Events in London in October 2026: Festivals, Exhibitions + Things to Do
October is an ideal time to visit London.
Expect occasional warm, sunny days alongside cloudy, wet ones and October’s cooler evenings, hinting at the winter months to come. British Summer Time ends when the clocks go back at 2 am on Sunday 25th October 2026, so you have long hours for sightseeing through most of the month.
English schools are in term time until half term, which falls on 26th to 30th October 2026. That makes the first three weeks of the month noticeably quieter at attractions and on the tube. If your dates fall in half term week, book timed tickets further ahead than you otherwise would, as that week also includes Halloween, Diwali on the Square, and the clocks going back.
This guide focuses on the best events and experiences happening in London in October 2026 so that you can plan your perfect autumn trip.
If you want to know what weather to expect in October and what to pack, read our comprehensive guide to visiting London in October.
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London in October 2026 at a glance
| Dates | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1st – 3rd Oct | Oktoberfest London | Finsbury Park |
| 1st – 31st Oct | London Restaurant Festival | Across London |
| 1st – 31st Oct | Black History Month | Across London |
| 7th – 18th Oct | BFI London Film Festival (70th) | BFI Southbank and other venues |
| 7th – 27th Oct | Dance Umbrella | Various venues |
| 9th Oct – 1st Nov | The Nightmare Realm | Avery Hill, SE9 |
| 14th – 18th Oct | Frieze London and Frieze Masters | The Regent’s Park |
| 16th Oct – 1st Nov | Halloween at Kew | Kew Gardens |
| 16th Oct | Jesus Christ Superstar opens | Theatre Royal Drury Lane |
| 20th Oct – 1st Nov | London Literature Festival | Southbank Centre |
| 25th Oct | Diwali on the Square (free) | Trafalgar Square |
| Until 1st Nov | Frieze Sculpture (free) | The Regent’s Park |
| SOLD OUT FOR 2026 | The Bayeux Tapestry | The British Museum |
| All month | Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style | The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace |
Key events in London in October 2026
Oktoberfest
London’s biggest Bavarian-style beer festival is a popular event. It’s noisy and busy but great fun. It’s also a good chance to meet local Londoners as guests are seated at communal tables of up to 12 people.
You can enjoy German beer served in traditional Bavarian 1-litre jugs and German food such as Bratwurst and Sauerkraut, all served in a huge wooden ‘tent’ with a dancefloor. There’s also live music from Bavarian Oompah bands, photo booths, costume competitions, sing-alongs and late night dancing to DJs and party music.
You can book tickets for either afternoon or evening sessions. General admission starts from £10 and the cheapest seated tickets, which include a guaranteed seat and table service, start from around £29. Book here.
If you miss the Finsbury Park dates, the same organisers run a second Oktoberfest in Hammersmith on 24th and 25th October.
- Where: Finsbury Park, N4
- When: 1st – 3rd October
- How to get there: Finsbury Park tube station (Piccadilly and Victoria lines)
Halloween events in London in October
There are lots of Halloween-themed activities to enjoy in London ranging from ghost tours to spooky museums (such as the Clink Prison Museum), to spooky theatre shows and special themed events at attractions such as Harry Potter Studios.
For the best Halloween decorations, we recommend visiting Covent Garden and Carnaby Street.
There are two experiences to explore. Avery Hill Asylum takes you through the corridors of a Victorian institution where Dr Thorne has pushed his experiments past the point of reason, and Sundown Manor follows an ancient Irish bloodline that has crossed the Irish Sea looking for fresh victims. Expect cinematic indoor and outdoor sets, special effects and a cast of more than 70 live actors.
Be prepared to be scared and to scream a lot.
Tickets start from £38 and can be purchased in advance here.
- Where: Avery Hill Mansion, Bexley Road, SE9 2PQ
- When: 9th October – 1st November
- How to get there: There is no tube station nearby. Southeastern trains run from London Charing Cross, Waterloo East, London Bridge or Cannon Street to New Eltham, about a 15-minute walk away, or Falconwood, about 20 minutes. Neither station has step-free access. Falconwood is a Category C station, with platforms reached by stairs over a footbridge. For a step-free journey, take the Jubilee line to North Greenwich, then the 132 bus to Bexley Road; it avoids the station stairs, though it takes longer. The venue offers free on-site parking.
