Looking for some fun Autumnal alcohol-free activities? As a social person, it can be super hard to find activities to suggest to your friends that are alcohol-free, as well as looking for solo activities. Luckily, we’re here to help. Whether you’re trying to find an activity for a group or just yourself, we’ve got you covered. London’s huge, so we’ve got quite a few for you lot. Quiet, loud, late-night, morning – we got you.
London Parks
Basic… but parks. Let’s be honest, London’s parks are quite something, aren’t they? Roomy, gorgeous, historical, whatever you fancy you’ll probably find it. One thing we highly recommend for a Sunday morning is the Victoria Park market (though they’re open on Saturday too). Based in East London, nestled between Bethnal Green and Hackney, lies Victoria Park, a glorious space in itself, but every Sunday morning there are the markets. Vendors sell a variety of foods and drinks, and if the idea of a cute Autumnal walk through the market (aww) doesn’t tickle your fancy, maybe the idea of supporting independent and small businesses will. Check out their website. Plus, it’s a fun way to do some outdoor activities this year. Maaaaaybe with a hot drink?
Be A Tourist
As Londoners, it’s easy to get used to the fanciness of the monuments, lights and sights of central. The tube, for one, just doesn’t have good enough window views really. Above ground, there’s all sorts. Try getting a group together to go sightseeing. If you’re not able to walk around central or don’t enjoy walking too much, the 11, 24 and 14 busses are pretty good at hitting those main tourist areas, or at least getting really (quite) close! Plus, this is an activity you can do by yourself too!
Escape Rooms
Some escape rooms can be a little pricier, granted, but tell us you’ve never wanted to see your mates absolutely baffled by a difficult escape room, or scared by a scary one. With the Halloween season coming up, it might be one of the more seasonal activities to explore. It’s social, intellectually stimulating and a great little activity. We think the best one to go to is The Crystal Maze, you’ll get a bit of nostalgia (if you’re old enough) and have a great time with your mates.
Board Game Cafes
Board game lover? Same. A cheeky coffee and cake, a board game and a group of friends sounds like bliss, no? Honestly, board game cafes are a lovely place to socialise, and bring your mates, as well as being a pretty affordable option compared to… well… the rest of London! Be warned: if you think you know a lot of board games, you may find the experience of staring at what could essentially be a British Library-sized collection of board games quite humbling. Just be prepared (but don’t worry, we are exaggerating). Check out our article on the best places in London to play board games.
The Sky Garden
Now that sunsets are back at a reasonable hour, this might be one of the coolest suggestions we have for the Autumn / Winter seasons. You’ve probably heard of the Sky Garden, a free-to-enter, book-in-advance public garden. With views of London – city and beyond, it’s possibly an incredibly cute, indoor experience to have this Winter! Though alcohol is available to purchase, you’re totally fine to just nip up for a visit. You can also dine and shop there! All the information you’ll need, including how to book, is on their website linked above.
Museums
London is crawling with museums. You’re quite likely to find one you’re interested in. With many museums being free of charge, it’s a great way to explore London this Autumn. They’re indoors, warm, fun, and usually have a gift shop! (We love a good gift shop here.)
Alcohol-free Meal Outs in London
Meals out don’t always have to involve alcohol, and in fact, if you want to avoid the temptations altogether then you should head to alcohol-free restaurants across London. One we checked out recently was Coco Grill and Lounge, which is a completely alcohol-free establishment, including zero alcohol wine, and great mocktails that allow you to feel like you’re still celebrating.
Scary Suggestions
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Now those are some activities that are great for the cosy season. Think cafés, libraries, indoor attractions – anything to keep you out of the cold and entertained. We’ve got some others here which we hope will help with those scary vibes some of us LOVE towards the end of this month! (All sober, of course!) If you’re in the mood to be scared, to feel Autumnal or just fancy a fun hangout idea, read on for some suggestions!
Pumpkin Patches
Yeah… London might not be crawling with pumpkin patches, but we can sure direct you to some nearby ones! This article from TimeOut will help you get to your nearest one, Londoners! Not only is it a gorgeous backdrop for social media pics, but a pumpkin patch provides, well… pumpkins! You could even take them home and carve them! We realllllly want to see your pics if you do!!! Drop them in the comments.
Watch a Scary Movie
Scary movies can be just what you need to get into this season’s terrifying spirit! With Halloween just around the corner, it might be a good time to catch a movie at your local cinema. Maybe check out Cineworld – they’ve got a £5 showings deal running through October for selected classics, including a few frightening ones. There’s very little to get you into the mood for a bit of fear like a movie can. If you take mates along, just, please, make sure they know what film they’re walking into, yeah?
If you fancy something a bit more luxurious check out one of the cinemas in London where you can chill on a sofa and watch a scary movie.
Mates and Mischief
Staying in or having friends around is always a great option. You’re already home (unless you’re at someone else’s home… then you’re still getting the tube back, sorry!) And it’s indoors. Think baking, creating Halloween treats, watching movies, scary games – perhaps even an elaborate murder mystery game? With themed dress? And themed snacks? Just an idea! Whatever direction you decide to take, a lovely night in is always up there as one of our faves for the cosy season!
We hope you take up some of our suggestions and please let us know if you do! We’d love to hear from you lot. Look out for our other article on Manchester, should you be up there any time soon!!
All of our love,
Team Nonchalant xo
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