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 The Weight of Water, a dance show on a floating platform highlighting the effects of climate change, and Dancing City, which brings performances to a variety of outdoor spaces in Newham. 22 August-6 September
BBC PROMS: Classical music festival the BBC Proms continues until mid-September, culminating in the famous Last Night of the Proms (and an End of Proms church service the following day). Prior to that, September highlights include Shostakovich’s operatic tragedy Lady Macbeth, and St Vincent making her Proms debut. Until 13 September
FRINGE FIX: Missed Edinburgh Fringe Festival? Underbelly Boulevard Soho brings some of the best shows to London for Fringe Fix, a post-Fringe festival/party running for almost a month. Character comedian Jessica Barton, clown and artist Madeleine Rowe, and kids' favourite The Amazing Bubble Man are among those taking part. 31 August-27 September
TOTALLY THAMES: An annual celebration of London's rivers, Totally Thames Festival returns for a month of tours and river cruises, music performances, talks, art installations, theatre shows and guided walks — including a super-choir performance, and live music inside a Victorian pumping station. 1-30 September
IN CONVERSATION AT KEW: Kew Gardens launches brand new event series In Conversation at Kew, with well-known faces taking part in conversations on stage, while you watch with a picnic. TV nerdery, history, gardening and nature are the topics each day, with Richard Osman, Mary Beard, Nicki Chapman and Alexander Armstrong among those spilling the beans. 4-7 September
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 podcasts streamed online too. No Such Thing As A Fish and the Empire Film Podcast are some of the big name shows, along with offerings on comedy, history and wrestling. 4-14 September
CELEBRASIA: South East Asian culture is celebrated at Battersea Power Station's CelebrASIa festival. Watch live performances including dance, orchestras and DJ sets, browse themed market stalls, and try your hand at crafts including lantern making. Plus there are stalls selling dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore. 5-7 September
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM: Southwark Playhouse Borough transplants Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream to London in 1905, when three siblings put on a play, arguing over whether lions, pirates, fairies and all manner of other characters should be included. 5-27 September
MYRA DUBOIS: Drag persona Myra DuBois brings her UK tour Cosmic Empath to Hackney Empire, which sees her questioning where her great gift for compassion comes from — with lashings of her trademark comedy and music numbers thrown in. 6 September
CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL: All manner of 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, 6-7 September
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 whip up their own dishes and, if you like what you see, stock up on ingredients before you leave. 6-7 September
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Step on board the Titanic this September
September 2025 marks 40 years since the wreckage of the Titanic was discovered on the ocean floor, where it has rested since its fateful maiden voyage more than a century ago. But there's no need to brave the icy waters of the North Atlantic to get a closer look at the world's most famous ship.
Titanic: Echoes From The Past is now open in Camden, taking you virtually on board the famous ocean liner, blending history, technology and storytelling to honour the 2,200 passengers and crew, allowing their voices to be heard and their stories to be told.
During your 30-minute experience, don a VR headset to see the vessel, its passengers and its tragic events accurately recreated in all the splendour of its inaugural sailing, the result of two years of in-depth research to ensure complete authenticity. View the lost film reels of the Titanic's official filmmaker William Harbeck, and take a virtual deep dive 3,800m to the Atlantic Ocean floor to witness the wreck as it is today.
Titanic: Echoes from the Past is at 213-219 Camden High Street, open daily 11am-8pm. Tickets from £20, available here. Suitable for ages eight and up.
