Things to Do in London in September
Golden light, design and food festivals, and the crowds thinning
September is a connoisseur's month. The summer crowds recede, the light turns golden and warm afternoons often linger well into the month, yet the cultural calendar roars back to life. The London Design Festival spreads installations and events across the city, Open House London throws open the doors of hundreds of remarkable buildings you can't normally enter, and the food and film festivals return. Restaurants that were fully booked in July suddenly have tables, the parks glow with early autumn colour, and there is a settled, grown-up energy as the city gets back to work. Many locals quietly consider it the best month of all.
Weather
Mild and pleasant, with highs around 20°C early on, cooling gently through the month. An extra layer for the evenings.
Daylight
Noticeably shortening, with the autumn equinox around 22 September bringing roughly equal day and night; sunset slips to around 7pm.
What's on in September
The annual events and traditions that return to London every September.
London Design Festival
Installations, exhibitions and events take over the city's design districts, from the V&A to Shoreditch and Brompton.
Open House Festival
Hundreds of architecturally significant buildings — many normally closed — open their doors free of charge for one extraordinary weekend.
Autumn food festivals
Food and drink festivals return across the city as the harvest season and new restaurant openings arrive.
Seasonal ideas for September
Explore hidden buildings
Open House weekend is a rare chance to get inside landmark towers, historic homes and working institutions for free.
Catch the early autumn colour
Kew Gardens, Richmond Park and Hampstead Heath begin their turn towards gold in late September.
Planning your September visit
- Some Open House buildings need advance booking or ballot entry — check the programme early.
- September is a great month for restaurant reservations that were impossible in summer.
- Bring a light jacket for the cooler evenings.