Research reveals shocking levels of inequality of access to safe, well maintained green spaces, despite proven benefits to wellbeing and quality of life

People living in Britain’s most deprived communities are more than twice as likely to describe their local park as ‘unsafe’ compared to those in the most affluent areas, according to new research by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, published to mark the 30th anniversary of the Green Flag Award.

The findings reveal a growing ‘Green Divide’ across Britain, with those who stand to benefit the most from access to safe green spaces the least likely to have them.

The nationally representative YouGov survey of more than 2,000 adults found stark differences in the quality and safety of local green spaces between the richest and poorest areas in the country.

Just 27% of people in the most deprived areas describe their local park as ‘safe’, compared to 46% in the least deprived areas

21% of residents in the most deprived areas say their local park is ‘run-down’, compared to just 9% in the least deprived areas

Only 39% of residents in the most deprived areas rate their local park as ‘good’, compared to 49% in the most affluent communities

The research also reveals that parks in the most deprived communities are most likely to fail to meet basic human needs, in contrast with those in affluent areas. The top priorities for park improvements in the most deprived areas are cleanliness (27%), toilets (25%), safety (23%) and maintenance (23%). In more affluent communities however, the top priorities are enhancements such as community activities (29%) and nature areas (17%), with almost a third (30%) saying their local park needs no improvements at all.

This inequality has widespread implications for wellbeing, community safety and economic opportunity. Evidence shows that parks are one of the most cost-effective public assets available; every £1 invested delivers more than £7 in wellbeing benefits. Yet, despite physical inactivity costing the UK £7.4 billion each year, investment in parks has accounted for less than three per cent of local authority budgets in recent years.

Keep Britain Tidy’s findings are published as this year’s Green Flag Award winners are announced, recognising a record 2,391 of the UK’s best-managed parks and green spaces.

Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy. Yet for millions of people, particularly in the most deprived areas, local parks simply don’t feel safe or welcoming.

“In an age of rising concern about community cohesion, young people’s wellbeing and time spent online, safe local parks are becoming more important than ever. Yet the communities who need them the most are sadly the least likely to have them.

“With public services under pressure, investing in parks is not a luxury, it’s a practical, preventative solution and one of the most visible ways councils can improve people’s quality of life.

“Every pound invested in a park, particularly in a deprived community, delivers real returns – improving wellbeing, bringing communities together, reducing loneliness, giving people somewhere safe and free to spend time and, ultimately, reducing pressure on public services like the NHS.

“Today’s Green Flag Award winners show what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed. As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community, especially those in areas of high deprivation, to have access to green spaces that are safe, welcoming and maintained to the highest standards.”

The Green Flag Award is the international benchmark for quality, recognising sites that meet rigorous standards for safety, accessibility, environmental management and community engagement. Keep Britain Tidy is calling on local authorities to prioritise investment in parks in areas of greatest deprivation and to use the Green Flag Award as a benchmark standard to drive improvement.

Keep Britain Tidy programme with KFC, Mars Wrigley, McDonald’s and Nestlé delivers measurable impact and a scalable model for councils

A pioneering pilot led by independent environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has demonstrated how sustained behaviour change activity can improve both the physical environment and people’s perceptions of their local area – delivering cleaner streets, stronger community pride and renewed economic confidence without putting additional pressure on council budgets.

The 12-month “Love Where You Live Heckmondwike” programme, funded through the Litter Pact and delivered in collaboration with KFC, Mars Wrigley, McDonald’s and Nestlé, achieved a 16% reduction in food and drink-related litter– providing robust, real-world evidence of what works at community level.

In 2024, Keep Britain Tidy embarked on a project with the aim of pulling together all the research, insights, interventions and approaches the charity had delivered in the previous decade and see if it could make a measurable difference to the levels of litter on the ground and, importantly, to people’s reported behaviour and perceptions of the place they called home.

Key results include:

16% reduction in food and drink packaging litter overall

20% reduction in confectionery litter

52% reduction in littering around “Bin it for Good” installations – where bins are converted into charity tins*

A 22-percentage-point increase in public satisfaction with cleanliness (rising from 14% to 36%).

