Latest / UK Travel Planning / London in October 2026: What's On + Travel Tips

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London in October 2026: What's On + Travel Tips · UK Travel Planning

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Halloween at the Tower of London, three NFL games, Diwali and Trafalgar Square and colour coming across the parks.
• 0:06
  SPEAKER_00: If you're visiting London in October, this is what's on, what to book and what to pack.
• 0:10
  SPEAKER_01: And I'll tell you what October really feels like on the ground and the brand new tour that I recommend this month.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm Tracy from UK Travel Planning, and this is Charlie from Walks Devour.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_00: And this is London in October.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: Hi and welcome to our monthly London bonus episode brought to you by our sister brand, London Travel Planning, and sponsored again this month by Walks Devour.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_00: I'm delighted again to have Charlie Sullivan back with me.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: Now Charlie runs the London programme for Walks Devour and was with us last month for our bonus London in September episode.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_00: Now there's a new offer for our community at the end from Walks Devour.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're a podcast listener watching on YouTube for the first time, do check other show notes and also hit subscribe so you can find out exactly what's coming.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_00: Now let's talk about visiting London in October, Charlie.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_00: So what we need to know.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_01: London in October, it's my favourite season.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_01: It just becomes so cozy and warm.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_01: Temperatures change slightly in October.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_01: It is England after all.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_01: So you will see sort of lower temperatures and a lot more rain.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_01: So always bring an umbrella, no matter what you do.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_01: The parks and gardens are beautiful because you get the vibrant red and orange leaves falling onto the ground, which makes the whole of London just absolutely beautiful.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_01: We have lots of seasonal events in October.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_01: So we have Halloween coming up, we've got autumnal events, cultural festivals.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_01: But the nice thing with October, although it's still busy, it's much, much less to do than the summer season.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_01: You will find that you have shorter wait times at the top attractions.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_01: And then also just walking down the street, popping into any pub and being cozy with the lit up fires, um, offering warm and welcome settings.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_01: And I can't forget, perfect time for a traditional Sunday roast.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, absolutely, absolutely.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_00: It is a lovely time to be in London.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_00: And you mentioned a bit about the weather, and you know us Brits love talking about the weather, don't we, Charlie?
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's a it's annoying.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're visiting October, a little bit about the averages, so you can kind of got an idea what to expect.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_00: So daytime high is usually around about 16 degrees, so not too bad.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: 61 Fahrenheit, but it goes down, drops down to about 10 or 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_00: So apparently, this is the average.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: I love finding out all the statistics.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: I'm a statistics nerd, but apparently we can expect rain on roughly 10 days of the month.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_00: So one in three days, you can expect some rain.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I always also look at the long-range forecast before I visit and check it out.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_00: So you can check on the Met office, and they're saying it's going to be actually warmer than average.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: So something to look forward to, Charlie, in October.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: Um, there's gonna be some wet and windy weather, but again, it's October.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but also some potential for some nice drier days.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: But again, I will link to the uh Met office so you can check just before you fly, just so you know what you're doing.
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_00: Um, also another thing to expect in October, this is not such a thing that I enjoy, I have to tell you, is that there's a decrease in that daylight hours during the month, um, from about 12 hours at the beginning of the month to about 10 hours at the end.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_00: So it really does start to decrease.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and then there's another important event as well for teachers, and I did used to love that, in that it's half-term for schools in England and Wales, starting Monday the 26th to Friday the 30th of October.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_00: So this the schools will break up on the Friday the 23rd.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so expect the 24th is gonna be busy.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_00: So it'll be busy on the trains, it'll be busy at the airport, so busy on the roads.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_00: Um now the Scottish schools break up earlier, so that's only gonna be an issue if you're gonna go up to Edinburgh, so they're off the kind of middle of October.
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but of the first few weeks of October, like Charlie said, they're gonna be quieter.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_00: But the last week it will be busy because all the kids are off school and everybody comes down to London and and enjoys the time there.
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_00: So, Charlie, what does half-term actually mean for London and some of the popular sites such as the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey?
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_00: Is there a day, a type of day that you'd recommend people visit on the those sites during during October and half term particularly?
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's funnily enough, October, even though I said before that it is a quieter month, and it is in retrospect to the summer, it's still one of the busiest parts because of the half-term week.
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um so we actually get a surge in more local and regional visitors, which is quite flat quite normal, really.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_01: So we get a lot of families taking day trips to London through half-term, which sees that surge during the week.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but the biggest tip for me is timed entry.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_01: Um, timed entry, they really they sort of peak during that half-term week.
