Get ready to celebrate stories, creativity, and community! Southlands Arts Centre presents LitOct 2025, Hillingdon’s much-anticipated literary festival, running over multiple days from Saturday, 4th October, to Friday, 31st October. This immersive event welcomes attendees of every age, offering age-appropriate activities and programs for children, teens, and adults alike. 

As part of a vibrant tradition of literary festivals in the UK, LitOct stands out as a collection of diverse events hosted at Southlands Arts Centre, a beautiful Grade 2 listed building, featuring the participation of creators such as authors, poets, and artists.

Located in Hillingdon, England, the festival contributes to the country’s rich literary scene and inspires creativity and a love of literature in all who attend. (Southlands Arts Centre)

Make sure to visit our LitOct hub page, which lists all the events, author talks, and activities scheduled for October, and consider purchasing the LitOct pass for the all-you-can-eat buffet of literary goodness.

What’s On: Events

Over the course of three weeks, LitOct brings a rich and varied line-up of talks, workshops, readings, performances, and family-friendly events. Here are just some highlights:

• Author Talks: Meet writers including Vivien Brown, Sam Davey, and Gatlin Perrin.
• Writing Workshops: Get hands-on with sessions like “Bringing your characters to life” with Vivien Brown.
• Storytelling & Drama: Events such as “Once upon another time…”, Seven Shakespearean Sonnets on Sunday with Sally and more, featuring live performance elements.
• Poetry Showcases: Enjoy readings and performances by poets, celebrating both established and emerging voices in the poetry community.
• Crime & Mystery: Sisters in Crime promises an engaging session for lovers of suspense.
• Family-Friendly Events: Bring the whole family to join the action and adventure with interactive activities and creative fun.
• Community-Anchored Events: The annual Apple Pie Supper, the Southlands Creative Writing Competition with prizegiving by Elizabeth Drummond, a curated art exhibition by local artist Rosemary Whittle, and a community Halloween Party to finish.

Get stuck into workshops and activities throughout the festival for a truly immersive experience.

Don’t forget to discuss your favourite events and experiences with fellow attendees!

Tickets & Special Offers

• There’s a £35 Event Pass, which gives access to all events except the literary lunch and Palooza. The pass also includes a special LitOct goody bag. (Southlands LitOct)
• Individual event tickets range from £3 to approximately £15 or more, depending on the event.
• Spaces are limited, and most events require booking. Best to reserve early.

Why You Should Go

LitOct is more than just a festival—it’s a chance for Hillingdon to come together around storytelling and creativity, bringing together readers from across the region. Over the years, the festival has grown in tradition and reputation, becoming a highlight in the literary calendar. LitOct has had some notable alumni from previous years.

We encourage you to visit the festival for a memorable experience. Here’s a brief list of reasons to attend: connect with fellow readers and book lovers, discover new voices, sharpen your craft, enjoy community-centred events, and experience the vibrant atmosphere of local and national literary culture. Whether you want to listen, learn, write, or just be inspired, this festival offers it all. Plus, with local artists and community-centred events, it feels intimate and accessible. It’s an opportunity to discover new voices, sharpen your craft, and enjoy literary culture without going far.

Food and Beverage

No literary festival is complete without delicious food and drink to fuel your imagination. At LitOct, the Hillingdon & West London Literature Festival, attendees can look forward to a tempting array of food and beverage options provided by Southlands Community Cafe, including a fantastic variety of Vegan options. Enjoy a leisurely meal or a quick snack as you move between events, talks, and readings—our literary festival in West London is the perfect place for your love of literature.

Volunteer Opportunities

The London Literature Festival thrives thanks to the passion and dedication of its volunteers. If you’re a book lover or story enthusiast looking to get involved, volunteering at the festival is a fantastic way to celebrate literature and connect with others who share your interests. Volunteers play a crucial role in every aspect of the event, from helping with setup and registration to supporting attendees and assisting with readings and talks. In return, you’ll have the chance to learn more about literature, gain valuable experience in event management, and become part of a vibrant community. Whether you’re available in autumn or spring, there are opportunities to contribute your time and energy to this celebration of reading and creativity. Volunteering at the festival or Southlands is not just about giving back—it’s about joining a network of people who love books, stories, and the world of ideas.

Practical Details

• Where: Southlands Arts Centre, 75 The Green, West Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 7PW – the place where the festival takes place
• When: 4th–26th October 2025. While LitOct is in October, other major literary festivals take place in August and September, such as those in Oxford, Scotland (including the Edinburgh International Book Festival in August), Wales (Hay Festival), and Toronto. Look out for special events happening on Sun during the festival.
• How to Book: Via the Southlands LitOct schedule page or through TicketSource. Some tickets may also be available in person at the venue’s community café.

