Discover the City’s smallest serving window, a miniature wool boutique and a mouse-sized video shop at the new Wunderkammer, open from September to December

A curious new address will appear on one of Leadenhall Market’s cobbled alleyways when the Wunderkammer opens at No. 27¼ on Thursday 3 September. Open from Thursday to Saturday until December, the installation centres on an Italian-inspired serving window, launching with limited-edition miniature postcards before Market tenants and visiting brands take over on rotation with cakes, coffee, wine and exclusive products. A tiny wool boutique and mouse-sized video shop complete the trio, revealing different chapters of the Market’s history and character.

Taking its cue from 19th-century curiosity cabinets, miniature theatres and Leadenhall Market’s ornate Victorian architecture, the installation is designed to intrigue and delight, with three unexpected worlds for visitors to uncover throughout the autumn and festive season.

The serving window takes inspiration from Florence’s historic buchette del vino, where residents once bought wine directly from palace cellars. Next door, visitors can peer into the Lilliputian sized video rental shop which celebrates Leadenhall Market’s on-screen credentials. Best known for standing in for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the Market has more recently appeared in the Netflix spy thriller Black Doves and Apple TV+’s Slow Horses, amongst many others. Those exploring the display can search its shelves for references to scenes filmed among Leadenhall’s distinctive shopfronts and architectural details.

The wool boutique reaches further back into the Market’s trading history. By 1463, the Market was where wool tronage was determined, a tax traders paid to have their goods officially weighed using a specially installed beam (or trona). The display brings this medieval connection to life on a suitably small scale.

Ollie Goode, asset manager for Leadenhall Market said: “Leadenhall’s architecture is grand, but many of its charms are found in the details: from the original butchers’ meat hooks above our restaurants, bars and shops, to the City’s dragons keeping a watchful eye over visitors. The Wunderkammer plays with that contrast, and draws on centuries of trading history, bringing moments of curiosity and wonder on an unexpected scale to offer visitors, diners and shoppers a new way to experience our unique space.”

The Leadenhall Wunderkammer opens to the public on Thursday 3 September 2-6pm, continuing at the same timeslot Thursday to Saturday until 22 December. Entry to view the tiny video rental and wool shops is free, with products available to purchase through the miniature serving window. Check Leadenhall Market Instagram and Facebook pages and website for details of opening programme.

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

Since 2020, Barley has provided full-service strategic communications to East West Railway Company (EWR Co) to support its progression towards applying for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for East West Rail, the new railway connecting Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.

Through multiple political administrations and three public consultations, our work has enabled EWR Co to maintain momentum, strengthen stakeholder trust and mitigate delivery risk.

Our remit has included strategic advice, political and stakeholder engagement, public consultation, media and digital communications, sensitive landowner engagement and internal capability development – delivered using Barley’s IMPACT model to ensure communications directly supported the organisation’s strategic and programme objectives and helped to make the case for EWR.

By focusing on EWR Co’s broader strategic objectives, we helped them meet challenges, mitigate risks and maintain a robust case for EWR throughout:

Extensive political upheaval, including five Prime Ministers
Consultation in 2021 during COVID
The appointment of two new CEOs
The Route Update Announcement in 2023
Consultation in 2024 – 2025

Results

Our work has delivered measurable programme benefits by reducing key risks and building trust amongst key stakeholders by:

Accelerating political engagement general post-election: our highly successful ‘100 Days’ programme in advance of the 2024 General Election identified and mapped potential new MPs along the line of route and likely Ministers so that as soon as new people were in post, we were able to contact them with meaningful content. We engaged 100% of new MPs along the route within two weeks of the election, avoiding any engagement lag and potential negative perceptions from the new elected representatives
Working with Aecom to develop a consultation strategy that deployed new digital technologies to deliver the public consultation in 2021 (during COVID), supporting the organisation and its technical experts through its first and only digital public consultation, and leading to the highest response rates of any of EWR Co’s three public consultations
Supporting the new CEO from the start, planning and drafting event speeches, media features and blogs alongside extensive media training and briefings before major media announcements, such as the Route Update Announcement in 2023
Implementing a new land and survey communications strategy to ensure sensitive land and property issues were managed with empathy, consistency and clarity to build trust and reduce delays to the programme. This also led to faster land access approvals, where engagement support helped to unlock key land access agreements for surveys, saving time and costs.
Producing an extensive risk register that went beyond communications, encompassing risks across the programme, tagged and prioritised with mitigations and recommendations for management. This led to the development of bespoke handling plans for the highest priority risks, which helped mitigate any escalating communications risks and avoided potential derailing of the programme.

