Looking for the best London pop ups in September 2026? This guide brings together ten more beauty, food, fashion and lifestyle experiences, including free ice cream, a burger giveaway, new skincare launches and a pickle festival.
Several of these are among the best free things to do in London this month, while others need a ticket, purchase or competition entry. I have separated the practical details for each event so you can quickly plan what to visit and when.
September London pop ups at a glance
| London pop up | Dates | Cost or condition |
|---|---|---|
| RAYE The Store | 3–27 September | FREE entry; products available to purchase |
| Paul Smith Dream Factory at Selfridges | 7–19 September | FREE to visit |
| Philantropica Pop-Up | 8 September | FREE; tasting limited to the first 200 visitors |
| Eastern City x The Real Fruit Ice Cream Co | 8–10 September | 250 FREE ice creams each day, while stocks last |
| Shake Shack London Bridge Pop-Up | 9 September | First 150 visitors receive a FREE burger |
| The Twenty Two Neighbourhood Café | Until 14 September | FREE coffee and salted caramel cookie under the promotional offer |
| The Ordinary Lacto-PDRN: Off the Hook | 11–13 September | FREE entry |
| The Big Brine | 12–13 September | Ticketed; prices start from approximately £22.25 |
| ADOH! 100 FREE Milo Soft Serves | 12 September | 100 FREE Milo soft serves |
| Rise & Bun x Rhode Pop-Up | 18 September | Buy a bun and hot drink; first 30 can receive a Rhode product after completing the stated steps |
1. RAYE The Store
RAYE The Store has returned to Kensington High Street with a new month-long edit of more than 100 emerging food, drink, wellness and beauty brands. The rotating concept store is designed for discovery, so it is a useful stop if you want to try products from smaller names before buying them online.
Expect tasting stations, product samples and shelves covering everything from functional drinks to skincare and snacks. Entry is free and you can browse without booking. See the latest brand line-up and any in-store event announcements on the official RAYE website.
| Location | 96 Kensington High Street, London W8 4SG |
| Dates | 3–27 September |
| Times | Monday–Saturday 10am–7pm; Sunday 12pm–6pm |
| Cost | FREE entry; products available to purchase |
| Booking | Walk-in |
2. Paul Smith Dream Factory at Selfridges
Paul Smith is taking over The Corner Shop at Selfridges with Dream Factory, a colourful installation built around the designer’s famously curious eye. The space brings together personal objects, artworks, photographs, furniture and unexpected finds that reveal how everyday details feed into the Paul Smith design process.
It is part shop, part cabinet of curiosities and part creative exhibition, making it one of the most visual fashion pop ups in London this September. Visit during normal Selfridges opening hours and browse without a separate ticket.
| Location | The Corner Shop, Selfridges London, 400 Oxford Street, London W1A 1AB |
| Dates | 7–19 September |
| Times | During Selfridges London opening hours |
| Cost | FREE to visit |
| Booking | Walk-in |
3. Philantropica Pop-Up
Philantropica is bringing what it describes as the world’s most expensive soft drink to Seven Dials for a one-day public tasting. Bottles are valued at $3,500, but the first 200 visitors can taste the drink for free and see the presentation bottle in person.
The activation also explains the environmental project connected to the drink, including its support for large-scale plastic clean-up. With only 200 tastings available, this is one of the London events where arriving close to opening time makes sense.
| Location | 6 Monmouth Street, Seven Dials, London WC2H 9HB |
| Date | 8 September |
| Times | 12pm–6pm |
| Cost | FREE; tasting limited to the first 200 visitors |
| Booking | Walk-in; arrive early |
4. Eastern City x The Real Fruit Ice Cream Co
The Real Fruit Ice Cream Co is back in the Square Mile with Eastern City London, giving away 250 real-fruit ice creams on each of three selected days. The mobile-style giveaway moves to a different City landmark every day, making it an easy lunchtime treat for workers and visitors.
Tuesday 8 September: 2:30pm–5pm at St Helen’s Church, EC3A 6AT.
Wednesday 9 September: 12:30pm–2:30pm by the Lloyd’s Building, EC3M 7HA.
Thursday 10 September: 12:30pm–2:30pm by The Leadenhall Building, EC3V 4AB.
The allocation is limited to 250 each day, so go near the start of the session if the free ice cream is your priority.
| Location | Three City of London locations: St Helen’s Church, Lloyd’s Building and The Leadenhall Building |
| Dates | 8–10 September |
| Times | 8 Sep 2:30–5pm; 9 Sep 12:30–2:30pm; 10 Sep 12:30–2:30pm |
| Cost | 250 FREE ice creams each day, while stocks last |
| Booking | Walk-in |
5. Shake Shack London Bridge Pop-Up
Shake Shack is celebrating its London Bridge opening with a one-day giveaway at Hay’s Galleria. The first 150 people from midday can claim a free burger, turning the new restaurant launch into one of September’s easiest free food events in central London.
