The Teddington Society invites locals and visitors to explore 33 historic sites along Teddington High Street through a free self-guided walking tour.

The route features notable landmarks such as a former slaughterhouse now operating as an award-winning restaurant, an unfinished cathedral repurposed as an arts centre, and the cottage of an Irish actress who once hosted David Garrick.

The tour also includes a public library donated by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

Teddington, located in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, sits between Richmond and Kingston along the River Thames and is home to a population of approximately 10.5 million.

your walking map and watch the highlights of the tour below with history group leader of the society Howard Dix.

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Over the last few years, Gen Z have become obsessed with all things supernatural.

Practices which gained popularity in the UK during the Victorian period, including tarot reading, seances and mediums, have experienced something of a renaissance. 

But since social media trends including “Tarot Tok” and the hashtags #crystal and #astrology have gone viral, getting millions of likes and even live readings being held on TikTok, so too has scepticism about the spiritual practices.

Marilyn Devonish has been a tarot reader for 25 years. She said: “What I have seen is people coming to me who would not normally be interested in this topic, because it’s no longer in the realm of the deep and the dark and the scary and all the rest of it.”

Watch Marilyn, Haifa Barbari, a third generation reader and elementologist, and one ordinary gen z-er who claims to have been encountering the paranormal since the age of 14, explain the state of modern spiritualism today. 

Marilyn explained: “There are lots of businesses and organisations who use tarot readers, clairvoyants, and psychics as advisers.”

But scepticism about tarot is part and parcel of the job. 

Marilyn said that she tries to no longer engage in those conversations and debates: “My response to sceptics was born out of becoming a hypnotherapist in 2000. 

“At first I was so excited, I wanted to tell everyone about this, it can change your life! And then I realised hypnotherapy was one of those ‘woo woo’ subjects that are on the fringe and people are very sceptical of it. 

“And so my answer is similar to tarot: people say ‘I bet you can’t hypnotise me’, and I say ‘yeah you’re right, I probably can’t!’ And they’re absolutely right: my job as a hypnotherapist is not trying to ‘bend your will’ or make you do something you don’t want to do, so no I can’t hypnotise you!” 

Perhaps the most convincing aspect of Marilyn’s work is that she its to casting doubt upon it herself: “With tarot, I don’t know exactly 100% what happens when we die! 

“But when I get to the pearly gates, one of two things could happen with regards to tarot. God, Buddha, whatever your deity is can say, ‘Marilyn, you know that thing with the tarot? It wasn’t real.’ 

“I wouldn’t be upset about that, because I would be like ‘man, I had a good time, I learnt a lot with my clients, no worries! 

“Or they could say it was real, and I would be like ‘oh my god’. If I had decided to stay sceptical until 32 I would be so annoyed that I missed out! So for me it’s a win win.” 

Marilyn concludes: “I have fun with it, people find it useful, it enriches their lives in ways that I cannot even begin to talk about today. 

“So whether it’s real or it’s not in of the tangible sense of the word, that’s now irrelevant for me. The fact of the matter is, it helps people, it’s crazy cool fun, and it adds a whole different dimension to life as we know!”

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Haifa Barbari, a third generation reader and elementologist, noted the rise in interest in the spiritual too: “There is a rise in working with these tools and understanding these languages, that you can see and not see.

“But the clients that come to me are of all age groups, demographics…High level insight does not discriminate! People just might not tell you that they’re doing it, but they are.”

Haifa has a specific niche within the spiritual realm that she works with.

She explained that her job as an elementologist is to: “connect high level insight through these portals to specific actions in our day to day lives.

“That’s why I call it elementology – it’s blending the elements and -ologies of tarot symbology, astrology, to our psychology and use it to take control of our destiny, and that’s how I was taught.

“And really the best way to use it, is based on taking those insights and using it for yourself, to tap into insight with yourself. Then turn it into action – what do you do with it?

“I was taught to use these languages to empower, to understand and co-create with what you can’t see and be guided to create new realities that you want.”

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Amy, a recent graduate, never searched for the paranormal – it found her.

From the age of 14, she started experiencing strange feelings, seeing things in the corner of her bedroom, and having deep emotional resonances and understandings of historical trauma that she couldn’t explain.

Having studied law and self-described as “quite a factual” and “not an emotional person”, Amy explained that she found it “bizarre” when she started encountering these experiences.

Amy said: “I guess I’ve always been, what people would say, sensitive.

