All weekend
FLOWER FESTIVAL: A flower festival at Strawberry Hill House turns the beautiful gothic building into a floral masterpiece. Wander through the house and gardens to view special displays created by floral designers from all over the UK, with a focus on sustainability. 10-13 September 2026
CELEBRASIA: Southeast 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
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS: Not only do we get Open House (below) this weekend, but Heritage Open Days too. This nationwide programme of events — including 40+ 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 usually off-limits venues. FREE, 11-20 September 2026
THE BIG BRINE: If you find yourself in a pickle this weekend, 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
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, 12-13 September 2026
THE BIG WOOF: Canine festival The Big Woof returns to King's Cross featuring show-ring competitions and demonstrations, agility and scent courses, workshops and masterclasses, dog yoga and a Cuddle Club. Expect an indie pet market, a pop-up Woof Photography studio, and activities such as a Draw Your Dog session. 12-13 September 2026
OXO TOWER WHARF: Riverside creative hub Oxo Tower Wharf comes into its own during London Design Festival, thanks to its wealth of resident designer-makers. Visit open studios, see 25+ creatives working in crafts including millinery, ceramics, weaving and leatherworking, and buy or commission unique pieces direct from expert makers. Look out for special London Design Festival events too, including demonstrations and workshops, exhibitions, and object showcases. 12-20 September 2026 (sponsor)
PALACE GARDENS: Explore Hampton Court Palace's 800+ acres of grounds for free, including the Great Fountain Garden, the Privy Garden, the Kitchen Garden, the Pond Garden and the Lower Orangery and Terrace. The Garden Opens Days happen a few times a year, but note that the palace interior, the Maze and the Magic Garden Playground still require a paid ticket on these days. FREE, 12-13 September 2026
PAINT! PATTERN! PRINT!: The Fashion & Textile Museum explores the painterly patterns of design pioneers Susan Collier and Sarah Campbell, from first sketches and studio photographs to printed cloth, fashion and homeware. The sisters worked together for 50 years, creating vibrant patterns and collaborating with brands such as Liberty, Heals and Jaeger. Until 13 September 2026
LONDON PODCAST FESTIVAL: Headphones at the ready: it's the final weekend of London Podcast Festival at Kings Place. Ask The Nincompoops and No Such Thing As A Fish are among the weekend's shows. Until 13 September 2026
CHISWICK BOOK FESTIVAL: Adele Parks, Iain Dale, Jacqueline Wilson, Mary Portas and Sophie Hannah are just some of the famous names on the schedule at Chiswick Book Festival, at venues including Chiswick Cinema, Chiswick Library and Hogarth's House. 9-14 September 2026
OPEN HOUSE LONDON: All manner of London buildings and structures — usually off-limits to the public — fling open their doors for Open House London. Highlights for 2026 include livery halls and City churches, along with a solid programme of guided walks. Entry is free and most venues don't require booking (though expect to queue for the more popular ones). 12-20 September 2026
LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL: The 24th edition of London Design Festival begins on Saturday, showcasing London as the design capital of the world. Highlights this year include The Pangolin Shield, a large-scale artwork inspired by the endangered species to be installed on the pedestrianised part of Strand, and L-Acoustics, an immersive sound experience at Wapping Hydraulic Power Station. 12-20 September 2026
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Go behind the scenes in the City of London
Mansion House, Billingsgate Roman House and Baths, and the opulent Victorian Drapers' Hall are among the City of London venues which you can get a rare peek inside this weekend.
Open House London gets under way on Saturday, with a juicy programme of events in the Square Mile. The fantastic festival allows the public to explore buildings which are often off-limits, and the 2026 programme spans 14 livery and historic halls plus modern buildings and green spaces across eight days. On our radar: Sunday's open day at the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, where you can visit the Elizabethan Middle Temple Hall, as well as the Inner Temple Gardens and Temple Church.
In addition to open events (some require booking, but many are drop-in), there's an Open House Family Day on Saturday, with free activities themed on architecture and heritage, across Guildhall Art Gallery, the Insurance Museum, London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE, St Paul’s Cathedral and Dr Johnson’s House.
Open House Festival 2026 in the City of London runs 12-20 September 2026. All events are free. Start planning your Open House weekend here, and visit the City Information Centre opposite St Paul’s Cathedral to grab a free City Visitor Trail map.