- Access: Parts of the experience are outdoors, and the route crosses a variety of surfaces, so sturdy footwear helps. If you have access requirements or cannot stand for long periods, contact the venue before you book so they can plan for you.
For something a little less terrifying but equally spooky, Kew Gardens’ illuminated Halloween trail is back for a third year.
You walk the famous gardens after dark along a 1.5km one-way trail, past illuminated scenes and live performers, with Dracula in the shadows, fire performers and the Headless Horseman riding again. New for 2026 is a cursed tomb. Allow an hour to an hour and a half.
Kew grades the sessions by how dark it is when you go in. Moonlight sessions after 7.30 pm are the spookiest, Twilight from 6 pm to 7.30 pm sits in the middle, and Daylight sessions up to 6 pm are the gentlest for very young children. One thing worth knowing if you are booking for a family: Daylight slots only exist from 25th October onwards, because the trail does not open until 6 pm before the clocks change.
Adult tickets cost £19.50 off-peak and £24 peak; children aged 4 to 15 are £14 and £18, and under-4s are free. An essential companion ticket is free. Tickets are only sold in advance through Kew’s website and the Fever app, with none available at the gate.
- Where: Kew Gardens, Richmond, TW9 3AE. Entry via Victoria, Elizabeth and Brentford Gates only.
- When: 16th October – 24th October from 6pm to 10pm, and 25th October – 1st November from 4pm to 10pm. Last entry is strictly 8.30 pm.
- How to get there: Kew Gardens tube station (District line and London Overground) is a 7-minute walk to Victoria Gate. There is no level access from the westbound platform, so if you need step-free access, you can stay on to Richmond and come back one stop to the eastbound platform, which does have it. Kew Bridge National Rail station has no level access. Richmond station has lifts and level access but is a 40-minute walk from Elizabeth Gate.
- Access: The trail follows pathways, but the terrain varies, and gradients can be difficult after rain. Stewards can point out shortcuts to the exit if you need one. Wheelchairs can be borrowed free on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved, and you are welcome to bring your own mobility scooter. Accessible toilets are at Brentford Gate and along the trail, with a Changing Places toilet at Brentford Gate. Blue Badge parking at the Ferry Lane car park is free but must be booked with your tickets. Kew’s access line is 020 8332 5655.
Something that surprises many visitors: if you are in London in the last week of October, Christmas is already going up. We photographed the giant gold bells and red baubles hanging in Covent Garden’s Apple Market in October, weeks before the lights were switched on.
The official switch-ons fall in the first half of November, with Carnaby and Regent Street usually first and Covent Garden around the middle of the month, so an October visit gets you the decorations without the switch-on crowds.
Royal parks in October
Nothing says London in the autumn more than being wrapped up warm and crunching through colourful leaves in one of London’s parks.
Choose between St James’s Park, Green Park, Regent’s Park, Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Richmond Park or Greenwich Park. We think the best autumn colours are found in Richmond Park or Greenwich Park, and Richmond has the added bonus of the deer rut, which peaks in October. Keep a good distance from the stags at this time of year.
We also recommend a trip to Kew Gardens, London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unlike the royal parks, Kew charges admission. October 2026 events include the largest outdoor presentation of Henry Moore’s work staged to date, with 30 sculptures set across the landscape.
- What: Henry Moore: Monumental Nature
- When: 9th May 2026 to 31st January 2027
- How to get there: Kew Gardens tube station (District line) or Kew Bridge National Rail station.
London festivals and events in October 2026
London Restaurant Festival
This month-long festival features cooking masterclasses, food tours and neighbourhood food trails. Tickets for individual events are incredibly popular and sell out very quickly.
Tickets are on sale now, and the most popular events are already selling out, so it is worth booking before you travel if there is something you have your eye on. Some strands, including the Top Ten Cuisines series, are exclusive to American Express cardmembers. You can see the full line-up on the festival website.
The good news for visitors who do not book an event is that special festival menus run at restaurants across the capital throughout October, with no festival ticket needed. Each restaurant sets its own booking method, with reservations taken through OpenTable, TheFork, SevenRooms or directly with the restaurant. You can find out which restaurants are taking part here.
