Having trouble deciding on the best spots for photography in London?
Then check out the fantastic events in the London and Watford area this month. These events are more geared towards photography, fashion and art.
Welcome to my November newsletter! I hope you are well and looking forward to the winter months. This month, there will be many colourful lights, with fireworks and Christmas lights switched on.
Last Updated: 1st November
Sign up for my newsletter and receive these events each month.
If you are a writer and interested in fashion, I am an editor on a publication on Medium called Fashion Police. I am looking for new writers; get in contact if you are interested.
London Fashion Day at St John’s Hyde Park – 2nd
It is the 4th season of London Fashion Day, which takes place at St. Johns Church, Hyde Park. Featuring eleven designers, a celebration of fashion, time and sustainability.
Find out more here.
Day of the Dead Festival, Colombia Road – 2nd
Mexican Day of the Dead is, despite its name, a joyful celebration honouring the passing of loved ones. On this day, it is believed that the spirits of the ancestors return. A colourful procession takes place on Colombia Road.
Find out more here.
Day of the Dead Festival, Hackney Bridge – 2nd & 3rd
Two days of the most incredible Mexican celebration, Día de Muertos, a celebration of life: the biggest festival of the Day of the Dead outside Mexico, this year taking Mexico’s Monarch butterfly, known to transport the souls of our ancestors as a central point of inspiration.
Find out more here.
Watford Fireworks in Cassiobury Park – 2nd
Hertfordshire’s largest FREE fireworks display organised by Watford Borough Council. Vibe 107.6FM will be keeping the crowds entertained on stage from 6pm with live music from Pat and the Butchers with the spectacular fireworks display starting at 7.30pm.
Find out more here.
Battersea Park Fireworks – 2nd & 3rd
Saturday 2nd November & Sunday 3rd November for the biggest and brightest Fireworks display in South London. Our stunning display, orchestrated by the fireworks team behind the annual NYE London Fireworks, will return, and this year, we have even more performances and activities to enjoy before and after the display than last year’s sold-out weekend!
Find out more here.
AS WE RISE: PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THE BLACK ATLANTIC at Saatchi Gallery – 5th till 20th January 2025
An exciting exhibition of photographs from African Diasporic culture. Organised by Aperture and curated by Elliott Ramsey, the exhibition showcases work by Black artists from Canada, the United States, Great Britain, The Caribbean, and the African Continent.
Find out more here.
Oxford Street Christmas Lights – 5th
Celebrate the wonder of Christmas and kick off the festive season this year on Oxford Street, with our iconic star lights filling the entire length of the street from the 5th of November.
Find out more here.
Regent Street Christmas Lights – 7th
No switch on event, the lights will just be turned on that day, not like it used to be. The spirit of Christmas angels are back.
Find out more here.
Carnaby Street Christmas Lights – 7th
Step ‘Into the Light’ this Christmas as Carnaby Street comes to life with glowing and immersive light shows this winter. There has been little announcement; it seems low-key this year.
Find out more here.
Battersea Power Station Christmas Lights – 7th
Battersea Power Station will transform once again into London’s most magical destination this festive period with sparkling lights, Christmas trees galore, supersized decorations and the highly anticipated return of the capital’s only riverside ice rink, Boots presents Glide at Battersea Power Station.
Find out more here.
Lord Mayor Show, City of London – 9th
The Lord Mayor’s Show is the oldest, longest, best loved and least-rehearsed civic procession in the world. The 2024 Show will set off from Mansion House on 9 November at 11am.
Find out more here.
Light painting in Cassiobury Park, Watford, with model – 9th
After sunset, we will use the park as our canvas, starting with the Lion King Tree and working our way down to the river. Spinning LED light orbs, wire wool (weather dependent), and a model for some LED light shots.
Find out more here.
Remembrance Day, London – 10th
Remembering all who died in the wars. Two minutes of silence are observed across the city at 11am, and a remembrance service and parade take place along Whitehall.
Find out more here.
Covent Garden Christmas Lights – 12th
Visit Covent Garden this winter to experience a festive magic takeover of our iconic Piazza, Market Building, Neal’s Yard, Seven Dials, and surrounding streets! Watch this space to plan your visit as you shop, dine, and catch those festive vibes.
Find out more here.
Marylebone Village Christmas Lights – 13th
Marylebone Village invites you to its Christmas lights switch-on and annual Merry Marylebone event to celebrate the start of the festive season in London. Taking place on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, from 3–8 p.m., this event will offer an unforgettable evening of festive activities, artisan market stalls, live music, late-night shopping, and more.
Find out more here.
Old Spitalfields Market Christmas Lights – 13th
The Christmas Market and shops will be open for Christmas shopping. From 1pm we’ll have music in the middle of the market with big festive tunes sung by our Gospel choir to ring in the festivities. Kids and families are so welcome and can enjoy free face painting and Christmas craft activities. At 5.30pm the big light switch on will take place.
