Diwali – also known as the ‘Festival of Lights’ – is a five-day Hindu, Jain, and Sikh festival celebrated each year. For many, the celebrations honour the story from Hindu mythology, which symbolises good over evil, and light over darkness. Hindus also honour the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, and the god of good fortune and wisdom, Ganesh. Here in London, there are many Diwali celebrations that people of all faiths (or none at all) can get involved in. This year’s celebrations will run from October 29 – November 3, with the main celebrations taking place on October 31 and November 1. So, without further ado, here’s our rundown of some of the best places to celebrate Diwali in London in 2024.
1. Enjoy a huge free Diwali celebration at Trafalgar Square (October 27)
Now, if you want to celebrate Diwali in London, then you don’t want to miss Diwali on Trafalgar Square, which is the largest celebration – by far – in London. It also has an impressive history, having taken place in the city for the past 22 years! Be sure to make your way to Trafalgar Square on Sunday, October 27 to enjoy everything from street food to dance performances, live music, workshops, and more.
Find out more here.
📍 Diwali on Trafalgar Square, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DS.
🚇 Nearest station is Charing Cross.
2. Tuck into a collaborative five-course tasting dinner (October 24)
The InterContinental London Park Lane is getting in on the Diwali celebrations early, with a one-night-only dining experience on October 24. Executive Chef Lalit Kumar has teamed up with guest chef, and MasterChef: The Professionals semi-finalist, Arbinder Singh Dugal, on a special Indian five-course tasting dinner. Priced at £95pp, guests will enjoy “elevated festival dishes” for the ocassion. These will include the likes of Murg Changezi Croquettes, Kashmiri chilli rump of lamb and lamb shoulder, aamras and churan sorbet coated with mukhwas dust, and more. You can also tack on an optional wine pairing for a truly celebratory meal.
Book your table here.
📍 Intercontinental London Park Lane, One Hamilton Place, Park Lane, W1J 7QY.
🚇 Nearest station is Hyde Park Corner.
3. Celebrate on Devonshire Square (October 30)
Another free Diwali celebration is taking place at Devonshire Square on October 30 with yet more live performances and even free food and drink! Attendees can receive free henna art (on a first-come, first-served basis), enjoy a dance show from Akademi South Asian Dance UK, and watch rangoli art being made by award-winning artist Miguel Rajaguru. All the while you can chow down on free canapés, Diwali sweets, and a drink, from Devonshire Square’s renowned Cinnamon Kitchen.
The event is free, but be sure to register ahead of time here.
📍 You’ll find Devonshire Square just a few minutes walk from Liverpool Street.
4. Work your way through bottomless biryani
Over at Kricket’s recently-opened Canary Wharf restaurant, they’re throwing an all-out Diwali party on November 2. Expect live music and performances, screen printing and art workshops, henna tattoos for everyone, and plenty of food and drink. They’re promising bottomless biryani as well as endless chai and nimbu pani. Count us in!
Tickets are £30 for adults, £15 for under 18s, and free for kids under 2. Grab your tickets here.
📍 Unit 6 Frobisher Passage, Canary Wharf, E14 5HA.
🚇 Nearest station is Canary Wharf.
5. Have a Michelin-starred Diwali meal
If you want to go all out with your Diwali celebrations this year, why not opt for Benares – one of London’s Michelin-starred Indian restaurants? From October 28 – November 3, Benares is serving a celebratory 8-course menu that is “packed full of celebratory dishes and flavours”. The menu ranges from Scottish Halibut Tika to Butter Chicken Samosa and Lumina Lamb Pulao. Rest assured, though, that just as much thought has gone into the vegetarian menu, as well.
In the spirit of Diwali, which has a tradition of gifting, every guest who enjoys the tasting menu will receive an envelope with a special gift or prize. These range from a complimentary cocktail or dessert on the night to the chance to win a tasting menu with wine pairings at the Chef’s Table.
Book your table here.
📍 12a Berkeley Square, W1J 6BS.
🚇 Nearest station is Green Park.
6. And another Michelin-starred Diwali meal
Over in Marylebone village, the Michelin-star restaurant Trishna also has a special dinner available for Diwali revellers. Chef Sajeev Nair has come up with a six-course celebratory feast that includes dishes like Half Lobster Ghee Roast and Tandoori Lamb Chops, as well as vegetarian dishes like Tikka Anardana and Jackfruit Pepper Fry. To mark the ocassion, the restaurant’s exterior will also be made over with a stunning installation of flowers and lights courtesy of the florists from Phohm. There’s no chance you’ll get lost on your way to this restaurant!
Book your table here.
📍 15-17 Blandford Street, W1U 3DG.
🚇 Nearest stations are Baker Street, Bond Street, and Marble Arch.
