Here’s a GPS trace of the Blackheath Funfair fencing. It’s the first time I can remember them fencing the funfair off, and several people have tweeted asking whether this is legal. I have no idea, but I suspect that the police would view it as not worth the bother, even if it isn’t… Much like the council’s attitude towards Foxtons and their illegal lighting.
Anyway, at least you’ve got a record of the first encroachment. So that when the funfair decides to declare the Independent People’s Republic of Fairgroundia, you can say that you remember where it began.
£1 Entrance Fee
£3 Dodgems
£2.50 The Terminator
£4 2xtreme (terrifying looking spinning thing seen from miles away)
£2 Waltzer
£2.50 Bounce
£3 Oblivion (another spinning thing)
£2.50 Cage
£2.50 Hook a duck
£2 Ghost train
£2 Ferris wheel
£2 Burger
£2 Candy floss
UPDATE: About a zillion people are googling this blog asking “where is blackheath fun fair?”, so here’s a map. Not sure about the circus location though.. If it’s wrong, let me know in the comments. I’ll try to make a more accurate version later. Come by train (parking is terrible in Blackheath), turn left out of the station and walk up the hill. When you get to the heath, you’ll see the fair.
UPDATE: For photos and prices of the current fun fair, see Blackheath Fun Fair 2011
The funfair has been back on the heath all weekend. Lots of people coming to the blog, looking for the opening times. Today (Monday) it is open from 12noon until 10pm. Spooky photo by flickr user superba_ (would have posted this even spookier one, but it’s copyrighted unfortunately).
UPDATE: This is an old post – for info about the funfair at the end of August 2010, go here!
There’s a fun fair on the Heath! It’s only a small one, and they’re still setting up as I write this, but it looks like a nice manageable size, not like some of the massive sprawling fairs over on the Greenwich end of the Heath. Definitely aimed at younger kids, there’s a mini helter-skelter, a merry go round, lots of inflatables, a bungee trampoline, a big wheel, as well as dodgems (as used by non-specific Royalty, see photo below) and other arcade-type attractions along the back row of the fair for adults/older kids.
If you didn’t manage to go to the Bike and Kite festival on Saturday, then try and go on Sunday. It was really something special, as the video above by YouTube user Jadepike4 demonstrates.
There are always two distinct camps of kite fliers: The model fliers, like inverse puppeteers with their enormous hovering cats, people and teddy bears looming over us. And the stunt fliers, flinging their synchronised kites through the air. I wonder whether the two tribes get along. Do the stunt fliers look down on the modellers as tacky and gauche? Do the modellers think of the stunt fliers as showy and macho? Or maybe not. Maybe they’re just happy to be up in the air.
Here’s an idea for next year – one up from the flying cats (great though they were). In the 16th Century, the Chinese invented a man-lifting kite. This would draw in the crowds next year! Okay, it may be a little dangerous, but could be very exciting too… Perhaps I’ll volunteer to get hoisted up. Makes a change from attaching an old Nokia to a kite.
Click on the Keep Reading link below to view my hundreds of photos – apologies for the dodgy quality, there are far better ones inside the Flickr Blackheath collection.
UPDATE: This post has been modified from the original – please see the comments for details. Continue reading →
So the next Bike and Kite Festival is nearly upon us! It’s one of the best things about Blackheath – it’s free and it really shows off the heath in the loveliest way possible. Try and come along if you can – it is on Saturday 13th – Sunday 14th June according to Lewisham Council’s website. Leave your car at home, as there won’t be any parking. There’s a detailed page on The Kite Society’s website explaining who will be flying what, as well as a nice set of photos from last year.
Photos from last year’s event can be seen here. And just to remind you, here’s a video from my terrible old camera phone showing one of the displays:
Licensed under a 
