London in November 2025 | Bonfire Night & festive lights

Q: Are river cruises still running?

Yes—<link linkType="internal" newTab="true" url="" id="ujKYQNrQ" shortCodeType="link" relationTo="pages" documentId="683431244b1011ef3c0add1d" text="Thames " uid="www.thames-river-cruise.com.sightseeing-cruises" />Clippers and sightseeing boats operate year-round; indoor cabins are heated. Evening departures around 4 pm reveal city lights without late nights.

London in November 2025 at a glance

🌦️ Weather

Average highs 12 °C / 54 °F; expect damp spells and sharp evening chills.

☀️ Daylight

9 h; sunrise 7 am, sunset 4:15 pm—pack reflective gear for night walks.

🎉 Key events

Bonfire Night (5 Nov), Lord Mayor’s Show (8 Nov), EFG London Jazz Festival (14–23 Nov).

👥 Crowds

Low season outside event days; aim for weekday sightseeing to feel like you own the galleries.

🧳 What to pack

Waterproof coat, scarf, small umbrella, contactless card, reusable coffee cup.

🍴 Seasonal treats

Mince pies, mulled wine, sticky toffee pudding, Sunday roast by the fire.

How November compares

Category

October

November

December

Weather

Highs ~15 °C; crisp, leaf-peeping rains.

Cooler 12 °C, damp winds; first frosts possible.

9 °C highs; cold, longer rain spells, rare snow.

Crowds & vibe

Shoulder season; art fairs draw culture fans.

Low season except event weekends; relaxed pubs.

Holiday buzz surges mid-month; shopping streets packed.

Key events

Frieze Art Fair, Film Festival, Halloween.

Bonfire Night, Lord Mayor’s Show, Jazz Festival.

Christmas markets, NYE fireworks, pantomimes.

Best for

Photographers, art lovers, cheap flights.

Value hunters, museum marathons, fireworks buffs.

Festive lights, shoppers, family holiday trips.

Book early?

Only for Frieze tickets.

Kew lights and studio tour sell out weeks out.

Hotels, NYE river-view spots need months ahead.

Transport notes

Night Tube weekends; minor track works.

Sunday fireworks cause Tube crowding; otherwise normal.

No public transit on 25 Dec; NYE free rides 11:45 pm–4:30 am.

Budget

Mid-range rates; some autumn hotel deals.

Lowest prices of the quarter; sales start Black Friday.

Hotels spike 20-30 %; attractions keep peak pricing.

Know more

Top things to do in London in November

Watch the Thames sparkle from a night cruise

When: Throughout November
Tags: Outdoors, Explorer
Body: Early sunsets mean city lights switch on by 4:30 pm—perfect timing for an hour-long Uber Boat or circular sightseeing cruise. See St Paul’s dome glitter, glide beneath Tower Bridge, and warm up with onboard mulled wine. Dress for wind; upper decks get brisk.

Recommended tickets -

Tower Bridge and Engine Room Entry Tickets

Lose yourself in free world-class museums

When: Any rainy day
Tags: Family-friendly, Cultural experience
Body: November’s drizzle makes indoor culture shine. The British Museum and National Gallery stay crowd-light midweek; you’ll often stand alone before the Rosetta Stone or Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. Arrive after 3 pm—school groups have gone and doors stay open till 5:30 pm. Admission £0; donate a fiver if you linger

Recommended tickets -

British Museum Entry Tickets

Feast through Borough Market’s comfort-food stalls

When: Wed–Sat peak bustle
Tags: Foodie, Explorer
Body: Chilly air intensifies aromas of sizzling raclette, Ethiopian stews, and toasted cheese sandwiches. Sample hot apple cider, then hunt for mince pies from Ginger Pig Bakery. Go by 10 am to beat lunch crowds; closest Tube: London Bridge. Most mains £6-£12—card only.

Stroll Richmond Park’s russet deer rut

When: Dawn light, first half of November
Tags: Outdoors, Adventure
Body: Giant red deer clash antlers during the rutting season amid copper-leafed oaks. Enter via Richmond Gate at sunrise for misty photos; stay 50 m back for safety. Bus 371 from Richmond station drops at the gate. Free, unforgettable, and brisk—gloves necessary.

Catch a West End musical’s winter bargains

When: Mon–Thu evenings
Tags: Cultural experience, Tour
Body: Off-peak pricing means same-day TKTS booth deals of up to 40 % on shows like Hamilton. Doors open 30 min before; cloakrooms handy for umbrellas. Leicester Square Tube exits place you within a five-minute walk of most theaters.

