The Exchange

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The Exchange

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from The Exchange, The Old Library, Walnut Tree Road, London.

The Exchange is a community-led arts & crafts organisation that uses the heritage of our home, Erith’s Grade II listed Old Library, to inspire new programmes and activities that bring people together and demonstrate the power of community craft.

30/08/2026

The rain has finally come, and the garden is loving it!

The team is beginning to gear up to the big Erith Made festival - here is an update on what's happening before then, and on what to expect on the day.

🍂 Visit our Garden
There is a new addition to the garden - can you spot it? can you guess what it is? Without rain, it isn't its true self... Come visit our little oasis as the season begins to change.
Open Thursday - Saturday | During opening hours. FREE

🎨 Exploring Watercolour Painting
Join Ruth & Elly in this monthly workshop. Whether you’re a beginner or an accomplished artist, come along and give it a whirl!
Thursday 03 September | 11am - 1pm. £10 (Book online)

🎨 WHATIF Art Club
Join Ruth from“whatif “ for their monthly Art Club session. The art club will give you the opportunity to meet with like-minded people to explore water-based art in whatever way you wish.
Thursday 03 September | 1 - 3pm. £5 (Pay on the day)

🧶 Crafters Club
Whether you enjoy knitting, crocheting, or weaving, join a welcoming community to craft and connect with other like-minded creatives.
Thursday 03 & 10 September | 6 - 8 pm. FREE DROP-IN.

🎲 Board Games Club
Fancy socialising over a game of cards, chess or something else? We have a wide selection of games for you to choose from.
Thursday 03 & 10 September | 6 - 8 pm. FREE DROP-IN.

😌 Shibashi with Kathy
Each session will include a warm-up, various Qigong exercises, and either set 1 or set 2 Shibashi.
Thursday 10 September | 7 - 8 pm. £5 (See website for booking details)

🩰 Ballet with VIV'ART Movement Academy
Viv'Art Movement Academy brings beautiful, joyful ballet classes to The Exchange every Friday morning, sessions designed for your little ones, ages 2.5+ and 6+.
Thursday 10 September | 10am- 12pm. £6 (Book online)

🥳 ERITH MADE Festival & Heritage Open Days
The Town Festival returns with a market down in Riverside Gardens, performances and fun at the Running Horses and other participating venues. At The Exchange, there will be Open Studios, Garden Tours, History Talks, DJs and a range of craft activities. Looking forward to seeing you there!

🧋And, of course, our brilliant Garden Room Shop & Coffee Bar will be open as usual. Find something special. Try something delicious. 😋

Head over to our website to find out more.
https://www.theexchangeerith.com/whatson

21/08/2026

🌿 Join us for one of our Garden Lates this summer!

On Thursday, the 27th of August, we will be offering an evening tour of our stunning garden with Head Gardener Selina.

Whether you come solo or with friends, this is the perfect opportunity to see our Sarah Price-designed garden at its best, outside our usual opening hours.

Make the most of the evening and stay a little longer in the Garden Room bar, and socialise over a glass of w**e in a beautiful setting.

🗓️ Thursday 27 August, 6:20 pm - 7:15 pm. £7 (includes a drink from the Garden Room Bar)
Book your spot on our website today.
https://www.theexchangeerith.com/whats-on/garden-lates-evening-tour-2708

*Bar open until 8.30 pm, with last orders 8:00pm.

20/08/2026

☕ Need a break for a couple of hours?

Pop in for a drink, ice cream, or a baked treat and enjoy it inside our beautiful, historic building or in our Sarah Price-designed garden.

While you're here, you can borrow or swap a book at The Little Book Stop, explore the building, and see what's going on.

⏰ Open Thursday to Friday 10-4, and Saturday 10-2.

19/08/2026

On the 12th of September, Erith Made is back!

Get ready for our packed programme of events + activities as part of the annual ERITH MADE festival with Erith Town Partnership , celebrating our town, people and places all across Erith!

