{"id":43458,"date":"2026-05-21T06:14:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T06:14:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/43458\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T06:14:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T06:14:12","slug":"things-to-do-in-london-this-bank-holiday-weekend-may-22-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/43458\/","title":{"rendered":"Things to do in London this bank holiday weekend (May 22-25)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The<\/p>\n

The much-awaited sunshine is a welcome change from weeks of rain, cloud, and hail<\/a>. And it is sure to herald the return of some classic features of London life in the sunshine – Aperol Spritz galore, dreamy afternoons spent outside, and festivals where you can leave your wellies at home. <\/p>\n

The last three-day weekend before August should not be wasted. You just need to know where to look to discover new parts of the city, revisit old favourites, and make the most of the glorious weather. <\/p>\n

The best festivals and parties this weekend<\/p>\n

\"Gala<\/p>\n

Gala Festival takes place in Peckham each year<\/p>\n

Local Library<\/p>\n

In its 11th year, Gala Festival<\/a> returns to Peckham Rye Park – a cornerstone of the May bank holiday weekend – with this year\u2019s The Floor Is Ours theme. <\/p>\n

The electronic festival is guaranteed to be a sellout as Novelist, Mala, dh2, HVYWGHT, Giggs, Bakery, and Conducta take to the stage across the three-days of partying. <\/p>\n

Peckham Rye Park, May 22-24 <\/p>\n

Forward Motion in the Park <\/p>\n

The first ever house music festival for over 25s has officially arrived in London\u2019s Leyton Jubilee Park on Saturday. <\/p>\n

Think deep, soul house music in a throwback to real rave, with a 2010-inspired set from Lee Foss and appearances from Ali Love and Art Department. <\/p>\n

Leyton Jubilee Park, May 23<\/p>\n

\"Brockwell<\/p>\n

Brockwell Park for Field Day 2018<\/p>\n

Local Library<\/p>\n

Field Day<\/a> at Brockwell Park on Saturday offers London\u2019s ravers with an equally enviable line up to its rival Gala. <\/p>\n

Anish Kumar, Horse Meat Disco, Honey Dijon, Joy Orbison, and Interplanetary Criminal will all play across the festival\u2019s many stages. <\/p>\n

Veterans of the dancefloor Andy C and Kilimanjaro will also play must-see sets. Tickets are still available, but not for long. <\/p>\n

Tickets from \u00a367.75 via Dice<\/a><\/p>\n

Summer Gathering London – Lane 8, Barking Park <\/p>\n

On the Friday, Summer Gathering London will see US DJ Lane 8 perform live at High Lights alongside a host of electronic and techno up and coming artists. <\/p>\n

The events venue is renowned for some of the best light installations and sound design in the game, with two very impressive open air spaces. But be warned – there are no cameras allowed at this \u201cThis Never Happened\u201d event, including phone video recording. <\/p>\n

Even better, you\u2019ll have the whole weekend to recover from this one. <\/p>\n

Tickets available via Dice<\/a><\/p>\n

Boa Nova Festival Brazilian festival <\/p>\n

Brazil is landing in London with the first ever Boa Nova Festival. Think Brazilian music from headliners Linikier, DJ Patife, and Caio Prince, as well as authentic food and carnival inspired performances. <\/p>\n

The party starts at around 2pm, carrying on until 10:30pm. But the fun doesn\u2019t end there as several ticket options include the official after-party at Evolutionary Arts Hackney in Stoke Newington. <\/p>\n

Leyton Jubilee Park, May 22<\/p>\n

Tickets from \u00a340.50 on Dice<\/a><\/p>\n

Wray and Nephew Sunday Day Party – Pergola Brixton <\/p>\n

\"PRESS<\/p>\n

Pergola in Brixton is a great rooftop for a sunny day<\/p>\n

Pasco Photography<\/p>\n

An all-day party on Sunday at Brixton\u2019s Pergola with Sambo, Jadey Wadey, and Selecta Jay taking over the decks. Expect dancehall, R&B, and Wray & Nephew\u2019s infamous rum punch all day long. <\/p>\n

