May is my favourite month: summer feels ever closer (about time – it’s freezing) and we’re graced with not one, but two bank holidays! As this year’s early May bank holiday is just around the corner (May 3–6), there are plenty of things to do in London; time to fill that calendar. Will you make the most of the long weekend?
1. Indulge in limitless sushi at a gem-themed restaurant
Feeling fancy? Geode Knightsbridge – the alluring restaurant designed in homage to the inside of a gemstone – kicks off a fab new food offering on the bank holiday weekend. Ninety minutes of bottomless sushi, accompanied by English sparkling wine, sounds like a real treat to us.
The menu will be available throughout the bank holiday weekend (May 4–6), and then every Saturday thereafter. The meal is £100pp, so be sure to get your fill.
2. Relish in rare Disney artefacts at a popular exhibition
Disney100: The Exhibition is open in London once again, having returned after its initial closure, due to phenomenal demand. Grab the kids – and kids at heart – for an afternoon out at London ExCeL, where you can wander 10 themed galleries, interact with stories from your childhood, and truly immerse yourself in the iconic Disney magic.
3. Enjoy margaritas paired with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes
Over the Early May Bank Holiday weekend, The Duke of Greenwich pub in South East London will host a margarita pop-up (May 3–5). Taste an array of small-batch margaritas, from drinks brand Too Easy Beverages, as the sun shines down.
The weekend will also mark the launch of the pub’s new summer menu, packed with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours. Many dishes are BBQed for the perfect summer vibes.
4. Celebrate Eurovision at a dedicated festival
The Eurovision Final may not appear on our screens until Saturday, May 11, but Woolwich Works, in South East London, is starting celebrations early this May bank holiday weekend. Their Eurosmash Festival honours all things Eurovision for one day only (May 4), with games, music, live comedy, drag queens, and even appearances from former acts Jedward and 1997 winner Katrina.
5. Have a raucous weekend at The Clapham Grand…
… then use bank holiday Monday to recuperate! The Clapham Grand will host a bumper weekend of activities on the first long weekend in May. On Friday night (May 3), they’ll host their legendary Bongo’s Bingo game (I went last year, and it is absolute chaos).
Saturday, May 4, will bring a Garage brunch with 00s So Solid Crew icon Lisa Maffia during the day, then a mass 80s vs 90s karaoke event in the evening. Finally, Sunday, May 5, will see the Magic Men from Australia take the stage twice (think Magic Mike).
6. Experience the delights of Seoul without leaving London
Tucked away in Borough Yards, you’ll find the sensational Seoul-inspired art exhibition, Delight. This early May bank holiday weekend, let an exhibition space in London whisk you away to South Korea for an hour, as you walk through – and quite literally step into – the multi-media artworks.
7. Head to a new rooftop bar in South London
It was a sad day when Pergola Paddington closed last year, but wallow no longer: this early May bank holiday weekend will see Pergola Brixton open in South London. Saturday, May 4, will mark the beginning of rooftop activities aplenty, including £5 margarita Thursdays, Pergola Lates, DJs, steelpan performances, and much much more. Grab a drink, feast on a sharing platter, and be one of the first to visit this bank holiday weekend.
8. Browse the travel-centric Wes Anderson art exhibition
Embark on a photographic adventure with a visit to Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition in South Kensington. This exhibit brings together images that are…well… accidentally Wes Anderson. Looking like they could be straight out of a Wes Anderson film, the photographs displayed come from all around the globe – will you recognise any of the London ones?
9. Relish the ‘Big Bad Bank Holiday’ at a bingo brunch
Hijingo‘s Big Bad Bank Holiday returns this May, kicking things off between May 4–6. At this adrenaline-fuelled bingo experience, you’ll be able to dance, eat, drink, and of course, play bingo with their epic bank holiday packages. What’s more, there’s the opportunity to win big, as prizes include the likes of £1,000 cash and a holiday.
10. Have an Obi-Wanderful Star Wars Day
Star Wars Day (aka ‘May the 4th be with you’) falls on the early May bank holiday weekend this year – and there are plenty of things to do in London for avid fans. From sipping Star Wars-themed cocktails to star spotting, we’ve rounded up a list of the best London activities for Jedis, padawans, and Mandalorians.
Also published on Medium.