London in September

There's plenty to do in London whatever time of year you visit. With its parks, museums, galleries, history, culture, restaurants and bars, the city has plenty to keep visitors busy.

September is a great time to visit. Although the summer heat may be cooling, the city is still a pleasant place to walk around.

During the month of September, there are a selection of festivals and cultural events which are well worth checking out.

• Mayor's Thames Festival. This free outdoor arts event celebrates London and the iconic river on which the city stands. The 10-day cultural event, which takes place on or near the River Thames, includes live music, dance, art installations, carnivals and street art. More details can be found online.
• The Great River Race. This annual competition takes place on the Thames on a Saturday in September. The event attracts all kinds of entrants, with up to 300 boat battling it out to be the first to complete the 21 mile course. With a prize for fancy dress in the offing, the race makes for a colorful spectacle and usually draws quite a crowd.
• Open House Weekend. Fancy checking out the interiors of some of London's architectural delights. Open House London, a two day event which usually takes place in the third weekend of September, gives members of the public the chance to see inside all kinds of buildings in and around the capital. For further information, check out the Open House Website.

Days are usually cool in September. Temperatures tend to fall throughout the month, with daily highs decreasing from around 21°C to 17°C. Daily low temperatures range from 10°C to 13°C.

There's a good chance of moderate rain throughout the month. British weather tends to be changeable though. You can never be sure quite what to expect. Sunshine and rain often follow each other in the same day.

• Pearly Kings and Queen's Harvest Festival. Pearly Kings and Queens, in case you don't know, involves a tradition which began in the 19th century in whereby market traders collected money for charity dressed in dark suits covered in pearl buttons. A parade of Pearly Kings and Queens, travelling from Guildhall to St Mary-le-Bow church, can be seen in September to celebrate the harvest. You can find out more about the history of the Pearly Kings and Queens here.
• London Design Festival. Anyone with an interest in design should definitely check out this event. With site-specific installations, trade fairs, talks, exhibitions and workshops taking place all over the city, the capital becomes the place to learn about design every September. Check out the website for further information.
• London Fashion Week. Along with New York, Paris and Milan, London plays host to one of the big four fashion weeks. There are two such weeks in the year (the other is in February) and this trade event includes a series of catwalk shows by top designers and fashion houses. More details of all the the fashion shows which make up the week can be found online.
• Last Night of the Proms. If you love classical music, you may want to attend something at the BBC Proms, a season of classical musical concerts which take place at the Royal Albert Hall. September is the month of the last night concert, with a programme of popular classics and British patriotic pieces. The event usually attracts a lively crowd. Tickets for the final concert are very hard to come by though. They are only sold to people who have attended other concerts in the season beforehand. A full list of performers at the Proms can be found on the BBC website.