Things to do in London this month is sponsored by Art of London.
AUTUMN PURSUITS: With autumn well and truly 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 two official conker championships taking place in London this month.
FRIEZE SCULPTURE: Your annual fix of abstract outdoor artworks has arrived in Regent's Park. This year's Frieze Sculpture features an ersatz Roman mosaic, pillars of pills, and a nightmarishly comical scrotum flower with chicken feet. FREE, Until 27 October
HOBBLEDOWN HEATH: West London has sprouted a brand new pumpkin patch… and it looks absolutely gourd-geous (sorry). Bring the whole family to Hobbledown Heath adventure playground and zoo this month to sample seasonal street food, snap Insta-worthy family photos, and pick your very own pumpkin to blitz into soup, chuck in a curry, or carve into a jack o'lantern. Open Thursday-Sunday, 27 September-3 November (sponsor)
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: 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... which we do, naturally. Read our guide to Oktoberfest events and parties to find your way to your nearest stein, bratwurst or oompah band.
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. 1-31 October
FREE LSE EVENTS: Is the UK entering a new era of progressive politics? What philosophical discussions are sparked by the music of Taylor Swift? Is AI a danger to American democracy? These are just some of the topics tackled in The London School of Economics and Political Science's autumn programme of free public events. Evening talks take place at LSE's central London campus, and can also be watched online via LSE Live. On select dates, Monday-Thursday throughout the month. (sponsor)
DECORATIVE FAIR: Furniture, lighting, art, textiles, jewellery and other items are available at The Decorative Fair, taking place in Battersea Park. 130 stands sell items dating from 1700 to the 1970s. 1-6 October
Sponsor message.
Three nights of art and culture across the West End
Autumn has descended on London. But this is no time for drawing the curtains and hunkering down. Instead, make the most of the arty extravaganza that is Art After Dark. Running from Thursday 10-Saturday 12 October, central London glows with late gallery openings, awe-inspiring al fresco artwork, and more.
Some things to tempt you out:
🍷 Explore a slew of independent galleries on the Art of London Gallery HOP!, and get that 'private view' feel without the need for an invitation. Galleries include Stern Pissarro Gallery, Cristea Roberts Gallery and Skarstedt Gallery (10 Oct)
💡A stunning new free al fresco public art installation in Leicester Square Gardens by Chila Kumari Singh Burman MBE, famous for her vibrant neon light displays (10-12 Oct)
🍽️ Tasty dining offers in a number of West End restaurants (10-12 Oct)
🧑🎨 Late night access to some of the world's biggest and best galleries, including the National Portrait Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts and the National Gallery (11 Oct)
Embrace London's radiant art scene with Art After Dark, from Thursday 10-Saturday 12 October 2024. Best of all, it's totally free. Check out the full line-up.
THE GENTLEMEN'S CLUB: Catch the international premiere of India's first ever show about drag kings, as The Gentlemen's Club opens at Soho Theatre. Set in a fictional nightclub, it offers an insight into Mumbai’s thriving underground club scene exploring gender fluidity and queer performance, via a cabaret show combining dance, music and visual projection. 1-12 October
WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT: Experimental drama White Rabbit Red Rabbit comes to Soho Place, with no rehearsals, no director, and a different actor each night taking on a script they've never seen before. The play itself is about contemporary Iran, by Iranian writer Nassim Soleimanpour, with Jill Halfpenny, Olly Alexander, Catherine Tate, Minnie Driver, Stephen Merchant, Lenny Henry and Ralf Little among those taking part on different nights. 1 October-9 November
IMMERSIVE 1984: Everything you say or do is scrutinised. Even your innermost thoughts are probed. Such is the set-up at Immersive 1984, an interactive theatre show in Hackney Town Hall, AKA the Ministry of Truth, set in the world of George Orwell's novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four. The action moves through the building, with the audience following it from location to location. 1 October-22 December
LONDON RESTAURANT FESTIVAL: London Restaurant Festival runs for the entirety 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. Throughout October
WILDLIFE ART: Wildlife charity the Born Free Foundation takes up residence at Mall Galleries for an exhibition by wildlife artist Gary Hodges. Drawn From The Heart features dozens of Hodges' photorealistic pencil drawings of species including lions, elephants and leopards. They're all available to buy via auction, starting at £400, but don't worry if your pockets aren't that deep, as the exhibition is free to view. FREE, 2-5 October