WANSTEAD FRINGE: Plays, kids' shows, outdoor cinema screenings and a street festival are just a few of things happening for the Wanstead Fringe 2025. It's shaping up to be a good 'un. 6-27 September
WILDLIFE ART EXHIBITION: Annual art exhibition David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation - Wildlife Artist of the Year pops up at Mall Galleries, showcasing wildlife-themed artworks from around the world, from recycled plastic sculptures and intricate pencil drawings to vast colourful oil paintings. All artworks are for sale, with 50% of proceeds going to the charity's conservation work in Asia and Africa. FREE, 9-13 September
CHISWICK BOOK FESTIVAL: Gill Hornby, Axel Scheffler, Reeta Chakrabarti and Jeremy Vine are just some of the famous names on the schedule at Chiswick Book Festival, taking place at a variety of venues including Chiswick Cinema, Chiswick Library and Hogarth's House. 10-15 September
DRACULA: The Lyric Hammersmith stages a new adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, focusing on the perspective of Mina Harker, the main female character in the classic horror novel. Armed with her husband’s journal, a pile of old letters and her wits, Mina begins to piece together the story of the mysterious Count Dracula and his journey to England. 11 September-11 October
MARKFIELD ROAD FESTIVAL: Taking place in South Tottenham, Markfield Road Festival is a free arts festival for all ages. 2025's programme includes open arts studios, short films screenings, life drawing, and yoga sessions with the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation. 12-14 September
FLOWER FESTIVAL: The Faery Tale Castle is the enchanting theme of this year's flower festival at Strawberry Hill House. Wander through the house and gardens viewing special displays created by floral designers from all over the UK. Expect spinning wheels, a witch’s perfumery, flying carpets, a goblin market, and a giant spider lurking in the gardens. 12-14 September
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS: Not only do we get Open House (below) in September, but Heritage Open Days too. This nationwide programme of events — including 34 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, 12-21 September
THE WEIR: Brendan Gleeson stars in The Weir, a play set on a a stormy night in an isolated pub in rural Ireland, where the everyday lives of four men are interrupted by the arrival of a woman called Valerie. See it at Harold Pinter Theatre. 12 September-6 December
CERAMICS IN THE CITY: Local and international ceramic artists showcase and sell their wares at Ceramics in the City at the Museum of the Home in Hoxton. Browse and buy tableware, stoneware, ornamental objects and collector pieces, and watch live demonstrations by the artists. 13-14 September
OPEN HOUSE LONDON: It's the most wonderful time of year, when all manner of London buildings and structures — usually off-limits to the public — fling open their doors. Highlights announced at time of writing include livery halls, City churches, Senate House, the Guildhall, Temple Bar and Royal Courts of Justice. Our previous Open House London highlights include going inside the St Pancras clock tower, and up on the roof of 55 Broadway. 13-21 September
LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL: The 23rd edition of London Design Festival continues showcasing London as the design capital of the world. We're expecting the usual blend of displays and exhibitions, talks and more. Highlights announced so far include The Flavour Library, an interactive experience where you pick a chocolate shell, filling and toppings — each representing a city's qualities — and watch as your choices transform an animated cityscape, and 11 Million Dots, one of Europe's largest public artworks which is appearing on the side of a building in Park Royal. 13-21 September
STEP INSIDE 25: Somerset House celebrates its 25th anniversary as a culture and events venue with Step Inside 25, a weekend of free events and activities, including pop-up basketball, silent disco experiences, drawing workshops and more — all inspired by some of the most successful exhibitions held there over the past quarter of a century. FREE, 13-14 September
DAVID BOWIE CENTRE: A V&A museum dedicated to the late David Bowie opens as part of V&A East Storehouse on Hackney's East Bank, housing 90,000 items related to the cosmic musician, including stage outfits, photos, hand-written lyrics and instruments. There's not room to display them all at once, so they'll be on rotation, giving you a good excuse to visit again and again. FREE, from 13 September
50 FIRST DATES: 2004 rom com film 50 First Dates has been reincarnated as a musical, telling the story of Henry, who starts dating Lucy, a woman with short-term memory loss, leading him to recreate their first date over and over again when she can't remember it. See it at The Other Palace. From 14 September
FUTURE OF FOOD: Sustainability, innovation and creativity in the food industry comes under the microscope at the Future of Food Festival, taking place across Regent Street and St James's. Panel talks, tasting menus and foodie film experiences are on the programme, along with the London Oyster Championships.15-21 September
GREENWICH COMEDY FESTIVAL: Sara Pascoe, Nina Conti, Jen Brister, Rosie Jones, Nish Kumar, Sarah Keyworth, Michael Odewale, Phil Wang, Sindhu Vee... just some of the headliners on the seriously impressive line-up at Greenwich Comedy Festival, taking place in a seated arena in the grounds of the National Maritime Museum — although tickets are going fast. Arrive early to make the most of pop-up bars and street food stalls. 17-21 September
PUNCHDRUNK: Immersive theatre company Punchdrunk opens its latest show, LANDER 23, at its new Woolwich base. It's billed as a live action video game, with players split into two squads: Command (Drivers) and Ground Team (Fields). As the Fields navigate the alien landscape, you'll rely solely on the voice and guidance of your Drivers, stationed aboard the ship. 17 September-1 February (reduced price previews until 6 October)
