Welcome back to The Slice – our exclusive guide to what’s on in London, where we bring you trusted reviews, sneak previews, and amazing deals and discounts.
The clocks going back an hour might mean darker evenings, but it also means Halloween, Bonfire Night, and Christmas (which is eight weeks away!).
So there’s lots to celebrate. This week, we’ve rounded up some of the best firework displays in London, including the only free display still available in the capital. So wrap up warm, and prepare to see some pretty cool lights in the sky.
You can also have fun this week without spending too much money, with a buy-one-get-one-free deal at Shake Shack, and some free pumpkin ravioli as part of 27 Old Compton Street’s fight against food waste.
Welcome to the Slice
The Slice is your weekly guide to what’s happening in London, so if you’re looking for restaurant reviews, drinks deals or just a great new exhibition to visit on a rainy Saturday in the capital, we’ve got you covered.
Click here for this week’s edit of the best things to do in town.
The Slice newsletter also a brand new look! We’ll still be in your inbox every week, bringing you all the very best things to eat, drink and do in the capital. So if you want get the next edition before anyone else, sign up here!
If you want to do it all on the cheap, you can also find our latest batch of exclusive hand-picked offers in partnership with Time Out here.
Things to do this week in London
If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, here are 9 of the best activities, dining, and drinking spots in the capital.
1. Sip on expertly made mezcal cocktails at Little Fires
Mezcal is the old glam It girl we’ve all forgotten about, quietly waiting in the shadows while her younger sister, tequila, dominates the spotlight. But make no mistake, mezcal has been dazzling palates for centuries, with origins that trace back to pre-Hispanic Mexico. Crafted from roasted agave hearts, this storied spirit has a personality all its own: smoky, sweet, earthy, or floral, depending on the region and method of production.
Little Fires captures all of this glamour and history in one irresistible experience, at their Little Fires x Los Siete Misterios Masterclass. It’s a place where the richness of mezcal meets the artistry of small plates, each sip and bite perfectly curated to highlight the spirit’s complexity. Los Siete Misterios, a standout expression, pairs effortlessly with dishes like beef tartare, mushroom empanadas, or duck tacos, making every combination feel like a celebration of Mexican tradition with a modern twist.
If mezcal isn’t yet on your radar, Little Fires in Shoreditch is your chance to meet the latest cool girl drink and see why she’s as timeless as she is irresistible.
Little Fires’ next event is their Cazcabel Tequila Cocktail Showdown. Pop down to celebrate the Mexican Day of the Dead festival on 1 Nov at 7pm. Your ticket includes 2 cocktails and a DJ set, with Ryan Sheehan – owner of LowCountry and Little Fires Bar Manager, José Fonseca going head to head once again for a spot on the Little Fires cocktail menu. Tickets, £20. Book here.
2. Get a taste of Tuscany in London at Bottega 35
By Zineb Lazraq
Bottega 35 brings Tuscany to Kensington High Street. Candles flicker on every table, casting a warm glow over cute paintings and a single-page menu that keeps things refreshingly simple. The pasta is the star, hand-rolled, perfectly al dente, and dressed with just the right amount of sauce. Standouts are the pappardelle ragù or the mafaldine twirled dramatically in a pecorino wheel with truffle. The pumpkin risotto is autumn in a bowl.
Feeling fancy? The lamb cutlets grilled with rosemary and olive oil, are juicy, fragrant, and worth the splurge. Creamy burrata arrives like a small work of art, all silky freshness. And you’re going to want to save room for dessert: a friendly waiter rolls up with a trolley tableside to assemble your tiramisu right in front of you. Bottega 35 is warm, intimate, and effortlessly elegant.
Antipasti from £3.75, pasta from £16. 35 Kensington High St, W8 5EB. Book here.
3. Savour unique fusion dishes at new Pan-Asian gem Tirak
With wild nights at Infernos firmly behind me, and I haven’t had a reason to head to Clapham High Street in a while. But Tirak firmly changed that – and I can see myself going back again.
That’s because the new Pan-Asian restaurant is serving up a fusion of food that really packs a punch – and I’m not just talking about all the chillies. Three to four small plates and one larger plate are recommended for two people.
Highlights include the Khao Soi Roll, which sees crispy fried chicken served on a flaky roti and drizzled in a rich Khao Soi sauce and the Chicken Momo Chaat, a steamed dumpling filled with chicken and topped with a fragrant tamarind green chutney.
If you’ve got room opt for some sides too – the Kachumber Salad is fresh and zingy, while the paratha and dal are a deliciously classic pairing. Don’t be put off if the restaurant is a tad empty, once word gets out about this place, those tables will be filling up in no time.