Recommended tickets -

Hamilton

Warm up with a Sunday roast in a gastropub

When: Sundays, noon-3 pm
Tags: Family-friendly, Seasonal
Body: Pubs fire up hearths and carve roast beef with Yorkshire puddings. Book a table at The Harwood Arms (Fulham) a week ahead; £24 plates sell out fast. Arrive early for a seat near the fireplace and ask for extra gravy—no extra charge.

Ride the London Eye at twilight

When: 4 pm–6 pm slots
Tags: Tour, Family-friendly
Body: Twilight capsules reveal both sunset hues and night-lit landmarks in a single rotation. Book online for timed entry; adult £32. Lines shrink after 5 pm on weekdays. Embankment Tube to Waterloo, five-minute walk. Bring a lens cloth—raindrops blur photos.

Recommended tickets -

London Eye Admission Tickets

See “Hogwarts in the Snow”

When: 15 Nov onward
Tags: Family-friendly, Seasonal
Body: Warner Bros Studio dresses the Great Hall with Christmas feasts, snow-dusted trees, and Yule Ball finery. Tickets (£51) sell out months ahead; reserve coach transport from Victoria to avoid DIY rail transfers. Allow four hours inside; last entry 6 pm.

Recommended tickets -

Harry Potter™ Warner Bros. Studio Tickets

Offbeat experiences in November

Descend into a ghost Tube station

Dark tunnels, wartime graffiti, zero crowds Hidden London tours unlock disused stations like Down Street, once Churchill’s bunker. Helmets on, you’ll wander silent platforms and hear Blitz tales—perfect for moody November evenings. Book online; tours from £44, 90 min.
📍Where: Down Street, Mayfair

Candlelit concert at St Martin-in-the-Fields

Classics under Gothic arches Friday nights, the church dims lights and fills with Vivaldi and Schubert. The glow plus outside chill feels timeless. Tickets £20; arrive 7 pm for free mulled wine in the crypt café.
📍Where: Trafalgar Square

Hampstead Heath lantern ramble

Fog, city views, and wild woods Join a local guide with storm lanterns to cross heather-lined paths up to Parliament Hill. Skyline twinkles below, and you’ll finish in a snug pub for hot toddy. Walk departs 6 pm, £15.
📍Where: Hampstead Heath overground exit

Explore Leadenhall Market after dark

Harry-Potter arcade minus daytime suits Victorian ironwork glows under Christmas garlands by mid-November. Photograph empty cobbles, then sip spiced cider at New Moon pub; most shops shut by 6 pm so it’s eerily peaceful. 📍Where: Gracechurch St, City

Hidden canalside breweries bike tour

Pedal, sip, repeat Cycle quiet Regent’s Canal towpaths to four microbreweries—winter-only stouts on tap. Bikes, lights, and tastings included (£45). Tours run Sat at noon; finish near Camden Market for street food. 📍Where: Meet at King’s Cross Cycle Hub

Festivals and events in London this December 2025

Festivals

Date

Event type

Location

What to expect

Bonfire Night Fireworks

05–08 Nov 2025

Cultural Festival

Alexandra Palace, Battersea Park, Blackheath

Ticketed displays light up the skyline; buy £12 passes online early and bring cash for mulled wine.

Lord Mayor’s Show

08 Nov 2025

Parade

City of London (Bank to Aldwych)

6,000 marchers and gilded coaches celebrate the new Lord Mayor; arrive by 10 am for curb views, stay for 5 pm Thames fireworks.

Remembrance Sunday Ceremony

09 Nov 2025

Ceremony

Cenotaph, Whitehall

Observe a moving two-minute silence at 11 am; respectful dress required and arrive by 8:30 am for front-row barriers.

EFG London Jazz Festival

14–23 Nov 2025

Music Festival

Barbican, Southbank Centre

Ten days of world-class gigs—book headline acts fast; many daytime foyer shows remain free.

Christmas at Kew

14 Nov 2025–04 Jan 2026

Exhibition

Kew Gardens (District Line)

Timed-entry light trail sells out weeks ahead; pick 7 pm slots for fewer strollers and crisp photo light.

Hogwarts in the Snow

15 Nov 2025–12 Jan 2026

Exhibition

Warner Bros Studio, Leavesden

Studio tour adds falling snow and Yule Ball props; coach bundles from Victoria avoid rail transfers.

