LONDON — The London Design Festival opened on Thursday, kicking off nine days of exhibitions, installations and product launches across the capital. The Victoria and Albert Museum serves as the event's central hub, with organisers confirming the festival spans more than a dozen official design districts.

Now in its 24th year, the festival was founded in 2003 by Sir John Sorrell and Ben Evans to promote London as a global design capital. It has grown to encompass hundreds of events, from independent studios in Shoreditch and Bermondsey to flagship brand showcases in Brompton and Mayfair.

The V&A anchored the programme with commissioned Landmark Projects installed throughout its South Kensington galleries and courtyard, a tradition drawing large public crowds each September. Participating districts include Shoreditch, Brompton, Bankside, Greenwich Peninsula and Park Royal, alongside the Global Design Forum talks programme staged at the museum.

The festival coincides with London's broader autumn design and craft season and typically overlaps with commercial trade fairs such as 100% Design and Focus at Chelsea Harbour. Businesses across hospitality and retail report the event as a significant driver of visitors to the capital during the period.

A festival spokesperson said the programme was designed to be free and accessible to the public across participating neighbourhoods. "London Design Festival remains a celebration of the city's extraordinary creative energy," they added.