THEATRE PICASSO: The works of Pablo Picasso are in the spotlight at Tate Modern — particularly his fascination with performers and their ability to transform themselves into someone else — to mark the centenary of his painting The Three Dancers. The exhibition space takes the form of a theatre, with over 45 works by Picasso from Tate's collection, alongside key European loans, spanning paintings, sculpture, textile and works on paper — some never seen in the UK before. 17 September-12 April
CHELSEA ARTS FESTIVAL: We're rather impressed by the line-up at Chelsea Arts Festival, a four-day programme of talks, performances and other entertainment. Actor Ambika Mod, radio DJ Annie Mac, artist David Shrigley, environmentalist George Monbiot, author Marian Keyes, actor Lenny Henry, presenter June Sarpong, writer Kate Mosse, actor Rupert Everett and model Twiggy are among those appearing. 18-21 September
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST: The National Theatre's sold-out production of The Importance of Being Earnest transfers to the Noël Coward Theatre, telling Oscar Wilde's story about two young men who lead double lives, getting caught in a web of lies. Olly Alexander stars. 18 September-10 January
PECKHAM FESTIVAL: Galleries, former factories, warehouses, multi-storey car parks and railway arches are all venues for Peckham Festival, a free celebration of creative and cultural SE15. Stay tuned for the full 2025 programme, including art, music, performances, markets and family events. FREE, 19-21 September
BRICK LANE CURRY FESTIVAL: For the first time in almost a decade, the Brick Lane Curry Festival takes place in east London, offering henna painting workshops, Bangla-dancing lessons, a procession with themed floats and dancers, as well as various roaming acts and entertainment — including DJs, stilt walkers and magicians, and of course, stalls from local restaurants serving up regional and specialty dishes. 19-21 September
GET DOWN TONIGHT: The hits of KC and the Sunshine Band are used in new West End musical Get Down Tonight at Charing Cross Theatre, inspired by the early years of singer, songwriter, producer and musician Harry Wayne Casey (KC). 19 September-15 November
CAMDEN INSPIRE: Celebrate the borough of Camden, both past and present, through an environmental lens at Camden Inspire. This year's festival is in collaboration with Camden Green Loop, the organisation behind the planned Camden Highline, and has a focus on upcycling. 20 September
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. FREE, 20 September
ART CAR BOOT FAIR: Comedy & The Comic 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. 20 September
MARIE ANTOINETTE STYLE: The V&A has had some serious success with fashion exhibitions in recent years, something it'll be wanting to replicate with Marie Antoinette Style, a look at how the most fashionable queen in history has influenced over 250 years of design, fashion, film and art. Maybe swing by the V&A Cafe for a slice of cake afterwards, eh? From 20 September
BLITZ CLUB: The Blitz — the shortlived London club night which launched the careers of Spandau Ballet and Boy George — is the subject of a new Design Museum exhibition. Expect a "sensory extravaganza" of over 250 items: clothing and accessories, design sketches, instruments, flyers, magazines, furniture, artworks, photography, vinyls and rare film footage. From 20 September
RUN SHOREDITCH: London's newest running event is the Saucony Run Shoreditch, a 10k by the team behind the Hackney Half Marathon. It takes place on closed roads, beginning at the northern edge of Shoreditch Park and heading out to Newington Green, and ending at the southern side of Shoreditch Park, where a festival zone awaits. 21 September
DOWNTON ABBEY FLOWERS: Kew Gardens hosts brand new event Fleurs de Villes: Downton Abbey, a flower festival themed on the TV period drama. A grand marquee is set up in front of Kew Palace with fresh floral mannequins and other Downton-inspired floral creations, as well as live botanical demonstrations and talks from local florists and experts. 22 September-1 October
CHELSEA HISTORY FESTIVAL: The National Army Museum, the Royal Hospital Chelsea and Chelsea Physic Garden team up again for this year's Chelsea History Festival, which covers local, national and global history. This year includes tours of the Royal Hospital, and talks on topics including Jane Austen, and Shakespeare's first theatre. 24-28 September
LIBERTY FESTIVAL: Taking place as part of Wandsworth's tenure as London Borough of Culture, Liberty Festival is a fully inclusive event spotlighting and celebrating disabled artists. Highlights include Capturing the Forest at Battersea Arts Centre, a multi-media immersive installation exploring access to nature for everyone who isn’t able to, and Elvis Died of Burgers, a dance/rap show by BLINK Dance Theatre, a Wandsworth-based company made up of four neurodiverse artists. 24-29 September
ALGERIAN CULTURE FESTIVAL: Rich Mix in Shoreditch hosts DzFest, a festival of Algerian arts and culture, this year themed on the landscapes of the Sahara. It opens with a comedy night headlined by Mehdi Walker, performing his debut hour Algerian Sauce, followed by live music events across the weekend. 25-27 September
BRITISH ART FAIR: The British Art Fair takes place at Chelsea's Saatchi Gallery, showcasing Modern and Contemporary British Art, with 70+ exhibitors selling. In previous years, works by artists including David Hockney, Bridget Riley, Frank Auerbach, Alan Davie, Paul Nash, L.S. Lowry, Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Grayson Perry, Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Banksy have been available to buy. 25-28 September
THE LAMBETH FRINGE: Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Lambeth Fringe (previously known as Clapham Fringe) offers its biggest programme yet, with over 200 shows across 25 venues spanning theatre, comedy, cabaret, music and family events. Highlights include Gunpowder Plot-inspired show Remember, Remember!, dark comedy Flying Ant Day, and child-friendly The Ultimate Bubble Show. 25 September-25 October