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_01: So whatever you're booking, always book to timed entry because you're more likely to not have to wait in in long queues.
• 5:13
  SPEAKER_01: Um, busier, busier public transport through that week um a hundred percent.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_01: Um, it's always going to be around 10, between 10 and 4 will be uh the busier times.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_01: Um so early morning, later evening, you'll probably find it it calms down a little bit.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_01: Um, we have fantastic sites, like all the museums, they do half-term specials for the kids because obviously a lot of the families come up for the week.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_01: Um, my biggest tip for half-term would be to book in advance, but everything in advance so you don't have to worry.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_01: Shift your schedules as well.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_01: So don't try and do tours during the day.
• 5:51
  SPEAKER_01: Try and go for early morning tours um or later, so after 3:30 p.m., try and enter the sites then because you'll have a much quieter experience.
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_01: And there are obviously quieter alternatives if you don't want to do the big sites during during that that week.
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, perfect.
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_00: Now uh we'll talk a little bit about packing because I always get asked to the Facebook groups like, what should pack?
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_00: What sort of thing should I put in my case?
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_00: Now, what I always travel with, and you mentioned umbrella, what I always travel with when I go anywhere actually in the UK, and I have it with me in my bag all the time, is a small fold-up waterproof jacket.
• 6:28
  SPEAKER_00: And that honestly is it's an absolute staple.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I actually get stopped so often because it's really pretty.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_00: It's one from next, and it's yellow with flowers on it, and so often people come, oh, where did I get your jacket from?
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so make sure that you have a waterproof coat with you, because I say one in three days it's gonna rain.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_00: I'm also known for talking about comfy shoes.
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_00: There's nothing worse when you're walking around, and especially in London where you're gonna be doing a lot of walking, you need to have something comfortable, preferably waterproof on your uh feet as well.
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and also pack layers.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_00: Now, Charlie, you said it last month, dress like an onion.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_00: So, what will you be actually wearing when you're out and about in London, especially kind of by the end of the month when the weather will start definitely changing?
• 7:08
  SPEAKER_01: Um, well, for me, I as I said, this is my favourite month, and I'm I'm a big cozy jumper wearer.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_01: So you will normally find me in a pair of jeans, my warm boots, and a big cozy knit jumper.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_01: Probably with a little staff round by the end of October, I have to admit, but this year may be different, seeing as we might be in for a little bit warmer climate.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but you will definitely see me in a very light scarf, um, light jacket, probably a cardigan under there as well, somewhere.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_01: I don't do well with cold weather, um, which is why it's my favorite season because I just literally I just bundle up.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_01: Um, always, always have an umbrella on me, and I always take a raincoat no matter what.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_01: Even through the summer, I've always got a raincoat on me.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_01: So you just never know.
• 7:57
  SPEAKER_01: But yeah, bundled up and cozy and warm is what where I will be by the end of October.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah, no, that that always sounds good.
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_00: And it is nice actually.
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_00: There's something quite nice about getting all those jumpers and jackets back out of the out of the cupboard and knowing that you're gonna be needing them for the next few months.
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_00: Now, also, what's important to know if you're heading to the UK um next month is that the clocks go back one hour.
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_00: And I know that's going to be different.
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_00: Different places around the world have different, you know, daylight savings and what whatever.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_00: But in the UK, the clocks go back one hour at 2 a.m.
• 8:29
  SPEAKER_00: on the last Sunday, so it's the 25th of October.
• 8:32
  SPEAKER_00: So it means after that day it'll start getting darker earlier for around about half past four, which was my least favourite thing that we did.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_00: I used to be like, no, it's gonna get dark that much earlier.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, but there are some nice things that come with it.
• 8:47
  SPEAKER_00: Like you said, it's cosier and this.
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_00: You can go to the pubs and the fires are on, and it is lovely.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_00: Um, now, also the other advantage of this time of year, and it is lovely in London, are the autumn, it's an autumn colour.
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_00: Now, because it's been quite a warm year, um, I was reading about it just saying that the parks are really lush, and from probably the middle of October onwards, you're gonna really get the best of it.
• 9:09
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and I was kind of thinking to recommend some places to go if that's particularly what you're looking for.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so St.
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_00: Dunstan's in the east will be absolutely beautiful.
• 9:17
  SPEAKER_00: So it's a bombed-out church that was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the city of London, not very far from the Tower of London.
• 9:25
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and the garden inside the ruins will be absolutely beautiful to go and see.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_00: Um, Little Venice along the canal.
