October Bucket List: 20 Autumn Activities You Can’t Miss

Grab your wellies and head to your nearest pumpkin-picking patch to enjoy an autumnal day out with your friends or family. Support local farmers and delight in choosing your favourite pumpkin to take home and carve for Halloween.

Get together with your book-lover friends and host a spooky readathon. Choose one spooky book from a hat for everyone to read together, or choose your own from your autumn TBR. Grab some snacks and get reading.

October is the perfect time to indulge in your annual Harry Potter movie fest. Invite your friends or family around, and make some cinema-worthy snacks. Get ready to camp out for an evening filled with magic and festivities.

Bring a board but make it better. From pumpkin-shaped baked brie and ghostly chocolate-covered strawberries to bat-shaped cookies and Halloween sweeties, indulge in your favourite seasonal foods with a spooktacular twist. For inspiration, check out the likes of TikTok and Pinterest. 

Nothing beats decorating your home for autumn. Head to your favourite homeware shops and discover their cosy, autumnal ranges. From knitted pumpkins, autumn wreaths, scented candles, and more, transform your space into an autumn wonderland. Don’t miss our handy article on decorating for autumn on a budget so you can save while you do.  

Nothing says October like making homemade soup. Whether it’s a traditional tomato soup with a cheese toastie or a pumpkin soup in the spirit of Halloween, cosy up with a bowl this October. If you’re struggling with the colder months, don’t miss our article on ways to stay warm this winter. 

Feel inspired by autumn and have a go at writing some autumn poetry. Use some autumnal, cosy images from Pinterest or read some seasonal poetry to get you started. Add a wash of watercolour to your paper, write your poem by hand and add a frame. Every October, you’ll have a personal piece of art to display in your home to get you in the cosy mood. 

I mean, It’d be rude not to - right? One of the best parts of October is that coffee shops like Starbucks and Costa bring out their seasonal menu. Whatever you choose – a classic pumpkin spice latte, a luxury hot chocolate, or a maple hazel frappe – it’s simply a must for October. 

Jane’s Patisserie and BBC Good Food are both free online baking blogs where you can discover a range of fun seasonal bakes. From pumpkin-spiced cupcakes and toffee apples to gingerbread mummies, and more, you simply can’t go wrong with some autumnal baking. The best part is, you’ll have some fang-tastic treats to munch at the end of it.  

A slightly less messy, but just as fun alternative to pumpkin carving to get you in the Halloween spirit. Invite your friends for the evening and set up a pumpkin painting party. You only need a few pumpkins, acrylic paint, and brushes. Use Pinterest or Google for some spooky inspiration. The best part is - no scooping out pumpkin guts necessary!  

Glue guns at the ready! This October make your own autumnal wreath. Shops like Hobby Craft are ideal for cosy crafting, and they have a great page dedicated to everything you’ll need to make the autumnal wreath of your dreams. Opt for a more authentic look by foraging in your garden for autumnal bits and pieces of nature to use as decoration. 

Head outside and enjoy the autumnal colours on display in October. Whether you’re on your favourite walk or trying out a new route, there’s nothing quite like the fresh autumn air. Wrap up warm and enjoy a warming cup of soup when you get back. 

Make October a month to remember and host a fa-b-oo-lous Halloween party. Whether you’re doing something for your little ones, or inviting your friends around, check out our article on how to enjoy Halloween on a budget, for everything you’ll need to make your party seriously spooktacular. 

S’mores are the perfect autumnal treat and are super fun and easy to make. All you need is a packet of marshmallows, some chocolate, and a biscuit of your choice (I recommend Maryland cookies). Scroll to the bottom of the page to find out how to make them!

Stock up on your favourite cinema snacks and enjoy a night full of the best Halloween movies. Some great ones to try are: Death Becomes Her, Practical Magic, The Addams Family, Beetlejuice, Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Sleepy Hollow. 

Whatever you’re doing this October, set the mood with an autumnal playlist. Whether it’s smooth, coffee shop jazz as background music for an autumnal read, or Taylor Swift’s classic Cardigan, create a cosy playlist just for you. Don’t have the time to make one? Spotify has some lovely autumnal playlists you’ll love. 

Nothing gets you into the autumn spirit more than a cosy TV show. Grab your favourite blanket and a warm beverage, and get comfy. Some of my favourite autumn shows that I’d highly recommend are Gilmore Girls, Wednesday, and Pretty Little Liars. 

Head to your closest Tk Maxx and discover their autumn candle range. From pumpkin spice and fall leaves to cinnamon rolls, and more, fill your home with the scent of autumn this October. Fancy yourself some autumn crafting? Invite your friends around and make your own Halloween candles to enjoy during the spooky season. 

If you’re like me and autumn is your favourite time of the year, then autumnal scrapbooking is for you. Whether it's junk journaling, or documenting your October memories, unleash your creativity. If you love Pinterest, download their other app Shuffles where you can create cosy collages digitally, using your saved pins. 

Spooky season is also roast dinner season, so why not make the most of it? Head to your local pubs in search of the best roast, or have a go at making one yourself at home. It’s the perfect end to whatever you decide to do this October.