MEATOPIA: Carnivores will be drooling as Meatopia takes over Tobacco Dock for four days of live cooking, and dishes celebrating cooking over fire, plus a TAPtopia hall serving up all manner of beer, cocktails and spirits — and live music to get the party sizzling. 29 August-1 September
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 Wheels & Cello, which combines roller skate choreography with live music, and Dancing City, which brings performances to a variety of outdoor spaces. 23 August-8 September
BBC PROMS: Classical music festival BBC Proms continues until mid-September, culminating in the famous Last Night of the Proms. Prior to that, September highlights include the BBC National Orchestra of Wales performing Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, and Florence + The Machine making her Proms debut. Until 14 September
TOTALLY THAMES: An annual celebration of London's river, Totally Thames Festival returns for a month of tours and river cruises, music performances, talks, art installations, theatre shows and guided walks. 1-30 September
CHIPPY TEA: Brand new comedy night Chippy Tea launches at Aces and Eights in Tufnell Park. Expect a feast of delicious stand-up, sketch and alternative comedy — with West Midlands duo Bab on hosting duties. Even better, the night actively promotes female/LGBTQ+ comedians. 3 September
LIGHT AND LAND: All aspects of outdoor photography, from traditional landscapes to architecture and street, wildlife and documentary, are on show at Light and Land, a free photography exhibition at Mall Galleries. It's organised by the photographic holiday tour company of the same name, to celebrate its 30th anniversary, with photos taken by tour leaders featured. FREE, 3-7 September
WIESENTHAL: The life story of Austrian Simon Wiesenthal, who survived the Holocaust and spent the rest of his life bringing Nazi war criminals to justice, is told in theatre show Wiesenthal, at the King's Head Theatre. 3-15 September
UNLIMITED FESTIVAL: Work by disabled and D/deaf artists, companies and performers forms the programme of Unlimited Festival at Southbank Centre. Performance, dance, literature, comedy, music, visual art and more are on the programme — which include some free events — such as Touretteshero's show Burnt Out in Biscuit Land. 4-8 September
MAD HATTER'S TEA PARTY: Hip hop company ZooNation brings its own take on Lewis Carroll's Wonderland to the Royal Opera House, in the form of the Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Wonderland becomes a dysfunctional institution where the Queen of Hearts has anger issues, Alice is confused about just how big or small her body actually is and the Mad Hatter is suffering from mercury poisoning. 4-24 September
HIDDEN TUBE TOURS: Explore forgotten corridors below Piccadilly Circus, enter off-limits parts of Baker Street (including a former rifle range), or discover Down Street, the top-secret disused Tube station hidden between Green Park and Hyde Park Corner. These are just some of your options for guided tours by London Transport Museum this month. If you don't fancy heading underground, there's also a walking tour focusing on how transport shaped the West End. Now booking until March 2025 (sponsor)
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, some streamed online too. Drunk Women Solving Crime, The Guilty Feminist, and the Empire Film Podcast are some of the big name shows, along with offerings on comedy, food and politics. 5-15 September
LONDON MURAL FESTIVAL: Organised by Global Street Art, the London Mural Festival returns to the capital's streets, with over 100 murals to explore. Full programme TBC at time of writing, but we do know the theme is 'connection', and artists from more than 80 countries are taking part. 5-29 September
THE MAGICIAN'S TABLE: Carnival-themed immersive magic experience The Magician's Table opens at a secret location near London Bridge, repurposed as the private warehouse of a (fictional) recently-deceased carnival owner. Former World Open Champion of Close-Up Magic Richard McDougall, rock and roll magician Pete Heat and card magician Andrew Frost are among those performing against a backdrop of live music, with drinks served at your table. From 5 September
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS: Ride on vintage Routemasters for free — part of the Heritage Open Days programme in London. Churches, palaces, manor houses, cemeteries and water towers are among the properties inviting the public inside for the occasion. 6-15 September
ROCKY HORROR SHOW: Do the Time Warp again at the Dominion Theatre, as the Rocky Horror Show jives into town for just two weeks. Jason Donovan is in the role of mad scientist/seductive crossdressing alien, Dr. Frank-N-Furter. 6-20 September
CREEKSIDE FESTIVAL: Grassroots music station and event space AAJA holds the second edition of multi-venue music festival Creekside Festival. It takes place across 15 venues around Deptford — full 2024 details TBC at time of writing. 7 September
HARRY FEST: One for Harry Styles fans: head to Dockside Vaults in St Katharine Docks for HarryFest, a one-day celebration of the former X-Factor contestant and One Direction singer. Organisers promise Harry-Oke, a scavenger hunt, prizes for best dressed, themed food and drink... but no appearances from the main man himself, unfortunately. 7 September
