Where to celebrate Windrush Day 75 in London
Windrush Day is on June 22nd. It celebrates the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush and her Caribbean passengers to Britain in 1948. This historic event occurred following the enactment of the British Nationality Act, which provided citizenship to Commonwealth nationals to help rebuild Britain after World War Two. Over the next two decades, hundreds of thousands of migrants, known collectively as the Windrush Generation came to the UK.
Windrush Day provides an excellent chance to embrace and enjoy the rich British-Caribbean culture and honour the contributions the Windrush Generation and their descendants have made to British society, while acknowledging their sacrifices and struggles.
To join in the celebrations, check out our guide, filled with the very best events happening locally and around the city over the next coming weeks.
Windrush 75 Celebration: Out of the Picture
Location: Beethoven Centre, W10 4JL
Date, time, price: 1st July, 6:00pm – 9:00pm, £3 donation or more
Come and see this well-reviewed one-person production exploring the life of Fanny Eaton, a Victorian-era Jamaican-born artists’ model, performed by Ellouise Shakespeare-Hart. There will be free Refreshments and live music before and after the performance!
Location: The Aveues Youth Project, 3-7 Third Ave, London W10 4RS
Date, time, price: 25th June, 12pm-5pm, free
The Avenues Youth Project marks the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush to Britain with a full day of celebration. Join them and the Harrow Road Soup Kitchen for tasty Caribbean fare, live music, guest speakers, interactive exhibitions, film screenings and more.
Location: Brent Civic Centre Engineers Way Wembley HA9 0FJ
Date, time, price: 22nd June, 11:00am – 19:00pm, free
The Black Community Action Plan and Millan Market proudly present a fantastic community event that celebrates the remarkable contributions and achievements of the Windrush generation. There will be guest speakers, and live interviews from the renowned ‘Blaze’ from Let’s Talk, and esteemed authors, plus thrilling ‘Steelpan’ performances. Explore the Windrush exhibition featuring the Wyndrush Legacy Print Collection, curated by the talented Karen Hamilton-Bannis from Wildenature. Enjoy the African Caribbean pop-up Market, where you’ll discover a treasure trove of artisan makers and ethically sourced products, including exquisite Windrush Memorabilia. And don’t forget to check out the delicious refreshment stalls.
Brent Windrush 75 community tea party
Location: Gladstone Park Dollis Hill Lane London NW2 6HY
Date, time, price: 24 June, 12:00pm – 16:00pm, free
Lin Kam Art proudly invites you to this community Tea Party, which will provide an opportunity for special Windrush elders to share their stories with the wider community over a delicious Caribbean-style afternoon tea. Enjoy a free vegan afternoon tea with food, live performances and music, as well as guided tours of the Untold Stories History Trail and land art: The Anchor, The Drum, The Ship now in bloom. Entertainment includes Ciyo Brown & Band, Mahogany Mas Band, Mangrove Steelband, Hillside Performing Arts and guided tours of Untold Stories history panels by Charmaine Simpson of Black History Studies. Table spaces will be limited, so pre-registration via this link or just pop in on the day.
Interactive Windrush 75th Anniversary Concert
Location: The Library at Willesden Green, 95 High Rd, London NW10 2SF
Date, time, price: 21 June, 12:00pm – 13:00pm, free
Mark the Windrush 75th Anniversary with a celebration concert from members of The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and special guest Trevor Brown, composer and Pioneer Trojan Music Ambassador of the Windrush generation. The concert includes a new song written by Trevor to mark the 75th Anniversary of Windrush (suitable for all ages).
Englan’ Voice: Celebrating Windrush Generation Artists
Location: Harlesden Library Plus Craven Park Road Harlesden London NW10 8SE
Date, time, price : 22nd June, 1pm – 2:30pm
Artist Daryl Stenvoll-Wells will pay tribute to three Windrush-era artists – Tam Joseph, writer Beryl Gilroy and musician Aldwyn Roberts. They will examine the work of these three Windrush-era artists and their influence on British culture, through portraits, reflecting on their lives and work.
You called, we responded: Celebrating 75 years of Windrush and NHS
Location: Harlesden Library Craven Park Road Harlesden London NW10 8SE
Date, time, price: 6 July, 11:00am – 12:00pm, free
The interlinked histories and legacy of both the NHS and the Empire Windrush remain highly relevant to us today in our everyday lives. Listen to this fascinating talk by Dr St John is a local Doctor who has worked in the NHS for many decades and is a descendant of the Windrush Generations she will highlight some of the impacts of NHS and Windrush shared historys.
