This article gives you the best things to do in London during October, updated for 2022.
We include a top 10 list, nighttime activities, free things to do, as well as family-friendly attractions.
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN OCTOBER
This section lists our top 10 ideas for things to do in London this month, including tours, concerts, events, and attractions.
For more ideas of popular things to do, check out our posts:
For even more suggestions of activities year-round, make sure to read our master post for London things to do and see!
1. Frieze London
Art enthusiasts will love this event in Regent’s Park!
Featuring artwork from over 1,000 of today’s leading emerging artists from 160 galleries, Frieze London is an excellent opportunity to discover new artists, admire favourite pieces, and purchase artwork.
The event runs from October 12th - 16th, 2022.
Tickets and more information are available on the website.
2. Enjoy Major Concerts
There are several big-name artists, some a blast from the past, some popular now, coming through London in October.
Below are just some of the artists making an appearance:
- Machine Gun Kelly - October 1st
- Andrea Bocelli - October 1st
- Lindsey Buckingham - October 1st
- Swedish House Mafia - October 2nd
- Richard Marx - October 3rd, 4th, 6th
- Anthrax - October 8th
- Robbie Williams - October 9th, 10th
- Morrissey - October 9th, 11th
- James Taylor - October 10th, 11th
- Natalie Imbruglia - October 10th
- ABBA Voyage - throughout October
- Roxy Music - October 14th
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo - October 21st
- Bob Dylan - October 19th, 20th, 23rd, 24th
- Franz Ferdinand - October 20th
- Counting Crows - October 20th, 21st
- Bon Iver - October 25th, 26th
For even more great shows to attend, check out the full list of concerts in October.
3. Attend the Theatre
The West End of London is home to some of the most well known theatres in the city such as the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Geilgud Theatre, Apollo Theatre, Palace Theatre, and many more.
Performances have been taking place in this part of the city since 1663!
In October, there are a few shows you might find of interest:
Check out the complete list of what's playing in London.
For ways to get cheap theatre tickets, check out our handy discount ticket guide to the London theatre
4. Take in some Comedy
There will also be several comedians doing stand-up and comedy shows being performed in October.
Here are a few of the best shows taking place this month:
- Louis CK - October 3rd
- RuPaul's Drag Race UK - October 7th, 8th, 12th
- Dara O'Briain - October 14th, 15th
- Ed Gamble - October 22nd
For even more laughs, check this list of stand-up shows in London.
5. Bloomsbury Festival
This annual event celebrates the creativity of the folks who live in the Bloomsbury neighborhood in London.
The program covers "culture, arts, science, literature, performance, discussion, and debate".
Each year has a theme, and over 100 events take place across the ten days of the festival.
The event take splace October 14th - 23rd, 2022. You can review the full program here.
Tip: many activites are free but it's recommended you hold your place with a ticket.
6. MCM Comic-Con
Get your geek on at the London Comic Con!
With special appearances by famous actors, panel discussions, vendors, and more, you don't wanna miss out on this weekend.
The MCM Comic-Con takes place October 28th - 30th, 2022 at ExCel London.
To learn more and get tickets, click here.
7. Festival of the Dead
London celebrates all things spooky with the Festival of the Dead.
Inspired by the Day of the Dead celebration, this weekend-long event is a mix of carnival, circus, and concert.
Activities take place October 14th, 2022, at O2 Academy Brixton. This is a great way to get your spooky before Halloween itself!
For a more frightful side of London, spook yourself with a variety of Halloween events:
- get lost in a haunted maze in Thorpe Park Resort
- check to see what’s on at the Tower of London and Kensington Palace
- enjoy a number of ghost tours throughout the city
8. Attend the Kiss Haunted House Party
If you're looking for something fun to do for Halloween, this event is almost like a music festival that encourages guests to dress up for the party.
Even the musical artists dress up, and there are usually quite a few great musicians in the lineup.
This year the lineup includes some of the following artists:
- N-Dubz
- Craig David
- Mabel
- Bad Boy Chiller Crew
- Nathan Dawe
- And more
The Kiss Haunted House Party will take place on October 28th, 2022 at OVO Arena Wembley
9. London Literature Festival
Visit the London Literature Festival for a series of talks, readings, poetry, and performances.
Over the course of 11 days, a number of literary influencers and entertainers will make an appearance.
This year folks such as the 2022 Booker Prize winner, George Saunders, Karl Ove Knausgård, Nick Cave, Graham Norton, and many more will attend!
The event takes place October 20th - 30th, 2022 at Southbank Centre.
10. Purchase a Tourist Attraction Discount Pass
October is a great time to spend a few full days seeing the sights and exploring London’s unique attractions.
One cost-effective way to see more attractions, tours, and landmarks is by getting a London tourist pass.
These passes work by bundling together several tourist attractions and tours into one single price and can save you up to 55%.
They also can save you time by allowing you to skip the ticket queue at several locations.
Depending on which pass you get, admission to the following activities and attractions is included:
- Buckingham Palace
- Tower Bridge
- View from the Shard
- The London Zoo
- Kew Gardens
- London Bike Tours
- Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tours
- London Boat Tours
- Wembley Stadium Tour
Make sure to read the full post covering London discount passes.
Ocean Film Festival
If you love the deep blue as much as we do, you'll love the Ocean Film Festival.
This festival features a number of fascinating ocean films you can really dive into.
The London event takes place October 18th, 2022 at Union Chapel.
Films will be screened in a number of additional locations. Click here for the complete list.
London Food Festival
With over 60 events throughout the month of October, London Restaurant Festival local cuisine and favorited chefs.
In addition to speical menus and discounted prices on many offerings, the festival will also host restaurant-hopping tours, chef-hosted lunches, and various tasting menus amongst other things.