Don’t miss this opportunity to let your imagination roam, support local artists, and dive into the written word. Mark your calendar, grab your pass, and we’ll see you at Southlands for a fantastic LitOct 2025! Don’t forget to spread the word about the festival to friends and family.

The post Hillingdon Literary Festival: LitOct 2025 appeared first on Southlands Arts Centre.

An invitation and very warm welcome is extended to our Members by

Yiewsley and West Drayton Arts Council

Registered Charity Number 1173801

To attend the 2025 Annual General Meeting on Friday, 13th June at 7 pm.

This is a great opportunity to find out about the running of the charity, meet the existing and new trustees and play a role in the charity’s future. The agenda will be posted on www.southlandsarts.co.uk ahead of the meeting.  

If you are interested in becoming a trustee and would like to know more,  please do send me an email, and I will get the relevant information and application forms sent out.

Please RSVP by Wednesday, 11th at Midday if you would like to attend.

I look forward to seeing you all there,

Kindest regards

Paula O’Shea

Charity administrator

paula@southlandsarts.co.uk

AGM Agenda

Approval of las AGM minutes, including charities aims and values

Chairman’s statement – (Chris Wright)

Re-election of Trustees

Treasurers report

Planned functions for the year

Garden Developments

Questions from the floor

AOB

We will be updating this page with minutes at a later date.

The post Yiewsley and West Drayton Arts Council AGM 2025 appeared first on Southlands Arts Centre.

SATURDAY’s 4pm – 6pm. £5 per player.

Have you always wanted to play chess but don’t have a partner, or a board? Are you a complete novice? Don’t know your rook from your bishop? Tired of playing and being beaten by your nephew? Want a bit more of a challenge? Want to learn some more complex techniques? Or simply want to spend a Saturday afternoon playing some friendly games? Then we have the group for you.

Southlands have launched the Saturday afternoon Chess Club.

Unranked friendly matches. Puzzles.

All skill levels welcome. Beginners and experts welcome.

Under 18s must be accompanied by a parent. Discounts for senior citizens.

Drop in’s welcome.

And don’t forget the community cafe is also open, so why not grab a coffee and a sweet treat and get stuck into an afternoon of Chess at Southlands.

The post Southlands Chess Club appeared first on Southlands Arts Centre.

Sunday

Yoga with Bergamot Tree (Stretch and strengthen, bring freedom to the body and calm the mind. Sunday morning 9.15 am. Wednesday evening 6.40 pm. £10 per session. Contact: thebergamottreeyoga@gmail.com)

Monday

Art – University of the Third Age (1st and 3rd Monday of the month, 10am – 12 noon. Drawing in pencil or pastel, close observation. Portraits, figures, still life etc.
Tel: 01895 441707)

Knitters and Knatters (2nd and 4th Monday each month, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm. We work with hand and machine knitting and crocheting. Beginners welcome.
For more information about this group, call Tel: 01895 421777. Contact admin@southlandsarts.co.uk for more information.)

Tuesday

Southlands Photography Group (Southlands Photography Group. Tuesday evening sessions. Friendly photography group, open to everyone regardless of experience. We help with general camera controls, have assignments, arrange talks from more experienced photographers, and do London photography walks; we also get to photograph local Events, such as Big Fest, SouthlandsLIVE, and May Fayre on the Green. Contact admin@southlandsarts.co.uk for more information.)

Hillingdon Vision (Hillingdon Vision. Tuesdays 5pm to 7pm. Hillingdon Vision aims to improve Hillingdon through its; Media work, community projects, local events and charitable services. Contact: Hillingdontelevision@journalist.com)

Gardening Club (Tuesday and Thursday 10-12. This group meets twice a week to work on the walled garden. Join our enthusiastic group of volunteers working on bringing the walled garden back to its former glory. Free. Contact: MT4A@yahoo.com

Wednesday

Les Artists (Wednesdays 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm. A social art group, meeting one evening each week, no tuition. We use mixed media, oil, acrylics, pastilles, and watercolour. We generally set up a still life, but we are happy if you work on your own project. Email tonysandell@live.co.uk)

Yoga with Bergamot Tree – (Stretch and strengthen, bring freedom to the body and calm the mind. Sunday morning 9.15 am. Wednesday evening 6.40 pm. £10 per session. Contact: thebergamottreeyoga@gmail.com)