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_00: Doug's got some beautiful photos and videos from he was there last October, and it was absolutely stunning.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and another place that I personally always love to go to, and that's Greenwich.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_00: I never need an excuse to go to Greenwich, but again, Greenwich Park will be absolutely beautiful at this time of year.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_00: Now, um, Charlie, do you have a favourite place for autumn leaves in London?
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_01: I do actually.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_01: My favourite is Richmond Park.
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_01: Um, Richmond Park is stunning, it's very famous for wild deer, so you'll actually see a lot of deer roaming around as well.
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but it's just beautiful.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_01: It's got full of oak trees, which just when their leaves drop, they to me are the most beautiful leaves and the colours on them.
• 10:08
  SPEAKER_01: Um so 100% Richmond Park.
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_01: But I also, and this is a bit of a curple, I used to live here.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so Crystal Palace Park for me is one of the most beautiful parks um in London.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so definitely, definitely head there for for the autumn leaves as well.
• 10:25
  SPEAKER_00: Perfect.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: Well, that's there's four good, four or five good um we'll uh we'll add those in the show notes.
• 10:31
  SPEAKER_00: So do go and check those out.
• 10:32
  SPEAKER_00: Now let's talk about what's on because now there's there's far too much happening in London October that to cover all of it here.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_00: We'd be here for the next hour and a half, just even going through the list.
• 10:42
  SPEAKER_00: So I kind of picked out some of my favorites, and I have got a full list of what's on on their website on LondonTravelplanning.com.
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_00: We've got a whole events in October article, and I'll link to that in the show notes as well.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_00: But these are the kind of ones that I'd kind of planned to do and think or be involved in.
• 11:00
  SPEAKER_00: Well, obviously, Charlie mentioned before we've got Halloween, um, which I think has become more and more popular over the last few years.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_00: When I was a kid, it wasn't such a big thing, but it has become a bit of a big deal now.
• 11:10
  SPEAKER_00: So that's going to run from the 24th of October to the 1st of November because it's going to overlap with overlap with the school holidays.
• 11:17
  SPEAKER_00: So the Tower of London has got a Halloween programme.
• 11:20
  SPEAKER_00: Um, that's all included in your admission.
• 11:22
  SPEAKER_00: It's aimed at family, so nothing too scary.
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but don't go dressed up because apparently they won't let you in if you go dressed up.
• 11:29
  SPEAKER_00: So that's something I didn't know that, but apparently not.
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_00: How the Court Palace has got the same dates.
• 11:33
  SPEAKER_00: They've also got um Halloween things going on.
• 11:37
  SPEAKER_00: Now apparently it will be a bit scarier.
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_00: I always find the haunted gallery a bit scary, anyways.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_00: Gonna be even scarier, apparently.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so that's a cool one to go to.
• 11:47
  SPEAKER_00: And that's easy train trip from Waterloo.
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so that's an easy one.
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and then also Halloween EQ.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_00: So Q's got an illuminated trail all about Halloween from the 16th of October to the 1st of November.
• 11:59
  SPEAKER_00: Um, that probably will sell out, so don't wait until you get to the UK to book it.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_00: If you want to do that, I would I'd get that booked.
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_00: Um, what about you, Charlie?
• 12:07
  SPEAKER_00: What have you got planned for Halloween?
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_01: Do you know?
• 12:10
  SPEAKER_01: I've never I've never been big into Halloween, although when I was traveling, obviously I was in America a lot, so I kind of got pulled into the whole sort of the the big uh Halloween theme.
• 12:22
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but for me, it's our daughter will be she's just turned one, so she'll probably take her to pick her first ever pumpkin.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and it's not so big around our area where where we're living.
• 12:37
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but I have to say there's a lot of respect for for people if they are trickle treating, which we never did as kids, I was never allowed.
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_01: Um, because I was my mum told me it was deemed as begging.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_01: So I was never allowed to do it.
• 12:51
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 12:52
  SPEAKER_01: So we now, if you put a pumpkin outside your door and it's lit up, then kids are allowed to come to your door, which I think is a really nice way to do it because a lot of the elderly get quite scared if they're on their own.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER_01: Um so we'll probably do that.
• 13:06
  SPEAKER_01: We'll have our pumpkin up and we won't take our daughter yet.
• 13:10
  SPEAKER_01: We'll we'll wait for next year, I think.
• 13:12
  SPEAKER_01: But uh definitely pumpkin picking, and all my house will be done up in autumn colours and Halloween and everything else.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_00: So that'll look that'll look really pretty.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_00: I remember actually when I lived in Canada a long time ago, um, the lady I worked for made outfits.