“I didn’t know what it was when I was younger, but I always had feelings walking around kind of old places and old houses, or I’d go into certain rooms and I’d be like no, I don’t want to be in here, this is not a good place to be.”

Everything changed when she reached adolescence: “I was never really someone who believed in ghost stories and all that kind of thing.

“I think it was when I hit puberty, weirdly, that I started sort of having my own interactions with this kind of thing.”

Amy recalls experiencing an overwhelming feeling of anger in catacombs in Malta on a family holiday, seeing a man in a bowler hat in the corner of her bedroom asking for his land back, and having a protective crystal snatched from her by a resentful spirit.

She interpreted the paranormal encounters she had as: “a desperation to be felt, to be acknowledged, wanting to have some recognition of what they’ve gone through.

“These people I think are a bit stuck in between, I don’t between what – I’m not going to speculate on the afterlife.”

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An international society of bearded men banded together in a historic London pub to raise money for children living in poverty.

The London Chapter of the globally recognised brotherhood, The Bearded Villains, hosted their 10th anniversary of Villainfest at the Dickens Inn on Saturday 7 June, a day enriched with festive activities to raise donations for Little Village charity.

A total of £7,000 in donations were raised for the baby bank charity, funded by entry tickets, a raffle, an auction and an anonymous donation facilitated by The Childhood Trust.

Captain of the London Chapter, otherwise known as the Big Smoke Villains, Lenny, said: “It’s that opportunity for us to give back to the community, and show people that we’re not just big bearded tattooed dudes, we’re breaking that sort of stigma too.”

He added that philanthropy and inclusivity are deeply woven into the community’s core values, practised on an international scale across 168 Chapters in 38 countries, making it the largest Beard Club in the world. 

The London Captain said: “One of our key statements is to unite all beards. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, we’re a brotherhood, and we accept everyone.”

A surplus of 100 of the bearded clan and their families united in the central city location, many arriving from overseas, such as the United States, Belgium, and . 

United by their facial hair and a charitable sense of purpose, many playfully took part in the Villainfest activities with a drink in hand, the Beard Competition in particular sparking a lively and spirited atmosphere.

Co-captain of the Big Smoke Villains, Chris Portou, said: “We are trying to do a little bit of good where we can, we don’t take ourselves too seriously, how can you? 

“If you can’t laugh at yourself you’re probably missing a good punchline!”

Little Village Corporate Partnerships Manager, Deborah Hopper, was invited to the event to shed awareness on the selected cause, after maintaining a six month relationship with the London clan. 

Launched in 2016, Little Village aims to tackle the disturbingly high proportion of children living in poverty in the UK, currently standing at one in three. 

The charity s families in poverty through an established network of baby banks, ing more than 32,000 UK families since their conception.

Following the Villainfest tradition, the London Chapter faithfully selects a new charity every year, having formerly raised £6,000 for UK Homes 4 Heroes in their 2024 event. 

For some, the bearded community offers a comforting network of , as individuals initially united by their facial hair have forged lifelong friendships.

Vinnie Oosterlinck of the Belgian Chapter said: “Bearded Villains brought me together with a lot of people that I love dearly in my heart. 

“They have not become my friends, they have become family, they have become brothers.”

The Flemish member reflected on how Bearded Villains has curated a space for men to break free from stereotypes of stoicism, inviting them to openly express their emotions. 

Oosterlinck, who was awarded an Honorary hip by the society, said: “Not only can you be yourself, but if you have mental issues, you can verbalise that to your brothers.”

He added: “I could cry while I’m here [at Villainfest], and not be judged for it.”

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The Tate Modern is the most-visited modern art museum in the world, and this summer, it celebrated its 25th birthday.

Over a weekend in May, the gallery launched a four-day bumper weekend celebration of talks, DJ sets, immersive artworks and workshops, attracting more than 76,000 people. 

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “It’s hard to imagine London without Tate Modern, even though it’s only 25 years old.

“In that short time, it has transformed London’s cultural landscape – cementing our city’s status as a global art capital, commissioning and celebrating emerging voices alongside world-renowned artists, and inspiring Londoners while welcoming millions of visitors from around the world.”

South West Londoner spoke to some of these visitors about their memories and experiences of the Tate Modern.

Matty, a London local and regular visitor said: “I first came here when I was 15 or 16 and it left quite an impression because at first I didn’t think too much of it, but it’s just grown on me and grown on me.

