All weekend
OKTOBERFEST: Various incarnations of Oktoberfest — from full-blown parties to restaurants running special menus — continue to take place across London this weekend. Check out our roundup on where to get your fill of lager and lederhosen.
COMEDY CLUB LAUNCH: A couple of months ago, we brought you news of a brand new improv comedy venue opening in south London. Fast forward and it's now opening weekend at the Free Association, with a packed programme of home-grown talent and a few special guests, along with new regular events. 16-19 October
THE EBONY FRAME: Edith Nesbit's ghost story The Ebony Frame creeps its way into Barons Court Theatre for three nights. When an ancient ebony frame exerts a strange attraction on its new owner, a tale of love, obsession, fire and death follows. 17-19 October
NEW SCIENTIST LIVE: The search for dark matter in the Milky Way, climate change, fake archaeology and gut health are some of the topics covered at this year's New Scientist Live at Excel London. Experts from diverse backgrounds give talks, including naturalist Chris Packham, neuroscientist Dean Burnett, planetary scientist Hannah Sargeant and oceanographer Helen Czerski. 18-19 October
OPEN GARDENS: Fancy an autumnal stroll through the gardens of Hampton Court Palace? It's an open gardens weekend, which means you can visit areas you'd normally have to pay to access, for free. The Great Fountain Garden, Privy Garden and Kitchen Garden are included, though note that admission still applies if you want to enter the palace itself, the maze, the playground and certain other areas. FREE, 18-19 October
RED THREADS: Art Hub Studios in Lewisham hosts Red Threads, a Black History Month exhibition exploring Black menstrual and reproductive health experiences. Through visual art, photography and personal narratives, the exhibition sheds light on conditions like endometriosis, fibroids and fertility challenges, while creating space for Black women's voices and perspectives. FREE, 18-19 October
FESTIVAL OF THE GIRL: Islington's Business Design Centre hosts the Festival of the Girl, for the International Day of the Girl (11 October). Aimed at girls and their families, the event will inspire, engage and break down harmful gender stereotypes. Politics, filmmaking, skateboarding, martial arts and engineering are among topics covered this year. 18-19 October
VINTAGE FAIR: 50 vintage dealers rock up at St Dunstan's College each day this weekend for the Catford Vintage Fair. Among the items for sale: mid-20th century furniture, homeware, lighting, ceramics, textiles and furnishings, original posters and framed art, books, records and vintage fashion. 18-19 October
JENNIE BAPTISTE: The first major solo exhibition from pioneering Black British photographer Jennie Baptiste opens in the Terrace Rooms at Somerset House. It showcases iconic and previously unseen portraits from Baptiste, reflecting Black cultural contributions to music, fashion and youth identity over three decades. 17 October-4 January
EMERGENCY EXITS: Head to the Imperial War Museum to view Emergency Exits, an exhibition exploring the wave of independence movements that followed the end of the Second World War, as many of Britain’s former imperial territories gained independence. Particular focus is on three significant conflicts, fought in Malaya (now Malaysia), Kenya and Cyprus. 17 October-29 March
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. 17 October- 12 July.
AFFORDABLE ART FAIR: There are bargains to be had at the autumn edition of the Affordable Art Fair, popping up in Battersea Park for five days of galleries, exhibitions, arty late openings and embroidery workshops. 114 galleries from all over the world showcase and sell works by the artists they represent, spanning a range of mediums and styles. 15-19 October
WIMBLEDON BOOKFEST: Joanna Page, Lemn Sissay, Max Hastings, Monisha Rajesh and Caroline Eden are among the speakers at Wimbledon BookFest this weekend. It takes place at venues around central Wimbledon, and continues into next week. 16-26 October
BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL: It's a truncated, three-day version of Bloomsbury Festival this year, ahead of a month-long celebration marking 20 years of the festival in 2026. This year's theme is 'The Paths We Tread', across theatre, music, literature, art and science events, including See It. Say It. Sorted. The Musical!, a new show about one bag, five strangers and a train station full of secrets; and an exhibition of underwater photography. 17-19 October
HALLOWEEN AT KEW: We've bundled together a guide to London's Halloween events, but worth a specific mention is Halloween at Kew. Back for a second year, and by the same team as the magnificent annual Christmas at Kew, it's a spooky light trail through the gardens, with fire gardens, glowing pumpkins and an illuminated haunted wood. Pick between daylight, twilight and moonlight sessions. 17 October-2 November
ANCIENT INDIA: The origins of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist sacred art is the focus of exhibition Ancient India: living traditions, at the British Museum. Find out about the inspiration behind now-familiar depictions of the deities and enlightened teachers of these world religions such as Buddha, and how they spread across the Asian continent. Until 19 October
LAMBETH FRINGE: There are scores of shows to pick from on the Lambeth Fringe programme over this weekend and into next week, spanning theatre and comedy. Our picks this Saturday and Sunday include a reunion of police drama The Bill, and Overwhelm, about male loneliness. Until 25 October
GHOST HUNT: Take the kids along to Osterley Park and House for We're Going On A Ghost Hunt, a spooky trail themed on the children's book of the same name. Play Halloween hoopla, race your broomstick and watch out for the warty toads as you hunt out the ghosts hidden around the property. Until 2 November. Find other Halloween-themed things to see and do in London this year.