Overall, Barley’s strategic communications support contributed to significant risk reduction, smoother delivery of public consultations, and improved stakeholder and public perceptions, helping to maintain vital support for the project from multiple changes in government.

Barley has been providing strategic communications support to East West Railway Company (EWR Co) since 2020. This has included a strong focus on community and stakeholder engagement, public consultation, media and digital communications – all delivered using our IMPACT model to ensure we’re supporting EWR Co’s strategic and programme objectives.

We have provided support to EWR Co though three public consultations – in 2021, 2024-2025 and 2026 – as well as a major Route Update Announcement in 2023. Our work through these key project communications milestones has measurably improved community engagement, media sentiment and public perception to uphold the case for the project and the reputation of EWR Co as they move towards submitting an application for a Development Consent Order.

Results

For their public consultation in 2021, which took place during Covid, Barley held leading roles in developing consultation materials, hosting online events, media relations and event management. Working alongside Aecom, we developed a consultation strategy that deployed new digital technologies, navigating the organisation and its technical experts through lockdown restrictions and its first and only digital public consultation. There were 9000+ responses and 140,000 matters raised during the consultation – the highest response rate and awareness of any of EWR Co’s three public consultations.

Our strategic media support significantly improved media sentiment, leading to an uplift in positive sentiment in EWR coverage since 2021, which was particularly important for the Route Update Announcement in May 2023. That month saw a year-on-year transformation in terms of media sentiment, with an 82% reduction in negative media coverage and a 93% increase in positive coverage. Our strategy helped to facilitate open and meaningful dialogue with local journalists.

At the Route Update Announcement, we developed a media strategy, provided media training for the CEO and other media spokespeople, drafted reactive lines to take, undertook reviews of technical documents and developed key materials, such as website and video content, which included visual animations explaining complex issues as well as community vox pops. We also devised and delivered four launch plans for each major area along the EWR route, which helped secure local media coverage that reflected our carefully crafted strategic messages relevant to their local area.

We provided strategic communications advice for the non-statutory consultation in 2024 – 2025 at the highest levels of the business and offered guidance around lessons learned from previous consultation. For the 2026 consultation, we focused in on supporting land and property related engagement to ensure sensitive stakeholders were engaged with empathy, clarity and transparency, to build trust and minimise risks to the programme and developed four booklets for different areas along the route.

Barley’s strategic communications support has led to the smooth delivery of public consultations and improved stakeholder and public perceptions of the EWR project.

Building nationally important infrastructure is challenging at the best of times. Building it through a period of political instability is harder still.

Since Barley began supporting East West Railway Company, the UK has had five Prime Ministers, multiple changes in government and shifting national priorities around infrastructure, growth, transport and public spending. At the same time, East West Rail is being developed across a complex geography, connecting Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge through communities with very different views, priorities and levels of support for the project.

Following the 2024 General Election, EWR Co needed to build relationships quickly with newly elected MPs, returning MPs, council leaders and potential ministers along the route. For a major infrastructure project preparing for future consultation and consent, a slow post-election reset would have created risk. Decision-makers needed to understand both the benefits and the challenges of East West Rail, while those who influence them needed a clear and accurate understanding of the project’s position.

The challenge was not only to engage political stakeholders, but to identify where support could be maintained, strengthened or unlocked. This included existing and potential advocates across local government, major employers and institutions, including organisations such as AstraZeneca, Cambridge University and local businesses whose voices could help make the case for East West Rail.