BELONGINGS: King's College London opens new exhibition Belongings, by artist Susan Aldworth. She challenges anti-immigration narratives through a display of 35 objects, the imagined contents of the suitcase her grandmother brought with her when she was migrating from Northern Italy to London in 1924. FREE, 2 October-8 November (Monday-Friday)
BALLROOM DANCING: As a new series of Strictly gets underway, get in the mood for all things sparkly with the International Ballroom Dancing Championships, taking place at the Royal Albert Hall, and starring the world's best professional ballroom and Latin American dancers. 3 October
10 YEARS OF SERIAL: Sarah Koenig, host of incredibly popular podcast Serial is at Southbank Centre for an evening celebrating 10 years of the show. Koenig was named as one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2015, and the show has been downloaded 420 million times. 3 October
LONDON COCKTAIL WEEK: Shakers at the ready! London Cocktail Week is back. The annual boozefest has 200 bars from across London taking part, all serving up signature cocktails which you can enjoy for £8 a pop once you've bought yourself a festival wristband (£20). There are also special events including tastings, masterclasses, bar takeovers... in short, this is not the week to go teetotal. 3-13 October
FRENCH TOAST: A new adaptation of Jean Poiret's play French Toast is performed on the English stage for the first time, at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. It's set in Basingstoke in 1977 and tells the story of a director trying to make his comeback, and a wannabe leading lady who can't sing or dance. 3-26 October
MONTH OF THE DEAD: Halloween may not be until the end of October, but London Month of the Dead goes on all month. Informative, entertaining, and often pretty creepy — the festival enthuses on the subject of death, through talks, cemetery tours, screenings and workshops. There's often a free gin in the mix, too. 3 October-2 November
DRINK JAPAN: For two days, St Mary's Church in Marylebone is awash with Asian beverages. Drink Japan spans sake, soju, whisky and biru, and is open to seasoned connoisseurs and newbies. Sample new drinks, stock up on your favourites, and learn how they're made. 4-5 October
EAST LONDON GROUP: Ever heard of the East London Group? They were an historic collective of artists, mainly from working class backgrounds, recreating the streets of the East End. The Nunnery Gallery in Bow has an exhibition of works by 22 painters from the Urban Contemporaries group, who were inspired by the East London Group, showcasing how the city has changed in the intervening years. FREE, 4 October-22 December
FASHION RENEGADES: The Fashion & Textile Museum's anticipated new exhibition opens this month. Outlaws: Fashion Renegades of 80s London centres around legendary nightclub Taboo, opened by designer and performance artist Leigh Bowery in 1985, and looks at how its dress code and hedonistic philosophy influenced fashion. 4 October-9 March
CHELSEA DOG DAY: A dog-themed market is the centrepiece of Chelsea's Dog Day, where you can buy all manner of canine food, drink and accessories. Talks on dog behaviour, handling and training are also part of the fun in Duke of York Square, and there's a giant sausage dog bench for photos. FREE entry, 5 October
DEAF RAVE FESTIVAL: Rich Mix in Shoreditch hosts the Deaf Rave Festival, an event showcasing Deaf culture through learning and entertainment. The daytime session is family-friendly with children's workshop and a gaming zone, but after 8pm it's 18+ only. All activities and performances are designed to be accessible to both deaf and hearing attendees. 5 October
FESTIVAL OF THE GIRL: Islington's Business Design Centre hosts the Festival of the Girl, timed to coincide with the International Day of the Girl. Aimed at girls aged 7-11 and their families, the event aims to inspire, engage and to break down harmful gender stereotypes. Coding, art, sports, periods, experiments, activism, engineering, body confidence, friendships and sustainability are just some of the topics covered. 5-6 October
THE DUCHESS: Jodie Whittaker returns to the stage for the first time in more than a decade, taking on the lead role in The Duchess [of Malfi] at Trafalgar Theatre. The contemporary take on the 17th-century play tells the story of a recently-widowed duchess in search of a new lease of life. 5 October-20 December
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. 6 October
SUNDAY PAPERS LIVE: Roasts, talks, papers, crosswords, walks… Sunday like you’ve never Sunday’ed before at this jam-packed yet oh-so-laid-back event. Sunday Papers Live brings the broadsheets to life at ONE Marylebone. 6 October (sponsor)
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. 6 October
