London After Dark: Illuminations & Adventures Await
- lisahylton2
- Sep 22
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 29
As London’s star-speckled evenings begin to elongate with the shift in seasons, now is the perfect time for your guests to experience the city in a whole new light, says David G Taylor.
As twilight descends, opportunities for unforgettable walking, bus and river tours of majestically lit landmarks abound, and London’s streets are magically transformed with miles of twinkling illuminations. With a frisson of excitement in the air as the autumnal and festive fun ramps up, the capital comes alive after dark - providing your guests with the perfect backdrop for making memories.
Trip the Light Fantastic
It’s the sinister smirks and glowing eyes of pumpkins that herald Halloween at Kew (17 Oct-2 Nov), where a child-friendly trail of horrifying light sculptures awaits. Here, thrill-seekers can encounter wicked witches, gigantic spiders, an eerie fairground and Frankenstein’s monstrous laboratory.
But light always follows the dark, and that’s true at Kew too, as November ushers in a very merry Christmas at Kew (14 Nov-4 Jan). An annual institution, the gardens’ extraordinary seasonal illuminations are a major draw. Traditionally, they include the dazzling and immersive ‘Cathedral of Light’, an experience so joyous it’s famous for inspiring surprise wedding proposals.
Concerts by Candlelight
The long, dark shadows of nighttime’s past, meanwhile, have inspired a series of atmospheric classical concerts. Held inside some of the capital’s most impressive historic buildings, music lovers can savour the sounds of live string quartets amid the ambience of candlelight.
Among these, you might enjoy the softly illuminated grandeur of the Great Hall inside Grade II-listed Central Hall Westminster. It’s here some of composer Hans Zimmer’s Best Works (18 Oct & 22 Nov) are to be performed under the glow of candles. These will include some of his score for the 2008 blockbuster film The Dark Knight.
St Martin-in-the-Fields church by Trafalgar Square is another imposing location set to look even more spectacular during Vivaldi Four Seasons by Candlelight (18 Oct & 22 Nov) and Handel Messiah by Candlelight (25 Nov). Meanwhile, over at the southern tip of London Bridge, glorious Gothic Southwark Cathedral pays a Tribute to Fleetwood Mac (10 Oct) and The Best of Bollywood and Tollywood on Strings (13 Nov). The drama of each performance is heightened by the flickering half-light.
Shades of Darkness
You’ll find many London museums staging regular and one-off evening events this season, so it’s worth checking on your favourites as more announcements are made. Among our favourites are V&A South Kensington’s free-to-attend Friday Lates, the series of ticketed evening lectures at The British Museum, and evening events at Sir John Soane’s Museum.
Fans of design history, hauntings and histrionics should head there this October. One of the greatest British architects, Soane’s 19th-century designs include the Bank of England and theneo-classical townhouse that’s now the museum. That’s where you’ll find the Soane Late: Halloween Special (31 Oct). It’s an immersive after-hours experience with live storytellers, spooky lighting and spine-tingling stories of Ancient Egyptian gods, fabulous Gothic literature and the resident phantom monk.
There are shades of light and dark after-hours at Tate Britain and Tate Modern. Both galleries stage many evening events, and this season these include Mr Bongo Record Club at Tate Modern (4 Oct & 15 Nov), where DJs spin upbeat global tunes from their impressive vinyl collections. Meanwhile, in stark contrast is What the Serpent Told Me in the Misty Gloom at Tate Britain (15 Nov), a haunting solo performance from English contemporary artist Martin O’Brien about mortality.
If Mr Bongo got your toes tapping, head for the discolights of the Natural History Museum for its Silent Disco (10 Oct & 1 Nov). Here, over-18s can don a wireless headset, choose from three simultaneous DJs and dance the night away amid the artefacts of this spectacular setting.
The incredible vaulted ceilings of a former church crypt provide another unexpected backdrop. Find the Silent Disco at The Crypt of St Martin-in-the-Fields (3 Oct & 8 Nov).
Meanwhile, situated close to the London Eye, a pop-up venue called Between the Bridges hosts its Silent Disco on 31 October. The location boasts both in and outdoor spaces, with London’s starry skies the backdrop to chart, indie and house anthems.
Journey to Other Dimensions
Forget wannabe celebrities and influencers – see real stars as you go Stargazing at Hampstead Observatory. The autumn and winter months are the best times to look to the heavens, so you might glimpse Saturn’s spectacular rings, Jupiter’s mysterious cloud belts, the mountains of the Moon and deeper objects such as nebulae and galaxies.
Built in 1910, the observatory’s collection of telescopes includes a Victorian-era model. Organised by the Hampstead Scientific Society, these guided sessions can be booked for free on clear evenings and are suitable for everyone, from the seasoned stargazer to a curious beginner. Fans of HG Wells ’1895 book, The Time Machine, might feel like the novel’s time-travelling hero as they become immersed in the multi-sensory, multi-media experience of Time (12-22 Nov).
Taking place after nightfall at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, this dazzling piece of art exploring the concept of time takes audiences on a visualand aural odyssey through history and science, and into the outer realms of the imagination. It’s staged by Luxmuralis, one of the world’s pre-eminent creators of fine art, light and sound installations, and is the fruit of a collaboration between composer David Harper and sculptor Peter Walker. Last year, Luxmuralis was applauded for its Poppy Fields installation at theTower of London, so expect to be wowed, moved and awestruck.
