Welcome

Back to school and college this week for many - but the highlight of the week is surely Antiques Roadshow in Stephens House & Gardens on the telly last night.

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And a Finchleyite who used to date Taylor Swift. Have a good week, everyone.

🏛 3 Must-see Finchley Telly Slots

Finchley is a regular on the small screen, with Antiques Roadshow leading the way as its experts uncover hidden treasures against the backdrop of local landmarks.

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Antiques Roadshow

Last night, Antiques Roadshow screened the visit to Stephens House & Gardens “an idyllic park in the heart of Finchley, north London.” Remember that fabulously sunny day back in June? (Check the photos).

Remarkable finds range from silver salt cellars nearly discarded to a £5 Chinese statuette. Highlights include a Duncan Grant still life, walnut miniatures, a 17th-century signet ring, and a Picasso jug.

Treasures also feature a perfect miniature suit of armour, a rare Inuit invention, and a wartime medal for saving St Paul’s Cathedral. Pop culture expert Claire Tole-Moir pits Fiona Bruce against Bowie memorabilia in a lively ‘Basic, Better, Best’. Watch here. BBC iplayer​

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Long Walk to Finchley

​The Long Walk to Finchley (2008) is a satirical drama exploring Margaret Thatcher’s early political career. Set in post-war Britain, it follows her journey from a grocer’s daughter to Conservative candidate for Finchley.

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The film portrays her ambition, resilience, and determination to break through a male-dominated political establishment, blending sharp humour with historical insight. It offers a lively, sometimes irreverent, look at Thatcher’s struggles and rise, revealing the personal sacrifices behind her political ascent. As far as I can tell, not filmed in Finchley, but deeply about Finchley.

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Shaun of the Dead

Remember Shaun of the Dead? A downtrodden London salesman(Simon Pegg) caught alongside his loved ones in a zombie apocolypse?

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All filmed around Finchley and the surrounding areas. Shaun’s house is at 83 Weston Park, Crouch End, and he works at Foree Electrics, which is actually Garland Electronics on 763-765 High Road, North Finchley (still in business). Shaun’s mum Barbara and step-dad Philip (played by Penelope Wilton and Bill Nighy respectively) live at 37 Abbots Gardens, on a quiet little slice of suburban paradise in East Finchley. Cameos from Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross.

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You might be tempted by The Long Walk to Finchley or Shaun of the Dead, but let’s be honest - you’re really itching to hit replay on Antiques Roadshow and its treasure-hunting drama. 🏛

Events

ARTS

Saturday 13th September

​30 Years of Komiko | Sat, Sep. 13 | 7:00 pm to | Millfield Theatre, Silver Street, Edmonton, N18 1PJ | £31.50 | Komiko, joined by special guest Bigg Frankii, delivers a fresh, hilarious live show packed with cultural references, playful satire, and feel-good musical moments. From laugh-out-loud sketches to cheeky improv and that unmistakable island energy - this is a night that brings the community together and keeps the good vibes flowing.

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Thursday 18th September

​London Pride | Thu, Sep. 18 | 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm | Jacksons Lane Arts Centre, 269A Archway Road, N6 5SS | £17 | The Bridge Presents, in collaboration with the Noël Coward Foundation, London Pride, by Mark Akrill.

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MUSIC

Saturday 13th September

​OperaCocktail | Sat, Sep. 13 | 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | artsdepot | From £19 | A delicious cocktail of opera classics by Puccini, Mozart, Verdi and more, in sparkling English translations with a contemporary twist, performed by the UK’s brightest and best.

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Saturday 20th September

​How The Light Gets In Festival | Sat, Sep. 20 | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | Kenwood, Hampstead Ln, NW3 7JR | Various prices | This September, the world’s largest philosophy and music festival comes to the historic grounds of Kenwood House. HowTheLightGetsIn brings together over 200 visionary speakers and performers across eight vibrant stages for a weekend of debate, discovery and cultural celebration.

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OLDER PEOPLE

Thursday 11th September

Beginners Bridge Classes | Thu, Sep. 11 | 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm | Tarling Road, N2 8LB | £64 for 8 weeks | A new beginners bridge class takes place every Thursday for over 55s. Email.

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Monday 15th September

​North London U3A Open Morning | Monday, September 15 | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | St Margaret’s Church, Victoria Avenue, N3 | This event is free, but an annual subscription is required for membership. | The Open Morning is our opportunity to promote what we have to offer to retired and semi-retired members of the public from Finchley, Highgate and Muswell Hill, or further afield. We offer a range of activities, from subjects like literature and languages to more energetic pursuits, such as yoga and walks. Additionally, we host purely social events.

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KIDS

Saturday 13th September

​Onestonegrove Summer Party | Sat, Sep. 13 | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | 5 Hayling Way, HA8 8BN | Free | Come to OneStonegrove for an afternoon of pure joy. Imagine this: sunshine, delicious treats, great tunes, happy faces, and so much more.

