One look out of the window and it's very obviously September. Early sunsets, breezy trees, falling conkers. But London always puts on a last flurry of events and activities and happenings before the frost rolls in for October, and we're all invited. Here's my weekend by weekend guide to free September delights, because it's never too soon to plan ahead.
Weekend 1: September 5/6 » The Great River Race (Sat, 11-5): A spectacular paddle up the Thames from Greenwich to Richmond. » E17 Art Trail (continues next weekend): A bumper bundle of installations in and around Walthamstow. Make sure you take a copy of the Art Trail Guide with you, because (if last year is anything to go by) you won't be able to find anything without one. » Liberty (Sat, 1-6): Celebrating the contribution of deaf and disabled people to London's culture, in Trafalgar Square. » Ignite 09 (Fri-Sun): Cultured innovatory art at the Royal Opera House - free (but bookable) by day, and unfree after dark.
Weekend 2: September 12/13 » Thames Festival (Sat & Sun, noon-10): An extensive programme of rammed riverside entertainment along the South Bank, including a bridge-top feast on Saturday, and culminating with a huge firework display on Sunday. » Heritage Open Days (Sat, Sun): 100s of buildings that aren't usually open, are open. Most of them are outside London - the Home Counties are swarming - but there are plenty open in Kingston (which is spending the weekend pretending it's in Surrey). » Green Chain Walking Festival (continues until next weekend): 14 guided walks along the ten sections of the Green Chain (for all those of you who've always wanted to walk to Erith).
Weekend 3: September 19/20 » Open House London (Sat, Sun): The grand-daddy of architectural festivals, with hundreds of weird and wonderful buildings throwing open their doors across the capital. All the really special events have been fully booked for weeks, but there'll be tons more to see over the weekend. Be there, or regret it for the next 52 weeks. » Bermondsey Street Festival (Sat, noon-5): Food, Fashion, Film and Fun (plus Zandra Rhodes and a dog show). » Tour of Britain (Sat, from 2pm): The final stage of this cross-country bike race is a lycra-tastic sprinty circuit around sealed-off central London. » London Skyride (Sun): Family friendly cycling event aimed at the less confident rider (and potential satellite dish purchaser), as all four-wheeled traffic evacuates the roads between Buckingham Palace and the Tower. » London Design Festival (continues until next weekend): Hundreds of design-er events are taking place across the capital (but it'll be tricky ploughing through the longlist trying to find the true highlights).
Weekend 4: September 26/27 » Great Gorilla Run (Sat): Dress up as a gorilla and run 7km to raise money for charity (or just come along and watch sweaty knackered apes). » Hackney Wick Festival (Sat, 1-5): Arts-inspired fete on Eastway Village Green (although the website's no help yet). » Eid in the Square (Sat pm): As Ramadan ends, this Eid ul-Fitr celebration takes over Trafalgar Square. » Regent's Street Festival (Sun, noon-8): A pedestrianised day with street performers and food stalls (and rebranded radio stations), for those who like their sponsored entertainment to be very close to some expensive shops. » Dig for Victory Harvest Fair (Sat, Sun, 11-4): End-of-season harvest-based arts and crafts (and shire horses and a petting zoo) at the allotment in St James' Park. » Autumn Ambles (Sat, Sun): Guided walks around London's strategic footpath network. Enjoy peripheral bits of the capital you'd never normally dream of visiting. Recommended. » London Fashion Weekend (Thur-Sun): If this excites you, you're probably an accidental visitor to my website.
And at the start of October... » Thames Barrier Closure (Sun 4 Oct, 10-6): Annual all-day maintenance closure (peaking around high tide at 2:30pm). Come and see water piled up on one side only... while it's only a practice.)
