September in London is perfect for making the most of the free Open House Festival (13 to 21 September) where the great public has access to many hidden architectural gems that are not usually open to the public or the many celebrations of the River Thames that are part of the very popular Totally Thames Festival taking part during the whole month of September every year.
Last chance to see – events ending this September
The summer opening at Buckingham Palace ends on 28 September
The spectacular Red Roses display at the iconic London Eye, celebrating the past and present of England women’s rugby ends on 28 September.
The Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre ends on 20 September
The fish & chip shop made entirely of felt by textile artist Lucy Sparrow’s on Bourdon Street is free to visit and is open until 14 September (open Wednesday-Sunday)
Tai Shani: The Spell or The Dream last chance to see this fairy tale inspired installation at Somerset House (ends on 14 September)
The last free outdoor cinema screenings at Barbican Sculpture Court, Merchant Square (free) in Paddington and the Summer Screens in Canada Square Park run until 27 September.
Regent’s Park Music Festival ends on 21 September.
Free events in London this September 2025
This month comes with a great opportunity to enjoy many free events in London like the The Great River Race on 20 September, the Chiswick House Dog Show on 21 September and Oxford Street going traffic free for a day on 21 September.
The free bandstand concerts in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are every Sunday until 14 September.
The open garden weekend at Hampton Court Palace on 13-14 September gives free access to parts of the gardens and grounds. The Great Fountain Garden and the Kitchen Garden are among the areas which are open.
FREE Minigolf by Craig and Karl is at Canary Wharf’s Montgomery Square until 5 October.
Greenwich and Docklands International Festival brings accessible and community performances, exhibitions and interactive fun to East London on 5 and 6 September.
Somerset House celebrates its 25th anniversary with a weekend packed with free events on 13 & 14 September.
The new permanent home for David Bowie’s archive at the V&A East Storehouse, opens on 13 September and it is free to visit (tickets now available).
Amazon Pet Fest is back, celebrating our furry friends and their families in a FREE weekend festival at Weaver Fields, on 13–14 September 2025.
Bring your family to enjoy amazing pet-friendly experiences, numerous food and drink options, including the Amazon Fresh Café and the company of amazing pets! All for a great cause, with all proceeds donated in full to the RSPCA. The on site café will be serving complimentary puppuccinos for the goodest boys and girls!
Book your free ticket here.
The new free Space gallery opens on 21 September at the Science Museum. This out-of-this-world gallery shows iconic spacecraft that have taken humankind to the stars and unravels the future of space exploration. See the scorch-marked surface of the Apollo 10 capsule used for the dress rehearsal of the Moon landings and the Soyuz capsule that took Tim Peake to and from the International Space Station.
Friends of Brompton Cemetery Annual Open Day is on 7 September and it is packed with lots of free activities and entertainment for both children & adults to enjoy. Work from local artists and sculptors will be on display alongside a wide range of stalls selling products and crafts such as local honey, handmade soaps, jewellery and accessories, clothes, illustrated maps, books, baskets, aromatherapy, cards, scarves, belts and more. Our favourite multi-award-winning ‘Storytime with Anna Christina’ will be there with her fun interactive musical workshops of listening, learning, drawing, singing, and dancing.
Storytimes: 12:00 – 12:30 | 1:00 – 1:30 | 2:00 – 2:30
London Design Festival (13 to 21 September) is a global event that celebrates design in all its forms. This festival takes place in many locations with a packed programme of events, exhibitions and installations, with most of them free. We love the ‘sound’ of Hornscape Playground, an interactive public art installation that transforms a playground into a musical landscape.
Gabriel’s Wharf Arts Festival 2025 is a free for all fun and inspiring event in one of the nicest locations by the river Thames, taking place in the afternoons between 6 and 20 September. Check out their packed programme of live music, spoken word, japanese drumming performance, comedy and circus, plus art and craft activities, whilst indulging in tasty food and drink with great shopping opportunities too.
Sunday 21 September, 11am – 4.15pm
Now in its 21st year, Chiswick House Dog Show returns this September, packed with events, competitions and prizes for dogs of all shapes, sizes, and talents. This year’s theme is “The Great British Bark-Off”, so if your pooch is as cute as a cupcake, join the competition or just come along and enjoy the show! Free entry for non participating dogs and their humans.