Find out more here.
Mushroom Photographic Walk in Whippendell Woods – 13th
Take a guided walk through Cassiobury Park to Whippendell Woods, led by Andrew Lalchan (local photographer); we will explore early autumn in the park with the changing leaves and fungi.
Find out more here.
Christmas at Kew Gardens – 13th till 5th January 2025
It’s a botanical world brimming with seasonal cheer as twinkling lights and seasonal sounds fill the air. Discover glittering tunnels of light, dancing lakeside reflections and trees drenched in jewel-like colour.
Find out more here.
Vogue Inventing the Runway at Lightroom, Kings Cross – 13th till 26th April 2025
VOGUE: Inventing the Runway is a spectacular new immersive exhibition exploring the history of the fashion runway show, from the intimate couture salons of the early 20th century to the unforgettable pop-culture events of the present.
Find out more here.
Leadenhall Market Christmas Lights – 14th
Lord Mayor of London will kickstart Christmas at Leadenhall Market on Thursday, 14 November. The much-loved annual switch-on ceremony will take place from 5.30pm, with the Lord Mayor’s speech and Christmas lights switch on at 6pm, unveiling the full splendour of Leadenhall Market’s 18ft giant real Christmas tree, which sits under the breathtaking central star-covered atrium of the Victorian market.
Find out more here.
Chelsea Christmas Lights – 16th
Marking the start of the most magical time of year, the Chelsea Christmas Lights Switch-On will take place on Saturday, 16 November 2024 with an enchanting celebration for family and friends.
Find out more here.
Indian Fashion Week, London – 16th & 17th
India Fashion Week London, brought to you by Platinum Group, has been running for the last 10 years, showcasing the fusion of Indian culture and contemporary fashion on an international platform. Showcasing the latest trends and designs from emerging and top Indian designers, it brings together a diverse array of talent and creativity. From traditional handloom textiles to cutting-edge couture, the event offers a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Indian fashion.
Find out more here.
Belgravia Christmas Lights – 17th
See Belgravia’s Elizabeth Street illuminated with twinkling Christmas lights during its magical switch-on party in partnership with the Belgravia Traders Association. Taking place on Sunday 17 November from 11am to 4pm, visitors can meet Father Christmas, his elves and live reindeer, say hello to The Snowman from Sadler’s Wells, and spot characters from the Nutcracker, who will all be roaming Elizabeth Street throughout the event.
Find out more here.
THE 80s: PHOTOGRAPHING BRITAIN, Tate Britain – 19th till 5th May 2025
Explore one of the UK’s most critical decades, the 1980s. This exhibition traces the work of a diverse community of photographers, collectives and publications –creating radical responses to the turbulent Thatcher years. Set against the backdrop of race uprisings, the miner strikes, section 28, the AIDS pandemic and gentrification – be inspired by stories of protest and change.
Find out more here.
Colour Walk Meetup at Spitalfields Market – 21st
It is an informal gathering of colourful, creative souls who meet, dressed in their finest, to walk, talk, and strut their stuff. It is excellent for photography.
Find out more here.
Mars in the Painted Hall, Greenwich – 23rd till 28th January 2025
Luke Jerram’s astonishing installation Mars is coming to the Painted Hall this winter. Following the sell-out success of Gaia and Museum of the Moon, Mars will complete the trilogy of Jerram’s out-of-this-world installations at the iconic Old Royal Naval College.
Find out more here.
Winterfest in Watford – 23rd
Winterfest will predominantly take place on The Parade, filled with activities suited for all ages, a community feel and a fun Christmas vibe. The funfair rides will all be completely free to attendees, including a rodeo reindeer, giant snow globe, Christmas carousel, snowboard simulator, penguin skittles and much more. As well as a Christmas-themed Watford market, the event will also have additional food, drink, and community stalls, as well as some special guests and live performances.
Find out more here.
Electric Dreams – Art & Technology before the Internet, Tate Modern – 28th till 1st June 2025
Discover how artists used machines and algorithms to create mesmerising and mind-bending art between the 1950s and the early 1990s. From the birth of op art to the dawn of the internet age, artists found new ways to engage the senses and play with our perception. Electric Dreams celebrates the early innovators of optical, kinetic, programmed and digital art, who pioneered a new era of immersive sensory installations and automatically generated works.
Find out more here.
Advertising
Last chance to see
Michael Craig-Martin at Royal Acadamy – till 10th December
A key figure in British art, Michael Craig-Martin is one of his generation’s most influential artists and teachers. Since coming to prominence in the late 1960s, he has moved between sculpture, installation, painting, drawing, prints and digital works, creating a body of work that has fused elements from pop, minimalism and conceptual art.
Find out more here.
Haegue Yang: Leap Year at Hayward Gallery – till 5th January 2025
A world of inventive, immersive and multisensory installations and sculptures that weave connections between disparate histories, cultures and traditions.
