At a loss of what to do with your weekends now that summer's days are numbered? Put a date in the diary for our must-see picks from September's culture calendar.
Brush up on your design credentials at the freebie events surrounding the London Design Festival. Our top pick will see industrial robots descend on Trafalgar Square, where visitors can take control of the robots (on loan from the Audi factory) and generate large-scale 3-D light messages into the air. September 17-23.
Meanwhile, combine drinking and design at the Andaz hotel's installation that will transform its 1901 Wine Bar into a spectacular forest of light, courtesy of digital designer Simon Heijdens. If you're still thirsty, prop yourself up at the pine and cedar-clad pop up bar outside, designed by London architects Glass Hill. September 21–26.
London Design Festival, September 18-26.
If museum art can sometimes leave you cold, the Liverpool Biennal offers something distinctly more offbeat – with quirky, surreal and often amusing contemporary art installations dotted all around the city, often hidden in unexpected places. From a temple suspended with 1000 bells by artist Laura Belém, to an artistic game of hide-and-seek in a maze of ribbons by Nicholas Hlobo, there will be much to surprise and delight inquisitive visitors. September 18 – November 28.
If you missed out on tickets to the sell-out Bestival, you can always head down to London's very own end-of-summer celebration and the city's largest free arts festival – Thames Festival. Among the mix of live music, night carnivals, river races, food and art, we'd recommend Feast on the Bridge – a communal meal on Southwark Bridge made entirely from waste food destined for landfill. Meanwhile, the jive stage offers open air classes in swing, jive and lindy hop, and vintage fans should head to St Katharine Docks for the Thames Revival – combining classic boats, vintage shopping and oyster tasting. September 11-12.
Calling all Grand Designs fans – the UK's most innovative buildings are throwing open their doors free of charge to the public throughout September. Across the UK, hundreds of great buildings – from churches and castles to cutting-edge office blocks and factories – will allow free access throughout September. During London's Open House weekend (September 18-19), you can gain unprecedented access to the BT Tower's revolving 34th floor, explore an eco home or do a hard hat tour of the Olympic Park.
A must for any footwear fanatic worth her salt, Sadlers Wells' new dance production is entirely dedicated to – you guessed it – shoes, from Louboutin's lusted-after red soles, to the not-so-stylish Croc. Composed by Richard Thomas of Jerry Springer – The Opera fame, the musical will no doubt be infused with a biting wit and a good dose of irony. September 3-11.
A month long celebration of all things foodie, the Norfolk Food Festival offers such delights as "grow your own" sessions in local allotments, a Battle of the Bangers in which the region's best butchers go head to head in a sausage-off, and Norfolk-themed afternoon teas.