LONDON POLE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Pole dancing competition the London Pole Championships takes place at Artsdepot in North Finchley. Watch shows of musicality, strength, stamina and flexibility featuring both amateurs and professionals, and see who will be crowned the winner in each category, including beginners and doubles. 7 September
CAMDEN INSPIRE: Celebrate the borough of Camden, both past and present, at Camden Inspire. Local artists, musicians, comedians, thought leaders and more host performances, talks and workshops across Buck Street and Stucley Place. 7 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 40 preserved vessels on display, including Dunkirk Little Ships. It's bigger than ever this year, expanding into the west basin so that larger vessels can take part. FREE, 7-8 September
WANSTEAD FRINGE: A street party, a book festival, live music, theatre, open-air cinema and a jumble trail are all part of the Wanstead Fringe. Full details TBC at time of writing — check back on the website for details. 7-28 September
GREENWICH COMEDY FESTIVAL: Sara Pascoe, Josh Widdicombe, Jen Brister, Sindhu Vee and Harry Hill are among the headliners at Greenwich Comedy Festival, taking place in a big top in the grounds of the National Maritime Museum. Arrive early to make the most of the pop-up bars and street food stalls running alongside the festival. 11-15 September
BRITISH SCIENCE FESTIVAL: The University of East London hosts the British Science Festival, with social media star Big Manny, and Olympic athletes Kelly Sotherton, Diane Modahl and Katherine Grainger headlining. Researchers share their work on a range of topics through talks, activities, interactive events, installations, performances and more. FREE, 11-15 September
CAMDEN MUSIC FESTIVAL: After the inaugural event last year, looks like Camden Music Festival is back for a second outing, with Paul Oakenfold, Jazzie B and Brand New Heavies among the artists performing on six different stages on pedestrianised streets around Camden Town. Keep an eye on social media for further updates. 13 September
LEADENHALL ABSEIL: Feeling brave? Sign up to abseil down the side of the Leadenhall Building — aka the Cheesegrater — raising money for Maggie's Cancer Charity. Begin your descent from 200m up the 225m-tall building, back down to the ground. 13 September
MARKFIELD ROAD FESTIVAL: Taking place in South Tottenham, Markfield Road Festival is a free arts and music festival for all ages. Last year, there was the opportunity to visit open arts studios, watch short film screenings and live music performances, take part in workshops including life drawing, and watch a carnival procession featuring local school children. Keep an eye on the website for 2024 details. FREE ENTRY, 13-15 September
CELEBRASIA: South East Asian culture is celebrated at Battersea Power Station's CelebrASIa festival. Take part in creative workshops including lantern making, batik art and pewter crafting — and watch live performances including dance, orchestras and DJ sets. Plus there will be food stalls selling dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore. 13-15 September
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. 13-15 September
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 2024 programme. FREE, 13-15 September
FLOWER FESTIVAL: Sustainable floristry is celebrated at the Strawberry Hill House Flower Festival, which has a theme of 'nature unbound' this year, showcasing the work of 30 floral designers. See arrangements on display inside the Gothic castle, and take tours of the festival led by curators, along with talks and workshops by experts. 13-15 September
BEACH VOLLEYBALL: 200 tonnes of sand appear in Canary Wharf this month to create two full sized volleyball courts for Action For Kids Beach Volleyball, a charity fundraising pop-up. Courts can be booked out, so you can practise your skills, or hold a mini tournament with friends and family or sign your team up for the corporate competition. 13-28 September
PRINCESS ESSEX: It's not just Shakespeare plays at the Globe Theatre, you know. Princess Essex is a new play by Anne Odeke, set in Southend in 1908, about the first woman of colour to enter a beauty pageant in the UK. 13 September-26 October
MYRA DUBOIS: Drag comedy persona Myra Dubois brings her UK tour Be Well to Hackney Empire, offering a comically scathing look at the state of the wellness industry. Comedian Frank Lavender is the support act. 14 September
LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL: The 22nd edition of London Design Festival continues its aim of showcasing London as the design capital of the world. At time of writing, the programme has yet to be announced, but we're expecting the usual blend of displays and exhibitions, talks and more. 14-22 September
OPEN HOUSE LONDON: It's the most wonderful time of year! All manner of London buildings and structures, which are usually off-limits to the public, fling their doors open and welcome us in for Open House London. Lots of pre-booked events are going fast, but there's plenty of stuff you can walk up and do on the day. 14-22 September
