What's on in London: September 2025

EXHIBITION

Collaborative, 15 September-19 November
One for your radar during this month’s London Design Festival is a group exhibition exploring connection through clay. The show pairs fi ve leading ceramicists with creatives from other disciplines – think architects, musicians, woodworkers – to create pieces that blur the boundaries between function and expression. From sound-infused sculpture to a playable ceramic board game, each work is the result of hands-on collaboration and mutual experimentation. With a strong focus on community studio practice, the exhibition feels grounded yet expansive – a reminder that clay, in the right hands, is anything but static.
County Hall Pottery, Belvedere Road, SE1 (07593 144458; countyhallpottery.com)

EXHIBITION

Blitz: The Club that Shaped the 80s, 20 September-29 March 2026
Tucked down a Covent Garden side street, a smoky basement once lit the fuse on a cultural explosion that would defi ne the 1980s. This autumn, the Design Museum throws open the doors to the scene’s glittering legacy – where sequins met synths, and New Romantics reigned supreme. Expect era-defining outfits, hand-scrawled lyrics and Bowie-fuelled nostalgia. The exhibition pulls together over 250 objects from the wardrobes, scrapbooks and studios of the original Blitz Kids – most of which haven’t seen the light of day since they first hit the dancefloor. Velvet, vinyl and outrageous tailoring all feature. Not to be missed.
224-238 Kensington High Street, W8 (020 3862 5900; designmuseum.org)

Vivienne Lynn, Boy George, Chris Sullivan, Kim Bowen, Theresa Thurmer, and a Blitz attendee, 1980. © Derek Ridgers c/o Unravel Productions

THEATRE

Land of the Living, 9 September-1 November
Juliet Stevenson and Tom Wlaschiha lead the cast in a new drama landing at the Dorfman this month – a haunting, slow-burn piece set between postwar Germany and the present day. At its centre is a boy stolen by the Nazis, a young UN relief worker faced with an impossible choice, and the long shadow of a decision that can’t be undone. Written by David Lan and directed by Stephen Daldry, it’s a story of fractured memory, uneasy morality and what it means to do the right thing when there are no right answers. Expect sharp performances, atmospheric design and a script that doesn’t let you off the hook.
Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 (020 3989 5455; nationaltheatre.org.uk)

THEATRE

Entertaining Mr Sloane, 15 September-8 November
Jordan Stephens of Rizzle Kicks fame makes his stage debut at the Young Vic this autumn, joining Tamzin Outhwaite, Daniel Cerqueira and Christopher Fairbank in a darkly comic tale of charm, manipulation and blurred boundaries. He plays a mysterious young lodger who quickly disrupts the uneasy dynamic in a suburban household, drawing both Kath and her brother Ed under his spell – while their father watches on, unconvinced. Directed by Nadia Fall, this is Joe Orton at his most provocative: sharp, subversive and still deliciously uncomfortable. Expect biting humour, simmering tension and a performance from Stephens that’s set to surprise.
Young Vic, 66 The Cut, SE1 (020 7922 2922; youngvic.org)

FESTIVAL

Open House 2025, 13-21 September, city-wide
London’s favourite city-wide celebration of architecture and public space returns this September – and 2025’s Open House feels more personal than ever. The event throws open the doors to hundreds of buildings across all 33 boroughs, from grand institutions to behind-the-scenes gems, with tours, talks and walking routes that shine a light on how the Capital is shaped. This year, a team of guest curators joins the fold, each selecting ten spaces or events that speak to themes close to their hearts – from accessibility to activism, heritage to creativity. Their picks offer a fresh lens through which to explore the festival’s 800-strong line-up.
(openhouse.org.uk)