May we be blessed with sunny evenings, scorching bank holidays, and all the beer gardens a Londoner can handle. The reality might end up slightly different, but that’s what we’re crossing our fingers for in May 2024. It’s going to be a biiiiig month as we (hopefully) shake off the last of the chilly spring weather and welcome some warmer weather. So, without further ado, here are the best things to do in London this May:
1. Enjoy a taste of Italy in London (May 2-5)
SicilyFEST is a four-day weekend that brings the magic and enchantment of Sicily to London. It’s an epic celebration of food, wine, and good times. Guests can immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere while enjoying tantalising food – including delicious Sicilian regional specialities – as well as live performances and masterclasses. Escape from London and enjoy the simple pleasures of island life. You just might end up booking flights to go and experience it all over again!
Grab your ticket for SicilyFEST here.
2. Catch the start of London’s festival season
Sure, April may see a sprinkling of festivals hitting London, but May is when things start to kick into gear. Hit up these music festivals as the sun starts drenching the parks for ultimate music-fuelled early-summer vibes:
🪩 The Queen’s Yard Summer Party (May 4) brings house, techno, and disco revelry to 16 venues around Hackney Wick.
👩🎤 Woolwich Works’ Eurosmash Festival (May 4) is a one-day Eurovision extravaganza with “live acts and fan favourites from Eurovision across the years including Euro legends Jedward and iconic 1997 winner Katrina.”
🪕 Country and Americana fans in London definitely won’t want to miss the Highways Festival (May 17-18) at the Royal Albert Hall.
✨ GALA (May 24-26) returns to Peckham for the late May Bank Holiday with live music and thumping DJ sets that encompass House, Jazz, Disco, Drum & Bass, Afrobeats, and more.
🎉 Left of field choices rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in music at Brixton’s Wide Awake festival (May 25) where King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are headlining alongside slowdive and Young Fathers.
🎶 It’s all about jazz, funk, soul, and hip-hop at Brixton’s Cross The Tracks festival (May 26). Expect the likes of Erykah Badu (!), BADBADNOTGOOD, and more.
🥳 Reggae fans can live it up at City Splash (May 27) with its stacked line-up of reggae, dancehall, and afro-beats acts – plus a host of Caribbean food stands and workshops.
Check out the rest of the year’s festivals in London and get ready for a summer of music.
3. Have a slice of the ‘world’s best pizza’
Fatto a Mano have joined forces with Naples’ celebrated Master Pizzaiolo, Franco Pepe, to bring the ‘world’s best pizza’ to London. The award-winning pie will be available across Fatto a Mano locations from late April until June 2. Franco’s Margherita Sbagliata takes the famed margherita pizza and flips it on its head for a more pure experience of all the ingredients. Be sure not to miss out – how many people can say they’ve tried the world’s best pizza, after all?
Find out more here.
4. Give yourself a dopamine boost
Did you know that there is a London museum/experience that is quite literally designed to give you a dopamine boost? Dopamine Land is a “multisensory experience that combines media, technology and play in one place”. It’s perfect for kids, and for letting out the kids inside all of us as we channel the imagination of our childhood. Take a break and light up some of those dopamine receptors for a boost of happy emotions!
Book a ticket for Dopamine Land here.
5. Celebrate the arrival of Alphonso mango season
Mango lovers will know just how important and special Alphonso mango season is. The delicious mangoes are among the best varieties of the sweet fruit, and when they’re in season many of London’s restaurants clamour to use the ingredient. One such restaurant is the Michelin-starred Jamavar, which will commemorate the arrival of the mangoes with a May menu celebrating the prized fruit.
The restaurant will transform its terrace into a mango grove, right in the middle of London, and will be serving up some truly delectable delights throughout May. Diners can enjoy dishes like Chandni Chowk Ki Aloo Tikki (a potato tikki served with spiced white peas, sun-dried mango, yoghurt, tamarind, and raw mango chutney) and sweet treats like the Mango Delice (Alphonso mango salsa, crispy filo nest, pistachio cream, and mango sorbet). There will also be a special Mango Elixir cocktail, with mango juice, peach liquor, lime juice, basil leaf and mango pulp.
Head here to find out more and book a table to try out the special menu.
6. Cavort by the canal at a canal festival (May 4-5)
Over in West London’s Little Venice, a charming celebration will see the canalways thronged with activity (and boats) as part of the IWA Canalway Cavalcade. There will be an illuminated canal procession, live music, market stalls with food and drink, and much more. It’s a perfect day out that the whole family can enjoy.
Find out more here.
7. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
While Cinco de Mayo (that’s May 5th for the non-Spanish speakers out there) may be a much bigger deal in the United States and Puebla, Mexico, we Londoners love an excuse to celebrate. And thanks to our diverse population, and incredible array of international cuisines, there are plenty of ways to join in without appropriating the event. Keep an eye on your favourite Latin and Mexican restaurants and bars around town for special events, parties, and more to mark the victory of the Mexican troops over the French in 1862 at the Battle of Puebla.
