#FLOFavourite: things to do in London in September 2020
September is upon us. And not to sound too daunting, that means means back to school for some and back to normality for many.
Steadily more and more places are opening up, meaning an increase in interesting things to do in the city this month.
Although several London events will be remaining virtual, there is still plenty to do if you want to get out. Many restaurants and cultural venues are now welcoming guests back and some are even extending the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme!
Whether you’re ready to explore the city again or would rather have some virtual fun, here’s our guide to things to do this September...
Sunday market at Eccleston Yard
Image: MTotoe
#FLODown: Eccleston Yard is a quirky hub for independent businesses. It’s located just a short distance from Victoria station and offers the perfect location to drink and dine. Plus, you can enjoy a variety of activities including yoga, creative workshops and pop-up exhibitions.
There is also a new market running every Sunday from 11am - 5pm featuring a variety of independent vendors selling items including bespoke jewellery, homeware, art, plants, flowers, food and drink. They also have a great line-up of live music each week.
The restaurants at Eccleston Yard will be continuing the Eat Out to Help Out scheme throughout September. This includes Jones Family Kitchen, Morena London and Wild by Tart!
Image: MTotoe
Eccleston Yard launched a mural competition to find the best art to celebrate key workers in the community. The winner of the competition was Fiona Hunter and her gorgeous design of a rainbow being held up by key workers as seen above.
Location:
Eccleston Place, Belgravia, SW1W 9AZ
Nearest station:
Victoria station
Opening hours:
Monday – Friday 6am – 12am (Saturday, 7am – 12am, Sunday 7am – 11pm)
Sophie Tea Art Gallery opens on Carnaby Street
Image: MTotoe
#FLODown: Sophie Tea Art has opened her first-ever gallery and art shop in London. The Instagram star is famed for her Send Nudes collection, which blossomed after she invited her Instagram followers to send in nude images of themselves and act as real-life muses. After receiving 1000s of images over night, Sophie shared their inspiring stories of body image struggles and acceptance alongside their images.
The art gallery and shop, located on London’s iconic Carnaby Street, showcases some of this incredible art. All of the art that you will see in-store is on sale as well as other cool merchandise from her current collection. Click here to shop the artwork.
The gallery is open seven days a week – and you don’t need to book an appointment just show up!
Location:
5-7 Foubert’s Place, Soho, W1F 7PY
Nearest station:
Oxford Circus station
Opening hours:
Monday-Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday 10am-7pm, Sunday 11am-6pm
Dare Skywalk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Image: @tottenhamhotspurstadium
#FLODown: The Dare Skywalk at the newly opened Tottenham Hotspur Stadium offers the opportunity to walk around the famous golden cockerel and experience breath-taking views of the city. The 90-minute experience will take you 46.8m above the stadium's pitch and so this is really not for the faint-hearted!
The Dare Skywalk opened to the public on bank holiday Monday (31 August) and can be booked online now. It's open to all… even arsenal fans!
Location:
5-7 Foubert’s Place, Soho, W1F 7PY
Nearest station:
Oxford Circus station
Opening hours:
Monday-Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday 10am-7pm, Sunday: 11am-6pm
Price: Starting from £35.10
London’s Mural Festival
When?
Starting in September
Where?
Various locations in London
Image: MTotoe
#FLODown: London’s Mural Festival takes place this month and is designed to shine a spotlight on the dynamic and creative nature of our city. The festival will feature works by over 100 muralists, on show at 50 different locations around the city including Hackney Wick, Kings Cross, Holborn, Crystal Palace, Camden, Canary Wharf and Wembley Park.
If you haven’t been able to book tickets to some of your favourite art spots, or have been a bit sceptical about heading out to museums and galleries, then this is the perfect socially distanced alternative!
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the festival, with many suggesting it is merely ‘a gentrification project based exclusively on the expansion of advertising in the city.’ We hope that the event organisers are paying attention to the frustrations felt by some London communities.
Click here for more on the festival.
