How’s your diary looking? If, between the post-summer lull and the need for downtime before we get into full festive mode, you’ve found yourself with a little more time on your hands than usual, we’re here to help. London’s social butterflies are busy filling their evenings and weekends with dinners, trips to the theatre and Saturday mornings spent perusing the most talked-about exhibitions in town – and it’s time you joined them. Consider this your official Save the Date for all things to do in London this October. 

The art fair: LAPADA

This autumn, Berkeley Square will once again be transformed into a destination for art lovers, collectors, connoisseurs and the culturally curious, as LAPADA returns from 28 October to 2 November 2025. London’s leading luxury art and antiques fair, LAPADA brings together more than 80 distinguished dealers from across the UK and beyond, and this year’s edition promises to be one of the most dynamic yet.

Upon arrival, visitors will be greeted by a spectacular new design identity, with the fair’s marquee wrapped inside and out in Carnival Bloom: a bespoke artwork by Adam Ellis Studio inspired by botany, zoology and antique printmaking. Marking the centenary of the Art Deco movement, BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Serhat Ahmet will be on hand to present rare pieces emulating the style that defined an age of glamour and modernity. Finally, don’t miss the breadth of world-class exhibitors, ranging from Butchoff Antiques with its largest ever stand, and the return of Whitford Fine Art after a decade, plus newcomers Gladwell & Patterson (London’s oldest gallery) and Portland Gallery and Tomasso. As ever, there’s plenty to see and do at LAPADA.

LAPADA Fair is open from 28 October-2 November 2025 at 45 Berkeley Square, W1J 5AS, visit lapadalondon.com 

The pet-friendly event: Chelsea Dog Day

Pawparents and their four-legged friends are invited to west London on 5 October for the highly-anticipated return of Chelsea Dog Day. In support of charity Pets As Therapy, Duke of York Square will transform into a canine haven with a dog-themed market named WoofAbout, comprising 20 stalls selling an array of delicious treats and accessories.

Among this year’s standout moments are tarot card reading for pups at Beaverbrook Town House, a special three-course dog brunch at Love My Human Townhouse, and Dalmatian-themed dachshund cakes at Cafe Linea. Elsewhere, visit the paw-trait artist at Giorgio Armani for an elegant memento, receive a complimentary dog sweater with your purchases from N.Peal, and enjoy a programme of dog-friendly films at Pizza Pilgrims’ Cinema Paradiso for you and your four-legged friend. Complimentary puppuccinos from Tinka & Co, Backstage Salon, Colbert, Love My Human Townhouse, Luca Faloni and others will keep tails wagging all day long.

Chelsea Dog Day takes place on 4 October 2025 at Duke of York Square, 80 King’s Road, SW3 4LY, visit kingsroad.co.uk

The exhibition: Hannah Shergold – The 2025 Collection at Mall Galleries

Hannah Shergold

Wildlife conservation charity, Tusk Trust, has seen two of its most dedicated ambassadors – artist Hannah Shergold paints Rolling Stones icon and musician Ronnie Wood – collaborate for a unique exhibition. The two met as charity ambassadors in 2021 and, this year, Wood allowed Shergold to paint him, with the final portrait to be auctioned off with 100 per cent of proceeds going to Tusk Trust. 

The portrait forms the centrepiece of Shergold’s sixth solo exhibition hosted at Mall Galleries, pulling together a collection of 30 pieces inspired by wildlife from around the world. Having launched at the end of September and open to the public until 4 October, The 2025 Collection is Shergold’s strongest yet, showcasing her deep anatomical understanding and vibrant creative process – which she also brings to her profile of the Rolling Stones rock legend. Catch your glimpse of the finished work now. 

