What’s Good in October: Ethical & Sustainable Things to do in London

In Partnership With In Good Company

The days are getting shorter, but that doesn’t mean the list of good things to do in London is shrinking! October is packed with opportunities to explore, shop, and learn — all with people, planet and community at their heart. From markets championing local creators to eye-opening exhibitions and interactive events, there’s plenty to keep you engaged this autumn.

So, if you’re looking for ways to spend your time that will not only make you feel good but also mean you’re doing some good too, then look no further. Here’s our October round-up:

Shop Quality Pre-Loved Fashion At Round Retail’s Latest Pop-Up

📅When: Monday 30th September – Sunday 6th October

📍Where: 16-18, Brockley Cross, SE4 2AA

🎫Details: Book tickets for creative workshops here

Round Retail is back this month with another limited run pop-up featuring quality pre-loved fashion items, from mid-luxury brands. One third of profits will go to supporting Deptford’s pioneering 999 Club charity, who are working to end homelessness in South East London through multiple wraparound services. 

They’re also hosting a range of creative workshops in the evenings with independent makers, including beading, ceramics, crochet and Japanese stitching. 

Celebrate African And Caribbean Culture At The Black Culture Market

📅When: Saturday 5th – Sunday 6th October, 11am – 5pm

📍Where: The Department Store, Brixton

🎫Details: Free, book here

Celebrate Black History Month with this showcase of African and Caribbean culture and commerce from Black Culture Market in Brixton. This market, hosted in the historic Department Store in the heart of Brixton, brings together a selection of Black-owned businesses offering everything from handmade crafts and homeware to natural beauty products and artisan foods.

Taking place over two days, with different traders each day, It’s the perfect place to find unique items and support local creators while celebrating Black excellence. 

Discover Upcycled And Vintage Treasures At Walthamstow Flea Market

📅When: Sun 6th October 2024, 11am – 5pm

📍Where: Big Penny Social, 1 Priestley Way, Walthamstow, E17 6AL 

🎫Details: £2 entry on the door (cards taken), details here

Ready to give your home a new lease of life with some vintage flair? Walthamstow Flea Market has got you covered. This bustling market is a treasure trove of upcycled furniture, retro finds, and one-of-a-kind curiosities, making it the ideal spot for those looking to decorate sustainably. it’s a fun day out, filled with the thrill of discovering the unexpected. Plus it’s taking place at Big Penny Social, a Living Wage employer and the UK’s biggest beer hall. 

 

Learn How To Survive An Apocalypse At The Museum of Homelessness

📅When: 11.30am, 2pm and 4pm on Saturdays until the end of November

📍Where: Manor House Lodge, Seven Sisters Road,  London, N4 2DE

🎫Details: Tickets range from free to £10, book here

This is not your usual museum visit. From their new home, a small gatekeeper’s cottage in London’s iconic Finsbury Park, the Museum of Homelessness presents its latest exhibit, ‘How to Survive an Apocalypse’, an immersive experience that explores themes of survival and resilience through powerful storytelling and interactive installations. You’ll be taken on a tour that includes performance, poetry, object handling, chats, and much more, designed by their award-winning crew of people with experience of homelessness. 

Reframing the myths and stereotypes of homelessness, it sets out to show that the answers to some of our most pressing problems can often be found with the people at the sharp end of society. Thought-provoking and moving, this is one event not to be missed.

Swap Fast Fashion For Sustainable Fashion With LOANHOOD 

📅When: Saturday 19 October, 11:30am – 4pm 

📍Where: Mama Shelter London, 437 Hackney Road, Shoreditch, London E2 8PP 

🎫Details: Free, bring up to 5 items to swap. Details here

LOANHOOD, the circular fashion brand for people who want to wear new stuff without buying new, is back with another Clothes Swap Shop, this time in Shoreditch, Hackney. Bring up to 5 items of clothing, accessories and/or footwear, freshly cleaned and ready to go on the racks before heading off to their home. You’ll be given tokens for your items which you then exchange for new preloved items. 

It’s a community driven swap, so you can bring and find items from high street up to high end. If you’ve not tried swapping before, this is the place to start. 

PS Once you’ve dropped and swapped, we highly recommend grabbing a coffee from zero-waste Ozone Coffee, and taking a stroll up to Hackney City Farm, where you’ll also find the wonderful Get Loose Foods.

