Things to do in London in October 2024

London is brimming with events this October, from film festivals to art exhibitions and all things Halloween. The month will be particularly significant for the art scene, with the return of Frieze and prominent art fairs such as PAD London and 1-54, alongside LAPADA later in the month. Beyond the vibrant art offerings, there are exciting activities to enjoy, including London Cocktail Week, the BFI Film Festival, and the newly launched Halloween at Kew, which adds a spooky twist to the beloved Christmas at Kew. Here is our guide to the must-see events and activities in London this October 2024.

Frieze London and Frieze Masters

Frieze London 2023 Photo by Lyndon Douglas. Courtesy Frieze. Lyndon Douglas Photography.

#FLODown: Frieze London and Frieze Masters are coming to Regent’s Park from 9-13 October 2024. Frieze London, founded in 2003, focuses on contemporary art, showcasing both emerging and iconic artists from global galleries. It’s a lively marketplace for collectors and features performances and talks. Frieze Masters, launched in 2012, offers a more refined experience, displaying pre-2000 art, from historical works to mid-century pieces.

Date: 9 - 13 October 2024. Location: The Regent's Park, Chester Rd London England NW1 4NR. Price: Early bird tickets are sold out.  Saturday/Sunday tickets from £46 for one or £90 for both fairs (after 3pm). Thursday preview are form £145 for one fair or £245 for both fairs. Book now.

Zak Ové, The Mothership Connection, 2021, Gallery 1957.

Frieze Sculpture

Don’t miss out on Frieze Sculpture, the free outdoor exhibition in Regent's Park curated by Fatoş Üstek and features works by 22 international artists, presenting innovative public sculptures incorporating sound, light, performance, video, and augmented reality. Running throughout Frieze and until the end of October, it will also include curator-led tours!

Date: 18 September 2024 – 27 October 2024. Location: The Regent's Park, Chester Rd London England NW1 4NR. Price: Free.

Art Fairs in Frieze Week

Several art fairs will take place across the city during Frieze Week. PAD London, held in Berkeley Square, will highlight exceptional design, decorative arts, and contemporary art from leading galleries. Meanwhile, 1-54, the UK’s only fair dedicated to contemporary African art, will showcase a diverse array of works from artists across the African continent. Click here for our guide to the art fairs to look out for in London during October's Frieze Week.

Halloween at Kew Gardens

Photo by Beth Teutschmann.

#FLODown: Kew Gardens is hosting a new after-dark Halloween trail, created by the team behind Christmas at Kew. Visitors can explore a spooky, illuminated path filled with ghostly spaces, flickering flames, glowing pumpkins, neon cobwebs, ghouls, witches, giant spiders, and bats. The experience includes a fire garden and live fire artists. Guests can also enjoy treats like hot toddies, decadent hot chocolate, and toasted marshmallows.

Date: 18 - 26 October 2024. Time: 6pm - 10pm; 27 October - 3 November 2024: 4pm -  10pm. Location: Kew Gardens, Entrances at Elizabeth Gate and Brentford Gate only. Price: from £17. Book now.

Princess Essex at Shakespeare’s Globe

Princess Essex, written by and starring Anne Odeke, and directed by Robin Belfield. Photo credit Johan Persson.

#FLODown: October is the final month to see Princess Essex at Shakespeare’s Globe. This powerful production tells the true story of Princess Dinubolu of Senegal, the first Black woman to enter a UK beauty pageant in 1908. Written and performed by Anne Odeke, the play transports audiences to the Southend seaside with its vibrant costumes, musical numbers, and a compelling message about standing up for what is right. Click here for our review of the Princess Essex.

Date: until 26 October 2024. Location: Shakespeare's Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT. Price: £5-£75. Book now.

BFI London Film Festival

Disclaimer, Still, BFI Film Festival.

#FLODown:The 68th BFI London Film Festival, in partnership with American Express, will take place over 12 days from 9 October 2024, featuring an impressive selection of 253 titles, including features, shorts, series, and immersive works from 79 countries in 63 languages. The festival will open with the world premiere of Steve McQueen’s Blitz and conclude with the premiere of Morgan Neville’s Piece By Piece. Hosted at BFI Southbank and the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, the festival will also extend to cinemas and venues across central London, as well as nine partner cinemas throughout the UK. In addition to screenings, attendees can enjoy Screen Talks with prominent filmmakers such as Andrea Arnold, Mike Leigh, and Denis Villeneuve, alongside stars like Lupita Nyong’o and Daniel Kaluuya.

Date: 9 - 20 October 2024. Location: London and the UK. Click here for the full programme of films.

London Literature Festival

The Southbank Centre's London Literature Festival returns in October with a plethora of exciting events. Royal Festival Hall. © Morley von Sternberg.

#FLODown: The Southbank Centre’s London Literature Festival returns in October, inviting readers of all ages to celebrate the written and spoken word. British rapper Ghetts joins as co-curator for the opening weekend, performing live on 26 October and hosting Ghetts Presents: An Evening of Poetry and Music on 27 October, featuring writers and musicians exploring their artforms. The festival kicks off with Debut London Literature on 23 October, showcasing emerging writers inspired by the city. Other highlights include Florence Given discussing her book Women Living Deliciously and Alan Hollinghurst presenting his novel Our Evenings. Some of the featured guests will include celebrated writers, poets, and performers, alongside family-friendly events like Tho Elmer Adventure from 30 October to 3 November. The full line-up of events for the London Literature Festival 2024 is available here.

