Things to do in London this week: 20 to 26 October

Half-term starts on Monday, the clocks go back on Sunday and there’s a lot opening this week. Here it is, day by day.

Tuesday 20 October

Hokusai at Dulwich Picture Gallery. The complete Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, including The Great Wave and Red Fuji, together in the UK for the first time. Until 17 January 2027, adults from £21.50.

London Literature Festival. The festival is back at the Southbank Centre until 1 November, curated this year by Dua Lipa. Ticket prices vary, and the Service95 Book Club event on Saturday 24 October is free.

Thursday 22 October

ItalyFEST opens at the Business Design Centre in Islington and runs until Sunday: Italian food, wine and culture.

Friday 23 October

Becoming America at the Science Museum. A free exhibition about how science shaped the United States. You need to book a free ticket.

MCM Comic Con starts at ExCeL and runs all weekend.

New Year’s Eve fireworks tickets go on sale at 12 noon. More in our New Year’s Eve guide.

Saturday 24 October

Freddie Mercury: Splendid Things at the V&A. A free trail of his stage costumes across six spots in the South Kensington museum. Until 17 January.

Sunday 25 October

The clocks go back at 2am, so you get an extra hour.

Diwali on the Square, Trafalgar Square, 1pm to 7pm. Free, no booking. Our guide.

Big Story Festival at IWM London, Sunday and Monday, 10am to 6pm. Free entry, some workshops are paid.

All week

Halloween at Kew: the evening trail runs until 1 November. From Sunday it opens at 4pm instead of 6pm. For more spooky plans see Halloween for families and Halloween parties.

Monday 26 October: half-term starts

Most London schools are off until 30 October. Here are free half-term ideas and where kids eat free.

Sources

• Dulwich Picture Gallery: Hokusai
• Time Out: Hokusai exhibition
• Southbank Centre: London Literature Festival
• Business Design Centre: ItalyFEST
• ianVisits: Becoming America
• ExCeL: MCM Comic Con
• Hypebeast: Freddie Mercury at the V&A
• Londonist: this week
• London.gov.uk: Diwali on the Square
• IWM: Big Story Festival
• Visit London: October
• Royal Museums Greenwich: clocks go back

Last checked: 20 October 2026. Dates and prices can change, so check with each venue before you go. Photo: Ewan Munro / Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.