Visit London in September 2024 – Things To Do, Weather, Tips and More

With children returning to school, many of London’s attractions become slightly quieter, allowing for a more relaxed experience. September also brings Heritage Open Days, offering free access to a selection of historical sites on specific dates.

There are festivals still taking place, amazing art exhibitions to see, outdoor cinema still happening and lots more.

All of this makes September a fantastic time to visit London. Read on for a variety of ideas on things to do in this wonderful city

Every September, the Thames becomes the stage for a month-long festival celebrating London’s iconic river. From art installations to river races to live performances and guided walks, Totally Thames offers a wide range of activities for all ages.

There’s so much going on. Highlights include Thames Day on 22nd September where there’s lots of family events happening for free. 

Check out the programme of events here. 

Take advantage of the last of the warmer weather to watch a play outdoors.

If you love Shakespeare, the Comedy of Errors, Anthony and Cleopatra and the Taming of the Shrew are all showing at the roofless theatre, The Globe. 

If you are on a budget, The Globe offers standing tickets from between 5 to 10 pounds.

Alternatively see The Fiddler on the Roof at the open air theatre in Regents Park.

For a family affair, head to Fulham Palace and Garden on 1st September for an outdoor version of Beauty and the Beast.

Heritage Open Days take place across the UK, which of course includes London. 

You can visit many places free of charge on selected dates between 6th and 15th September 

In London, the includes a guided tour of Fulham Palace, a visit to The Guards Museum and a guided bat tour among many other events. 

Find a list of places to visit and events taking place in London. 

The Royal family leave Buckingham Palace during the summer so the Palace can open to visitors. In 2024, the Palace is open until the 29th September.

Take the chance for a rare glimpse into the state rooms of the British monarchy. The tour also includes access to the picturesque palace gardens, perfect for a leisurely stroll.

We visited Buckingham Palace in September 2024. For more information read our Buckingham Palace Review.

Book Your Tour of Buckingham Palace.

Embark on a Shakespeare Walking Tour

The Globe Theatre in London offers a variety of walking tours which are a fascinating insight into Shakespeare’s London.

With relatively warm and dry weather (compared to other months) September is a good month for embarking on one of these tours.

One popular option is the Shakespeare’s tour in London’s Bankside area. Go back in time and learn about 400 years of history through fascinating stories from your guide.  Learn about Thameside ferrymen, gruesome animal-baiting sports and explore the site and remains of Elizabethan London’s original playhouses, The Rose, where it is believed that some of Shakespeare’s earliest plays were first performed.

September is a lovely month for embarking on a walking tour.

Other brilliant walking tours include: 

A Harry Potter walking tour –with the option of a short river trip along the Thames

A Jack the Ripper walking tour – where you can discover more about 19th Century Victorian Britian with an expert guide.

A Secret London walking tour – journey off the beaten track and discover the secrets of London’s past and present.

A themed street art and graffiti tour  which allows you to discover the street art and graffiti of East London (featured below)

The Greenwich+Docklands International Festival is taking place until 8th September.

It’s London’s leading festival of free outdoor theatre and performing arts. See outdoor performances, installations, and artistic displays.

Find out what’s happening in September in the GDIF brochure 2024. There’s lots of unticketed events which are free – you just turn up!

Take a Dip in the Outdoors

 

 

 

 

 

 

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London can still have many warm days in September. If there’s an Indian summer why not take advantage by going for an outdoor swim. There are plenty of outdoor swimming pools in London which include Tooting Bec Lido, Brockwell Lido, and London Fields Lido.

Additionally you can take a swim in open water at canary wharf if your brave enough!

Westminster Abbey was the setting for King Charles III coronation and for the wedding of William and Kate as well as for many other Royal occasions. It’s a stunning place to visit and one of the top tourist attractions in London.

This September you can embark on a hidden highlights tour. See behind the scenes of the Abbey on a guided tour of some areas not usually open to the public.