Give Your Best At The First Pay-it-Forward Clothing store 

📅When: Monday – Saturday 10am – 6pm, Sunday 11am – 5pm 

📍Where: Give Your Best Thrift & Gift Store, Islington Square, Unit G12, 129 Upper Street, London, N1 1QP

🎫Details: Find out more here

Give Your Best’s brand new Thrift & Gift store in Islington Square is redefining secondhand shopping with a social impact twist. As the first pay-it-forward clothing store in London, every item you purchase here funds a person in need to shop for free, right in the same store. You’ll find a carefully curated selection of pre-loved clothing, unsold stock, and returns from fashion brands—all available at low prices.

But it’s not just about what you buy—there’s also the opportunity to donate your own pre-loved clothes, directly helping someone restart their lives. Charity Give Your Best supports women and children who are refugees, seeking asylum, victims of trafficking, or experiencing clothing poverty. So whether you’re looking to update your wardrobe or make a meaningful contribution by rehoming items you no longer need, a visit to Thrift & Gift is a win for everyone.

 

Learn About The History Of Migration At The Migration Museum

📅When: Thursday – Saturday, 11am – 5.30pm 

📍Where: Migration Museum, Lewisham Shopping Centre, London SE13 7HB

🎫Details: Free, no booking required. Details here.

Dive into the history of migration and how it has shaped the city we live in today at the Migration Museum. Drawing on its work from over the past decade with new stories and artwork, ‘All Our Stories: Migration and the Making of Britain’ offers an engaging exploration of the stories and contributions of people who have moved to London over the centuries. Instead of just hearing the hateful headlines and heated political debates, spend some time discovering the rich tapestry of cultures that make London so unique. 

Fuel Your Creativity At Renée’s Circular Material Hub In Shoreditch

📅When: Open Tuesdays and Fridays through till December 

📍Where: Shoreditch Town Hall, London

🎫Details: Book your slot here 

Circular material hub Renée Materials is officially moving into the basement of the iconic Shoreditch Town Hall from October through December. Creatives, designers, makers and DIY savvy Londoners will love this treasure trove of high-quality reclaimed resources and supplies – from canvas and yarn to wood and fabric samples – at unbeatable prices.

Plus, they’ll be hosting reuse workshops and events, starting with a Reuse Workshop on 5th October. Book your free visit in advance to make sure you don’t miss out on these eco-friendly gems.

Shop Sustainable Brands At Loom’s Shoreditch Pop-Up  

📅When: Monday 7th – Sunday 13th October, 10am – 6pm 

📍Where: 123 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E2 7DG

🎫Details: Find out more here 

Loom, the upcycling platform connecting you with independent designers to breathe a new lease of life into your clothes, is hosting its first pop-up in Shoreditch this October. 

Expect to find unique fashion, beauty and accessories from sustainable brands like Out of Stock Studio, Chereshnivska, Again and Again and Dot & Lola. Throughout the week, there’ll be a launch party, a screen-printing workshop, and a sip & sketch life drawing class. It’s the perfect chance to refresh your wardrobe and support the sustainable fashion movement.

 

Master The Art Of Pitching At In Good Company’s Pitch Masterclass 

📅When: Wednesday 30th October, 10:30am – 1:00pm

📍Where: The Trampery Fish Island Village, 13 Rookwood Way, Hackney Wick, London E3 2XT

🎫Details: Tickets £18, book here

This one is for the impact entrepreneurs and small business owners out there. Join In Good Company and The Trampery for a hands-on Pitching Masterclass designed to equip you with the tools and confidence needed to deliver compelling pitches. 

Led by award-winning pitch coach and In Good Company CEO Alex Birtles, this masterclass will cover creating a strong narrative, public speaking tips, and an interactive Q&A with investor Andrew Brisbin. 

Tickets are just £18, so book your spot early to polish your presentation skills and leave pitch perfect. 

Whether it’s for a breakfast meeting, catch up over coffee, or dinner and drinks with the girls, then ditch the countless chains and instead find somewhere ethical, sustainable, independent and actually good with the brand new In Good Company app. 

With over 600 places in London – from coffee shops and restaurants to sustainable fashion boutiques and salons – with more added each week, you can find the perfect feel-good, guilt-free spot at the tap of a button. Download for free on iOS and Android now.

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