Saturday 18 October
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. 11am-7.30pm
CLASSIC CARS: The monthly Waterloo Classics sees owners of classic cars parking their wheels on Lower Marsh in Waterloo, and inviting the public to take a closer look at these rather special vehicles. Car envy guaranteed. FREE, 11.30am-2pm
DIWALI FESTIVAL: With Diwali on Monday (20 October), London has several celebrations going on this weekend, including special menus at many restaurants. For an all-out celebration, head to the free and family-friendly Diwali at Greenwich Peninsula event, featuring 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. FREE, 2pm-7pm
CLUB BROADWAY: Musical theatre fans, head to Here at Outernet for the latest edition of Club Broadway, a daytime party featuring live performances from musical theatre stars and drag performers, and a DJ spinning well-known showtunes: think Hamilton, Wicked, Rent, Grease and Hairspray. 3.30pm-8pm
LEE: Last chance to see Lee at Park Theatre, which tells the story of artist Lee Krasner, widow of Jackson Pollock, who is forced to question everything she knew about her late husband's genius when an art student brings her a piece of work to be authenticated. 7pm
JESSICA FOSTEKEW: Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Jessica Fostekew is at Soho Theatre Dean Street with her new show Iconic Breath. Expect hilarious, rage-filled anecdotes about raising her son, and how to stay sane (and vaguely nice) in a world that's on fire. 7.15pm
THE WHITEHALLS: Hilary and Michael Whitehall — parents of comedian Jack — bring their podcast The Wittering Whitehalls: Barely Alive to the stage at Richmond Theatre, part of a UK tour. Hear their thoughts and rants on all manner of topics from social media to workouts to weddings. 7.30pm
ROSE MATAFEO: Comedian and actor Rose Matafeo is the guest DJ at this week's Scared To Dance alternative club night. Head to the Shacklewell Arms in Dalston for a night of post-punk, indiepop, new wave and art rock tunes by the likes of David Bowie, Phoebe Bridgers, Manic Street Preachers, Wolf Alice, New Order and Wet Leg. 11pm
Sunday 19 October
CHEESE MARKET: 200+ different cheeses, chutneys, crackers, olives and other accoutrements take centre stage at the monthly Chiswick Cheese Market, which brings together producers from all over the UK for a mouth-watering market. 9.30am-3pm
TRANSPORTFEST: The London Bus Museum, on the London-Surrey border, 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 on display, along with live music, a collector's market and family-friendly entertainment. 10am-5pm
HORN FAIR: Charlton House and Gardens celebrates autumn with its annual Horn Fair, a free, family-friendly event dating back to the 13th century. Expect performances from The Charlie Chaplin Show, Punch & Judy, and Piano Jam — along with history talks, crafts and a costume competition. FREE, 11am-3pm
MICHAEL ROSEN: Author Michael Rosen is on stage at the Old Vic, in a double-bill show tackling topics of love, loss and mortality. In Getting Through It, he shares his experience of losing his son to meningitis, and his own 48-day period in intensive care with Covid. 2pm
BLACK LESBIAN MOVEMENT: Queer Britain in King's Cross marks Black History Month with a panel discussion about the 1980s-90s Black Lesbian Movement in London. Hear from activist Femi Otitoju, researcher Sue Lemos and writer, film director and curator Veronica McKenzie about some of the Black Lesbian led projects and events which took place in the capital at this time. 2pm
KEATS HOUSE: It's 100 years since Keats House — former home of poet John Keats — was saved and opened to the public. This afternoon, head to the Hampstead building for an illustrated talk about its history, from Keats' death, to his connections to the house being lost and later rediscovered. 2.30pm
THE BOOK THIEF: The Book Thief: A Concert Production comes to the Prince of Wales Theatre, telling the story of 12-year old girl Liesel Meminger and the people around her as they navigate the war, narrated by Death. An additional date has now been added for next Sunday too. 5pm
BILLY JOEL: Sing and dance along to the Music of Billy Joel, a tribute show at Underbelly Boulevard Soho. West End performer Andrew Linnie stars as the singer-songwriter, joined on stage by a six-piece band as they chart his career and songbook. 7pm
AN EVENING OF JOY: Drag star Karla Bear hosts An Evening of Joy at the Actors' Church in Covent Garden, featuring music celebrating female empowerment. West End stars Claire Moore, Drew Jaymson-Neal, Mollie Mason-King and many more take part, along with English National Opera baritone Alaric Green, magician Adam Smith, and comedian, impressionist, actress and singer Hilary O'Neil. 7.30pm
