Visit Tulley's by day... or night. Image: Tulley's Pumpkin Festival

Pumpkin picking, a somewhat American concept, has really taken off in the UK in the run-up to Halloween, with patches and pick-your-own farms springing up all over the place. Here are some PYO farms and pumpkin patches near London opening their gates to pickers for autumn 2026.

Due to the rural nature of these farms, you're probably going to need a car to get to most of them... and wellies. Overwhelmed by choice? We've mapped the pumpkin farms and patches to make it easier to find your nearest one, and plan your autumnal day out. See below the map for details on each one.

Tulleys Pumpkin Festival 2026, Sussex

Fill up on gourds. Image: Tulley's Pumpkin Festival

Tulleys Farm, near Crawley in West Sussex, has seasonal entertainment nailed on, from its tulip festival in the spring, through to sunflowers in the summer. And, of course, pumpkins come autumn.

Tulleys Pumpkin Festival consists of one million (!) pumpkins and gourds across 100 acres of farmland. Wander among 100 different varieties and choose your own, with roaming performers and photo opportunities dotted around the fields. Tuck into hot dogs, doughnuts and burgers at the street food festival. There's even a giant observation wheel for seeing it all from the air, and Pumpkin Nights are back for 2026, offering live music in the pumpkin fields beneath the night sky.

New for 2026 is the Pumpkin Valley, a tranquil area of winding paths, wooden bridges and gentle streams, dotted with giant pumpkin sculptures, all leading to the charming Pumpkin Farm House and a picturesque Hobbit House.

This one always sells out way in advance, so be quick. And if you miss out, sign up to hear when tickets go on sale for next year.

Tulleys Pumpkin Festival 2026, 16 September-1 November 2026.

Pumpkin Patch at Hobbledown Heath, Hounslow and Epsom

Pair pumpkins with Hobbledown's other attractions. Image: Hobbledown Heath

Within the boundaries of Greater London itself, Hobbledown Heath Hounslow — an almighty adventure playground featuring four themed villages, plus a zoo — has sprung a pumpkin patch again for 2026. Don wellies, fetch a wheelbarrow and load up on orange orbs, interspersed with photo points, fairground rides, a family games area, street food and live entertainment, marshmallow toasting and seasonal games. Visit just the pumpkin patch, or buy a bundle ticket to combine it with Hobbledown's other attractions.

Meanwhile, Hobbledown's Epsom location gets in on the action for the first time, with a brand-new pumpkin takeover. A 'lawn of orange' welcomes you, with thousands of pumpkins laid out on the front lawn, with themed photo displays and a Trick or Treat Trail at weekends.

Pumpkin patch at Hobbledown Heath Hounslow, Staines Road, TW14 0HH, and Pumpkin takeover at Hobbledown Heath Epsom, Horton Lane, KT19 8PT. Both open 25 September-1 November 2026.

Pumpkin patch at Cammas Hall Farm, Hertfordshire

Check out that Pumpcano! Image: Cammas Hall

Cammas Hall is a PYO farm with a steady stream of crops all summer. But when the soft fruits are over, it's pumpkin time. Thousands of pumpkins and squash across 80 varieties are available to pick, including the knobbly Knucklehead, and the more unusual white Snowman pumpkin. Harvest your own from the field, or choose from the ready picked pumpkin patch.

It all centres around The Pumpcano, an erupting pumpkin volcano, built from around 10,000 pumpkins, with flames, smoke and sound effects activated every 15 minutes

Other Halloween activities include Halloween experience tunnels with character interactions, a maize maze and children's shows (available to book separately) as well as live music in the evenings. Seasonal food and drink are available to buy, and we're promised new experiences for 2026, with details announced soon.

Cammas Hall Farm, Needham Green, near Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM22 7JT. Pumpkin patch open 3-31 October 2026, evening experiences open Friday and Saturday nights, 16-31 October 2026.

Pumpkin season at Pumpkin Moon Rainham and Maidstone, Kent

Oh my gourd, I bet that's heavy. Image: iStock/EvgeniiAnd

With a name like Pumpkin Moon, you just know these two Kent farm locations are going to do something a little bit special when autumn rolls around. Over 100 different varieties of pumpkin, squash and gourd "from large warty ones, traditional orange ones or weird and wonderful ones" are available on a PYO basis (as are colourful wheelbarrows, to help you carry your bounty back to your car). Fancy dress is encouraged, as is snapping some family photos in the orange fields, and food and drink is available from the pop-up cafe.

Pumpkin Moon, Old Chatham Road, ME14 3BE, and Lower Rainham Road, ME7 2YA. Open 10-11, 17-18 and 21-31 October 2026.

Pumpkin picking at Crockford Bridge Farm, Surrey

P-p-p-pick up a pumpkin. Image: Unsplash/Emily Levine

The first pumpkin patch at this Surrey farm opened more than 15 years ago, and it's getting increasingly popular. This year, the pumpkin fields open to the public again on selected days, when you can head to the field to pick your own gourd (note: pumpkins you take home are charged in addition to the entry fee). Varieties of all colours, shapes and sizes await you, with seasonal photo opportunities dotted around. Alternatively, take home a ready-picked one from the Pumpkin Boutique.

Crockford Bridge Farm, Weybridge, Surrey, KT15 2BU. Booking is essential for PYO. 2-18 October 2026 (pumpkins available to buy from the farm shop after this, but no PYO the last week of October).

Pumpkin picking at Stanhill Farm, Kent

Wheelbarrows recommended! Image: iStock/mtreasure

Sitting on the edge of Swanley, on the London-Kent border, Stanhill Farm offers 150 acres of fields in which the public are invited to pluck their own crops. And surprise, surprise, one of the most popular is pumpkins. Grab a wheelbarrow, head to the pumpkin patch, and stock up on gourds. Booking is essential, with each ticket covering one vehicle of up to eight people. Any pumpkins you pick cost extra.

Stanhill Farm, Birchwood Road, Dartford, DA2 7HD. 2026 dates TBC — keep an eye on the website.

Beck Evans Farm pumpkin festival, Sidcup, Kent

Get your fill of pumpkins on the London outskirts. Image: Beck Evans Farm

Another one slap-bang on the London-Kent border, Beck Evans Farm is a family-run establishment offering seasonal events throughout the year. At Halloween, that means pumpkin picking from the farm's own patch. Sounds like hungry work, so don't forget to swing by the on-site Penelope's Restaurant, which'll be serving up seasonal dishes including pumpkin soup. There's also a funfair on site from 16 October 2026.

Pumpkin picking at Beck Evans Farm, Water Lane, Sidcup, DA14 5ET. Pumpkin picking selected dates 9 October-1 November 2026.

Pumpkin Forest at Hurley's Farm, Essex

Image: Shutterstock

Pumpkin bowling, pumpkin wizzbee, and wizard's welly-wanging are among the delightfully intriguing entertainment options in the Pumpkin Forest, along with a witches' maze for anyone who's brave enough to explore it. Immerse yourself in thousands and thousands of pumpkins, choosing between a daylight or twilight visit.

Pumpkin Forest at Hurley's Farm, Woodham Road, SS11 7QL. Open selected dates 3 October-1 November 2026.

Pumpkin picking and Halloween Trail at Priory Farm, Surrey

Image: Muffet, Creative Commons

Dialling up the pumpkin/Halloween hijinks to 'positively American', this sustainable, family-run farm offers up an assortment of seasonal experiences. You can simply 'park and pick' pumpkins from the pumpkin field (with play features, a hay-bale maze and Halloween-themed photo ops along the way for young 'uns). There are also tractor rides to the pumpkin patch — and really, why would you turn down a tractor ride?

Closer to Halloween, other events take place at the farm, including a Halloween Trail through the mysterious School of Trickery, where young pranksters and their grown-ups are invited to master the art of harmless Halloween mischief.

There's also a farm shop, gift barn, cafe... all in all, an entire morning or afternoon out. Booking is recommended.

Halloween on the Priory Farm Estate, Sandy Lane, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 4EJ. Pumpkin field open 3-31 October 2026.

Pumpkin picking 2026 at Secretts, Surrey

Image: Hamza El-Falah, Unsplash License

Legendary Surrey PYO farm and farm shop Secretts combines pumpkin picking with a Halloween trail for a seasonal day out this autumn.

Follow the Halloween scavenger hunt trail through the farm, taking plenty of photos along the way and using clues to find your way to the pumpkin patch. There you'll find pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, which can be picked and paid for individually, along with children's activities including mini pedal tractors and biscuit decorating (additional charge).

Dig out your best costume, as there's a daily fancy dress competition for kids, and a pumpkin-centric menu is served at the farm cafe.

Pumpkin picking at Secretts, Hurst Farm, Chapel Lane, Milford, Surrey, GUB 5HU. Advance booking required. 17-30 October 2026.

Pumpkin and squash picking at Garsons, Surrey

Image: Bonnie Kittle bonniekdesign, Creative Commons

A whole host of crops are available for picking at this popular farm a touch south-west of Greater London. Various squash are ripe to be harvested by your own fair hands (great for autumnal soups, stews and indeed decorations). Book a pumpkin pass which gets you entry to the Garsons Pumpkin Parade, a kid-friendly trail with a circus theme and plenty of Halloweeny photo ops.

Pumpkin picking and Pumpkin Parade, Garsons, Winterdown Road, Esher KT10 8LS. 3-31 October 2026.

Pumpkin and Woodland Trail at Wasing Estate, Berkshire

Image: Wasing1759

The sprawling Wasing Estate near Reading invites autumn visitors to take part in a pumpkins and woodland trail. A life-sized fairytale pumpkin carriage is one of the main attractions, along with a wishing well and a witch's apothecary, all leading to the pumpkin patch. If you don't fancy doing the picking yourself, you can choose a ready-picked gourd from the tent alongside the field, where you can also refuel on food and drink, including seasonal dishes such as pumpkin soup.

Pumpkins and Woodland Trail at Wasing, Aldermaston, RG7 4NG. 16-31 October 2026.

Malice in Lavender Land at Mayfield Lavender Farm, Surrey

Image: GoToVan, Creative Commons

The famous purple hues of Mayfield Lavender Farm turn orange this autumn for the second year of Malice in Lavenderland, an Alice in Wonderland-inspired Halloween event, part spooky trail and part pumpkin adventure with a big PYO patch. This year it's Malice Returns: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, where spectacular scenery, live characters and interactive games collide to create a magical world: venture through enchanted gardens and mysterious woodland paths, before visiting the pumpkin patch where you can choose your perfect gourd to take home.

Malice in Lavenderland at Mayfield Lavender Farm, 10-31 October 2026.

Loddington Pumpkin Patch, Maidstone, Kent

Image: Aldon, Creative Commons

What's better than PYO pumpkins? PYO flowers and PYO apples at the same venue. Produce grower Loddington Farm has teamed up with neighbouring flower farm Blooming Green to allow you to combine the two on one incredible wholesome day out this autumn. Throw in a flower safari, games and food trucks at the weekend too.

Pick your own pumpkins and flowers at Loddington Farm, Loddington Lane, ME17 4AG, 17-31 October 2026.

Pumpkin picking at Lower Ladysden Farm, Cranbrook, Kent

Image: Entdecker Fuchs, Pexels License

Produce farm Lower Ladysden promises its biggest pumpkin festival yet for 2026. Head to the pumpkin patch to pick your perfect gourd from over 60 varieties, and enjoy fairground rides, face painting, and other entertainment. Fancy dress is very much encouraged.

For two October evenings, it's open late for Pumpkin Nights, a chance to visit the patch after dark and explore by torchlight.

Pumpkin picking, selected dates 3-31 October 2026. Pumpkin Nights 17 and 24 October 2026

You've got until 14 September 2026 to apply. Image: AELTC/Joe Toth

The public ballot for Wimbledon's 2027 Tennis Championships is now open.

The ever-popular tournament — which next takes place 28 June-11 July 2027 — allows anyone to enter the ballot for day access tickets to Centre Court and Court Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

If you're successful in the ballot, you'll be offered a pair of/two adjacent tickets for a certain court on a certain day. Unfortunately you don't get to pick and choose what you'd like to watch.

How much will your tickets set you back? 2026 ticket prices ranged from £60 for a No. 3 Court ticket on the opening couple of days, to up to £400 to watch the Men's or Women's final. You can expect a slight increase on those prices in 2027.

You'll be notified if you've been successful in the ballot from October 2026 onwards, and you'll have 14 days to then purchase the pair of tickets you've been allocated. If you decide you don't want them, there's no obligation to buy.

You can enter the Wimbledon ballot here. It only takes a few minutes, and you've got until 11.59pm on Monday 14 September 2026 to do so. Ballot winners are picked at random, and no preference is given to those who enter earlier.

If you're not successful this way, don't throw a McEnroe-esque hissy fit; you can usually get into Wimbledon by joining the world's most famous queue.

Still from the video to Taxloss.

Who remembers Mansun?

The late-Britpop band seemed to emerge from nowhere, dash out a pair of astonishing albums, then fizzle away back to their own alternative universe where the Marquis de Sade mixes with stripper vicars and Winnie the Pooh.

Their debut album Attack of the Grey Lantern spawned five memorable singles, most enduringly Wide Open Space (which still mesmerises on the 989th listen). But it was the fifth one that attracted the headlines.

Taxloss came out in April 1997. What might have been an afterthought, coveted only by hardcore fans, was given much greater prominence from its controversial video.

The band, with the blessing of record label Parlophone, scattered £25,000 in five-pound notes into the crowded concourse of Liverpool Street station. Hidden cameras recorded the ensuing scramble from every angle.

The idea was to film everyday greed, a theme touched upon by the song's lyrics. "We think you are stupid/We give you our money 'cause our assets are fluid, yeah," wails Paul Draper in the pseudo-chorus (Mansun don't really do choruses).

City gents stoop for cash in this still from the video

It was all filmed without any formal permission — quite brave considering that the London of 1997 was on high alert for suspicious behaviour in the wake of regular IRA attacks. The production crew (not the band themselves, who were overseas at the time) simply walked in and doled out the money from the station's upper walkways.

