Monthly Happenings | May

Spring is in full bloom, and as we journey through the season we discover five events to enjoy, from a literary festival in Sussex to a photo series on the land traditions of north Devon.

Offbeat Film Festival

Dedicated to fresh voices and independent storytelling, Offbeat Film Festival returns for its second edition this May. Taking place across various venues, including cinemas and open-air spaces, the programme highlights short films, experimental features and new work from emerging filmmakers. A focus on bold, unconventional narratives promises a dynamic and unpredictable line-up.

Offbeat Film Festival is on at various venues 15 - 18 May 2025.

James Ravilious: An English Eye at Thelma Hulbert Gallery

Celebrating the work of documentary photographer James Ravilious, this exhibition at Thelma Hulbert Gallery captures rural English life with quiet observation and sensitivity. Through black-and-white photographs, Ravilious portrays the landscapes and communities of north Devon, documenting a way of life rooted in tradition and shaped by the land.

James Ravilious: An English Eye is on at Thelma Hulbert Gallery until 28 June 2025.

The Cosmic House: Visit and Explore

Created by architectural historian and cultural theorist Charles Jencks, The Cosmic House is one of London’s most idiosyncratic private homes. Open to the public by appointment, the house offers an immersive journey into Post Modernism, with its richly symbolic interiors, celestial motifs, and playful architectural gestures. Each room invites reflection on time, space, and human creativity.

The Cosmic House is now open. 

Paris à Londres at Levan, Peckham

Over the coming months, a corner of south-east London will take on the spirit of the French capital, as Levan and neighbouring Bar Levan host Paris à Londres—a series of one-day residencies bringing some of Paris’s most beloved independent restaurants to Peckham.

Once a month from April through July, three contemporary bistros and one storied name in natural wine will cross the Channel to share their take on convivial dining. Expect leisurely lunches at Levan, followed by relaxed gatherings next door.

Completing the line-up are Le Verre Volé starting Sunday 18 May. Buttes Snack Bar starting Sunday 15 June, and Les Oeillets starting Sunday 20 July.

Paris à Londres is on at Levan until July.

Charleston Festival 2025

Set in the heart of the Sussex Downs, Charleston hosts its annual arts festival, bringing together writers, artists and thinkers for ten days of lively conversation and performance. Celebrating its centenary year, this edition reflects on the radical spirit of the Bloomsbury Group, with a programme that spans literature, art, politics, and activism. Guests include Deborah Levy, Roxane Gay, and Nigel Slater. 

Charleston Festival is on 14 - 26 May 2025.

James Ravilious, Thelma Hulbert Gallery, 2025. 

Offbeat Film Festival, Offbeat, 2025. 

The Cosmic House, Jencks Foundation, 2025.

Levan, Paris à Londres, 2025. 

Charleston Festival, Charleston Trust, 2025.