• 13:26
  SPEAKER_00: I looked after twins and she made gorgeous outfits for them, and there were two at the time.
• 13:30
  SPEAKER_00: So and next year your daughter will be great age to go out and and and uh experience it.
• 13:35
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it'll be really cool.
• 13:37
  SPEAKER_00: Um now exhibitions again, there's a lot on in October.
• 13:40
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so I'll just go through a few that I kind of thought were quite cool.
• 13:43
  SPEAKER_00: Um, wildlife photographer of the year is at the Natural History Museum on the 16th.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_00: I think it that's always something fantastic to see.
• 13:51
  SPEAKER_00: I'm always amazed at just some of the fabulous photos that people take from around the world.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_00: So that might be worth if you're interested in photography, that's a great place to pop in and have a look.
• 14:01
  SPEAKER_00: Um, there's still the Frida, the making of an icon is at the Tate Modern until January.
• 14:05
  SPEAKER_00: I'm really sad that I missed that.
• 14:07
  SPEAKER_00: So if anybody's been to that, let me know what it was like.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_00: And actually, you sent me some information, Charlie, about the Bowie Center, uh, the VA.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_00: Um, they've got the Bowie collection is there.
• 14:17
  SPEAKER_00: Getting into the VA itself is free, but whether the actual David Bowie five pounds, I think.
• 14:24
  SPEAKER_00: Um but it's entry to that is released in timed batches, I think.
• 14:27
  SPEAKER_00: So you'll have to book ahead because I think that's going to be really popular to go and see.
• 14:32
  SPEAKER_00: Um now, of course, heading to London as well.
• 14:34
  SPEAKER_00: You've got it, there's the theatre.
• 14:36
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and there's a big opening uh next month as well.
• 14:40
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, The Lives of Others at the Delphi.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_00: Um, that opens on the 14th of October and that goes into January, and that's a stage version of the Oscar-winning German film set in the 1980s East Berlin, starring Ciara Knightley.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_00: So if you want to go and see Kira on stage, this is your opportunity.
• 14:56
  SPEAKER_00: Now it's literally a strictly limited run.
• 14:58
  SPEAKER_00: I can imagine getting Kira Knightley for anything more than a few months would be quite difficult because I guess she's pretty busy.
• 15:04
  SPEAKER_00: Um so if you want to go and see that, I would get that booked.
• 15:08
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and then later on in the month, there's a Diwali on the Square, Trafalgar Square, on Sunday, the 25th of October, and that's from one o'clock um till seven.
• 15:16
  SPEAKER_00: So that's free, you don't need a ticket.
• 15:18
  SPEAKER_00: There'll be lots of dance, music, and food stalls.
• 15:20
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and it's also on the day the clocks go back, so you get an extra hour in bed first, so you can lie in and then head over to Trafalgar Square and enjoy that.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_00: And then for our American listeners, and I bet there's plenty of people heading to London next month for this.
• 15:34
  SPEAKER_00: There's apparently three NFL games in London in October.
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_00: Um, the Colts against the Commanders at Tottenham uh on Sunday the 4th, Sunday the 11th, the Eagles against the Jaguars.
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_00: I have no idea where these teams come from, so let me know.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_00: And then Sunday the 18th, the Texans, I guess that's Texas, and the Jaguars are at Wembley.
• 15:52
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're heading to London to go and watch the NFL, get in touch, we want to know.
• 15:56
  SPEAKER_00: Want to know how the game went.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER_00: Is there anything else in October, Charlie, that you'd say people should be doing?
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, one of my favorites, and I did it for the first time a few years ago, is at the Warner Brothers studio.
• 16:08
  SPEAKER_01: Um, they actually turned the whole Great Hall into floating pumpkins and Death Eater encounters.
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_01: And it's it's amazing.
• 16:15
  SPEAKER_01: If you really want to get into that Halloween spirit, head to the Warner Studios.
• 16:19
  SPEAKER_01: It's so much fun and it's incredibly well done.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_01: The other one that's a good thing to do, which I think isn't sort of mentioned much, is the London Dungeon.
• 16:27
  SPEAKER_01: Um so this is open all year round, but through October, obviously they sort of the the scariness gets hyped up a little bit more.
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and it's brilliant because they do seasonal Halloween exclusive shows, um, like highlighting the villains like Jack the Ripper um and Sweeney Todd.
• 16:45
  SPEAKER_01: So it's a really good month to to head there.
