Beckenham Biscuit

A big Saturday: races, hip-hop and a disco night

Published Thursday 9 July 2026

Cheer on Race for Life, enjoy a free family hip-hop day, start the summer reading challenge and plan late-July orienteering.

Top Updates

Race for Life takes over Beckenham Place Park

Runners and walkers fill Beckenham Place Park on Saturday 11 July for Cancer Research UK's Race for Life. The 10k sets off at 10am, the 5k and 3k at 11am, and the muddy obstacle courses follow: Pretty Muddy Kids for ages 6 to 12 at 11.45am and the Pretty Muddy 5k at 12.30pm. You can still sign up, or come along to cheer friends and family round the course. Expect the park to be busy through the middle of the day.

Free family hip-hop day at the Homestead

The Homestead Cafe in Beckenham Place Park hosts a free Hiphopera day on Saturday 11 July, from noon to 6.30pm. It is a family celebration of hip-hop culture, with workshops, break dancing, scratching and beat-making to try. No booking is needed and everyone is welcome.

Read to the Beat: summer reading challenge is on

Children can sign up at Beckenham Library for this year's free Summer Reading Challenge, themed Read to the Beat and all about the link between stories and music. Youngsters get a collector folder and earn stickers and a certificate for reading library books over the summer holidays. Ask library staff to join in.

Dates For Your Diary

Sunday 19 July · 3-9pm

Jam in the Park at the Homestead

Musicians of all levels are welcome at the Homestead Cafe's free monthly Jam in the Park, an open courtyard jam that runs all afternoon and into the evening. Bring an instrument to play or just come along to listen.

Saturday 25 July · from 11am

Beginner-friendly orienteering in the park

Dartford Orienteers round off their summer series with a Beckenham Place Park event. Registration opens at 10.30am with starts from 11am, and courses range from an easy 2.2km route for children and newcomers to a 5.8km challenge. Enter by Sunday 19 July to be sure of a map for your chosen course.

What's On

Saturday 11 July

Beckenham v Bromley Common cricket, From noon. Beckenham Cricket Club's first team host local rivals Bromley Common in a Kent League match at their Foxgrove Road ground. Play starts at noon and it is free to watch, so bring a chair for an afternoon of cricket. See the club's fixtures list.

Summer Disco Ball at the Mansion, 7.30pm. Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet brings its 70s and 80s disco party for grown-ups to Beckenham Place Mansion, with DJ sets, dance routines, a costume contest and dancing until midnight. Tickets are £20 plus a £2 booking fee and the night is for over-18s.

Sunday 12 July

Marenghi Beat play the Homestead, 3-5pm. South London electroblues duo Marenghi Beat make their courtyard debut at the Homestead Cafe, mixing blues riffs with hip-hop, electro and a touch of punk. The free afternoon set runs from 3pm to 5pm.

Roadworks and Transport

Hayes Lane: Multi-way signals stay in place for gas works until Friday 31 July, so allow extra time through the junction.

Letchworth Drive: The road stays closed for gas works until Monday 27 July.

Kangley Bridge Road: Two-way signals are in place for Thames Water works until Sunday 2 August, affecting journeys towards Lower Sydenham.

Maple Road: The road closure continues until Friday 17 July, affecting journeys through Penge.

College Road and Southend Road: Thames Water brings two-way signals to College Road from Monday 13 to Thursday 16 July, and multi-way signals to Southend Road from Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 July.