London in October

October 2025

Why London in October? Many of our British friends asked us why we would want to go to London, when we live in the Algarve, a place where many from the UK come to visit, especially during the cold and damp weather in the North this time of year. Well, our initial plan for visiting London wasn't about the weather, but to meet up with a friend from the US for a few days. However, that didn't pan out, so we decided to go anyway.

The weather lived up to London's reputation. As you'll see in the photos, it was mostly cloudy, breezy, and cool, with some scattered rain, no surprise for late October. We spent the majority of our time exploring parts of London we hadn't seen before, such as Camden Town, Oxford Street, Knightsbridge, and the area around Victoria Station. We also visited some more popular sites, including the Tower of London, and walked across the infamous Tower Bridge. We were here over the weekend, which marked the start of a week-long holiday for schools in the UK, so the city was filled with many local tourists.

Our hotel for this stay was The Rubens at the Palace, located adjacent to Victoria Station and across from the royal stables. The hotel and service were great, the rooms were up to date, but very small. We loved the location, but probably wouldn't return due to the tiny rooms.

Of course, we found Tacos on our first night! London offers fantastic choices for food and dining; just about every ethnic cuisine is represented here, with some places pretending and others spot on with authenticity. We had both types of experiences here, but the CDMX Tacos at the Market Halls Victoria were pretty spot on.

From the hotel, we walked to Camden Town and Camden Market, tucking into shops and restaurants along the way to avoid the intermittent rain showers. It's an eclectic and energetic area with famous markets, great food, creative building fronts, and street performers. In the markets, you'll find stalls/shops selling food, fashion, accessories, music, and more. Away from the bustle, check out the picture-perfect canal and green spaces.

A little shopping was in order, so we visited two Iconic shopping areas. Both were packed shoulder to shoulder with shoppers. Who said there is out-of-control inflation and people are not spending? Certainly not the case here. Even with exceptionally high prices, the Luxury Boutiques and upscale shops were busy, and the shoppers were filling their bags with purchases. The "Department Stores" we visited are icons of the past, when shopping at these behemoths was more of a social event. We were here too early in the fall to see the creative displays of Christmas inside and outside of these icons of commerce. I can only imagine what a spectacle it is to see them in all of their Christmas glory.

We wandered along Oxford Street – one of the most famous London shopping streets – and into the legendary department store Selfridges. Since the doors opened in 1909, Selfridges has been a hub for socializing, shopping, and dining. It features multiple floors that house designer shops, gourmet foods, and a variety of restaurants.

We then headed to Knightsbridge, where we explored the neighborhood's shops, including the iconic Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Harrods is an incredible building to get lost in, admiring the architecture and the never-ending maze of offerings. A luxury shopping destination for more than 160 years, with over eight floors of high-end brands and products from fashion, food, and technology, and a reputation for outstanding customer service.

I could have spent the entire day admiring the architecture and the selections in the food hall, but instead I headed to a quieter spot at a local pub to rest my tired feet while waiting for Mary.

A few familiar sites of London

Love the English Pubs and their creative names

We found some unique flavors of crisps (chips) in the market. We didn't try them, but they looked interesting. Most countries in this part of the world have their own unique flavors.

Near our hotel, we noticed a historic theatre hosting Hamilton, and tickets were available, so we decided to attend that night. It was interesting to watch a play in London, based on American history, in a room filled with mostly British people. Ironic, but they all seemed to understand the story.

Although we didn't witness any theft or criminal activity, this message was posted all over the city, reminding people of the potential for crime. Perhaps the signs are working?

We visited the Tower of London, a royal fortress and a landmark of the city. Its buildings and grounds served several functions over time, including as a royal palace, a political prison, a place of execution, an arsenal, a royal mint, and a public records office.

A commemorative display of ceramic poppies has been installed here to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Nearly 30,000 ceramic poppies are on display, marking the sacrifices made by so many during the War. One display is meant to resemble a ‘wound’ at the heart of the Tower, which was bombed during the War. Poppies also pour across the lawn by the White Tower, where flowers form a crater, with ripples flowing outwards.

We walked across the Tower Bridge

Found a great restaurant, apparently with a few locations in London and internationally, called Burger & Lobster. The Burger and lobster roll were great, and all were reasonably priced. You can also choose a whole lobster from one of the live tanks.

A quick but fun trip. We flew from Faro to London Gatwick, which was fine, although a car to and from the airport took over two hours each way. We discovered that the train could be a better option, taking less than an hour, if you can get on the direct train to Victoria Station... next time.