Summer is officially on its way out, the evenings are drawing in and London is entering its cosy era.

Wednesday, September 23 marks the autumn equinox, the astronomical turning point that signals the beginning of new season in the Northern Hemisphere.

And while most Londoners may be celebrating with a chunky jumper and an aggressively seasonal trip to the pub, there are some rather more unusual ways to welcome the new season in the capital.

From Druids gathering on Primrose Hill to an eerie vigil at a Southwark graveyard and sound baths inspired by ancient Chinese philosophy, here are some of the most unusual ways to mark the autumn equinox in London.

The autumnal equinox happens in September each year and marks the beginning of astronomical autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.

According to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, the Earth’s axis is tilted, meaning the Northern and Southern Hemispheres receive different amounts of sunlight as our planet travels around the Sun.

But twice a year, the Sun crosses the celestial equator, meaning neither hemisphere is tilted towards or away from it. These moments are known as the equinoxes.

The September equinox marks the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, while the March equinox marks the beginning of spring.

The word equinox comes from the Latin words aequus, meaning equal, and nox, meaning night, referring to the point in the year when day and night are roughly equal in length.

The 2026 autumn equinox falls at 1.05am on Wednesday, September 23 in London, marking the astronomical beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.

But the equinox happens at the same instant around the world, meaning the local time varies depending on where you are.

In New York, for example, it will take place at 8.05pm on Tuesday, September 22, while Sydney will reach the equinox at 10.05am on Wednesday, September 23.

The changing seasons have been marked by humans for thousands of years.

According to Historically Candles, evidence of ancient Britons observing the changing position of the Sun can be traced back to the Neolithic period, with several prehistoric monuments appearing to align with significant points in the solar year.

The autumn equinox has traditionally been associated with the harvest, gratitude and preparation for the darker months ahead.

For modern-day celebrants, it can also be a moment to pause, reflect and reset as summer gives way to autumn.

And in London, there are plenty of ways to do exactly that, ranging from the peaceful to the decidedly unconventional.

London might not immediately spring to mind when you think of ancient seasonal rituals, but look beyond the pubs and Pret queues and you'll find plenty of people marking the changing of the seasons.

From Wednesday, September 23, through to the weekend, these are some of the capital's most unusual equinox events.

If you thought Primrose Hill was mainly for picnics, dog walkers and people trying to get the perfect skyline photo, think again.

The Druid Order will gather on Primrose Hill at 11am on Wednesday, September 23, for its annual Autumn Equinox Ceremony.

The group will meet among the trees near the middle entrance from Primrose Hill Road before carrying out its ceremony to mark the changing season.

Members of the public are welcome to watch from the sidelines, making it one of the more unusual ways to spend the first morning of astronomical autumn.

And, depending on the weather, possibly one of the more wholesome.

For something considerably more atmospheric, head south of the river to Crossbones Graveyard in Southwark, where there will be an Autumn Equinox Vigil on Wednesday evening, with attendees gathering from 6.45pm ahead of a 7pm start.

The unofficial shrine and memorial commemorates the thousands of people believed to have been buried at the former medieval burial ground, many of whom were considered social outcasts.

The regular vigils at Crossbones have been taking place since 2004, with the equinox event providing an opportunity for reflection and remembrance.

Oca London in Bermondsey is hosting an Autumn Equinox Ritual on Wednesday evening, combining the Chinese Five Elements philosophy with somatic movement, guided meditation, reflective writing and a sound bath.

The session explores the Metal element, which is associated with autumn in the Five Elements system, and encourages participants to reflect on the changing season and what they might want to let go of.

Essentially, it's a rather more relaxing way of saying goodbye to summer.

The autumn equinox is also being marked with a community gathering at Breakspears Mews Community Garden in SE4.

Running from Wednesday afternoon into the evening, the event will bring people together for gardening, food, conversation and a sharing circle, before a fire ceremony at dusk.

Guests are encouraged to bring instruments, poems or stories to share, making it a decidedly more communal way to welcome autumn.

And if nothing else, it provides an excellent excuse to sit around a fire pretending you've suddenly become very in touch with nature.