Emma Finamore

Most of us barely register the tube trains or stations we pass through every day, but for London photographer (and former graffiti artist) Harry F Conway, these are spaces of social significance and beauty. As a life-long north-west Londoner, the Bakerloo line has a special place in his heart as a portal to the city – almost a second home. But as Harry’s Kensal Green neighbourhood started gentrifying, he felt the line was changing too – from the seat upholstery to the passengers. So he started taking photos. We asked Harry to pick four images from his new book ‘Bakerloo’ and explain how he came to capture these subterranean moments of London life. Photograph: Harry F Conway ⬆ ‘Greg Cosens is famous in London as “the tube punk” – you can catch him vaping outside Oxford Circus (where he works on the Underground) most weekdays.’ ⬆ ‘Chris was hesitant to let me take his picture. But eventually he said, “Do you want a real photo?” and pulled back his bandanna to expose this huge tattoo.’ ⬆ ‘One day, Noel Gallagher sat down opposite me. I think he thought I was an Oasis fan, misunderstanding me in the noisy tube. But he was really chilled – we just chatted about football.’ ⬆ ‘I spotted this gentleman at Kensal Green, on his way to the cemetery in his best suit. The flower in his jacket caught my eye and he told me he was an accountant. I gave him directions, before snapping a few more frames inside the ticket hall.’ ⬆ ‘Just before the doors shut, I saw an old geezer on the p

Tens of thousands of Londoners head to Notting Hill Carnival every year to be wowed by its sights and soundsystems. But how much work does it take to be part of one of its iconic troupes or ‘bands’ of masquerade dancers? We asked a London masquerade troupe what it’s like behind the scenes and sequins. RECOMMENDED: read our full Notting Hill Carnival guide Azaria, Makesha and Simone Gairy-Newbolt and their childhood friend Barbie Munro have all been Carnival regulars since childhood. Now they run the Trinity Design Collective, combining their love of costume and colour with a deep connection to their Caribbean roots by putting together a Carnival troupe every year. Here’s how they do it. Many thanks to The Tabernacle, a Carnival Village venue.

Catford Mews – a popular south east London community venue and Lewisham borough’s only cinema – was suddenly closed by the council last week, to the shock and outrage of many locals.   The cinema opened its doors in September 2019, owned by the Catford Regeneration Partnership Limited (CRPL), which the council set up to redevelop the town centre, but operated by Really Local Group (RLG) – an organisation that aims to regenerate high streets. It was home to three screens as well as a café, bar, food hall and free co-working space. There, alongside moviegoers, elderly visitors dropping by for a drink and some company would rub shoulders with remote workers tapping away on laptops, children playing in the library and toys corner, and local groups meeting for arts and culture events.  As a local, it’s been invaluable: affordable ‘mum and baby’ screenings let me keep up with the latest releases during maternity leave; and in the summer when my daughter’s fourth birthday party got rained off, the cinema manager let us use the space for free – welcoming our balloons, party games and excited preschoolers with open arms. Photograph: Catford Mews But when Lewisham Council-owned CRPL took back the keys to the premises and the venue was shuttered last Tuesday, a back-and-forth between the operator and the council began – while local Whatsapp chats, Facebook pages, school gate gatherings and pub table groups reeled at the news. The council claims that Catford Mews had ‘run up signific