Festival of Britain: Poplar 2026

This summer, Poplar is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Festival of Britain through a series of free, community-focused activities across E14.
Events will be added as they are confirmed, so keep an eye on this webpage for updates.

**Download our full programme HERE**

Lansbury show home
Exhibition runs from August to September 2026
Venue: Poplar Union

A recreation of the Lansbury Estate’s show home. See how a living room would have looked in 1951. What do the furnishings tell us about the lives of its inhabitants? Meet the family, and they’ll tell you themselves!

To book a visit email: info@poplarunion.com or call at: 020 3039 3333

Festival of Britain: Present & Future
TBC Autumn 2026
Venue: TBC

A celebration showcasing our community’s creative response to the Festival themes, including art, photography and poetry. A chance to see what the Cabinet of Curiosities contains and hear some of the stories we have collected.

Festival of Britain: Poplar Podcast
TBC Autumn 2026
Online

Launch of a podcast produced by The People Speak, exploring the Festival themes, hearing from community members, and finding out what went on behind the scenes.

Anthology of Poetry
TBC Autumn 2026
Online/in print

Mirroring the 1951 festival poetry competition, we will launch a short anthology of poems produced during the festival and capturing the community’s thoughts.

Heritage Walking Tours

Saturday 12th & 19th September, 10.30am & 12.30pm
Venue: Meet at The Hive,173 East India Dock Rd, E14 0EA

Guided tours exploring the history of The Lansbury Estate and its role in the 1951 Festival of Britain
Booking necessary via: www.open-city.org.uk

Poplar and the Festival of Britain Exhibition

Venue: The Hive,173 East India Dock Rd, E14 0EA

Explore the story of Poplar’s extraordinary role in the Festival of Britain through text, photographs and archive material. A permanent display can be viewed in The Hive,173 East India Dock Rd, E14 0EA. Mobile displays will pop up in Community Centres throughout August & September.
Ask Center staff for info.

Cabinet of Curiosities

Wednesday August 12th & 26th (weather permitting)
Venue: The Hive,173 East India Dock Rd, E14 0EA

An evolving display of everyday life on the Lansbury Estate, told through personal objects.
Additional pop-up dates and locations TBC.

Lansbury Estate at 75: Your story.
Your estate. Your art.

August 6th 2pm-4 | 7th 10am-12pm | 12th 11am-4 | 20th 2pm-4 | 21st 10am-12 26th 2pm-4 | 27th 10am-12
Venue: Chrisp Street Market Community Space (old Shoezone store)

An evolving display of everyday life on the Lansbury Estate, told through personal objects.
Additional pop-up dates and locations TBC.

Festival of Britain Boxes

Each Community Center has a box full of fascinating maps, photographs and other materials, plus suggestions for related creative activities.
Ask Center staff if you would like to take a look through it while visiting.

Heritage Walking Tours: Open City Festival

Saturday 12th and 19th September, 10.30am and 12.30pm
Venue: Meet at The Hive,173 East India Dock Rd, E14 0EA

Guided tours exploring the history of The Lansbury Estate and its role in the 1951 Festival of Britain
Booking necessary via: www.open-city.org.uk

End of Festival Celebration

Date: TBC
Venue: The Feldy, 18 Aberfeldy St, E14 0XA

A chance to see what we’ve made, learnt and enjoyed throughout the Festival period. What are our hopes for the next 75 years?

Poetry Anthology

Mirroring the 1951 festival poetry competition, we will launch a short anthology of poems produced during the festival and capturing the community’s thoughts. The anthology will be launched on a date to be confirmed in the Autumn 2026. It will be made available online and in print.

If you’d like to contribute, please send your poem to ana.ramirez@poplarharca.co.uk

St Matthias Festival of Britain 75 Tea Party

Date: September 23rd 3-6pm
Venue: St Matthias Community Centre, 113 Poplar High St., E14 0AE

Food, friendship, fun. Everyone welcome!

Surviving the Blitz: Britain in WW2

Date: Saturday 17th October 2026 2pm
Venue: St Matthias Community Centre, 113 Poplar High St., E14 0AE

In WW2, Londoners were subjected night after night to heavy bombing during the Blitz. How did they handle this experience and deal with the grief of losing homes and loved ones? With a specific focus on the East End of London, Danny Wells will explore the impact of the bombing on these communities.
www.history-talks.co.uk

(Tel: 020 7987 0459. email: st.matthias@hotmail.co.uk)

Poplar’s Live Architecture Exhibition

In 1951, Poplar played a starring role in the original Festival of Britain. While the main attractions were based on London’s South Bank, around 86,000 visitors travelled to East London to see completed sections of the Lansbury estate, then under construction.  Whilst touring the site of the ‘Live Architecture Exhibition’ visitors marvelled at show flats with light-filled rooms, and indoor bathrooms.

They viewed exhibits demonstrating how new towns and neighbourhoods would be designed, and the poor building practices being left behind. To take a rest they enjoyed East End hospitality in the Rosie Lee Tea Tent.

Seventy-five years on, Poplar remains a place shaped by ambition, creativity and community, and our festival celebrates the reasons we are so proud to live here.

Tell us your stories: An ongoing activity

Do you have a story of life on the Lansbury Estate, or in Poplar, you would like to share? Stories can be of events a long time ago, or just yesterday. We’re creating an archive of your stories for future residents to reflect upon, and we’d love to hear from you.

For more information email ana.ramirez@poplarharca.co.uk

Festival of Britain: Poplar 2026 is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to bring you 75th anniversary celebrations.