Openaire Float-In Cinema
Image: Ben Garratt
#FLODown: A new joint venture between Go Boats, Haagen-Dazs and Openaire has welcomed a new outdoor cinema experience to London. You can take your boat through little Venice and moor up to enjoy this epic cinematic experience on the water at Merchants Square on Regent’s Canal.
The roster features cult classic films including Titanic, Dirty Dancing, Wolf of Wall Street, Bridesmaids and Moulin Rouge. There will also be afternoon viewings of family favourite movies including Mrs Doubtfire and the Lion King.
There is a fleet of 16 eco boats and 100 deckchairs available for each viewing. Openaire has partnered with artisan pasta pop-up RaviOllie to bring a specially curated delicious menu with meals that can be delivered directly to your boat or deck chair. To top it off there is free Haagen-Dazs ice cream to be won everyday!
Location:
Merchant Square, Paddington Basin, W2 1AS
Price:
Boat prices ranging from £200 (up to 6 people). However, the boats have a maximum capacity of 8 people and so with an additional cost of £25pp two extra people can join.
Deck chair prices start from £15.
Totally Thames Festival 2020
When ?
Throughout September
Price?
Varies depending on activity
Image: Julius Lansson
#FLODown: The Totally Thames Festival 2020 kicks off today with a month-long programme of digital and socially distanced events, including river-related activities and public art installations. Since its launch in 2014, the festival provides an excellent annual opportunity to learn about our city's most loved river.
A major highlight comes from Thames Tidefest, which will provide a great opportunity to get involved in paddle sports such as kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding. Oh, and London’s biggest angling competition!
‘A River Runs Through It’ is the unique virtual exhibition celebrating London’s vibrant colours, stunning architecture, the beautiful Thames and the bustling streets. Plus, expect to find a selection of podcasts and films about various London locations and interviews with Londoners.
‘Humans Make Plastic' is an interactive workshop and exhibition where you will find yourself looking at plastic pollution in water, cleaning a canal towpath or making bold installation art out of single-use plastics. Click here for more.
London Grads Now at Saatchi Gallery
When?
3 September – 25 September 2020
Price?
£3
Image: Russ Martin
#FLODown: Saatchi Gallery reopens on Thursday 3 September with London Grads Now. The exhibition will bring together the works of over 150 graduating artists from London’s leading fine arts schools including Royal College of Art, UCL: Slade School of Art, Goldsmiths: University of London, UAL: Chelsea College of Arts, UAL: Wimbledon College of Arts, UAL: Camberwell College of Arts and UAL: Central Saint Martins.
Saatchi Gallery, with the support of Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, has established this exhibition following the unprecedented cancellation of graduation shows across London due to COVID-19 restrictions. They invited students and lecturers to organise an exhibition that will enable graduating students to showcase their works safely within internationally renowned gallery spaces.
With ticket prices at just £3 this a great opportunity to support some emerging art graduates and it’s available until 25 September 2020.
Location:
Duke of York's HQ, King's Road, SW3 4RY
Nearest Station:
Sloane Square station
London Fashion Week
When?
17 – 22 September 2020
Image: Dyana Wing So
#FLODown: London Fashion Week will take place this year with a mixture of digital and physical events. Brands hosting shows this year includes Burberry, Feng Chen Wang, Temperley London, Emilia Wickstead, RIXO, Phoebe English, Bianca Saunders and more.
You can also expect digital events from the Evening Standard, MTV, Mercedes Benz and Fashion Zoo. Plus, physical events in both womenswear and menswear will take place by brands including Victoria Beckham, Sharon Wauchob, Simone Rocha Amanda Wakeley, Roksanda and University of Westminster Menswear. Click here for more.
Architecture for Dogs at Japan House
When?
19 September 2020 – 10 January 2021
Price?
Free must book via their online system
Image: Japan House
#FLODown: The acclaimed Architecture for Dogs exhibition will be making its European debut at Japan House. The exhibition will feature a collection of 16 architectural designs for different dog breeds including the Beagle, Bichon Frise and Poodle.
