Looking for something fun to do today? Something eye-opening to watch tonight? Something delicious to eat tomorrow? Our guide to things to do this week in London is personally curated, ensuring there's always a diverse range of events for you to choose from. Get stuck in!
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HALF TERM: Keep the kids entertained during the school holidays with our guide to things to do in London in October half term. We've got ideas for events and activities for all ages, spanning exhibitions, theatre shows, one-off events, and some completely free things to do too.
HALLOWEEN: Things get spooky in London this week, with Halloween on Friday. Here's 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.
NOVEMBER: With November getting underway this weekend, get planning with our guide to 75+ fantastic things to do over the coming month, spanning new exhibitions and theatre shows, festivals, Bonfire night, and Christmas events getting underway in the capital.
FIREWORKS: Speaking of Bonfire Night, it doesn't officially fall until next week (5 November), but several London venues and neighbourhoods hold their big firework displays this weekend. Our complete Bonfire Night 2025 guide has details of every London firework display we know about, to help you plan your fill of whizzbangs.
TIBET FILM FESTIVAL: This year's Tibet Film Festival London begins on Monday with a screening of Wisdom of Happiness, a film featuring a powerful message from the Dalai Lama, followed by a Q&A with Executive Producer Richard Gere and International Campaign for Tibet's President Tencho Gyatso. Other short and feature films from Tibet are shown throughout the week. 27 October-2 November
BORN WITH TEETH: Last chance to see Born With Teeth, the West End premiere of the Royal Shakespeare Company's production, at Wyndham's Theatre. Ncuti Gatwa stars at Kit Marlowe, while Edward Bluemel plays William Shakespeare in a story of two writing rivals forced to collaborate. Age 14+. Until 1 November
LONDON LITERATURE FESTIVAL: This is the second - and main - week of this year's London Literature Festival at Southbank Centre. Enjoy talks, performances, workshops and other events led by big names including writer and comedian Adam Buxton, food writer and broadcaster Jimi Famuwera, political campaigner Malala Yousafzai, and bestselling authors Sebastian Faulks and Zadie Smith. Until 2 November
FRIEZE SCULPTURE: If you can squeeze in an autumn stroll this week, we suggest heading to the south-east corner of Regent's Park (near Regent's Park and Great Portland Street stations) to explore this year's free Frieze Sculpture Trail before it's removed. This year's crop, in our opinion, is the most diverse and playful in a long time — something that adults and children can enjoy together, with plenty of space for little ones to run around and let off steam. FREE, until 2 November
UNSILENCED: Last chance to see the Imperial War Museum's current hard-hitting but important exhibition Unsilenced: Sexual Violence in Conflict, exploring the contexts in which sexual violence occurs in conflict, and how people around the world are fighting for justice. Stories of child evacuees, victims of trafficking, prisoners of war, and survivors from the First World War to present-day conflicts are told. Age 16+. FREE, until 2 November
ROBOT ZOO: Half term is the final week of family-friendly exhibition The Robot Zoo at Forest Hill's Horniman Museum. A robotic rhino, a squid with 18-foot tentacles and a huge housefly with a vacuum cleaner for a mouth are among the oversized, mechanical animals on display. The animals are made from familiar machine parts and gadgets, to show how animals are adapted to live their lives, such as how a chameleon changes colour, what makes grasshoppers leap so high and why a platypus looks so strange. Until 2 November
MATERIAL WORLD: Also coming to a close this week is Material World, Kew Gardens' exhibition about plants, textiles and sustainability. The centrepiece is Nnenna Okore's Between Earth and Sky, a sculptural artwork on display in the Temperate House. Until 2 November
DRINK OF THE WEEK: CRATE Brewery has branched out to a second location, in the Docklands' Wood Wharf. While the taproom pours lagers, pale ales, IPAs, stouts and ciders, the kitchen gets busy making thin-crust pizzas with toppings including sage and truffle, spicy salami, and Middle Eastern lamb.
EAT OF THE WEEK: Peckham-born-and-raised chef Nathaniel Mortley, aka 'NattyCanCook', has just opened his first restaurant, 2210, located in Herne Hill. It offers up an elevated pan-Caribbean menu blending the likes of Bajan, Jamaican and Guyanese ingredients and influences with classic French techniques. Think pan-seared pimento duck, lobster 'rasta pasta', and deep fried apple crumble.