Small plates from £8, large plates from £15. 102-104 Clapham High St, Clapham, SW4 7UL. Book here.
Where to watch some of London’s best firework displays
Battersea Park Fireworks
Best for: something for everyone
Wandsworth Council is once again putting on an explosive show at Battersea Park this year. And there won’t just be fireworks, expect live performances, fairground rides, and family fun too.
Saturday’s event will kick off with a pre-show Day of the Dead Party, while Sunday’s event is all about family, with kid-friendly entertainment including a LED dance experience from Flash Bang Brass and a Shrek tribute.
Tickets: free for children, £9.50 for youth (age 5-15), £15 for 16+. Battersea Park. 1-2 Nov. Find out more.
Alexandra Palace Fireworks and Drone Festival
Best for: a spectacular showcase
The Ally Pally Fireworks Festival is known for its huge displays – and even more impressively, they’ve got drones. This year, they say it will be ‘bigger, bolder and spookier’ than ever before. Since it’s taking place on Halloween, you can expect an even more spine-tingling display than usual… Don’t forget to check out a behind-the-scenes ghost tour of their eerie Victorian Theatre too.
Tickets from £6.05. Alexandra Palace. 31 Oct-1 Nov. Find out more.
Coram’s Fields
Best for: the city’s only free display
One of the only displays closer to central London, Coram’s Fields – the park just behind Great Ormond Street hospital – is where you can see a free 18-minute display.
You’ll have to be one of the first 4,800 people to arrive, with doors opening from 4:30pm. They’re also teaming up with teaming up with Great Ormond Street Hospital to broadcast the live to children on the wards.
Free. Coram’s Fields, Guilford Street. 5 Nov. Find out more.
4. Feel inspired at The London Literature Festival, no matter your age
The London Literature Festival is back this week, bringing together readers of all ages.
Hear from big names as well as rising literary stars – like food writer Jimi Famurewa. Find out more.
5. Get a scarily good deal at Shake Shack this Halloween
A buy-one-get-one-FREE SmokeShack (single or double) deal lands at Shake Shack locations across the UK. Just sign up here to get your code, no tricks involved!
6. Try Ria’s cult pizza at their new Soho branch
Ria’s opens their brand new Soho branch on 1 Nov. Their Detroit-style pizza served at their Notting Hill original became a cult success.
To celebrate the new opening, you can get 50% off food from 1-3 Nov. Book a soft launch table here.
7. Indulge in a dairy-fee Oatnog courtesy of Black Lines are The Southbank
Feeling in the Christmas mood yet? Black Lines are. They’re bringing some festive cheer to the Southbank on 5-8 November and 12-15 November with their dairy-free Oatnog float. It’s indulgent, creamy, and you’ll be able to get your hands on samples of the drink.
They’ll also be serving up their signature bottled cocktails, including the Tommy’s Margarita and Negroni.
8. Get a free pumpkin ravioli dish at 27 Old Compton Street
Over 22 million pumpkins go to waste in the UK each Halloween, that’s enough for 100 million meals! So 27 Old Compton Street are giving away free pumpkin ravioli to anyone who brings in their pumpkin leftovers from Halloween between 3-5 Nov.
It’s the idea of chef-owner Nima Safaei, who created a leftover pumpkin recipe that promotes sustainability and screams comfort food.
9. See a truly terrifying performance Ghost Stories
★★★★
Now spooky season is upon us once more, lots of us will be turning to horror movies to entertain us through the rest of the month. But theatre can prove equally effective in the frights department, as this supernatural stage chiller determinedly proves. Written by League Of Gentlemen co-creator Jeremy Dyson and actor/writer Andy Nyman, it’s now 15 years since it premiered and has enjoyed multiple revivals since, with good reason. It balances cleverness with simple pleasures: there is knowing commentary on why we enjoy being frightened, alongside some proper, no-nonsense jump scares.
The basic premise is that a professor of parapsychology, Philip Goodman, is delivering a lecture on the allure of ghost stories. Sceptically dismissive of the paranormal, he references three people he has met who have claimed to have had encounters with the other side. The show’s gradually building sense of dread is topped off by an ending which is genuinely ingenious, as well as shocking. Add in some truly nerve-jangling lighting and sound design and it makes for one of the more stressful evenings out you could possibly imagine – in the best sense.
Tickets from £48. Peacock Theatre, London. Until 8 November. Book here.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
MORE: The ‘holy grail’ of fast food is back — but fans have one big complaint
MORE: London health food stores could close after 40 years in latest high street blow