The opening-day activation also includes a spin-the-wheel moment with limited prizes. The giveaway is first come, first served, so expect a queue before 12pm. Check the official restaurant page for any last-minute update.
| Location | Shake Shack, Unit 14 Hay’s Galleria, 51 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QN |
| Date | 9 September |
| Times | From 12pm, while stocks last |
| Cost | First 150 visitors receive a FREE burger |
| Booking | Walk-in; arrive early |
6. The Twenty Two Neighbourhood Café
The Twenty Two is previewing its neighbourhood café concept with a limited free coffee and salted caramel cookie offer. It is a useful Mayfair stop if you are already visiting Oxford Street or Selfridges, and the promotion runs through 14 September.
| Location | The Twenty Two / Café Twenty Two, Mayfair, London |
| Dates | Until 14 September |
| Times | 10am-6pm |
| Cost | FREE coffee and salted caramel cookie under the promotional offer |
| Booking | Follow the current collection instructions |
7. The Ordinary Lacto-PDRN: Off the Hook
The Ordinary is opening Off the Hook in Covent Garden to introduce Lacto-PDRN 4% + B9 Eye Cream. The public pop-up turns the science behind the formula into interactive challenges, ingredient discovery and opportunities to learn more about the brand’s first dedicated eye treatment.
Expect a clinical but playful space with product education, formulation details and shareable moments. Entry is free, although any gifts or samples will be subject to availability. Covent Garden will be busy over the weekend, so visit earlier in the day if you want more time inside.
| Location | The Stables, Unit X, 40 Earlham Street, London WC2H 9LH |
| Dates | 11–13 September |
| Times | 10am–7pm daily |
| Cost | FREE entry |
| Booking | Walk-in unless the organiser announces timed entry |
8. The Big Brine
The Big Brine is London’s celebration of pickles, ferments and all things tangy. More than 30 food and drink traders join demonstrations, workshops, talks on fermentation and gut health, competitions, DJs and live entertainment across two days at Hackney Bridge.
Saturday has separate daytime and evening sessions, with the evening session restricted to guests aged 18 and over. This is a paid event rather than a free walk-in pop-up, so book the correct session through the official Big Brine website.
| Location | Hackney Bridge, Units 1–28 Echo Building, East Bay Lane, London E15 2SJ |
| Dates | 12–13 September |
| Times | Sat 11:30am–4:30pm and 5:30–10:30pm; Sun 12pm–5pm |
| Cost | Ticketed; prices start from approximately £22.25 |
| Booking | Advance ticket recommended |
9. ADOH! 100 FREE Milo Soft Serves
ADOH! is giving away 100 Milo soft serves at its Maiden Lane shop. The chocolate-malt flavour is served as a takeaway treat, and the entire allocation is available from midday until it runs out.
There is no booking system, so this is strictly first come, first served. It pairs well with The Ordinary’s Covent Garden pop-up on the same day, but head to ADOH! first if you want the free soft serve.
| Location | ADOH!, 36 Maiden Lane, London WC2E 7LJ |
| Date | 12 September |
| Times | From 12pm until all 100 have gone |
| Cost | 100 FREE Milo soft serves |
| Booking | Walk-in; takeaway only |
10. Rise & Bun x Rhode Pop-Up
Rise & Bun is teaming up with Rhode for a very limited Soho giveaway combining pastries, coffee and beauty. The first 30 qualifying customers on 18 September can receive a Rhode product after buying a bun and hot drink.
To qualify, take a photo at the “bunbelievable” mirror, tag Rise & Bun, follow the account and show the completed steps to staff. Only 30 products are available, so arrive at opening and recheck @rise.and.bun for the exact start time and any updated terms.
| Location | Rise & Bun, Soho / Golden Square, London |
| Date | 18 September |
| Times | From opening; offer limited to the first 30 qualifying customers |
| Cost | Buy a bun and hot drink; first 30 can receive a Rhode product after completing the stated steps |
| Booking | Walk-in; follow and tagging conditions apply |
Before you visit
- Check the organiser’s latest post or booking page on the day, as opening times, capacity and stock can change.
- Arrive early for limited FREE food, drinks, beauty products and gifts.
- Bring photo ID to age-restricted events and read any purchase or social-posting conditions before joining a queue.
- Allow extra time around Soho, Covent Garden and the City of London, where several of these events can be combined in one day.
For more London pop ups, free events and new openings, follow @freethepopup on IG, @itsnasg on TikTok and save this guide for your September plans.
Information checked on 7 September 2026. Event details can change at short notice, so confirm with the organiser before travelling.
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