Your Guide To September In London
September is when London starts to pick up its pace again. The summer crowds begin to thin, the cultural calendar fills up and the city moves from outdoor festivals and long evenings towards fashion, design, exhibitions, theatre and the new season of restaurants and events.
This September is particularly busy, with London Fashion Week, London Design Festival, Open House London and the first UK display of the Bayeux Tapestry among the month's major dates. There are also new immersive experiences, major exhibitions, theatre productions and plenty of reasons to make the most of the city before autumn properly settles in.
Whether you're looking for things to do in London in September, planning a weekend in the capital or simply want to know what's worth booking, these are some of the events and experiences to have on your radar.
Events to Make You Shine
London Fashion Week
Where: Various locations across London
When: September 2026
September brings London Fashion Week back to the capital, with designers, editors, buyers and fashion crowds descending on the city for one of the most important dates in the international fashion calendar.
Beyond the runway shows, Fashion Week brings a familiar change of pace to London, with presentations, parties, installations and events taking place across the city. If you're interested in seeing more than the official schedule, we've put together a guide to the London Fashion Week shows to keep an eye on, covering some of the designers and collections worth knowing about this season.
London Design Festival
Where: Across London
When: 12–20 September 2026
London's design credentials come into focus during London Design Festival, which returns in September with exhibitions, installations, talks and events spread across the capital.
The festival takes place across 11 Design Districts, bringing together established names and emerging designers. This year's programme includes Japanese craftsmanship and technology at the V&A, a pangolin-inspired pavilion on the Strand and a Kenzo retrospective at the Design Museum.
It is also a good excuse to explore some of London's museums and neighbourhoods from a different perspective, with installations appearing in galleries, public spaces and unexpected corners of the city.
Open House London
Where: Across London
When: 12–26 September 2026
Every September, Open House London offers a rare opportunity to look inside buildings that are normally closed to the public.
The programme covers everything from historic houses and places of worship to contemporary offices, schools and architectural landmarks, with tours, talks and workshops taking place throughout the festival.
For anyone interested in London's architecture and history, it is one of the more unusual ways to explore the city. Many events are free, although some require advance booking, so it is worth checking the programme early.
The Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum
Where: British Museum, Bloomsbury
When: September 2026
One of the most significant cultural events of the year arrives in London this September when the Bayeux Tapestry goes on display at the British Museum.
The nearly 70-metre-long embroidered artwork depicts the events surrounding the Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Believed to have been made in England, the tapestry has spent the past nine centuries in Bayeux, Normandy.
Its appearance in Britain is therefore a particularly rare event. After centuries away, the tapestry will return to the country where it is believed to have been created, giving visitors the chance to see one of medieval Europe's most important surviving works in person.
Peaky Blinders Underworld
Where: Arches London Bridge
When: From September 2026
Fans of the Shelby family can step into the world of Peaky Blinders this September with Peaky Blinders Underworld, a new immersive entertainment experience opening at the historic Arches London Bridge.
Based on the series created by Steven Knight, the experience invites visitors to join the Shelby syndicate, meet members of the gang and take part in a series of hands-on challenges while moving through locations inspired by the show.
The setting beneath London Bridge adds to the atmosphere, making this one for anyone looking for something a little different from London's traditional theatre and museum circuit.
Cleopatra: The Experience
Where: Immersive LDN
When: September 2026
For something more immersive, Cleopatra: The Experience takes visitors into the world of the legendary Egyptian queen using a combination of immersive technology, virtual reality storytelling, a free-roaming metaverse and 5D sensory effects.
We visited the experience shortly after it opened and found it particularly effective at turning Cleopatra's story into something you experience rather than simply observe. It is a good option for an afternoon or evening when you're looking for something beyond a conventional exhibition.
Witness for the Prosecution
Where: London County Hall, South Bank
When: September 2026
Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution takes place in an unusual setting: a real courtroom inside London County Hall.
The production places the audience in the role of the jury, asking them to listen to the evidence and ultimately decide whether the accused is guilty or not guilty. The courtroom setting makes the production feel considerably more immediate than a conventional theatre performance.
Before the show, The Library at the adjacent London Marriott Hotel County Hall is a convenient place for a drink or afternoon tea, with views towards Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.
RENT the Musical
Where: London
When: From 26 September 2026
Thirty years after its groundbreaking original production, RENT returns to London on 26 September, with Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo playing narrator Mark.
Directed by Luke Sheppard, the production revisits Jonathan Larson's much-loved musical about a group of young artists and musicians living in 1980s New York as they navigate relationships, friendship, creativity and loss.
The show remains particularly known for its soundtrack, which has continued to attract new audiences since the musical first appeared in the 1990s.
