London in Autumn.

11 unmissable seasonal experiences.

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Art Fairs

London is a heavenly place for any art lover. Not only are the museums and art galleries free here, the capital offers an extreme amount of temporary exhibitions happening all around the town. Given that, it is hard to believe it, but every autumn the city becomes an even more filled with art.

Friqze, pad, masters, affordable, start and so many more. Last year I went to frieze and start, and this year I only managed the Pad art fair. All are amazing, every year so different. Definitely worth going on our London autumn to-do list!

* read more about the fairs here

Spiced latte walk in the park

For autumn, my central picks are Hyde, for its long Serpentine road promenade near water and the Italian gardens, then the holland park - for its Kyoto Garden and the orangery.

then, of course, the regents park. The most beautiful parts that have the colourful leaves are in the south-western of the park.

You get your spiced latte - from pretty much every coffee place in central London, and off you go!

If you are in a mood to go further from the city, then you won’t find a more autumnal park than Richmond. With its long fields and occasional deers, it is THE place to go during autumn.

Season-inspired set menu

During this pumpkin season, some of the best restaurants in the city offer seasonal set menus. With just a little bit of googling, you will find the place that fits your tastes and your budget to treat yourself with some season-inspired dishes.

This season we went for Indian food. Our restaurant of choice was the Cinnamon Club, which is a contemporary Indian fine dining place. Created by their famous chef Vivek Singh, the 6 course cinnamon autumn festival tasting menu was AMAZING. After trying all the dishes, we went to their underground chic bar for some drinks.

But then the thanksgiving came along, and we couldn’t resist going to the Bureau Supper Club to enjoy a holiday-inspired meal. It was a set menu and a wine pairing. Long tables, sharing concepts, simple, traditional and beyond words delicious food!

Speaking of this autumn’s favourite restaurants, I will have to mention Barrafina for Michelin star Spanish food, Austrian place called Fischer’s, Hyde, of course, The Wolseley - for their traditional British, well, everything, we tried a few nice Italian places, including Passo and lagoccia and then there were shackfuyu and Gold Mine for Japanese and Chinese dinners. This list, I would say, sums up the best meals I had this season. You will find all the names in the description!

Cosy areas for you weekend autumnal walks.

These are central by location, yet rural by feel. In all three, you will find an overwhelming majority of local gems compared to the chain design stores and cafes, as well as small squares and quite a few characters for your usual people watching.

There is Camden passage in Angel, Islington.

Then, Marylebone Village, of course, with the Prince Regent pub, La Fromagerie, the Conrad shop and the crown jewel - the daunt books.
Last, but not least - St John’s Wood. A cosy little area near the regents park and primrose hill, with beautiful truly British residential buildings, flower shops, cafes and their amazing local grocery store - Panzers that sells the best bagels in town.

A city break.

We tend to associate going into nature with summer, but you are missing out big time if you don’t drive into the woods in autumn, go to a pumpkin patch and visit one of those truly British moody manor houses with their quiet beauty, fading gardens and endless fields around.

First - pumpkin patch. There are generally so so many farms around the UK, for this year we chose to visit the Rockford Bridge Farm.
Second, before driving back to London, we made a detour and visited the Polesden Lacey - exactly the kind of a manor house I just described. Was a perfect location for that fall walk.

Halloween decorations hunt.

I went on a hunt to Belgravia - walking around the beautiful streets with grand yet homy white houses, you will be amazed by their residents’ imagination.

Walk by a few stores as well. They usually hire professional decorators and you get some amazing results - will definitely get you in a holiday mood!

Get some zen. Spa, meditation and pool.

With the nature getting calmer, less events happening outside and the sun rising more and more from us, we do need that extra energy from somewhere else. Luckily, London is an amazing place for meditation studios and beautiful spas. A swim, a massage or a sound bath - anything to avoid the seasonal depression.

This season I went to try acupuncture to a newly open place in Notting hill, went to belgravia for some sound mediations and was doing weekly swimming sessions - will recommend all to stay recharged!

Stand up shows, concerts and jazz evenings

As we are moving more and more inside, why not enjoy some of London’s best venues? For this season, I would recommend visiting the newly opened jazz club in Soho called Boulevard, Royal Albert hall and standup.

Atmospheric cafes.

Autumn is not autumn without a cinnamon bun fix.

It’s Sunday mornings, you are bundled up in one of London’s cafes, looking at the rain outside and it smells like coffee and cinnamon - definitely going on our list:

- Buns From Home

- Fabrique

- Katsute 100

- Frequency Coffee Angel

- Burr & Co. London

- Ottolenghi

- The Locals

- Oree

- Richoux

- LALI