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 fairs: Start and Lapada

Now in its eleventh year, Start Art Fair has relocated from Chelsea to King’s Cross to offer a dynamic and expansive programme including artist presentations, digital art, and guest exhibitions spanning painting, photography, specially commissioned murals and more. Held from 9-13 October 2024, highlights include a world-exclusive Holy Relics exhibition by photographer Rick Guest, featuring high-resolution prints of objects that have profoundly shaped our cultural history, from Lord Byron’s dip pen to Ernest Hemingway’s first typewriter. Elsewhere, Start will once again present the annual Ciclitira Prize, in partnership with The King’s Foundation (formerly the Prince’s Foundation), to artists featured in the School of Traditional Arts annual degree show, which showcases traditional art forms including Etruscan Bucchero tiles, Ukrainian folk painting and Orthodox iconography. 

The Lapada art and antiques fair will return to Mayfair’s Berkeley Square this autumn, bringing with it some of the finest galleries, dealers and specialists from across the globe from 23-27 October 2024. Hosting more than 80 exhibitors from around the world – including McKenzie Art & Design, who will be offering a series of black and white photographs by famed Scottish photographer Joseph McKenzie, and Gallery V, who will display a rare Monet painted in the last year of the artist’s life – this year will also see the debut of Lapada Fringe. Spotlighting Mayfair’s history and creativity with a series of exclusive events and collaborations, don’t miss a tour of Handel Hendrix House on 24 October, offering an exclusive glimpse inside the home of G.F. Handel and Jimi Hendrix, and special art tours at Brown’s Hotel. 

Start Art Fair is open from 9-13 October 2024 at Camden Town Hall, 5 Judd Street, WC1H 9JE, visit startkx.com; Lapada London is open from 23-27 October 2024 at 45 Berkeley Square, W1J 5AS, visit lapadalondon.com

The restaurants: Tamila, Yari Club and Claro

Tamila – the latest concept by Indian favourite Tamil Prince – opened its doors on Northcote Road on 1 October, and marks the London restaurant’s first move south of the river. Breaking away from the ‘Indian pubs’ the owners have become known for, Tamila is a new casual concept evolving from its food hall beginnings in Hackney Wick to a fully-fledged restaurant. The menu echoes co-founder and executive chef Prince Durairaj’s South Indian heritage, featuring dishes from Tamil Nadu in roti and curry form alongside a new dedicated dosa section, snacks including chicken lollipops, fried baby sweetcorn and masala poori: puffed fried bread served with coconut chutney and potato masala. Wash it all down with a selection of Indian-spiced cocktails such as Gunpowder margarita, Tamil negroni and charcoal old fashioned, alongside the house Tamila lager. 

One for robotic restaurant geeks, the Yari Club opens on 9 October in Covent Garden as the UK’s first machine-operated yakitori spot. Solely serving the unique Japanese delicacy – yakitori translates as ‘grilled chicken’ from Japanese – the concise menu features an array of flavours, ranging from the sweet, meatball-like tsukune to the classic negima with salty spring onions, alongside prawn tempura skewers and sides of chicken karaage, gyozas, and fries in kashmiri powder. Upon ordering, watch the 1.5m-long robotic machine grab and grill your order, before dipping it in Yari Club sauce and handing it over to be eaten among the restaurant’s black bricks, stainless steel bars, and cherry wood-clad walls.

A new opening in St James’s on 12 October comes from Claro, marking the restaurant’s first opening outside of Tel Aviv. Having built a rave reputation for food synonymous with fresh, seasonal produce, all thoughtfully prepared to create contemporary Mediterranean dishes with Middle Eastern influences, the restaurant is housed in a former bank and promises a warm atmosphere that honours the heritage of St James’s historical clubs. Menu highlights include Frena bread, yellowtail sashimi, slow cooked Jerusalem artichoke, and grilled octopus.

Tamila opens on 1 October 2024 at 39 Northcote Road, SW11 1NJ, visit tamila.co.uk; Yari Club opens on 9 October 2024 at 57 St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4EA, visit yariclub.com; Claro opens on 12 October 2024 at 12 Waterloo Place, SW1Y 4AU, visit claro-london.com

The bars: The Clandesti, Cahoots Postal Office, and The Emory Rooftop

Hidden below Chelsea’s Catalonian restaurant The Campaner, The Clandesti bar relaunches this month with a new cocktail menu inspired by the work of eight Catalonian artists. Celebrating the likes of Ramón De Los Heros, with notes of cognac, cacao crème and chocolate bitters, and Salvador Dalí via a long serve featuring spicy vodka, elderflower, Aperol and blood orange soda, each cocktail is a combination of flavours, colours and textures highlighting the beauty and power of Catalonian culture. Perfect for a late-night drink, or post-work catch up with friends, dine on a new snack menu of Catalonian delicacies including ham croquettes, patatas bravas, and pan con tomate. 

