Curated · updated weekly
What's on
The markets, craft events, exhibitions and small, lovely things worth your time — hand-picked, never the tourist-trap stuff. If it's here, we'd go ourselves.
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All of the UKLondon · 25South East · 27South West · 27East of England · 21West Midlands · 22East Midlands · 31Yorkshire · 33North West · 25North East · 21Wales · 21Scotland · 33Northern Ireland · 1
All upcoming in the South East
ExhibitionUntil 18 Oct · Eastbourne
Comrades in Art: Artists Against Fascism
The definitive show on Britain's 1930s anti-fascist artists' movement, uniting eleven founding members' work with Nash, Knight and Pissarro.
Towner Eastbourne, Devonshire Park, College Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4JJ£5.50–£11 (under-25s free; pay-what-you-can first Friday of the month; Towner members free)
ExhibitionUntil 1 Nov · Chichester
British Landscapes: A Sense of Place
Sixty-plus artists' takes on Britain's coasts and countryside, from 18th-century idylls to unsettled modern views, in a Georgian townhouse gallery.
Pallant House Gallery, 9 North Pallant, Chichester, PO19 1TJ£14 (Art Fund members £7.25; under-18s, students & Gallery Friends free)
CultureUntil 22 Nov · Canterbury
The Making of Marlowe: Poet, Playwright, Provocateur
An interactive Beaney exhibition on Christopher Marlowe's short, scandal- shadowed life, built around artefacts you won't see displayed elsewhere.
The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge, 18 High Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2RAFree entry (donations welcome)
FamilyUntil 8 Nov · Dorking
Moominvalley Trail at Polesden Lacey
A gentle garden trail through the National Trust's Surrey estate, meeting the Moomin family among the borders and woodland.
Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6BDFree with garden admission (Adult £14 / Child £7 / Family £35; free for National Trust members)
Family👋 Meet peopleUntil 12 Oct · Sevenoaks
Babyccino Coffee Morning & Storytime at Knole
Weekly babyccinos, toys and storytime for under-5s in Knole's Brewhouse — a soft landing for meeting other parents.
Knole, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0RP (Brewhouse Café and Bookshop)Free with normal admission (Outdoor & Tower ticket around £6; free for National Trust members)
Family👋 Meet peopleUntil 8 Nov · Brighton
The Story Trail
Thirty giant, artist-painted BookBenches turn Brighton and Hove's streets and parks into a free citywide trail.
Streets, parks and open spaces across Brighton and Hove, Brighton, BN1Free
ExhibitionTue 15 – Sat 19 Sept · Winchester
Wild! A Festival of Flowers and Nature
A once-every-four-years flower festival fills Winchester Cathedral's ancient nave with wild, immersive floral art.
Winchester Cathedral, 9 The Close, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9LSFrom £19
Food & drinkFri 18 – Sat 19 Sept · Oxford
The Oxford Wine Festival
A weekend of wine tasting in Oxford's grand Examination Schools, with your first ten tasting vouchers included in the ticket.
Oxford University Examination Schools, 81 High Street, Oxford OX1 4ASFrom £24.50 (includes first 10 tastings)
Outdoors👋 Meet peopleSat 19 Sept · Birchington
Great British Beach Clean: Minnis Bay
Join the Marine Conservation Society's flagship beach clean and litter survey on the Kent coast — dogs, kids and beginners all genuinely welcome.
Northern Sea Wall, Minnis Bay, Birchington-on-Sea, Kent, meet outside Minnis Bay Bar & Brasserie, The Parade, CT7 9QPFree (registration required)
OutdoorsSat 19 – Sun 20 Sept · Maidstone
Paws in the Park: Kent Show
The UK's largest outdoor dog show marks its 20th year at Kent Showground, with agility, flyball and more than 30 have-a-go activities.
The Kent Showground, Detling, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3JF£14 in advance / £16 on the gate; dogs go free
Food & drink👋 Meet peopleSat 19 Sept · Reading
Reading Vegan Festival
Forty-plus vegan food and craft stalls fill Reading's Market Place for a free, all-day plant-based graze.
Market Place & Broad Street, Reading, BerkshireFree entry
Outdoors👋 Meet peopleSat 19 – Sun 20 Sept · Portsmouth
Send It 100
Two days of skate jams, vert ramp showcases and free beginner coaching at Portsmouth's indoor skatepark, marking the city's 100th year.
Pitt St. Skatepark, 315 Commercial Road, Portsmouth, PO1 4AYEarly bird from £25 for adults, under-5s free
Music👋 Meet peopleSun 20 Sept · Brighton
Sylvan Esso: Ow ∞ Album Launch In-Store
An intimate in-store performance from electronic duo Sylvan Esso marking the release of their new album, on the shop floor of Brighton's Resident Music.
