What to do in September: London’s top festivals, concerts and exhibitions
September in London is not just about the back-to-school rush. It’s also the month when the city shakes off its summer lull and bursts back into life. Cultural calendars fill up fast: major new exhibitions open, theatre programmes boast high-profile premieres such as Seagull: True Story, the streets play host to art installations, and the air hums with anticipation of London Fashion Week. Add to that an unprecedented number of festivals — from Open House and the Chelsea History Festival to a Guinness World Record attempt marking 100 years of cinema — and it’s clear there will be no quiet weekends this month. As ever, Afisha.London rounds up the most exciting things to see and do.
This article is also available in Russian here.
City festivals and major events
London’s September festival schedule is bursting at the seams, promising anything but a quiet weekend. Expect architectural walks, design installations, late-night performances, live music, podcasts, and even sheep being herded across a bridge.
ZIGGYFEST (6 September)
Soho will be sprinkled with stardust as the very first festival dedicated to David Bowie takes over the iconic street where Ziggy Stardust’s album cover was shot. Expect live performances, DJs and Bowie lookalike contests featuring his collaborators — including Spiders from Mars drummer Woody Woodmansey and stylist Suzi Ronson. Bowie will also be celebrated at the long-awaited exhibition opening at the new V&A East Storehouse (see below). Read more here
Classic Boat Festival (6–7 September)
Around 50 vintage boats and yachts will moor by Tower Bridge, transforming the riverside into a living museum on water. Visitors will be able to board Dunkirk “little ships”, historic barges and naval vessels, while on land there will be live music, food stalls and children’s activities. Read more here
Read also: Charles Dickens Museum: a journey into the heart of Victorian London
Photo: St Katharine Docks / Classic Boat Festival
Totally Thames 2025 (1–30 September)
The annual festival devoted to London’s waterways returns with a month-long programme of exhibitions, performances, installations, boat tours and lectures. Highlights include beginner kayaking at Kew Bridge, river races, and the rousing Sing For Water choir performance at Tower Bridge. Read more here
London Design Festival (13–21 September)
For nine days, the capital becomes the design capital of the world. Expect large-scale outdoor works, experimental projects by emerging studios and established masters alike, and special “design districts” where you can spend an entire day drifting from one showroom to another. It’s where art, architecture and technology collide, turning the city into an open-air gallery. Read more here
Somerset House: Step Inside 25 Birthday Weekend (13–14 September)
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Somerset House is throwing open its doors for a weekend of free events. Visitors can explore hidden spaces including the Deadhouse and Maker Street, meet creative residents, and enjoy a packed programme of dance, music, performances, film, tours and family-friendly workshops. Read more here
Open House Festival 2025 (13–21 September)
The much-loved celebration of London’s architecture returns, offering free entry to more than 800 buildings across the capital. From historic landmarks to cutting-edge contemporary structures, private homes to government institutions, this is the city at its most open and democratic. Registration is required. Read more here
Photo: Prime Minister’s residence at 10 Downing Street / Photo: Open House Festival
London Fashion Week (12–16 September)
The catwalks return with shows from Burberry, Simone Rocha, Roksanda and many more. Alongside the runways: installations, talks and parties, with parts of the programme available to stream online. Read more here
London Podcast Festival (4–14 September)
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this year’s festival at King’s Place (and online) features dozens of live shows. The line-up includes No Such Thing As A Fish, Jameela Jamil, The Empire Film Podcast and special editions from History Hit. In just a decade, the festival has become Europe’s leading stage for podcast fans and creators alike. Read more here
Chelsea History Festival (24–28 September)
With over 80 events spread across Chelsea Physic Garden, the National Army Museum and the Royal Hospital Chelsea, this festival delves deep into the area’s rich heritage — from Roman times to the swinging 60s. Expect lectures, concerts and guided walks for the whole family. Read more here
Oktoberfest
From 13 September until the end of October, Bavaria relocates to the British capital. From the intimate Pengefest and parties at the Munich Cricket Club to large-scale celebrations in Camden, Hammersmith and Finsbury Park, London will host dozens of events filled with steins of beer, live music, competitions and traditional German food. The best advice? Search for events close to home — it makes the journey back a lot easier after a night of serious festivity. And of course, what’s Oktoberfest without traditional dress to add that extra splash of colour? Authentic Bavarian outfits don’t come cheap, and in Bavaria buying one is considered a matter of pride. But here in London, party costumes are more than enough — they capture the festive spirit perfectly.
For men, there’s the choice of a classic Bavarian suit or a lighter option with shorts. For women, both the traditional dirndl and more elegant Bavarian dresses will do the job just as well.
