Cosy cafés, spooky nights and student-friendly adventures – Liverpool, we’ve got your October plans sorted!
The nights are getting darker, the jumpers are coming out, and suddenly every coffee shop has something pumpkin-spiced on the menu.
Yep, autumn has officially arrived in Liverpool!
Whether you’re looking for something fun to do with your housemates, planning a Halloween night out or just trying to enjoy the last few days of October without spending your entire student loan, there’s still plenty to do around the city.
So, grab your favourite hoodie, message the group chat and start ticking off your Liverpool autumn bucket list!
1. Explore Liverpool’s River of Light
Location: Liverpool City Centre & Waterfront
Cost: Free
If there’s one thing worth getting everyone out of the house for this autumn, it’s Liverpool’s River of Light.
Running from 23 October to 1 November 2026, this free outdoor light festival transforms parts of the city centre and waterfront with illuminated artworks.
It’s the perfect excuse for an evening walk with your housemates, some brilliant photos and a chance to experience Liverpool after dark without spending a penny.
Wrap up warm, grab a hot chocolate and make an evening of it.
Bucket list challenge: Get the whole house together for a group photo at your favourite installation.
2. Find Your New Favourite Cosy Café
Location: Bold Street, Georgian Quarter & Liverpool City Centre
Cost: Budget-friendly options available
There’s something about autumn that makes sitting in a cosy café with a hot drink feel like a personality trait.
And luckily, Liverpool has plenty of independent cafés worth exploring.
Take a wander down Bold Street, explore the Georgian Quarter or discover somewhere new around the city centre.
Whether you’re catching up with friends, escaping the library for an hour or treating yourself after a long week of lectures, a café date is always a good idea.
Bucket list challenge: Everyone in the house chooses a café, then vote for your favourite coffee spot.
Bonus points if someone finds the best hot chocolate in Liverpool.
3. Get Into the Halloween Spirit
Location: Liverpool City Centre
Cost: Free and paid activities
Halloween is almost here, and Liverpool isn’t holding back!
If you’re looking for something to do over the final weekend of October, there are plenty of ways to get involved.
Liverpool ONE Halloween Party – 31 October
Head to Liverpool ONE for its free Halloween celebrations between 11am and 4pm, with spooky entertainment, performers and activities throughout the afternoon.
Gravity MAX Halloween Party – 30 October
Fancy something more lively? Gravity MAX at Liverpool ONE is hosting a Halloween evening from 8pm to 11pm, with music, fancy dress and activities. Check admission details and availability before visiting.
Newsham Scream Park – Until 31 October
For anyone who actually enjoys being terrified, Newsham Scream Park offers a more intense Halloween experience with scare mazes and live entertainment. Tickets are required, so check availability before making plans.
Whether you’re going all out with fancy dress or keeping things low-key, there’s something for every kind of Halloween mood.
Bucket list challenge: Plan a group costume that everyone actually agrees on.
Good luck with that one.
4. Have a Halloween Movie Night With Your Housemates
Location: Your student house
Cost: As cheap as you make it!
Not every autumn evening needs to involve leaving the house.
Sometimes the best plans are the ones that involve blankets, snacks, takeaway pizza and arguing over which film to watch.
Turn your living room into a mini cinema, switch off the lights and get everyone to choose their favourite Halloween film.
Horror fans can go for something genuinely scary, while everyone else can stick to the less terrifying classics.
Bucket list challenge: Each housemate brings one snack and nominates one film. Put the films to a vote.
And yes, the person who falls asleep halfway through still has to help tidy up.
5. Discover Liverpool’s Free Museums & Galleries
Location: Liverpool City Centre
Cost: Free general admission at selected venues
If the weather isn’t cooperating, Liverpool’s museums and galleries are a great way to spend an afternoon without blowing your budget.
A few places worth adding to your list include:
Walker Art Gallery: Explore impressive collections of paintings, sculptures and decorative art.
World Museum: Discover fascinating collections covering natural history, science and world cultures.
Open Eye Gallery: A brilliant place to explore photography and visual storytelling.
The Bluecoat: Enjoy contemporary art, independent shops, a café and a peaceful garden right in the city centre.
Many exhibitions are free, although some special events and activities may have additional charges.
Bucket list challenge: Visit a gallery with your housemates and let everyone pick their favourite artwork.
You might discover that your friend who claims to know nothing about art suddenly has a lot of opinions.
6. Take an Autumn Walk Around Sefton Park
Location: Sefton Park, South Liverpool
Cost: Free
Sometimes you just need a break from lectures, assignments and staring at your laptop.
And an autumn walk around Sefton Park is a great way to reset.
Think colourful leaves, fresh air, scenic paths and plenty of opportunities to take those autumn photos.
Bring a coffee, put on your favourite playlist and enjoy a slower afternoon with your housemates.
If you’re feeling energetic, turn it into a longer walk. If not, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with finding a bench and having a good catch-up.
Bucket list challenge: Take a photo of the best autumn colours you can find.
7. Try Something Different With Your Housemates
Location: Around Liverpool
Cost: Varies by activity
If your group chat is running out of ideas beyond “pub?” and “takeaway?”, this one’s for you.
Liverpool has plenty of activities that make a change from your usual routine.
Try bowling, an escape room, indoor games, a cinema trip or an evening exploring somewhere new.
For something more affordable, organise a board-game tournament at home, cook a meal together or host a themed quiz night.
You don’t have to spend loads to have a memorable evening.
Bucket list challenge: Let a different housemate plan one activity each week, with a budget everyone agrees on.
No backing out just because someone chooses karaoke.
8. Explore Liverpool’s Spooky Side
Location: Liverpool City Centre
Cost: Paid tours and free self-guided walks
Liverpool has plenty of history, and some of it is a little spooky.
If you enjoy ghost stories, atmospheric streets and hearing about the city’s mysterious past, a guided ghost walk could be a fun way to spend an autumn evening.
Shiverpool offers theatrical ghost tours exploring Liverpool’s darker history, making it an interesting option for students who want something different from a typical night out.
Prefer to keep things free? Take an early-evening walk through the Georgian Quarter or around Liverpool’s historic streets and admire the architecture instead.
Bucket list challenge: Find out who in your house is secretly the biggest scaredy-cat.
We all know there’s one.
9. Make the Most of the Final October Weekend
October might be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean your autumn plans have to stop.
Whether you’re heading to a Halloween event, exploring River of Light, discovering a new café or simply spending a cosy evening at home, there’s still time to make a few memories.
And if you don’t manage to tick everything off this month, don’t worry. Many of Liverpool’s parks, galleries, cafés and indoor activities are just as enjoyable throughout November.
The best part of student life isn’t always the big nights out. Sometimes it’s the spontaneous plans, unexpected adventures and little moments you share with your housemates.
Your Liverpool Autumn Starts Here!
From free city adventures to Halloween celebrations and cosy nights in, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy autumn in Liverpool.
So, get the group chat together, pick a few activities and make the most of the season.
And while you’re making plans with your housemates, have you started thinking about where you’ll be living next academic year?
Our 2027/28 student houses in Liverpool are now live, so you can start browsing properties and finding somewhere to make even more memories next year.