No doubt, the rooftop will be lifted as dozens of Londoners soak up the sun. It\u2019s no surprise then that this festival is sold out, but the resale queue is active across various ticket sellers for those still looking to get involved. <\/p>\n

Soul City May Bank Holiday <\/p>\n

Soul City\u2019s May bank holiday weekend is the sell-out soul event of the summer. Decades of house music, special guests, and quality records will come together at the Jazz Cafe in Camden on Saturday night. <\/p>\n

When the sun goes down, this is the party you won\u2019t want to miss. Tickets start from just \u00a35 and the party won\u2019t stop until early hours on Sunday. <\/p>\n

This grassroots jazz, funk, and soul festival at Brockwell Park has a star-studded lineup with Little Simz, Joy Crookes, and Fabio & Grooverider. It\u2019s been the best way to kick off London\u2019s festival season since it first entered the bank holiday scene in 2019. <\/p>\n

Smaller than some of the others, but just as mighty, with more of a community feel<\/p>\n

Food and drink events over the bank holiday<\/p>\n

StrEATlife Food and Beer Festival – Alexandra Palace <\/p>\n

\"Alexandra<\/p>\n

StrEATlife at Alexandra Palace<\/p>\n

Local Library<\/p>\n

StrEATlife returns to Alexandra Palace in North London this bank holiday weekend. As always, it promises food from around the globe, ice-cold pints, margaritas, and a wealth of live DJs. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s also completely free to go along with children of all ages and dogs welcome to join the party. <\/p>\n

Alexandra Palace, May 23-24<\/p>\n

Foodies Festival London\u2019s Syon Park <\/p>\n

Another one for the foodies – Syon Park in Brentford is offering a weekend of food and drink celebration. <\/p>\n

There\u2019s Bavarian beer tents, live music featuring headliners Scouting For Girls, and a hot chilli challenge for the brave among you. <\/p>\n

\"Frank's<\/p>\n

Bold Tendencies <\/p>\n

Yet another rooftop terrace worth frequenting this bank holiday weekend. On top of a car park in Peckham, Frank\u2019s Cafe<\/a> has the perfect mix of cocktails, beers, food, and music to keep the bank holiday weekend rolling. <\/p>\n

This weekend also marks the return of Bold Tendencies, an art show at the cafe, and Frank\u2019s official \u201cstart of summer.\u201d <\/p>\n

Walk-ins only, @frankspeckham on Instagram<\/p>\n

London\u2019s best and biggest rooftop venue will host three events across the bank holiday weekend. <\/p>\n

If not for the sunshine, you\u2019d be forgiven for forgetting about Freight. But, with the scorching weather ahead, there is nowhere better than this Brixton rooftop to let down your hair all weekend long. <\/p>\n

33 Brixton Station Road, May 23-25<\/p>\n

The third rooftop on this list, but by no means the least important. Located within the Battersea Power Station, JOIA<\/a> is a stunning alfresco escape with views of London\u2019s skyline. <\/p>\n

In addition to cocktails and Portuguese petiscos, the restaurant is offering a \u2018Solecitor Sunday\u2019 event for the long weekend, complete with a live DJ set from Disco Express from 12pm for those who want to boogie with style. <\/p>\n

15th Floor, 1 Electric Blvd, May 24<\/p>\n

\"Sir<\/p>\n

The King, Queen, and David Beckham at this year\u2019s RHS Chelsea Flower Show <\/p>\n

PA Wire<\/p>\n

Bank Holiday is just in time for Londoners to catch the end of the Chelsea Flower Show<\/a>. Some of the best gardens include The Children\u2019s Society Garden, Parkinson\u2019s UK immersive woodland display centred around a tulip, and plenty more in between. <\/p>\n

Should you not catch a glimpse inside the flower show, Chelsea has also been transformed with six large-scale floral art installations across Sloane Square and Pavillion Road. <\/p>\n

London Gate, Royal Hospital Road, 19-23 May<\/p>\n

Big Bahooey at Hampton Court Palace<\/p>\n

There\u2019s nothing that the Big Bahooey at Henry VIII\u2019s famous home does not have. There\u2019s mazes, gardens, cabaret, aerial shows, workshops, dances, street theatre, and more. <\/p>\n

