London City Newsletter, September 21, 2026

Oxford Street’s traffic-free transformation begins — Preparatory works have started, with the aim of making the stretch between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street traffic-free by late October. Expect changes to buses and surrounding roads during the transformation, but Tube and rail service will be unaffected by these works.

Chiltern’s extra trains are coming in December — The Marylebone operator’s services entered public ownership on September 20, but the timetable improvements are expected to come later. From December, the government is planning for 25 extra weekday services, including an all-day half-hourly service between London and Birmingham.

A Routemaster takes a surreal detour — A reimagined London bus will be part of Absurd City, Wake The Tiger’s new immersive attraction at Westfield London, opening on October 15. Visitors will be able to walk through the bus, and the venue is also planning for 18+ After Hours evenings.

London’s average monthly private rent reaches £2,332 — That is the ONS estimate for August, covering new and existing tenancies. Annual rent growth is 3.5%, up from 3.0% in July.

Britten’s War Requiem (Sat Sep 26, 7pm, South Bank) — Edward Gardner opens the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s season with the choral work that pairs the Latin Mass with Wilfred Owen’s poetry. The Royal Festival Hall performance includes 77 minutes of music, with no interval. Tickets starting from £19.50. (Add to 🗓️)

Post-war Poplar & Call the Midwife walk (Thu Sep 24, 10.30am–around 12.30pm, Poplar) — Follow Jennifer Worth’s real East End world through the Lansbury Estate, Chrisp Street Market and the mission house that inspired Nonnatus House. This is local history, not a filming-location tour. Adults only, from £18. (Add to 🗓️)

Martin Simpson: Some Kind of Jubilee (Fri Sep 25, 8pm, King’s Cross) — The folk guitarist launches his new album on release day at Kings Place, marking fifty years since his first LP. The show is part of the inaugural Vision Festival. Tickets start at £27; doors open at 7.30pm.

Thinking Through Film: Bacurau (Wed Sep 23, 6pm, Holborn) — A Brazilian village faces sinister events in the film launching this screening-and-discussion series, with conversation upstairs after. £15; arrive promptly, as there are no adverts. (Add to 🗓️)

Cable Street Rag Band at Jamboree (Thu Sep 24, 8.30pm, King’s Cross) — Warm up with an optional 7pm beginner-friendly swing class before Ewan Bleach’s birthday jazz-and-swing jam. £14.90 for music, or £19.80 including the class. (Add to 🗓️)

Neon Nights with Bridget Christie (Fri Sep 25, 8pm, Walthamstow) — Bridget Christie headlines a stand-up bill hosted by Chloe Petts at Soho Theatre Walthamstow. Tickets starting from £20.50. (Add to 🗓️)

Signal at Phonox (Fri Sep 25, 9pm, Brixton) — Dillinja plays a jungle set at this club night, running until 5am on Saturday. Check tickets in advance. (Add to 🗓️)

SET Vauxhall Open Studios — Meet makers inside working studios at Camelford House on Saturday Sep 26, 2–6pm, during the arts centre’s first public open-studio day. There’s also a tenth-anniversary exhibition and archive to explore. Admission is free with optional RSVP. Vauxhall.

SLG Forever Fête — South London Gallery celebrates 135 years on Saturday Sep 26, 11am–5pm, with tours, live entertainment and artist-led family activities in the Clore Studio and Orozco Garden. Entry is free, with food, drink and a fundraising raffle available. Camberwell.

Thames Lens: Celebrating London’s River — Catch the final week of this free outdoor photography display at Bazalgette Embankment, near Temple, before it closes on Saturday Sep 26. River images, Thames Path photographs and portraits of super-sewer workers give a riverside walk something to pause over. Temple.

The big dig — Uncover genuine artefacts in reconstructed trenches at London Museum Docklands on Sep 26–27. Recommended for ages five and over, timed sessions last roughly an hour and start at £6.50 with equipment included. Book ahead since each trench holds up to six people. West India Quay.

Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival — Lion and bamboo dancing, performances and children’s crafts fill Deptford Lounge and Giffin Square on Sunday Sep 27, noon–4pm. Vietnamese Family Partnership’s celebration is free and open to all ages (entry is first come if busy). There’s also a mooncake-making competition, food fair and raffle. Deptford.

Wonderful Wildlife Weekends — Try pond dipping and minibeast hunting beside the Engine House at Walthamstow Wetlands on Sunday Sep 27, 1–3pm. This free drop-in needs no booking or equipment and is open to children of all ages (accompanied with an adult). Dress for mud and weather. Walthamstow.

Cassette — This French bistro and wine bar is opening this month at 42 Maiden Lane. The standout dish is the coq au vin jaune pie featuring an enormous chicken leg bone erupting out. Other highly recommended dishes include the grilled monkfish au poivre, a terrine of fromage de tête, and Îles flottantes for dessert. Covent Garden.

Island at the George & Dragon — Tom Brown and Brad Carter’s surf-and-turf restaurant has moved above the new pub at 240 St John Street. Order from their "completely bonkers" surf-and-turf collaboration menu featuring bold flavour bombs like lamb belly and clam skewer, steak tartare with prawn crackers, and piri piri chicken with crab sauce. Open Wednesday–Sunday. Clerkenwell.

Romy Gill at The Pem — The Westminster hotel dining room at Conrad London St James has relaunched with regional Indian dishes made for sharing. The signatures include tandoori lamb chops, samosa chaat, and chargrilled butter chicken at £26. Lunch runs Wednesday–Friday, noon–2.30pm, and dinner Tuesday–Saturday, 5–10pm. Westminster.