Halloween at Kew is back for 2026. Image: Ollie Dixon

Spooky season is almost upon us. Whether you want to spend Halloween 2026 partying to the max, or taking the kids for a creepy day out, here's our pick of the best Halloween events in London this year.

First things first: you'll need a Halloween costume. Whether you're after a traditional ghost, witch, grim reaper — or something a little more unexpected — start combing London's best fancy dress shops, pronto.

Adult Halloween events and parties in London: 2026

See Hogwarts in its Halloween finery. Image: WB Studio Tour

HALLOWEEN FILM SCREENINGS: It wouldn't be Halloween without a scary film. Whether you're into gory slashers, psychological thrillers or hammy classics, there are plenty of spooky movie film screenings in London at this time of year. Don't forget the popcorn!

DARK ARTS: The Warner Bros Studio Tour London — located just north of the capital in Hertfordshire — gets a spooky makeover for Halloween. The Great Hall is festooned with more than 100 floating pumpkins, Dementors appear unexpectedly in The Forbidden Forest (fear not though, you can banish them with a Patronus charm), and you can learn duelling techniques in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. Special after-hours events run 29-31 October. Dark Arts events are in addition to the usual tour of sets from the Harry Potter film series. 16 September-8 November 2026

MONTH OF THE DEAD: Halloween may not be until the end of October but London Month of the Dead goes on for the whole month. Informative, entertaining — and often pretty creepy — the festival enthuses on the subject of death through talks, cemetery tours, screenings and workshops. Many events have sold out now, but a handful still have spaces — jump to it! 1 October-1 November 20264

Make ours a Clown Pear-anoia. Image: The Haunting

THE HAUNTING HALLOWEEN BAR: The team behind festive extravaganza Miracle turn their attention to Halloween, opening The Haunting in Covent Garden for the entire month of October. The pop-up themed bar is decked out in spooky decor, with costumed hosts dialling up the fear factor, and a menu of drinks with names like Widow's Whisper, and Clown Pear-anoia. 1 October-1 November 2026

HEX IN THE GARDENS: Swing by Chelsea Physic Garden in early October for Hex in the Gardens, a haunting evening of storytelling to get you in the mood for spooky season. After dark, take a wander led by Maria from Herstorical Tours and hear about the lives of women herbalists and cunning folk persecuted during the Witch Craze. 3 October 2026

THE NIGHTMARE REALM: After 17 years in Ireland, Halloween event The Nightmare Realm makes its London debut, taking over the Grade II-listed Avery Hill Mansion and transforming it into a cinematic horror experience. More than 70 live performers bring it to spooky life as you wander through areas including HalloweenTown, an immersive village packed with scares. 9 October-1 November 2026

Immerse yourself in horror in Greenwich. Image: The Nightmare Realm

LEGAL GHOSTS: Play the jury on some of the spookiest cases in English legal history, in a special evening event at the Bow Street Police Museum. Supernatural barrister Naomi Ryan discusses cases where the Fortean meets the forensic, including incidences where people's beliefs in fantastical creatures has led to them doing strange things. 22 October 2026

HALLOWEEN MARKET: Solo Craft Fair pitches up at Between The Bridges on South Bank for a Halloween market, with 60+ independent brands selling their spooky and autumnal creations. 25 October 2026

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA: 1925 cinematic masterpiece The Phantom of the Opera comes to life in a silent film night at St Lawrence Jewry (Guildhall). It's shown with live accompaniment on the church's Klais organ — all very atmopsheric. 27-28 October 2026

LA DAME DE PIQUE: Theatre company Gothic Opera pops up at a different London venue with a fresh production each Halloween. For 2026, it's at Battersea Arts Centre with witty, gritty opéra-comique La Dame de Pique (The Queen of Spades). Loosely based on the Pushkin novella of the same name, it's the first time it's been staged since its premiere in 1850. 29 October-1 November 2026

CLUB DE FROMAGE: Cheesy disco night Club de Fromage hosts a Halloween party special at Dingwalls in Camden. Gruesome and revolting outfits are very much encouraged, with sing-alongs, confetti cannons and themed cocktails all part of the hijinks, as DJs spin Halloween-themed tunes. 31 October 2026

Spend Halloween 2026 with the "ghost with the most". Image: Beetlejuice

CANDLELIGHT CLUB HALLOWEEN BALL: Legendary speakeasy party the Candlelight Club once again holds a clandestine, 1920s-themed Halloween ball. Dress code is 1920s elegance, with an optional Halloween twist: think ghostly flapper or vampish witch. Expect live jazz, cabaret and cocktails, all overseen by host Champagne Charlie, at an historic mansion in south London. 31 October 2026

THE DIVINE COMEDY: Fitzrovia hotel the Mandrake is known for its legendary Halloween parties. This year it opens the gates of hell for an immersive reimagining of Dante's Inferno, taking place throughout the hotel, through installations, opera, live performance, Renaissance-inspired tableaux vivants and theatrical encounters. Choose between general admission, a dinner package, or if you're brave enough to stick it out, an overnight stay. 31 October 2026

Karaoke, spooky style. Image: Organoke/ Kate Hockenhull

ORGANOKE HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR: The organ is a creepy sounding instrument at the best of times, something which unique karaoke show Organoke is embracing for its Halloween special at St Giles in Camberwell. Don your spookiest costume and head to the Grade II* listed church for a night singing along to creepy karaoke classics accompanied by the organ. 31 October 2026

CLAPHAM GRAND: Legendary events venue The Clapham Grand has a whole host of Halloween events. Announced for 2026 so far are a Bongo's Bingo Halloween special, taking the regular fast-paced bingo show up a spooky notch, and the Clapham Grand Halloween Party where costumes are essential. Both 31 October 2026

BEETLEJUICE THE MUSICAL: Though it's been running a few months now, Halloween is as good a time as any to watch Beetlejuice the Musical at the Prince Edward Theatre. The Tim-Burton-film-turned-Broadway-musical-extravaganza tells the tale of Lydia Deetz — a strange teenager sharing her home with a pair of newly-deads and the demonic 'ghost with the most', Beetlejuice. Booking until April 2027

Family-friendly events in London for Halloween 2026

Halloween 2026 coincides with the October half term break for many London schools, so there are plenty of spooky events happening for all ages around the capital.

Halloween at Kew takes place after dark. Image: Ollie Dixon

PUMPKIN PICKING: Embrace all things autumnal and take the kids to one of these farms or pumpkin patches near London where they can pick their own. Some have play areas, tractor rides and other fun activities too — and one will even let you carve your pumpkins on site, to save you making a mess on the kitchen table at home. Don't forget your wellies!

HALLOWEEN AT KEW: Kew Gardens hosts another Halloween trail; as darkness falls, wander through a fiendish fire garden, and illuminated haunted woods filled with neon cobwebs, ghastly ghouls, wicked witches, larger-than life spiders and beastly bats. 16 October-1 November 2026

CURSE OF THE MUMMY: Included with admission to the London Dungeon this half term is Halloween special, Curse of the Mummy. The historical show is based on the true story of the Unlucky Mummy, a cursed artefact delivered to a London museum during the Egyptomania phase of the Victorian era. Call us wimps (we absolutely are) but the Dungeons give us the scares at any time of year, so expect this to dial up the fear a few notches. 17 October-1 November 2026

A Victorian curse comes back to life. Image: The London Dungeon

HALLOWEEN TRAIL: High Street Kensington offers a family Halloween trail to get everyone in a spooky mood. Pick up a map and follow it around local shops and businesses, looking for hidden clues and earning surprise treats. It all culminates in Holland Park transforming into the Playful Park of Peculiar on Halloween itself. 24-31 October 2026

HALLOWEEN AT ELTHAM PALACE: Half term at Eltham Palace has a Halloweeny twist, hosting the Great Pumpkin Party at the art deco mansion. Don your best costume for storytelling, spooky games and devilish disco fun. 24 October-1 November 2026

HALLOWEEN AT HAMPTON COURT: Hampton Court Palace probably has a ghost or two kicking around its gardens. Keep an eye out for them this half term as you brave an eerie outdoor trail, complete with atmospheric projections and creepy sound effects. Finish up with a spooky storytelling session. 24 October-1 November 2026

Holland Park transforms into a Playful Park of Peculiar on Halloween. Image: High Street Kensington

VICTORIAN HALLOWEEN: Explore Halloween, Victorian-style, as lanternists Jeremy and Carolyn Brooker recreate the era's magical lantern shows at the Florence Nightingale Museum. Original glass slides from the 19th and 20th century are paired with more modern versions, combining three projections in a single device and resulting in a fast-moving show with spectacular effects. 26 October 2026

HAIR-RAISING HALLOWEEN: Head along to Hyde Park for one of Royal Parks's hair-raising Halloween discovery days. Learn about some of the creepy crawlies, as well as the bats, which call the park home, via a nature trail, 'feely boxes' and spooky stories. Fancy dress is encouraged, to get into the spirit(s) of things.  FREE, 27-29 October 2026

Hear a ghost story at Charles Dickens' former home. Image: Charles Dickens Museum

DICKENS' HAUNTED HOUSE: Step into the kitchen of Charles Dickens' former home in Bloomsbury and hear a haunted house tale from a ghostly storyteller. The 45-minute session also delves into why the Victorians loved ghost stories so much, and your ticket includes admission to the rest of the museum. Age seven+. 29 October 2026

EARLSFIELD HALLOWEEN HUNT: The south-west London village of Earlsfield invites youngsters and their families to take part in its Halloween hunt. Pick up a special map at the Halfway House and follow it around the local shops, collecting letters and numbers as you go. Once you've cracked the code, head back to the Halfway House to collect your prize. 31 October 2026

Deptford's famous carriage ramp. Image: Matt Brown

Deptford.org is a superb new website, put together by local journalist Elia Kabanov.

In the 22 years Londonist has been running, we've seen countless local website come and go, and some excellent ones stick around (especially in south-east London, for some reason). Few have got our attention quite like Deptford.org, a new-ish website covering news, culture and particularly history from the titular riverside town.

Screenshot from Detford.org's article on the Isle of Dog's name origins.

For starters, it's joyously slick. Click on any link and you get a slidey, scrolly transition-filled story, but done in a way that serves the narrative rather than looking showy-for-the-sake-of-it. The stories themselves are all highly engaging. Case in point is this article, about how the Isle of Dogs might have got its name thanks to some Deptford wordplay. Or this early map of Deptford dockyard.

We spoke to Elia — who has a background in science journalism — about his love of Deptford, and his hopes for the website.

Tell us a bit about your background, and how you came to be writing Deptford.org

My wife and I came to London in September 2022. After a month in glorious Beckton, we ended up in Deptford and have been here ever since. I knew almost nothing about the area beforehand. But once I started looking around, I immediately had questions. Why are there skulls on the gateposts of St Nicholas? Who was Benbow, after whom our street was named? Where did all those grand houses on Albury Street come from?

I started reading a lot, and over time I realised I had accumulated far more stories than I could keep to myself. The obvious way to share them was through guided walks for friends. After about 80 of those, I remembered that I’m actually a writer, not a tour guide. That's how Deptford.org began: as a place to collect what I was finding, share it with other people, and hopefully make them fall in love with Deptford too.

What made you set this up as a website, when most people would these days tell local stories through Instagram or TikTok?

Maybe it's a midlife crisis, but I've become nostalgic for the pre-social-media internet: all those strange independent websites made by people who were obsessed with one small thing. Deptford.org is partly an attempt to make something in that spirit.

A website also gives the stories room to choose their own form. One might work best as an ordinary article, another as a map, an infographic or a game. None of them has to fit whatever format an algorithm currently prefers.

And, more prosaically, most of this can be made at a desk. Researching an archive, writing, coding a map or building a visualisation comes much more naturally to me than scouting locations, filming and worrying about lighting and sound.

Elia Kabanov's site is blossoming. Image courtesy of Elia.

You've got a science writing background. How do you think the skills learnt as a science journalist are transferable to telling local history stories?

As a science writer, I've always thought of myself as a professional dilettante. You can't become an expert in everything happening across science, so you learn how to research new subjects, fact-check them and rely on experts who know far more about these topics than you ever will.

I try to bring the same approach to local history. Every Deptford.org piece starts with research, including primary sources where possible. I try not to repeat colourful urban legends simply because they make good stories. When I'm unsure about something, I find someone who knows the subject properly and ask them.

That matters in a place like Deptford, where centuries of history have produced many wonderful stories, but also plenty that have been repeated so often nobody remembers where they came from. Yes, I'm talking about Peter the Great and the wheelbarrow races.

Which features on Deptford.org are you particularly proud of?

Perhaps it’s cheeky, but one of my favourites is a little game about the birds of Brookmill Park. People have played it thousands of times, and while matching herons, kingfishers and moorhens they hopefully learn a little about the wildlife. I'm also very happy with the recent piece about the origins of the name Isle of Dogs. It takes Laura Wright's research and turns it into a visual story about how a possible shipwrights' joke may have survived on the London map. And I love the interview with Adam Wiseman, who photographed every single shopfront on Deptford High Street. What a way to document Deptford's ever-changing face!

No flashy adds or clickbait headlines, just genuinely intriguing articles. (And games about birds.)

Is it a one-man show or do you have a group of collaborators?

For now, I make the site myself, but many of the stories depend on other people: historians, local councillors, residents who know things I don't. Over time, I'd like more of those voices to appear on the site. There are enough people with a story or 10 about Deptford to keep it going for a very long time.

How would you like to see it develop over time? Live events? More contributors? Taking the concept to other parts of London?

My main goal is simply to publish more. I have features in various stages of development about its industrial past, culture and environment, and I'm collecting datasets of books and songs connected to the area.

And I've recently started a section called Beyond Deptford, where I use data visualisation to explore London more broadly. So the site can occasionally wander across the rest of the city, while Deptford remains its centre of gravity.

Deptford.org can be found here, and I urge you to go have a play. Elia also has a Substack called Hypertextual.org, where he plays around with data journalism.

Vehicles taking part in the run must have been built before 1905. Image: iStock/Kenn Sharp

The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run takes place on Sunday 1 November 2026 — and believe us, it is quite the sight! Here's what you need to know about spectating at this historic event.

What is the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run?

The world's-longest running motoring event — which, as its name suggests, wends its way from central London down to Brighton — started out life in 1896, as the 'Emancipation Run'. This celebrated the Locomotives on Highways Act of that year, which scrapped the need for a person to walk in front of the car with a red flag, and raised the speed limit from 4mph to a G-force-inducing 14mph.

The car run stopped after 1903, but was revived in 1927, and has taken place most years since. Vehicles must have been built pre-1905 in order to take part, so are primitive by today's standards — though quite beautiful to behold.

What kind of vehicles will I see?

All sorts! An incredible array of over 400 vehicles takes part including open-topped Daimlers, Benzs, Darracqs, Peugeots, Napiers... basically anything that looks vaguely like the car Mr Toad drives in The Wind in the Willows. You might also see the odd fire truck, Harrods van ... even a penny farthing or two! Feast your eyes on the entry list.

The first revival run was in 1927. Image: public domain

What time does it start?

Vehicles gather in the paddock in Hyde Park from 6am, on Sunday 1 November 2026, and start to set off from 7am. It takes almost two hours for all of them to get going. (And invariably, some of them don't get going at all.)

From here, the cars head southward, via either the A3 or A23. Among the London locations they pass through are Brixton, Balham, Streatham, Tooting, Mitcham, Croydon, Purley and Coulsdon. A route guide is featured in this online programme.

