25 Fun Things To Do in Elephant & Castle
See Some Stunning Street Art At The Piazza
There’s currently an incredible mural at Elephant market Piazza. The impressive artwork was created by the talented Abraham Osorio as part of a collaboration with E&C to capture the spirit of Mercato Metropolitano and its much loved local community. It’s well worth a look!
Float Down The Riverbank At Southwark Playhouse
Southwark Playhouse is showing the classic tale of Window In The Willows this January. You can join the adventures of Ratty, Mole, Toad, Badger and a host of hilarious characters, as the Southwark Players (one of our two Elders Companies) bring the classic tale of friendship, fun and ferrets to life. Brilliantly and hilariously adapted by Alan Bennett in his signature style, this adventure is suitable for people and animals of all ages (definitely not just children).
Take A Cooking Class With Migrateful
UK charity, Migrateful, is coming to the E&C Community Kitchen in Febuary, with family classes led by Chef Yasemin from Turkey. Migrateful’s mission is to empower and celebrate refugees and vulnerable migrants on their journey to integration, by supporting them to run their own cookery classes. The classes offer a unique opportunity to create great-looking, thumb-stopping, hard-to-find dishes in a beautiful setting, as well as share your experience with other foodies and of course enjoy the food with new and interesting people - including the chefs who share their personal stories and insights with you!
Shop The Sale SoLo Craft Fair
SoLo Craft Fair, who are normally known for their popup markets across South London, operate an independent gift shop in Elephant & Castle, on behalf of their makers. Each month the shop plays host to over 60 small businesses selling everything from art to fashion to homeware and more. This January SoLo Craft Fair are offering a free candle worth £15 to every customer who spends over £40 in store. You can head over there and pick out your favourite scent, then get shopping and earn that reward!
See The Southwark Playhouse Rendition of Shakespeare’s Hamlet
The Lazarus Theatre Company have pulled together a diverse ensemble for their new production of Hamlet. Told through the eyes and experience of the young characters (yes, the adults are gone) Shakespeare’s monumental play comes to the stage in this ravishing, modern, physical and fast paced ensemble production. Denmark will never be the same again. Hamlet at the Southwark Playhouse is a 90-minute powerhouse of a classic text in a modernised coat that captivated throughout every moment of the play. You can catch it until the 4th of February.
Indulge In Some Wine and Cheese Tasting
Wine and cheese is a match made in heaven but finding the perfect coupling for each wine and cheese can be one of life’s more delicious endeavours. On the 26th January Santo Grill and Wine at the Enoteca in Mercato Elephant & Castle are offering guests a unique Cheese & Wine experience, celebrating small wine merchants, led by founder of Mouse & Grape, cheesemonger and sommelier, Jessica Summer.
Take Your Baby To BB Broadway
BB Broadway is an independent theatre school, established in 2020 by professional actress and singer Bethany Alice Black offering theatre and sensory classes for children aged 3 months-16 years. They run classes every Wednesday morning in the tearoom space at Mercato Metropolitano, Elephant & Castle, with plenty of places to grab a coffee and cake after class and a drop in Saturday class for all of the family!
Try Ethiopian Cuisine At Beza for Veganuary
Beza is an independent restaurant in Elephant Park. Having originally ran as a stall at Camden Market before opening a pop-up in Elephant Castle, Beza's first bricks and mortar restaurant serves food packed full of spice and flavour while also managing to be incredibly healthy. Beza, founded by Beza Berhanu, serves a fully-vegan menu cooked with ingredients and spices imported from Ethiopia. Everything on the menu is authentic Ethiopian, and each dish is flavour-packed served with rice or injera – a sourdough flatbread. This means that Beza is a great spot to visit whether you're just wanting a light lunch or fancy a hearty meal.
Drink Coffee and Play Chess at Mercato Metropolitano
Mercato Metropolitano is hosting a weekly Chess and Coffee get-together for the London Chess Club, every Sunday morning 10am-4pm. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a chess master, you can pop along and find someone on your level to play against. The chess mornings are free and there will be excellent food and drinks available from the café at Mercato Metropolitano. Chess boards are provided, but participants are also free to bring their own.
Take The Elephant Trail
If you’ve ever wondered about all the elephant sculptures around Elephant and Castle then this is your chance to discover their stories. Starting at Castle Square, (a short walk from both Elephant & Castle overground and tube stations), you can pick up crayons and jotter pads from the Castle Square traders as you move around the trail uncovering the eye-catching elephants’ tales.There are ten gloriously colourful and patterned elephants to be found across the Elmer Trail London as it leads you through some of the area’s local hotspots, like the two-acre park, and our natural play area Elephant Springs.
Head down to Four Quarters and play to win someone’s heart!
This Elephant and Castle arcade bar opened in August 2021 as one of the original businesses at Elephant Park. You will find over 20 original arcade and pinball machines, 2 big-screen gaming setups, and 4 inside and 4 outside console booths! All of these are original machines with an extensive list of nostalgic retro games. At their alternative speed dating evening participants in will be provided with a bag of quarters to play on the arcade games during or after their dates. The event begins at 8pm lasts until 9:30pm with a 15 minute refreshment break. The speed dating events occur every 2 weeks and are suitable for people aged 21-30. Tickets cost £15 and go fast, so book in advance to avoid disappointment!
Explore Elephant Springs
In 2021 Elephant & Castle opened what they call their urban oasis at the heart of Elephant Park – Elephant Springs. They created a natural landscape, a place where rock formations leap from the ground and water fountains spring up as if London had formed its very own natural geyser! In the winter months, sandpits, slides and natural rocky climbing areas keep kids of all ages entertained, while hammocks provide a restful place for accompanying adults to grab a breath of fresh air and slice of nature.