- When: 1st – 31st October
- Where: Throughout London
London Literature Festival
London’s longest-running celebration of literature and the spoken word returns this October, with pop star Dua Lipa as guest curator. She programmes a weekend of her own on 24th and 25th October through her Service95 Book Club.
Elsewhere across the festival you will find Patti Smith, Zadie Smith and the poet and musician Mustafa. The 2026 edition also falls in the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary year.
Visitors can indulge their love of literature through author readings and Q&As, panel discussions and debates, plus writing masterclasses and workshops.
A variety of free activities are available. Ticketed events start from around £17, with headline talks from £29. Book tickets via the Southbank Centre.
- Where: Southbank Centre
- When: 21st October – 1st November
- How to get there: Waterloo tube station is a 5-minute walk from the Southbank Centre.
London Film Festival
The 70th annual BFI London Film Festival celebrates filmmaking, whether the movie is a Hollywood blockbuster with famous names or a low-budget indie gem with new faces.
You can expect cinema screenings, discussion panels and Q&As with cast and crews. The closing-night film this year is ‘The Debut’ by Jesse Eisenberg, starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti, which has its UK premiere at the Royal Festival Hall on 18th October.
The full programme is out now, and tickets go on general sale at 10 am on Thursday 17th September. BFI Patrons and Members get access the week before. Tickets start at £10 across all London screenings and events, or £6 if you are 25 and under.
Popular screenings go quickly, so book on the day tickets open if there is something you particularly want to see. You can browse the programme and book here.
- Where: BFI Southbank and the Royal Festival Hall, plus cinemas across London and the UK
- When: 7th – 18th October
- How to get there: Waterloo tube station is a five-minute walk from the Southbank.
Frieze London and Frieze Masters
Two of the art world’s biggest fairs take over The Regent’s Park for five days in October, with Frieze London showing contemporary work and Frieze Masters covering everything from antiquities to the late twentieth century. A free shuttle bus runs between the two sites every 15 minutes.
Tickets are online only and must be bought in advance. Weekend admission starts from £48 for a single fair, and combined tickets covering both fairs start from £92. Book here.
If those prices make you wince, Frieze Sculpture is free. Eleven international artists show large-scale work in the English Gardens of The Regent’s Park from 16th September to 1st November, and no ticket is needed.
- Where: The Regent’s Park. Frieze London at Park Square West, NW1 4LL. Frieze Masters at Gloucester Green, NW1 4HA.
- When: 14th – 18th October (14th is invitation only, general admission from 1pm on 15th October)
- How to get there: Regent’s Park tube station is under five minutes from Frieze London. Camden Town or Mornington Crescent are around ten minutes from Frieze Masters.
Diwali on the Square
The Mayor of London’s free Diwali celebration fills Trafalgar Square with dance, music, food stalls and craft workshops. No ticket is needed, and you can drop in at any point during the afternoon. It falls on the same day the clocks go back, so you get an extra hour in bed beforehand.
Worth knowing: Diwali itself falls on 8th November in 2026. London’s Trafalgar Square celebration is held a fortnight early, so an October visit catches the festival.
London Theatre in October
London theatre-goers are excited about the autumn arrival of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, which opens on 16th October and runs until 9th January 2027. Sam Ryder plays Jesus, and Tyrone Huntley plays Judas, with guest performers rotating through the role of King Herod. If you are visiting in October, Matt Bomer plays Herod from 16th to 31st October.
The other hotly anticipated show this autumn is the return of ‘Rent’, which opens on 26th September. It stars Gaten Matarazzo from Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ as Mark, in his West End debut.
We recommend booking as soon as possible for either of these very popular shows.
- Jesus Christ Superstar: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine Street, WC2B 5JF. From 16th October 2026 to 9th January 2027. Covent Garden or Holborn tube stations.
- Rent: Duke of York’s Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4BG. From 26th September 2026. A six-minute walk from Covent Garden tube station and three minutes from Leicester Square tube.
Exhibitions you won’t want to miss in October 2026
The Bayeux Tapestry
This is THE London event of 2026, and it is also the hardest ticket to get.
The world-famous Bayeux Tapestry is on display in the UK for the first time since it was made nearly 1,000 years ago, on loan from France. The 70-metre embroidery tells the story of the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest of 1066, one of the most pivotal events in British history.
