Things to Do in London in September

When visiting London in September, be prepared for a transition in the seasons. The summer is wrapping up and autumn is on its way. This can mean a mix of warm days and cool nights, and of course there is always a chance of rain. It’s London, right? The average high temperature is 19 C/67 F and the average low is 12 C/55 F. No matter the weather, there is still plenty to do in London in September.

Prefer to watch instead of read?

Open House London

Open House weekend is a celebration of architecture in the city. Many buildings that are usually private are opened to the public – for free! Some venues require tickets, so book in advance as those ones sell out fast. It usually happens on a weekend in mid- September. Visit the Open House London website for more information and to order their guide.

Watch the video below for a preview of what you could see…

Open House London website | Mid-September | Free

Totally Thames

This festival celebrates the River Thames for the whole month of September. There are many events including shows, exhibitions, and boat parties. From the world’s oldest boat race to hip-hop inspired poetry, to musicians and storytellers, this festival has a ton going on. To see what’s happening when you’re in London, visit the Totally Thames website.

Watch the promo video below to get a better idea of what happens during the festival.

Totally Thames website | All of September | Free and paid events

London Fashion Weekend

If you’re visiting London in September and have an interest in fashion, the London Fashion Weekend allows you to shop more than 150 of the top British and international fashion brands at discounted prices, at the iconic Victoria House in Bloomsbury. You can also get tickets for industry talks and special events.

London Fashion Weekend takes place mid- September (check the website for this year’s dates) and is more accessible than London Fashion Week itself (which happens before the weekend festival). Tickets for some events sell out fast so visit the London Fashion Weekend website and order tickets early to ensure you get to check out whatever interests you.

Watch the video below to see more of what it’s like.

London Fashion Weekend website | mid-September | free to £££

London Design Festival

Similar to Fashion Week Festival, the London Design Festival happens throughout the city with a purpose to celebrate and promote London as the design capital of the world. There are many design events and exhibitions (both public and private) to explore during the week-long festival. Listings of the various exhibits are available on the London Design Festival website.

See the video below for a visitor’s experience going to the festival.

London Design Festival website | mid-September | Free and paid exhibitions

Buckingham Palace Summer Opening

The Buckingham Palace Summer Opening continues into September, during which London visitors can get access inside Buckingham Palace and experience that year’s special exhibition. Ticket prices, opening times, and directions are available on the palace’s website. If you’re into history and the royals, this might be worth the ticket price for you.

Buckingham Palace Summer Opening website | July – October | £££

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Oktoberfest in London

Munich’s world-famous Oktoberfest actually mostly takes place in September every year, and London likes to get involved as much as possible without having to deal with the massive crowds and jacked-up hotel prices they’d get in Munchen…

Lots of pubs and venues around the city will put on special Oktoberfest celebrations, and there are even a few “Oktoberfest-style” pubs and beer gardens that are open year round anyways.

You can find out events and parties happening around the city as it gets closer to Oktoberfest time by checking the listings on Time Out London and Design My Night. I personally love celebrating at German Kraft, a brewery located next to the Mercato Metropolitano in Elephant and Castle. They have a German-style drinking atmosphere in their stunning beer garden all year round, but during Oktoberfest time, they do special treats like oompah bands and dancing on tables… you’ll feel like you’ve been drunkenly transported to Munich!

Oktoberfest in London | Most of September, weekends | £-££

BBC Proms

The BBC Proms finishes up in the first half of September. Each year, the BBC Proms host two months of concerts over the summer, aiming to bring the finest classical music to as many people as possible at affordable prices and in an informal atmosphere, with standing tickets or high-up gallery tickets from just £6.

“Proms” is short for “promenade concerts”, which tend to be informal and offer affordable tickets. The tradition of “promming” happens when you take part by buying one of those inexpensive tickets, with up to 1,350 of these usually being on offer for each BBC Proms show, which happen at the famous Royal Albert Hall.

If you want to get involved, you can find more info and tickets on the BBC Proms website. The promming tickets are usually sold online the morning before the show, and also at the door on a first-come-first-served basis. Check out Visit London’s guide on how to be a top Prommer so you can make the most of the experience.

Watch the video above for a preview of one act from the 2019 Proms…

BBC Proms website | July – mid September | £-£££

For more tips about visiting London, sign up for my free London 101 Guide. It has everything a first-time visitor to London needs, and you can grab it for free! You’ll get helpful tips about airport transportation, what type of power adapter you need, and how much to tip for all those pints of beer. You’ll be well prepared to make the most of your visit.

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What to do in London in September - a list of events in London in September. If you're visiting London in September, here are some interesting things to do.