Fancy getting out of London for a day, but not sure where to head? Here are a few reasons to (temporarily) leave London in May 2025. There are two bank holiday weekends this month, so make the most of it!
See our Beyond London section for further inspiration for trips out of London for a day, a weekend or longer.
MAIDSTONE COCKTAIL WEEK: Bottoms up in the county town of Kent, as Maidstone Cocktail Week offers up £5 cocktails at selected venues for anyone with a special wristband. American restaurant The Skull Bar, cabaret lounge Mu Mu and Maidstone Distillery are among the venues taking part. 1-11 May (Kent)
RHODODENDRON RIOT: Though it's spectacular during bluebell season, Riverhill Himalayan Garden also does a jolly good line in rhododendrons, which tend to look their best in May. Climb the hillside garden for incredible views over the surrounding countryside, admiring the blooming lovely bushes on your way up (and back down). Find things to do in the nearby town of Sevenoaks if you want to make a day of it. 1 May-29 June (Kent)
VE 1940S WEEKEND: Like many venues both in London and beyond, Bletchley Park is marking the the 80th anniversary of VE Day, with a 1940s weekend. The former base of the Second World War codebreakers offers swing dancing lessons accompanied by live vintage bands, sing alongs, and reenactors dressed in period clothing. 3-4 May
GARDEN SHOW: Over the early May bank holiday weekend, Knebworth House hosts the Hertfordshire Garden Show, with plants and flowers, garden furniture, water features, hot tubs, tools and sculptures on display and available to buy. Tickets include access to Knebworth Gardens, the park, adventure playground and dinosaur trail. Tickets to enter the house can be bought at an extra cost. 3-5 May (Hertfordshire)
SWEEPS FESTIVAL: Catch the Rochester Sweeps Festival, a May Day celebration of folk music and dance in the Medway town. Expect to see Morris dancers from all over the country performing in the streets, along with live music in parks, pubs and other venues, as well as plenty of market stalls to browse. While you're heading to that part of the world, have a read of our guide to things to do in Rochester. FREE, 3-6 May (Kent)
BRIGHTON FESTIVAL: Multi-arts event Brighton Festival takes over the seaside city with theatre, dance, circus and music performances throughout May, as well as exhibitions and a one-off children's parade. The programme is extensive, so it could be tricky to narrow it down, but we like the look of miniature theatre show The Gummy Bears' Great War, and the Without Walls strand, taking arts and culture outdoors. Also running in the city across the same dates is Artists' Open Houses, with 190 venues across Brighton and Hove opening their doors. Textile artist Kate Jenkins is the headline artist, launching a new body of work celebrating the food of Brighton and the British seaside. Take a look at our guide to Brighton for other things to see and do while you're there. All 3-26 May (East Sussex)
REGENCY RAMBLE: National Trust property The Vyne near Basingstoke launches a Regency Ramble walking route to the neighbouring village of Sherborne St John, an area which would have been familiar to author Jane Austen. From 3 May (Hampshire)
STAR WARS TRAIN: The Kent & East Sussex Railway embraces 'Star Wars Day' ("May the fourth..."), running a special Ewok Express service for one day only. Come dressed in costume as a Star Wars character, or simply don a t-shirt from the franchise, and take a ride on an historic train. Themed activities for all the family are available on board, along with photo opportunities with a life-size replica of the Taun Taun from Empire Strikes Back. 4 May (Kent/Sussex)
ELIZABETHAN MAY DAY: Step back in time at the Elizabethan May Day celebrations at Chiltern Open Air Museum. Dance around the May Tree, watch displays of fire power and swordsmanship, and take part in a military drill. It's a family-friendly event, and the rest of the museum is worth a look while you're there. 4-5 May (Buckinghamshire)
ALL ABOUT DOGS: Dog shows, arena displays, demonstrations by the Essex Police Dog Unit, breed meet-ups, expert advice and live music are part of All About Dogs, the canine-centric event which is holding its biggest ever show at Hylands House this year. All dog lovers welcome, even if you don't have a pet of your own. 4-5 May (Essex)
TUNBRIDGE WELLS LITERARY FESTIVAL: Actor Martin Clunes, Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, historian Lucy Worsley, and comedians Robin Ince and Shappi Khorsandi are among the names on the impressive line-up at Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival. Why not make a day of it with our guide on things to do in the royal spa town. 5-11 May (Kent)
LEONARDSLEE LATES: The 260-acre Leonardslee estate stays open late on selected evenings, timed to coincide with when the rhododendrons and azaleas should be in bloom. Stroll around the gardens at dusk enjoying live jazz and swing music, with food and drink available to buy. 9-10 May (and 6-7 June) (West Sussex)
JANE AUSTEN TOUR AND TEA: Another Jane Austen event (2025 is the 250th anniversary of her birth, so many venues are celebrating): Winchester Cathedral, where the author is buried, offers special Austen-themed tours, followed up with an afternoon tea or cream tea in the Cathedral Cafe. Selected dates 9 May-7 June (Hampshire). If you're willing to travel even further afield, the Pump Room in Bath has just launched its own Jane Austen afternoon tea.