Read also: Skyscrapers and the City: London’s vertical future balances on historic foundations
Photo: © Oktoberfest at Between the Bridges
Max Richter’s SLEEP turns 10
On 5 and 6 September, Alexandra Palace will host a very unusual concert experience: audiences will listen to Max Richter’s eight-hour composition SLEEP while lying in beds provided by the organisers. The performance begins at 10pm and continues until 6am. Guests are advised to wear comfortable nightclothes — changing facilities are limited and each bed is assigned. Admission is for ages 18 and over. Read more here
Frieze Sculpture
From 17 September to 2 November, Regent’s Park once again becomes home to an open-air exhibition of contemporary art, curated by Fatos Üstek. This year’s theme, In the Shadows, explores hidden worlds, inner darkness and the interplay of light and obscurity. Read more here
Celebrate Film 100: Guinness World Records Attempt
On 27 September, the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich will mark the centenary of cinema and television with screenings, workshops, costumed activities and a Guinness World Records attempt for the largest gathering of people dressed as film characters. Visitors can choose from 45 characters — from Star Wars and Bridgerton to Batman and Indiana Jones — and help break the record. Some activities require tickets, but many, including parades, workshops and prop displays, are free. Read more here
London Sheep Drive & Livery Fair
On 28 September, an ancient tradition returns to the City. Fifty sheep of the North of England Mule breed will be herded across Southwark Bridge by freemen of the City of London, joined by a celebrity guest whose name is still under wraps. The quirky procession reimagines the centuries-old right to drive livestock across the Thames bridges, now repurposed as a charity spectacle. Read more here
Japan Matsuri 2025
Trafalgar Square will once again transform into a celebration of Japanese culture on 21 September. Expect a full day of music, dance, martial arts and live performances. Previous years have featured taiko drumming, classical Nihon Buyo dance, elaborate costume shows and even Japanese tango. The real star, however, is the street food: sushi, ramen, bao and sake will take over the square, a perfect antidote to the autumn chill.
New exhibitions in September
David Bowie Archive
Over 80,000 items from David Bowie’s archive will go on public display for the first time at the new V&A East Storehouse on the East Bank. Costumes, handwritten lyrics, stage designs, instruments, posters, diaries and even the musician’s own writing desk will be part of this unprecedented collection. Designed not just as an exhibition but as a “living archive”, the space will also host curators, screenings and talks. Admission is free, though advance booking is required.
From 13 September 2025, V&A East Storehouse
Theatre Picasso
Marking the centenary of Picasso’s The Three Dancers, Tate Modern presents an experimental exhibition curated by Wu Tsang and Enrique Fuentesblanca. The show transforms the gallery into a theatrical space, exploring Picasso through the lens of performance. More than 45 works — paintings, sculptures, textiles and graphics, including pieces never before shown in the UK — reveal how the artist fashioned his public persona through dancers, actors and popular culture.
17 September 2025 – 12 April 2026, Tate Modern
Marie Antoinette: Style
The most fashionable — and scandalous — queen of the 18th century is once again in the spotlight. The V&A brings together dresses, jewellery, interior objects and cinematic and fashion reinterpretations to show how Marie Antoinette’s style became a cultural phenomenon. From the luxury of Versailles to modern catwalks, the exhibition explores how her image has endured as a symbol of both power and femininity.
From 20 September 2025, V&A South Kensington
Somerset House / Borough Yards installations
This autumn art spills out of the museums. Until 14 September, Tai Shani’s The Spell or the Dream transforms the courtyard of Somerset House into a surreal fairytale — a giant “Sleeping Beauty” in a glass sarcophagus, breathing as if alive, with a soundtrack by Maxwell Sterling. Meanwhile, just south in Borough Yards, Philip Colbert’s brightly coloured pop-art lobsters — floral, shark-shaped, even column-like — occupy the arches until the end of October, turning the neighbourhood into an open-air gallery.
Theatre, concerts and talks
Seagull: True Story
The New York hit production comes to London. Directed by Alexander Molochnikov, this radical reinterpretation of Chekhov transforms the classic into a modern political drama about censorship, exile and the cost of freedom. Its protagonist, Russian theatre director Kon, flees to New York after the invasion of Ukraine makes his work impossible at home. But newfound liberty brings fresh conflicts and questions of identity in an unfamiliar cultural landscape. Blending metatheatre, live music and multimedia, the production is both vivid and unsettling, a bold statement for our times. Starring Alexander Burkovskiy, Ingeborga Dapkunaite, Alexander Molochnikov and others. Performed in English. From 5 September
ART-Breakfast: Cartier vs Fabergé — Battle of the Titans
On 13 September, Afisha.London invites you to an ART Breakfast® dedicated to one of the greatest jewellery rivalries in history. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the houses of Fabergé and Cartier defined luxury and craftsmanship, competing fiercely while inspiring each other to new heights. Margarita Bagrova, art expert and Editor-in-Chief of Afisha.London, will give a talk on this glittering duel and the stories behind unique Cartier masterpieces — the perfect preparation before visiting the new V&A exhibition on your own. Book here
For children aged 8–12, our partner project Museum Cat will run a bespoke quest-game through the Cartier exhibition — more details here.
