At a Glance
Compared to this destination's peak season
London in October — Travel Guide
By Harry Nara · Last updated
London in October offers some of the best conditions of the year, ideal for film fans & art lovers. Expect temperatures of 9–16°C, around 11 days of rain, and medium crowds across the city. Daily budgets typically land around £95–155 for mid-range travellers. Book three to four weeks ahead for the best mid-range rates and the widest hotel choice.
Contents14 sections
#Weather in London in October
London in October averages 9–16°C (48–61°F) with around 11 days of rain, and crowds are medium.
| Measure | October in London |
|---|---|
| Daytime high | About 16°C / 61°F, cooling through the month |
| Overnight low | About 9°C / 48°F |
| Rain | About 11 wet days |
| Sunset | 6:39pm on the 1st, 5:38pm on the 30th, then 4:36pm after the clocks go back on the 31st |
| Big moments | BFI London Film Festival, Frieze, half-term, Halloween |
| Leaves | Turning through the month, at their best in late October and early November |
Figures are Met Office 1991–2020 normals for London.
What that actually means for your trip:
- The first half can be golden. Mild, settled spells in early October bring some of the best walking weather of the year, with the trees just turning.
- The second half is properly autumn. Cooler, windier and wetter days become common; pack a coat and a waterproof.
- The clocks go back on Sunday 31 October 2027. Sunset jumps from after half past five to about 4:35pm overnight, so the last day of the month is suddenly a dark one.
- The cultural calendar is full. The film festival, Frieze and the new seasons at the theatres and concert halls make October one of London's richest months indoors.
Is October a good time to visit London? Yes, especially if you like galleries, films, theatre and parks turning gold. The weather is the trade: changeable and wetter as the month goes on. Avoid the half-term week at the end of the month if you want quieter museums.
#What to Do in London in October
The BFI London Film Festival
For about two weeks in October, the BFI London Film Festival screens premieres, galas and the year's festival favourites at the BFI Southbank and cinemas across London, with directors' Q&As at many screenings. The programme and dates are published in late summer, and members get first access to tickets; returns are often released on the day.
Frieze London
Frieze London and Frieze Masters, one of the world's leading contemporary and historical art fairs, fill tents in Regent's Park for several days in October; tickets are sold in advance.
Around them, the galleries of Mayfair and beyond open their big autumn shows, many of them free, and the free Frieze Sculpture park in Regent's Park's English Gardens runs for longer.
Autumn in the parks
The leaves turn through October and are at their best from late October into early November.
Hampstead Heath and the view from Parliament Hill, Kew Gardens, Richmond Park and Holland Park's Kyoto Garden are the classic places; Kew is ticketed, the others are free.
Diwali and Halloween
Diwali falls around 29 October in 2027.
London's big free celebration, Diwali on the Square in Trafalgar Square, is usually held on a Sunday near the festival; the Mayor of London announces the date.
Halloween is on Sunday 31 October, with costumed crowds in Soho and Shoreditch on the Saturday night before.
Half-term
Schools in England take a week's break in late October; in London it is usually the last week of the month, which in 2027 is the week of 25 October. The free museums and family attractions are at their busiest then.
Solo Travellers
Spend a day between the BFI Southbank, Tate Modern, where the new Turbine Hall commission usually opens in October, and the bookstalls under Waterloo Bridge.
Couples
Walk across Hampstead Heath to Parliament Hill for the view, then lunch at the Spaniards Inn, an old coaching inn on the edge of the Heath.
A late table at Barrafina for tapas, or a West End show, makes the evening.
Families
The Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the V&A are free; go outside half-term week if you can.
The Tower of London is atmospheric on an autumn day.
Groups
A guided ghost walk in the City or the East End is a good October evening, and many venues run Halloween events and immersive experiences towards the end of the month.
#Getting Around
From Heathrow, the Elizabeth line runs straight through central London, the Piccadilly line is slower and cheaper, and the Heathrow Express is fastest to Paddington.
Gatwick has the Gatwick Express and Thameslink, Stansted the Stansted Express to Liverpool Street, and Luton a shuttle and Thameslink to St Pancras.
Tap a contactless card or phone, or an Oyster card, on every Tube, bus, train and tram; daily caps stop you paying more than about £8.90 a day in Zones 1 and 2 at 2026 prices.
A bus ride is £1.85 from 1 November 2026, and TfL changes fares each March, so check the 2027 figures.
#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 |
| Luxury | £450+ | Top hotels and fine dining |
October prices are moderate, rising around Frieze week and half-term.
Costs worth knowing:
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| National Gallery, British Museum, Tate | Free |
| Diwali on the Square | Free |
| Richmond Park and Hampstead Heath | Free |
| Bus fare | £1.85 from 1 November 2026 |
| Pint in central London | About £6.50–7.50 |
- The free museums and parks make London cheaper than it looks.
- Film festival tickets are good value for the screenings with director Q&As.