"The rail company was a bit narky", said lead guitarist Dominic Chad, "and said they were going to sue us but when the video came out their employees were on there picking the money up as well!"

He's right... you can see station staff joining in the cash-grab.

The video was directed by Roman Coppola (son of Francis Ford Coppola). It shows the build-up to the stunt, which seems to have been planned meticulously like an inverse-heist. It propelled the single to number 15 in the UK charts; very impressive for the fifth release from an album.

Planning the stunt, in a still from the music video.

Mansun, who only learned to play their instruments a couple of years before their chart-topping debut, went on to record a second successful album called Six. At turns brilliant and bonkers, this is the only album in chart history to feature Tom Baker reading a poem about the death of Brian Jones.

The band would work on two further albums, though both fizzled without making much of a cultural impact. Attack of the Grey Lantern and Six, however, constitute one of the great underrated legacies of late 90s alt-rock.

Incidentally, each of the fivers was marked with a 'Taxlo$$' sticker. I wonder if any of these survived unspent... and what they might be worth today?

Geared up for a spot of cycling this September? Image: marc via creative commons

RideLondon might be on "indefinite pause", but now there's another festival for cyclists to get wheely excited about.

On 20 September 2026, the London Cycling Festival comes to 19 London boroughs, with a slew of organised/marshalled family-friendly rides, plus activities including stalls, free bike checks, live entertainment, games and more — depending on which of the events you attend.

The best way to see what's what is to click on this map and find the nearest event to you. Then click through again for more details, and to book your free slot. Though most events are on 20 September only, this one in Brent runs from 18-22 September.

The London Cycling Campaign has also organised the Women's Freedom Ride.

The London Cycling Festival is organised by London Cycling Campaign, in cahoots with various London boroughs, and with support from Lime and the Zero Emissions Network.

London Cycling Festival, 20 September 2026. Events are free, but do book a ticket.

2026 marks the 20th year of Bermondsey Street Festival. Image: Bermondsey SE1 & Savage Capture Co

Celebrating its 20th year, Bermondsey Street Festival describes itself as "a powerful demonstration of what can happen when a community refuses to let go of its cherished traditions." It also happens to be a really fun day out.

On Saturday 19 September 2026, the salubrious neighbourhood a stone's throw from London Bridge is filled with an array of stalls, stages, street food and more. It's divvied into three main areas:

🐶 Leathermarket Gardens (11am-6pm): Events include a dog show, gentle jazz from the Gennaro Ricciardone Quartet, net-zero street cleaning comedy act Theatre in The Bin, maypole dancing, kids' karaoke and Yuba's Ukelele Band.

🎪 Bermondsey Street (11am-7pm): Stalls galore along the bougie thoroughfare sell prints, ceramics, jewellery, fashion and the like from indie traders. Street entertainers keep things interesting, and, of course, the street's plethora of shops, bars and eateries will be trading too.

🌳 Tanner Street Park (11am-8pm): This is where you'll find the music stage, feat. DJ sets from Pearl Factory, funk and soul from 15-piece collective Arch 57 and high-energy funk and disco courtesy of The Armoury. There are also food and drink stalls.

Never a dull moment. Image: Bermondsey SE1 & Savage Capture Co

You can check out the full programme here.

Bermondsey Street Festival, Saturday 19 September 2026, free entry

Jet off into space to encounter the worst film you've never seen — Moon Team IIIV. Image: Lambeth Fringe

Edinburgh's had its moment in the spotlight — this September/October sees the turn of the Lambeth Fringe.

Formerly the Clapham Fringe (which itself has been going since 2015) the shows are hosted in bijou venues across the borough — theatres, pubs, chapels — for over four weeks, from Thursday 24 September-Sunday 25 October 2026.

Though open to all creatives, the festival has a remit to celebrate the creativity of women, LGBTQ+, global majority and working-class artists.

Here are a handful of shows that've grabbed our attention:

🗿 The London Bridge Show: We're all familiar with the human statues who ply their trade around London; the one in this comedy WIP becomes literally and metaphorically stuck, prompting surreal stories and anecdotes. 24 September, Bread & Roses Theatre

🎸 Floë Brown: Croydon's BRIT School has helped shape a slew of world-beating musical talent, and here's a chance to see a possible star of the future: Floë Brown comes armed with her guitar, an ethereal vocal range and a knack for storytelling via indie-pop perfection. 27 September, Off the Cuff

🪦 How To Direct A Funeral: The increasingly bizarre demands from Mrs Baitman for the funeral of her late husband leads to employees of Thomas Funeral Directors to worry their reputation will soon be six feet under. A comical-sounding debut play — and the second venue is especially apt. 3 October, Bread & Roses Theatre and 23 October, St Stephen's Chapel

💪 Butch Chaser: The experiences of butches and femmes is relayed in their own words, in this semi-verbatim show by Alix Addinall — a self-confessed butch-lover. Expect comedy and cabaret with a core of serious themes including sexual assault, homophobia and transphobia. 7 October, Bread & Roses Theatre

Things get butch on 7 October, with Alix Addinall. Image: Lambeth Fringe

🍭 The Magic Sweet Jar: An encounter with a mysterious jar whisks Louisa away to Sweetland — a world of lemonade seas, toffee valleys and peppermint mountains, which is threatened by the wicked Sugar King. This one's a family show, in case you hadn't clocked that. 10 October, West Norwood Library and 17 October, Vauxhall City Farm

💋 Sister Brandy Bex: Progress In Work: "Pamela Anderson meets Pam Ayres", Sister Brandy Bex sets up shop for two nights in Waterloo, bringing riotous tales from the hospital floor by way of outrageous anecdotes and parody songs. Laughter is the best medicine, after all. 15-16 October, The Glitch

🪐Will BF: Moon Team IIIV: Jet off into space to encounter the worst film you've never seen — Moon Team IIIV — with Will BF as Apollo Moon, a salt of the earth prince on a mission to save the galaxy from, er, a space tax on the space 1%? One for fans of cosmically surreal sketch. 17 October, Bread & Roses Theatre

🎤 MANBand the Story: Kev, Bas, Eric and Frank are too old to form a Boyband... but how about a MANband? This feel-good play is about having one last tilt at fame and fortune, by way of sensible haircuts and cuddly physiques.  22-23 October, Golden Goose Theatre

The Lambeth Fringe, 24 September-25 October 2026, across Lambeth

All weekend

Foodies, head to Tobacco Dock this weekend. Image: Meatopia

MEATOPIA: Carnivorous foodie festival Meatopia brings up to 75 live-fire chefs to Tobacco Dock, each serving one carefully curated dish cooked over wood or charcoal — with bars, bands and DJs woven into the mix. 3-6 September 2026

LONDON PODCAST FESTIVAL: Headphones at the ready for London Podcast Festival at Kings Place, which sees both mainstream and more niche podcasts recorded in front of a live audience, with some streamed online too. Shows this weekend include the Disney-themed Disniversity, The Empire Film Podcast and the esoteric An Audience With Madame Magenta (& Bernard). 3-13 September 2026

ART ON YOUR DOORSTEP: After treating Croydonites to free art earlier this year, the National Gallery's Art On Your Doorstep scheme pops up in Brentford with a free outdoor exhibition of the nation's favourite artworks. While the real deals are safely stashed away in galleries, life-sized replicas have been created in fine detail, and go on display around the west London neighbourhood. FREE, 4 September 2026-February 2027

Plug into the London Podcast Festival. Image: © Kings Place, Monika S Jakubowska

QUEEN'S PARK BOOK FESTIVAL: This year's Queen's Park Book Festival is the final edition of the literary event, and it's going out with a bang: authors Philip Pullman, Sebastian Barry and Jacqueline Wilson are among the big names making an appearance, along with British Museum curator Michael Lewis celebrating the Bayeux Tapestry's return to the UK. 5-6 September 2026

MARILYN MONROE: Portraits and photographs of Marilyn Monroe by renowned artists and photographers are on display at the National Portrait Gallery, along with personal belongings such as books, scripts and clothes. Until 6 September 2026

CECILY BROWN: Serpentine South Gallery hosts a free exhibition of work by artist Cecily Brown, inspired by the gallery's location within Kensington Gardens, a space which holds personal significance for Brown. These new works are shown alongside other key paintings from her career. FREE, until 6 September 2026

Be at the final edition of the Queen's Park Book Festival. Image: Ella Gradwell

EXTRA/ORDINARY WOMEN: The real lives of a whole range of women who supported and inspired author Charles Dickens are revealed in Extra/Ordinary Women at the Charles Dickens Museum. Find out about the clues left in Dickens' work which help us to connect his fictional characters to their real-life counterparts, and view a portrait of the Dickens daughters, Katey and Mamie, on display for the very first time. Until 6 September 2026

GDIF: Greenwich + Docklands International Festival is in its final week, offering free open-air theatre, circus and dance performances in east London. Highlights this weekend include Nature Speaks, an immersive storytelling experience in Thamesmead, and Dancing City, which brings performances to a variety of outdoor spaces in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. FREE, until 6 September 2026

Saturday 5 September

Party, Ibiza-style, in Brixton. Image: Freight Brixton

BRUCE LEE FESTIVAL: Martial arts fans should make for Genesis Cinema in Whitechapel for a full-day cinematic celebration of the genre's most iconic figure. The Bruce Lee UK Event features the premiere of the documentary Bruce Lee: The Making of The Big Boss, alongside a special Mandarin-version screening of the original 1971 feature film. Approved by the Bruce Lee Estate, the eight-hour programme also explores Lee's philosophy through the Longstreet documentary and the landmark episode The Way of the Intercepting Fist. 10am

TWIN PEAKS MARATHON: Immerse yourself in the surreal mystery of David Lynch’s groundbreaking series at Lumiere Cinema Romford. The Twin Peaks Season 1 Marathon screens all eight episodes of the first season back-to-back, following FBI Agent Dale Cooper as he investigates the murder of Laura Palmer. The eight-hour session includes scheduled breaks and, in true Agent Cooper style, "damn fine coffee" and donuts are included with every ticket. 10.30am-6.15pm

HORNIMAN PLANT FAIR: Specialist growers and independent nurseries gather in Forest Hill for the Horniman Plant Fair, held across the museum's extensive gardens.The event features a wide range of specimens including Japanese maples, alpines, succulents and cottage-garden favourites. Get direct advice from expert growers and join guided tours of the grounds. 11am-4pm

BELL HOUSE OPEN GARDEN: Explore a three-acre hidden gem in the heart of Dulwich as the Bell House Open Garden welcomes visitors for a late-summer viewing. Maintained entirely by volunteers, the site features a newly landscaped dry garden, a tranquil house garden with pollinator beds, and a nursery plant area. Browse plants for sale propagated on-site or relax with a drink from the refreshment stall while meeting members of local creative groups. 11.30am-1pm

IBIZA HOUSE PARTY: Freight Brixton — which claims to have London's largest rooftop venue — throws a daytime Ibiza-themed house brunch, with DJs Huck Finn, Carl Willis and guests, plus live performers and roaming acts. Tickets include entry and 60 minutes of bottomless drinks; food is available to buy on site. 12pm-4pm

ARTS FESTIVAL: 1951's Festival of Britain is the inspiration for the lively Gabriel's Wharf Arts Festival. Get stuck into jazz, swing dance performances and workshops on the South Bank, plus DJs spinning tunes from the 1950s-60s. Children are welcome, with free drop-in craft activities and an all-ages painting session. The Wharf's independent shops are open throughout the festival too; here you can meet the makers and pick up unique products, as well as enjoying food and drink from local traders. See the website for the full line-up. FREE, 12pm-5pm (and on Saturday 19 September) (sponsor)

FEMINIST DIY MUSIC: Shoreditch arts hub Rich Mix welcomes the 11th edition of the UK’s largest celebration of feminist DIY music. The LOUD WOMEN Fest features an international line-up of over 20 artists, including Diva Cup from the USA, Ukraine's Folkulaka and London-based punk veterans Hagar the Womb. The event provides a vital platform for women, trans, and non-binary performers across the global independent scene. 12pm

A tough new play opens at Soho Theatre. Image: Right Before I Go

BLACK ON THE SQUARE: Celebrate London's Black cultural and creative talent at the fourth edition of Black On The Square, a free festival in Trafalgar Square offering live music and performances, activities for children, games, stalls — and a wealth of Black-owned food stalls. FREE, 12pm-6pm

ART CAR BOOT FAIR: Play Free is the theme of this autumn's Art Car Boot Sale, which sees almost 120 artists selling their artworks out of car boots at Granary Square in King's Cross, with plenty of comedy entertainment to enjoy while you browse. 12pm-6pm

DENMARK STREET SESSIONS: Denmark Street — aka the British Tin Pan Alley — celebrates its musical chops with a one-day free festival: Denmark Street Sessions takes place at venues in and around the Soho street, offering gigs, talks and an afterparty. FREE, from 1pm

REMEMBERING ST. CLEMENT’S: Join a walking tour of the former St Clement’s Hospital site on Bow Road to mark 20 years since the closure of the East End psychiatric institution. Led by former staff members, the walk explores the hidden histories of the patients and carers who lived and worked here, featuring an art intervention by activist Dolly Sen. FREE, 2pm-4pm

HEDGEFEST 2026: The world’s only benefit concert dedicated to London’s urban hedgehogs takes place at the Ivy House in Nunhead. The line-up features Steely Dan 2, Gareth Freiheit, and the Uncanny Valley Girls, followed by a late-night disco set from DJ Exotic Woodwork. All proceeds from HedgeFest 2026 support the performers alongside the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and the People’s Trust for Endangered Species. 2pm

RIGHT BEFORE I GO: Created by Stan Zimmerman, a writer on both Golden Girls and Gilmore Girls, Right Before I Go At Soho Theatre Dean Street draws on real suicide notes and testimonies to explore the lives of people affected by suicide. It gives a voice to individuals including public figures, veterans, young people, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people living with mental health challenges. Each performance is followed by a conversation with a local mental health professional. 2.30pm

