The ultimate guide to visiting London in November

London in November is a city brimming with activity. From epic Bonfire Night celebrations to the vivacious Lord Mayor’s Show and the solemn Remembrance Day tributes, the first half of the month is a near-constant stream of landmark events. Then, the city turns a corner and heads for the holiday season. Seasonal standouts like the Somerset House ice skating rink and Hyde Park’s massive Winter Wonderland funfair start the festive winter period in London.

If you’re visiting London in November, let this guide help you build your ideal itinerary.

Why go to London in November?

1. London in November is a time of festivals

Throughout November, London always seems to be celebrating something. Bonfire Night and the Lord Mayor’s Show are ever-present in the first half of the month. Depending on the year, there might also be Diwali celebrations. Remembrance Day brings gravitas to the month’s activities. The London Jazz Festival tends to bridge the middle of the month, and by month’s end, it’s all beginning to feel a lot like Christmas around the city.

In one month, the city moves quickly from fireworks to jazz to ice skating. You certainly won’t be bored.

2. You’ll save on hotels

Despite the near-constant festivities, November is a slower season for London’s tourist trade. That means more space around the city’s iconic landmarks and historic attractions. It’s also an off-peak time for the hotel sector, so accommodation prices tend to be below the standard rates for busier months.

3. The fall paints London in vibrant colors

Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, and Hampstead Heath — London has many green spaces. In the first half of November in particular, fall foliage is peaking across the parks and gardens of London, putting on a show that is too often crowded out of the must-see lists by the city’s many popular historical and cultural sites. And while the city is definitely getting cold in November, there are still mild fall days when a walk around one of the city’s leafier corners is immensely satisfying.

What’s the weather like in London in November?

London’s average daily high temperature (50 F/10 C) in November is close to the city’s daily October low (48 F/9 C), so it’s a month in which Londoners might start to feel the cold. It’s also one of the wettest months on the London calendar. But once you adjust, you’ll find the London weather in November relatively stable. Daily temperatures circle a narrow range, and the rain is at least predictable in its constancy — today should be a lot like tomorrow, and that makes it easier to plan some rainy-day activities in London.

• Average daily high/low temperature: 50-43 F (10-6 C)
• Average days of rain: 17 days
• Average daily hours of sunshine: 2 hours

Top things to do in London in November

1. Watch Bonfire Night fireworks at Ally Pally

Bonfire Night (on November 5) in the United Kingdom commemorates a failed 17th-century plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Traditionally, that commemoration involves burning an effigy of one of the conspirators on an open fire. Fortunately, with the passage of a few centuries, the bloodthirsty element of the celebration has subsided. You’ll find Bonfire Night events all over London, including a massive fireworks show at Battersea Park. But the Alexandra Palace Fireworks Festival is a citywide favorite.

Popular enough that it’s usually staged twice over the weekend closest to November 5, the festival features live music, street food, a light show, circus acts, a massive bonfire, and a phenomenal fireworks display. Ally Pally — as she is known to her friends — sits on a hill with panoramic views of London, further enhancing the experience.

Address

Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY

Opening hours

Typical hours for the Fireworks Festival are 6:00–10:30 PM

2. See the Lord Mayor’s Show

The Lord Mayor’s Show bills itself as “the oldest, longest, best-loved, and least-rehearsed civic procession in the world.” A reliably colorful and joyous event, it typically features marching bands, dancers, open-topped buses, traditional and whimsical costumes, vivid floats, and even the occasional mobile art gallery. Ever-present elements of the procession include the twin wicker giants Gog and Magog near the front, the Lord Mayor himself in his fairytale State Coach, and the Ash Cart at the end (or City Sanitation Department in modern times).

The parade loops around Central London. If you like it enough to see it twice, watch the outward-bound parade pass St Paul’s Cathedral, then walk a block over to Queen Victoria Street to catch the procession on its return. The Lord Mayor’s Show is always in November.

Address

Walbrook, City of London

Opening hours

The parade usually starts from Mansion House at 11:00 AM

3. Honor the fallen for Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day (or Armistice Day) is on November 11 in the United Kingdom. At 11:00 AM (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month), much of the country will observe two minutes of silence in commemoration of British and Commonwealth veterans.

On the closest Sunday to November 11, designated Remembrance Sunday, a parade of 10,000 veterans marches down Whitehall to The Cenotaph, where a collection of British and international dignitaries lay wreaths and participate in a National Service of Remembrance.

The parade is preceded, typically the night before, by a Remembrance Festival at the Royal Albert Hall. Members of the public can attend the ticketed event, which features military bands, popular music, tributes to the fallen, and memories shared by British veterans.

Address

Royal Albert Hall: Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP

Opening hours

Check the Royal Albert Hall website for information

4. Experience open-air ice skating in London

Like flowers in spring, London’s open-air ice skating rinks come into bloom during November. Picturesque rinks at Somerset House and Battersea Power Station might open shortly after Remembrance Day. A little later in the month, you can skate in front of the Baroque splendor of Hampton Court Palace or hit the ice at the largest open-air ice skating rink in the United Kingdom at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.

Or if you prefer not to brave the elements, head to the city’s beloved Ally Pally for year-round, all-weather ice skating in the historic Victorian People’s Palace.

5. Have fairground fun at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

The opening of the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park is a surefire sign that winter is in the air in London. The massive winter funfair features rollercoasters, carousels, acrobats, and ice sculpting. Get a sky-high view of the city from the giant Observation Wheel, chill at the Ice Bar, walk the kids through Santa Land, or whoosh down the Ice Slide. There’s also live music, sensational food options, and (as mentioned) the largest open-air ice skating rink in the United Kingdom.

The seasonal fairground is geared toward Christmas, but it’s typically open from mid-November.

Address

Louisa Duckworth Walk, London W1K 7AN

Opening hours

Typically open daily, mid-November–early January, 10:00 AM–10:00 PM