London October Events Roundup featuring all the best Chinese-related events throughout the month.
As East and Southeast Asia (ESEA) Heritage Month passes, this month opens with the Mid-Autumn Festival so there are still lots of events to experience. As well as the events in this article, we have a separate list of Mid-Autumn Festival events in London, or for if you’re outside the capital we’ve also put together a list of all the events around the UK. Finally, if you’re interested in mooncakes – traditional food of the festival – we’ve also got an article for you.
Please note China Minutes are not affiliated with nor are we endorsing any of the events below.
Mid Autumn Festival Street Party
On Thursday 2nd October in London Chinatown there will be a street party organised by the China Information and Advice Centre to celebrate Mid Autumn Festival. The street party lasts for an hour and a half and costs £5 to join. Expect lots of yummy Chinese food!
When: 1:00 – 2:30 pm, Thursday 2nd October
Where: Newport Place, London Chinatown
Website: https://ciac.co.uk/2025/08/06/mid-autumn-festival-2025/
Mid-Autumn Moonlight Gathering
Yi Crafts, a London-based craft studio founded by members of the Bai ethnic minority of Yunnan, will be having their own Mid-Autumn Festival gathering. Expect aspects of Mid Autumn Festival from mainstream Chinese culture as well as unique aspects from the Bai perspective. Highlights include a movie screening and singing the Bai song “White Moon, White Sister” — a love song to the moon, steeped in Bai mythology and heart.
When: 4:30 – 6:30pm, October 4th
Where: 60 Neasden lane, London, NW10 2UW
Website: https://yicrafts.com/events/2025/10/4/the-moonlight-street-film-screening-with-traditional-bai-music-workshop
Archives of Weird Memories
Artist Tan Wang-Ward draws from the collections at Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives to explore the layered histories of Limehouse. The project’s title is taken from a 1934 tabloid that called Limehouse Causeway the “Street of Weird Memories.” During her residency, Tan consulted photographs, clippings, ephemera, maps, and directories documenting the communities that gathered in Limehouse in the early 20th century. Collaborating with locally run AI models and guided by extensive archival research, she creates art. The exhibition has been expanded, and on Thursdays and Saturdays Tan Wang-Ward gives talks explaining her process and the history she is drawing from.
When: Multiple Dates
Where: Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives, 277 Bancroft Road, E1 4DQ
Website: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/archive-of-weird-memories-public-tours-tickets-1605637909209?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
An A-Z of Chinese Food
Van Gogh House in London, where the famous artist lived for a short period, are hosting a fascinating ‘festival of encounters’. One of the events will be Writer and community organiser Jenny Lau discusses themes from her book, An A-Z of Chinese Food.
When: Saturday, October 4th, 1 – 2pm
Where: Van Gogh House, 87 Hackford Road, London, SW9 0RE
Website: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/an-a-z-of-chinese-food-tickets-1602031141269?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1
Verso Books: A Global View on China
Also on October 4th, there will be a panel discussing the topic of the global future of China. On the panel there will be Wang Hui, Pun Ngai, and Rebecca Karl, chaired by Tariq Ali.
When: Saturday, October 4th, 6:30 – 8:30pm
Where: SOAS University of London,10 Thornhaugh Street, London, WC1H 0XG
Website: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/verso-books-a-global-view-on-china-tickets-1731011856059?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1
Moon Fest 2025
Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival in London Chinatown with Moon Fest 2025. The free event takes place on October 5th from 2pm until 5pm.
When: Sunday, 5th October 2025, 2 – 5PM
Where: London Chinatown
Website: https://chinaminutes.com/2025/10/01/moon-fest-uk-arrives-in-london-on-october-5th/
Dear Asia Mid Autumn Day
Dear Asia will also be having a standalone event celebrating Mid Autumn Festival, combining elements of China’s Festival and Korea’s Chuseok festival. Expect traditional snacks and tea, Han costumes to dress up in, and making your own woodblock prints. The event is open to Dear Asia students and the general public.
When: 6:00 pm, 6th October
Where: Dear Asia Aldgate Centre
Website: https://events.dearasia.co.uk/2025/mid-autumn-day-mooncakes-tea-woodblock-printing/
Sound&Soul Hoxton
Billed as ‘A Celebration of ESEA Culture’ this event will have live Q&As, DJ sets, & exclusive sounds. Highlights include a screening of the documentary The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru and a Q&A with the director.
When: Wednesday October 8th
Where: art’otel London Hoxton, 1-3 Rivington Street London EC2A 3DT
Website: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/soundandsoulhoxton-tickets-1527499816069?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1
Moonfest 2025
Not to be confused with the previous Moonfest on this list, this Moonfest will be hosted at Rick Mix in East London. It will feature short film screenings, music performances, arts and crafts, and more. Not just about the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, this event embraces wider East and Southeast Asian culture. It is organised by Made on the Moon, an ESEA non-profit aiming to foster space for more ESEA artistic representation through this annual multi-arts festival.
When: 1:00 – 5:00 pm, 12th October
Where: Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA
Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/moon-fest-london-tickets-1645408694699
Mountains and Seas: Storytelling and Sound Workshop
This experimental workshop will blend sound, storytelling, percussion, and empowerment for a transformative creative experience. A precursor to the stage play Mountains and Seas – Song of Today 山海 · 今日之歌 happening in early December.
When: Tuesday, 16th September 2025, 6:30 PM
Where: Friday, October 17th, 6 – 9pm
Website: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/mountains-and-seas-storytelling-and-sound-workshop-tickets-1735062973059?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1
Stitching the Myth: Handcrafted Creatures of Mountains and Seas
Related to the last event, this handcraft workshop run by Yiran Duan – founder of Yicrafts and costume designer for the play mentioned above. This session invites participants to explore hand-stitching techniques rooted in folk textile traditions, while creating their own unique mythological beings.
When: Sunday, October 26th, 2 – 4pm
Where: 60 Neasden Lane, London, NW10 2UW
Website: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/stitching-the-myth-handcrafted-creatures-of-mountains-and-seas-tickets-1734622495579?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1
King’s College London China Week
I’ve grouped this all together to avoid making this post too long, but it is actually a series of events held as part of King’s College London China Week. This year, the theme is ‘China and the New World Order’, reflecting China’s growing influence in the world. There are tons of panels, book talks, workshops and more. It’s worth attending a few if you have any interest in learning more about China.
When: October 20th – 24th
Where: Various locations – primarily at King’s College London
Website: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/china-week
Dimensions: Contemporary Chinese Studio Crafts
The V&A is hosting an exhibition that explores the dimensions of studio craft practice in China today, and the innovations which have grown from China’s longstanding craft tradition. As well as the exhibition, there will be some lectures and discussions about the exhibition on specific dates. Check out the website below for more details.
When: October 28th onwards
Where: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL
Website: https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/dimensions-contemporary-chinese-studio-crafts
If you liked this article why not read: Mid Autumn Festival 2025; Mooncakes, Lanterns, and Celebrations
