Travel -- 2 days ago
Words: Aobh O'Brien-Moody
After a sun-soaked summer, that back to school feeling is upon us. But rather than giving into a creeping sense of dread, we’re embracing the change in seasons: crisp air, cool nights and a bevy of cultural delights. Design lovers, gastronomes and style mavens are in for a treat this October, as the capital comes alive with restaurant openings, city-wide festivals, concerts and more. Discover our pick of the best things to do in London in October…
Lanieri London Trunk Show
Italian menswear label Lanieri, known for its luxurious bespoke tailoring, is bringing its wares to London this October, offering fans of the brand the chance to see and feel a wide selection of fine Italian fabrics and create custom-made suits, shirts, blazers and more – just as if you were in one of its ateliers. Specialty style advisors will be on hand, for the authentic made-to-measure experience.
When? 15-18 October
Where? Richard Gelding, Mayfair
The Salusbury
The Salusbury in Queen’s Park, which reopened this summer with a vibrant new look and energy, has a kitchen headed up by Tarryn Bingle (former head chef at the Rectory in Wiltshire, The Pem and La Trompette) and it's the new foodie hotspot to head to north of the river. Highlights include Dorset crab cacio e pepe, Suffolk lamb with smoked potatoes and a perfect Chateaubriand with fat chips for two to share. In the adjoining pub, a blackboard of daily changing snacks will feature oysters with homemade hot sauce, parmesan churros, pickled sardines with cod’s roe and tomatoes, and meaty scotch eggs.
Where? 50-52 Salusbury Rd, London NW6 6NN
Ana Da Costa at The Aubrey
Discover the vibrant flavours of Macau within the plush confines of Knightsbridge's The Aubrey. Its guest chef series continues with a kitchen takeover from Ana Da Costa of the supper club FAT TEA. The Macanese chef will plate up a family-style sharing menu of dishes such as aubergine sambal and capela skewers with soy-cured yolk.
When? 6 and 7 October
Where? The Aubrey, Mandarin Oriental, Knightsbridge
How much? £80, including a welcome drink
Maison Ani
Set in the heart of Knightsbridge, Maison Ani is the place to head to if you want to indulge in classic French dishes such as onion soup with Gruyère cheese or Beef Carpaccio with Parmesan and truffle dressing, while lounging back on the baby pink (extremely comfortable) sofas. Main courses include a roasted fillet of seabass in tomato sauce with sumac rice, and a whole baby chicken in Périgueux sauce with seasonal truffle.
Where? The Carlton Tower, 1 Cadogan Pl, London SW1X 9PY
BFI London Film Festival
Kicking off with Rian Johnson’s highly anticipated Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, at Royal Festival Hall, the 69th edition of the UK’s biggest festival will feature plenty of movies, archive works, short films, VR and XR experiences, talks, panels and parties. Screenings will take place across London, at Royal Festival Hall, BFI IMAX and BFI Southbank, as well as at five London partner cinemas: Curzon Mayfair, Curzon Soho, the ICA, Prince Charles Cinema and Vue West End.
When? 8-19 October
Where? Cinemas across London
How much? Tickets from £10
HANBAAGAASUUTEEKI
An Asian-inspired smashburger restaurant that's opened in Victoria, HANBAAGAASUUTEEKI is a new burger joint that is being heralded as the best burger joint in London by burger connoisseurs. Led by visionary Chef Fatih Alkan, HANBAAGAASUUTEEKI has a simple menu that doesn't skimp on flavour. The Isan Burger has a fiery hit of holy basil and Bird’s Eye chili that punches above its size, while the Kimchi Burger showcases the house’s slow-fermented kimchi. The Another Double Cheese Burger is a nod to the classic American diner burger - two patties, two cheeses, and full flavour.
Dante takes Claridge’s
Negroni and caviar enthusiasts rejoice: New York’s award-winning restaurant and aperitivo cocktail bar, Dante, has extended its collaboration with Claridge’s Restaurant until the end of 2025. Guests can continue to enjoy Dante’s signature cocktails and nostalgic New York-inspired menu, with all-new autumnal additions that include Surf & Turf on Saturdays, an American take on the classic Sunday Roast, and delicious seasonal cocktails like the Toffee Apple Manhattan and Fig & Pear Negroni.
When? Until 31 December, 2025
Where? Claridge’s, Mayfair
Ruinart Art Bar, Frieze London
October marks the return of Frieze, London’s annual art fair. Each year, Ruinart, the fair’s official Champagne partner, welcomes contemporary artists to pay tribute to the Maison’s legacy. This year, Sam Falls (pictured) will exhibit his artworks in a Conversation with Nature exhibition, which features his work Rewilding, created in situ at the historic Taissy vineyard in the Champagne region. Explore the exhibition as you enjoy a glass of Ruinart Blanc Singulier, R de Ruinart, Ruinart Blanc de Blancs or Ruinart Rosé.
When? 15-19 October
Where? Frieze London, Regent’s Park
Lee Miller at Tate Britain
The UK’s most extensive retrospective of Lee Miller’s photography comes to Tate Britain this October. The exhibition will showcase the model-turned-photographer’s extensive career, from her fashion photography to war photography. With around 250 vintage and modern prints, including those never previously displayed, the exhibition reveals Miller's poetic vision and fearless spirit.
