2019

Your guide to free and low-cost things to do this summer

Family fun | Activities for children and young people | Community festivals | We Can Move | Arts and culture

#WeMakeCamden #WeMakeCamden @CamdenCouncil @CamdenCouncil LBCamden LBCamden camden.gov.uk/summer camden.gov.uk/summer 2019

This summer there’s so many opportunities to get out and about in Camden. In this guide you’ll find free and low-cost activities for everyone, from family fun and community festivals, to ways to get moving more, and arts and culture on your doorstep.

#WeMakeCamden @CamdenCouncil LBCamden Find out more about We Make Camden and Our people and diverse communities make Camden read some of the stories shared so far: the place it is. Share what you’re up to this summer, camden.gov.uk/wemakecamden your memories and photos on social media, and help to celebrate the people behind the place.

Make a difference to your community There’s lots of ways to help out local organisations and charities this summer, whatever your experience and time to spare. Visit volunteercentrecamden.org.uk to find opportunities or drop into the Camden and Islington Volunteering Fair: Friday 21 June, 12 noon to 2pm. Canopy Market under West Handyside Canopy, King’s Cross (just off Granary Square) N1C 4BH

All events are free unless otherwise stated. You may need to book for some activities. Check the latest details with event organisers.

2 There’s plenty for families to do Family fun together over the summer.

Summer Reading Challenge Saturday 20 July to Saturday 7 September This year’s theme is Space Chase, an out-of-this- world adventure inspired by the first moon landing. Children aged four to 11 can sign up at Camden libraries, and receive exciting prizes including a certificate and medal when they read six books over the holidays. Look out for weekly activities in libraries.

camden.gov.uk/libraries 020 7974 4444 Dave Warren 2019 for The Reading Agency © Dave Warren

Family Day: Build a Story – Deaf accessible event Saturday 22 June, 12 noon to 4pm Take part in an exciting family day for all ages inspired by storytelling. #WeMakeCamden @CamdenCouncil Activities delivered in British Sign Language and spoken English. LBCamden All welcome. British Library, 96 Euston Road

NW1 2DB © Jewish Museum London bl.uk Stay and Play 020 7412 7797 Various locations and times Baby play (under ones), toddler time (under twos) and fun for all (under fives) sessions with songs, painting and more. Drop in. camden.gov.uk/childrenscentres 020 7974 4444 Sandal Sticks Theatre storytelling National Playday at Coram’s Fields Rhyme Time Sunday 14 July, Wednesday 7 August, 1 to 4pm Various locations and times 10.30am to 12 noon Celebrate children’s right to play, (term-time only) Experience interactive storytelling Babies to pre-school aged children with a creative craft activity. with fun activities including face and parents can join in songs, Booking essential. painting, bouncy castle, sports, arts rhymes and actions. 30-minute Jewish Museum London, Raymond and crafts, and music. drop-in sessions. Check with your Burton House, Coram’s Fields, 93 Guildford Street local library. 129-131 Albert Street NW1 7NB WC1N 1DN camden.gov.uk/libraries jewishmuseum.org.uk coramsfields.org 020 7974 4444 020 7284 7384 020 7837 6138

3 Activities for children From filmmaking to football, discover a new passion with and young people courses and schemes.

Holiday sports courses Various dates and times between Wednesday 24 July and Friday 23 August Ages four to seven (90-minute sessions) including gymnastics and trampolining. Ages eight to 14 (9am to 4.30pm) including bend, bop and bounce (gymnastics, dance and trampolining) and multisports (football, table tennis, dodgeball, cricket, football, trampolining and more). Prices vary on all courses, with concessions available. Booking essential. Talacre Community Sports Centre, Dalby Street NW5 3AF camden.gov.uk/active [email protected] 020 7974 8754

Camden Summer University Thursday 25 July to Friday 23 August Over 70 free courses for young people aged 13 to 19 in arts, sports and life skills at top local venues. Book online from Wednesday 19 June, popular courses fill up fast. camden.gov.uk/summeruniversity 020 7974 6543

Camden Coding Club Girls Get Moving Week Saturday 15 June, Saturday 27 Tuesday 27 August to Friday 30 July, Saturday 24 August, 2 to August, 11am to 4pm 3.30pm Multisports scheme for girls and Seven to 17-year-olds can learn young women aged eight to 16, to code in a relaxed, friendly including trampolining, football, atmosphere. Booking essential. basketball, dance, cheerleading, Pancras Square Library, tennis, table tennis, badminton 5 Pancras Square N1C 4AG Holiday play schemes and dodgeball. £3.30 per day. Booking essential. camden.gov.uk/codingclub Wednesday 24 July to Friday 30 August Talacre Community Sports Centre, Arts, crafts, games, sports and Dalby Street NW5 3AF Find out about more activities day trips for four to 12-year-olds. camden.gov.uk/active 10 locations across the borough. and schemes for young [email protected] Dates and costs vary, concessions 020 7974 6294 people this summer at available. camden.gov.uk/youth camden.gov.uk/play