Barley was asked to develop and deliver a rapid political engagement programme that would help EWR Co understand the new political landscape, prioritise engagement and build constructive relationships with key decision-makers and advocates within the first 100 days.

Insights and approach

Our insight was clear: after an election, speed matters, but relevance matters more. Newly elected representatives do not need generic project information. They need to understand what the project means for their constituency, their residents and their political priorities.

Ahead of the election, we mapped likely parliamentary outcomes along the route, identifying potential new MPs, returning MPs, relevant ministers and key local political stakeholders. We also mapped potential advocates, including local authorities, major employers, universities and local business voices who could help demonstrate the wider economic, social and connectivity case for the project.

This meant EWR Co was ready to act as soon as the results were known, rather than losing momentum during the usual post-election re-engagement period.

We developed targeted briefing materials, constituency-specific messaging and clear lines-to-take, ensuring engagement was practical, accurate and locally relevant. These materials helped decision-makers understand the strategic benefits of East West Rail, the local issues that needed to be managed, and the current position of the project as it moved towards future consultation and consent.

We also helped EWR Co prepare for challenging conversations, including with representatives who were sceptical, opposed or under pressure from local campaign groups. The programme was designed to be structured but flexible, enabling EWR Co to prioritise the most important relationships, respond quickly to new political dynamics, maintain consistency across meetings and follow up with the right information, evidence and advocacy opportunities.

Results

The 100 Days programme enabled EWR Co to move quickly and confidently in a changed political environment.

Within two weeks of the General Election, EWR Co had engaged 100% of new MPs along the route, avoiding the months-long re-engagement lag that often follows political change.

The programme helped establish early relationships with newly elected representatives, improve understanding of local priorities and create a stronger platform for future consultation, consenting and delivery.

It also helped EWR Co maintain and unlock support among influential advocates, including civic leaders, major employers, universities and local businesses. By connecting the project to local economic growth, skills, innovation, housing and business priorities, Barley helped ensure supportive voices were better informed and more confident in making the case for East West Rail.

The work contributed to a positive shift in political sentiment, helping turn several newly elected MPs into more active and constructive voices in the project conversation.

By combining political insight, rapid delivery, advocate mapping and locally relevant messaging, Barley helped EWR Co protect momentum, reduce reputational risk and strengthen stakeholder relationships at a critical point for the programme.

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.

It is one of the UK’s most complex and sensitive infrastructure programmes and ‘megaprojects’. It involves building and upgrading railway infrastructure across a long, varied and already developed corridor between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, affecting thousands of land and property interests along the route.

The project requires carefully targeted engagement with individuals and organisations whose circumstances, concerns and exposure to the proposals vary widely, from major landowners and multinational businesses to small local firms, tenants on short commercial leases, homeowners, farmers and community assets. It also sits within a highly scrutinised political environment, with local leaders who support the project, others who remain opposed or unconvinced, strong project advocates and organised opposition all seeking clear answers about what the proposals mean in practice.

Working within a sensitive and complex infrastructure programme, EWR Co wanted to make sure that communications with landowners are clear, empathetic and consistent. The goal was 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.

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.

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.

City of London’s iconic market announces festive event programme including live music, Christmas markets, Christmas guided walks and magical twice-daily snowfall

The new Lady Mayor of the City of London, Dame Susan Langley DBE, will officially switch on Leadenhall Market’s Christmas lights on Thursday 13 November, kickstarting festive celebrations at the heart of the capital.

The most magical night of year will begin at 5.15pm with live festive tunes and sing-along favourites from band The Super Tenants, before and after the official switch-on takes place at 6pm. Leadenhall Market’s Christmas centrepiece will be an impressive 18-foot real Christmas tree, which takes centre stage under the beautiful starry night atrium. The tree will be adorned with glittering baubles and twinkling lights, and the Victorian market’s shopfronts will be decked in fir tree garlands, with giant baubles and lights throughout.

