London in Autumn: Weather, Where to Go & What to Pack

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As summer fades and the city begins to glow with amber light, London in autumn becomes something truly special. The streets are lined with golden leaves, parks take on a cinematic beauty, and there’s a comforting crispness in the air that makes a warm coffee and a wander feel like pure magic.

From iconic red buses weaving through flame-coloured trees to crisp strolls along the Thames wrapped in scarves and sweaters, fall in London is a vibe all its own. Whether you’re here for culture, comfort, or just chasing that perfect London autumn aesthetic, the city comes alive in a whole new way during these cozy, leaf-strewn months.

This London autumn travel guide is your one-stop shop for making the most of fall in England’s capital, from what to pack and where to go, to seasonal eats, traditions, and some handy travel tips to help you embrace cozy London like a local.

When is Autumn in London?

Autumn London officially begins in September and runs through to the end of November. It’s a slow shift from the warmth of late summer to the chilly whispers of winter, and the transformation of the city is breathtaking.

September is still bright and fresh, October is all about fiery colours and crunching leaves, and November leans into misty mornings and twinkly lights. This time of year is the sweet spot for UK autumn travel, less crowded, cooler but not too cold, and full of atmospheric charm.

Where to Stay in London

Luxury: The Goring in Belgravia is a quintessentially British, family‑run gem with refined Edwardian-style rooms, a beautiful private garden, and royal ties (yes, the Princess of Wales has dropped by!). Located a short stroll from Buckingham Palace, Green Park, and St James’s Park, it’s a perfect base for crisp autumn strolls and elegant afternoon teas under changing leaves.

Mid-Range: Park Plaza London Westminster Bridge is a four-star hotel on the South Bank of the River Thames, with iconic autumn scenery views of Big Ben and the London Eye. In autumn, the riverside walk along to Westminster Bridge becomes magical as leaves turn gold, and with the South Bank Book Festival and open-air art events in nearby precincts, you’ll be right in the heart of London activities.

Budget: NYX Hotel London is a quirky, color‑popped hotel in Holborn, walkable to both Russell Square and the British Museum. In autumn, Holborn’s tree-lined streets glow gold, and proximity to the British Museum and Lincoln’s Inn Fields offers leafy walks and cultured downtime without breaking the bank.

Hostel: Safestay London Elephant & Castle is a great-value hostel option situated just south of the Thames, near Elephant & Castle. It’s budget-friendly with shared and private rooms, and it’s a quick Tube ride from Kennington or Burgess Park, both lovely spots for autumn foliage and pop-up fall events.

Fall Weather in London

September

September is one of the most pleasant months to visit, often feeling like a soft extension of summer. Average daytime highs hover around 19°C (66°F), with cooler mornings and evenings around 12°C (54°F). Rainfall is moderate; you can expect around 40–50mm of rain over 8–10 days.

You’ll still enjoy around 12–13 hours of daylight, which means plenty of time for long walks through London’s parks as the first signs of autumn colour appear. Think warm golden light, crisp air, and cozy jumpers with sunglasses still tucked in your bag, just in case.

October

This is when the full autumn in London aesthetic kicks in. Trees blaze into reds, oranges, and golds, and the scent of bonfires and damp leaves lingers in the air. Temperatures drop to an average high of 15°C (59°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F). Rainfall increases slightly to 60–70mm across 10–12 days, so pack a small umbrella or waterproof coat.

Daylight hours shrink to about 10–11 hours, and the sun sets noticeably earlier, ideal for catching golden hour light across the Thames or in Richmond Park. London in October is a month made for photo walks, hot drinks, and museum hopping on wetter afternoons.

November

November brings that misty, poetic charm that defines autumn in England. Expect highs around 10°C (50°F) and lows dipping to 5°C (41°F). It’s the rainiest of the three months, with up to 60–80mm of rainfall and 12–15 wet days likely.

Daylight slips down to 8–9 hours, with twilight falling around 4pm by mid-month. But what it loses in sunshine, it gains in atmosphere with fog curling over the river, candlelit pubs, and the first glimmer of Christmas lights transforming the city into a sparkling fairytale. It’s a beautiful time for slow wanders, theatre nights, and those quiet London moments that stay with you long after you’ve gone.

What to Pack by Month

September: Light Layers and Late Summer Vibes

September in London is that magical in-between stage; warm enough for outdoor exploring but with just a hint of chill in the mornings and evenings. It’s the kind of month where you’ll want to be ready for both sunshine and surprise drizzles.

October: Crisp Air and Peak Autumn Scenery

October is when London really leans into its autumn aesthetic. Parks are glowing, the air is cooler, and layering becomes key. You’ll want clothes that keep you warm outdoors but won’t leave you roasting indoors – London’s public transport and cafes can be toasty!

