Unmissable Things To Do in London this September 2023

Autumn is here! Yes, that WAS summer, we hope you made the most of it! We’re back from a mad month of reviewing in Edinburgh, to make sure you have another list of Unmissable Things To Do in London (and beyond) this September!

Greenwich + Docklands International Festival  | Various Venues | Until 10 September

Our favourite (and mostly FREE) festival of performance art continues in September, highlights including the eye-boggling Resurgam (pictured) taking place on (yes, on) St Paul’s Cathedral (6:15pm, 1 & 2 September), the poetic swan ballet of Cygnus (until 3 September at Victoria Dock), and the extensive programme which makes up Canary Wharf’s Dancing City (9 & 10 September).

Bartholomew Fair  | City of London | Until 16 September

Three weeks of free stunning performances and cultural events in the City of London including Kit Green’s incredible reworking of Bartholomew Fair by Ben Jonson (1614), and a free vertical dance performance on the façade of St Paul’s Cathedral. Bartholomew Fair is like London’s version of Burning Man.

Liberty Festival 2023 | Croydon Venues | 1-3 September | FREE

Celebrate work by Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists in London Borough of Culture, Croydon.

Black On The Square 2023 | Trafalgar Square | 2 September | FREE

A free festival of UK Black culture including food, art, dance and DJs.

Chiswick Flower Market | Old Market Place, Chiswick High Road | 2 September | FREE

This monthly flower market (first Sunday of the month) will brighten your September, with beautiful bunches and bouquets and stems galore! Fill your life with flowers.

National Cinema Day | Nationwide | 2 September | From £3

£3 cinema tickets might just drag you back into the cinema post-Barbenheimer.

The Collective | Good Hotel London | 2-3 September | From £5

No cover versions allowed. Support new artists performing original songs at this festival.

Camden Inspire | Buck Street, Camden | 2-3 September | FREE

Scratch the surface of the redeveloped glossy Camden, with a raucous festival of performance, art and creative workshops.

NEST | RSPB St Aidan’s Nature Park, Leeds | 5-9 September | £16

Take the Megabus to Leeds to uncover epic outdoor promenade theatre from National Youth Theatre, at RSPB St Aidan’s Nature Park.

Lobster Telephone | The Cockpit | 12 September | 7:30pm | £15

A surreal night of comedy and unpredictable amusements.

New Adventures Festival | Camden People’s Theatre | 12-17 September

Camden People’s Theatre has taken BAC’s crown as the home of scratch performances. New Adventures is an exciting testbed where you can see the next big thing in performance, lightyears ahead of the fringe.

The BitterSweet Review: Issue 02 | Bold Tendencies | 13 September | £5.60

A chance to see the next literary boundary breakers including Jordan Martin/Hell, in a former Peckham Car Park.

The Legends of Them | Brixton House | 14-30 September | From £15

Hackney Showroom is back with Sutara Galye’s inspirational solo performance packed full of music.

Epic Minds | Jacksons Lane | 15-16 September | £14

A hilarious and emotional descent into the world of psychosis – featuring circus rope.

Peckham Festival | Peckham Venues | 15-17 September | FREE

A free programme of events including music, art and Pexmas indie market.

BFDay23 Festival | Multiple Venues | 21-23 September | FREE

London’s hottest bookshop presents a festival of indie publishing.

Chagall: Unlocked | Barbican | 21-23 September | £18

A genre-defying digital feast of music and live art from Chagall.

Imposter 22 | Royal Court | From 23 September | From £12

Pioneering theatre company Access All Areas explore the politics around neurodiversity in this playful, whodunnit caper.

Did we forget something? We almost certainly did – please let us know in the comments below!