Beltane Events in London & Within Travelling Distance

I usually post a list of pagan events for the week ahead on Wednesday, but this Wednesday is May Day or Beltane, so I'm sharing this a couple of days early. Here is a listing of events in London plus a few in other parts of the UK that could be of interest to pagans over the next fortnight, including festivals, rituals, talks and exhibitions. If you know of an event that you want listed, please email the details to me at badwitch1234@gmail.com.

Now - 2 June; The Lore of the Land. Exhibition exploring our deep-rooted relationship with the natural world. Venue:  The Studio, Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London, SE23 3PQ. https://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/the-lore-of-the-land#image-0

Now - October; Waking the Witch. Touring exhibition curated by Legion Projects and supported by Arts Council England. Venues: (1 May - 8 June) Sidney Cooper Gallery, Canterbury; (September - October 2019) Bonington Gallery, Nottingham. http://www.wakingthewitch.uk/#

Now - 22 June; Magical Exhibitions in York: Magic and Mystery. Exhibition exploring the fine line between science, religion and magic in medieval society. Venue: Barley Hall, 2 Coffee Yard, York, YO1 8AR. Open 9am-5pm daily. Normal admission costs. https://barleyhall.co.uk/whats-on/magic-mystery/

Now - 31 October; Betwixt and Between: Isobel Gowdie, the Witch of Auldearn - the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic's summer exhibition. Venue: The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, Boscastle, Cornwall. Entry with museum ticket. https://museumofwitchcraftandmagic.co.uk/

Now - 15 September; Smoke and Mirrors - exhibition about the psychology of magic. It includes items from the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic. There are also live performances of stage conjuring on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Venue: Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE. Free admission. https://wellcomecollection.org/exhibitions/W_vuwBQAACoA_SY2

Now - end of May; Occult and Symbolism Group Exhibition. Venue: The Underdog Gallery, Arch 6 Crucifix Lane, London SE1 3JW. Time: 6.30pm. The exhibition is free to view. Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/384779368774466/

Monday 29 April; Free Beginners Astrology Class by Astrological Lodge of London. (Every Monday evening). Venue: 50 Gloucester Place, London W1U 8EA, Time: 6pm-6.50pm. Tickets: Free. https://astrolodge.co.uk/

Monday 29 April; Melting the Ice in the Heart of Humanity. Talk by Angaangaq Angakkorsuaq at Alternatives. Venue: St James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, W1J 9LL. Doors open 6.30pm. Event starts: 7pm. Tickets £15/£20. http://www.alternatives.org.uk/

Monday 29 April; Meeting Aleister Crowley and his Magick Evening Mini-Workshop – Marco Visconti. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 7pm. Tickets £20. Book online at http://www.treadwells-london.com or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Tuesday, 30 April; Fowlers Troop will be dressing their Deptford Jack in the Green at the Dog and Bell, 116 Prince St, London SE8 3JD, from 6.30pm, ready for the parade the next day. People are welcome to come along and help. Free event. Details: https://www.deptford-jack.org.uk/

Tuesday, 30 April; Did Matriarchy Ever Exist? Talk by Chris Knight at the Radical Anthropology Group. Venue: Daryll Forde Seminar Room, Anthropology Building, 14 Taviton Street, London, WC1H 0BW. https://www.facebook.com/events/2197152043673618/

Tuesday, 30 April; So Moot It Bee Beltane. Pagan Moot. Venue: The Good Intent, 3 John Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1YL. Time: 7.30pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/321383412058731/

Starting Wednesday 1 May: The Spirit of Faerie. Exhibition of paintings by Anthony Keates, inspired by the folklore of the Black Country. Anthony will be in situ on Thursday. Venue: The Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, London, Eng WC1A 1LY. http://theatlantisbookshop.com/

Wednesday 1 May; Forest Bathing in Queen's Wood, Highgate. Meet in the cabin behind Queen's Wood Cafe, Highgate. Time: 9.30am. Price: £25. https://www.meetup.com/London-Forest-Bathing-Nature-Connection-Meetup/

Wednesday 1 May; Earth Festival: Wheel of the Year Meditation - Beltane fire at 7am, Maypole dancing accompanied by live music at 8:30am, gather at the well head for meditation at noon, followed by conversation on the lower lawn. Venue: Chalice Well World Peace Garden, in Glastonbury. Free admission to the gardens from 6am to noon. For more details, visit the website http://www.chalicewell.org.uk/