Hannah Shergold – The 2025 Collection is open until 4 October 2025 at Mall Galleries, SW1Y 5AS, visit mallgalleries.org.uk

The nightlife: Ronnie Scott’s at The Dorchester and live music at Bar Douro

Natalie Williams

The Grill

Jazz dinners don’t get much better than Ronnie Scott’s at The Dorchester. A new collaboration between the iconic Soho music institution and the newly launched Grill restaurant helmed by The Dorchester culinary director, Martyn Nail, the series pairs world-class live jazz with a specially curated three-course menu. Priced at £145 per person, expect snacks of chicken liver parfait and French parmesan churros, before Portland crab with apple to start, fillet of beef with peppercorn sauce and hassleback potatoes for main, and sherry trifle for dessert. While the food is served, seasoned Ronnie Scott’s performers take to the stage for an evening filled with jazz and soul. The next event will be hosted by acclaimed jazz artist Natalie Williams on 29 October – trust me, you won’t want to miss it. 

Bar Douro

Also providing stand-out entertainment is Portuguese restaurant Bar Douro, who has just launched a series of live music evenings titled Noite de Fado (Night of Fado) every Saturday throughout October. From 7-9pm at Bar Douro City, Noite de Fado invites guests to enjoy the evocative sounds of contemporary fado by Inês Loubet: one of London’s most exciting Portuguese multi-instrumentalists and singers. While listening to soulful sounds, guests will be able to enjoy the full à la carte menu, featuring signature dishes such as bacalhau à brás (salt cod hash) and secretos de porco preto (acorn-fed black pig, peppers and onions), each inspired by Portugal’s regional culinary heritage.

The next instalment of Ronnie Scott’s at The Dorchester takes place on 29 October 2025 at The Grill, 53 Park Lane, W1K 1QA, visit dorchestercollection.com; Bar Douro’s Noite de Fado takes place throughout October at 1 Finsbury Avenue, EC2M 2PF, visit bardouro.co.uk

The restaurants: Rosi at The Beaumont, Arthur’s Market and Motorino

Rosi at The Beaumont

On 1 October, The Beaumont Mayfair will unveil Rosi, which is set to replace The Colony Grill and will be led by acclaimed chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen. Promising a spirited interpretation of modern British dining, rooted in seasonality and British provenance, Goodwin-Allen will work alongside executive chef Brendan Fyldes and executive head chef Jozef Rogulski to reimagine culinary classics with a playful, creative flair. Menu highlights include retro-themed starters like seafood cocktail and gin-cured melon, alongside hearty mains of corn-fed chicken Diane and John Dory fish fingers, before theatrical desserts like flamed seasonal sponge with custard to build your own Rosi sundae. 

Stevie Parle

Arthur's Market

Elsewhere, Arthur’s Market is bringing something different to the King’s Road this autumn, combining a premium grocery store with a Japanese-inspired izakaya and wood-fired grill restaurant. Opening on 15 October and designed for life on the move, the grocery features a fishmonger, deli and butcher, and offers freshly brewed takeaway coffees, artisan sandwiches and crisp salads, alongside a range of premium produce such as whole Spanish tuna and seafood sourced directly from Cornish shores.  

The market will also be home to two counter-top dining options: sushi bar Asa Izakaya, serving specialty dishes such as squid kasudzuke nigiri by chef Shaulan Steenson, and Salvador, a wood-fired grill drawing on the spirit of pintxos, where guests can enjoy flavour-packed European small plates, exceptional meat sourced from Arthur’s butcher and a curated wine bar offering bottles from across the globe.

It’s a big year for British chef Stevie Parle, who is set to open Motorino alongside Luke Ahearne, formerly of Lita and Luca, on 20 October. Parle’s second new opening in six months – following the critically-acclaimed Town in Covent Garden – Motorino will showcase the best seasonal produce from Parle’s trusted suppliers, farms and friends in the UK and Ireland with Ahearne’s flair for Italian cooking. Watch this space. 

Rosi at The Beaumont opens on 1 October 2025 at 8 Balderton Street, Brown Hart Gardens, W1K 6TF, visit thebeaumont.com; Arthur’s Market opens on 15 October 2025 at 279 King's Road, SW3 5EW; Motorino opens on 20 October 2025 at 1 Pearson Square, W1T 3BF. 

