Short-run exhibitions and art fairs

London becomes overrun with art fairs in October, the grandaddy being Frieze London in Regent’s Park (14-18 October, £59+) for the latest in contemporary art, with over 160 galleries from more than 40 countries. At the other end of the park, and almost as large, is Frieze Masters (14-18 October, £48+, combined ticket £92+), spanning 6,000 years of art history and featuring antiques to post-war artists.

More bite-sized specialist fairs include the 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair at Somerset House (15-18 October, £32+), which hones in on African artists and those from the diaspora, and the Focus Art Fair at Saatchi Gallery (15-18 October, £19+), which specialises in Asian galleries and artists. Paraiso art fairspecialises in Latin American art, and the debut edition will be at Ambika P3 (15-18 October, £24). PAD London in Berkeley Square brings together art and design under a rather luxurious marquee (13-18 October, £30). If you want an art fair that doesn’t particularly feel like one, make for Minor Attractions at the Newman Hotel (13-17 October, free), where galleries show their works in hotel rooms. The Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair has been reborn at Imprint Art Fair (29 October-1 November, £20+), with a more central location at Lawrence Hall, and prints are usually available at affordable prices.

The Other Art Fair at Truman Brewery (8-11 October, £20+) invites you to deal directly with artists, and the founder of that fair has now set up his own artist-led fair, Fair Play Art Fair at One Marylebone (15-18 October, £24+). Great art and bargains can be found at both. Likewise, at the Affordable Art Fair Battersea (14-18 October, £15+) where all works are priced below £10,000 (some are way under this), it’s great for those looking to spruce up their home, plus there’s a showcase of the best graduate works, curated by Jo McLaughlin.

If you’re looking for exhibitions, head to the atmospheric chapel in Old Brompton Cemetery, where artists Anna Blom and Alex Mills have designed an installation to help us reconnect with nature (3-4 October, free). Over in Deptford, at APT gallery, Clay in Vivo brings together 12 artists who push the boundaries of what can be sculpted out of clay (8-18 October, free).

Designer Vikram Goyal is turning a Mayfair home into a fantastical interior, with a collection of furniture and design inspired by the natural world and mythical creatures in ‘Wings and Tales’ (12-17 October). Nearby, Mount Street Neighbourhood is hosting an arts festival (12-17 October) that includes talks, publishers, art and a chance to have your portrait taken by photographer Miles Aldridge.