12 October - The BFI London Film Festival opens. European premiere of Fernando Meirelles' 360, starring Rachel Weisz, Jude Law and Sir Anthony Hopkins.
13 October - Harold Pinter Theatre launches London. Thandie Newton stars in Death and the Maiden, a new production of Ariel Dorfman's Olivier award-winning thriller.
15 October - G20 finance ministers and Central Bank governors' meeting concludes Paris. Attendees include US Treasury secretary Tim Geithner, Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke, Chancellor George Osborne and Bank of England governor Mervyn King.
16 October - Diwali On The Square Trafalgar Square. London celebration of Diwali, the annual Hindu 'Festival of Lights'.
17 October - Durham Book Festival 2011 Speakers include David Miliband talking about international development and the UK's foreign policy and Alistair Darling discussing the credit crunch.
18 October Private Eye: The First 50 Years V&A, London. Free display celebrating the 50th anniversary of the satirical magazine, featuring 50 of the best covers chosen by Ian Hislop.