“The sheer variety of things means you can come here one day and see something that really clicks with you, one day see something that doesn’t, think on it, and then come back.”

Watch the video below for the full report.

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A Shoreditch street-defence studio has started running self defence classes aimed at providing men, and especially women, with combat skills against rising London street crime.

Street Smart Survival run classes in Urban Krav Maga self-defence, providing a ‘scenario based self-defence system’ against street attacks.

With instructor James Rompani leading the class, he emphasises the importance of mental agility instead of just brute strength, with specific defences for women who might find themselves in a violent situation on a London street.

Sexual offences against women between 2024-2025 increased by 7% as 80% of women confirmed they have been sexually assaulted in a London public space.

London is one of only two regions in the UK where violent crime has increased, rising by 1% in 2024.

Class participant Selena said: “You can never be prepared enough as a woman in London … nowadays when we say ‘text me when you get home’ it has more meaning to it.”

Instead of a conventional studio setting for the class, Street Smart Survival base their training in the location where attacks are most likely to happen in London: the street.

Watch the video below for more.

Feature Image Credit: Emily Edge

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An origami workshop took place at the Royal Brompton Hospital in May, and was organised by a ex-patient to create a display to celebrate the Chelsea Flower Show.

Joe Russell, who received a double lung transplant a decade ago, worked with the arts team from Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals’ arts team to run a workshop creating origami flowers, for patients and staff alike.

He has been making origami since he was a child, as a way to process the difficulties of being treated for a serious illness at such a young age.

Russell said: “I love making stuff and giving it to people.

“It is lovely to see people’s reactions to the things I have made.”

This took place during Creativity and Wellbeing week, an annual event which encourages health organisations to run artistic activities.

Watch the video below to learn more about the project.

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Crystal Palace celebrated their first major trophy in their 164-year history with a jubilant parade through the streets of Croydon on the late May Bank Holiday.

Thousands of fans lined the roads near Selhurst Park as a red and blue double-decker bus carried the FA Cup-winning squad along Whitehorse Lane, marking an unforgettable moment for the Eagles faithful.

The celebrations followed Palace’s stunning 1-0 victory over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the FA Cup final, an upset that left City without silverware for just the second time in Guardiola’s tenure, excluding the Community Shield, since his debut 2016–17 season.

Reflecting on the significance of the win, Peter Saysell, Vice Chair of the Crystal Palace Independent ers Association, said: “It is the best moment in this club’s history. We’ve come close twice before, so third time lucky!”

Under manager Oliver Glasner, Palace now look forward to a potential European campaign, having qualified for next season’s UEFA Europa League.

After a season-defining triumph, fans and players alike will be hoping the best is yet to come. 

Watch the full story below.

Featured Image Credit: Jeff Warder via Wikimedia Commons

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South West Londoner attended a Q&A at Richmond’s bookstore, Books On The Rise, held by Anglo-German children’s illustrator Axel Scheffler, best known for his popular illustrations of The Gruffalo, Stick Man and Zog.

The event, which took place on Thursday 5 June, was organised as part of the borough of Richmond’s ‘Reaffirmation Weekend’, celebrating the renewal of its twinning agreements with Konstanz in and Fontainebleau in .

The illustrator was ed by his long-time author and collaborator Alison Green, the Scholastic publishing team and of the refugee charity Three Peas, including his partner, Clementine Koenig, to discuss the new picture book that was created in of the charity.

South West Londoner spoke to Scheffler and Koenig, who provided insights into the making of the picture book and discussed the work and mission of the Three Peas charity.

Watch the video below to find out more.

If you wish to make a donation please visit the Three Peas website.

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Specsavers and UK Careers have teamed up to display ‘£184 billion’ artwork recognising invisible unpaid workers. 

Unpaid carers across London provide care worth an estimated £18m each year.

To highlight the incredible yet often overlooked contributions carers make to society, Specsavers Home Visits and Carers UK have unveiled ‘The Most Valuable Portrait’, a powerfully unfiltered depiction of unpaid carers in the UK.

Created by critically acclaimed artist Colin Davidson, known for his portraits of the late Queen Elizabeth II, former US President Bill Clinton, and musician Ed Sheeran, the portrait has been assigned a symbolic value of £184 billion by Roseberys, a leading London fine art auction house.

This valuation is equivalent to the estimated economic value of provided by unpaid carers in the UK.

