Is this the most enchanting bookshop in south London?
Plus: Why are locals objecting to 586 new homes?
Good morning, Wimblers.
This week, we sat down with Jude Temple, who founded the enchanting local bookshop Only Make Believe — distinctive for its colour-coordinated shelves and its in-house fairies, who write letters back to any children who correspond with them. We discussed demolishing future regrets by living out your dreams and why, in an age in which memoirs and non fiction dominate, Jude opted for an almost-exclusively fiction-filled bookshop. Set down your copy of London Falling! After this interview, I think you’ll agree it’s time to read a novel.
But before that: A local park scores a prestigious award, making Merton an increasingly internationally-admired borough in terms of its parks. Plus, why despite mass objection to a Kingston and Merton development, City Hall has approved the plan anyway.
News snippets 🗞️
🏗️ Over 1,000 people objected to a Kingston and Merton development of 586 homes, but City Hall has pushed it through anyway. The plans from SGN and Berkley Homes will see three gasholders on protected land in Motspur Park demolished for 586 homes, with some of the buildings reaching 16 storeys tall. Despite fierce opposition, Jules Pipe, London’s Deputy Mayor for Planning, approved the scheme on Tuesday after ruling it would “not result in substantial harm” to the open land. Representatives from Kingston and Merton councils were joined by objecting residents on Tuesday in arguing that the height and scale of the development were too great and that local infrastructure would not be able to handle such an influx of people. The application received 1,190 objections and 52 letters of support across Kingston’s and Merton's websites. Click here to read the full story.
🔥 Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a fire at a recycling centre on Weird Road last Saturday. Around 80 tonnes of household waste was involved in the fire. Authorities think the most probable cause of the fire was a lithium-ion battery – a type of rechargeable battery found everywhere from smartphones and laptops to cameras, e-cigarettes and electric vehicles . A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "Lithium-ion batteries and electricals with hidden lithium-ion batteries should not be placed in the same bins as your regular rubbish or recycling. Instead, check with the retailer or your local authority's website for the safest way to dispose of lithium-ion batteries in your area and reduce the risk of fires occurring. The brigade was called at 1.04pm and had the blaze under control by 2.50pm.
💚 Merton gained another Green Flag — the internationally recognised sign of excellence for parks — bringing the borough’s total number of flags to 11. The new Green Flag for the Mitcham park means Merton has almost doubled the number of Green Flag parks since 2024. Green Flags recognise well-managed, welcoming, and sustainable outdoor spaces for the local community. The awards are given after a meticulous judging process which awards marks for the above criteria as well as how involved the local community is in the running of the park.
The Wimble’s sponsor of the week 🥕
This week’s sponsor is the one and only Rooftop Farm. In September, the farm has another exciting event lined up. You can look forward to an evening of tastings and guided tours, all for £30 per person. Click here to book your spot.
Property of the week 🏡
While this six-bedroom detached house is rather impressive, its good looks aren’t our primary reason for featuring the property. Set within one of Wimbledon’s most prestigious enclaves, this house unfolds over 7,000 sq ft. The interior and amenities are lovely, but it’s the price that shocked me. £8.5 million. We’ve featured some expensive properties in our time, but this is a lot of dosh, even for Wimbledon. Check out more photos here.
The Wimble’s to-do list 🎯
🎨 Sip and Paint at the Fire Stables: Relax, sip your favourite drink and unleash your inner artist. Expert art instructors will guide you step by step in creating a beautiful canvas of the London skyline at sunset. Tickets are £47.30 per person.
Where: The Fire Stables, Wimbledon Village
When: Wednesday 29 July, 6-8pm
🍻 Pub quiz at the Dog & Fox: It’s that time again: gather your smartest friends, grab a couple of beers and compete in one of Wimbledon’s most competitive pub quizzes. I love a pub quiz, though I’m yet to ever win anything.
Where: Dog & Fox, Wimbledon Village
When: Wednesday 29 July, 7-10pm
👚 Goldsmith Vintage X Wimbledon Quarter Kilo Sale: Join Goldsmith Vintage at Wimbledon Quarter for a weekend packed with the best branded and designer vintage clothing, all for just £20 per kilo. Expect rails bursting with your favourite labels, including vintage sportswear, denim, jackets, knitwear, graphic tees, dresses, accessories and loads more. Admission is £2 per person.
Where: Wimbledon Quarter
When: Saturday 1 — Sunday 2 August, 11am.
🏎 Southside Hustle Classic Car Meet: This informal meeting of classic car owners in Wimbledon (and the surrounding areas) features a stunning array of cars — some of which are extremely rare. If you’re a petrolhead, or you just like the idea of checking out a bunch of classic cars in one place, then head to Wimbledon Village next Sunday.
Where: Wimbledon Common Southside near the farmers’ market.