Running every day across the three-day weekend, the day out has redefined family festivals. <\/p>\n

Hampton Court Palace, May 23-25<\/p>\n

Holy Pop! at Somerset House<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

HOLY POP! at Somerset House<\/p>\n

PA<\/p>\n

The Holy Pop! Exhibition at Somerset House will be the most talked about display of the summer. <\/p>\n

The exhibition uncovers how fan devotion shapes identities, spanning from Princess Diana and Harry Potter to domestic shrines for just about every pop culture icon. <\/p>\n

Shows aside, Somerset House<\/a> is the epitome of British summer time with a season-long programme of contemporary art, hidden histories, and plenty of food. <\/p>\n

Somerset House, May 21 – August 9 <\/p>\n

London\u2019s largest indoor flea market is at the Queen Elizabeth Multi-story car park from 10am to 5pm on Sunday. <\/p>\n

Prepare for vintage furniture, unique finds, antique home decors, and a wealth of bank holiday bargains. <\/p>\n

There are multiple flea markets going on across the capital in South London and Hackney – all filled with items worth getting your hands on. <\/p>\n

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, May 24<\/p>\n

Henry Moore Sculptures Kew Gardens<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A Henry Moore sculpture entitled ‘Double Oval’ being installed as part of a new exhibition at Kew Gardens<\/p>\n

Getty<\/p>\n

The largest ever presentation of outdoor art by legendary Henry Moore at an equally renowned location, Kew Gardens. <\/p>\n

The exhibition opened at the beginning of this month and will run until early next year, but you\u2019d regret not being one of the first in the queue. <\/p>\n

The more than 30 sculptures and smaller works have been curated to provide an immersive journey through Moore\u2019s career, combining animals, botanicals, and the natural world. It\u2019s a sight to behold and the perfect sunny day outing. <\/p>\n

Kew Gardens, May 9 – January 31<\/p>\n

Cockney Sikh\u2019s Backyard Tour <\/p>\n

Known as the Cockney Sikh, Suresh Singh is a London treasure. His bank holiday tour of Old Spitalfields takes Londoners through unexplored neighbourshoods in the district. <\/p>\n

Embark on a tour of the Huguenot streets, Brick Lane like you\u2019ve never known it, and Truman Brewery – all fuelled with freshly brewed chai. <\/p>\n

The tour will only set you back \u00a35, but book soon to avoid disappointment. <\/p>\n

Tour starts at Brushfield Street entrance of Old Spitalfields Market, May 24-25<\/p>\n

The Price at The Marylebone Theatre <\/p>\n

\"<p>The<\/p>\n

The Price at The Marylebone Theatre <\/p>\n

x<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t miss out on Arthur Miller\u2019s masterpiece The Price at Marylebone Theatre this bank holiday weekend. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s playing until June 21 and has received rave reviews across the board. <\/p>\n

Marylebone Theatre, April 17-June 21 <\/p>\n

It would be amiss not to mention the final Premier League<\/a> game taking place over the bank holiday. Scheduled for Sunday, Londoners can upgrade their matchday with the restaurant\u2019s signature feasting menu.<\/p>\n

Live sport, free flowing drinks, and some of the capital\u2019s best Indian food – a matchday worth celebrating. <\/p>\n

1-5 Bloomberg Arcade, sports feasting available on Sunday 24<\/p>\n

Move over Bermondsey beer mile. The Blackhorse Beer Mile route in Walthamstow spans some of north east London\u2019s best breweries. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s far less busy than its south London counterpart and you\u2019ll spend more time in the sunshine and less time queuing for pints. <\/p>\n

Unlike Bermondsey, there\u2019s also distilleries in the midst so you won\u2019t just be limited to lagers and ales. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The much-awaited sunshine is a welcome change from weeks of rain, cloud, and hail. And it is sure…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":43459,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[26],"tags":[3936,16165,22018,22017,27,22019],"class_list":["post-43458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-london","tag-bank-holiday-weekend","tag-brockwell-park","tag-field-day","tag-gala-festival","tag-london","tag-peckham-rye-park"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@UnitedKingdom\/116611099157437815","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43458","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43458"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43458\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43459"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43458"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43458"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43458"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}