Sir Tim Berners-Lee
*September in London*
September is the month I return to London after a break in Canada. London is the city where I was born, grew up and went to school. It was here I watched my incredible parents work on the UK’s first commercially built computer, and first became inspired by computing.
Having spent considerable time outdoors, when I return to London, I need to continue to get my fill of being outside and London’s parks are a wonderful place to do this, with Richmond Park being a favourite. I then catch up on all the London life I’ve missed over the summer - culture, people, technology. We’re so fortunate that London is a leading cultural centre and I’m looking forward to seeing The Romans at the Almeida Theatre and visiting the National Gallery to see the Neo-Impressionists exhibition with my wife Rosemary. Though I will have left Cananda I hope to catch up on films at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in its 50th year opening today ( September 4th) featuring the short ‘Poster Boy’, which I’m delighted to say is written and directed by our daughter.
I always look forward to visiting the Open Data Institute - the London-based nonprofit I co-founded to work with governments and companies to build an open, trustworthy data ecosystem that respects individuals’ data privacy. Their office in Kings Cross provides a good vantage point to survey the system of canals. I’ll be meeting with colleagues over this month to drive forward our work on the Solid protocol that I’m hugely passionate about.
This September is unique for me. I will be returning to share my memoir ‘This Is For Everyone’ for the first time at London’s Cadogan Hall before travelling across the UK and then abroad on my book tour. The book tells the story of how I invented the World Wide Web, fought for it to be free for all to use, and how we should navigate AI, misinformation and data privacy to build a democratic web that, once again, respects and empowers us.
This is for Everyone, the groundbreaking memoir by Sir Tim Berners-Lee, is published 9 September.
- Sir Tim Berners-Lee
Food: Carbone
Credit: Cap*italalist
The much-anticipated arrival of New York's iconic Italian-American restaurant, Carbone, is finally set to land in London's dining scene this month. Opening within the newly unveiled Chancery Rosewood hotel at 30 Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, Carbone's London outpost marks its first European venture, bringing its signature blend of mid-century glamour and indulgent cuisine. Carbone London will stay true to its roots offering a menu that pays homage to classic Italian-American dishes and we can look forward to favourites like the renowned Spicy Rigatoni Vodka, Veal Parmesan or Baked Clams. The restaurant is also known for its theatrical tableside preparations, including the Caesar Salad and Bananas Foster so make sure to order one of these! The venue itself promises an atmosphere of timeless elegance, featuring a ground-floor terrace and a spacious basement-level dining area complete with booth seating, private dining rooms and a bar. While exact details are still scarce, the design is expected to mirror the classic charm of its New York counterpart offering a nostalgic setting. Reservations for Carbone London are anticipated to open closer to the launch date so make sure to stay tuned to the website or socials. Given the restaurant's popularity and the buzz surrounding its UK debut, securing a table early is advisable for anyone eager to experience this culinary landmark!
Exhibition: V&A East Storehouse: David Bowie Centre
Credit: V&A
The new David Bowie Centre at V&A East Storehouse is less a traditional exhibition and more an invitation to step inside Bowie’s creative universe. Spread across four floors of industrial-chic archive space, it brings together more than 90,000 items from stage costumes and handwritten lyrics to rare film ideas and personal correspondence, many of which are accessible through the innovative “Order an Object” service that lets visitors request and view pieces up close. Rather than a static retrospective, the centre is designed to evolve with rotating displays shaped by guest curators like Nile Rodgers and contemporary artists, ensuring there’s always something new to discover. It feels a bit like being handed Bowie’s own sketchbook and stage trunk at once: intimate, surprising, and endlessly inspiring. If you’ve ever wanted to see what creativity looks like in its raw, unfiltered form, this is a rare chance to do so.
Kids: Wonderful Wildlife Weekends @ Walthamstow Wetlands
Credit: Wild London
Wonderful Wildlife Weekends at Walthamstow Wetlands are a brilliant way to swap dreaded screen time for a bit of wild discovery, right in the middle of the city. These free, drop-in family sessions invite you to grab a net, peer into a pond, or turn over a log and see what’s living just beneath the surface. On the 14th and 28th September, take the kiddo’s to hunt for everything from beetles to bugs and birds. The setting itself is inspiring with an amazing 211 hectares of reservoirs and meadows where you can feel properly immersed in nature without leaving London. It’s relaxed, hands-on and child-friendly, but there is plenty for adults to enjoy too, making it the kind of outing where everyone leaves with muddy knees, big smiles and at least one surprising fact about the local wildlife.
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Music: Jazz on Wick
Credit: Instagram
If you’re chasing live musical brilliance and vibey East London energy then Jazz on Wick is your ticket. Happening on Saturday the 13th September at the ultra-cool Colour Factory in Hackney Wick, this festival runs from 12pm till 10pm and brings together over 40 artists across five stages, from neo‑soul magic with BINA and the genre-bending quartet Oreglo, to multi-instrumentalist Allexa Nava and a surprise-laced Orii Jam set. All hands-on curated by communities like Eglo Records, Jazzy Sport, Voices Radio, and more. Tickets range from about £17 to £45, giving you flexibility depending on how much of the day (or night) you want to soak in. Oh, and the setting: Hackney Bridge, just a few minutes from Hackney Wick station, is a relaxed urban oasis with riverside charm and a rotating roster of street-food traders, bars and independent cafes to keep you nourished and hydrated between sets.