The initiative highlights the critical role that shaping consumer behaviour can play in addressing environmental challenges, beyond packaging design and recycling infrastructure,

Through co-investment in research, campaign development and local activation, partners supported a coordinated multi-channel programme that combined:

Evidence-led messaging tailored to specific litter behaviours like “careful littering” and dog fouling

Strategic placement of litter interventions in high-impact locations

Community engagement and localised creative

Collaboration with businesses, schools and the local community.

The campaign achieved strong public engagement, with 70% of residents recalling activity.

Among those with highest exposure:

83% said they would pick up litter near their home

68% were more likely to take personal responsibility for keeping the area clean

63% were more likely to use bins.

Importantly, the findings reinforce a clear link between perception and behaviour, demonstrating that individuals who viewed their area as clean were significantly more likely to act responsibly.

The programme also saw a significant reduction in those who perceived fast food litter to be a problem between the beginning and end of the project, with the number of people saying it was a problem falling from 86% to 42%.

The pilot also underscores the commercial relevance of tackling litter with 16% of businesses in the area saying customers would spend more in cleaner areas and 30% believing that improved cleanliness would attract new businesses.

The findings underline the role of environmental quality in supporting thriving high streets and inward investment.

Allison Ogden CEO of Keep Britain Tidy said: “Keep Britian Tidy has decades of understanding of – and unparalleled experience in – changing littering behaviors.

“This pilot shows that working in partnership with funders, businesses on the ground, local authorities and leaders from within the community in a sustained, joined up way delivers far greater results than solo or siloed efforts.

“We welcome food and drink brands showing this kind of leadership.”

Kim Leadbeater, MP and chair of the Tidy Britain All Party Parliamentary Group said: “I’m deeply invested in the town of Heckmondwike, it’s where I was born, where I grew up.  

“Being part of a project that not only reduced litter in my hometown but improved how residents feel about their neighborhood makes me so proud”.

Dr Emma Keller, Head of Sustainability at Nestlé UK and Ireland, said: “Nestlé is proud to be joining other industry leaders in the Litter Pact. Every year, we see employees from up and down the country getting involved in the annual Great British Spring Clean, an important initiative for local communities. We are excited to build on this through the Litter Pact.

Helen McFarlane, Sustainability Manager at McDonald’s, said: “McDonald’s is delighted to have supported the Litter Pact alongside Keep Britain Tidy and to see such strong results for the Heckmondwike community. Addressing litter is a shared responsibility, and this initiative demonstrates how effective partnership working and local engagement can deliver tangible benefits. We are proud to be part of something that is helping to create cleaner, more welcoming places for everyone.”

As part of the project’s legacy, Keep Britain Tidy has launched a full report and place-based litter toolkit for councils available online at keepbritaintidy.org.

The brief

Keep Britain Tidy asked Barley Communications to develop and deliver a national behaviour change campaign that would help reduce fly-tipping by addressing one of its root causes: householders unknowingly using unlicensed waste carriers.

Research showed that many people were unaware they could be held legally responsible if their waste was illegally dumped. The challenge was to communicate a complex issue in a simple, engaging way that would increase awareness, encourage responsible waste disposal and deter consumers from choosing suspiciously cheap waste removal services.

Insights and approach

Audience research identified a clear risk group: cost-conscious, time-poor consumers aged 25–44 who often use online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace and TikTok to find low-cost services. Many were unaware of their legal duty of care when disposing of household waste.

Our strategic insight was that fly-tipping could be reframed as a consumer protection issue rather than purely an environmental one. This led to the creation of #RubbishDeal, a simple, memorable campaign concept showing that cheap waste removal can come at a much higher cost to communities and the environment.

To drive action, we developed a clear behavioural framework built around three simple steps:

Ask for a waste carrier licence
Check it on the Environment Agency register
Always get a receipt

Barley led the creative development and delivery of the campaign, creating an integrated communications programme spanning media relations, social media, paid advertising and local authority engagement. Creative assets used a crime-prevention visual style inspired by CCTV and surveillance footage, helping to communicate the reality of waste crime while maintaining credibility and trust.

We also developed a comprehensive campaign toolkit, enabling councils and partners across the UK to deliver consistent messaging through local channels. Seventy councils and partner organisations adopted the campaign resources, extending reach and impact nationwide.

Results

Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight successfully transformed a complex legal and environmental issue into a clear public call to action.