Thursday

Life Drawing (Life drawing group is about practising and improving the fundamentals in a relaxed and friendly environment. 7 pm – 9 pm Every Thursday)

Friends of Southlands Meeting – Want to find out what goes on behind the scenes at Southlands? Want to get involved in planning a fundraising event? Or want to volunteer to be part of Southlands. Come along to our regular Friends of Southlands meeting. One Thursday a month, 7 pm to 9 pm. To find out the date of the next meeting, please email Paula at admin@southlandsarts.co.uk or Lisa at MT4A@yahoo.com

Friday

Crafty Cards (Have fun with glue and glitter, making all types of greeting and celebration cards. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month.
For more information about Crafty Cards, call Tel: 01753 652459. Contact admin@southlandsarts.co.uk for more information.)

Crochet for Beginners (Explore the art of crochet in this weekly workshop designed for beginners. Learn fundamental stitches, pattern reading, and create beautiful and functional items. Whether you’re a complete novice or have some basic knowledge, this class is tailored to enhance your crochet skills. Friday 4pm to 6pm. £7.50 per session, £20 for 4 sessions. Contact admin@southlandsarts.co.uk for more information)

Writers’ Salon (Meeting once a week, we will offer a platform to read and workshop your work with a group of fellow writers. We will also be offering a series of talks and discussions with published authors and journalists. Friday 7.30 pm to 9pm. Free to join. Donations welcome. For more information, please contact paula@southlandsarts.co.uk)

Violin Lessons (By appointment only: Violin lessons are taught in a relaxed atmosphere and are available to both children and adults. Pupils range from beginner to advanced. Tel: 01895 441882.)

Saturday

Make Time for Art (Last Saturday in the month, 10:00-12:00.
Learn about an artist, genre or movement and be inspired to get painting in our friendly and supportive group. Beginners welcome. Please contact Lisa on MT4A@yahoo.com)

Chess Club – (4pm – 6pm. £5 per player. Unranked friendly matches. Puzzles. All skill levels welcome. Under 18s must be accompanied by a parent. Discounts for senior citizens.

The post Southlands Arts Centre – Regular Activities appeared first on Southlands Arts Centre.

We’ve designed a £35 event pass that will give you access to all events (except the literary lunch and Palooza), to make sure you don’t miss any of the action. The event pass also includes a LitOct goody bag.

We’re launching with the Apple Pie Supper on 5 October, an seasonal new community event. At the supper we’ll announce the winners and runners up of this year’s creative writing competition celebrating them with readings of the winning entries; prizes are being presented by local author, Denise Beddows. We’re also holding an apple pie baking competition so get your rolling pins at the ready. We’d love to see lots of entries from local people.

Alongside LitOct, we’re mounting a curated art exhibition showcasing art work by local artists inspired by literature.  

We’ll round the whole celebration off on 27 October with another community event – Cliffhanger (more later – get it?).

Afternoons and evenings, weekdays and weekends, have a look at our website and see what interests you in LitOct 2024, there’s something for everyone.

Book your tickets online by using the event links below. Or pop along to our box office open Monday 10 am to 12 midday, Friday 10 am to 3 pm.

Or speak to Mark in the community cafe open on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm. 

Please note that all events require advance booking. This helps us ensure we have the right setup and can accommodate everyone comfortably. Booking is on a first come first served basis, so get in there quicky to reserve your spot. 

We are thrilled to have you join us for a month filled with literary magic and can’t wait to welcome you to Southlands LitOct 2024!

A few of the books that will be featured in LitOct this year.

The post LitOct 2024 appeared first on Southlands Arts Centre.

Some of you may have already noticed it creeping into the design of our recent batch of posters. Well, now we Southlands is proud to announce our new range of merchandise.

First up is this stylish Tote Bag. Made from 8oz black canvas with the new logo in a striking turquoise. This is the ultimate accessory for all your art supplies, shopping, gym supplies, you name it.

By buying this bag you will not only be one of the first to have an exclusive piece of Southlands merchandise, but the profits will go to Yiewsley and West Drayton Arts Council (Registered Charity: 1173801) the charity who maintains and runs your favourite arts centre in the borough.

Keep an eye on our website and socials because there is more to come.

So don’t delay; pick up your bag today.

Available at the Community Cafe, open Saturday and Sunday 11 am to 6pm.

At the centre; speak to Lisa, Jayne or Paula.

Or by using the link below and purchasing one from our website shop.

The post Southlands Rebranding Project appeared first on Southlands Arts Centre.

For Mental health Awareness Week which runs from 13th to 19th May we will be holding a series of workshops, talks and sessions to encourage good mental health and wellbeing.