This year, visitors can experience the magic of snowfall on Leadenhall Market’s cobbled, covered walkways. As part of the Christmas lights switch-on celebrations, a flurry of festive snow will fall at 6pm – but the snow doesn’t stop there; throughout the festive season, visitors can enjoy this wintry wonder twice daily, at 12pm and 6pm, creating a picture-perfect backdrop for seasonal shopping and celebrations.

Back by popular demand, Leadenhall Market’s very own pop-up Alpine Lodge will provide favourite winter warmer drinks, along with seasonal festive treats.

Many of Leadenhall’s restaurants and bars will be open for drinks, snacks and evening meals before, during and after the switch on including The Lamb Tavern, The Golden Goose, Old Tom’s, Oriani, Argentinian Grill, Aux Merveilleux De Fred, Boom Bap Burger, Chango Empandas, Georgio, La Viña, Luc’s Brasserie, Osteria del Mercato and Pizza Express. Christmas shopping opportunities range from specialist drinks store Amathus to British clothing brands Hobbs, Reiss and Barbour, to Pollock’s Toy Museum, Flying Tiger, Solo Craft Fair and Waterstones.

Leadenhall Market’s mayoral connections stretch back to Lord Mayor Richard ‘Dick’ Whittington who gifted the original stone structure to the City of London in 1411. This was replaced with today’s iconic wrought iron and glass architecture in 1881. Dame Susan Langley’s attendance as the third woman to hold the mayoral office, and first ever to use the title Lady Mayor – will mark another historical moment for the City of London.

Leadenhall Market’s festive events programme continues with:

Christmas Walking Tours: Amid the Victorian splendour and twinkling lights of Leadenhall Market, visitors will hear stories of some of the market’s best-loved characters – from the medieval mayor who inspired a pantomime to the resident goose who once proudly patrolled its passageways. And it wouldn’t be Christmas without mention of Charles Dickens. Led by a City of London guide, the walks are suitable for all ages and will be held every Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:00 pm, priced £8.30, between 19 November and 10 December. Booking in advanceis required to secure a place.
Christmas Markets – Leadenhall’s much-loved weekend markets continue throughout the festive season, offering the perfect opportunity to find unique Christmas gifts – from handcrafted art and jewellery to vintage fashion and homeware. This year, three festive pop-ups provide even more reason to visit. The SoLo Craft Fair will take place on two Saturdays (Saturday 8 November and Saturday 13 December), showcasing handmade creations from independent artisans, while The Vintage Furniture and Flea Christmas Market (Sunday 30 November) invites retro enthusiasts to discover one-of-a-kind treasures with stories to tell.

Situated in the centre of the City of London’s financial district, the current Grade II listed Market building, designed by Sir Horace Jones, dates back to 1881. Its airy and light wrought iron and glass structure replaced the stone market previously created by Lord Mayor of London, Dick Whittington in the 15th Century. Now, the market is home to 23 restaurants, cafes and bars, which sit alongside 15 retail outlets, creating a hub for shopping and dining in the City. Leadenhall Market is owned and managed by The City of London Corporation.

This autumn, London’s iconic Borough Market will be filled with the buzz of young traders, as local primary school pupils take over the Market’s historic stalls for the annual Young Marketeers Harvest Sale, taking place 11am – 1:30pm on 2 October 2025.

The Young Marketeers programme gives children the opportunity to get their hands in the soil and discover where their food comes from. With the support of food educators and Borough Market traders, pupils not only deepen their knowledge of healthy, seasonal, British grown vegetables, but have the unique opportunity to develop the skills needed to market and sell their own produce in Borough Market. The Young Marketeers programme is delivered by charities School Food Matters and Borough Market.

Previous research from Borough Market highlights just how valuable this education is. While children were generally familiar with common produce, with 95% able to correctly recognise carrots and strawberries, the easy-to-grow courgette and beetroot were identified by just 31% and 28% of children*. Initiatives like the Young Marketeers sale help close these gaps and broaden children’s food literacy.

