19 °C / 66 °F highs, 11 °C / 52 °F lows; mix of sun and showers.
September slips London into its post-summer stride: soft 19 °C / 66 °F days, golden light on the Thames, and locals back at work—meaning shorter lines for you. Time your stay around river-wide Totally Thames or the city-opening weekend of Open House. Book popular restaurants by 7 pm; Londoners dine later on school-night weeks.
Category
August
September
October
Weather
Warm 22 °C / 72 °F, occasional heat-wave nights.
19 °C / 66 °F highs, crisp evenings, reliable showers.
15 °C / 59 °F days; coats needed, autumn rain increases.
Crowds & vibe
Peak tourists plus Notting Hill Carnival crush.
Calmer, with locals back at desks; festival buzz weekends only.
Shoulder-season lull—arts crowds replace tourists.
Key events
Notting Hill Carnival, Summer Bank Holiday gigs.
Totally Thames, Open House, Design Festival, LFW.
BFI Film Festival, Frieze Art Fair, NFL games.
Best for
Party-seekers and families on school break.
Culture vultures who like choice without queues.
Art lovers, budget hunters, foliage photographers.
Book early?
Yes—everything sells out weeks ahead.
Hotels fine 3–4 weeks out; reserve event ballots early.
Only big art fairs and Halloween tours need pre-booking.
Transport notes
Tube swelters; Carnival reroutes buses.
Sunday river-closures for races; normal Tube service.
Some weekend engineering on Tube; rain-proof plan needed.
Budget
Highest-price rooms of year.
Rates drop 20-30 %; theatre discounts return.
Hotel deals abound; airfare dips post-summer.
Festivals
Date
Event type
Location
What to expext?
Totally Thames
1–30 Sep 2025
Cultural festival
River races, bridge illuminations, and mudlarking walks fill a month-long program. Many events are free; download the app early to lock walking-tour slots.
Great River Race
20 Sep 2025
Sporting event
Three hundred traditional boats row 21 mi upriver. Nab a riverside table in Hammersmith by noon; pubs overflow once the first crews pass.
Open House London
13–21 Sep 2025
Architecture festival
Citywide
Hundreds of usually closed buildings—think foreign embassies and art-deco substations—offer free tours. High-demand sites run ballots; plan choices early.
London Design Festival
13–21 Sep 2025
Design festival
V&A hub plus districts
Giant type installations and product launches pop up across seven “design districts.” Core shows at the V&A museum are free but queues build after 11 am on weekends.
London Fashion Week
18–22 Sep 2025
Industry event
Catwalks are invite‑only, yet Somerset House hosts ticketed panels and sample‑sale shopping; book consumer tickets now if trends tempt you.
Women’s Rugby World Cup Final
27 Sep 2025
Sporting event
Expect a record 80,000-plus crowd. Rail from Waterloo every 5 min—return trains jammed; linger riverside for post-match pints before heading back.
Pearly Kings & Queens Harvest Festival
28 Sep 2025 (TBC)
Cultural festival
Sequined suits, donkeys, and cockney sing-alongs raise charity coins. Service starts 3 pm; arrive early for pavement view.
London Mural Festival
Sept 2025 (TBC)
Art festival
Street artists spray 100+ large-scale works. Follow the free map to ticking-paint walls; best light for photos after 4 pm.
Great River Race Finish Concert
20 Sep 2025
Concert
Live folk bands greet rowers till dusk; bring layers—temperatures dip once the sun sets beyond Kew.
Thames Barrier Closure Day
21 Sep 2025 (TBC)
Engineering open day
Rare full barrier lift for maintenance. Walking tours of control rooms sell out within hours—check release dates mid-July.
Early autumn British apples baked under buttery oats; pair with custard.
Where to eat: Quo Vadis, Dean St, Soho
September signals the start of game season; rich venison and partridge encased in hot-water crust.
Where to eat: The Jugged Hare, Chiswell St
Post-monsoon spice hits cozy on cooler evenings; order medium-hot.
Where to eat: Aladin, 132 Brick Lane
Riverside food-stall classic; oily fish caught off Cornwall that morning, piled with horseradish.
Where to eat: Southbank Centre Food Market (Fri–Sun)
1.Tap the same contactless card for every journey—mixed cards break TfL’s daily fare cap, costing extra.
2.Download Open House booking links the minute they drop (usually 4 Sep, 10 am); premium sites sell out within 15 minutes.
3.Carry a light waterproof; downpours pass in 20 minutes, and many Tube entrances lack shelter.
4.Pubs thin after 10 pm on weeknights—grab last orders by 10:45 pm or head to late-licence Soho bars.
5.Southbank riverside pavement can be slick with leaf fall; wear treaded shoes for evening strolls.
6.Reserve Twickenham rail tickets outbound and inbound if attending the Rugby Final—contactless works, but pre-booked seats guarantee standing room.
7.Use museum late-open Fridays (V&A, British Museum) to dodge daytime school groups.
8.Photo tip: Millennium Bridge lights up at dusk; shoot St Paul’s dome reflection before 7:15 pm.
9.Luggage in tow? Many big stations have staffed Left Luggage counters; £7 per bag for up to three hours.
10.Avoid cash-point fees: stick to bank ATMs (HSBC, Barclays) near stations—convenience-store machines charge £1.75+ per withdrawal.
Probably—September averages 8 wet days, but showers are brief; pack a compact jacket and keep sightseeing.
Most major sites shift to winter hours in October, so September retains longer 6–7 pm last entries—check each venue.
Many river walks and art displays are free; paid boat tours or talks sell out fast, so book those online a week ahead.
Yes, mid-morning trains are noticeably calmer, though rush hours (8–9 am, 5–6 pm) still pack out.
Layer: thin sweater and light jacket. Temperatures can drop to 52 °F; pubs are warm but river breezes bite.
Absolutely. Grass stays green and dry most afternoons; just leave before 8 pm when gates start closing earlier.
Plan to be inside by 6 pm for an 8 pm kickoff—security lines grow long, and pre-match shows begin an hour before.
Large stores trade 12 pm–6 pm by law; small newsagents may open earlier. Plan grocery runs Saturday morning to avoid restrictions.
Yes—fill your bottle at public fountains or restaurant taps; it’s free and highly regulated.
Carry £20–£30 for markets or small cafés; 95 % of places take cards, and buses are cash-free.