🍲 Head to the cult Dalston restaurant Corrochio’s for a Cinco de Mayo blowout. They’ll have moved their operations upstairs to a much larger space just in time, so you can expect a big ol’ party to celebrate.
🍹 Enjoy a bunch of margaritas without the damage by making the switch to the non-alcoholic ‘Mockarita‘ from Mocktails Beverages.
🌮 Have your own Mexican feast with the Cool Chile Co’s ‘Ancho Barbacoa Taco Kit‘. Take all the hassle out of the cooking, and enjoy restaurant-quality barbacoa at home!
🍹 Head to the Duke of Greenwich from May 3 – 5 to try out their pop-up margarita bar in collaboration with Too Easy Beverages.
🍹 Hard Rock Cafe is joining in the fun with three JUMBO Margarita specials, just for Cinco de Mayo. Flavours include mango and blackberry and are available from May 2 – 8.
8. Experience the Wild Wild West
Ever wanted to play cowboys and immerse yourself in a proper Wild West atmosphere? Moonshine Saloon offers up just that chance with its immersive, story-driven cocktail experience that puts you in the shoes of a bootlegger. Rub shoulders with outlaws and locals as you try your hand at saloon games and enjoy cocktails made with your smuggled illicit drinks. Ready to live out your own Western?
Grab a ticket for the Moonshine Saloon experience here.
9. Celebrate a beer-mile birthday (May 5)
When you think of London and beer miles, you probably think of Bermondsey, right? The Bermondsey Beer Mile is host to an impressive selection of world-class breweries, taprooms, bars, and pubs. But over in Walthamstow is the young upstart keen to take the beer mile crown: The Blackhorse Beer Mile. This May the area’s selection of breweries, tap rooms, wineries, and distilleries will celebrate the Beer Mile’s second birthday – and you’re invited to the celebrations. Expect live events, special one-off brews and drinks, tons of delicious street food, and plenty of revelry.
Head to their socials to keep up to date.
10. Shake up some Bank Holiday libations (May 6)
Take advantage of the Bank Holiday day off and head to a special cocktail masterclass. You’ll be welcomed with a special drink before you get to work (well… as much work as making some drinks and enjoying them is!) learning the secrets behind your favourite drinks. Over the course of the class, you’ll mix together two spring bank holiday cocktails and enjoy pizza and fries. You’ll need some food to go with all that booze after all!
Grab your ticket to the Bank Holiday Cocktail Masterclass Event here.
11. Relax over the long weekend
What’s better than one bank holiday? What about two bank holidays in one month?! May brings Londoners two wonderful opportunities to enjoy the warmer weather with bank holidays on May 6 and May 27. How will you celebrate the extra time off? We highly recommend heading to the nearest pub garden, rooftop, or terrace. Speaking of which…
12. Head to the rooftops and terraces
With rooftop season finally (hopefully!) settling in this May, London’s many rooftops and terraces will be popping the tables and chairs out in the sunshine. Here are some of our top picks for some al-fresco dining and drinking.
🍷 65a brings the French brasserie experience to Spitalfields, and boasts a bright terrace area that’s expansive enough to seat over a third of the restaurant’s diners.
🌮 The Lucky Club Camden is a hidden rooftop bar with margaritas galore, sharing taco feasts, and impressive deals and discounts to take advantage of almost every day.
🦞 Seabird serves up stunning seafood and stunning views. They also serve up a unique take on afternoon tea, with their seafood-focused ‘Afternoon Sea‘.
☀️ Pergola is bringing its famed rooftop revelry with the opening of Pergola Brixton on May 4. (Top tip: they do £5 margaritas on Thursdays!)
🍷 Brixton’s favourite neighbourhood bistro and wine shop, The Laundry, brings al-fresco dining south of the river with a charming Parisian-inspired terrace. Keep an eye out for their Summer Spritz menu, launching May 13.
🌿 The stunning statue-filled Bacchanalia restaurant has opened up a vibrant outdoor terrace inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. They’ve even got a brand new menu to welcome in the warmer weather!
🍹 Battersea’s JOIA Rooftop is the perfect spot for sunshine, small plates, and sundowner cocktails. Just wait until you see the views from the 16th-floor perch!
🤩 Mezcalito Chelsea brings Tulum to London with its bohemian terrace, authentic Mexican plates, and ‘A Tour Around Mexico’ cocktail menu.
🍷 The Pan Pacific London hotel has joined forces with the new star of the French rosé scene, Roseblood, to bring a rosé terrace to the middle of the City on May 8.
🍸 Soho’s newest (and most secretive) rooftop terrace is Yasmin. Perched six floors above Soho, guests can enjoy Middle Eastern sharing plates and late-night drinks.