Challenge friends and family to a free game of mini golf at Canary Wharf. The colourful course is open from 12pm to 6pm until the 29th September. It can be played by all ages.

Don’t Miss the BBC Proms at Royal Albert Hall

The BBC Proms is a summer tradition that runs until early September. Held at the beautiful Royal Albert Hall, the Proms are a multitude of concerts, from grand symphonies to intimate chamber music performances.

Don’t miss the famed Last Night of the Proms, the geat festive finale!

Closing on September 8th, it’s the last chance for lego fans to attend the Art of Brick exhibition in London contains more than 150 works of art made up of over a million lego bricks.

Impressively it includes lego recreations of some world famous artworks as well as life sized human lego statues and a towering 6ft tall t-rex skeleton

It takes place at the boiler house in Brick Lane. Buy tickets here.

Hosted at the National Gallery, the Van Gogh : Poets and Lover Exhibition  is your chance to see many of Van Gogh’s much loved works. Opening on 14th September, it runs until 19th January 2025. 

September is a lovely month to embark on River Thames  cruise.  Why not make it extra special with an afternoon tea while you enjoy the sights?

There are also outdoor options available for those who would like to enjoy the British tradition of afternoon on a warm September day. Try the the tranquil Garden Room at the Corinthia Hotel. St. Ermin’s Hotel is renowned for lovely afternoon teas and it has an outdoor terrace as well.

If the weather takes a turn for the worst, head indoors for an afternoon tea. There are so many choose from, it’s impossible to list them all. Some ideas include Fortnum and Mason, Sketch or the The Orangery at Kensington Palace. 

Attend Black in the Square

Taking place in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 7th September, Black in the Square is an annual free festival celebrating the contributions and influence of the Black community in the UK.

Enjoy live music and dance to spoken word and theatre. The festival showcases the immense talent within the Black community.

There are plenty of stalls including amazing food from Caribbean, Mauritius, Guyana, Jamaica, Nigeria and Ghana.

September is still a relatively warm month to picnic in one of London’s many beautiful parks. Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, and St. James’s Park have many events happening throughout September.

They include a Hidden Stories of St. James’s Park Walking Touron 6th September and a bat walk in Hyde  Park and  Kensington Gardens on 12th September. 

Find a list of all September events taking place at London’s Royal Parks. 

The British Science Festival is an annual event that celebrates and promotes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) across the UK. Organized by the British Science Association, it is one of the oldest science festivals in the world, having been established in 1831. Each year, the festival takes place in a different city or region in the UK – in 2024 the city is University of East London.

It’s taking place from 11th to 15th September and all events are FREE!

The festival aims to make science accessible and exciting to people of all ages and backgrounds. Attend lectures by leading scientists, witness panel discussions on current scientific issues, take part in hands-on workshops, see exhibitions, and marvel at demonstrations.

Find out more at the British Sceince Festival

September is a great time the lively atmosphere at Camden Market. Perfect to wander, shop, people watch and eat. 

Wander through the stalls and shop vintage clothing, handmade jewelry and London sovenirs. If you’re peckish, relieve your hunger with some international street food.

On 7th September you can also join in the annual community powered street party, Camden Inspires.

See London landmarks from a different perspective on a river cruise from Westminster to Greenwich. It’s a great way to see London during September.

If you’re a fan of films, then you won’t want to miss out on the Rooftop Film club in September.

The screens are located on roof terraces, so you can watch a movie with a view!

Kids can still go free in theatres until  6th September, with a paying adult to the theatre with an adult. This happens every year so it’s well worth looking out for when the tickets go on sale in June.

Find out more about kids week.

They include outdoor cinema events and forest bathing.

Find out more.

In London, there are plenty of docking stations where you can hire bikes to cycle around the city.

Cycling on London’s roads may seem quite daunting to some so why not take a traffic free cycle trip around Hyde Park. 

Click on the Instagram video above to see the perfect route.

