Things to Do in London in October
Whether you are a local or visiting, there is a rich mix of things to do in London in October. From Halloween events and autumn-themed activities to immersive exhibitions and candlelight concerts, there’s something for every interest.
This month also brings opportunities to enjoy afternoon teas in historic venues and explore neighbourhood-specific activities. As tickets for Christmas are on sale, now is the time to book ahead and secure your spot for the festive season too! You’ll find exclusive discount codes for some of these activities in this guide, adding extra value to your plans. They are updated for the month on 2nd October.
Whether you’re after family-friendly events, cultural outings or a cosy afternoon treat, this guide will help you find the best ways to enjoy London in October.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them. This comes at no additional cost to you and it helps support the Sunny in London blog.
You’ll find Things to Do in London in October organised below by:
- Halloween/Seasonal
- Immersive Exhibitions
- Candlelight Concerts
- Afternoon Teas
- Limited Dates
- Harry Potter
- Sports
- On Sale for Christmas
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Halloween/Seasonal
- Jack the Ripper Walking Tour
- Gangster Tour of London’s East End Led by Actor Vas Blackwood
- Whistle Punks Urban Axe Throwing
- Ghastly London Ghost Tour
- Halloween Boat Party & Secret After Party
- London Bridge Experience & London Tombs
- Serial Killer: The Exhibition
Batman Unmasked in London
Explore an all-new London experience showing never seen before original props, vehicles and costumes direct from the archives. This celebrates the 85th anniversary of DCs iconic Super Hero.
- LOCATION: 45 Wellington Street
- PRICE: from £25.50
- TIMES: Until 3rd November, duration 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes
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MOCO MUSEUM
Celebrate icons of modern, contemporary and digital art, including Basquiat, KAWS, Haring, Kusama, Banksy & many more. Discount is available until 30th November.
PARADOX MUSEUM
From captivating optical illusions to challenging paradoxes, this unique voyage is a haven for curiosity and discovery. Discount is available until 30th November.
BUBBLE PLANET LONDON
With oversized bubbles, balloons, soap and more, this sensory universe will give you the opportunity to see the world in a whole new way—even allowing you to travel the globe with a hot air balloon flight simulator.
Discount is available until 30th November.
AND SPECIAL FOR AUTUMN is the London Bridge Experience and London Tombs until 30th November!
Immersive Exhibitions
Paradox Museum: London
See the world from another perspective. From captivating optical illusions to challenging paradoxes, this unique voyage is a haven for curiosity and discovery. Behold the impossible, challenge gravity and interrogate the essence of reality as you engage in an immersive escapade unmatched.
- LOCATION: Paradox Museum London, 90 Brompton Rd, SW3 1JJ
- PRICE: from £14
- TIMES: based on booking, approximately 90 minutes
Horizon of Khufu: An Immersive VR Expedition to Ancient Egypt
With The Horizon of Khufu, travel back thousands of years to the heart of ancient Egypt. Unlock the secrets of one of the seven wonders of the world with a brand new concept: the immersive expedition. Discover the Great Pyramid of Giza as it was more than 4500 years ago. Walk through its mysterious corridors, enter the Queen’s Chamber, and even try to decipher some hieroglyphics during a one-of-a-kind experience in London.
- LOCATION: The Street 1, London E20 1EJ
- PRICE: from £21
- TIMES: based on booking, duration 45 minutes
Bubble Planet: An immersive Experience
Inside this spherical world full of bubbles, you will have the opportunity to hop from one immersive space to the next, experiencing them all with your five senses! With oversized bubbles, balloons, soap and more, this sensory universe will give you the opportunity to see the world in a whole new way—even allowing you to travel the globe with a hot air balloon flight simulator.
- LOCATION: Unit 22 Fulton Road, Wembley
- PRICE: from £21
- TIMES: based on booking, approximately 60-90 minutes
WAR of the worlds
Experience a real Martian invasion in London at Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience. See it, hear it, live it, with 24 extraordinary scenes, multi-sensory effects and virtual reality – all set to Jeff Wayne’s iconic music.