Saturday 12 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, and today's the final day. FREE, 10am-5pm
ORCHARD OPEN DAY: Head to the Queen’s Orchard in the north-eastern corner of Greenwich Park for the Orchard Open Day. Explore the space, participate in a pollination game, and help dress up the orchard's new scarecrows. You can also bring harvested seeds from your own garden to the ‘seed library’, and swap them for varieties collected by the orchard volunteers. FREE, 11am-3pm
TRANS+ CONTRIBUTIONS: The Wellcome Collection holds a day of events celebrating trans activism and community history, including a voguing workshop with artist Bambi Jordan Phillips, a showcase of trans-related items from the archives, and a screening of the documentary film MAJOR!, followed by a panel discussion. FREE, 11.30am-5.30pm
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 this afternoon. It's free to watch from the riverbanks and bridges on the day — full details and timings here. FREE, from 12.45pm
KEEPING THE PEACE: Humanist heritage expert Madeleine Goodall leads a guided walk through the streets and squares of Bloomsbury to uncover the history of anti-war movements and pacifism. Begin at Conway Hall and explore the lives of those who challenged militarism and worked toward reconstruction and remembrance in the wake of global conflict. 2pm-4pm
PUNK ALL DAYER: The Fighting Cocks in Kingston hosts the high-octane Bit Hot Fest – Punk All Dayer! featuring a marathon line-up of skate-punk and hardcore talent. The bill includes energetic London four-piece Resuscitators, the "culturally irrelevant gruff-punk" of Back Teeth, and melodic Leicester quartet Our Souls, with bands playing through the day and night. A Back Teeth DJ set keeps the party going until 1am for those with enough stamina left for the dancefloor. 2pm
HANDLEBARDS MACBETH: The Sculpture Garden at Dulwich Picture Gallery is the backdrop for the Scottish Play. The HandleBards, a troupe of actors who carry their entire set and props on their bikes, deliver a fantastically funny, bicycle-powered version of the Shakespearean tragedy. Bring your own chairs, blankets and picnics for this outdoor performance. 3pm-5pm
BRING THE VIM: Head to Boxpark Croydon for crew-versus-crew Afro dance competition Bring The Vim. International Afro dance crews from the UK, Belgium, France and Spain battle it out for the title, celebrating styles rooted in the African diaspora including Amapiano, Afrobeats and Afro-fusion. 4pm-11.45pm
ICE HOCKEY: Romford's Sapphire Ice and Leisure hosts a pre-season ice hockey clash between the Romford Raiders and the Streatham Redhawks. This Interleague Challenge offers fans a first look at the squads as they prepare for the upcoming campaign. Choose between tiered seating or standing room to catch the London derby action on the ice. New to the sport, or need a refresher? Here's everything you need to know about ice hockey in London. 5.15pm
DOC’N ROLL DOUBLE BILL: Dalston’s Rio Cinema screens two powerful true stories exploring the intersection of music, activism, and resistance. The programme features More Punk than Punk, which follows Pakistani punk artist Aki Nawaz's response to post-9/11 Islamophobia, alongside After Eight, a documentary uncovering the miscarriage of justice involving Satpal Ram. A post-screening Q&A includes directors Mos Hannan and Azeem Rajulawalla, joined by special guests Aki Nawaz and Nikesh Shukla. 6pm
STAR TREK SCIENCE: A panel of scientists and engineers, including actor Martin Quinn (Scotty in Strange New Worlds), software engineer Dawn Wages and former NASA scientist Joby Razzell Hollis, look at the real science behind Star Trek and how the show has influenced research and technology. Watch in person at the Royal Institution, or online. 7pm-8.30pm
CARA DILLON: Irish folk singer Cara Dillon brings her emotionally powerful vocals to the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith. Accompanied by her long-time collaborator and husband Sam Lakeman, the multi-award winner performs a stunning tapestry of storytelling and song, including her celebrated renditions of Black Is the Colour and The Parting Glass. 8pm
SUBTERRANEAN LONDON: Explore the hidden world beneath the capital’s streets in this virtual tour hosted by Footprints of London, covering 12 distinct underground sites, ranging from ancient crypts and caves to secret wartime bunkers and vaults. The live session includes the history and human stories behind these spaces, with opportunities for audience questions. 8pm-9pm
LATE LATE SHOW: The Boom Yeh give a lively late-night performance at Ronnie Scott's to celebrate the release of their new album, Near Earth Objects. The seven-piece ensemble, featuring a full horn section and musicians who have worked with Jamiroquai and The Brand New Heavies, blends jazz-funk, rock, and afrobeat into a thunderous live set. 11.15pm
Sunday 13 September