When: Sunday 2 August, 8-11am
🏞️ Outdoor adventure day for young explorers: Suitable for 6 to 10-year-olds, this nature day aims to help you and your children through outdoor play, creativity, movement, and quiet moments. Click here to read the activities and to book your spot (tickets are £49 per person and include a signed copy of The Forest’s Secret – Helping Children Discover the Magic of Nature).
The magical bookshop turning book buying on its head 🧚
In April 2025, Jude Temple opened Only Make Believe, a bookshop in the heart of Merton Abbey Mills. Just over a year later - in May - Jude’s moved the shop into an even larger location within the same building, such is the demand. This week, we sat down to talk about the shop’s unique approach to bookselling.
Let’s start with the shop’s origin — what made you want to open such a unique space?
I was a local primary school teacher for most of my life, but owning a bookshop was always an itch. I lost both of my parents, and my sister and I were sitting around one day reminiscing about the fact that they never did move to Penzance like they wanted. I could imagine my children saying something similar about me: “Mum never did get her bookshop…” So that was the real driving force behind it, and I just jumped in with both feet.
And what has the experience of going from being a local resident to a shopkeeper been like?
It’s been extraordinary. I can’t tell you how clueless I was when I opened this place. I stood in the empty unit and wondered aloud, “Where do booksellers get books from? How does it work?” It’s been such a steep learning curve. At the beginning, that’s quite a good thing because you know you know nothing.
I’ve been blown away by the community’s response to the bookshop. We all know that people can buy books online and have them delivered within 24 hours. But people really want to interact and talk with other people. They want to know who they’re buying from and support the local community. Early on, people would pop in and want me to advise them, to talk to them about books, which is just the best part of the job.
And relationships build. You start to know people by their names and their children’s names and the names of their pets. Soon you’ve built a community with children running in and showing you their star of the week certificate from school.
What made you choose to almost exclusively stock fiction?
I think it was mostly because I saw the bookshop as an absolute passion project, and my passion lies within fiction. Fiction has shaped my life, taught me things and been an endless source of joy. The first unit was a tiny space, and I realised that I could buy loads of non-fiction but that it might not meet people’s needs. I know where I am with fiction: I feel it, I understand it and I can talk about it. I do order non-fiction when a customer requests a certain book. We also stock a small selection of children’s non-fiction because it’s just so good.
It was actually one of my children, Arden, who came up with the name for the shop. When I told her that we would only stock fiction, she said, “Oh, so it’s only make believe.” I knew then that we had the name.
The shop has a very unique layout, particularly your choice to arrange the books by colour rather than by author’s surname. How has that changed the buying experience?
I wanted the whole shop to feel quirky and whimsical, and I wanted people coming into the space to experience something. A lot of bookshops tend to feel quite corporate, and I really didn’t want that. Arranging the literary fiction by colour came from a moment of whimsy, but now we’ve become known for it. People tell me that it encourages them to really peruse the shelves, to feel absorbed by the space. It also encourages people to find something unusual or something they haven’t thought about, and that’s what a bookshop should aim to do.
It’s come to my attention that you have two resident fairies living in the shop. When did they move in?
When we relocated to the new shop, the fairies moved in too. One day, a fairy door appeared. Children started writing letters and drawing pictures for them, so we bought the fairies a little postbox. Then, much to our astonishment, the fairies began to reply. We found out their names were Chapter and Paige. Now the children write to the fairies, and the fairies write back!
How has the space grown since you founded the shop?
I think it’s mostly been through the events we run. We host a toddler story time twice a week. It’s completely free. Parents don’t have to book — we all know how unpredictable life with a toddler can be. So people just turn up on a Thursday or Friday morning at 9.30am. We’ve also always got children’s toys out on the carpet. On market days, Merton Abbey Mills can get quite crowded, so we’ve noticed a lot of people popping in on those days for a quiet 20 minutes of browsing, chatting and relaxing. We started a book club a little while ago. At the beginning, we had eight attendees. Now we’re up to 25, and we’re launching a fantasy-specific book club too.
There’s a physicality to bookshops. People spend a lot of time on screen, and I think many of us want to move away from that. People want to come together and share a common moment with one another — in our case, that’s through books.
Question of the week 🔍
Last week, I asked you in what year Cannizaro House was built. The answer: 1705 (then known as Warren House).
Q: What makes the Buddhapadipa Temple so special?
You’re up to date 👋
Thank you for reading this week’s edition. Do check out Only Make Believe at Merton Abbey Mills whenever you’re there. Get in touch with feature or interview ideas by emailing zak@thewimble.com. Other than that, have a great week and we’ll see you next time!
What a really lovely article about Only Make Believe the children’s bookshop in Merton Abbey Mills, well done to Jude for making her
wish a reality , no wonder the fairies came to stay 😊
Always so interesting to read . Thank you 🤩