Two-weekends of talks, walks and films — in and about Hackney — celebrate the east London borough's history this summer.
Taking place at various museums, cinemas and historic venues between 10-11 May and 17-18 May 2025, the second annual Hackney History Festival welcomes a series of experts to illuminate you on the area's past, with stories of hunting grounds, music halls, gentrification and squatters. Among the happenings over the four days in May are:
- Amir Dotan's talk on looking out for local history clues — think coal hole covers, old boundary markers, servants' doorbells and boot scrapers (10 May)
- Lucinda Rogers shares and discusses her drawings of the traders of Ridley Road Market (11 May)
- A panel about the famous Dalston Peace Mural, featuring Roland Walker and Alan May, two of the figures who feature in it (17 May)
- A guided walk through Hackney’s Stone Age landscape, exploring locations that reveal the stories of the humans (and animals) that once roamed the area (18 May)
All talks and walks cost just £3 each, or — if you're in the mood for a history-learning marathon — you can get a talk day pass for £15.
Other satellite events take place before, during and after the official festival including:
- A tour of the Mildmay Club (formerly the Mildmay Radical Club), featuring a short talk from Pete Brown, author of Clubland: How the Working Men’s Club Shaped Britain (8 May)
- A free guided tour of Frank Matcham's grand Hackney Empire (9 May)
- A trip along the Regent's Canal, courtesy of Laburnum Boat Tours and Carolyn Clark, author of The East End Canal Tales (17 May)
- A Rio Cinema documentary double bill of Save our Heritage and Hands Off, Winstan Whitter's films about the regeneration of Hackney ahead of the 2012 Games (24 May)
Hackney History Festival, 10-11 May and 17-18 May 2025. Satellite events take place before and after these dates.
