Londonist Weekly: Christmas, Halloween & City Updates (Oct 20-26, 2025)

The “Best Of Londonist: 20-26 October 2025” serves as a comprehensive weekly roundup, highlighting a diverse array of news and features designed to keep Londoners and visitors informed about the city’s happenings. This edition focuses heavily on the approaching festive season, offering a glimpse into Christmas 2025 with mentions of Santa’s Grottos across London, significant Christmas light switch-ons planned for November, and unique festive touches like The Shard’s Christmas lights designed by a housekeeping team member. Family entertainment is also a key theme, with festive theatre shows featuring popular productions like Disney, Peppa Pig, and The Snowman, alongside the return of the Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink. Notably, school children are once again designing central London’s Christmas lights, promising creative displays.

Beyond Christmas, the roundup captures the spirit of Halloween, listing London’s spookiest street names and the return of Leadenhall Market’s giant purple tentacles for seasonal fun. Urban development and infrastructure are also prominent topics. Eurostar is set to introduce double-decker trains by 2031, while a new town at Crews Hill aims to deliver 21,000 homes for North London. Major refurbishments are resuming on Blackfriars Bridge, and there are new calls to pedestrianise parts of Soho, potentially transforming Old Compton Street into an al fresco hub.

Culturally, the Londonist features a ‘Balloon View’ of Victorian London, offering a historical perspective from above. The Made in Prague Festival invites exploration of Czech culture, from film to visual art. Art enthusiasts can look forward to top exhibitions in November and December 2025, showcasing works by Hockney, Turner, Constable, and Wes Anderson. A significant historical piece, an ‘exceptionally rare’ portrait of a Black Waterloo Soldier, is going on permanent display, sharing a compelling story of comradeship. The summary concludes by looking ahead to the following week, highlighting activities for Halloween and half term, ensuring readers are well-prepared for the city’s dynamic calendar.

(Source: https://londonist.com/london/best-of-london/best-of-londonist-20-26-october-2025)