- Frieze week pushes up Mayfair hotel prices; stay elsewhere and ride in.
#Food & Dining
October is wild mushroom and game season, with apples, pumpkins and squash in the markets.
Borough Market shows it off, and Maltby Street Market in Bermondsey, at weekends, is a quieter alternative.
Quo Vadis in Soho cooks seasonal British food; Dishoom, with branches across London, is the warming Bombay café that queues are made for.
#Nightlife
October is when London's nightlife moves indoors.
The West End and the fringe theatres, such as Theatre503 and The Vaults at Waterloo, are in full season; Ronnie Scott's in Soho has jazz every night; and the Barbican and Southbank Centre run their autumn programmes. Halloween weekend brings themed nights to clubs such as Fabric.
#Shopping
The autumn collections are in, and Liberty's mock-Tudor building is at its best in the cold weather.
Portobello Road market on a Saturday, with the leaves turning on the streets of Notting Hill, and Columbia Road flower market on a Sunday morning are London classics.
Bermondsey Antiques Market runs on Friday mornings.
#Culture & Etiquette
- The clocks go back on Sunday 31 October 2027.
- Diwali on the Square is free; check the date, which moves each year.
- Halloween is now widely celebrated; Soho and Shoreditch are busy and rowdy on the nearest Saturday night.
- Queue for everything, and stand on the right on Tube escalators.
- Tipping: 10–12.5% in restaurants, often added as a service charge; nothing at the pub bar.
#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 |
| Standing in line | Queueing |
| The bathroom / restroom | The loo |
| Sneakers | Trainers |
| A sweater | A jumper |
| A cookie | A biscuit |
| Dessert | Pudding |
| Two weeks | A fortnight |
| A cup of tea | A cuppa |
#Packing List
- A warm jacket or coat, essential from mid-October
- A scarf and gloves for late in the month
- Waterproof shoes or boots
- A compact umbrella
- Layers for changeable days
- A smarter outfit for the theatre or a good restaurant
#Backup Plans (Rainy Days)
The National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, the British Museum and Tate Modern are free and could fill a week.
The Museum of London Docklands, in an old warehouse at West India Quay, tells the story of the river and the port and is rarely crowded.
A film at the BFI Southbank makes any wet afternoon.
If half-term crowds fill the museums: go to the smaller ones, the Wallace Collection or Sir John Soane's Museum, both free.
#Safety & Health
London is safe in October. Pickpockets work crowded areas, Oxford Street, Covent Garden and the Tube, so keep phones out of back pockets and bags zipped. Soho and Shoreditch are busy and rowdy on Halloween weekend. Keep your distance from the deer in the royal parks during the rut.
Emergency: 999, or 111 for urgent medical advice and 101 for non-emergency police.
#What's New for October 2027
- The clocks go back on Sunday 31 October 2027, which is also Halloween
- Diwali falls around 29 October; Diwali on the Square is usually on a nearby Sunday
- Half-term is usually the week of 25 October in London
- The BFI London Film Festival and Frieze return in October; dates are published in the summer
- The London bus fare is £1.85 from 1 November 2026, and TfL changes fares each March
#About This Guide
By Harry Nara (founder of WhenToWander), updated October 2026 for October 2027. Climate figures are Met Office 1991–2020 normals. Dates and facts verified against:
- BFI London Film Festival for the festival
- Frieze for the art fair
- Mayor of London for Diwali on the Square
- The Royal Parks for the deer rut in Richmond Park
- Transport for London for fares
For the season as a whole, see London in autumn, and for the month that follows, London in November.
You might also like
Destinations picked for travellers with similar taste or climate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What major events happen in London in October?
The BFI London Film Festival runs for about two weeks, centred on the BFI Southbank, and Frieze London fills Regent’s Park for several days; both publish their dates in the summer. Diwali falls around 29 October in 2027, with a free celebration in Trafalgar Square, and Halloween is on Sunday 31 October, the day the clocks go back.
Is London good for autumn foliage in October?
October is the best month for autumn colour. Richmond Park (deer rut also happens in October), Hampstead Heath, Kew Gardens, and Holland Park offer spectacular gold and russet displays. The Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park has rare Japanese maples that peak in late October.
When is Halloween in London?
Halloween is on 31 October, which in 2027 is a Sunday, the same day the clocks go back an hour. The big night out is the Saturday before, when Soho and Shoreditch are busy with costumed crowds. Many museums, attractions and ghost walks run Halloween events through the last week of October, which is also half-term.
What is the weather like in London in October?
October brings noticeably cooler and greyer conditions — daytime highs of 12–15°C, dropping to 8–10°C by month's end. Rain increases compared to summer. Pack a proper coat, warm layers, and waterproof footwear. The upside: London's heated museums and galleries feel cosy rather than crowded.
How much does it cost to visit London in October?
Budget-conscious travellers can expect daily costs of £95–155, covering accommodation, food, and local transport. Flexible dates can save up to 20% compared with peak-week rates.