London City Newsletter, 14 September 2026

London moves closer to an overnight tourist tax — The government plans to let the Mayor introduce a charge based on a percentage of accommodation costs. Sadiq Khan proposes using the money to support culture and infrastructure. National consultation has finished, but legislation, local consultation and London’s final decisions are still ahead. No London rate or start date has been announced.

Thameslink’s hard seats are getting an overhaul — All 115 trains are due to receive new cushions and improved backrests, with installation starting in 2027 and phased over two years. Seat-back tables will also be added to the 69 trains without them.

Five neighbours could start a community garden — Hackney’s new Right to Grow pilot lets groups of at least five apply to garden unused council land; up to ten applications will be approved in the first phase. Groups need public liability insurance. Applying is free, but your group funds and manages the garden; council parks are excluded and housing estates have a separate scheme.

Bermondsey Street Festival — Local stalls, food and music take over on Saturday 19 September, with the street programme and Tanner Street Park running 11am–8pm. The volunteer-run festival’s Family Fun Hub in Leathermarket Gardens finishes earlier, at 6pm. Admission is free; food, shopping and any paid activities cost extra. Bermondsey.

Frieze Sculpture — From Wednesday 16 September, look for Angel Otero’s doorway descending beneath the grass among works by eleven international artists in the English Gardens. The free outdoor exhibition runs until 1 November, leaving plenty of time for return visits. Park opening hours apply; a free audio guide is available through Bloomberg Connects. Regent’s Park.

Bank of England Museum Open House weekend — Visit on 19–20 September, 11am–4pm (last entry 3.30pm), for rare weekend access and the new Coade stone display. Free, no booking; expect airport-style security. Wheelchair users must bring a companion and use the Threadneedle Street entrance; mobility scooters are not permitted. Bank.

The Living Thames (Fri 18 Sep, 7pm, Crossness) — Orchestra for the Earth brings a string quartet and Thames field recordings into the pumping station, with music by Dvořák, Handel, Smetana and Strauss. Museum doors open at 5pm, and a free vintage shuttle runs from Abbey Wood. Standard tickets cost £20; children, students and low-income visitors pay £12. Book ahead and check access, particularly for the shuttle. The engines and railway will not be running. (Add to 🗓️)

The Way (Wed 16–Thu 17 Sep, 11am–6pm, Peckham) — Thirty-eight artists fill Peckham Rye station’s rarely opened Victorian waiting room with work about small moments that redirect a life. The full show runs 15–19 September; check daily hours outside these midweek slots. Free, no booking; access is stairs only, with no lift or accessible toilet.

Middlesex Memories: Moments in Time (Mon 14–Fri 18 Sep, 11am–6pm; Friday until 4pm, Fitzrovia) — Carole Rawlinson photographed the Middlesex Hospital as it emptied in 2005. See those images in its surviving chapel: a chance to picture what once stood around this remnant before demolition. The exhibition closes on Friday. Free admission.

Digital Design Weekend — Make and play at the V&A on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September, 10.30am–4.30pm. Children aged six and over, with an adult, can try collaborative arcade games and drawing robots; flower collage is also on the free programme. Places are first-come, first-served unless stated otherwise, and individual activities can fill up. Check the programme for your chosen activity; last entry is half an hour before closing. South Kensington.

Cricklewood Cycle Festival — Bring bikes to St Gabriel’s on Walm Lane on Saturday 19 September, 1pm–4pm, for free checks, balance-bike trials and crafts. Two free rides leave at 2pm: a one-hour Little Riders outing towards Mapesbury Dell and a two-hour family ride to Gladstone Park. Reserve ride places in advance; equipment loans can be requested. The drop-in activities make this useful even without joining a ride. Cricklewood.

Blood, guts and nasty cuts — Historian Alanna Skuse takes families from bloodletting to robot surgeons at the Royal Institution on Saturday 19 September, 2.30pm–3.45pm. Recommended for ages 7–13; under-13s need a paying adult. Tickets cost £16, or £10 for children, plus booking fees. Everyone aged four and over needs a ticket; check the venue’s booking page. Mayfair.

Duda Diner at The Pilgrm — Hakeem and Zura Ahmad bring their Malaysian kitchen to the hotel’s first-floor lounge from Thursday 17 September. The menu includes a £15 Duda Burger and £27 whole sea bream with laksa beurre blanc and XO chilli; a service charge applies. Opening-week dinners run Thursday–Saturday, 5.30pm–9.30pm. Walk-ins are welcome, but booking is advised. Paddington.

The Albatross — This newly opened seafood pub at 8–10 Old Jewry serves oysters, mussels, fish and lobster. Its current hours are Monday–Friday, 5pm–10pm: an after-work option, with a booking page to check before heading over. Bank.

Beefbar at Dear Jackie — Broadwick Soho’s new restaurant opened on 10 September, with Wagyu-and-veal bolognese and pappardelle at £25, plus a 15% discretionary service charge. Lunch and dinner run daily. Soho.