Now, you might be thinking ‘It’s only just gone September!’ But despite what the name suggests, Oktoberfest traditionally starts in September and finishes in October. And because we Londoners love an excuse to drink steins of beer honouring tradition, plenty of Oktoberfest celebrations are kicking off in London this month. Head to the following spots for frothy beers, brass bands, big ol’ bratwursts, and plenty of Lederhosen.
1. The Official Camden Oktoberfest (September 28 – October 26)
Kicking off our Oktoberfest roundup is The Official Camden Oktoberfest, which returns in 2024 for its 8th iteration. Billing itself as “the most complete, the most considered and the coolest celebration of the famous Bavarian beer festival”, the celebration takes over Camden’s iconic Electric Ballroom every Saturday from September 28 all the way through October. The daytime sessions transform the site into a Bavarian beer hall with large beer tables and bunting, as well as plenty of bratwurst, sausages, live performances, and beer!
Get your tickets here.
📍Electric Ballroom, 184 Camden High Street, London, NW1 8QP.
🚇 Nearest station is Camden Town.
2. German Gymnasium (September 20 – October 31)
This restaurant is housed in a historic gym right by St. Pancras station in King’s Cross and is the perfect spot for a more upmarket Oktoberfest experience. From September 20 – October 31, they’ll transport diners to Bavaria through the decor, special menu, traditional German beers, and copious lederhosen. Chef Alex has cooked up a curated Oktoberfest Spezialitäten menu, showcasing the very best Oktoberfest foods, to be enjoyed alongside the specially-imported beers. Plus, each Friday they’ll have an Oompah band keeping spirits high. If you show up in lederhosen and dirndl, they’ll even give you a stein – on the haus!
Find out more here.
📍German Gymnasium, 1 King’s Blvd, London, N1C 4BU.
🚇 Nearest station is King’s Cross St. Pancras.
3. Das Harvest Fest at Villages (September 13 & 14)
Don’t get too confused by the name here – this is essentially an Oktoberfest celebration under another guise. After all, Oktoberfest was largely a celebration of the harvest each year. And the beloved Deptford brewery, Villages, is ringing in Oktoberfest Harvest Fest with some of the freshest, tastiest, local-est lagers around. Revellers can also enjoy everything from local craft lagers to German imports as well as live music and DJs, a harvest parade, pretzels, and hot dogs. With two sessions across September 13-14, tickets are limited so be sure not to miss out!
Grab your tickets here.
📍 Villages Taproom, 21-22 Resolution Way, Deptford, SE8 4NT.
🚇 Nearest station is Deptford.
4. From The Ashes (September 12)
For a wholly different Oktoberfest experience, with an educational slant to boot, head to the Five Points brewery and taproom where resident BBQ legends From The Ashes are pairing a butchery masterclass with Oktoberfest revelry. The pork butchery masterclass will teach participants all about different pork cuts and sausage making. Guests will also be treated to a comprehensive tour of Five Point’s on-site brewery, a beer tasting, and an Oktoberfest feast with smoked sausages and smoked lagers.
Grab your tickets here.
📍 61 Mare St, London, E8 4RG.
🚇 Nearest stations are London Fields and Cambridge Heath.
5. Oktoberfest on the Common (October 11-19)
London’s largest Oktoberfest celebration – and the UK’s largest outdoor Oktoberfest – will plonk down on Clapham Common this October with seven sessions of beer-drinking revelry across five dates. And just for some sense of scale – they’re expecting to be serving over 400 different kinds of German sausages per hour from their array of caterers. And that doesn’t even take into account the “authentic Pan House offering everything from sauerkraut to vegan bratwurst”. Walk-around servers will handle the rest, offering up salted pretzels and drinks. It’s a riotous affair, but there’s more than just food and drink. There’s also “music, fairground rides, keg-tapping, photo booths, authentic foods, and hammerschlagen to name a few”.
Find out more and grab your tickets here.
