1. Raffles London at The OWO

In case you missed it, just over two years ago London’s very first long-awaited Raffles hotel opened its doors to guests: Raffles London at The OWO. Eight years in the making, the OWO, in which Raffles London is located, sees fresh life injected into Winston Churchill’s Old War Office across 120 characterful bedrooms and suites, nine restaurants, three bars, a collection of residences and a four-story Guerlain spa. Bedrooms and rooftop restaurant Kioku by Endo boast sweeping views over Horse Guards Parade, St James’s Park and beyond, while interiors blend heritage with contemporary artistry.

Raffles London is more than just a place to stay: it’s a destination in its own right. And with Soho, Buckingham Palace, the West End, the Southbank and plenty more all within walking distance, it’s the perfect base for an autumnal staycation in London.

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2. London Cocktail Week

Spirits, lemon wedges and mixologists at the ready: every autumn, the world’s largest cocktail festival takes over London. London Cocktail Week is one of the very best ways to discover the city’s unrivalled bar and mixology scene: think pop-ups, masterclasses, special dinners, discounts, tours and more. And if Raffles London at The OWO steals your heart, you’ll be able to enjoy special prices at the elegant Guards Bar or the clandestine Spy Bar before climbing the stairs to bed. 9–19 October 2025

3. Half Term Fun

Will it be an immersive Titanic experience, a capybara meet and greet or a tasty treasure hunt? Whatever interests your growing humans harbour, London is a haven of family-friendly activities when it comes to the school holidays. Here’s our guide to October half term.

4. Kew Gardens

As summer’s vibrant green leaves fade to brown across the city, there’s no more magically autumnal landscape to witness than Kew Gardens. With more than 11,000 trees scattered across this 326 acre UNESCO World Heritage Site, the whole landscape is metamorphosed – best seen from the Treetop Walkway or Arboretum. Here’s exactly what to expect from Kew in autumn, before the Halloween and Christmas trails transform the site all over again. kew.org

5. Bonfire Night

Nowhere does Bonfire Night quite like London. This is where the explosive tradition began back in 1605, after all. From Battersea Park to Alexandra Palace, breathtaking firework displays light up the London skies every year on 5 November – many synchronised to sing-along pop songs. Here are our favourite spots to enjoy the sky high show.

6. Lord Mayor’s Show

London is a city steeped in history – almost 2,000 years of it. So in among all of the ancient alleyways and ye olde buildings, you’re bound to stumble across some wacky celebrations and traditions. One particularly wonderful one is the annual Lord Mayor’s Show, a 5km long procession between Bank and Aldwych celebrating the inauguration of the City of London’s new Lord Mayor. Expect floats, music, regalia and even a rowing race. 8 November, lordmayorsshow.london

7. Rutting Season

As well as being one of the world’s largest and most vibrant cities, London is also one of the greenest with almost 50 percent of the city covered with trees and green spaces. We’re also no stranger to wildlife with countless deer (literally) calling the city home – specifically Epping Forest in the north east and Richmond and Bushey Park in the south west. Autumn is the very best time to see these majestic creatures in all of their glory: it’s rutting season so the bucks are out and proud, competing for the does’ attention with stomping, roaring and even fighting. With hundreds of these tan-coloured creatures living in these each of these green spaces since the 17th century, it’s a marvellous look at nature in action – just make sure to keep your distance (and dogs on a firm leash).

8. West End

Standing proud on Whitehall, Raffles London at The OWO is located at the gateway to the West End; Trafalgar Theatre for example, showing Samuel D. Hunter’s Clarkston until 22 November, is just a three minute walk away. And autumn is when the West End enters full swing. This season’s premieres include new witch trails musical Coven, All My Sons (starring Bryan Cranston, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Paapa Essiedu), the National Theatre’s reimagination of Bacchae (plus the return of Ballet Shoes) and plenty more.

WIN A Four-Night Stay In Cognac, France

Fancy a historic and food-filled tour of France’s Charentes region? We’ve teamed up with Explore Cognac to offer one lucky reader a four night stay in the famous brandy region. Click here to find out more and to enter. Good luck!