Looking for something fun to do today? Something eye-opening to watch tonight? Something delicious to eat tomorrow? Our guide on things to do this week in London is personally curated, ensuring there's always a diverse range of events for you to choose from. Get stuck in!
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SEPTEMBER IN LONDON: With a new month starting on Tuesday, you'll be needing our guide to things to do in London in September, spanning the newest exhibitions and theatre shows, plus festivals and other events you won't want to miss. Have a browse and get planning your month ahead. We've also looked further ahead and picked out some London highlights for the entirety of autumn 2026.
CYRANO DE BERGERAC: Adrian Lester stars as the title character in a West End transfer of Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac at the Noël Coward Theatre, closing this weekend. It follows a soldier who believes himself too ugly to be loved, but helps a handsome soldier win the heart of Roxane, who he himself also loves. Until 5 September 2026
DISNEY'S HERCULES: It's something of a Greek tragedy that Disney musical Hercules is leaving the West End, ending its run of just over a year at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Until 5 September 2026
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR: Eurovision star Sam Ryder assumes the role of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Palladium — but only until Saturday. Tyrone Huntley, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Simon Russell Beale, Richard Armitage, and Layton Williams are also among the cast. Until 5 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
SMURFS AFTERNOON TEA: Looking for a Smurfing good family day out this summer? The Smurfs London Tea Party Adventure takes you on a magical tour of some of London’s most famous landmarks, while you feast on a tasty Smurfs-themed afternoon tea (including plenty of blue treats, and even blue drinks!). Throw in a kid-friendly playlist and a souvenir cup, and you’re guaranteed a memorable adventure filled with Smurfs and laughter. (sponsor)
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. Until 6 September 2026
JEEVES TAKE CHARGE: One-man show Jeeves Takes Charge sees actor Sam Harrison impressively playing 22 different PG Wodehouse characters including Jeeves, Wooster, Florence Craye, Bingo Little, Uncle Willoughby and Aunt Dahlia. Until 6 September 2026
HEPWORTH IN COLOUR: Barbara Hepworth's experiments with colour across sculpture and drawing are brought together in a research-led exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery. Around 20 sculptures and 30 drawings — including early painted wood and stone carvings from the 1940s and later works from the 1950s and 1960s — are on show until Sunday. Until 6 September 2026
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 that 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 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, until 6 September 2026
BBC PROMS: Classical music festival the BBC Proms continues until next week, offering a wealth of shows at the Royal Albert Hall this week including a performance of Disney film scores, the Berlin Philharmonic playing Beethoven and Scriabin, and John Wilson conducting the Sinfonia of London Strings. Until 12 September 2026
EAT OF THE WEEK: For one week only, the Fox in Hackney is teaming up with Fresh Hot Pizza to serve a 'franceshinha pizza'. Slathered in a rich, boozy mix of tomato, garlic, beer, whisky and onion — and topped with ground beef, sausage and pork belly — it's inspired by the legendary Portuguese gut-busting sandwich, which at least one member of Team Londonist is infatuated with. 31 August-6 September
Today's events: Bank holiday Monday 31 August
BANK HOLIDAY: Today is bank holiday Monday. If you're lucky enough to have the day off work and you're looking for something to keep you out of mischief, our guide to bank holiday things to do in London has a plethora of ideas.
NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL: Notting Hill Carnival is back on the streets of west London for its final day of Caribbean-style entertainment. Expect the usual heady mix of Caribbean culture, samba, mas, soca and calypso, dazzling costumes... and lots and lots of people. Here's everything you need to know about this year's event, whose main day is today. FREE, from 10.30am
VINTAGE MARKET: More than 50 vintage traders fill Beckenham Place Mansion and the surrounding lawns with furniture, lighting, ceramics, posters, maps, records and seasonal clothing for the So Last Century vintage fair. Expect street food, a coffee van and the Mansion Bar and Cafe, plus live busking from The Alvar Treefrogs. Resident artists including Sophia Lyons have studios open too. 10am-5pm
PIE PARTY: Islington's Quince Bakery holds its third annual bank holiday pie party, opening its ovens to a guest line-up of the city's best independent bakers including Bake Street, Decatur, Lucky Yu Bakery and Hamblin Bread. They each make their own signature pie, resulting in a celebration of lattice-topped, fruit-stuffed goodness, available to buy until they sell out. 12pm until sold out
LGBT SPORTS DAY: Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens fills with hundreds of members of the LGBTQ+ community for the annual RVT Sports Day, a fundraiser for health charity LGBT HERO. The afternoon features a riotous programme of competitive events including a sack race, a 50m mince, a drag race relay, and the crowd-favourite rhythmic gymnastics. It is free to watch the action unfold behind the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, with donations encouraged to support vital mental health and wellbeing services. FREE to watch, 1pm-5pm
SUMMER SCREENS: Canada Square Park hosts an open-air screening of the National Theatre’s production of The Playboy of the Western World. John Millington Synge’s classic play stars Nicola Coughlan, Éanna Hardwicke, and Siobhán McSweeney in a darkly funny tale of youth and self-discovery set in a remote Irish pub. FREE, 2pm
GREENWICH HIGHLIGHTS: Explore the maritime history and royal heritage of south-east London on a walking tour. Footprints of London guide Vivienne Lloyd leads the stroll from Greenwich station, passing the Cutty Sark and the Royal Naval College before heading into Greenwich Park to discuss the Meridian Line and Tudor royal history. The route showcases architecture by Inigo Jones and Christopher Wren, concluding with panoramic views across the Thames. 2pm-4pm
Today's events: Tuesday 1 September
WIESENTHAL: One‑person play Wiesenthal follows the Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter on his final day in his Vienna office in 2003, exploring memory and the pursuit of justice at close quarters. See it at Wilton's Music Hall. 1-5 September 2026
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. Michael Kinnan's unauthorised retelling of Titanic and Australian singing comedian Conk are among the schedule. 1-26 September 2026
SE FEST 2026: For the third time, The Jack Studio in Crofton Park and The Bridge House Theatre in Penge host SE Fest, a festival celebrating new theatre writing. The line-up includes performances on topics including platonic love, wedding speeches and misogyny, along with a trio of writing workshops. 1-12 September 2026
TWELFTH NIGHT: This production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night at the Drayton Arms Theatre (Brompton) is a disco-flavoured retelling with music, fashion and dancing woven into the story of mistaken identity, love, and deception. 1-26 September 2026
TOTALLY THAMES 2026: 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 an art installation on the former Blackfriars Bridge pillars. 1-30 September 2026
THE FOX BLONDES: Former BBC film acquisitions head George McGhee visits JW3 in Finchley Road to explore the golden age of 20th Century Fox’s musical stars. The talk uses rare clips to chart the careers of icons including Shirley Temple, Marilyn Monroe, and Alice Faye, showcasing highlights from classic productions such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Alexander’s Ragtime Band, accompanied by expert commentary from McGhee’s 35 years of industry experience. 2pm-3.30pm
WALTHAMSTOW: City of London Guide and lecturer Jill Finch leads a virtual exploration of E17 at the Guildhall Library, going beyond the famous mile-long market and boy band associations to uncover the area's deeper history. Join the talk in person at the library, or watch a live stream via YouTube. FREE, 2pm
