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20 Things to Do in London in October

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Updated: September 4, 2023
 By Margaret

This article gives you the best things to do in London during October, updated for 2023.

We include a top 10 list, of nighttime activities, free things to do, as well as family-friendly attractions. 

As local London tour guides, we have drawn upon our extensive extensive experiences to come up with this list of October activities and events.

Come October, you can find us leading free walking tours throughout London.

And we'll be ready to answer our guests' questions about what to do during the rest of their stay.

We also run the very popular London Travel Tips Facebook group, with roughly 125k members.

We've incorporated some of the suggestions for October events and things to do in this post.

The group consists of locals, like our tour guides, veteran travelers, as well as newbies to London.

Check out the group once you have finished reading this post.

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 11th - 15th.

Tickets and more information are available on the Frieze London website.

2. Enjoy Major Concerts 

London is full of music venues and you can be sure that no matter which month you’re in town there will be a big-name artist or group performing.

This October is no different, with multiple big tours coming through the London area.

Concerts

Music Festivals or Events

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, Gielgud Theatre, Apollo Theatre, Palace Theatre, and many more.

Performances have been taking place in this part of the city since 1663!

From long-term residencies to short runs, here is a list of musicals and plays you can see in October:

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. Enjoy Some Comedy

Who doesn't need a good laugh? Luckily, London is chock full of comedians and some of them have shows in October.

Stand Up Comedy

Comedy Shows

Comedy Clubs

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 takes place October 13th - 22nd.

For tickets and information visit the Bloomsbury Festival website.

Tip: Many activities 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 27th-28th ExCel London.

To learn more and get tickets, click on the MCM Comic Con London website.

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.

The date for London 2023 hasn't been posted yet, but last year it took place 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:

8. London Restuarant Festival

Twice a year, in summer and autumn, the London Restaurant Festival celebrates the diversity and quality of its cuisine with food lovers.

In addition to special 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.

At restaurants, you might find a menu set to show off their signature dishes and best flavors, or one-night conceptual food events.

Check the London Restaurant Festival website for a list of events, tasting menus, and other information.

Paired 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.

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, thinkers, and entertainers will make an appearance.

In years past authors such as Karl Ove Knausgård, Nick Cave, Graham Norton, and many more attended.

The event takes place October 18th - 29th at Southbank Centre.

For more information visit the London Literature Festival website.

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:

 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 over October 26th & 27th at Union Chapel.

Films will be screened in a number of additional locations. Click here for the complete list.

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 Halloween activities. 

For even more inspiration on how to spend your evenings in London, take a look at our nighttime activities guide to the city.

London Cocktail Week

Pair your London Food Festival experience with London Cocktail Week!

Eat then sip your way around the city, after dark, October 12th - 22nd

You can get drink deals at 300+ bars with the purchase of a Festival Pass usually costing around £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 the 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.

Celebrate Diwali

There will be a family-friendly Diwali celebration in Trafalgar Square.

Celebrate the festival of light with 35,000 other people. There will be dancers, music, and food stalls (vegan and vegetarian).

There are also Activity Zones and Food Zones.

It all takes place on October 29th and runs until 20:00 (8:00 pm). For more information, visit the DiwaliLondon website.

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.

Drink Moonshine 

Enter the Wild West at one of London’s most interesting cocktail experiences at The Moonshine Saloon.

Guests will travel back in time as they descend into a hidden Western world.

Smuggle in a bottle of your favorite spirit, covertly hand it to the bartender, and they will craft specially made moonshine out of it.

But watch out for the sheriff - he’s always on the lookout for smugglers! 

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.

London 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. 

Tickets can be purchased here.

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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About The Author

Margaret

An American simply by accident of birth, Margaret moved to London over 16 years ago and hasn’t looked back since! With a keen interest in History – and a BA degree to match – Margaret prides herself on her knowledge of the amazing city she calls home and she's been guiding here now for nearly a decade. Social history is her real expertise, with sound understanding of the day-to-day lives of Londoners over the past centuries.
Updated: September 4th, 2023
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