May is my favourite month: summer feels ever closer (about time) and we’re graced with not one, but two bank holidays! As this year’s Spring bank holiday is just around the corner (May 24–27), there are plenty of things to do in London; time to fill that calendar. Will you make the most of the long weekend?
1. Let loose at an epic day festival of Reggae, Dancehall, Afrobeats and Soca
City Splash returns to London this bank holiday weekend, with some big names headlining. Snap up your tickets and head to Brockwell Park to see Beenie Man, General Levy, Shenseaa, Heartless Crew, and many, many more perform live on May 27 across seven stages. Alongside the epic performances, there’ll also be over 60 different food traders ready to fill your stomach with delicious African and Caribbean food, plus the vibes are sure to be unrivalled.
2. Get your hands on free bao buns
Master Bao opens a new outpost in Westfield Stratford City, London, this Spring bank holiday, and to celebrate, they’re giving away 600 free bao buns between May 23–26! Head down from opening (11am, Thurs-Sat; 12pm, Sun), and you’ll be in with a chance of nabbing one of the 150 free bao buns available each day. The eatery also boasts a lovely selection of bubble teas and fresh noodles.
3. Channel your favourite character at MCM Comic Con
The famed MCM Comic Con returns this weekend (May 24–26), taking place at the ExCel Centre near Canary Wharf. The ultimate celebration of pop culture, the convention welcomes first-timers and die-hard fans alike to honour all things film, TV, books, and games. There’ll be a sensational programme of panels, showcases, and live performances.
4. 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?
5. Snap up a display from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
The annual RHS Chelsea Flower Show takes place from Tuesday, May 21, until Saturday, May 25, encouraging visitors to admire some of the most brilliant blooms in the city. Throughout the week, you’ll be able to admire gorgeous garden designs, fantastic floral displays, and partake in exclusive shopping experiences too. What’s more, come the Spring bank holiday weekend – Saturday, May 25, at 4pm to be precise – RHS Chelsea sells off the displays, so you could take home a part of the installation.
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 Spring 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. Check out a free pop-up market inspired by Africa
Another free activity to in London this Spring bank holiday! The Africa at Spitalfields pop-up market returns to Spitalfields Market this bank holiday Monday (May 27), bringing with it over 60 vendors. You can enter the market for free between 10am and 5pm, and browse art, clothing, toys, accessories, and homeware. The pop-up will also play host to delicious food, dance performances, and even free textile workshops.
8. 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.
9. Enjoy an all-day, al-fresco party at a rooftop bar
Kick off your bank holiday weekend in style at an iconic London rooftop. 12th Knot, utop the Sea Containers, is throwing an all-day summer party from 2pm on Saturday (May 25); expect live DJ sets, an extensive drinks list, and a panoramic view of the city skyline. The party will last until midnight, so you’ll want to pre-book to nab a terrace table for dusk.
10. Be transported to another world by a London cocktail bar
If you’ve not yet visited Avora, what have you been doing?! Avora is an out-of-this-world cocktail experience in Hoxton, with impressive set design, cool cocktails, and a fun (and important) storyline. It’s made by the team behind London’s famous Alcatraz cocktail experience. Pop in for an immersive adventure this bank holiday weekend (Fri–Sun).
Looking after little ones? Avora becomes a family adventure (with non-alcoholic drinks, of course) every Sunday morning – it’s suitable for kids aged 6–13.
11. Enter a rootin’ tootin’ Wild West saloon
Another London cocktail experience to enjoy this bank holiday weekend is Moonshine Saloon – consequently from the same team behind Avora and Alcatraz. Open all weekend long, including on bank holiday Monday, Moonshine Saloon will transport you from Aldgate to the Wild West for a storyline of illicit booze smuggling (it’s BYOB), sheriffs, and gambling.
12. Laugh the night away at a Legally Blonde production
We at Secret London implore you to watch Starlight Theatre Company‘s take on the 00s classic Legally Blonde (May 23–25). Featuring our very own Katie Forge, alongside a stellar cast, this comedy performance at Ruislip’s The Winston Churchill Theatre will have you laughing throughout the evening (and practising your bend and snap on the way home).
13. Partake in the infamous gunpowder plot
We may be six months out from Guy Fawkes Night, but Gunpowder Plot: The Immersive Experience makes for a great afternoon year-round. Step into the pages of our history books, as you embark on an adventure; the experience combines virtual reality, live actors, and visitor participation for maximum impact. Virtual reality Guy Fawkes is played by Tom Felton.
14. Celebrate Peckham at a local festival
Spring bank holiday (May 27) marks the start of the Peckham Festival in South London. Taking place at Market Place Peckham, there’ll be a week-long roster of fun events for the community, encompassing everything from salsa lessons to tarot card readings, brunch to football quizzes. What’s more, there are some great deals until the festival closes on June 1, including £5 beers, and £35 bottomless brunch.
15. Survive a Martian invasion in Victorian England
Ever wondered how it would feel to experience a Martian invasion and live to tell the tale? Well, at Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience, you’ll find out! This action-packed immersive experience in The City of London combines talented character actors, heart-stopping special effects, and mesmerising virtual reality to create an adrenaline-pumping activity. The experience is all set to Jeff Wayne’s iconic score from his multi-platinum 1978 double album.
16. Enjoy a paddleboarding session and help the environment
Take to the waters at Limehouse Basin on Saturday, May 25, for an activity that will make you feel good as you do good too. The Big Paddle Cleanup is a fun few hours, where you hop in a kayak or on a paddleboard (provided by Decathlon to all attendees), and help clean up the area’s waters – all the while enjoying the view from a new perspective on the water. All proceeds go towards the environmental non-profit Planet Patrol.
17. Head to the happiest museum in London
If the extra long weekend isn’t enough to put a smile on your face, perhaps a visit to the capital’s happiest museum will be. Head to Dopamine Land this weekend (including Monday) to experience an array of multi-sensory rooms; these are designed to see what makes your happiness hormone flow. From child-like fun in the ball pit and ‘floor is lava’ room to the visually pleasing forest room and infinity room, there’s sure to be something in this South Kensington museum to make you smile.
19. Start the half term with a selection of fun, family activities
The bank holiday weekend marks the start of the half term here in London, so use the weekend to spur on the rest of your week with the kids in your life. From exploring the underwater world at the London Aquarium to observing the land creatures at London Zoo, there is plenty to do in the capital: check out our complete list of things to do with kids in London this half term.
20. Feast on fancy Italian fare at a reopened terrace
If the weather holds up, make a beeline – or is that birdline? – for Sparrow Italia in Mayfair. They shall reopen their 25-person terrace, The Nest, for the bank holiday weekend, providing a nice spot to catch the sun and dine above the hustle and bustle of the West End. Expect starters, such as oysters and wagyu carpaccio, alongside mains of moreish pasta.
21. Escape the Big Smoke and head on to the idyllic Peak District countryside
If you’re looking to escape London for the weekend, what better spot to visit than the English countryside? The Peak District has to be one of the most beautiful areas to visit in England. Rural and picturesque villages are speckled around the stunning countryside, not far from Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham (in case you want to combine your visit with a city break!).