Various

London Month Of The Dead’s annual programme returns this spooky season to get you in the mood for Halloween with a programme of more than 60 fascinatingly macabre events investigating our city’s relationship with death. The line-up offers a plethora of ghostly tours that will take you around crypts, cemeteries, undertakers, execution sites and other eerie locations across the city, alongside talks  exploring everything from the study of human decomposition and the psychology of fear to the theme of murder in art and the criminal history of necrophilia. Highlights of this year’s programme also include a five hour immersive workshop where you can try your hand at some forensic anthropology, a screening of the original Nosferatu with live musical accompaniment, a magic show inside West Norwood Cemetery, an insect mounting workshop at the Kensal Green Cemetery and a circus-themed Halloween party at Soho’s Century Club. It doesn’t get more gothic than that! Check out the full programme here. 

Taking place across The Place, Sadler’s Wells, the Barbican and more, the massive annual contemporary dance festival returns to London this October, bringing groundbreaking artists from Colombia, Taiwan, Cyprus, Spain and Brazil. Sadler’s Wells East will stage Bogotá by Andrea Peña & Artists, an intense choreography inspired by Colombia’s political and spiritual heritage; see a bold flamenco duet at Change Tempo at the Barbican Pit; and a day takeover of Brixton House will see DJ sets, workshops led by Jamaal Burkmar and Kenrick ‘H20’ Sandy as well as in queer salsa. Plus much more across the month.     

Walking tours are an exciting way to see a city. No matter how well you think you know London a tour will always offer up a way to see the city through fresh eyes. Black History Walks offer a series of specialised walking tours all year round but October is the perfect time to discover Black British History. Walks on offer in October include ‘Fighting the Slave Master: Past and Present’ (October 4), ‘Afro Futurism, Spirituality and the Black Image’ (October 9) and ‘Secrets of Soho’ (October 11), plus a Black History Bus Tour (October 5) and a Black History Steam Train Tour (October 18). After all that, you might look at the city you love to hate to love a little differently.

Every year, the EFG London Jazz Festival brings together the best and brightest of the genre in venues across the city, from capital’s arts venues like Southbank Centre and Barbican, to atmospheric gig spots like Village Underground and Union Chapel. This year is no different. The 2025 line-up promises a bounty of bops, whether you’re looking to discover new artists on the scene (Rita Payés, Nov 19), or want to witness some legends in action (Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nov 15). As well as tons of concerts every day, there’s also sessions, workshops, talks and more to take part in and enjoy. More announcements to come. 

In London, we are well past the days of jazz being stuffy dinner party music, because the capital’s jazz scene is dynamic, young, cool and underground. Split across the Truman Brewery, 93 Feet East and nearby venues, the Brick Lane Jazz Festival brings together some of the best and most exciting talent on the flourishing scene, and in the past hast hosted big talent like Nubya Garcia, Ezra Collective and Cherise. In 2026, the festival will programme genre-blending sounds covering jazz, RnB, neo-soul, hip hop, broken beat and electronic music. The first wave of acts announced for the next edition includes IAMNOBODI, Kwame Yeboah, Alexander Flood, TABLE and more.