging movement and community. Join us for a 5k run, starting with a warm-up led by @andrecoggins, and ending with a sauna and plunge session @arvo.sauna. Connect with like-minded runners while exploring your neighbourhood on an evening of good energy, conversation and shared experience.

Location: arvo sauna

Date: Wednesday 5 August

Time: 18:30-20:30 by @sourcethearea

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3 months ago

The sun is shining and the summer season is in full swing, practically inviting you to roll out of work and into a park to play and unplug in good company. Whether it’s roller skating, ping-pong, padel or pétanque (aka boules), London is game on. Think low-impact, high-pleasure, freewheeling, accessible and social, with a sweet air of nostalgia - whether it has an urban street or relaxed south-of-France vibe. And you can even bring out the beers or fizz. It’s that anytime, anywhere feel, less about competing and more about connecting.

Joining in is a breeze - and, in most cases, completely free.

From a skater hot spot in Camden to party-style fitness in Paddington, tune in to where the city comes out and plays. Will you be bringing out the boules this summer? Let us know below. by @sourcethearea

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3 months ago

Join us to explore Of Cattle and Men by Anna Paula Maia on an evening of relaxed discussion and good company.

A literary collaboration with @casualreadersbookclub, where conversation meets community, and storytelling transcends from the page to lived experiences and personal narratives.

Location: Electric House

Date: Wednesday 29 July

Time: 18:45 - 20:30 by @sourcethearea

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3 months ago

What was once an industrial wasteland with landmarks such as a 20-foot-tall discarded Fridge Mountain is now a growing culture, education and sports hub surrounded by the green routes and waterways of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Here, Stratford station’s rush and bustle feel worlds away.

Get into the neighbourhood’s groove with the exhibition The Music is Black: A British Story at the striking new @vam_east; or test out your moves with friends in the foyer of the nearby @sadlerswells_east.

Take in the views from the scenic steps of @lcflondon_; grab a takeaway coffee @hermanoscolombiancoffee before a walk along the canal; or continue towards Hackney Wick for Pan-Asian dishes @kubo.garden and pints in the riverside gardens of @bargeeast.

Swipe for more snapshots of Stratford, and keep an eye out for free events around @westfieldstratfordcity and the cultural quarter of East Bank this summer, including The Music Is Black festival weekends. What are your favourite spots around the park? Share your go-to green and cultural corners below.

📸: @chanelirvine by @sourcethearea

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3 months ago

Creatives in the Area returns this July for a talk at the intersection of film, fashion and finance, designed to spark inspiration and take off the pressure with authentic narratives and meaningful connections.

Join our special guests this month for a laid-back conversation zooming in on untold stories, human behaviours and hidden trends between creativity and culture that will help you navigate London’s ever-shifting landscape.

Laide Sadiq is a multiple award-winning Documentary Director and Producer, honoured this year with the Emerging Talent: Factual BAFTA award for her 2025 Netflix documentary Grenfell: Uncovered. She is passionate about impactful, character-driven storytelling that sheds light on hidden narratives, unsung people and places with sensitivity and purpose. Her editorial experience extends across genres, working closely with talent and industry leaders - from story development to post-production.

Laura Yiannakou is a Senior Strategist at WGSN, where she researches the cultural and consumer shifts shaping the future of fashion. She specialises in womenswear and lifestyle forecasting, translating emerging behaviours, aesthetics and cultural movements into actionable insights for global brands. Inspired by the interplay of creativity and culture, Laura explores how the way we live influences the way we dress, and what that means for the future of fashion.

Jo Kanani is currently Director of Group Finance for Accordience Group. She has over 25 years’ experience as a finance professional in the PR sector, managing global finance teams through transformational change. Driven by her passion to help young people access networks and career opportunities in the creative industries, Jo was also Trustee Treasurer for six years at Creative Mentor Network, a charity supporting 16-25 year olds from underprivileged backgrounds.

Get behind-the-scenes insights, connect, stay curious.

Grab your sport and be part of the conversation at the link in bio. by @sourcethearea

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3 months ago

“Queuing to queue to queue is the most British thing. Everywhere here is a queue,” says one of our interviewees among the thousands who have made their way to Wimbledon since the start of this year’s Championships.

It seems like quite α challenge, but everyone seemed to be in good spirits under the British summer sun: picnic blankets were laid, the wines were out, games were played. There is a special peace and calm among fans brought together by that quintessentially British tradition and a shared love of tennis.

Get a first-hand glimpse of the experience in our exclusive video and let us know: are you thinking of joining the Queue for grounds passes, or will you be watching on one of the big screens set up around the city? Share your experience from the 2026 Wimbledon Championships in the comments below.

Creative studio: @ironori.studio by @sourcethearea

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