London Weekend Guide (Sept 12-13, 2026): Free Heritage Open Days, Festivals and Design Week Hits

Travellers visiting London in mid-September can enjoy an action-packed lineup of seasonal festivals, open-door architectural events, and cultural pop-ups across the city.

Free Architectural and Heritage Access

Architecture and history enthusiasts can look forward to major open-door events. Open House London and Heritage Open Days run concurrently across the city, allowing visitors free entry to normally off-limits landmarks, historic halls, and hidden places. Highlights include the City of London’s Mansion House, Billingsgate Roman House and Baths, and Drapers' Hall, alongside guided walks and behind-the-scenes venue tours. Hampton Court Palace is also granting free entry to its expansive 800-acre grounds, including the Great Fountain, Privy, and Kitchen Gardens, though separate paid tickets are required for the interior rooms and maze.

【1-Day Tour Routes】Depart from London | Visit the iconic White Cliffs of Dover and Kent

Available tomorrow

HKD 966 Start

Book now

Seasonal Festivals and Design Events

The 24th edition of the London Design Festival kicks off this weekend, featuring public art installations like The Pangolin Shield on the Strand, immersive sound experiences at Wapping Hydraulic Power Station, and open studios at Oxo Tower Wharf. Food and lifestyle culture take centre stage elsewhere, with Southeast Asian market stalls and craft workshops at Battersea Power Station’s CelebrASIa, and fermented delicacies at Hackney Bridge's The Big Brine. Meanwhile, maritime enthusiasts can view around 50 vintage ships at St Katharine Docks' Classic Boat Festival, and dog lovers can head to King's Cross for The Big Woof.

【1-Day Tour Routes】Departure from London | Canterbury & Dover Castle One-Day Tour

Available tomorrow

HKD 1080 Start

Book now

Exhibitions, Literary Fairs and Displays

Art and floral lovers can explore a sustainable flower festival inside Strawberry Hill House or catch the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Exhibition at Mall Galleries. The Fashion & Textile Museum wraps up its major retrospective on pattern pioneers Susan Collier and Sarah Campbell. Literary fans can visit Chiswick for the Chiswick Book Festival featuring author panels, or head to Kings Place for the final shows of the London Podcast Festival.