London news · 21 October 2026
London Literature Festival Opens, Curated by Dua Lipa
The 2026 London Literature Festival begins at Southbank Centre on 21 October, running through 1 November, with pop star and book-club founder Dua Lipa as curator, featuring Zadie Smith, Patti Smith and Malorie Blackman.
People's Question Time Returns to Islington: Londoners Quiz Assembly Members Live
The London Assembly held its annual People's Question Time in Islington on 21 October, giving residents the chance to challenge elected members on transport, housing, policing and the economy, chaired by ITV broadcaster Charlene White.
New 5,000-Capacity Open-Air Venue Approved Near Thames Barrier in Greenwich
Greenwich Council has licensed a new 5,000-person open-air venue at a former foundry site in Charlton Riverside, where concerts, boxing matches and food festivals can be held from this year, with larger events permitted from 2027.
Horniman Museum to Reopen Revamped Nature Gallery in February 2027
The Horniman Museum in Forest Hill will unveil its newly refurbished Nature Gallery on 5 February 2027, featuring more than 2,300 objects — including the famous overstuffed walrus — after nearly three years of closure for a £12.5 million renovation.
Star Wars Original Trilogy Coming to Royal Albert Hall in Concert, Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra
The Royal Albert Hall has announced a Star Wars weekender in April–May 2027, with the London Symphony Orchestra — the ensemble that originally recorded the scores — performing John Williams' music live as all three original trilogy films screen.
New Indian Gastropub Talli Queen to Open in Shepherd's Bush
The Talli Queen, a new Indian gastropub by former Michelin-starred River Café chef Avi Shashidhara, will open on 27 October inside the historic 120-year-old Queen Adelaide pub in Shepherd's Bush, blending southern Indian cooking with a British pub setting.
Angel Tube Station Could Be Forced to Close for a Full Year as Escalators Fail
TfL is weighing whether to shut Angel station on the Northern line for up to 12 months to replace its 35-year-old escalators — the longest on the Underground — after one failed in April and a second is on the verge of breaking down.
London Bus and Tram Fares Rising for First Time in Three Years
From 1 November 2026, a single adult London bus or tram fare will increase by 10p to £1.85, and the daily cap will rise from £5.25 to £5.55 — the first fare increase since March 2023 after Mayor Khan ended a seven-fold freeze.
London New Year's Eve Fireworks Tickets to Go on Sale This Friday
Tickets for London's world-famous New Year's Eve fireworks on the Thames will go on sale exclusively through Ticketmaster from midday on Friday 23 October, priced from £20 for Londoners and £40 for others, for an event expected to draw 100,000 spectators.
Mayor Launches New Mobile Connectivity Standard and Map to Tackle London's Phone Signal Blackspots
Mayor Sadiq Khan has introduced the Capital Connectivity Standard and an interactive mobile signal map to address persistent mobile coverage gaps across London, particularly in inner-north and east London, as the Tube network reaches 70% 4G and 5G coverage.
New Skyscrapers Near the Tower of London Approved Despite UNESCO Heritage Warnings
The Planning Inspectorate has overruled Historic England's objections and approved new City of London towers on the Square Mile's eastern boundary, ruling that the development maintains sufficient 'visual separation' between the cluster and the Tower of London World Heritage Site.
Plans to Pedestrianise Regent Street St James's Pushed Back After Consultation Concerns
Westminster City Council and the Crown Estate have delayed approving the Regent Street St James's pedestrianisation scheme — which would create 35,000 sq m of new public space — until a further round of public consultation launches in 2027, with construction now unlikely before 2029.
Oxford Street to Go Car-Free Next Week: Everything You Need to Know
The 0.9 km stretch of Oxford Street between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street — including Oxford Circus — will be permanently pedestrianised from Monday 26 October 2026, with six bus routes diverted and cycling prohibited on the car-free section.
Met Police Seizes Hundreds of Stolen Phones as London Street Theft Falls to Four-Year Low
After a month-long crackdown in September, the Metropolitan Police arrested more than 700 people and seized hundreds of suspected stolen phones, as London phone theft and robbery offences fell to their lowest August level since 2022, down 21% year-on-year.
Diwali on the Square Returns to Trafalgar Square on 25 October
Mayor Sadiq Khan has confirmed that the annual Diwali on the Square festival will take place on 25 October in Trafalgar Square, featuring 200 dancers, live music, food stalls and family workshops in a free event expected to draw 35,000 visitors.