HILLVIEW FESTIVAL
Looking forward to seeing you
again at some point soon Xx

Founded in 1980, and set in the beautiful  leafy courtyards and surrounding streets of Hillview a Victorian housing estate in the heart of King's Cross, the Hillview Festival is a dynamic and colourful programme of music, dance, circus, and arts activities, along side a community market, and food stalls. Free and open to everyone, the festival celebrates creative talent and cultural diversity, drawing on a wide pool of artists and performers from the local area and beyond.

During the 1980s and 90s the Hillview Festival was instrumental in building a more friendly and cohesive community at a time when the Hillview Estate was deemed a hell-hole and a slum.

Hillview now sits on the edge of one of the largest and most desirable private development sites in Europe, surrounded by major corporations, high end shops and restaurants … gentrification that could lead to the loss of a quintessential spirit that makes our neighbourhood distinctive. We'd like to ensure that any changes have a positive impact, and a festival is a joyous way to develop community relations, and encourage positive social action.

Photo credits
This page: Festivals 1991 / 2019 - Catherine Packard, Angela Harrison 
Home banner: Festivals 2017 - 2022 - Tiago, Joe Harrison, Anna Livia
About  imageAbout  image

 

LoKkhi TeRra meets Dele Sosimi

LoKkhi TeRra meets Dele Sosimi

We're thrilled to have London fusionistas LoKkhi TeRra creating a unique sound-clash, with the legendary UK Afro-beat ambassador and former Fela Kuti keyboardist Dele Sosimi, and members of his critically acclaimed Afrobeat Orchestra.

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Carl Blarx

Carl Blarx

Amazing local talent Carl Blarx brings his incomparable sound, to the King's Cross neighbourhood he grew up in. With a distinct voice, a melodic mind, a knack for storytelling and an honest charm, Carl Blarx draws a line somewhere between hip-hop and electronic with indie and punk influences.

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Khiyo

Khiyo

Exciting British-Bangladeshi band, fresh from playing Womad. Bringing a London sound to Bengali music, Khiyo’s radical and fresh interpretation of songs from the Bengali tradition draws from rock, folk, and Indian and Western classical music.

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Stamford Hill Billy Street Band

Stamford Hill Billy Street Band

Fusing everything from bluebeat ska, calypso, afro, klezmer, country and soul. Come listen and dance to the tantalising rhythms ... good for your mind, body and soul

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La Escuela de Baile

La Escuela de Baile

Join us for a fiery, vibrant, and authentic flamenco performance, and get ready to stamp those dancing feet in a free workshop!

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C&I NHS Choir

C&I NHS Choir

A friendly and passionate choir, bringing together NHS staff and volunteers, service users, the local community and beyond, with an eclectic and rousing repertoire of songs.

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Folk Dance Remixed

Folk Dance Remixed

Dancing on the streets ... you won't be able to help yourselves at the Kerbside Ceilidh Jam with quirky, colourful, and spirited Folk Dance Remixed.

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Circus Skills for everyone

Circus Skills for everyone

Come and join multi talented circus artists for an all day drop in session where everyone can take part.

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Bus King Puppet Theatre

Bus King Puppet Theatre

Roll up, Roll up, do come in! Please take your seats and we'll begin! This puppet theatre brings magic and wonder. On board a bus like no other!

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Community Marketplace

Community Marketplace

An eclectic mix of stalls providing all sorts of treats, including mouth-watering food from various parts of the globe, taster massage sessions, arts, crafts and a variety of other goodies.

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Dance in the yard!

Dance in the yard!

We are very excited that Roundhouse are bringing street dance to our courtyard. Get lively, & have fun trying out moves ... drop in sessions taking place throughout the day.

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Art in the Yard!

Art in the Yard!

Join us for some arty fun at our drop in creative play sessions for all the family. HCA and artist Jane Hudspith will be getting imaginative with chalk and creating a giant mural, come and add your picture or pattern to make an exciting artwork.

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The British Library

The British Library

Make, create and explore; the British Library is coming to Hillview. Join them to make fun looking devices, from colourful goggles and eye badges, to binoculars ... drop in to find out more!

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The People's Museum Somers Town

The People's Museum Somers Town

... a space to celebrate Somers Town’s incredible ‘radical, reformers & rebels‘ histories, & preserve local working class heritage. Join us for art activities & paint history!

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The festival is totally accessible, but please note there are some uneven surfaces and cobbled areas. 

Toilets will be located on Argyle Walk, round the corner from McGlynns Public House.


  • Whidborne Street, WC1H London, UK
For further information about the Hillview Festival, or if you are interested in performing, booking a stall, or volunteering, please get in touch we'd love to hear from you.


A big thank you from Hillview Residents' Association goes to 

all those that help to make this a fabulous day!!

The Hillview Festival is run by an enthusiastic team of volunteers, and supported by our many neighbourhood friends, and partners including Beara Beara, Casa TuaHolborn Community Association, Holy Cross, KCBNAMcGlynns, Roundhouse, & The British Library. 

We are very grateful to have been awarded funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, Camden's Community Festival Fund, and One Housing Group.

Hillview Poetic Histories

Hillview Poetic Histories

Poems inspired by life on The Hillview Estate; resident involvement in 1980s squatter movements, and other tales told by those who live there. A collaboration between Hillview residents and Poet in the City.

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Hillview Peoples' Archive

Hillview Peoples' Archive

Hillview Peoples' Archive has recently been launched to document and share the estate’s unique story, and to galvanise residents, housing providers, policy makers, academics, artists, and the wider populace in the conversation around the right to a home. We would love to hear from anyone who would like to share their experiences, or add to the archive; we welcome photos, film, or any other form of memorabilia relating to life on the Hillview Estate.

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