Things to Do in London in October
Autumn colour, film premieres and Halloween thrills
October is autumn in full flame. The parks and tree-lined streets blaze with red and gold, the air turns crisp, and the city swaps rooftops for cosy interiors. The BFI London Film Festival brings red-carpet premieres and international cinema to the West End and South Bank, Diwali lights up Trafalgar Square with one of the biggest celebrations outside India, and Halloween builds towards a citywide crescendo of ghost tours, pumpkin patches and after-dark thrills. As the clocks fall back at the end of the month, London settles into candlelit, fire-warmed evenings and the comforting rhythms of the cold half of the year.
Weather
Cool and crisp, with highs around 15°C and increasing rain. A warm layer and waterproof are worth carrying.
Daylight
Shortening fast, and the clocks go back on the last Sunday of October — after which sunset drops to around 4.40pm.
What's on in October
The annual events and traditions that return to London every October.
BFI London Film Festival
The UK's largest public film event brings premieres, galas and hundreds of screenings to venues across the capital.
Diwali on the Square
Trafalgar Square hosts a vibrant free celebration of the Festival of Light, with performance, food and dance.
Halloween season
Ghost tours, pumpkin patches on the city fringe, and after-dark events at the attractions build through late October.
Seasonal ideas for October
Walk in the autumn colour
Kew Gardens, Richmond Park and Hampstead Heath are spectacular as the leaves turn.
Go pumpkin picking
Farms on London's outer edge open their pumpkin patches for a classic family day out.
Planning your October visit
- Book Film Festival tickets as soon as the programme lands — the big galas sell out fast.
- Remember the clocks go back, giving darker but cosier evenings.
- Carry a waterproof as October rain becomes more frequent.