London For Cheap picks
New this month for £10 or less
You do not need a £30 ticket to discover something new in London this month.
V&A x London Design Festival
Several installations and displays remain at the V&A.
See details (opens in a new tab)Ella Walker: Courtauld Commission 2026
Two large site-specific works in the Courtauld's entrance spaces, with no gallery ticket needed.
See details (opens in a new tab)David Bowie Centre
Access highlights from the huge David Bowie Archive.
See details (opens in a new tab)Fresh arrivals
The biggest new London openings this October
Absurd City by Wake The Tiger
An 80,000-square-foot, self-led immersive city of strange environments, interactive installations, hidden spaces and storytelling. Allow up to two hours.
See details (opens in a new tab)The 90s: Art and Fashion at Tate Britain
Edward Enninful curates more than 100 works exploring the artists, photographers and designers who defined the decade.
See details (opens in a new tab)Tim Walker's Fairyland: Love and Legends
A major, imaginative photography exhibition exploring queer identity, community and love. Runs until 7 February 2027.
See details (opens in a new tab)Salman Toor: Someone Like You
The first European museum solo show for the New York-based painter, including 19 works on friendship, love, solitude and belonging.
See details (opens in a new tab)Explore differently
New immersive experiences in London
BODY WORLDS: The Anatomy of Happiness
Real human specimens and interactive displays explore how our bodies and minds respond to happiness and other emotions.
See details (opens in a new tab)Everest: The First Ascent
A VR recreation of the 1953 expedition that follows Tenzing Norgay, Edmund Hillary, Sherpas and porters from Nepal into the Himalayas.
See details (opens in a new tab)Not for everyone
This month’s unusual pick
Serial Killer Speakeasy
A 90-minute true-crime storytelling and immersive-theatre experience with four themed cocktails; mocktails are available.
See details (opens in a new tab)Gallery diary
New exhibitions opening this October
October is particularly strong for new exhibitions.
Painting the French Riviera
How the French Riviera’s landscapes and light inspired generations of artists.
See details (opens in a new tab)Renoir and Love
Love, friendship and human connection through the paintings of Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
See details (opens in a new tab)Hokusai: Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji
Hokusai's iconic series, including the instantly recognisable Great Wave, arrives in Dulwich.
See details (opens in a new tab)No ticket needed
Free new things to discover
Ella Walker at the Courtauld
Two new site-specific works in the gallery's entrance spaces; no gallery ticket is needed.
See details (opens in a new tab)V&A x London Design Festival
Festival installations spread around the museum, easy to combine with the free permanent collection.
See details (opens in a new tab)Frieze Sculpture
Contemporary sculptures around the English Gardens: an easy, completely free addition to a Regent's Park walk.
See details (opens in a new tab)Still new
Just opened and still worth knowing about
Not everything worth discovering opened precisely on 1 October. Alongside BODY WORLDS and Everest, the David Bowie Centre at V&A East Storehouse is another recent addition worth having on your radar. It gives visitors access to highlights from the David Bowie Archive for just £5.
Keep exploring
What else is happening in London this month?
This guide deliberately focuses on new things. For markets, festivals, free events and one-off activities on particular dates, browse the London events calendar.
Browse the London events calendarMore ways to explore for less
See you soon
Come back next month
London changes ridiculously quickly. New exhibitions open, immersive experiences arrive, buildings reopen, restaurants appear and temporary spaces disappear again.
We update this guide at the beginning of every month with the new London openings we think are actually worth knowing about. We will be back in November with another selection.
If you spot something genuinely new that we have missed, let us know.
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