Last chance to catch London’s most insta-worthy fair!
I love finding new and cool things to do. One of the best things about living in the city is being able to find new and wonderful things to do with your time. One of my close friends told me about Carters steam fair, which appealed to the big kid in me! What’s more it is FREE!
Carters steam fair
Not only is it the world’s largest travelling vintage funfair. Carters steam fair is also London’s most beautiful and photogenic fair. Vintage fairground rides that have been lovingly restored and repainted using traditional techniques. On the 22nd and 23rd September, the fair will be in Ravenscourt Park in Hammersmith with a mix of rides for big kids and little kids alike. Their unique collection of rides date from the 1890s to the 1960s and include classic side-stall games like Hook-a-Duck, Coconut Sheet and many more. And if you think the fair looks familiar you’re probably right. It’s been featured in Oscar-winning The Theory of Everything, Paddington 2, Call the Midwife and various other pop music videos and shows.
Grab your free guided VIP tour
If you fancy a free VIP tour of the fair before the crowds arrive. Join fairground owner and renowned artist Joby Carter for a guided tour around the steam fair on Saturday before it opens to the public. He will be sharing the history of the rides and the painting techniques they have used to restore them. Joby is a leading expert in traditional sign-writing techniques. People fly from all over the world to learn about fairground art, lettering and traditional painting techniques on his sign-writing courses. The tour is a unique chance to see the fair and the beautiful artwork up close. Also the ideal opportunity to get snapping for your insta feed. Guests are invited to bring a sketch book and their camera to capture inspiration as they walk around the fair.
The free places are on a first come, first served basis on Eventbrite
Fairground owner Joby Carter says: “We love taking our fair on tour. We are technically a family of artists and the fair is our canvas; we paint everything by hand using traditional methods keeping everything as you would have found it when new. We love being able to showcase these vintage attractions so the public can all enjoy them too.”
“Sheer fun, with a lovely touch of history, a humility rarely shown in today’s busy world and the chance to see a real Steam Fair in action both behind the scenes and in front. Would not have missed this opportunity for the world, Not just a photographers paradise whatever camera you have in your hand but a way of seeing a huge part of the history of Steam….thank you…” (Previous tour guest review)
To mark their last London date of the year, Carters Steam Fair are giving away 500 free rides. For more information check out their Facebook page.