May is shaping up to be a pretty great month, isn’t it? Summer is finally on the horizon, and we get not one but two bank holidays to make the most of it. The first is just around the corner, with the Early May Bank Holiday falling on May 1–4 and London is packed with ways to celebrate. From big-ticket events to laid-back weekend plans, here’s our pick of the best things to do across the capital.
This Friday, May 1, brings a full Flower Moon, but it’s a micromoon, meaning it will appear slightly smaller and dimmer than usual because the Moon is at its furthest point from Earth in its orbit. It peaks at 6:23pm BST, so there should be a good chance to spot it shortly after sunset, even if cloud cover gets in the way for some viewers.
May is festival season — get your tickets and start dancing! If you want to make the most of the Early May Bank Holiday weekend, it’s also a great time to start planning for the month ahead, because May is when festival season really kicks into gear in London. Keep an eye on events such as GALA Festival, Field Day, Cross The Tracks and Mighty Hoopla, bringing music across the city.
Fancy a challenge this Bank Holiday weekend? Why not see how well you can navigate your way around your own city, solving clues and cracking puzzles as you race against the clock? Race Across the World: The Experience brings the thrill of the TV show to the streets of London, so you can see how you’d fare in the fiendish challenge.
Choose from two experiences in London:
One of Kew Gardens’ titan arum plants has just reached full bloom, making it the first corpse flower in the collection to flower this year. The rare plant, better known for its smell than its looks, is now standing at 2.66 metres tall and is only expected to stay open for two to three days, so it’s a short window to see one of London’s strangest botanical spectacles.
Celebrate the arrival of al fresco season
The Early May Bank Holiday usually means that the warmer weather has arrived, and is here to stay (for a bit, at least). And that means it’s time to eat and drink outside! Los Mochis is commemorating that by taking the chance to kick off rooftop season with a long Bank Holiday-spanning party, from May 1-5, across their Notting Hill terrace and London City rooftop.
Head on over to enjoy “DJs, terrace brunch, agave-led cocktails and Cinco de Mayo celebrations, set against two of London’s most sought-after outdoor spaces.”
Find out more here.
Celebrate a special 200th birthday
Over the May Bank Holiday weekend, the Zoological Society of London is inviting everyone to join them at Whipsnade Zoo to celebrate an impressive milestone. Between Saturday, May 2, and Monday, May 4, the UK’s largest zoo will host a jam-packed weekend of anniversary festivities, including hands-on activities, special talks, games, and party treats to celebrate 200 years of ZSL.
Find out more here.
See London in a whole new way
London’s skyline is pretty iconic, but how about seeing it from a whole new vantage point this May Bank Holiday? Head on over to Battersea, where you’ll find The Chimney Lift at Battersea Power Station. The immersive experience blends culture and history with unbeatable skyline views.
Ascend into the sky as you travel 109 metres high inside one of the Power Station’s iconic chimneys. And at the top, you’ll be treated to breathtaking 360-degree views across London’s skyline.
Find out more here.
Go East Vintage is inviting Londoners to explore the historic Wapping Hydraulic Power Station as they browse second-hand goods at a charming flea market with over 70 curated vendors. The event marks only the second time the venue has been open to the public in the past 13 years. Head on down to enjoy a stunning mix of history, sights, and vintage goods.
If you fancy something a little different over the Early May Bank Holiday weekend, the IWA Canalway Cavalcade returns to London, celebrating the capital’s historic waterways with a diverse range of activities.
The IWA Canalway Cavalcade returns to London celebrating the capital’s historic waterways with a diverse range of activities. Enjoy unique stalls, local food, live music, and a captivating illuminated procession.
Organized by the Inland Waterways Association, the festival highlights community involvement and the significance of preserving rivers and canals. Bring the whole family for a fun-filled weekend along Blomfield Road in Little Venice!
Since it’s basically a heatwave and a three-day weekend, why not head to the best beaches in Europe – right here in the UK?
Two British beaches have been named among the best in Europe in the latest rankings, giving UK holidaymakers a strong alternative to heading abroad.
Cornwall’s Kynance Cove stands out for its dramatic rock formations, white sand and turquoise water, while Achmelvich Beach in the Scottish Highlands is praised for its remote, rugged and peaceful feel.
Bubble Planet is a joyful, immersive experience that surrounds visitors with – you guessed it – bubbles! Exploring the different types of bubbles in the world, and perhaps even pushing the definition a bit, the experience features regular bubbles, as well as a hot air balloon flight simulator, a VR experience where you become a bubble yourself, and a room filled to the brim with oversized balloons.
Taste authentic Korean dishes and street food at King’s Cross. If your Early May Bank Holiday plans call for something delicious, a new Korean food festival curated by Rollin Lee and Market Root is popping up at Canopy Market, King’s Cross, serving kimchi, Korean fried chicken and a wide range of traditional dishes over a multi-day weekend.
Revel in the return of Between the Bridges at their launch party
Summer is officially on the horizon, and to help usher in the season of sun-soaked drinks, al fresco fare, and daylight dance sessions is the return of Between the Bridges. The riverside destination returns to the South Bank on Thursday (April 30), and they are kicking things off with a special launch party where the first 500 people through the gates can enjoy a free drink.
