10 Places to Visit in and Around London This September
There are some places in and around London that you can visit at any time of year.
And then there are places that become a little more interesting when September arrives.
Spring has its lavender fields.
Summer has its outdoor events and seaside trips.
But September brings something different: the first signs of autumn, seasonal wildlife, flower shows, festivals, architecture events and a whole new calendar of things happening around the city.
So if you're going to be in London this September, don't just search for the usual tourist attractions.
Look for places that give you a reason to visit now.
Here are 10 places in and around London worth putting on your September list.
1. Richmond Park - See the Deer During the Rut
If there is one place I'd put near the top of a September list, it's Richmond Park.
Not because September suddenly makes the park beautiful it is beautiful throughout the year but because this is when one of its most fascinating natural events begins.
The park is home to large herds of red and fallow deer, and autumn is the start of their rutting season.
The males become much more active as they compete for females. You may hear the famous roaring of the stags, and you might see males displaying, calling or competing with rivals.
That makes September a particularly interesting time to visit.
You're not just going to Richmond Park for a walk.
You're visiting during an important moment in the park's wildlife calendar.
And the park itself gives you plenty to explore afterwards, from open grassland and woodland to views across London.
When to go -
From September onwards, as the rut begins.
Important to know -
The deer are wild animals, especially during the rut.
The Royal Parks advises visitors to keep at least 50 metres away from the deer and never get between them.
September reason to go: The beginning of deer rutting season.
2. RHS Garden Wisley - Go During the September Flower Show
If spring makes you think of lavender fields and flower gardens, September has its own answer.
Head out to RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey.
The big reason to visit at the start of September 2026 is the RHS Wisley Flower Show, which takes place from 1–6 September.
The show features floral displays, specialist nurseries, shopping and gardening activities, all set within the gardens.
There is also a particular focus on dahlias during the show, with the National Dahlia Society attending from 2 September.
And this year there is another unusual reason to visit: British singer Will Young has created a garden installation called Out of the Shadows for the show.
So if you're looking for something that feels like the September equivalent of a spring flower-field trip, Wisley is one of the strongest options.
When to go -
1–6 September 2026.
September reason to go -
The annual RHS Wisley Flower Show and its September flower displays.
3. Kew Gardens - Look for Something You Don't Normally Get to See
Kew Gardens is one of those places you can visit in almost any season.
But September 2026 brings some special experiences that make it worth putting on your calendar.
One of the most unusual is the opportunity to go behind the scenes of Kew's Fungarium, home to the world's largest collection of fungi.
Special Fungarium tours are taking place on 15, 22 and 29 September 2026. (kew.org)
That's not your typical Kew Gardens visit.
And even if you don't book one of those tours, September is a good time to explore the gardens as summer begins transitioning towards autumn.
Kew is also hosting other September events and experiences throughout the month.
When to go -
15, 22 or 29 September if you want the Fungarium tour.
September reason to go -
Special September programming, including behind-the-scenes Fungarium tours.
4. The Thames - Experience Totally Thames
Here's one where the entire river becomes the destination.
Every September, London celebrates its famous river through Totally Thames, and in 2026 the festival runs from 1–30 September.
The programme includes art, performances, installations, talks, river activities and other events taking place at different locations along the Thames.
The 2026 programme includes projects such as Turning the Tide, a site-specific film installation by Turner Prize-nominated artist Catherine Yass, running 17–20 September around the disused Blackfriars Railway Bridge columns.
There are also programmes involving historic boats, riverside spaces and communities along the Thames.
So rather than asking:
“Where should I go to see the Thames?”
September gives you another question:
“What's happening on the Thames while I'm here?”
When to go -
1–30 September 2026.
September reason to go -
Totally Thames is running throughout the month.
5. Open House Festival - See Inside London's Hidden Buildings
Here's a completely different September experience.
For one week, London opens up buildings and spaces that you wouldn't normally be able to visit.
The Open House Festival runs from 12–20 September 2026 and takes place across London.
Buildings and other sites across all 33 London boroughs take part, allowing visitors to explore architecture and parts of the city that are normally closed to the public.
And the best part?
It's free.
Some events are drop-in while others require booking, so you'll want to check the programme before deciding where to go.
This is perfect if you've already seen the obvious London landmarks and want to discover a different side of the city.
When to go -
12–20 September 2026.
September reason to go -
Buildings across London open their doors as part of the annual festival.
6. London Design Festival - See London Turn Into a Gallery
If you enjoy design, architecture or unusual installations, put London Design Festival on your September list.
The 2026 festival runs from 12–20 September, with installations and events taking place across London.
The interesting part is that you aren't simply going to one exhibition hall.
Design appears in different parts of the city.