WHY SHAKESPEARE?: Victoria Gartner brings her popular podcast Why Shakespeare? to Waterstones Gower Street for a live recording. The Weyward author discusses the complex and passionate relationships people maintain with the Bard today. Expect an exploration of everything from method to madness as Gartner and her guest unpick what Shakespeare’s work means in a contemporary context. 6.30pm
HANDEL’S SALON: Music returns to the very rooms where George Frideric Handel once lived and entertained for Handel’s Salon at Handel Hendrix House in Mayfair. Mezzo-soprano Diana Moore and harpsichordist Julian Perkins explore the composer's intimate circle of female patrons and artists, blending virtuosic solos with spoken anecdotes drawn from the letters of his close friends. The programme features arias written for his long-serving singers and cantatas collected by his student Elizabeth Legh, whose mother famously rejected Handel as a suitor. 6.30pm
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Today's events: Wednesday 2 September
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 Thomas Doggett, starts at London Bridge, and anyone can watch along the riverside. FREE, from 1.15pm
FRIDA KAHLO: Arts Society lecturer Frank Woodgate visits Guildhall Library to discuss the current Tate Modern exhibition, Frida Kahlo at Tate Modern. Hear about the Mexican artist's enduring status as an icon, examining her influence on contemporary movements in LGBTQI+ art and disability rights, alongside a look at the Tehuana dresses from her personal wardrobe. FREE, 2pm-3pm
BEASTS OF LONDON: A new art exhibition themed around the symbolic beasts of London opens today at Durning Library, 167 Kennington Lane. Rachel Megawhat's paintings are drawn from architecture,
statuary, symbolism and very real animals that have helped make up the rich culture of London throughout history. FREE, 2-30 September
FREEDOM OF THE CITY: The London Archives hosts Murray Craig, the former Clerk of the Chamberlain's Court, to share light-hearted stories from his 25-year tenure. He reflects on admitting over 43,000 people to the Freedom of the City, including high-profile figures such as Morgan Freeman, Dame Judi Dench, and Luciano Pavarotti, offering a rare glimpse into the ancient ceremonies and hidden anecdotes involving royalty, sporting legends, and stars of the screen. 5.30pm-7pm
SKYCLIMBER: Bertha DocHouse in Bloomsbury screens Skyclimber, a documentary following 24-year-old urban free solo climber Adam Lockwood. The film captures his audacious attempt to scale the Eiffel Tower without ropes or safety equipment, while exploring his personal journey through neurodivergence, homelessness, and mental health. The screening is followed by a live Q&A session with Lockwood, director Nick Hardie, and producer Helen Conlan. 6.20pm
GREAT FIRE: Join Dr Matthew Green on the exact spot, in Pudding Lane, where the Fire broke out, then walk its itinerary of destruction from the eastern City in this theatrically spiced guided walk. "Red wine and sparklers for every attendee". 6.30pm (repeats Thur and Fri)
CONQUERING DREAMS: Double above-knee amputee and Guinness World Record holder Hari Budha Magar MBE visits Stanfords in Covent Garden to discuss his historic mountaineering achievements. The former Gurkha reflects on becoming the first double above-knee amputee to summit Mount Everest and complete the 7 Summits challenge. Watch Magar in conversation with explorer and author Charlie Walker, followed by a book signing and a complimentary glass of wine. 7pm-8.30pm
CUBAFROBEAT: Camden’s Jazz Cafe hosts a cross-continental musical collision as London’s leading Cuban and Afrobeat collectives join forces. Cubafrobeat features Afrobeat pioneer Dele Sosimi alongside Lokkhi Terra, blending heavy percussion and high-energy grooves that bridge the sounds of Havana and Lagos. Support comes from Mukatsuku Records’ Nik Weston, ensuring the rhythm doesn't let up all evening. 7pm-10.30pm
Today's events: Thursday 3 September
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. 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. 3-13 September 2026
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
JONN ELLEDGE: Author and journalist Jonn Elledge visits Waterstones Kensington to discuss his latest book, 31 Inventions That Built Our World. The evening features a deep dive into the history of the transformative objects and ideas that have shaped human civilisation, followed by a public conversation, offering a look at the accidental and intentional breakthroughs of our past. 6pm
WATERLOO SHOT TOWER: Nick Rampley, a trustee of The Bridge at Waterloo, visits St John’s Church to chart the history of a vanished Lambeth landmark. This heritage talk explores the tower's role in the 1951 Festival of Britain and its industrial legacy along the riverside. Discover how this "forgotten architectural ugly sister" was once celebrated in literature and mass media before disappearing from the South Bank skyline. FREE, 6.30pm-8pm