The campaign generated national visibility, widespread stakeholder support and measurable shifts in awareness and behavioural intent. Independent evaluation showed the campaign increased understanding of householders’ responsibilities and made audiences significantly less likely to use suspiciously cheap waste removal services.

Importantly, the campaign delivered evidence of real-world action. Visits to the Environment Agency’s licensed waste carrier register increased sharply following launch, indicating consumers were taking practical steps to check waste operators before hiring them.

By combining behavioural insight, creative storytelling and coordinated local activation, the campaign helped position Keep Britain Tidy as a leading voice in the fight against waste crime while encouraging more responsible waste disposal behaviour across the UK:

74% of audiences exposed to campaign content were less likely to use cheap waste removal services advertised online
55% said they would follow all three recommended actions
58% learned something new from the campaign

East West Railway Company (EWR Co) is developing plans for a new railway between Oxford and Cambridge, linking people with jobs, schools, services and each other, opening up new journeys, cutting travel times, easing road congestion and supporting sustainable economic growth across the region.

EWR Co needed specialist support to strengthen stakeholder engagement across its land and property communications.

Working within a sensitive and complex infrastructure programme, EWR Co want to make sure that communications with landowners are clear, empathetic and consistent. The goal is to reduce avoidable queries and escalation, build trust and support the timely agreement of survey access and voluntary arrangements. The project is fast paced and effective interaction with people is vital given the need to submit an application for a Development Consent Order.

Insights and approach

Effective stakeholder engagement in infrastructure communications depends on clarity, consistency and timing, particularly when issues are sensitive, such as compulsory acquisition or accessing private land for surveys.

Using our extensive knowledge of East West Rail following six years of working on the project, we acted as a strategic link between EWR Co’s Land and Property and External Engagement teams, ensuring alignment between technical information and wider planning communications.

Our approach combined additional capacity with specialist expertise. We started by developing a communications strategy for land and survey work which set out a strategic approach to ensuring co-ordinated, clear and empathetic landowner communications. We then established a planning process that ensured careful cross-team co-ordination and collaboration, and avoided communications fatigue amongst landowners.

We drafted and quality-assured landowner engagement materials – including survey licence cover letters, letters to directly affected landowners, consultation materials and FAQs about land impacts, surveys and property acquisition issues – ensuring a consistently clear, warm and open tone of voice and improving accessibility without losing technical accuracy.

We supported engagement planning around evolving programme requirements, helping teams anticipate landowner concerns and respond proactively. For more complex or higher-risk issues, we advised on strategic and de-risked engagement planning, and developed clear lines-to-take, enabling confident and consistent responses.

We also ensured land and property considerations were fully reflected in wider external affairs activity, including briefings for MPs, media and other key stakeholder along the route.

Results

Our work strengthened the quality and consistency of landowner engagement across the programme, helping EWR Co build trust and maintain positive relationships.

By improving alignment between teams and proactively addressing potential engagement risks and concerns, we supported more efficient and responsive communication with landowners.

This contributed to a more streamlined approach to securing survey access and voluntary agreements, while reducing risk across sensitive land and property issues.

Our input also ensured that land and property considerations were more effectively integrated into broader stakeholder engagement activity, supporting a more joined-up and strategic approach.

Children from 12 primary schools across London will step into the shoes of Borough Market traders this summer as the Young Marketeers Summer Sale returns on Thursday 2 July, 11am – 1.30pm.

At the annual Summer Sale, a new generation of Londoners will sell their fresh produce at the capital’s famous bustling food market. Pupils will arrive with a harvest they have grown from seed at school, including dwarf French beans, lettuce, peas and radishes. Every penny raised will help provide meals for vulnerable families across London through Borough Market’s partner, food redistribution charity Plan Zheroes.

The Summer Sale marks the culmination of the Young Marketeers programme, a long-running partnership between Borough Market and food education charity School Food Matters. Through the programme, children from schools in boroughs including Westminster, Tower Hamlets, Hammersmith, Lambeth and Southwark gain hands-on experience of growing food in a sustainable way, learn about which fruit and vegetables are in season and discover the skills required to run a successful market stall.

Borough Market and School Food Matters have been working together through the Young Marketeers programme for more than a decade. During that time, more than 63,700 children have taken part, raising over £15,700 for charitable causes.

