Where to celebrate Diwali in London

For one week only, in celebration of Diwali and the Sikh festival of Badi Chhor Divas, the Barbican is offering free entry to The Imaginary Institution of India: Art 1975–1998, its major exhibition of Indian contemporary art. It's normally priced at £20, so these limited free tickets are expected to be in high demand. They can be booked from 10 October, with a limited number available on the day.

This free Diwali festival, organised by the Mayor of London, is the city's largest Diwali celebration and will take place on 27 October in Trafalgar Square. It attracts around 35,000 attendees every year and features live music and dance performances on stage and throughout the square. Enjoy a variety of Indian snacks, including vegan and vegetarian options, alongside sweet treats from the many vendors lining the streets.

Greenwich Peninsula will come alive for Diwali this year with live music, dance performances, arts and crafts, and delicious food and drink. The festivities will end with an incredible lantern parade that will light up the entire Peninsula. You can bring your own lantern from home or craft one on the day.

For many, Indian food in London is synonymous with Dishoom. This acclaimed group of Bombay-style eateries has multiple locations around London and is always a good choice for celebrating the Hindu festival of light, with a wide selection of dishes to share and socialise over. This year, the Dishoom restaurants are serving a festive-inspired Diwali menu made by Dishoom chefs who will be cooking up favourites like paneer curry and vegetable samosas. Alongside the festive menus, they also throw a light-filled party to celebrate this joyous occasion, with details confirmed on their website.

Acclaimed Indian chef Vivek Singh's Cinnamon Collection restaurants are known as some of the top spots for authentic Indian cuisine in London. For the Hindu festival of light in 2024, they've curated multiple-course Diwali feasts that are tailor-made for sharing. They include favourites such as Tandoori Chicken Malai Tikka, Toddy Shop Pepper Fry, Kashmiri-style Lamb Roganjosh, and more. The menu varies from location to location.

When it comes to Indian food in London, it doesn't get much better than Gymkhana – the two Michelin stars are proof of that. They're running a special tasting menu for Diwali, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. You can choose from dishes such as Chicken Butter Masala, Kid Goat Methi Keema, and Achari Paneer Tikka, with wine pairings also available.

Trishna is another Michelin-starred Indian restaurant, excelling in serving modern Indian cuisine in a contemporary setting. Trishna's Diwali tasting menus feature six courses with optional wine pairing. You can start with an assortment of papads and chutneys before digging into dishes such as Partridge Pepper Fry, Tandoori Lamb Chop, Dorset Brown Crab, or Hariyali Bream. Round off your meal with one of the desserts, including a Chocolate Chikki.

Brigadiers is a grill restaurant and sports bar in The City that's inspired by the military mess halls of India. Classy yet casual, it's a top choice for a group Diwali outing, with a menu to match. The Diwali feast at Brigadiers features vegetarian and non-vegetarian options and includes dishes such as Maharaja Lamb Biryani, Wild Mushroom & Truffle Biryani, and Gulab Jamun.

Yaatra is an Indian restaurant set in a former fire station that is offering a fine dining experience led by head chef Amit Bagyal for Diwali. While the menu is a hit year-round, Diwali brings something extra special with a five-course feast for £60, including a welcome Bellini. Expect dishes like beetroot and coconut croquettes, kasundi mustard prawns, and buttermilk espuma chaat. Desserts include saffron rose mousse, basil seed cardamom sorbet, and petit fours to end the meal.

South East London favourite Babur is going all out for Diwali with a special menu available throughout the festival. The restaurant will be decked out with colourful decorations and lit by atmospheric candlelight, perfectly setting the stage for a five-course tasting menu. Each course has been crafted to reflect different aspects of the festival, including prosperity, gratitude, and affection.

St. James' Court, A Taj Hotel, is celebrating Diwali with various events, from special menus to luxurious stays and gift hampers. Feast on thali menus inspired by west, north, and south Indian cuisines. The northern thali features dishes like chicken tikka makhanwala or paneer butter masala, served with black lentil daal, butter naan, and pickles. For dessert, guests can enjoy saffron rice pudding with flaked almonds or gulab jamun milk dumplings.

On 24 October, executive chef Lalit Humar is teaming up with MasterChef: The Professionals semi-finalist Arbinder Singh Dugal for a special one-off dinner especially for Diwali. Guests will be treated to a five-course feast featuring refined versions of traditional Indian dishes, such as malai paneer pie and Kashmiri chilli lamb with black garlic chutney and mint espuma.

Devonshire Square near Liverpool Street is hosting a free Diwali celebration for the festivities this year. It will feature a thrilling dance show showcasing both Indian classical and contemporary performances, along with live rangoli art. Guests can enjoy complimentary food and drinks at Cinnamon Kitchen and free henna tattoos on a first-come, first-served basis.

Ambassador's Clubhouse is celebrating Diwali with a focus on traditional Punjabi recipes. The menu features dishes like papads and chaat to start, followed by tandoor-cooked mains such as BBQ butter chicken chops and lasooni fish tikka. Guests can book a private dining room for a more intimate experience, where they can enjoy a special four-course feasting menu.

For Diwali this year, Kahani is hosting a special menu featuring aromatic l dishes like chicken makhani, tandoori aubergine, and paneer masala. This lively restaurant is located right across from Cadogan Hall, where inside, you'll find Kahani's elegant Peacock Room, which provides a perfect, intimate setting for a special Diwali meal.

This October, visitors are invited to celebrate Diwali in the lush gardens of Marble Hill. Guests can craft their own lanterns at the lantern-making table, participate in a Bhangra dance workshop, and enjoy the stunning light parade leading down to the banks of the Thames. This event is free to attend; you just have to book a ticket on their website.

Blackheath's Everest Inn is a popular Nepalese and Indian restaurant that is bringing back its much-loved Diwali celebrations for two nights. Guests will be greeted with a warm, authentic welcome, including a bindi and traditional scarf for women and a Dhaka topi (Nepali hat) for men. Feast on a three-course, sharing-style candlelit meal featuring a fusion of Nepalese and Indian dishes with both meat and vegetarian options. Enjoy traditional Diwali dance performances as you dine.

In collaboration with artist Natasha Kumar, the Canary Wharf branch of the Kricket Indian restaurants is hosting a family-friendly celebration filled with energy, creativity, and delicious food. You'll be able to make your own screen print and create artwork
to take home, get your fill of bottomless biryani, chai, and nimbu panis, get a henna tattoo, and more. Live Dhol drummers will kick off the festivities, and there'll be a specially curated Diwali playlist to set the mood thorughout.