WELLNESS FESTIVAL: A free, outdoor Wellness Festival takes place at Wembley Park, combining movement, mindfulness and music. 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. FREE, 9am-6pm
BLACK HISTORY WALK: Commemorate 75 years since the arrival of the SS Windrush with a Black History Walk around Dalston and Hackney. Trace the area's evolution from the 1950s to the present day, highlighting the legendary 4 Aces club, pioneering housing activism, and the rise of the Black church, and learn about the history of local Black bookshops and the grassroots campaigns that transformed education for Black children in the borough. 10am-12pm
CHILLI FEST: Fire up your taste buds for Chilli Fest at Fulham Palace, a celebration of the chilli plant. Expect market stalls selling home-grown chillis and local produce, a chilli-eating competition, tastings, live music from Banda Bomba, and a salsa demonstration (the dance, not the dip). 11am-3pm
INDEPENDENT CERAMICS MARKET: Browse contemporary tableware, decorative ceramics and affordable work from a range of makers as the Independent Ceramics Market returns to Copeland Park and the Bussey Building in Peckham. It's a chance to buy directly from exhibitors and see new makers in person. 11am-5pm
THE HIDEOUT: Circus, parkour and original music combine in 45-minute family show The Hideout at Artsdepot. It's about making friends, following Luca and Maya as they transform a fallen tree into a secret playground, and suitable for ages 4-8x. 11.30am
WOMEN ON THE EDGE: The Cinema Museum in Kennington hosts a film marathon curated by Lost Reels, telling stories of extraordinary women living on the edge. Watch four feature films screened primarily from rare 35mm prints, including a 30th-anniversary showing of Todd Haynes' Safe and the UK theatrical premiere of a new digital restoration of Butterfly Kiss. The programme also includes a rare screening of the boxing drama Girlfight and the necrophilia-themed cult hit Kissed, accompanied by filmmaker Q&As and guest introductions. 12.30pm
DAVID BOWIE AFTERNOON: Celebrate the work of Mr David Jones as club night Feeling Gloomy returns to The Phoenix in Cavendish Square. An Afternoon of David Bowie begins with deep cuts and rarities before building to a final stretch of non-stop hits and sing-alongs. The event features Bowie visuals to accompany the tunes. 1pm-4.30pm
KOREAN BBQ FESTIVAL: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park welcomes the debut Korean BBQ Festival to Riverside East. The one-day foodie fest brings together a curated selection of market traders and authentic food stalls where you can explore the diverse flavours of Korean cuisine, alongside a programme of live entertainment and dancers. 2pm-10pm
FIGHTING SOCIAL ATROPHY: Researcher and writer Dr Sarah Stein Lubrano discusses how the human brain responds to social isolation, at Conway Hall. Drawing on neuroscience and dozens of studies, she explores why many people have grown less sociable since the pandemic and how the "social brain" can atrophy like an unused muscle — and what this shift means for memory, emotion, and social trust in the UK and US. 3pm-4.30pm
SIP & PAINT MONET: Impressionistic brushstrokes and a themed playlist set the scene for Sip & Paint Monet’s Water Lilies at the London Art Bar in Holborn. Professional artists provide step-by-step guidance as you recreate the iconic masterpiece with a glass of prosecco in hand. All supplies are provided, and you can take your finished work home at the end of the afternoon. 3pm-5.30pm
LONDON METROPOLITAN ORCHESTRA: Conducted by Robert Bokor, the London Metropolitan Orchestra performs works by Christoph Schnell at Cadogan Hall. The programme includes 5 Minor Things, Little Concerto for Strings, Piano & Drum Set and Concert Serenade 926 — and the world premiere of Schnell’s Piano Concerto No. 3. 6.30pm
MAKING EUROPE AUDIBLE: The Eunoia Trio brings an experimental blend of contemporary history and music to The Cockpit in Marylebone as part of Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival Making Europe Audible features compositions by Catherine Kontz and Henri Växby that transform interviews with extraordinary historical figures into Lynchian soundscapes. The performance uses reverse speech techniques, multilingualism, and hypnotic drones to explore themes of cultural belonging and collective memory. 7pm
THE GOOD IMMIGRANT: Ten years after crowdfunded essay collection The Good Immigrant became a cultural landmark, editor Nikesh Shukla chairs a live panel at Soho Theatre Walthamstow to reflect on a decade of British identity. Original contributors including Inua Ellams, Salena Godden, and Wei Ming Kam discuss what it means to be "other" in contemporary Britain, with insights from journalist Kieran Yates and actor Vera Chok. 7.30pm
FLAMENCO AT JAMBOREE: Dancer and director Lourdes Fernandez brings a raw, intimate performance of traditional Spanish art to Jamboree in King's Cross. The night of flamenco features an acoustic set-up with guitar, drums, and vocals, plus a special guest appearance by Baha Yetkin on the oud. 8pm
