London in September: Weather, Outfits & Things to Do (2025)

HANG OUT IN A PARK

It is not as hot in September as during the summer, but it is the last time to enjoy outdoor activities before the weather turns cold.

Some of the best parks in London are Regent’s Park, Primrose Hill, Hyde Park, Hampstead Heath, and Greenwhich Park.

Hampstead Heath and Primrose Hill are also great places to see the sunset over London. You can get a nice view of some of London’s famous buildings from a distance, like the Shard. If you don’t mind to get up early, they are also nice places for the sunrise.

BOAT DOWN ON REGENT’S CANAL

The Regent’s Canal is a great place to visit if you are looking for a peaceful, less touristy place in London.

There are boats that you can take on the Regent’s Canal from Camden to Little Venice (or vice versa) that are the best during summer but the weather is still good for it in September.

There is also a footpath next to the canal, and you can even walk from Camden Lock to Little Venice. It’s a nice walk to spend some time in nature and see a less touristy side of London.

What I like the most is that there are also nice cafes along the way, and you can also see some houseboats where people live by the canal.

GO ON A TRIP OUTSIDE LONDON

It is a great way to see more of England by going on a day trip from London! The weather is warm in September (especially in the first half of the month), so it’s a great time to go on a trip.

There are a couple of places near London that are perfect for a day trip, or you can even extend it for a 2-3 day trip if you have more time.

Some of the best places to visit for a day trip from London are Bath, Brighton, Hastings, Windsor, Oxford, Stonehenge, and Canterbury. Going on a day trip is a great way to learn more about England’s culture and history.

One of the most popular beach near London is the Brighton Beach. It can get very busy during the weekends, so it is better to visit on a weekday.

I always loved it about England that the towns are well-connected and it is so easy to go on a day or weekend trip. When we had 3-day weekends, it was even enough to plan a short trip to Wales or Scotland.

HANG OUT IN CAMDEN

Camden is one of the fun places in London with vintage shops, food stalls, secondhand bookshops, restaurants and pubs.

The Camden Market is a great place to buy something unique and funny, or to get a souvenir to take home! If you love books, it is a great place to browse books and find some second hand books at a good price.

From Camden, you can also walk along the Regent’s Canal if you want to spend some time in nature. It is a very peaceful environment for a walk and you can even take a boat to Little Venice.

VISIT THE KEW GARDENS

• Kew Gardens Opening Times: 10 am – 6 pm every day
• Kew Gardens Tickets: GBP 20-24 (depending if you buy it online/in person and if for weekday or weekend)

The best time to visit the Kew Gardens is in the Spring when most flowers are in bloom. However, there are seasonal flowers that bloom throughout the year, so it is a nice place to visit even in September.

The Kew Gardens has over 50,000 plants and is the largest botanical garden in the world. It covers a large area and you could spend up to a whole day here. There are also cafes and restaurants within its premises if you get hungry.

Some of the best places to check out at the Kew Gardens is the Treetop Walkway, Kew Palace, Palm House, Great Broad Walk Borders, and the Temperate House.

There is also a train that goes around the botanical garden, so if you get tired of walking, it is a good way to get some rest. The train ticket costs GBP 6.50 (USD 8).

SHOP AT A MARKET

London has lot of markets that are nice places to shop for vintage clothes, antiques, artworks, jewellery, street food and drinks.

Some of the best markets in London are Portobello Road Market, Brick Lane, Spitalfields, Covent Garden, and the Columbia Road Flower Market.

The Borough Market is known for its food stalls, so it’s a great place if you love food and snacking. They sell really good cheese, cured meat, bakery items, fresh fruits and vegetables.

In Covent Garden there are many restaurants, bars, shops and theatres. It is located in central London and if you look in small allies in the area, you can also find some hidden gems. There are usually street performers in Covent Garden that are fun to watch.

The Columbia Road Flower Market is the best place to shop for flowers! It runs every Sunday from 8 am to around 3 pm, and there are also some vintage shops and cafes that are nice places to hang out.

SEE THE LONDON SKYLINE

• Sky Garden: Free but you have to reserve the tickets
• View From the Shard Ticket Cost: GBP 32-38 (general entry), GBP 45-51 (all inclusive entry). Reserve tickets here

The Shard and the Sky Garden are two of the best places to see the skyline of London. They have 360 degree views of London and the best time to visit is for the sunset.

The Sky Garden is in the “Walkie-Talkie” building (officially known as the Fenchurch building). The Sky Garden is great as it has free entry. Although it is free, you have to reserve the tickets in about 3 weeks in advance.

As for The Shard, it is the tallest building in London and it is nice place to visit to celebrate a special occasion.

If you are deciding between The Shard and the Sky Garden, the The Shard is a great choice if you want to celebrate a special occasion while in London. I liked the views from the Sky Garden, but The Shard is a more unique experience.

EXPLORE LONDON ON A WALKING TOUR

A walking tour is one of the best ways to explore a new place in any country. Going on a walking tour in London is great as you can learn things about London you probably would not hear of otherwise.

The weather is not too hot, nor too cold in September, so it is perfect time to be outdoors. It might still rain, so have an umbrella just in case.

There are many different types of walking tours in London, they usually take 1.5-2 hours and include tours such as historic sightseeing tours, pub tours, street art tours, or even a British music tour!

✅ Book a Walking Tour in London here!

GO TO A PUB

There are so many pubs in London and you can find a pub just about anywhere! Many pubs also have a beer garden, and in September the weather can still be good to hang out outdoors.