November: Full-on Cozy London Mode

November in London is all about bundling up. The temperature dips, daylight fades early, and rainy days become more common. But it’s also wonderfully atmospheric, so think hygge-inspired layers and clothes made for comfort and warmth.

Other Low Season Vacation Ideas

Where to Go in London in Fall

London doesn’t just wear autumn well; it revels in it. The air turns crisp, the parks put on a show, and the city slows down just enough to let you breathe. Here are 15 places that prove London is at its best when you’re wrapped in a coat and clutching a takeaway flat white.

Hampstead Heath: Leaf-Kicking Royalty

Perfect for autumn walks, Hampstead Heath is where London shrugs off its urban edges and gives itself over to open sky and long views. In autumn, the trees glow in shades of copper and burnt orange, and the pathways are thick with fallen leaves just begging to be kicked.

Climb Parliament Hill for a panoramic view that stretches from Canary Wharf to the BT Tower, then lose yourself in the tangled woodlands and wild meadows.

For a civilised pause, head to Kenwood House where the café does a decent flat white and the art collection includes a Vermeer. The whole place feels like a country estate that never got the memo that it was inside the M25.

Columbia Road Flower Market: Sunday Rituals with Sass

There’s nothing subtle about Columbia Road Flower Market. It’s loud, messy, and more than a little theatrical, and that’s precisely why it’s brilliant. Every Sunday morning, the street bursts into life, and in autumn, the market leans into seasonal drama: orange marigolds, deep burgundy chrysanthemums, tiny pumpkins piled high in crates.

If you arrive early, you’ll catch the best blooms; come late and you’ll snag end-of-day bargains shouted over a sea of petals. Once you’ve filled your tote bag, duck into one of the side-street cafés or grab a yummy cinnamon bun from Lily Vanilli’s bakery, tucked behind a narrow alley that most tourists miss.

Borough Market: Cosy Food, No Fuss

Autumn turns Borough Market into a kind of open-air pantry for Londoners in search of comfort food. The crowds thin just enough to make browsing pleasurable, and the seasonal offerings shift toward hearty fare: truffle cheeses, game pies, wild mushrooms, and every kind of hot pastry imaginable.

Stop at Kappacasein for their legendary raclette, molten cheese scraped over boiled potatoes and gherkins, or sip mulled cider while eyeing up the bakery stalls. The market is covered, which makes it ideal on drizzly days, and you can easily spend an hour weaving between stalls before ending up at a tucked-away pub nearby. The Market Porter and The Rake both offer a pint and a perch if the chill starts to bite.

Kew Gardens: Where Trees Become Celebrities

Few places in London put on a better autumn show than Kew Gardens. As the temperature drops, the 300-acre landscape transforms into a living tapestry of reds, ambers, and golds. The Japanese maples in the Rock Garden are the undeniable stars, their leaves so vivid they seem almost unreal.

But it’s not just about the colours, this is also the season when Kew leans into its botanical weirdness. Mushrooms spring up along shaded paths, fungi-themed exhibitions pop up inside the Temperate House, and the scent of damp earth becomes oddly intoxicating.

Take your time wandering through the glasshouses, stop for a hot drink at The Orangery, and if your legs hold out, make it to the Treetop Walkway for a canopy-level view of autumn in full swing.

Richmond Park: Deer, Mist, and Drama

If you’re looking for autumn leaves in London, this is the place to go! Richmond Park in autumn is less of a walk and more of a mood. With 2,500 acres of rolling meadows and ancient oak trees, it feels more like a wild reserve than a royal park. Early mornings are the best time to go: low mist clings to the grass, the air is thick with dew, and stags bellow in the distance as part of the annual deer rut.

The drama is real; antlers clash, birds call overhead, and the whole place feels untamed in a way that’s rare this close to the city. Take a slow loop from Pembroke Lodge toward Pen Ponds for prime deer spotting, then reward yourself with tea and cake at the park’s café or a proper pub lunch in nearby Petersham. Just be sure to keep a respectful distance from the wildlife; this is not a petting zoo, and the stags aren’t here for your Instagram story.

The South Bank: Culture with a Chill

There’s something about the South Bank in autumn that makes it feel more layered, more cinematic. The Thames looks moodier, the concrete of the National Theatre gains gravitas, and the chill in the air makes the whole stretch from Waterloo to Tower Bridge feel oddly romantic.

Stalls selling secondhand books pop up beneath Waterloo Bridge, and the scent of roasted chestnuts drifts from tiny carts along the riverside. Around October, the BFI London Film Festival rolls into town, bringing a buzz of film-goers and an excuse to duck into the warm darkness of a cinema.