Borough Market is renowned for the quality of its produce and the expertise of its traders, many of whom work closely with small independent growers and have a detailed understanding of how to get the best out of ingredients. The Young Marketeers programme aims to share this knowledge and approach to good quality food with children.

Pupils receive advice and support from Borough Market traders including Sharon Crane from The Gated Garden; learning how to present the produce, price their products, manage transactions and drum up sales. Having grown their own crops, the pupils will be ready to chat with shoppers about the work that went into their wares. It will be the students’ earliest experience of working in a busy environment and will provide valuable lessons in communication, teamwork and enterprise that extend far beyond the Market.

By visiting the Summer Sale, shoppers can help reward months of hard work by the participating pupils while raising vital funds for Plan Zheroes. Working in partnership with Borough Market since 2011, the charity redistributes surplus food from the Market’s traders to local charities and community organisations, providing meals for people in need while preventing good food from going to waste.

The Young Marketeers Summer Sale will take place in the Market Hall at Borough Market from 11am to 1.30pm on Thursday 2 July 2026.

Shane Holland, chair of trustees, Borough Market, said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming schools from across our London community to Borough Market for this year’s Young Marketeers Summer Sale. As a charitable trust, celebrating good food and helping people develop a better understanding of where it comes from is at the heart of what we do. The pupils have worked incredibly hard to grow their produce and learn what it takes to run a successful market stall and we may well see some of them return as future traders! We’re proud to support their efforts while raising funds for our long-standing charity partner, Plan Zheroes.”

Stephanie Slater, founder and chief executive, School Food Matters, said: “Food education is a vital life skill, and hands-on experiences such as growing and selling fresh produce can help children build a real connection with food and where it comes from. For 15 years, our Young Marketeers programme has been giving children the chance to learn new skills, work as a team and take pride in what they’ve grown. Market Day is a celebration of the value of food education and a moment for enterprising young gardeners from across London to shine.”

Free live music and performances every Friday throughout June

City workers, visitors and residents are invited to kick off summer Fridays in the heart of the City as Leadenhall Market, supported by the Destination City Partnership Fund, launches Summer Sessions – a month-long line-up of free live music, roaming performers and creative workshops throughout June.

Across four Friday afternoons and evenings, the market’s cobbled passages will fill with live entertainment, hands-on experiences and after-work energy, as visitors settle in for cocktails, casual dining and long summer evenings beneath the Victorian glass roof, cementing Leadenhall’s position as one of the Square Mile’s most vibrant summer social spots.

Early afternoon workers and visitors can take part in hands-on workshops hosted by SoLo Craft Fair, with activities ranging from charm jewellery making and candle decorating to spring wreath and trinket dish workshops.

As the afternoons unfold, roaming performers including hula hoop artists, conjurers, escapologists and giant slinky entertainers will weave through the market crowds, bringing unexpected moments of theatre and spectacle beneath the Victorian roof. As the evening begins, live music will take over the market, creating a lively after-work atmosphere of drinks, dining and summer socialising in the heart of the City.

Evening performances will feature a rotating line-up of pop, country and Irish acoustic two-piece, Indie Rollers; ukulele singing duo, Wonderful Uke Strollers; percussion-playing DJ, Chris DJ Vibes; and versatile jazz, funk, soul and pop duo, The Delights. Performances start from 5:30pm each Friday.

All performances are free to attend and no booking is required, SoLo Craft Fair workshops are bookable online.

Local workers and visitors can make an evening of it by exploring Leadenhall Market’s mix of bars, restaurants and cafés, from cocktails and post-work drinks at The Lamb Tavern to fresh focaccia and pasta at Oriani, charcoal-cooked Himalayan salt-aged steak at MRBL and sweet treats from Aux Merveilleux de Fred.

