15 Different Drinks to Try in London This October 2026
October is when London's drinking habits start to change.
The bright, refreshing drinks of summer gradually make way for warmer, spiced and richer flavours. Pubs feel cosier, wine lists start leaning towards fuller reds, cocktail menus begin experimenting with autumn ingredients, and Oktoberfest brings enormous steins of German beer to different parts of the capital.
But October in London isn't only about beer and cocktails.
You can find seasonal apple drinks, warming hot chocolates, spiced coffees, Japanese sake, autumnal cocktails, English cider and plenty of non-alcoholic options too.
And 2026 has a particularly interesting October drinks calendar. Japan Matsuri brings Japanese food and culture including drinks — to Trafalgar Square on 4 October, Oktoberfest events continue through the month, and London Restaurant Festival has several wine and cocktail-focused events scheduled throughout October.
So if you're wondering what to drink in London this October, here are 15 different drinks and drinking experiences worth trying.
1. A Proper German FestBeer
October is practically an invitation to drink beer in London.
Oktoberfest events take place across the capital during the month, bringing Bavarian-style beer halls, live music, German food and large steins with them.
The official London Oktoberfest at Finsbury Park runs from 1–3 October 2026, while other Oktoberfest events continue elsewhere in London later in the month. Visit London specifically highlights authentic German beer alongside traditional Bavarian food such as bratwurst and Apfelstrudel.
The beer itself is the obvious place to start.
At London Oktoberfest, the organisers describe their FestBeer as a specially brewed Bavarian-style beer. Other drinks including wine, cider and soft drinks are also available.
If you've never experienced an Oktoberfest-style beer hall before, October is the perfect excuse.
2. Apple Cider
October is also a good month to explore British cider.
Apples are firmly in season during autumn, with British apple varieties available throughout October. British Apples & Pears lists several varieties that are available from October onwards.
That makes cider a natural drink to look for as London moves into autumn.
Try a traditional cider in a pub, a dry cider with food or a local craft cider if you want something less familiar.
And don't assume cider is always sweet. British cider ranges from very dry and tart to fruity and sweeter styles.
For an October pub afternoon, a pint of cider can feel far more appropriate than the summery spritz you might have ordered a few months earlier.
3. Mulled Cider
Mulled cider is where cider starts feeling properly autumnal.
Warm cider combined with spices such as cinnamon, cloves and citrus creates a drink that sits somewhere between a traditional pub drink and a winter warmer.
It is worth remembering that mulled cider isn't exclusively an October drink, and availability varies from venue to venue. It becomes much more common as London heads towards November and Christmas.
But if you find it on a menu in October, it's worth trying.
Think of it as the early warning sign that London's Christmas drinks season is approaching.
4. An Apple-Based Cocktail
If you want something more sophisticated than cider, look for cocktails built around apple.
October's British apple season makes apple an especially appropriate ingredient for autumn cocktail menus. British Apples & Pears confirms that a range of British apple varieties are available during this period.
Depending on the bar, you might encounter combinations involving apple juice, apple brandy, calvados, gin, whisky or cider.
The interesting part is how different the drink can become depending on the base spirit.
A crisp apple-and-gin drink can still feel relatively light, while apple combined with whisky, cinnamon or richer liqueurs immediately feels much more autumnal.
5. A Pumpkin-Spiced Coffee
You don't need alcohol to enjoy London's October drinks scene.
Pumpkin-spiced coffee has become one of the most recognisable autumn drinks, and October is when it becomes particularly easy to find seasonal coffee specials across London.
But don't stop at the standard pumpkin spice latte.
Independent cafés often experiment with autumn flavours such as:
Cinnamon
Maple
Caramel
Ginger
Nutmeg
Apple
Chocolate
If you're walking around London on a cold October morning, an autumn coffee can be a much better companion than an iced drink.
6. Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate sounds simple.
That's exactly why it works.