SILENT DISCO: Kew Gardens hosts a lively Silent Disco inside the Victorian Temperate House, where you can dance among rare plants from around the world. Switch between two channels featuring DJ Goldierocks and DJ Sugai, with a bar and food available throughout the evening. 7pm-10.30pm

FEELING GLOOMY: Dance with tears in your eyes at the Phoenix in Cavendish Square as long-running club night Feeling Gloomy celebrates two decades of melancholic melodies. The playlist features an eclectic mix of "sad songs" from the likes of David Bowie, the Cure, Joy Division and Kate Bush — providing a curated soundtrack for the maestros of mooching. 10pm-3am

POP NEVER DIES: Not feeling gloomy? Stoke Newington’s basement venue the Waiting Room hosts a club night dedicated to the boldest anthems in the pop canon. Expect a chaotic mix of sing-along staples from Britney and Beyoncé alongside contemporary bangers by Charli xcx and Chappell Roan, along with queer icons like MUNA and Troye Sivan, keeping the dance floor moving until the early hours. 10.30pm-3.30am

Sunday 6 September

Traders take over Big Penny Social. Image: Walthamstow Flea Market

LIVING MEDICINE: Medical herbalist and author Alex Laird leads a one-day workshop at Chelsea Physic Garden focused on natural remedies for the body's largest organ: the skin. Learn to identify healing plants from the daisy family and create your own infused oils, ointments, and lotions. The session includes a tour of the historic grounds to smell and taste key herbs, followed by a hands-on remedy-making class and lunch in the Physic Garden restaurant. 10.15am-4.30pm

MUSICAL STATUES: Discover the songs, symphonies, and seven-inch singles that soundtrack the history of London on the musical statues walking tour. Wander through Westminster exploring the surprising musical connections of figures like Winston Churchill, Florence Nightingale and Abraham Lincoln, complete with an accompanying audio soundtrack at each stop. Learn why Churchill disliked whistling, which song turned the tide of the Second World War, and the identity of the 18th century Londoner who inspired a band with six Billboard hits. 10.45am-12.45pm

SAXON LONDON ARCHAEOLOGY: Archaeologist Kevin leads an outdoor exploration into the mysterious transition from Roman Londinium to the Germanic-speaking kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons. The walking tour uses recent genetic research and excavation data to challenge traditional myths about the "Dark Ages" and the desertion of the City. Meet outside Moorgate station to discover how the settlement recovered to become England's leading town by the time of the Norman Conquest. 11am-1pm

LONDON TRANSPORT: See a tiny version of London's transport system as the King's Cross Model Railway Club opens a one-day London's Transport in Miniature exhibition, in collaboration with the London Underground Railway Society. See various layouts including the fictional/semi-fictional Waddesdon Manor, Carlton Vale and Lammas Lane. 11am-4pm

IMAGINING ANIMALS: Whitechapel Gallery hosts a day of puppetry, movement, and music inspired by the historic Royal Menagerie once housed at the Tower of London. The programme features shadow puppet-making workshops, movement sessions led by choreographer Suzy Willson, and a new commission from award-winning poet Arji Manuelpillai exploring themes of empire and the natural world. Plus, join a panel discussion with wildlife experts on the future of human-animal coexistence. 11am-4pm

BROMPTON CEMETERY DAY: Though you can visit Brompton Cemetery any day of the year, the renowned burial site holds a special open day today, offering tours of the cemetery and its catacombs, local stalls, children's activities, and birds of prey displays. FREE, 11am-5pm

See Tube trains in miniature. Image: Les Chatfield via creative commons

WALTHAMSTOW FLEA MARKET: Walthamstow Flea Market pitches up at Big Penny Social with dozens of stalls selling vintage clothing, vinyl, homewares and craft goods, with street food and drinks from local traders. 11am-5pm

PALMERS GREEN FESTIVAL: Broomfield Park is the venue for the 2026 Palmers Green Festival, a fete-style celebration with funfair rides, an art show, a model boat display on the boating lake, a dog show and other entertainment for all ages. FREE ENTRY, 12pm-5pm

THE SCIENCE OF HANGXIETY: Head to Pizza East in Shoreditch for an afternoon unpicking the biological and psychological roots of the dreaded hangover. Bestselling author and Sober Girl Society founder Millie Gooch leads the session, drawing on her book The Science of Hangxiety to explain how alcohol disrupts sleep, alters mood and triggers intense overthinking. 2pm-3.30pm

BILLIE EILISH FAN EXPERIENCE: Fans of Grammy-winning pop icon Billie Eilish can gather at the Camden Club for an immersive event blending a concert screening with live performance. A live singer and resident DJ provide the soundtrack to the afternoon, which is designed to bring the fan community together. 2pm-4pm

ICE HOCKEY: Romford's Sapphire Ice and Leisure hosts a pre-season clash as the Romford Raiders take on the Peterborough Phantoms. It's a chance for sports fans to catch the local side in action before the main campaign begins — with seating and standing tickets available across the arena. 5.15pm

ONE NIGHT OF ELVIS: Lee Memphis King brings his acclaimed tribute to the King of Rock 'n' Roll to the Churchill Theatre in Bromley. The production features a full live band and large-scale visuals to recreate the energy of Elvis Presley’s legendary concert tours. 7.30pm

FLEETWOOD MAC TRIBUTE: Millfield Theatre in Edmonton stages Go Your Own Way, a spellbinding production celebrating the rock 'n' roll legacy of Fleetwood Mac. An acclaimed ensemble of musicians performs a journey through the songbook, recreating the energy of hits including Dreams, Rhiannon and Little Lies. 7.30pm

This is a sponsored article on behalf of Activate.

Put down the video game controller, step away from the sofa, and get your crew together for a brand new way to socialise.

Activate is gaming with a twist: think immersive technology, physical challenges and fast-paced gameplay — all combining in interactive game rooms for an unforgettable 60-minute experience.

In short: ditch the console controller, and get lively: jumping, dodging, shooting, reacting and problem-solving your way through your session.

Whichever Activate location you visit — and there are five locations across London — you'll move between rooms, choosing your games and difficulty levels as you go. You can tailor your Activate experience, whether you're ultra-competitive and chasing a new high-score, going head-to-head with friends, or just there for the laughs.

With 800(!) games and levels to choose from, you'll never be short of new adventures, no matter how many times you visit.

Because you can effectively choose your own adventure, Activate is ideal for all social situations:

❤️ Date night
👍 Mates meet up
🎂 Birthday celebrations
🍻 After-work activities

The colourful rooms (and chaotic games) mean the group selfies will look gooood on TikTok and Instagram too.

With locations across London — including one on Oxford Street — there's bound to be an Activate close to you. Centre your next day/night out around it, or use it as a launch pad for a wider day or night out in the capital. With frantic challenges and loads of laughs, you'll still be talking about it weeks and months after.

Activate has London locations at The O2, Oxford Street, Islington, White City and Vauxhall. Find your nearest and book your gaming session.

Image: Open House London

The programme for Open House features dozens of new buildings to explore.

Open House Festival returns from 12-20 September 2026, with over 800 venues and activities in the programme. It's an annual chance to snoop around buildings that are normally off-limits. Some need booking, but most are 'drop-ins' for which you can just turn up.

With so much choice, deciding where to go can be mentally taxing. So we were delighted to hear that the website has a new filter that shows only 'new for 2026' results (find it on the 'all listings' drop-down). It's a handy tip if you're an old hand at Open House, and have previously ticked off most of the mainstays.

Here, then, is a subjective pick of some of the highlights that are new for this year, listed in chronological order. Do search further, however, as this is only a small selection.

John Lobb, St James's

Open 12 September

St James's Street features a run of traditional, long-lived shops. Among them is shoemaker John Lobb, where the rich and famous go to be elegantly shod. Take a tour of the shop and backrooms of this Georgian building. We could list some of their famous clients, but here's a photo of the storage area we took on a previous visit:

Image: Matt Brown

West Ham Pumping Station

Open 12 September

Image: Open House London

You might have heard of Abbey Mills and Crossness, now meet their smaller, younger cousin. Built in the late 19th century to raise local sewage up into the Northern Outfall Sewer, the pump house contains a pair of mighty beam engines.

Ongéan, Herne Hill

Open 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20 September

Image: Ongéan

Railway arches are always a tempting prospect, especially when they have artist studios, a cafe and an 'edible garden' built into them. That's the deal at Ongéan, which opens on multiple dates through the festival.

St George the Martyr, Bloomsbury

Open 13 September

Image: Matt From London, Creative Commons

Not exactly an off-limits building — besides being an open church, St George had a lovely public cafe for many years. However, for Open House you'll get the chance to "Climb a ladder into the roof space above one of London's best-kept secrets and come face to face with Hawksmoor's beautiful ceiling." Tours are free and need to be booked on the day (so you may have to get there early and come back later).

Carbonic gas works, Lea Bridge Road

Open 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20 September

Image: Open House London

Artist studios are a common feature of Open House, but this is the only one based inside an 18th century factory, where fizzy drinks might have been invented.

Resonance FM, Southwark

Open 14, 15, 16, 18 September

Image: Open House London

Take a look around the independent radio station. "The station champions free expression and artistic diversity, providing a platform for local and international voices across arts & culture."

County Hall, Kingston

Open 16, 18, 19 September

Image: County Hall Kingston

Until recently, Surrey was in the unusual position of having its county hall in a different county (Greater London). Open House offers a rare chance to look round the Edwardian building in Kingston, where "visitors will be guided through the corridors, chambers and hidden corners of this historic seat of local government".

Gaumont State Theatre

Open 18 September

Image: Open House London

Now a church, this extraordinary cinema/theatre could seat over 4,000 people. The art deco building features one of the largest fully functioning Wurlitzer organs in Britain. Performers here have included The Beatles, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.

Of course, the Open House programme contains hundreds of other buildings, returning from previous years. Check out the full programme here.

London no longer has a Freddie Mercury statue, but Switzerland does. Image: Exploratorium efimeros, Creative Commons

Though he grew up in Zanzibar, Farrokh Bulsara — or as he later became known, Freddie Mercury —lived in London for most of his life, after his family moved here in 1964, when he was 17.

Here are some of the spots in the capital associated with the Queen frontman's life and legacy.

Where did Freddie Mercury live in London?

Mercury's former home in Feltham is marked with this Blue Plaque. Image: Matt From London, Creative Commons

Freddie Mercury's first home in London, with his family, was in Feltham. They briefly lived in Hamilton Close and Hamilton Road, before settling in Gladstone Avenue, at a house which now bears the above Blue Plaque attesting to his time there.

After college, he spent the early stages of his music career in Liverpool before moving back to London, and living around Kensington. Not all addresses are recorded, but for a few years in the 1970s he lived at a flat on Stafford Terrace.

In 1980, Mercury bought Garden Lodge, a Georgian mansion on Logan Place in Kensington, its gardens and high-brick wall giving him some privacy as his fame skyrocketed. It was his final home, and he died here in November 1991. It quickly became a shrine, with fans leaving messages and letters on the outer walls for several years.

Mercury left Garden Lodge to his former fiancee and long-time friend Mary Austin when he died, and although it was put up for sale in 2024, as of 2026 it hasn't yet sold.

Freddie Mercury memorials in Feltham

Mercury once lived on Gladstone Avenue in Feltham. Image: James Emmans, Creative Commons

When Freddie Mercury first arrived in England, age 17, his family lived in Feltham (which was then — just about — still part of Middlesex). By coincidence, his future bandmate Brian May also grew up in Feltham.

In 2009, May joined Mercury's mother, Jer Bulsara, to unveil a star-shaped Freddie Mercury memorial in the shopping centre on Feltham High Street. This original memorial has since been removed, but a new memorial and community garden were opened in 2025.

Feltham is also home to a road called Freddie Mercury Close.

While living in Feltham, Mercury attended Isleworth Polytechnic (now West Thames College) before going on to study graphic design at the now-defunct Ealing Art College — which had also been attended by Pete Townshend of The Who and Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood prior to Mercury's studies.

Where did Freddie Mercury work in London?

Freddie Mercury once worked at Heathrow Airport. Image: Quintin Gellar, Pexels License

Before finding success as a musician, Mercury worked several jobs, including running a stall in Kensington Market in the late 1960s-early 1970s with future bandmate Roger Taylor (who at the time was in rock band Smile with Brian May, often seen as a predecessor band to Queen).

Perhaps most famous is Mercury's stint as a baggage handler at Heathrow Airport, shortly before he joined Queen in 1970 — a link which Heathrow Airport itself capitalised on in 2018, ahead of the release of biopic film Bohemian Rhapsody. It released a video of its baggage handlers dressed as Mercury, dancing to Queen hit I Want To Break Free:

That same year, also in celebration of the film's release, the Carnaby Street Christmas lights had a Bohemian Rhapsody theme, with lyrics from the song illuminated over the Soho thoroughfare, switched on by Brian May And Roger Taylor.

Freddie Mercury and Queen at Trident Studios, Soho

A plaque relating to David Bowie on the Trident Studios building. Image: AbstractLakx, Creative Commons

Though Queen used several recording studios throughout their career, including in Switzerland and Wales, their first two studio albums Queen (1973) and Queen II (1974) were recorded at the now-defunct Trident Studios in Soho.

In 2014 BBC Four documentary Queen: From Rags To Rhapsody, it was revealed that Queen, then in their early days, were only allowed to use the studios during "off-peak" hours — times which Roger Taylor later described as "gold dust" for the band's creativity. Queen only signed with Neptune Productions on the basis that Trident Studios would take on responsibility for Queen's management — which it did so reluctantly, hence the limited hours.

Elton John, The Beatles and David Bowie also recorded albums on the premises, though Trident Studios shut down in 1981, and the building has since been used as a base for several music labels. A Blue Plaque relating to David Bowie was unveiled in 2017.

