Just in!
More events will soon be announced for the autumn. Keep an eye on this webpage or visit Poplar Union for updates as details are confirmed.
Festival of Britain: Poplar 2026 is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to bring you 75th anniversary celebrations.
Did you know Poplar helped shape modern Britain?
In 1951, Poplar played a starring role in the original Festival of Britain. While the main attractions were based on London’s South Bank, thousands of visitors were brought by bus to east London to see completed sections of the Lansbury Estate, then under construction. Visitors marvelled at show flats with light‑filled rooms, indoor bathrooms and modern conveniences, features that symbolised a hopeful, forward‑looking post‑war Britain.
Seventy‑five years on, Poplar remains a place shaped by ambition, creativity and community. This summer, we’re proud to celebrate that legacy once again, recognising both how far we’ve come and the people who continue to shape our neighbourhood today.
Share your memories and stories
Do you have a story about life on the Lansbury Estate, or in Poplar, that you’d like to share?
Stories can be of events a long time ago, or just yesterday. We’re creating an archive of your stories for Poplar residents of the future to reflect upon and we’d love to hear from you.
Email Ana-Mae at anytime: Ana.Ramirez@poplarharca.co.uk
Call for volunteers
We’re recruiting 10 heritage champions to support our festival celebrations from June to September.
Volunteers will welcome visitors, share local heritage stories, collect community memories of Lansbury, and help prepare interviews for Tower Hamlets Local History Archives.
Call to lend your belongings
Delvendahl Martin Architects have created a cabinet showcasing objects that reflect life on the Lansbury Estate.
Lansbury residents are invited to lend items which will be 3D scanned and returned. Contributors may be photographed, and share memories and hopes, creating a lasting record of life on this estate.
Poplar Picnic on 8 August will include a recreation of the famous 1951 Rosie Lee Tea Tent