Full line-up:

Friday 5 June

1–2pm – spring wreath making with SoLo Craft Fair

2:30–5:00pm – hula hoop performers

5:30–7pm – live music – Indie Rollers

Friday 12 June

2–3.30pm – candle decorating with SoLo Craft Fair

2:30–5:00pm – Walter the waiter conjuring performances

5:30–7pm – live music – Wonderful Uke Strollers

Friday 19 June

1–2pm – charm jewellery making with SoLo Craft Fair

2:30–5:00pm – escapology performances

5:30–7pm – live music – Chris DJ Vibes

Friday 26 June

1–2pm – trinket dish making with SoLo Craft Fair

2:30–5:00pm – Big Mob Slinkies performances

5:30–7pm – live music – The Delights

Policy Chairman at the City of London Corporation, Chris Hayward, said:

“We want Fridays in the City to feel exciting, social and spontaneous, and that’s exactly what Leadenhall Market’s Summer Sessions is designed to do, giving people a reason to stay after work, meet friends, enjoy live entertainment and make the most of everything the Square Mile has to offer. From creative workshops and free performances to great food, drinks and music, the programme will help bring extra energy and footfall into the area while supporting the businesses that make Leadenhall Market and the City of London such a special destination.

“As part of our wider Destination City ambitions, events like this help us ‘earn the commute’ by creating a City that people want to experience socially and culturally, as well as professionally.”

For the full schedule, visit: https://leadenhallmarket.co.uk/

Leadenhall Market is owned and managed by The City of London Corporation.

Destination City is the Square Mile’s growth strategy, focused on strengthening the City as a magnetic and inclusive destination.

We are delighted to have been named Consultancy of the Year at the Better Society Awards 2026, making this the second consecutive year we have received the award.

The judges recognised our evidence-led approach to communications and our ability to help charities, public bodies and purpose-driven organisations translate complex social and environmental issues into clear, accessible and impactful public engagement.

As a certified B Corp consultancy, we specialise in sustainability, social impact and environmental communications, working exclusively on projects where communications can contribute meaningfully to positive change. Over the past year, we have continued to expand our strategic consultancy offer, helping organisations strengthen messaging, demonstrate impact and build public trust.

The judges were particularly impressed by our ability to combine measurable communications performance with genuine societal impact, highlighting our work translating complex evidence into communications that improve understanding, influence behaviour and support informed public debate.

Among the projects recognised was our work with Oceana UK on the launch of Deep Decline, a major scientific report examining the environmental impact of overfishing in UK waters. By helping translate complex scientific evidence into clear, accurate and compelling communications, the campaign generated extensive national and international media coverage while maintaining the integrity of the research.

The award also recognised our wider work supporting organisations including Hubbub, Nordoff and Robbins, Keep Britain Tidy and National Trading Standards.

The Better Society Awards celebrate organisations and partnerships making a positive contribution to society through responsible business and impactful communications. We are incredibly proud to see our team, clients and partners recognised once again for the role strategic communications can play in creating meaningful social and environmental change.

For one night only, live demos, oyster shucking and expert trader talks bring the craft of seafood to life

Food lovers are invited to experience Borough Market like never before as it launches Evening of Seafood. The brand-new evening event dedicated to exceptional ocean fare will take place on Wednesday 20 May 2026, 6.30pm-9.30pm. Tickets cost £7 and are available to book now.

The evening offers a rare chance to explore the iconic Market after closing time, with exclusive dishes and ingredients served up by Borough Market’s traders and restaurants. Live demonstrations and talks will give visitors access to the knowledge and craft behind the produce.

From oyster shucking contests, to fish-filleting demonstrations, Evening of Seafood will offer a closer look at the skill, sourcing and stories behind the Market’s seafood. Informal expert discussions led by Giulia Crouch, food writer and host of the Borough Market podcast, will provide guests with a deeper understanding of the seasonality and technique that underpin all-things seafood. 

Highlights include learning from the eighth-generation oystermen at Richard Haward’s Oysters, sampling hand-dived scallops from Dorset with Shellseekers and discovering seasonal fish and shellfish from Furness Fish Markets.

The Tinned Fish Market will be selling their full array of artisanal tinned fish, as well as offering small bites made from their range. While giants of Spanish cuisine, Brindisa will have a special menu of gildas, pintxos and boquerones-topped crisps.

Borough Market’s resident taqueria, Tacos Padre will offer cerviche tostadas; mainstay of the market, Applebee’s will serve up a special menu for the evening, Oak & Smoke will showcase traditional Scottish smoked fish and Kolae will share the bold flavours of southern Thai seafood.