Wednesday 1 May; Fowlers Troop and the Deptford Jack in the Green will be out and about in Greenwich this May Day. Jack will start from the Dog and Bell, 116 Prince St, London SE8 3JD, at noon. From there the troop will make tour of Greenwich and Deptford, finishing at the Ashburnham Arms, 25 Ashburnham Grove,  SE10 8UH, at 6pm.  Everyone is welcome to come along. Free event. Details: https://www.deptford-jack.org.uk/

Wednesday 1 May; Time to Meditate - group meditation (every Wednesday). Venue: Buddha on a Bicycle, Covent Garden, London. Arrive 6pm for 6.10pm start. Donations of £3 recommended. Details: http://www.meetup.com/meditation-trust-london/

Wednesday 1 May; Beltane Drum Circle. Venue: Aho Studio, 13 Prince Edward Rd, London, E9 5LX. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £12. www.aho.community

Wednesday 1 May; Psychedelic Women's Circle: Manifestation. Organised by the Psychedelic Society. Venue: The Psychedelic Society, Greenhouse, 8 Mackintosh Lane, London E9 6AB. Time: 6.45pm. Tickets: £20/£15/£10. https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepsychedelicsociety/253685?

Wednesday 1 May; Taurus New Moon Gong Bath. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London E9 7AD. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £20. www.sheslostcontrol.co.uk

Wednesday 1 May; The Crick Crack Club's Alternative Tarot! #3 – Rebels And Heroes. Venue: Rich Mix Studio 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA. Tickets: £8 door / £6 advance (adults only). Start: 8pm. Event link: https://richmix.org.uk/events/rebels-heroes/

Thursday 2 May; From the Forest to the Pavement: Foraging as a Practice and Lifestyle. Talk and book signing by Sara Bir, author of the cookbook and foraging guide The Fruit Forager’s Companion. Watkins Books, 19-21 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 6.30pm. Free event. Details: https://watkinsbooks.com/events/

Thursday 2 May; Elizabethan Magic. Talk at the Wicca Meetup Group. Location in London (tba). Time: 6.30pm. https://www.meetup.com/The-London-Wicca-Meetup-Group/

Thursday 2 May; PFL Open Ritual for Beltane led by The Loose Association of Druids. Venue: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. Time: 7.30pm for 8pm start. Entry: £6/£5 (PF members and concessions). https://pflondon.info/

Friday 3-Monday 6 May; Hastings Jack-in-the-Green Festival - traditional annual event to celebrate May with music, a procession, Morris Dancing, a May Queen and Jack-in-the-Green. Full four-day festival programme culminating on Bank Holiday Monday with the Jack in the Green parade. For full details visit the festival website: http://www.hastingsjitg.co.uk/

Friday 3 May; Textual Analysis of the Grail Legends. Talk at the Philosophy. Venue: Souk Medina, 1a Shorts Gardens, London WC2H. Time: 6.15pm. Advance booking recommended. https://www.meetup.com/London-Philosophy-Meetup-Group/

Friday 3 May; Beltane Cacao Ceremony. Venue: Aho Studio, 13 Prince Edward Rd, London, E9 5LX. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £20. www.aho.community

Friday 3 May; Meditation and Om Healing - weekly event. Venue: The Theosophical Society, 50 Gloucester Place, London, W1U 8EA. Time: 7pm. Entry free. http://theosophicalsociety.org.uk/#

Friday 3 May; Alexandrian Witchcraft London - May Soirée. London venue, those registered to attend will be give the details. Tel: 07767496936 to reserve a place. https://www.facebook.com/events/2308858069175598/

Friday 3 - Monday 6 May; Spirit of the Marsh Beltane Gathering 2019. Festival with camping. Venue: Trusthorpe Road, Mablethorpe, LN12. Adult weekend tickets £55. http://www.spiritofthemarsh.com/wp/

Saturday 4 May; Rune Magic and Ceremony. Afternoon class with Andreas Kornevall. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 1pm-5.30pm. Tickets £40. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday 4 May; Beltane May Eve celebration of the Goddess and the Horned Lord with the Wicca Meetup Group. London venue - those attending will be told the location, but will gather in a pub beforehand. Time: 1pm-4pm. https://www.meetup.com/The-London-Wicca-Meetup-Group/

Saturday 4 May; Free and Open Gorsedd of Caer Abiri Beltain Celebraton. Druidic ceremony to celebrate Beltaine at Avebury stone circle in Wiltshire. Meet at the Red Lion pub from Noon for ceremony around 1.30pm. Offerings of bread, mead and song or poetry welcome. Overnight camping is allowed in the overflow car park. https://www.facebook.com/events/585577291867903/

Saturday 4 May; Endymion's Dream: A Celebration of Steve Moore - with Alan Moore, hosted by A Curious Invitation. Venue: Brompton Cemetery, Old Brompton Rd, London SW10 9UG. Time: 3pm. Tickets: http://londonmonthofthedead.com/endymionsdream.html?