The participants begin to arrive in Brighton from around 10am, with the paddock closing at 4.30pm.

Should I wave as the cars go past?

That's what it's all about! Bear in mind, it's early in the morning on an (often wet, windy and cold) November morning, so the people driving/riding in these open-topped vehicles — with little more than a blanket to keep them warm — need all the encouragement they can get!

With luck, you'll get hundreds of smiles, waves and a good number of beeps too. If you've got kids, they'll be in their element.

Anything else like this?

Try the London to Brighton Classic Car Run, which sets off from Brooklands Museum (which is, in fact, just outside London) early each summer, and features cars that are still pretty old but not old enough to not have roofs.

See how many beeps you can get by waving at the cars. Image: iStock/FranJ K2Photographic

Anything else I need to know?

🚗 In 1971, Queen Elizabeth II took part in the run (she wasn't driving, however).

🚗 If you're looking for a fun family-friendly film to watch, try Genevieve, a lighthearted comedy from 1953, which features a lot of competitors laughing at other competitors who've broken down at the side of the road (We're sure this doesn't happen IRL.)

London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, Sunday 1 November 2026 from 6am.

Looking for all of London's Christmas lights? We've got information about all of the 2026 switch-on dates and events. Stay up to date with everything happening in London for Christmas 2026.

The Spirit of Christmas angels are back for 2026 - with some new additions. Image: Regent Street

The 'Spirit of Christmas' lights over Regent Street will be back for Christmas 2026 — and we're promised some "sparkling new additions" for this year too.

Switched on from Thursday 5 November 2026, the 30 'spirits', made from 300,000 LED lights, can be seen over Regent Street, Jermyn Street and at St James’s Market, with additional twinkling displays on nearby Glasshouse Street, Swallow Street, and the Quadrant Arcade.

The Regent Street Christmas lights run the length of the thoroughfare. Image: Regent Street

A special Christmas light switch-on event happens from 5pm-9pm on 5 November, with Regent Street going traffic-free for the occasion with family-friendly entertainment, and various special events happening in local shops.

Back for 2026 is the illuminated Wishing Tree on St James's Market. To see the tree come to life with twinkling lights, tap to make a £5 donation to food charity The Felix Project.

Regent Street and St James's Christmas lights are lit from 5 November 2026-5 January 2027. The lights run on a timer system, illuminated from 3pm-midnight daily.

Take the kids to MCM Comic Con. Image: ASV Photography Ltd

October half term 2026 runs Saturday 24 October-Sunday 1 November 2026 for most London schools. We've selected some family-friendly autumnal events and things to do in London — however old your kids are, and whatever your budget. Of course, Halloween 2026 falls within this period, so expect to see plenty of spooky goings-on.

Half term events in London: October 2026

Embrace spooky season at Halloween at Kew. Image: Ollie Dixon

WINNIE THE POOH: AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh was inspired by a bear at London Zoo. This autumn, the zoo marks both 100 years of the ursine character and 200 years of ZSL with a Winnie the Pooh storybook trail, which is included in zoo admission. Retrace Pooh and Eeyore's journey as depicted in new-release book A Boy And His Bear, visiting the zoo's animals and learning about the real Winnie as you go. 2 October-1 November 2026

HALLOWEEN AT KEW: For the third time, Kew Gardens marks spooky season with family-friendly trail Halloween at Kew. Visit the botanical gardens after dark for a wander through the trees past legendary creatures and haunting scenes. Choose between Daylight, Twilight or Moonlight sessions — things get slightly scarier as it gets darker, but all timeslots are suitable for all ages. 16 October-1 November 2026

MCM COMIC CON: Dust off your cape — MCM Comic Con is back at Excel London for a weekend of guest meet-and-greets, costume competitions and hands-on activities. The MCM Comic Con website offers a page of tips for attending the event with children, pointing you towards family-friendly things to see and do.23-25 October 2026

SPOOKY SCIENCE: Take the whole family along to the Royal Institution for a day of spooky science. Tricks and treats are available across the building in the form of interactive shows and demonstrations, and hands-on experiments designed for under-12s and their families. 24 October 2026

ALONG THE PICCADILLY LINE: The London Transport Museum's October half term activities celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Piccadilly line, so look out for family-friendly activities around the museum on that theme. 24 October-1 November 2026

JET & SPACE WEEK: Prepare for lift-off at the RAF Museum in Hendon, which hosts a Jet & Space Week for ages three+. Watch a 45-minute space show inside a mobile planetarium, dodge inflatable obstacles to play laser tag, or search out special characters throughout the museum. 24 October-1 November 2026

PUMPKIN PATCH: Hobbledown Heath is the ultimate autumnal playground right now, thanks to the return of its mega-popular pumpkin patch, which this year is bigger than ever before. Come to choose a pumpkin, stay for the fairground rides, family games, live entertainment and photo installations. There's even marshmallow toasting (plus plenty of incredible street food) to help fuel your half term adventure. (sponsor)

Family-friendly exhibitions in London for October half term

Come face to face with Monsters of the Deep. Image: Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London

WALLACE & GROMIT: We suspect parents will enjoy this one as much as kids: The Young V&A in Bethnal Green celebrates 50 years of stop-motion studio Aardman with an exhibition dedicated to Wallace & Gromit, plus other Aardman characters. Cracking! Until 15 November 2026

VOYAGE TO THE DEEP: The Horniman Museum's current exhibition, Voyage to the Deep, is inspired by Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas, and invites you to command the Nautilus submarine, meet deep-sea creatures and test your submariner skills. Until November 2026

THE JOLLY POSTMAN: Take the kids inside the world of Janet and Allan Ahlberg's children's book The Jolly Postman, at the Postal Museum. The interactive exhibition has visitors following his delivery rounds, through the woods to the Three Bears' cottage, to Cinderella at the palace and the Wicked Witch's gingerbread bungalow. Original artwork from the book is on display too. Until January 2027

JURASSIC OCEANS: Get to know the marine reptiles that once ruled the seas — pliosaurs, ichthyosaurs and the mosasaur — through fossils, hands-on objects and interactive displays at the Natural History Museum's current exhibition, Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep. Touch a mosasaur tooth, feel a replica shark's skin and explore bite-sized science. Until January 2027

Family-friendly London theatre shows: October 2026

Art, magic and science combine. Image: The Amazing Bubble Man

Have a look at our guide to family-friendly theatre shows in London right now for long-running shows, including beloved musicals for all the family. Otherwise, try one of these:

SPOOKY KIDS' CABARET: Jaw-dropping juggling, bewitching circus skills and plenty of Halloween mischief are promised at Super Spooky Cabaret For Kids at Jacksons Lane in Archway. Aimed at ages four+, the show errs on the side of spooky rather than outright scary, with the audience encouraged to wear their best Halloween costumes for the occasion. 27 October-1 November 2026

SMEDS AND SMOOS: Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's children's book about a pair of star-crossed aliens comes to life on stage at Southbank Centre. The Smeds and the Smoos is set on a far-off planet where the two groups can't be friends, in a show for ages three+. 28 October-1 November 2026

BUBBLE MAN: Louis Pearl, also known as The Amazing Bubble Man, brings his touring show to Artsdepot in Finchley. Watch in amazement as he produces square bubbles, bubbles inside bubbles, fog-filled bubbles, giant bubbles, bubble volcanoes, tornadoes and trampolines... and even people inside bubbles. Probably worth reiterating a "don't try this at home" message to your kids, or you'll be whizzing through bottles of Fairy Liquid like nobody's business. 29 October 2026

Free things to do in London in October 2026 half term

It's free entry at the Big Story Festival. Image: © IWM

FORENSIC SCIENCE: Bloomsbury Festival runs throughout October, with a huge programme of events, predominantly for adults but with a few family treats thrown in. Kickstart half term at St George the Martyr in Holborn where older kids can hone their CSI skills by learning about forensic science, including the story of Eliza Fenning, who suffered a miscarriage of justice in the 19th century. FREE, 24 October 2026

BOOK BUZZ: Kids big into books? Swing by Artsdepot on the first Sunday of October half term for Book Buzz, a book swap event where they can take along their old tomes and come away with new reads. There's also a book stall where you can buy new books. Dressing as your favourite book character is encouraged. FREE, 25 October 2026

BIG STORY FESTIVAL: Lambeth's Imperial War Museum holds its first ever Big Story Festival, with hopes of it becoming an annual event. Explore the Childhood in War literary trail — inspired by the current exhibition of the same name — for  a programme of author talks, creative workshops and interactive family activities. Note that although entry is free, there is a charge for some of the events and activities. FREE ENTRY, 25-26 October 2026

PLAYGROUNDS: If the weather's playing nice, few things bring a smile to children's faces like a playground — and they're usually free, so it's a win for parents and carers too. Check out our map of playgrounds in central London — there are more than you might think, and many are located handily near tourist attractions.

MUSEUMS: Plenty of London's museums are free entry all year round, and while you may have to pay for temporary exhibitions, there's generally plenty to entertain all ages in the permanent collections. Try the Science Museum for aeroplanes, Natural History Museum for animals, and London Museum Docklands for the Mudlarks interactive gallery. Do book ahead in the school holidays though, otherwise you might find yourselves in a very long queue!

FREE MAZE: Ever been to the Brent Lodge Park Millennium Maze? The labyrinth is constructed of 2,000 yew trees, has been around for more than two decades and is free to visit. It's a 10-minute walk from Hanwell station on the Elizabeth line, and there's a free playground, plus Hanwell Zoo (small entry fee) next door.

Family-friendly activities in London in October half term

Find an animal-themed day out near you. Image: Londonist

ICE SKATING: Christmas may still be a little way off, but London has year-round ice skating rinks, including one slap bang in the middle of the Central line.

SWIMMING: London in October could go either way weather-wise, especially given the summer we've had. If the sun's shining, book a slot at one of the capital's magnificent outdoor swimming pools and lidos. If that's too optimistic, there are plenty of excellent indoor pools where you can splash around.

FARMS: City farms, zoos, wildlife reserves, aquariums... London is a great place to see animals, and we've mapped them all, to help you plan your next day out. Come face-to-face with lions, tigers and gorillas; stroke and feed goats, sheep and rabbits; or go looking for native wildlife at a nature reserve.

BEYOND ZONE ONE: Exhausted everything central London has to offer? Fancy exploring a new corner of the capital? Our guide to London's best attractions in the outer boroughs has loads of ideas (plus a handy map). Head north for sprawling gardens, aeroplanes and wetlands; south for caves, palaces and castles; east for Dr Who, David Bowie and neon art; or west for little-known museums (including one with its own railway), a secret underground bunker and a magnificent royal palace.

Venture beyond London this half term. Image: Londonist

DAY TRIPS: Fancy getting out of London for a day or two? Take a gander at our Beyond London section for inspiration. Particularly child-friendly is a visit to the real-life Hundred Acre Wood, as featured in AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh books. Wellington Country Park is also an excellent bet for energetic kids. Otherwise, wear them out by sending them searching for the dozens of frogs hidden down this back street, or the entire solar system within sight of the M25.

AUTISTIC KIDS: Looking for things to do over the school holidays with autistic children? Check out our guide, which includes museums, theatres, sensory rooms and more.

TEENAGERS: Older kids and teenagers can be trickier to entertain, so have a read of our things to do in London with teenagers, covering everything from museums and exhibitions to shopping trips, a little-known neon art gallery, street art and more adventurous days out.

Adapted from a feature that first appeared in September 2025 on Londonist: Time Machine, our much-praised history newsletter. To be the first to read new history features like this, sign up for free here.

London’s grand, historic buildings are not all in the centre. Walthamstow, to the far north-east of the capital, is home to this beauty, which wouldn’t look out of place in Stockholm or Copenhagen.

It looks even grander when the clouds go away. Image: Matt Brown

This was Walthamstow Town Hall, the Grade-II-listed home of the local council. It was built on farmland in the late 1930s, just as war was getting underway. As we’ll see later, it took a few unusual measures against the Luftwaffe.

Back in the 1930s, Walthamstow was a whole borough unto itself, and situated in Essex rather than London. To befit its status, the council commissioned this ‘stripped classical’ Portland stone building from architect Philip Dalton Hepworth.

What Hepworth came up with was quietly spectacular:

The copper-coated clock tower not only provides the time, but also acts as a ventilation inlet for the wider building. Image: Matt Brown

Walthamstow Town Hall is one of a kind, yet still looks the part. Its sharp, clean lines look efficient and business-like, while its protruding wings offer a lithic embrace to the community.

Today, the building is officially called Waltham Forest Town Hall. Walthamstow ceased to be a borough in 1965. It engaged in a group-hug with Leyton, Leytonstone and Chingford to form the new London Borough of Waltham Forest, the local authority that persists today. This mighty building was chosen as the Town Hall.

I’m aware that municipal politics can get a bit dull, so let’s dispense with further administrative noodling and step inside the building. As we enter, we pass over a granite foundation stone, laid by the Mayor in 1938. Beneath is concealed a time capsule containing various artefacts from that era, including a scroll signed by a child from every school in the borough. It will only be opened if the building is ever demolished.

The first room any visitor sees is the reception foyer. It is a gem. It has the feel of an ocean liner, with sweeping curves and deco lighting.

Image: Matt Brown

It’s hard to believe this space was built during the Second World War, despite the shortage of cash, men and materials. That said, it is less grand than planned. That floor should have been marble. Pricey oak wood was forsaken in favour of plywood. The exterior was almost relegated to brick, but cost-saving elsewhere allowed for the more stately Portland stone finish. As if to reinforce the message that every penny counts, the symbols for pounds, shillings and pence are etched into the ceiling, above a part of the hall that was once a cash desk.

Image: Matt Brown

The reception area contains a number of cabinets displaying items from the building and borough’s history. These include the ceremonial trowel from the foundation laying, a metal ‘freedom of the borough’ casket, and a souvenir brochure from the 1951 Festival of Britain, highlighting the merits of the area. We can get a sense of the grandeur of the Town Hall and its neighbours from its cover:

Image: Matt Brown

One of the more peculiar items in the foyer is this war memorial, commemorating the lives and properties lost between 1939 and 1945.

Image: Matt Brown

At first glance, it looks much like any other memorial plaque, but this one holds a secret. Look to the bottom and you’ll see that additional words have been scratched into the wood. These confirm that the frame was crafted from timbers taken from the old town hall on Orford Road, as well as a barn on ‘Moone’s Farm’ — an ancient farm demolished in 1927. Further, the metal plate itself is said to come from a German rocket, perhaps the V-2 which landed just west of the Hall on 14 September 1944, killing six people.

We see more evidence of the war when we move down into the basement. This curious space resembles a yellow submarine, with bright fire doors at every turn:

Image: Matt Brown

The Town Hall was built with aerial bombardment in mind (this was the late 1930s), and includes a number of protective features. First and foremost, the ground floor is built with steel frame and reinforced concrete (faced in Portland stone), offering strong resistance to any external blasts. Were a bomb to penetrate the basement, then the steel doors would limit damage and prevent the spread of fire. And then we have these curiosities, which look a bit like torpedo tubes:

Image: Matt Brown

These are explosion vents. Had a bomb exploded in the basement, then the pressure wave would push these hinged metal plates into the wall, absorbing some of the impact and reducing the stress on the masonry itself. There are dozens down here, exceptionally well preserved from the war more than 80 years ago.

Thanks to these preventative measures, the still-incomplete Town Hall was chosen as the base for the local Civil Defence Headquarters during the war, and was also a base for ARP (Air Raid Precautions) wardens. The wider public, however, were never invited to shelter down here.