Winter Wonderland Hyde Park

21 Nov 2025–05 Jan 2026 [TBC]

Festival

Hyde Park (Marble Arch)

Peak-hour entry now £5; book ice-rink sessions with ticket to skip separate queue.

Oxford Street Lights Switch-On

18 Nov 2025 [TBC]

Exhibition

Oxford St (Bond St Tube)

Stroll after 9 pm to enjoy neon without daytime shoppers; the ceremony itself packs pavements shoulder-to-shoulder.

Plan ahead: Must book experiences

Westminster Abbey Tickets

£30

4.4 | 2999 Reviews

Tower of London Tickets with Access to the Crown Jewels

£35.80

4.4 | 16782 Reviews

London Eye Admission Tickets

£29

4.5 | 13790 Reviews

The View from The Shard Tickets

£28.50

4.5 | 1397 Reviews

Highlights for different traveller types

Families with kids

🌟 Must-experience: Winter Wonderland’s daytime slot offers gentle rides, Santa’s grotto, and fewer queues—book a 10 am entry and watch eyes widen over cocoa-topped churros.
🎬 Better in November: Hogwarts in the Snow sprinkles movie magic on young wizards; timed tickets prevent meltdowns in lines.
🐾 Wild card: Richmond Park deer rut safari—free, open space for energetic kids, but keep 50 m distance and carry snacks.

Couples

🎨 Can’t-miss: Candlelit concert at St Martin-in-the-Fields—Baroque echoes under stained glass are sublime in darker months.
🎷 November edge: EFG London Jazz Festival scatters late-night gigs across Soho; pick a £10 standing ticket for intimate club vibes.
📜 History hit: Lord Mayor’s Show unfurls 800-year tradition; download the route PDF and follow costumed guilds, then pop into the Museum of London Docklands for context.

Value hunters

💷 Score: Off-season hotel rates drop 25 %—check Friday-to-Monday deals in the City, deserted by bankers at weekends.
🎟️ Two-for-one: National Rail tickets still grant 2-for-1 offers at paid sights; pair Tower Bridge Exhibition with a blustery river walk.
🛍️ Timing tip: Black Friday bargains start 28 Nov; head to Westfield 9 am opening to nab half-price winter coats before tour groups arrive.

Your perfect 3-day London in November itinerary

Fireworks & history

Morning: Ride the Tube to Westminster at 8 am for uncrowded photos of Big Ben and Parliament.
Breakfast: Regency Cafe’s full English fuels you for under £8; arrive 9 am before the queue snakes out.
Midday: Cross Westminster Bridge and tour Churchill War Rooms—war-era heaters still hum against November chill.
Lunch: Walk five minutes to St James’s Park café for hot pies and lake views.
Afternoon: Tube to Greenwich and explore Cutty Sark’s decks sheltered from drizzle.
Evening: Join Battersea Park’s Bonfire Night show (7:30 pm); pre-book £12 tickets and bring contactless for street-food stalls.

Museums & jazz

Morning: Free entry at the Victoria & Albert Museum; start in the quiet jewelry gallery.
Breakfast: Grab pastries at V&A’s tiled cafe—Victorian ambience, £4 croissants.
Midday: Short ride on Piccadilly Line to Covent Garden for market browsing and street performers under heated arches.
Lunch: Savory pies at Battersea Pie Station, £9, underground in classic arches.
Afternoon: National Gallery highlights tour; book a free 3 pm docent talk to dodge midday groups.
Evening: Southbank Centre hosts a Jazz Festival double bill; buy promenade seats £15 and sip interval mulled wine overlooking the Thames.

Early Christmas sparkle

Morning: Northern Line to Camden Lock for vintage browsing before weekend crowds.
Breakfast: Chin Chin Labs’ hot-chocolate-ice-cream sandwich warms cold hands.
Midday: Train to Kew Gardens; wander steamy Palm House while outside temps hover at 8 °C.
Lunch: The Orangery serves roast pumpkin soup and sourdough—perfect fuel.
Afternoon: Return by Overground to Oxford Street; photograph freshly lit angels at 4 pm blue hour.
Evening: 7:20 pm slot for Christmas at Kew light trail; marshmallow fire-pits cap the trip—book online six weeks ahead.

Best day trips from London in November

Windsor

🚆 Travel time: ~45 min by train
November’s thinner crowds let you linger in Windsor Castle’s State Apartments and watch the 11 am Guard Change without craning. Warm up in Surrey pubs after Thames riverside walks lined with late-turning oaks.