Find out more here.
Imaginary Institution of India at the Barbican – till 5th January 2025
A landmark group exhibition of art made in response to India’s changing cultural-political landscape during pivotal years. Featuring artwork by over 30 Indian artists, this major exhibition is bookended by two transformative events in India’s history: Indira Gandhi’s declaration of a state of emergency in 1975 and the Pokhran nuclear tests in 1998.
Find out more here.
Francis Bacon: Human Presence at Portrait Gallery – till 19th January 2025
Featuring more than 55 works from the 1950s onwards, this exhibition will explore Francis Bacon’s deep connection to portraiture and how he challenged traditional genre definitions. From his responses to portraiture by earlier artists, to large-scale paintings memorialising lost lovers, works from private and public collections will showcase Bacon’s life story. Accompanied by the artist’s self-portraits, sitters include Lucian Freud, Isabel Rawsthorne and lovers Peter Lacy and George Dyer.
Find out more here.
Monet and London. Views of the Thames at Courtauld Institute of Art – till 19th January 2025
Claude Monet (1840—1926) is world-renowned as the leading figure of French Impressionism, the movement that changed the course of modern art. Less known is the fact that some of Monet’s most remarkable Impressionist paintings were made not in France but in London. They depict extraordinary views of the Thames, which had never been seen before. It has an evocative atmosphere, mysterious light, and radiant colour.
Find out more here.
Holly Herndon & Mat Dryhurst: The Call at Serpentine North Gallery – till 2nd February 2025
A collaboration between artists Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst and Serpentine Arts Technologies, The Call proposes new cultural, legal, and technical rituals for art in the age of AI.
Find out more here.
Hew Locke – what have we here? at British Museum – till 9th February 2025
Join renowned Guyanese-British artist Hew Locke as he turns his lens on the British Museum collection in a collaborative exhibition exploring histories of British imperial power.
Find out more here.
Shokuhin Sanpuru at Japan House – till 16th February 2025
This vibrant exhibition offers a rare opportunity outside Japan to see these skilfully created models up close. It explores the craft’s history, materials, processes, and future potential.
Find out more here.
Turner Prize 2024 at Tate Britain – till 16th February 2025
Pio Abad, Claudette Johnson, Jasleen Kaur, and Delaine Le Bas are the four artists shortlisted for the 2024 Turner Prize. They will showcase their eclectic work at Tate Britain from 25 September 2024, and the winner will be announced on 3 December 2024.
Find out more here.
Barbie®: The Exhibition at Design Museum – till 23rd February 2025
A major exhibition exploring the design evolution of one of the world’s most famous dolls: Barbie®. Journey into the Barbie universe and discover over 250 remarkable objects, with rare, unique and innovative dolls dating from 1959 to the present day.
Silk Roads Exhibition at British Museum – till 23rd February 2025
Camel caravans crossing desert dunes, merchants trading silks and spices at bazaars – these images come to mind when we think of the Silk Roads. But the reality goes far beyond this. Rather than a single trade route from East to West, the Silk Roads comprised overlapping networks linking communities across Asia, Africa and Europe, East Asia to Britain and Scandinavia to Madagascar.
Find out more here.
Emajendat, by Lauren Halsey at Serpentine South – till 2nd March 2025
For the past decade, Lauren Halsey (b. 1987, Los Angeles, USA) has developed a distinct visual language deeply rooted in South Central Los Angeles, where her family has lived for generations. Through objects and installations, Halsey archives and remixes her environment’s changing signs and symbols, gathering physical and graphic material from her neighbourhood.
Find out more here.
Mike Kelley: Ghost and Spirit at Tate Modern – till 9th March 2025
Discover the elaborate, provocative and imaginary worlds of experimental artist Mike Kelley. From the late 1970s to 2012, Kelley made a diverse body of work using drawing, collage, performance, found objects, and video.
Find out more here.
Outlaws: Fashion Renegades of 80s London at Fashion & Textile Museum – till 9th March 2025
Outlaws: Fashion Renegades of 80s London exhibition centres around the legendary nightclub Taboo, opened by designer and performance artist Leigh Bowery in 1985.
Find out more here.
Hyundai Commission Mire Lee at Tate Modern Turbine Hall – till 16th March 2025
Mire Lee will create an exciting new artwork for Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall.
Find out more here.
The world of Tim Burton at Design Museum till 21st April 2025
Delve into the fantastical world of Tim Burton in this major exhibition, exploring his remarkable creations and key collaborations with designers.
Find out more here.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year at Natural History Museum – till 29th June 2025
Experience the wonder of life on Earth through the world’s best wildlife photography. Our photography exhibition is back for its sixtieth year to reveal more of nature’s stories. It’ll take you on a visual adventure through different environments and give you a window into the wildlife that calls them home.
Find out more here.
Sign Up to My Newsletter
Monthly Newsletter
Advertising