Freddie Mercury on Capital Radio at Euston Tower

A meeting in this building led to the world hearing Bohemian Rhapsody. Image: Brokentaco, Creative Commons

Were it not for a Euston tower block, the world may never have heard Bohemian Rhapsody.

In 1974, as Queen released their second studio album, Freddie Mercury made an appearance on the Capital London breakfast show, hosted by Kenny Everett. At the time, Capital London — which had just launched in 1973 — was located in offices within Euston Tower, at the time London's tallest office tower.

Mercury and Everett got on very well, becoming friends, and in 1975 Mercury gave Everett an advance copy of upcoming single Bohemian Rhapsody. Everett loved it, though Capital Radio hadn't officially accepted it as a radio single, and other stations were refusing to play it, citing its runtime and confusing leap between genres. Everett played it on air anyway, claiming a slip of the finger — and went on to play it multiple times (some report 36 times in one day) resulting in listeners phoning Capital asking when the single would be released.

Freddie Mercury and Queen at Wembley Stadium

Image: history-of, Creative Commons

Perhaps the London location most associated with Freddie Mercury is Wembley Stadium. His performance fronting Queen at the 1985 Live Aid concert was the most memorable performance of the day, and in 2005 it was voted as the greatest rock gig of all time.

Queen returned to Wembley Stadium the following year, for two sold-out shows on the Magic Tour. Less than a month after this, Freddie Mercury gave his last ever public performance with Queen, at Knebworth.

Following his death in 1991, the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness was held at Wembley Stadium the following year. Queen headlined, Cindy Crawford hosted, and Metallica, Def Leppard, Bob Geldof, Guns N' Roses, Slash, Paul Young, David Bowie, Annie Lennox, George Michael and Elton John were among the many performers joining them on stage.

Image: markhillary, Creative Commons

The 4.5 hour show was broadcast live, and seen by an estimated one billion people worldwide, and around £20 million was raised, which was used to launch the Mercury Phoenix Trust charity.

Other London venues which Queen played while Freddie Mercury was with them, from early days to huge stadium shows, include Imperial College, Swiss Cottage Private School, the Marquee Club, Hornsea Town Hall, the Pheasantry in Chelsea, Golders Green Hippodrome, Hammersmith Odeon (including a Christmas Eve 1975 performance), Dagenham Roundhouse, Hyde Park and Wembley Arena (the latter resulting in a rave review from Kerrang journalist Dave Dickson).

Image: Chris Winter / Wembley Park

As of September 2026, coinciding with what would have been Freddie Mercury's 80th birthday the I’m Mr. Mercury mural by Frank Styles can be seen on Wembley Park’s Spanish Steps, as pictured above. The steps, which have previously held tributes to artists including Taylor Swift, Coldplay and Harry Styles are situated beneath Wembley Stadium.

Freddie Mercury at the Dominion Theatre

Image: allentheretiredpostman, Creative Commons

From 2002-2014, Queen musical We Will Rock You ran at the Dominion Theatre at Tottenham Court Road, introducing a new generation to Queen's music. A 20ft-tall golden statue of Freddie Mercury towered over the entrance, and disappeared shortly after the final curtain call.

Though this was the most in-your-face of Mercury's associations with the Dominion, it was by no means the first. In 1986, musical Time received its world premiere at the theatre, and though Mercury didn't appear in the production, he did record two songs for it. Through his involvement in the show, Mercury became friends with Laurence Olivier.

The 1990 Brit Awards were held at the Dominion Theatre on 18 February, and Mercury made his final appearance on stage when he joined the rest of Queen to collect the award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. He neither spoke nor performed at the event.

The Dominion isn't the only London theatre with links to Freddie Mercury: he's known to have seen The Rocky Horror Show — starring the late Tim Curry — at the Royal Court Theatre in 1973.

Where is Freddie Mercury's grave?

A plaque linked to Freddie Mercury was stolen soon after it was discovered. Image: MrsEllacott, Creative Commons

Mercury doesn't have a public grave site. He was cremated in a private service at West London Crematorium in Kensal Green Cemetery, and his cremated remains were taken to an unknown location.

In 2013, a plaque bearing his birth name Farrokh Bulsara was spotted at Kensal Green Cemetery, and it was thought that his ashes may have been laid to rest here. However, just a few weeks later the plaque was removed and it hasn't been located since. According to Rock Tour London, the original plaque was stolen, and though the cemetery offered to put up a replacement, his family declined.

Freddie Mercury murals in Camden Market

Image: Matt From London, Creative Commons

Freddie Mercury is one of several musicians immortalised in street art form in Camden.

The exterior of Nemesis Tattoo on Buck Street features illustrations of Mercury, David Bowie and Camden local Amy Winehouse.

Within Camden Market itself, among the alternative fashion stalls, seek out the above colourful mural, paying tribute to Mercury alongside David Bowie.

Freddie Mercury exhibition and auction at Sotheby's

When Mercury died, be bequeathed his Garden Lodge home (see earlier) and his possessions within it to long-time friend Mary Austin. In 2023, shortly before that home was put up for sale for the first time since his death, many of those personal belongings were displayed and sold off across six auctions at Sotheby's Bond Street.

People queued around the block to view pre-sale exhibition Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own, featuring clothing, art, musical instruments, candid photos, furniture and personal papers belonging to the rock star. In all, 1,406 lots were sold across six auctions, totalling around £40 million — far outnumbering the pre-sale estimate of £7 million.

Freddie Mercury at the V&A South Kensington

The V&A South Ken opens a free Freddie Mercury trail this autumn. Image: Photography by Simon Fowler © Mercury Songs Ltd

In autumn 2026, the V&A South Kensington launches Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things, a free trail consisting of six stops throughout the museum showcasing some of Mercury's outfits and stage costumes. These too are loaned by their current owner Mary Austin, and include the Mercury Wing catsuit worn by Mercury in the Bohemian Rhapsody video, which is kind of magic.

Free things to do in London this week. Get earlier access to these listings by signing up to our Keys to the City newsletter. It's free!

Catch the final week of GDIF 2026. Image: Vidy-Lausanne

Festival finale

Free performing arts festival Greenwich + Docklands International Festival (GDIF) comes to a close at the weekend, with a few free shows to catch over the coming week. On bank holiday Monday head to Woolwich for Afrobeat gig theatre experience The Torch. Nature Speaks takes place at a Thamesmead nature reserve on 4 and 5 September, and the annual Dancing City takes over the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on 5 September. Browse the full programme.

Until 6 September.

Puppetry exhibition

Image: Yola Sornsakrin

This is the final week of Marionettes, a free exhibition of string puppets to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Islington's Little Angel Theatre. View a collection of puppets and objects charting the story of the theatre, including pieces crafted by its founders John and Lyndie Wright.

Until 6 September.

Short stories

If you're catching a train from Paddington (or just passing by the station) with kids in tow, it's worth knowing there's a dispenser printing out free short stories for kids: The Ravens of the Tower, Herne the Hunter of Windsor, and The Miracle Dolphin of Mevagissey (the last one's written by none other than Michael Morpurgo). The machine operates 6.10am-10.15pm on Monday-Saturday, and 7am-10.15pm on Sundays.  

Until mid-September.

Notting Hill Carnival

Bank holiday Monday (31 August) is the final — and biggest — day of Notting Hill Carnival 2026. The main festival day sees thousands of people descending on west London for hours of bangin' beats, lashings of street food, razzle-dazzle costumes and utterly fabulous parade processions. Entry to Notting Hill Carnival is free — here's everything else you need to know.

31 August.

Free Film Festivals

Two Free Film Festivals kick off in south London this week, each offering a programme of free film screenings and other film-related events at venues around the neighbourhood. Streatham Free Film Festival kicks off with a quiz, with Jurassic Park shown later in the week. Over in Peckham and Nunhead, Blue Velvet, The Blair Witch Project and A Bug's Life are among this week's screenings.

Streatham, 1-20 September | Peckham & Nunhead, 4-13 September.

Totally Thames

Month-long river-centric festival Totally Thames runs throughout September, and while there's a charge for some events on the programme, others are free. Among those which won't cost you a penny this week: Thames Lens, an exhibition of photos celebrating the river; and Lost and Found by Henry Reichhold, two large montage photography works on display at the Tooley Street entrance to London Bridge station.

1-30 September.

River race

Head to the river to watch the Doggett's Coat and Badge race. Image: Matt From London, Creative Commons

Speaking of rivers, the Thames hosts a rather special race on Wednesday this week. The Doggett's Coat & Badge is the world's oldest river race, which sees up to six apprentice watermen in sculling boats rowing the 7.3km from London Bridge to Cadogan Pier in Chelsea. It's free to spectate — just head down to the river anywhere along the route. It begins at London Bridge at 1.15pm.

2 September.

Waterloo Shot Tower

Ever heard of — or perhaps you even remember — the Waterloo Shot Tower? It sat on the South Bank alongside Royal Festival Hall during the 1951 Festival of Britain. To mark 75 years since the festival, St John's Waterloo is holding a special programme of events, including a free talk on Thursday about the significant role it played in Lambeth's development, and how it was celebrated in literature and mass media.

3 September.

Head to St John's Waterloo for a free history talk. Image: Eleanor Bentall

National Gallery in Brentford

See some of the most famous works from the National Gallery, on display on the streets of Brentford, for free.

OK, so they're not the actual artworks, but some jolly good replicas. The National Gallery's Art On Your Doorstep programme pops up in the area as part of the Brentford Creative Mile, with up to 30 printed reproductions of masterpieces on show in a free outdoor exhibition across the town.

4 September-14 February.

Denmark Street festival

London's legendary musical thoroughfare Denmark Street — AKA Tin Pan Alley — holds a free one-day music festival on Saturday. Denmark Street Sessions is billed as "part street party, part open house, and a series of intimate live shows", happening at instrument stores, bars and venues in and around the area.

5 September.

Black On The Square

Image: London.gov

London's Black cultural and creative talent is showcased at the fourth edition of Black On The Square, a free-entry festival happening in Trafalgar Square on Saturday. Catch live music, including Tomorrow's Warriors, MOBO Unsung and artists from Notting Hill Carnival on the main stage; play ludi and dominoes; fill up at food stalls from Black-owned businesses; or entertain the kids with art workshops and face painting.

5 September.

Brompton Cemetery

Though you can visit Brompton Cemetery any day of the year, things get really interesting with a free open day this Sunday. You can take tours of the opulent Magnificent Seven cemetery and its catacombs, watch birds of prey displays, browse stalls from local businesses, and let the kids get stuck into storytelling sessions.

6 September.

Adapted from a feature that first appeared in September 2025 on Londonist: Time Machine, our much-praised history newsletter. To be the first to read new history features like this, sign up for free here.

Behold, Elizabethan London, as though drawn by Tolkien.

Image: public domain

This almost-huggable cartography is not hand-drawn, in fact. It’s woven. And by hands that withered away 400 years ago. We’re looking at one of the Sheldon Tapestries, commissioned by wealthy landowner Ralph Sheldon in the 1580s.

Sheldon lived in Long Compton in Warwickshire. He was among the earliest to reach the correct conclusion that maps are the best things ever. He also had close links to Richard Hyckes, one of the most high-profile tapestry makers of the time. And so Sheldon commissioned four tapestries to show the surrounding counties, based on earlier paper maps by Christopher Saxton (a wonderful rabbit-hole in their own right). The four counties were Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, offering a wraparound representation of England’s left hip, and a tough pronunciation test for any American readers.

Click or tap for larger version. Image: public domain

London, of course has never been part of any of those counties. Happily, the anonymous loom-whisperers who crafted the Oxfordshire tapestry shuttled far enough east to include the capital, as well as large chunks of Middlesex. Let’s get stuck into it.

We’ll first zoom on central London or, as it would have been considered then, ‘the whole of London’.

Image: public domain

The view gives us some of the earliest representations of famous London landmarks. The most obvious, rising out of the main cluster, is Old St Paul’s Cathedral. It’s farther north than it should be, as though centuries of proximity to the Thames have carried the cathedral chromatographically up the fabric.

This mighty building was easily the tallest structure in the city. Though it would lose its spire in 1561, and burn down in 1666, nothing would surpass its original height until the Post Office Tower (now BT Tower) in 1964.

What Old St Paul’s actually looked like, from a Victorian illustration. Image: public domain

Its depiction in the tapestry shows the cathedral without its spire, as would be expected two decades after its loss. The remaining tower is somewhat elongated from reality — a common occurrence on the tapestry.

Nearby, London Bridge is prominently depicted, crossing over to Southwark. It is encrusted with buildings, as would be the case for another two centuries. One day, when we’ve moved on from buses and motor cars, the houses will be back again.

Other discernible landmarks include the White Tower at the centre of the Tower of London, a rather squashed Westminster Abbey and Palace of Westminster (and possibly Whitehall), and Lambeth Palace across the water. Also on the southern bank, St Mary Overy (now Southwark Cathedral) and St Olave’s (now demolished) are clear either side of London Bridge.

The prominent steepled church on the tip of the south bank is, I think, a fiction. The land around here was marshy at the time, and no church would be built until Christ Church a century later. Sadly, we’re just a bit too early to see Shakespeare’s Globe, which was erected on Bankside about a decade later. At the time of the tapestry, it was still located up in Shoreditch, though it can’t be seen on the map.

Let’s zoom out a little now, and take a look at north London:

Image: public domain

The northern heights look so neat and ordered, don’t they? The area shown above is now almost total sprawl, with only parks, playing fields and Hampstead Heath to break things up. Spelling was not standardised at this point, and hence we find Wilsdon (Willesden), Hakeney (Hackney) and Higat (Highgate). Funnily enough, the automated announcements on the Northern line still pronounce that latter place as ‘higat’, something I’ve never noticed elsewhere in real life.

Most of the place names here should be self evident. ‘Twiford’ might be an exception. It still exists as (West) Twyford, a small area north of Park Royal that rarely calls attention to itself. Newington is Newington Green, just south of Stoke Newington, and not to be confused with Newington in Lambeth (which is also shown).