👀 tex craft Open Studios + Garden Tours

Curious about what happens at The Exchange? Join us for our Open Studios. Meet the team, see what our Community Makers are creating — from chairs, tables, and ceramics for the community to use to our woven plant pots, Erith Gold plant labels, and Hemmings trays for sale — and try a taster session in the Workshops to take your first step into a traditional craft. You can also join Head Gardener Selina for a tour of our Sarah Price-designed garden - recently featured on BBC Gardeners’ World - and perhaps treat yourself to a new plant propagated right here in our beautiful garden.

Plus…movement and meditation sessions, arts & crafts sessions for all ages, Local History Talk, Laid Back Funk from Vinyl DJ, and much more!

Don’t forget to pop it in your calendar and keep an eye on our What’s On guide over the next few weeks for full details.

🗓️ 12/09/2026 | 10 am - 7 pm | FREE ENTRY

17/08/2026

This week at The Exchange 👀

🧶 Crafters Club
Whether you enjoy knitting, crocheting, or weaving, join a welcoming community to craft and connect with other like-minded creatives.
Thursday 20th August | 6 - 8 pm. FREE DROP-IN.

🎲 Board Games Club
Fancy socialising over a game of cards, chess or something else? We have a wide selection of games for you to choose from.
Thursday 20th August | 6 - 8 pm. FREE DROP-IN.

😌 Shibashi with Kathy
Each session will include a warm-up, various Qigong exercises, and either set 1 or set 2 Shibashi.
Thursday 20th August | 7 - 8 pm. BOOKING REQUIRED.

💆 Evening Yoga
Discover your inner strength and serenity with Natasha from The Coaching Yogi. Please email [email protected] to book your space.
Thursday 20th August | 7.30 - 9.30 pm. BOOKING REQUIRED.

🖌️ Make & Wonder
Creative sessions rooted in nature, place and story. Printing, drawing, sewing and making together — for curious minds of all ages.
Friday 21st August | 10.30 am - 12.30 pm.

👐 Pottery Wheel Taster Session
A beginner-friendly hands-on taster workshop for those aged 8-16.
Friday 21st August | 10.30 am - 1.30 pm.

💆 Morning Yoga
This welcoming environment provides the perfect space to connect with your body and mind.
Saturday 22nd August | 10 - 11 am.

👐 Pottery Wheel Taster Session
A beginner-friendly hands-on taster workshop for those aged 8-16.
Saturday 22nd August | 10.30 am - 1.30 pm.

🌿 The Mulberry Circle
A welcoming in-person monthly gathering designed for women to pause, breathe and reconnect with themselves.
Saturday 22nd August | 11 am - 12.30 pm.

Head over to our website to find out more.
https://www.theexchangeerith.com/whatson

14/08/2026

NEW Monthly Gathering! The Mulberry Circle - Root - Flow- Flourish

Join us for a welcoming, in-person monthly gathering designed for women to pause, breathe, and reconnect with themselves, one another, and nature.

Held in the beautiful Mulberry Room at The Exchange and inspired by the nearby Mulberry Tree and Sarah Price Garden, each gathering offers a gentle space for rest, reflection, guided practices and meaningful conversation.

Wherever you find yourself today, you are warmly welcome. There is nothing to prove here. Together we become a little more rooted, a little more spacious, and a little more connected to ourselves, to one another and to what matters most.

The Mulberry Circle is a monthly gathering hosted by Benaifer Patell, a Daring to Rest Yoga Nidra Facilitator and Coach.

Suggested Donation of £10 (donate on the day in The Garden Room)

Donation-based in support of A Common Paradise, The Exchange's initiative to raise funds to maintain and support the wonderful Sarah Price garden at The Exchange for all to enjoy.

Saturday 22nd August | 11 am - 12.30 pm.

Reserve your space.

https://www.theexchangeerith.com/whats-on/the-mulberry-circle-22092026

10/08/2026

This week at The Exchange 👀

🎲 Board Games Club
Fancy socialising over a game of cards, chess or something else? We have a wide selection of games for you to choose from.
Thursday 13th August | 6 - 8 pm. FREE DROP-IN.