The collaboration: The Ritz x Laurent-Perrier Champagne

The Ritz x Lauren-Perrier Champagne

Okay, so this event is actually happening in November, but booking is open now and, trust us, it's going to be a sell out. The Michelin-starred Ritz Restaurant has teamed up with Champagne Laurent-Perrier to create an exclusive five-course dining experience available for lunch and dinner throughout the month. 

Curated by executive chef John Williams, the menu has been designed to complement the flavours and fizz of five Laurent-Perrier champagnes, including the prestige cuvées Grand Siècle Iteration No.26 and Alexandra Rosé 2012, and a trio from the super-premium range: Héritage, Cuvée Rosé and Brut Millésimé 2015. Samples of Williams' Michelin-starred fare arrive in the form of Dorset crab with crème fraiche and imperial caviar before ballotine of duck liver with damson and pistachio and his signature large langoustine à la nage. Priced at £498 per head, this is rare opportunity to partake in a very unique gastronomic partnership. Book now before it sells out. 

The Ritz x Lauren-Perrier Champagne is available to book from 1-30 November 2025, visit theritzlondon.com

The festivals: London Restaurant Festival and Oktoberfest at The Walmer Castle

London Restaurant Festival

Following a stand-out summer festival in June, London Restaurant Festival returns this autumn with an equally impressive line-up of chefs, cuisines and experiences from the capital’s best restaurants. From restaurant-hopping tours to a series of gastronomic masterclasses and themed events, foodies are invited to experience an exclusive evening of dining at some of London’s latest restaurants. Head to Marylebone Village for a guided walk of Moxon Street, famed for its independent specialist shops, from pioneering cheesemonger La Fromagerie to The Ginger Pig. Other bookable experiences include the Best of the West End, with a whistle stop tour including a cooking class at Jamie Oliver’s new cookery school on Oxford Street. There’s something for everyone and you can find the full programme here. 

Walmer Castle

The Walmer Castle in Notting Hill is going full Bavarian with Oktoberfest celebrations on 9 October. Expect frothy steins, hearty German classics including sauerkraut, schnitzels and Bavarian bierwurst, and a lively upstairs beer hall complete with long benches and festive décor all adding to the spirited atmosphere. It’s time to don your dirndls and lederhosen. 

London Restaurant Festival takes place from 1-31 October 2025, visit londonrestaurantfestival.com; Oktoberfest at The Walmer Castle takes place on 9 October 2025 at 58 Ledbury Road, W11 2AJ, visit walmercastle-nottinghill.co.uk

The supper clubs: EA Festival at China Tang and Ladies Who Lead at The Pem

To celebrate 20 years as one of London’s most cherished dining destinations, China Tang at The Dorchester has announced a new literary supper club in partnership with EA Festival. Launching on 7 October, the literary supper club will spotlight a line-up of critically acclaimed authors whose work explores Chinese identity, culinary heritage and historical legacy, starting with Candice Chung, who will be talking about her book, Chinese Parents Don’t Say “I Love You”. For one night only, Chung will reflect on the power of food as emotional language, and how culinary heritage can bridge intergenerational silence, while dining on a bespoke dinner menu combining China Tang’s signature Cantonese specialities with dishes inspired by Chung’s book.

Laura Butler-Madden

The Pem

This autumn, The Pem introduces Ladies Who Lead: a three-part dinner series championing women driving change in design, art, and wine, hosted by tastemakers including Helen McGinn, Nancy Cadogan and Laura Butler-Madden. Across three evenings during October and November, The Pem – the flagship restaurant of the Conrad London hotel and a space created to champion women’s voices (it's named after suffragette Emily Wilding Davison) – will host intimate conversations with leading creative voices, each paired with a four-course tasting menu inspired by their work. 

First up on 16 October is Laura Butler-Madden, founder of British fine fragrance brand Grove England, whose bespoke menu will be inspired by scents of changing seasons, before artist Nancy Cadogan on 30 October. The evening will celebrate her works inspired by Lake Como, featuring a Q&A and bespoke Italian-inspired menu paired with a selection of Italian wines. 