• 16:48
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and also some of the restaurants and pubs, they're actually, if they've got rooftops, have a look at your have to do some research and have a look for where you want to go.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_01: But some of them do Halloween film screenings on the rooftops.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_01: So that's really, really fun to do as well.
• 17:01
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, I'd recommend doing doing those.
• 17:04
  SPEAKER_00: So plenty to do.
• 17:05
  SPEAKER_00: There's loads to do in October.
• 17:06
  SPEAKER_00: Great year, and a lot of great, great months to visit.
• 17:09
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I also want to talk a little bit about what to book and when, because I've had loads of questions about this um and about booking ahead for things as well, because now is the time to start thinking about booking ahead for some of the Christmas and New Year stuff because it is going to get booked up.
• 17:23
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so I just want to go through some of these things with you.
• 17:27
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and so the first one I want to talk about is actually Christmas at Q, and that's from the 13th of November, the 3rd of January.
• 17:34
  SPEAKER_00: That's on sale now.
• 17:35
  SPEAKER_00: I would honestly take um take your daughter to that, Charlie, because it's amazing.
• 17:39
  SPEAKER_00: I'm sure she'll she'll absolutely love it.
• 17:41
  SPEAKER_00: Doug and I did it a couple of years ago, um, and it's it's really good.
• 17:45
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and if you didn't want to take your daughter, there's adult lonely evenings as well on the 3rd and 9th of December.
• 17:49
  SPEAKER_00: So you can have a date night go to the queue and enjoying all the Christmas lights um because it's really good.
• 17:55
  SPEAKER_00: Um, another thing that's on is Hyde Park Winter Wonderland from the 19th of November to the 3rd of January.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_00: That's also on sale now.
• 18:02
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and then Bonfire Night.
• 18:04
  SPEAKER_00: Now, we'll have to talk about Bonfire Night because that's coming in November.
• 18:08
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and the big displays are on Saturday, the 7th, and the Sunday, the 8th of November, and Alexandra Palace um is a one to go to, and that runs on both nights, but the Sunday night uh display starts earlier.
• 18:20
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're visiting with kids, um that's a great one to go to.
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_00: Now, if you're not from the UK and you're wondering what bonfire night is, it was basically because on the 5th of November 1605, a group of plotters tried to blow up the houses of parliament with the king inside.
• 18:37
  SPEAKER_00: Horror, horror.
• 18:38
  SPEAKER_00: And Guy Fawkes was caught in the cellar with the gunpowder.
• 18:42
  SPEAKER_00: Just him.
• 18:42
  SPEAKER_00: He was just caught there hiding.
• 18:44
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so ever since then we've marked it with bonfires and fireworks, and we make a guy, and that guy goes on top of the bonfire, and we all set it on fire.
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_00: And that's a really British tradition that you're gonna find everywhere, and it's really, really good fun.
• 18:58
  SPEAKER_00: And that I guess when when I was a kid, that was what we celebrated more than Halloween.
• 19:02
  SPEAKER_00: It was always Guy Forks.
• 19:04
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and I'm glad it still goes on because it's it's a great British tradition, and we're kind of recognising, you know, the history and the eye forks trying to blow up um the House of Parliament.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_00: Now, Charlie, what are people booking with you for October?
• 19:18
  SPEAKER_00: What's uh popping off this month?
• 19:20
  SPEAKER_01: Well, actually, one of the one of the tours that have has really sort of taken a hit for October is our pubs tour.
• 19:27
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so our Taste Tales and Traditional pub tour in the city of London, um, where we visit four different pubs um and head through Fleet Street with Sweeney Todd and talk about Sir Christopher Wren and all the literary figures that that sort of went and resided in these pubs to write books and get their imagination going.
• 19:48
  SPEAKER_01: Um, that is actually one of our top sellers for October.
• 19:52
  SPEAKER_01: Um and I think it is down to the fact that it is getting cooler, the light is dimming, so early evening.
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_01: So our tour starts at three o'clock.
• 20:02
  SPEAKER_01: So by the end of October, mid-October, you're gonna see the light fading by four o'clock in the afternoon.
• 20:08
  SPEAKER_01: So once we enter into these pubs, we're gonna get a real real sense of coziness, warmth, and a real different feel to the tour that we would have throughout the rest of the season.
• 20:19
  SPEAKER_01: So, yeah, that's one of our best tours at the moment.
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_01: That's that's really hot off the rocks for for October.
• 20:26
  SPEAKER_00: That's pretty hear it because it again, that's one that I absolutely love.