My favourite detail here is the fenced area just east of Paddington. You’re looking at what will one day become Regent’s Park. In Elizabethan times, this was a royal hunting ground known as Marylebone Park, which was evidently enclosed with a wooden fence, or ‘pale’. The phrase ‘beyond the pale’ harks back to this usage, though probably not this specific example.

A few faint roads are woven into the map. The one leading from Paddington up towards Hendon is the Edgware Road, part of the Roman Watling Street, which was already more than a thousand years old when these threads were intertwined. Meanwhile, the Islington-Highgate-Finchley Road is part of the Great North Road.

The river snaking north-south on the left-hand edge of the map is the Brent. This is one of a tiny number of London place-names that predate the Anglo-Saxons and, indeed, the Romans. It’s thought to be of Celtic origin, perhaps linked to the goddess Brigantia.

Now let’s turn our gaze to west London.

Image: public domain

Well, I say ‘west London’, but the tapestry calls it MIDDEL SEXIÆ… which literally sounds sexier. Here we see a gladdening of villages, slotted in among a quartet of rivers. Left to right, these are the Colne, the Yeading Brook, the Crane and the Brent again. The Brent reaches the Thames at ‘Brainford’, which we would call Brentford.

Most everything east of the Colne (left-most river) is today part of Greater London, although many denizens of places like Uxbridge and Pinner still cleave to the Middlesex identity, 60 years after that county was abolished for all practical purposes.

Things to note… Look at Harrow standing all lofty there on its hill. That hasn’t changed, although the name has since spread to cover the lowlands around the hill and, indeed, a whole London Borough. Uxbridge sports what looks like a skyscraper — presumably a church tower, not that it’s ever had one so dominant. The enclosure, or pale, to the bottom-left is the old hunting grounds of Langley Park.

You’ll spot some confounding spellings in there: ‘Hais’ is, of course, Hayes. The campaign to revert to that earlier spelling starts here, so we can finally distinguish it from Hayes in Bromley. Southold and Northold have evolved into Southall and Northolt. Oxterley is, of course, Osterley; Stanmer, Stanmore; Grinford, Greenford.

A few names may be unfamiliar, even to Londoners. Cowley, south of Uxbridge, still exists, but rarely gets any press. It’s best known for Brunel University. The most intriguing here is ‘Horwood’. No place of that name is recorded on any other source I can find for that time. I suspect this is the village of Norwood Green, and the map’s original compiler mis-heard or mis-transcribed some information.

Finally, this is one of the most visited parts of London. You’ve very probably been yourself:

Image: public domain

I wonder what the tapestry weaver was thinking about when she/he was immortalising these villages in wool and silk. Did they wonder what life was like in Harmsworth, Harlington, Horwood and Heston? Were they aware of another ‘H’ village round there called Heathrow? We’ll never know. They certainly never imagined what the loom of time would weave for this village, centuries hence.

Viewing the Sheldon tapestry

Sadly, the original Oxfordshire (plus London) map is in tatters, though we’re lucky that the London section survived. The fragmented remains can be seen at the Weston Library in Oxford, while the Ashmolean Museum holds a 17th century copy that is more complete. These things are huge: around 5.5 metres wide by 3.5 metres tall. What a sight it must have been, hanging with its three stablemates in the home of Ralph Sheldon in the 1590s. I now know what I’ll spend my millions on when I finally win the lottery.

sds

Your weekly roundup of Londonist news and features.

85+ Spectacular Things To Do In London This Month: September 2026

Open House London! Heritage Open Days! London Design Festival!

Image: Johan Persson ©Disney

New Superloop Route: SL12 Launches In September

And journeys are free for the first week.

Image: TfL

NFL In London 2026: When Are The Games? Who's Playing? How To Get Tickets?

Game dates, teams and locations.

Image: Thomas via creative commons

Fantastic Free Riverside Festival Emerge East Returns This September

A community celebration on the banks of the Thames. (sponsor)

Image: Emerge East

Seething Lane: The Unassuming Thoroughfare Linked To London's Most Famous Diarist

Monkey abuse and lusty sermons.

Image: Matt Brown

Eurostar, Virgin Trains, And The Future Of Cross-Channel Train Travel From London

Changes at Eurostar, and Virgin Trains muscles in.

Image: Christian Lue, Unsplash License

The Top Exhibitions To See In London: September 2026

From the Bayeux Tapestry to Burberry.

Image: © Samuel Morse

Free Freddie Mercury Display Coming To The V&A South Kensington

See a little silhouetto of a man.

Photography by Simon Fowler © Mercury Songs Ltd

London Has At Least 16 'Working-Class Sculptures'... But Where Are The Women?

Image: Matt Brown

The Best Pubs And Bars For Watching Football In London

Back of the net!

Image: Grant Walker

Pearly Kings And Queens Harvest Festival: Have A Right Old Knees-Up At This Legendary Event

The true cockney spirit lives on.

Image: iStock/Casarsa

Things To Do In London This Autumn

Your September to November 2026 calendar, sorted.

Image: Shutterstock

Ice Hockey In London: Who Are The Teams? Where To Watch? When's It On?

Puck up your ideas.

Image: Troy T, Unsplash License

Looking Ahead: Things To Do In London This Week: 31 August-6 September 2026

Cubafrobeat, Cecily Brown and conquering dreams.

Image: © Cecily Brown © Jo Underhill

The titchy parade of shops is available to view every Thursday through to Christmas. Image: Jack Hall/PA Media Assignments

We've heard of doing a 'big shop' — but Leadenhall Market is now offering the opportunity to do the exact opposite, thanks it its 'Wunderkammer'.

Every Thursday from 3 September-22 December 2026, a new address — No. 27¼ — opens up for business at the Victorian shopping arcade, with a trio of tiny shops:

🧶 Wool boutique, Tronage Yarns, a nod to Leadenhall's medieval trading past, where wool 'tronage' was determined, by being weighed using a specially installed beam, or 'trona'.

📼 A mouse-sized video rental Leadenhall Film Library, complete with mini posters of films shot here, including Brannigan, Tomb Raider and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

🖼️ Lilliput Cards, an 'art gallery' of mini limited edition postcards.

A serving hatch above the shops is inspired by Florence's famous buchette del vino. Image: Jack Hall/PA Media Assignments

Say the Market: "Leadenhall’s architecture is grand, but many of its charms are found in the details: from the original butchers' meat hooks above our restaurants, bars and shops, to the City's dragons keeping a watchful eye over visitors."

Video rental is back... kinda. Image: Jack Hall/PA Media Assignments

Directly above the shops (which alas, you won't be able to enter) is a human-sized serving window, inspired by Florence's famous buchette del vino, from which you'll be able to acquire cakes, coffee, wine and various exclusive products, depending on the week/specific vendor. On opening day, it'll be selling the same postcards that are on display in Lilliput Cards.

Some Diagon Alley vibes going on here we reckon... Image: Jack Hall/PA Media Assignments

If you enjoy whimsical fancies like this, know that an Italian restaurant — everything in it crafted from wool — comes to London later this autumn.

Wunderkammer at Leadenhall Market, every Thursday (2pm-6pm) from 3 September-22 December 2026, free (though items collected through the window are paid-for).

Image: Matt Brown

Want to be part of a Guinness World Record? Beam down to the Science Museum on 8 September.

This month's adults-only Lates event at the museum is entirely themed around Star Trek. Visitors will get to take part in a Guinness World Record attempt to assemble the most simultaneous Vulcan salutes. You could be among them.

The Vulcan salute, popularised by Mr Spock in the original series, involves making a V-shape between paired fingers. They do it in space for real, apparently:

Image: NASA on The Commons

As well as taking part in the record attempt, visitors can also inspect the Star Trek Warp Trail, which features numerous costumes and models from the shows and movies, including Data's head and a captain's chair. Talks and performances are also planned.

Image: Science Museum Group

The Lates stunt is billed as a Guinness World Record 'attempt'. If we might play Mr Spock for a moment, this is highly illogical. No current Guinness World Record exists for such a feat, and so any significant number of Vulcan salutes will establish the record. It's like saying that I'm going to attempt the World Record for typing the word flobspiffle while humming La Marseillaise... flobspiffle, flobspiffle, flobspiffle, flobspiffle, flobspiffle, flobspiffle, flobspiffle, flobspiffle. There we go, I managed eight. New World Record.

In truth, the record 'attempt' is simply a ruse to generate interest in the museum's Star Trek Lates event. But, hey, it's all good fun, and we can't begrudge the saluting of a franchise that has reached its 60th birthday (even if its future is a little uncertain). Plus, Science Museum Lates are always fun, with beer and wine and zero kids.

The head of Commander Data. Or is it Lore? Or B-4? Image: Science Museum Group

Star Trek Lates is at London Science Museum, 8 September 2026 from 6pm. Entrance is free, but you need to book a space. The Star Trek Warp Trail can be viewed during normal museum opening hours until 13 September (also free).

Image: U.S. Air Force Academy — (U.S. Air Force photo/Trevor Cokley), Creative Commons

Ice hockey in London? Big time.

The Canadian sport has infiltrated the capital (helped in recent times by the popularity of Heated Rivalry), with loads of opportunities to get hooked on this puck-ing good game.

Not familiar with ice hockey? Read on for when, where and who to watch here in London — as well as how to play ice hockey yourself.

London ice hockey teams: who plays?

Image: Cardiff Potter, Creative Commons

Four London-based ice hockey clubs play in the NIHL. Ice hockey in the UK is split into several tiers:

🏒 The Elite Ice Hockey League is a professional league, and is the highest level of hockey played in the UK. 10 teams from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland currently play in this league, but none are based in London.

🏒 The National Ice Hockey League is the second tier of British ice hockey, below the Elite Ice Hockey League, and is further sub-divided into tiers:

🏒 The Planet Ice National League is the top tier of England Ice Hockey’s NIHL leagues, consisting of 11 teams. London team Romford Raiders play in this league.

🏒 Below that, the remaining teams are geographically split into four leagues: North 1, North 2, South 1 and South 2. London team Streatham play in South 1 while the Haringey Huskies and Lee Valley Lions play in South 2.

Players in all four London times are not full-time pros. Throughout the season, each team plays each of the other teams in the league four times — twice at home, twice away. So although there are only four London teams, there are still plenty of matches going on in and around the capital.

Tickets tend to be more affordable than other sports, and most teams offer seasons tickets for dedicated fans.

Here's the lowdown on each of London's ice hockey clubs:

Romford Raiders Ice Hockey Club at Sapphire Ice, Romford

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A post shared by Romford Raiders IHC (@romfordraidersihc)

Romford Raiders are the main men's team playing at Sapphire Ice Rink. The club's been around since 1987, and has moved around a bit in that time before settling at the Sapphire. They were briefly known as the London Raiders. Team colours are white, gold, and blue — with fans known as the Gold and Blue Army.

As of the start of the 2026/7 season, Romford Raiders are objectively London's best ice hockey team, playing in the Planet Ice National League, and coming at #7 in the league standings at the start of the season.

The Romford Buccaneers are the reserve team based out of Romford, and the Romford Ice Hockey Academy trains upcoming players from U10s right up to the Buccaneers. At time of writing, Romford doesn't have a dedicated women's ice hockey team.

Romford Raiders. Match tickets available here (Adult tickets are £20 per home game for the 2026-27 season). Follow them on Instagram, Facebook and X.

Streatham Ice Hockey Club at Streatham Ice Rink

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Streatham Ice Hockey Club are based at Streatham Leisure Centre & Ice Rink. The men's team was established in 1932, under a name deemed pejorative today, and was changed in the 2015/16 season. These days, they're simply known as Streatham Ice Hockey Club (though RedHawks is a common nickname among fans).

In 2014, the team moved to their new location at the rebuilt Streatham Ice Rink after being temporarily ousted to Brixton Ice Rink for a couple of seasons. When the old Streatham ice rink was closed down, there was doubt whether the team — once one of the most successful in Britain — would be able to continue. This fear didn't come to pass, and today Streatham IHC have a solid (and from the matches we've been to, loud) fanbase.

The Streatham Storm Women's Ice Hockey squads are also based at Streatham Ice Rink, with teams in the Women's National Ice Hockey League and several smaller leagues. The Streatham Youth Ice Hockey play here too.

Streatham Ice Hockey Club. Match tickets available here. Follow them on Instagram, Facebook and X.

Haringey Huskies Ice Hockey Club at Alexandra Palace

The Haringey Huskies in action. Image: Alexandra Palace

Known until recently as Haringey Racers (or London Racers), the men's ice hockey team based at Ally Pally are now called the Haringey Huskies.

The timeline of ice hockey at Alexandra Palace is a bit muddled, with teams called the Haringey Racers, the Haringey Greyhounds, the London Racers and the North London Hounds having played here over the years.

All you really need to know is that if you want to watch ice hockey at Alexandra Palace now, Haringey Huskies are the (men's) team to watch, having taken up the mantle in 2017. The Haringey Greyhounds are the women's team, also based out of Ally Pally, while the Haringey Hounds are the junior club, taking players from U10 upwards.

Haringey Huskies. Match tickets available via Alexandra Palace. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Lee Valley Lions Ice Hockey Club at Lee Valley Ice Rink

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A post shared by Lee Valley Lions (@leevalleylionsihc)

Originally formed in 1984 and disbanded in 1995, Lee Valley Lions reformed in 2005. Of London's ice hockey teams, the Lions seem to have had the least chop-change past, with just the one name throughout their history. They moved into the new Lee Valley Ice Centre in the 2023-4 season.

The Lee Valley Vampires are the women's team also playing out of Lee Valley Ice Centre. At present, there's no junior team, though it's hoped one will be started in the near future.

Lee Valley Lions. Follow them on Instagram, Facebook and X.

Women's ice hockey in London

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A post shared by Haringey Greyhounds (@greyhoundsihc)

As mentioned above, Streatham, Haringey and Lee Valley all have women's equivalents to their men's teams. Similar to men's ice hockey, the Women's National Ice Hockey League (WNIHL) is split into different leagues here in the UK. Top tier is the WNIHL Elite league, followed by WNIHL 1, a league encompassing national teams, and WNIHL 2 which is split into North and South regions.