Up to the Council Chamber

The upper floors of the building are more in line with how we might picture a council hub. A series of meeting rooms, mostly named after the patterns of ubiquitous local hero William Morris or daughter May Morris, are tastefully panelled in light wood. The council chamber itself is an octagonal delight: formal, but not overly grand. It was recently revamped and restored, as can be seen in my before and after images:

Council Chamber in 2015 before refurbishment. Image: Matt Brown

Council chamber in 2025, after refurbishment. Image: Matt Brown

The walls are adorned with the usual lists of mayors and alderman you might find in any building such as this. However, Walthamstow can claim a celebrity-adjacent Mayor. Take a look at the list:

Image: Matt Brown

The notable name here, doing wartime service from 1941-42, is Mrs E.M. Richards (the ‘J.P.’ means Justice of the Peace). This is Eliza Richards, a socialist politician who did much good for the borough. She also accidentally contributed to the cultural history of the 20th century by refusing to allocate a council house to her son and daughter-in-law. They moved out to Dartford instead where, in 1943, their only child was born — a certain Keith Richards. Had Eliza shown favouritism and granted her son a council house, then Keith would have never met Mick, and the Rolling Stones would not have formed. Ironically, then, Gimme Shelter exists because someone did not give shelter. You Can’t Always get What You Want sounds newly apt.

Let’s head back outside for some fresh air…

The Town Hall is an impressive building in its own right, but it was also designed as the centrepiece of a wider civic centre. A monumental Assembly Hall was built at the same time, on the right flank of the Town Hall. This 1,500-seat venue has served countless functions over the years. Everyone from Plácido Domingo to the Sex Pistols has played here. And, yes, that includes the Rolling Stones. You can’t quite make it out in my photo below, but the top of the building features a quote from William Morris: “Fellowship is Life, Lack of Fellowship is Death”, which also serves as the borough motto. This sentiment is echoed in the name of the central plaza: Fellowship Square.

The Assembly Hall. Image: Matt Brown.

The western side of Fellowship Square, where a V-2 rocket had landed in the war, remained an empty plot until the 1970s. It was used as a car park — a fellowship of motors. Eventually, a courthouse was constructed. Given the decade, it was inevitably built in a brutalist style. This was recently demolished, but I got a snap before the wrecking balls moved in. Work is now well underway on a new civic building, containing council offices and a ground floor cafe and restaurant.

The under-construction civic building (left) is a better match for the Town Hall than its brutalist predecessor. Image: Gort Scott

Completing the square is a huge circular water feature. You’ll never guess its name.

Go on, try…

“The Fellowship Fountain?”. How did you know? The aquatic highlight has always stood here in one form or another. During the war, it was used as an emergency fire-fighting reservoir. This was replaced with a basin design in 1953, to commemorate the Coronation of Elizabeth II. Today, it’s been remodelled into a platoon of illuminated water jets, to the delight of any passing children or instagrammers.

Image: Matt Brown

The Town Hall itself is remarkably stripped back for a classically inspired structure. It is untroubled by fluting, capitals, swags or garlands. Look closely, however, and you’ll find it does enjoy some decoration. The monumental columns over the entrance porch, for example, are decorated with a series of bas-relief panels by John Francis Kavanagh (probably), each depicting an aspect of the building trade.

More subtly, the Town Hall is peppered with tiny bells, present on every balcony and throughout the building. These, apparently, are representative of precisely nothing. Just a whimsical Scandi touch.

Image: Matt Brown

The greatest decorations, however, are hidden around the back, for reasons nobody can fathom. Five masterful sculptures by John Francis Kavanagh (again) depict Work, Recreation, Fellowship, Motherhood and Education.

The five statues, two featuring women with children, two of men (at work and recreation), and a fifth showing William Morris embodying ‘fellowship’ (even though he’s on his own… bit odd). Images: Matt Brown

The Council, on its website, is quick to distance itself from any implied sexism:

“Whilst these gender-role stereotypes might have reflected society at the time, they are not representative of modern Waltham Forest.”

That being the case, it’s a diverting exercise to consider how the statues might appear if carved today. ‘Motherhood’ would perhaps be changed to ‘Parenthood’, or left off altogether, so as not to exclude those without children. William Morris would be up there still, because this is Walthamstow, and he must be commemorated at every turn. The embodiment of ‘Work’ would be depicted at a laptop. ‘Recreation’ would be depicted on a mobile phone. ‘Fellowship’ would be depicted at a laptop on a community forum. ‘Education’ would be depicted at a laptop… Oh man, this is a depressing thought-experiment.

Visiting Waltham Forest Town Hall

This showstopper of a building can be enjoyed from the outside whenever you like — just hop up to Walthamstow on the Victoria, Weaver or Suffragette line and help yourself to the views.

For a look around the building, including the basement and council chamber, I can recommend a tour with local guide Joanna Moncrieff.  My thanks to Joanna for taking me round, and pointing out many of the details in this article.

Simon Wroe, author of Ghost Month — a novel in which the spirits of the dead return to London every September — shares five of his favourite literary ghosts which are supposed to haunt the city.

An illustration of the appearance of the Cock Lane ghost, aka 'Scratching Fanny'. Image: public domain

1. Sherlock creator's ghostly Albert Hall appearance

The creator of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle, was a keen spiritualist and hunter of ghosts, but it is claimed he also became a ghost himself. Less than a week after Conan Doyle died in July 1930, the Spiritualist Association rented the Royal Albert Hall to commune with his spirit, even being thoughtful enough to leave an empty seat for the recently-departed next to his widow. 5,000 people watched as the medium, Estelle Roberts, summoned the writer's ghost, who was, according to Roberts, "wearing evening clothes". The ghost had a private message for his wife, but as the medium whispered it to Lady Conan Doyle, the Albert Hall's organ struck up and obscured the words from beyond the grave...

2. The vanishing hermit of Spitalfields

No one has claimed there is a poltergeist of the mysterious scholar Joseph Rodinsky, who disappeared from his attic room above a synagogue in Spitalfields in 1980. But there is something undeniably haunting about his story. Rodinsky lived like a hermit as the city changed around him. His door was always locked; his life unknown. His room was covered in indecipherable esoteric writings in 15 different languages, some of them long dead and barely known to a soul. He seemed to have been codifying the city in some way, or creating his own world system. Then, one day, he vanished leaving behind a half-drunk cup of tea and a pot of porridge on the stove.

Arthur Conan Doyle was a spirited man... Image: Ada Deane, Creative Commons

3. The Woman in White

Wilkie Collins' mystery novel The Woman in White begins with a chance encounter at the intersection of the Hampstead, Finchley, West End and London roads, somewhere around where Finchley Road Tube station now stands. Walter Hartwright is stopped, his blood frozen, by "the touch of a hand laid lightly and suddenly" upon his shoulder. The hand belongs to a mysterious woman dressed all in white. Her name is Anne Catherick and she says she has escaped from an insane asylum. Whether Anne Catherick is or isn't strictly a ghost should not be spoiled here. But it's not hard to imagine her ghostly presence lingering on that stretch of the Finchley Road...

4. The floating head of Oliver Goldsmith

Stories circulate online of a young woman working at Ye Olde Cock Tavern in 1984, letting out huge screams at the sight of a floating, grinning head — supposedly the apparition of the 18th century poet and writer Olivier Goldsmith. It's probable that Goldsmith drank at the Cock on occasion when in the land of the living, and claims that he was buried outside the pub are semi-true; his final resting place is actually a couple of minutes' away, at Temple Church. But why, in death, Goldsmith's head would be severed from his body, when he wasn't decapitated, is a mystery. Makes for better haunting, presumably.

Seen any floating heads around here lately? Image: Another Believer, Creative Commons

5. The fraudulent 'Scratching Fanny'

The haunting days of the Cock Lane ghost may be well over, but the legacy of this 18th century Smithfield spirit lives on. The ghost was said to be that of a murdered girl who, trying to communicate the tale of her killing and the identity of her killer. Her method of communication was scratching and knocking around the bed of 12-year-old Elizabeth Parsons, daughter of the house's owner, Richard Parsons. The story quickly became a sensation which engulfed literary London. Dickens was inspired by it. Hogarth depicted it (twice). Oliver Goldsmith satirised it. Samuel Johnson denounced the whole thing as a fraud, but not so strongly as to avoid being mocked for his credulity. The affair wound up in court, where the testimony of someone who claimed to have seen Scratching Fanny was met with howls of laughter. It wasn't a laughing matter for Richard Parsons in the end; charged with conspiracy, he was sentenced to two years in prison.

Ghost Month by Simon Wroe, published by Faber

We featured this book because we know it's the kind of thing our readers will enjoy. By buying it via links in this article, Londonist may earn a commission from Bookshop.org — which also helps support independent bookshops.

The Ever After Garden returns to Chelsea for Christmas 2026. Image: Sam Mellish

A field of 30,000 glowing white 'roses' takes up residence in London again this winter.

The Ever After Garden is an illuminated installation that raises money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity via donations and dedications. The glow-up garden of remembrance offers somewhere to pause and reflect on absent friends and family, as the festive season gets under way.

Grosvenor Square was previously home to the Ever After Garden, but after it closed for a woodland transformation, the Ever After Garden moved to Duke Of York Square in Chelsea. Although the Mayfair square has since reopened, the Ever After Garden is back in Chelsea for Christmas 2026.

Anyone can dedicate a rose in memory of a loved one, for a suggested minimum donation of £15 per flower.

Image: Sam Mellish

The first Ever After Garden was installed in Grosvenor Square in winter 2019 — created in memory of production designer and art director Michael Howells by his friends, fashion creatives Anya Hindmarch and Camilla Morton. The garden returned in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, moving to Chelsea in 2025. So far it's raised £1.7m in donations.

The Ever After Garden is free to visit, but consider making a donation to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity if you can.

The Ever After Garden is at Duke of York Square in Chelsea, Thursday 5 November- Monday 21 December 2026. Illuminated daily 3pm-9pm. Visitors are encouraged to share images on Instagram, tagging @royalmarsden and @everaftergarden and using hashtag #EverAfterGarden.

A swimming pool forms the liquid heart of the Owen Williams-designed Pioneer Health Centre. Image: Londonist

"Line upon line of soot-blackened buildings set among bombed-cleared spaces. Row upon row of big and little shops, cinemas, hoardings. A work-a-day, grey little suburb of South London. There is little outward evidence that this is the setting for the world's greatest experiment in human health..."

For a brief moment in time, one extraordinary building in Peckham revolutionised how the world approached health. But the Pioneer Health Centre was ahead of its time, and 90 years later, perhaps it still is.

"An oasis of glass in a desert of brick"

The Pioneer Centre opened in 1935, nine years after the Peckham Experiment commenced. Image: Southwark Archives / The Peckham Experiment CIC

In the mid 1920s, George Scott Williamson and Innes Pearse — two pathologists working at the Royal Free Hospital — were rethinking the concept of health. Health wasn't, they reasoned, the absence of disease, but the full expression of life. And now they set out to prove this theory.

Williamson and Pearse established the Peckham Experiment, a makeshift 'health centre', in a rented house on Queen's Road Peckham. For sixpence a week, members (who must live "within pram-pushing distance") had access to a small range of activities and facilities, as well as health check-ups — whether they believed they were ill or not.

Peckham was chosen, not because it was a particularly unhealthy or poverty-stricken area, but because of its diversity of residents: artisans, labourers and professionals. When Williamson and Pearse began to examine members of the new club, two thirds were found to be less healthy than they thought. A lack of nourishment and exercise were to blame, but so too was a sense of isolation; a dearth of active community.

With a successful pilot under their belt, things were ramped up. In 1935, the Pioneer Health Centre was built on St Mary's Road — an uncanny new neighbour for those 'work-a-day' rows of terraced houses. The design might've been rattled off by architect Owen Williams in just 10 weeks, but it was revolutionary. Enshrouded in glass, it beckoned in natural light. Open planned — around a liquid 'heart' that was the swimming pool — it encouraged communal, flexible behaviour. The design also meant doctors could watch members at play, in this "laboratory of life". Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius extolled it as "an oasis of glass in a desert of brick".

"It was deemed by the founder to be the first health centre in the world, and by their reckoning it still is the only health centre," says Dan Liston, one of the three co-founders of the Peckham Experiment CIC, which celebrates the history and legacy of Williamson and Pearse's project. "Because actually this was not a building to treat sickness, but rather it was a building to nurture health."

"They can do what they like, when they like, as they like"

Many locals had never been in a swimming pool before the Pioneer Centre came along. Image: Southwark Archives / The Peckham Experiment CIC

The Pioneer Centre was a forerunner to the leisure centres that began sprouting up in the UK in the 1960s, yet it was more than that alone. Aside from the pool, gymnasium and cafeteria, there was a library, a creche, a solarium and gardens. The canteen's food was plucked from a farm in nearby Brockley; organic and seasonal. There were classes for children, who learned through play, exploration and movement. "There is an air of real industry..." wrote the Times of one of these classes. "...There is comparative harmony and no perceptible adult direction here." Here was a village green, hall, church, school and pub rolled into one.

Few rules were set out, the founders recognising that members didn't want to be told what to do. As 1948 documentary The Centre (which you can watch above) put it: "They can do what they like, when they like, as they like." 'Everyday anarchy' evolved, activities arising spontaneously. Members created their own dance, the 'Pioneer Waltz'. Plays and revues were devised and performed. Competitions were held. The resulting sense of community and camaraderie played into Williamson and Pearse's reangled concept of health.

A model of the Centre as it was, on show in one of the flats. Image: Londonist

Many members benefitted directly from their time here. When 11-year-old member Maureen Baynton was sidelined from swimming after contracting glandular fever, she began playing on the Centre's billiard tables instead. She ended up being a multiple-time snooker and billiard champion.

Others cherish their memories of the Centre to this day; while being shown around, we bumped into Ken Marley, who came here every day after school as a child. He particularly loved rollerskating on the roof — an activity that features in the film The Centre.

It is hard to imagine the impact of such a place, and such radical, utopian thinking almost a century ago. Surprisingly, the press was overwhelmingly positive. The Peckham Experiment, supposed the Picture Post "may do more to revolutionise England than anything since the coming of electricity".

Ironically, some members were initially sceptical. In The Centre, a 'Mrs Jones' feels uneasy about the doctors: "I think they're cranks," she tells her husband, who's already been won over by the amenities and new friendships. "I'm not going to that place anymore." She comes around in the end.

"We've fallen in love with the building all over again"

Happily, the building survives, and is now residential apartments. Image: Londonist

Sadly, 'Mrs Jones' wouldn't have had long left to enjoy the Pioneer Centre.

Closed down during the Second World War, the Centre had rallied afterwards, its members clubbing together with brushes and tools to bring it back to its former glory. But this renaissance wasn't to last for long. In 1948 — the same year in which The Centre was released — the National Health Service took flight. Its approach to health was markedly different: treatment rather than prevention. The Pioneer Centre's subscription model was no longer sustainable. Come 1950, despite protestations from its founders and members, the Experiment was over.

Fortunately, Williams' landmark building lives on; since 2000, sympathetically repurposed into beautiful open-plan apartments. "I honestly don’t think I could go back to living in a traditional house now," says Nina Farrell, long-time resident, and another of the Peckham Experiment CIC's co-founders.

