It's almost September again but never fear, London's putting on a last flurry of events, 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 a whole month of river-focused events, most ticketed, ranging from art to walks to virtual talks to boat trips to a few exhibition boards dumped in a park. This year's festival peaks on 22nd September which has been designated Thames Day. Thankfully the website's events section is easier to scroll through these days.
» Lambeth Heritage Festival (Sep 1-30): Dozens of free talks, guided walks and openings across the borough (plus a proper week-by-week brochure to flick through, bliss). Hats off to whoever organises this every year.
Weekend 1: August 31/September 1
» Greenwich+Docklands International Festival (23 Aug - 8 Sep): This significant splurge of spectacular performances delivers artistic wonders annually. Annoyingly you'll need the brochure for an overview of what's on when. This weekend you can enjoy animal impersonations in Eltham and watch parkour at North Greenwich. GDIF ends next weekend with Canary Wharf's annual day of dance and towering balladry in Thamesmead.
» Creative Mile (Sat, Sun): Art in venues across Brentford, including The Musical Museum and the London Museum of Water and Steam.
» Green Chain Walking Festival (Sep 1-15): Fifteen free guided walks, including two chances to walk the new unsigned section 12 between Greenwich and Eltham.
» Highgate Wood Community Heritage Day (Sun, 11-4): Beekeepers, parading dogs, local history societies and the first firing of a replica Roman kiln.
» Angel Canal Festival (Sun, 11-4): Waterside gaiety beside City Road Lock, now in its fourth decade. Expect the Mayor of Islington to arrive by narrowboat. I went last year.
» Brentford Festival (Sun, 12-6): Live tunes, stalls, vintage vehicles and the obligatory dog show in Blondin Park W5. I went last year.
Weekend 2: September 7/8
» Heritage Open Days (Fri - next Sun): Once again two weekends when hundreds of buildings that aren't usually open are open. Most are outside London but 92 are in the capital, including sculpturetastic Dorich House, E3's House Mill and tours of Woolwich Works.
» Leytonstone Festival (Sat, Sun): Local performers - mostly actors and musicians - perform across E11 across the next week. The opening event is at St John's church.
» Lambeth Local History Fair (Sat, from 10.00): A coming-together of local societies, heritage organisations, friends groups and local history publishers at St Leonard's church in Streatham. Includes short films and guided walks.
» Black on the Square (Sat, from 12): The Mayor's latest culturally-themed Trafalgar Square takeover, introduced last year. Will be headlined by award-winning actor and rapper Bashy.
» Fulham Flower and Vegetable Show (Sat, 2.30-4.30): The 100th anniversary produce show at St Etheldreda's church.
» St Katharine Docks Classic Boat Festival (Sun): Annual gathering of small boats near Tower Bridge, including 18 Dunkirk Little Ships, plus dockside entertainment and opportunities to go on board.
» 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.
» Croxfest (Sat from noon): OK so this one's not quite in London, but where else are you going to hear Velour Fog, Apricot Hounds, Swanvesta Social Club and The Polaroidz other than on the Green in Croxley?
Weekend 3: September 14/15
» 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 for two weekends. The online calendar currently includes 850 properties, over 400 of which are "just turn up". It's quite central-London-centric this year (6 in Hillingdon but 88 in Westminster), although I always think the outer boroughs have some of the genuine treasures. It's possible to search by date, borough, event type and map location and also to filter out events that needed pre-booking. Less practically you can only see what's fully booked if you set up an account. As ever there's far too much to choose from, but if you need inspiration here are my reports from 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023. Be there or regret it for the subsequent 51 weeks.
» Heritage Open Days Weekend two
» London Design Festival (continues next weekend): Hundreds of design-er events, many aimed at "the trade" but others more public-focused. The online programme is so diffuse I have already waved the white flag and surrendered.
» Erith Made (Sat, Sun): Erith again attempts to whip up community spirit with an extensive selection of events. But they have yet to upload the programme to their website, which is unhelpful, so maybe best keep an eye on Facebook.
» Markfield Road Festival (Sat, Sun): Art, DJs and more, spilling out into the street up N15 way.
» Hampton Court Open Gardens (Sat, Sun): One of half a dozen opportunities annually to explore the palace's historic grounds for free.
» Peckham Festival (Sat, Sun): Since 2016 a celebration of creative Peckham, with food amidst the art, music and fashion.
» Scadbury Open Weekend (Sat, Sun, 2-4.30): Archaeological excavations at the moated medieval manor house near the Sidcup bypass. I went in 2022 and I enjoyed.
» Route 61 Heritage Event (Sat, 10-5): Free vintage bus rides along route 61 in Bromley, and not just for People Who Like Buses.
Weekend 4: September 21/22
» Open House London: Weekend two
» Bermondsey Street Festival (Sat, 11-7): A designery "village fête", plus the obligatory dog show, plus curated live music, plus food and stalls.
» The Great River Race (Sat from 1.15pm): 300 craft engage in a spectacular paddle up the Thames from Docklands to Richmond.
» Chiswick House Dog Show (Sun, 11-4.15): Now in its 20th year, celebrity judges give the hounds of W4 the runaround.
» Hackney Carnival (Sun, 12-7): Not of Notting Hill proportions, but expect exuberance and booming sound systems from Mare Street to London Fields.
Weekend 5: September 28/29
» Chelsea Physic Garden Open Weekend (Sat, Sun): Annual freebie at London’s oldest botanic garden as part of the Chelsea Festival.
» Woolmen’s Sheep Drive and Wool Fair (Sun, 10-4): The celeb leading this year's first tranche over Southwark Bridge will be revealed shortly on Instagram, but they'll do well to beat Mary Berry or Michael Portillo. Come too for wool-related trade stalls and lamb burgers.
» Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival (Sun, 1.30): Cockney royalty offers live entertainment in Guildhall Yard.
