Social cohesion, belonging and neighbourhood quality have become urgent topics, as fracturing community cohesion generates increasing concern and debate. Our sense of belonging matters, whether to our local neighbourhood, our street, our workplace, our faith or our community.
This is why for the London Festival of Architecture 2026 we hosted a walking tour that explored social anchors around Elephant & Castle and Walworth that have fostered belonging in a changing neighbourhood. The tour offered a chance to see neighbourhood change through a different lens, celebrating the community relationships that outlast the buildings.
We’ve put together a short booklet that summarises the walk and points readers to social infrastructure in the local area.
It also explores predicted sense of belonging in the neighbourhood using our Community Dynamics data. Community Dynamics predicts how people are likely to feel about their local neighbourhoods - their sense of belonging, safety, agency, and how they feel about their neighbours. Get in touch if you’d like to know more or work with us on this, we are actively looking for collaborators!
Thank you to St Paul’s Church Lorrimore Square and Fareshares Co-op for welcoming us into your spaces and speaking with our guests.