Take the kids to Free Dance Classes
Upside Down Dance Academy at the St John’s Centre, Larcom Street, offers opportunities to all children (from 6 years old) and young people of all levels to access Hip Hop dance education as well as explore other cultural street dance styles. Taught by the best teachers in the UK and finest dancers and choreographers worldwide.
Days and times: Tuesdays at 5.30 pm
Duration: 1h
Visit The Imperial War Museum
You can visit the best conflict museum in the country, retelling stories of some of the most defining moments of our history. IWM London, located on Lambeth Road, London, was founded during the First World War and since then it has gathered an incredible wealth of history that should be experienced by anyone spending time in the area. It is suitable and fascinating for visitors of all ages. Plus, admission is free!
Join Feed Me Good
Mercato Metropolitano is one of the biggest street food spots in London and is one of the best things to do in Elephant and Castle. Housed in an abandoned paper factory, this one is the original of the Mercato Movement. This January they are collaborating with Nureen Glaves, Author, Founder/ CEO of Feed Me Good. Nureen will be hosting a series of cooking classes for people in the local community from 10.30am-1pm on January 19, 20, 26 & 27 and February 2 & 3.
Feed Me Good pride themselves on engaging hard to reach groups such as black and ethnic minorities, young people, people struggling with Mental Health, homeless and sheltered living residents, people with learning difficulties and disabilities.
Enjoy Jazz and Dinner at Toulouse Lautrec
Toulouse Lautrec is certain to hit the sweet spot. The food is divine, and the ambience is on-point. Dine in the relaxed piano bar and enjoy the soothing musical tones -ideal for pre-theatre food or drinks – or head upstairs to the jazz club for French dishes, with live jazz performances.From a scrumptious duck confit burger or wild mushroom cassoulet, this place knows its French food and doesn’t disappoint.
Relax At The Tibetan Peace Garden
You can escape the hustle and hubris of south London with a brief respite in the Tibetan Peace Garden. Opened in 1999 by the Tibet Foundation, incorporating sculptures and carvings by artist Hamish Horsley, to coincide with a visit by the Dalai Lama. Located in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth park just in front of the impressive Imperial War Museum, the Garden of Contemplation is inspired by Buddhist teachings, based on a Dharma wheel with four outer formations to represent paths for the elements of earth, fire, air and water. The Tibetan Peace Garden is free to visit and is a fitting and peaceful place for thoughts and contemplation.
Take A Tour Of The Cinema Museum
The Cinema Museum holds a collection of artefacts, memorabilia and equipment telling the history of cinema from the 1890s to the present. It is open by tour only while the museum raises funds to secure its future. Among the displays are cinema seats and signs, stills and posters, projectors and other machinery. This incredible looking and historic building is home to one of the UK’s largest collections of film and cinema memorabilia, began in 1986 using the once private collections of Martin Humphries and Ronald Grant. Tours must be booked in advance by phone or email, as there is limited availability. They last for approximately two hours, including a screening of about thirty minutes of short films.
Go On A Blind Date with a Book
The SoLo Craft Fair Shop at Elephant Stores on Ash Avenue offers blind dates with books on select Sunday’s between 29 January - 25 June 2023. Blind books are books with their covers hidden under wrapping paper, with only a few written details describing what you can expect from your book date. Everyone who attends can choose a book based purely on its 'personality'. Will you be choosing a dangerous, classic or romantic date? And what's better still, it will be free to meet your date and take them home with you! As all books are secondhand the concept is completely sustainable and doesn't cost anything to those taking part.
Explore Castle Square
Found at the heart of Elephant and Castle and on the edge of Elephant Park, you’ll know when you’ve arrived at Castle Square as you’re greeted with dozens of elephant sculptures and installations. Comprising around 20 local stalls and traders, Castle Square is all about small businesses so there are none of the usual chains or high street brands – a welcome relief compared to most new developments. Castle Square also has a huge outdoor seating area, where you can enjoy your takeout amongst the elephants – South London’s very own safari!
See The Michael Faraday Memorial
The Michael Faraday Memorial in Elephant and Castle is not strictly a memorial or an installation. It is a huge stainless steel box in the middle of Elephant Square roundabout.
Unveiled in the early 1960s – the interior of the colossal metal cube contains an electrical substation for the Bakerloo and Northern TFL lines respectively, a fitting and functional use for an installation dedicated to one of the founding fathers of harnessing electricity.
Play At The Treehouse Pavilion
The Treehouse at Elephant Park is a community space for everyone to enjoy. Within the building is a room which can be booked for events. There is a brand-new café kiosk operated by local favourite; Hana Coffee, and there are accessible public toilets which will be open between 10am-6pm. Head up to the first floor and you'll find a large public roof terrace which can be accessed by two staircases or a lift. The roof terrace gives visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the tree canopy, relax and take in the view across the park and Elephant Springs. You can grab yourself a drink or a picnic from one of our retailers and enjoy the leafy surroundings.
Explore Walworth Square
Located at the end of Sayer Street and part of Elephant Park, Walworth Square is home to various businesses, shops and restaurants plus pop-up activities. Most recently, Walworth Square has unveiled a new 6 metre long war memorial and sculpture, designed by Scottish sculptor Kenny Hunter depicting a boy standing on a fallen tree, with the dedication “Against the armour of the storm I’ll hold my human barrier” – a line from a WWII poem.
Wonder Around East Street Market
One of London’s oldest street markets. The East Street Market (or The Lane as it known locally) has been running since the 1880s and is where locals go to get fruit and veg, cheap fabrics, toys and clothing and knock-off perfumes, there are also several street food stalls towards the far end of East Street market for you to check out.
