# London Design Festival: what to do between sessions in London

Source: https://eventweekends.com/culture/london-design-festival/
Last checked: 2026-11-02

## In short

- **When:** 18 to 26 September 2027 (expected, not yet confirmed by the organiser)
- **Where:** Venues across London, London, United Kingdom
- **Free time:** Gaps of two to four hours between screenings or shows, and whole days for companions.
- **Best base:** South Bank and Bloomsbury: Walk to the museums, theatres and the river.
- **Getting there:** Heathrow (LHR) has the Elizabeth line to central London in 35 to 45 minutes and the Heathrow Express to Paddington in 15 minutes.
- **Weather:** In September, London averages highs of about 19°C and lows of 10°C, with roughly 44 mm of rain in the month. Expect about 12 h 21 min of daylight.
- **Top things to do:** Tower of London and Crown Jewels; Warner Bros Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter; Thames river cruise

## Weather and what to pack

In September, London averages highs of about 19°C and lows of 10°C, with roughly 44 mm of rain in the month. Expect about 12 h 21 min of daylight.
- A warm layer for the evenings.
- A light rain jacket, just in case.
- Comfortable walking shoes and a small day bag.

## Airport to venue

Heathrow (LHR) has the Elizabeth line to central London in 35 to 45 minutes and the Heathrow Express to Paddington in 15 minutes. Gatwick (LGW) has the Gatwick Express to Victoria in 30 minutes. Stansted and Luton have trains to Liverpool Street and St Pancras.

Tube and walking.

## Where to stay

- **budget:** King's Cross and Paddington. Big stations with many lines and cheaper chain hotels.
- **mid:** South Bank and Bloomsbury. Walk to the museums, theatres and the river.
- **luxury:** Mayfair and Covent Garden. Grand hotels near the West End.
- Hotels we would book: Premier Inn London King's Cross (budget), Hub by Premier Inn London Covent Garden (mid), The Savoy (luxury)

## Day plans for the free hours

### Between screenings or shows

A two- to four-hour gap: something close by.
- Half-day: Thames afternoon tea cruise. Tea, scones and the skyline.
- Eat: Dishoom King's Cross, Breakfast bacon naan

### A free day

For companions without a pass, or attendees taking a day off.
- Full day: Oxford and the Cotswolds day trip. Colleges and honey-stone villages.

### Evenings

After the last show of the day.
- Evening: West End show. Musicals and plays most nights.
- Eat: Borough Market, Food stalls under the railway

### Rainy day

Indoor backups.
- Rain or heat backup: Wembley Stadium tour. Dressing rooms and the tunnel.
- Free: Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace (check days).

## Tours worth booking

- [Tower of London and Crown Jewels](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Tower%20of%20London%20tickets&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-london-design-festival): Beefeater tours and the jewels.
- [Warner Bros Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Harry%20Potter%20studio%20tour%20London&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-london-design-festival): Sets and props north of London; book weeks ahead.
- [Thames river cruise](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Thames%20river%20cruise&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-london-design-festival): Westminster to Greenwich.
- [Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath day trip](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Stonehenge%20Windsor%20Bath%20tour&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-london-design-festival): Three classics in one long day.
- [West End show](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=London%20West%20End%20tickets&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-london-design-festival): Musicals and plays most nights.
- [London Eye](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=London%20Eye%20tickets&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-london-design-festival): Thirty minutes over the river.
- [Borough Market food tour](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=London%20food%20tour&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-london-design-festival): Tastings at London's oldest food market.
- [Jack the Ripper walking tour](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Jack%20the%20Ripper%20tour&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-london-design-festival): East End evening walk.
- [Oxford and the Cotswolds day trip](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Oxford%20Cotswolds%20day%20trip&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-london-design-festival): Colleges and honey-stone villages.
- [Thames afternoon tea cruise](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=London%20afternoon%20tea%20cruise&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-london-design-festival): Tea, scones and the skyline.

## Where to eat

- Borough Market: Food stalls under the railway
- Dishoom: Bombay café; queues at peak times
- Padella: Fresh pasta at Borough
- Flat Iron: Cheap good steak
- Mercato Metropolitano: Big food hall in Elephant and Castle
- Rules: London's oldest restaurant, game and pies
- Brick Lane: Bagels and curry houses
- Dishoom King's Cross: Breakfast bacon naan

## With kids

- Natural History Museum dinosaurs.
- Science Museum.
- Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens.
- London Zoo.

## Rainy-day backups

- British Museum.
- V&A.
- Churchill War Rooms.

## Getting around

- The Tube, Overground and Elizabeth line run on contactless with a daily cap. Some lines run all night on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Twickenham: trains from Waterloo; Wembley: Jubilee and Metropolitan lines or Chiltern trains; Wimbledon: District line to Southfields.
- Tap in with a contactless card on buses, trams and most urban trains.
- Book long-distance trains early on the operator app or Trainline: walk-up fares are expensive.
- Uber works in most UK cities; local black cabs are metered.

## Questions people ask

### When is London Design Festival 2027?

The next edition is 18 to 26 September 2027, following the usual pattern. The organiser has not confirmed it yet.

### What is the weather like during London Design Festival?

In September, London averages highs of about 19°C and lows of 10°C, with roughly 44 mm of rain in the month. Expect about 12 h 21 min of daylight.

### How do I get from the airport to Venues across London?

Heathrow (LHR) has the Elizabeth line to central London in 35 to 45 minutes and the Heathrow Express to Paddington in 15 minutes. Gatwick (LGW) has the Gatwick Express to Victoria in 30 minutes. Stansted and Luton have trains to Liverpool Street and St Pancras. Tube and walking.

### Where should I stay for London Design Festival?

For most visitors the best base is South Bank and Bloomsbury: Walk to the museums, theatres and the river.

### What can we do between sessions at London Design Festival?

Good short outings in London include Tower of London and Crown Jewels, Warner Bros Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter, Thames river cruise. See the day plans on this page for a full schedule.

### What is there for kids and families near London Design Festival?

Family-friendly picks: Tower of London and Crown Jewels, Warner Bros Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter, Thames river cruise. Natural History Museum dinosaurs.

### How far is Venues across London from London centre?

About 1 km in a straight line. Tube and walking.

More in London: https://eventweekends.com/city/london/