In developing the portrait, Davidson listened to the stories and experiences of numerous carers, ensuring their voices were captured in his work.

“It was an honour to create ‘The Most Valuable Portrait. This artwork is not just for one person. It represents all the unpaid carers who deserve to be seen and valued,” Davidson said.

While the striking portrait features the face of Jaycee La Bouche from Wandsworth, who cares for her mother, it also represents the myriad of British carers and their experiences.

UK carer La Bouche says it was an honour for her to have her story and experience to be celebrated in a portrait.

She said: “Caring for my mother has always been a natural choice for me, and one that I embrace wholeheartly.”

She continued to say that Specsavers’ service is ‘invaluable’ to her and that it helps people who can’t leave their homes receive the care that they need.

The artwork aims to raise awareness and promote public recognition of the love, selfless hard work, and dedication of unpaid carers across the UK.

This is seen by Specsavers Home Visits colleagues each and every day, as they deliver eye care and hearing services to those who cannot leave their home unaccompanied.

Specsavers London home visits ophthalmic director, Preetam Meghani, who carried out a sight test on La Bouche’s mother explains: “Our Home Visits colleagues are in people’s homes every day seeing first-hand the incredible carers give to their loved ones.

“We recognise that caring for someone with a physical or mental illness often means making extra arrangements to meet their health needs.

“It’s so important unpaid carers and their loved ones get the and also the recognition they deserve.”

A staggering 82% of carers who were surveyed by Career’s UK said the impact of caring on their physical as well as mental health would be quite a challenge for the coming years and another 60% added on saying that by being recognised and valued as a career would drastically impact their wellbeing for the future. 

The artwork was publicly displayed at London’s South Bank from May 30 to June 1 following its reveal at the Saatchi Gallery.

Following the exhibition, the portrait will be put up for sale, with all proceeds going to Carers UK.

To find out more about the portrait, purchase it, or to access for carers via the new Specsavers Carers Hub, visit the campaign webpage www.specsavers.co.uk/most-valuable-portrait

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Navigating family changes can be one of life’s most challenging experiences, particularly when children are involved.

For London parents facing separation or divorce, finding the right to help their children through this transition is essential.

While the emotional impact on youngsters is universal, the approaches to minimising disruption and providing stability can vary significantly between families.

Recent studies suggest that how parents manage their separation has a much greater impact on children’s wellbeing than the separation itself.

Children who receive clear communication, consistent routines, and emotional reassurance typically adjust better to their new family structure.

Many London families are now seeking more collaborative approaches to separation, putting their children’s needs above legal disputes.

From establishing new communication patterns to creating consistent environments across two homes, parents across the capital are finding new ways to their children through family transitions.

These approaches often combine practical arrangements with emotional systems tailored to each child’s specific needs and developmental stage.

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Family changes affect children in many ways, especially in London’s busy environment.

The fast pace of city life can make adjusting to family changes harder for children.

They might feel caught between school pressures and home changes.

When parents separate, children often feel confused, sad, angry, or even guilty.

London’s higher cost of living can add extra stress to families going through separation.

Parents may work longer hours or move to more affordable areas, creating more changes for children to handle.

According to recent data, approximately 42% of marriages in the UK end in divorce, with London showing similar rates to the national average.

In 2022, thousands of divorce applications affected London families and their children.

Children of different ages show their feelings in different ways.

Primary school children might become clingy or have trouble sleeping.

They often worry about practical things like “Who will pick me up from school?”.

Secondary school children might become angry or withdraw from family life.

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Changes in behaviour often provide early signs that a child faces challenges during family transitions.

Among younger children, regression in previously learned skills, such as a return to bedwetting or increased tantrums, can appear.

Older children sometimes become unusually withdrawn or display increased irritability and aggression.

These patterns serve as visible evidence that a child may benefit from added or attention during periods of family change.

School performance can also reveal how a child is handling family changes.

A sudden drop in grades, not completing homework, or losing interest in favourite subjects can all be warning signs.

Teachers often notice these changes before parents do, so keeping in touch with school staff is important.

Sleep problems and changes in friendships are other key signs to watch for.

Children might have nightmares, trouble falling asleep, or want to sleep in a parent’s bed.

They might also stop seeing friends or suddenly change friendship groups.

Some children become very clingy while others push people away.

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Talking to children about separation requires care and thought.

For young children aged 3-7, simple explanations work best.

