Visiting London in October 2026: What’s On, What to Book and What to Know

Welcome to the second 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 I am joined again by Charley Sullivan from WalksDevour to talk through October 2026 in London.

This episode is sponsored by WalksDevour. We cover what October weather really does, what half term means for the Tower and the Abbey, where to find the best autumn leaves, Halloween across the city, the Christmas and Bonfire Night tickets already on sale, and how to see the Ceremony of the Keys now the Historic Palace’s October public tickets have gone. Charley also introduces the brand new WalksDevour tour of Kensington Gardens and Kensington Palace.

What you will learn in this episode

• Why Charley calls October her favourite month in London, and why it feels so much quieter than the summer
• What October weather really does, with daytime highs around 16°C (61°F), nights around 10°C (50°F) and rain on roughly one day in three
• What the Met Office long range outlook is saying for October, and why it is worth checking again just before you fly
• How much daylight you lose across the month, and what the clocks going back on Sunday 25 October means for your afternoons
• When half term falls (26 to 30 October), why Saturday 24 October is the busy travel day, and Charley’s tips for the Tower and Westminster Abbey that week
• What to pack for October, from a fold-up waterproof and comfy shoes to Charley’s cosy jumper rule
• Where to find the best autumn leaves: St Dunstan in the East, Little Venice, Greenwich Park, Richmond Park and Crystal Palace Park
• Halloween at the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and Kew, and why you should not turn up in costume
• Charley’s Halloween extras: the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, the London Dungeon and rooftop film screenings
• The exhibitions and shows worth planning around, including Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Frida at Tate Modern, the David Bowie Centre and The Lives of Others with Keira Knightley
• Diwali on the Square in Trafalgar Square and the three NFL games in London this October
• What to book now for later in the year: Christmas at Kew, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland and Bonfire Night at Alexandra Palace, plus the story of Guy Fawkes
• The WalksDevour tour everyone is booking for October, and why the Tastes, Tales and Traditional Ales pub tour suits the darker afternoons
• Why the Bayeux Tapestry and Her Life in Style are sold out for 2026, and the dates to watch if you want tickets for next year
• How to still see the Ceremony of the Keys this October, and why October is the last month for the WalksDevour VIP evening
• What is closed in October, including the Buckingham Palace State Rooms and Windsor Castle from 20 to 22 October
• The new Express Kensington Gardens and Kensington Palace tour, from the Albert Memorial and the Italian Gardens to the Sunken Garden and the State Apartments
• Your questions answered: visiting in half term week, and whether you can still see the Changing of the Guard in October
• The exclusive WalksDevour offer for our community, and the date it closes

* Correction Note

A quick note: the regular Changing of the Guard runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 11am. Sundays have a separate Sunday Parade, so check the Household Division calendar the week before you go.

Links mentioned in the episode

• WalksDevour: small group and private cultural, historical and food tours in London, Europe and North America. Tours mentioned in this episode: the new Express Kensington Gardens and Kensington Palace Tour, the VIP Tower of London evening with the Ceremony of the Keys, the Tastes, Tales and Traditional Ales pub tour and the Kensington Palace tour with afternoon tea.
• Use code LTP5 for 5% off WalksDevour tours; book before midnight UK time on Thursday 8 October 2026.
• Events in London in October 2026
• Visiting London in October
• Met Office long-range forecast
• How to get to Hampton Court Palace from central London
• Greenwich One Day Itinerary
• The Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum and British Museum membership
• Household Division: Changing of the Guard calendar

Related Content

Podcasts

• London Bonus Episode 1 – London in September 2026: What’s On and What to Book
• Episode #220 – Where to Stay in London
• Episode #142 – Exploring the Tower of London: History, Highlights, and Helpful Tips
• Episode #170 – Essential Tips for Visiting London at Christmas and New Year

Articles

• Visiting London in October (All You Need to Know)
• Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London
• Visiting Kensington Palace – Tickets, Tours + FAQs
• Tastes, Tales and Traditional Ales Review: London Pub Tour
• WalksDevour Tours in London: Small Group Experiences You’ll Love

More from us

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