October in London means cooler days around 16°C, more rain, the first autumn colours in the parks and a busy cultural calendar with the BFI London Film Festival and the Frieze art fairs. The clocks go back on the last Sunday, and the school half-term brings a short family rush at the end of the month.
After the calm of late September, October is a month of two halves. The first three weeks are a good time for museums, theatre and park walks, with fewer visitors than in summer and prices starting to ease. The last week changes the picture: British schools break for half-term, evenings suddenly get dark earlier when the clocks change, and Halloween brings its own crowds.
This guide covers the October weather, the events and festivals that actually take place in the month, the closures and seasonal changes to watch for, and what to pack for a wet, colourful autumn city.
October essentials
- Typical day
- High 15.8°C, low 8.8°C (Met Office, Heathrow, 1991-2020)
- Rain
- 65.1 mm, with about 11 days of 1 mm or more
- Sunshine
- About 115 hours in the month
- Clocks go back
- 2am on Sunday 25 October 2026 (Sunday 31 October 2027)
- Half-term
- 26-30 October 2026 in Lambeth; other boroughs are similar
- Bank holidays
- None
Cooler, wetter, and still pleasant for walking
October is the month when London's weather turns properly autumnal. The Met Office average high at Heathrow drops to 15.8°C, about four degrees below September, and nights average 8.8°C. Frost is rare this early, but mornings can feel sharp, especially in the parks.
It is also one of the wettest months of the year. The average is 65.1 mm of rain, with about 11 days reaching at least 1 mm. That does not mean constant rain: a typical October week mixes bright, crisp days with grey drizzle and the occasional windy storm. Plan outdoor sights for the brighter mornings and keep an indoor alternative ready. Our list of ideas for a wet day in London is useful this month.
Sunshine falls to about 115 hours for the whole month, and the days shorten quickly. By the end of October, after the clocks change, it is dark before 5pm.
Film, art and a festival of light
October is a strong month for culture, and three events stand out.
BFI London Film Festival
The British Film Institute's festival is the city's biggest film event, with premieres, gala screenings and talks in cinemas across London. The 70th edition runs from Wednesday 7 to Sunday 18 October 2026. General ticket sales opened on 17 September, and the BFI releases extra tickets on 1 October, which is worth knowing if a screening you want has sold out. Check the programme on the BFI London Film Festival website.
Frieze London and Frieze Masters
Two major art fairs, one for contemporary art and one for older works, are held in large temporary pavilions in The Regent's Park. In 2026 both run from 14 to 18 October. Tickets are sold for specific days and are not cheap; see the Frieze website for prices and to check the dates for later years. Frieze Sculpture, the fair's outdoor exhibition in the park, is free and open to everyone, and stays up after the fairs close: in 2026 it runs until 1 November. Our guide to Regent's Park and Primrose Hill helps you combine a visit with a walk up the hill for the view.
Diwali on the Square
The Mayor of London's free Diwali celebration fills Trafalgar Square on Sunday 25 October 2026, from 1pm to 7pm. Expect music and dance from London's Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities, family activities and vegetarian and vegan food stalls. No ticket is needed, and there is a bag search at the entrance.
Autumn colour in the parks and gardens
The leaves usually start to turn in October, and London's big green spaces are at their most photogenic in the second half of the month. Kew Gardens is the classic choice, with trees from around the world changing colour at different times. Kew is open 10am to 6pm from 1 to 24 October 2026, then 10am to 4pm from 25 October. Adult tickets cost £25 online or £28 at the gate until 31 October, and on Tuesdays they drop to £10.
For a free alternative, walk across Hampstead Heath, where the woods and the view from Parliament Hill change week by week. The bathing ponds remain in use for hardy swimmers; from 1 October 2026 they take card and phone payments only, at £5.00 for a single swim.
In Richmond Park the deer rut continues through October. The stags are impressive to hear, but keep at least 100 metres from an active male and at least 50 metres from any deer. The Royal Parks also asks dog walkers to keep their dogs on a lead near the herds or to walk elsewhere during the rut.
Stags in the rut do not care about your photograph. Every autumn people walk far too close to the deer in Richmond Park for a phone picture. Use a zoom, stay on the paths and move away if a stag turns towards you.
Half-term week and Halloween
The autumn half-term is a one-week school break in the last week of October. In Lambeth it runs from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026, and from 25 to 29 October in 2027; other London boroughs set their own dates but are usually the same or close. Many British families come to London that week, so the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and other family favourites get much busier.