Tickets for every date between 10th September and 31st December 2026 have sold out. There are no walk-up slots, so an October visitor cannot simply turn up and join a queue.
Two routes are still worth trying. British Museum members book their own free timed tickets separately from the public release, so you can join if you are set on seeing it this trip, though availability isn’t guaranteed. The other is to watch for returns on the booking page, which do appear.
If you are travelling again next year, bookings for 1st January to 31st March 2027 open on 21st October 2026, with further releases to follow for the spring and summer. Tickets are £25 to £33 depending on the day and time, and under-16s go free when accompanied by an adult. You can check availability and releases on the British Museum website.
- Where: The British Museum, Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery (Room 30)
- When: 10th September 2026 – 11th July 2027. Sold out until 31st December 2026.
- How to get there: Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, Russell Square and Goodge Street are all within a 5-10 minute walk. Russell Square and Tottenham Court Road have step-free access to street level. The museum has step-free entry via the Montague Place entrance.
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style
This exhibition showcases the largest ever collection of clothing worn by Queen Elizabeth II. It sold out within weeks of opening and has since been extended by six months, so if you are visiting in October you have plenty of time to catch it. We visited earlier in the summer and highly recommend it.
You’ll see over 300 pieces of clothing, jewellery and accessories from throughout the late Queen’s life, including her christening robe, her 1947 Norman Hartnell wedding dress and her 1953 coronation dress. It’s a must visit for Royal fans but also for fans of fashion.
Timed tickets do go quickly, so book yours here before you travel.
- Where: The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace
- When: 10th April 2026 – 18th April 2027
- How to get there: St James’s Park, Victoria or Green Park tube stations
London’s major museums and galleries
Most major museums and galleries in London are free to enter but will charge admission fees to limited-time exhibitions, including the ones listed below.
If you love modern art, head to the Tate Modern for ‘Frida: The Making of an Icon’ featuring the works of Frida Kahlo, which runs until 3rd January 2027. Or, for something a little different, ‘Julio Le Parc: Light. Colour. Action.’ is an immersive show by the Argentinian artist running until 3rd May 2027. Visitors will be awed by shimmering light sculptures, huge geometric paintings and interactive installations. Tickets for Le Parc are £15.
Alternatively, visit the Imperial War Museum for their sobering exhibition ‘Beauty and Destruction: Wartime London in Art’, which brings together over 45 paintings and drawings alongside photography, film and oral histories. It is free to enter and runs until 1st November.
One of the many exhibitions the V&A South Kensington is hosting (until 15th November) is ‘Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art’, the first major UK show devoted to Elsa Schiaparelli.
Over 200 objects are on display, including the 1938 Skeleton Dress and her collaborations with Dalí, Cocteau and Man Ray, alongside contemporary pieces by the house’s current creative director Daniel Roseberry.
Alternatively, you can visit the David Bowie Centre at V&A East Storehouse, which holds an archive of over 90,000 items. Entry is free but released in timed batches, so check before you go.
Also on in London in October 2026
- Black History Month runs throughout October across the UK. The 2026 theme is Honouring Our Communities, with programmes at the Barbican, London Museum Docklands and libraries across the city.
- Dance Umbrella (7th – 27th October) stages contemporary dance at Sadler’s Wells East, The Place, the Barbican, Cecil Sharp House, Somerset House and others, with a number of £10 tickets held for every performance.
- Bloomsbury Festival marks its 20th anniversary with a month-long programme running 1st to 31st October. More than 150 events take place across more than 40 venues under the theme ‘Create and Celebrate’, with a three-day Discovery Hub from 22nd to 24th October. Many events are free.
- NFL London Games return on 4th and 11th October at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and 18th October at Wembley.
- New exhibitions opening in October include Korea at the British Museum (from 1st October), Renoir and Love at the National Gallery (from 3rd October), Tim Walker’s Fairyland at the National Portrait Gallery (from 9th October) and Light and Magic at Tate Modern (from 14th October).
October in London offers a less frenetic visit than the summer months or September. Your autumn days will still be packed with world-class attractions and fun activities, but you can enjoy them without the crowds or summer heat. If London is one stop on a bigger trip, our guide to planning your UK itinerary will help you fit it all together.
Planning to visit in a different month? Our London events calendar lists every month on one page.