🥂 Luca’s foliage-filled terrace is the perfect secluded and verdant spot to enjoy rule-breaking Italian dishes and the signature LUCA Spritz.
🩷 Rosé brand Whispering Angel is transforming the iconic Wagtail rooftop bar into a pink pastel paradise this summer with a new look, special menu, and more, from May 3.
13. Kick back in an enormous pop-up beer garden
The warmer weather means one thing for most of us – beer garden season is back, baby! It also marks the return of the hugely popular pop-up beer garden, Between The Bridges. This year will see the debut of an all-new boules-based game that’s set to take London by storm, and a new cocktail bar to accent the already heaving selection of drinks. Bottoms up!
Read all about it here.
14. Go the extra mile to transform the lives of cancer patients (May 12)
The Banham Marsden March is back again this May, and ” thousands of walkers [will] come together to raise vital funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity”. Thousands of charitable supporters will walk the 15-mile route from The Royal Marsden’s hospitals in Chelsea, to the Sutton site. Others who still want to show their support, but can’t quite manage 15 miles, will join in for the final five miles.
With in-person and virtual opportunities available, anyone can join in with the fundraising efforts Don’t tarry if you want to take part! Registration closes at midday on Friday, May 3.
Sign up for The Banham Marsden March here.
15. Enjoy the looooong days
With the first 8pm sunset of the year behind us, the days just keep getting longer and longer in London. In fact, the sun will set as late as 9pm this month, on May 25. And frankly, we’re here for it. We simply love the long days, the golden evening hours, and enjoying the daylight hours with friends after work. And it just makes us all the more excited for summer to land in our capital.
16. Taste some seasonal food
Given how many of London’s restaurants have sustainability at the heart of what they do, many venues change their menus with the seasons. These spots have given their menus a revamp, or a whole makeover. These spots in particular have unveiled some stunning new dishes that we think you should try!
☕ Following a charming redesign, Greenwich Park’s Pavillion Café has reopened with a new kitchen and a summer BBQ pop-up area. It’s the perfect spot to pass the warmer days and will even be extending its hours into the evenings as the weather warms up.
🤩 One of London’s prettiest restaurants, Bacchanalia has launched a brand new à la carte menu to complement its new outdoor terrace, inspired by the ancient wonders of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
🥟 MiMi Mei Fair is celebrating the arrival of Spring with their new ‘Baskets in Bloom’ menu – “a dim sum feasting menu” of seasonal and colourful dumplings and more.
🤩 Paradise Soho will close temporarily for a full overhaul before reopening on May 28 with a new six-course set menu. Drawing from Sri Lankan native techniques and ingredients, the progressive and inventive new experience will transport diners to Colombo.
🍹 Made in Brasil is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and they’ve unveiled a new menu of Brazilian flavours to complement its ENORMOUS Cachaça selection – the largest in the UK!
🌴 The Treehouse Hotel London has launched a ‘Climb The Tree‘ experience that treats guests to an expansive, moving, multi-restaurant meal across the hotel’s three venues: Pizzeria Mozza, Madera, and The Nest.
🍣 ROKA is celebrating its 20th anniversary by bringing back some of its best-loved dishes from the past 20 years alongside a new menu of seasonal specials.
☀️ Luciano by Gino D’Acampo has reopened with fresh new interiors, a new seasonal menu, and an alfresco terrace to enjoy through the warmer months.
🥂 Ember Yard has launched a new bottomless brunch offering, pairing their moreish tapas dishes with bottomless sangria and prosecco.
17. Stuff yourself silly at these foodie festivals
May doesn’t just mean that music festival season kicks into full gear – it also means there are plenty of foodie celebrations to check out around our city. Head to one (or all) of these food festivals in London this May, and fill yourself to the brim with delicious food:
🔥 The UK’s biggest hot sauce festival returns to Peckham on May 11 – and tickets are just £2 per person!
🥪 Sarnie Party is bringing a wealth of top-notch sandwiches from London chefs to one sando-fuelled-celebration from May 17-19.
🌮 The Tacover is the UK’s biggest taco festival – and it lands in London on May 25 & 26.
🥳 Peckham’s Market Place street food market is re-launching for the summer with a week-long festival from May 25 – June 1. Expect everything from tarot-reading and cocktails to salsa dancing, cut-price pints, and more.
18. Go on a London taco crawl
Over in East London, one convenient street (and one easy walk) allows you to hit up some of London’s very best taquerias. Why not spend a day strolling in the sun, sipping on margaritas, and chowing down on as many tacos as you can stand? Taco bout a great day out!
Read all about the London taco crawl here.
19. Explore the world through photography
Equal parts photo competition and photo exhibition, the World Press Photo Exhibition 2024 brings together some of the most impressive and important “photojournalism and documentary photography from around the globe”. Photos encompass the breadth of humanity, displaying raw emotions and new perspectives on the world around us. It’s an inspiring attraction for anyone, regardless of whether you’re a photographer, journalist, or just curious about the world.