4 Moving more has huge benefits for our mental We Can and physical wellbeing, with fun activities for Move all ages and abilities across Camden. Outdoor gyms Health walks Camden Green Gym Try one of our easy to use outdoor If you have a health problem but want Try a new way to get moving and give gyms for a free workout. Drop in or to get out more, join a relaxed and back. Locations across the borough find sessions on our website. friendly walk. Arrive at the meeting every Tuesday and Thursday between point 10 minutes before the walk. 10.45am and 2pm. No experience camden.gov.uk/outdoorgyms Parliament Hill necessary. Booking essential. Upcoming sessions include: Active for All Every Monday, 10 to 11am Meet at Parliament Hill Café, Tuesday 18 June Our leisure centres offer activities for Highgate Road NW5 1QR Bee survey and summer solstice BBQ people of all ages with a disability, Waterlow Park (meet by the Lodge) Regent’s Park – women’s walk including multisports sessions, gym, N19 5JF Every Thursday, 10.30 to 11.30am football, swimming and climbing. Meet in Green Light Pharmacy, Thursday 29 August better.org.uk/camdenactiveforall 62-64 Hampstead Road NW1 2NU Meadow mowing skills workshop Regent’s Park (meet at Iron Works camden.gov.uk/healthwalks Gate) NW1 4RU 020 7974 4444 tcv.org.uk/camden [email protected] 07768 710 359

Free swimming Cycling skills for children and adults Young people under 16 Chair-based exercise for Sign up for free swimming during over 55s Various dates in July and August the school holidays as part of Two-day group training courses for our Energise and Get Wise Every Monday and Friday, children and adults at two levels: programme. 10 to 11am ‘learn to cycle’ for beginners, camden.gov.uk/children- Drop-in for light exercise to improve and ‘building cycle confidence’ mobility, strength and heart health. to prepare for riding on the road. young-people Suitable for all abilities. £1. Individual cycle sessions for safe Residents aged 60+ Queens Crescent Community cycling in busy traffic. Swim for free on weekdays Association, 45 Ashdown Crescent Booking essential. from 7am to 12 noon at our NW5 4QE Haverstock School, 24 Haverstock Hill NW3 2BQ Better leisure centres across qcca.org.uk the borough with a Pay & Play 020 7267 6635 camden.gov.uk/cycleskills membership card. Concessionary Pay & Play membership £5.50. Find even more activities and tips on better.org.uk/getswimming how to move more at wecanmove.co.uk

5 Community festivals Join in the summer celebrations in your neighbourhood.

Family fun days We’ll be celebrating a century of council housing at events around Camden this summer – join us to build a council home of the future, discover your local estate and area with history talks and tours, and take part in sports and games, face painting, balloon modelling, dance performances and much more – free food provided. Studholme Court Family Fun Day, NW3: Saturday 22 June, 3 to 6pm Abbey Road Housing Co-operative Summer Fun Day, NW6: Saturday 13 July, 12 noon to 5pm Ampthill Square Estate Festival, NW1: Saturday 14 September, 12 noon to 5pm

The Fair in the Square in Mortimer Terrace Nature Highgate Reserve Summer Solstice Pageant Saturday 15 June, 12.30 to 5.30pm Entertainment, children’s rides, food, Friday 21 June, 10am to 12 noon arts and crafts stalls and more. Come celebrate the summer solstice Pond Square and South Grove, before joining the procession on a Highgate N6 short tour of local green space. fairinthesquare.co.uk Nature Reserve off Highgate Road NW5. Entrance on Wesleyan Place

Interfaith family picnic and Eid celebration Saturday 6 July, 12 noon to 4pm Bouncy castle, sports activities, music, face painting and henna. Please bring your own picnics and mats. £1 suggested donation. Swiss Cottage open space Jester Festival NW3 3NR Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 July, 12 thewinch.org noon to 6pm Alma Street Summer Fair Music and dance performances, street artists, a funfair, activities Sunday 16 June, 12 noon to 7pm Queen Square Fair for children and a wide range of Featuring three live music stages, stalls from local organisations. grand parades, children’s activities, Saturday 6 July, 12 noon to 5pm Fortune Green open space arts and crafts, and food stalls. Live music, stalls, activities for NW6 1EF Alma Street and Inkerman Road children and adults and food. NW5 Queen Square WC1 jesterfestival.co.uk

6 NW5 Peckwater Neighbourhood Festival Saturday 6 July Family activities, workshops and music from a live DJ. Community Play Project, The Play Hut, Islip Street NW5 2TU peckwaterneighbour [email protected]

