What's creeping Chalie?? Off to google.... Latin names are less confusing. :-?

I've heard of creeping Jenny but Creeping Charlie???

I suppose the first step would be to treat the lawn with one of the many Weed and Feed products on offer at supermarkets or garden centres. You get granular kinds that you sprinkle on ( best when a spell of rain is due ) or liquid kinds that you dilute and water with a fine spray on a watering can. They seem to work equally well.

Then see what it looks like after that.

Isn't it rather late in the year to use a "Weed and Feed" product Inverglen? I've never used one myself - I tolerate the weeds - but I'm sure I've read that you shouldn't use after July. OK, maybe, Mick, if you're desperate - and quick!

Are you sure its not creeping cinquefoil as that is a very common weed, and likes grassy areas

Just to add that if we get a hot spell and you have applied weedkiller then you must give it lots of water every day. The weeds are active now so its no problem trying weed and feed ( or just lawn weedkiller ) followed later by a lawn fertiliser. Give one of them a go and see what works. Probably it won't solve the problem in just one application.
Good luck

Could you a add a picture, Mick? It would help us to identify this weed, because I've never heard of Creeping Charlie either! Annie (Cumbria)

Do you have a photograph.

Googling tells me that Creeping Charlie is a variety of Glechoma hederacea, or ground ivy. If you don't want to use weedkiller you could just dig it out.

Creeping Charlie is better known as ground ivy. Does it have purple flowers? Try to pull or roughly rake up as much ot as you can. It loves moisture so more sun, less water the better.
If all else fails, a small amount of Borax in water will do it. Just be careful not to kill off the whole lawn with it!! lol

Ground Ivy is a perennial weed often confused with speedwell, It spreads by rhizomes and smells minty when freshly mown. As it is established (you say all over) use a selective weed killer a further application about 6 weeks later depoending on product even then it may regrow. So I suggest you treat and then dig it all out and returf.

a lot of taller weeds just bye the nature of mowing the lawn will eventualy lose the battle .

I agree NP, but this sounds a complete take over?

If the lawn is more than two thirds weed growth, then take it up, dig over, removing weed roots, and returf. Best done September/October. Otherwise, try using Verdone, which is a liquid lawn weedkiller without any feed in it. Drc is right in that its too late in the year to use the classic granular weed and feed combinations, but Verdone can be used - needs mixing up in a watering can and watering on.

maybe hack the weeds back and mow it and see whats left . youd be amazed what you can save as someonme told me on here .