CelebrASIA at Battersea Power Station is back on 5 to 7 September. Expect some of London’s finest South East Asian street food pop-ups, an indoor Artisan Market and live music and dance performances alongside arts and crafts sessions for all ages.
Fun things to do with kids in London
If you’re in town just for few days and want to make the most of our city, take a guided sightseeing tour on a vintage open-top bus to explore iconic landmarks (at a slower pace), or enjoy a James Bond thrilling experience on the river with Thames Rockets and their funny crew. For adrenaline seekers, The O2 Climb gives panoramic views of London’s iconic skyline while The Treetop Adventures from GoApe will have you holding tight to the ropes as you fly above the treetops.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ trail opens at Ham House and Garden on 1 September 2025. Families can wiggle along the trail, follow the illustrated signs and spot the vibrant juicy fruits and tasty snacks hidden around the garden before emerging as beautiful butterflies. Various games and activities packed with fun and fascinating facts related to this classic children’s tale are scattered alongside the trail via QR codes.
A spectacular music and drone art show will take place in Dulwich Park for three days only on 25, 26 and 27 September, featuring hundreds of synchronised drones to create stunning aerial displays accompanied by a live string orchestra for an extraordinary open-air experience. Tickets from £39.00.
Material World festival opens at Kew Gardens on 20 September! Running for six weeks until 2 November this show highlights sustainable fashion by showcasing plant and fungi through installations, gardens, community projects, and collections by new UK designers.
Entry to this festival is included in the Gardens ticket prices (from £11.00)
Arts, Crafts, Song and Dance
Evita is masterfully played by Rachel Zegler at the London Palladium until 6 September. Come to see this spectacular reimagining of Time Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical.
What’s on at London museums this September
From ancient loaves to lab-grown steak, Future of Food at the Science Museum serves up a tasty look at what we’ll eat next. Thought-provoking objects, hands-on interactive exhibits and compelling digital experiences including a giant game where you shape the menu of tomorrow. Free entry, big ideas.
The Young V&A museum celebrates the creativity of ancient Egyptians with their newest exhibition Making Egypt. A £10 ticket allows multiple entries to this exhibition until 2 November.
International Talk Like a Pirate Day on 19 September at the National Maritime Museum features a 2-for-1 ticket discount Friday to Sunday for the Pirates exhibition, with prizes for visitors dressed in pirate costumes, including Cutty Sark Rig climb tickets. Additionally, Pirates ticket holders can enjoy a £1 hot drink at the National Maritime Museum café with the purchase of a themed cake.
Tickets for Pirates exhibition are from £7.50
Travel back millions of years with Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs at Lightroom (until 2 November). Join Damian Lewis for an epic adventure through dinosaur history — from prehistoric rulers to modern-day legends. Tickets needed.
Buckingham State Rooms and gardens runing until 28 September invites visitors to enjoy self-guided tours of one of the world’s few remaining working royal palaces. Come and see the Throne Room and the magnificent staircase and to discover some of the Royal Collection’s greatest treasures. Tickets from £20.50.
Dive into Thirst at the Wellcome Collection (until 1 Feb) — an immersive show exploring our tangled relationship with water through 125 objects, artworks and ideas. Eye-opening, urgent, and free.
Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth? at the Natural History Museum explores the big question – are we alone in the universe? Tickets from £14.
Step inside Japan House for Pictograms: Iconic Japanese Designs (until 9 November) and dive into giant symbols, from towering torii gates to sumo wrestlers and shinkansen trains. Plus, design your own cool icon to take home. Free fun with serious style.
Ted’s Space Adventure a royal Observatory planetarium show for a young audience 3 to 7. Explore the Solar System with a bear named Ted. Tickets £6
The Robot Zoo at Horniman Museum. Family-friendly exhibition features larger-than-life animals made of machine parts. Tickets from £9.75. Runs until November.
Sorted! The Postal Play Space indoor play area at the Postal Museum. Hands on 45min play sessions for under 8 year olds. Tickets £4.50
Keep up to date with more family-friendly fun by following us on Instagram. For more ideas of things to do with the kids in London, visit our events and activities area which provides details of free and ticketed events and special offers from London’s finest venues. For our selection of London theatre and performing arts shows for children and families please visit our Theatre & Dance page.