🦊 Hello, September.

Morning, London! Happy Thursday. The kids are back in school and so is the phrase “summer has flown by,” delivered with Oscar-level sincerity at every drop-off. Sometimes I wonder if we’re all reading from the same script. Morning, Truman.

The Wimbledon ballot for 2026 is now open. Talk about planning ahead. But hey, when you're queueing next summer to maybe catch Djokovic (one last time?), you'll remember this moment. And remember, kids under 5 go free, you might just have a mini Roger Federer on your hands.

Massive thanks to the 50-plus of you who replied last week about the K-Pop Demon Hunters situation. It’s comforting to know this particular madness has spread far beyond my living room. Your emails made me laugh. And slightly worry for us all.

A few Tube strikes are on the horizon, so if you’ve got your eye on an event in the Scoop, worth double-checking your route. Also, a limited run of Scoop hats is officially in the works. They’re looking very promising. More on that soon.

Let’s dive in.

. LONDON SNIPPETS .
Bits that caught our eye

🚫 Traffic-Free Oxford Street. On Sunday 21 September, Oxford Street will go car free from noon to 8pm, swapping buses and black cabs for music, fashion, food and pop ups. It is a one day test run ahead of the Mayor’s grand plan to pedestrianise the whole stretch from Oxford Circus to Marble Arch. First he needs the green light from Westminster and possibly Angela Rayner. Until then, enjoy the rare chance to cross the street without dodging five lanes of chaos. Full story

🛶 Viking Ship Sails into St Katharine Docks. Hide your mead, a Viking longship has arrived after a two year journey tracing ancient trade routes across Europe. The Saga Farmann sailed under Tower Bridge earlier this week and is now moored at St Katharine Docks until Sunday morning before joining the Classic Boat Festival in September. No pillaging expected. Full story

🛠️ Big Birthday Glow Up for the Design Museum. The Design Museum is turning 40 in 2029 and is marking the occasion the only way it knows how: with a sleek, multi-million pound redesign. The permanent galleries are getting a full makeover, with help from the National Lottery, to become more flexible, more modern, and hopefully still not too cool to let your kids press a few buttons. Full story

 .TRIVIA .
Think you know your London?

. CASUAL EINSTEIN .
2 for 1: Wow your kid, and outsmart the other parents

Fun Fact: Some turtles can breathe through their butts. 🐢😮 It’s called cloacal respiration. Certain species use it during hibernation or deep underwater chill time. Not the most glamorous superpower.

London Fact: Victoria Line trains are mostly driven by computers, not people. 🚇🤖 The line has had automatic train operation since the 1960s. The “driver” is mostly there to press the start button and open the doors. Self-driving before it was trendy.

. EVENTS SCOOP .
What’s on this week?

🦁 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe @ Sadler’s Wells
Date & Loc: Sep 4–7, Clerkenwell EC1R
Step through the wardrobe into Narnia’s spellbinding world in this puppetry‑rich, actor‑musician family stage show.
Age: 6+ | Price: from £15 | Info

🐭 Cocomelon in London @ St Martin's Theatre
Date & Loc: Sep 4-7, Seven Dials, WC2H
Meet JJ, enjoy Cocomelon tunes, and dance along with themed fun, bubbles and snacks at this toddler-friendly party session.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £10 | Info

🍜 celebrASIA @ Battersea Power Station
Date & Loc: Sep 5–7, Battersea SW11
Celebrate South East Asian food, music, crafts and culture with riverside dining, artisan makers, masterclasses and a family “Grand Tour” making passports and collecting stickers.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🎬 Adventure Cinema Weekend @ Knebworth House
Date & Loc: Sep 5–7, Knebworth SG3
Grab your blankets for a weekend of open-air movie magic: The Greatest Showman Sing-a-Long (Sep 5), Wicked Sing-a-Long (Sep 6), The Gruffalo & Stick Man double bill (Sep 7).
Age: Everyone | Price: from £10 | Info

🥁 Brassworks 2025 @ Woolwich Works
Date & Loc: Sep 6, Woolwich SE18
Brass parade alert. Grab a horn and join the march through Woolwich or soak up live outdoor concerts featuring DJ sets, Jazz, Bollywood Brass and more in the Woolwich Works courtyard.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

⚓ Character Encounters @ National Maritime Museum
Date & Loc: Sep 6 (and every Saturday), Greenwich SE10
Step back in time through interactive meet‑the‑character tours; join sailors, pirates and explorers as they bring maritime history to life around the gallery.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🌸 Emerge East @ Barking Riverside
Date & Loc: Sep 6, Barking IG11
Discover a creative riverside celebration of community, nature, art and food. Expect a riverside sauna, street vendors, DJs, and a family-friendly block party atmosphere.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🎧 Family Silent Disco @ Dulwich Picture Gallery
Date & Loc: Sep 6, Dulwich SE21
Outdoor fun in the Sculpture Garden with wireless headphones, multiple DJs, wireless dance battles and delicious street‑food vibes to close summer.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £8 | Info

🎨 ArtPlay Festival @ Dulwich Picture Gallery
Date & Loc: Sep 6–7, Dulwich SE21
Celebrate the launch of the ArtPlay Pavilion and Sculpture Garden with face‑painting, printmaking, music, storytelling and sensory play for under‑8s.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