Location: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL
Date, time, price: nos until 30th Dec, free.
The V&A have a season of events and displays marking the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush. Find out more about the Windrush generation, their legacies and the impact of the Caribbean on art, design and culture in Britain. Head to Between Two Worlds: where Vanley Burke and Francis Williams, explore portraits of two Jamaican gentlemen scholars. Burke’s photography and archives, alongside historical artefacts and scientific images shedding new light on the Williams painting, invite reflections on quests for identity and colonial legacies. Visit The Portrait of Melissa Thompson by Kehinde Wiley. Thompson is best known for his portraits of people of colour in settings and poses that reference Old Master paintings on display alongside works by William Morris. Take the Historical and Hidden Caribbean tour on the last Sunday of every month where volunteer guides examine the narratives of a Caribbean past and culture, and discover the stories of selected objects. Children can enjoy Families Storytelling: by author and storyteller Wendy Shearer with Caribbean Tales. Or drop-in the family workshop led by Tihara Smith to create wall art inspired by Caribbean culture.
The Caribbean Front Room – Stories from Windrush and Beyond
Location: Camden Black British History community hub, 18 Malden Road, NW5 3HN
Date, time, price: 5th June – 28 July, Tues: 11am to 5pm, 10am to 4pm, Sat: 1pm to 6pm, free.
Step back in time in the Caribbean Front Room installation. A key part of the Caribbean Windrush experience, the installation explores the front room and the crucial role it played in bringing the community together.
Windrush 75 – National Maritime Museum (all ages)
Location: The National Maritime Museum, Romney Rd, London SE10 9NF
Date, time and price:22nd June – 24th June 10am – 5pm , free
The National Maritime Museum is hosting 2 events. Throughout each day, all activities are first-come, first served, they include learning calypso dance moves, trying and win a dominoes match Caribbean-style, reminiscing, watching performances and taking part in free creative workshops, talks and activities on 22nd June, or taking part in a vocal workshop with Sharon Rose, on the 24th June. Kids can create their own Windrush flag with Shane D’Allessandrn on the 24th June. For a full rundown of all the activities click here.
Wings and Waves: Windrush 75 Family Day
Location: Royal Air Force Museum London, Grahame Park Way, Colindale, NW9 5LL
Date, time, location: 17th June, 10:30am – 16:00pm, click here for full program
Enjoy music from a steel band, learn some Caribbean dance moves, listen to Windrush songs from Alexander D Great, take part in a songwriting workshop, make carnival headdresses, try on RAF uniforms and explore how our local Colindale community relates to the Windrush generation. We’re also looking for stories from the local community. If you live in Barnet and have a Windrush story to share, click the link to find out more.
Location: Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Rd, London SE1 6HZ
Date, time, price: 17th June, 2pm-6pm, £30
From War to Windrush 75 is an afternoon of talks and performances marking the 75th anniversary of the landing of the Empire Windrush in Britain in 1948. Hosted by Leonie Elliot, actor and star of Call The Midwife. With contributions from leading historians, actors, broadcasters, and poets, they explore Caribbean contributions to WWII and Windrush’s significance in Britain in shaping the UK as we know it today. Click here for the full program.
Windrush Day Event with GMB Race and the Co-Op Party
Location: GMB, 22 Stephenson Way 22 Stephenson Way London NW1 2HD
Date, time, price: 22 June, 18:30pm – 20:30pm, free.
GMB Race and Co-op Party would like to invite friends and allies to join their 75th anniversary Windrush Day event. With speakers from the trade union and co-operative movements they will reflect on what we have learnt from the Windrush scandal and what needs to come next. Food and drink will be available and there will be time to socialise.
Windrush Day at Museum of London Docklands
Location: Museum of London Docklands, No1 Warehouse, West India Quay, London E14 4AL
Date, time, price: 20th June, 6;30pm, Adults £12, Cons and friends of the museum £8.
Celebrate Windrush Day 2023 with an evening of performance and readings from poets of Caribbean heritage, exploring intergenerational themes of migration, home and community and reflecting on the museum’s own connections to this history. Join them for this event fusing words, sounds, dance and discussion as we mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks and honour the enduring spirit of one of London’s most vibrant communities. If you can’t attend, you can purchase a digital ticket here .
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