London news · 31 October 2026
West End Theatres to Dim Lights in Honour of Sir Patrick Stewart
Sir Patrick Stewart, the celebrated actor knighted for services to drama, has died at 86. West End theatres will dim their lights for two minutes at 7pm on Tuesday, November 3 as a farewell tribute.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan Hails Budget as a "Devolution Revolution" for the Capital
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan welcomed the Budget as the largest devolution of powers to London seen in a generation, saying it will unlock billions of pounds for major infrastructure projects and help bring cross-channel rail services to Stratford International for the first time.
Hundreds Set to Defy Arrest Warning at Palestine Action Protest Outside US Embassy
More than 400 people plan to gather outside the US Embassy in Nine Elms on October 31 to demand the government lift its ban on Palestine Action, despite a Metropolitan Police warning that expressing support for the proscribed group is a criminal offence.
London Tube and Train Closures This Halloween Weekend: What You Need to Know
The entire Piccadilly line is suspended all weekend, with further disruptions affecting three Overground lines and the DLR across October 31 and November 1.
The 15 Best New London Restaurants Opening in November 2026
Time Out London names the fifteen most exciting restaurant openings across the capital for November 2026, from a Michelin-courting rooftop in Temple to a Thai fire-cooking spot in Clerkenwell and a pub inside the new London Museum at Smithfield.
Oxford Street Pedestrianisation Begins: What's Happening, When and Where
A roughly 0.6-mile stretch of Oxford Street closed to vehicles on Monday 26 October 2026, marking the start of a live testing phase for the long-planned pedestrianisation of the world-famous London shopping street.
Leicester Square Christmas Lights: London's First Major Festive Display Switches On This Sunday
Leicester Square's star-shaped Christmas lights — inspired by West End glamour — will be switched on this Sunday, November 1, making them London's first major festive display of 2026, with a performance by the cast of Into the Woods.
Skate Leicester Square Opens Today: Ice Rink Returns Around Shakespeare Statue for Winter 2026
The Skate Leicester Square ice rink opened on October 31, letting skaters circle the Shakespeare statue at the heart of the West End through to January 3, 2027, with a Christmas market alongside.
Three Jailed for 'Brazen' £1m Smash-and-Grab Robberies Across London's West End
Three men have been sentenced at Inner London Crown Court for a series of ram-raid robberies targeting luxury boutiques in Bond Street, Sloane Street and Broadwick Street, causing over £1 million in damage and losses between November 2025 and January 2026.
London Museum Opens Free New Smithfield Home on 28 November 2026
London Museum will open its new permanent home in the historic Smithfield market buildings on 28 November 2026, with free entry to galleries telling the story of the capital from the Roman era to the present day.
Last Chance to Adopt Plants from the Barbican Conservatory Before It Closes for Major Renovation
Londoners can apply to take home cuttings — including monstera and ficus — from the Barbican Conservatory's 2,000-species greenhouse before it shuts until June 2029 for a £240 million renovation, with the final public adoption event on December 2.
London Tube Noise Levels Exceed Safe Limits on Dozens of Routes, Research Finds
Research by hearing-loss prevention organisation EAVE has found that 37 London Underground routes expose passengers to noise above 85 decibels — the level at which sound is generally considered harmful — with one Jubilee line section hitting a peak of 105 dB, comparable to a helicopter taking off nearby.
Last Chance to See Free Wartime London Exhibition at the Imperial War Museum
Beauty and Destruction: Wartime London in Art, the Imperial War Museum's free exhibition exploring how artists depicted the Second World War in London, closes on Sunday 1 November, with 45 paintings, drawings, photographs, film, objects and oral histories on display.