London's Diwali Delight, NFL Showdowns, and a Water Lantern Festival - Things to Do in London

Welcome, globe-trotters and thrill-seekers, to Things to Do in London with your host, Oly Bennet—the only AI who can tell you where to catch a dinosaur, a Bollywood dance-off, and gridiron mayhem all in the same day! It’s Sunday, October 12th, 2025, and London is buzzing with an infectious festival spirit, a splash of golden autumn sun, and a jolt of energy pulsing through the city streets as locals and visitors shape up for a jam-packed Sunday of epic proportions.

First up, London’s weather is crisp and glorious. The sun’s peeking through scattered clouds, the parks are a mosaic of amber leaves, and there’s just enough chill in the air to make that flat white extra inviting. Yes, listeners, jacket weather is officially in fashion!

Let’s start with today’s headline-grabber—a city-wide celebration that’s lighting up everyone’s mood: Diwali on Trafalgar Square! From 2pm to 8pm, join crowds in the beating heart of London for a Diwali extravaganza beaming with 200 dazzling dancers, music and performances from Hindu, Sikh, and Jain communities, plus mouthwatering vegetarian eats, sari and turban tying, dance workshops, kids’ puppet shows, meditation corners, and much more. It’s all free and open to everyone, so get ready to boogie, eat and soak in the glow as lights fill the Square according to the London Mayor’s Office and Diwali in London committee.

For all you sporty types and American football fans, today brings the NFL London Games to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium! The New York Jets are facing off with the Denver Broncos. With fans flying in from both sides of the Atlantic, expect serious tailgating energy and the kind of roaring crowd you’ll hear from Piccadilly to the Palace according to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Families, I see you! If your kids are looking to unleash their inner paleontologist or just want to marvel at a gigantic blue whale, the Natural History Museum is always top-tier. It’s free, dinosaurs are stomping cute, and adults, you’ll love it just as much. Or for a different type of adrenaline rush, how about a sky-high ride above the Thames on the London Eye, or racing around fountains in Trafalgar Square itself according to Tripadvisor and recent traveler reviews.

Tonight, ignite your senses with London’s Water Lantern Festival on Clapham Common. Hundreds of lanterns, each with its own wish, bobbing across the lake as stories and laughter ripple through the cool evening air. It’s community magic at its finest, open to all ages, and a surefire way to catch that heartwarming London vibe.

Now, for some local scoop before you plot your route: the Royal Parks Half Marathon kicked off bright and early, weaving runners past iconic landmarks and through the city’s famous green spaces. If you’re out and about, heads up for some road closures and extra crowds near central parks—Transport for London recommends checking their journey planner to keep your day smooth.

Craving refuel? The South Bank is bursting with new pop-up food stalls from bao buns to artisan coffee, plus secret rooftop gardens in full swing—definitely worth a wander for adventurous eaters and Sunday strollers alike. Also, London Cocktail Week is shaking things up across Soho and Shoreditch with immersive parties, hands-on classes, and custom concoctions if you fancy raising a toast in style.

Oly’s local tip of the day: when exploring Trafalgar Square, swing by St. Martin-in-the-Fields for a legendary crypt café lunch, or duck through hidden alleyways around Covent Garden to spot jaw-dropping street performers—locals love where the action never stops and the quirky magic hides around every corner.

And if this isn’t enough, tomorrow’s teasing even more—think blockbuster West End fare, the opening day of the London Literature Festival, and whispers of pumpkin-picking adventures just outside town. So lace up, charge your phone, and join me again for more offbeat finds and cultural jaw-droppers.

Thanks for listening, please subscribe, 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.

For more check out https://www.quietperiodplease.com/

and make sure to jump on these great deals https://amzn.to/3V0gjPt

For more on Oly check out https://www.instagram.com/olybennet/

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is your Things to Do in London podcast. Welcome
globe trotters and thrill seekers to Things to Do in
London with your host, Ollie Bennett, the only AI who
can tell you where to catch a dinosaur, a Bolly
would dance Off and grid Iron Hem all in the
same day. It's Sunday, October twelfth, twenty twenty five, and

(00:21):
London is buzzing with an infectious festival spirit, a splash
of golden autumn sun and a jolt of energy pulsing
through the city streets as locals and visitors shape up
for a jam packed Sunday of epic proportions. First up,
London's weather is crisp and glorious. The sun's peeking through

(00:41):
scattered clouds, the parks are a mosaic of amb believes,
and there's just enough chill in the air to make
that flat white extra inviting. Yes, listeners, jacket weather is
officially in fashion. Let's start with today's headline grabber, a
citywide celebration that's lighting up everyone's mood. Devali on Trafalgar

(01:01):
Square from two pm to eight pm. Join crowds in
the beating heart of London for a Devali extravaganza beaming
with two hundred dazzling dances, music and performances from Hindu,
Sikh and Jaine communities, plus mouth watering vegetarian eats, sarre
and turbin tying dance workshops, kids puppet shows, meditation corners

(01:23):
and much more. It's all free and open to everyone,
so get ready to boogie, eat and soak in the
glow as lights fill the square. According to the London
Mayor's Office and Davali in London Committee for all you
sporty types and American football fans, Today brings the NFL
London Games to Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium. The New York Jets

(01:45):
are facing off with the Denver Broncos, with fans flying
in from both sides of the Atlantic. Expect serious tailgating
energy and the kind of roaring crowd you'll hear from
Piccadilly to the Palace. According to tottenhofstur Stadium, Families, I
see you if your kids are looking to unleash their
inn a paleontologist, or just want to marvel at a

(02:05):
gigantic blue whale. The Natural History Museum is always top tier.
It's free. Dinosaurs are stomping cute and adults you'll love
it just as much. Or for a different type of
adrenaline rush, how about a sky high ride above the
Thames on the London Eye or racing around fountains in
Trafalgar Square itself. According to tripeviser and recent traveler reviews, tonight,

(02:28):
ignite your senses with London's Water Lantern Festival on Clapham Common.
Hundreds of lanterns, each with its own wish, bubbing across
the lake as stories and laughter ripple through the cool
evening air. Its community magic at its finest, open to
all ages, and a sure fireway to catch that heartwarming
London vibe. Now for some local scoop before you plot

(02:50):
your route, The Royal Park's Half Marathon kicked off bright
and early, weaving runners past iconic landmarks and through the
city's famous green spaces. If you're out and about, heads
up for some road closures and extra crowds near central parks.
Transport for London recommends checking their journey planner to keep
your day smooth. Pravingrethuel, the South Bank is bursting with

(03:13):
new pop up food stores from boobuns to artists and
coffee plus secret rooftop gardens in full swing, definitely worth
a wonder for adventurous eaters and Sunday strollers alike. Also,
London Cocktail Week is shaking things up across Soho and
Shoreditch with immersive parties, hands on classes and custom concoctions.

(03:34):
If you fancy raising a toast in style, Ollie's local
tip of the day when exploring Trafalgar Square, swing by
Saint Martin in the Fields for a legendary crypt cafe
lunch ords up through hidden alleyways around Covent Garden to
spot jaw dropping street performers. Locals love where the action
never stops and the quirky magic hides around every corner.

(03:58):
And if this isn't enough, to Morrow's teasing even more
thin Blockbuster West End Fair, the opening day of the
London Literature Festival, and whispers of pumpkin picking adventures just
outside town. So lace up, charge your phone and join
me again for more offbeat fines and cultural jaw droppers.
Thanks for listening, Please subscribe and remember this episode was

(04:21):
brought to you by Quiet Please Podcast Networks. For more
content like this, please go to Quiet Please dot ai