Windsor Castle Tickets

Oxford

🚆 Travel time: ~1 h from Paddington
Collegiate quads glow honey-gold against misty skies. Duck into Bodleian Library tours or Christ Church’s cloisters when showers hit; grab spiced chai at Covered Market for warmth.

Canterbury

🚆 Travel time: 55 min high-speed from St Pancras
Medieval lanes wear festive garlands by mid-month. Visit the cathedral’s candlelit Evensong at 5:30 pm, then sample local Kentish ale at The Foundry brewpub.

Brighton

🚆 Travel time: 1 h from Victoria
Brisk sea air clears cobwebs; the Pier’s arcades stay open, and indie North Laine shops launch pre-Christmas sales. Pack a windproof jacket and watch murmurating starlings at dusk over the ruined West Pier.

What to eat in London in November: Seasonal delicacies

1/4

Mince Pies

Buttery pastry filled with brandied dried fruit hits bakery counters mid-November, signaling Christmas countdown. Pair with custard or mulled cider after dark lights tours.
Where to eat: Bread Ahead, Borough Market.

Mulled Wine & Hot Toddy

Spiced red wine or whisky, lemon, and honey warm chilled hands at fairs and pub fireplaces—perfect post-firework ritual.
Where to drink: Bavarian Hall, Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park.

Sunday Roast with Yorkshire Pudding

Hearty roast beef, crispy potatoes, and sky-high pudding soak up gravy—November’s damp Sundays demand it.
Where to eat: The Harwood Arms, Walham Grove, Fulham.

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Steamed date sponge drenched in hot toffee sauce tops winter dessert menus; add clotted cream for decadence.
Where to eat: Rules Restaurant, Maiden Lane, Covent Garden.

Go shopping in London in November

When: Year-round (festive decor from 13 Nov)
Where: Covent Garden Piazza Hand-crafted jewelry, leather journals, and mistletoe-draped arches create holiday-card vibes; weekdays after 8 pm are selfie-friendly once day-trippers depart.

When: Saturdays best, smaller Thu–Fri
Where: Notting Hill Antique stalls glow under vintage street lamps by 4 pm; haggle gently for silver spoons or vinyl. Coffee carts sell gingerbread lattes to warm browsing fingers.

When: 21 Nov – 05 Jan [TBC]
Where: Hyde Park Alpine wooden huts overflow with handmade ornaments and sheepskin slippers. Entry off-peak is free; arrive 11 am opening for elbow room and early-bird discounts.

Pro tips for visiting London in November

Pre-book Christmas at Kew and Hogwarts in the Snow six weeks out; prime evening slots vanish first.
Layer waterproofs: showers blow in fast, but Tube carriages stay warm—pack a stuff-able tote for shed layers.
Use Night Tube (Fri–Sat) after fireworks or jazz gigs; day buses switch to Sunday timetables on Remembrance Sunday road-closure routes.
City business hotels slash rates Friday–Sunday—search in the Square Mile for four-star rooms under £150.
Contactless cards cap at £8.10 daily; tap the same card to unlock 2-for-1 National Rail attraction deals too.
Make the most of London’s festive atmosphere by exploring markets with London Hop-on Hop-off bus tour.
Save on top attractions and festive activities with an all-inclusive London City Card.

Frequently asked questions about visiting London in November

Will attractions close early because it gets dark?

Most major sights stick to 5–6 pm last entry; shorter daylight only affects outdoor grounds. Check Kew’s winter light-trail hours—they open after dusk.

Do I need tickets for Bonfire Night fireworks?

Yes for big park displays—buy online (£10–£15) at least two weeks ahead. Smaller neighborhood shows may be free but still busy.

Is November a good month for shopping deals?

Absolutely. Black Friday sales start 28 Nov and many stores offer mid-season discounts earlier; crowds stay manageable on weekdays.

What should I wear each day?

Think layers: long-sleeve shirt, wool sweater, waterproof shell, comfortable boots. Evenings dip near 5 °C, so add scarf and gloves for night walks.

Are river cruises still running?

Yes—Thames Clippers and sightseeing boats operate year-round; indoor cabins are heated. Evening departures around 4 pm reveal city lights without late nights.

Is public transport busy during Lord Mayor’s Show?

Central Tube stations near Bank and St Paul’s are extremely crowded 10 am–2 pm; exit at Barbican or Blackfriars and walk 10 minutes to the route.

Are pubs child-friendly?

Before 8 pm many pubs welcome kids for meals; Sunday roasts are popular with families. Check signs—some city pubs restrict under-18s after dark.