Get your ticket to the World Press Photo Exhibition here.
20. Or get cultured at these London exhibitions
As always there are plenty of fascinating exhibitions opening to the public this May. But there are also some that will be shutting their doors soon. This month’s shows range from the touching to the curious to the downright bonkers. Act fast so you don’t miss out on any of them!
EXHIBITIONS OPENING IN MAY
🤎 Michelangelo: the last decades (May 2 – July 28): The British Museum – delves into the final 30 years of his life following his work on the Sistine Chapel, with poetry, letters, artistic design, and more.
🩶 Laced With Dust (May 2 – 30): Studio West – a group show of works “inspired by Sheila Heti’s… ‘Alphabetical Diaries’, in which the author collected half a million words from a decade’s worth of journals and rearranged them into alphabetically organised sentences.”
💜 ORIGIN (May 3 – 6): Embassy Gardens – “a unique deep listening art installation inviting audiences to be bathed in sound and light.”
🩷 The Royal Society of Portrait Painters’ 133rd Annual Exhibition (May 9 – 18): Mall Galleries – a showcase of “the very best painted portraits in Europe – both by established portraiture artists and by the most exciting up-and-coming talent”
❤️ Planet-Saving Innovations (May 13 – September 30): The Mills Fabrica – a showcase of the most sustainable innovations in fashion.
💛 Now You See Us: Women Artists in Britain 1520 – 1920 (May 16 – October 13): TATE Britain – a major group show spanning 400 years, when “women were visibly working as professional artists, but went against societal expectations to do so.”
💚 Bella Hoare: A Different Green (May 22 – June 2): The OXO Tower – a free exhibition of two painting collections from Hoare, both inspired by “the natural world and feminine power”.
💙 Birds: Brilliant & Bizarre (May 24 – January 25, 2025): Natural History Museum – a celebration of birds, from the curious to the gorgeous and everything in between.
🖤 Beyond Fashion (May 31 – September 8): Saatchi Gallery – a showcase of fashion photography from 48 photographers, split into four sections: Allure, Fantasy, Realism, and Surrealism.
EXHIBITIONS CLOSING IN MAY
💜 Albert Oehlen: New Paintings (Ends May 11): Gagosian – using consciously amateurish and “bad” techniques, Oehlen covers his canvases in a variety of forms and textures that fuse abstract, improvised imagery with repetition and regular, controlled composition.
❤️ STREET LIFE (Ends May 18): David Hill Gallery – showcases 18 street and documentary photographers, with images from Brooklyn to Tokyo and beyond.
💙 Softer, Softest (Ends May 21): Guts Gallery – a group exhibition that explores softness, human touch, and memory.
💛 Bright Lights, Big City (Ends May 25): Iconic Images Gallery Piccadilly – an exhibition of photographs from 15 legendary photographers that span from 1950 Chicago to modern-day LA, with never-before-seen pieces.
💚 Constellations, Part 1: Figures On Earth & Beyond (Ends May 25): Gallery 1957 – an internationally collaborative group exhibition of artworks from artists based in London and Accra, Ghana.
🩶 Thomas J Price at the V&A (Ends May 27): V&A South Kensington – eight sculptures by Thomas J Price have been placed in and around the V&A, including the 12-foot tall ‘Moments Contained’, which depicts a young woman lost in thought.
🩷 Nnena Kalu (Ends May 30): Arcadia Missa – repetition, bundling, unspooling, and tangling are constant themes in Kalu’s exhibition, across drawing, sculpture and installation.
21. Go for a cocktail tour of Soho
Even the most seasoned of Londoners will turn a corner in Soho, at some point, and find themselves face-to-face with something they’ve never seen before. And even London’s veteran cocktail drinkers can’t have tried out every hidden drinking den in our city. This is where London Cocktail Tours comes in handy. Their Soho Cocktail Tour is perfect for those who want to learn more about Soho’s seedy past, see unexplored corners of our city, and drink delicious cocktails while they’re at it. Over the course of three and a bit hours, you’ll meet legends of the Soho bar scene, imbibe (sensibly) on world-class cocktails, and definitely learn a thing or two!
Book your spot on the London Cocktail Tour of Soho here.
22. Catch a flick in a classic car (May 11)
Fancy a truly unique film-watching experience? Then you’ll want to head over to The Embassy Gardens Drive-In Cinema this May, where a one-day-only event sees guests taking in blockbuster flicks in stunning classic cars. On May 11, guests can take advantage of classic and supercar rentals for a luxurious seat to enjoy cinematic hits like The Lion King, Mamma Mia, James Bond, and more. Of course, you’re also welcome to turn up with your own car or bring some folding chairs and a picnic for a nostalgic day out surrounded by retro cars and not-so-retro films.
Find out more here.
