This greenhouse is just one of many facets of the Southbank Centre’s Festival of Neighbourhood.
London is a big city and sometimes the hustle and bustle, along with the British stiff upper lip, can make you lose the sense of community.
Using installations, exhibitions and activities, the Southbank Centre has set out to celebrate the notion of a local community by portraying a warm and cosy neighbourhood atmosphere. The weekends are packed with people, and what’s really nice is to see loads of families out. It’s being pitched as London’s ‘friendliest neighbourhoods’ and from what I saw I think they have succeeded.
Among the main features, an ‘urban garden’, made up of allotments, trees, a greenhouse and foliage sculptures, can be seen scattered along the River Thames along with a ‘beach’ that has proven to be extremely popular with both kids and adults alike. Children can be seen making sand castles while the grown ups take an opportunity to soak up the rare London sunshine.
It’s part of a three-month annual festival that features different themed weekends. Worry not if you miss it because the South Bank offers a range of continuous rotation of activities and fairs all year round.
