Free Northcote Road festival in Wandsworth on 12 July
Northcote Road will begin its summer weekend traffic-free run with the Northcote Road Summer Festival in Battersea on Sunday 12 July from 11am.
The event is free to attend, open access, and takes place on Northcote Road, where restaurants, cafes and local shops are expected to make use of the street space as the road becomes pedestrian-friendly for the day. The festival is aimed at the general public and families, with the wider weekend pedestrianisation scheme continuing through the summer.
Northcote Road turns traffic-free for summer weekends
Wandsworth Borough Council has confirmed that weekend pedestrianisation returns to Northcote Road from Saturday 11 July and will run every Saturday and Sunday until the late August bank holiday weekend.
On those weekends, the road will be closed to vehicles from 6am to 10pm, creating a traffic-free stretch of the Battersea high street for people visiting shops, meeting friends or eating outside.
The Northcote Road Summer Festival on Sunday 12 July is the first set-piece event of the season. It starts at 11am and marks the beginning of a programme designed around outdoor dining, independent businesses and weekend footfall.
Festival details for visitors
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Northcote Road Summer Festival |
| Date | Sunday 12 July 2026 |
| Time | From 11am |
| Venue | Northcote Road, Battersea, London |
| Cost | Free |
| Entry | Open access |
| Best suited for | General public and families |
The council says the summer layout will allow restaurants and cafes to use street space for additional outdoor seating. Local shops will also be part of the draw, with the road positioned as a weekend destination for residents and visitors during the warmer months.
The scheme was first introduced in 2020 and 2021 to support businesses during the pandemic. According to the council, it proved popular with both residents and businesses, and its return has been welcomed locally.
David Shaw, who runs The Flower Stand, said the pedestrianisation “brings a whole new lease of life” to the area.
Outdoor dining and local shops set the tone
For visitors, the main change is simple: Northcote Road will be given over to pedestrians during the day and evening on summer weekends.
That means more space for walking, browsing and eating outside, with traffic removed from the street between 6am and 10pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The source material does not list a stage programme, stall map or accessibility arrangements, so visitors should plan around the confirmed street closure, festival start time and outdoor dining offer.
Councillor Tom Pridham, Cabinet Member for Opportunity, described Northcote Road as “the vibrant heart of the community” and said the council was bringing back the weekend pedestrianisation to support local businesses while turning the road into a summer destination for residents and visitors.
Bus routes will move to Bolingbroke Grove
Because Northcote Road will be closed to vehicles each summer weekend from 11 July, Transport for London will redirect impacted bus routes, including the 319 and 219.
Buses that usually use Northcote Road will be redirected along Bolingbroke Grove. Temporary northbound stops will be opposite 99 Bolingbroke Grove and opposite Cobham Close. Temporary southbound stops will be outside 102 Bolingbroke Grove and outside Cobham Close.
Changes to bus schedules can be checked through TfL, with the traffic-free hours running from 6am to 10pm every Saturday and Sunday until the late August bank holiday weekend.
Source: Wandsworth Borough Council
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This preview is based on Wandsworth Borough Council’s published event and transport information.
- Confirmed the festival date, start time, venue and free open-access entry from the source...
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- Source
- Wandsworth Borough Council
- Scope
- Battersea, London
- Updated
- 2026-06-12 13:48
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