Drink pairings from traders including Cartwrights Wines, Utobeer and London Cider House will complement the seafood on offer, with more traders across food and drink still to be announced.

Bethan Davies, head of communications and marketing said, “This is a chance to experience Borough Market in a completely different way. Evening of Seafood brings together the depth of knowledge, quality and passion of our traders after hours, giving visitors the opportunity to try something new and learn directly from experts. It’s about celebrating the very best of the British catch in a setting that feels special, immersive and unique to Borough Market.”

Building on the much-loved Evening of Cheese, Evening of Seafood is part of a growing series of after-hours events celebrating the specialist knowledge and produce found at Borough Market. The series offers Londoners new ways to engage with the market through focused, experience-led evenings combining discovery, education and exceptional food.

Tickets for Borough Market’s Seafood Night cost £7 per person and are available at boroughmarket.org.uk/seafood. 

Pop-up weekend markets will return to Leadenhall Market in 2026 with an extended programme led by returning favourites SoLo Craft Fair and The Vintage Furniture & Flea Market. Together, the two operators will once again fill the Market’s cobbled walkways with vintage designs, antiques and handcrafted gifts.

The market series begins on Saturday 11 April with SoLo Craft Fair, followed by The Vintage Furniture & Flea Market from Sunday 19 April, and runs from spring to Christmas. This year will see both operators host more stalls than ever before beneath Leadenhall’s iconic glass roof.

All markets are free to enter and run from 12-5pm. With Leadenhall’s restaurants, cafés and pubs open throughout the weekend for breakfast until dinner, the markets provide the perfect starting point for a day spent exploring the City of London beyond the working week.

SoLo Craft Fair

SoLo Craft Fair returns on the second Saturday of each month with carefully selected independent artists and makers. From jewellery and art to home accessories, textiles and children’s toys, the focus is on high-quality, handcrafted pieces. Run by makers for makers, SoLo also has a permanent shop within Leadenhall Market, making it a familiar part of the Market’s community throughout the year.

The Vintage Furniture & Flea Market

A firm favourite, The Vintage Furniture & Flea Market returns to close out each month at Leadenhall in style. Traders will bring mid-century furniture, antiques, retro homeware, lighting, rugs and one-off pieces that add character and unique flair to homes. After its first 2026 date on 19 April, the Flea Market will be found in Leadenhall on the last Sunday of each month.

Ollie Goode, Asset Manager at Leadenhall Market, said:

“The response to our award-winning Weekend Market series over the past two years has been exceptional, drawing Londoners and visitors into the heart of the City. For 2026, we’re delighted to bring it back bigger and better, with an expanded line-up. We’ve worked hard to make Leadenhall Market a true seven-days-a-week destination, and it’s fantastic to welcome new traders alongside established favourites—creating even more reasons to spend time in the City at weekends. We can’t wait to deliver our most ambitious season yet.”

Visitors can refuel between stalls with a growing mix of restaurants, cafés, pubs and wine bars open across market weekends. For casual bites, options include Sicilian arancina from Sfrigola, falafel and Mediterranean dishes at Baba Ganoush, Korean favourites from Bibimbap ToGo, and pastries from Aux Merveilleux de Fred and Buns from Home. Boom Bap Burger, Chango Empanadas and Hagen will also be serving throughout the weekend.

For those staying longer, La Viña offers Spanish tapas and Rioja, while The Golden Goose and The Lamb Tavern pour pints and offer hearty meals and tempting snacks. New for 2026, MRBL, a modern British steakhouse with terrace seating, brings on-the-bone cuts and a standout steak sandwich to the Market.

Set in the heart of the City, Leadenhall Market’s Grade II-listed iron-and-glass structure has been a place of trade for centuries and continues to provide a striking backdrop for traders in 2026. Leadenhall Market is owned and managed by the City of London Corporation

Full market series

Saturday 11 April, SoLo Craft Fair
Sunday 19 April, The Vintage Furniture & Flea Market
Saturday 9 May, SoLo Craft Fair
Sunday 31 May, The Vintage Furniture & Flea Market
Saturday 13 June, SoLo Craft Fair
Sunday 28 June, The Vintage Furniture & Flea Market
Saturday 11 July, SoLo Craft Fair
Sunday 26 July, The Vintage Furniture & Flea Market
Saturday 8 August, SoLo Craft Fair
Sunday 30 August, The Vintage Furniture & Flea Market
Saturday 12 September, SoLo Craft Fair
Sunday 27 September, The Vintage Furniture & Flea Market
Saturday 10 October, SoLo Craft Fair
Sunday 25 October, The Vintage Furniture & Flea Market
Saturday 14 November, SoLo Craft Fair
Saturday 12 December, SoLo Craft Fair

This Easter, families are invited to explore inside one of London’s most recognisable landmarks as Tower Bridge marks 140 years since construction first began in 1886 with a programme of hands-on creative activities inspired by Victorian innovation.