Borough Market’s experienced traders play a crucial role in the programme, sharing their expertise to help students develop business know-how, presentation skills and the confidence to engage with customers. By passing on a legacy of knowledge about quality produce and customer service this project sets out to inspire the next generation of chefs, growers and market traders.

This Harvest Sale will once again support food redistribution charity Plan Zheroes. Since 2014, Plan Zheroes has worked with Borough Market traders to collect surplus food and deliver it to charities and community groups across London. Together, they have rescued more than 151,000kg of food, the equivalent of over 360,000 meals for Londoners in need. Dedicated volunteers visit the Market six days a week to ensure good food never goes to waste.

Alistair Maddox, CEO at Borough Market, said: “Harvest is one of the most special times of year at Borough Market and it’s a joy to see the next generation of Londoners taking their place behind our stalls. The Young Marketeers sale is more than just a fun day out – it’s a way of equipping children with food knowledge, cooking skills and the experience of running a business. As a charitable trust, sharing our love for good food with the community is at the heart of what we do, and this programme embodies that spirit.”

Stephanie Slater, Founder and Chief Executive of School Food Matters, said: “For nearly 15 years, the Young Marketeers programme has demonstrated the powerful impact of food education. Children not only learn how to grow fresh fruit and vegetables but also develop the skills and confidence to share that knowledge with their friends and family. Research shows that food education has lasting impacts on children’s health and wellbeing, which is why hands-on projects like this are so important. By giving children and young people the chance to experience food from seed to market stall we’re setting them up for healthier and happier futures.”

The Young Marketeers Harvest Sale will take place at Borough Market on 2 October 2025 from 11am – 1.30pm.

In-person BSL-interpreted tours available for the first time
The popular tours run for a limited time each year and typically sell out fast

Tower Bridge is inviting visitors to experience London’s defining landmark like never before, as its exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Tours return for a limited time only, this year with in-person British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted tour options. Tickets for the first release – tours taking place in November and December – go on sale this month.

Perfect for curious explorers, these expert-led tours offer a rare chance to go beyond the standard visitor route and delve into the Bridge’s inner workings, including access to areas usually closed to the public, such as the cavernous Bascule Chambers beneath the Thames, which allow for the movement of the huge counterweights used during Bridge Lifts. These limited-edition tours run on selected dates between November and March and sell out quickly every year due to high demand. This year’s tours are also Tower Bridge’s most inclusive to date, featuring the first-ever BSL-interpreted Behind-the-Scenes Tours, available on selected dates.

Chris Earlie, director of Tower Bridge, said: “These tours are an incredible opportunity to see the Bridge from the inside out; from the thrilling machinery that powers it, to the stories of the people behind its construction. Making this unique experience accessible isn’t easy due to the operational nature of the working Bridge but with the introduction of BSL interpretation, we hope to provide a more inclusive offer. Continuing to increase accessibility to such a historic icon reflects our commitment to removing barriers and creating unforgettable experiences for all our visitors.”

Martin Fox-Roberts, BSL interpreter, added: “Tower Bridge is such a powerful symbol, not just of history and engineering but of London itself. Collaborating with the team and further opening that experience up to Deaf people is incredibly meaningful. So many Deaf visitors miss out on the richness of historic places because information isn’t presented in a way they can fully engage with. Tower Bridge continues to develop its offer and with this latest BSL-interpreted tour continues to set a benchmark for other attractions to follow suit.”

Tower Bridge continues to enhance its accessibility across the whole visitor attraction, with a new BSL self-guided experience available to all visitors, delivered via Smartify, plus the introduction of ‘Quieter Time’ offering more times to experience the Bridge in a calmer environment. These sessions build on the Bridge’s existing Relaxed Openings and are designed for visitors who feel more comfortable in a less stimulating environment, including neurodivergent people, those living with dementia or sight impairment and their companions. These are in addition to the option to experience a Guided Tour with BSL, led by an expert guide and an accredited British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter, and Deaf-led Guided Tours with John Wilson, an experienced Deaf guide – both available on selected dates.

