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This weekend in London

Things to do in London this weekend (31/10 to 01/11): 10 Halloween weekend picks

10 Halloween weekend picks in London, eight of them free: veteran cars on Pall Mall, Day of the Dead on Columbia Road, Kew after dark and more.

Cover: 10 things to do in London this Halloween weekend, 31/10 to 01/11, listing all ten picks; eight are free and three are in the Square Mile.1 of 10: St James's Motoring Spectacle, Pall Mall, St James's. Saturday; Free. When: Saturday 31/10, 10:00 to 15:00. No ticket needed. Pall Mall closes to traffic for rare cars built before 1905, with many owners in period costume.2 of 10: London's Day of the Dead, Columbia Road, Bethnal Green. Saturday; Free. When: Saturday 31/10 from 12:00; procession at 14:00. No booking for the market or the procession. A mariachi band leads a costumed street procession, with La Catrina dances at 13:00 and 15:00.3 of 10: Halloween slime workshop, Old Spitalfields Market, on the City's edge. Saturday; Free. When: Saturday 31/10, 14:00 to 16:00. Drop in; up to 16 children, first come first served. Children make Halloween slime to take home, then you browse the market.4 of 10: Beyond Bayeux at Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Yard, City of London. Saturday and Sunday; Pay what you can. When: Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:45). Booking recommended; walk-ins welcome. The gallery itself is free. A new tapestry show, plus the Roman amphitheatre in the basement. Free tours at 12:15 and 13:15.5 of 10: A giant jewel beetle in Leadenhall Market, Gracechurch Street, City of London. Saturday and Sunday; Free. When: Until Sunday 01/11; the walkways are open 24 hours. No booking. A 4.5 metre light-up beetle under the Victorian roof. Go after dark for the photo.6 of 10: Halloween at Kew, Kew Gardens, Richmond. Saturday and Sunday; From £14. When: Saturday and Sunday, 16:00 to 22:00 (last entry 20:30). Timed tickets: adults £19.50 to £24, children 4 to 15 £14 to £18, under 4s free. Saturday was nearly sold out on 25/10 (car park slots only). An illuminated trail with the Headless Horseman, fire performers and a new cursed tomb.7 of 10: London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, Hyde Park, by Wellington Arch. Sunday; Free. When: Sunday 01/11: red flag 06:45, first cars leave 06:53, last about 08:30. No booking. The world's longest-running motoring event, marking the 1896 Emancipation Run.8 of 10: Barts Great Hall and the Hogarth Stair, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, City of London. Sunday; Free. When: Sunday 01/11, 10:00 to 16:00. No booking (groups of 8 or more, give notice). Climb Hogarth's painted staircase to the Great Hall, open on the first Sunday of the month.9 of 10: Frieze Sculpture: last day, English Gardens, The Regent's Park. Sunday; Free. When: Sunday 01/11, in daylight. No booking. A free walk past works by 11 artists before they go.10 of 10: Wartime London in Art: last day, IWM London, Lambeth Road. Sunday; Free. When: Sunday 01/11, 10:00 to 18:00. No booking. More than 45 paintings and drawings of wartime London, from St Paul's to the bombed Docklands.Closing card: send this to whoever you're making plans with. A new list every Thursday. Follow @cityoflondon.

12 slides. Swipe or scroll sideways. .

Saturday
1. St James's Motoring Spectacle, Pall Mall: free, 10:00 to 15:00
2. London's Day of the Dead, Columbia Road: free, procession at 14:00
3. Halloween slime workshop, Old Spitalfields Market: free drop-in, 14:00 to 16:00

Both days
4. Beyond Bayeux, Guildhall Art Gallery: pay what you can, 10:00 to 17:00
5. A giant light-up jewel beetle, Leadenhall Market: free, best after dark
6. Halloween at Kew: from £14, book ahead

Sunday
7. London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, Hyde Park: free, red flag at 06:45
8. Barts Great Hall and the Hogarth Stair: free, 10:00 to 16:00
9. Frieze Sculpture, Regent's Park: free, last day
10. Wartime London in Art, IWM London: free, last day

Details are on each slide, checked with the organisers on 25/10/2026. Plans change, so check before you go. We're independent and not connected with the City of London Corporation.

Send this to whoever you're making plans with 👇

The 10 picks, day by day.

Saturday

  • St James's Motoring Spectacle

    Free

    Pall Mall, St James's

    Pall Mall closes to traffic for rare cars built before 1905, with many owners in period costume.

    When
    Saturday 31/10, 10:00 to 15:00
    Getting in
    No ticket needed.
    Check
    The organiser's page

  • London's Day of the Dead

    Free

    Columbia Road, Bethnal Green

    A mariachi band leads a costumed street procession, with La Catrina dances at 13:00 and 15:00.

    When
    Saturday 31/10 from 12:00; procession at 14:00
    Getting in
    No booking for the market or the procession.
    Check
    The organiser's page

  • Halloween slime workshop

    Free

    Old Spitalfields Market, on the City's edge

    Children make Halloween slime to take home, then you browse the market.

    When
    Saturday 31/10, 14:00 to 16:00
    Getting in
    Drop in; up to 16 children, first come first served.
    Check
    The organiser's page

Both days

  • Beyond Bayeux at Guildhall Art Gallery

    Pay what you can

    Guildhall Yard, City of London

    A new tapestry show, plus the Roman amphitheatre in the basement. Free tours at 12:15 and 13:15.

    When
    Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:45)
    Getting in
    Booking recommended; walk-ins welcome. The gallery itself is free.
    Check
    The organiser's page

  • A giant jewel beetle in Leadenhall Market

    Free

    Gracechurch Street, City of London

    A 4.5 metre light-up beetle under the Victorian roof. Go after dark for the photo.

    When
    Until Sunday 01/11; the walkways are open 24 hours
    Getting in
    No booking.
    Check
    The organiser's page

  • Halloween at Kew

    From £14

    Kew Gardens, Richmond

    An illuminated trail with the Headless Horseman, fire performers and a new cursed tomb.

    When
    Saturday and Sunday, 16:00 to 22:00 (last entry 20:30)
    Getting in
    Timed tickets: adults £19.50 to £24, children 4 to 15 £14 to £18, under 4s free. Saturday was nearly sold out on 25/10 (car park slots only).
    Check
    The organiser's page

Sunday

  • London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

    Free

    Hyde Park, by Wellington Arch

    The world's longest-running motoring event, marking the 1896 Emancipation Run.

    When
    Sunday 01/11: red flag 06:45, first cars leave 06:53, last about 08:30
    Getting in
    No booking.
    Check
    The organiser's page

  • Barts Great Hall and the Hogarth Stair

    Free

    St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, City of London

    Climb Hogarth's painted staircase to the Great Hall, open on the first Sunday of the month.

    When
    Sunday 01/11, 10:00 to 16:00
    Getting in
    No booking (groups of 8 or more, give notice).
    Check
    The organiser's page

  • Frieze Sculpture: last day

    Free

    English Gardens, The Regent's Park

    A free walk past works by 11 artists before they go.

    When
    Sunday 01/11, in daylight
    Getting in
    No booking.
    Check
    The organiser's page

  • Wartime London in Art: last day

    Free

    IWM London, Lambeth Road

    More than 45 paintings and drawings of wartime London, from St Paul's to the bombed Docklands.

    When
    Sunday 01/11, 10:00 to 18:00
    Getting in
    No booking.
    Check
    The organiser's page
Sources (15)
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