Cor, blimey guvnor: get your Hobson's ready for a sing-song, and your chips prepped for a knees-up as the Cockney Heritage Festival comes to town.
From 18 to 27 July, the Cockney Heritage Festival arrives in Tower Hamlets, celebrating Cockney language and culture, old and new. It's organised by the Tower Hamlets Local History Library and the Cockney Heritage Trust.
A winning combination of exhibitions, events, film screenings, walks and talks makes up the packed programme. Several of the happenings in the 19-page guide feature pie and mash. And multiple cups of rosy. Many events are child-friendly, and even more are free.
Our particular highlights include panel debate "Cockneys: Dead or Reincarnated?" featuring Stepney-born musician Jah Wobble; a book reading by Eddie Johnson, former landlord of the celebrated Two Puddings pub in Stratford; and a film screening of East End Babylon by Jeff and Mick Geggus from the Cockney Rejects.
Little londonists can make a "Pearly" memento at the Museum of Childhood; while everyone can take part in the tea dances and sing-alongs hosted across the borough from Victoria Park to Chrisp Street Market.
The festival finale promises to be a good old fashioned knees-up at Bethnal Green Working Men's Club.
The Cockney Heritage Festival runs from 18 to 27 July at various venues across Tower Hamlets. Visit ideastore.co.uk for a full version of the festival's programme.
