10 Things to do in London in May

Published: 01 May 2025
It’s getting warm in London, and some days have already gone over 25 ° C. This is an excellent opportunity to enjoy outdoor events in the city and its many areas.
Chelsea in Bloom floral displays from 2023
Cole & Son Floral Displays During Chelsea in Bloom 2023

Chelsea in Bloom

Chelsea in Bloom is London’s largest free flower festival, returning with the theme “Flowers in Fashion”. Celebrating Chelsea’s rich fashion heritage, this year’s event transforms the neighbourhood into a floral catwalk, with over 100 retailers, restaurants and hotels creating flower installations inspired by iconic fashion moments and designers. The festival offers self-guided walking tours, themed events, workshops, and a public vote to crown the best display.

📍Chelsea | 19 – 25 May

Robbie Williams: Radical Honesty

Pop star Robbie Williams’s Radical Honesty exhibition at the Moco Museum London showcases new artworks and sculptures that explore personal themes such as self-esteem, anxiety, and everyday experiences. The exhibition addresses these topics honestly and without filters, highlighting vulnerability in daily life.

📍Oxford Street| From 2 May

Queen’s Yard Summer Party

Held each year in Hackney Wick, London, this one-day festival spans more than 20 local venues, including The Yard, Colour Factory and CRATE Brewery. It features a wide range of electronic music genres such as house, techno, garage and disco, with performances from both local and international DJs and collectives.

📍Hackney Wick | 3 May

Affordable Art Fair

Hampstead hosts a springtime edition of the Affordable Art Fair each year, featuring over 100 galleries from the UK and beyond. Discover contemporary works from £100, plus emerging artists, installations, and relaxing food and drink spots.

📍Hampstead | 7 – 11 May

Tate Modern 25th Birthday Weekender

Enjoy musical performances in the Turbine Hall, experience shows in the South Tanks, and participate in artist-led workshops, tours, film screenings and events. The Tate Modern is a must-see destination for visitors, thanks to its impressive building and surroundings, which include the nearby Millennium Bridge and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

📍Tate Modern, South Bank | 9 – 12 May

The London Coffee Festival

Returning to Shoreditch in 2025, this annual celebration of coffee culture will feature over 260 artisan coffee and gourmet brands. The programme includes tastings, workshops, talks, and competitions like Coffee Masters™, as well as latte art showcases and interactive sessions at The Lab and Brew School. In the Roasters Village, European roasters will serve exclusive brews, while the Hyde Park Bar offers coffee cocktails with DJ sets. The True Artisan Café highlights independent coffee pioneers.

📍The Truman Brewery | Shoreditch | 15 – 18 May

Urban Village Fete

Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025, this free annual festival takes place at Greenwich Peninsula in London and offers a full day of music, performances, markets, creative activities and street food. Headline act Gilles Peterson will perform alongside others such as Touching Bass and London Soul Choirs. The event also includes family-friendly experiences, from ceramics and paper-cutting workshops to dog shows and hands-on activities for all ages.

📍Greenwich | 18 May

Belgravia in Bloom

Belgravia in Bloom is a free floral festival coinciding with the Chelsea in Bloom event. Each spring, the event brightens the streets of Belgravia. In 2025, the event celebrates the theme “Through the Seasons,” with floral displays inspired by spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Visitors can admire imaginative seasonal creations decorating shopfronts, restaurants, and public spaces throughout the neighbourhood.

📍Belgravia | 19 – 26 May

Foodies Festival

Launched in Edinburgh in 2006, Foodies Festival has grown into the UK’s largest food and drink celebration, now held in 14 locations. The festival showcases local food and drink with chef demonstrations – featuring MasterChef stars – as well as baking and drinks theatres, a kids’ cookery school, hands-on workshops, and live music that helps raise funds for the homelessness charity Crisis.

📍Syon Park | 24 May - 26 May

Cross The Tracks

Cross The Tracks is an annual music festival focused on jazz, funk, soul, and hip-hop. The event features a diverse lineup that includes established artists, contemporary performers, and emerging talent. In addition to live music, the festival typically offers food and drink vendors, record fairs, and talks or workshops related to music and culture.

📍Brockwell Park, Brixton | 25 May

Conclusion

We hope you find something interesting in these events. We will surely visit some of them, and the flower festivals in May are some of our favourites throughout the year.

Activities from Get Your Guide