Saturday 4 May; Beltain Wickerman Festival at Butser Ancient Farm. Afternoon/evening of entertainment and refreshments culminating with the burning of the giant wickerman at dusk. Venue: Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton Lane, Chalton, Waterlooville, Hants, PO8 0BG. Time: 4.30pm-10pm. Tickets: £28/£23 http://www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/

Sunday 5 May; Lucid Dreaming Workshop with Sarah Janes hosted by A Curious Invitation. Venue: Brompton Cemetery, Old Brompton Rd, London SW10 9UG. Time: 10am-noon. Tickets £15: http://londonmonthofthedead.com/endymionsdream.html?

Sunday 5 May; Sunday Meditation class with Lisabetta every Sunday. Drop-in class suitable for beginners and more experienced meditators. Venue: The Little Escape Therapy Centre, 4 Paxton Mews, off Westow St, London SE19 3RW. Time: 10am-11am. Cost: £12 per class, £30 for 3 classes. https://harmonious-healing.com/

Sunday 5 May; Glastonbury Dragons May Fayre 2019. Location: Glastonbury, Somerset. Time: 10am-5pm. Free event. https://www.facebook.com/events/245567596370660/

Sunday 5 May; The Marseille Tarot Introduced. One-day course with Adrien Mastrosimone. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 11am-5.30pm. Tickets £75. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Sunday 5 May; Beltane Celebration on Primrose Hill with the Loose Association of Druids. Gather in the Hawthorne Grove at Primrose Hill, London, NW1 8YH, between 12.30pm and 12.45pm to prepare the site ready for a prompt 1pm start. Nearest tube: Chalk Farm. Bring a small contribution of food and drink to share. https://www.facebook.com/LooseAssociationOfDruidsOfPrimroseHill/

Sunday 5 May; Night Visions: The Science of Sleep and Dreams with Dr Glenn Wilson hosted by A Curious Invitation. Venue: Brompton Cemetery, Old Brompton Rd, London SW10 9UG. Time: 1pm. Tickets £12, includes a glass of Hendrick's gin: http://londonmonthofthedead.com/endymionsdream.html?

Sunday 5 May; Borderlands of Sleep: Hypnagogia and Precognitive Dreams with Gary Lachman hosted by A Curious Invitation. Venue: Brompton Cemetery, Old Brompton Rd, London SW10 9UG. Time: 3pm. Tickets £12, includes a glass of Hendrick's gin: http://londonmonthofthedead.com/endymionsdream.html?

Sunday 5 May; Beltane Bonfire, Ritual and BBQ. Venue: Shey Copse, Woking, GU22 8HS. Time: 3.30pm – 8pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/439619853282593/

Sunday 5 May; An Introduction to Hypnosis and the Trance State with Gary Danny Dee hosted by A Curious Invitation. Venue: Brompton Cemetery, Old Brompton Rd, London SW10 9UG. Time: 5pm. Tickets £12, includes a glass of Hendrick's gin: http://londonmonthofthedead.com/endymionsdream.html?

Monday 6 May: Beating the Bounds of Westerham and Rotary Fair on The Green in Westerham, Kent. Traditional May Day family fair with Maypole dancing. All day, free event. https://www.facebook.com/events/271538887096627/

Tuesday 7 May; Poppet-making workshop, run by myself, based on my book Poppets and Magical Dolls (viewable on Amazon). Venue: Witches' Inn Gathering, The Hatch Public House, 44 Hatchlands Road, Redhill, RH1 6AT. Starts at 8pm. Moots are usually the first Tuesday of each month. Suggested donation £5. For more details visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/342474399949687/

Tuesday 7 May; Magic and Islam in Iraq. Talk at Romford Pagan Moot. Venue: The Golden Lion, 2 High Street, Romford RM1 1HR. Time: 7pm. Entry: £4 and raffle in aid of Essex wild life £1. https://www.facebook.com/events/2269593106594834/

Wednesday 8 May; Time to Meditate - group meditation (every Wednesday). Venue: Buddha on a Bicycle, Covent Garden, London. Arrive 6pm for 6.10pm start. Donations of £3 recommended. Details: http://www.meetup.com/meditation-trust-london/