• 20:29
  SPEAKER_00: The uh I love it.
• 20:30
  SPEAKER_00: I love the taste, tales, and traditionals.
• 20:32
  SPEAKER_00: I think I've done it a couple of times, and I'm always happy to go on that one.
• 20:34
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and it's always great fun with whoever you go on the tour with, whoever the guide is, it's always great fun.
• 20:40
  SPEAKER_00: Um, the people that you meet along the way, it's always it's a really fun and really informative like taste, it is the tales as well that go with it that make that um a really, really, really, really fun tour.
• 20:51
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, get that one booked.
• 20:52
  SPEAKER_00: If you're heading in October, go and do the taste tales and traditional ails because it's it is brilliant.
• 20:57
  SPEAKER_00: Um, now I'm gonna also mention because this I've I've had so many inquiries after September episode aired about the Bayer Chappa Street and her life and style.
• 21:08
  SPEAKER_00: I actually've had a few inquiries of people thinking of actually coming to London because they want to see both of these exhibitions.
• 21:15
  SPEAKER_00: So I just want to say they are sold out for the rest of the year.
• 21:18
  SPEAKER_00: I've done so many inquiries for people.
• 21:20
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you won't get tickets for either.
• 21:23
  SPEAKER_00: You just can't.
• 21:23
  SPEAKER_00: I've literally been on everything.
• 21:25
  SPEAKER_00: I've searched everything to try and find tickets, and then apparently you just can't.
• 21:28
  SPEAKER_00: So the Bayer Tapestry, tickets for January to March, this is your best bet.
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_00: If you can come back, if you really want to see these things, um, they go on sale on Tuesday, the 6th of October, for members of the British Museum.
• 21:40
  SPEAKER_00: The public release is on the 21st of October.
• 21:43
  SPEAKER_00: Now, they haven't said anything yet about April to July.
• 21:46
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're kind of planning way ahead, um, again, I'll let you know when that comes out because Doug and I are planning to book that.
• 21:52
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but remember if you're a member of the British Museum, you've got a better chance of getting tickets to the Bayer Tapestry if you want to do it.
• 21:59
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Now, her life in style, which is the um exhibition of the the uh late queen's clothing, which is fabulous.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_00: That's been extended to the 18th of April next year.
• 22:09
  SPEAKER_00: Tickets from January onwards are your best bet.
• 22:11
  SPEAKER_00: There's no waiting list and there's no walk-up for that, apparently.
• 22:14
  SPEAKER_00: I think everybody's just been just blown away by how incredibly popular these are.
• 22:19
  SPEAKER_00: Um now we talked a lot about the ceremony of the keys last m last month as well, and actually that was one of the most watched parts of the chat that we had, actually, Charlie.
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_00: There's a huge amount of interest in this.
• 22:29
  SPEAKER_00: Now, the historic Royal Palaces tickets for October's have gone.
• 22:33
  SPEAKER_00: They've gone.
• 22:33
  SPEAKER_00: They were sold 1st of September for October, so they are sold out.
• 22:37
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but Charlie, people can still go, can't?
• 22:42
  SPEAKER_01: Of course they can.
• 22:43
  SPEAKER_01: They can come with us at Walks of Hour.
• 22:45
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so yes, we have a uh VIP Ceremony of the Keys tour that runs twice a week.
• 22:51
  SPEAKER_01: Um October is actually the last month for us as well.
• 22:55
  SPEAKER_01: Um, it doesn't really tend to run through the low season due to the light um and everything else.
• 23:01
  SPEAKER_01: So we we tend not to.
• 23:03
  SPEAKER_01: So if you really want to come and have a look and enjoy the ceremony of the keys, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, then then come to us at walksdevour.com.
• 23:12
  SPEAKER_01: Um, we have a private tour, just your group with a yeoman warder to start, which is about an hour around the grounds of the the Tower of London.
• 23:20
  SPEAKER_01: We don't tend to go into anything, um, it's just all around the outside, but you'll hear all from him how about the the history, how what it's like to live there, and then you will witness the ceremony of the keys, which is the closing of the Tower of London.
• 23:35
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and it is, I get goosebumps just talking about it.
• 23:38
  SPEAKER_01: It is a phenomenal tour.
• 23:41
  SPEAKER_01: So if you are struggling to get tickets, then come to us at Walks Devour.
• 23:45
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely perfect.
• 23:46
  SPEAKER_00: Um, then a couple of quick things I also want to say now book Booking Palace State Rooms have closed for the year, so that's done.