If the weather holds, grab a takeaway hot chocolate and walk east past the Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe, ending at Borough Market just as the lights start to glow. Few walks in London deliver quite so much variety; brutalism, books, and butternut squash soup, all in one.

Neal’s Yard: Secret Garden Energy

Tucked behind the bustle of Covent Garden, Neal’s Yard always feels like a revelation, especially in autumn. Ivy creeps across the brightly painted façades, the air smells faintly of herbs and coffee, and the mood is somewhere between whimsical and witchy.

It’s a small space, more a courtyard than a square, but packed with personality: Neal’s Yard Remedies has been championing wellness since before it was fashionable, while tiny eateries like Homeslice serve up slices of wood-fired pizza big enough to share, or not!

The space is partially sheltered, so even on rainy days, you can perch on a bench with a warm drink and watch the leaves drift down. It’s the kind of place where time slows down, and despite being just steps from Seven Dials, it still feels like a local secret.

Little Venice: Canal Calm and Café Stops

Tucked between Paddington and Maida Vale, Little Venice feels like it belongs in another city entirely. In autumn, the canals reflect the turning leaves with a stillness that’s rare in central London.

The walk from Little Venice to Camden along the Regent’s Canal is one of the most underrated in the city: part leafy tunnel, part urban secret. Stop at a canal-side café or book a spot on one of the narrowboat cafés that bob gently beneath the trees. You’ll forget Oxford Street is just a few tube stops away.

Greenwich: Leafy History by the River

Greenwich wears its history lightly, but in autumn, the layers feel closer to the surface. The park, with its long, sloping lawns and chestnut avenues, becomes a painter’s palette of orange and gold. Walk to the top of the hill near the Royal Observatory and you’ll get one of the best views in London; the curve of the Thames, the symmetry of the Old Royal Naval College, and the city skyline beyond, hazy in the autumn sun.

This part of London is steeped in maritime tradition, from the Cutty Sark to the National Maritime Museum, but you don’t need to step inside a single exhibit to feel it. Wander through the market for hot food and handmade crafts, then follow the riverside path toward the Trafalgar Tavern, a grand old pub with views over the water. Grab a seat by the window where you can watch the golden leaves drift down.

Primrose Hill: Small Hill, Big Vibes

Primrose Hill is one of those rare London spots that feels both iconic and genuinely tranquil, especially in autumn. The hill itself is modest, just enough of a climb to warm you up, but the view from the top is worth every step. Trees frame the city skyline like a stage set, their leaves glowing in the low afternoon light.

It’s a local favourite for a reason: dogs bound across the grass, couples share coffees, and families huddle on benches watching squirrels make frantic plans for winter.

Once you’ve had your fill of the panorama, drop down into the villagey streets below. Regent’s Park Road is lined with independent shops, flower stalls, and cafés that seem purpose-built for autumn lingering. Grab a pastry from Greenberry Café or a glass of something red from The Princess of Wales, and settle into that satisfying feeling of having found the perfect London moment.

Leadenhall Market: Harry Potter, but Make It Autumn

Leadenhall Market doesn’t shout about itself, but step beneath its ornate iron-and-glass roof and you’ll feel like you’ve wandered onto a film set. Which, to be fair, you have. Its winding passageways and Victorian grandeur played a starring role in the Harry Potter films, but in autumn, the atmosphere needs no help from CGI.

Lanterns glow against darkening skies, the tiled floors shine from the drizzle, and the shops and pubs exude a cosy charm that makes you want to stay longer than you intended. Because it’s covered, it’s one of the best places to escape the weather without losing the sense of being outdoors.

Pop into Cheese at Leadenhall for a glass of wine and a perfect wedge of something British, or take a quiet detour through nearby alleys where the old City of London lingers in corners the modern skyline forgot.

Hyde Park: Autumn on a Grand Scale

Hyde Park doesn’t really do quaint. It’s vast, formal in places, and unashamedly central, but in autumn, that scale works in its favour. The long rows of plane trees around the Serpentine turn a warm, dusty gold, and the crunch of leaves underfoot seems to follow you no matter which path you take.

Rent a rowing boat if you’re feeling brave, or just sit at the edge of the water with a hot drink and watch the swans glide past like they own the place. Speakers’ Corner, oddly quiet this time of year, adds a layer of contemplative charm, and the Diana Memorial Fountain gurgles gently in the background.

Whether you’re walking from Marble Arch to Kensington Gardens or just looking for a place to stop and breathe, Hyde Park offers autumn in widescreen.

10 Travel Tips for Visiting London in Autumn

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