Head over to hit the dancefloor as Guilty Pleasures take over the decks to bless your eardrums with pop bangers, and DJ Flexin’ treats you to the best in hip-hop, RnB, afrobeats and more. There’s also much more coming up over the rest of the long weekend; you can find out the full schedule here.
Boogie through the bank holiday weekend at Brixton’s annual disco festival
Brixton’s annual disco festival returns for its eighth spin this Early May bank holiday, bringing feel-good grooves to some of SW9’s best-loved venues.
Expect a weekend of house, soul and disco across Brixton Jamm, Phonox, Electric Brixton and the Black Cultural Archives, with a heavyweight line-up including Norman Jay MBE, Derrick Carter, Natasha Diggs and Melvo Baptiste. Whether you’re dressed for Studio 54 or just along for the ride, it’s all about losing yourself on the dancefloor.
Forget Tutankhamun, for now at least, you can step into the golden world of Ancient Egypt’s most powerful pharaoh at this fascinating exhibition in Battersea. Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold features over 180 authentic artefacts from the glittering era of Ramses II, which come direct from the Egyptian Museum Cairo. You can delve into the life of the longest reigning pharaoh in history as you study a compelling array of millennia-old objects and shining jewels, including animal mummies, storied limestone statues and the 3,000-year-old ornately carved coffin of Ramses himself.
Londoners have the chance to step into a real-life painting that serves beer at a Peroni pop-up in Covent Garden. The immersive, fresco-inspired installation will run from April 30 to May 2 from 12-8pm, and you can be a part of it! Head to Covent Garden to soak up the arty atmosphere, sip on a crisp Peroni and enjoy an Italian-inspired photo-opp! You won’t want to miss this one.
18+ only with valid ID. 1 half pint of Peroni Nastro Azzurro per person. Subject to availability. Bedrinkaware.co.uk
If you’re after a slower-paced Bank Holiday wander, time it with the azaleas as they approach their peak at this magical hidden garden. Richmond Park is home to the enchanting Isabella Plantation, a secret garden bursting with blooms. As the azaleas approach their peak, this magical spot becomes a must-visit destination for flower lovers. Enjoy the vibrant fuchsia display before it’s gone, and be sure to explore the hidden treasures and fairy tunnels within the park. Remember, there’s more than just azaleas here; it’s a floral paradise worth experiencing year-round!
Head to the Design Museum and learn more about this Japanese cultural powerhouse
The Design Museum spotlights Japanese cultural powerhouse NIGO in the first UK museum retrospective dedicated to the designer and creative director.
Spanning fashion, music and design, the exhibition brings together more than 700 objects from NIGO’s personal archive – from a recreation of his teenage bedroom to ceramics and a striking glass tea house. It’s a rare deep dive into one of street culture’s most influential figures.
Celebrate five decades of iconic British animation with a live orchestral screening
Celebrate 50 years of Aardman’s beloved creations from Morph to Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep with a live orchestral twist at Cadogan Hall.
Aardman in Concert pairs classic clips with a full live score, building to a screening of A Matter of Loaf and Death accompanied by the orchestra. A nostalgic, family-friendly treat that hits all the right notes.
Journey into the life and mind of Egypt’s last queen at Cleopatra: The Immersive Experience. You can delve into her rich history and witness her iconic story as it is brought to life with original artefacts, holograms, virtual reality, a metaverse experience and a mesmerising 360-degree video mapping room. One moment, you could be exploring the city of Alexandria through an interactive map, the next, you will find yourself wandering through her decadent royal chamber and watching the coronation of Alexander the Great.
Why not leave behind reality for the afternoon and venture into the bioluminescent paradise of Avora: A New World Immersive Experience? Using a fusion of bewitching set design, engaging storytelling, unique cocktails and talented live actors, the experience transports you into a magical world where nothing is quite as it seems.
You’ll clamber into jumpsuits for an interactive adventure through psychedelic woodland, exploring a luminous ecosystem which comes alive at night and sipping colour-changing concoctions as you seek to gain the trust of the Avorians. Fancy becoming the (potentially tipsy) hero of the story?
Indulge in a Parisian feast at Richoux
Affordable” and “London” are two words you rarely see together. But Richoux, a French brasserie in Oxford Circus, is rewriting the rules with a new £19.95 set menu that feels far more indulgent than its price tag suggests.
You’ll see a lot of classic dishes you’d expect from a French brasserie from steak frites and truffle croque monsieur to confit duck a l’orange and beef tartare. It’s the kind of menu that makes you feel you’ve been whisked to a Parisian side street. With dark wood panelling and sumptuous leather upholstery, it works for both a leisurely post-work dinner as it does for a proper date night. Somewhere that feels like a treat, without emptying your wallet.
The set menu is available Monday–Friday from 12pm until close and Saturdays from 4pm.
Explore V&A East’s free galleries and 500+ objects this May. Head to V&A East at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a new free museum with two free galleries showcasing over 500 objects from the V&A collection — just note that limited-time exhibitions inside the museum may require tickets.
Co-authors: Sam Barker, Chloe Byrne and Thomas Luis Angelo Forte.
