Believe it or not, as summer's warmth fades and the leaves begin to fall, the arrival of autumn should be celebrated. Yes, the wind has a little more bite and the days are shortening, but September is also a bumper month for homegrown produce, which in turn makes soups, stews, puddings and pies even more appealing after those salad days of summer. Plus, you get to wear that new coat you bought a while back, and you can spend more hours indoors at your favourite bars and restaurants without feeling bad about the sunshine passing you by. To help you make the most of the autumnal months, we've put together a list of seasonal activities where MICHELIN-approved dining is always close at hand.
1. Explore the City Through its Pubs
Enough of all those picnics – autumn is the time to head inside for food and drink, preferably inside a pub. There is no better representation of the differing personalities of London’s many neighbourhoods than their pubs, taverns and inns. When it comes to those with the best food, there’s a fantastic range, from The Baring in Islington to The Anchor & Hope in Southwark, The Victoria in East Sheen to The Marksman in the East End – and in the middle of them all is The Devonshire in bustling Soho. Every one of our pubs is different and every one is to be prized and cherished.
2. Find Your Next Page-Turner
If ever there was a month made for reading, it was autumn. The combination of romantic orangey hues and the colder weather make it the ideal time to get cosy with the comforting weight of a good book in your hand. Thankfully, London is blessed with some magnificent bookshops – many near top restaurants. Hatchards in Piccadilly is the UK’s oldest bookshop and lunch at 45 Jermyn St is ideal after some browsing. "If Foyles don’t have it, no-one does," the saying goes, and the great value Thai restaurant Plaza Khao Gaeng is near the iconic Charing Cross Road flagship store. Finally, for west Londoners, it’s hard to beat the combination of Foster Books and Silver Birch on Chiswick High Road.
3. Take a Romantic Pre-Dinner Stroll
London’s wonderful parks are not just for summer days. A Sunday afternoon walk amongst the fallen leaves and golden colours of autumn has the capacity to turn even the most hapless of romantics into John Keats. Richmond Park, the largest Royal Park, and Hampstead Heath are the two obvious choices, but Greenwich Park is also magical at this time of year. Hyde Park also has over 3,000 trees and has the advantage of being skirted by a number of Starred restaurants inside Three-MICHELIN-Key hotels, from Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park to Brooklands by Claude Bosi at The Peninsula and Pavyllon London at the Four Seasons at Park Lane.
4. Party Away with London's Best Beats and Eats
With festival season over, it’s the perfect time to explore London’s staggering range of concert venues and their neighbouring foodie hot spots. From The Royal Albert Hall to The Roundhouse, Dublin Castle to Dingwalls, there is a place for you – wherever your taste in music lies. The Drapers Arms is very close to The Hope & Anchor in Upper Street, Islington; Cavita will get you perked up for a classical recital at Wigmore Hall; The Parakeet is near The Forum in Kentish Town; and Humble Chicken is just a few doors down from renowned jazz club Ronnie Scott’s.
5. Cheer on Your Team
With the cricket season entering its twilight weeks, but the football season getting into full flow, there's plenty for sports fans to be excited about this autumn. There are currently seven London clubs in the Premier League, and some are located enviably close to top restaurants. The Harwood Arms, London’s only MICHELIN-Starred pub, is around the corner from Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge; Silo is walkable from West Ham’s London Stadium; The River Café is not far from Fulham’s Craven Cottage; and Westerns Laundry is convenient for Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. Rugby fans have the autumn internationals at Twickenham to enjoy – and Petersham Nurseries Café in nearby Richmond is a great spot for your post-match analysis.Love all things MICHELIN?
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6. Celebrate Diwali at London's Top Indian Restaurants
The Hindu festival of lights will brighten even the gloomiest of autumnal days and on 12th October this year, Trafalgar Square plays host to London’s festivities. Diwali on the Square combines food stalls, dance performances, comedy shows, music and much more. Bringing together the city's Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities, it's a fitting celebration of the victory of light over darkness. Elsewhere in the capital, celebrate in style with the dedicated Diwali menus at many of London’s Indian restaurants, including Brigadiers in The City and MICHELIN-Starred Trishna and Jamavar.
7. Enjoy a Feast for All the Senses
London's art lovers are as spoilt as its foodies, with central London home to world-famous galleries and museums. Autumn, however, is a good time to venture out and explore the less familiar names, especially those near top-notch restaurants. Dulwich Picture Gallery is always great and Heritage Dulwich makes a useful pit stop; White Cube in Bermondsey has José and The Garrison close by; Guildhall Art Gallery can be coupled with Cabotte; if the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art puts you in the mood for pasta, then you have nearby Trullo; and Whitechapel Gallery is just a short walk from Bubala.
8. Have a Happy Thanksgiving
With close links between our two countries and a number of Americans living in London, there’s a reason why Thanksgiving appears on this list. One of London’s best-known hotels, The Savoy, is celebrated for its American bar and you can find a taste of the States at MICHELIN-Starred SO|LA, where Soho meets LA, and 'Louisiana pub' Plaquemine Lock. The Lanesborough Grill, near Buckingham Palace, even offers a special Thanksgiving menu. To further gladden the hearts of Americophiles, autumn also sees a number of NFL games being hosted at Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium.
9. Pick Your Next Dining Out Look
Now is the time of year when we usually discover that the clothes we packed away in spring have mysteriously shrunk or that the moths in our flats have enjoyed a particularly indulgent summer. With London Fashion Week (18th-22nd September) heralding the beginning of autumn, now is the time to head out and refresh that wardrobe. For many, the city’s famed department stores, from Harrods to Harvey Nichols, are their go-to. Selfridges has Apricity handily placed for refreshment, while Liberty has the advantage of being close to Kingly Court and restaurants like Donia, Imad’s Syrian Kitchen and Darjeeling Express.
10. Go Underground for Added Glamour
In summer it’s all about bars with views and pretty sunsets, so let’s be fair and hear it for all the subterranean delights that the city has to offer. There are few cosier or more atmospheric spots than the candlelit cellar that is Gordon’s, London’s oldest wine bar. A visit to pahli hill wouldn’t be complete without a visit to their basement Bandra Bhai bar, while Park Chinois offers live jazz and opulent interiors with your Yangzhou fried rice. There’s also music at bustling Brasserie Zédel, while walking down the steps into London institution Quaglino’s can still get the heart racing. Finally, Yauatcha Soho still has glamour to spare after all these years.Related Articles:
Hero Image: A picturesque scene of London in the autumn. © SHansche/iStock