The latest outpost from the Inception Group, which operate the likes of Mr Fogg’s and Cahoots in Carnaby Street, Postal Office opens on 11 October. Housed inside an old railway arch within Borough Yards and modelled on a vintage post office, the new bar will transport guests back to 1946, where Cahoots scoundrels have commandeered a mail depot and transformed it into a raucous hub for distributing pilfered rations, home-brewed hooch, and cocktails featuring exotic ingredients. The new bar will feature an innovative installation that will see cocktails whizzing overhead as they are delivered to guests via a series of air-powered tubes, with concotions including the This Way Up with Patrón Silver tequila and Signed, Sealed, Delivered with Bombay Sapphire gin. Sip away among suspicious-looking parcels, carrier pigeons and Maurice: the beloved post office cat who keeps a watchful eye to ensure nothing is above board. 

Thanks to the magic of blankets and heaters, rooftop bars ar eno logner just for summer – and proving that is The Emory, which has partnered with legendary Argentinian bartender Tato Giovannoni for an exclusive two-month takeover. In residence until 5 November, Giovannoni – founder of acclaimed Florería Atlántico bar in Buenos Aires, and winner of the World’s 50 Best Bars award – will serve an exclusive edit of his signature cocktails at the hotel's rooftop bar. Standout serves include the Negroni Balestrini – a homage to Tato’s grandfather made with Principe de los Apostoles, the first high-end gin distilled in Argentina – and the Garua Martini featuring distilled rainwater, alongside a trio of Argentinian snacks, including king crab and prawn empanadas. Usually only open to hotel guests, the bar is available to all during the residency, offering Londoners the chance to enjoy the rooftop’s panoramic views. 

The Clandesti is open now at The Campaner, 1 Garrison Square, SW1W 8BG, visit thecampaner.com; Cahoots Postal Office opens on 11 October 2024 at Unit 205, 18 Stoney Street SE1 9AD, visit cahoots.co.uk; The Emory x Tato residency is open until 5 November 2024 at Old Barrack Yard, SW1X 7NP, visit the-emory.co.uk

The pet-friendly event: Chelsea Dog Day

Pawparents and their four-legged friends are invited to south 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, comprising 20 stalls selling an array of delicious treats and accessories. Elsewhere, visitors can also enjoy behaviourist talks from the Chelsea Canines, who will be sharing top tips on dog-handling and training, whilst Napo Dog Insurance will welcome all pups at their scent-work trike, giving away complimentary games. Plus, don’t miss the giant sausage dog bench for that perfect picture memento of the day.

Chelsea Dog Day is on 5 October 2024 at Duke of York Square, 80 King’s Road, SW3 4LY, visit kingsroad.co.uk

The nightlife: The Drawing Room After Dark and Rendezvous at Rails

Launching on 1 October – and running every Tuesday to Thursday evening until 19 December – Brown’s Hotel will play host to the Drawing Room After Dark: a series of musical evenings that will transform the Mayfair hotel into an intimate jazz club. Alongside soulful tunes by some of the most established figures in UK jazz, a dedicated menu will be available with special dishes, including as cuttlefish arancini, cured monkfish, and tuna sando, served alongside signature cocktails reimagined by director of mixology, Federico Pavan.

Over in King’s Cross, the Great Northern Hotel is also bringing the elegance and glamour of the golden age to its Rails restaurant. On 18 October 2024, enjoy sultry jazz sounds by the Rocca Brother’s Vocal Trio, with brothers Joel and Ben on saxophone and keyboard accompanied by singer Patricia Elizabeth. Playing a dynamic mix of jazz classics and hits from music legends, expect crowd-pleasing favourites such as Fly Me To The Moon by Frank Sinatra, Isn’t She Lovely by Stevie Wonder and Back To Black by Amy Winehouse. Meanwhile, dine on a new menu marrying British and French flair, including pumpkin, sage and burrata cannelloni, seared coley with buttered leeks and roasted purple cauliflower, and a classic beef Wellington to share. 

