What's on in London
This September, London pairs big autumn openings with a river festival that runs all month. The Bayeux Tapestry arrives at the British Museum on 10 September for a ten-month stay, Totally Thames fills the riverbanks until 30 September and Open House unlocks hundreds of buildings between 12 and 20 September. On stage and in the arenas, Sam Smith plays the London Coliseum on 18 September, the Laver Cup brings tennis to The O2 from 25 September, and Van Morrison and Jamie Cullum headline jazz nights. Candlelight concerts light up Southwark Cathedral and Central Hall Westminster, and Tate Britain closes its Whistler survey on 27 September.
Live music and festivals in London
Jamie Cullum
Jamie Cullum plays Blue Note London on 28 September at 19:00.
Agnieszka Chylinska
Agnieszka Chylinska plays O2 Shepherds Bush Empire on 4 October at 18:00.
Aurela Gace
Aurela Gace plays Troxy on 4 October at 19:00.
Joe Jackson - Hope And Fury Tour 2026
Joe Jackson - Hope And Fury Tour 2026 plays The London Palladium on 4 October at 19:30.
Theatre, sport and shows in London
EuroCup - London Lions v La Laguna Tenerife
EuroCup - London Lions v La Laguna Tenerife comes to Copper Box Arena on 6 October at 19:30.
The World of Hans Zimmer - a New Dimension
The World of Hans Zimmer - a New Dimension comes to The O2 on 12 October at 18:30.
SLB Championship - London Lions v Bristol Flyers
SLB Championship - London Lions v Bristol Flyers comes to Copper Box Arena on 24 October at 18:00. · Sold out
Hocus Pocus: Film with Live Orchestra
Hocus Pocus: Film with Live Orchestra comes to Eventim Apollo on 25 October at 13:30.
Jim Henson's Labyrinth: In Concert
Jim Henson's Labyrinth: In Concert comes to Eventim Apollo on 25 October at 19:30.
Current exhibitions in London
John Constable, views of nature
Until: 4 October
Where: British Museum
Drawings and prints of the English landscape and its weather, with free entry.
NIGO, From Japan with Love
Until: 4 October
Where: Design Museum
The Japanese designer and DJ across fashion, music and collaboration.
Anish Kapoor
Until: 18 October
Where: Hayward Gallery
A major show of the sculptor's work at the Southbank Centre.
Henry Moore, Monumental Nature
Until: 31 January 2027
Where: Kew Gardens
Sculptures by Henry Moore placed across the gardens, with related drawings in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery.
The Bayeux Tapestry
Dates: 10 September to 11 July 2027
Where: British Museum
The embroidered account of the Norman conquest, on loan from France for ten months.
Smithsonian Starstruck
Until: 31 October
Where: Science Museum
A virtual reality journey through the universe, made with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and booked in timed slots.
World Press Photo Exhibition 2026
Until: 30 September
Where: MPB Gallery
The winning pictures of this year's World Press Photo contest, on show in London until the end of the month.
London tickets and tours
Keep the city and national holiday calendar in mind
Public holidays change the rhythm of a visit more than most travellers expect. Banks and offices close, many attractions switch to a holiday timetable and public transport runs a reduced service, so a day built around a single museum or market can fall flat. England and Wales share one bank holiday calendar, and it sets 8 dates for 2026. Two of them stand apart: nothing runs on the Transport for London network on Christmas Day, the Boxing Day service is limited, and Visit London warns that most attractions, shops and restaurants close on both days.
National holidays in England and Wales 2026
- 1 January New Year's Day
- 3 April Good Friday
- 6 April Easter Monday
- 4 May Early May bank holiday
- 25 May Spring bank holiday
- 31 August Summer bank holiday
- 25 December Christmas Day
- 28 December Boxing Day (substitute day, as 26 December falls on a Saturday)
Local holidays in London 2026
London adds no local holidays to that calendar: the England and Wales list above is the only one that applies in the capital. The extra dates kept elsewhere in the United Kingdom, among them 2 January and St Andrew's Day in Scotland and St Patrick's Day and the Battle of the Boyne in Northern Ireland, are not holidays in London.
The Greenwich tourist information desk keeps its 10:00 to 16:00 hours on bank holidays. The other centres publish their opening times on the official pages linked above, and it is worth checking them before a holiday weekend. On Easter Sunday large shops in London have to close by law, while small shops may open.
More about London
Things to do in London
The London guide on Tourist Office gathers a one day itinerary, the twelve landmarks worth booking ahead and what the city offers for free.
London tourist information
Where the 7 official visitor information centres are, when they open and which bank holidays change their hours.
United Kingdom highlights
Beyond the capital, the country guide covers Stonehenge, Edinburgh Castle, the Lake District and the food worth trying.