"I honestly don’t think I could go back to living in a traditional house now." Image: Londonist

Within these apartments, a second-coming of the Peckham Experiment has emerged. "You never tire of having a swimming pool outside your front door," says Nina, "But the most special thing is the community. Some of us have lived here for more than 20 years.

"We've seen babies born here who are now adults, and over that time an incredible support system has grown around us. It really is true that it takes a village to raise a child.

"Like the original Experiment, it probably isn’t for everyone! You have to learn how to live together, respect each other's privacy and share facilities. There are compromises that come with that.

"But there is a sense of safety in having so many neighbours around who know your family and look out for one another."

"The more stories we uncover, the more former members we meet and the more we learn about what happened here, the more extraordinary it becomes." Image: Southwark Archives / The Peckham Experiment CIC

Aspects of the Peckham Experiment live on in a wider context, too: the importance of eating organic, seasonal food is now widely recognised, if not yet widely implemented. Many teaching methods have grown to be more relaxed. Wellbeing clubs of one type or another can be found in every corner of London, and the country.

But because it all ended so abruptly — and without any concrete conclusions — you can't help wondering what might have been, were the Experiment allowed to continue and flourish in the post-war years. What if more centres like this had sprung up, offering a subsidised way to relax, exercise and interact? Would we be living in a more vibrant — and less insular — society?

"We want to put the history and those questions in front of as many people as possible and see what happens next." Image: Londonist

"Surprisingly, the Pioneer Centre is still not widely known, even here in Peckham," says Nina. "For us, one of the first jobs of the CIC is simply to change that.

"We want to put the history and those questions in front of as many people as possible and see what happens next.

"If someone encounters the Peckham Experiment and it plants a seed that they take into their own work, neighbourhood, practice or way of thinking, then the legacy continues to grow. The centenary gives us an opportunity to open the story up again and see what a new generation might do with it.

"You never tire of having a swimming pool outside your front door." Image: Londonist

"I don't think most of us really understood the full significance of the building when we first moved in. The more stories we uncover, the more former members we meet and the more we learn about what happened here, the more extraordinary it becomes.

"We've fallen in love with the building all over again."

Learn more about the Peckham Experiment on the official website. An in-depth archival website is also planned for the near future.

PEX 100: A Place to Belong is a free exhibition marking the story of the Pioneer Centre, and a centenary since the start of Peckham Experiment, is on at Copeland Gallery, Peckham 19-22 November 2026.

And by the way, apartments do show up for rent/sale here every now and then. Just in case you were interested.

James Rowland tells the story/saga of giving his friend a full Viking burial. Image: Toby Williams

The borough that gave us Stormzy, Tracey Emin and David Lean, Croydon flexes its cultural heft this autumn — with the 11th edition of the Croydonites festival.

From 4-21 November 2026, venues in central Croydon and South Norwood will shimmer with a medley of comedy, clowning, theatre, film and more. Here are a handful of happenings that've caught our eye:

📱 Turn Your F*cking Phones Off (The Front Room, 4 November): Hannah Maxwell had us at the title, and perhaps that's for the best, because we're not quite sure what this is. Hannah? "I suppose it's a theatre show. Perhaps it's an interdisciplinary, interactive, mixed-media piece of performance art. A town hall meeting at the end of the world. A karaoke booth in a nuclear bunker." Sounds like a you-need-to-be-there kinda thing. Anyway, the Guardian was, and gave it ★★★★

👄 Primal Bog (Society Room at Stanley Arts, 5 November): "Lip syncs, storytelling, lesbian slime wrestling, live tattooing..." All of these — plus some seriously eye-raising cameos — are promised in Rosa Garland's latest clowning caper, which promises to pull us into our too-often-hidden desires...

"Lip syncs, storytelling, lesbian slime wrestling, live tattooing..." are promised in edgy clowning show Primal Bog. Image: Corinne Cumming

🐻 Man or Bear (The Front Room, 11 November): Katie Hurley of You're So F**king Croydon fame stars alongside Sarah Hehir in kitchen-sink-meets-movement-and-music piece, Man or Bear. It's based on the viral question "Would you rather be alone in the woods with a man or a bear?", and explores the stories women share, and the friendships they forge in an increasingly perilous world.

🗡️ Team Viking (Society Room at Stanley Arts, 12 November): For 10 years, James Rowland has been regaling audiences with the epic — and epically heart-warming/funny — story about how he arranged a Viking funeral for his best friend. Here's another chance to catch this comic ode to death, friendship and the beautiful absurdity of life, which has delighted audiences across the UK and beyond.

🎥 Redux: Heads of State (Croydon/David Lean Cinema, 14 November): Film buff Richard Dedomenici leads a tour of 'Crollywood' locations — where scenes from the likes of Batman, The Da Vinci Code and Black Mirror have been shot (there's a recent update too, thanks to the famous Opalite escalator). That's followed by a visit to the David Lean Cinema, which premieres Heads of State: Redux, a 'remake' of the recent Netflix action film shot around Croydon — this time directed by Dedomenici, and using enthusiastic volunteers as actors/extras. (You're also invited to join in the shoot on 11 October).

Croydonites, 4-21 November 2026. Check out the full programme.

All weekend

Chelsea History Festival boasts a large events programme across the opening days of October. Image: Rob Hill

CHELSEA HISTORY FESTIVAL: The National Army Museum, the Royal Hospital Chelsea and Chelsea Physic Garden team up for Chelsea History Festival, which covers local, national and global history through walks, talks and other events. Hear about 5,000 years of female rulers, take a tour of the Royal Hospital Chelsea or attend a haunting evening of after-dark storytelling — among many other events this weekend. 1-4 October 2026

BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL: After a truncated Bloomsbury Festival last year, it's back to full strength for 2026, with events happening throughout October. Highlights this weekend include a photography exhibition chronicling the festival's history, walking tours around Bloomsbury and St Giles, and a live music performance featuring the kanklės, a traditional Lithuanian folk instrument. Browse the full programme. 1-31 October 2026

KOREA EXHIBITION: The big news at the British Museum at the moment is the (sold-out) Bayeaux Tapestry exhibition, but the venue is also opening Korea, which looks at the peninsula's history and cultural life through objects including ceramics, Buddhist sculpture, paintings and items associated with royal courts. 1 October 2026-31 January 2027

LONDON LATINO FILM FESTIVAL: The inaugural London Latino Film Fest presents around 60 films from across Latin America and its diasporas, staged across multiple London venues with screenings, Q&As, industry sessions and a community programme. Highlights include 1979 Cuba-set film Fresas Y Chocolate (Strawberry and Chocolate) about two university students who challenge each others' ideas and beliefs. 2-6 October 2026

OSSIE CLARK: The Fashion and Textile Museum's newest exhibition Ossie Clark/Celia Birtwell spotlights the life and work of the legendary rock 'n' roll fashion designer and his collaborator and wife. 2 October 2026-April 2027

Browse artworks and tableware at Ceramics in the City. Image: Chaeeun-Kim-Han-Ko

CERAMICS IN THE CITY: The Museum of the Home's annual Ceramics in the City fair returns to Hoxton, with independent ceramicists selling tableware, stoneware and decorative pieces. Meet the makers, explore techniques and buy directly from stallholders including Emily Wilcox, Susan Swales and Schneider Schneider. 3-4 October 2026

CROYDON HARVEST: Central Croydon goes into full autumnal mode with two days of free, family-friendly harvest celebrations. Attractions include Farm Yard Circus, a fortune-telling 'learned pig' (this one's a puppet), fruit and vegetable carving workshops from Fruitima, historic pub tours and folk music/dance performances. There are also craft and food stalls. FREE, 3-4 October 2026

OKTOBERFEST: Raise a stein and embrace the spirit of Munich with various Oktoberfest in London events happening in London this weekend, and over the coming weeks. Pubs, bars and restaurants are among those serving special menus, with beer and bratwurst aplenty — often with an oompah band thrown in.

FROM JAPAN WITH LOVE: A major Design Museum retrospective of Japanese creative director NIGO charts his career from Harajuku streetwear to international fashion and design. View more than 700 objects from NIGO's personal collection — including a recreation of his teenage bedroom — until Sunday. Until 4 October 2026

FESTIVAL OF THE GIRL: Islington's Business Design Centre hosts the Festival of the Girl, ahead of the International Day of the Girl (11 October). Aimed at girls and their families, the event aims to inspire, engage, and to break down harmful gender stereotypes. 3-4 October 2026

Saturday 3 October

Ride on a vintage bus for free. Image: © David Bowker

VINTAGE BUS RIDES: For one day, the London Bus Museum runs buses dating from the 1930s-70s on a short stretch of the 106 route, between Finsbury Park and Ash Grove Bus Station on Mare Street, via Stoke Newington, Clapton and Hackney Central. You can hop on board for free. FREE, 10am-5pm

HARVEST FESTIVAL: Celebrate the harvest at Morden Hall Park with apple-pressing demonstrations, folk music and Morris dancing from Black Swan Border Morris, and interactive sessions with nature educator Professor Queen Bee. Punch and Judy shows are staged for younger visitors and the Wimbledon Beekeepers Association presents a pollinators exhibition and announce their honey competition winners. FREE, 11am-3.30pm

BIG DRAW FESTIVAL: Worldwide celebration of drawing, the Big Draw Festival is launched at the House of Illustration, which opened earlier this year in Clerkenwell. Today's the main day of the launch, where visitors of all ages can take part in workshops, talks and activities for both lifelong artists and enthusiastic doodlers. 11am-4pm

SEWING MACHINE MUSEUM: The monthly opening of Balham's Sewing Machine Museum is a chance to view a private collection of dozens of the machines, including one made by Pollack & Schmidt from 1865, which was presented to Queen Victoria's firstborn daughter, Vicky. Entry is free but charity donations are very welcome. 2pm-5pm

HIDDEN LONDON: Novelists Vikki Heywood and Francis Spufford discuss hidden histories of 20th century London, drawing on Heywood's Miss Veal and Miss Ham and Spufford's Nonesuch. They read from and talk about their books and the ways fiction uncovers private lives and acts of resilience, at Southbank Centre. 3pm

Get creative in Clerkenwell. Image: © The Big Draw Festival - Adrian Brooks

ICE HOCKEY: Support the local Haringey Huskies as they take on Basingstoke Bison at Alexandra Palace's Ice Rink. The fast-paced evening is suitable for all ages, with an hour-long ice disco straight after the game. Read our guide to ice hockey in London for an introduction (or refresher) on the sport. Doors 5pm

BLACK HISTORY MONTH KARAOKE: Sing along to favourite songs with Millfield Theatre's in-house DJ at a karaoke party celebrating Black History Month. Caribbean food is available to buy, with a free glass of wine for the first 10 people to arrive before 7pm. Doors 6pm

IMMERSIVE QUEEN EXTRAVAGANZA: For one day only, Queen's legendary 1986 Budapest concert takes over the Roundhouse — remastered and remixed. Brought to life by Playback Live, it offers a chance to relive the magic of the band's final filmed gig. A giant LED screen, powerful surround sound, synchronised concert lighting, displays from Queen's archive, and an exclusive merch shop provide gig-style immersion as you sing your heart out with Freddie and the band. 7pm (sponsor)

BOLLYWOOD LEGEND: Bollywood actor Aftab Shivdasani headlines a live evening at Harrow Arts Centre, joined by singers Aaman Trikha and Mayuri Patalia. Expect music and performances celebrating Shivdasani's film career, including Masti, Om Shanti Om and Kambakkht Ishq. 7pm

ANIMAL FARM: Dov Citron adapts and performs Orwell's Animal Farm as a one-man show at Barons Court Theatre, seen through the eyes of Moses the Raven. The 60-minute piece mixes storytelling, physical theatre and live sound to explore revolution, power and belief. 7.30pm

ST MICHAEL'S PLAYERS: St Michael's Players present Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Dario Fo's dark, farcical take on the death of Giuseppe Pinelli, an Italian anarchist railway worker who mysteriously died after "falling" from a window. The production mixes political satire with slapstick, and takes place at St Michael's Centre in Chiswick. 7.45pm

Sunday 4 October

An Apple Day keeps the doctor away... or something like that. Image: Fulham Palace

NFL IN LONDON: Across three Sundays in October, starting today, American Football teams play at two different stadiums here in London. Tottenham Hotspur and Wembley both host NFL in London games this season, though tickets sold out quite quickly so are hard (but not impossible) to come by now. Our roundup also points you in the direction of a few American-themed bars. 4-18 October 2026

APPLE DAY: Fulham Palace celebrates the orchard harvest with its annual Apple Day, a family-friendly event featuring market stalls, a tombola, a baking contest, garden games, storytelling, children's crafts and other activities. 10am-4pm

ANTIQUES FAIR: Adams Antiques Fairs once again takes place at the Royal Horticultural Halls in Westminster, where dealers sell furniture, ceramics, jewellery, silver and other collectables. A queue often forms before doors open, so arrive early if you want to be one of the first inside. 10am-4/30pm

GIANT LONDON FLEA: Organised by Hackney Flea Market and Walthamstow Flea Market, The Giant London Flea takes over Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for a day of vintage, pre-loved and independent stalls. Expect furniture, homewares, clothing and collectible items from a range of traders aiming to promote sustainable shopping. 10am-5pm

JAPAN MATSURI: Free festival Japan Matsuri returns to Trafalgar Square for a one-day celebration of Japanese culture. It features stage performances including traditional music and dance, martial arts demonstrations, food stalls around the fountains, and craft and retail stalls. FREE, 10am-8pm

Head east for the Giant London Flea. Image: Giant London Flea

ANIMAL SHORTS: A morning of nature-inspired activities begins with Cinemini for toddlers at David Lean Cinema, followed by short films featuring animals at noon. Children can then create miniature animal habitats from natural materials and found objects. 10.30am-2.30pm

LITTLE HOLLAND HOUSE: Carshalton's Little Holland House is a romantic Arts and Crafts gem of a house, built by designer and craftsman Frank R. Dickinson, who was inspired by the styles William Morris and John Ruskin. The monthly open day is a chance to see inside, visit the rooms and view furniture created by Dickinson that's still in situ. FREE, 10.30am-4.30pm

KIKUYU LAND: Genesis Cinema in Whitechapel screens Kikuyu Land, following a Nairobi journalist investigating a land dispute involving local government and a powerful multinational corporation. The film is followed by an in-person Q&A with director and protagonist Bea Wangondu. 3pm

EDWARDIAN TEA SALON: Herstory tour guide Mandy and actors from the Lyric ensemble present a semi-immersive Edwardian tea salon at the Hammersmith Club. Trace the history of tea, accompanied by a cream tea served with scones and tea from the woman-owned Eisa Tea Company. 3pm

SYMPHONIC SOUL: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performs Motown and classic soul with vocalists Gloria Onitiri and Trevor Dion Nicholas. Conductor Michael England leads the orchestra through an evening of hits including Respect, I Heard It Through the Grapevine, My Girl and Ain't No Mountain High Enough. 3pm/7.30pm

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We look ahead and pick the best exhibitions to see in London's galleries and museums, opening this October.

K-culture: Korea at the British Museum

© National Museum of Korea, LKH1, National Treasure

2,000 years of Korean creativity is celebrated at this exhibition charting the country's evolution from 200 BC to today — via sculpture, painting and decorative arts. There are ancient gold body ornaments and Buddhist icons, 12th and 13th century stoneware, ink landscapes and contemporary works responding to the turbulence of the 20th century. A rare chance to see such a span of Korean culture.

Korea at The British Museum. 1 October 2026-31 January 2027, £18.

