Not sure what’s on in London this weekend? Whatever the weather, we’ve got you covered. From cocktails, to brunches, markets to gigs, there’s something for everyone on our list of things to do in London this weekend!
1. Enjoy the gastronomical talents of a MasterChef: The Professionals contestant
Tuck into flavour-packed dishes that will take you on an exhilarating culinary journey at Hithe + Seek. Found in the heart of the City of London, the bar and kitchen has collaborated with MasterChef: The Professionals contestant and Co-Founder of Palette Dining and Hash Hut London, James Sharp. From Tuesday, May 7 to Saturday, May 11, you can enjoy a drool-inducing menu featuring the likes of elevated hash browns with brown butter and beef tartar or seared Queen scallops and poached oysters.
2. Join Guilty Pleasures for an unforgettable birthday bash
Bake a cake, blow up the balloons and slip onto your dancing shoes; pop party purveyors Guilty Pleasures are celebrating their 20th birthday with a daytime disco at iconic Camden venue KOKO. On May 11, you can hit the dancefloor for an epic day of pop anthems, sing-along power ballads, pop divas, balloon drops and more. Not only that, but they are bringing along Britain’s Got Talent favourite The Beyonce Experience, drag cabaret The LipSinkers and the fabulous and funny burlesque of Shotgun Carousel.
3. Feast on free shrimp at Shrimp Shack
Listen up seafood lovers, this one is for you. As I’m sure you’re aware, Friday, May 10 is National Shrimp Day and Shrimp Shack is treating us to a shrimptacular day with free shrimp (try saying that sentence fast three times in a row). So, if you got all that, there’s free shrimp on the cards. But, there’s a crucial thing to remember if you want to find yourself enjoying this delectable deal. You have to quote the password: “Shrimply The Best‘ (in case you forget, it’s the restaurant’s tagline). Then, voila! You’ll receive a free portion of the Firecracker Shrimp, aka panko-covered and deliciously deep-fried shrimp with a spicy mayonnaise sauce.
4. Delight in sky-high cocktails and capers at Roof East
Tis’ the season for rooftop bars and, right on cue, Roof East is open once more. The cloud-brushing East London hangout is the perfect playground for adults, complete with stomach-rumbling street food from vendors such as Piddaji and Cheeky Burger, bars serving up tempting tipples such as their Malfy Rosa Spritz (Gin, Cointreau, grapefruit, Prosecco etc.) and plenty of games to unleash your competitive side – think crazy golf, giant Jenga, disco bowls and much more.
5. Celebrate the arrival of Alphonso Mango Season at Jamavar
All you Mango fiends will be in your element at Michelin-starred restaurant Jamavar this May. Alphonso Mango Season has officially arrived – a special time in the Indian calendar as it signifies the start of summer – and to mark the change of season Jamavar are transforming their Mayfair terrace into a certified mango paradise. You’ll be able to sink into striped cushions, gaze up at the mango-dotted greenery spilling over their golden-yellow awning and pair delicious mango-infused dishes with a refreshing mango vodka cocktail. Man-go now, before it’s too late.
6. Satisfy your curiosities at this Alice in Wonderland bookshop
Take a tumble down the rabbit hole into an Alice in Wonderland, well, wonderland. Fans of the Lewis Carroll classic can indulge in their love of the weird and whimsical world at the ‘Alice Through The Looking Glass’ bookshop, located in Cecil Court. Inside, you’ll discover a goldmine of first-edition books, artwork, clothing, stationary and much more – there’s even a mini museum featuring a special private collection of items, including Sir John Tenniel’s original Alice chessboard.
7. Get behind the wheel at the Embassy Gardens drive-in cinema
Ever watched cinema’s biggest blockbusters from the plush, leather seats of a gleaming classic car? Alas, me neither. Luckily, Embassy Gardens is here to save the day with their one-day-only drive-in cinema on May 11, inviting you to rent a classic or supercar (or, if you want to save the pennies, you can bring your own) and follow in the footsteps of Grease’s Danny and Sandy as you kick back and watch a flick on the big screen. You can enjoy screenings of The Lion King, Star Wars, Mamma Mia, James Bond and more under a twinkling night sky, we’ve got the full lowdown here.
8. Indulge in your love of Japanese cuisine at the new Sticks’n’Sushi branch
Move over Ted Lasso, there’s something shiny and new coming to Richmond. Hint, it’s a restaurant, serving up tasty rice dishes that are often eaten using chopsticks…yes, that’s the one: Sticks’n’Sushi is opening a new branch in London this May. You’ll be able to find them at the crossroads of Kings Street and George Street, with an irresistible menu of sushi, salads and yakitori sticks that caters for all tastes (including plant-based) and welcoming interiors that fuse Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian elegance.
9. Dig into plant-based dishes at Mildred’s new Victoria restaurant
Mildreds has now opened its newest vegan food haven in Southwest London. Just a stone’s throw from Victoria Station, the restaurant is celebrating the change of season with an innovative new menu featuring mouthwatering plant-based dishes with sustainable, locally sourced ingredients. Tantalise your tastebuds with a Lychee Rose Martini before tucking into Pineapple Som Gaeng Rice Noodles, Arancini Rossi or Mojo Verde Chick’n Skewers.
