The wind has a little more bite, the sun a little less warmth; the light is fading and the days are shortening. But autumn is a time to celebrate, with September the 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. To help you make the most of the autumnal months, we asked a Michelin Inspector for some ideas of what to get up to in the capital.
1. Go Down the Pub
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 a Good Book
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 store 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 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 Michelin-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. Feel the Beat
Nothing lifts the spirits and nourishes the soul quite like music. With festival season over, it’s the perfect time to explore London’s staggering range of concert venues. From The Royal Festival Hall to The Roundhouse, Dublin Castle to Dingwalls, there is a place for you – wherever your taste in music lies. Ognisko is a lovely Polish restaurant ideal before a visit to The Royal Albert Hall; 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
‘Dragging on’ is a way a batsman can be dismissed in cricket – the term can now be applied to the cricket season itself, as it goes on long after it’s too cold for cucumber sandwiches. The football season, meanwhile, is getting into full flow, with the league table already taking shape this time of year. 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.
6. Celebrate Diwali
The Hindu festival of lights will brighten even the gloomiest of autumnal days and on 27th October this year, Trafalgar Square plays host to London’s festivities. The lighting of candles, lanterns and lamps, along with fireworks and fairs, make it a true celebration of the victory of light over darkness. Many of London’s Indian restaurants will offer a special Diwali menu, including Yaatra in Westminster and Brigadiers in The City, along with Michelin-Starred restaurants Trishna and Jamavar.
7. Enjoy a Feast for the Eyes
Art lovers are spoilt for choice in the capital, with central London home to world famous galleries and museums. Autumn, though, is a good time to venture out and explore the less familiar names. For a great day out, combine your artistic education with lunch to ensure you’ve nourished both your mind and body. 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 even has its own restaurant in the form of Townsend.
8. Have a Happy Thanksgiving
With close links between our two countries and an ever-increasing number of American émigrés 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 a number of restaurants are even offering Thanksgiving dinner in London with special menus to mark the occasion, like Charlie’s at the very British Brown’s Hotel and The Lanesborough Grill near Buckingham Palace. To further gladden the hearts of Americophiles, autumn also sees a number of NFL games being hosted at Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium and at Wembley.
9. Pick Out Your New Wardrobe
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. Just as London Fashion Week heralded 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 Imad’s Syrian Kitchen and Darjeeling Express.
10. Go Underground
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 with your Yangzhou fried rice. There’s also music at Brasserie Zédel, while walking down the steps into London institution Quaglino’s can still get the heart racing. Downstairs at Kitty Fisher’s is good for date night and, finally, Yauatcha Soho still has glamour to spare after all these years.
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