7. Or opt for a two-Michelin-starred Diwali feast
The only thing better than a Michelin-starred meal is a two-Michelin-starred meal. And over at Gymkhana, London’s only two Michelin-star Indian restaurant, a truly special Diwali dining experience awaits. Chef Sid Ahuja has created a five-course Diwali Tasting Menu that includes a variety of the restaurant’s signature dishes – such as Chettinad Prawn Pepper Masala, Wild Muntjac Biryani, and Chicken Butter Masala. The menu is available from October 28-November 3, with an optional wine pairing, and a fully vegetarian tasting menu also on offer.
Book your table here.
📍 42 Albemarle Street, W1S 4JH.
🚇 Nearest station is Green Park.
8. Celebrate at Wembley Park’s Diwali Weekend
This year, Wembley Park will be hosting their very own Diwali Weekend Festival, a three-day extravaganza that promises to bring the magic and light of Diwali to life in the heart of north-west London. The festival will be packed with exciting events and performances, including live music, traditional Bollywood dance performances, and even a luminous lantern parade. Beyond the dazzling entertainment, a market will be set up and serving up some drool-worthy South-Asian delicacies, as well as arts, crafts, and local traders.
Find out more here.
📍 Wembley Park Diwali Weekend, Samovar Space, Olympic Way, Wembley, UK
🚇 Nearest station is Wembley Park
9. Take in some stunning Indian art
While not explicitly Diwali-themed, the Barbican Centre’s celebration of Indian art and artists, The Imaginary Institution of India: Art 1875-1998, is a must-visit. The exhibition sits at the intersection of creativity and history and encompasses works that respond to a particularly intense period in India’s history. Pieces range across paintings, sculpture, photography, and multi-media installations.
The exhibition is usually ticketed but will be open for free across the weekend of October 26-27 to coincide with the Darbar Festival of Indian classical music at the Barbican Centre, and to commemorate Diwali and Bandi Chor Divas. The Barbican will also host a programme of experimental shorts, This Bit of India, in the Cinemas that weekend.
Find out more here.
📍 Barbican Centre, Silk Street, Barbican, EC2Y 8DS.
🚇 Nearest station is Barbican.
10. Go on a culinary Diwali journey (October 24)
Another one-night-only Diwali dinner will be available at Vivek Singh’s renowned Cinnamon Kitchen Battersea for Diwali, in collaboration with MasterChef semi-finalist and celebrity chef, Nisha Parmar. A six-course dinner will take diners on a journey through traditional Diwali celebrations through themed dishes. It kicks off with a welcome drink and canapé reception during which guests are treated to a live performance “from traditional garba dancers that honor Durga, the feminine form of divinity”. The meal then moves through the stages of celebration – from Namaste (Dhokla Pumpkin Sandwich) to the Street (Potato Pave Chaat) and beyond, before finishing it off with Fireworks (Ras Malai Tres Leche with Popping Candy).
Book your spot here.
📍 Cinnamon Kitchen Battersea, Battersea Power Station, 4 Arches Lane, SW11 8AB.
🚇 Nearest station is Battersea Power Station.
11. See Greenwich Peninsula light up for Diwali (November 2)
Greenwich Peninsula will get in on the Diwali celebrations with a roster of events and activities throughout the day on November 2. There will be live music and dance performances and the chance to participate in a variety of workshops on topics ranging from henna to chai. You can even create your own lantern and participate in a riverside lantern parade that very evening.
Find out more and book your spot in workshops here.
12. Head to Babur for a candlelit celebration
Over in Brockley, the London institution Babur is also joining in on the Diwali celebrations with special menus and a Diwali party. On October 30, they’ll be throwing a one-day-only Diwali Party that treats guests to a special five-course tasting menu and vibrant performances by Bollywood Vibes. You can also go along just to try the food, with the Diwali Tasting Menu available from October 29-November 3.
Find out more and reserve your table here.
📍 119 Brockley Rise, SE23 1JP.
🚇 Nearest station is Honor Oak Park.
13. Marvel at the Taj Hotel’s Diwali offerings
Across the Diwali period, and beyond, London’s Taj Hotels (Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences and St James’ Court, A Taj Hotel) will be going all out for Diwali. The TH@51 restaurant will be offering a curated selection of regional thalis to celebrate India’s diverse culinary traditions and heritage. TH@51 will also be serving up the India Unveiled Weekend Brunch to celebrate Indian flavours and brunch classics – with bottomless drinks to match.
TH@51 and Hamptons Bar will also debut exclusive new cocktails for the ocassion – including the Masala 51, which is served in a handbag glass. But that’s not all, the Kona Restaurant will also get in on the fun with the Indian Jasmine Afternoon Tea offering, which combines Indian and British traditions into a special experience.