23. Get caught up in wisteria hysteria
May is bang on wisteria season and sees our city’s springtime flowers pivot from bluebells and cherry blossoms to other pre-summer blooms. We can never get enough of the beautiful wisteria that crops up all over the city. They’re just so bloomin’ gorgeous!
For even more of London’s gorgeous floral displays, check out our London flower guide.
24. Book a table at one of London’s newest restaurants
Every month all sorts of new restaurants and bars open in London. It can sometimes feel impossible to keep track of them all. Lucky for you, that’s my job! Here are some of the most exciting new openings to try out in London this May:
🥘 A restaurant dedicated to all things risotto, all’onda, will open in Fitzrovia on May 2.
🍝 Fellini will open in Chelsea on May 6, bringing with it an authentic taste of Italian hospitality.
🫛 Plant-based restaurant group Mildreds will open their sixth location in Victoria on May 7.
🍽️ Michel Roux is opening his new restaurant ‘Chez Roux’ at the Langham on May 22 – read all about it here.
🍣 SUSHISAMBA’s brand new SAMBA ROOM is a taste of luxury in the sky: an exclusive bar and lounge with “panoramic city views, an elevated cocktail programme and theatrical interiors.”
🎣 A second The Counter restaurant is winging its Mediterranean flavours to Soho on May 14, with an accompanying listening bar, Under The Counter, also opening.
🌮 El Cenote is set to be Camden’s new Mexican drinking and dining destination when it opens in the middle of May.
🍔 An all-new Wagyu smash burger concept, SMSH BN, will open in Soho on May 20.
25. Shake things up for World Cocktail Day (May 13)
It’s only the best possible excuse to check out some of London’s best cocktail bars. And in a city as cuckoo for cocktails as London, there’s plenty to choose from. If you’re after the prettiest bars with the prettiest cocktails, London has a plethora of suitable venues. Or if you like your venues with a bit of edge to them, check out our round-up of cool and quirky bars in London. Want to be left alone with your drink? Might we recommend one of London’s secret-est bars. Like we said, there’s plenty to choose from…
26. Try out a new cocktail menu
Some of London’s best cocktail bars have recently launched all-new cocktail menus. For some, these are seasonal changes, for others they’re celebrating birthdays and milestones. Here are some exciting new libations for you to try:
🍸 Lucy Wong is celebrating its first birthday with an all-new cocktail selection that gives old classics an inventive Asian twist.
🍹 The exciting Mexican bar-within-a-restaurant, KOL Mezcaleria has launched a new line of Mezcals in collaboration with Sin Gusano. Guests can try the new spirits in a new cocktail menu and mezcal flight options, as well as mezcal pairings with food.
🍸 Hidden East London bar, Discount Suit Company, has launched a new spring/summer cocktail selection with drinks like the taco-influenced Al Pastor with flavours of pineapple and citrus, tomato, coriander, and basil.
🍹 The Savage Garden Rooftop Bar has partnered with the Ocean Conservation Trust on a new menu of food and cocktails, with two new signature cocktails to raise money for ocean conservation.
🍸 Quaglino’s is taking guests back in time with their new cocktail menu, ‘Back to the Origins’. The nostalgia-fuelled menu explores four concepts: The Test of Time, Art Deco, Live Music, and Our Specials.
🍹 Mint Leaf London is welcoming spring at their cocktail bar with the arrival of the “Spring Spritz” seasonal menu of spritzes with an unexpected Indian twist.
27. Get crafty for London Craft Week (May 13 – 19)
London Craft Week (LCW) returns for its 10th edition in 2024. And once again it’s back with a programme of craft-y events and activities all across London. Experiences range from behind-the-scenes tours of artist studios to special displays from local artists and creatives, as well as workshops for children and adults alike. There are almost 200 activities to choose from, so you’re sure to find your next hands-on creative passion!
Find out more about London Craft Week here.
28. Feast your eyes on florals
May brings with it flower show season, which sees our city absolutely suffused with florals. Check out these special events, takeovers, and more for a rose-y day out with your best bud.
💐 London’s largest free flower festival, Chelsea in Bloom, will transform the streets of Chelsea into a ‘Floral Feasts’ themed paradise, from May 20-26.
🌼 See the blooms at the free Belgravia in Bloom (May 20-27). This year’s displays are themed around ‘Floral Fun and Games’.
🌷 The star of the floral festival calendar is the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which returns with dazzling displays and gorgeous garden designs from May 21-24.
💐 Sip at a limited-edition “Bloomin’ Lovely” Afternoon Tea at The Goring, with a stunning backdrop courtesy of meticulously manicured The Goring Garden – one of London’s largest private gardens. (Available from May 13-26)
29. Enjoy a tranquil candlelight concert
London’s candlelight concerts treat guests to stunning candle-filled interiors in some jaw-dropping locations, with orchestral and piano-led performances. The music ranges from classical pieces to soothing renditions of jazz standards, movie soundtracks, Taylor Swift hits, and more. Check out one of these enchanting performances this May:
🕯️ Candlelight Jazz: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole (May 3)
✨ Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift at Southwark Cathedral (May 4)
🕯️ Candlelight: Sci-Fi and Fantasy Soundtracks at Southwark Cathedral (May 4)
✨ Candlelight Spring: Hans Zimmer’s Best Works (May 10)
🕯️ Candlelight: Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake ft Ballet at Central Hall Westminster (May 17)
✨ Candlelight: The Best of Bollywood and Tollywood on Strings (May 25)
Find more London Candlelight Concerts here.
