October 2025 in London: inspiring plans for autumn
October has arrived, yet the air still carries the warmth of an Indian summer. Clear autumn light, morning mist, golden avenues and coffee on a park bench remind us that these are the last quiet weeks before the Christmas rush. It is the perfect time to slow down and enjoy the city at ease. And yet, London’s calendar is bursting with energy: a DDT concert, the premiere of Salome at the Haymarket, and Kirill Richter’s new programme. This month you can choose — to linger in the calm rhythm of autumn, or to dive headlong into the city’s cultural whirlwind. Afisha.London magazine has prepared a guide to October, along with a Christmas preview for those who like to plan ahead.
This article is also available in Russian here.
Leisurely walks around London
Start with Eltham Palace, where the eclectic millionaires Stephen and Virginia Courtauld built an Art Deco mansion beside the medieval Great Hall where Henry VIII grew up. Inside awaits a golden bathroom and glamorous dining room; outside, gardens that combine traces of the Middle Ages with the Arts and Crafts movement.
Strawberry Hill House, a pink 18th-century villa, is considered a masterpiece of Georgian Gothic. Its interiors gleam with treasures and the surrounding gardens include the romantic Pope’s Grotto.
And of course, the classic — the Tower of London. In autumn the crowds thin, but the weather still allows you to stroll the fortress walls, explore the towers, learn the secrets of its prisoners and marvel at the Crown Jewels. Suitable for adults and children aged 8+. See also our special tour: ‘Secrets of the Tower’.
Far from being a quiet season, October in London brings a cultural marathon. Frieze returns, the BFI London Film Festival opens, and theatres unveil new productions. Add literary festivals and Halloween, and you have a month where boredom simply isn’t an option.
Read also: The London Christmas Guide 2025: shows, skating and sparkling nights
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- Strawberry Hill House. Photo: Afisha.London
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- Eltham Palace. Photo: Afisha.London
Festivals: film, books, cocktails and sumo
At the BFI London Film Festival, all eyes are on Chloe Zhao’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel *Hamnet*, starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, already tipped for Oscars. Another surprise: Daniel Day-Lewis returns in *Anemone*, directed by his son Ronan, and will hold an open conversation with audiences.
Other premieres include Park Chan-wook’s satire *No Other Choice*, Richard Linklater’s twin dramas *Blue Moon* and *New Wave*, a Springsteen biopic *Deliver Me From Nowhere* with Jeremy Allen White, and *Broken English*, a portrait of Marianne Faithfull. The festival also features the VR strand LFF Expanded and talks with Chloe Zhao, Yorgos Lanthimos, Lynne Ramsay and Jafar Panahi. Tickets are already on sale.
Read also: Anna Wintour: how she became a fashion icon and what her exit from Vogue could mean
Book lovers will have plenty to enjoy, with two major festivals: Wimbledon BookFest and the London Literature Festival. The latter boasts a stellar line-up — Kamala Harris sold out in minutes (check for returns), but there’s more:
– Chris Kraus, author of “I Love Dick”, presents her new book.
– Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon launch their thriller “Gone Before Goodbye”.
– Nick Cave and Matt Smith present the new TV series “The Death of Bunny Munro”.
– Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai shares her memoirs.
– Zadie Smith discusses her new essays and the art of critical thinking.
Wimbledon BookFest, meanwhile, offers talks, signings, writing workshops and family debates. Both festivals run from mid- to late October, with many free events for all ages.
London Literature Festival. Photo: Jess Hand
And culture pairs well with leisure: Oktoberfest celebrations across London bring beer, sausages and Bavarian music. London Cocktail Week returns with masterclasses, tastings and the best bars in town. For something truly rare, the Royal Albert Hall hosts a full sumo ring with over forty top Japanese wrestlers — a 1,500-year-old tradition staged in the heart of London.
And then comes Halloween: expect costumed parties, zombie walks, themed tours and horror screenings. From pubs to parks, the city embraces the spooky spirit.
Read also: London’s Design Museum plans major transformation for its 40th anniversary
London Cocktail Week. Photo: Addie Chinn
Exhibitions and fairs
Frieze London is one of the most influential contemporary art fairs in the world. Here you can see the very latest works by living artists, from household names to complete newcomers. To help prepare, on 12 October Afisha.London is hosting an ART Breakfast, where art historian Alisa Lisovskaya will explain Frieze’s place in the art world and unravel how international art fairs really work.
The undisputed hit of this autumn is the first exhibition in Britain dedicated to France’s most fashionable queen — Marie Antoinette. At the V&A, more than a hundred objects are on display: from the queen’s personal belongings to contemporary reinterpretations of her image. And to step behind the scenes and immerse yourself in history, we recommend the ART Breakfast “Marie Antoinette and Others…”: Afisha.London’s editor-in-chief and art expert Margarita Bagrova will explain why Antoinette became an icon of style for centuries, and highlight which other exhibitions this season are not to be missed.
Read also: National Gallery vs Tate: a new chapter in Britain’s cultural rivalry. Experts’ view
Film still from Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette. Photo courtesy of I WANT CANDY LLC. and Zoetrope Corp
We also suggest a FRiDAY LaTE, devoted to Seurat and Signac — an intimate evening at the National Gallery featuring a lecture and discussion of rarely seen masterpieces on loan from the Kröller-Müller Museum in the Netherlands.
