London in October 2026: What not to miss this month

Harry Potter fans can celebrate Halloween at Hogwarts thanks to Dark Arts, a spine-tingling event taking place at the Warner Bros Studio Tour this season. Admire pumpkins hanging from the ceiling in the Great Hall, watch Voldemort’s Death Eaters wander Diagon Alley, and learn how special effects were used to create unforgettable moments including the Chamber of Secrets door and the thrilling Quidditch tournaments. Be sure to check out the Warner Bros Studio shop for replica wands, merchandise and even your very own Hedwig.  

There's no need to book separately to guarantee your spot; the Dark Arts experience is included in a general entry ticket to the Studio Tour until 8 November 2026. You can also check out our guide to Harry Potter things to do in London if you're in need of more inspiration.

RENT is back on the West End stage to mark its 30th anniversary this year, and theatre fans won't want to miss out. Catch Jonathan Larson's groundbreaking musical at Duke of York's Theatre this autumn with Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo as Mark. 

Boasting a timeless story and a rock soundtrack that redefined musical theatre, RENT shot to fame when it premiered in New York in 1996. After its triumphant return to the UK, it's one of the biggest musicals in London right now. 

Treat the kids to an unforgettable October half-term in London (26 to 30 October) with a packed itinerary filled with exhibitions, immersive experiences and more. If you're planning a full week of sightseeing, we recommend investing in The London Pass – a digital credits package that gives you access to more than 100 attractions. 

If you're looking for something a little different, however, why not embark on a mind-bending day out at Twist Museum or Paradox Museum London, venture into the animal kingdom at SEA LIFE and London Zoo, or embrace some movie magic at The Paddington Bear Experience. Spend your evenings enjoying fan-favourite theatre shows such as Matilda and Oliver. 

After a dazzling run at the Bridge Theatre, hit show Into the Woods has officially transferred to the Noël Coward Theatre on London's West End. Performances are scheduled until 9 January 2027, so there's no better time to book tickets and catch the Olivier award-winning play for yourself. 

This beloved musical takes inspiration from classic fairytales including Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood. Featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, it explores the consequences of desire and the importance of human connection – with plenty of humour thrown in, of course. 

Prepare for sightseeing with a side of scones on an afternoon tea bus with a panoramic tour of London. Enjoy a classic British pastime while you admire some of the capital's most famous landmarks including Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the London Eye. 

Hop on an elegantly-decorated double decker bus and embark on a London tour like no other, snapping plenty of photos along the way. During your journey, you'll be treated to a lavish afternoon tea menu including sandwiches, scones and cakes. 

Whether you're craving theme park thrills or hair-raising experiences at top attractions, there's no shortage of things to do for Halloween in London. Fans of history can travel back in time on a Jack the Ripper walking tour across east London or a Ghost Bus Tour at nightfall, and theatre lovers can take the opportunity to see a spellbinding production of Wicked the Musical on the West End.

Meanwhile, adrenaline junkies can enjoy the Chamber of Horrors ride at Madame Tussauds or book a spot at Fright Night, the ever-popular Halloween spectacular at Thorpe Park. And if you're after more immersive fun, try the Alcotraz prison cocktail experience. 

If you're craving an adventure this month, a Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath tour is one of our favourite day trips from London. It offers the chance to explore three famous locations in just 12 hours.  

Kick off your day with a visit to Windsor Castle, with plenty of time to wander the grounds, admire the State Apartments and peek into St George's Chapel. Then, hop back on the coach and prepare to marvel at the mystery of Stonehenge before arriving in the city of Bath, taking in the grand architecture and Roman heritage. Find out more in our Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath tour review. 

Oktoberfest dates back more than 200 years, when a royal wedding in Bavaria sparked an annual celebration of beer and bratwurst in Munich. Centuries on, it's one of the highlights of London's event calendar. 

This year, the official beer hall will be open in Finsbury Park from 1 to 3 October, serving up authentic German beer and traditional Bavarian food such as Bratwurst and Apfelstrudel. Come prepared for a party – or check out one of the many other Oktoberfest events in the capital, including Flat Iron Square, which will be hosting themed events until 24 October, and Between the Bridges on the South Bank, which will be marking the occasion on 17 October with DJs, live brass musicians and more. 

