Awesome autumn: 50 things to do in London this September, October and November

Mellow fruitfulness and golden leaves: autumn is the season for long walks spent crunching through London's parks, cuddling up in cinemas, going to gigs at the month-long iTunes Festival, boozing in Bethnal Green, and snacking on hot comfort food in Kingly Court. Show your friends that your finger's on the pulse, by recommending one of these awesome autumn events.

Expect giggles galore because the Edinburgh Festival is over and London's comedians are back in town, so there's top-notch comedy courtesy of Simon Amstell, Cardinal Burns, Lee Mack and John Kearns. Also, in a special one-night only, sure-to-be-full-of-laughs affair, Caitlin Moran will interview Lena Dunham at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall.

The celebs are also flocking to theatreland again with Lindsay Lohan in Speed-the-Plow, Gemma Arterton in Made in Dagenham, Jane Horrocks in East is East and Kristin Scott Thomas in Sophocles's Electra.

For art-philes, the London Design Festival is back with a week-long celebration of contemporary design. Late Turner – Painting Set Free is the not-to-be-missed exhibition at the Tate Britain, while his art takes to the screen in Mike Leigh's Mr Turner, starring Timothy Spall in one of his greatest character roles to date. Also on the big screen is Maps to the Stars, a knowing look at celebrity culture, directed by David Cronenberg and starring Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska and Robert Pattinson. Best of all, the BFI London Film Festival returns in October, opening with Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley in Alan Turing biopic The Imitation Game.

Embrace autumn, it's a great time to explore the city.

Contributors: Bruce Dessau, Victoria Stewart, Henry Hitchings, Ben Luke, Oscar Williams-Grut, Barry Millington, Charlotte O’Sullivan, David Smyth and Lyndsey Winship.