Finally, for those drawn to the sparkle of jewellery, an ART Breakfast “Battle of the Titans: Cartier and Fabergé” will explore the rivalry between two legendary houses — the perfect prelude to the Cartier exhibition at the V&A. Even if you have already been, this talk will reveal new stories behind the pieces on display, and will almost certainly make you want to return to what is perhaps the most spellbinding exhibition of recent years.
October also brings major art fairs: The Decorative Fair, PAD London and the Affordable Art Fair Battersea.
Also worth noting:
– Immersive “Last Days of Pompeii”
– Lee Miller retrospective at Tate Britain
– “Blitz. The Club That Shaped the 80s” at the Design Museum
– Cecil Beaton portraits at the National Portrait Gallery
Read also: 25 years of artistic experimentation: Tate Modern marks a landmark anniversary
Photo: Affordable Art Fair, Battersea
Cultural marathon: theatre, music, film and talks
In October, London’s theatres deliver strong premieres. At the Theatre Royal Haymarket, for just two weeks, the legendary Gesher Theatre from Israel and director Maxim Didenko stage Salome — a story of passion, power and fatal desire that has inspired artists and composers for centuries. The biblical tale is retold as an intense drama of political intrigue and private ambition. With minimalist staging and a powerful cast, it promises to be one of the season’s standout productions.
Photo: Salome / Gesher Theatre
Another highlight is the long-awaited London concert of DDT, the iconic Russian rock band led by Yuri Shevchuk. For more than four decades, his songs have been sung in kitchens of the 1990s, at political rallies and in the playlists of younger generations. From their rhythm-and-blues beginnings to Shevchuk’s later philosophical lyricism, the essence has always been truth — about love and solitude, homeland and freedom, the times we live in. This is more than a concert: it is an encounter with history and a rare chance to hear the voice of someone unafraid to speak openly. For many, it will be a return to songs that have become part of the cultural code of several generations.
The musical focus of the month continues with the UK premiere of Kirill Richter’s Towards the Beloved City. The Russian composer and pianist, known for his cinematic and deeply emotional works, will perform with the Richter Trio. The programme includes both new pieces and audience favourites that Richter calls a “soundtrack to life” — about searching, memory, strength and quiet hope.
Kirill Richter. Pgoto: Alexei Kostromin / Southbank Centre
Cinema lovers can look forward to a charity screening of Quiet Life by Greek director Alexandros Avranas. The film, about a refugee family in Sweden whose lives collapse after their youngest daughter falls into a mysterious coma, was already acclaimed in Venice. It stars Chulpan Khamatova and Grigory Dobrygin, with a Q&A with Khamatova after the screening. All proceeds will go to the children’s charity Gift of Life.
Another unmissable date is 13 October, when Monetochka takes the stage in London. Once hailed as the “voice of a generation,” she now returns with a more mature sound and a new artistic image. The FAIRYTALE TOUR blends fresh songs with the fan-favourite hits, promising a night where irony, energy and surprise go hand in hand.
For children
Beyond Halloween, October in London is full of engaging events for younger audiences. The Museum Cat project offers family tours in Russian, designed to combine discovery with creativity:
- 5 October — Renaissance Art: Mysteries of the Great Masters at the National Gallery, for children aged 4½–12. A journey into masterpieces that shaped European culture, told in a way that sparks curiosity and imagination.
- 11 October — The Kangaroo Pouch at the Natural History Museum, for ages 4½–7. A playful introduction to mammals, their habits and habitats, through stories, interactive activities and close-up encounters.
- 12 October — The History of Medicine: How Humanity Learned to Heal at the Science Museum, for ages 8–14. From medieval remedies to antibiotics, children will explore how medicine transformed the way we live.
- 12 October — Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Earth’s Treasures at the Natural History Museum, for children aged 8 and above. A lively exploration of the forces that shape our planet;
- 12 October — Picasso’s Theatre: Colors and Masks for children aged 8–11 at Tate Modern;
- 19 October — Treasures of the British Library for children over 8.
Each of these programmes blends an educational tour with interactive workshops and elements of performance, offering children a chance to learn about nature, science, art and culture in a way that feels both fun and meaningful.
There is more beyond the Museum Cat tours. Families can explore the brand-new immersive ZooTown, step into the prehistoric world of the Jurassic Park experience, or test perception and imagination at the Paradox Museum. For those looking for theatre outings, London’s stages will host family musicals in English — Paddington and Matilda among them.
Heading out to one of London’s theme parks is always a good idea — a chance to leave routine behind and step into a world of pure imagination. You can find our detailed guide to the city’s parks here.
Photo: Mikael Buck/Shrek’s Adventure
October promises to be lively, rich and touched with mystery. And this is only a glimpse: for more inspiration, explore the Events section on our website and follow our Telegram channel to make sure you don’t miss the highlights.
Cover photo: Szymon Shields / Unsplash
Read also:
Autumn 2025 in London: Ten exhibitions everyone will be talking about
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