JAPAN MATSURI: Japan Matsuri returns to Trafalgar Square, offering a free celebration of Japanese culture that's open to all. Dance performances, an anime cosplay catwalk, martial arts demonstrations and other entertainment takes place, with food and info stalls scattered throughout the Square. FREE, 6 October
NFL IN LONDON: Five NFL teams take part in matches at Wembley Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur's Stadium for this year's NFL in London season. Tickets are hard to come by, though you might get lucky. Otherwise, head along to your nearest sports bar to catch the action. 6-20 October
ART FAIRS: Some 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. Frieze London (9-13 October) sets up shop in Regent's Park, with galleries showcasing work by contemporary artists in a variety of mediums. Over in east London, The Other Art Fair (10-13 October) takes over the Old Truman Brewery, with a focus on artworks available for all budgets, from over 100 artists. At Somerset House, 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair (10-13 October) brings together 60 international exhibitors, representing 23 countries, and the Women in Art Fair takes place at Mall Galleries (9-12 October)
BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL: The 68th incarnation of the BFI London Film Festival takes place at various venues on the South Bank and in the West End, with some events also screened on BFI Player after the festival, for those who can't make it in person. The world premiere of the restored version of Watership Down, and the public premiere of Steve McQueen's Blitz are the festival's headline events. 9-20 October
DANCE UMBRELLA: International festival Dance Umbrella returns to venues across London, for contemporary performances spanning hip hop culture, performance art, audio-visual experiences and operetta, with a particular focus on intersectional, diverse, innovative, international and national female dancemakers. 9-31 October
LAND OF THE FREE: With the US election looming, a new play about John Wilkes Booth, the actor who assassinated Abe Lincoln, opens. Land of the Free comes to Southwark Playhouse in Borough, and with recent goings on in America, the timing is even more apt than originally intended. 9 October-9 November
NEW PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITIONS: As is its way, the Photographer's Gallery opens three new exhibitions simultaneously. Deborah Turbeville: Photocollage highlights the work of the American fashion photographer, Ten.8 in Focus: The Legacy of Black Image and Body Politics is a special archive display celebrating the renowned photography journal, and Letizia Battaglia: Life, Love and Death in Sicily is a solo show of work by the trailblazing Italian photographer. All 9 October-23 February
MENTAL WEALTH FESTIVAL: On World Mental Health Day, City Lit launches its Mental Wealth Festival, with a focus on the impact of connections on mental health through workshops and talks. All events are either free or low-cost, and topics include boosting your brain power and thriving in menopause. 10-12 October
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, which display works by textile artists and groups. 10-13 October
BEHIND THE BOOSH: Marking 20 years since The Mighty Boosh first appeared on TV, Behind The Boosh is an exhibition of photos by Boosh cast member Dave Brown, aka Bollo, telling the story of the comedy troupe's journey from unknown to a hit TV show and live tour. 10-13 October
FRANCIS BACON: The National Portrait Gallery opens a new display, Francis Bacon: Human Presence, showcasing more than 55 works from the 1950s onwards which show how Bacon challenged the traditional definitions of the portraiture genre. 10 October-19 January
BENJAMIN BUTTON: F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story The Curious Case of Benjamin Button comes to life on stage at Ambassadors Theatre, in the form of a musical. The tale of a man who is born old and becomes younger as his life goes on, is set in a Cornish fishing village in this retelling. 10 October-15 February
TURN OF THE SCREW: Just in time for Halloween, Britten's unnerving opera The Turn of the Screw arrives at the London Coliseum, performed by the English National Opera. The story of a young woman terrorised in a remote country house is told through flashbacks from a psychiatric ward. 11-31 October
MAKING A RUKUS!: The joy, friendship, resistance and art of Black LGBTQIA+ people in Britain is explored in new Somerset House exhibition Making a Rukus! Over 200 objects including archive materials, contemporary artworks and brand-new commissions feature, with a programme of public events running alongside the exhibition. FREE, 11 October-19 January