Streatham Storm women's ice hockey club

Home to London's only senior league women's ice hockey team, Streatham Storm have a team in the WNIHL Elite league, as well as the WNIHL 2 South league, and a development team. All home matches are FREE to watch, taking place at Streatham Leisure Centre Ice Rink.

Haringey Greyhounds women's ice hockey club

Only formed in 2024, women's team the Haringey Greyhounds are relative newbies on the scene, and play in the WNIHL 1 league.

Lee Valley Vampires women's ice hockey club

Playing in WNIHL 2 South, the Lee Valley Vampires play out of Lee Valley Ice Centre, and often offer pay what you can tickets to home games.

Where to watch ice hockey in London: where is it played?

Image: Cardiff Potter, Creative Commons

All teams play both home and away matches. Home matches for the London ice hockey teams are played at the four venues mentioned above (Sapphire Ice Rink in Romford, Streatham Leisure Centre, Alexandra Palace and Lee Valley Ice Centre ).

As the Romford Raiders are in the Planet Ice National League, they compete against teams all over the country, so their away matches tend to be further afield than London's other three men's teams: they all play in the South leagues, so opponents are other south teams, including Milton Keynes, Guildford and Slough.

Check each team's website for details of upcoming fixtures in the 2026-27 season. Teams often play pre-season warm-up matches too.

When can I watch ice hockey in London?

The UK ice hockey season runs roughly September-March every year (with some pre-season friendlies starting as early as August). Games usually take place on Saturday or Sunday evenings. Check the individual team websites above for specific fixtures.

Where can I play ice hockey in London?

Image: Troy T, Unsplash License

So you've seen the experts at work, and now you want to have a go at ice hockey yourself. You won't be gliding straight into one of the teams mentioned above, as those players have been training for years, and ice hockey can be a dangerous sport (though do check their website/social media for details of upcoming taster events).

But there are other recreational ice hockey clubs and teams around London that will let you have a go. Details of beginners' try-outs and training sessions vary from club to club and season to season, and you may need to become a member of the club before they'll let you on the ice, so get in touch with one of these for details.

🏒 Westminster Statesmen — a recreational men's ice hockey team. Currently accepting new players but you must be 18+, and already able to play to an intermediate recreational hockey standard (Alexandra Palace)

🏒 London Rangers — another recreational team, though not currently accepting new players (Alexandra Palace)

🏒 DX Bunker Boys and Girls — an adults (men and women) recreational team for both beginner and intermediate players (Alexandra Palace)

🏒 Sobell Slappers — another adults (men and women) recreational team (Alexandra Palace)

Note, some clubs state that they are either checking or non-checking clubs. This refers to whether they allow body contact during matches. If you're looking for a gentler introduction to the sport, look for a non-checking team.

Most clubs will require you to have at least basic ice skating skills before they let you anywhere near a puck, so get practising at one of London's year-round ice rinks.

The rules of ice hockey: a beginner's guide

Image: Gera Cejas, Pexels License

Although we've dipped our toes in to the (icy) waters of ice hockey, we're no experts. Back in 2014, we spoke to John Scott — then CEO at London Raiders, now Romford Raiders — who gave us a quick starter guide.

Ice hockey can be tricky for newbies to follow, due to the fast — often bloodthirsty — nature of the game. The principle is similar to football in that each team aims to score as many goals as possible — except these goals are significantly smaller. The 'ball' in this case is not a ball, but a rubber puck, which, being kept at 0°c, is basically a compact disc of pain for anyone who comes into contact with it.

🏒 Each match is split into three periods of 20 minutes, with 15 minute breaks in between, allowing the ice to be wiped clean.

🏒 Six players from each team are on the ice at once, including a net minder (goalkeeper) — although up to 20 players from each team could be on the bench at any one time, allowing for plenty of rest breaks and tactical substitutions throughout.

🏒 If the whistle blows — for example, for an injury — the clock is stopped until play restarts.

🏒 A goal is scored when the puck crosses the goal line.

🏒 If a player commits an infraction, they will be sent to spend two, five or 10 minutes in the penalty box, depending on the severity of the offence. Their team plays a man down for this time. Each team must have a minimum of three players on the ice at all times, so if multiple players are sent to the penalty box, their times will be staggered.

🏒 The offside rule in football can be confusing. In ice hockey, being offside is simply when an attacking team member crosses the line into the defensive zone before the puck.

Each pearly jacket is covered in thousands of buttons, and is properly heavy to wear. Image: iStock/Casarsa

Dust off your best button-smothered jacket — the London Pearly Kings and Queens Costermongers Harvest Festival is back.

Pearly kings and queens have been a fixture of London since road sweeper Henry Croft decided to pimp up his threads in the 1870s for a charitable cause. The fundraising annual harvest festival — held on a Sunday in late September — is the most famous pearly fixture on the calendar.

From 1.30pm on Sunday 20 September 2026, pearly kings and queens from across London and beyond — wearing their iconic hand-sewn pearl-embroidered costumes — will assemble in Guildhall Yard, in the City of London.

Frivolities such as maypole and morris dancing unfold, alongside hearty renditions of cockney standards like The Lambeth Walk and Knees Up Mother Brown.

Your chance to rub shoulders with royalty — LOTS of royalty. Image: Adrian Murphy

At 2.30pm, the pearlies — accompanied by various mayors/Scouts/Chelsea Pensioners — process to St Mary-le-Bow on Cheapside, home of the famous Bow Bells. Here, a special harvest festival service takes place from 3pm, in which the pearlies present a large harvest plait of seasoned bread. Members of the public can attend the service, although be warned: it gets packed.

There's another chance to catch the pearlies when they file out of the church around 4pm. Pearly kings and queens are renowned for their charitable work, so while the entire event is free, have some cash handy to drop into a pearly cap or two.

2026 sees the 151st edition of the event. Image: Anthony March

Says Clive Bennett, Pearly King of Woolwich, "This event is a testament to the enduring spirit of our city and the diverse communities that make London so vibrant. We invite everyone to join us for a day of entertainment, cultural heritage, and unity."

Here's a lovely write up of 2019's event by the Gentle Author.

Another harvest festival celebration — this one organised by the Original Pearly Kings and Queens Association — takes place at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 4 October 2026.

London Pearly Kings and Queens Costermongers Harvest Festival, starts 1.30pm in Guildhall Yard on Sunday 20 September 2026. It's free to attend.

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We look ahead and pick the best exhibitions to see in London's galleries and museums, opening this September.

It's coming home: The Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum

© La Fabrique de patrimoines en Normandie, Antoine Cazin.

Arguably the most anticipated exhibition of the year is the return of the Bayeux Tapestry, more than 1,000 years after it was most likely woven in what's now the UK. Here is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the 70-metre-long tapestry — setting out the story of how William the Conqueror defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings — before it returns to France. We're hyped for this one, although be warned: getting tickets will be a battle in its own right.

The Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum. 10 September 2026-11 July 2027, £33.

On a mission: Tschabalala Self - Lady in Blue at the Fourth Plinth

A maquette of the Lady in Blue sculpture. Photo: James O Jenkins

A woman in a blue dress strides purposefully; no time for chuggers or slow walkers. This is the latest fourth plinth commission by Tschabalala Self, and while it's designed to symbolise the busy 'everywoman', the big, 'can't stop' gait will resonate with any Londoner who has places to be. So all of us, then.

Tschabalala Self: Lady in Blue at the Fourth Plinth. 10 September 2026-summer 2028.

Humanity's history: Nature & Us Gallery at the Natural History Museum

A flashback to what the galleries used to look like. © of the trustees of the Natural History Museum.

The Nature & Us gallery isn't technically new, though it's unlikely you've visited; it's been closed to the public since 1943. But no more: we're now invited to touch a replica of one of Britain's first domesticated dogs, and gaze at a 400,000-year-old hand-axe. There's a miniature model of a Crystal Palace dinosaur — showing how early scientists imagined prehistoric life — and a bryozoan-encrusted Star Wars toy from the 1980s, illustrating the changeful impact of nature and time.

Nature & Us Gallery at the Natural History Museum. Opens 16 September 2026, free.

Art in the park: Frieze Sculpture at Regents’ Park

Image courtesy of Ivana Basic and Albion Jeune.

London's biggest art fair, Frieze London, rolls into town in October, but the invariably enjoyable warm-up is Frieze Sculpture, where contemporary sculptures pop up in the south-east corner of Regent's Park. This year features 11 international artists who've created works on the theme of hybridity: we get a doorway descending beneath the grass, intricate stainless-steel screens depicting utopian scenes, a nod to brutalism, and a dual-faced vibrant idol. Just as enjoyable is watching the public interact with/puzzle over these al fresco artworks.

Frieze Sculpture at Regent's Park. 16 September-1 November 2026, free.

Double the art: Modern Painting from the Courtauld and Reuben Collections at the Courtauld

© All rights reserved, DACS © Reuben Collection

Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani, Paul Cezanne and René Magritte star, as two collections combine to highlight some of the most radical artists of the first half of the 20th century. This period was a turning point for art, as artists moved away from representation towards movements such as Cubism and Surrealism, testing the limits of what painting could be. It's the age that much of today's art can trace its roots back to — including Magritte's floating baguette, Picasso's angles and Modigliani's shocking nudes.

Modern Painting from the Courtauld and Reuben Collections at The Courtauld. Opens 18 September 2026, £14.

Otherworldly: Astronomy Photographer of the Year at National Maritime Museum

Aurora Over Causey Reservoir © Samuel Morse

Nothing makes us feel so small and insignificant as this annual exhibition. Standing in front of images of nebulae, galaxies and planets — as captured in extraordinary ways by photographers — makes us realise how insignificant our concerns are. Whether it's a deep-space image, the moon over a cityscape, or star trails captured with long-exposure, it's always a treat to visit, if utterly humbling.

ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year at National Maritime Museum. 18 September 2026-31 July 2027, £12.

An iconic coat: The Burberry Trench at V&A

Image courtesy of the V&A

With its trademark beige outer and tartan lining, the Burberry trench is an unmistakable fashion item. But how did it come to be so? That's what this free display uncovers, from the invention of the coat's water-resistant gabardine fabric in 1879, through its many iterations, to its continuing popularity. We learn how the Burberry trench initially served as functional military attire, how the lining came to be — and how it grew into a global celebration of the British aesthetic.

The Burberry Trench: Crafting an Icon at V&A, Prince Consort Gallery. 21 September 2026-3 January 2027, free.

Korean art: The Unclassified at Korean Cultural Centre

Mind-blowing that this is made of soap. © Meekyoung Shin.

Four artists are brought together to examine how museums shape the presentation of culture. Meekyoung Shin has created museum-style busts made of soap, which will travel the country, be handled and displayed, so they will show the same wear we may see on marble sculptures exposed to the elements. Siren Eun Young Jung takes an archival look back at yeoseong gukgeuk, an all-female theatre genre that flourished in South Korea in the 1950s. Ayoung Kim's work focuses on how the imperial powers divided up the Korean peninsula. Gala Porras-Kim's installation imagines the view from inside a grave, asking us to reflect on gaps that remain in the history of cultural heritage.

The Unclassified at Korean Cultural Centre. 25 September-31 December 2026, free.

Short run exhibitions and events

Sir Peter Blake at a previous incarnation of the Art Car Boot Fair. Image: Art Car Boot Fair

There are plenty of smaller exhibitions this month where you can see and buy art. The 13th edition of Flux is hosted at the Bomb Factory in Marylebone (4-6 September 2026, free), bringing together 70 emerging and established artists from the UK and internationally. It spans painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, installation and digital art — and most of the works are up for sale. The Art Car Boot Fair (5 September 2026, £5-10) returns to Lewis Cubitt Square in King's Cross, with artists selling works out of car boots. There are great bargains to be had, including those by established artists.

Most graduate shows happened over the summer, but one of the best comes this month: the post-graduate artists of City & Guilds London Art School* showcasing the works they've made for their MA show (8-12 September 2026, free). It's always top drawer. More emerging talent can be found at the ACS Prize at Gurr Johns (20-22 September 2026, free), where the shortlisted artists are included in an exhibition and one winner receives £6,000 towards their studio costs. If you'd rather see where the creative process happens, head to the Cumberland Road Open Studios in Wood Green (19-20 September 2026, free). It's an insider's view of the creative process, where you get to meet the artists.

Image: British Art Fair.

If you prefer the art fair environment, plump for the British Art Fair at Saatchi Gallery (24-27 September 2026, £23), where the best of modern and contemporary art is on show. For shinier purchases, the Goldsmiths' Fair is at Goldsmiths’ Hall (22 September-4 October 2026, £35), with no shortage of bling, including designs and jewellery made from precious metals.

Sticking with design, it's also the month of the London Design Festival (12-20 September 2026), which includes major projects at the V&A and a projection onto St. Paul's, alongside workshops, talks and a programme set across multiple districts of London, from South Kensington to Shoreditch. If you want to explore one area, then Manufactory (11-12 September 2026) will focus on Park Royal in north-west London, with exhibitions, installations, site-specific interventions, performances, food, open studios, talks, workshops and participatory events within this industrial area.

Creative Intelligence at the Southbank Centre (11-13 September 2026) is a three-day takeover packed with art, performance, music, demos, debate and experimentation, exploring how artists, digital innovation, and AI are reshaping the world we live in. Over at Barbican, another takeover is under way by Turner Prize-winning artist Lawrence Abu Hamdan, titled Repercussions (23-26 September 2026). It's on the theme of sonic justice, and how crimes and human rights abuses can be captured through sound. Over four days, Repercussions brings together an installation, performances, screenings, panel discussions and live music.  

