Things to Do in London in November 2026

November has arrived, the clocks have gone back, and London is getting dark at an increasingly unreasonable hour. Fortunately, there’s plenty happening to brighten things up.

This month, we’re remembering a failed attempt to blow up Parliament, commemorating those who died in war, and celebrating one of London’s oldest and strangest traditions. And that’s before we get to the art, theatre, music and cinema.

Here’s our guide to what’s happening in London this November.

🎆 Remember, Remember the Fifth of November!

On the night of 4 November 1605, a man called Guy Fawkes was discovered in a cellar beneath the Houses of Parliament, guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder.

He and his fellow Catholic conspirators had been planning to blow up King James I, Parliament and much of England’s ruling establishment. The plot was foiled, Fawkes was tortured and executed, and Londoners celebrated the king’s survival by lighting bonfires.

More than 400 years later, we’re still at it. Most people don't know the history anymore—they just know it as the weird new years that comes in November and doesn't have a countdown.

Here are three places to enjoy them this year:

Alexandra Palace Fireworks Festival — 7 & 8 November

With spectacular views across London, Alexandra Palace is one of the capital’s most atmospheric places to watch the fireworks. Expect enormous displays, music, street food and plenty of entertainment. Wrap up warm: it’s a big hill in November.

Battersea Park Fireworks — 7 & 8 November

One of London’s biggest Bonfire Night celebrations, with fireworks, music, food and fairground attractions. A good option if you’re staying south of the river.

Coram’s Fields Fireworks — 5 November | FREE

A more intimate, family-friendly celebration in Bloomsbury, with free fireworks in one of central London’s loveliest community spaces. Note that adults can only enter Coram’s Fields when accompanied by children.

🌺 A Moment of Remembrance

Remembrance Sunday — 8 November

On the second Sunday of the month, Britain pauses to remember those who lost their lives in the two World Wars and subsequent conflicts.

The national ceremony takes place at the Cenotaph on Whitehall, where members of the Royal Family, politicians, military personnel and veterans gather for a two-minute silence at 11am, followed by the laying of wreaths. The silence is observed around the country.

The Cenotaph itself is worth a closer look. Designed by Edwin Lutyens, it was originally built as a temporary monument in 1919, but proved so popular that a permanent version was unveiled the following year. Its name comes from the Greek for empty tomb.

The ceremony is free to attend, although visitors should arrive early and expect security checks and large crowds.

🏰 The Lord Mayor’s Show: 800 Years of London Eccentricity

Saturday 14 November | FREE

Did you know that London has two mayors? There’s the Mayor of London, who oversees Greater London, and the Lord Mayor of the City of London, whose job comes with rather more elaborate costumes.

Every November, the City celebrates its new Lord Mayor with a spectacular procession whose origins stretch back to the 13th century.

Expect marching bands, ceremonial carriages, military displays, representatives of London’s ancient guilds and the enormous wicker figures of Gog and Magog, two legendary giants associated with the City’s mythology.

It’s a wonderfully peculiar survival from medieval London, and completely free to watch.

We’ll also be running our City of London walking tour that day, so if you’re joining us, there’s a chance we might catch a glimpse of the festivities as we explore the ancient streets of the Square Mile!

🎭 On Stage

Cloud 9 — National Theatre

Caryl Churchill’s groundbreaking 1979 play returns to the National Theatre in a new production directed by Dominic Cooke.

Beginning in colonial Africa before leaping forward to 1970s London, Cloud 9 is a brilliantly inventive exploration of sex, gender, power and empire. More than four decades after its premiere, it remains one of the most provocative works in modern British theatre.

Ilford Boy — Donmar Warehouse

A new play by Danny Lee Wynter about growing up in 1990s East London.

Following a mixed-race teenager whose encounter with a stranger opens up a world of art, music and possibility, Ilford Boy promises a funny and moving exploration of identity, class and the people who change our lives.

🎨 Art: From the Renaissance to the Impressionists

Van Eyck: The Portraits — National Gallery | From 21 November

For the first time, all nine surviving painted portraits by the 15th-century Flemish master Jan van Eyck are being brought together under one roof.

Van Eyck’s astonishing technical skill helped transform European painting. His portraits capture individual faces with a level of detail and psychological presence that still feels startlingly modern, almost 600 years later.

Renoir and Love — National Gallery | Until 31 January

From the meticulous detail of the Northern Renaissance to the shimmering colours of French Impressionism.

This major exhibition explores how Pierre-Auguste Renoir depicted love, friendship, intimacy and the pleasures of everyday life.

Expect beautiful paintings of bustling cafés, lively gatherings and sun-dappled gardens, offering a welcome antidote to London’s increasingly grey November skies.

🎷 Music: Jazz and Northern Soul

EFG London Jazz Festival — 13–22 November

One of the world’s great jazz festivals returns for ten days of concerts across London.

From internationally renowned performers to experimental newcomers, the programme stretches far beyond traditional jazz, taking in soul, electronic music, improvisation and sounds from around the world.

Northern Soul Orchestrated — Royal Festival Hall | 11 November

Northern Soul meets the BBC Concert Orchestra in a celebration of one of Britain’s most beloved musical subcultures.

Presented by broadcaster Stuart Maconie, the concert brings the infectious rhythms and soaring melodies of Northern Soul to the Royal Festival Hall.

🎬 London Korean Film Festival

2–16 November

Korean cinema has enjoyed an extraordinary international rise over the past few decades, but there’s much more to discover beyond the films of Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook.

The London Korean Film Festival returns with a programme showcasing the breadth of contemporary Korean filmmaking, from established directors to emerging talents.

🆓 The Free Corner

London can be an expensive city, but some of its most interesting cultural experiences won’t cost you a penny. Here are three of our favourites this month.

London Museum Opens at Smithfield — From 28 November

After years of anticipation, the Museum of London’s successor opens its doors in a spectacular new home at Smithfield.

Housed in a restored Victorian market building, the new London Museum promises to tell the story of the capital and its inhabitants, from prehistoric settlements to the modern metropolis.

The building itself is worth getting excited about. Smithfield is one of London’s most historically fascinating neighbourhoods, with a past involving medieval executions, livestock markets and centuries of trade.

After the Fire: Insurance, Finance and a Rebuilt City — Bank of England Museum | Until 27 November

The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed much of the medieval City, but it also helped transform the way Londoners thought about risk, money and insurance.

This fascinating little exhibition explores the financial innovations that emerged as the city rebuilt itself, including the development of fire insurance and the coffee houses that became centres of international commerce.

And while you’re there, don’t miss the chance to explore the Bank of England Museum itself, one of central London’s lesser-known free attractions.

Discover London with Walkative!

Whether you’re visiting London for the first time or have lived here for years, there’s always another story hiding around the corner.

Join one of our Pay What You Wish walking tours to discover the people, places and peculiar events that shaped this extraordinary city.

Our guides are out exploring London throughout November, whatever the weather. After all, a little rain never stopped Londoners before.

See you out there!