🧶 Crafters Club
Whether you enjoy knitting, crocheting, or weaving, join a welcoming community to craft and connect with other like-minded creatives.
Thursday 13th August | 6 - 8 pm. FREE DROP-IN.

😌 Shibashi with Kathy
Each session will include a warm-up, various Qigong exercises, and either set 1 or set 2 Shibashi.
Thursday 13th August | 7 - 8 pm. BOOKING REQUIRED.

💆 Evening Yoga
Discover your inner strength and serenity with Natasha from The Coaching Yogi. Please email [email protected] to book your space.
Thursday 13th August | 7.30 - 9.30 pm. BOOKING REQUIRED.

🤩 Create a Vision Board
Discover more about your dreams and future goals.
Friday 14th August | 10.30 am - 12.30 pm. BOOKING REQUIRED.

🤝 Men's Circle
The Men’s Circle is a monthly gathering on Saturday mornings, hosted by Lau from Mentoring Advocacy Network CIC.
Saturday 15th August | 9 - 10.30 am. FREE.

💆 Morning Yoga
This welcoming environment provides the perfect space to connect with your body and mind.
Saturday 15th August | 10 - 11 am. BOOKING REQUIRED.

✂️ Craft Kit Rescue Club
Bring along your craft kit, and enjoy a relaxed, friendly session where you can make alongside other creative people.
Saturday 15th August | 11 am - 1 pm. FREE. BOOKING REQUIRED.

Head over to our website to find out more.
https://www.theexchangeerith.com/whatson

07/08/2026

New Monthly Workshop! Craft Kit Rescue Club ✂️

Have you purchased craft kits in the past but never got around to actually using them? Well, now is your chance!

Whether it’s rock painting, crochet, embroidery, needle felting, macramé, paper craft, painting by numbers, diamond painting, or something completely different, this is your chance each month to finally open the box and get started.

Bring along your craft kit, treat yourself to a drink and a slice of cake from the Garden Room Coffee Bar, and enjoy a relaxed, friendly session to get started alongside other creative people. If you’ve been putting it off because the instructions look daunting, you’re worried about making mistakes, or you don’t know where to begin, help is on hand.

This isn’t a formal class; everyone will be working on different projects at their own pace, but you’ll have encouragement, practical support and the motivation that comes from creating together.

No pressure. No expectations. Come solo or with friends. Just bring your kit, find a table, and take that first step.

These workshops are part of our Loved & Wanted programme.

Reserve your free space.

https://www.theexchangeerith.com/ticket-booking/p/craft-kit-rescue-club

05/08/2026

Last Friday we welcomed back Mark Whyman and his team, who helped build The Exchange gardens, for a hands-on workshop ’Shape, Cast and Create’. Mark, Breffni and Steve shared their technique for making the bespoke vessels that first rose to fame in Sarah Price's 2023 Chelsea Flower Show garden. The recipe was originally coined by Local Works Studio who also designed the brick paving here at The Exchange. Everyone loved getting their hands dirty, and, despite a few mishaps we have some beautiful pieces which we'll treasure in the garden for many years to come!

Thanks to all who joined and thanks to Mark Whyman Landscapes for such a fun afternoon!

04/08/2026

Would you like to find out more about yourself and your aspirations? 🤔

Join Bettie for a workshop to discover more about your dreams and future goals. In a very calm and fun environment, each participant will create their own vision/mood board, a collage of images, powerful words and quotes. This session is an excellent opportunity for creative expression and self-reflection.

Come solo or with friends. Materials are provided, but feel free to bring along any bits and pieces you’d love to use or be inspired by!

This course is designed and led by Bettie Honc, creator of Wellbeing Journaling.

🗓️ Friday 14 August | 11 am - 1 pm. £5. Book a space.

https://www.theexchangeerith.com/ticket-booking/p/create-a-vision-board

Address

The Old Library, Walnut Tree Road
Erith
DA81RS

Telephone

+441322341144

Website

http://www.theexchangeerith.com/

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