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With so many London events in October filling the calendar, this is a great time to visit London. From art and film festivals to themed pubs and historic celebrations, there are plenty of things to see in London. What's more, TravelStay has great offers on cheap London hotels and bed and breakfasts in London. So take an October break, book a budget London hotel and experience some fun days out!
Find a cheap hotel for your trip to London in October by searching TravelStay: prices start at just £10.00 per person!
Koestler Awards: See or even buy art
Every October the Koestler Trust, the UK's prison arts charity, holds the Koestler Awards, featuring works by inmates, young offenders and people in secure hospitals and immigration removal centres. This is a unique event, which has been running for nearly 50 years and has attracted over 5,000 entries. The best of each year's entries goes on show at the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank. And, if you're tempted to buy some art, the Frieze Art Fair attracts 68,000 likeminded visitors. Held in Regent's Park from October 13th-16th under a huge marquee, more than 1,000 artists display their work, while galleries from around the world also make an appearance. It is a great place to find established artists as well as upcoming talent. Or, for fans of art who are looking for a slightly cheaper price tag, the Affordable Art Fair is also a top London event in October, even if you're not buying. Featuring great new artists and established galleries, all of the contemporary art on show is going for under £4,000.
Koestler Awards; Royal Festival Hall; Waterloo
Freize Art Fair; October 13th-16th; Regent's Park
Affordable Art Fair; October 20th-23rd; Battersea Park; Battersea; from £12
Book a hotel in Waterloo from just £10.00 and you'll be close to the Koestler Awards!
Trafalgar Day Parade: Celebrate Britain's winning history
To remembering the British victory over the French at the Battle of Trafalgar, mark the landmark day with a parade led by the Sea Cadet Corps who were once led by Lord Nelson on October 21st 1805. For many years the event had not been recognised, but recently the celebrations have been revived when the bicentennial was marked in 2005. Watch the march and join the festivities under Nelson's Column, where many of London's events are celebrated throughout the year.
Trafalgar Day Parade; October 21st; Trafalgar Square; Charing Cross; free
You'll be right by the Trafalgar Day Parade if you stay in a Charing Cross hotel from just £10.00 per person!
BFI Film Festival: Watch films before they go mainstream
Now in its 54th year, the BFI Film Festival brings out some of the best movies of the year before the nation has seen them. Last year, it showcased gala performances of the award winning Black Swan and haunting Keira Knightly film Never Let Me Go, as well as compelling documentaries and short films. Major film premieres take place over the fortnight, which runs from October 13th-28th, while intimate venues show smaller films from all around the world. And if you're quick, you can buy tickets to them when the programme is released. If you're lucky, you could even grab tickets to special post-screening talks with the actors, directors and producers.
BFI London Film Festival; October 13th-28th; various venues; from free
Halloween: Get spooked
A time to scare yourself silly or just dress up for a night out, there are plenty of London events in October marking Halloween. While the UK doesn't celebrate the day as much as other countries like the US, you can guarantee that a number of pubs and bars will be calling for punters to come in fancy dress and offering suitably-themed cocktails. During the day, head over to the London Dungeon, London's scariest tourist attraction! Last year, the London Dungeon introduced character Jack O'Lantern who echoed the 'Sounds of Hell' through the corridors of the attraction. New for 2011 is also a 5D Laser Ride, the third ride to be added to the ghoulish venue.
London Dungeon; October 31st; London Bridge; £20; 0871 423 2240
Stay at a London Bridge hotel from just £10.00 per person per night to be near the London Dungeon this Halloween!
WorldSkills London: Go head to head with your best skills
WorldSkills London is a huge event, which sees young people from all over the world come to compete at their best skill, no matter what it is! In fact, it is the largest international skills competition in the world, with around 1,000 competitors from 50 countries challenging each other at anything from cooking to carpentry, web design, welding and even floristry! Visitors can also try their hand at skills they've never tried before. Meanwhile, skills of a different kind will be put to the test at the UK B-Boy World Championships, held at London's O2 Academy in Brixton. See some of the best break-dancers from around the world compete for the 2011 title!
World Skills London 2011; October 5th-8th; ExCeL; Custom House
UK B-Boy World Championships; Brixton Academy; Brixton; from £15
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