The Drawing Room After Dark launches on 1 October 2024 at 33 Albemarle Street, W1S 4BP, visit roccofortehotels.com; Rails Dinner and Jazz will take place on 18 October 2024 at Great Northern Hotel, Pancras Road, N1C 4TB, visit gnhlondon.com

The gym: Third Space Clapham Junction

Third Space, one of London’s most luxurious health clubs, has continued its 2024 expansion with the opening of a twelfth outpost in Clapham Junction this month. Set within the historic Grade ll-listed Arding and Hobbs building, Third Space Clapham Junction joins the brand’s growing roster of neighbourhood clubs, following in the footsteps of Battersea and Wimbledon earlier this year. Spanning three floors, expect an array of workout and recovery spaces, including a state-of-the-art 19-person reformer pilates studio and 36-person hot yoga studio. Elsewhere, club highlights include Third Space’s signature HIIT and cycle studios as well as a naturally-lit, 2,500 square foot gym floor featuring an Eleiko weightlifting area, sled-track and multi-function rig. It’s time to get your sweat on… 

Third Space Clapham Junction is open at Lavender Hill, SW11 1LN, visit thirdspace.london

The exhibitions: Tiffany & Co Windows of Wonder Art Experience, Mapping the Tube: 1863-2023, and Barbour Re-Loved

Tiffany & Co has unveiled its open-to-all gallery, Windows of Wonder, on Oxford Street featuring works by notable British artists alongside window displays inspired by Tiffany Archives. Open until 20 October and celebrating the house’s long-standing passion for exquisite craftsmanship, the brand commissioned four British contemporary artists – Damien Hirst, Rana Begum, Jason Bruges and James Righton – to create unique works for the takeover of Selfridges’ storefront, giving passersby the opportunity to take in diverse perspectives on love, design and creativity while being immersed in the world of Tiffany & Co jewellery. 

History buffs will love the immersive Mapping the Tube: 1863-2023 exhibition at Map House this month, exploring the beginnings of the London Underground system, as well as exhibiting the largest collection of manuscripts by designer Harry Beck ever auctioned. Beck was paid just £5 and five shillings for his design, and despite the map’s overwhelming success – having influenced many transport maps worldwide – he was not credited during his lifetime. Open from 25 October until 30 November, the collection also includes eye-catching posters designed by 20^th century artists including Cecil Walter Bacon and Macdonald Gill, along with other items designed for public use, such as the folding pocket maps. 

From 2-13 October, immerse yourself in Barbour’s fashion heritage with a quilted pop-up cube exhibition at Covent Garden piazza. Honouring the anniversary of the brand’s best-selling Liddesdale jacket, the exhibition will showcase a collection of 13 bespoke Re-Loved jackets, each reimagined by friends of the brand including Sir Paul Smith, Ganni, David Gandy, and Roksanda. The jackets, created using pre-loved Liddesdale jackets which no longer have a use, have been uniquely designed to create one-of-a-kind pieces, from the intricate embroidery of Sir Paul Smith’s design to David Gandy’s ultimate driving jacket, inspired by the tonneau of his personal 1954 Jaguar.

Windows of Wonder Art Experience is open now at Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, W1A 1AB, visit tiffany.co.uk; Mapping the Tube: 1863-2023 is open from 25 October 2024 at 54 Beauchamp Place, SW3 1NY, visit themaphouse.com; Barbour Re-Loved is open from 2-13 October 2024 at 134 Long Acre, WC2E 9AA, visit barbour.com

The shopping: Discovery centre at Watches of Switzerland

Celebrating its centenary this year, Watches of Switzerland is opening a new section within its flagship Knightsbridge store to house an expanded and more in-depth offering of independent watch brands. Having already established itself as the leading watch retailer in the UK, keen collectors can now shop an array of unusual, undiscovered and under-the-radar brands – including Arnold & Son, Bovet, Czapek, Gerald Charles, H.Moser & Cie, Jacob & Co, Louis Erard, Nivada Grenchen and Parmigiani Fleurier – at its exclusive discovery centre. Happy shopping!

Watches of Switzerland is open at 47-51 Brompton Road, SW3 1DE, visit watches-of-switzerland.co.uk

The festival: Mount Street Neighbourhood Arts Festival

Running alongside Frieze, Mount Street Neighbourhood Arts Festival will bring together the best of Mayfair’s art scene from 7-12 October. Comprising an experiential programme of arts events across Mount Street – including a pop-up iteration of the Sarabande Foundation’s House of Bandits and works from a line-up of prestigious creatives across fashion, jewellery, photography, painting and sculpture – don’t miss the Did I Tell You? discussion series, hosted by Charlene Prempeh and Lewis Dalton Gilbert, for insightful talks on art, culture and community. Elsewhere, festival goers will be invited to collect a bespoke passport at 5 Carlos Place that includes an illustrated map by artist Sainte Maria highlighting participating locations. Collect unique stamps for your passport en-route while unlocking a series of complimentary experiences, offers and items from the likes of Artfarm, Erdem, Dr Barbara Sturm, Marni and Toteme. 

Mount Street Neighbourhood Arts Festival is open from 7-12 October 2024, visit mayfairldn.com

Read more: Corinna Brown is ready for anything