Find out more here.
14. Dine on a Thali Diwali
Mayfair’s Bombay Bustle restaurant is partnering with food writer and chef, Mainukia Gowardhan, to craft a special Thali Diwali. The special menu will be available from October 23-November 3, featuring a mixture of dishes from Maunika’s book, Thali: A Joyful Celebration of Indian Home Cooking and dishes from Bombay Bustle’s Executive Chef Surender Mohan. Guests will be welcomed with a Badam Thandai drink (a creamy saffron and rose drink) before enjoying the likes of Kadai Paneer, Malabar Lamb Curry, Rajwadi Gobhi, and more.
For the ocassion, the restaurant will also host a Diwali Bazaar for guests to purchase gifts to share the Diwali spirit with family and friends. Items range from mugs and handmade ceramic diyas (candle holders) from artisans across India to Diwali sweets in colourful packaging.
📍 29 Maddox Street, Mayfair, W1S 2PA.
🚇 Nearest station is Oxford Circus.
15. Check out London’s stunning new Indian restaurant
The Ambassadors Clubhouse only opened recently in London, but it’s already making waves. And, of course, there’s no way they were going to miss out on Diwali! Between October 28-November 3, diners can try the Diwali Feast Menu, available alongside the A La Carte offerings. Plus, they’ll be celebrating with an AMBASSY Diwali Weekend event from November 1-2, with more announcements to come.
Find out more and book your table here.
📍 25 Heddon Street, W1B 4BH.
🚇 Nearest station is Piccadilly Circus.
16. Party with Dishoom (October 30)
The team from London’s beloved Dishoom is joining forces with Dialled In and dropping down at Walthamstow’s epic beer hall, Big Penny Social, for a Diwali party to remember. Guests can expect all sorts of South Asian live entertainment from live music to DJ sets and dance performances. There will also be plenty of drinks (it’s a beer hall after all!) and a vegetarian feast of Dishoom favourites. Expect a night of revelry, delicious food, and flowing drinks.
Book your ticket here.
📍 Big Penny Social, 1 Priestley Way, E17 6AL.
🚇 Nearest station is Blackhorse Road.
17. Feast on some unique Indian dishes
Kanishka by Atul Kochhar is another great spot in London for some delicious dining during Diwali. Guests can indulge in a seven-course tasting menu that includes the likes of Cromer Crab Fritter with Chickpea Sundal and Tomato Chutney and Scallops with Chicken Jus and Crispy Chicken Skin. But the star of the show is the Chicken Tikka Pie with Berry Chutney. The British-Indian fusion pie is warming, fragrant, and all-around delicious.
Book your table here.
📍 Kanishka by Atul Kochhar, 17-19 Maddox Street, Mayfair, W1S 2QH.
🚇 Nearest station is Oxford Circus.
18. Have a taste of Diwali on the terrace
The esteemed Tamarind of Mayfair restaurant is also getting in on the action with a delightful Diwali tasting menu. And you can even enjoy it on their new all-weather terrace for a proper celebration no matter the weather. The special menu is available for lunch and dinner from October 24 to November 3 and includes dishes like Benarsi Aloo Tikki Chat, Tandoori Konkan Prawn, and more.
📍 20 Queen Street, Mayfair, W1J 5PR.
🚇 Nearest station is Green Park.
19. Try an all-new celebratory menu at Bibi
Just in time for Diwali celebrations, Bibi has launched two new menus featuring delicious new dishes – one of which is a downright indulgent celebratory affair. The two menus are the ‘Ranjana’ (after Chef Chet Sharma’s paternal grandmother) and the ‘Kamal’ (after his maternal grandmother). But if you want a proper celebration, opt for the former menu, which is a “no-holds-barred” affair with lobster, wagyu, truffles, and caviar. Yum!
📍 42 North Audley Street, W1K 6ZP.
🚇 Nearest stations are Bond Street and Marble Arch.
20. Add some Indo-Chinese flair to your celebrations
Over at Fatt Pundit, London’s duo of Indo-Chinese fusion restaurants, they’re ringing in Diwali with limited-time menu items. The ‘Firecracker’ specials include fiery and fragrant dishes such as Smoked Wok Cod Fritters and Fatt Pundit’s Szechuan Lollipop. Alongside a special ‘Firecracker’ cocktail, the specials will only be available from October 30-November 2.
Head here to book.
📍 77 Berwick Street, W1F 8TH & 6 Maiden Lane, WC2E 7NA.
🚇 Nearest stations are Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road & Covent Garden and Leicester Square.
So there you have it – a roundup of the best things to do for Diwali in London this year. From making your way through delicious feasting menus to an enormous free celebration in Trafalgar Square, there’s plenty here for you to do whatever your age or cultural background!