30. Jump around at a top London gig
London is a hotbed of musical activity and creativity. Gigs in our capital range all across the spectrum, from chart-topping global megastars to up-and-coming ‘next big thing’ acts. Here are some of the most exciting performances taking place this May:
🎛️ SG Lewis (May 3): Koko – the popular songwriter and producer brings his dancefloor-filling tunes and DJing to Camden.
🎸 The Black Keys (May 7-9): O2 Academy Brixton – rock’n’roll duo with infectious tunes and dirty blues-y riffs.
🎤 Mitski (May 8-10): Eventim Apollo – three hotly anticipated nights in London before she headlines All Points East.
🎶 Dionne Warwick (May 14): Theatre Royal Drury Lane – responsible for some of the biggest R&B, soul, and gospel hits.
🤠 Kacey Musgraves (May 14-15): Roundhouse – beloved country musician and singer brings her tunes to London.
🎹 Laufey (May 16): Royal Albert Hall – pop-inflected jazz and standards that have taken over the airwaves.
🎸 The Mountain Goats (May 22): Roundhouse – legends of indie folk-rock with a sardonic sense of humour.
🤘 Hinds (May 27-28): The Lower Third – infectiously fun guitar-driven rock band hailing from Spain.
🔮 The Butterfly Wheel (May 30): The Old Church, Stoke Newington – more than just a gig, this immersive performance treats the audience to a ‘shamanic-style’ tea ceremony, guided meditations, and more.
31. Listen closely at The Podcast Show (May 22-23)
The Podcast Show is “the biggest international festival for the business of podcasting”. This May, it returns to London for the third year. Thousands of delegates and attendees will get the chance to experience panel talks, discussions, live podcast recordings, and advice sessions. The show brings the community together, with professionals and newcomers alike mingling, talking, and learning from each other.
Find out more about The Podcast Show here.
32. Line dance (in the gym)
If there’s one thing you can count on the folks at Gymbox for, it’s their out-of-the-box approach to exercise classes. They offer everything from super-slowed-down workouts to sleeping classes (no, seriously!). And now they’re adding to the roster with none other than a line-dancing experience in the Gymbox Cowboy Class. Set to launch this May, you’ll pop on some boots and line-dance your way to health!
33. Chow down on a limited-edition meal
The spirit of collaboration runs deep through London’s dining scene. As such, there are all sorts of exciting limited-edition meals and dining experiences to try out. Grab a booking for one of these meals and your friends will be seething with jealousy. (Of course, you could always include them too…)
🍕 Yard Sale has teamed up with Bleecker Burger for a 10-year-anniversary collaboration. They’ve created the ultimate burger-pizza, which will be available to order from May 8 for five weeks only.
🔥 The smoke-master himself, and namesake founder of Rubens Reubens, will be taking his smokey meaty goods (and his Veg BBQ trays) to Peckham Arches for a summer kitchen residency. (Starts May 3)
🥧 For one day only (May 6), Barnes’ The Waterman’s Arms will collaborate with Rose Gabbertas – former pastry chef at St John Smithfield – on a special offering of spring dishes and unmissable desserts.
🍸 On May 19, Viajante87 is being completely taken over by award-winning restaurant and bar, Celele and Alquimico for a one-night experience as part of Viajante87’s The Culture Exchange series of supper clubs. Guests can enjoy a four-course feast that brings Colombian-Caribbean cuisines to London, with carefully paired unique cocktails.
🌭 Cult Champagne and hotdog concept Bubbledogs is popping up at the Mayfair hotel’s exclusive terrace: CUT Out, as ‘Bubbledogs at 45’ from May 10 – September 29. Expect “gourmet hotdogs and grower Champagne pairings”
🦪 Mezcal brand Bandida has partnered with the Smith & Whistle Bar for a one-day-only ‘oysters and agave’ masterclass (May 15) that pairs mezcal with freshly shucked oysters. Tickets here.
🥥 Writer and photographer Austin Bush will take over Borough Market’s Kolae on May 14 with a special set menu of lesser-known Thai-Muslim dishes, to celebrate the launch of his new cookbook, The Food of Southern Thailand.
🍸 Quaglino’s has launched a new asparagus-filled menu to celebrate asparagus season. There’s even an Asparagus Martini!
🍛 Gunpowder’s India Club is a monthly supper club with a different emphasis each month on a region of India. May 25 will see guests treated to a special menu celebrating flavours and dishes from Goa.