Pairred perfectly with the London Food Festival is our pay-what-you-wish London Food Tour. We'll give you an idea of where to start on your food journey through London.
There are also some great self-guided food tours.
THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN OCTOBER
This section lists some activities, attractions, and tours that are available in October.
There are some great ways to spend your evenings listed in our top ten section above, such as the Festival of the Dead and other spooky Halloweeny activities.
For even more inspiration on how to spend your evenings in London, take a look at our nighttime activities guide to the city.
Explore London Dungeon…After Dark
The London Dungeon has been educating and scaring visitors for over the last decade – and now, to make things even spookier, they’re doing it at night with London Dungeon Lates.
A mash-up of theatre, special effects, storytelling, and surprises, it’s a walk through London’s gruesome past.
Oh – and there’s a cocktail in it for you, too! To learn more, click here.
London Cocktail Week
Pair your London Food Festival experience with London Cocktail Week! Eat then sip your way around the city, after dark, October 13th - 23rd, 2022.
You can get drink deals at 300+ bars with the purchase of a Festival Pass costing £12.50 - £15.00, encouraging you to go to all the places you've wanted to visit.
Also included in your Festival Pass is access to the Cocktail Village, a collection of 30+ pop-up bars, street food, and music at the heart of Brick Lane.
For even more inspiration on how to spend your evenings in London, take a look at our nighttime activities guide to the city.
Take a Night Walking Tour
Like our walking tours mentioned above, our evening tours are also offered on a pay-what-you-like basis so no matter what your budget, you can join us.
We have 6 evening/night tours including a Harry Potter Film Location tour, a Twilight River Walk, and night versions of our classic Westminster tour and City of London tour mentioned above.
For the braver souls, our Jack the Ripper tour and our London Ghost tour are waiting just for you. For availability, check our calendar.
For even more inspiration on how to spend your evenings in London, take a look at our nighttime activities guide to the city.
Visit the Nomad Cinema
You never know where you’ll end up when you book with the Nomad Cinema.
Evening showings of both modern and classic films are held in the most interesting of locations: cemeteries, markets, museums and more.
Click here to find out what’s playing when you’re in town!
For more ideas on night activities at any time of the year, be sure to read our definitive guide on things to do at night in London.
FREE THINGS TO DO IN OCTOBER
There’s always something interesting and free happening in London! This section lists some fun attractions, things to see, and activities to do in October.
Don’t forget to take a look at our comprehensive guide to free things to do in London .
Escape the Crystal Palace Maze
This hidden London gem is situated on the stunning grounds of Crystal Palace Park. Built in the 1870s, the Crystal Palace Maze is one of the largest in the country with a diameter of 160ft!
With a tricky mix of hedgerows and pathways, navigating your way through the maze is no easy feat.
Explore it all without having to pay a penny!
Take in the Autumn Colours
Take an outdoor stroll in one of London’s many lovely parks during one of the most vibrant times of the year.
See the autumn foliage in places like Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, and St. James’s Park among many other parks!
Visit a Free Museum
London is home to a host of free museums all over the city.
If you’re interested in world history, why not go to the Victoria & Albert Museum? Archaeology buffs can visit the Natural History Museum.
For a full list of museums that you can visit for free in London, check out our full free museum post.
See the Street Art
London’s East End is covered in graffiti and interesting street art. Some of it is beautiful, other bits are political, and several are shocking.
If you prefer to be led by an expert, feel free to join us on one of our free London Street Art and Graffiti Tours.
Don’t forget to take a look at our comprehensive guide to free things to do in London.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN OCTOBER
London has plenty of family-friendly activities to enjoy during October, like visiting a free museum listed in our free section above.
Here is a list of other things to do with the kids in London.
Don’t forget to read our full post on visiting London with the whole family.
Take a Sightseeing Tour
London is such a big city with so many things to see - make sure you see the best of it with a sightseeing tour!
Of course, we recommend our pay-what-you-like walking tours.
We have themed tours for street art, the Soho and Chinatown neighborhoods, Harry Potter, and more. Here are some of our most popular:
If walking tours aren’t your thing, maybe consider a cruise down the River Thames ? Hop-On-Hop-Off buses are also very popular and make it easy to get around London.
Several great tour options are included for free or at a discount with the purchase of a London tourist pass .
Take a Cruise to Greenwich
Take advantage of the nice weather before it gets too cold with a cruise on an open-top boat to the lovely town of Greenwich.
When you’re there, it feels like you’re visiting a small village rather than one of the busiest cities in the world!
City Cruises offers relaxed cruises with guided commentary as you ride along the Thames from the Palace of Westminster to Greenwich.
For something a bit different, they also offer dinner cruises, murder mystery evenings, and jazz cruises!
The London Eye
Kids will love getting a birds-eye view from this massive Ferris-wheel-style observation pod .
You’ll get a close-up view of the Parliament buildings and the entire financial district with its skyscrapers.
Onboard the pod there are interactive touch screens that will explain what you’re seeing.
Surround Yourself With Toys at Legoland
This is an entire world made of Lego, with rides, restaurants, activities, and even hotels.
Legoland is the setting for a completely immersive experience great for the whole family.
Travel through time, drive a car, go underwater, or walk through shockingly accurate recreations of the world’s most iconic landmarks.
To learn more, click here.
Take a Harry Potter Tour
Walk in the footsteps of the world’s most famous wizard with Free Tours By Foot! Our tour takes you behind the scenes into the world of Harry Potter.
Guests will be shown through locations used in filming, areas mentioned in the book, and everything in between on this tour offered during the day as well as early evening.
Check our calendar for availabilities!
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