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​Puzzle Pandamonium | Sat, Sep. 13 | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | 226 High Road, East Finchley, N2 9BB | £3 | Create your own puzzles and games using items in the Mystery Box.

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NATURE

Saturday 6th September

​Garden Show | Sat, Sep. 6 | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | St John’s Church Hall, Mowbray Road, EN5 1RH | £2 | This is New Barnet Amateur Gardeners & Floral Art Society’s Autumn Show. Flower and vegetable exhibits, plant and bulb sales, honey, tea and homemade cake. A community event - will be attended by the Mayor of Barnet.

Events - Book Ahead

Saturday 27th September

​Gorilla Circus: RPM | Sat, Sep. 27 | 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm | artsdepot | From £19 | A mesmeric new show exploring Britain's colonial legacy through exhilarating acrobatics, adrenaline-pumping street dance and breath-taking roller skating, all set on a giant moving treadmill.

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Monday 29th September

​Cafely Celebrates Coffee Culture on National Coffee Day | Mon, Sep. 29 | Cafely, 61-63 Woodhouse Road, N12 9ET | Free entry | Cafely Celebrates Coffee Culture on National Coffee Day. Get ready to raise a mug to the brew that brings us together - National Coffee Day is here, and it’s a celebration 300 years in the making.

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Saturday 4th October

​Camden Oktoberfest | Sat, Oct. 04 | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Electric Ballroom, 184 Camden High Street, NW1 8QP | £12.55 | Get ready for Camden Oktoberfest 2025 — bigger, bolder, and beerier than ever. We’ve got a fresh new look, but the same wild energy you love. Expect massive steins, bratwursts, Bavarian beats, and non-stop party vibes in the heart of London.

Local Lowdown

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Tracking

• Tube trains go live. A cool interactive map shows the real-time locations of Underground and Elizabeth line trains as they move across London. Zoom in, scroll around, and hover over a carriage to see exactly where it is between stations. It’s oddly addictive - trainspotting without leaving the sofa.

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Celebrating

• Colourful times ahead. Roe Green Park in Kingsbury will host the vibrant Rangeelu Gujarat festival from 5-7th September. Expect music, dance, and food celebrating Gujarati culture. Organisers agreed to strict sound rules - no louder than 65 decibels and later Friday starts - to keep the neighbours and Kingsbury High happy.

Welcoming

• Game day heroes. The Saracens Pioneer programme has welcomed fans since 2013. They help make StoneX one of Europe’s friendliest rugby stadiums. Pioneers guide, greet, and keep everyone safe - from bus stops to fan zones. Fancy joining the team? Applications are open to help shape the match-day magic.

Merging

• Big NHS news. North Central London and North West London Integrated Care Boards are joining together. This will form England’s largest health board, serving 4.5 million residents. Leaders say the merger will lower costs, strengthen resilience, and address health inequalities. It will also improve patient access. Fewer committees, more care - hopefully.

Managing

• Brent Cross Town wants you. Barnet Council is opening a new community space. They need a smart local operator, like a voluntary group or CIC, to manage it from the start. Email transformingbx@barnet.gov.uk to grab the brief.

The Finchleyite: Joe Alwyn

Actor Joe Alwyn might be crying into his North London beer now that ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift is engaged to NFL star partner Travis Kelce.

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Joe, raised in Highgate, attended City of London Boys School before studying English and drama. He now lives in Crouch End – and previously shared a six-bedroom townhouse in Primrose Hill with Taylor.

Breaking through with Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016), he went on to acclaimed roles in The Favourite, Mary Queen of Scots, Harriet, and Conversations with Friends.

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Alongside acting, he co-wrote songs on Taylor Swift’s albums and is thought to be the inspiration behind Taylor’s 2019 track London Boy, from the album Lover "you can find me in the pub, we are watching rugby with his school friends."

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The Spaniards Inn in Hampstead was thought to be the couple’s favourite pub.

Editors' Note - From Sasha

Been busy this week working with neighbours in the community to talk to Barnet about the new bus lanes on Regents Park Road.

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We have enlisted the support of local councillors and Sarah Sackman MP, culminating in this weekend's (30 - 31 August) second phase work being paused pending review.

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There is serious concern about pedestrian and driver safety, based on narrow lanes, narrow parking spaces, traffic straddling "the middle of the road line" and hazardous pinch points.

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If you'd like to join the Regents Park Road Bus Lane WhatsApp group link is here (wrong link last week).

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Also, let us know about local events or local news. We curate our content to keep it a 5-minute read, so can't include everything we're sent.

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You can now get a guaranteed (paid) listing for local events or local lowdown/news items.

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​And email us with any projects or ideas you'd like us to write about.

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Tessa Davis Sasha Frieze