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY: One of our favourite annual exhibitions, Wildlife Photographer of the Year returns to the Natural History Museum for its 60th incarnation. See photos of animals and the natural world taken by photographers all over the globe, including the overall winners (announced on 8 October). From 11 October
GO MENTAL: Aimed at people who want to safeguard their own mental health, as well as those who want to help others who are struggling, Go Mental is a one-day festival of interactive workshops, and keynote speakers including GP and nutritionist Dr Divya Sharma, Alcohol Change UK ambassador Millie Gooch, and mental health campaigner Ben West. Takes place in Bloomsbury. 12 October
NEW SCIENTIST LIVE: Supermassive black holes, brain health, volcanoes, screen time and free will are just some of the topics covered at this year's New Scientist Live at ExCeL London. Experts from all manner of fields give talks on their topics including Professor of Forensic Science Anne Coxon, primatologist Caroline Thompson and astrophysicist Chris Lintott. 12-13 October
CHOCOLATE FAIR: Kickstart Chocolate Week at the Cocoa Runners Craft Chocolate Fair at Fidelio Cafe in Farringdon. Sample chocolate from some of the best chocolate makers in the world, learn why craft chocolate is so much better for you and the cocoa farmers, and enjoy tastings and talks hosted by experts including Paul A Young and Annalisa Barbieri. 12-13 October
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 closed-off roads around central London. You've missed your chance to take part this year, but why not turn up on the day to support the runners. 13 October
THE REST IS POLITICS: Podcast series The Rest Is Politics has a live show at The O2. Former Downing Street Director of Communications and Strategy, Alastair Campbell, and cabinet minister Rory Stewart join forces across the political divide to lift the lid on the secrets of Westminster. 15 October
WIMBLEDON BOOKFEST: Elif Shafak, Richard E. Grant, Mary Berry, Clare Balding and Rick Stein are among the speakers at this year's Wimbledon BookFest, which takes place at venues around central Wimbledon. 17-27 October
OM YOGA SHOW: Head to Alexandra Palace for the Om Yoga Show, apparently the biggest yoga gathering in Europe with open classes led by the world's top teachers, along with 200 exhibitors offering yoga accessories, clothing, jewellery, retreats and more. 18-20 October
OASIS EXHIBITION: Shortly after the reunion tour went on sale, an exhibition of Oasis memorabilia was announced. Together We'll Fly is the largest collection of Oasis pieces ever seen in one place, including guitars, tickets, backstage passes, records and more. You can see it at the Cumberland Hotel near Marble Arch but it's not cheap. That said, the £45 tickets are raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. 18-20 October
HALLOWEEN AT KEW: We've put together a guide to London's Halloween events, but worth a specific mention is Halloween at Kew. New for this year, and by the same team as the magnificent annual Christmas at Kew, it's a spooky light trail through the gardens after dark, though fire gardens, glowing pumpkins and an illuminated haunted wood. 18-26 October
BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL: Beginning with a Big Night Out at Conway Hall, Bloomsbury Festival celebrates the area's arts, culture and science, through more than 100 events across nine days, including theatre, music, exhibitions, talks and walks. 18-27 October
CHOCOLATE UNWRAPPED: Another treat for chocoholics this month, Chocolate Unwrapped spans four floors, following the cocoa journey from bean to bar... as in cocktail bar. Brands such as Pump Street, Knoops, Melt Chocolates, Bare Bones and Cocoa Runners showcase their chocolate bars, truffles, ganaches and cakes, and the experience finishes with hot chocolate from Knoops, smooth chocolate liqueur from Bouvery and cocktails from MayaJules Mezcal. 19 October
LUNA: The Birmingham Royal Ballet pitches up at Sadler's Wells for three performances of its current production, Luna, a new ballet by five female choreographers, who've taken inspiration from the pioneering women of Birmingham. 22-23 October
LITTLE VENICE FILM FESTIVAL: Inclusivity is the driving force of the Little Venice Film Festival, a showcase of work by UK and international filmmakers with underrepresented voices. It takes place at locations around Little Venice and Paddington, as well as the Curzon Mayfair. 22-27 October
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. 23-26 October
LONDON LITERATURE FESTIVAL: Keanu Reeves, Deborah Levy, Robert Macfarlane, Richard Dawkins and Rupert Everett are among the faces on the programme at this year's London Literature Festival at Southbank Centre, which celebrates the written and spoken word in all its forms. 23 October-3 November
FOR THE CULTURE: A festival honouring Blackness through art, performance, conversation, love, and joy, For The Culture comes to the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. The programme includes performances, gigs and special events, all with a local focus. 24-26 October