FUTURE OF FOOD: Sustainability, innovation and creativity in the food industry come under the microscope at the Future of Food Festival, taking place across Regent Street and St James's. Panel talks, dining experiences and street feasts all take place, with chefs including Alex Dilling, Mikael Svensson and Angela Harnett taking part. We particularly like the sound of Bompas & Parr's talk about anticipated food and drink trends for 2025. 16-22 September
PAMELA PHATSIMO SUNSTRUM: Visual artist Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum unveils new works commissioned for The Curve at Barbican. Her drawings, paintings, installations, and animation works are inspired by her experience of living across Africa, Southeast Asia and the United States, as well as her ongoing research into ethnography, ecology and quantum physics. FREE, 18 September-5 January
HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN: Claiming to be the world's largest music and philosophy festival, HowTheLightGetsIn returns to Kenwood House. Green Party leader Carla Denyer, former speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow, and bestselling author Philippa Gregory are confirmed among the 100 speakers this year. 21-22 September
BEVERLEY KNIGHT: Soul singer Beverley Knight brings her current tour, 50 —- which marks a milestone birthday in her life — to the Royal Albert Hall for one night. She performs songs from her latest album, The Fifth Chapter, as well as other tunes from throughout her career. 23 September
THE GREATEST SHOWMAN: Fans of musical film The Greatest Showman should head to Earl's Court for Come Alive!, a circus show inspired by the film. Expect a blend of musical theatre and circus performance including songs from the soundtrack such as This Is Me, Rewrite the Stars, and A Million Dreams. From 23 September
ALGERIAN CULTURE FESTIVAL: Rich Mix in Shoreditch hosts DzFest, a festival of Algerian arts and culture. It opens with an interactive session exploring Algerian songs and music videos from the 90s and early 2000s, followed by performances, and dancing and singing workshops. 24-28 September
LEHMAN TRILOGY: Theatre show The Lehman Trilogy returns to London, opening at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, telling the story of a German family who arrived in New York in 1844, becoming the banking company which collapsed into bankruptcy 163 years later, triggering a huge global financial crisis. From 24 September
CHELSEA HISTORY FESTIVAL: Returning for its 6th edition, Chelsea History Festival is extra special this year, as it celebrates the launch of the new Chelsea Heritage Quarter. Events include a preview of the new Soane Stable Yard at Royal Hospital Chelsea, which opens in October — the first time part of the RHC site has been permanently open to the public. Also on the programme are talks by bestselling author Kate Mosse, author and broadcaster James Holland, and Horrible Histories author Terry Deary. 25-29 September
THE PLACE I AM NOT: Cypriot artist Maria Loizidou is put thrust into the limelight at the Freud Museum in Hampstead and the Hellenic Centre in Marylebone, which jointly host her exhibition The Place I Am Not. It explores the themes of identity, belonging, and the immigrant experience through the lens of Sigmund Freud’s life in London. 25 September-20 October
BRITISH ART FAIR: The British Art Fair takes place at Chelsea's Saatchi Gallery, showcasing Modern British and Contemporary British Art, with 70+ exhibitors selling works by names 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. 26-29 September
SILK ROAD: The British Library's new exhibition, A Silk Road Oasis: Life in Ancient Dunhang, is a chance to learn about Dunhuang, at the edge of the Gobi Desert, once a bustling town on the Silk Road connecting China and the Mediterranean. Individual stories of people who lived there 1,000 years ago are told, thanks to the contents of the 'Library Cave', part of the Buddhist cave complex of Mogao, where manuscripts, documents and artworks remained sealed for nearly 900 years. From 27 September
LONDON NIGHT HIKE: Couldn't face the skyscraper abseil (above)? There's another way to raise money for Maggie's Cancer Charity this month, in the form of the London Night Hike. Sign up to walk a 10 or 18 mile route alongside the Thames overnight, passing London landmarks as you go. 27-28 September
MONET AND LONDON: The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House opens new exhibition Monet and London: Views of the Thames. See paintings of Charing Cross Bridge, Waterloo Bridge and the Houses of Parliament, which were put on display in Paris in 1904, but have never been shown in London until now. 27 September-19 January
CLASSIC CAR BOOT SALE: All manner of 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. 28-29 September
SILK ROADS: Confusingly (yet happily), in addition to the British Library's new exhibition (above), the British Museum opens a new, separate exhibition about Silk Roads. It highlights the fact that there was more than one such route, joining places as far apart at Scandinavia, Madagascar, Britain and Japan, and delves into how the silk roads shaped history and cultures. 28 September-23 February