Resident Music, 27-28 Kensington Gardens, North Laine, Brighton BN1 4ALFrom £20 (ticket includes the new album)
Craft & making👋 Meet peopleSun 20 Sept · Winchester
Winchester Art & Design Market
A monthly street market of original art and craft — jewellery, ceramics, textiles, prints — sold by the makers themselves through Winchester's old town.
The Broadway, Winchester, HampshireFree to browse
ExhibitionFri 2 – Sun 4 Oct · Brighton
Photoworks Festival: Un/Stable
Opening weekend of Brighton's international photography festival, spread across museums and city-wide venues.
Venues across Brighton & Hove, including Brighton Museums and University of Brighton spacesMany events free; check individual venues
Food & drinkFri 2 – Sun 4 Oct · Broadstairs
Broadstairs Autumn Food Festival
A free coastal food festival with around 100 stalls of artisan bread, preserves, Kent cider and street food, plus live music at the bandstand.
Victoria Gardens, 5-6 Victoria Parade, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 1QLFree entry
ExhibitionUntil 11 Apr · Oxford
Mike Nelson at Modern Art Oxford
The elusive British sculptor returns to Modern Art Oxford for his first show there in over two decades, with a major new immersive installation.
Modern Art Oxford, 30 Pembroke Street, Oxford OX1 1BPFree admission
Market👋 Meet peopleSat 3 Oct · Brighton
Brighton's Makers Market
A free, dog-friendly pop-up market of local makers and small businesses in the heart of Brighton's North Laine.
Jubilee Square, Brighton BN1 1GEFree entry
ExhibitionUntil 24 Jan · Margate
Sophie Calle: Something Missing?
The first UK show in over fifteen years from one of contemporary art's great chroniclers of absence and loss.
Turner Contemporary, Rendezvous, Margate, Kent CT9 1HGFree
SeasonalUntil 31 Oct · Epsom
Malice in Lavenderland: Pumpkin Patch & Spooky Trail
A pick-your-own pumpkin patch, ghost train and fantastical Halloween trail through the grounds of Mayfield's Secret Lavender Garden near Epsom.
Mayfield's Secret Lavender Garden, Reigate Road, Epsom, Surrey KT17 3DWFrom £9.25 (ages 4+); under-2s free
MarketSun 11 Oct · Winchester
Winchester Farmers' Market
One of the UK's largest farmers' markets, with Hampshire's producers filling the High Street twice a month.
High Street & Middle Brook Street, Winchester, Hampshire SO23Free entry
Outdoors👋 Meet peopleTue 13 Oct · Dorking
Dog Walking Group at Polesden Lacey
A monthly group ramble round the National Trust estate, dogs on and off lead, humans included.
Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham, near Dorking, Surrey RH5 6BDFree for National Trust members; standard estate admission applies for non-members (from around £15 adult)
Outdoors👋 Meet peopleWed 14 Oct · Godalming
Winkworth Arboretum Guided Autumn Walk
A free, volunteer-led walk through Winkworth's maple groves at the peak of autumn colour — an easy, sociable way to spend a Surrey morning outdoors.
Winkworth Arboretum, Hascombe Road, Godalming, Surrey GU8 4ADIncluded in admission (£15 adult; free for National Trust members)
Craft & making👋 Meet peopleThu 15 Oct · Chichester
Thursday Late: Life Drawing
A drop-in life drawing session with tutor Wendy Barratt as part of Pallant House Gallery's evening opening — no experience or booking needed.
Pallant House Gallery, 9 North Pallant, Chichester PO19 1TJ£7.50 (included in Thursday Late admission)
Music👋 Meet peopleFri 16 Oct · Portsmouth
Willy Mason at The Wedgewood Rooms
American singer-songwriter Willy Mason plays Portsmouth's best-loved small venue, a proper back-to-basics gig for people who like their music close up.
The Wedgewood Rooms, 147B Albert Road, Southsea, Portsmouth PO4 0JWSee seetickets.com for ticket price
FamilyUntil 1 Nov · Horsham
The Potion Master's Quest
A half-term trail through Leonardslee's autumn gardens — riddles, hidden letters and an obstacle course to earn the title of Potion Master.
Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens, Brighton Road, Lower Beeding, Horsham RH13 6PPIncluded with garden admission — adult from £15.50, child (2-16) from £8.50, family ticket from £43
Market👋 Meet peopleTue 3 Nov · Guildford
Guildford Farmers' Market
Over 50 local producers set up stalls the length of Guildford's historic High Street.
High Street, Guildford, Surrey GU1Free entry
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