Free Cultural Events, Exhibitions and Open Buildings Across London This Week

London offers numerous free events, exhibitions, and open-access buildings for visitors to explore between 14 and 20 September 2026.

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Architecture and Landmark Openings

The Open House architecture festival continues until 20 September, allowing visitors to enter private buildings and take free tours. Most activities take place over the weekend.

Whitechapel's East London Mosque and London Muslim Centre hosts an open day on Saturday 19 September, featuring guided tours, exhibitions, and tea.

Art and Museum Exhibitions

Several exhibitions close on 20 September:

• Early Netherlandish Drawings at the British Museum displays 15th- and early 16th-century works on paper.

• Waldmuller: Landscapes at the National Gallery showcases Austrian painter Ferdinand Georg Waldmuller's landscape works, featuring views of Vienna, the Salzkammergut, and Sicily.

V&A South Kensington displays seven pieces of sacred Ukrainian art from the National Preserve Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra starting Monday 14 September, marking their first UK exhibition. The museum also hosts a free lunchtime lecture on Thursday about the history of the Lavra site.

UCL's Octagon Gallery launches 'Two Centuries Here' on 17 September to mark 200 years since the university's founding, featuring objects from the Petrie Museum, Grant Museum of Zoology, and UCL Art Museum Archive.

The Royal College of Nursing at Cavendish Square launches its digital nursing exhibition on Wednesday 16 September with free talks, activities, and refreshments.

Festivals and Community Events

Granary Square and King's Boulevard display 30 intimate portraits of Amy Winehouse on benches near her album Back to Black anniversary until 15 October.

The Bermondsey Street Festival takes place in SE1 on Saturday 19 September, featuring craft and community stalls, a food and music stage in Tanner Street Park, and family activities in Leathermarket Gardens.

The Horniman Museum and Gardens hosts 'Crossing Borders' on Saturday 19 September, a free community celebration featuring Afghan kite-making, Honduran folk dance workshops, live Ukrainian music, and an art exhibition by refugee artists.

The London Cycling Festival takes place on Sunday 20 September with group rides and festival hubs at locations including Victoria Park and St Paul's Cathedral.

Book Launches and Talks

Stanchion Books hosts free book launch events this week:

• Monday 14 September: The Volley on Old Street hosts a discussion on street football with author David Proudlove.

• Tuesday 17 and Thursday 19 September: The Blue Monk in Bermondsey hosts launches for a book on football tactics and Pep Guardiola with Jon Mackenzie.