Today's events: Monday 27 October
ARE YOU THERE, NANCY REAGAN? A sleepover reunion between a group of friends devolves into a whirlwind of questioning morality and the messiness of what it means to be political, radical and feminist, in Are You There, Nancy Reagan?, on at Bridewell Theatre for the next three nights. (There's also a Wednesday matinee.) 27-29 October
FAMILY STORYTELLING: Join professional London storyteller Vanessa Woolf for a colourful interactive storytime with music, props and even smells at the Royal College of Physicians (Regent's Park). Learn about the woman who rebuilt the College's collection of 50,000 books following the Great Fire of London in 1666. 10.30am-2.30pm
THE LEGEND OF OCHI: As part of its Family Film Week, which runs throughout half term, Barbican Cinema screens new-release fantasy film The Legend of Ochi, about a young girl's interaction with a mysterious creature called an ochi, which she has been raised to fear. Certified 12A, recommended age nine+. 1.45pm
HEX APPEAL: Beyond the Palette, an organisation revealing the history behind artworks, is at the Phoenix Arts Club to unravel the myths, mischief, and mayhem behind history’s most infamous enchantresses. Discover how artists have depicted witches as everything from seductresses to sinister threats, and ponder whether you might have been burnt at the stake, had you lived in a different era. 6.15pm-7.15pm
PUB QUIZ: Comedian Josh Berry hosts a special charity pub quiz at the George in Fitzrovia, in aid of World Mental Health Day. Oodles of prizes are up for grabs, including a £100 voucher to spend in the pub. Maximum four members per team. 7pm
JAZZ IN THE ROUND: Nepali percussionist and composer Anmol Mohara, rising contemporary jazz star Kezia Abuoma, and London-based musician Alex Ward all perform in this month's Jazz in the Round at Cockpit Theatre in Marylebone. 8pm
Today's events: Tuesday 28 October
ELF THE MUSICAL: Before Halloween's even happened, London's first Christmas show opens. The ever-popular Elf The Musical dances its way into the Aldwych Theatre, starring Joel Montague, Carrie Hope Fletcher and Aled Jones in the tale of a human baby who is raised as an elf at the North Pole. 28 October-3 January
FAMILY SINGING SESSION: London Youth Choirs hold a free family singing event in Ealing. Sign up to join in with a morning of songs suitable for children aged 6-11 (younger siblings welcome too, accompanied by grown-ups). Free soft drinks, biscuits, cake and fruit are provided during the break. FREE, 10.30am-12pm
THE ANTHROPOCENE: We're living through the Anthropocene, the current era defined by human impact on Earth. Tonight, the British Academy hosts historian Professor Dipesh Chakrabarty FBA, author of One Planet, Many Worlds: The Climate Parallax and The Climate of History in a Planetary Age, and Professor Harriet Bulkeley FBA to discuss why understanding ourselves as part of, rather than separate from, the natural world has never been more urgent. 6.30pm-7.45pm
FELIX WHITE: Guitarist of The Maccabees, as well as a film composer, author and co-host of cricket podcast Tailenders, Felix White is at Soho Theatre Walthamstow to celebrate his new book Whatever Will Be, Will Be: A Matter of Life and Football, following the story of the FA Cup all the way to Wembley. 7.30pm
ROMAN HOLIDAY: Shoreditch Italian restaurant Gloria teams up with Rome's Alfredo alla Scrofa restaurant for a one-night-only Fettuccine Alfredo feast. Owner Mario Mozzetti flies in to serve the original century-old recipe, alongside a Roman four-course menu by Chef Filippo La Gattuta. The event raises money for food charity The Felix Project. 7.30pm-10.30pm
MELODRAMA... ON A BOAT: Get swept away with emotion on film, as Theatreship's Melodrama season kicks off. Tonight's (FREE) screening on the floating Canary Wharf venue is a 'mystery melodrama' — you won't know what's in store till you turn up. The coming weeks present many other pre-announced screenings to look forward to. 8pm
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Unleash your creativity in Bankside - with The Big Draw Festival!
There’s still time to get stuck into the world’s largest celebration of drawing. The 25th anniversary edition of The Big Draw Festival concludes in spectacular style this week, with free events for doodlers of ages taking place within the bustling riverside neighbourhood that is Bankside.