• 23:52
  SPEAKER_00: You can't do that anymore.
• 23:53
  SPEAKER_00: But the role mews are open, so you can go into the Mews.
• 23:57
  SPEAKER_00: Um Windsor Castle is open all year round, but I did want to say that on the 20th to the 22nd of October, there's a state visit.
• 24:05
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so it will be shopped.
• 24:06
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and that that often gets people that don't realise as well that the Windsor Castle is a working castle, so it can be shopped for for things like state visits, which it is next month.
• 24:15
  SPEAKER_00: So do check if you want to go to Windsor and you're finding it for your visit next month.
• 24:20
  SPEAKER_00: Um now, Charlie, tour of the month.
• 24:22
  SPEAKER_00: So as I said, Walks to Vale run award-winning small group and private cultural, historic, and food tours in London across Europe and in North America, and Doug and I absolutely love them.
• 24:32
  SPEAKER_00: Um now I've heard, Charlie, that you've got a brand new tour this month.
• 24:36
  SPEAKER_00: So I thought you could tell us all about that.
• 24:43
  SPEAKER_01: So we already already run an extended version of this tour.
• 24:46
  SPEAKER_01: So we run the Kensington Palace, an afternoon tea tour, which includes guard change and special afternoon tea at the orangerie and a visit to the palace.
• 24:56
  SPEAKER_01: This is an express Kensington Palace, which is going to be running all through low season, so all through November, December, January, February.
• 25:04
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and it's a three-hour tour, so it's an express tour, and you have an hour and a half walk around the gardens of Kensington Palace.
• 25:14
  SPEAKER_01: Now you think, oh, it's just the gardens.
• 25:16
  SPEAKER_01: These gardens are exquisite.
• 25:18
  SPEAKER_01: You'll meet at the Royal Albert, um, the Royal Albert Memorial, and you'll head through to the Diana Memorial Fountain, um, which was dedicated to Princess Diana, um, who died in the car crash in 97, which can you believe is nearly, what, 30 odd years ago?
• 25:34
  SPEAKER_01: How's that happened?
• 25:36
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you'll then see the Peter Pan statue.
• 25:39
  SPEAKER_01: Um, we'll head over the Serpentine to the Serpentine Galleries, and then we have a wonderful walk around the long water, and you'll see this beautiful wildlife trees, all the nature, and head to what we call the Italian gardens.
• 25:53
  SPEAKER_01: Now, this is my favourite part of the gardens.
• 25:56
  SPEAKER_01: It was gifted to Victoria from Albert.
• 26:00
  SPEAKER_01: Um, it's an elaborate mix of four different basins, and they feature central rosettes carved out of marble, um, fountains, um, and they're to be recognized as being sites of particular importance.
• 26:13
  SPEAKER_01: So they're grade two listed by Historic England now as well.
• 26:17
  SPEAKER_01: Um, we'll then head through round to the round pond and through to the sunken garden, which I won't go into more details.
• 26:25
  SPEAKER_01: Honestly, it's the most beautiful garden I've seen.
• 26:29
  SPEAKER_01: And then you will have uh a free time to head inside the palace with an audio guide and take as long as you want to have a look around the Kensington Palace, which is a very underrated, beautiful palace in London.
• 26:44
  SPEAKER_01: Um, everyone thinks to go to Buckingham Palace, but honestly, Kensington is just as beautiful.
• 26:50
  SPEAKER_01: So that's our tour.
• 26:51
  SPEAKER_01: It starts at 10am in the morning.
• 26:53
  SPEAKER_01: We run it pretty much every day.
• 26:55
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and as I said, it's three hours long.
• 26:57
  SPEAKER_01: So come and join us through the winter for a beautiful, cozy walk through the gardens and through the palace.
• 27:04
  SPEAKER_00: And that's I guess that one because not as long as your full one is if there's a little bit less walking in that one.
• 27:11
  SPEAKER_00: So probably if you if you're somebody that finds a lot of walking a little bit too much, then that's probably a really good option to do that.
• 27:18
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and I agree, Kensington Palace really is underrated, and um, it's absolutely always worth a visit.
• 27:25
  SPEAKER_00: It really is.
• 27:25
  SPEAKER_00: What's availability looking like through October, Charlie?
• 27:29
  SPEAKER_01: Through October, we're really good.
• 27:31
  SPEAKER_01: As I said, we're running daily, so we've still got plenty of space available.
• 27:35
  SPEAKER_01: Um we only it only went live a month ago, um, and we've already had bookings for this month uh of September.