ALICE IN WONDERLAND: The Royal Ballet and The National Ballet of Canada team up for a theatrical adaptation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland at the Royal Opera House. At a garden party, Alice is surprised to see her parents' friend Lewis Carroll transform into a white rabbit. When she follows him down a rabbit hole, events become curiouser and curiouser. From 28 September
SHEEP DRIVE: One of London's wackiest annual events is the Sheep Drive and Livery Fair. Each year, a chosen celebrity has the honour of herding sheep over Southwark Bridge — keep an eye on the website for this year's announcement. FREE, 29 September
LAST CHANCE: A few things are closing this month (or very early next month) too. It's your last chance to go to:
- PRINCESS DIANA: Royal photographers Anwar Hussein and his sons Samir and Zak share their photographs of Princess Diana and her family, paired with first-hand accounts of the stories behind each moment, told via an audio guide, at Princess Diana: Accredited Access Exhibition, in St Katharine Docks. Until 2 September
- TAYLOR SWIFT: The V&A's free trail dedicated to singer-songwriter Taylor Swift shows off some of her outfits and instruments at 13 different locations throughout the museum, including her costume from The Man music video, and the glittering dress she wore to announce 2022 album Midnights. FREE, until 8 September
- WIZARD OF OZ: We're off to see the Wizard... but only until early September when the current production of the Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium — starring JLS member Aston Merrygold as The Tin Man and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West — ends. Until 8 September
- THE GRUFFALO: Mouse, the cunning Fox, the eccentric old Owl and the high-spirited Snake all go on a hunt for the Gruffalo on stage at the Lyric Theatre, in a show suitable for age 3+. Until 8 September
- ENZO MARI: The Design Museum celebrates the life and work of 20th century Italian designer Enzo Mari. His projects ranged from furniture, children's books and games to product and graphic design, and more conceptual installation-based works. The exhibition gives an insight into his research and creative process. Until 8 September
- FROZEN THE MUSICAL: Let it go, let it goooo... you'll have to if you don't get tickets to Frozen the Musical soon — it bows out of the West End this month, after a three-year run. Until 8 September
- MYTHS TO MANGA: The inaugural exhibition at the Young V&A, Japan: Myths to Manga is a family-friendly look at Japanese culture, including how landscape and folklore have influenced art, technology and design in the country. Sylvanian Families, Hello Kitty and Studio Ghibli characters are among the familiar faces which feature. Until 8 September
- SIX LIVES: The National Portrait Gallery's exhibition focuses on Henry VIII's queens. Six Lives features Tudor paintings by Hans Holbein the Younger and contemporary photography by Hiroshi Sugimoto, chronicling the representation of Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Katherine Parr throughout history and popular culture in the centuries since they lived. Until 8 September
- FASHION DOUBLE BILL: Apparently one of its most popular exhibitions ever, the Fashion & Textile Museum's The Biba Story comes to an end, telling the story of fashion illustrator Barbara Hulanicki's phenomenally successful fashion house. Also closing at the same museum on the same day is Do A Ruby Keeler, with one ticket getting you into both exhibitions. Until 8 September
- KISS ME, KATE: Line of Duty star Adrian Dunbar is currently starring in Kiss Me, Kate at the Barbican, alongside Stephanie J Block. Set in the 1940s, it's the story of theatre director Fred Graham who is reunited with his ex-wife, when the two are forced to play opposite one another in a new production of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. Until 14 September
- HELLO, DOLLY!: Another big star currently on the West End stage is Imelda Staunton, appearing in the role of socialite turned matchmaker Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! at the London Palladium. Until 14 September
- TROPICAL MODERNISM: The Tropical Modernism architectural movement is put under the microscope in the V&A's exhibition of the same name, a succinct yet vibrant show that emphasises the political, cultural and environmental value of good architecture. Until 22 September
- MINGEI: Mingei, the influential folk-craft movement from 1920s-30s Japan is the subject of the Art Without Heroes exhibition at the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow. Ceramics, woodwork, paper, toys, textiles, photography and film works are on display, showcasing the idea of ascribing cultural value and aesthetic purity to traditional craft objects. Until 22 September
- MARC QUINN: 17 stainless steel and bronze sculptures have been dotted around Kew Gardens — including inside the Temperate House. They're the work of sculptor Marc Quinn, who aims to reflect the relationship between nature and humanity. Until 29 September
- STORYTELLER: The Imperial War Museum marks the 13th anniversary of the death of photojournalist, filmmaker and humanitarian Tim Hetherington. Photography from across his career as a war reporter, and a selection of his cameras and diaries are on display, with his film Sleeping Soldiers available to watch too. FREE, Until 29 September
