The light is less intense and the days are getting shorter and shorter.
Autumn is here!
It is a season to be fully enjoyed in London and my favourite by far because it is the time of year when we return to enjoying soups, stews, pies and desserts cooked with rustic seasonal vegetables, even more appealing after the heat of summer days.
You can wear the new jacket you bought months ago, but above all you can start visiting fascinating cities full of history again.
And autumn, in our imagination, is immediately associated with London rain and fog.
Autumn is the perfect time to read a good book because the combination of romantic orange hues and cooler weather make it the perfect time to sit back and read.
Autumn in London parks is best!
London is blessed with some great bookshops, many of which are close to top-notch restaurants.
In Piccadilly we find the UK’s oldest bookshop and there are libraries scattered all over the city too.
London’s beautiful parks aren’t just a summer destination and a stroll through the falling leaves and golden hues of autumn can be truly enjoyable.
The city is full of parks that in autumn are tinged with colors that make them even more beautiful thanks to the magical foliage period.
Regent's Park, St James' park and Primrose Hill are so worth a visit and I particularly like reading books there when it is not too windy.
Guy Fawkes Night is an event famous for bonfires and fireworks around the city, and it is nice to enjoy the atmosphere perhaps enjoying some freshly roasted chestnuts.
Unfortunately due to the high cost of fireworks this year many displays have been canceled.
Autumn is also the time of the Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights which can brighten even the darkest autumn days, and Trafalgar Square always lights up during this celebration.
The lighting of candles, lanterns and lamps, along with fireworks displays and fairs, make Diwali a true celebration of the victory of light over darkness.
Many of London’s Indian restaurants offer a special Diwali menu and this celebration is truly felt since many Indians live in the UK.
Given the close ties between the USA and the UK, and the ever-increasing number of Americans living in London, it’s almost a given that Thanksgiving is also heartily felt.
One of London’s most famous hotels, the Savoy, famous for its American bar, and some London American restaurants, even offer Thanksgiving dinner celebrations with special menus.
Many are the Expats Meetups in London that organise a special event on this occasion, as well as for the Diwali.
Autumn is also the time of year when we usually find that the clothes we packed in spring have mysteriously shrunk or that moths have taken up residence in our flat and have had a particularly gourmet summer.
Just as London Fashion Week heralds the start of autumn, it’s time to get out and refresh our wardrobes.
For many, the go-to place is the city’s famous department stores, from Harrods to Selfridges.
I personally still prefer in smaller shops that luckily still abound in London.
Food habits change too in this season: no more salads to beat the heat but autumn is the time to return to enjoying hearty dishes, preferably in the warmth of a pub.
Along with taverns and inns, pubs are the best embodiment of the different personalities of the many neighborhoods of London.
When it comes to places with the best food, there is a fantastic choice since each pub is different from the next and each one of them must be appreciated and valued.
London in autumn is beautiful!