Looking for something to keep the kids occupied during half term? Take them to an autumn produce-themed drop-in doodle in Borough Market, led by local artist Rosie Brooks. Or step inside the playful world of illustrator Samme Snow, with a series of interactive colouring workshops at Arch 23, which will be completely covered in paper to encourage collaborative art-making (grown-ups are welcome to get stuck into this one, too!)
There are some cracking evening and weekend events for adults, too. Sketch the Golden Hinde aboard the iconic ship itself with architect and artist Benedict O’Looney. Head to Arch 23 to explore abstract drawing through the medium of spray paint with artist Matt Dosa. Get creative with recycled waste with a firework-themed workshop led by artist Alice Perse Clarke.
You can even combine getting creative with wetting your whistle — pop in The Rose and Crown pub for a relaxed drink and draw session led by portrait artist China Jordan. Now there’s a great excuse for an after-work pint, if ever you needed one.
Bankside’s Big Draw Festival events take place 27 October-8 November in various venues across the neighbourhood. All are free, but some must be booked in advance. See the full programme.
Today's events: Wednesday 29 October
THE ART OF MOTORING: Claiming to be "Europe's leading motor art exhibition", The Art of Motoring roars into town, parking up at Iconic Images Gallery on Waterloo Place (Pall Mall). Works by 32 British artists are available to view for free, spanning photo-realism to abstract, using materials including oils, watercolours laser cut aluminium sheet and carbon fibre — and all are for sale. FREE, 29 October-1 November
RORY MARSHALL: Character comedian Rory Marshall is at Soho Theatre Dean Street with his current show, Pathetic Little Characters. Expect an hour of extremely sad and pathetic characters, hot off a sell-out Edinburgh Fringe run. 29 October-1 November
FREUD'S HOUSEKEEPER: Hampstead's Freud Museum opens new exhibition, Housekeeper, by artist Cathie Pilkington. Through various forms, she channels Paula Fichtl, the Freud family’s housekeeper, to show what goes into caring for the museum's collection. 29 October-1 March
MEZCAL MASTERCLASS: Little Fires in Bethnal Green hosts a mezcal masterclass, led by Ben and Sam, founders of mezcal brand Pensador. Learn about agave varieties, traditional production methods, and taste some rarer pours — to understand what makes this brand of the Mexican spirit special. 6pm-8.30pm
LEAGUE OF IMPROV: Sophie Duker is the special guest at tonight's League of Improv, an improv comedy night at Underbelly Boulevard Soho. Quick-witted performers turn audience suggestions into hilarious scenes on the spot in front of you - no scripts or rehearsals. 7pm
Today's events: Thursday 30 October
KILLER SEAGULLS: Anyone who's ever watched The Birds/bought chips in Brighton can relate to the Weirdos Comedy annual Halloween show, Killer Seagulls from Somerset. Part silly play, part terrifying horror pantomime, it's stuffed with hilarious comedians (and, you'd assume, Killer Seagulls), and runs for three nights at Bloomsbury's Museum of Comedy. 30 October-1 November
WAYNE MCGREGOR: Celebrated choreographer Wayne McGregor is the subject of Infinite Bodies at Somerset House, offering an insight into his three-decade career through multi-sensory choreographic installations, performances and experiments. On selected dates, Company Wayne McGregor, McGregor’s company of dancers in residence, activate the artworks and reveal their creative process. 30 October-22 February
KENNY DALGLISH: Catch new documentary film Kenny Dalglish, by Oscar and Bafta-winning Asif Kapadia, at Barbican Cinema. It tells the story of the Celtic, Liverpool and Scotland footballer, narrated by the man himself, using archive footage and previously unseen personal clips. Kapadia takes part in a discussion following the screening. 6pm
SIP & SLAY: Look frighteningly fabulous for Halloween, with a make-up masterclass from Envy, and dazzling drag courtesy of Sophia Stardust. Expect tips, tricks and glitter galore — plus drinks and DJs — at Sip & Slay, a one-night-only extravaganza at Southside Shopping Centre, Wandsworth. Sashay away ready to slay over Halloween weekend. 6pm-8pm (sponsor)
HALLOWEEN QUIZ NIGHT: Jake Bhardwaj and his team of ‘celebrity’ guests host the Not Another Quiz Night Halloween party at Underbelly Boulevard Soho. Music, comedy, mayhem, interactive bonus rounds, ridiculous prizes, surprise appearances, and a prize for best halloween costume all feature in the high-octane, completely chaotic show. 7pm