Sun, sea and sand: Painting the French Riviera at Royal Academy of Arts

A painting by Raoul Dufy. Collection of the McNay Art Museum, Bequest of Marion Koogler McNay

An azure sea, sand between your toes, favourite drink in hand. Who wouldn't want to be on the French Riviera right now? Unsurprisingly, this stretch of coastline was an inspiration to many artists, including Picasso, Matisse, Cézanne, Renoir and Yves Klein. The Royal Academy charts the Côte d'Azur's influence on Impressionists, Post-Impressionists and Modernists, before it became a travel destination/favoured film set. The story is told through more than 160 works, including paintings, sculpture, travel posters and film, from the 1870s to the 1960s.

Painting the French Riviera at Royal Academy of Arts. 2 October 2026-31 January 2027, £24-£26.

Other worlds: Es Devlin at Design Museum

Es Devlin amongst her archive. Photo: Daniel Devlin

She has created unforgettably immersive public artworks, and won Tony and Emmy awards for her stage sets. Now we're invited into Es Devlin's world-building workshop; she's moved her studio and her 30-year archive into the Design Museum, to guide us through her creative process/past projects and to share what makes her tick. Art, activism, poetry, sculpture, music and architecture combine in this look-back over Devlin's extraordinary career to date.

Es Devlin: Other Worlds at Design Museum. 2 October 2026-4 April 2027, £17.

Peak Impressionism: Renoir and Love at the National Gallery

© Musée d'Orsay, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Patrice Schmidt

Renoir is perhaps the most divisive of the Impressionists: some love his vivid colours; others consider his works too chocolate-boxy. Here's a chance to make your own mind up, through a collection of 40 paintings that whisk you into sun-dappled gardens and swirling Parisian dance halls. We're also fans of the National Gallery's one-room displays, and this time it has paired contemporary artist Yinka Shonibare, who addresses colonial legacy in his work, with 18th century master landscape and portrait painter Thomas Gainsborough.

Renoir and Love at The National Gallery. 3 October 2026–31 January 2027, £20-£25.
Yinka Shonibare and Thomas Gainsborough: A Conversation at The National Gallery. 15 October 2026‒7 February 2027, free.

Feminine Strength: Gabrielle Goliath at Ibraaz

Image courtesy of the artist; photo Luca Meneghel

Gabrielle Goliath's work at this year's Venice Biennale was one of the most powerful, and now there's a chance to see/hear it in London. Find yourself surrounded by video screens where women hold a single note; just as their breath gives out, they are replaced by the next woman in line. It's a work about solidarity and women's rights, addressing femicide in South Africa and the genocide in Palestine. As the sound echoes around you, it makes for an extremely moving artwork.

Gabrielle Goliath: Elegy at Ibraaz. 8 October 2026–17 January 2027, free.

Fairy tale fashion: Tim Walker at National Portrait Gallery

Image courtesy of Tim Walker.

Straddling the border between fashion and art, Tim Walker's photographs are pure escapism. Inspired by fairy tales, he creates spectacular fantasy worlds that have featured celebrities ranging from Chappell Roan to Miriam Margolyes, and often found themselves on the pages of Vogue and Vanity Fair. This exploration of queer identity, community and love offers us all a chance to escape into Walker's fairy tale world.

Tim Walker's Fairyland: Love and Legends at National Portrait Gallery. 8 October 2026-7 February 2027, £23-£25.

Pure nostalgia: The 90s at Tate Britain

A snap of a young Kate Moss by Juergen Teller. © Juergen Teller, All Rights Reserved

Remember the 1990s? For many of us, it seemed a more positive, if naive, era. For younger people, it's a world only recognisable through films, TV and music. Tate Britain takes us back to a time when Britain began to emerge from recession, and a new dawn of optimism, freedom and rebellion materialised. Steve McQueen, Damien Hirst, Sarah Lucas, Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen appear. Prepare for nostalgia overload. If you're old enough.

The 90s: Art and Fashion at Tate Britain. 8 October 2026-14 February 2027, £22.

Future ruins: Michael Landy at John Soane's Museum

An imaginary view of the Chatsworth Sculpture Gallery in ruins. Copyright Michael Landy. Photo: Todd White Art Photography.

What will the world look like in the future? Will nature have taken it all back, leaving only ruins to signify humanity's existence on this planet? Michael Landy's drawings imagine such a future, in which the Bank of England lies in ruins. Landy's comment on capitalism and consumerism also shows nature reclaiming Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, as well as Rome's Palazzo della Civiltà — Mussolini’s fascist monument to himself. It's dark, dystopian, yet uplifting — and we're here for it.

Michael Landy: Future Ruins at Sir John Soane's Museum. 14 October 2026-17 January 2027, free.

Early photography: Light and Magic at Tate Modern

© National Portrait Gallery, London

When a new technology emerges, artists are often among the first to embrace it, and test its limits. Such was the case with photography, and this Tate Modern show brings together over 200 rare prints by more than 80 artists — from Seoul to Sydney, New York to Cape Town, and Brazil to Singapore — to show what's possible in the darkroom. It's also time for a new Turbine Hall installation; it's the turn of artist and composer Tarek Atoui, whose installations explore and challenge perceptions of sound. They've given him the right space to work with.

Light and Magic: The Birth of Art Photography at Tate Modern. 14 October 2026-21 February 2027, £20.
Hyundai Commission: Tarek Atoui at Tate Modern, Turbine Hall. 13 October 2026-11 April 2027, free.

Making waves: Hokusai at Dulwich Picture Gallery

Courtesy the Iuchi Collection, on deposit at The National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo

Japanese printmaker Hokusai is best known for his print The Great Wave, but did you know this iconic work is part of a series of 36 woodblock prints of Mount Fuji? Dulwich Picture Gallery brings them all together — the first time this has happened in the UK. Talk about making waves.

Hokusai: Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji from the Iuchi Collection at Dulwich Picture Gallery. 20 October 2026-17 January 2027, £21.50.

Science and exploration: Becoming America at the Science Museum

© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026. Royal Collection Trust

The USA may not be in the news for the right reasons at the moment, but the Science Museum is marking the country's 250th birthday with a look back to uncover the science that shaped — and was shaped by — its land. Spanning from the 1760s to the first US presidency in the 1790s, Becoming America examines the contribution of Indigenous science and the stories of enslaved and free African-descended peoples. There are maps, paintings, musical instruments and a rare surviving 1776 print of the Declaration of Independence.

Becoming America: How Science Shaped a Nation at the Science Museum. 23 October 2026-25 April 2027, free, ticketed.

Murder She Wrote: Agatha Christie at The British Library

Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot. © 20th Century Studios

Agatha Christie's prodigious output is almost unrivalled, and the British Library is giving us a chance to step into a creative process that produced Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile and countless other novels. Learn how the author was inspired by crossing continents by train and navigating archaeological digs. Christie fans (and who isn't one?) will feel a shiver down their spine as they pore over typewriters, notes for stage adaptations, family photos and personal letters.

Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery at the British Library. 30 October 2026-20 June 2027, £20-£25.

Short-run exhibitions and art fairs

A previous edition of The Affordable Art Fair. Photo: Graham Turner.

London becomes overrun with art fairs in October, the grandaddy being Frieze London in Regent's Park (14-18 October, £59+) for the latest in contemporary art, with over 160 galleries from more than 40 countries. At the other end of the park, and almost as large, is Frieze Masters (14-18 October, £48+, combined ticket £92+), spanning 6,000 years of art history and featuring antiques to post-war artists.

More bite-sized specialist fairs include the 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair at Somerset House (15-18 October, £32+), which hones in on African artists and those from the diaspora, and the Focus Art Fair at Saatchi Gallery (15-18 October, £19+), which specialises in Asian galleries and artists. Paraiso art fair specialises in Latin American art, and the debut edition will be at Ambika P3 (15-18 October, £24). PAD London in Berkeley Square brings together art and design under a rather luxurious marquee (13-18 October, £30). If you want an art fair that doesn't particularly feel like one, make for Minor Attractions at the Newman Hotel (13-17 October, free), where galleries show their works in hotel rooms. The Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair has been reborn at Imprint Art Fair (29 October-1 November, £20+), with a more central location at Lawrence Hall, and prints are usually available at affordable prices.

Gina Soden is one of the artists showing in the new Fair Play Art Fair.

The Other Art Fair at Truman Brewery (8-11 October, £20+) invites you to deal directly with artists, and the founder of that fair has now set up his own artist-led fair, Fair Play Art Fair at One Marylebone (15-18 October, £24+). Great art and bargains can be found at both. Likewise, at the Affordable Art Fair Battersea (14-18 October, £15+) where all works are priced below £10,000 (some are way under this), it's great for those looking to spruce up their home, plus there's a showcase of the best graduate works, curated by Jo McLaughlin.

If you're looking for exhibitions, head to the atmospheric chapel in Old Brompton Cemetery, where artists Anna Blom and Alex Mills have designed an installation to help us reconnect with nature (3-4 October, free). Over in Deptford, at APT gallery, Clay in Vivo brings together 12 artists who push the boundaries of what can be sculpted out of clay (8-18 October, free).

Designer Vikram Goyal is turning a Mayfair home into a fantastical interior, with a collection of furniture and design inspired by the natural world and mythical creatures in 'Wings and Tales' (12-17 October). Nearby, Mount Street Neighbourhood is hosting an arts festival (12-17 October) that includes talks, publishers, art and a chance to have your portrait taken by photographer Miles Aldridge.

Exhibitions outside London

© Nancy Cadogan

If you missed Nancy Cadogan's tribute to lost trees when it was shown in London at the Garden Museum, here's your chance to catch it again at Compton Verney in Buckinghamshire (2 October-22 November, £22.50). Nancy Cadogan has gathered the stories of 20 felled trees and created 'portraits' of them, revelling in their former glories. The project was sparked by the felling of trees in Cadogan's area to make way for HS2, and the loss felt by the local community.

Saad Qureshi in his studio. Image copyright of the artist.

What does paradise mean to you? Saad Qureshi asked this question and took the responses to create fantastically detailed miniature worlds, which he calls sculptural landscapes, at the Schwartzmann Centre in Oxford (2 October-6 December, free). Rendered in a uniform grey, reminiscent of the light before dawn, they are the translation of these dreams into sculptures and drawings. Some are in wheeled drawers, referencing the way we carry our personal utopias in our heads.

© Touchstones Rochdale, Rochdale Arts & Heritage Service

It's 50 years since the death of the great industrial painter L.S. Lowry, and here's an opportunity to look back across his wider practice in an exhibition at MK Gallery in Milton Keynes (24 October 2026-28 February 2027, £15.95). He may be best known for his crowds of people going to work/football matches, but this exhibition also brings seascapes, landscapes, portraits and more surreal works to our attention.

Our pick of free things to do in London this week. Get earlier access to this article, delivered straight to your inbox for free every week, via our newsletter.

Ride a vintage bus for free. Image: © David Bowker

Contemporary portraits

Time's running out to see the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery. The free display — which invites artists to explore both classical and innovative techniques — showcases contemporary portrait painting, including this year's prizewinners Marc Dalessio, Chloe Cox, Michael Slusakowicz and Joel Nichols.

Until 7 October.

Lunchtime dance lessons

Feeling guilty for not doing more with your lunch break? If you're in the vicinity of Sadler's Well East, here's your reminder that free dance lessons are held on the Dance Floor three times a week: Mondays (Afro-Caribbean Fusion), Wednesdays (Funky Social Dance) and Fridays (Reggae & Soul Line Dance). All sessions run 1pm-2pm; simply show up in comfortable gear.

28 and 30 September, and 2 October. (And every Monday, Wednesday and Friday).

Dip into Chelsea's past...

Running Thursday to Sunday, Chelsea History Festival celebrates the area's heritage with a prodigious programme of events taking place at venues including the National Army Museum and the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

While the majority require a paid ticket, there are a few free gems on the programme. Get a closer look at military equipment and Second World War artefacts in an object handling session, or learn about the colourful origins of London slang, both at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Try your hand at sketching at the National Army Museum. Or take a guided tour of the Chelsea Heritage Quarter. Browse the full programme.

1-4 October.

... or explore beautiful Bloomsbury

Bloomsbury Festival is back at full tilt this year, with dozens of events taking place throughout October. Many (not all) are free, including exhibitions in churches, museums and libraries. Our free picks this week include an immersive sound and light project distilling a century of nursing and midwifery stories into one time-bending 24-hour shift; and an outdoor photography exhibition sharing highlights of the festival from the last 20 years. Browse the full programme.

From 1 October.

Vintage buses back on the streets

On Saturday, you can hop aboard vintage buses for free. The London Bus Museum holds another of its heritage days, putting buses from the 1930s-70s out on the roads for us to enjoy.

The vintage vehicles run on a short stretch of the 106 route, between Finsbury Park and Ash Grove Bus Station on Mare Street, via Stoke Newington, Clapton and Hackney Central. No ticket is required, though note that due to the age of the vehicles, wheelchairs and buses can't be accommodated.

3 October.

Balham's shrine to sewing machines

Sew then. Image: Londonist

The monthly opening of Balham's Sewing Machine Museum on Saturday afternoon is a chance to view a private collection of dozens of the machines, including one made by Pollack & Schmidt from 1865, which was presented to Queen Victoria's firstborn daughter, Vicky.

Entry is free but charity donations (The Royal National Lifeboat Institution or Leukaemia Research) are very welcome.

3 October.

Seasonal shenanigans in south London

Apple pressing and Morris dancing are among the seasonal shenanigans on offer at the free-entry harvest festival at Morden Hall Park on Saturday. The National Trust property comes alive with folk music performances, autumn crafts and Punch & Judy shows with a nature-themed twist.

It's free to attend, though non-perishable donations to the local food bank are very welcome.

3 October.

A pottery throw down for kids

Kids as much into watching The Great Pottery Throw Down as you? The Cernamic team is at the Museum of the Home this weekend, inviting young makers to get their hands messy, working with clay and producing their own ceramics. Sessions are totally free, and there's no need to book.

3-4 October.

Croydon goes rustic

Image: Culture Croydon

Central Croydon goes into full autumnal mode with two days of free, family-friendly harvest celebrations. Attractions include Farm Yard Circus, a fortune-telling 'learned pig' (this one's a puppet), fruit and vegetable carving workshops from Fruitima, historic pub tours and folk music/dance performances. There are also craft and food stalls.

3-4 October.

Japan lands in Trafalgar Square

Image: Miguel Mendez, Creative Commons

Free festival Japan Matsuri returns to Trafalgar Square for a one-day celebration of Japanese culture on Sunday, featuring taiko drumming, martial arts demos and workshops, an anime cosplay catwalk, a ton of food stalls — and lashings more besides.

4 October.

An Arts and Crafts gem

Little Holland House has its monthly opening this Sunday. Image: Londonist

Carshalton's Little Holland House is a romantic Arts and Crafts gem of a house, built by designer and craftsman Frank R. Dickinson, who was inspired by the styles William Morris and John Ruskin. The monthly open day this Sunday is a chance to admire Dickinson's handiwork, which includes some of his furniture and paintings still in situ.

4 October.

October is Black History Month in the UK — a chance to learn about Black creatives, heroes, and campaigners from the past and the present. Here's our pick of highlights for 2026.

