October is a magical month full of festive joy – including Halloween 🎃🕷️🕸️ – and natural beauty 🍂🍁. As the leaves begin to change colour and the air becomes crisp, let’s zip up our jackets and explore what London has to offer. We have selected the best activities for you and the kids to enjoy this October.
Family adventures
Visit Horizon 22, Europe’s highest free public viewing gallery. Located on Level 58 of the City of London’s tallest building, 22 Bishopsgate, Horizon 22 is the highest free viewing gallery in Europe, at 833 ft / 254m above ground. Horizon 22 is a 62-storey smart building with a vision to create a place where people thrive. Plan your visit and book your free tickets here.
Go on an adventure with the kids and discover the best views of London by boat this autumn. Whether you’re exploring the city or trying to get across town, the kids will love an exhilarating ride on the River Bus. And with a Family River Roamer, kids go free! Go unlimited and explore all that London has to offer with this all-day hop-on, hop-off ticket. Valid for 2 adults and up to 3 children (up to 15 years old).
Fine dining experiences
Known as the best Singaporean restaurant in Kensington, The Bugis celebrates authentic Singaporean, Malaysian and Chinese cuisines made from locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. The Bugis originally opened in 1995 on the corner street, when it received numerous accolades and awards as one of London’s best Asian restaurants. Since then, it has relocated inside The Bailey’s Hotel and has undergone a full renovation featuring a sumptuous yet modern interior and an upscale Bailey’s Bar with an enticing cocktail menu inspired by Lord Bailey’s journey in the Far East. The Burgis is to become one of the most exciting drinking and social experiences in Kensington.
Located in the heart of Chelsea, Kahani combines luxe, seductively lit interiors with a high-class, yet inclusive, dining experience. Spearheaded by Michelin-starred Chef Peter Joseph, guests can expect small plates packed full of flavours such as soft-shell crunchy crab with Chetinaad spices, kachumber, yellow tomato chutney or curries such as Kashmiri Nihari. To pair with your meal, Kahani offers diners an extensive list of fine wines and carefully crafted cocktails infused with Indian flavours. Need help picking a wine to compliment your dishes? Call upon the sommelier to select the best wine for your palate from the cast wine cellar visible behind glass panels.
Halloween Spooktacular Fun
This October half term, grab the kids and join the spellbindingly wicked Halloween Trick or Treat Trail. Explore areas of Covent Garden you may never have been to before whilst testing your observation skills and learning some fun facts. But best of all, along the way, you will collect some awesome treats and offers from fang-tastic contributors. It’s not just for the kids! As well as a sweet treat for your little ones, The Lamb and Flag, Bow Street Tavern and The Marquis pubs are offering discounts on drinks for the adults too – just in case you get parched along the route. Plus, there is also a photo competition to win a special Halloween prize for anyone who shares photos from the trail on Instagram. Bonus points go to anyone doing the trail in fancy dress! Register for the Spooktacular Halloween Trick or Treat Trail 2023 – its free!
Well known for being the best value theme park in the UK, and for the much-loved Peppa Pig World experience, Paultons Park in Hampshire is back for another year with even more spooky fun to be had with their Halloween Spooktacular! From Peppa Pig World’s spooky Halloween makeover, Rides in the dark, The Fairy Garden decorated with webs and pumpkins, The Legend of Paultons Manor show, there is something for everyone to enjoy!
Art & Culture
This Autumn, take in the history of one of the world’s most iconic fashion houses at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The first UK exhibition dedicated to the work of French couturière, Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel, charting the establishment of the House of CHANEL and the evolution of her iconic design style which continues to influence the way women dress today. The offer includes a full English Breakfast, 2 tickets to the Gabrielle Chanel Fashion Manifesto exhibition and Gabrielle Chanel Fashion Manifesto Coffee Table book for suite bookings.
Christy, the near 175-year-old British heritage brand credited with creating towelling as we know it today, is to be the centre of an exhibition, called The Crafting of Christy, at London’s Museum of Brands. From originally showcasing at the Great Exhibition and being the towelling brand of choice for Queen Victoria – whose royal seal will be on display within the ‘Royals Cabinet’ – to present day and the brand’s role in sporting culture, the exhibit will, for the first time in Christy’s rich past, visually demonstrate its role and significance in British history. The exhibition will be open to the public daily until 31st October 2023. Entry is £9 for adults, £7 for concessions and students. More information can be found on the Museum of Brands’ website.
New for 2023, Discover Hub – Grow is an exciting mix of science and creativity for three days for schools, families and the general public. From art exhibitions and craft activities to fun interactive demonstrations and games learning about eyes, neurones, medicinal plants, workings of the body and more. This free event is held on 19th, 20th and 21st October at Holborn Library.
Get into the Spirit of Christmas
The Spirit of Christmas Fair returns to Olympia London from 30th October to 5th November with festive inspiration from over 700 exciting independent brands. Discover a diverse collection of carefully curated gifts from small independent brands and designer-makers, each one picked for its originality and quality and brought together for this seven-day event. Discerning shoppers can expect a diverse collection of curated gifts to shop from to satisfy all their gifting needs including toys, fashion, homeware, and stylish décor as well as the finest food and drink from award-winning artisans and producers. For more information and details on how to get tickets, please visit their website.
You may also be interested in joining one of our events this October here. Make sure you are subscribed to our newsletter to stay in the loop.
