This year, Urban Village Fete celebrates its 10th anniversary with a dynamic programme activated in and around London’s Design District on Greenwich Peninsula, a location that has formed a vital part of the festival for many years. On Sunday 18th May, the capital’s creative hub will host a vibrant mix of cultural experiences, culinary delights, and hands-on workshops. This year’s special edition Peninsulist Tote Bag has also been designed by Design District tenant, HEAD, the global sports brand with a focus, not only on performance, but also on connection. The design, which will be revealed at this year’s Fete, draws inspiration from the community and architecture of the District. These iconic bags, which will be released in limited quantities across the coming year, have become a symbol of creativity and innovation; screen-printed, collectible, and always in demand.
Urban Village Fete is a celebration of creativity and community, significantly shaped by much of its location being within Design District. The District plays a key role, not only visually, with its distinctive and varied architecture, but also through the inventive energy of the makers, designers and businesses based there day-to-day. Their presence adds a unique depth to the Fete, with programming that reflects the innovation happening within the District year-round. As the festival spills out across the District’s buildings and courtyards, the Fete becomes a natural extension and public expression of the abundant creative activity that underpins the purpose of the place.
Curated by Hemingway Design, the Fete brings together well-known performers and local talent in a space that is both inspiring and accessible. Over the past decade, it has grown into London’s largest free festival, a modern take on the traditional village fete, and Design District’s creative community continues to be a big part of what makes it so special.
Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy cultural experiences for all ages, from inspiring panel talks hosted by Robert Elms to hands-on workshops led by the District’s own makers and innovators, including pottery painting, hair braiding, and 3D printing. Food and drink are at the heart of it all, with Canteen Food Hall & Bar serving an array of global dishes and drinks, alongside sunset DJ sets, and Bureau Restaurant offering light bites and drinks, in addition to providing a drinks partnership for the talks, which take place just next door. Whether you’re learning a new craft or relaxing with a cocktail, the Fete captures the remarkable creative spirit of Design District.
Creative Conversations, the talk series hosted by Design District and presented by Robert Elms, will feature three engaging panels exploring timely topics across education, community, and fashion.
Rethinking Britain’s Education System: This panel brings together Bethany Koby, Founder of Fam Studio, and Simon Fenton, Deputy Principal at Escape Studios, for a dynamic discussion on reimagining traditional learning models in response to rapid technological change and an increasingly unpredictable future.
Community & Collaboration: This conversation features Mark Freeman, Founder of LOOSE.fm, Tamzyn French, CEO of Kinetika Bloco, and Ore Abiona, London Marketing Lead at On, as they explore the power of community-driven initiatives and the vital role of collaboration in shaping the creative industries.
Fashion: Street Style vs. Mainstream: Designer Max Bryder, artist Clara Chu, and designer and social entrepreneur Wayne Hemingway come together to explore the evolution of street fashion, its intersection with mainstream trends, and the influence of social media on personal style and self-expression.
In partnership with Bureau Restaurant, those who buy a Creative Conversations ticket will receive a complimentary soft drink, with a wide range of choice, from kombucha and coconut water to juices and San Pellegrino fizzies. Located just next door to the Design District talks venue, Bureau Restaurant is designed to bring people together and inspire creativity. Open throughout the day, the restaurant prioritises locally sourced and seasonally crafted food and drink, and will also be offering a variety of bar snacks and nibbles alongside signature cocktails and refreshing iced coffees from Extract Coffee Roasters, ideal for a midday break or an early evening wind-down.
Stepping outside of Bureau Restaurant and visitors will be greeted by a whole host of interactive, family-friendly workshops and activations, run by a wide range of the District’s creative tenants, celebrating the talents within…
Made by Manos: learn the art of tile-making in a ceramic workshop.
Stanley Watts: get festival-ready braids and feather hair extensions.
Pottery Studio LDN: time to be tactile with pinch pots and pottery painting.
Champion 3D: explore cutting-edge 3D printing demonstrations in the park.
Novellic: bring a book, take a book, at the Book Swap.
Method Studio: snap a £5 hand-drawn portrait – an artful keepsake of the day.
Brixton Ballers: wheelchair basketball reaches new players on London’s only rooftop court.
Entry to the Fete is free, but some workshops are ticketed.
Canteen Food Hall & Bar at The District
Nestled in the heart of Design District, Canteen Food Hall & Bar is one of the city’s most visually distinctive food halls. Home to six delicious global street food kitchens and its signature bar, Canteen promises a globally inspired culinary adventure – the perfect pit-stop for Urban Village Fete goers of all ages.
Diners can sample bold, international flavours from:
Greeko – traditional Greek dishes with a fresh, modern twist
Southern Soul – low ‘n’ slow smoked meats served in homemade buns, with pickles and sauces
Hermanos – classic Mexican street food, rich with spice and tradition
Juk Pou – London’s first Congee and Youtiao street food concept
Pasta Rebels – fresh pasta bowls bursting with flavour
Tapas Bravas – Spanish favourites, authentically prepared and full of flair
Sunset Sessions
As the sun sets over Greenwich Peninsula, the celebrations continue at Canteen Food Hall & Bar. From 7 pm to 10 pm, Canteen will transform into the ultimate evening hangout with Sunset Sessions. Attendees can expect feel-good music from LOOSE.fm’s top DJs, with special guests also set to feature, alongside mouthwatering dishes from Canteen’s global street food vendors, and hand-shaken cocktails and craft beer to enjoy on the terrace. Those who book tickets via Eventbrite before 17th May will receive 10% off drinks at the Canteen Bar.
Whether it’s sipping a Bureau Restaurant iced coffee in the spring sun or enjoying the vibrant fusion of flavours at Canteen Food Hall & Bar, Urban Village Fete’s 10th anniversary is the perfect excuse to discover all the delicious choices that Design District has to offer.
Karl Heasman, HEAD’s Senior Designer says: “We feel so lucky to be part of the Design District community, surrounded by brilliant creatives – from florists and potters to designers, photographers and AI innovators. Being asked to design this year’s Peninsulist Tote (launching at Urban Village Fete) was a real honour. We wanted the bag to celebrate the spirit, creativity, and unique energy of everyone who makes this place so special – and we hope you love it as much as we loved creating it!”
Maritza Masiello, Founder of Pottery Studio LDN, says: “Being part of Urban Village Fete is an incredible opportunity for Pottery Studio LDN to directly engage with the amazing amount of festival goers on site at Design District throughout the day. Hosting these workshops, which invite people to get creative and experience the hands-on joy that defines Pottery Studio LDN, is just one of the many benefits of being a tenant at Design District, where collaboration, creativity, and connection are part of our daily life. It’s so motivating to be around innovative people who strive to do things differently, and it definitely inspires us in our own practice.”