Exhibitions outside London

Image: © Victoria Sills

In Southend-on-Sea, three artists with very different styles are showing in Between:Us at Beecroft Art Gallery (5 September-29 November 2026, free), including Victoria Sills, whose powerful portraits capture both the person's emotions and also explore the idea of masks and whether they conceal or reveal elements of our personalities.  Alongside her works are ghostly interiors by Peter Haugh and the digital works of Jonathan Rust.

Image: Copyright of The Fitzwilliam Museum

The Fitzwilliam Museum, in Cambridge hosts 'A Mughal Songbook: Art, Music and Empire' (8 September 2026-7 March 2027, free), centring on the story of Sophia Elizabeth Plowden and her illustrated book of lyrics and musical notation, created in Lucknow in the late 18th century. Plowden documented the music she encountered in North Indian courtly gatherings during a period of transition between the Mughal and British Empires. It contains 77 songs written in Persian, Urdu, Classical Hindi and Punjabi, and is at the centre of a display that also includes objects, paintings, and music.

© Raqib Shaw. All Rights Reserved, DACS 2026. Photo © White Cube (Ollie Hammick)

We've always been fans of Raqib Shaw's highly detailed paintings, inspired by Indian miniature-style paintings. They are works you can stare at for hours and still not spot all their elements. His latest paintings and tapestries — all focusing on night-time scenes — are on show in his exhibition Night Sonnets at Compton Verney (19 September 2026-21 February 2027, £22.50), a stately home just south of Birmingham. Fire, damaged cities, smoke, melting ice and threatened knowledge recur across the exhibition, while behind them lies Shaw’s interest in the confidence with which every civilisation imagines its own permanence, against all the evidence of history.

* The author of this piece is a trustee of City & Guilds London Art School.

Get planning to make the most out of autumn 2026 in London. Image: Shutterstock

Between the joys of summer's outdoor cinemas and bars, and the excitement of Christmas, there's a little thing called autumn. We've pulled together some of the best events happening in London in September, October and November 2026 to keep you going as the nights grow darker and the days get chillier.

Cultural events in London: Autumn 2026

TOTALLY THAMES: Totally Thames comprises a whole month of events celebrating our waterways. Talks, walks, live performances, boat trips and workshops feature, with 2026 highlights including beginners' kayaking sessions, a riverside performance by a super-choir and an art installation on the disused Blackfriars railway bridge columns. And these are a mere drop in the ocean/river, in a programme that's flooded with things to dive into. 1-30 September 2026

LONDON PODCAST FESTIVAL: Headphones at the ready for London Podcast Festival at Kings Place, which sees both mainstream and more niche podcasts recorded in front of a live audience, with some streamed online too. No Such Thing As A Fish, and Beef and Dairy Network are among the participants this year. 3-13 September 2026

SAMUEL PEPYS DAY: City of London Guides mark the anniversary of the Great Fire of London — and celebrate the man who recorded it in detail — with their third annual Samuel Pepys Day, offering Pepys-themed tours around the City. 4 September 2026

BLACK ON THE SQUARE: Celebrate London's Black cultural and creative talent at the fourth edition of Black On The Square, a free festival in Trafalgar Square offering live music and performances, activities for children, games, stalls — and a wealth of Black-owned food stalls. FREE, 5 September 2026

Tschabalala Self's Lady in Blue is installed on the Fourth Plinth in September.

QUEEN'S PARK BOOK FESTIVAL: This year's Queen's Park Book Festival is the final edition of the literary event, and it's going out with a bang: authors Philip Pullman, Sebastian Barry and Jacqueline Wilson are among the big names making an appearance, along with British Museum curator Michael Lewis celebrating the Bayeux Tapestry's return to the UK. 5-6 September 2026

LONDON TRANSPORT: See a tiny version of London's transport system, as the King's Cross Model Railway Club opens a one-day London's Transport in Miniature exhibition, in collaboration with the London Underground Railway Society. See various layouts including the fictional/semi-fictional Waddesdon Manor, Carlton Vale and Lammas Lane. 6 September 2026

CHISWICK BOOK FESTIVAL: Adele Parks, Iain Dale, Jacqueline Wilson, Kate Mosse, Mary Portas and Sophie Hannah are just some of the names on the schedule at Chiswick Book Festival, taking place at a variety of venues including Chiswick Cinema, Chiswick Library and Hogarth's House. 9-14 September 2026

FOURTH PLINTH INSTALLATION: It's all change on Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth, as current installation Mil Veces un Instante (A Thousand Times in an Instant) by Teresa Margolles is replaced with Tschabalala Self's Lady in Blue. 10 September 2026

MARKFIELD ROAD FESTIVAL: Taking place in South Tottenham for the last two years, Markfield Road Festival is a free arts and music get-together for all ages. 2026's programme is TBA, but last year it included open arts studios, short films screenings, live music performances, workshops including life drawing — and a carnival procession featuring local school children. Keep an eye on the website for 2026 updates. 11-13 September 2026

CELEBRASIA: South East Asian culture is celebrated at Battersea Power Station's CelebrASIa festival. Browse themed market and food stalls, try your hand at crafts including basket weaving, and watch panel discussions on topics ranging from food and literature, to fashion and culture. 11-13 September 2026

Which celebrity will do the honours at this year's London Sheep Drive?

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS: Not only do we get Open House (below) in September, but Heritage Open Days too. This nationwide programme of events — including several in London — invites you inside hidden places, to celebrate history and culture. In London that includes walks, behind-the-scenes tours and a chance to visit the place we once suggested might be the best shed museum anywhere, Dulwich's British Vintage Wireless and Television Museum. FREE, 11-20 September 2026

OPEN HOUSE LONDON: It's the most wonderful time of year, when all manner of London buildings and structures — many of them usually off-limits to the public — fling open their doors.  Our previous personal Open House London highlights include going inside the St Pancras clock tower, and up on the roof of 55 Broadway. 12-20 September 2026

LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL: The 24th edition of London Design Festival showcases London as the design capital of the world. We're expecting the usual blend of displays and exhibitions, talks and more. 12-20 September 2026

LETTERS TO THE FUTURE: Amelia Dimoldenberg, Ash Sarkar and Olly Alexander lead Letters to the Future, a Southbank Centre event tackling some of the biggest issues of our time. Creators, writers, activists and thinkers curate a programme of panel discussions, interspersed with talks, performances, free gigs, DJs sets and spoken word. Topics including housing, the future of digital media, and the climate crisis. 18-20 September 2026

CAMDEN INSPIRE: Community festival Camden Inspire doubles up as the Camden Climate Festival, with a theme of Gathering For The Future. Enjoy a low-carbon community feast, take part in gardening and fermenting sessions, pick up ideas at panel discussions and round tables, and get stuck into evening entertainment including a climate-themed pub quiz. 26 September 2026

Bloomsbury Festival has a packed programme. Image: Arts & Kuchipudi Dance Charity (AKDC)

SHEEP DRIVE: One of London's wackiest annual events is the London Bridge Sheep Drive and Livery Fair. Each year, a chosen celebrity has the honour of herding sheep over Southwark Bridge while the public watch, followed by a livery fair at the north end of the bridge. Keep an eye on the website for this year's announcement. FREE, 27 September 2026

THE LAMBETH FRINGE: Now in its 11th year, the Lambeth Fringe (previously known as Clapham Fringe) has announced an impressive 200 shows for its 2026 programme, spread across 28 venues. Among an overwhelming selection of shows, you can see NHS doctors perform in the comedic GP Receptionist Appreciation Society, and take part in interactive '70s game show parody, Cornershop Showdown. 24 September-25 October 2026

MONTH OF THE DEAD: Ghoulishly good festival of death Month of the Dead takes place throughout October, leading up to Halloween with talks on the macabre, cemetery tours, film screenings, and a necrocopia of other events taking a cerebral look at death and the afterlife. Tickets are selling scarily fast. 1 October-1 November 2026

CHELSEA HISTORY FESTIVAL: The National Army Museum, the Royal Hospital Chelsea and Chelsea Physic Garden team up again for Chelsea History Festival, which covers local, national and global history through walks, talks and other events. 1-4 October 2026

London goes big for Bonfire Night. Photo: Alexandra Palace

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: October is Black History Month, honouring the often unheralded accomplishments of Black Britons in all fields throughout history. It's national, with events running all year, but things happening in London this month can be found on the Black History Month site. Throughout October

BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL: After a truncated, three-day version of Bloomsbury Festival took place last year, it's back to full strength for 2026, taking place throughout the month of October to celebrate its 20th anniversary. 1-31 October 2026

BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL: The full programme for the 70th BFI London Film Festival is due to be announced in September, but it's usually full of gala nights and UK and world premiere screenings — and is probably the biggest event of the year for the London film industry. 7-18 October 2026

ART FAIRS: Two of London's biggest art fairs take place in October, bringing members of the art industry from all over the globe back to the capital. Frieze London (14-18 October 2026) sets up shop in Regent's Park, with galleries showcasing work by contemporary artists in a variety of media. Over in east London, The Other Art Fair (8-11 October 2026) takes over the Old Truman Brewery, with a focus on artworks available for all budgets, from over 100 artists.

Get costumed up for MCM Comic Con. Image: ASV Photography Ltd

LONDON LITERATURE FESTIVAL: Dua Lipa curates this year's London Literature Festival at Southbank Centre, overseeing a packed programme featuring names including Zadie Smith, Malorie Blackman and Patti Smith. 21 October-1 November 2026

MCM COMIC CON: Halloween isn't the only reason to dig out your fancy dress costume at the end of October. MCM Comic Con returns to Excel for three days of celebrity guests, panel discussions, cosplay, tabletop and video games and more. 23-25 October 2026

HALLOWEEN: Things get spooky in London towards the end of October as Halloween looms. Check back nearer the time for our guide to the best Halloween events for both kids and adults, as well as scary film screenings around town. In the meantime, why not start planning a trip to one of these charming pumpkin patches near London. 31 October 2026

DIWALI: Diwali falls on 8 November this year, and London's official celebrations in Trafalgar Square are due to take place a couple of weeks before (25 October 2026), with live music, dancing and more. Keep an eye on our event listings for details of other Diwali celebrations around town. FREE, late October-early November 2026

Pomp and pageantry aplenty at the Lord/Lady Mayor's Show. Photo: City of London

FIREWORKS: Keep an eye on our Bonfire Night guide, which we'll update with details of this year's fireworks events as and when they're announced. Around 5 November

LORD MAYOR'S SHOW: If you're a sucker for pomp and pageantry, don't miss the Lord Mayor's Show. The event marks the outgoing Lord Mayor (actually the Lady Mayor this year) being replaced by the new one, and takes the form of a grand procession. Full details will be confirmed closer to the time, once the new Lord Mayor is announced. FREE, 14 November 2026

REMEMBRANCE: There are always special events in London around 11 November, to mark Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day. We'll bring you details closer to the time. 11 November 2026

EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL: Get down with the trumpets at the EFG London Jazz Festival, which offers 10 days of live performances at venues including Barbican, Southbank Centre and the Royal Albert Hall. Norwegian-Brazilian musician Charlotte Dos Santos, the experimental Robocobra Quartet, and Parisian group Caravan Palace are among this year's headliners. 13-22 November 2026

New exhibitions in London: Autumn 2026

A rare chance to see the Bayeux Tapestry outside of France. Image: public domain

BAYEUX TAPESTRY: Probably London's — if not the UK's — most anticipated exhibition of the year is the British Museum's temporary custodianship of the Bayeux Tapestry, leaving France for the first time (or at least the first time since it was most likely transported over from England almost 1,000 years ago). Tickets for visits until 31 December have sold out, with slots for dates later than that going on sale soon. Sign up to the mailing list for alerts, as it's going to be veeery popular. 10 September 2026-July 2027

ES DEVLIN: Artist and designer Es Devlin is the subject of an autumn exhibition at the Design Museum. Look back on her 30-year career in the first museum show in the UK dedicated to her work, which has featured in collaborations in theatre and opera as well as Olympic ceremonies, Superbowl half-time shows and monumental stadium sculptures. 18 September 2026-11 April 2027

OSSIE CLARK: The Fashion and Textile Museum's newest exhibition Ossie Clack/Celia Birtwell spotlights the life and work of legendary rock and roll fashion designer Ossie Clark and his collaborator and wife Celia Birtwell. 2 October 2026-April 2027

TIM WALKER'S FAIRYLAND: British photographer Tim Walker has spent five years photographing LGBTQ+ trailblazers for major National Portrait Gallery exhibition, Tim Walker's Fairyland: Love and Legends. Dozens of activists, performers, artists and writers feature in the photos, alongside a book with contributions written by Travis Alabanza, Russell T Davies, Shon Faye, Lisa Power and Joelle Taylor. 8 October 2026-31 January 2027

THE 90S: Former British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful OBE guest curates Tate Britain's exhibition The 90s spanning photography, fashion, art and design in a decade of optimism, freedom and rebellion. 8 October 2026-14 February 2027

The Design Museum looks at the career of Es Devlin. Image: Cian Oba-Smith

LIGHT AND MAGIC: Tate Britain celebrates the birth of art photography in Light and Magic, an exhibition about pictorialism, the first international art photography movement, developed across the world from the 1880s to the 1960s. 14 October 2026-21 February 2027

HOKUSAI: Experience Mount Fuji as Japanese printmaker Katsushika Hokusai saw it 200 years ago. Dulwich Picture Gallery brings together the complete set of Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, Hokusai's depictions of the mountain in different lights and seasons. 20 October 2026-17 January 2027

BECOMING AMERICA: The Science Museum marks 250 years of America's independence with free display Becoming America, which displays maps, paintings, instruments and artefacts relating to scientific breakthroughs between the 1760s-90s. FREE, 23 October 2026-25 April 2028

AGATHA CHRISTIE: 50 years since the death of novelist Agatha Christie, the British Library opens a major exhibition on her life and work. View notebooks, personal letters, early manuscript drafts, dictaphone recordings and personal objects belonging to Christie — and find out how her work shaped the entire crime writing genre. 30 October 2026-20 June 2027

