The beach towels have been packed away and the out of office responses turned off — September is on the horizon. The design crowd are embracing that back-to-school feeling with gusto by gearing up for the London Design Festival. Get involved by experiencing, touching and admiring — and if you feel the urge for something new but your budget is more high street than high-end, make a beeline for the latest slew of affordable design collaborations.

The ultimate chance to snoop around iconic buildings normally closed to the public is back — it’s the 35th year of the London Open House Festival. From September 12 to 21, you can marvel at the unique Lloyd’s of London building, which was designed by pioneering architect Lord Rogers and celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

You can also gain exclusive access to the Roman Basilica and Forum remains beneath Leadenhall Market. It’s worth checking out the walking tours, too: themes range from filming locations in the City to Brutalism and high-tech architecture. New to the roster is The Print House, a 1870 Victorian paint factory in Dalston which survived the Blitz — and developers — and is now a creative hub with a roof park and original Second World War bunker.

Not only for trade and industry insiders, the LDF (September 12 to 20) is a place for creatives and thinkers across all mediums. Highlights include the Pangolin Shield, a huge bamboo installation by Studio Saar and Atelier One popping up on the Strand to explore colonial legacies, power and ecological exploitation. Islington design destination TwentyTwentyOne is curating an exhibition celebrating Spanish interior designer Miguel Milá, while Gallery FUMI in Mayfair is staging After School, bringing together recent graduates and alumni from the Royal College of Art to present works across textiles, ceramics and design. At Béton Brut in E9,