If you are travelling with children yourself, book timed entry where it is offered and arrive at opening time. Note that the Natural History Museum is closed all day on Friday 9 October 2026. Our London with kids guide has quieter options for half-term.
Halloween on 31 October is widely celebrated in London, mostly with parties, themed events and children in costume. The darker evenings also suit London's ghost walks and the story-telling of a Jack the Ripper walking tour in the East End.
The clocks go back: what changes for visitors
British Summer Time ends at 2am on the last Sunday of October: Sunday 25 October in 2026 and Sunday 31 October in 2027. The clocks move back one hour to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), so you get an extra hour in bed, but sunset comes an hour earlier from that day on.
Your phone will change automatically, but check any booked times on paper tickets, and remember that the time difference with home may change on a different date if your own country changes its clocks on another weekend. Some attractions also switch to shorter winter hours at the same time; Kew is one example. Plan outdoor sightseeing for the morning from the last week of October.
Check the time difference twice in the last week of October. Europe and the UK change their clocks on the same night, but North America changes a week later. For a few days the gap between London and New York or Toronto is one hour shorter than usual, which catches out people booking calls or flights.
What closes, what changes price
October brings several seasonal changes worth knowing before you book:
- Buckingham Palace: the summer opening of the State Rooms is over. Only small Exclusive Guided Tours on selected dates are offered.
- Imperial War Museum: IWM London closes early, at 4pm, on Thursday 1 October 2026.
- Shakespeare's Globe: the summer season ends on 24-25 October 2026, so late October is your last chance to stand in the yard at the open-air Globe during the 2026 summer season.
- Windsor Castle: summer hours (10am to 5.15pm) run until 31 October; from 1 November the castle closes earlier. It is always closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. See our Windsor day trip guide.
- King's College Chapel, Cambridge: closed for visits from 1 to 4 October 2026 and on Sundays from 11 October, which matters if you are planning a day in Cambridge.
- River Bus fares: the current Uber Boat fares apply until 31 October 2026; new fares follow.
- Bus fares: the single bus and tram fare is £1.75 until the end of October and rises to £1.85 on 1 November 2026. Our guide to London buses explains the Hopper fare and the daily cap.
Packing for an autumn city break
October calls for proper outdoor clothes. Bring a waterproof jacket with a hood (umbrellas struggle in the wind), a warm jumper or fleece, long trousers and shoes that can cope with wet pavements and muddy park paths. A scarf and light gloves are useful by the end of the month, especially for evening walks by the river.
Indoors, museums, theatres and the Tube can be warm, so layers you can take off are better than one heavy coat. If you are coming for the film festival or a fair, a small bag helps, since some venues search bags or limit their size.
For the next month's events, including Bonfire Night and the Lord Mayor's Show, read our guide to London in November; if you prefer milder weather, September is the gentler alternative.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in London in October?
Mild but changeable. The Met Office average for Heathrow is a high of 15.8°C and a low of 8.8°C, with 65.1 mm of rain over about 11 days. Expect a mix of bright, crisp days and wet, windy ones.
When do the clocks go back in London?
At 2am on the last Sunday in October: 25 October 2026 and 31 October 2027. Clocks move back one hour from British Summer Time to GMT, and it gets dark an hour earlier in the evening.
When is October half-term in London?
Each borough sets its own dates, but they are usually the last week of October. In Lambeth, for example, half-term runs from 26 to 30 October 2026 and from 25 to 29 October 2027. Family attractions are much busier that week.
When is the BFI London Film Festival 2026?
From Wednesday 7 to Sunday 18 October 2026, at cinemas across London. Tickets went on general sale on 17 September, and extra tickets are released on 1 October.
Is October a good time to see autumn colours in London?
Yes, especially in the second half of the month. Kew Gardens, Richmond Park and Hampstead Heath are the best places. The exact timing depends on the year's weather, so colours can peak in early November.
Sources
- Met Office - Heathrow climate averages 1991-2020 (checked September 2026)
- GOV.UK - When do the clocks change? (checked September 2026)
- BFI - BFI London Film Festival 2026 (checked September 2026)
- Mayor of London - Diwali on the Square 2026 (checked September 2026)
- Lambeth Council - School term dates 2026 to 2027 (checked September 2026)
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew - Opening and closing times (checked September 2026)
- The Royal Parks - Deer safety advice (checked September 2026)