Our pick of free things to do in London this week. Get earlier access to this article, delivered straight to your inbox for free every week, via our newsletter.
Free film festivals
Peckham and Nunhead Free Film Festival (until 13 September) and Streatham Free Film Festival (until 20 September) run throughout the week, offering screenings and other events at local venues. Watch Paddington 2 at Christ Church Peckham; a selection of short films at the legendary Peckhamplex; The Secret Agent in a beer garden or Vertigo at Streatham Library — among many other options.
Autumn lectures
After its summer break, autumn term gets under way at Gresham College this week. The historic institution offers free lectures on a spectrum of topics, open to everyone. Most take place at Barnard's Inn Hall in Holborn (though check specific event details as they occasionally move elsewhere) and they're available to watch online too.
This week, Professor Jane Shaw discusses why we need empathy, and Dr Kate Kennedy traces a journey she took across Europe with her cello, to uncover the stories of instruments and their players. Topics covered in the coming weeks include the night sky, the science of puppetry, and 16th-century London dialect. Browse the full programme and see what takes your fancy.
From 7 September.
Star Trek late
Celebrate the 60th anniversary of sci-fi franchise Star Trek with an adults-only evening at the Science Museum on Tuesday. It's a final chance to explore the museum's Star Trek Warp Trail, which showcases objects from the franchise. Also on the evening's schedule: short talks and a 360-degree projection of the Enterprise Bridge for photo ops. Join the Explainer team for a Starfleet-inspired journey through the Space gallery or test your skills on over 150 vintage consoles in the Power Up gaming zone.
8 September.
Wildlife art exhibition
The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation's annual art exhibition Wildlife Artist of the Year pops up at Mall Galleries from Tuesday, showcasing wildlife-themed artworks from around the world, from recycled plastic sculptures and intricate pencil drawings to vast oil paintings. It's free to view and everyone's welcome — though if you have deeper pockets, all artworks are for sale, with 50% of proceeds going to the charity's conservation work in Asia and Africa.
8-12 September.
Fourth Plinth unveiling
It's all change in Trafalgar Square, as the latest Fourth Plinth art installation is unveiled on Thursday.
Gone is Mil Veces un Instante (A Thousand Times in an Instant), which has been in situ since 2024. In its place, appears Lady in Blue by Tschabalala Self. The sculpture is made of bronze and patinated with lapis lazuli blue, and represents "a young, metropolitan woman of colour".
It's likely to be very busy on Thursday due to the unveiling event, but if you're in the area on Friday onwards — or any time up until 2028 — why not swing by to see it.
From 10 September.
Taste of Iceland
Blue Lagoon skincare samples, a guided cocktail journey and an Icelandic comedy set are among the free events at the Taste of Iceland festival, largely taking part in east London. Yes, it's one massive plug for the country's tourism industry, but there's a glut of genuinely fun stuff going down — including an ingenious exhibition of snaps of Iceland's famously breathtaking scenery, as taken by the 'world's worst photographer'. You'll need to book slots for various events.
10-12 September.
Heritage Open Days
Heritage Open Days is a national festival of history and culture with venues all over the country opening their doors to the public, and this year it includes 44 London-based events, all free (though some require advance booking)... and some rather unexpected.
It kicks off on Saturday with a family day and free tours of the Southwark Integrated Waste Management Facility, as well as a chance to visit the place we once suggested might be the best shed museum anywhere, Dulwich's British Vintage Wireless and Television Museum. See what else is on, this weekend and into next week.
11-20 September.
Great River Race
Over 250 rowing boats race down the Thames on a 21.6-mile route on Saturday. This is the Great River Race, an annual event involving skiffs, barges and Viking-style long boats between Millwall and Richmond. It's free to watch — just show up anywhere along the river bank or bridge along the route. Crews set off from 12.45pm, and you can see when they're expected to pass various landmarks here.
The Great River Race is part of Totally Thames festival, which has a huge programme of events — some paid, some free — taking place throughout September.
12 September.
Palace Garden open days
After a hiatus over the summer, Garden Open Days return to Hampton Court Palace. On Saturday and Sunday this week — and various other dates throughout the year — you can visit parts of the sprawling gardens at Hampton Court Palace without paying the usual admission fee.
The Great Fountain Garden, the Privy Garden, the Kitchen Garden and the Pond Garden all waive their entry fees, so get out there and have an autumnal wander with the palace as your backdrop. Note: there's still an entry fee if you wish to visit the palace itself, the maze or the Magic Playground.
12-13 September.
Classic Boat Festival
If the 250 vessels racing down the Thames on Saturday (above) isn't enough boats for you, sail on over to St Katharine Docks (near Tower Bridge) this weekend for its annual Classic Boat Festival. The free-entry event sees dozens of vintage boats, including tugs and surviving Dunkirk Little Ships, moored up for the public to admire.
If you're lucky, some owners/captains may invite you to step aboard and get a closer look. And if that doesn't float your boat? There's plenty to do on dry land, including live entertainment, food and drink stalls, kids' activities and other nautical-themed happenings.
12-13 September.
Open House London
September is PEAK for nosy Londoners. Not only do we have Heritage Open Days (above) inviting us inside various venues, but the magnificent Open House London is back too. This fantastic event sees hundreds of venues, many usually off-limits to the public, inviting you inside for guided tours and open days — all for free. Some of the most popular venues (such as the BT Tower) require booking and have long-since sold out, but hundreds of places can be visited without booking (just be aware that you may need to queue). Browse the map to plan your weekend... and perhaps keep next weekend free too!
12-20 September.
London Design Festival
The 24th edition of London Design Festival celebrates the city as the design capital of the world, through installations, exhibitions, talks and other events. Many (though not all) things on the programme are free: our picks include audiovisual projections onto the exterior of St Paul's Cathedral; and The Pangolin Shield, an installation outside Somerset House depicting the endangered species, made from a bamboo grid shell covered with traditional Indian police shields.
12-20 September.
Wembley wellness
A free, outdoor Wellness Festival takes place at Wembley Park on Sunday, combining movement, mindfulness and music across the neighbourhood. Expect fitness classes, yoga, pilates, mindful practices, family-friendly sessions and live music, with expert-led workshops in partnership with local fitness brands. Some sessions require booking — check the programme for details.
13 September.
