London in October Questions

Predicting the weather in mid/late October is pretty much impossible. Plan for anything from warm (but not hot) sunny days to cold and wet ones.

With luck, the weather before the clocks change can be quite pleasant but you never know and things can change quickly. Sorry I can’t be of more help but this is why we Brits are obsessed with the weather.

Looks like the area is Pimlico, just south of Victoria Station. Lots of things to do and if the weather is pleasant, you might like to take the District line to Kew Gardens, where there are hundreds of trees. The colour depends on the type of tree, of course, but also whether or not we’ve had a cold snap, but it’s won’t be as stunning as in New England.

I've never seen anyone talk about their physical limitations and lacking sense of direction, followed by an immediate action plan for planning such fantastic trips for themselves ! Very inspiring!! You just keep going! You are certainly living Rick's ethos of "keep on travelin!"

I was in London in October decades ago; newly engaged wearing my brand new London Fog trench coat! I remember it as a beautiful season! Is there ever a bad time to be in London?

On the knee. My husband has problems too and he got an injection the week before we went to Greece. He was actually worse than he had been the first week. And was better the second week.

Now it is like nothing is wrong with his knee,

Last year he had an injection about a month before we went and that worked perfectly. I am hardly an expert on this but think about timing.

On the buses. We stayed last time at an apartment that was on several bus lines. We took the buses all around and if you can manage to go up stairs you get quite a view. They can use special lanes so can get around much more efficiently than the ho ho buses that get stuck in traffic.

And I understand the draw of London! I am going back in December!

PS when we arrived in London last time, we took a taxi from the train station to our apartment. It was lovely to not have to figure out public transportation with luggage and was not that expensive. Something to consider.

Glad to hear you have decided to visit London! To answer your questions:

-There may still be some foliage tho I think most will be gone by end of October
-As said above, it's very difficult to predict autumn weather here, but be prepared for it to likely be wet
-If you are staying in Pimlico and looking for a museum to visit, I would suggest the Tate Britain. It has a great collection particularly if you like JMW Turner. If you like modern art at all, you can get a boat from Tate Britain to Tate Modern (and back).
-You also won't be far from Chelsea Physic Garden, which is open all year- a very nice quiet garden tucked away behind walls.

I was in London in Oct. 2024. I thought it was the perfect time to be there. Great weather and did not feel crowded.

We stayed in Westminster. So, not too far from where you will be staying.

My trip report might give you some ideas:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/10-days-in-london-our-first-time-a-trip-report

I think London is a great choice. I think you would have a great time. My trip report from last August might be helpful.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-8-night-mother-daughter-trip-to-london

wow. it is wonderful that I have gotten so many responses but now that I have so many, I can not respond to them individually tonight

Cat VH

Tate Britian is on my wish list as one of the museums that I would like to go to this trip.

BethFL

I have already figured out how to get from Heathrow to my hotel.

I will be taking the National Express to Victoria Coach and my hotel is a few minutes walk.

I do not believe that London taxis will be in my budget.

My orthopedist thinks I should have an injection about two weeks before I travel.

Barbara and Carrie

Thank you for the trip reports. I skimmed them for now but they will continue to be helpful,.

If I have not responded to anyone personally, it is because I have just returned from two hours on the greenbelt and I am feeling very tired.

it is very hot now in Austin, mid to high 90's. And it will be like this until Ocotber.

I will return (to forum) and this discussion

You may run into a little confusion about the time.

The UK (and most of the world) change their clocks at 2am on Sunday 25th October from Summertime (like Daylight Savings Time), towards the end of your visit. Losing the hour in the afternoon means sunset comes early. Watch out for when you go to check in to come home.

Then a week later the US catches up and you'll change again on the 1st of November.

Thank you Nigel

When I travel, I arrive hours early.

I am planning to spend the night before I fly home at a hotel in Heathrow. I am spending 6 nights at my hotel in London and will then be going to Heathrow to spend a night there before flying out on the 27th.

St George’s Drive connects with Lupus Street in Pimlico. There you can catch the 360 bus route which travels between South Kensington and Elephant and Castle.
It literally goes past the museums in South Kensington, the Garden Museum at Lambeth Bridge and the imperial War museum in Kennington. It also stops at Vauxhall bus station where you can connect with a lot of other useful us routes as well as the Victoria line tube and trains.

