London's Autumn Buzz: From Film Fests to Padel Tennis Bonanzas

Welcome to Things to Do in London—I’m Oly Bennet, your globe-trotting guide to the wackiest, wildest happenings around the capital, and today is Thursday, October 2, 2025! The city’s got that crisp autumn snap: blue skies peeking through swirling golden leaves and just a hint of legitimate scarf weather. The Royal Parks are a patchwork of vibrant oranges and reds, and with Londoners in fine spirits, the city is practically buzzing. Whether you’re a film buff, an art aficionado, or just fancy padding around with a cocktail, today’s London lineup is an absolute cracker.

First up, culture vultures rejoice—the 69th BFI London Film Festival is gearing up for its twelve-day run, starting in just a few days, but tonight the city’s getting the cinematic pre-party jitters as film fans descend on local indie theatres and riverside pop-ups. Meanwhile, Tate Britain is the place for art lovers today, launching the UK’s largest-ever retrospective of Lee Miller, featuring around 230 captivating works that’ll have you snapping your fingers in awe—photography buffs, you’ve hit the jackpot. According to Flo London, you can expect brand-new exhibitions to open up at Hayward Gallery and Whitechapel too, with trailblazing artists Gilbert & George and Joy Gregory shaking up the art scene.

If you’re hankering for something lively, warm up those dancing shoes—London’s prepping to host Peggy Gou’s headline session at Drumsheds this weekend. Expect top DJs, wild grooves, and a crowd full of energy. But save room for soul, too, because London Cocktail Week is nearly here, offering wristband holders ultra-creative £9 cocktails at over 200 bars across the city. Not a drinker? No problem—sample £6 Tiny Cocktails or go for the posh £12 Champagne concoctions, with plenty of non-alcoholic swirls on offer too, all according to Flo London.

There’s no shortage of daytime and family fun, either. Kew Gardens has just launched its autumn “Material World” exhibition—think dazzling natural displays and after-hours light trails coming up later in the month if you need that perfect Instagram backdrop. For the sports-mad—hey, you’re listening to Oly, so of course you are!—don’t miss the London Sports Festival’s padel tennis bonanza happening right now at Hay’s Galleria and Tower Hill: sports shoes on, wrist ready for wild rallies, and the iconic London skyline as your backdrop, as documented by City AM.

Onto fresh news: two brand-spankin’-new eateries just opened in Soho, serving up a fusion of West African and British comfort food—I dare you to find a better mashup for a rainy afternoon. Transport for London is also trialling new express buses between Waterloo and Shoreditch until Sunday, so hop on if you want to zip across the city extra quick. According to City AM, public events this evening include heated debates at the Emmanuel Centre—get your seat for “London: Opportunities and Obstacles for Growth,” a free event for anyone who fancies shaping the city’s future. And trust me, the locals do!

If you’re angling to squeeze every drop out of today, stroll the sculpture-filled paths of Regent’s Park and pop into Frieze Sculpture for arty, open-air inspiration—it’s totally free, running alongside the Frieze London art fair, which kicks off later this month. Treat yourself to an after-work cocktail at one of Soho’s hidden speakeasies, then take a ghost walk through the alleyways of the City for a touch of Halloween in October.

Here’s a local fact you’ll love: the original rules of table tennis—a.k.a. "Wiff-Waff"—were officially written just a stone’s throw from the British Museum in 1901. So when you lace up for padel or ping-pong today, remember, you’re not just playing a game, you’re keeping London’s proud tradition of sports innovation alive!

Don’t drift off yet—tomorrow promises even more, with the Battle of Ideas Festival kicking off and the East London Art Prize Late transforming the Whitechapel Gallery into an after-hours playground of music, art, and interactive workshops. To discover the quirkiest, coolest, and downright epic things to do, tune in again tomorrow for more Oly Bennet escapades.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is your Things to Do in London podcast. Welcome
to Things to Do in London. I'm Only Bennett, your
globe trotting guide to the wackiest, wildest happenings around the Capitol.
And today is Thursday, October two, twenty twenty five. The
city's got that crisp autumn snap, blue skies peeking through
swirling golden leaves, and just a hint of legitimate scarf weather.