Immerse yourself in Black History this month. Image: TfL

Black History Month walks, talks and tours

🚶🏿 Black History Walks host a number of guided walks in October, including a Theatreland walk, a study of images of Black people on the walls of Tate Britain, and a Harlem in Mayfair tour. (Various dates in October)

🚶🏿Black Legacies London regularly lead three walking tours — around City of London, Westminster and Brixton — in which you're invited to immerse yourself in the rich history (and current culture) of London's Black communities. (Various dates in October)

🚶🏿 Black History Studies lead a tour around the British Museum, honing in on its extensive collections from historic societies of Africa. (11 October)

🎤 Paul Crooks is at Victoria library, for a free talk encouraging people to reconnect with their African roots, by way of records, oral history and DNA. (22 October)

🚶🏿 Black Rooted leads the City Of London: Slave Trade Money Trail Tour, following the hidden story of one of Britain's first slave traders, London's Plantation Economy Triangle and the blood money trail of the Lloyds family (24 October)

🚶🏿 Join the NLA for a tour of Brixton's Black history: learn about the area's controversial 'Barrier Block' building, how Lambeth Town Hall helped build cultural bridges — and finish up in Brixton Village, where vendors represent over 50 different nationalities. (24 October)

🎤 Gallery Educator and artist Joanna Conybeare hosts an online talk/draw-along live from the National Gallery, in which you're invited to explore representations of Black and minority figures within the collection, considering how identity, visibility and lived experience have been portrayed/understood through various works of art. No drawing experience necessary. (30 October)

Other Black History Month events

Caribbean Voices: Shaping Docklands Trail is ongoing at London Museum Docklands. Image: London Museum Docklands

We've cherry-picked a few events that focus specifically on history, but you can find loads more happening across October (and beyond) on the Black History Month website.

🤘🏾Harlesden Library is currently hosting the free exhibition The Brent Reggae Album Covers, where you can admire sleeve artwork shot across the borough over the years. (Until 31 October)

🏛️ London Museum Docklands usually has a slew of events taking place — which we expect to hear more of closer to the time. Their (FREE!) Caribbean Voices: Shaping Docklands Trail continues until the New Year. (Until January 2027)

🏛️  The Music is Black: A British Story at V&A East whisks you through the history of Black sounds in this country — from a display of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's batons, to Stormzy's Union Flag stab vest. (Until 10 January 2027)

🏛️  At time of writing, Brixton's Black Cultural Archives haven't announced their October listings, but no doubt there'll be some insightful happenings, plus this month is always a good excuse to call in and explore the archives (Throughout October)

📸 Lambeth Archives hosts the work of Charles Gimpel, who used his camera to capture the everyday lives of Black Brixtonians in the 1960s. (5-31 October)

🎻 Bloomsbury's Foundling Museum hosts an evening of rarely-heard British anti-slavery songs from the 18th and 19th centuries, peppered with readings from 18th-century Black writers. (16 October)

📖 Symeon Brown is at LSE to discuss his new book, The Good, the Black and the Boujee, which unravels the web of class and gender shaping Black Britain today. (20 October)

Londonist on Black history

Image: English Heritage

Check out our articles on Black history in London:

💻  Asquith Xavier: The Man Who Ended Euston Station's Racist Colour Bar

💻 "I Had Never Seen A Train Before!" Memories Of A Windrusher Arriving In London

💻 A Black History Tube Map

💻 10 Black Women Who Changed London For The Better

💻 Wilston Samuel Jackson: A Plaque For The UK's First Black Train Driver's At King's Cross Station

💻 Who Were The First Black Footballers At Every London League Club?

💻 10 London Locations Linked To Slavery

💻 London's Best Walking Tours: Black History Walks

💻 This Map Of Black History In London Charts Slavery To Black Lives Matter

💻 Black London: 10 Sculptures, Murals And Plaques To See

💻 8 Remarkable Vintage Images Of Black Londoners

💻 Who Was Samuel Coleridge-Taylor? (He's Not To Be Confused With Samuel Taylor Coleridge)

💻 Plaque To Phillis Wheatley: The First African-American Woman To Be Published In English

Adapted from a feature that first appeared in September 2025 on Londonist: Time Machine, our much-praised history newsletter. To be the first to read new history features like this, sign up for free here.

London has so many museums that you could easily build a family tree with different clades and genera. One of the shorter branches — or perhaps roots — would be the ‘crypt museums’, historical snapshots built into church undercrofts. We don’t have many crypt museums, actually, but they’re all marvellous, and I bet we have more than Los Angeles, Tokyo or Hull.

Next time you’re in central London, consider popping into these hypogeal treasure houses, most of which are free. The ancient surroundings are often as enchanting as the exhibits.

St Bride's, Fleet Street

Part of a Roman pavement, which has been sat down here for almost two millennia. Image: Matt Brown

St Bride’s off Fleet Street is one of Christopher Wren’s more famous churches. Its colossal steeple supposedly inspired (pun reluctantly intended) the stepped-shape of wedding cakes. (Nobody has ever found proper evidence of this, but it’s repeated in reputable books and websites, so it must be true.) As well as gazing upward, though, we should also look below, because St Bride’s has one of the best basements in London.

Its extensive crypt serves as a museum to the building’s complicated history. Indeed, it might be regarded as a potted history of the City itself. The eastern end contains part of a Roman pavement, preserved in situ for almost 2,000 years. You’ll also find a section of wall from a Saxon church (very rare in the Square Mile), as well as various medieval replacements.

Bell fragments in St Bride’s crypt museum. Image: Matt Brown

St Bride’s has burned down on at least two occasions. Broken, part-melted bell fragments from the Great Fire of 1666 are placed on display next to similarly stricken metal from the Blitz. The tintinnabular relics are a powerful example of continuity. Nearby, you can examine an original key from Christopher Wren’s era, along with writer Samuel Richardson’s coffin plate, and an iron casket designed to deter grave robbers. Meanwhile, a side corridor displays tombstones of some of the long-term inhabitants. Among them is a memorial to a journalist and broadcaster whom many British readers will remember:

The memorial to Derek Jameson. Image: Matt Brown

Just beyond, a medieval chapel from the pre-Fire church has been preserved, and is now a memorial to the staff of Associated Newspapers who lost their lives in the world wars.

Part of the medieval St Bride’s still survives beneath the Wren church, and now serves as a memorial to newspaper staff killed in the wars. Image: Matt Brown.

I distinctly remember seeing a charnel house down here, too. Actually, I even got a photo of it. That area was not open to the public on my most recent visit, however.

St Bride’s Crypt Museum is free to visit, and open seven days a week during church hours.

All Hallows-by-the-Tower

London’s other impressive crypt museum can be found at the opposite end of the City, right next to the Tower of London. All Hallows-by-the-Tower, also known confusingly as All Hallows Barking, is a rarity in that Christopher Wren didn’t touch it. The nave is early medieval and escaped the Great Fire, while the tower was built in 1658 following the destruction of its predecessor in an explosion (a tale for another day). Much of the church is, however, a patch-up after it sustained heavy damage in the Blitz.

Roman paving in the crypt. Image: Matt Brown

The temporal fusion continues inside, where an Anglo-Saxon arch survives among the later masonry. Down in the crypt — also largely Saxon — we once again push back to the limits of London chronology, thanks to the significant survival of a Roman pavement. This is complemented by a charming model of Londinium. This recreation is a century old, and is itself now an historic artefact. It was created decades before the discovery of the Roman amphitheatre beneath Guildhall, which is therefore absent.

Image: Matt Brown

American visitors will applaud the central section of the museum. William Penn and John Quincy Adams were respectively married and baptised in the church, and the parish records from these events are on show. An impressive plaque to Penn, damaged in the Blitz, is also on display.

Other exhibits in the museum include various bits of church plate, more Anglo-Saxon stonework and the crow's nest from Ernest Shackleton's last Antarctic voyage (I don’t recall why). Look out for the twisting stalactite of metal in the side-chapel. This is another relic of the Blitz. Firebombs melted the church’s lead roof, which trickled to the floors below.

All Hallows-by-the-Tower Crypt Museum is free to visit and open seven days a week during church hours.

St Martin-in-the-Fields, Charing Cross

I’m sure most readers have been down here at some point. But if you’ve never had the pleasure, do pop down.(No bookings, just walk in.) Image: Matt Brown

Of all London’s crypts, St Martin’s is easily the most visited. Its spacious refectory-style cafe is always full (the photo above was taken outside opening hours), thanks to the location beside Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery. Very few people, it seems, are bothered about dining on top of gravestones.

Image: Matt Brown

The western end of the crypt contains an easily missed series of chambers that serve as a small (and free) museum. Only a handful of items are on display, but they’re all interesting. Where else can you see an 18th century whipping post next to a statue of the first Pearly King?

Whipping post and Henry Croft statue. Image: Matt Brown

St Martin-in-the-Fields crypt gallery is free to visit and open seven days a week during church hours.

Other equipped crypts

St George’s Bloomsbury: This Nicholas Hawksmoor church houses the Museum of Comedy in its basement. Despite the name, the space is predominantly a stand-up venue, but it does display a handful of exhibits, such as Bill Bailey’s six-neck guitar.

St John’s Smith Square: Known as ‘Queen Anne’s footstool’, because it looks like an overturned stool, this former church in Pimlico is now a concert hall. The crypt is an upmarket cafe known as the Footstool restaurant.

St Mary-le-Bow: The famous Wren church on Cheapside has a notable place in London lore. You can only consider yourself a true Cockney if you were born within the sound of Bow bells (which means no true Cockneys were born in the 40s or 50s thanks to the bells’ destruction in the Blitz). Until recently, the crypt housed a very welcoming cafe, situated among the bow-shaped arches that gave the church its name. Unfortunately, it closed in late 2025, and we can only hope it will reopen again in some form.

St Mary Magdalene, Paddington: An utterly enchanting polychrome crypt, which is occasionally open to public visits.

St Martin Outwich: Merchant Taylors’ Hall on Threadneedle Street is an exceptionally interesting example of a livery hall, which I’d encourage you to visit if you can find a tour. Its basement hides an almost unique survivor — part of the crypt of St Martin Outwich. This medieval church was rebuilt after the Great Fire, but demolished in 1874. The bit inside the livery hall survives from the pre-Fire church and is a little-known wonder of central London.

Part of a medieval church that has otherwise been destroyed. Image: Matt Brown

St Pancras New Church: The crypt of this early 19th century church near Euston has long served as a gallery space, with regular changing exhibitions.

St Paul’s Cathedral: One of the ‘must see’ crypts of London, and included in a cathedral entrance ticket. Down here, you’ll see the famous tombs of Nelson and Wellington, as well as memorials to such notables as Lutyens, Florence Nightingale, William Blake, Robert Hooke and, of course, Christopher Wren. They also have a cafe, which can be accessed without entrance fee.

Westminster Cathedral: NOT the Abbey, which doesn’t have a crypt the public can visit, but the Catholic cathedral just down the road. It houses a crypt cafe which, somehow, I’ve never got round to visiting. Maybe I’ll head there now…

Your weekly roundup of Londonist news and features.

70+ Thrilling Things To Do In London This Month: October 2026

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Raise a stein to Oktoberfest in London. Image: German Gymnasium

Regent's Park's 2026 Frieze Sculpture Trail Is The Most Engaging Yet

A fine collection of sculptures in Regent's Park.

Image: Matt Brown

Finally... South Kensington Tube Station To Get The Upgrade It So Desperately Needs

Plans move forward for 2031 completion.

Image: Native Land

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Image: Londonist

A Fascinating (And Free) Immersive Exhibition Explores Who We Are... And How We're All Connected

It's at the Francis Crick Institute now. (sponsor)

Fiona Hanson © Copyright 2026

TfL Wants Your Thoughts On A New 18.5km Overground Route

West London Orbital could open by mid 2030s.

Image: TfL

Conkers In London: Where To Find Them, Where To Play

Our hard-hitting guide.

Image: Don Blandford/Peckham Conker Club

Which Lost London Building Would You Rebuild?

We asked. You gave us an eclectic reply.

Image: Ben Brooksbank, creative commons

Japan Matsuri: A Huge Celebration Of Japanese Culture In Trafalgar Square

From cosplay to katsu curry, it's all going on.

Image: Garry Knight via creative commons

John McEnroe And Billie Jean King To Appear At The O2

Ace!

Image: FANE

Free Walking Tours Round London This October

Look out for Local London Guiding Day.

Image: Matt Brown

Looping-The-Loop In Victorian Soho

An 1840s roller coaster in central London.

Image: public domain

1746 in Colour: Rotherhithe Docks

Continuing our project to colour in the John Rocque map of London.

Image: Matt Brown

The Barking Heritage Mural: Digging The Details

Understanding history through murals.

Image: Matt Brown

The Best Horror Film Screenings In London For Halloween 2026

Do you like scary movies?

Image: markhillary, Creative Commons

Fantastic Firework Displays And Buzzing Bonfire Nights Near London 2026

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Image: Scott Nicol/Leeds Castle

Miracle On Russell Street: The Christmassiest Bar In London

It's Kiiiiiiiitschmas!

Image: Miracle

Looking Ahead: Things To Do In London This Week: 28 September-4 October 2026

See what's on in London today.

Chelsea History Festival gets underway. Image: Rob Hill

The centrepiece of the show was Imre Kiralfy's dramatic 14th century spectacle, Venice, the Bride of the Sea. Image: public domain

Rome wasn't built in a day, but a version of Venice was built in London in just four months.

To step into the Olympia Exhibition Hall on Boxing Day 1891 was to step halfway across the continent. A fleet of gondolas — manned by bona fide gondoliers sporting striped orange and black jerseys — waited to sweep you along the Grand Canal to the Café Rialto, where you could enjoy Italian dainties and wine; then onto the Venetian glassworks, Venetian pleasure gardens, and an art gallery bejewelled with choice specimens from the easel of the late Signor Faveretto.

Everywhere you looked, it was Venice: its houses, palaces, bridges, campaniles and waterways.

Children must've been bowled over. Image: public domain

And things were just warming up. The main event on any given visit was Venice: The Bride of the Sea — "a Grand Historic and Romantic Spectacle and Aquatic Pageant" — overseen by the theatre impresario Imre Kiralfy. Set during the 14th century War of Chioggia, this was anything but understated; played out by some 1,400 performers, it featured triumphal processions, marine ballets, the launch of a ship, a grand banquet, a Venetian gondola regatta, and soldiers being hurled from bridges. "It is difficult," wrote the Times, "to give any idea of the gorgeousness from first to last of this performance." It cost a pretty penny too: today's equivalent of £4m.

Joseph Lyons, one of the men behind the Venetian spectacle. Image: public domain

The two entrepreneurs behind the ambitious idea were the caterer Joseph Lyons and his business partner Harold Hartley. Fittingly, given the aquatic nature of the project, Hartley owned the Pure Water Company. In his 1939 memoir, Eighty-eight Not Out, he remembered:

One evening later on Lyons, who had never travelled, asked me if I had ever been to Venice, as he had an idea that it might be reproduced with its canals in an attractive form. Being well acquainted with Venice, I at once realised its possibilities and thus "Venice in London" was born. Visions of the Grand Canal, with its churches, palaces, and gondolas flashed through my mind.

Some five million people visited the spectacular. Image: public domain

Venice in London was, naturally a great way for both men to flog their products on site; Hartley's Aerated Waters, Orange Champagne and Kola Tonic were on sale at the Olympia's bars, and you could get freshly-brewed pots of Lyons' tea, too. The aqueous theme continued in the ads that peppered the programme (available in its entirety online), including one for a Doulton toilet.