Date: 23 October – 3 November 2024. Location: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX. southbankcentre.co.uk.

LAPADA

LAPADA Berkeley Square Fair 2023.

#FLODown:The LAPADA Berkeley Square Fair returns to Mayfair from 23-27 October, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the LAPADA Association. With over 80 top exhibitors, the 2024 fair will feature fine art, jewellery, sculpture, and rare antiquities, including a Monet masterpiece and a vanity box belonging to Queen Victoria’s Mistress of the Robes. A partnership with Fromental will bring a special display to the venue’s exterior. New for 2024 is the LAPADA Fringe, expanding the fair’s cultural reach across Mayfair. Click here for more on what to expect from this year’s fair.

Date: 23 - 27 October 2024. Preview Day: 22 October 2024. Location: Berkeley Square, Mayfair. lapadalondon.

Sky Garden Day of the Dead

Sky Garden’s annual Halloween party returns on 31 October

#FLODown: Sky Garden’s annual Halloween party returns on 31 October, transforming the 35th floor of 20 Fenchurch Street into a Day of the Dead celebration. Guests can enjoy panoramic views of London, live music by ALR Music, DJ sets, skull painting, and street art. Scary costumes are encouraged, and entry includes a glass of Moët & Chandon or a Dead Man’s Finger cocktail.

Date: 31 October 2024. Location: Sky Garden, 1 Sky Garden Walk, London EC3M 8AF. Price: Tickets start at £65, and VIP tables from £620. Book now.

Fabric at 25

Fabric co-founder Cameron Leslie with the donated sign to the London Museum. © London Museum 

#FLODown: Fabric, the renowned London club, is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary with a non-stop, 30-hour party from 12-14 October. The stacked line-up features acclaimed acts such as Ben UFO, Peach, and Ricardo Villalobos, promising an unforgettable weekend at the Farringdon venue. Fabric has hinted at unexpected surprises throughout the event.

Date: 12 - 14 October 2024. Location: 77A Charterhouse Street, London EC1M 6HJ. fabriclondon.com.

András Schiff: Haydn, Schubert & Mozart

András Schiff Haydn Schubert and Mozart. Photo by Nadia F. Romanini.

#FLODown: The Southbank Centre’s classical music season continues in October with Sir András Schiff performing and conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra. He will direct from the keyboard for Haydn’s lively concerto and Mozart’s emotionally rich concerto, while also conducting Schubert’s unfinished Symphony No. 8, presenting a trio of classical masterpieces.

Date: 6 October 2024. Time: 7.30pm. Location: Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX. Price: from £15. Book now.

Click here for our top picks of classical music concerts to catch at the Southbank Centre this autumn.

London Cocktail Week

Photo by Kaufmann Mercantile.

#FLODown: London Cocktail Week returns from 3 October 2024, offering 11 days of £8 signature cocktails across the city's top bars. As the world's largest cocktail festival, it celebrates London's vibrant drinks scene, featuring renowned spots like the Gothic Bar, Homeboy, Swift, and Nightjar, alongside neighbourhood favourites such as Funkidory and Hacha. In addition to curated cocktail tours, the event includes fun pop-ups, unique installations, and masterclasses from industry experts.

Date: 3 -13 October 2024. Location: Throughout London. Price: £20. Book now.

 Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Twist and Jump by Jose Manuel Grandio, Spain. © Jose Manuel Grandio.

#FLODown: The Wildlife Photographer of the Year, celebrating its sixtieth anniversary, will open at the Natural History Museum on 11 October 2024. This flagship exhibition will feature 100 captivating photographs that capture the beauty and complexity of wildlife and nature. In honour of this milestone, a timeline highlighting significant moments in the competition’s history will accompany the images. The exhibition showcases a record 59,228 entries from photographers worldwide, emphasising creativity and technical excellence.

Date: 11 October 2024 -  29 June 2025. Location: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD. Price: from £15.50, off-peak concession ticket £12.50, and off-peak child ticket £9.25. Book now.

Click here for more art exhibitions opening in London in October 2024.

Lift 109 Sound Bath

Sound therapist Farzana Ali will host London’s highest sound bath experience at Battersea Power Station’s Lift 109.

#FLODown: This October, Battersea Power Station’s Lift 109 will host an Elevated Sound Bath experience, led by sound therapist Farzana Ali. Taking place on 17 and 24 October 2024, this calming sound bath will be held at the top of the station’s north-west chimney, 109 metres above London. Using crystal singing bowls, the sessions will promote relaxation and rejuvenation, with impressive views across the city enhancing the meditative atmosphere.

Date: 17 October 2024, 7pm - 8pm and 8pm - 9pm; 24 October 2024, 7pm - 8pm and 8pm - 9pm. Location: Battersea Power Station, Circus Rd W, Nine Elms, London SW11 8DD. Price: £45 includes the Lift 109 experience and a 45-minute sound bath. lift109.co.uk.