It's somehow September again but never fear, London's putting on a last flurry of events and activities and happenings before the nights draw in and we're all invited. Here's my weekend-by-weekend guide to free September delights.
All month
» Totally Thames (Sep 1-30): Once again we're presented with a whole month of river-focused events, many of them ticketed, ranging from art to walks to virtual talks to boat trips to a few exhibition boards dumped in a park. The website's events section is easier to scroll through this year, but I'm still not sure I've managed to spot all the one-off treats.
» Lambeth Heritage Festival (Sep 1-30): Dozens of talks, guided walks and openings across the borough (plus a proper week-by-week events list to flick through, bliss).
Weekend 1: September 3/4
» Greenwich+Docklands International Festival (26 Aug - 11 Sep): This significant splurge of spectacular performances has again been shifted from its usual midsummer slot, and with a few more events north of the river. This weekend watch an 32ft rotating zoetrope near Canning Town and an Island of Foam at North Greenwich (and GDIF ends next weekend with Canary Wharf's annual day of dance and an elegiac finale in Island Gardens).
» Leytonstone Festival (Sat, Sun): Local performers, mostly actors and musicians, perform locally (although events are hidden on a Google map dated 2018, and this is not the best way to attract interest).
» Lambeth Local History Fair (Sat, from 10.00): A coming-together of local societies, heritage organisations, friends groups and local history publishers at St John's church, Waterloo. Includes three free illustrated talks.
» Croxfest (Sat from noon): OK, so this one's not quite in London but where else are you going to hear Electric Umbrella, Glassminds and the Swanvesta Social Club other than on the Green in Croxley?
» Angel Canal Festival (Sun, 11-5): Waterside gaiety beside City Road Lock, now in its fourth decade. Expect the Mayor of Islington to arrive by narrowboat.
» Thames Tidefest (Sun, 9.30-5.30): River-based activities scattered between Brentford and Chiswick, with a particular marquee-focus at Strand-on-the-Green, W4. » Brentford Festival (Sun, 12-6): Live tunes, stalls, vintage vehicles and the obligatory dog show in Blondin Park W5.
Weekend 2: September 10/11
» Open House London (this weekend and next): The grand-daddy of architectural festivals, with hundreds of weird and wonderful buildings throwing open their doors across the capital, once again for two weekends. The online calendar currently includes 767 properties (3 in Havering but 69 in Westminster) and as ever the outer boroughs have some of the proper treasures. They're rejigged the online listings again allowing you to search by date, borough, event type and map location, but my god it's hard work ploughing through for the need-bookings, the nearby, the not-usually-open and the truly noteworthy. You'll need an account to book anything, and it's impossible to see what's sold out without one. I hope you didn't waste your money on a printed guide because that was published before dates were confirmed so it's fundamentally useless. As ever there's far too much to choose from, but if you need inspiration here are my reports from 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Be there, or regret it for the subsequent 51 weeks.
» Heritage Open Days (Thu- next Sun): Once again two weekends when hundreds of buildings that aren't usually open are open. Most are outside London but 106 are in the capital, including sculpturetastic Dorich House, E3's House Mill and tours of Dulwich's British Vintage Wireless and Television Museum.
» Erith Made (Sat, Sun): Erith's trying to whip up community spirit with an extensive selection of events including history tours, a pier promenade and a tea dance. They've also thrown all their events into the Heritage Open Days tombola for extra publicity.
» St Katharine Docks Classic Boat Festival (Sat, Sun): Annual gathering of small boats near Tower Bridge. Probably includes paddleboarding, music and workshops, but the website doesn't scroll down so I can't tell.
» Scadbury Open Weekend (Sat, Sun, 2-4.30): Archaeological excavations, and refreshments, at the moated medieval manor house near the Sidcup bypass.
» The Great River Race (Sat, 9.45-1.00): 300 craft engage in a spectacular paddle up the Thames from Docklands to Richmond.
» Mitcham Heritage Day (Sat, 10-4.30): Several buildings around the conservation area will be open including The Canons and the parish church belltower (but alas not the cricket pavilion). I went in 2018, so can recommend. Part of Wandle Fortnight(10th-25th).
» Hackney Carnival (Sun, 12-7): Not of Notting Hill proportions, but expect exuberance and booming sound systems down and around Mare Street.
Weekend 3: September 17/18
» Open House London: Weekend two
» Heritage Open Days Weekend two
» London Design Festival (continues next weekend): Hundreds of design-er events (including several landmark projects) are taking place across a dozen on-trend clusters, but the programme's so vast you'll have to look hard for the best bits (and I have already waved the white flag and surrendered).
» Royal Wharf Summer Fete (Sat, 11-7): Newham's newest neighbourhood attempts festival vibe placemaking to help make residents feel a bit more at home.
» Bermondsey Street Festival (Sat, 11-7): A designery "village fête", plus the obligatory dog show, plus curated live music, plus food and stalls.
Weekend 4: September 24/25
» Thames Barrier Closure (Sat, from 9.45): Annual all-day maintenance closure (peaking around high tide at 1.20pm). Come and see water piled up on one side only (while it's only a practice).
» VCS90 (Sat): A static display of vintage coaches in the bays at Victoria Coach Station which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year.
» Woolmen’s Sheep Drive and Wool Fair (Sun, 10-4): Kate Humble is the celeb leading this year's first tranche over London Bridge. Come too for wool-related trade stalls, lamb burgers and a bar on a bus.
» Chiswick House Dog Show (Sun, 11-4.15): Celebrity judges give the hounds of W4 the runaround.
(and then it's October and then it's fireworks and then it's Christmas)