Burlesque the Musical
Where: The Arts at Marble Arch
When: 12 September 2026–31 January 2027
The stage adaptation of Burlesque arrives in London this September, following Ali, a young performer who enters New York's underground burlesque scene while searching for her mother.
The production combines choreography, elaborate costumes and songs from Christina Aguilera, Sia and other songwriters. Running from September into January, it offers an option for anyone looking for a new musical as London's autumn theatre season gets underway.
Ronnie Scott's: Cinematic Sounds III
Where: Ronnie Scott's, Soho
When: 21 September 2026
Tickets: £35
For an evening of live music, Ronnie Scott's hosts Cinematic Sounds III on 21 September.
The performance brings jazz together with some of cinema's most recognisable music, including themes from Black Swan, Joker and Edward Scissorhands. It is a slightly different way to experience the Soho institution, particularly for anyone who enjoys film scores as much as jazz.
More live jazz follows later in the month at The Spitz in Old Spitalfields Market, which celebrates 30 years since it first opened as a live music venue.
Art Exhibitions in London
September is one of the better months for exhibitions in London. The summer crowds have started to ease, while museums and galleries begin introducing the programmes that will carry the city into autumn.
Frida: The Making of an Icon
Where: Tate Modern, Bankside
When: 25 June 2026–3 January 2027
Frida: The Making of an Icon at Tate Modern examines how Frida Kahlo became one of the most recognisable artists and cultural figures of the 20th century.
The exhibition brings together more than 130 works, photographs, archival material and other objects to explore Kahlo's life, artistic identity and growing influence.
Rather than concentrating solely on her paintings, the exhibition looks at the construction of Kahlo's public image and the different ways her work and identity have continued to influence artists and popular culture.
Read our full review and guide to Frida: The Making of an Icon at Tate Modern.
World Press Photo Exhibition
Where: MPB Gallery, Bermondsey
When: From 21 August 2026
The World Press Photo Exhibition returns to London this September, bringing together the winning images from the 2026 World Press Photo Contest.
Photography is the centre of the exhibition, but the stories behind the images cover conflict, politics, climate, communities and everyday life around the world. Some photographs are difficult to look at, but that is also part of what makes the exhibition worth seeing: it asks visitors to spend time with stories that can otherwise become distant when encountered through a news feed.
For anyone interested in photography and contemporary journalism, it is one of the more affecting exhibitions on the London calendar this month.
Henry Moore: Monumental Nature
Where: Kew Gardens
When: Until January 2027
Kew Gardens is hosting a major outdoor exhibition dedicated to Henry Moore, bringing 30 monumental sculptures from different stages of the artist's 70-year career into the gardens.
Henry Moore: Monumental Nature places Moore's large-scale works among Kew's landscape, creating an interesting relationship between the sculptures and the natural environment around them.
Entry to the exhibition is included with general admission to Kew Gardens, making it easy to combine with an afternoon exploring the gardens.
Buckingham Palace Summer Opening
Where: Buckingham Palace, Westminster
When: Until 27 September 2026
For a few weeks each year, Buckingham Palace opens its State Rooms to visitors, making September one of the final opportunities to experience the palace before the summer opening ends.
This year's visit also includes the newly transformed Picture Gallery and a selection of masterpieces being displayed at the palace.
If you're visiting London in September and have never been inside Buckingham Palace, it is one of the city's more distinctive seasonal experiences, particularly as the opening ends on 27 September.
Food & Drink
September also marks the point when London's restaurant scene begins to move back into its autumn rhythm.
Leydi, City of London
For a weekend dinner in the City, Leydi is a good option near St Paul’s and Bank. The modern Turkish restaurant inside The Hyde London City serves meze, börek and charcoal-grilled dishes in a colourful, carefully designed dining room. Our picks included the smoked aubergine, lamb chops and lamb köfte.
Alfi, Spitalfields Market
For something more casual, Alfi at Spitalfields Market serves Neapolitan-style pizza alongside Italian dishes and drinks. Its location makes it an easy stop before or after exploring Shoreditch, Spitalfields and the surrounding City.
Music & Concerts
Bon Jovi: Forever Tour
Where: Wembley Stadium
When: 4, 6 & 9 September 2026
Bon Jovi return to London this September as their Forever Tour arrives at Wembley Stadium for three dates. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees will perform on 4, 6 and 9 September, with James Bay supporting.
Melanie Martinez
Where: O2
When: 11 September 2026
Diljit Dosanjh
Where: Wembley Stadium
When: 12 September 2026
KATSEYE
Where: O2
When: 3, 4 September 2026