As October temperatures begin dropping, London's cafés and chocolate shops become much more appealing places to stop for something warm.
Look beyond the basic version. Some places offer dark chocolate, salted caramel, whipped cream, marshmallows, spices or elaborate toppings.
And October is a particularly good point in the year to start drinking it regularly without feeling like you've skipped straight to Christmas.
A rainy London afternoon + hot chocolate + somewhere cosy to sit is difficult to argue with.
7. A Chai Latte
October is also a great time for a chai latte.
The combination of black tea, milk and warming spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and cloves fits naturally into London's transition towards colder weather.
And because London has such a diverse food scene, you're not limited to one interpretation of chai.
Look for cafés and restaurants serving Indian-style masala chai as well as the sweeter café-style chai latte.
If you normally drink coffee, switching to chai for an autumn afternoon can be a surprisingly good change.
8. A Hot Toddy
The hot toddy has a very different personality from a summer cocktail.
Traditionally built around a spirit, hot water, citrus and some form of sweetness, it is the sort of drink that makes sense when you want something warming rather than refreshing.
Whisky is a common base, although variations exist.
October is arguably the sweet spot for it: cold enough to appreciate a warm drink, but before London reaches the full Christmas-and-winter drinks season.
Just remember that recipes vary considerably, so one hot toddy can taste completely different from another.
9. An Autumn Whisky Cocktail
October is a good month to start exploring whisky cocktails if you've mostly stuck to lighter drinks.
The richer character of whisky works particularly well with autumn ingredients and flavours such as apple, ginger, cinnamon, maple and bitters.
Classic cocktails such as the Old Fashioned or Manhattan can also feel particularly appropriate once the weather cools.
You don't need a complicated seasonal creation either.
Sometimes a well-made classic is exactly what you want after spending a few hours walking around London in October.
10. A Red Wine from a London Wine Bar
October is also a good excuse to switch your usual wine order.
As the weather cools, red wine becomes increasingly appealing especially fuller-bodied styles that work well with autumn food.
But rather than automatically ordering the same bottle you always choose, visit a wine bar and ask the staff for something suited to an autumn meal.
London's wine-bar scene makes this particularly easy.
And there is a current reason to do it: London Restaurant Festival's October 2026 programme includes dedicated wine-pairing experiences, including Tiny Wine on 20 October and a Wine Pairing at Alta on 22 October.
If you want to learn something while drinking, a wine-pairing event is far more interesting than simply ordering another glass.
11. Japanese Sake
October gives you a particularly good excuse to try sake in London.
Japan Matsuri returns to Trafalgar Square on Sunday 4 October 2026, from 10am to 8pm, with food stalls and a full programme celebrating Japanese culture.
But there's another interesting sake event later in the month.
On 22 October, Sticks'n'Sushi in Soho is hosting a one-night Nomihodai experience celebrating Japanese drinking culture, with 90 minutes of sake alongside Japanese dishes. The event features five different sakes.
If sake is completely new to you, this is a good opportunity to try several styles rather than judging it from one drink.
12. A Japanese Yuzushu or Fruit-Based Sake
If you're worried that sake might be too unfamiliar, look for fruitier Japanese drinks.
Yuzushu, for example, uses yuzu and has a citrus-forward character that can be very different from the dry, rice-focused sake styles people may initially imagine.
The October Nomihodai event in Soho includes Akashi Tai Yuzushu among its five featured pours.
It's a useful introduction if you enjoy citrusy or sweeter drinks but want to explore Japanese drinking culture.
13. A Cocktail Made with Seasonal Autumn Ingredients
October is when cocktail menus can become much more interesting.
Instead of the citrus-heavy and tropical flavours associated with summer, autumn cocktails can use ingredients such as:
Apple
Pear
Pumpkin
Ginger
Cinnamon
Coffee
Maple
Herbs
Bitters
London Restaurant Festival's October programme includes a cocktail masterclass at Pepperbird on 22 October, where guests can learn to make three signature cocktails with canapés.
