10 things to do in London in autumn

The autumn season is an ideal time to travel to London. On the one hand, the city has a special color and its parks and gardens take on an orange-ochre color. On the other hand, the thermometer does not register excessively low temperatures.

Also, prices are not as high as at other times of the year when there is a higher tourist influx and, in addition, certain important dates in the calendar such as Halloween or Guy Fawkes night are celebrated. Below, I indicate all the proposals that you can not miss during your trip to the British capital between the months of September and December.

And if you are looking for more options, in the post what to see and do in London you can learn about other interesting plans.

Since 1997 takes place in the city of London Thames Festival Trust, an event in which the River Thames becomes the protagonist. It takes place in Southbank and organizes a full program of artistic, educational and heritage activities such as regatta or swimming competitions, live music shows, digital exhibitions, workshops ... throughout the month of September.

If your trip coincides with this month, do not hesitate to visit the website and sign up for some of its activities. Also, you can take advantage of being in South Bank to go up to the London Eye and see the activities from the heights. Read the articles views from the London Eye and London Eye tickets for all the information you need.

• When... Throughout the month of September.

With over 60 years of history, the London Film Festival is a first class film event held every year for more than ten days in October, so if you are a lover of the seventh art and your trip coincides with the weeks in which it takes place, I recommend you to come as you will have the chance to enjoy some of the best and most recognized titles of films and series in the world. In addition, there are also premiere galas, special presentations and immersive art experiences, among other proposals.

• When... First half of October

And if you are a good eater and your trip coincides with the month of October, you are in luck, because for more than a decade the London Restaurant Festival has been held, a festival during which the most popular restaurants in the city design and offer different tasting menus. The perfect occasion to taste dishes from all over the world. In addition, you will have the opportunity to enjoy wine and beer tastings, master classes led by famous chefs, gastronomic events of various types and different culinary experiences, a delight for all the senses!

If you are looking for other gastronomic recommendations, I recommend you to read the posts 10 places to eat near London Eye, the best places to eat near The Shard and places to eat near the Tower of London.

• When... October

At the beginning of December is the Santa Run London, a charity run in which contestants dress up as Santa Claus. It is an ideal plan to go with the little ones of the house, as all participants are given a Santa Claus and there is a symbolic race for children under eight years old. Adults and children from that age can participate in two races, one of 5 kilometers and another of 10 kilometers. And after the kilometers run, they can recover with a snack while listening to Christmas carols.

• When... October

October also sees Frieze London, an international fair with the participation of several carefully selected contemporary art galleries, which takes place in Regent's Park. In addition, talks and different activities are organized throughout the five days of this event. This international fair is also held in New York and Los Angeles.

• When... October

The prime plan on your trip to London during the autumn season, especially from late September to early November, is to stroll through one of the city's main parks or landscaped areas, and the options are numerous, as London has the same proportion of green space as urban space. In fact, it is said that if every one of the millions of Londoners living in the city wanted to hug a tree, there would be one for every one of them. Do you dare to look for your tree? So you do not have doubts about where to find it I indicate a number of proposals for your trip:

• St John's Lodge Gardens: Located in Regent's Park where Frieze London is held in October, is one of the quietest green spaces in the city and an ideal place to escape from the hustle and bustle.
• Hyde Park: In the heart of London is Hyde Park, one of the favorite parks for both residents and those who are passing through the city. In addition, in this park you have the opportunity to perform various outdoor activities.
• Richmond Park: This is one of my favorite options. It is the largest nature reserve in London and is the habitat of several deer that live in the wild.
• St. James's Park: Located next to Buckingham Palace, it is one of the most historic parks in the city. In fact, its origins date back to the 16th century.
• Victoria Park: This is one of the most popular parks in the UK and is located east of the city. It is a perfect choice if you go with children, because it has different playgrounds and swimming pools. It is also the meeting point for many young people as important music festivals are held here.
• Chiswick Gardens: This park dating from the early eighteenth century has served as inspiration for many other parks in Europe and stands out for its classical temples, monuments and lakes. In addition, if you are surprised by the rain, very typical in the London autumn, you can take refuge in the conservatory of the park, an enclosure that houses an important collection of camellias.
• Royal Botanic Kew Gardens: In this case it is not a park in the strict sense, but it is a botanical garden where you will have to pay to enter, but it is a visit that is really worthwhile. It is located about 30 minutes from downtown, southwest, and has more than half a thousand acres of forest and 50,000 plants. An ideal plan if you go with the little ones, as it has a playground with climbing structures, slides and educational games.

If you want to know other options, read the article 10 best parks in London.

• When... The whole autumn season.

From mid-November and early December you can live and feel Christmas in London. At this time the first Christmas markets are inaugurated, you can see the lights switch on, as well as enjoy the Christmas decorations and Christmas trees, listen to Christmas carols and, the most fun, skate on one of the ice skating rinks, as is the case of Winter Wonderland which is located in Hyde Park.

• When... From mid-November to late December

A fun proposal for both children and adults is a visit to the Harry Potter Studios Park where you can immerse yourself in the original sets of the blockbuster films: the Great Dining Hall of Hogwarts, Platform 9¾, the teacher's office, Diagon Alley or the Forbidden Forest, among others.

Find out all the information about where and how to buy tickets for this experience in the articles Harry Potter Studios London Park tickets and ticket prices. Also, know in the following post all the details on how to get to the Harry Potter Studios.

• When... Autumn

London Dungeon is another of the ideal attractions for your trip to London in autumn. A tour of 17 interactive shows with terrifying sets, special effects and commented by various interpreters that bring visitors closer to some of the darkest events in the history of London as the Great Fire of London in 1666, the Gunpowder Plot, or the Black Death plague. In addition, you will learn in detail the history of Guy Fawkes, Sweeney Todd or Jack the Ripper.

• When... Autumn

Another ideal plan in autumn is to go up to London Eye. Having the opportunity to see London just in this season of the year when the city is stained with ocher and orange colors as if it were a postcard is incomparable and what better place to do it than from the highest Ferris wheel in Europe.

From the London Eye you will have a 360º panoramic view and you can take some fantastic pictures. Read the post views from the London Eye and you will have an idea of what you can see in this attraction. Also, in the following article you can learn all the details about the tickets for the London Eye.

On the other hand, you can also enjoy a combined experience to London Eye and a cruise on the Thames or to London Eye and Madame Tussauds museum. And after your visit, read the post the best places to eat near the London Eye.

• When... Autumn

If your trip to London coincides with the autumn season, you have to take into account that temperatures begin to decrease gradually and considerably from the end of September, standing at 16ºC on average in September, 13ºC in October, 9ºC in November and registering an average minimum of 5ºC in December. It is also a very rainy season. In fact, October and November are the months with the highest rainfall.

The influx of tourists in London in autumn is very low compared to other times of the year, such as summer, Christmas, Easter ... Therefore, I recommend that if you have the opportunity to travel from September to December do not hesitate to do so, as you will have a greater choice of flights and hotels. In addition, the attractions will not be as crowded as at other times of the year. Even so, you have to keep in mind that in London there is always tourism, just that there are times when it is a little lower.

London prices in the autumn months are relatively cheap compared to other times of the year, especially in the months of October and November. Even so, there are key dates in which these prices are higher as is the case of Halloween or the month of December in which Christmas is already felt.

Whatever month of autumn you go, it is advisable to dress warmly with sweaters and sweatshirts. It is also advisable to bring a raincoat to protect you from the rain, as well as waterproof footwear. In addition, from November, temperatures begin to drop considerably with an average of between 5 and 9ºC, so it is essential that you wear a coat.