September’s first proper weekend in London is a culture pile-up. Open House Festival and London Design Festival both open on Saturday, the Proms close with the Last Night at the Royal Albert Hall, Waterworks turns into a 36-hour dance marathon at The Cause, and there is a free jazz day at KOKO on Sunday. Here is our pick of what is worth planning around.
Open House Festival starts (12–20 September)
For nine days, Open City opens hundreds of buildings across all 33 boroughs that are usually closed to the public — private homes, offices, infrastructure and landmarks. Most open days are free to drop in; some tours need advance booking on the festival programme site. Saturday 12 September is day one, so it is a good moment to skim the listings and pick one or two buildings near a Tube stop rather than trying to do half the city.
Official info and programme: open-city.org.uk/open-house-festival — browse listings at programme.openhouse.org.uk (free festival; official sites, not affiliate links).
London Design Festival opens (12–20 September)
The 24th London Design Festival runs city-wide from Saturday 12 to Sunday 20 September, with landmark installations, district programmes and talks. The Global Design Forum returns to the V&A South Kensington for 12–14 September. Treat it as a walkable weekend: pick a district, check what is free to visit without a ticket, and leave room for queues at the busier installations.
Official site: londondesignfestival.com (official festival site, not an affiliate link).
Last Night of the Proms — Royal Albert Hall (Saturday 12 September, 19:15)
The 2026 Proms close on Saturday night with pianist Yuja Wang, tenor Nicky Spence and the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Sakari Oramo. The second half keeps the traditional Sea-Songs, Rule, Britannia!, Land of Hope and Glory and Jerusalem. There is one interval. Last Night tickets are in high demand; check the box office for what is left, including promming if that is how you like the hall.
Information: bbc.co.uk/events/epp2rz — tickets: royalalberthall.com/tickets/proms (official box office, not affiliate links).
Waterworks Extended at The Cause (Saturday 12–Sunday 13 September)
Waterworks could not stay at Gunnersbury Park this year, so the festival has moved to The Cause in the Royal Docks for a one-off 36-hour continuous event across seven spaces — outdoors by day, indoors by night — from noon on Saturday through to midnight on Sunday. Existing tickets remain valid; refunds are available via the festival if the new format is not for you. Nearest stations are Canning Town and Royal Victoria. Timed entry still applies, so arrive in your slot.
Official info and tickets: waterworksfestival.co.uk (official festival site; tickets via their named agents — not an affiliate link).
Metric, Broken Social Scene and Stars — O2 Academy Brixton (Saturday 12 September)
The All the Feelings Tour brings Metric, Broken Social Scene and Stars to Brixton on Saturday. Doors 18:30, show from 19:00, curfew 23:00. Standing is 14+; seated is 8+ with an adult for under-14s. Three bands who have shared stages and audiences for years — a solid Saturday night if dance floors are not your plan.
Official tickets: livenation.co.uk (official Live Nation listing, not an affiliate link).
JAZZ RE:FEST at KOKO (Sunday 13 September)
jazz re:freshed’s free family-friendly jazz day moves to KOKO in Camden for its 13th edition, with Theon Cross & Friends, SULA, Marla Kether, Alex Cosmo Blake and LOX among the names announced. Entry is free (register interest on Dice to help with numbers — it is not a guaranteed entry ticket). Children 8+ with an adult; accessibility tickets must be booked via KOKO’s own site.
Official info: jazzrefreshed.com/jazz-refest-2026 — registration: Dice (free event; official links, not affiliate).
West End if you want a seat and a story
Disney’s The Lion King is still at the Lyceum with evening and matinee performances through the weekend — confirm times on the official show site. For Andrew Lloyd Webber’s theatres (Palladium, Drury Lane, His Majesty’s and the rest of the LW house), start at the official LW Theatres box office.
Tickets and tours
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Ready to book? These are the places we would start.
- Find gigs and events on Skiddle
- Browse London tours on Viator
For club nights and live music across the weekend, search Skiddle. For sightseeing, cruises and attraction entry, see Viator’s London experiences. For LW venues, use the official LW Theatres box office link above. Whatever you pick, confirm times and ticket details with the organiser before you travel.