10 Things to Do in London in autumn

Autumn is the perfect time to visit London. The city and its parks take on a special colour, and the temperature isn’t too cold.

What’s more, prices aren’t as high as at other times of the year, and there are some key dates on the calendar, such as Halloween and Guy Fawkes Night. Below, I’ve listed all the must-see events during your trip to the British capital between September and December.

Since 1997, London has hosted the Thames Festival Trust, an event where the River Thames takes centre stage. A full programme of artistic, educational and heritage activities is organised, such as:

• Rowing and swimming competitions.
• Live music performances.
• Digital exhibitions.
• Workshops.

What’s more, you can make the most of being in the area and book tickets for the London Eye to view the activities from above.

Points of interest

• When: throughout September.
• Where: on the South Bank.
• Find out more... Read the articles on views from the London Eye and tickets for the London Eye

And if you’re a foodie and your trip coincides with October, you’re in luck. For over a decade, the London Restaurant Festival has been held, a festival during which the city’s most popular restaurants design and offer different tasting menus.

It’s the perfect opportunity to sample dishes from all over the world. What’s more, you’ll have the chance to take part in wine and beer tastings, attend masterclasses led by famous chefs, enjoy a wide variety of gastronomic events and experience different culinary delights. A treat for all the senses!

Other gastronomic recommendations

• I recommend booking a set menu at the Hard Rock Café in London.
• Read the post ‘10 places to eat near the London Eye’.
• Why not book a food tour of London?

The main plan for your trip to London during the autumn season, especially from late September to early November, is to take a stroll through one of the city’s main parks or gardens.

London has an equal proportion of green space to urban space. In fact, it is said that if every one of the millions of Londoners living in the city wanted to hug a tree, there would be one for each of them. Fancy finding your own tree? Here are a few suggestions for your trip:

• St John’s Lodge Gardens: situated in Regent’s Park, this is one of the city’s most peaceful green spaces.
• Hyde Park: right in the heart of London, it is a favourite park for both residents and visitors alike.
• Richmond Park: this is one of my favourite spots. It is London’s largest nature reserve and home to a variety of deer living in the wild.
• St James’s Park: situated next to Buckingham Palace, it is one of the city’s most historic parks.
• Victoria Park: a perfect choice if you’re visiting with children, as it features various play areas and swimming pools.
• Chiswick Gardens: stands out for its classical temples, monuments, lakes and its conservatory, which houses an important collection of camellias.
• Kew Gardens: you’ll have to pay to get in, but it’s well worth a visit, as it boasts over 500 acres of woodland and 50,000 plants.

A fun option for both children and adults is to book a visit to the Harry Potter Studios Park, where you can immerse yourself in the original sets from the blockbuster films:

• The Great Hall at Hogwarts.
• Platform 9¾.
• The Headmistress’s office.
• Diagon Alley.
• Or the Forbidden Forest.

In the next post, you can find out all the details on how to get to the Harry Potter Studios. And I recommend you choose November to visit in autumn, as this is the month when you’ll find the fewest visitors.

Booking tickets for the London Dungeon means experiencing 17 interactive shows with terrifying sets, special effects and narration by various performers who bring visitors face-to-face with some of the darkest events in London’s history, such as:

• The Great Fire of London in 1666.
• The Gunpowder Plot.
• Or the Black Death. What’s more,

You’ll learn all about the stories of Guy Fawkes, Sweeney Todd and Jack the Ripper. At Halloween, usually during the second half of October, they put on some special events, so I recommend going if you’re in London in October.

Another great autumn activity is to book tickets for the London Eye. Having the chance to take in the view of London at this time of year, when the city is bathed in ochre and orange hues like a postcard, is an unbeatable experience.

And what better place to do so than from Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel, which offers a 360° panoramic view and the chance to take some fantastic photographs.

Read the post ‘Views from the London Eye’ and you’ll get an idea of what you can see from this attraction.

With over 60 years of history, the London Film Festival is a world-class film event held every year for over ten days in October.

If you’re a film lover and your trip coincides with the weeks the festival takes place, I recommend you go along as you’ll have the chance to enjoy some of the world’s best and most acclaimed films and series.

In addition, premiere galas, special screenings and immersive art experiences, amongst other events, are also organised.

In early December, the Santa Run London takes place, a charity run in which participants dress up as Father Christmas.

It’s an ideal activity if you’re visiting London with children, as all participants receive a Father Christmas costume and there’s a fun run for children under eight.

Adults and children aged eight and over can take part in two races, a 5-kilometre and a 10-kilometre race. And after the race, they can recharge their batteries with a snack whilst listening to Christmas carols.

October also sees Frieze London, an international art fair featuring a selection of carefully curated contemporary art galleries, held in Regent’s Park.

Talks and various activities are also organised throughout the five days of the event. This international fair is also held in New York and Los Angeles.

From mid-November to early December, you can already experience and feel the Christmas spirit in London. During this time, you can:

• See the first Christmas markets.
• Witness the switching on of the lights.
• Enjoy the Christmas decorations and Christmas trees.
• Listen to carols.
• And go ice skating at one of the rinks, such as Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.

If your trip to London coincides with the autumn season, bear in mind that temperatures begin to drop gradually and significantly from the end of September.

They average 16°C in September, 13°C in October, 9°C in November and a minimum average of 5°C in December. It is also a very rainy season. In fact, October and November are the months with the highest rainfall.

Tourist numbers in London in autumn are very low compared to other times of the year, such as summer, Christmas and Easter… Therefore, I recommend that if you have the chance to travel between September and December, don’t hesitate to do so.

You’ll have a wider choice of flights and hotels. What’s more, the attractions won’t be as crowded as at other times of the year. Even so, bear in mind that there are always tourists in London; it’s just that at certain times of year there are slightly fewer.

Prices in London during the autumn months are relatively affordable compared to other times of the year, especially in October and November.

Even so, there are key dates when prices are higher, such as Halloween or December, when the festive spirit is already in the air.

Whichever month of autumn you visit, it is advisable to wrap up warm with jumpers and sweatshirts.

It is also a good idea to take a raincoat to protect yourself from the rain, as well as waterproof footwear.

Furthermore, from November onwards, temperatures begin to drop considerably, averaging between 5°C and 9°C, so it is essential that you take a coat.