Victorian Londoners were enamoured by facsimiles of exotic locations — a few year earlier, a 'Japanese Village' was opened in Knightsbridge, only to burn down — and Venice in London was a triumph. The Daily Telegraph hailed it "the most marvellous show ever yet organised in any country or age", and some five million people were thought to have visited in its 13 months of opening — about 20 times the population of Venice in 2026.

Joseph Lyons went on to establish a famous chain of tea houses. Image: The Architects' Journal, Creative Commons

The show bowed out in January 1893, and was soon repurposed into 'Constantinople'. But London certainly hadn't heard the last of Joseph Lyons. The following year, he was conjuring up clamours of people again, this time with the opening of his first teashop on Piccadilly. This was the forerunner of the Lyons Corner House, to become a fixture of 20th century London. Anything involving water that this man touched seemed to turn to gold.

St Luke's, Old Street. Image: Matt Brown

At a loose end on Saturday 10 October? Jump on one (or more) of these free guided walks around London.

Every year, London's various guiding associations come together to put on free walks for the public. Local London Guiding Day this year takes place on 10 October, and features walks in six areas of town, on the loose theme of 'Back to the Future' (how yesterday’s London changed into the capital of tomorrow). Here are your options... how many can you do in one day?

Camden Guides: From Grime to Sublime!: Explore how King's Cross has transformed from an industrial wasteland to a hub for leisure, learning and travel, aware of its past as it builds the future, on its journey from steam, coal and gas to coding, creativity and green spaces.

City of London Guides: How the Past Shapes the City: See how history still quietly runs the show: a 17th century Wren tower that still shapes modern architecture; ancient livery companies with a role today; a Roman-influenced 1990s floor plan; why we still use medieval street names.

Clerkenwell and Islington Guides: A Walk along Old Street: Tour the areas of St Lukes and Finsbury, to discover the people, places and stories from London's Silicon Roundabout, where relics of the past nestle alongside buildings of the future.

Hackney Guides: People & Power on the City's Doorstep: How does Hoxton’s past inform its present and future? Compare almshouses and council housing, parks, libraries, music halls, a power station and Hoxton market. Consider how the powerful provided for the poor, and where their wealth came from. Hear about plague pits, workhouses and non-conformism, and discover what is meant by ‘More light, More Power!’.

A Hoxton tour enshrined in sculpture! Image: Matt Brown

Lambeth Guides: Culture, Community and Change: Find out about the parts of Waterloo you may already have seen, those you may have passed by without noticing, and some you might not even know existed. Discover the stories, people and architectural treasures in a central London area ripe for exploration, much of which lies unknown to visitors of the South Bank.

Westminster Guides: Visionaries: A gentle walk through Pimlico’s backstreets, revealing the stories, characters and changes that transformed yesterday’s London into the capital of tomorrow. Meet the visionaries whose struggles for their future shaped our present, including artists, master builders, sewage engineers, social reformers, suffragettes and secret agents.

All walks take place on the hour, every hour between 10am and 4pm, and each lasts no more than an hour. You don't need to book — just turn up — but if you want to absolutely guarantee a place, you can reserve a slot via the Eventbrite links above.

The six guiding companies put on excellent walks throughout the year, often with themes that will appeal to Londoners as well as curious visitors. Local London Guiding Day is a great way to get a taster (or six) without having to pay a penny.

Find out more information about the walks and meeting points on the event's website.

Bloomsbury Festival is back with a full month of events. Image: Bloomsbury Festival

AUTUMN PURSUITS: With autumn settling in, why not wrap up and go on a walk to see London's autumn leaves at their best? Or release your inner child with a game of conkers — there are even one or two official championships taking place in London this month.

ICE HOCKEY: We're well into the ice hockey season now. Don't know much about the sport? Need a refresher? Wondering where you can watch a match? Have a read of our guide to ice hockey in London.

OKTOBERFEST 2026: The German celebration of Oktoberfest has made itself right at home on our shores. There are loads of beer-based celebrations going on in London this month if you know where to look. Read our guide to Oktoberfest events and parties to find your way to your nearest stein, bratwurst or oompah band.

CHELSEA HISTORY FESTIVAL: The National Army Museum, the Royal Hospital Chelsea and Chelsea Physic Garden team up again for Chelsea History Festival, which covers local, national and global history through walks, talks and other events. 1-4 October 2026

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: October is Black History Month, honouring the all-too-often unheralded accomplishments of Black Britons in all fields throughout history. It's national, but we've picked a few highlights happening in London this month, including walks, talks and tours. 1-31 October 2026

Raise a stein to Oktoberfest in London. Image: German Gymnasium

BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL: After a truncated Bloomsbury Festival took place last year, it's back to full tilt for 2026, taking place throughout the month and celebrating its 20th anniversary. A medical comedy night, filmmaking workshops, guided tours, Diwali celebrations and museum treasure hunts are all on the programme. 1-31 October 2026

MONTH OF THE DEAD: Ghoulishly good festival of death Month of the Dead is back, with talks on the macabre, cemetery tours, silent horror film screenings, and a necrocopia of other happening taking a cerebral look at death and the afterlife. The bad news: many events have now sold out; look lively, and book anything left, sharpish. 1 October-1 November 2026

KOREA EXHIBITION: The big British Museum news right now is the (sold-out) Bayeaux Tapestry exhibition, but it's also opening Korea, which looks at the peninsula's history and cultural life through objects including ceramics, Buddhist sculpture, paintings and items associated with royal courts. 1 October 2026-31 January 2027

BIG DRAW FESTIVAL: Worldwide celebration of drawing the Big Draw Festival is launched at the House of Illustration, which opened earlier this year in Clerkenwell. Across two days, take part in workshops, talks and activities for all ages for both lifelong artists and enthusiastic doodlers. 2-3 October 2026

LONDON LATINO FILM FESTIVAL: The inaugural London Latino Film Fest presents around 60 films from across Latin America and its diasporas, staged across multiple London venues with screenings, Q&As, industry sessions and a community programme. 2-6 October 2026

No experience required - just get doodling! ©The Big Draw Festival

OSSIE CLARK: The Fashion and Textile Museum's newest exhibition Ossie Clack/Celia Birtwell spotlights the life and work of legendary rock 'n' roll fashion designer Ossie Clark and his collaborator and wife Celia Birtwell. 2 October 2026-April 2027

VINTAGE BUS RIDES: For one day, the London Bus Museum runs buses dating from the 1930s-70s on a short stretch of the 106 route, between Finsbury Park and Ash Grove Bus Station on Mare Street, via Stoke Newington, Clapton and Hackney Central. You can hop on board for free. FREE, 3 October 2026

HARVEST FESTIVAL: Celebrate the harvest at Morden Hall Park with apple-pressing demonstrations, folk music and Morris dancing from Black Swan Border Morris, and interactive sessions with nature educator Professor Queen Bee. Punch and Judy shows are staged for younger visitors, and the Wimbledon Beekeepers Association presents a pollinators exhibition and announce their honey competition winners. 3 October 2026

CROYDON HARVEST: Central Croydon goes into full autumnal mode with two days of free, family-friendly harvest celebrations. Attractions include Farm Yard Circus, a fortune-telling 'learned pig' (this one's a puppet), fruit and vegetable carving workshops from Fruitima, historic pub tours and folk music/dance performances. There are also craft and food stalls. FREE, 3-4 October 2026

FESTIVAL OF THE GIRL: Islington's Business Design Centre hosts the Festival of the Girl, ahead of the International Day of the Girl (11 October). Aimed at girls and their families, the event aims to inspire, engage and to break down harmful gender stereotypes. 3-4 October 2026

NFL IN LONDON: Across three Sundays in October, American Football teams play at two different stadiums here in London. Tottenham Hotspur and Wembley both host NFL in London games this season, though tickets sold out quite quickly so are hard (but not impossible) to come by now. 4-18 October 2026

Celebrate the harvest at Fulham Palace Apple Day. Image: Marcus Dawes

KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS: Actor Kristin Scott Thomas stars in a new West End adaptation of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, at the Harold Pinter Theatre. After years away, Lyubov Ranevskaya returns to find her family home and beloved cherry orchard under threat. 3 October 2026-9 January 2027

LONDON MEMORY WALK: Sign up for the London Memory Walk, and walk either 2km or 5km through London, raising money for Alzheimer's Society. Starts and finishes at Potters Fields Park, next to Tower Bridge. 4 October 2026

APPLE DAY: Fulham Palace celebrates the orchard harvest with its annual Apple Day, a family-friendly event featuring market stalls, a tombola, a baking contest, garden games, storytelling, children's crafts and other activities. 4 October 2026

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Experience the wonder of dance this autumn

Image: not for glory

Performing arts festival Dance Umbrella Festival 2026 is back with a bang. This month, catch artists from the UK and beyond in a rich programme of bold, imaginative performances. The festival takes place across London, and includes post-performance talks, panel discussions and an online programme.

Get stuck into large-scale productions, intimate encounters, and genre-defying works that blur the boundaries between dance and theatre. Highlights include not for glory (13 and 14 October), a collision of Highland, Irish and contemporary dance; A Place To Dance (9 and 10 October), a joyful performance that unfolds all around you with a few surprises along the way; and Artist Encounters: Anatomy of a Story (12 October) which takes you behind the scenes as Akram Khan, one of the UK's most influential choreographers, reflects on his career and creative process.

For families, Eshu at the Crossroads (24, 25 and 27 October) blends dance and storytelling, taking inspiration from the Yoruba deity of crossroads and transformation. And away from live performance, catch Spaces of Encounter, a selection of short dance films curated by dancer and choreographer Omar Rajeh (18 October).

Whether you're a dance fanatic, or new to the art form and just looking for something different to do in London this month, Dance Umbrella is full of surprises, offering a compelling insight into the world of contemporary performance.

Dance Umbrella Festival runs 7-27 October 2026 at venues all over London. Tickets are available now - browse the full programme.

LONDON RESTAURANT FESTIVAL: Foodie favourite London Restaurant Festival runs throughout most of  October, with eateries across the capital putting on special menus. There are also restaurant-hopping tours, tastings and masterclasses, though these tend to book out in advance, so get planning. 4-29 October 2026

AFTER THE FIRE: The Insurance Museum opens a new display at the Bank of England Museum, recreating London around 1700, including a large-scale street scene and an interior reconstruction of Edward Lloyd’s Coffee House. The immersive display explores the rise of early fire insurance, merchants, underwriters and investors. FREE, 5 October-27 November 2026

The Heated Rivalry parody musical comes to London. Image: Alex Brenner

SIR MICHAEL PALIN: Legendary comedian, actor and travel writer Sir Michael Palin appears at the Royal Geographical Society to interview Sue Flood OBE and Ian Dawson about their polar photography book, Midnight Sun. 6 October 2026

HEATED RIVALRY: An unofficial parody musical of smash hit TV series Heated Rivalry lands at Underbelly Boulevard Soho, with a lively score accompanying gentle ribbing of the hockey drama. 7 October-1 November 2026

AN OAK TREE: Tim Crouch's experimental play An Oak Tree returns to The Other Palace, with Crouch joined by a different guest co‑star at each performance (guests include Rosalie Craig, Clare Perkins, Tom Mothersdale, Gemma Whelan, Bessie Carter, Sacha Dhawan, Hammed Animashaun and George Fouracres). The piece examines loss, suggestion and blame following a fatal accident involving a stage hypnotist. 7 October-15 November 2026

THE 90S: Former British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful OBE quest curates Tate Britain's exhibition The 90s spanning photography, fashion, art and design in a decade of optimism, freedom, and rebellion. 8 October 2026-14 February 2027

KNITTING AND STITCHING SHOW: The Knitting & Stitching Show is at Ally Pally, with hundreds of exhibitors selling supplies including yarn, fabric, buttons, fat quarters, sewing machines and more. Get inspired in the galleries, displaying works by textile artists and groups. 8-11 October 2026

Immerse yourself in Aardman at Lightroom. Image: Justin Sutcliffe

ART FAIRS: Two of London's biggest art fairs take place in October, bringing members of the art industry from all over the globe back to the capital. Over in east London, The Other Art Fair (8-11 October 2026) takes over the Old Truman Brewery, with a focus on artworks available for all budgets, from over 100 artists. Frieze London (14-18 October 2026) sets up shop in Regent's Park, with galleries showcasing work by contemporary artists in a variety of media.

TIM WALKER'S FAIRYLAND: British photographer Tim Walker has spent five years photographing LGBTQ+ trailblazers for major National Portrait Gallery exhibition, Tim Walker's Fairyland: Love and Legends. Dozens of activists, performers, artists and writers feature in the photos, alongside a book with contributions written by Travis Alabanza, Russell T Davies, Shon Faye, Lisa Power and Joelle Taylor. 9 October 2026-31 January 2027

WELSH AUTUMN MARKET: The London Welsh Centre hosts its Autumn Market, with more than 50 Welsh traders selling handmade gifts, food, drink, jewellery and artwork. The market supports the Centre's fundraising campaign to improve accessibility. 10 October 2026

CLASSICALLY BLACK: Classically Black is a cultural movement redefining classical music with powerful performances and new commissions showcasing talents often overlooked in the industry. Head to Kings Place for a day of live performances and panel discussions. 10 October 2026

NEW SCIENTIST LIVE: Wildlife storytelling, dark matter and the evolution of the human species are among the topics at New Scientist Live at Excel London. Experts from all manner of fields give talks on their topics including anthropologist Alice Roberts, astronaut Helen Sharman and astrophysicist Chris Lintott. 10-12 October 2026

Elif Shafak is on this year's line-up. Image: Wimbledon Book Festival

ROYAL PARKS HALF: The Royal Parks Half Marathon takes runners on a route through four of the eight Royal Parks (Hyde Park, Green Park, St James's Park, Kensington Gardens), and other closed roads around central London. Get yourself a place via a charity, or turn up on the day to support the runners. Either way, be aware of road closures in central London on the day 11 October 2026

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: Disney's High School Musical cheerleads its way into the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, marking 20 years since the film first introduced us to Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High. 12 October 2026-3 January 2027

TAP DANCE: After a sold-out run in 2024, tap dance show Stories returns to the Peacock Theatre, telling of a young, successful actor who is under the oppressive influence of his director behind the scenes. 14-31 October 2026

LIGHT AND MAGIC: Tate Britain celebrates the birth of art photography in Light and Magic, an exhibition about pictorialism, the first international art photography movement, developed across the world from the 1880s to the 1960s. 14 October 2026-21 February 2027

SURFACE AND SHADOW: Chromatica Orchestra's first concert under new Principal Conductor Oliver Cope unveils the surprising stories behind incredible pieces of music. Discover the darkly comic Soviet satire of Shostakovich's Symphony No 9, get under the skin of Herrmann’s Psycho: a narrative for string orchestra, and go beyond the cinematic glamour of Korngold's Violin Concerto, at Battersea Arts Centre. 14 October (sponsor)

WALLACE & GROMIT: Lightroom in King's Cross launches Larger Than Life, an immersive 50‑minute experience from Aardman that projects Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Morph and archival material across Lightroom's four 11‑metre walls and floor. From 14 October 2026

Get spooked at Halloween at Kew. Image: Ollie Dixon

FLOWERS IN THE FIELDS: Trafalgar Square's Georgian church St Martin-in-the-Fields gets a floral makeover for festival Flowers in the Fields. Blooming lovely installations go on display all over the building, and floral demonstrations take place all weekend. 15-17 October 2026

WIMBLEDON BOOKFEST: Elif Shafak, Celia Imrie, Robert Harris, Mary Beard and Sebastian Barry are among the speakers at this year's Wimbledon BookFest, which takes place at venues around central Wimbledon. 15-25 October 2026

