If you are looking for a great place to have an awesome city break this autumn, why not consider a trip to the capital? Not only is it a cultural melting pot, there are numerous travel connections to London from all over the country, so it is easy to get there in hours.
Once you are there and have checked into your accommodation and found your feet, there is no shortage of things to do. Even if you were to spend all your time for the few days you visited, exploring the biggest and best tourist attractions, you still wouldn’t be able to cram it all in. There’s just too much.
Beyond the high traffic tourist attractions though, there is a lot more to see and do that makes London as special as it is. For example, if you are partial to a beer or cider, you should try attending some of the great beer festivals the city has to offer.
Not only is this a better way to experience London, if you are looking for something a bit more off the beaten track, but it’s also a good way to get to know the locals as well as meeting other travellers to the city from all over. During October in particular, because of the German’s love of a good knees up during that month, there are plenty of beer festivals. These are great even if you don’t love beer, because there are usually other tipples available and lots of tasty authentic food.
It’s a great way to chase those autumnal chills away.
Erdinger Oktoberfest, London Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – 27th September to 21st October
For a very traditional Bavarian delight, why not attend the Erdinger Oktoberfest. This is one of the longest running Oktoberfest events in the country, and has been staged by the organisers Hamburg Events and BJP around the world for over 10 years now. You can expect to see waiters and waitresses in lederhosen, steins of beer and lots of bratwurst. If you are going with some friends or your significant other and one of you are not a big lover of German beer, there will of course be other options too.
This takes place over the course of a month, so there are various options each day of the festival and you may even find that there is an afternoon session and evening session on the same day. Be warned though, you will come away from the event delightfully full, and possibly a little worse for wear.
The Olympic Park was obviously the setting for lots of the main action at the roaring success that was the 2012 London Summer Olympics, and the venue still has that feeling and atmosphere that great things happened there.
London Oktoberfest, Millwall Park and Finsbury Park
Slightly confusing, but given London’s size and scale, it’s not surprising really that it is home to two distinct Oktoberfest celebrations. This is the original and has been in the capital since 2011. There are now two sites, at Millwall Park on 4th to 7th and 11th to 14th of October and Finsbury Park, on the 18th to 2st and 25th to 28th of October, then rounding things off on the 31st of the same month.
To be honest, if you love beer, you may well want to visit both these events and the one above, if you are in the city during October. The difference is that the London one, the official one, has been there longer and has its own London-stamp on this great German tradition of beer sausage and more beer.
Millwall Park and Finsbury Park are iconic and historically as well as culturally important places in London, and this is a great excuse to visit them.
London Bierfest, Old Billingsgate Market, 18th and 19th October
Another take on the traditional beer festival from Germany is London’s Bierfest. Held within the breath-taking and history-filled venue of the Old Billingsgate Market, you won’t know you are in good old London town once the organisers have dressed things up to look like an authentic Bavarian tavern. With a fun, friendly and very relaxed atmosphere, this is a great way to unwind if you are looking to treat your workers during October. When it began in 2003, it grew in popularity and now 1000’s of people attend it every year. Live music, dancing and lots of German beer with platters of German food to sample and the distinction of having full table service, if you desire it.
There you have it, our little guide to what you can get up to in London if you fancy a break there. Although it is nice to visit Big Ben, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace and Piccadilly Circus; there is a lot more on offer here as you can see and if you’ve done the big sites and attractions before, or not interested in them.
If you are after more beer festivals in your area check out https://www.eatdrinkseek.co.uk/beer-festivals/