• 27:41
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, it's already looking really good.
• 27:44
  SPEAKER_00: That's brilliant.
• 27:44
  SPEAKER_00: Well, we'll put a link to that in the show notes and in the uh YouTube um description as well.
• 27:50
  SPEAKER_00: Uh now we've had some questions uh this month, so I thought we'd we'd go through those.
• 27:54
  SPEAKER_00: So the first one came in uh by email uh from Karen from Texas.
• 27:58
  SPEAKER_00: So Karen asked, What do I need to know if I'm visiting during the school holiday week at the end of October?
• 28:03
  SPEAKER_00: I think we covered a lot of that.
• 28:05
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and I think it is just making sure that you book things ahead of time, including restaurants as well, and go for kind of the early slots if you can, or later in the afternoon.
• 28:17
  SPEAKER_00: Again, theatre as well, if you want to do stuff, uh, get that booked.
• 28:21
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, the museums will be busy as well, won't they?
• 28:23
  SPEAKER_00: They because all the kids go to the museums.
• 28:26
  SPEAKER_01: Museums will be crazy busy, and that's why I always say sort of either go earlier or try and hit later on in the day.
• 28:33
  SPEAKER_01: Don't try and get through that mad part in the middle.
• 28:36
  SPEAKER_00: No, absolutely not.
• 28:37
  SPEAKER_00: And some of the museums as well have got late night openings, so that's always worth checking as well.
• 28:42
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and then the second question uh came in from Julia from Melbourne, who left it on Speakpipe about can we still see the changing of the guard in October?
• 28:50
  SPEAKER_00: So I'll put this to you, Charlie.
• 28:52
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so the changing of the guard, it still runs through October.
• 28:56
  SPEAKER_01: It runs Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday.
• 28:59
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but bear in mind um this can change at any moment, especially with the change in the weather.
• 29:06
  SPEAKER_01: So if it is if it is raining on that day, the panelists can cancel the changing of the guards last minute.
• 29:13
  SPEAKER_01: Um, or if there's another reason, it's out of our control, but yes, it can be changed at any moment.
• 29:20
  SPEAKER_01: But those four days should be running through also.
• 29:22
  SPEAKER_00: And I think your daughter's not very happy about the idea of it being cancelled.
• 29:26
  SPEAKER_01: She's really outset.
• 29:28
  SPEAKER_00: She's got grumpy about that.
• 29:29
  SPEAKER_00: She says, Don't you cancel the changing in the guard?
• 29:31
  SPEAKER_00: People come to see that, honestly.
• 29:34
  SPEAKER_00: Well, thank you so much, Charlie, and your daughter, for joining us for this episode.
• 29:38
  SPEAKER_00: It's been wonderful, always fantastic to chat.
• 29:41
  SPEAKER_00: Um, now before you go anything, we do have an exclusive offer for our community, thanks to Charlie and from Walks Devour, which is 5% off.
• 29:49
  SPEAKER_00: Chores with the code LTP5.
• 29:51
  SPEAKER_00: So LTP5, I'll put that in the show notes as well.
• 29:54
  SPEAKER_00: So book before midnight UK time on Friday, the 8th of October.
• 29:58
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and you can use it on any tour department right through to the end of 2026.
• 30:02
  SPEAKER_00: And again, the link is in the description on YouTube and the show notes.
• 30:06
  SPEAKER_00: So go and book.
• 30:07
  SPEAKER_00: Well, Troy, um, thanks so much for joining us this uh month again to chat about all sorts of things that are happening um in London in October.
• 30:16
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you for having me again.
• 30:17
  SPEAKER_01: It's been an absolute pleasure, and I hope to see lots of you in our tours.
• 30:20
  SPEAKER_00: Perfect.
• 30:21
  SPEAKER_00: Now, for planning the trip itself, head to our London site, londontravelsplanning.com, where you'll find our guide to visit in London in October and our full list of events in London in October and every date we've talked about today and all the things we're talked about today that all also linked in the show notes.
• 30:35
  SPEAKER_00: So come back on Tuesday the 29th for a regular podcast episode, which is 220, which is all about where to stay in London.
• 30:42
  SPEAKER_00: And I'll be back on Thursday, the 29th of October, with the next London bonus video episode podcast.
• 30:48
  SPEAKER_00: Um, all about visiting London in November, which is of course Bonfire Night, Lord Mayor show, and the Christmas lights going on.
• 30:55
  SPEAKER_00: All very exciting.
• 30:56
  SPEAKER_00: But until then, happy UK travel planning.