Even if you don't attend the masterclass, it is worth looking at cocktail menus during October and asking what's seasonal.
A good bartender will usually be able to point you towards something that fits the weather.
14. A Non-Alcoholic Autumn Cocktail
October drinking doesn't have to mean alcohol.
London's drinks scene has become much better at offering interesting non-alcoholic choices, and autumn flavours work particularly well without spirits.
Look for drinks built around:
Apple
Ginger
Tea
Cinnamon
Citrus
Herbs
Spices
Seasonal fruit
Visit London's October guide also highlights non-alcoholic serves as part of the city's wider drinks scene.
A well-made zero-proof cocktail should feel like an actual drink rather than a consolation prize for not ordering alcohol.
That's the standard worth looking for.
15. A Classic Pub Drink
And finally, don't overlook the simplest option.
Go into a proper London pub and order something you haven't tried before.
It could be a pint of ale, a cider, a stout, a glass of red wine or a whisky.
The point isn't necessarily the drink.
It's the setting.
October is one of the best months for the classic London pub experience because you can walk through an autumnal neighbourhood, step inside somewhere warm, find a corner and spend an hour watching London go by outside.
Sometimes that is a better October drink experience than a complicated cocktail in a fashionable bar.
What Should You Drink in London in October?
If you want to narrow everything down, think about what kind of experience you want.
For something traditionally autumnal:
Try cider, an apple cocktail, hot toddy or a warming whisky drink.
For something cosy:
Go for hot chocolate, chai or pumpkin-spiced coffee.
For something social:
Oktoberfest beer is an obvious choice.
For something different:
Try sake or yuzushu.
For a sophisticated evening:
Go for a wine pairing or seasonal cocktail.
For something alcohol-free:
Look for an autumn-inspired zero-proof cocktail.
And if you simply want to experience London like a local, find a good pub and order something you've never tried before.
A Few October Drinks Events to Know About
There are several useful dates to keep in mind this October.
4 October - Japan Matsuri
Trafalgar Square, 10am–8pm. Free entry, with food stalls and Japanese cultural programming.
9–24 October - Oktoberfest at Clapham Common
A longer Oktoberfest celebration featuring beer, food, music and Bavarian-themed entertainment.
20 October - Tiny Wine
A London Restaurant Festival wine-pairing event in Fitzrovia.
22 October - Wine Pairing at Alta
A London Restaurant Festival event pairing wine with small plates.
22 October - Cocktail Masterclass at Pepperbird
A London Restaurant Festival masterclass featuring three signature cocktails and canapés.
22 October - Nomihodai at Sticks'n'Sushi, Soho
A one-night sake experience running from 7:30pm to 9pm.
Dates and availability can change, so check the individual event before travelling or booking.
One Thing You Won't Find on This List: London Cocktail Week
If you've searched for London drinks content before, you may be wondering why London Cocktail Week isn't here.
That's intentional.
London Cocktail Week has traditionally been an October fixture, but the 2026 edition has moved to March 2027.
So it would be misleading to tell readers to visit London in October specifically for London Cocktail Week.
There are still plenty of cocktail events in the capital this month including London Restaurant Festival's cocktail masterclass but they shouldn't be confused with the main London Cocktail Week event.
Final Thoughts
October gives London's drinks scene a completely different personality.
You can start the day with a pumpkin-spiced coffee, warm up with chai in the afternoon and finish with a glass of red wine or an autumn cocktail.
Or you can go in a completely different direction and spend an evening drinking Bavarian FestBeer at Oktoberfest.
You could try sake at a Japanese event, explore a wine pairing, discover a seasonal cocktail or simply find a cosy pub and order a drink you've never had before.
The best part is that you don't need to follow one particular trend.
October is about changing with the season.
So next time you're in London this month, don't automatically order your usual drink.
Try something that feels like October.
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