Designed for curious minds and energetic explorers, Tower Bridge’s Easter Family Activities are free with admission and combine making, movement and mechanical marvels, giving children the chance to discover how Victorian engineers and inventors shaped the modern world, all while exploring the Bridge from top to bottom.

Designed by Sir Horace Jones and John Wolfe Barry, the Grade I-listed bascule bridge took eight years to build and was the largest of its kind when it opened in 1894. Today, visitors can experience the engineering wonder from the inside, combining rich history with interactive and engaging experiences.

This Easter’s offering is Moving Pictures, an interactive drop-in activity inspired by phenakistoscopes – popular 19th-century toys that demonstrated one of the earliest forms of animation. Families will discover how the illusion of motion works before creating their own spinning animation featuring another Victorian icon: Tower Bridge itself.

The sessions, inspired by STEAM subjects – science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics – are designed especially for 6 – 10-year-olds, but are open to all children, making them ideal for mixed-age families looking for an engaging and educational London day out during the school holidays.

Easter Family Activities at Tower Bridge – Moving Pictures

Learning Space, South Tower

Tuesday 31 March, Tuesday 7 April and Saturday 11 April 2026

10:00 – 16:00

Free with admission. No booking required. Drop-in throughout the day.

Each participating family also receives a Family Activities Pass, offering free entry on any Family Activities Day within the next six months.

Beyond the activities, families can walk across the High-Level Walkways and Glass Floors, suspended 42 metres above the River Thames, offering dramatic views of the city below and, when timed right, a unique birds-eye view of the famous Bridge lifting to allow ships to pass, an event that still happens around 800 times each year.

In the atmospheric Victorian Engine Rooms, children and adults alike can see the original steam engines, coal-fired boilers and hydraulic systems that once powered the Bridge’s bascules. Interactive displays, films and oral histories bring to life the stories of the engineers and workers who kept London moving.

All along the way, families are invited to complete the interactive trail inspired by ‘The Tower Bridge Cat’ and the characters from the award-winning books. Find the installations throughout the attraction and meet the Bridge Master and his team – Hannah, the Cook, Poppy, the Painter, and Stan, the Stoker, and identical twins Eddie the Engineer and Olly the Oiler – who will all help to complete tasks, answer questions about the Bridge’s history and collect stamps to become part of Bella’s special Tower Bridge team.

Tower Bridge is an accessible, family-friendly attraction, with interactive trails, monthly Family Activities, Relaxed Openings designed for neurodiverse visitors – offering a calm, stress-reduced environment to explore at their own pace – and a dog-friendly policy welcoming well-behaved dogs. Guided tours are also available on selected dates for families who want to explore the Bridge’s history in more depth.

Tickets to explore inside Tower Bridge start from £18 per adult and £9 per child, with a range of family tickets also available to book. Further information and full listings of upcoming Family Activities can be found at www.towerbridge.org.uk.

Leadenhall Market will celebrate Shrove Tuesday with the return of its annual Pancake Day Race, taking place in the Market’s iconic atrium on Tuesday 17 February 2026, with races starting at 12.30pm. Teams are now invited to secure their place in this much-loved City tradition.

Hosted by Leadenhall Market’s 18^th century pub, The Lamb Tavern, the high-octane lunchtime event sees teams of four don bowler hats and race through the Market’s Victorian cobbled walkways in a series of 20-metre relay races, all while flipping pancakes.

Now a firm fixture in the City calendar, the race is open to all flippers, from City workers to Londoners and those visiting for the day. Spectators are invited to line the Market’s walkways to watch the action unfold beneath Leadenhall’s glass roof.