CHARLIE MACKESY: Author and illustrator Charlie Mackesy — creator of The Boy, The Fox, The Mole and The Horse — is the subject of a new Dulwich Picture Gallery exhibition. View never-before-seen early sketches, unpublished studies and original works from across Mackesy's career. 3 November 2026-7 February 2027

Dulwich Picture Gallery celebrates the work of Charlie Mackesy

THROUGH OUR EYES: The first group exhibition in the UK to hone in on the vibrant art and culture of the Sámi people, Through our Eyes: Sámi Art and Culture opens at Somerset House. View works by 19 artists from Europe's only recognised indigenous people, whose traditional land spans the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. 6 November 2026-February 2027

NUE BLACK AESTHETIC: The Design Museum celebrates contemporary Black designers who are reshaping the British design landscape in furniture, architecture, fashion, and installation — exploring identity, culture, community and more. 6 November 2026-8 August 2027

BLOOMSBURY DUO: Vanessa Bell — sister of Virginia Woolf — and her husband Duncan Grant were the most famous artistic duo of the Bloomsbury Group. View their works and learn about their relationship at Tate Britain. 12 November 2026-11 April 2027

VAN EYCK: One of our art critic's pick of the top exhibitions to see in London in 2026, Van Eyck: The Portraits at The National Gallery brings all of the Flemish painter's portraits together for the first time in history. 21 November 2026-11 April 2027

New theatre shows in London: Autumn 2026

Thelma & Louise musical opens at the Young Vic. Image: Thelma & Louise

BLOODSPORT: Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey) stars in Ava Pickett's new play, Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy, at Theatre Royal Stratford East. The story follows Helen's return after a war fought in her name, and explores family ruptures and the cost of leaving. 3 September-10 October 2026

THELMA & LOUISE: As we reported earlier this year, a Thelma & Louise musical opens at the Young Vic. Amy Lennox and Rachel Tucker star as the inseparable friends who throw off the shackles of male-dominated life for the weekend, going on the run in a 1966 Thunderbird convertible. 3 September-24 October 2026

STANDARD OF LIVING: Rory Kinnear and Royal Ballet principal Natalia Osipova star in The Standard of Living, a new play by James Graham (writer of Dear England, and Punch). Telling the astonishing story of rebel economist and member of the Bloomsbury Group, John Maynard Keynes, it gets its world premiere at Theatre Royal Haymarket. 21 September-12 December 2026

STING: Legendary musician Sting performs in a new production of his musical, The Last Ship, at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Watch the moving story of a community of shipbuilders faced with the closure of their shipyard, rooted in Sting's own childhood, and soundtracked with some of his songs. 22 September-12 October 2026

Image: Heated Rivalry - The Unauthorised Parody

RENT THE MUSICAL: Legendary musical RENT dances its way back into the West End, taking up residency at Duke of York's Theatre. Inspired by Puccini's La Bohème, it's the story of a group of young artists trying to make their way in New York City. From 26 September 2026

HEATED RIVALRY: An unofficial parody musical of smash hit TV series Heated Rivalry lands at Underbelly Boulevard Soho, with a lively score accompanying gentle ribbing of the steamy hockey drama. 7 October-1 November 2026

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: Disney's High School Musical cheerleads its way into the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, marking 20 years since the film first introduced us to Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High. 12 October 2026-3 January 2027

SURINDERELLA: Stratford East Theatre offers a Bollywood take on traditional panto in the form of Surinderella. The family-friendly show features Surinder, a sweet young woman stuck in a never-ending chore list thanks to her two selfie-obsessed, Insta-vlogging stepsisters, Lovely and Bubbly. 20-31 October 2026

RADIOHEAD + SHAKESPEARE: What do you get if you combine the greatest English writer with the greatest living English band? Shakespeare's Hamlet accompanied by reworked songs from Radiohead's Hail to the Thief is the unlikely flavour of a new crossover show at Barbican. 31 October 2026- January 2027

Family-friendly events in London: Autumn 2026

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland opens for the season in November. Image: Joshua Atkins

OCTOBER HALF TERM: October half term usually falls the final week of the month. We'll bring you our guide to family-friendly half term events and activities closer to the time.

CHRISTMAS AT KEW: Too early for the 'C' word? Probably, but in our opinion, one of the season's highlights is Christmas at Kew, and it always sells out way in advance, so you'll want to book sharpish. The botanical gardens come alive after dark with twinkling fairy lights, photogenic light trails, laser shows and a fire garden — all executed to perfection if previous years are anything to go by. 13 November 2026-3 January 2027. Plenty of other winter lights trails open around this time too.

WINTER WONDERLAND 2026: Winter Wonderland pitches up in Hyde Park in mid-November. You can still expect rides, an ice rink, circus shows, a Christmas market and food and drink stalls. But like last year, you'll need to prebook to enter the site. 19 November 2026- 3 January 2027

ICE SKATING: London's Christmas ice rinks start opening from October/November. We'll update our complete guide to where you can take to the ice this autumn and winter, as details are announced.

Food and drink events in London: Autumn 2026

Fire up the pit! Image: Meatopia

MEATOPIA: Carnivorous foodie festival Meatopia brings up to 75 live-fire chefs to Tobacco Dock, each serving one carefully curated dish cooked over wood or charcoal, with bars, bands and DJs woven into the mix. 3-6 September 2026

BARNET FOOD FESTIVAL: Eat your way around an airfield, as Barnet Food Festival takes place at the RAF Museum. Enjoy global street food alongside live music and a kids' zone. 12-13 September 2026

THE BIG BRINE: If you find yourself in a pickle this month, make your way over to Hackney Bridge for The Big Brine, a foodie festival celebrating all things fermented, pickled and brined. Taste, sip, crunch and explore various dishes, alongside live music, chef demos and other entertainment. 12-13 September 2026

CURRY FESTIVAL: The Brick Lane Curry Festival is back, celebrating the food and culture of the East End's Bangladeshi and South Asian community. It begins with a parade, followed by street entertainment and various foodie stalls offering regional and specialty dishes. It's free to attend, and if you register in advance for a ticket you can save 20% at participating restaurants on the day. 20 September 2026

HALAL FOOD FESTIVAL: The World Halal Food Festival brings dozens of food stalls to the London Stadium in Stratford, offering you a chance to sample halal food from around the world, from burgers and hot dogs to cakes and pastries. Watch celebrity chefs whipping up their own dishes and — if you like what you see — stock up on ingredients at the stalls. 26-27 September 2026

THANKSGIVING: As always, Thanksgiving falls on the last Thursday in November. Plenty of London restaurants usually serve up traditional feasts for American expats, and anyone else who fancies getting in on the action. We'll update our guide to Thanksgiving in London closer to the time. 26 November 2026

Free things to do in London this autumn

Permission to step aboard at the Classic Boat Festival. Image: St Katharine Docks

GDIF: Greenwich + Docklands International Festival continues for the first week in September, offering free open-air theatre, circus and dance performances in east London. Highlights of the final week include Nature Speaks, an immersive storytelling experience in Thamesmead, and Dancing City, which brings performances to a variety of outdoor spaces in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. FREE, 21 August-6 September 2026

DOGGETT'S COAT AND BADGE: The historic Doggett's Coat and Badge Thames race sees apprentice watermen scull the 7.3km stretch from London Bridge to Cadogan Pier. The event, first held in 1715 and named after actor Thomas Doggett, starts at London Bridge, and anyone can watch along the river side. FREE, 2 September 2026

ART ON YOUR DOORSTEP: After treating Croydonites to free art earlier this year, the National Gallery's Art On Your Doorstep scheme pops up in Brentford with a free outdoor exhibition of the nation's favourite artworks. While the real deals are safely stashed away in galleries, life-sized replicas have been created in fine detail, and go on display around the west London neighbourhood. FREE, 4 September 2026-February 2027

GREAT RIVER RACE: Sort of like the London Marathon on water, the Great River Race is a 21.6 mile dash along the Thames between Millwall and Richmond, with all manner of rowing boats taking part. It's free to watch from the river banks and bridges on the day — full details and timings here. FREE, 12 September 2026

CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL: Vintage vessels moor up at St Katharine Docks (next to the Tower of London) for the Classic Boat Festival. Even if you don't know your port from your starboard, it's a fascinating spectacle, with around 50 preserved vessels on display, including Dunkirk Little Ships. FREE, 12-13 September 2026

FRIEZE SCULPTURE: If Frieze Art Fair (mentioned above) is out of your price range, there's art to be ogled for free. For several weeks, sculptures by 11 international artists are dotted around Regent's Park for Frieze Sculpture, a trail that's open to everyone. Plus, the park looks fantastic as the leaves begin to turn. FREE, 16 September-1 November 2026

THE BURBERRY TRENCH: After a barnstorming run of incredibly popular (though admittedly pricey) fashion exhibitions, the V&A South Kensington opens a free display tracing the history of the Burberry trench coat. Find out how the fashion icon went from practical outerwear to coveted item. FREE, from 21 September 2026

AUTUMN WALKS: London's parks and open spaces look fantastic as the leaves change. We've picked some of our favourite places to walk in autumn, to catch the trees in their orange, red and gold finery.

Sports events in London: Autumn 2026

Cheer on participants in the Shoreditch Half. Image: Shoreditch Half

ICE HOCKEY: September sees the restart of the ice hockey season, with four teams to watch here in London. Here's everything you need to know before your first match.

RICHMOND RUNFEST: Lace up your trainers and do some laps around Kew Gardens for Richmond Runfest. The 10k route stays entirely within the gardens, while the half and full marathons start at Kew and finish in Richmond. 12 September 2026

LONDON CYCLING FESTIVAL: Get on yer bike for the London Cycling Festival, with rides and wheeled events happening all over the capital. Find festival hubs at locations including Victoria Park and St Paul's Cathedral, and take part in group rides, including some designed with families in mind. FREE, 20 September 2026

SHOREDITCH HALF: London's newest running event is the Shoreditch Half, a closed-loop half marathon route by the team behind the Hackney Half Marathon. It takes place on closed roads, beginning and ending in Shoreditch Park, and though places to run have sold out, you can still turn up to cheer on the runners. 20 September 2026

ULTIMATE SEVENS: Brand new rugby championship Ultimate Sevens has its inaugural edition this month, with the grand final taking place at Brentford Stadium. Following matches in Spain, Wales and France — featuring elite men’s and women’s players in a fast, knockout format across six clubs — the winners are crowned in London. 24 September 2026

NFL IN LONDON: Across three Sundays in October, four American Football teams play at two different stadiums here in London. Tottenham Hotspur and Wembley both host NFL in London games this season, though tickets sold out quite quickly so are hard (but not impossible) to come by now. 4, 11, 18 October 2026

ROYAL PARKS HALF: The Royal Parks Half Marathon takes runners on a route through four of the eight Royal Parks (Hyde Park, Green Park, St James's Park, Kensington Gardens), and other closed roads around central London. Get yourself a place via a charity, or turn up on the day to support the runners. 11 October 2026

This is a sponsored article on behalf of Emerge East.

Head down to the river on Saturday 12 September for a huge festival spanning music, art, wellness experiences, food and drink. Entry is FREE!

Emerge East is back at Barking Riverside for its biggest programme yet, and everyone's welcome. The neighbourhood comes alive with art, music, creativity, nature and community spirit, through a vast line-up of events and activities.

At the heart of the festival is the Barking Riverside Block Party, an open-air stage that remixes renowned artists from London's music scene, alongside emerging talent from within the Borough. Headlining 2026 is DJ AG, who has collaborated with Skepta, Ed Sheeran and JME, among others, and was named Time Out's Londoner of the Year 2024. His high-energy headline set promises to be one of the biggest moments of the festival, so don't miss it.

Joining DJ AG is a line-up that celebrates the breadth of London's music scene. Mak 10 brings his genre-blending sound, moving between grime, UK garage, Afro House, Tribal House and soulful electronic music, alongside Glade Marie, RAIDAA and Donnie Sunshine. In short, expect a packed day of music and a taste of the sounds shaping London right now.

Another highlight of the programme is Pollenarium, a new large-scale interactive installation by renowned artist Luke Jerram and US-based Pneuhaus. It premieres at Emerge East, meaning you can be among the first to see it — it's free to visit, and on display for one day only.

Jerram — best known for his large-scale sculptures of the Moon, the Sun, Earth and Mars — has scaled up a microscopic grain of pollen into a six-metre immersive dome for this new installation. Behind a curtained doorway, more than 100 lenses, each one a camera obscura, reveal an upside-down mosaic of the local landscape, showing how bees see the world.

Pollenarium is commissioned by Creative Barking and Dagenham in partnership with Barking Riverside Limited, with co-commissioning support from the Royal Horticultural Society and the University of Bristol.

Prefer to immerse yourself in nature? Head for the Riverside Sauna & Wellness Zone, and unwind in an outdoor sauna, alongside refreshing cold-water dips. Tickets for the Riverside Sauna & Wellness Zone are £12 and can be prebooked on Eventbrite.

When you've worked up an appetite, swing by Home Cooks: A Taste of Barking Riverside. Here, local residents become street food chefs for the day, cooking up a storm, serving family recipes and showcasing the diverse flavours of the neighbourhood.

The Emerging Makers' Market gives you a chance to support independent artists, designers and local businesses, while also offering creative workshops, family activities and plenty of spaces to relax.

All the fun takes place at Barking Riverside, east London's largest new neighbourhood on the banks of the Thames, easily accessible by London Overground and Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Emerge East gives you a great reason to explore the area, while enjoying the live entertainment. In short: a fantastic free day out for all the family.

Emerge East takes place on 12 September 2026, 11am-9pm outside Barking Riverside Overground Station, and is free to attend. Visit the website to view the 2026 programme and follow @barking_riverside for more information and updates.

Emerge East is a collaboration between Barking Riverside Limited – the Master Developer behind Barking Riverside – and Hemingway Design, in partnership with Creative Barking & Dagenham. Emerge East is supported by a range of partners, including Bellway, L&Q, Envac UK, Mackley’s, Acre Landscapes and Stantec.