COMEDY SPOOKFEST: Christopher Bliss (the world's worst, or greatest author, depending on your point of view) hosts a Halloween Spookfest at Hackney's MOTH Club. Keeping him company are Tim Key and TAROT, among others. 7pm
ADULT BOUNCE HOUSE: Though normally for kids, Big Penny Social occasionally opens up its bounce house for adults-only evenings. Spend the evening racing your mates through bouncy castles and an inflatable obstacle course, with drinks available from the bar... what could possibly go wrong? 7pm-11pm
HA!MILTON: Comedian Milton Jones is at Bloomsbury Theatre performing his one-man show Ha!milton. Unlike a certain similarly-named show, it is not a musical - instead expect discussions about giraffes, tomatoes, and other important topics. Note that the event will be filmed. 7.30pm
LATE NIGHT JAZZ: British singer-songwriter Kyra performs at tonight's Late Night Jazz at the Royal Albert Hall. Kick back with a drink in the Elgar Room as she showcases her distinct soulful voice, ahead of releasing new music in the coming months. 9.30pm
Today's events: Friday 31 October
VAAK FESTIVAL: Rich Mix in Shoreditch hosts a celebration of contemporary Persian-speaking arts in the form of Vaak Festival 2025. Film screenings, live music and workshops from Iran, Afghanistan, and the diaspora are all on the weekend's schedule. 31 October-2 November
COVEN: Opening just in time for Halloween, new musical Coven tells the story of England's witch trials. Set in Lancashire in 1612, it's about a nine-year-old who accuses her own family of witchcraft, and whose past comes back to haunt her 21 years later. See it at the Kiln Theatre. 31 October-13 December
CONNECTION AND IDENTITY: One of two light shows happening in Greenwich this autumn. Connection and Identity opens in the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College today. Two large-scale light and sound installations by Peter Walker invite us to "contemplate what it means to be human". Connection is inspired by Michelangelo's hands from the Creation of Adam, while Identity features eight illuminated columns suspended within the Painted Hall, evoking DNA structures. 31 October-5 January
VAMPIRE TAKEOVER: For Halloween, art'otel London Hoxton has a Dusk 'til Dawn All Night Vampire Takeover. The in-house cinema transforms into a gothic hideaway, screening 14 hours of cult and classic vampire films back-to-back. The five films include Interview with the Vampire, The Lost Boys and From Dusk Till Dawn, with more to be revealed. 5pm
KOREAN TEMPLE CUISINE: World-renowned Buddhist nun and star of Netflix's Chef's Table, Venerable Jeong Kwan hosts a one-off dinner at CORD on Fleet Street. Dine on a multi-course, plant-based menu, inspired by nature and centuries-old monastic tradition: think Jochung-glazed shiitake mushrooms and house-fermented kimchi. 6.30pm
NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS: The Royal Institution in Mayfair brings together new and former Ig Nobel Prize winners to ask each other questions about their work. The line-up includes 2023 Ig Nobel Chemistry and Geology Prize winner Jan Zalasiewicz (who won for work explaining why many scientists like to lick rocks), and Kees Moeliker, 2003 Ig Nobel Biology Prize winner (for documenting the first scientifically recorded case of homosexual necrophilia in the mallard duck). 7pm-8.30pm
HALLOWEEN QUARTET: Berners Tavern gets into the Halloween spirit tonight, with candlelit tables and a lavish display of pumpkins, plus live string quartet performances throughout the evening, playing tunes including Time Warp and Monster Mash. There's also Lancashire pumpkin risotto and a Don Julio 1942 'Golden Goth' cocktail to sharpen your appetite. First set 7.15pm
Today's events: Saturday 1 November
PADDINGTON THE MUSICAL: The beloved ursine adventurer comes to the stage in new production Paddington The Musical, opening at the Savoy Theatre and aimed at ages six and above. Expect plenty of singing, dancing and marmalade sandwiches to accompany the story of a young bear arriving in London from Peru and trying to settle into life here in the capital. Includes new music written by McFly star Tom Fletcher. From 1 November
DEAD MAN WALKING: The English National Opera premieres an exciting new production of Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally’s powerful operatic drama, Dead Man Walking. See the story of a man facing the death penalty for the murder of two teenagers, and the religious Sister who offers him spiritual guidance, on stage at the London Coliseum. 1-18 November