The winning team will have their name engraved on the famous Golden Frying Pan and take home a Lamb Tavern Hamper and £50 bar tab. Second place will receive a hamper, while third place will win a bottle of prosecco. All competitors will also receive a free pancake on the day.

The race will be compered live, with plenty of pancakes cooked fresh by The Lamb Tavern’s kitchen team to keep both runners and spectators well fed. With a large audience expected, visitors are encouraged to arrive at the Market from 11am to secure a prime viewing spot for the races.

Free to enter, the Pancake Day Race is open to teams of four and places must be booked in advance via www.lambtavernleadenhall.com.

After the final flip, those feeling pancake-weary can refuel elsewhere in the Market. Leadenhall is home to an eclectic line-up of food and drink spots, with lunch on the go options including Sfrigola, serving Sicilian arancini, Buns From Home, offering freshly baked croissant buns and Chango Empanadas, specialising in traditional Argentine empanadas. Those looking for a more leisurely sit down can choose from fine dining at Osteria del Mercato, French dishes at Luc’s Brasserie, and Spanish flavours at La Viña.

Situated in the heart of the City of London, Leadenhall Market is a Grade II-listed landmark dating back to 1881, designed by Sir Horace Jones. Today, its iron-and-glass architecture provides a striking backdrop for events that bring together City workers, residents and visitors to the Square Mile.

Leadenhall Market will be celebrating Valentine’s with a series of specially curated romantic walking tours, poetry soundscapes and creative workshop dates. The Market’s wide selection of restaurants, bars and cafés will also beavailable to experience over the Valentine’s weekend.

On Saturday 14 February, Valentine’s walking tours will be led by City of London Guides through Leadenhall Market. Running at 11am and 2pm, the limited-edition walks will explore stories of love and romance from across the centuries, including tales of historic love potions and the story of one memorable former resident, a lovestruck goose said to have once ruled the Market’s passageways. Tickets can be booked online now.

For couples preferring to explore at their own pace, Leadenhall Love is a romantic self-guided walk through Leadenhall available via the ECHOES Soundwalks app. As visitors move through the Market, poems on the theme of love are automatically triggered, featuring works by writers including Robert Burns, Christina Rossetti and Shakespeare. The poems were selected to highlight Leadenhall’s 700 year history and are read by members of the Market community.

Lovers wanting a grab and go snack for their walk can visit Leadenhall Market’s Bibimbap, Baba Ganoush, or Chango Empanadas for delicious Mediterranean falafel, Korean dishes, and Mexican empanadas. Leadenhall Market also offer a selection of free self-guided walks of the City via its website.

For those planning a romantic evening meal after their walk, Leadenhall Market’s Luc’s Brasserie will be opening especially on Valentine’s Day, serving classic French dishes and char-grilled steaks with views across the Market’s grand atrium. Argentinian Grill offers prime Argentine beef cooked over an authentic charcoal grill, while La Viña provides a lively setting for tapas and Spanish dishes, alongside wines, sangrias and cocktails.

Alongside its restaurants, Leadenhall Market is home to several spots well suited to casual dates. These include Buns From Home for freshly baked pastries, Boom Bap Burger for an impressive draft beer list and delicious food, andChango Empanadas, Baba Ganoush and Sfrigola for quick and comforting bites. Traditional pubs and bars such as The Lamb Tavern, The Golden Goose and Oriani offer relaxed settings for drinks, while the independent, family-owned drinks specialist Amathus is a convenient stop for picking up a bottle for a special someone.

Within the week ahead of Valentine’s Day visitors to the Market can take part in a programme of Valentine’s and Galentine’s creative workshops hosted by SoLo Craft Fair Shop, designed for couples, friends and small groups. Sessions include watercolour card designing (10 Feb), tea blending (11 Feb) and embroidered Valentine’s decorations (12 Feb), with many workshops free or under £8 and available to book online now.

With its grand Victorian architecture, Leadenhall Market provides a memorable backdrop for Valentine’s Day, from daytime exploring to an evening meal in the heart of the City.

Leadenhall Market is owned and managed by The City of London Corporation.

For more information about the Market, visit: leadenhallmarket.co.uk

Get in touch

944m

over 65k

est 1.82m

159%

2.5m +

164

Insights and approach

Results