The Importance of Being Earnest
Oscar Wilde’s sparkling comedy of double lives, romantic entanglements and razor-sharp wit returns in a bold new staging by Max Webster. In this playful production, Olly Alexander takes on the role of Algernon, while Stephen Fry steps into the shoes of Lady Bracknell. Critics have hailed it as “a daring, anarchic reboot of Wilde” with “irresistible charm”. From 19 September 2025
Emma by Jane Austen
Jane Austen’s classic is reimagined in a jazz age setting. In this fresh adaptation, Emma Woodhouse becomes a 1920s socialite — smoking, mixing cocktails and meddling in her friends’ love lives with her usual misguided confidence. Directed by Liz Steer for Southside Players, this production blends wit, cocktails and flapper-era glamour while retaining the warmth of Austen’s original. Dates: 30 September – 4 October 2025, book here
Disney’s Hercules the Musical
The long-awaited stage adaptation of Disney’s cult animation and the ancient Greek myth finally arrives. Set in classical Greece, the show follows Hercules — caught between godhood and mortality — as he must discover his true strength to save the world from Hades. From 1 September 2025, book here
Photo: Johan Persson © Disney
Noize MC in London
On 10 September, rapper and rock artist Noize MC performs at Indigo at The O₂, presenting his new album Не все дома. The autumn tour features 16 tracks including collaborations with Monetochka (Oblomki chuvstv, Kriokamery) as well as Prichiny dlya radosti and Svetlaya polosa. Expect the first chance to hear new songs live — alongside crowd-favourite hits. Just one day in London, book now
Treasures of the V&A: from Antiquity to Beyoncé
On 18 September, Museum Cat hosts a special Russian-language guided tour through the halls of the V&A. In just two hours, you’ll discover the history of the museum, encounter works by Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael, and admire jewellery masterpieces — from the Elizabethan court and Catherine the Great to pieces worn by today’s celebrities. After winding through the museum’s labyrinthine galleries, participants are welcome to continue the conversation over coffee. Details and tickets
Family fun and adventures
Looking for action-packed entertainment in London? Try karting — with tracks for every level:
- K1 Speed in Canary Wharf, with races and driving simulators.
- F1® DRIVE at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, an official Formula 1 track experience.
- Ultimate E-Kart Driving Tour, a sightseeing route by electric kart past London landmarks.
Photo: Adam Rutkowski on Unsplash
For a different perspective of the city, hop on the IFS Cloud Cable Car, spanning the Thames between Greenwich Peninsula and Royal Docks. The 10–15 minute ride offers sweeping views over The O₂, Canary Wharf and beyond, with an option for a round trip. The nearby London Cable Car Experience adds interactive exhibits and plenty of photo opportunities.
Another classic choice: London Zoo, home to nearly 15,000 animals — from lions and tigers to giant tortoises and penguins on Penguin Beach. Highlights include Land of the Lions, Gorilla Kingdom and Tiny Giants, plus new coral reef and Galápagos exhibits. Tickets are valid for the whole day, with advance booking helping you skip queues.
ZSL London Zoo. Photo: ZSL
Prefer dinosaurs? Step into Jurassic World: The Experience at Battersea Power Station’s NEON venue. This 3,200 m² immersive attraction spans 10 zones inspired by the blockbuster films — including the iconic gates, animatronic dinosaurs and interactive adventures.
London and its surrounds are brimming with family-friendly theme parks and attractions:
- Shrek’s Adventure with 4D fairytale fun
- Chessington World of Adventures with rides, zoo and themed zones
- Alton Towers, offering more than 40 rides and water attractions
- Legoland Windsor, a paradise for brick fans
- Thorpe Park, home to the UK’s most thrilling rollercoasters
- Warner Bros Studio Tour London, where the magic of Harry Potter comes alive through sets, props and special effects.
September in London promises to be packed with culture, entertainment and adventure. Follow our [Telegram channel] and visit our website for the latest on festivals, exhibitions and family activities — and make this autumn in the capital one to remember.
Cover photo: Shane Rounce on Unsplash
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Great British contemporaries: Stephen Fry
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