THE PIANIST: A new stage adaptation of Wladyslaw Szpilman's memoir The Pianist — which was made into a film in 2002 — opens at Park Theatre. The production features a cast of actor‑musicians bringing the music and atmosphere of pre‑war Warsaw to the stage. 15 October-28 November 2026

SHONIBARE AND GAINSBOROUGH: Yinka Shonibare's 1998 work 'Mr. and Mrs Andrews without their Heads' is displayed alongside Thomas Gainsborough's original 'Mr and Mrs Andrews' at the National Gallery, allowing visitors to compare one of Britain’s most celebrated works and its reimagining, side by side. FREE, 15 October 2026-7 February 2027

Dua Lipa curates London Literature Festival. Image: Madison Phipps

PUMPKIN PICKING: After an enchanting autumnal escape? Just an hour from London, the picturesque Wasing Estate invites you and the family to crunch your way through a leafy woodland trail, and discover a rustic pumpkin patch. Get photos with a fairy tale carriage and tuck into seasonal treats (including pumpkin soup!), before taking your perfect pumpkin home. Book tickets. 16-18 and 23-31 October 2026 (sponsor)

LOVE NEVER DIES: Phantom of the Opera sequel Love Never Dies is performed in concert at the London Palladium, starring cast members including Jamie Muscato, Celinde Schoenmaker and George Blagden in a show which reunites the masked Phantom with his only true love and musical protégée. 16-18 October 2026

HALLOWEEN AT KEW: We've compiled a guide to London's Halloween events, but worth a specific mention is Halloween at Kew. Back for a third year, and by the same team as the magnificent annual Christmas at Kew, it's a spooky light trail through the gardens after dark, with fire gardens, glowing pumpkins and an illuminated haunted wood. Pick between daylight, twilight and moonlight sessions. 16 October-1 November 2026

THE SHAMROCKS: Emmy Award-winning five-piece The Shamrocks bring Irish harmony and multi-instrumental performances to the Cambridge Theatre for one night only, revisiting classics such as Danny Boy, Wild Rover and Whiskey In The Jar, alongside original songs. 19 October 2026

SURINDERELLA: Stratford East Theatre offers a Bollywood take on traditional panto in the form of Surinderella. The family-friendly show features Surinder, a sweet young woman stuck in a never-ending chore list thanks to her two selfie-obsessed, Insta-vlogging stepsisters, Lovely and Bubbly. 20-31 October 2026

Dig out your costume for MCM Comic Con. Image: ASV Photography Ltd

HOKUSAI: Experience Mount Fuji as Japanese printmaker Katsushika Hokusai saw it 200 years ago. Dulwich Picture Gallery brings together the complete set of Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, Hokusai's depictions of the mountain in different lights and seasons. 20 October 2026-17 January 2027

CIRQUE BERSERK: Large-scale theatre circus Cirque Berserk! barrels into the Garrick Theatre. An international troupe of more than 30 acrobats, aerialists and stunt performers mix contemporary cirque-style artistry with adrenaline-fuelled stunt action, including the motorcycle Globe of Death. It's suitable for all ages, so ideal for a half term treat! 21-31 October 2026

LONDON LITERATURE FESTIVAL: Dua Lipa curates this year's London Literature Festival at Southbank Centre, overseeing a packed programme featuring names including Zadie Smith, Malorie Blackman and Patti Smith. 21 October-1 November 2026

LONDON CITY BALLET: The award-winning London City Ballet brings a double bill to Sadler's Wells, featuring John Neumeier's Ghost Light, the first time its been performed outside of Hamburg, and a revival of Glen Tetley's Firebird. It's the UK premiere for both pieces. 22-24 October 2026

Rock and metal covers are blasted out in Wembley Arena. Image: The Rock Orchestra

MCM COMIC CON: Halloween isn't the only reason to dig out your fancy dress costume at the end of October. MCM Comic Con returns to Excel for three days of celeb guests, panel discussions, cosplay, tabletop and video games and more. 23-25 October 2026

BECOMING AMERICA: The Science Museum marks 250 years of America's independence with free display Becoming America, which displays maps, paintings, instruments and artefacts relating to scientific breakthroughs between the 1760s-90s. FREE, 23 October 2026-25 April 2028

HALF TERM: The school break falls over the last week of October, meaning there will be plenty of family-friendly events taking place around London. Browse our half term events guide for theatre shows, exhibitions and other events and activities for all ages. 24 October-1 November 2026

ROCK ORCHESTRA: Things get lively at Wembley Arena, as the Rock Orchestra headlines Arena Of Fire. The 90-minute live concert features 14 classical musicians performing rock and metal covers alongside pyrotechnics, fire performers and circus acts. 25 October 2026

Attend the inaugural Big Story Festival. Image: © IWM

CLOCKS CHANGE: A reminder that the clocks go back an hour at 2am on Sunday 25 October 2026. That means winter is on the horizon, but fear not, we've put together some ideas for brightening up the dark nights here in London.

BIG STORY FESTIVAL: The Imperial War Museum in Lambeth holds its inaugural Big Story Festival, a free-to-attend, family-focused weekend of storytelling, featuring talks with bestselling children's authors Dame Jacqueline Wilson and Tom Palmer, illustration workshops with Will Hughes, free Play and Sing sessions for younger visitors, and guided tours of the museum's galleries. Some workshops and author events require paid tickets. 25-26 October 2026

DIWALI: Diwali falls on 8 November this year, and London's official celebrations in Trafalgar Square are due to take place a couple of weeks before (25 October 2026), with live music, dancing and more. Keep an eye on our event listings for details of other Diwali celebrations around town. FREE, late October-early November 2026

STAMPEX INTERNATIONAL: The Philatelic Traders Society brings together stamp collectors and traders from all over the world for Stampex International at the Business Design Centre in Islington. Join businesses, societies, exhibitors, influencers and hobbyists to trade collectibles. FREE, 28-31 October 2026

Hamlet meets Radiohead at Barbican. Image: Manuel Harlan

CARMEN: A treat for opera fans: Georges Bizet's seductive Carmen is at the Royal Opera House. Sung in French with English surtitles, the opera follows Carmen and Don José, and includes well-known numbers such as the Habanera and the Toreador Song. 29 October-21 November 2026

AGATHA CHRISTIE: 50 years since the death of novelist Agatha Christie, the British Library opens a major exhibition on her life and work. View notebooks, personal letters, early manuscript drafts, dictaphone recordings and personal objects belonging to Christie, and find out how her work shaped the entire crime writing genre. 30 October 2026-20 June 2027

HALLOWEEN: Things get spooky in London towards the end of October as Halloween looms. Check out our guide to the best Halloween events for both kids and adults, as well as scary film screenings around town. In the meantime, why not start planning a trip to one of these charming pumpkin patches near London. 31 October 2026

RADIOHEAD + SHAKESPEARE: Shakespeare's Hamlet accompanied by reworked songs from Radiohead's Hail to the Thief is the unlikely flavour of a new crossover show at Barbican. 31 October 2026- January 2027

London exhibitions and shows closing in October 2026

NIGO's personal objects are on display at the Design Museum. Images: Luke Hayes

A few things are closing this month too. October 2026 is your last chance to see:

FROM JAPAN WITH LOVE: A major retrospective of Japanese creative director NIGO charts his career from Harajuku streetwear to international fashion and design, at the Design Museum. View more than 700 objects from his personal collection, including a recreation of his teenage bedroom and a glass tea house made for the exhibition. Until 4 October 2026

PORTRAIT AWARD: The Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery showcases contemporary portrait painting, including this year's prizewinners Marc Dalessio, Chloe Cox, Michael Slusakowicz and Joel Nichols. FREE, until 7 October 2026

MUSIC, MIGRATION AND MOBILITY: Touring exhibition Music, Migration and Mobility traces the journeys of a group of musicians spanning several genres as they fled Nazi Europe and arrived in Britain during the Second World War. See it at St John's Waterloo. FREE, until 9 Octover 2026

Michelle Dockery stars in Bloodsport. Image: Rebecca Need-Menear

BLOODSPORT: Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery stars in Bloodsport, a play about Helen of Troy's return after a war fought in her name, at Stratford East Theatre. Until 10 October 2026

STING: Legendary musician Sting performs in his musical, The Last Ship, at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Watch the moving story of a community of shipbuilders faced with the closure of their shipyard, rooted in Sting's own childhood, and soundtracked with some of his songs. 22 September-12 October 2026

KYOTOGRAPHIE: The work of two established photographers, Kawada Kikuji and Iwane Ai, are shown together at Japan House London in an exhibition of prints and large immersive projections. FREE, until 18 October 2026

See Anish Kapoor's works at Hayward Gallery. Image: © Anish Kapoor. All rights reserved, DACS, 2026.

ANISH KAPOOR: Mirror sculptures, Vantablack-coated objects, seemingly depthless voids and recent visceral paintings and sculptures are all part of Anish Kapoor's Hayward Gallery exhibition. Until 18 October 2026

JANE EYRE: This UK premiere run of the Tony‑nominated musical adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre plays at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, offering a story of ambition and independence, gothic mystery and great passionate love. Until 24 October 2026

THE STORY: Newsroom thriller play The Story at the National Theatre tells the tale of four journalists who race to get the headline when a white teacher is killed in a Black neighbourhood, forcing them to weigh up how far they'll go to tell their version of the truth. Until 24 October 2026

Last chance to see The Story. Image: Christianah Ebenezer

THE LAMBETH FRINGE: Now in its 11th year, the Lambeth Fringe (previously known as Clapham Fringe) has announced an impressive 200 shows for its 2026 programme, spread across 28 venues. NHS doctors perform in comedy show GP Receptionist Appreciation Society; Cornershop Showdown is an interactive parody of a '70s game show; and in Moon Team IIIV, you'll jet off into space to encounter the worst film you've never seen. Until 25 October 2026

NAZI SLAVE LABOUR: A tough exhibition at the Wiener Holocaust Library explores the Nazi system of slave and forced labour, with archival documents, company files and eyewitness testimony showing how perpetrators such as the SS and firms including I.G. Farben and Krupp profited from and exploited forced labourers. FREE, until 30 October 2026

THE OPERATING THEATRE: The Hunterian Museum explores how hospital operating theatres have changed over two and a half centuries, from an 18th century amputation painting to early 20th century photographs and contemporary images of NHS surgical teams. The exhibition looks at developments in anaesthesia, antisepsis, theatre design and the ethics of showing surgery. Until 31 October 2026

Rooftop Cinema Club shows scary films at its Peckham venue. Image: Rooftop Cinema Club

Your guide to spooky and scary film screenings in London around Halloween 2026. Find other Halloween parties, events, and things to do in London this year. And don't forget to swing by one of these fancy dress shops for a costume.

HorrOctober at Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Square

Does the Prince Charles do Halloween? Just a bit. Image: markhillary, Creative Commons

Leicester Square's beloved Prince Charles Cinema once again hosts its HorrOctober season — a month of scary/gory films. And as you'd expect from the cinephiles who run the place, it's not just the obvious flicks. Sure, The Exorcist (Extended Cut), A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Shining and Nosferatu all get multiple airings. But also on the programme are 2009 release Jennifer's Body, and 2013 sci-fi horror Under the Skin, in which Scarlett Johansson is a killer extra-terrestrial who preys on Scottish men.

Halloween itself is an absolute fright-fest, including a sing-a-long screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show (more poignant than ever this year for obvious reasons), and a Halloween marathon, with all six films from the Michael Myers franchise shown back-to-back.

HorrOctober at Prince Charles Cinema, 1 October-1 November 2026.

Hitchcock for Halloween at the Chiswick Cinema

Five movies directed by the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, are shown at the Chiswick Cinema over October, including early film, The Lodger, which is presented with a live viola score from Hugo Max.

Hitchcock for Halloween at Chiswick Cinema, 6-31 October 2026.

Halloween films at BFI Southbank, South Bank

The BFI's spooky screenings including a preview of brand new comedy Ghosts: The Possession of Button House, alongside horror standards like 1958's Dracula and Tim Burton's Corpse Bride. Ken Russell's 1971 historical psychological horror-drama The Devils — starring Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed — is screened on multiple dates over October, and way into November.

Halloween films at BFI Southbank, 20-31 October 2026. (The Devils continues into November)

Spooky season 2026 at Rooftop Cinema Club, Peckham

Summer merges into Halloween on this Peckham rooftop. Image: Rooftop Cinema Club

Summer staple Rooftop Cinema Club is keeping its Peckham doors open for Halloween, showing spooky films in the run-up to 31 October. Choose between Scream, Psycho, Hocus Pocus and a mystery "Secret Scream" surprise screening. On Halloween itself, there's a family-friendly showing of Hocus Pocus.

Halloween at Rooftop Cinema Club Peckham, 23-31 October 2026.

Halloween films at Clapham Grand, Clapham Junction

Clapham Grand loooves Halloween: it's putting on a frightening amount of events in October, including film screenings. There's a Hocus Pocus Movie Night on 28 October, with the film shown on a 25ft screen alongside themed cocktails, a 'witchiest costume' competition and dance-offs. That's followed with The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Halloween itself (31 October) with a drag host, full sing-along, dance-offs and another costume competition. It's certainly easy having a good time here!

Halloween films at Clapham Grand, 28 and 31 October 2026.

General Witchfinders present Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde at ActOne Cinema, Acton

Just the one Halloween film at ActOne, but they're making the most of it. The General Witchfinders podcast team bring a night of trivia, tangents and laughs to this indie cinema, with a screening of Hammer's 1971 gender-swapping curiosity Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde, followed by a live recording of the podcast.

General Witchfinders present Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde, 30 October 2026.

Halloween film screening at Genesis Cinema, Mile End

Screening suitably late (9pm) on 31 October, the Genesis is going with all-time classic 1978 horror flick, Halloween. Cue nightmares about Michael Myers, and not the funny one.

Halloween, 31 October 2026.

The Bat at the Musical Museum, Brentford

The Musical Museum's Wurlitzer sees action on Halloween. Image: Marathon, Creative Commons

Brentford's enchanting Musical Museum occasionally screens silent films, with live musical accompaniment on its Wurlitzer organ. For Halloween 2026 it's showing The Bat — a 1926 mystery about a wealthy socialite who rents a country mansion, only to find herself caught in a web of terror woven by a masked criminal known as The Bat...

The Bat at the Musical Museum, 31 October 2026.

Dracula screenings at David Lean Cinema, Croydon

Halloween itself sees a double bill of Dracula classics at this pint (of blood)-sized cinema: Hammer's 1958 version of Dracula, starring Christopher Lee, made the actor a household name. The screening is pre-empted with a 10-minute short exploring the film's recent restoration. The second movie of the night (a separate screening, though discounts are available for those watching both) sees Lee return to the nefarious role in 1966's Dracula Prince of Darkness.

Dracula and Dracula Prince of Darkness, 31 October 2026.

Halloween 2026 at Nickel Cinema, Clerkenwell

A handful of Halloweeny horrors are on the bill at alternative venue Nickel Cinema, which shows four deep-cut psychotronic horror films per day across Halloween and the following day: Expect (among other horrors) disreputable sleaze and eye-popping oddities that have slipped through the cracks of horror history, with all titles remaining a secret until showtime. Go for one or two films, or book a weekend pass and attend all eight. Costumes very much encouraged.

Halloween at Nickel Cinema, 31 October-1 November 2026.