BFI London Film Festival celebrates its 70th birthday this month at the Royal Festival Hall. Running from 7 to 18 October, the event encompasses movie premieres, restored works from the BFI archives, short films and a dazzling lineup of talks. Film screenings will take place at venues across London including BFI IMAX, Curzon Soho and the Prince Charles Cinema. 

This year, you can expect public premieres of star-studded films such as Elsinore, featuring Andrew Scott, and The Debut, featuring Julianne Moore. Free talks and workshops will span themes from gaming to true crime and community activism, while more Hollywood icons – including Cynthia Erivo and Jesse Eisenberg – will participate in panel discussions exploring their upcoming projects. Since tickets went on sale in September, many events are now sold out, but there are plenty of ways to get involved; you can check out the full programme on the BFI website. 

20 years after it premiered on Disney Channel and became a global phenomenon, High School Musical is hitting the stage at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. Join Troy, Gabriella and the rest of the East High gang as they navigate love, friendship and peer pressure – all while juggling classes, auditions and basketball games. 

Get dazzlingly close to the action thanks to on-stage seating, and dance along in your seat as a star-studded cast performs every hit song from the original soundtrack. Look out for drummer Harry Judd in the role of Coach Bolton, and actress KayCee Stroh, who played Martha in the original High School Musical films and will now portray Ms Darbus in the stage production.

Dive into Black History Month in London with a stellar lineup of talks, workshops, live music and exhibitions across the capital. Enjoy snacks, street food and entertainment at Black Eats Fest in Hackney Bridge (3 to 4 October), or head to Black Culture Market in Lambeth to support emerging African Caribbean businesses (10 to 11 October).  

You can also try your hand at a Family Drumming Workshop at Crate St James in Walthamstow (4 October), take a seat at Holborn's Top Secret Comedy Club for their Black History Month Special (8 October), or embark on a walking tour of black history in Brixton (18 October). Don't forget to see London, Sugar and Slavery, a permanent exhibition at London Museum Docklands, and check out The Music is Black: A British Story – a V&A exhibition charting 125 years of black music history. 

The 13th edition of K-Music Festival has kicked off this month and will run until 23 November. Expect a thrilling lineup of live performances at multiple London venues, with a programme that champions Korea's diverse music scene. You'll find everything from traditional folk sounds to pop, hip-hop and even gaming soundtracks.

While there are plenty of events to look forward to, we're particularly excited about Korean Games in Concert at the Southbank Centre (11 October) and composer Kyungso Park's joint concert with Björn Meyer at the Royal Albert Hall (29 October). Check out the full programme on the UK Korean Culture Centre's website. 

Theatre fans will be delighted to learn that the London production of Jesus Christ Superstar has been extended into the winter, transferring to Theatre Royal Drury Lane from 6 October 2026 to 9 January 2027.  

Based on Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash hit, this staging of Jesus Christ Superstar debuted at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in 2016. It completed a sold-out run at the London Palladium this summer before its West End transfer was announced, and the show will subsequently tour the UK from February 2027. This legendary rock opera combines drama, emotion and unforgettable performances, with Eurovision star Sam Ryder playing the titular role. 

Established in 2003, Frieze London has become one of the most influential contemporary art fairs in the industry, transforming Regent’s Park into a vibrant hub of art and design every year. The event runs in tandem with Frieze Masters, a fair dedicated to works created before 2000, and Frieze Sculpture, a free outdoor display held in the English Gardens at Regent's Park. 

Frieze offers visitors the chance to see pieces showcased by hundreds of different galleries from across the globe, with particular emphasis on up-and-coming artists. The Focus section at Frieze London highlights emerging talent from around the world, while the Artist-to-Artist section enables established artists to platform solo work from new figures in the industry. New for 2026 is The Code Universe section, which brings together 50 different presentations to champion the next generation of artists.  

This year's edition of London Literature Festival is curated by none other than popstar Dua Lipa. It will arrive at the Southbank Centre on Tuesday 20 October, with a fantastic lineup of events running until 2 November. Prepare for panel talks that blend music, poetry, spoken word and fiction, plus workshops on creative writing, cover design, slam poetry and more. 

Don't miss acclaimed author Malorie Blackman discussing Noughts and Crosses, her bestselling Young Adult series, and make sure to drop into Creative Encounters: A Manifesto Library, where you can create your own dust jackets for censored texts. Meanwhile, kids will love crafting their own tales in Search for a Story, an interactive storytelling adventure, or using art to explore themes of identity in Cardboard Citizens: The Meaning of Home, a family-centered workshop.  