Friday 17th 12 midday to 2pm 

We will be joined by a representative from MIND who will be on hand to answer questions, offer up signposting and be speaking to us about the work that they do. 

1.30pm – 3pm – Sue will lead a guided walk of the grounds and discuss the gardening group.

Saturday 9.15 am – Taster Yoga with Magda.. Booking essential. £3 for the session.

Saturday 10 am to 4pm – Community cafe will be open. Wellbeing stalls will be on site. Art activities. 

Saturday 10 am to 11 am Opal Lily will hold a taster session for making dried flower mini hanging window wreaths £5 per session.  Booking essential.

Saturday 10.30 to 12.15 Intuitive drawing with Maria from Play therapy. This is a 1 hr 45 min session which will focus on using both sides of the brain to draw or paint. It is a great opportunity to focus on your creativity in a quiet and calming environment with no distractions. This will be held as a quiet session. Free Session. Booking Essential.  

Saturday 12.30 – 1.30 Vincent will be giving a talk on how art is not only vital to the human experience and wellbeing, but how far people will go to protect their right to access it. We first heard this talk at the AGM, it is a very interesting and informative talk which really gets one thinking about how art plays a part in their own life.

Saturday 1pm to 4pm Opal Lily will hold a session for making dried flower meadow workshop  £30 per session.  Booking essential.

More events to be added. Watch this space. 

To book onto any of the session, please email admin@southlandsarts.co.uk

The post Mental Health Awareness Week appeared first on Southlands Arts Centre.

There are cash prizes up for grabs as well as the opportunity to be published in our new Southlands anthology which will be available as a pdf online and as a limited edition print run.

The winners will be invited to the awards ceremony where they will have the opportunity to have their work read aloud by one of our theatrical volunteers.

As part of this competition we will also be running some free creative writing workshops.

A is for Apple

Group activity to mind map ideas on how to include the apple theme into your short story.

These workshops are free but registration is required. Please email writingcompetition@southlandsarts.co.uk to book your place.

Cider without Rosie

Led by Jayne Towndrow, this group session will focus on the topic of the life-writing Group activity to exchange ideas and help you decide how to approach your life-writing entry. 

These workshops are free but registration is required. Please email writingcompetition@southlandsarts.co.uk to book your place.

Competition details

There are two categories for entry – Fiction/Short Story and Life Writing

The deadline for receipt of all entries is Midnight 31 July 2024.

Entries will be accepted in hard copy and by email.

Full details available

As part of the this competition we will also be running a series of workshops.

Southlands Creative Writing Competition 2024 Rules

The Southlands Writing Competition 2024 is open for entries from 22 March 2024.

There are two categories for entry – Fiction/Short Story and Life Writing

The deadline for receipt of all entries is Midnight 31 July 2024.

Entries will be accepted in hard copy and by email.

Step 1. – Fill in the application form – found on the competition page

Step 2. – Pay your entrance fee

Step 3. Submit your work via email or post

Please note that the same email address will need to be used for all three steps as the entries will be anonymised once received.

Hard copy entries should be sent to: Southland Arts Centre, 75, The Green, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7PW. Please mark your envelope ‘Writing Competition 2024’. Payment may be sent by cheque or payment can be made in person at Southlands by arrangement.

Email entries should be sent to writingcompetition@southlandsarts.co.uk

The theme for the Fiction/Short Story category is the apple. It’s up to you how you include the apple but the apple must be there.

Entries for the Life Writing category should be about the writer’s own life.

You may submit an entry to both the Fiction/Short Story and Life Writing category. Each entry should include a separate entry form.

The post Southlands Creative Writing Competition 2024 appeared first on Southlands Arts Centre.

Alongside Southlands first Creative Writing Competition, we will be running a series of creative writing workshops to help inspire all budding writers.

Group activity to mind map ideas on how to include the apple theme into your short story.

Free workshop. Registration is essential

Register by emailing writing competition@southlandsarts.co.uk

Sunday 5th May 3pm to 4.30 pm

Thursday 27th June 3pm to 4.30 pm

Full details and T’s and C’s for the competition can be found at www.southlandsarts.co.uk/competition

The post A is for Apple – Creative Writing Workshop appeared first on Southlands Arts Centre.

What’s included in the price?

All materials are included in the ticket price. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available all day but participants will wish to bring a packed lunch. (That said, if participants have any spare egg boxes they can donate they would be gratefully received.)

Cancellation policy

Easy – Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 2 weeks before the course starts

Book Tickets

The post Handmade recycled paper workshop appeared first on Southlands Arts Centre.