Playday, Rotherhithe Festival and vintage finds
Published Thursday 30 July 2026
Book a free Brunel Museum Playday, catch Saturday's festival and flea market, and get set for outdoor cinema on Canada Dock.
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Book a free family Playday at the Brunel Museum
The Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe hosts National Playday on Wednesday 5 August, from 10.30am-2.30pm. Families can try bridge-building challenges, Victorian games, a garden scavenger hunt, creative construction in the Tunnel Shaft and child-friendly museum tours.
Admission is free and activities are drop-in, but families must book a place before going. You can bring a picnic for the museum's lower garden.
Rotherhithe Festival fills King George's Fields
The free Rotherhithe Festival runs from 11.30am-8.30pm on Saturday 1 August at King George's Fields. The volunteer-led day includes live music, free children's rides and activities, and stalls from local groups and organisations.
Free films are coming to the floating stage
The Floating Cinema Club opens on Canada Dock in Canada Water at noon on Thursday 6 August with the family animation Elemental (PG). Free screenings continue from Wednesdays to Sundays through 30 August, with daytime family films and evening favourites including 50 First Dates, Ghostbusters and Mamma Mia!.
Dates For Your Diary
Saturday 8 to Sunday 30 August
Jazz & Soul on the floating stage
Canada Dock in Canada Water hosts free Jazz & Soul weekends, beginning with Mark Kavuma & The Banger Factory on Saturday 8 August and the Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir on Sunday 9 August. Sofar Sounds supports the programme, which continues with live music, food and vinyl takeovers later in the month.
Monday 31 August, 1-9pm
Bermondsey Carnival
The free Bermondsey Carnival returns to Southwark Park for the bank holiday. Artful Dodger headlines a day with performances on several stages, free funfair rides, children's entertainment, crafts, sport, food and local stalls.
Saturday 12 September, 11am-4pm
Surrey Docks Farm Harvest Festival
The Harvest Festival brings vegetable-themed games, Morris dancing, a barbecue, wood-fired pizza and farm-grown produce to Surrey Docks Farm. Entry remains free, while food and activities raise money for the farm.
What's On
Thursday 30 July
Jump to the Beat at Canada Water Library, 11-11.45am. Under-fives and their grown-ups can join a free story and rhyme session. There is no need to book.
Thursday 30 July to Saturday 1 August
Dockside Den at Canada Dock, Daytime. This week's free Dockside Den programme at Canada Dock in Canada Water has an interactive Brixton Chamber Orchestra session on Thursday (11.30am-3.30pm), drumming and art on Friday (11.30am-4pm), then Sharky & George games and postcard-making on Saturday (11am-4pm). No ticket is needed, though entry may pause if an activity reaches capacity.
Friday 31 July
Friday Social at T&T2, 1-3pm. People aged 55 and over can drop into Friday Social at T&T2 in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre for conversation, entertainment and group activities.
Saturday 1 August
Bottle Factory Flea Market, 10am-4pm. Browse vintage fashion, designer clothing, furniture and homeware from independent traders at the Bottle Factory Flea Market on Deal Porters Way in Canada Water.
Sunday 2 August
Guided tour of the Brunel Museum, 12.30pm. A 45-minute guided tour in Rotherhithe is included with Brunel Museum admission. Standard entry is £10, under-16s enter free and SE16 or SE8 residents pay £2.50; book the 12.30pm admission slot to secure a tour place.
Tuesday 4 August
Make a paper panpipe at the library, 2.30-3.30pm. Children aged 4 to 11 can make a paper panpipe inspired by ancient Greece at Canada Water Library's free Shake It Up! musical craft session. There is no need to book.
Roadworks and Transport
Clapham Junction branch closes on Sunday: Windrush line trains will not run between Wandsworth Road and Clapham Junction on Sunday 2 August. Other branches through Canada Water remain open; check TfL's planned closure timetable before travelling towards Clapham Junction.
Stop-and-go control on Bryan Road: Southwark works use stop-and-go boards on Bryan Road in Rotherhithe from 8am on Thursday 30 July to 5pm on Friday 31 July. Delays are possible while the carriageway is controlled.
Lower Road carriageway works next week: Thames Water works are due to occupy part of Lower Road's carriageway in Surrey Quays from 8am on Monday 3 August to 5pm on Wednesday 5 August. The permit records no traffic lights or closure, but allow a little extra time at busy periods.