At a Glance
Compared to this destination's peak season
London in September — Travel Guide
By Harry Nara · Last updated
London in September offers some of the best conditions of the year, ideal for smart travellers & culture fans. Expect temperatures of 12–20°C, around 8 days of rain, and medium crowds across the city. Daily budgets typically land around £95–155 for mid-range travellers. Book three to four weeks ahead for the best mid-range rates and the widest hotel choice.
Contents14 sections
#Weather in London in September
London in September averages 12–20°C (54–68°F) with around 8 days of rain, and crowds are medium.
| Measure | September in London |
|---|---|
| Daytime high | About 20°C / 68°F, warmer spells in the first half |
| Overnight low | About 12°C / 54°F |
| Rain | About 8 wet days |
| Sunset | 7:48pm on the 1st, 6:42pm by the 30th |
| Crowds | Falling once the schools go back in the first week |
| Big moments | Open House London, Totally Thames, Fashion Week, the Last Night of the Proms |
Figures are Met Office 1991–2020 normals for London.
What that actually means for your trip:
- Late summer lingers. The first half of September often brings warm, settled days in the low 20s, and the evenings are still long enough for a riverside drink.
- The city empties of tourists, not Londoners. British schools go back in the first week of September, so the summer crowds at the big museums and sights fall sharply, while Londoners return from holiday and the city's cultural season starts.
- The evenings shorten fast. Sunset moves more than an hour earlier across the month, from about 7:50pm to before 6:45pm.
- The weather turns in the last week. Cooler, windier and wetter days become more common, so pack a waterproof layer.
Is September a good time to visit London? Yes, it is one of the best: mild weather, thinner crowds after the first week, lower hotel rates than in summer, and a cultural calendar that fills up, with Open House London's free access to hundreds of buildings, the river festival and the start of the theatre and concert seasons. The only catch is the weather in the final week, which is a coin toss.
#What to Do in London in September
Open House London
For a week or so in September, Open House London opens hundreds of buildings that are normally closed to the public, from private houses and offices to engine rooms, embassies and the tops of towers, most of them free.
It is organised by Open City, which publishes the dates and programme in late summer. Some popular buildings need booking; many are walk-in.
Totally Thames and the Great River Race
Through September, the Totally Thames festival fills the riverside with art, talks, boat trips and events, many of them free.
One Saturday in September brings the Great River Race, in which hundreds of traditional rowing and paddling boats race some 21 miles upriver from Docklands to Ham, past every London landmark. It is free to watch from the bridges and the Thames Path.
The Last Night of the Proms
The BBC Proms season at the Royal Albert Hall ends in September with the Last Night, a famously flag-waving concert. Tickets are sold by ballot and are hard to get, but standing Promming tickets for other concerts are sold cheaply on the day, and the Last Night is broadcast to big screens elsewhere. The Proms publish the 2027 season in the spring.
London Fashion Week
The September edition of London Fashion Week, organised by the British Fashion Council, shows the next spring collections. The catwalk shows are for the trade, but some events, pop-ups and the street style around the venues are open to everyone; check the BFC's schedule for the 2027 dates.
Buckingham Palace
The State Rooms of Buckingham Palace open to visitors in summer, usually until late September, with timed tickets sold by the Royal Collection Trust. September is the quietest time to go, after the August crowds.
Solo Travellers
Walk the Regent's Canal from Little Venice to Camden, then on to King's Cross and the Coal Drops Yard, and spend a long evening at the theatre now the new season has started.
Couples
Walk the South Bank from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge at sunset, then cross to dinner in Bermondsey.
A day trip to Brighton, about an hour from Victoria, works well in the early-September warmth.
Families
The Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the V&A are free and noticeably quieter once the schools go back.
Kew Gardens and the London Wetland Centre in Barnes are good open-air days in fine weather.
Groups
The Bermondsey Beer Mile, a string of brewery taprooms under the railway arches, is at its best on a mild September Saturday. Open House weekend also suits a group: pick a neighbourhood and walk between buildings.
#Getting Around
From Heathrow, the Elizabeth line runs straight through central London, the Piccadilly line is slower and cheaper, and the Heathrow Express is fastest to Paddington.
Gatwick has the Gatwick Express and Thameslink, Stansted the Stansted Express to Liverpool Street, and Luton a shuttle and Thameslink to St Pancras.
Tap a contactless card or phone, or an Oyster card, on every Tube, bus, train and tram; daily caps stop you paying more than about £8.90 a day in Zones 1 and 2 at 2026 prices.
A bus ride is £1.85 from 1 November 2026, and the Hopper fare gives free changes within an hour. TfL changes fares each March, so check the 2027 figures.
The Uber Boat by Thames Clippers river buses run from Westminster to Greenwich and beyond, and are a fine way to see the city in September light.
#Budget & Costs
| Travel style | Per day | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | £75–110 | Hostel bed, pub meals, contactless transport |
| Mid-range | £180–260 | 3-star hotel, restaurants, one paid sight |
| Luxury | £450+ | Top hotels and fine dining |
September prices fall from August, especially from the second week, when the school holidays end.