Parents might say, “Mummy and Daddy will live in different homes, but we both still love you very much.”

Older children need more details but still in clear, honest without adult complications.

Starting difficult conversations can feel scary for parents.

Good opening lines include, “I want to talk about some changes in our family” or “You might have noticed Mummy and Daddy aren’t getting along.”

Then pause and let the child ask questions.

This gives children some control in a situation where they often feel powerless.

Consistent messages between parents help children feel secure.

When parents tell different stories about why they’re separating, children become confused and anxious.

Even when feelings are raw, parents should agree on basic facts to share with children.

This might mean planning conversations together or checking in after talking to children separately.

Children often worry about practical matters like court visits.

Parents can explain legal processes simply: “Sometimes when parents separate, they need help from special people called judges to make fair decisions.”

Children don’t need to know about court documents or legal arguments.

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Children need different ways to express their feelings about family changes.

Younger children often show feelings through play rather than words.

Setting up a play area with dolls, toy houses, or art supplies gives them tools to work through emotions.

Parents can observe this play without interrupting.

Regular check-ins help children feel ed.

These don’t need to be formal discussions.

Car journeys, walking to school, or bedtime chats often lead to natural conversations.

Simple questions like “How are you feeling about spending weekends at Dad’s house?” can open important talks.

Children need to know all feelings are normal, but parents must still set boundaries.

It’s fine for a child to feel angry about the separation, but not okay to hit a sibling because of those feelings.

Parents can say, “I understand you’re angry, and that’s okay.

But we still don’t hit people when we’re upset.”

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London families experiencing separation have access to a range of resources.

Local community mental health teams offer group sessions and one-on-one advice designed for parents and children.

Many borough councils list family organisations and helplines, which can help parents connect with experienced counsellors or peer groups suitable for their community.

Youth clubs and after-school programmes often offer a safe space where children can talk with staff about changes at home, or simply spend time with peers facing similar situations.

Community programmes like the SPOKES project (ing Parents on Kids’ Education) help parents maintain similar approaches to schoolwork during family changes.

These programmes run in several London boroughs and provide practical tools for ing children’s education during stressful times.

Schools across London have developed systems to children through family changes.

Many have designated staff trained to help children cope with separation.

Some schools offer “lunch bunch” groups where children can talk with counsellors in a relaxed setting.

Parents should inform schools about family changes so these s can be offered.

Other professionals, such as the experts from Stowe Family Law in Leeds recommend this approach for children aged ten and over to communicate their wishes directly.

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Managing co-parenting in London presents unique challenges.

The city’s size and transport system can make sharing childcare complicated.

Parents living in different areas might face long commutes for handovers.

Planning travel routes and perhaps meeting at halfway points can reduce stress for everyone, especially children.

Digital tools help London parents coordinate childcare responsibilities.

Apps like Our Family Wizard and Coparently let parents share calendars, expenses, and important information about children.

These tools reduce direct conflict and help parents focus on practical matters rather than past relationship issues.

Maintaining routines when parents live in different London neighbourhoods requires planning.

Children benefit from similar bedtimes, meal routines, and homework expectations in both homes.

This doesn’t mean both homes must be identical, but core routines should be consistent.

Special occasions need careful handling.

London offers many holiday events and activities that children look forward to.

Parents should plan well ahead for Christmas, school holidays, and birthdays.

Some families create a rotating schedule for major holidays, while others split the day.

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Children need help settling into new living arrangements while still feeling secure.

Actions that this process include encouraging children to personalise their space in each home, such as keeping favourite books or clothes available at both houses.

Consistency in routines, like having regular mealtimes or similar weekday schedules, provides reassurance during times of change.

When resources allow, parents can offer a dedicated area for a child’s belongings in both homes, helping to create a sense of belonging and stability regardless of location.

Professionals suggest allowing children to participate in decisions about routines or the arrangement of their possessions, which strengthens their bond to both family households.

Introducing new partners requires sensitivity and patience.

Children need time to adjust to one change before facing another.

Professionals recommend waiting until relationships are stable before introducing children, then starting with brief, casual meetings.

New partners should build their own relationships with children rather than trying to replace the other parent.

Helping children maintain relationships with extended family s everyone.

Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins offer important reassurance during family changes.

Regular through visits, video calls, or family events helps children feel connected to their wider family group.

This is especially helpful when parents might find direct communication difficult.

Picture credit: Free to use from Unsplash

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