MADE LONDON: Browse and buy goods from 120 exhibitors spanning jewellery, homeware, ceramics, textiles, furniture, lighting and design at Made London, which takes place at One Marylebone. The fair focuses on original and innovative designer-makers from across the UK and beyond. 24-26 October
DEVIL WEARS PRADA: The much-awaited musical adaptation of book and film The Devil Wears Prada struts into the Dominion Theatre, telling the story of an aspiring journalist working for the exacting editor of top fashion magazine Runway. From 24 October
DOC 'N ROLL FESTIVAL: Music documentary film festival Doc 'n Roll Festival takes places at several venues in London and around the UK. It begins with the international premiere of ODB: The Tale Of Two Dirtys, about the late Russell Tyrone Jones, founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan, at BFI. Other films focus on British singer and rapper Hak Baker, and Pauline Black, lead singer of two-tone hit band The Selecter, among many other musicians. From 24 October
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 celebrity guests, panel discussions, cosplay, tabletop and video games and more. 25-27 October
MEDIEVAL WOMEN: Both famous and forgotten women have their stories told in the British Library's new exhibition, Medieval Women: In Their Own Words. It uses 140 items including books, an ivory cross, textiles and a lion's skull to break free from traditional narratives and tell the real stories. 25 October-2 March
TIM BURTON EXHIBITION: The Design Museum opens a new exhibition dedicated to the world of film director Tim Burton. His fantastical style is explored through a collection of 600 drawings, paintings, photographs, sketchbooks, moving-image works, sculptural installations, sets and costumes, including Jenna Ortega's dress from Netflix series Wednesday. 25 October 2024-21 April 2025
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. 26 October-3 November
ICE RINK: With still more than two months to go until Christmas, the first of London's seasonal ice rinks opens for business. Ice Rink Canary Wharf is located at the foot of east London's skyscrapers, below hundreds of fairy lights. Oh, and it has a roof, meaning rain won't stop play. Alternatively, try one of London's year-round ice rinks. 26 October-3 February
CLOCKS CHANGE: A reminder that the clocks go back an hour at 2am on Sunday 27 October. Sadly that means winter is truly coming, but fear not, we've put together some ideas for brightening up the dark nights here in London.
JUNIOR BOOK FESTIVAL: The Week Junior Book Festival is a one-day event at the Barbican, designed to inspire children to be imaginative through performances and workshops. Michael Rosen and Joseph Coelho are among the special guests. 29 October
GENSHIN CONCERT: Video game Genshin Impact comes to life as the Genshin Concert Tour comes to Wembley Arena for one day only, with melodies from the game performed live. 29 October
WOMEN & FREUD: The women who helped Freud invent psychoanalysis are the subject of a new exhibition at the Freud Museum in Hampstead. Patients, Freud's own daughter and her partner, and artists all feature. 30 October-May 2025
HALLOWEEN: Expect to see plenty of pumpkins, ghosts and witches around town as October draws to a close and Halloween celebrations take over. Here's our guide to London's best Halloween events. In the meantime, book yourself into one of these spooky film screenings. 31 October
DIWALI: Although Diwali officially falls on 1 November this year, expect to see events and celebrations taking place in London towards the end of October. Keep an eye on this website to find out whether the official festival in Trafalgar Square is going ahead this year. 1 November
LAST CHANCE: A few things are closing this month too. It's your last chance to go to:
- REMBRANDT AND CHILDREN: The British Museum's current, free exhibition, New life: Rembrandt and children. It's centred around a drawing of a sleeping child, an artwork which was in a private collection for over two centuries, before the British Museum acquired it. It's showcased alongside other drawings of children in Dutch and Flemish art. FREE, until 6 October
- UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY: No swimwear required for the Underwater Photography of the Year exhibition. Simply wander down Glasshouse Street (near Piccadilly Circus) to get an eyeful of the snaps, which features wildlife including seals, orcas and jellyfish. Some of the photos come to life through AR filters too. FREE, until 6 October
- I WISH YOU WELL: Musical theatre show I Wish You Well is a take on the legal trial which Gwyneth Paltrow was involved in, following a ski crash at a resort in Utah. See it at the Criterion Theatre. Until 12 October
