Welcome to Wandsworth

Urban Flow, photo by Attakkalari.

Have you heard that Wandsworth is the Mayor of London’s London Borough of Culture 2025?

The Mayor of London’s London Borough of Culture award brings Londoners together and puts culture at the heart of local communities, where it belongs. It shines a light on the character and diversity of London’s boroughs and brings culture to everyone, so that all Londoners have the chance to be part of something extraordinary.

Carmen Munroe, photo by Anne Purkiss

In 2025 the honour has gone to Wandsworth, and we are planning a spectacular year celebrating the borough’s rich and vibrant culture and heritage from April 2025 to March 2026.

We are proud to be the hosts of the world-famous Boat Race, which has started in Putney since 1836. Putney has a proud heritage in rowing and is home to some of the UK’s top rowing clubs.

Imagineer Streets of Cov, photo by Andrew Moore

Artists, creatives, performers, volunteers, makers and members of the local community will come together to make 2025 a year to remember. Culture is for everyone, which is why the programme is full of free and low-cost events to benefit residents with the least resources.

Our aim is to harness the power of culture to connect people, celebrate our heritage, engage and nourish young talent and improve health and wellbeing.

Dancer photographed by Alvira Rebecca Cresta;Battersea Park in Concert; We hope our London Borough of Culture programme will be a trailblazer for London becoming a Creative Health Capital City – a place where better health outcomes are achieved through the power of culture and the arts.

And we want to leave a legacy of better art and culture networks, future creative opportunities and healthier and happier residents.

The Leader of Wandsworth Council, Simon Hogg said: “Our year as the London Borough of Culture is a fantastic opportunity to showcase and foster all the incredible talent and creative energy we have in Wandsworth. I hope as many people as possible get involved and make this a year to remember”.

Highlights include:

Wandsworth Arts Fringe

The borough’s annual arts extravaganza will be bigger and better than ever before with events popping up in some surprising locations. The festival is openaccess and anyone with a story to tell and a venue to host can put on an event.

Liberty Festival

An incredible inclusive festival that will celebrate D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists in Wandsworth and across London.

Urban Flow

A Roehampton-based event which will combine dance, martial arts, music and a silk flag procession.

Clapham Grand: A Palace of Varieties

A fabulous variety show to celebrate the area’s heritage and the 125th anniversary of an iconic venue.

Wandsworth Heritage Festival

This event includes walks, talks and performance workshops. Storytellers will capture the voices and memories of Caribbean and South Asian elders. Later in the year there will be events celebrating Black and South Asian history and heritage, celebrations on our housing estates in Battersea and Roehampton, and community-led events across the borough.