Event: A Night of Nature
Credit: Instagram
Twitchers, music lovers and general wildlife aficionado's need to get down to A Night of Nature. You will be guided through an immersive cinematic journey that fuses epic wildlife visuals with soaring live music. With humanity-meets-the-wild drama via the velvety harmonies of G4 and the sophisticated strings of the Vesper Quartet, all beautifully synced to high-definition footage of everything from primordial forests to windswept coastlines. This takes place on Saturday 6th September and RSPB ambassador and actor Samuel West will host this unique evening at Troxy in East London. It all begins with doors at 6:30 pm and then performances from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Tickets are priced from around £28 to £43, plus a small restoration levy. Please bear in mind that Troxy is a cashless venue, so food, drink and merch purchases must be made by card or on your phone. The event will offer an opportunity to experience an evening of music and film celebrating the natural world, while supporting the amazing conservation work of the RSPB.
Art: Kerry James Marshall: The Histories
Credit: Instagram
At the Royal Academy of Arts this autumn, Kerry James Marshall: The Histories brings together more than seventy works spanning four decades, making it the most significant presentation of the Chicago-based artist in Europe to date. From the vast, mural-like Knowledge and Wonder to intimate drawings and new commissions, the exhibition explores Marshall’s signature project: placing Black figures and lived experience at the centre of Western art’s grand narratives. His paintings and sculptures blend the visual languages of Renaissance masters, comics, science fiction and history painting, creating works that are as formally dazzling as they are politically charged. Running from the 20th September 2025 to the 18th January next year, tickets are priced from £25 (with reductions for Art Pass holders and free entry for under-16s). For anyone interested in how art can rewrite history while captivating the eye, this retrospective is likely to be one of the defining shows of this year.
Theatre: Bacchae
Credit: National Theatre
If you’re in the mood for theatre that’s edgy and utterly unforgettable, Bacchae at the National Theatre’s Olivier Theatre demands your attention. Running from the 13th September to the 1st November, this world‑premiere reimagining of Euripides’ classic is penned by Nima Taleghani (making his playwright debut) and directed by the National’s new artistic director Indhu Rubasingham. It brings a visceral fusion of spoken word, rhyme, movement and music, with a creative team that includes choreographer Kate Prince, composer DJ Walde, designer Robert Jones and lighting by Oliver Fenwick. The cast is stacked with talent too with names such as James McArdle, Clare Perkins, Ukweli Roach, Sharon Small and a remarkable ensemble bringing the Bacchae chorus to life with intoxicating energy. With unapologetic intensity, this is a show where violence, sexual themes and thumping, bass-rich soundscapes are woven into the fabric of its storytelling. Ticket prices start at around £31. Worth every penny!
Art: 25 years of Somerset House
Credit: Somerset House
Somerset House is a firm Halpern fave and this month we are invited to wander this atmospheric London landmark for a two-day extravaganza of creativity, history and riverside charm on the 13th and 14th. Best of all, it’s completely free to attend.. The Step Inside 25 weekend throws open every corner of the neo-classical complex, from subterranean gems like the Deadhouse to buzzing artist studios on Maker Street, inviting you to rub elbows with resident creatives and explore installations by Turner Prize-winner Tai Shani, sculptural soundscapes by GAIKA, and the radio-inspired VoiceLine in the Deadhouse by Nick Ryan. Meanwhile, the newly launched riverside bar, Setlist, delivers a festival-worthy culinary and cultural experience with rotating pop-ups from London’s top female chefs. This means mouthwatering dishes like baja fish tacos, mushroom tostadas and mezcal margaritas, all served with sweeping views of the Thames, DJ sets and live music. This event isn’t just a retrospective but also a celebration of how far Somerset House has come in its 25-year journey from civil service offices to a thriving cultural powerhouse, completely self-funded and pulsing with innovation and artistic life.
Musical: 50 First Dates: The Musical
Credit: The Other Palace
The 2004 film was iconic and still makes for an excellent watch in 2025. So it may not come as a huge surprise that it has had the ‘musical’ treatment. 50 First Dates, the musical is a sweetly sentimental night out and the perfect date night. The production takes place at The Other Palace and is running from the 14th of September until mid November. This brand-new stage adaptation of the beloved rom-com stars Georgina Castle as Lucy and Josh St. Clair as Henry and is directed and choreographed by multi‑Tony Award-winner Casey Nicholaw. The show itself is packed with infectious original songs, laugh-out-loud moments and heartwarming chemistry, making it that date-night you won’t stop thinking about. Tickets start at about £35 with evening and matinee options available to suit your schedule of course. At the venue you can fuel up beforehand (or unwind afterwards) at The Other Gin Palace serving up coffees, light bites, pizzas (think Margarita, chorizo crumb, vegan Margherita) and a generous gin, wine, beer and cocktail selection. If you would prefer something a bit more substantial, there’s also The Other Naughty Piglet, a restaurant offering seasonal dishes on the venue’s first floor. In just 90 minutes you’ll fall in love (again and again) with this reimagining of the original film.
Charity of the Month: Haven House Children’s Hospice; Thames Path Ultra Challenge
Credit: Instagram
This month, the Haven House Children’s Hospice Thames Path Ultra Challenge offers the chance to turn every step into something extraordinary. Setting off from Putney Bridge on 13th and 14th of the month, participants (including you!) will follow the river through some of London’s most historic and scenic landscapes; past royal palaces, ancient meadows, all the way to Henley. Whether you choose 10 km, 25 km, 50 km or the full 100 km ultra, you’ll be supported with regular rest stops, hot food and encouragement at every stage. At the finish line, medals, t-shirts and well-earned celebrations await. But most importantly, every mile, thanks to your fundraising, helps raise vital funds for Haven House Children’s Hospice, turning determination into hope for the families they support. Haven House cares for seriously ill babies and children (up to the age of 18) by creating a loving and warm environment for them and their families while they go through the toughest of times. For the Ultra Challenge, registration starts from £10, with early-bird discounts available which means this is not just a challenge, but a chance to be part of something genuinely life-changing.