With September gone and October now in full swing, it’s time to forget everything we told you last month and check out what to do over the next few weeks. The weather may be turning cold and miserable, but with festivals, exhibitions and peculiar events taking place around the country, there are plenty of top things to do this October.
Swingers
Fun, carefree and highly entertaining, Swingers is without a doubt one of the top events in the East-End this autumn. Set in a 7000-square-foot warehouse with nine of the most ridiculous holes, this is crazy golf taken to a whole new level. Running until the end of the year between Thursdays and Saturdays, it boasts a cool 1920’s clubhouse that will serve up some of the best cocktails in the area and a number of culinary delights to keep hunger at bay. With Pizza Pilgrims serving up fresh Neapolitan pizzas and a host of three-week food residencies, starting with burger experts Patty & Bun, you really are spoilt for choice. A great alternative night out, there really isn’t anything quite like it at the moment.
Find more information here.
BFI London Film Festival
Having been running on an annual basis since 1953, the BFI London Film Festival is the UK’s biggest film festival and one of the fastest growing around the world; with over 200 films, documentaries and shorts. Taking place over twelve days, you can take part in screenings, Q&A’s and interviews with directors and producers, but be sure to get your tickets in advance. Playing an incredibly diverse range of films, you can watch anything from world premieres, IMAX specials, cult classics and animated shorts. Set throughout the capital, it’s an incredibly accessible experience with films showing everywhere from the Odeon Leicester Square, BFI Southbank and the Hackney Picturehouse.
Find more information here.
Eastbourne Beer Festival
Ideal for any fan of real ale, the Eastbourne Beer Festival is not to be missed. With over 100 real ales (many from local breweries), ciders, perries and a great selection of international bottled beers, there is plenty of choice! Specially chosen by local CAMRA (Campaign For Real Ale) members, you can taste ones such as the quirkily named ‘Village Idiot’ and the ‘Legless Rambler’, plus a fine assortment of award winning ales. If that’s not enough, there is plenty of entertainment to keep you going, with live music from jazz, blues and folk bands. Taking place over a whole weekend, there will also be a range of culinary delights each day to help you line your stomach.
Find more information here.
Sherlock Holmes
One of the most celebrated and renowned literary characters, Sherlock Holmes has had quite an influence on modern pop culture. In celebration of this iconic character, the Museum of London’s Sherlock Holmes exhibition is an exploration of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s creation and how he has had such a long-lasting influence in the worlds of literature, television and cinema. The first London exhibition focusing on the detective since 1951, visitors ‘will be transported back to the real Victorian London – the backdrop for many of Conan Doyle’s stories’. With the use of early film, paintings, photography and artefacts, the museum have managed to recreate what Sherlock’s London would have looked like. There’s an equally an impressive collection of exhibits from a nineteenth-century portrait of Doyle, the original Holmes manuscripts and the coat and dressing gown worn by Benedict Cumberbatch during the BBC’s ‘Sherlock’.
Find more information here.
The Chocolate Show
With ‘Stoptober’ and ‘Go Sober’ happening right now, there are lots of things you may have to give up, but luckily, chocolate isn’t one of them. The Chocolate Show will keep your mouth watering over three days, with appearances from some of the world’s best brands. Taking place at Olympia West, visitors can expect some of the finest chocolaty delights around, including demonstrations, talks, and interactive workshops from renowned chefs and chocolatiers. There are even daily catwalk shows that will feature couture made entirely out of chocolate, results of a collaboration between the country’s top chocolatiers and promising fashion designers. One of the most delicious events of the month, you’d be foolish to miss it.
Find more information here.
Wildlife Photographer Of The Year
In celebration of 50 years since its inception, the Wildlife Photographer Of The Year returns once again to the Natural History Museum for what’s sure to be one of its best events so far. This is truly a great day out that boasts something there for every member of the family. A great exhibition that is filled with astonishing images of species from all around the world by amateur and professional photographers. A hugely popular event that consistently attracts record numbers of visitors, this year’s award consists of over 40,000 entries. Featuring new and historic award-winning images, the exhibition is an examination into how the documentation of the natural world has evolved.
Find more information here.
Juice Festival
A fantastic half-term offering, Juice Festival puts the kids in the driving seat and focuses on art and creativity. A week-long festival put on by children for children, there’s a whole host of film screenings, workshops and performances to delight and amaze all ages. From theatre, dance and more, you can also watch graffiti artists cover the ‘Juice Art Jam’, one of the country’s longest legal graffiti walls. It’s a great insight into the youth of today and the challenges that many of their generation face, whilst also being a celebration of the culture and diversity of the Newcastle area.
Find more information here.
