London Design Festival 2018: main events, interiors pop-ups, parties and street installations

The biggest design event in the capital's calendar — the London Design Festival — is back next month and, now in its 16th year, it's promising to be bigger and better than ever.

Over nine days, from September 15 to 23, London will be transformed by hundreds of free and ticketed design events.

This year, for the first time, there will be 11 official design districts — buzzing areas densely packed with activity and events — that can be easily explored on foot.

Key districts include Brompton in the south west; Pimlico Road and Mayfair in the west; Bankside, running along the Thames from Borough Market to Oxo Tower Wharf; and Clerkenwell in east central London.

New this year are West Kensington, Marylebone, Fitzrovia, Victoria and Regent Street & St James's in west and central London.

Two fun walking routes to look out for in equally exciting locations are Brixton's Design Trail and the new Paddington Central Design Route.

So why not pick up one of the little red guides from the festival hub at the V&A, wander around your local design district and choose from the hundreds of free pop-up events and workshops taking place all around you.

Look out for stage designer and winner of last year's London Design Medal Es Devlin's interactive red lion in Trafalgar Square from overnight on Monday 17 September until Sunday 23 September.

Called 'Please Feed the Lions', and created in partnership with Google Arts & Culture, the lion will roar poetry and words chosen by the public. By day, the collective poem will be shown on LEDs in the lion's mouth, by night it will be projected over both the lion and Nelson's Column itself.

Running throughout the festival are five major shows where you can for interior design inspiration, exciting new launches and one-off discounts; even the trade fairs have public opening hours...

Focus/18
When: Sunday 16 - Friday 21
Where: Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour
Open to the public from Wednesday 19 - Friday 21
Focus/18 brings together the design world for a peek inside the creative process of design, and the talent behind it. Get the first glimpse at new season collections and enroll in meet-the-designer workshops. 
Register here: dcch.co.uk

Decorex International
When: Sunday 16 - Wednesday 19
Where: Syon Park, Brentford
Open to public on Tuesday 18
Decorex is the trusted resource for high-end interior designers, architects, hotel specifiers, retailers and property developers. This year Blank Canvas is the show theme, encouraging exhibitors to explore the concept of space as a new beginning. 
Ticket info: decorex.com

100% Design
When: Wednesday 19 - Saturday 22
Where: Olympia London
Open to public on Saturday 22
Over 400 international and UK brands will exhibit across five sections: interiors, workplace, kitchens & bathrooms, design & build and emerging brands.
Ticket info: 100percentdesign.co.uk

Designjunction
When: Thursday 20 - Sunday 23
Where: OxoTower Wharf, Doon Street and Riverside Walkway (all SE1) 
Open to public and trade professionals throughout
Spread over three sites, in a brand new South Bank location, designjunction promises visitors a contemporary mix of furniture, lighting and technology brands alongside premium pop-up shops and outdoor installation projects. 
Ticket info: thedesignjunction.co.uk

London Design Fair
When: Thursday 20 - Sunday 23
Where: Old Truman Brewery
Open to public on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23
A four-day event in the heart of east London, showcasing independent international designers and established brands.
Ticket info: londondesignfair.co.uk