Free play days and 182 new council homes
Published Thursday 20 August 2026
Plan free family play, Brentford's home opener and the Creative Mile, plus see what is changing at Charlton and Albany House.
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Top Updates
Builder appointed for 182 council homes
Hounslow Council has appointed Higgins Partnerships to redevelop Charlton House and Albany House in Brentford. The scheme will replace 92 homes with 182 energy-efficient homes for social rent, around 30% of them larger family homes, alongside commercial space and more than 2,500 square metres of landscaped green space. Construction is expected to begin this autumn; read the council's project update.
Free play takes over Boston Manor House lawn
Children of all ages can drop into four free afternoons of child-led outdoor play from Friday 21 to Monday 24 August. Den building, sensory materials, crafts, real-tool woodwork, mud kitchens and swings run from noon to 4pm each day, with no booking needed; see the Summer Play Days programme.
Brentford open their league season at home
The Bees begin their Premier League campaign against Tottenham Hotspur at the Gtech Community Stadium at 5.30pm on Saturday 22 August. Expect a busy afternoon around Lionel Road and Kew Bridge; follow the official match page for the latest supporter information.
Dates For Your Diary
Friday 4 to Sunday 6 September
Creative Mile opens studios across Brentford
Brentford's free art trail returns with a Friday evening opening from 6pm to 9pm, followed by two days from 11am to 5pm. Artists and makers will take over venues around the town, from studios and galleries to churches and riverside spaces; plan your route on the Creative Mile website.
Saturday 5 September, 7-10.30pm
Silent disco fills Kew's Temperate House
Two headphone channels bring an adults-only night of dancing to Kew Gardens' Temperate House. Tickets cost £35.20, or £27.50 for Kew members, and do not include garden entry; book the Silent Disco in advance.
Sunday 20 September, 11am-4.15pm
Chiswick's free dog show returns
Seventeen classes range from Waggiest Tail and Best Groomed to My Dog's Got Talent at Chiswick House's annual community dog show. Entry is free, with money raised helping to care for the gardens; see the Chiswick House Dog Show programme.
What's On
Friday 21 August
Bring a craft project to Gunnersbury, 10.30am-12.30pm. Gunnersbury Park Museum's friendly textile group welcomes knitters, stitchers and crafters to bring a project, learn from each other and chat over tea. The session costs £3 including refreshments and needs no booking; see the Stitch, Knit & Craft details.
Saturday 22 August
See free dance and circus in Hounslow, 1pm and 3pm. Two performers mix dance, acrobatics and juggling in Otempodiz, a 55-minute outdoor show at Bell Square in Hounslow town centre. Both performances are free; choose a time through the Otempodiz event page.
Sunday 23 August
Try street food in Chiswick, 11am-4pm. FoodSt brings independent street-food traders to Chiswick's Old Market Place, with dishes including falafel, Turkish gözleme, Cape Malay curry, momos and crêpes. The market is free to enter; check the FoodSt listing before setting out.
Roadworks and Transport
Chesterfield Road signals from Friday: Multi-way temporary lights are due on Chesterfield Road from Friday 21 to Tuesday 25 August for Openreach work. Delays are possible while the signals are in place.
Field Lane signals start Monday: Multi-way temporary lights are planned on Field Lane from Monday 24 to Wednesday 26 August for Cadent gas work. Allow extra time through the area.
Great West Road lane closure next week: A lane closure is due on the Great West Road from Monday 24 to Tuesday 25 August for Vodafone work. Delays are possible while the restriction is active.