When? 2 October 2025 - 15 February 2026
Where? Tate Britain, Millbank
How much? £20
Diwali at Ambassadors Clubhouse, Mayfair
To celebrate the Hindu Festival of Lights, lavish Punjabi restaurant Ambassadors Clubhouse is launching a limited-edition five-course Diwali Feast Menu. Highlights include Ambassadors’ famed BBQ Butter Chicken Chop, the slow-cooked Matka Keema Beliram Lamb Curry, and the soul-warming Pindi Chole with Amritsari Kulcha for vegetarians. Enjoy the decadent dishes among the restaurant’s signature plush surroundings.
When? 18-27 October
Where? Ambassadors Clubhouse
How much? £110 for vegetarian menu; £115 for non-vegetarian menu
London Cocktail Week
Celebrate London’s world-renowned bar scene with a cocktail (or three) at London Cocktail Week. A schedule of over 100 events will include everything from curated cocktail tours to tastings and masterclasses. Highlights include a caviar martini experience at Claridges; an Iichiko Shochu takeover at Nomad; and a rum-filled evening with Master Distiller Shaun Caleb at The Last Talisman in Bermondsey.
When? 9-19 October
Where? Bars across London
How much? £20 for a wristband that grants access to various events
Sardine and Sherry Party at Bar Valette
Bar Valette, from Isaac McHale of two-Michelin-starred Clove Club, is bringing the spirit of Spain to Shoreditch, with a one-night-only ‘Sardine and Sherry Party’. Expect smoked sardine fillets, sardine meatballs, tuna tataki and more, all paired with the legendary sherries of Valdespino, a 500-year-old shery house from Jerez. Valdespino’s global brand ambassador Ignacio López will be in attendance, pouring sherries and sharing stories about these incredible wines.
When? 7 October
Where? Bar Valette, Shoreditch
How much? £75 per person, including food and first drink
Willy’s Pies x Builders Arms
For the first three Wednesdays of October, legendary pie expert, Will Lewis of Willy’s Pies, will be joining forces with Chef Partner Ben Tish at the Builders Arms in Chelsea to celebrate the great British classic that is the pie. Choose from a specially curated menu of four pies: ox cheek stroganoff; curried mutton; roast chicken with ham hock and leek; and wild mushroom, spinach and ricotta, all of which are served with clotted cream mash, gravy and sides.
When? 1, 8 and 15 October
Where? Builders Arms, Chelsea
Diwali at Kanishka by Atul Kochhar
We have arrived at that time of year when the days grow shorter, the nights darker, and Diwali, the Festival of Lights, illuminates October with dazzling fireworks. To mark this enchanting season, Chef Atul Kochhar has curated a six-course culinary journey, designed to mirror the skies with an explosion of flavour. At Kanishka, refined British ingredients are artfully paired with bold, contemporary expressions of Indian culinary heritage. Guests will delight in fusion dishes such as Lehsuni Palak Chenna, garlic-sautéed spiced spinach with roasted baby burrata, and the restaurant’s celebrated house speciality, a reinvention of a British classic: the Rogan Josh Wellington. This festive dining experience promises to capture the spirit of autumn, bringing warmth, colour, and joy to the season’s cooler days.
When? 14-21 October
Where? Kanishka by Atul Kochhar, Mayfair
How much? £95 per person
Rhythm of the Nations at INCA
Dinner and a show? It sounds like the perfect evening, if only it didn’t come with the dreaded rush for a pre-theatre meal before that 7pm curtain. For those who prefer to be captivated from the comfort of their dinner table, INCA is the ultimate indulgence. Launching on the 10th of October, INCA presents Rhythm of the Nations, a dazzling new spectacle that fuses the primal forces of nature with the soulful rhythms of Latin America, all paired with elevated culinary creations. The show honours the vibrancy of Latin American culture through a multitude of performances, each paying homage to different nations and weaving in the four elemental forces. Guests can expect signature Latin-inspired dishes that enchant the senses, such as the fiery T-Bone el Fuego, ignited at the table, and the decadent Hot Pot Lobster.
When? From 10 October
Where? INCA, Mayfair
The Gant House
To coincide with its Autumn/Winter 2025 campaign, GANT has unveiled the launch of The Gant House – an exclusive takeover of Mayfair’s acclaimed restaurant Mister Nice – alongside a dedicated pop-up store just two doors down. At Mister Nice, the restaurant has been reimagined into a refined clubhouse inspired by the American East Coast and GANT’s iconic preppy heritage. The GANT pop-up at 20 Davies Street presents a curated selection of the new collection highlights and it has been designed as an extension of The Gant House.
When? Until 15th October.
Where? 14-16 Davies St, London W1K 3DR
Serpentine Pavilion
Each year, an internationally renowned architect is invited to design and create their first built structure in England, the Serpentine Pavilion. This year, the 24th Serpentine Pavilion is by Marina Tabassum, who is known for architectural work deeply rooted in place, climate, culture and history. A Capsule in Time features an elongated capsule-like form with a central court that aligns with Serpentine South’s bell tower. At the heart of this design is a kinetic element where one of the capsule forms is able to move, connect and transform the Pavilion into a new space.
When? Until 26 October
Where? Serpentine, Kensington Gardens
How much? Free
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