What's On in Richmond: Judi Dench, Kew Halloween, Fireworks

Halloween takes over the borough in the second half of October, and Dame Judi Dench is at Richmond Theatre for one night on the 20th. Kew’s lit trail opens on the 16th, Hampton Court and Strawberry Hill follow for half term, and the fireworks at Richmond Athletic Ground close it on Sunday 1 November. Before then, Richmond Theatre has a run of big-name talks, and the Orange Tree has sold out David Suchet in the church across the road.

This page covers today to early November. Every date, time and price below was checked on the organiser’s own page between 28 and 30 September 2026 and is linked to it. Where a price is not given, the organiser had not published one we could read.

This week

a small and quiet light, on now to Saturday 24 October, Orange Tree Theatre, 1 Clarence Street, TW9 2SA. Evenings are mostly at 8pm, with 4pm matinees on Thursdays and 2.30pm on Saturdays. Stephanie Street’s new play is about Noor Inayat Khan, the SOE radio operator, and stars Priyanga Burford. Orange Tree Theatre

The Brown Suite, Wednesday 30 September to Saturday 3 October, 7.30pm, Richmond Theatre, The Green, TW9 1QJ. A dance show set in a soul-era community in 1970s New York. Richmond Theatre

Opening celebration, Ronald Moody: Sculpting Life, Thursday 1 October, 6pm to 9pm, Orleans House Gallery, Orleans Road, Twickenham, TW1 3BL. Free. An after-hours evening in the gallery, with a kora and harp performance responding to the sculptures at 7pm. Orleans House Gallery

Ronald Moody: Sculpting Life, from Friday 2 October to 28 February 2027, Orleans House Gallery. Free, Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm. A major exhibition of the Jamaican-born sculptor who lived and worked in West London for more than 50 years, touring from The Hepworth Wakefield. Orleans House Gallery

Tudor Kitchen Weekends, Saturdays and Sundays until 18 October, 10am to 4pm, Hampton Court Palace, KT8 9AU. Henry VIII’s Kitchens are shown at work, and entry is included in palace admission. Historic Royal Palaces

Free Basic Life Support training, Sunday 4 October, sessions at 12pm, 1.30pm, 3pm or 4.30pm, Richmond Athletic Ground, Twickenham Road, TW9 2SF. Free. Family-friendly sessions cover baby, child and adult CPR and how to use a defibrillator. They are run by The Paul Alan Project, the Richmond Heavies Foundation and Richmond Rugby, and you need to book. Richmond Council

Sunday Morning Coffee Concert, Sunday 4 October, 11am, Orange Tree Theatre, 1 Clarence Street, TW9 2SA. Dorothea Vogel, violist of the Allegri Quartet, and colleagues play Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 6, Puccini’s Crisantemi and Mozart’s String Quartet No. 21. The next one in the series is on 15 November. Orange Tree Theatre

Kew Village Market, Sunday 4 October, 10am to 2pm, Kew village. This month has 45 stalls, with Mandolin Jack at 10.30am and Squabble Jazz at 12.30pm. Kew Village Market

Next week

The Haunting of Hill House, Tuesday 6 to Saturday 10 October, evenings at 7.30pm, with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm, Richmond Theatre. A stage adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s ghost story. Richmond Theatre

Build the Story: Once Upon an Invention, Wednesday 7 October, 4pm to 5pm, Richmond Library. Free, booking essential. Science Owl reads a picture book with children aged four and over and their families, then helps them build and test an invention. It returns to Hampton Library on Saturday 10 October (2.30pm to 3.30pm) and Ham Library on Friday 16 October (4pm to 5pm). Richmond Council

Impressions: From Debussy to Coltrane, Sunday 11 October, 3pm, St Mary Magdalene church, Richmond. The pianist Harry Baker moves between Debussy and Ravel and the jazz of John Coltrane and Bill Evans. It is a Richmond Concert Series event with the Orange Tree. Orange Tree Theatre

Later in October

Murder in the Cathedral, Monday 12 October to Saturday 7 November, St John the Divine church, Kew Road, TW9 2NA. Most evenings start at 7.30pm, with 4pm and 8pm shows on Thursdays and Saturdays. David Suchet stars in T.S. Eliot’s verse drama, which the Orange Tree is staging in the church opposite its theatre. It is sold out; members get the returns waiting list, and any other returns go online. Orange Tree Theatre

The Gang of Three, Tuesday 13 to Saturday 17 October, evenings at 7.30pm, with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm, Richmond Theatre. Robert Khan and Tom Salinsky’s political drama is set against an economic crisis. Richmond Theatre

An Evening of Moore: Curating Moore, Wednesday 14 October, arrive from 6.15pm for the 7pm talk, Kew Gardens, TW9 3AE. £45, or £40 for members, including garden entry and a glass of wine. The curators discuss bringing the Henry Moore exhibition to Kew. Kew Gardens

Halloween at Kew, Friday 16 October to Sunday 1 November, Kew Gardens. It runs 6pm to 10pm until 24 October, then 4pm to 10pm, with last entry at 8.30pm. Adults pay £19.50 off peak or £24 peak, and family and child tickets are available. An illuminated after-dark trail with fire performers and the Headless Horseman. Entry is through the Victoria, Elizabeth and Brentford gates only. Kew Gardens

Arts Richmond New Plays Festival, Sunday 18 October, doors at 2pm, starting 3pm, Orange Tree Theatre. The four finalists of Arts Richmond’s short play competition, chosen from 132 entries, are performed in one afternoon. Richmond Council