The first instalment of EA Festival at China Tang at The Dorchester takes place on 7 October 2025 at 53 Park Lane, W1K 1QA, visit dorchestercollection.com; The first instalment of Ladies Who Lead takes place on 16 October 2025 at The Pem at Conrad London St James, 22-28 Broadway, SW1H 0BH, visit sevenrooms.com

The must-try menus: Standing Sushi at Kioku Sake Bar, and Massimo Spigaroli x Il Gattopardo

Every Wednesday until 22 October, Kioku Sake Bar – the intimate bar from Michelin-starred chef and third-generation sushi master Endo Kazutoshi at Raffles London – will host a series of standing sushi evenings. Led by executive chef George Gkoregias and head sushi chef Shibata Takehito, the concept takes inspiration from the Japanese tradition of tachigui: an informal way to eat sushi standing at a counter, dating back to the Edo period. Traditionally found in bustling sushi bars, Standing Sushi at Kioku Sake Bar will be a contemporary take this tradition, allowing guests and chefs to interact while enjoying exceptional cuisine. The format will feature a 10-course standing menu created by Gkoregias and Takehito, and each slot will last for 45 minutes. To complement the menu, a meticulously crafted pairing of mini cocktails and sake will be served. 

Lauded Italian restaurant Il Gattopardo will welcome the ‘king of culatello’, Massimo Spigaroli, this month to offer Londoners a unique taste of his prized meat cuts. Having earned international acclaim for his artisanal cuisine, and been personally entrusted with curing King Charles’ ancient English breed pigs, Spigaroli has partnered with executive chef Massimo Pasquarelli to serve limited-edition specials. Highlights include the signature culatello, followed by herb tortelli and gnocchi made with Spigarolino grains, and a sbrisolona cake with warm zabaglione to finish. Bellisimo. 

Standing Sushi at Kioku Sake Bar takes place every Wednesday until 22 October 2025 at 57 Whitehall, SW1A 2BX, visit sevenrooms.com; Massimo Spigaroli x Il Gattopardo Mayfair will be available from 13-19 October 2025 at 27 Albemarle Street W1S 4HZ, visit gattopardo.restaurant

The shopping: If Only If, Wiggy Kit and Tusting pop-ups, and Amanu at Selfridges

Image: If Only If

Cult sleepwear brand If Only If opened its first store on 1 October on Elizabeth Street. Joining a selection of creatives and homegrown designers in Belgravia, and following the success of a pop-up shop on the same street this summer, the permanent boutique has been designed in collaboration with celebrated interior designer Lonika Chande and will offer customers the chance to explore the full collections in person for the very first time. See you in the queue. 

Wiggy Kit

Stock up on all your autumn essentials at a Wiggy Kit pop-up, showcasing the full AW25 collection until 31 October. Coinciding with the brand’s 10^th anniversary, find your new winter wardrobe in one place, whether you're looking for beautiful knitwear, luxurious coats, stunning co-ords, shirting or jeans. 

Elsewhere on Elizabeth Street, British brand Tusting will be popping up inside the Beulah store from 7-11 October. Currently only available on its website, the pop-up will give customers the opportunity to see, feel and touch all new and existing handcrafted luxury leather goods. Don’t miss the Sip and Shop event on 9 October, too. 

Popping up in Selfridges for the whole month of October is Amanu. At the heart of the event will be an artisan maker on hand to fit custom belts, as well as a rare chance for customers to experience Amanu’s signature craftsmanship and collections firsthand. 

If Only If opens on 1 October 2025 at 59 Elizabeth Street, SW1W 9PA, visit ifonlyif.co.uk; Tusting pop-up shop will be open until 11 October 2025 at Beulah, 77 Elizabeth Street, SW1W 9PJ, visit tusting.co.uk; the Wiggy Kit pop-up shop will be open until 31 October 2025 at 48 Elizabeth Street, SW1W, visit wiggykit.com; Amanu will be open throughout October 2025 at Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, W1A 1AB, visit amanustudio.com

Read more: Everything the Luxury London team has been loving this month