VE DAY DANCE: Mark the VE Day anniversary at a 1940s-themed dance in the Nave at St Albans Cathedral. The evening begins with drinks and pudding, followed by live vintage music from the Fleetville Swing Band. 1940s attire is encouraged. 10 May (Hertfordshire)
ROYAL WINDSOR HORSE SHOW: Equestrian fans flock to Windsor in mid-May for the Royal Windsor Horse Show, five days of showjumping, dressage and pageants, all against the backdrop of the royal residence. The new entertainment and art hubs with live music and painting exhibitions and a children's area which were introduced last year are back for 2025. 15-18 May (Berkshire)
MARLOW FOODIE WEEKENDER: The best of British food, drink and entertainment are promised at the Marlow Foodie Weekender, part of the Pub in the Park series of events. Chefs Yotam Ottolenghi and Raymond Blanc host events and demos, with live music from Squeeze, Dizzee Rascal, and Jess Glynne. 15-18 May (Buckinghamshire)
TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT: The latest feature to be added to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter immerses you in the Triwizard Tournament, marking 20 years since the release of the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire film. Get a look at the special effects which were used to bring the tournament to life, including how the Hungarian Horntail dragon was created. 15 May-8 September (Hertfordshire)
NATIONAL FLOWER SHOW: Flower power takes over the grounds of Hylands House for the National Flower Show, which has a safari theme this year. The centrepiece is a floral pavilion where nurseries from all over compete for the Best In Show award, and elsewhere you can stock up on everything from gerberas to gazebos, attend gardening talks, and wander around floral art installations inside the house itself. 16-18 May (Essex)
WATERCRESS FESTIVAL: Watercress probably doesn't feature much in your day-to-day life, but it's big news in the bucolic town of Alresford. Thousands of visitors descend to celebrate watercress, which is grown in abundance locally — there's even a railway line dedicated to it. The Alresford Watercress Festival is a huge street blowout with stalls (thankfully) selling a lot more than just watercress, live cookery demonstrations and plenty more. A parade of dancers and performers also waltzes up the main street, handing out bunches of watercress to the crowds. 18 May (Hampshire)
FOOD FESTIVAL: The stunning Blenheim Palace is worth a visit any time of year — but even more so when the Blenheim Palace Food Festival is on. For all three days of the late May bank holiday weekend, wander among stalls manned by top chefs and producers selling street food to eat on site, as well as products and ingredients to take home and use when whipping up your own dishes. 24-26 May (Oxfordshire)
THE QUEEN'S JOUST: One of Kent's finest bastions, Leeds Castle holds a jousting tournament, included in the price of your admission ticket, over the bank holiday weekend. The Queen's Joust sees knights from England and France compete for the coveted Leeds Castle International Cup. 24-26 May (Kent)
WELL READ LIT FEST: The Wasing Estate near Aldermaston hold its first literary festival. Well Read has an impressive programme featuring Clare Balding, Melissa Hemsley and High Fearnley-Whittingstall. But that's just a small part of the weekend, with woodland meditation, wild swimming and sauna sessions, and the option to camp on site. 25-26 May (Berkshire)
DOGSTIVAL: Giant dog pools are installed in the New Forest for Dogstival, a two-day festival of all things canine. An adventure playground for dogs, agility arenas, dog shows, the 'hound dog music stage', and a whole heap of workshops mean that if you've ever wished you could take your dog with you to a festival, that wish has just been granted. 31 May-1 June (Hampshire)
SURF: Though it's a bit further afield than the usual events we feature, bookmark Cornwall's National Maritime Museum if you're heading anywhere near Falmouth this summer. Its current exhibition, SURF!, rides the waves of the sport's history in the area, and how it has influenced local culture and fashion (cue memories of our teenage selves desperately coveting a Fat Willy's hoodie in the early noughties). Until 2027 (Cornwall)
Book now for later in 2025
- The Big Cat Sanctuary near Ashford in Kent does an excellent job of looking after several species, including recently rescuing five lions from Ukraine (if you've ever ridden the train between Headcorn and Pluckley, and been certain you saw a lion or a tiger in the field alongside the railway line... yes, you did). Though it's not often open to the public, it holds open days each summer and they always sell out. This year is the sanctuary's 25th anniversary, so they're going big, with a chance to see lions, tigers and other big cats, expert talks, tours inside the brand new Lion Rescue Centre, and loads of other entertainment. 24 July-3 August. Also coming up is the new Wings and Whiskers event (28 June), the first time the sanctuary has teamed up with nearby Headcorn Aerodrome for a 1940s themed evening.
- English wine brand Nyetimber has announced dates for its open day vineyard tour and tasting events at its estate in West Chiltington, West Sussex. Take a guided walk among some of the oldest vines in England, learning why the location is ideal, before heading to the 15th-century medieval barn for a guided tasting of a selection of sparkling wines.
Further ideas for trips from London
Our Beyond London section is packed full of ideas for getting out of the capital for the day, or even for a long weekend. Our picks for this month:
- If all this talk of Jane Austen has turned your mind to books, have a scroll through some of the literary-themed day trips you can do from London. Austen features, alongside Charles Dickens, Roald Dahl and Rudyard Kipling, showing you how to visit their birthplaces, former homes, and other key locations in their lives. Don't forget to pack a book for the train.
- There's something about the arrival of spring that makes us crave a visit to a castle. Kent is full of them, thanks to its strategic location on the coast, close to mainland Europe. Formidable clifftop fortresses, fairytale homes and some absolutely stunning tourist attractions are among our favourite Kent castles.
- Looking to leave London for longer than a day? How about hopping over the Scottish border to Edinburgh? It gets busy in summer thanks to events such as the Fringe, and the Military Tattoo, but May is quieter. Our guide to spending a weekend in Edinburgh contains some of our favourite things to do in the Scottish capital, from touring a fascinating street-beneath-a-street, to visiting Dolly the cloned sheep, and supping a pint (or dram) at crime writer Iain Rankin's pub of choice.
