Open House Festival last stretch (until 20 September)
Open City’s nine-day run of buildings usually closed to the public finishes on Sunday. If you missed the opening weekend, this is the last chance to catch private homes, offices and landmarks across the boroughs. Most open days are free to drop in; some tours still need advance booking.
Official programme: open-city.org.uk/open-house-festival — listings at programme.openhouse.org.uk (free festival; official sites, not affiliate links).
London Design Festival closes (until 20 September)
The 24th London Design Festival wraps on Sunday after a city-wide run of installations, district programmes and talks. Treat Saturday or Sunday as a walkable half-day: pick one district, check what is free without a ticket, and leave room for queues at the busier spots.
Official site: londondesignfestival.com (official festival site, not an affiliate link).
Jack Dee & Friends – 40 Years in Comedy — London Palladium (Friday 18 September)
A one-night Palladium gala marking four decades of Jack Dee’s stand-up, with comedy friends joining in. Profits support St Christopher’s Hospice and North London Hospice in memory of Jeremy Hardy and Sean Lock — a Friday night with a proper West End stage and a good cause behind it.
Event details — official tickets via LW Theatres (affiliate link).
Saint Etienne – final UK tour — Roundhouse (Friday 18 September)
The band’s farewell UK-tour celebration of 35 years of Saint Etienne lands at the Roundhouse Main Space. Doors 19:00, curfew 23:00. Expect a deep dive into the catalogue and the final album International; waiting list may be active if the night is sold out.
Event details — Roundhouse box office (official venue tickets, not an affiliate link).
Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa — Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Saturday 19 September, 12:30)
Premier League lunchtime kick-off at the Lane. General admission is usually via One Hotspur membership and the Ticket Exchange; official hospitality is separately on sale if you want a packages option rather than a standard seat.
Event details — club home tickets (official; membership/exchange may apply).
Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks — London Palladium (Sunday 20 September)
YES vocalist and songwriter Jon Anderson brings The Band Geeks to the Palladium for a night of YES epics and classics — a clean Sunday concert if the festivals have worn you out.
Event details — official tickets via LW Theatres (affiliate link).
West End if you want a seat and a story
James Graham’s The Standard of Living starts previews at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from Monday 21 September, so the weekend is a good moment to book ahead. Sting’s The Last Ship opens its Drury Lane run from Tuesday 22 September. For LW houses this weekend, start at the official box office link above; for ongoing shows such as The Comedy About Spies at the Adelphi, check LW Theatres for Friday captioned and Sunday audio-described performances.
The Standard of Living · The Last Ship
Tickets and tours
For club nights and live music across the weekend, search Skiddle. For sightseeing, cruises and attraction entry, see Viator’s London experiences. For attraction passes and sightseeing, browse the London Pass from Go City. For LW venues, use the LW Theatres link above. For a wider West End agency catalogue with availability and offers across shows, see London Box Office. For major music and arena tickets, Ticketmaster UK is a tracked partner option; it is not the official venue box office. Whatever you pick, confirm times and ticket details with the organiser before you travel.
Browse the full events calendar for more dates into late September.