While the Behind-the-Scenes Tours offer something truly unique, every visit to Tower Bridge delivers a memorable experience: from walking on the Glass Floors suspended 42 metres above the Thames and stunning skyline views from the High-level Walkways to stepping back in time in the atmospheric Victorian Engine Rooms.

Tickets for Tower Bridge’s Behind-the-Scenes Tours cost £80 per adult and £72.50 per child, with disabled adult tickets available at £75 per person. The November and December tour tickets go on sale this month, with January to March tour tickets released later this year. BSL-interpreted Behind-the-Scenes Tours will take place January-March, dates to be confirmed.

Sign up to the Tower Bridge newsletter to be the first to know when tour tickets are available. For more information, to book or to sign up for the email newsletter, visit: towerbridge.org.uk/events/behind-scenes-tour.

Alistair Maddox takes helm at London’s oldest food market
Nicole Casey joins as Director of Operations

London’s iconic Borough Market has today announced the appointments of Alistair Maddox as Chief Executive Officer and Nicole Casey as Director of Operations. From 1 September, the charitable trust’s strengthened senior leadership team will continue to champion sustainability, education and community, with unique, top-quality produce from expert traders at the Market’s core.

Following a rigorous selection process, Alistair’s appointment is backed by the Market’s Board of Trustees, its community of traders, and staff across all disciplines; reflecting Borough Market’s ongoing commitment to providing a world class food market for the community of London and beyond.

With over 20 years of experience across the food, property and market sectors, Alistair Maddox is widely respected for his people-first approach and ability to drive thoughtful innovation.

Incoming Borough Market CEO, Alistair Maddox, said: “Borough Market is more than just a collection of great food stalls, it’s a vibrant community supporting over 100 independent traders. Having spent years running some of London’s top destinations like Broadway Market and Brixton Village, I’m honoured to lead a trusted institution that creates a platform for small businesses to thrive and champions sustainability and education. I’m excited to build on this legacy with the talented businesses and staff who make this place so special.”

Joining Alistair is Nicole Casey as the Market’s incoming Director of Operations. She brings a strong background in operational leadership, venue management and public realm strategy and will lead the day-to-day running of the Market, working closely with traders, partners and the local community.

New Director of Operations at Borough Market, Nicole Casey, said: “I’m looking forward to working with our talented team and getting to know the diverse community that comes to shop, get expert tips and share a love of food at London’s oldest market. It’s such a unique place, and I’m excited to continue to honour its rich heritage while also being focused on the future development of Borough Market.”

Shane Holland, Borough Market’s chair of trustees, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Alistair and Nicole to Borough Market. This is a strong, values-led team, perfectly placed to guide the Market through our next strategic phase – to develop our position as a cultural and culinary landmark rooted in our charitable purpose.”

Borough Market, in its current form, was born out of the Food Lovers’ Fair held in the late 1990s, when passionate producers and discerning customers came together to reimagine the historic market space as a destination for high-quality, ethically sourced food. Since then, it has grown into a thriving six-day-a-week market, home to over 100 independent traders. Over the years, it has served as an influential platform for both established producers and emerging food entrepreneurs, many of whom have gone on to achieve national recognition – Neal’s Yard Dairy and Brindisa among them. This legacy of nurturing talent and championing food innovation has cemented Borough Market’s reputation as one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse food destinations.

Borough Market is run by a charitable trust, with responsibility for its day-to-day operation devolved to a dedicated senior management team. From delivering food education in schools and fostering sustainable practices, to nurturing a thriving network of independent producers, the Market is rooted in purpose, as is evident in its food policy and principles. At a time when resilient, community-led food systems are more vital than ever, the Market continues to serve as a leading voice in public food culture, sustainability and ethical enterprise.

For more information about Borough Market and its traders, visit boroughmarket.org.uk.

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