I know it's been selling out and possibly even the extended run's tickets are out, but I would check to see if you can get a ticket for the Queen Elizabeth II Life in Style exhibit at The King's Gallery. I went in April and it was fantastic! Getting to see her wedding dress and coronation gowns up glass (behind glass) was amazing, as was seeing what she wore in the 1940s and 1950s. I only "knew" her as a grandmother that wore her colorful skirt suits.

Thank you Emma

And Thank You Melissa H

I am going to look into the 360 bus route and The King's Gallery

I am getting a lot of good tips.

The 24 Bus runs from Pimlico (near where your hotel is) through some of central London, Camden and up to Hampstead (a posh part of north London, known for Hampstead Heath - a large park overlooking London). Buses are also less expensive that the Tube, plus you get to see more!

As for weather, the end of October could be a mixed bag. I spent the fall and early winter in London in 2018/19, and we had mild and dry weather well into mid October. It's definitely worth wearing layers, as mornings + evenings could be cool and then warm up a bit during the day.

Museums: The London Transport museum (right in Covent Garden market) is fascinating, and has lots of historical public transport vehicles. If you are interested in theatre, the Royal Opera House (in Covent Garden), Royal Albert Hall (South Kensington) and the National Theatre (Southbank) offer tours of the buildings. The Opera House and National Theatre take your more backstage than the Royal Albert Hall tour does, but all are interesting. The Imperial War Museum is well worth it too. It has well executed WWI, WWII and Holocaust exhibits, and is well worth at least 1/2 a day. The British Library has a exhibition of notable manuscripts and items from their collections (i.e the Magna Carta, writings of Shakespeare and lyrics from the Beatles).

Tate Britian is on my wish list as one of the museums that I would like to go to this trip.

Just be aware that Tate Britain is not what it used to be. I went about 10 years ago and loved it, but returned in 2024 and it was taken over by contemporary art. My guess is about 25% or maybe a little more is now contemporary art. If you like contemporary art, great. If you like older paintings, not so great.

I would want to pick two museums to explore. Last time my highlights were V & A and The National Gallery.

Look into the Wallace Collection. They have a free walking tour in the afternoon which is good.

Have to check on my shoes.

I would get waterproof shoes.

"London Fog Trenchcoat, lots of hats scarves and gloves". I had to check that it is London England you are visiting not London Antarctica. I doubt you will need more than one hat and scarf and probably no gloves. In October I am usually still wearing thin Kagouls. A typical late October week is likely to be temps in region 10C-14C (50s in F), a couple of rainy days, mainly cloudy. Of course you could be lucky and get a week of late summer weather or the first blast of winter. Hardly any chance of anything approaching freezing.
If you need anything when here, you could buy them from somewhere like Primark, TK Maxx very cheaply or an outdoor shop for something harder wearing.
As already said, the clocks go back on in the early hours of the Sunday of your visit, you'll get an extra hour in bed and you'll find that sunset has gone from around 6:30pm to 5:30 pm.

These days with climate change very hard to predict weather.

I’d pack to dress in layers.

My London travel month has been November. Fall colors were prevalent especially through out Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park. Unsure if colors will have begun to change in October. Then again are you going in early or late October?

St James park is pleasant. Nice POV of the Palace. Also the feeding of the park’s pelicans might be of interest.

As far as museums, so many to choose from. Options you might not be aware of;
Hunterian Museum
Water and Steam Museum
Dennis Severs House
Design Museum
Fan Museum
Bletchley Park

Are you a shopper? If yes consider seeing Liberty or wandering about Selfridges. You might also see if the Battersea Piwer Station conversion would be of interest. It’s massive.

lizzey.tilley

thank you for the information.

So much to do and see .......

Most definitely want to check on the 24 bus. I know there are some buses that are also very good for sightseeing.

Marco

I was looking for older art but some contemporary is ok. Still I am a little disappointed in the news.

Will look nto the Wallace Collectiom

I am also thinking of the British Museum this trip

briware

You make me feel relaxed about clothing . I did not know what to expect from the weather the third week of October. I am not expecting snow but .... No one knows anymore.

Have to laugh about the extra hour in bed bcause I am a severe insomniac and my sleeping is as unpredictable as the weather.

Thank you Claudia

You have been giving me good advice for a long time and among the forum members who has helped me learn how to travel

My travel dates are October 20 though the 27th. Sounds like I am going to be a little early for a lot of color but then again who knows these days.

Thank you for all the suggestion. Will do my research.

I am not a shopper but I did watch Selfridges on PBS. When I was in London last, my friend took me to Old Bond Street. I think that was the name.