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The Winter Night Garden Cinema

9 great diary dates for September

Here’s three great ways to catch a movie… plus more fab things to book this month

1 

Backyard Cinema Re-opens

Capital Studios in Wandsworth (pictured top) is back with two immersive cinemas, street-food garden and Studio Bar. The Winter Night Garden sees customers entering through the magic wardrobe and into the Lost Theatre. Films on offer include everything from The Greatest Showman to Joker. Its Snow Kingdom also returns from 1 October with a hidden entrance inside Dr Portelli’s Curiosity Shop. www.backyardcinema.co.uk

2 

Theatre & cinema at the power station

Battersea Power Station has lent itself as a backdrop to several film classics over the years including Alfred Hitchcock’s Sabotage, Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life and Batman’s The Dark Knight, and is once again acting as the backdrop – this time to an open-air cinema and theatre experience.  The Coaling Jetty on the Thames in front of the Power Station will feature theatre performances from The Turbine Theatre  and film screenings from boutique cinema Archlight Cinema. Until 20 September batterseapowerstation.co.uk

3 

Cinema in the park

The Luna Cinema is headed to South West London for screenings at King George’s Park (23 September to 27 September) and Wimbledon Park (29 September to 4 October). There will be screenings of blockbuster hits and classic films including Joker, Rocketman, Pretty Woman and Grease. There are 2 and 4-person pitches available. thelunacinema.com

4 

Wimbledon BookFest

Wimbledon BookFest will be holding its ‘Last Days of Summer’ Live Festival Weekend on Wimbledon Common, 11-13 September. The literary festival will take place in an open marquee hosting a range of speakers and bestselling authors for adults and children. Matthew Syed has been confirmed as a keynote speaker, with the full programme to be announced soon. Events will also be digitally streamed. www.wimbledonbookfest.org Read our interview with Andy Hamilton, who’ll be talking about his new novel at the festival.

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5 

Thames Festival

Totally Thames 2020 will feature a mix of virtual and in-person events over the month, celebrating everything to do with our river. There’s paddlesports, boat trips, London’s biggest angling competition at Chiswick and Barnes foreshores as well as talks by London Mudlark and best selling author Lara Maiklem hosted by The Battersea Society and Nine Elms. 1-20 September thamesfestivaltrust.org

6 

London Open House

This hugely popular cultural event across the capital sees hundreds of quirky and fascinating spaces open for public perusal. This year’s festival will have some 800 buildings, walks and tours on offer. Festival fortnight begins Wednesday 14 September Main event: 19 and 20 September open-city.org.uk/open-house

7 

Kingston Heritage Festival

Celebrating the borough’s history, there will be open-air talks around the town, walking and cycling trails, virtual film tours of places such as Dorich House and the new Kingston University building, as well as a podcast on the history of Seething Wells. 11-20 September inkingston.co.uk

8 

Andy Warhol at Tate Modern

This major retrospective is the first Warhol exhibition at Tate Modern for almost 20 years. As well as his iconic pop images of Marilyn Monroe, Coca-Cola and Campbell’s soup cans, it includes works from his Ladies and Gentlemen series – his portraits of black and Latinx drag queens and trans women. Extended to 15 November. www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern

9 

Heritage Open Days

With a mix of in-person and online events, you can explore your local history in greater depth. Check the website for the latest updates, but this year’s theme is Hidden Nature, where you can discover the nature on our doorsteps, with areas of the countryside that aren’t normally accessible to the public opened up. 11-20 September www.heritageopendays.org.uk