DRAG BINGO: Walthamstow Trades Hall welcomes the return of Drag Bingo, a fundraiser supporting LGBTQ+ mental health charity elop. The evening features two games of bingo hosted by the fabulous Mayumi Fukiko, alongside a raffle and live performances. All proceeds go toward sustaining vital services, including low-cost counselling for the community. 7pm
Today's events: Friday 4 September
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
BATTLE OF BRITAIN: Air Marshal (Retd) ‘Black’ Robertson CBE visits Bentley Priory Museum to offer a fresh perspective on the aerial campaign that defined the summer of 1940. This Friday Morning Talk focuses on lesser-known aspects of the conflict, marking 86 years since the events took place at the very site that served as the headquarters for Fighter Command. 11am
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. From 12pm
THE SCEPTIC ISLE: Professor Steven Casey visits the National Army Museum in Chelsea to explore how the British government attempted to win hearts and minds during the Second World War. Drawing on research from his latest book, The Sceptic Isle, the LSE historian examines the disconnect between state communications and a public often deeply sceptical of war news and political leadership. The talk offers fresh insights into the uses and miscalculations of propaganda and public relations during a time of national crisis. FREE, 12pm-1pm
CHARITY MATCH: Croydon-based businesses converge for the CAYSH Cup at Goals in Beckenham this afternoon, playing to raise money to support local homeless people. Anyone's welcome to turn up and cheer on the teams. KO 2pm
OUTDOOR THEATRE: Illyria Theatre brings a night of sharp satire and iconic songs to the grounds of Gunnersbury Park Museum for an open-air performance of The Pirates of Penzance. A six-strong cast of actor-singers performs the witty Gilbert and Sullivan classic, complete with a fully orchestrated accompaniment. The story follows young Frederick, who finds his plan to leave a life of piracy thwarted by a leap-year birthday technicality in his apprenticeship contract. 6pm
SYSTEM OF A DRAG: Queer performers gather at Signature Brew Haggerston to celebrate the 25th anniversary of System of a Down’s seminal album Toxicity. This cabaret features a line-up of London’s finest drag artists reimagining the band's iconic discography through a series of alternative and goth-inspired performances. 6pm
Today's events: Saturday 5 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
BRUCE LEE FESTIVAL: Martial arts fans, head to 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 his philosophy through the Longstreet documentary and the landmark episode The Way of the Intercepting Fist. 10am
BRASSWORKS: Prepare to be blown away by the fifth edition of Brassworks, a free horn-stuffed festival featuring marching bands, Balkan beats, jazz, funk, Afrobeat and more. It's on at Woolwich Works, a fitting location given Woolwich was home to the Royal Artillery Band. FREE, 10.30am-9pm
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
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
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
DENMARK STREET SESSIONS: Musical thoroughfare Denmark Street brings its history back to life with a one-day free music festival. Denmark Street Sessions takes place at venues in and around the Soho street, offering gigs, talks, and an afterparty. FREE, from 1pm
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
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
Today's events: Sunday 6 September
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
CLIMATE EMERGENCY: Union Chapel in Islington screens the People's Emergency Briefing, a 45-minute film presented by naturalist Chris Packham which captures expert evidence on the climate and nature crisis, originally delivered to parliamentarians at Westminster, covering threats to national security and food supply. FREE, 11am
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, all of which might look a little bit familiar... 11am-4pm
BROMPTON CEMETERY DAY: Though you can visit Brompton Cemetery on 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
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 post-drinking anxiety. 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
COMEDY: North Nineteen near Upper Holloway hosts the O.M. Comedy Club tonight, which usually packs in over a dozen comedians for punchy stand-up sets. 6pm