🍝 Three world-renowned chefs, Theo Randall, Francesco Mazzei, and Jacob Kenedy, will join forces on May 22 for a one-night-only meal to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. Tickets here.
🌮 Marylebone Mexican restaurant Cavita will celebrate its second anniversary on May 24 with a special five-course dinner in collaboration with Vivek Singh, Melissa Thompson and Daniel Watkins. Tickets here.
🥪 This May Secret Sandwich Shop is partnering with It’s Bagels for a month-long Salt Beef Bagel – the first-ever bagel from the sandwich maestros – available at Secret Sandwich Shop and at It’s Bagels on Regent’s Park Road.
🤔 On May 29, The Table Battersea hosts its monthly Omakase ‘Mystery Tasting Menu’ of four courses inspired by a specific chef’s heritage. You don’t know what you’re eating until you arrive!
🍕 Berberè is celebrating the different regions of Italy with pizza specials – starting this May with the ‘Saluti da Bologna’ pizza which tops Berberè’s sourdough base with fior de latte mozzarella, smashed potatoes, Asiago cheese, and Mortadella.
34. Catch a show in the park
This May, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre kicks off its summer programme of theatrical productions in the great outdoors. The season starts with a production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (or What You Will), which sees the action transported to the Mediterranean summertime, running from May 3 – June 8. Other shows include an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Enormous Crocodile (May 17 – June 8), Fiddler On The Roof (July 27 – September 21), and more.
Tickets start at just £15. Find out more here.
35. See a legendary British sitcom on the stage
When you think of legendary British sitcoms, there’s one name that consistently comes up time and time again. Fawlty Towers may have only run for two series (with only 12 episodes!) but it struck a chord. (Even if it perhaps hasn’t aged wonderfully.) And now, the show is set to receive the stage treatment. They’ve even got John Cleese himself adapting the show for the stage. Tickets are on sale now, and the show’s run starts on May 4, 2024, at the Apollo Theatre.
Find out more here.
36. Settle in for one of London’s famed stage shows
The West End is synonymous with some of the best theatre that the world has to offer. But there are also plenty of great stage shows to see in London across the city’s many venues and theatres. Check out some of these shows this May:
NEW OPENINGS
🦸 Captain Amazing (May 1 – 25): Southwark Playhouse Borough – the 10-year anniversary of the one-man play about the transformative power of fatherhoodsees Mark Weinman returning to the role, which was written for him.
🎭 PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS (May 3 – August 10): Trafalgar Theatre – a struggling actor’s life spins out of control as she struggles to deal with the savage world around her.
🔍 The Government Inspector (May 3 – June 15): Marylebone Theatre – “A comedy about hypocrites, hysterics and hustlers” with government corruption, bribery, drunkenness, and more.
🎶 A Song of Songs (May 9 – June 15): Park Theatre – world music, Middle Eastern harmonics, and dazzling choreography combine in a story of passion and eroticism that spans countries, contents, and time.
🦖 The Colour of Dinosaurs (May 11 – June 9): Polka Theatre – a child-friendly dino-centric show described as a “rip-roaring, prehistoric science pop gig for curious humans of all ages.”
🎸Passing Strange (May 14 – July 6): Young Vic (Main House) – the Tony Award-winning rock musical about punk-rock and teenage-dom lands in London for its European premiere.
💙 Bluets (May 17 – June 29): Royal Court – a love affair with the colour blue leads to an exploration of depression, desire, pleasure, and pain, conjuring up the spirits of artists from Joni Mitchell to Billie Holiday and beyond.
❤️🩹 A View From The Bridge (May 22 – August 3): Theatre Royal Haymarket – BAFTA award winner Dominic West, heads up a production of Arthur Miller’s timeless masterpiece.
🗡️ Heathers The Musical (May 22 – July 6): Soho Place – the runaway hit based on the cult 90’s film returns for six weeks only.
🎤 Showstopper! The Improvised Musical (May 22 – December 16): Cambridge Theatre – a brand-new musical gets improvised anew each night in front of your eyes.
🩷 Legally Blonde (May 23 – 25): Winston Churchill Theatre – the iconic movie hits the stage in musical form for a limited time from the Starlight Theatre Company.
💀 Kathy and Stella Solve A Murder! (May 25 – September 14): Ambassadors Theatre – crime podcast hosts are thrust into their very own whodunnit.
ENDING SOON
⚽ Red Pitch (Ends May 4): Soho Place – three young black teenagers in South London who dream of football stardom and have a chance at making their dreams come true.
🖼️ The Picture of Dorian Gray (Ends May 11): Theatre Royal Haymarket – Succession star Sarah Snook stars in a one-actor adaptation of Wilde’s famed story.
👿 Harry Clarke (Ends May 11): Ambassadors Theatre – dive into one man’s double life in a show that has drawn comparisons to Saltburn and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
🌟 Opening Night (Ends May 18): Gielgud Theatre – a musical based on John Cassavetes’ 1977 film of the same name where an actor is haunted by a deceased fan.