Big Fair in Heath Street Give it a Go! Festival Camden Unity Cup Festival Sunday 7 July, 12 noon to 5pm Sunday 14 July, 1 to 5pm Thursday 1 August, 9am to 4pm Over 120 stalls, a funfair, birds of Family-friendly festival showcasing Youth football tournament and prey, donkey rides, circus school free activities to promote health community festival with music, and a chess challenge, as well and wellbeing, including tennis, food and activities. as music, dance and sports volleyball, athletics, boxing, tai chi, Coram’s Fields, 93 Guilford Street demonstrations. nature walks, polo, live music and WC1 1DN Heath Street NW3 1DL a dog show. fya.org.uk Parliament Hill Fields NW5 1QR hampsteadsummerfestival.com cityoflondon.gov.uk/ Somers Town Festival hampsteadheath Fitzrovia Street Party and Saturday 13 July, 12 noon Community Dinner Camden Mela to 6.30pm Saturday 31 August, 3 to 6pm Eclectic music on four stages from Sunday 21 July, 12 noon to 6pm Performances, activities and Chalton Street to the British Library Amazing entertainment, food, amazing food, all organised Piazza, DJs, local stalls and food. henna, face painting and lots of by young people. Chalton Street NW1 fun for the whole family, including Warren Play Area, Whitfield Street somerstownfestival.co.uk activities for young people. W1T 5JX Coram’s Fields, 93 Guilford Street fya.org.uk Camden New Town WC1 1DN Community Festival camdenbangladeshmela.org York Rise Street Festival Saturday 13 July, 4 to 8pm (jazz, folk and poetry day) and Sunday Hillview Festival Sunday 8 September, 14 July, 12 to 7pm (family day) 12 noon to 10pm Music and dance, green corner, Saturday 27 July, 2 to 9.30pm Celebration featuring three stages healthy living area, arts and crafts, Live music, dance, poetry, puppetry, of live music, stalls and activities stalls, and activities for children and street arts, workshops and a for children. young people. community marketplace. York Rise NW5 Camden Square NW1 Whidborne Street WC1H facebook.com/ [email protected] hillviewfestival.co.uk yorkrisestreetparty2014

7 Enjoy performances, exhibitions Arts and culture and more on your doorstep. Sundial Sundays Dance for the Sea Every Sunday from 16 June Monday 22 July to Sunday 28 July to 21 July, 2.30 to 4.30pm (Monday to Friday 8am to 12 noon, Live music, playing everything from and Saturday and Sunday, jazz to indie, folk to klezmer. 8am to 6pm) Tea Lawn outside Lauderdale Unique underwater exhibition House, Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill of photographs, exploring the N6 5HG environmental impact of plastic waste in our oceans, seas, rivers lauderdalehouse.org.uk and waterways. Free with pool 020 8348 8716 Songhaven: Dementia-friendly concert admission. Willes Pool, Kentish Town Sports Game Over: series Centre, Grafton Road NW5 3DU retro games nights Saturday 29 June, Saturday 20 lovecamden.org/danceforthesea Friday 21 June and Friday 19 July July and Saturday 24 August, at Swiss Cottage Library, Friday 3 to 4pm WAWA Weekender August 16 at Holborn Library, 45-minute professional concert 7 to 11pm programme in a relaxed and Friday 26 to Sunday 28 July Get ready to be entertained with inclusive atmosphere, followed by Wac Arts hosts its annual arts and consoles such as Nintendo 64 and afternoon tea. Suggested donation events festival with performances, Sega Mega Drive, board games, £5. Booking essential. workshops, discussions and music and pizza. £8 online or £10 Lumen Church and Café, celebrations. Some events require on the door. Booking essential. 88 Tavistock Place WC1H 9RS booking. Swiss Cottage Library, Wac Arts, The Old Town Hall, songhaven.co.uk 88 Avenue Road NW3 3HA 213 Haverstock Hill NW3 4QP 020 7833 1080 Holborn Library, wacarts.co.uk 32-38 Theobalds Road WC1X 8PA 020 7692 5800 eventbrite.co.uk (seach for ‘Game Over Camden’) The Camden Fringe Monday 29 July to Sunday 25 August From musicals to sketch comedies, Camden Alive: dance to drama, there’s a show for Collaborate everyone at this local arts festival. Prices for shows vary between From Monday 8 July £5 and £15. Booking essential. to Saturday 31 August Exhibition exploring themes of camdenfringe.com Quilts at the Library working together, sharing ideas and collaboration. Camden Alive Until Monday 1 July is part of the Mayor’s London Exhibition from London Quilters, a Borough of Culture and is a group of local quilt and textile art Mayor’s Cultural Impact Award enthusiasts. winner. Swiss Cottage Gallery, 88 Avenue Swiss Cottage Gallery, Road NW3 3HA 88 Avenue Road NW3 3HA camden.gov.uk/libraries lovecamden.org/camdenalive 020 7974 4444 020 7974 4444

Share what you’re up to this summer: #WeMakeCamden @CamdenCouncil 8 LBCamden camden.gov.uk/summer