⛵ St Katharine Docks Classic Boat Festival @ St Katharine Docks
Date & Loc: Sep 6–7, St Katharine Docks EC3R
Step aboard beautifully preserved vintage vessels including Dunkirk Little Ships, Thames barges and naval tugs, plus live music, kids activities and family-friendly charm beside Tower Bridge.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🎶 Baby Gospel @ Big Penny Social
Date & Loc: Sep 7, Walthamstow E17
Soulful, Motown-infused fun with Baby Gospel and London’s CK Gospel Choir. A heavenly under-the-radar concert loved by grown-ups and little ones alike.
Age: Everyone | Price: £14.50 | Info

🛍 South Bank Summer Market @ Festival Pier
Date & Loc: Sep 7, South Bank SE1
Pop‑up SoLo craft fair on the pier with over 60 stalls of makers, workshops like candle‑decorating, DJs, street food and riverside vibes.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🩰 Mini Movers & Their Grown-up Groovers @ Stanley Arts
Date & Loc: Sep 7, Croydon SE19
Bond with your little one through a joyful dance‑and‑move workshop using props, drawing and gentle contact. A perfect little morning routine.
Age: 1-4yo | Price: £5 per child | Info

🤣 The Listies: Make Some Noise @ Studio Theatre
Date & Loc: Sep 7, North Finchley N12
High‑energy comedy concert by Australia’s The Listies. Songs, silliness, and laughter for ages 4 to 400, everyone’s invited!
Age: 4+ | Price: from £13.75 | Info

🏛️Family Activities @ Guildhall Art Gallery
Date & Loc: Sep 13, City EC2V
Architecture-themed drop-in fun for curious minds. Build paper cities, LEGO skyscrapers, Roman buildings. Enjoy a construction zone, story corner and quiet space too.
Age: 3-13yo | Price: no cost | Info

🎉 Make It: Party Accessories @ V&A
Date & Loc: Sep 13, South Kensington SW7
Join this crafty family workshop to transform balloon strings and foil into sparkly wearable art, led by artist Hannah Wild. All materials sustainably provided.
Age: 5+ | Price: £20 per adult‑child pair | Info

♻ Wonder Day @ Southwark Recycling Plant
Date & Loc: Sep 13, Southwark SE15 1AL
Ever wondered what happens to your recycling? Family tours of the recycling facility, junk orchestra, crafts, bouncy castle, vehicle displays and upcycling fun.
Age: Everyone (heights apply for tours) | Price: no cost | Info

🎡 Moving Pictures @ Tower Bridge
Date & Loc: Sep 13, Tower Bridge SE1
Recreate historic moments from the bridge’s past by crafting a thaumatrope – a classic Victorian optical illusion toy. A fun hands-on session for curious minds.
Age: 6–10 | Price: incl. with bridge adm. | Info

🔥 Great Fire of London Family Walk @ London Museum
Date & Loc: Sep 13/20/27, City EC3M
Step into the smoke-filled streets of 1666 with this guided walk through the story of the Great Fire. Expect fiery tales, iconic landmarks and plenty of historical drama.
Age: 5+ | Price: from £8 | Info

🏛 Step Inside @ Somerset House
Date & Loc: Sep 13–14, Strand WC2R
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Somerset House throws open its doors with free installations, creative workshops, performances and behind-the-scenes access across the building.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🐰 Miffy at Bankside @ London Design Festival
Date & Loc: Sep 13–21, Bankside SE1
Jump into the whimsical world of Miffy with silkscreen prints, a towering Miffy lamp and a plush wall of 400 mini‑Miffys. Art meets cuteness.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🎨 Little Explorers @ National Gallery
Date & Loc: Sep 17, Trafalgar Square WC2N
Stories, songs and playful creative activities for under-5s and their grown-ups, all inspired by the Gallery’s portraits and sitters. A lovely way to explore art as a family. These free sessions usually book up fast, so grab a spot when they open (3 weeks before the event).
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost (book req) | Info

👕 Family Day @ William Morris Gallery
Date & Loc: Sep 20, Walthamstow E17
Join artist Angry Dan to screen‑print your very own version of his William Morris‑inspired mural at the final weekend of Morris Mania. (limited numbers!)
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🐑 Counting Sheeps @ The Albany
Date & Loc: Sep 21, Deptford SE8
A playful adventure for little ones about bedtime battles, big imaginations and a herd of cheeky sheep. Expect music, laughs and plenty of silliness.
Age: 0-3yo | Price: £8 | Info

🎥 Film 100 Guinness World Record Attempt @ Old Royal Naval College
Date & Loc: Sep 27, Greenwich SE10
Celebrate 100 years of film with pop-ups, screenings, and you could help set a Guinness World Record by dressing as your favourite movie or TV character.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🩰 Family Sundays @ Royal Opera House
Date & Loc: Sundays from Oct 26–Nov 30, Covent Garden WC2E
Discover opera, ballet and backstage magic through hands-on creative activities, workshops and themed fun in the heart of the Royal Opera House. A great intro for curious kids and their grown-ups.
Shoutout to our reader Emma for this hot tip: tickets are released on Fridays at 1pm and usually book up fast — but she’s never failed to get in by checking a few weeks in advance 😉
Age: Everyone | Price: from £10 | Info

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