Diwali is a festival of light celebrated by people from several different countries and religions, including Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Specific celebrations and traditions differ between groups, but it's generally marked as the triumph of good over evil, and can involve lanterns and oil lamps.
The date for Diwali this year is Monday 20 October 2025. Here's our roundup of celebrations going on in London around then.
Diwali on Trafalgar Square
This free festival in central London is the city's biggest Diwali celebration. Organised by the Mayor of London, it's open to all, and takes place over a week ahead of Diwali itself, on 12 October 2025.
Around 35,000 people usually attend, to enjoy live music and dance performances on the stage and throughout the square.
South Asian food is the order of the day at the street food market in the square, where stalls sell snacks including vegan and vegetarian dishes, as well as sweets. There's also information on the background of the festival for Londoners and tourists not overly familiar with Diwali.
Diwali on Trafalgar Square, 12 October 2025.
Diwali at London Zoo
London Zoo celebrates Diwali in its Land of the Lions area, a faithful recreation of a Gujarati village all year round, designed to replicate the natural habitat of the Asiatic lions it houses. A few days prior to Diwali, the area hosts a series of special events, open to everyone and included in zoo admission. Make your own rangoli designs and window adornments, while surrounded by colourful garlands and diyas (traditional oil lamps)
Diwali at London Zoo, 17 October 2025.
Diwali at Greenwich Peninsula
Once again, Greenwich Peninsula holds a huge Diwali celebration, inspired by South Asian traditions and open to all.
Expect dance, music, food and creative workshops, including garba performers and dhol drummers, Bollywood DJ sets, lantern making workshops and a South Asian food market. The day culminates in an evening procession of drummers, dancers and an illuminated rickshaw — beneath a golden canopy of light.
Diwali at Greenwich Peninsula, free entry, 18 October 2025.
Diwali illuminations at Harrods
The world-famous facade of department store Harrods gets a Diwali glow-up for one night only. See a vibrant light display on the front of the Knightsbridge building, symbolising the triumph of light over darkness, every hour between 6pm and 10pm.
Diwali illuminations at Harrods, free, 20 October 2025.
Diwali and Marigold Festival at Osterley Park and House
Marigolds are traditionally used to decorate homes and temples during Diwali celebrations, so Osterley Park and House opens its Marigold Festival to coincide with the Festival of Light. See colourful marigold installations throughout the National Trust property, some illuminated with specially commissioned light projections. A traditional rangoli is installed in the entrance hall, inspired by the floor's original design.
The Marigold Festival runs all the way through Christmas into January, with Indian Tabla drum workshops on selected dates throughout November, and Sari wreath making workshops before Christmas.
Diwali at Osterley Park and House, 22 October 2025-4 January 2026.
Diwali at the National Maritime Museum
Mehala Ford, founder of South Asian arts platform CommonGround&, once again curates the family-friendly Diwali celebrations at the National Maritime Museum. The day has a jam-packed schedule including a bharatanatyam dance performance on the museum's Ocean Map floor, puppet performances and storytelling to introduce youngsters to Diwali, and rangoli art workshops. Make sure you stick around until the end for the lantern parade (you can make your own lantern at workshops throughout the day), which wends around Greenwich Park accompanied by the Eternal Taal dhol drummers.
Diwali at the National Maritime Museum, free entry, 25 October 2025.
Special Diwali menus and meals at London restaurants
Many London restaurants serve special Diwali menus, host Diwali supper clubs or mark the festival in other ways. Here are a few which have caught our eye for 2025 — book soon though, as many sell out.
TRISHNA: Michelin-starred Trishna celebrates Diwali with its Taste of Trishna feast, with dishes such as half lobster cafreal, mallard gilaf seekhi, and tandoori lamb chops — with vegetarian and wine tasting options available. 13-22 October
KOKUM, DULWICH: Modern Indian restaurant Kokum serves a limited-edition menu of festive specials, including dishes like mussels moilee, kiwi pani puri, and lamb boti kebabs. On 19 October, diners receive a complimentary piece of freshly made barfi, a traditional Indian sweet. 14-19 October
OMNOM AT NAMASTE: Veggie and vegan Indian restaurant OmNom at Namaste in Islington serves a pre-Diwali celebration thali (£22.95 per person) consisting of baby poppadoms and punjabi samosas, as well as three rich curries: panchkutiyu shaak (a popular Gujarati dish); kaju paneer masala (a creamy, mild curry); and tadka daal ( a hearty lentil curry). Tuck into butter naan, pilau rice, Indian pickle and fried green chillies alongside the curries, then (if you've any room left) finish with beloved Indian dessert gulab jamun. 16-20 October
DIWALI EXPEDITIONS: Chef Rohit Ghai’s Chelsea townhouse restaurant Kutir introduces a celebratory Diwali 'Expeditions' menu showcasing premium ingredients. Three options are available, with optional wine pairing. 17-19 October
MANTHAN: Street food-inspired small plates, elevated mains and inventive cocktails are the speciality at Mayfair's Manthan, which offers a choice of Signature or Vegetarian Diwali menu. 17-20 October
BRIGADIERS: Indian BBQ restaurant Brigadiers adds some fire power to the Festival of Light, by way of a special feasting menu. Highlights include achari duck, oxtail and sweet potato samosa, tandoori guinea fowl, dum venison biryani, and cod kalimirch, with accompaniments of daal makhani, aloo baingan masala, and pine nut and onion pilau. 17-26 October
FREE SWEETS AND CHAI: Indo-Chinese restaurant Fatt Pundit offers all diners free chai and traditional Indian sweets (Kaju Katli) at the end of their meal over Diwali weekend. Dine at the Covent Garden (19 October) or Soho branch (20 October)
DIWALI BRUNCH: Head to Haymarket for the one-day Diwali Special Sunday Brunch celebration at Farzi London. The all-you-can-eat buffet features dishes including paneer shahi, mutton badami korma and prawn moli, along with live cooking stations and a dessert buffet featuring assorted mithai and Diwali specials. Family-friendly live music and entertainment takes place while you dine, along with henna and face painting. 19 October
BABUR: Legendary Forest Hill Indian restaurant Babur leads the way on Diwali itself with a dinner party (20 October) featuring a five-course tasting menu, welcome cocktail, and live Bollywood dance performances. For those who can't make the party, the Diwali tasting menu is available 21–26 October.
RAAZ: New Putney Indian restaurant RAAZ marks its first Diwali with a three-course menu (£39.99 per person) from Chef Patron Imran Mansuri, served entirely by candlelight in its walnut-panelled dining room. 21-27 October
