Seasonal events in London

Pick Seasonal Free

Diwali on the Square

13:00 to 19:00 Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden

The largest Diwali celebration outside India, one until seven in Trafalgar Square. Free and unticketed. It fills from about two, so come at one for the space and stay for the lamps at dusk.

Seasonal Free

Oxford Street Christmas lights

16:00 Oxford Street, Marylebone

Until 6 Jan 2027

The oldest and longest of the displays, nearly a mile from Marble Arch to Tottenham Court Road. Early November, date not yet published.

Seasonal Free

Carnaby Street Christmas lights

16:30 Carnaby Street, Soho

Until 6 Jan 2027

A different theme every year and never a snowflake, which is why it earns a detour. Switch-on Wednesday 4 November. Free.

Seasonal Free

Regent Street Christmas lights

16:00 Regent Street, Mayfair

Until 6 Jan 2027

The angels, best walked north from Piccadilly Circus with the curve ahead of you. Switch-on Thursday 5 November. Free.

Markets Free

Leicester Square Christmas Market

11:00 Leicester Square, Covent Garden

Until 4 Jan 2027

Stalls around the square with a spiegeltent in the middle, free to wander, and it runs later into January than most. 2026 dates not yet announced.

Food and drink Free

Christmas by the River, London Bridge City

12:00 London Bridge City Pier, Borough

Until 24 Dec

Chalets along the Thames path between Hay's Galleria and Tower Bridge. Free, and the walk is the point: the bridge lit on one side, the City on the other. 2026 dates not yet announced.

Seasonal Free

Diwali at Neasden Temple

09:00 BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Brent

Until 10 Nov

Diwali and the annakut at the Neasden temple, over the five days of the festival. Free to enter. The temple sets its own hours for these days and had not published them when we checked.

Seasonal Free

Diwali at Neasden Temple

09:00 BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Brent

Until 10 Nov

Diwali and the annakut at the Neasden temple, over the five days of the festival. Free to enter. The temple sets its own hours for these days and had not published them when we checked.

Seasonal Free

Diwali at Neasden Temple

09:00 BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Brent

Until 10 Nov

Diwali and the annakut at the Neasden temple, over the five days of the festival. Free to enter. The temple sets its own hours for these days and had not published them when we checked.

Seasonal Free

Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph

10:00 The Cenotaph, Westminster

Whitehall closes and the service is at eleven. Free to watch from the pavement if you are there by nine thirty; after that you will hear it rather than see it.

Seasonal Free

Diwali at Neasden Temple

09:00 BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Brent

Until 10 Nov

Diwali and the annakut at the Neasden temple, over the five days of the festival. Free to enter. The temple sets its own hours for these days and had not published them when we checked.

Seasonal Free

Diwali at Neasden Temple

09:00 BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Brent

Diwali and the annakut at the Neasden temple, over the five days of the festival. Free to enter. The temple sets its own hours for these days and had not published them when we checked.

Seasonal Free

Covent Garden at Christmas

11:00 Covent Garden Piazza, Covent Garden

Until 6 Jan 2027

The tree, the mistletoe and more than 300,000 lights, lit from 12 November. Free, busy from four, best on a weekday morning.

Seasonal Free

Lord Mayor’s Show

11:00 City of London, The City

Eight hundred years old, three miles of procession through the City and free from the pavement. Fireworks off the river in the afternoon. Second Saturday in November.

Seasonal Free

The Lord Mayor’s Show

11:00 Mansion House and the City of London, The City

The procession sets off from Mansion House at eleven and fills most of the City. Free.

Markets Free

Greenwich Market in December

10:00 Greenwich Market, Greenwich

Until 31 Dec

The covered one, open every day 10am to 5.30pm and shut only on Christmas Day. Craft and antiques from actual traders, and the naval college two minutes away.