Many pubs also have live events, like music or comedy shows. Some of the events are free, and if paid, they are around GBP 10-20 (USD 13-26). I loved living in London and catching bands playing in pubs and later you find out they became very famous!

If you are visiting Camden, check out the Hawley Arms (where Amy Winehouse used to hang out), Dublin Castle and the Elephant’s Head. They usually have live bands playing!

Pubs in East London (Dalston, Stoke Newington and Shoreditch) are also great and usually have live bands. If you visiting East London, you can check out pubs like the Shacklewell Arms, The Victoria and The Three Crowns.

For pubs in the city center, the Porterhouse and the The Lamb & Flag are typical British pubs near Covent Garden.

GO ON THE LONDON EYE

The London Eye is one of the most famous landmarks in London and even though it is very touristy, you should visit it while in London.

The queues can be very long, so it is the best to get a fast track ticket to the London Eye to skip the queues.

One round takes around 30 minutes, and once you are on it, you get a really nice view of famous buildings in London, such as the Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Just keep in mind that in case the weather is rainy and cloudy, it may not worth to go on it as you won’t get clear views of London.

✅ Skip the queue and book your ticket to the London Eye here!

VISIT A MUSEUM EXHIBITION

London has lots of museums and going to an exhibition helps you to learn more about the history and culture of the UK better.

The museums are open all year around, and have both permanent and temporary exhibitions. The best part is that the entry fee is free to many of the permanent exhibitions, and you only have to pay for the temporary exhibitions.

Some of the best museums in London are the Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Victoria and Albert Museum, British Museum, National Gallery, and the Natural History Museum.

If you live or stay in London long-term, you can also get a yearly membership to most museums, that gives you unlimited entry to the exhibitions to the museum.

WATCH A PLAY AT THE WEST END

Watching a play at the West End is a great activity all throughout the year! The West End is known for some of the best theatre plays in London and there are also many restaurants and shops in the area.

Many people come to London just to see a show at the West End, so if you like theatre plays, you should definitely get tickets to a show.

Some of the most popular plays are Hamilton, Wicked, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Lion King, and the Phantom of the Opera.

The tickets for a show at the West End cost between GBP 30-210 (USD 40-270). To get better prices, try to book the tickets well in advance.

Another way to get a cheaper theatre ticket is if you go to the ticket booths in the morning. You might be able to get a discounted ticket for lesser-known shows for the same day, although it is not guaranteed.

VISIT THE HARRY POTTER FILM STUDIOS

Visiting the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studios is a fun activity for both kids and adults! It is a fun experience, and is totally worth checking out if you like the Harry Potter books and movies.

The Harry Potter tour usually takes around 7 hours and you get to see the behind the scenes, set and costumes at the Warner Bros Studios in Watford.

You can either sign up to a tour or plan the visit on your own. If you prefer to plan it on your own, you can take the train from London Euston Station to Watford Junction.

Once you get to Watford Junction, there are shuttle buses every 30 minutes that go between Watford Junction and the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studios.

✅ Book the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour here!

GO ON A THAMES BOAT TOUR

A river cruise on the Thames is a nice way to see London! There are many famous buildings along the river, such as the Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Houses of Parliament, and the London Eye.

The London river cruises usually last between 1-2 hours and includes a guide, so you get to learn about London’s history.

There are also public boats in London that go through pretty much the same route as the paid cruises.

The public boats are run by the Uber Boats by the Thames Clippers. If you don’t want to pay for a river cruise, the public boats are a great option. You get to go on a cruise and see the city for an affordable price.

HAVE BRITISH FOOD

Trying the local cuisine should be on your to do list in any new place. So, while you are in London, try as much local food as possible.

The food scene in London is very diverse and you can find many restaurants that serve food from all around the world, such as Indian, Italian, Mexican and more!

As for British food, some of the most famous dishes are the English Breakfast, Fish and Chips, Shepherd’s Pie, and the Sunday Roast.

The Sunday Roast is a traditional meal on Sundays and it consists of roast meat, potatoes, vegetables, gravy, and Yorkshire Pudding (pastry).

The tradition to have Sunday Roast goes back centuries and it started as a meal to bring the family together. Blacklock and Hawksmoor are great places to try Sunday Roast in London.

There is also Secret Food Tour in London where you can have the best British food while also exploring London!

🥘 Book a Food Tour in London here!

VISIT THE LONDON ZOO

• London Zoo Opening Times: 10 am – 6 pm
• London Zoo Entry Price: Weekday: GBP 27-31, Weekend: GBP 33

The London Zoo is almost 200 years old and you can see animals like lions, tigers, penguins, baby gorillas, and many more.

The zoo is pretty big and can take up to 3 hours to cover the whole place. There are also restaurants and cafes, so you can stop for a break.

The zoo can get busy on the weekends, so if you have the option, it is better to visit on the weekdays to avoid the crowds. The enclosures in the zoo are well maintained and built in a way that you get to see the animals from pretty close up.

UPGRADE YOUR WARDROBE

London is heaven if you like fashion – after all, it is one of the fashion capitals of the world! There are many clothes shops in London, and you can find everything from budget to luxury brands.

The most famous places for fashion in London are Oxford Street and Regent Street. They are right next to each other and there are many fashion brands you can choose from.

Oxford Street is the biggest shopping street in Europe and it has more than 300 shops. Apart from clothes shops, there are also jewellery, electronics and homeware shops.

You can also check out the Westfield Shopping Centre in Shepherd’s Bush (West London). It is a massive shopping center and it can get really busy, but a good place to go shopping.