London in Autumn — Travel Guide
By Harry Nara · Last updated
London in Autumn offers some of the best conditions of the year, ideal for culture seekers & film fans. Expect temperatures of 8–16°C, around 8–15 days of rain, and medium crowds across the city. Daily budgets typically land around £100–160 for mid-range travellers. Book three to four weeks ahead for the best mid-range rates and the widest hotel choice.
Contents16 sections
#At a Glance
London's autumn runs from the last warm weeks of September to the dark, wet afternoons of late November, and the city changes with it. September still belongs to the parks and the river, and London opens its doors for Open House.
October is the cultural peak, with the BFI London Film Festival, Frieze and the new seasons at the theatres and concert halls, and the trees at their most colourful. November is the season of fire and remembrance: Bonfire Night on Friday 5 November 2027, the Lord Mayor's Show on Saturday 13 November and Remembrance Sunday on the 14th, before the Christmas lights go on.
The clocks go back on Sunday 31 October, and from then on the city is dark by 4:30pm.
#Weather in London in Autumn
London in Autumn averages 8–16°C (46–61°F) with around 8–15 days of rain, and crowds are medium.
| Month | Daytime high | Overnight low | Wet days | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | About 20°C / 68°F | About 12°C / 54°F | About 8 | 7:48pm on the 1st |
| October | About 16°C / 61°F | About 9°C / 48°F | About 11 | 5:38pm on the 30th, 4:36pm after the clocks change |
| November | About 12°C / 54°F | About 4°C / 39°F | About 15 | 3:56pm by the 30th |
Figures are Met Office 1991–2020 averages for London.
What that actually means for your trip:
- September is often the best of it. Mild, settled days are common, and a warm spell can feel like a second summer.
- October turns wetter and cooler, especially in the second half, with the leaves at their best and the evenings drawing in fast.
- November is dark and damp. Days are short and grey more often than not, with the first frosts at night; London moves indoors.
- The light goes quickly. Sunset comes about four hours earlier at the end of November than at the start of September.
Is autumn a good time to visit London? Yes, especially September and October, for the mild weather, the colour in the parks and the busiest cultural calendar of the year. November is cheaper and quieter, and suits a trip of museums, theatre and pubs.
#September to November in London
September is London's back-to-school month.
Open House opens hundreds of buildings that are usually closed, from private houses to government offices, free, for about ten days in September; and Totally Thames brings events along the river through the month. The parks are still green, and the evenings are long enough for a drink outside.
October is the cultural peak.
The BFI London Film Festival screens premieres across the city for about two weeks, and Frieze London and Frieze Masters fill Regent's Park.
Diwali falls around 29 October in 2027, with a free celebration in Trafalgar Square usually on a nearby Sunday.
The school half-term, usually the last week of the month, fills the museums, and Halloween falls on Sunday 31 October, the same day the clocks go back.
November opens with Bonfire Night, Friday 5 November 2027, and big firework displays in the parks; see our Bonfire Night guide.
The Lord Mayor's Show, a parade of floats and bands through the City, is on Saturday 13 November; see our Lord Mayor's Show guide.
Remembrance Sunday, 14 November, brings the national ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall and a two-minute silence at 11am. The Christmas lights on the main shopping streets switch on during the month.
#What to Do in London in Autumn
Solo Travellers
Book a few Open House buildings in September, then spend a long day in the British Museum and the British Library. In October, catch a festival screening at the BFI Southbank; returns often appear on the day.
Couples
Walk across Hampstead Heath to Kenwood House in October, when the woods are turning, then lunch in a Hampstead pub. A night at the theatre, followed by dinner in Covent Garden or Soho, is the classic autumn evening.
Families
Conker season in October turns any trip to a park into a hunt.
The Tower of London is atmospheric on a misty autumn morning, and the Museum of London Docklands at Canary Wharf, free, tells the story of the river and the port.
Groups
A ticketed Bonfire Night display in one of the big parks, with food stalls and a bonfire, is the group event of the season. In September, a walk along the Thames from Westminster to Tower Bridge, with a pub stop on the South Bank, is hard to beat.
#Getting Around
From Heathrow, the Elizabeth line runs into central London, the Piccadilly line is the slow, cheap option, and the Heathrow Express reaches Paddington in about 15 minutes.
Gatwick has the Gatwick Express and Thameslink, Stansted the Stansted Express and Luton a shuttle and Thameslink.
Tap a contactless card or phone, or an Oyster card, on every Tube, bus, train and tram, and the daily cap limits your spending; the Zones 1–2 cap was £8.90 at 2026 prices, and TfL revises fares each March.
A bus ride is £1.85 from 1 November 2026.
#Budget & Costs
| Travel style | Per day | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | £75–110 | Hostel bed, pub meals, contactless transport |
| Mid-range | £170–250 | 3-star hotel, restaurants, one paid sight or show |
| Luxury | £450+ | Top hotels and fine dining |
September and October are busier and pricier than November, with peaks around Frieze week and half-term.
Costs worth knowing:
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| National museums and galleries | Free |
| Open House buildings | Free, some booked ahead |
| Watching the Lord Mayor's Show | Free |
| Bus fare | £1.85 from 1 November 2026 |
| Pint in central London | About £6.50–7.50 |
- Bonfire Night displays in the big parks are ticketed; book early for the popular ones.
