Exciting things to do close to the capital in October 2024, all easily accessible in a day trip. Browse our Beyond London section for ideas for other day trips and weekends away.
PUMPKIN PICKING: Embrace the Halloween spirit and go pumpkin picking in one of these fields and patches close to London. Put your wellies on and pick your gourd — some venues offer special Halloween events and carving sessions too.
SOUTHEND JAZZ FESTIVAL: Live performances, workshops and film screenings are all part of Southend Jazz Festival, taking place at various venues around the Essex seaside city. Derek Nash, the Tara Minton Trio and the Essex Youth Jazz Orchestra are among the big names. Some events are free. 30 September-6 October (Essex)
ABBEY BY NIGHT: Clouds of incense, the sounds of monks chanting, and the hustle and bustle of a lively medieval abbey at work are part of the Abbey At Night experience at St Albans Cathedral. Visit after dark, by candlelight, and watch the Abbey's history come to life around you. 2 October, 6 and 13 November (Hertfordshire)
SCRIPTORIUM LIGHT SHOW: Light art specialists Luxmuralis seem to be everywhere at the moment — including Rochester Cathedral at the start of this month. Scriptorium is a light and sound show showcasing Anglo-Saxon artefacts and medieval manuscripts, including images from the British Library. Read our guide to Rochester, for other things to see and do while you're in the town . 3-7 October (Kent)
MAIDSTONE LIT FEST: Stuart Heritage, Lucy Strange and Rosie Wilby are just some of the authors taking part in the second edition of Maidstone Lit Fest, held at venues in the town including All Saint's Church and Maidstone Museum. There are events for children too, including rhyme and storytelling sessions. 4-12 October (Kent)
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CANDLELIT MODEL VILLAGE: We love model villages, and we're fans of a candlelight setting too, so we're intrigued by the Model Village Candlelight Evenings at the Museum of Power in Langford. Across three consecutive Fridays, the museum's model village stays open late, illuminated by 400 candlelit lanterns. It's open to both adults and children, and the miniature railway is open for rides too. 4, 11, 18 October (Essex)
HASTINGS WEEK AND BONFIRE: To mark the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings (14 October, FYI), and to celebrate the local people and culture, the seaside town of Hastings hosts Hastings Week. Events include live music, a classic car show, a tractor run, guided walks and winkle tossing. Also in town that week is the Hastings Bonfire (12 October), complete with torchlit procession and fireworks on the beach. 4-20 October (East Sussex)
PUPPETRY FESTIVAL: 48 puppetry performances, including two UK premieres and one world premiere, come to Tunbridge Wells, for its annual puppetry festival. Many of the shows are suitable for all ages. The final day (Sunday 13 October) has the largest programme, with a puppet parade through the town centre and free indoor and outdoor performances dotted around the area. 5-13 October (Kent)
HARWICH SHANTY FESTIVAL: Yo ho ho! Enjoy three days of hearty singing in an historic seaport for Harwich Shanty Festival. Performances, barge trips, walks, talks and workshops are all part of the salty fun, taking place across boats, pubs, and other historic buildings. 11-13 October (Essex)
GIANTS OF STEAM: The Bluebell Railway pulls out the big guns for its Giants of Steam autumn gala. Special guest locomotive LNER class A4 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley is on show, along with Bluebell's own fleet, with a chance to ride them between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead. 11-13 October (East Sussex)
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SPECTACLE OF LIGHT: This year's festive light shows get underway properly in November, but Welford Park in Newbury kicks things off early with Spectacle of Light, an illuminated trail through woodland and gardens accompanied by a soundtrack. 18 October-10 November (Berkshire)
TRANSPORTFEST: The London Bus Museum (which is not quite in London) hosts Transportfest, a gathering of all manner of vehicles — remember, this is the museum with a real-life Concorde outside. Buses, taxis, military and emergency vehicles dating from different periods are all on display, along with live music, a collector's market and family-friendly entertainment. 20 October (Surrey)