(00:22):
The Royal Parks are a patchwork of vibrant oranges and reds,
and with London as in fine spirits, the city is
practically buzzing. Whether you're a film buff, an artificionado or
just fancy padding around with a cocktail, Today's London lineup
is an absolute cracker. First up, culture vultures rejoice. The
sixty ninth BFI London Film Festival is gearing up for

(00:45):
its twelve day run starting in just a few days.
But tonight, the city's getting the cinematic pre party jitters
as film fans descend on local indie theaters and riverside
pop ups. Meanwhile, Tate Britain is the place for art
lovers today, watching the UK's largest ever retrospective of Lee Miller,
featuring around two hundred and thirty captivating works that will

(01:07):
have you snapping your fingers in awe. The chrography buffs,
you've hit the jackpot. According to Flow London, you can
expect brand new exhibitions to open up at Hayward Gallery
and Whitechapel Two, with trailblazing artists Gilbert and George and
Joy Gregory shaking up the art scene. If you're hankering
for something lively, warm up those dancing shoes. London's prepping

(01:29):
to host Pebby Goose headline session at Drumshds this weekend.
Expect up DJs, wild grooves and a crowd full of energy.
But save room for soul too, because London Cocktail Week
is nearly here, offering wristband holders ultra creative nine pound
cocktails at over two hundred bars across the city. Not
a drinker, no problem, Sample six tiny cocktails or go

(01:53):
for the Posh twelve champagne concoctions with plenty of non
alcoholic swells on off for two all. According to Flow London,
there's no shortage of daytime and family fun either. Q
Gardens has just launched its autumn Material World exhibition, think
dazzling natural displays and after hours light trails coming up
later in the month. If you need that perfect Instagram

(02:14):
backdrop for the sports mad Hey, you're listening to Oli,
so of course you are. Don't miss the London sports festivals.
Padel Tennis, Banans are happening right now at Hayes Galleria
and Tower Hill Sports Shoes on wrist, ready for wild
rallies and the iconic London Skyline as your backdrop, as
documented by CITYAM. Unto Fresh News, two brand Spanker new

(02:38):
eateries just opened in Soho, serving up a fusion of
West African and British comfort food. I dare you to
find a better mash up for a rainy afternoon. Transport
for London is also trialing new express bosses between Waterloo
and Shoreditch until Sunday, so hop on if you want
to zip across the city extra quick. According to City AM,

(02:58):
public events this evening include Heated the Baits at the
Emmanual Center, Get your Seat for London, Opportunities and Obstacles
for Growth, a free event for anyone who fancies shaping
the city's future and trust me, the locals do. If
you're angling to squeeze every drop out of today. Stroll
the sculpture filled parts of Regent's Park and pop into

(03:20):
Freeze Sculpture for arty open air inspiration. It's totally free
running alongside the Freeze London Art Fair, which kicks off
later this month. Treat yourself to an afterwork cocktail at
one of Soho's hidden speakeasys, then take a ghost walk
through the alleyways of the city for a touch of
Halloween in October. Here's a local fact you'll love. The

(03:44):
original rules of table tennis Ako Whiffwaff were officially written
just as Stone's Throw from the British Museum in nineteen
zero one. So when you lace up for paddle or
ping pong today, remember you're not just playing a game.
You're keeping London's proud tradition of sports innovation alive. Don't
drift off yet. Tomorrow promises even more with the Battle

(04:07):
of Ideas Festival kicking off and the East London Art
Prize Late transforming the Whitechapel Gallery into an after hour's
playground of music, art and interactive workshops. To discover the quirkiest,
coolest and downright epic things to do Tune in again
tomorrow for more Ollie Bennett escapades. Thanks for listening, please subscribe,

(04:28):
and remember this episode was brought to you by Quiet
Please Podcast networks. For more content like this, please go
to Quiet Please dot ai