- Frieze week raises Mayfair and Marylebone hotel prices.
- November has the best hotel prices of the season.
#Food & Dining
Autumn is game, mushroom and apple season, and London's best British restaurants make the most of it.
St. John in Smithfield cooks nose-to-tail British food; Quo Vadis in Soho changes its menu with the season; and Borough Market and Maltby Street Market in Bermondsey show off the produce.
A Sunday roast in a pub with a fire becomes the weekend ritual from October.
#Nightlife
The new seasons open at the National Theatre, the Barbican and the Southbank Centre, and the West End is in full swing.
Ronnie Scott's in Soho has jazz every night, and the clubs, Fabric in Farringdon among them, move into their busiest months as the outdoor season ends. Halloween weekend brings themed nights across the city.
#Shopping
The autumn collections fill Liberty, Selfridges and the shops of Marylebone High Street.
Leadenhall Market, a Victorian covered arcade in the City, is a beautiful place to browse on a wet day, and the Bermondsey Antiques Market opens early on Friday mornings. The Christmas windows and lights arrive in November.
#Culture & Etiquette
- Remembrance: poppies are worn from late October, and the two-minute silence at 11am on Remembrance Sunday and on 11 November is observed in public places.
- Bonfire Night marks the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605; fireworks are heard across the city for days around the 5th.
- The theatre starts on time, and latecomers wait for a break.
- Pubs fill early on Friday evenings, and from mid-November with office parties.
#Essential Local Phrases
British English has a few words American visitors won't immediately recognise.
| What you want to say | What Londoners say |
|---|---|
| The subway / metro | The Tube |
| An umbrella | A brolly |
| A raincoat | A mac |
| Standing in line | Queueing |
| The bathroom / restroom | The loo |
| A sweater | A jumper |
| Fall | Autumn |
| Fireworks night | Bonfire Night |
| Chestnut seeds from the horse chestnut | Conkers |
| A cup of tea | A cuppa |
#Packing List
- Layers for mild September days and cool evenings
- A waterproof jacket, essential from October
- A warm coat, scarf and gloves for November
- Waterproof shoes with grip for wet leaves
- A compact umbrella
- A smarter outfit for the theatre
- A contactless card or Oyster card
#Backup Plans (Rainy Days)
The free museums are made for wet autumn days: the National Gallery, the V&A, Tate Modern and the British Museum.
The Wallace Collection and Sir John Soane's Museum are smaller and quieter, and a matinee in the West End fills a grey afternoon.
If the half-term crowds fill the big museums: go to Greenwich and the National Maritime Museum, or out to Hampton Court Palace, which absorb crowds better.
#Safety & Health
London is safe in autumn. Pickpockets work the crowds at the firework displays, the Lord Mayor's Show and Oxford Street, so keep bags closed. Wet leaves make pavements slippery. At Bonfire Night displays, keep children close and agree a meeting point. Colds and flu start to circulate in November.
Emergency: 999, or 111 for urgent medical advice and 101 for non-emergency police.
#What's New for Autumn 2027
- The clocks go back on Sunday 31 October 2027, which is also Halloween
- Bonfire Night falls on Friday 5 November 2027
- The Lord Mayor's Show is on Saturday 13 November, and Remembrance Sunday on 14 November
- Diwali falls around 29 October in 2027
- The London bus fare is £1.85 from 1 November 2026
#About This Guide
By Harry Nara (founder of WhenToWander), updated October 2026 for autumn 2027. Climate figures are Met Office 1991–2020 averages. Dates and prices verified against:
- BFI London Film Festival for the festival
- Frieze for the art fairs
- The Lord Mayor's Show for the parade
- Open House London for the festival
- Transport for London for fares
For each month in detail, see London in September, London in October and London in November.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is autumn a good time to visit London?
Yes, especially September and October: mild days, the parks turning colour and the year’s busiest cultural calendar, with the film festival and Frieze. November is darker, wetter and cheaper, good for a trip built around museums, theatre and pubs.
When is the autumn colour at its best in London?
Usually from mid-October into early November. Hampstead Heath, Richmond Park, Kew Gardens and Greenwich Park are the best places to see it; the trees in the central parks and squares turn a little later than those on the edges of the city.
When is Bonfire Night in London in 2027?
Bonfire Night is on Friday 5 November 2027. It marks the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, and London celebrates with firework displays in the parks, some ticketed, over the nearest weekends. Primrose Hill and Parliament Hill give free views of several displays at once.
What should I pack for London in autumn?
Layers. September days are often about 20°C, October about 16°C with more rain, and November about 12°C, with cold nights. Bring a waterproof jacket from October, a warm coat, scarf and gloves for November, and shoes with grip for wet leaves.
What’s the weather like in London in Autumn?
London in Autumn typically sees temperatures of 8–16°C with around 8–15 days of rain across the period. Pack lightweight layers that suit both cooler mornings and warmer afternoons.
How much does it cost to visit London in Autumn?
Budget-conscious travellers can expect daily costs of £100–160, covering accommodation, food, and local transport. Flexible dates can save up to 20% compared with peak-week rates.