SKATE LEICESTER SQUARE: 'Tis the season, when many pop-up ice rinks appear across the capital, and a brand new skating rink opens today, right in the centre of London. Skate Leicester Square sets up right in the middle of the Square, encircling the statue of William Shakespeare, alongside a pop-up bar and Christmas market. 1 November-4 January
SUBLIME SPACE: Our relationship with nature and landscape as a space for creative reflection is the subject of Sublime Space, a new exhibition at the Heath Robinson Museum in Pinner. Works by London artist William Heath Robinson are on display alongside pieces by 10 contemporary artists including Jemma Powell, Jonathan McCree, Sue Arrowsmith, Ralph Steadman and Barnaby Barford. Included in museum admission. 1 November-22 February
IWM PODCAST FESTIVAL: The Imperial War Museum hosts a history podcast festival, with ten history podcasters across two stages joined by a programme of special guests, historians and curators. Classic war films, Cold War Spies and prisoner of war escapes are among the topics covered. 10am-9pm
THE LONDON TACO EXPERIENCE: Try tacos from eight different traders at the London Taco Experience at Riverside East (Stratford), timed to coincide with Mexico's Day of the Dead. The foodie festival includes a live mariachi band, DJs, a hot sauce showcase and of course those tacos (and plenty of drinks to wash them down). 11am-4pm/5pm-10pm
HALLOWEEN DOG PARADE: Head to Chelsea on Saturday to see dogs dressed up in their finest Halloween costumes showing them off in a parade. It's free to watch (sadly, places for your dog to take part have sold out), beginning at Chelsea Theatre and making its way to Sloane Square. FREE, from 11.30am
THOMAS TALLIS: St Alfege Church in Greenwich invites the Thomas Tallis Society Choir to celebrate its 60th anniversary with a selection of Tallis' choral works with instrumental accompaniment. There's also music by Bach, Mozart and premieres from contemporary composers. A party follows the concert. 7.30pm
Today's events: Sunday 2 November
VETERAN CAR RUN: The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run sees around 400 pre-1905 vehicles setting off from London to Brighton. You'll have to be up early to cheer them on — they begin leaving Hyde Park around 7am, heading through Lambeth towards Croydon, and on towards the coast. FREE, from 7am
ANTIQUES FAIR: The monthly Adams Antiques Fair pitches up at the Royal Horticultural Halls in Westminster, bringing together 130+ expert exhibitors selling antique jewellery, silver, decorative pieces and collectables. Though doors open at 10am, a queue always forms prior to this, so arrive early if you want first dibs. 10am-4.30pm
CEYLON CRAB TABLE: Sri Lankan restaurant Kolamba East hosts a monthly Sunday dining experience, the Ceylon Crab Table, a family-style meal centred around the venue's renowned whole crab curry. Begin with grilled prawns and mango papaya salad, followed by the crab curry, slow-simmered with moringa, coconut milk, fresh tamarind and Kolamba’s spice blend, accompanied by dhal, kos, morning glory, roast paan, and saffron rice. Finish up with a sweet mango trifle. From 12pm
SUNDAY PAPERS: Sink into a comfy sofa and watch the Sunday papers come alive through a succession of talks and performances, with food and drink, in Sunday Papers Live, an all-afternoon mix of the intellectual and entertaining. 12.30pm-6pm
WALLACE AND GROMIT: Cracking music Gromit! Soundtracks from Wallace and Gromit films The Wrong Trousers (2pm) and A Grand Day Out (4pm) are performed live by the Fairey Band at Woolwich Works. Note: these are two separate concerts. 2pm and 4pm
CLIMATE CHANGE: Author and activist Andreas Malm is at Barbican to lead a conversation about how we can come together and act to prevent and slow climate change. He talks to environmental justice advocate and human rights lawyer Steven Donziger about some of the technology currently being developed to prevent climate change. Chaired by political economist and author Adrienne Buller. 3pm
JAKE PATRICK: Liverpudlian comedian Jake Patrick is trying out new material at the Bill Murray this afternoon. Get a feel for his gags from clips on his Instagram. 4pm-5pm
CLASSIC PENGUINS: Cult comedian Garry Starr waddles into Arts Theatre West End, on a mission to save books from extinction by performing every Penguin Classic novel ever written — think The Little Prince to Moby Dick and everything in between. Warning: he'll mostly be naked (but with flippers). 7.30pm