Michael Palin: In The Philippines, Monday 19 October, 7.30pm, Richmond Theatre. Palin talks about his latest journey, from Manila to Mindanao. Richmond Theatre

Judi Dench: Is it Too Late to Make a Run For it?, Tuesday 20 October, 7.30pm, Richmond Theatre. One night only. Dame Judi Dench talks to her friend and writing partner Brendan O’Hea about her new memoir, and every ticket includes a hardback copy of the book. Richmond Theatre

Henning Wehn: Acid Wehn, Wednesday 21 October, 7.30pm, Richmond Theatre. Stand-up. Richmond Theatre

Things I Took from the Dark, told by Reece Shearsmith, Thursday 22 October, 7.30pm, Richmond Theatre. Shearsmith talks through the strange things he has collected, from the Highgate vampire to a talking mongoose. Richmond Theatre

Dan Jones: Castles, A Fortified History of the World, Friday 23 October, 7.30pm, Richmond Theatre. The historian on castles from Krak des Chevaliers to the Maginot Line. Richmond Theatre

Halloween at Walpole’s Little Gothic Castle, Friday 23 October to Sunday 1 November, 10am to 4pm, Strawberry Hill House, 268 Waldegrave Road, TW1 4ST. Free with general admission. The house is dressed for Halloween with ghost stories and witches’ marks. Families can follow a Halloween garden trail, at £2 a map, without booking. Strawberry Hill House

East Sheen Halloween Hunt, Saturday 24 October, 10am to noon or 1pm to 3pm, starting at the Hare & Hounds, Upper Richmond Road West. Children collect letters from East Sheen shops to solve a secret phrase and win a prize. Tickets are sold through DesignMyNight. Richmond Council

Halloween at Hampton Court Palace, Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, Hampton Court Palace. Included in palace admission; members go free without booking. Costumed ghosts roam the palace, and a pumpkin and scarecrow trail and storytelling are aimed at younger visitors. Historic Royal Palaces

Let’s Get Creative: October, Sunday 25 October, Orleans House Gallery. Free. An artist-led session for children aged 4 to 11 and a grown-up. Orleans House Gallery

Agatha Christie’s The Hollow, Tuesday 27 to Saturday 31 October, evenings at 7.30pm, with matinees on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm, Richmond Theatre. A country-house murder mystery. Richmond Theatre

Full of Life Fair, Friday 30 October, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. Free. The council’s fair for older residents and carers brings together more than 65 organisations, with health checks, vaccinations, activity sessions and advice. You can register through the council’s page. Richmond Council

Strawberry Hill After Dark: Halloween Magic Lantern Show, Friday 30 October, arrive at 5pm or 7pm, Strawberry Hill House. Tickets are £25, £18 for children and £20 for members. There is a tour of the house after dark, then Jeremy and Carolyn Brooker perform with an 1890s triple magic lantern in the Long Gallery. Strawberry Hill House

Strawberry Hill After Dark: Halloween Candlelit Late, Saturday 31 October, arrival slots 6pm to 8pm, Strawberry Hill House. £25, or £17.50 for students. The house is lit by candles, and anyone who comes in costume gets a free glass of fizz. Strawberry Hill House

November

Richmond Family Fireworks Night, Sunday 1 November, Richmond Athletic Ground, Twickenham Road, TW9 2SF. Gates, the funfair and the stalls open at 4.30pm, and the fireworks start at 7pm. Tickets are advance only. The early bird general admission prices, £10.50 for adults and £6 for children, ended on 30 September; the grandstand is £17.50 and parking is £10, booked ahead. Our fireworks page has the full running order. Richmond Athletic Ground

Cranford, from Tuesday 3 November to 16 January 2027, 8pm, with 4pm matinees on most Thursdays and Saturdays, Orange Tree Theatre. Tamsin Greig leads a new stage version of Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel. Orange Tree Theatre

Repair & Share Kew, Saturday 7 November, 10.30am to 1.30pm, St Luke’s Church, Kew. Free to enter; donations welcome. Volunteer repairers fix small electricals, clothes, bikes and toys, but no microwaves. Richmond Council

Remembrance Sunday, Sunday 8 November, services across the borough, with the Richmond parade ending at the War Memorial on Whittaker Avenue. The council had not published the 2026 service times when we checked on 30 September; last year’s list came out on 30 October. Our Remembrance page has every 2025 location and time in the meantime. Richmond Council

England v Australia, Sunday 8 November, kick-off 3.10pm, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. Tickets from £79. It is a Nations Championship pool match with 82,000 expected, so the event-day parking zone runs from 11am to 11pm. It falls on Remembrance Sunday. See our match day page and Remembrance page. England Rugby

Regular events

Twickenham Farmers’ Market, every Saturday, 9am to 1pm, Holly Road car park, TW1 4HF. London Farmers’ Markets

parkrun, every Saturday at 9am, at three places in the borough: Bushy parkrun in Bushy Park, Teddington, Richmond parkrun in Richmond Park and Old Deer Park parkrun. Free, but you must register first and bring a barcode.

Kew Village Market, the first Sunday of every month except January, 10am to 2pm. Over 40 stalls set up in village streets closed to traffic. The next markets are 4 October and 1 November. Kew Village Market

Send us your event

Running something in Richmond, Twickenham, Teddington, Kew, Barnes or Hampton? Email hello@richmondonline.co.uk with the date, time, venue, price and a photo. Listings are free. We add them to this page and to the What’s On diary.