📍 Clapham Common, London, SW4 9DE.
🚇 Nearest stations are Clapham South and Clapham Common.
6. Albert’s Schloss (September 21-October 6)
This enormous ‘Bavarian pleasure palace’ is the perfect spot for Oktoberfest celebrating if you don’t fancy ponying up for a ticket, or last-minute plans. As well as their celebrated range of German beers, visitors to the Schloss can enjoy wiener-eating competitions, keg tapping, oompah parties, brass brands, lederhosen competitions, live entertainment every single night, and more. The best part? There’s no ticket required and no door charge. Everyone is wilkommen!
Find out more here.
📍 20-24 Shaftesbury Ave, London, W1D 7EU.
🚇 Nearest station is Piccadilly Circus.
7. Oktoberfest at Between The Bridges (September 27 – October 12)
Oktoberfest celebrations will take over this Thames-hugging outdoor beer garden with two-pint steins, Bavarian-inspired street food, and “stein-slinging-worthy live music”. The Old Dirty Brasstards will be on hand to add some Oompah to the affair, playing everything from ’80s pop to ’00s indie classics. The party then rages into the night with drag host Miss LeighDing-Hosen and DJs keeping spirits high and Prost-y.
Grab your tickets here.
📍 South Bank’s Queen’s Walk, between Westminster & Waterloo Bridges.
🚇 Nearest station is Waterloo.
8. Big Penny Social (September 20-21)
Where better to celebrate a beer-fuelled ocassion like Oktoberfest than the UK’s biggest beer hall? Big Penny Social is having a right old knees up this September, with German beers, traditional German food, and German-ish entertainment. German Jukebox will pop up to keep punters on their feet with their Oompah live show, while the adult-only sessions will feature entertainment from Club de Fromage – London’s ultimate pop party.
Secure your tickets here.
📍 1 Priestley Way, London, E17 6AL.
🚇 Nearest station is Blackhorse Road.
9. Oktoberfest Brixton (October 5 & 12)
Get ready and prepared for a Bavarian blast as Oktoberfest Brixton returns to South London. The beer-swilling, brat-munching party will pop off at the Electric Brixton nightclub, which will transform into a Bavarian beer hall for the ocassion. Experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of Germany’s most famous festival – all without even leaving Brixon. There are two dates available in October, but don’t be too late getting your tickets because last year’s event sold out completely!
Find out more and grab your tickets here.
📍Electric Brixton, Town Hall Parade, Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1RJ.
🚇 Nearest station is Brixton.
10. Brick Lane Oktoberfest (September 20 – October 12)
Over in Brick Lane, Juju’s Bar & Stage is hosting four weeks of Oktoberfest parties, with 12 raucous sessions available for revellers to enjoy. The Bavarian Strollers will be on hand with their special brand of ‘Oompop’ and sing-along entertainment, with hosts “cabaret queen Eva Von Schnippish and drag royalty Envy leading the way with ‘prosts’ aplenty”. And with all the beer you’ll be drinking, be sure to fill the stomach with some Bavarian-inspired fest-food from BBQ specialists Cue Point.
Grab your tickets here.
📍 Ely’s Yard, 15 Hanbury St, London E1 6QR.
🚇 Nearest station is Shoreditch High Street.
11. The Bermondsey Bierkeller (September 21 – October 31)
Head on over to Bermondsey for a taste of Bavarian celebration, where Bermondsey Bierkeller is keeping the festivities going strong for 7 weeks! They’re also launching Bottomless Bavarian Brunches to mash up the German tradition with the much-loved London activity. With the promise of being “the most exhilarating parties in town”, you won’t want to miss these wunderbar celebrations.
Tickets here.
📍 2, 4 Tooley St, London, SE1 2SY.
🚇 Nearest station is London Bridge.
So there you have it – a roundup of the best places to enjoy Oktoberfest in London this year. Get ready to raise a stein or two, munch on a bratwurst, and maybe even get up for a dance on the tables!