😎 Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical (Ends May 19): The Other Palace – Main Theatre – the book that inspired the 90’s hit movie gets a musical stage adaptation with songs from Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, TLC, NSYCN, and more.
🎭 For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy (Ends June 1): Garrick Theatre – the double Olivier award-nominated show finishes up its West End run.
For even more shows, check out our round-ups of theatre shows and musicals that you can’t miss.
37. Get dressed up for Comic Con (May 24-26)
MCM Comic Con returns to London at the end of the month with a full-throttle celebration of all things pop culture. Meet characters and actors from anime, TV, and film, and the people behind your favourite works. You can also browse art from independent creators, attend panel discussions, and marvel at the incredible cosplays that will fill the event. I hope you’ve got your costume ready!
Find out more and grab your ticket here.
38. Browse Leadenhall Market’s summer pop-ups
Leadenhall Market is already a stunning must-visit for anyone who hasn’t been – it simply oozes Harry Potter vibes and old-world charm. But you’ll want to make plans for another trip this May to check out the first of their Summer weekend pop-up markets. Kicking off on May 26, and running until September 14, the pop-ups will see the market return to its traditional roots, when a Roman forum (or ‘market’) once stood on the spot. However, instead of the traditional meat, poultry, and food, the stalls will be filled with furniture, fashion, and crafts.
Find out more here.
39. Keep exploring this incredible city
Well, we can’t put everything in just one article, can we? There are simply too many things to do, sights to see, and places to go. So here are even more suggestions for your London to-do list this month.
🧀 The UK’s Very First Build-Your-Own Cheese And Charcuterie Box Bar Has Arrived In London
😲 This Mysterious Roman Temple Is Hidden Underneath The City Of London
📵 The Traditional London Pub Where Mobile Phones Are Banned (Even To Pay)
🥪 London’s Newest Breakfast Bar Is Dedicated To Smashed Sausage Sarnies
🧑⚖️ Did You Know That You Can Serve On The Jury Of A Thrilling Courtroom Drama Play In London?
🤤 This Shop In London Is Dedicated Entirely To Serving Up Delightful Arancini
🖼️ Last Year’s Hugely Popular David Hockney Retrospective To Return To London This Summer
🍽️ The Standard x Ixta Belfrage: A Must Try Three Month Pop-Up In London
🎉 There’s A Giant Soft Play Centre Inside A Stunning Old Church In London
🍸A World-Renowned Cocktail Bar Has Opened Up Shop In Central London
👑 You’ll Soon Be Able To Visit Previously Out-Of-Of-Bounds Parts Of Buckingham Palace
🌌 You Can Stay Overnight At London’s Science Museum And Sleep Among Space Rockets
🍜 A Do-It-Yourself Korean Ramen Bar With A Robot Fried Chicken Chef Has Opened In West London
✨ Mind-Bending Light Installations Will Take Over The Tate Modern This Summer
🥯 South London Has A Brand New Bagel Spot And It’s Open Till 4AM
🎤 You Can Now Go On A Taylor Swift ‘London Boy’ Inspired Walking Tour In London
🥢 This Hidden Gem In London’s Stratford Celebrates Vibrant Nikkei Cuisine
☀️ East London’s Rooftop Playground For Grown-Ups Is Running Throughout The Summer
☕ The Notting Hill Café That Specialises In Sweet And Savoury Porridge
🛀 Relax And Rejuvenate At These Charming Community Baths In East London
🧀 This Monthly Street Market Is Dedicated To All Things Cheese-y
🎶 This Bottomless Brunch In London Boasts Performances From Actual West End Stars
🚀 This Immersive Tom Hanks-Narrated Space Experience Is A Thrilling Journey Into The Stars
😋 This Intimate Brazilian Bistro Boasts Michelin-Starred Flavours At A Fraction Of The Cost
🩷 The Barbican Has Been Wrapped In Pink Fabric As Part Of Free Exhibition
🍹 Sip On Unique Drinks At This Hidden, 1970s-Themed Indian Cocktail Bar In Fitzrovia
🚶♀️ This Charity Helps Londoners Feel Safe While Walking Home Alone From The Tube
☕ This London Bar Is Serving The UK’s ‘Most Expensive Cup Of Coffee’ At £265 A Pop
🌳 Get Up Close And Personal With Nature On This Sky-High Treetop Trail In London
🍔 A Group Of London BBQ Legends Have Opened Their Very First Burger Joint
👀 10 Downing Street Is Opening Its Garden For Public Tours This Year
🛝 This Late-Night Adult Soft Play Centre Invites You To Unleash Your Inner Child
🌮 A Sky-High New Japanese-Mexican Fusion Restaurant Has Opened In London
More things to do inspiration…
😁 Fab and FREE things to do in London