10. Enjoy an exclusive whiskey tasting at this newly opened experience in Covent Garden.
Since opening its doors earlier this week, Buffalo Trace Distillery has welcomed whiskey-lovers and novices alike to its first store to exist outside of Kentucky. At this newly renovated Covent Garden store you can enjoy two immersive tasting experiences whilst learning about this award-winning distillery.
Taste of the Trace is a guided tasting, featuring a selection of some of the most outstanding expressions from the Distillery’s core lineup, with the option to sample a Buffalo and Ginger Ale cocktail at the end. For a more intimate affair, Tradition & Change: Crafting the Most Awarded American Whisky will take you through some of their premium bourbons, finishing off with a Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned. Then you’ll be free to explore the store and browse your fave Buffalo Trace whiskeys to take home with you!
11. Live through a Martain invasion in the capital
Ever wondered what it would be like to survive a merciless Martian invasion in Victorian England? Haven’t we all? Luckily, Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience is here to help. A multisensory adventure with holograms, virtual reality, special effects, time-warping sets and live theatrics, the eerie experience brings Jeff Wayne’s multi-platinum album to life.
12. Be wowed by a world-famous LEGO® art exhibition in London
Following success in over 100 countries, Art Of The Brick: The Exhibition is now open on Brick Lane (lol); be wowed by the works when taking a visit this weekend.
At this exhibition, you’ll find over 150 works of art, each created out of individual LEGO® bricks. Some pieces reimagine the world’s most famous artworks – Klimt’s The Kiss and Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, for example – while there is also a 20-foot dinosaur skeleton, again, made purely out of LEGO® bricks.
13. Check out rare artefacts at a hugely successful Disney exhibition
Disney100: The Exhibition should be top of the list of things to do in London for Disney fans this weekend. Originally billed for a limited run in London, this exhibit then re-opened at London’s ExCeL, thanks to phenomenal demand. Here, you’ll find 10 astounding themed galleries, filled with Disney props and costumes (plus artefacts from newer additions to the Disney family, like Pixar, Star Wars, and MARVEL).
14. Be transported to the streets of Seoul at a multi-media exhibition
If a plane to South Korea is out of the question this weekend (pretty likely, eh), make your way to Borough Yards instead. Here, you’ll find Delight: Media Art Exhibition. The works, all produced by Korean artist Gyoungtae Hong, explore a range of topics, including the artist’s heritage, traditions, and culture. Thanks to floor-to-ceiling projections and the 360-degree installations, you’ll almost feel as though you’re within the artworks themselves.
15. Admire photography shot in the style of Wes Anderson
Are you a fan of Wes Anderson’s distinctive visual style? If so, then it’s high time you take a visit to Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition – if you haven’t already. The exhibition in South Kensington shines a spotlight on over 200 places worldwide that could be straight out of the iconic director and producer’s masterpieces, taken by many photographers.
16. Immerse yourself in a historical live experience
The Gunpowder Plot Experience in Tower Hill Vaults brings the pivotal events of 1605 to life; immersing you in the story of Guy Fawkes and the conspiracy that sparked our annual Bonfire Night. Using a combination of virtual reality, live actors, and themed cocktails, you’ll truly feel you’ve stepped back in time for a couple of hours.
17. Embark on one of the most efficient sightseeing tours of London
Fancy being a tourist in our beloved capital this weekend but short on time? Redditor ‘magulagie’ has created the ultimate London sightseeing map for those in a hurry. Spanning just over five miles long, his route will take you past a ton of London’s most iconic landmarks, and will take you around two hours (if you avoid going inside any of the places you pass, that is).
18. Grab a pint at one of the oldest pubs in London
Bored of your local? Drink in some of the capital’s history alongside your beer this weekend at one of London’s oldest pubs. Better yet, if you’re up to it, you can even make a historic bar crawl out of our handy list (though traipsing from Holborn to Hampsted does seem a little far-fetched…)
19. Scoff scones and sip champers at an awesome afternoon tea
A “weekend afternoon tea” encompasses everything from a flamboyantly fancy day out to a simple natter over scones and sweet treats. Grab a pal, and a glass of bubbles, and indulge in one of London’s wonderful afternoon teas this weekend.
20. Save some money and still get outside with some of London’s free things to do
Pinching the pennies this weekend? Considering it feels like 50 quid evaporates from our bank account the minute we step outside, we don’t blame you. We’ve compiled a handy list of 200(!!) of the best free things to do in London, and they’re not all ‘go for a walk in the park’ – promise.
21. Enjoy a feast for the eyes and stomach at one of the capital’s prettiest restaurants
Treat yourself to a meal out in one of London’s prettiest restaurants this weekend – you’ve worked hard all week, you deserve it! From muted pastel tones or wildly OTT décor, we’ve compiled a handy list of the prettiest restaurants in London to save you the research time.
22. Browse one of London’s many other thought-provoking art exhibitions
From its major galleries to its museums, London is bursting at the seams with art exhibitions. Take a leisurely stroll around the likes of the Tate Britain, the V&A or the National Gallery this weekend. We’ve compiled a list that encompasses everything from classic works to cutting-edge modern pieces and even free exhibits.
23. Grab the little ones and enjoy some family-friendly activities
In a city of nine million people, you can guarantee that you’ll find something for everyone to enjoy, no matter how old you are. If you need to entertain the kids this weekend, check out some of the best family-friendly activities in London this weekend.