Bag tickets to Hay Fever at Wyndham's Theatre and you'll see two screen stars take the stage: Richard E. Grant (best known for his roles in Saltburn and Withnail and I) and Christine Baranski (a star of the Mamma Mia films). It even marks Baranski's West End debut. 

Hay Fever tells the story of the eccentric Bliss family and their attempts to impress guests during a lavish weekend at their English country house. Set in the 1920s, the play is a masterclass in mischief and witty drama, and it's back in the capital more than a century after it opened at the Ambassadors Theatre in Covent Garden. 

Between Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October, entry to the glorious Chelsea Physic Garden will be free of charge as part of the Chelsea History Festival, which is taking place across multiple venues in the area. You'll still need to book a ticket to the garden and select a time slot to visit, but you won't have to pay. 

As London's oldest botanical garden, this lush space is always worth a visit, and there is plenty to entertain kids and adults alike during the History Festival. Leave plenty of time to wander around the garden, but don't forget to try out pond dipping, get stuck into craft activities or attend a lively storytelling session designed to teach little ones about ancient medicine and healing.

Celebrate spooky season with a visit to the London Dungeon this month. Delve into the darkest chapters of London's past in a walk-through experience recreating grisly historical events, offering you the chance to come face-to-face with figures such as Jack the Ripper and Sweeney Todd. 

Prepare for gripping storytelling and immersive theatrical performances from live actors before you face one final showdown: the London Dungeon's very own rollercoaster. Step onto Drop Dead: Drop Ride and experience a 60-second vertical free-fall that's guaranteed to give you a hefty hit of adrenaline. 

October is the perfect time to get your culture fix, as a host of new new exhibitions have just been unveiled. We can't wait to see The 90s: Art and Fashion (from 8 October at Tate Britain), a tribute to pre-millennium creativity which has been curated by previous Vogue editor Edward Enninful. We're also excited about Painting the French Riviera at the Royal Academy (from 2 October) and Renoir and Love at the National Gallery (from 3 October).  

Meanwhile, fans of Japanese art will be thrilled to visit Dulwich Picture Gallery's latest exhibition, Hokusai: Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji from the Iuchi Collection (from 20 October). This landmark display spotlights the iconic works of Katsushika Hokusai, the printmaker known for his depictions of Mount Fuji. 

Autumn is a brilliant time to get outside and admire the changing scenery in the capital, and the Royal Parks Half Marathon offers the perfect opportunity to visit some of the best parks in London.  

Taking place on 11 October, this event traces a route through four of London's royal parks: Hyde Park, Green Park, St. James's Park and Kensington Gardens. Plenty of breathtaking landmarks and royal attractions are in full view along the 13.1-mile course, from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament. Choose a section of the route to walk at your leisure, or stop to cheer on the runners.  

This action-packed event was first held in Trafalgar Square in 2012. Over a decade later, it has become the UK’s biggest annual festival celebrating Japanese culture and food, featuring live music performances, karate demonstrations and interactive workshops.  

Don't miss the spectacular opening ceremony, which showcases traditional Japanese drumming and dancing – and after soaking up the atmosphere, make sure to check out the many food and drink stalls. This year, the festival will take place between 10am and 8pm on 4 October, and it's free to attend. 

With autumn in full swing, why not visit a pumpkin patch in London? Picking pumpkins is an ideal seasonal activity for the entire family to enjoy, and it's a great way to get in the mood for Halloween. 

If you're keen to go pumpkin picking in the capital, our favourite locations include Hobbledown Heath in Hounslow and Crockford Bridge Farm in Addlestone. However, you can also venture further afield and transform this classic autumn activity into a day trip; we love visiting pumpkin patches such as Hatter's Farm in Essex and Tulleys Farm in West Sussex. 

Following its spectacular arrival in the UK after nearly 1,000 years, tickets to see the Bayeaux Tapestry at the British Museum have sold out in record time. Fortunately, however, you can still mark the occasion thanks to the Big Bayeaux Bash, a weekend-long celebration of the tapestry's return – and a chance to delve into the jaw-dropping history of this ancient artefact. 

Head to the British Museum on 10 and 11 October to enjoy a variety of free, family-friendly activities. Expect hands-on workshops, drop-in educational sessions and crafting lessons; highlights of the programme include a medieval embroidery class, a collaborative textile collage and even a medieval-themed pub quiz.