Hello London!
New Year's Eve fireworks tickets have gone on sale, and Croydon's RAYE has won the Mercury Prize. Columbia Road celebrates the Day of the Dead on Saturday, while the British Library opens its Agatha Christie exhibition on Friday. There are free half-term workshops, late-night cumbia in Lewisham and a new pizza place due in Covent Garden.
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Weather Report
Oct 26–Nov 1 · High / low · °C
Mon 🌧️ 14° | Tue 🌦️ 13° | Wed 🌤️ 13° | Thu 🌤️ 12° | Fri ☁️ 13° | Sat 🌧️ 16° | Sun ☀️ 13° |
Rain and showers early in the week, then drier from Wednesday to Friday. More showers are possible on Saturday, with sunshine forecast for Sunday.
News to Know
New Year's Eve fireworks tickets released — The first batch has been released for the Dec 31 display. London-resident tickets are listed starting at £22.66.
Croydon's RAYE wins the Mercury Prize — RAYE won the 2026 award for This Music May Contain Hope. The former BRIT School student's album mixes jazz, soul, R&B and classical music across four sections.
A permanent Pokémon shop is planned for London — The Pokémon Company plans to open a permanent shop by 2029, with exclusive merchandise and experiences.
Bus and tram fares rise on Sunday — From Nov 1, the adult single/Hopper fare goes from £1.75 to £1.85, and the daily cap from £5.25 to £5.55. The one-hour Hopper benefit is staying for now.
Free Events Worth Going To
Participants at the last Day of the Dead celebration on Columbia Road.
London's Day of the Dead (Sat Oct 31, from noon, Columbia Road) — Mariachi Las Adelitas, dance and a street procession fill the road for this Mexican celebration. Street admission is free with food, drink and a market on site.
Frieze Sculpture (until Sun Nov 1, during daylight, Regent's Park) — This is the final week to see eleven artists' outdoor works in the English Gardens. The sculpture exhibition is free with no ticket needed.
Radical Poster Workshop (Thu Oct 29, 4–7pm, Somers Town) — Make posters with Afterimages at the People's Museum and explore Unity Theatre's place in the neighbourhood's radical history. Free but reservations encouraged.
Friday Jazz at Oxford House (Fri Oct 30, from 5pm, Bethnal Green) — Start the evening with the OH House Band's saxophone, double bass, keys and drums in the café. Free; donations welcome.
Chelsea Rare Book Fair (Sat Oct 31, 11am–5pm, Chelsea) — Browse rare books, maps, manuscripts and prints from more than 80 exhibitors at Chelsea Old Town Hall. Saturday entry is free; Friday costs £10.
Darbar Indian Bazaar (Sat Oct 31–Sun Nov 1, 11am–8pm, Barbican) — Indian crafts, clothes and jewellery share the main foyer with pop-up performances. Entry is free; shopping, food and the separately ticketed Darbar concerts are extra.
Things To Do
Scenes from Cumbia de los Muertos.
Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery (opens Fri Oct 30, Fri 9.30am–6pm; Sat 9.30am–5pm; Sun 11am–5pm, St Pancras) — The British Library brings together Christie's notebooks, letters and typewriter, with a recreated Orient Express-style carriage. Adult entry £20 Friday or £25 at weekends.
Cumbia de los Muertos (Sat Oct 31, 8pm–3am, Lewisham) — Live Malphino, Mexican Son Jarocho and Latin DJs take over the Fox & Firkin for a late-night dance. Tickets listed from £12.50. Ages 18+.
Sophie Duker: Hot Beef Injection (Mon Oct 26–Sat Oct 31, 9.15pm, Soho) — The Taskmaster winner's new stand-up show at Soho Theatre tackles masculinity and the men who have challenged her expectations. £21–£25; recommended ages 16+.
Twintropy at Karamel (Fri Oct 30, 8pm, Wood Green) — Saxophonists Will Wood and John Alcock join bassist Will Strickler for contemporary jazz mixing composition and improvisation. Doors 7pm. General admission £13.
Stories: The Tap Dance Sensation (Tue Oct 27–Sat Oct 31, 7.30pm, Holborn) — Tap, jazz dance and percussion tell the story of an actor and his controlling director at the Peacock Theatre. Wed and Sat matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets starting from £18.
Kids & Families
Pond dipping for Autumn Welcome Day.
Greenwich Park Autumn Welcome Day (Thu Oct 29, 11am–3pm, Greenwich) — Try pond dipping, miniature archaeology and LEGO waterways at the park's Learning Centre. The activities explore the water beneath the park. Free drop-in.
Flourish Brent (Mon Oct 26–Wed Oct 28, 10.30am–12.30pm, Wembley) — Build, sculpt and invent games with artist Flora Duley at Barham Park Community Studio. Free for primary-aged children with a parent or carer with booking essential.
Super Spooky Circus Cabaret for Kids (Tue Oct 27–Sun Nov 1, Tue 2pm and 5pm; Wed–Sun 11am and 2pm, Highgate) — Circus, juggling, magic and audience participation at Jacksons Lane, for ages 4+. Tickets starting at £10.
Art in the Docks family crafts (Mon Oct 26 and Fri Oct 30, 1.30–3.30pm, Royal Albert Wharf) — Make an autumn lantern at the first session or a fold-out haunted-house card at the second. Both are free drop-ins.
New Openings
Pizza from Lenny's Apizza.
Lenny's Apizza — Max Lewis's New Haven-style pizza gets a permanent home on Henrietta Street, due to open Oct 27. Tomato pie is £12 and pepperoni £16. Covent Garden.
The Talli Queen — Avi Shashidhara and James McLean's new Indian pub has Mangalore buns with Scottish crab sukkah at £14 and chicken tikka at £16 on its sample menu. Kitchen runs Tuesday to Sunday. Shepherd's Bush.
Spring St. Pizza Bar — The pizzeria's new neighbouring bar puts martinis first, with garnishes including blue-cheese olives and Oscietra caviar, and spritzes and house-made bar plates too. Open Tue–Sat from 4pm; ages 18+ after 8pm. Borough.
18th Floor at The Gantry — The hotel announces an Oct 29 opening for its rooftop restaurant and cocktail bar, with terraces and a menu of steaks, seafood and sushi. Stratford.
🚇 Getting around: The Piccadilly line is closed between Cockfosters and Uxbridge on Oct 28–30, then across the whole line from Friday Night Tube through Sunday. Check your route before setting off, especially for late-night plans.
💡 Fun fact: The Mousetrap began with a royal birthday request. Queen Mary wanted a new Agatha Christie story for her 80th, so Christie wrote the radio play Three Blind Mice, which later became the stage show.
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