London in November 2026: What’s On, What to Book + Tips

Welcome to the third episode of our monthly bonus series from the UK Travel Planning Podcast, brought to you by our sister brand London Travel Planning. Each month we look ahead at what is happening in the capital, what is worth booking and what will sell out before you get there. This month it’s just me, talking you through November 2026 in London.

This episode is sponsored by City Cruises. We cover the November weather and those early dark afternoons, Bonfire Night, Remembrance Sunday and the Lord Mayor’s Show (back on the river this year), the Christmas lights switch-on dates, including Oxford Street’s Harry Potter lights, Christmas at Kew, the ice rinks and markets, and the theatre and exhibitions opening this month. I also go through what you need to book in November if you are coming for Christmas or New Year, and why the afternoon tea cruise is my pick for a November afternoon on the river.

This post may contain compensated links. Please refer to my disclosure here for more information.

What you will learn in this episode

• What November weather really does, with daytime highs around 12°C (54°F), nights around 7°C (45°F) and rain on roughly one day in three
• What the Met Office long-range outlook is saying for November, and why you should check it again the week before you fly
• Why the dark catches people out more than the cold, with sunset around 4.30pm at the start of the month and just before 4pm by the end
• How to plan your days around the daylight: outdoor sights in the morning, then museums, afternoon tea and theatre once it gets dark
• What to pack for November, from a warm waterproof jacket (not your heaviest coat) to waterproof comfy shoes, a hat and gloves
• Bonfire Night on Thursday 5 November, the story of Guy Fawkes, and the big fireworks displays at Alexandra Palace and Battersea Park that weekend
• Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph on 8 November, and the two minute silence across the city on Armistice Day, Wednesday 11 November
• The Lord Mayor’s Show on Saturday 14 November, with its 1757 gold coach, 250 horses and, for 2026, a return to the river
• Why the 3.30pm afternoon tea cruise from Tower Pier is a lovely way to watch the skyline light up, and what Sinead from our team thought of it
• The £9 one day River Pass for hopping on and off between Westminster and Greenwich
• The 2026 Christmas lights switch-on dates for Carnaby Street, Regent Street, St James’s and Covent Garden, and what we know so far about Oxford Street’s Harry Potter lights
• Why the lights walk will be much nicer on foot this year, and why the night after a switch-on is better than the night itself
• Christmas at Kew, the ice rinks from Somerset House to Hampton Court Palace, and the Christmas markets opening this month
• Hogwarts in the Snow at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, and why the November dates sell out fast
• The theatre and exhibitions opening in November, including Ian McKellen’s Lear at The Yard, One Day the Musical, Agatha Christie at the British Library and Van Eyck: The Portraits at the National Gallery
• The latest on Bayeux Tapestry tickets, and when the April to July 2027 dates are released
• What to book in November if you are coming for Christmas or New Year, from the Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve cruises to the Ceremony of the Keys and Christmas Day restaurants
• The exclusive City Cruises offer for our community, and the date it closes

If you are planning London at Christmas, our Festive London Planning Guide has the whole festive calendar, what to book and when, and a map for your phone with the lights walk, markets, rinks, pubs and afternoon teas pinned on it.

Links mentioned in the episode

• City Cruises: sightseeing, dining and festive cruises on the Thames. Cruises mentioned in this episode: the Afternoon Tea Cruise, the one day River Pass, the Christmas Day Lunch Cruise, the Christmas Day Sightseeing Cruise and the New Year’s Eve cruises, including the Stargazer, Celestial, Galaxy Plus and the Gala Dinner on the Diamond.
• Use code UKPLAN10 for 10% off the afternoon tea cruise; book and travel by 31 December 2026. Standard afternoon tea ticket only.
• City Cruises Afternoon Tea Cruise Review (Sinead’s review)
• London Christmas Lights Walk: Self-Guided Route + Map
• Events in London in November 2026
• Visiting London in November
• Christmas Cruises in London: Lunch, Dinner + Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve Cruises in London: Fireworks from the Thames
• Festive London Planning Guide 2026
• Met Office long-range forecast
• Ceremony of the Keys tickets on the Historic Royal Palaces website
• The Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum

Related Content

Podcasts

• London Bonus Episode 2 – London in October 2026: What’s On and What to Book
• London Bonus Episode 1 – London in September 2026: What’s On and What to Book
• Episode #170 – Essential Tips for Visiting London at Christmas and New Year
• Episode #223 – 12 Things to Do in London When It Rains [+ Rainy Day Itinerary]

Articles

• Visiting London in November (All You Need to Know)
• Christmas in London 2026: The Complete Planning Guide
• Best Christmas Lights in London 2026: Dates, Route + Tours
• Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London
• Complete Packing List for London in Winter

More from us

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