- LOCATION: 56 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 2BJ
- PRICE: from £47.50
- TIMES: you must book ahead; it’s approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes including a 20 minute interval; you’ll need to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to booking
Candlelight Concerts in London
These are Fever Original Events. I have attended several and highly recommend them for date nights, special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries or just a fun night out! You can read more about my first experience at the Tribute to Coldplay. I’ve also attended the Tribute to Taylor Swift and Hans Zimmer Candlelight Concerts.
NEW!!! Best of Bridgerton on Strings
Surrounded by the soft glow of candlelight, listen to your favorite melodies from Shondaland’s ‘Bridgerton’ series on Netflix, reimagined by a talented string ensemble.
- TIMES: you must book ahead, current dates sold out until December 2024; 60 minutes
- LOCATION: Southwark Cathedral, London, SE1 9DA
- PRICE: from £17.50 (restricted) from £36
Afternoon Tea: Things to Do in London in October
national gallery highlights tour and afternoon tea
Explore a magnificent compilation of Western European artworks, dating from the 13th to the 19th centuries. Immerse yourself in awe-inspiring masterpieces crafted by renowned artists like Leonardo, Monet and Van Gogh. Indulge in an afternoon tea experience at the National Gallery’s own restaurant, Ochre.
- LOCATION: National Gallery, Trafalgar Square
- PRICE: £49
- TIMES: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; cannot be booked for a party of one. 2pm
MAD HATTERS afternoon tea
Held at Sanderson London hotel, this would be a fun afternoon tea to attend around the Halloween season.
- LOCATION: 50 Berners Street, Fitzrovia, London W1T 3NG
- PRICE: £55 for an adult, £76 with a glass of champagne
- TIMES: Monday-Sunday 12pm-7pm
devil wears prada Afternoon Tea
Dive into the devilishly decadent and stylish afternoon tea to celebrate the hotly anticipated musical adaption of the book and film which debuts at The Dominion Theatre.
- LOCATION: The Coral Room at The Bloomsbury Hotel, 16-22 Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1b 3NN
- PRICE: £48 per person
- TIMES: beginning 30th September
LIMITED DATES: Things to Do in London in October
ABSOLUT WARHOL: the Other half
Absolut and The Warhol Foundation are giving five amazing, emerging and diverse artists (Jade Pearl, Kelly Anna, Ken Nwadiogbu, Alexa Sirbu, Xu Yang) the chance to showcase their work in the Saatchi Gallery and design their interpretation of ‘The Other Half’ of an original Andy Warhol artwork.
- LOCATION: Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York Square, King’s Road, London SW3 4RY
- PRICE: Free
- TIMES: 4th-6th October
LONDON COCKTAIL WEEK
An 11-day city-wide festival dedicated to specially created £8 signature cocktails made in London’s best bars.
- PRICE: Tickets for £20 grant you a wristband that entitles the wearer to • Signature Cocktails in hundreds of participating bars.
- TIMES: 3-13 October
DIWALI
The Festival of Lights will be celebrated with stage performances and cultural activities.
- LOCATION: Trafalgar Square
- PRICE: free
- TIMES: 27 September
Harry Potter Things to Do in London in October
With Halloween in the air, it’s customary to think about all the fun things to do in London that are Harry Potter themed.
Here’s a list of activities to check out if you love this literary and film character:
- Harry Potter Warner Bros Studios with Coach Transport from London
- Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Access with One-Night London Stay
- Tour for Muggles
- Oxford & Cambridge Universities Tour with Christ Church Entry
Sport
NFL in London
Three NFL games will be played in London in October.
- New York Jets vs Minnesota Vikings, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 6 October, 2pm
- Jacksonville Jaguars vs Chicago Bears, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 13 October, 2.30pm
- New England Patriots vs Jacksonville Jaguars, Wembley Stadium, 20 October, 2.30pm
STADIUM TOURS
Tours can be booked through The London Pass or on the individual links below.
TOP STADIUMS TO TOUR
On Sale for Christmas:
- Winter Wonderland
- Christmas at Kew
- Hogwarts in the Snow
- The Nutcracker– English National Ballet
- The Snowman
- Matthew Bourne’s The Swan Lake
- A Christmas Carol(ish)
- A Christmas Carol (at the Old Vic)
- Cinderella at The Royal Ballet
- Robin Hood (The London Palladium, pantomime)
- Windsor Great Park Illuminated