DIRTY LOOKS: Opening at Barbican, Dirty Looks is an exhibition that challenges conventional beauty in fashion, showcasing how dirt and distress have shaped modern aesthetics. Featuring notable designers like Hussein Chalayan and Alexander McQueen, the exhibit explores the shift from pristine to imperfect styles in fashion. 25 September-25 January
TATE LATES: As announced earlier this summer, from Friday 26 September, Tate Modern stays open later each Friday and Saturday evening, giving you up to three extra hours to explore the galleries and exhibitions. As always, entry to the permanent collection is free, with a charge for some special exhibitions. From 26 September
LONDON NIGHT HIKE: Do a good deed and raise money for Maggie's Cancer Charity this month, in the form of the London Night Hike. Sign up to walk an eight- or 15-mile route alongside the Thames overnight, passing London landmarks as you go. Both routes start at Maggie's Hammersmith Centre and end at the Barts Centre near St Paul's. 26-27 September
COSTUME COUTURE: Costumes from TV shows and films including Out of Africa, Little Women, Pirates of the Caribbean, Downton Abbey, Pride and Prejudice, Mr Selfridge, Peaky Blinders and The Danish Girl are on display at the Fashion & Textile Museum's new exhibition, Costume Couture, celebrating 60 years of costume house Cosprop. 26 September-8 March
CLASSIC CAR BOOT SALE: Vintage vehicles park up at King's Cross for the autumn edition of the Classic Car Boot Sale. Ogle the wheels, while buying vintage fashion from the back of them. Other entertainment includes clothing repair workshops, live DJs and motorcycle and scooter ride-ins. 27-28 September
TWIN PEAKS FESTIVAL: Six years since the last edition — and following director David Lynch's recent death — the Twin Peaks Festival returns to London as A Gathering of the Angels. Head to Genesis Cinema for live interviews with Lynch collaborators, the first UK screening of I Know Catherine, The Log Lady; Lynch-inspired short films and more. 27-28 September
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 celeb announcement. FREE, 28 September
BLESSINGS: Set in a small English town during the 1960s, theatre show Blessings follows the Deacon family as they navigate long-buried secrets and family tensions during their Easter reunion. Matriarch Dorie Deacon strives to uphold the family's honour while dealing with her husband Frank's silence. See it at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. 30 September-26 October
AUTUMN WALKS: Depending how the weather goes throughout the month, the leaves may start turning brown towards the end of September. If that's the case, try one of our favourite autumnal walks in London, where you can see the hues of red and orange in all their glory.
LAST CHANCE: A few things are closing this month (or very early next month) too. It's your last chance to go to:
EVITA: Rachel Zegler stars in Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's legendary musical Evita, about Eva Perón's rise from poverty to become the most powerful woman in Latin America. Tickets for this one are among some of the priciest we've ever seen in the West End (£200+ for basic seats at time of writing!) — but remember that Zegler sings the show's biggest number Don't Cry For Me Argentina from the London Palladium's balcony overlooking the street, so if you happen to be passing at the right time, you can see that bit of the show for free. Until 6 September
BURLESQUE: Songs by Christina Aguilera, Sia and Diane Warren feature in Burlesque the Musical, which brings to a close its West End debut at the Savoy Theatre. Set in an underground nightclub, it tells the story of Ali, who searches for her mother in New York and discovers an underground world of music and dance. Until 6 September
A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS: Stage and screen actor Martin Shaw stars as Sir Thomas More — scholar, ambassador, Lord Chancellor and friend to King Henry VIII — in A Man For All Seasons at the Harold Pinter Theatre. See the historic figure forced to choose between his loyalty and his own conscience, for which he eventually pays the ultimate price. Until 6 September
FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY: See photographs shortlisted for the World Food Photography Awards on display at the Museum of the Home in Hoxton. The pictures hail from all over the world, and showcase all of the ways food affects our lives, from growing, harvesting and cooking, to eating, celebrating and surviving. FREE, until 7 September
GIUSEPPE PENONE: Sculptures and works from 1969 to today by Italian artist Guiseppe Penone are on display at Serpentine South Gallery, extending beyond the gallery into the surrounding park too. Penone is a leading figure in the Arte Povera movement which celebrates the simplicity of natural materials and artistic techniques, and the works on display here showcase the relationship between humans and the natural world. FREE, until 7 September
THE GREAT GATSBY: F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby takes the form of a musical at the London Coliseum, following a run on Broadway. It's a visually stunning show, telling the story of millionaire Jay Gatsby's infatuation with friend and neighbour Daisy Buchanan, and the fallout surrounding it. Until 7 September
CATS IN CARTOONS: The Cartoon Museum puts felines in the spotlight for its Cats in Cartoons exhibition, showcasing the greatest cats to grace TV, comics, newspapers and magazines, including Bagpuss and Garfield. Until 7 September
COLDPLAY: A Film For The Future is the film created to accompany Coldplay's newest album, Moon Music, and it's being shown in a limited number of screenings at Lightroom in King's Cross. As is Lightroom's way, viewers are completely immersed in the film, with projections on the walls, floor and ceiling. Until 8 September
FAWLTY TOWERS: I know nothing! Beloved British sitcom Fawlty Towers wraps up its time on stage at the Apollo Theatre, with Danny Bayne, Paul Nicholas, Joanne Clifton and Helen Lederer heading up an 18-strong cast, recreating classic moments from the 1970s TV series. Until 13 September. Not yet had enough of Basil's antics? Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience continues, near Russell Square.