Costs worth knowing:
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Open House London | Mostly free |
| Totally Thames and the Great River Race | Largely free |
| National Gallery, British Museum, V&A | Free |
| Bus fare | £1.85 from 1 November 2026 |
| Pint in central London | About £6.50–7.50 |
- The free museums make London cheaper than it looks.
- Contactless caps stop transport costs running away.
- Proms tickets for Prommers are cheap and sold on the day.
#Food & Dining
September brings the start of the game season, partridge and grouse among it, and the first autumn produce: wild mushrooms, apples, plums and blackberries.
Borough Market shows it off.
St. John in Smithfield, the nose-to-tail pioneer, and its sister St. John Bread and Wine in Spitalfields are the classic autumn tables, and Brat in Shoreditch cooks over fire.
#Nightlife
September is when London's arts season starts.
The Barbican and the Southbank Centre launch their new programmes, the West End opens autumn shows, and Ronnie Scott's in Soho has jazz every night. Rooftop and riverside bars stay open while the weather holds.
#Shopping
The summer sales end in early September and the autumn collections arrive.
Portobello Road market is at its best on Saturdays, Columbia Road flower market on Sunday mornings, and Liberty and Selfridges show the new season.
Bermondsey Antiques Market runs on Friday mornings.
#Culture & Etiquette
- Open House: book popular buildings ahead; take photo ID for government buildings.
- Queue: Londoners queue for everything, and jumping it is noticed.
- Stand on the right on Tube escalators.
- Tipping: 10–12.5% in restaurants, often added as a service charge; nothing at the pub bar.
- Proms etiquette: Prommers stand and listen in silence; save the flag-waving for the Last Night.
#Essential Local Phrases
British English has a few words American visitors won't immediately recognise.
| What you want to say | What Londoners say |
|---|---|
| The subway / metro | The Tube |
| An umbrella | A brolly |
| Standing in line | Queueing |
| The bathroom / restroom | The loo |
| Sneakers | Trainers |
| A sweater | A jumper |
| A cookie | A biscuit |
| Dessert | Pudding |
| Two weeks | A fortnight |
| A cup of tea | A cuppa |
| Public holiday | A bank holiday |
#Packing List
- A light jacket or mid-layer for evenings
- A waterproof layer or compact umbrella for the last week
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sunscreen for warm early-September days
- One smarter outfit for the theatre or a good restaurant
- A contactless card or phone for transport
#Backup Plans (Rainy Days)
The National Gallery, the British Museum, Tate Modern and the V&A are free and could fill a week.
Somerset House has exhibitions in its courtyard buildings, and the BFI Southbank shows films all day.
If the river events are rained off: the Great River Race goes ahead in most weather; watch from a riverside pub such as those in Hammersmith or Richmond.
If Open House queues are long: choose a cluster of smaller buildings in one neighbourhood rather than crossing town for one famous one.
#Safety & Health
London is safe in September. Pickpockets work crowded areas, Oxford Street, Covent Garden and the Tube, so keep phones out of back pockets and bags zipped.
Emergency: 999, or 111 for urgent medical advice and 101 for non-emergency police.
#What's New for September 2027
- Open House London returns in September; Open City publishes the dates in late summer
- The Proms announce the 2027 season, including the Last Night date, in the spring
- The London bus fare is £1.85 from 1 November 2026, and TfL changes fares each March
- Buckingham Palace's State Rooms usually close for the year in late September
- Totally Thames runs through the month, with the Great River Race on a September Saturday
#About This Guide
By Harry Nara (founder of WhenToWander), updated October 2026 for September 2027. Climate figures are Met Office 1991–2020 normals. Dates and facts verified against:
- Open City for Open House London
- Totally Thames for the river festival
- BBC Proms for the season and the Last Night
- Royal Collection Trust for the Buckingham Palace opening
- Transport for London for fares
For the season as a whole, see London in autumn, and for the month that follows, London in October.
You might also like
Destinations picked for travellers with similar taste or climate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is September a good month to visit London?
Yes, it is one of the best. Highs are around 20°C in the first half, the summer crowds fall sharply once British schools return in the first week, and hotel rates ease. The cultural season starts, with Open House London, the Totally Thames festival, the Last Night of the Proms and Fashion Week. The last week is more changeable, so pack a waterproof.
When is London Fashion Week?
London Fashion Week is held in September (Ready-to-Wear season) and February (also RTW). It's a trade event, so runway shows aren't open to the public. However, the associated events, pop-ups, and street-style watching in and around the BFC venues (Somerset House area) make it a festive backdrop.
What is the Totally Thames festival?
A month-long festival along the river through September, with art, talks, boat trips and events, many of them free. On one Saturday in September it includes the Great River Race, in which hundreds of traditional rowing and paddling boats race about 21 miles upriver from Docklands to Ham; it is free to watch from the bridges and the Thames Path.
Is the weather still good in September?
Usually yes for the first half — warm days with lower chance of rain than summer. The third and fourth weeks bring more variable weather. Temperatures range from 13–20°C. A light jacket and waterproof layer are useful but the season is genuinely pleasant, more so than October onward.
How much does it cost to visit London in September?
Budget-conscious travellers can expect daily costs of £95–155, covering accommodation, food, and local transport. Flexible dates can save up to 20% compared with peak-week rates.