Historic locations, public spaces, galleries and neighbourhoods can become temporary settings for installations and creative work.
That means you can combine the festival with your normal sightseeing.
You might walk through a part of London you already know and suddenly find something completely unexpected.
When to go
12–20 September 2026.
September reason to go
The annual London Design Festival takes over locations around the capital.
7. Greenwich - Watch the Great River Race
Greenwich is already one of London's best day-out destinations.
But if you're there on the right September day, you can see something rather different on the Thames.
The Great River Race takes place on 12 September 2026, with around 300 boats racing along a 21.6-mile course from Millwall in east London to Ham in Richmond.
The race passes beneath London's bridges and creates a completely different atmosphere along the river.
Greenwich is a particularly good place to combine the event with a wider day out.
Explore the riverside, see the Cutty Sark, visit the Old Royal Naval College and then find a good position along the Thames to watch the boats.
When to go -
12 September 2026.
September reason to go -
The Great River Race passes along the Thames.
8. Hampton Court Palace - Go for the Autumn Kitchen Weekends
If you're willing to travel a little outside central London, Hampton Court Palace gives you another interesting September option.
The palace's Tudor Kitchen Weekends begin on 5 September 2026 and run on selected weekends through 18 October.
Visitors can step into Henry VIII's historic kitchens and learn more about how food was prepared and served in the royal household. The experience is included with palace admission.
There are also garden history tours on selected September dates, making this a particularly good month for combining the palace's history with its gardens.
And if you're a car enthusiast, there's an especially big event here at the beginning of September.
The Concours of Elegance takes place at Hampton Court Palace from 4–6 September 2026, bringing around 60 rare cars into the palace's Fountain Garden.
When to go -
Throughout September, with special events on selected dates.
September reason to go -
Tudor Kitchen Weekends and the September Concours of Elegance.
9. Buckingham Palace - Visit the State Rooms Before They Close
Here's one for people who have always wanted to see inside Buckingham Palace.
The State Rooms aren't open to visitors all year.
The annual summer opening runs through 27 September 2026, making September your final opportunity this year to tour the palace interiors.
The self-guided visit takes you through some of the palace's grand rooms and also includes part of the gardens.
So if you've photographed Buckingham Palace from outside a hundred times but have never actually been inside, September gives you one last opportunity before the annual opening ends.
When to go -
Until 27 September 2026.
September reason to go -
It's the final month of the annual summer opening.
10. London Fashion Week - See the City at Its Most Fashionable
If you're visiting London between 17 and 21 September, you'll arrive during London Fashion Week.
The September 2026 edition runs from Thursday 17 to Monday 21 September.
This isn't necessarily about getting into a runway show many events are industry-focused or invite-only.
But London Fashion Week brings designers, fashion businesses, creative events and public-facing showcases into the city.
The official schedule includes some events marked open to the public, so it is worth checking the programme if fashion is something you're interested in.
Even simply being around parts of central London during Fashion Week can give you a glimpse of the city's fashion culture.
When to go
17–21 September 2026.
September reason to go
London Fashion Week's September edition.
So, Where Should You Go This September?
The answer depends on what you want to experience.
For wildlife
Richmond Park
Go for the beginning of the deer rut.
For flowers
RHS Garden Wisley
Especially 1–6 September for the Flower Show.
For something unusual
Kew Gardens
Look at the special September programme and Fungarium tours.
For the Thames
Totally Thames
The festival runs throughout September.
For architecture
Open House Festival
12–20 September.
For design
London Design Festival
12–20 September.
For a one-day event
Greenwich
Go on 12 September for the Great River Race.
For royal history
Buckingham Palace
Visit before the State Rooms' annual opening ends on 27 September.
For a day trip
Hampton Court Palace
September has its Tudor Kitchen Weekends and other special events.
For fashion
London Fashion Week
17–21 September.
September Is the Month to Look Beyond the Usual London List
You can visit Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace and the London Eye in any month.
But September gives you another reason to explore.
You can watch deer beginning their rut in Richmond Park.
See a major flower show at Wisley.
Go behind the scenes at Kew.
Experience the Thames during Totally Thames.
Walk into buildings that normally keep their doors closed.
See London transformed by design installations.
Watch hundreds of boats race along the river.
Explore Hampton Court during its autumn programme.
Or step inside Buckingham Palace before its annual opening ends.
That's what makes a September trip different.
You're not simply visiting London.
You're visiting London in September.
And sometimes, the best places to add to your trip are the ones that give you a reason to be there right now.
Planning your next London day out? Discover more neighbourhood guides, hidden gems, food spots and things to do on LondonYaar.com.
Follow @rohan.londonyaar for more London inspiration, recommendations and things to discover around the city.