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. (I've also included this weekend because the bank holiday was early so it feels quite Septembery already)
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 a folksong singalong. Thankfully the website's events section is easier to scroll through these days, but I don't see many big highlights this year.
» Lambeth Heritage Festival (Sep 1-30): Dozens of free talks, guided walks and openings across the borough (plus a proper 32-page brochure to flick through, bliss). Hats off to whoever organises this every year. If you live locally you should definitely take a look.
Weekend 0: August 30/31
» Greenwich+Docklands International Festival (22 Aug - 6 Sep): This significant splurge of spectacular performances delivers artistic wonders annually. To see what's going on it's probably best to download the brochure. This weekend it's all about acrobatics in North Greenwich (1-5pm, both days).
» Creative Mile (Sat, Sun): Art in venues across Brentford, a full mile from the canal basin to the Steam Museum.
» Big Small Wonders (Sat, 11.30am & 2.30pm): Two vibrant nature-themed parades in Valentines Park, one quiet and oceanic, the other louded and jungly.
Weekend 1: September 6/7
» Greenwich+Docklands International Festival (Fri, Sat): On this final weekend it's waterborne theatre in Thamesmead and a heck of a lot of dancing in Stratford (Saturday affternoon only).
» 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. Includes Hitchcock screenings.
» St Katharine Docks Classic Boat Festival (Sat, Sun): Annual gathering of small boats near Tower Bridge, including Dunkirk Little Ships, dockside entertainment, opportunities to go on board and yachting celebrity Tom Cunliffe.
» Black on the Square (Sat, from 12): The Mayor's latest culturally-themed Trafalgar Square takeover, now in its third year. Performers include Janet Kay and DJ Wookie.
» Croxfest (Sat from noon): OK this one's not quite in London, but where else are you going to hear The Elastic Cats, Talk in Code, The Peppered Aces and Nothing But A Good Time other than on the Green in Croxley?
» Angel Canal Festival (Sun, 11-4): Waterside gaiety beside City Road Lock, now in its fourth decade. The Mayor of Islington usually arrives by narrowboat. I went in 2023.
» Brentford Festival (Sun, 12-6): Live tunes, stalls, vintage vehicles and the obligatory dog show in Blondin Park W5. Now in its 20th anniversary year. I went in 2023.
» Thames Barrier Closure (Sun, 7.15am-5.15pm): The annual all-day check that the gates still work. The spectacular bit is when the gates go into overspill around noon.
Weekend 2: September 13/14
» 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 808 properties, over 500 of which are "just turn up". It's quite central-London-centric this year (5 in Havering but 80 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 need pre-booking. As ever there's far too much to choose from, but if you need inspiration here are my reports from 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Be there or regret it for the subsequent 51 weeks.
» Heritage Open Days (Fri - next Sun): In an awkward overlap, the nationwide opening-up of historic buildings coincides with Open House this year. 87 are in the capital, including sculpturetastic Dorich House, E3's House Mill and tours of Woolwich Works (many appear in the Open House listings too).
» 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.
» Step Inside 25 Weekend (Sat, Sun): Somerset House celebrates 25 years of public opening with an entire weekend of free events, including artists' studios, large-scale sculpture and pop-up basketball.
» Thames Tidefest (Sun, 10-5): River-based activities scattered between Brentford and Chiswick, with a particular marquee-focus at Strand-on-the-Green, W4.
» Markfield Road Festival (Sat, Sun): Art, DJs and a carnival procession, spilling out into the streets 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.
» Scadbury Open Weekend (Sat, Sun, 2-5): Archaeological excavations at the moated medieval manor house near the Sidcup bypass. I went in 2022 and I enjoyed.
» Route 54 Heritage Event (Sat, 10-5): Free vintage bus rides along route 54 in Lewisham and Bromley, and not just for People Who Like Buses. (yes there is far far too much going on this weekend, they should spread it out better)
Weekend 3: September 20/21
» Open House London: Weekend two
» Heritage Open Days 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 10.15am): 300 craft engage in a spectacular paddle up the Thames from Docklands to Richmond.
» Peckham Festival (Sat, Sun): Since 2016 a celebration of creative Peckham, with food amidst the art, music and fashion.
» Japan Matsuri (Sun, 10-8): Trafalgar Square once again hosts a day of all things Japanese, including mass drumming, kendo, anime and okonomiyaki.
» Chiswick House Dog Show (Sun, 11-4.15): With a theme of The Great British Bark Off, celebrity judges give the hounds of W4 the runaround.
» This is Oxford Street (Sun, 12-8): An 8-hour preview of what pedestrianisation might be like. Will feature awful commercial pap like coffee pop-ups, branded activations, secret musical performances, interactive selfie spots and a wellness village hosted by Holland and Barrett.
Weekend 4: September 27/28
» 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, but they'll do well to beat Mary Berry or Michael Portillo. Come too for wool-related trade stalls and lamb burgers.
» Liberty Festival (Wed-Sun): Wandsworth are hosting this year because they're the Borough of Culture. The programme of disability artists peaks on Sunday afternoon with a picnic in Battersea Park.