Wednesday 8 May; Sekhmet Goddess Circle. Venue: She's Lost Control, 42 Valentine Road, London E9 7AD. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £32. www.sheslostcontrol.co.uk

Thursday 9 May; Healing in a Hospital: Evidence that Spiritual Healing Improves health. Talk by Sandy Edwards. Watkins Books, 19-21 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ. Time: 6.30pm. Free event. For more details Tel 020 7836 2182 or visit the website http://www.watkinsbooks.com/  or https://www.meetup.com/WatkinsBooks/

Thursday 9 May; A Garland of May. Talk at South East London Folklore Society (SELFS). Venue: The Old King's Head, Kings Head Yard, 45-49 Borough High St, London SE1 1NA. Entry: £5/£1.50 concessions. Time: 8pm. (Meetings are normally the second Thursday of each month.) https://www.facebook.com/groups/2438110887/ To guarantee a seat, email cunningfolkmusic@gmail.com

Friday 10 May; The Shamanic Path - Finding Healing through Meaning, Purpose and Service. Lecture by Jez Hughes. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, Kensington, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm. Tickets: £13/£15.  https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 11 May (tbc); Morning tour: an introduction to ancient Egypt. Venue: Room 4, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Time: 8.50am. Tickets £30. For more details visit: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar.aspx

Saturday 11 May; The Shamanic Path - Finding Healing through Meaning, Purpose and Service. One-day workshop with Jez Hughes. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, Kensington, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 10am-5pm. Tickets: £85/£105.  https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Saturday 11 May; The Marseille Tarot Introduced. One-day course with Adrien Mastrosimone. Venue: Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 11am-5.30pm. Tickets £75. Tel: 0207 419 8507 or email: info@treadwells-london.com http://www.treadwells-london.com/

Saturday 11 May; Wicca: One-day Experiential Course, Outdoors, with London Woodland Witches and Pagans. Location: Queen's Woods, Near Highgate Station. Meet at the Woodman pub at 10.30am. Tickets: £20, wear outdoor clothing and bring a packed lunch. Details: https://www.meetup.com/London-Woodland-Witches-Pagans-Magicians/

Saturday 11 May; The Thin Veil of London. Two-hour walk around Holborn and Bloomsbury, interwoven with mysteries from the stories of Arthur Machen, with Minimum Labyrinth. Tickets:  £17.50 (£12.50 concessions). Two performances: 3pm and 6pm. Details and booking:  www.minimumlabyrinth.org.

Saturday 11 May; Heart Beat. An evening of drumming and song with Gong Master Olaf Nixon. Venue: The College of Psychic Studies, 16 Queensberry Place, Kensington, London, SW7 2EB. Time: 6pm - 7.30pm. Tickets: £21/£23. https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

Sunday 12 May; Red Tent - Sacred Singing. Women-only meeting organised by South London Red Tent. Venue is a private house in South London and you must be a member of the group to sign up. Time 10.30am. https://www.meetup.com/South-London-Red-Tent/

Sunday 12 May; Shamanic workshop. Venue: Woodford Church at 9 Grove Crescent, South Woodford London, E18 2JR. Time: 11am-4pm. Cost: £10 pay at door.  http://woodfordchurch.com/

Sunday 12 May; Develop Your Untapped Psychic/Clairvoyant Skills. One-day workshop with the Tarot and Esoteric Discovery Group. Venue: The Light Zone, Apt B, 61 Compayne Gardens, London NW6 3DB. Time: 11am-6pm. Cost: £77 or £100 for two tickets. https://www.meetup.com/Tarot-and-Esoteric-Discovery-Group/

Sunday 12 May;  The British Museum and the Awakening of English Magic. Walking Tour with Caroline Wise organised by Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 11am. Ticket price £18. Book online at http://www.treadwells-london.com or reserve a place by visiting the shop.

Sunday 12 May; Bethnal Green Mobile Apothecary - monthly herb harvest and medicine making workshop. Venue: Phytology, Bethnal Green Nature Reserve, London E2 9RR. Time: 11am. Tickets: £9.46/£18.31 https://www.facebook.com/events/2061391110609842/

Sunday 12 May; London Pagan Pride Parade. Meet at Russell Square Gardens at noon. Free event, just turn up. https://www.facebook.com/groups/PaganPrideParadeLondon/

Note: I am not responsible for any of these events except my poppet workshop. I try to ensure the details I list are accurate, but please contact the organisers before turning up to any event in case of changes. If you spot something that needs correcting, please email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com