Architecture for Dogs offers an insightful exploration of architecture design for dogs and their human companions. It features the works of celebrated architects and designers including Ban Shigeru, Itō Toyō, Sou Fujimoto, Atelier Bow-Wow and Asif Khan. Some of the best exhibits to look out for include a candyfloss cocoon inspired by the distinct fur of the Bichon Frise and fun mirror-led structure for pooches to gaze at themselves created by Konstantin Grcic.
The exhibition was first launched at Design Miami in 2012 and has since received global recognition, from Japan to Brazil.
Location:
101-111 Kensington High Street W8 5SA
Nearest Station:
High Street Kensington station
London’s newest flower market
Image: MTotoe
#FLODown: A new market has emerged on the London floral scene in lovely Chiswick. The Chiswick Flower Market is set to rival the Columbia Road Flower Market and will feature plants, houseplants, bedding, grasses, succulents, bouquets and all aspects of gorgeous horticulture. The market’s grand opening will be 6 September and will be open on first Sunday of every month moving forward.
The market has promised a strong commitment to sustainability. Their selection of independent traders have all implemented environmental sustainability strategies, and importantly there will be regular involvement in local initiatives, which will help the community and the environment. Click here for more.
Location:
Old Market Place, Chiswick High Rd, W4 2DR
Nearest station:
Turnham Green station
Opening hours:
9.30 am – 3 pm
Summer Showtime on The Coaling Jetty
Image: @batterseapwrstn
When?
21 August - 20 September 2020
Price?
Cinema tickets are £30 for two seats (or £50 for four seats)
#FLODown: The Summer Showtime will take place on The Coaling Jetty on the River Thames in front of Battersea Power Station. It promises to be London’s most unique open-air cinema and theatre experience. The event will feature performances from the Turbine Theatre, including music from West End Rock and The Femmes: Vintage Vocal Harmony Trio, in addition to productions of HAIR and Macbeth.
There will also be film screenings from Arch Light Cinema, featuring films such as the Joker, La La Land and Dirty Dancing. Plus, family-friendly films including Frozen and Paddington 2.
The Summertime Show will be running until Sunday 20 September. Don’t miss out!
Location:
Battersea Power Station, 188 Kirtling St, Nine Elms, SW8 5BN
Nearest station:
Vauxhall station
Slices of Time at NOW Gallery
Image: @nowgalleryse10
When?
Until 27th September 2020
Price?
Free
#FLODown: Emmanuel Moureaux presents her colourful immersive exhibition titled ‘Slice of Time’. This is the first time that Moureaux is displaying her large-scale installation of cut out coloured paper in the UK. The exhibition is colourful, immersive and gives you a chance to wander through layers of numbers in 100 shades of colours and white. The layers are representative of the past and future and will encourage you to challenge your thoughts on our time here on earth.
The exhibition was due to end on 17 April, however it will now be on until 27 September!
Location:
NOW Gallery, The Gateway Pavilions, Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula, SE10 0SQ
Nearest station:
North Greenwich station
Eat Out to Help Out Extended
Image: Clark Douglas
The Eat Out to Help Out Scheme has been extended in several restaurants across the country. This means you can continue to dine out Monday – Wednesday and take advantage of 50% off your bill up to £10pp. Click here for our favourite picks for the month.
The new sustainable market in Camden
Image: Buck Street Market
#FLODown: Buck Street Market has reopened for business. The new Camden-based market was quite unlucky, having opened its doors for the first time in March meaning it closed shortly after due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This new sustainable market features recycled shipping containers spread over three levels and has been described as the UK’s first market for the conscious consumer. With a combination of eco-friendly retailers, sustainable street food traders and a sizeable rooftop garden, it combines all the things we love about a good market. The market also has a zero single-use plastic policy and they compost all food waste to generate energy that is fed back into the main grid…Very cool!
It may be a little different from the usual vibes expected in Camden, but we are loving how strongly they are championing sustainability.
Location:
180-188 Camden High St, Camden Town, NW1
Nearest station:
Camden Town station
Opening hours:
Food & Retail: Tuesday to Sunday 11am - 7pm
Rooftop Restaurants: Tuesday to Sunday 11 am - 11 pm