Greenwich is a lovely part of London to visit in September. Why not take a boat from Westminster (you can do a return trip on the boat back too)?

Walk around the Cutty Sark and if the weather turns, pop into one of the nearby museums which includes The National Martime Museum.

Spend some time at Greenwich park and climb the hill to see lovely views of Canary Wharf and the south part of London.

Explore building not normally open to the public

Open House London takes place between 14th and 22nd September 2024. Explore buildings that aren’t normally accessible for free. 

The Paddington Bear Experiences is at the County Hall.

Explore many amazing locations from the Paddington movies while helping Paddington and the Brown Family prepare for a very special event; the Marmalade Day Festival.

Find out more

Check Out the London Fashion Week

If you love fashion, London Fashion Week is a must-see. While tickets to the main shows are hard to come by, there are plenty of some public events too. 

Find events normal people can attend.

Are you a Barbie fan? Then don’t miss the 2024 exhibition for Barbie’s 65th anniversary at the Design Museum. See Barbie’s history through design, including the original 1959 Barbie, 1985’s Day to Night Barbie, and 1992’s Totally Hair Barbie. It will emphasize diversity with dolls representing various ethnicities and inclusive designs, feature Barbie’s friends and Ken, and include iconic items like the 1962 Barbie Dreamhouse.

It’s your last chance to do the V&A Taylor Swift Songbook trail at the V&A Museum in Kensington.

Running until 8th September, the free trail celebrates Taylor Swift with a range of iconic looks on display.

There are also drop in design events happening for kids at the V&A. Design festival wristbands on Saturday 7th September or design boots on Friday 6th September. 

Discover the top London landmarks and sights on a London bus tour. A great way to see all the sights when you’re short on time. On warmer days hop you can on the top deck for some sunshine. Hop off at the sights you want to see. 

As you go round, listen to insights with on-board audio commentary. There is a bus route with 36 stops, starting at Grosvenor Gardens and ending at Buckingham Palace.

See Queen Elizabeth Gate in Hyde Park and the Thames Embankment. Travel across Westminster Bridge and catch a glimpse of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and the London Eye.

Attend a Football Match

Football season is in full swing in September, and London is home to some of the country’s top teams. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual observer, catching a live match is a great experience.

It can be almost impossible to get a ticket to premiership games unless you have a season ticket. However if you’re keen to watch a football match, why not try and what a Championship game? 

London’s championship sides include Watford, QPR, Millwall and Luton.

Weather In September

London in September is changing from summer to autumn, with a mix of sunny and cloudy days. It can still be very warm in the afternoons or the temperature may drop…like all months, September weather in London is unpredicatble. 

Mornings and evenings tend to be fairly cool with an the average temperature ranges from around 12°C (54°F) in the mornings to 19°C (66°F) in the afternoons, making it comfortable for outdoor activities without the intense heat of summer.

Rain showers are common, so it’s a good idea to keep an umbrella handy, but they’re usually brief and light.

The first two weeks of the month may have a  warm, sunny days, while the latter part starts to bring in the cool, crisp air of autumn.

However, London quite often has hot days throughout September, particularly at the beginning of the month.  At the time of writing (31st August 24) temperatures predicted to reach up to 25°C (77°F) during one or two afternoons in the next 2 weeks. 

Having said this, overall, September offers a gentle climate, perfect for exploring the city’s attractions.

What to Wear in London In September

In September it’s best to dress in layers to accomodate London’s unpredicatable weather.

If you’re using the Underground, it can get warm and you may want to remove some of the layers you need outdoors, so take a backpack where you can store your clothes when needed.

A light jacket or a sweater is a good idea for cooler mornings and evenings, while a T-shirt or long-sleeved top will work well during the warmer afternoons.

Since it often rains, packing a waterproof jacket or a compact umbrella is a smart move.

Don’t forget comfortable shoes, especially if you plan to explore the city on foot.

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