Autumn in London - Where to See Autumn Colours in London

Autumn, one of the most beautiful seasons in London, with its fiery and vibrant colours. So here’s a guide to the best spots for Autumn colours in London to help you make the most of this gorgeous time of the year.

House with black door and windows covered in red ivy. One of the most iconic spots for autumn colours in London

The arrival of autumn in London means the end of long warm days and balmy evenings, and the beginning of comfy warmer clothes and spectacular displays of colour. Trees turn gold as they prepare to shed their leaves, and hidden corners get covered in bright red ivy.

Many people think of the Cotswolds when it comes to this time of the year’s beauty, but autumn colours in London are stunning and it’s one of the best seasons to explore the city.

There are so many pretty spots to enjoy the autumn leaves in London, that I’ve put together a useful list here of all the best ones.

And to make it even easier, you can download my printable LONDON AUTUMN LEAVES GUIDE, with exact locations and maps of where to see autumn colours in London.

Table of Contents

1 Best time to see autumn colours in London
2 Best spots for autumn colour in London
3 Best parks for autumn colour in London
4 Download my LONDON AUTUMN COLOUR GUIDE
5 More London articles you may like
6 How about some London day trip ideas?

Best time to see autumn colours in London

Generally, autumn colours in London start showing around the second or third week of October and they will stick around until roughly the second week of November. But if you’re looking for fiery reds and oranges, the peak time for the brightest colours tends to be the last week of October and the first week of November.

Me standing in front of an arched black door surrounded by orange and red ivy

Saying this, please bear in mind that weather patterns will determine how early colours start showing up or how late they start disappearing. A good place to keep an eye on the best time to see autumn leaves in London is Instagram, where photos will start appearing as soon as the season starts.

Best spots for autumn colour in London

Hampstead

Hampstead is possibly the most charming neighbourhood in London. It’s known by locals as Hampstead Village, and it’s very easy to see why. It still has that delightful village feel, with its narrow streets and independent shops. This really makes it one of the best places to see autumn colours in London, and it’s certainly my favourite.

Large red brick house with walls covered in red ivy

Big detached house covered in red ivy with classic car parked outside

Pretty house with the front door framed by red ivy and topiary bushes

Curving narrow road flanked by walls covered in red and green ivy and large house with turrets in the background

Entrance to a house with steps going up to the front door, with garden walls covered in yellow and green ivy

Kensington

In Kensington you will find one of the most iconic images of autumn leaves in London. Made really popular on Instagram, this I’m sure will be at the top of your list of places to go this autumn.

Arch covered with hanging red ivy leading to mews street. This is one of the most recognisable spots for autumn colours in London

House completely covered in red ivy next to a stone arch with hanging red ivy too. The foreground of this image shows a red geranium flower and a Victorian street light

Holland Park

One of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in London, Holland Park is home to beautiful houses with lovely front gardens that gift us with colour throughout the year – whether it’s magnolias and cherry blossoms in bloom in spring, or fiery red ivy in the autumn. Don’t miss this area if you’re on the hunt for autumn leaves in London!

Large pink house with a large garden and a tree with red and green foliage

Me standing in front of a brick wall covered in green and red ivy

Row of pastel coloured houses, with one of them having a tree with red leaves

Small cottage with a bay leaf tree by the front door, seen through red foliage

Large blue house with a bike parked in the front garden and red and green plants and tree

White wall with arched black door covered with hanging orange and red ivy

Me walking past a very high wall completely covered in bright red ivy

Pretty front door with white wrought iron canopy. The wall is covered in green ivy and there is an orange flowered plant at the front

White house with a young red ivy plant crawling over part of the wall

Mayfair

Swanky boutiques, exclusive hotels and restaurants, and plenty of art galleries, Mayfair is the playground of the rich and famous and has a lot of London’s hidden gems. Its distinctive Georgian townhouses make this neighbourhood an elegant haunt to hang out in. And of course, it’s got its own contribution to autumn colour in London with one of the most iconic spots in the city.

Three storey Georgian building with rend and green ivy hanging over the wall from the first floor

Westminster

The most visited area of London also has some vibrant spots for those looking for autumn leaves. And there are a few to pick from, all within a short walking distance.

Thick woody vine crawling on a sandstone wall with green and red foliage on the upper part

Southwark

Nestled between the River Thames and some of the most striking modern architecture in London, you can enjoy some gorgeous autumn colour with an added bonus – the stunning view of Tower Bridge. Try and be there for sunset on a clear day for the best light!

Me walking in front of a golden-leaved tree

Best parks for autumn colour in London

I couldn’t really write an article about autumn spots in London and leave the best parks in the city. So here is a list of the top ones to enjoy those golden, fiery colours.