The May Bank Holiday is the perfect time to enjoy the best of what London has to offer. Whether you’re a local looking for new experiences or a visitor hoping to make the most of your long weekend, the capital is buzzing with things to do. Here’s a roundup of the top 5 ideas to make your Bank Holiday memorable:
Discover some new brews at Crystal Palace Beer Festival
This is the 13th annual Beer Festival to be held in SE25 and it takes place at the football club’s Selhurst Park ground, the day before the final game of the season. Swing by and sample hundreds of beers and ciders on offer from breweries across the UK, alongside other refreshments and fun things to try.
Check out Hiroshige artist of the open road at the British Museum
This is the first major exhibition dedicated to Hiroshige at the British Museum and the first in London in over 25 years. It offers a visually captivating glimpse of Japan on the brink of transformation. Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) lived through a turbulent period in Japan’s history and rose to become one of its most admired and widely loved artists. As Japan faced growing external influences, his serene and thoughtful artwork resonated deeply with people across all walks of life, offering them a sense of comfort and connection.
Go see the New York play Stereophonic
After a hugely successful run on Broadway—where it became the most Tony-nominated play in history—Stereophonic is heading to London’s West End for a limited engagement at the Duke of York’s Theatre starting Saturday, 24 May 2025.
Set in a recording studio in 1976, the play captures both the thrill and the tension of the creative process. As a rising rock band works on a new album, they find themselves teetering between a potential breakthrough and a total collapse under the weight of growing fame. Written by David Adjmi, directed by Daniel Aukin, and featuring original music by Will Butler of Arcade Fire, Stereophonic offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at a band on the edge of something big — for better or worse.
Visit the final days of the Chelsea Flower Show
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, formally known as the Great Spring Show, is a garden show held for five days in May by the Royal Horticultural Society in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in Chelsea, London. Held at Chelsea since 1912, the show is attended by members of the British royal family.
Attend one of London’s famous summer music festivals – Field Day
London’s top eclectic festival is back, and shaping the future of dance music. Field Day lands in its new home at Brockwell Park, Brixton, on Saturday 24th May 2025.
Visit the new deer herd in Greenwich Park
Deer have made a return to Greenwich Park in south-east London, following their move to Richmond Park back in 2021. According to The Royal Parks, a new group of eight fallow deer is now settling into a refurbished and expanded paddock. The area includes access to nearby woodland and has been improved with wildflower planting to help support local wildlife, such as birds and pollinators.
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