TINA THE MUSICAL: It may be Simply The Best, but Tina - The Tina Turner Musical ends its lengthy run at the Aldwych Theatre this month. Sing and dance along to a celebration of the late singer's life via a jukebox musical featuring her top hits including Proud Mary and Private Dancer. Until 13 September
FELT CHIPPY: A high contender for our favourite exhibition of the year, textile artist Lucy Sparrow's Bourdon Street Chippy is a life-sized replica of a fish and chip shop... made entirely from felt. She's painstakingly created battered fish fillets, individual chips, branded condiment bottles, bowls of mushy peas, and even artworks for the wall and flyers for the notice board, entirely from felt and textiles. Incredible artistic skill meets charming whimsy. FREE, until 14 September
DOWNTON ABBEY AT BONHAMS: Ahead of auctioning off props, costumes and set pieces from popular period drama Downton Abbey, Bonhams has them on display at its New Bond Street branch. Items include a clapper board used in the production of the film Downton Abbey: A New Era, an autographed script of Downton Abbey Season One, Episode One, and costume worn by Dame Maggie Smith (as Violet Crawley), Lily James (As Lady Rose), Michelle Dockery (as Lady Mary) and others. FREE, until 16 September
MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR: Shakespeare’s raucous comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor is at the Globe, bringing to life the antics of the disreputable knight Sir John Falstaff attempting to seduce two wealthy housewives. Until 20 September
PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION: The 166th edition of the Royal Photographic Society's International Photography Exhibition continues at Chelsea's Saatchi Gallery until the middle of the month, showcasing contemporary photography from around the world, on topics including family, identity and environmental issues. FREE, until 20 September
RICHARD ROGERS: The work of late architect Richard Rogers is the subject of the latest exhibition at Sir John Soane's Museum. Talking Buildings showcases him as a thinker, campaigner, humanist and activist, as well as the designer of iconic buildings including Lloyd's of London, The O2, and Paris's Pompidou Centre. Until 21 September
GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR: Will and Grace star Sean Hayes stars in the Broadway transfer of Good Night, Oscar, about the life of pianist and humorist Oscar Levant, particularly the 1958 episode of The Tonight Show with Jack Paar, in which he had "Hollywood's first celebrity meltdown". Until 21 September
TILL THE STARS COME DOWN: National Theatre production Till the Stars Come Down transfers to Theatre Royal Haymarket, telling the story of Sylvia and Marek's wedding, taking place on a hot day where passions boil over and limits are tested. Until 27 September
COPACABANA: The London Cabaret Club's latest all-singing, all-dancing production is Copacabana, an electrifying celebration bursting with vibrant showgirls, exotic decor and the infectious energy of a Rio carnival. Expect plenty of feathers, cha cha-ing and exotic cocktails. Until 27 September
VIRTUAL BEAUTY: The latest exhibition at Somerset House is Virtual Beauty, exploring the intersections of digital culture and beauty standards and AI's take on beauty featuring over 20 international artists. Highlights include Amalia Ulman's commentary on social media authenticity. Until 28 September
OF THE OAK: One of the oldest trees at Kew Gardens is the focus of world-premiere digital art commission, Of The Oak. The 12-minute interactive video installation is shown on a six-metre-high LED portal in the gardens, tracking the Lucombe oak across four seasons Until 28 September
