All weekend
BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND: It's another bank holiday weekend. If you're lucky enough to have three days off work, have a read of our guide to spending a bank holiday in London, for ideas including exploring the great outdoors, guided tours, cultural days out, sporting pursuits and loads more.
HALF TERM: For most London schools May half term kicks off from Saturday, so we've put together a guide of family-friendly, events, exhibitions, shows and other things to do in the capital this week — including free activities if you're on a tight budget. Got a budding thespian on your hand? We've picked some of the best family theatre shows on in London right now, catering for all ages from tots to teens, and spanning musicals, literary adaptations, and even a bit of Shakespeare.
GALA FESTIVAL: Peckham Rye springs into life with the three-day GALA — a community-minded festival with sets from Caribou, Ben UFO and Moodymann. 23-25 May
FOODIES FESTIVAL: Head to Syon Park for Foodies Festival, a three-day celebration of all things edible (and quaffable), with a side of live music. Pixie Lott, The Wanted 2.0 and Scouting For Girls are among the performers, with live demos by celebrity chefs, street food and artisan markets, kids' cookery sessions, pop-up bars and more. 24-26 May
THE BIG BAHOOEY: Try juggling, plate spinning or wire walking, dance at a silent disco, or belt out a tune at the singalongs — just some of the entertainment on offer at the family-friendly Big Bahooey festival in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace over this bank holiday weekend. Even better, it's included in palace admission. 24-26 May
FREE FLOWER FESTIVALS: Coinciding with the Chelsea Flower Show (below), the local streets are decked out with floral sculptures for free festival Chelsea in Bloom. The theme this year is 'flowers in fashion' so expect to see dresses made from dahlias and skirts fashioned from sunflowers, with local squares, restaurants and shops taking part. Wandering around to see the installations won't cost you anything. FREE, 19-25 May. Likewise, the neighbouring area has its own free flower festival, Belgravia in Bloom — why not slip on some comfy shoes and visit both in the same day? Here, the theme is 'seasons'. FREE, 19-26 May
FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY: Shortlisted images for the World Food Photography Awards are on display in a free exhibition at Mall Galleries. Images from 100 different countries were submitted this year, covering a multitude of aspects of food, from growing and harvesting to cooking and eating it. FREE, 21-25 May
WELL READ AT WASING: Discover a brand new literary festival amid the stunning natural beauty of Berkshire’s Wasing Estate. Located just an hour from London, Well Read at Wasing promises inspiring talks from a range of renowned non-fiction authors, including Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Clare Balding and Melissa Hemsley. There’s also live music, immersive outdoor activities, wellness offerings and creative workshops for kids. Day tickets start at £30 and under 12s go free. 25-26 May (sponsor)
BEYOND RAVILIOUS: The first major exhibition about visionary artist and designer Tirzah Garwood comes to a close at Dulwich Picture Gallery. Tirzah Garwood: Beyond Ravilious looks at her life beyond her role as the wife of Eric Ravilious, showcasing more than 80 of her works in their own right. They span oil paintings, witty wood engravings, pencil sketches, experimental marbled papers and collaged paper constructions. Until 26 May
TIM BURTON: Already the most popular exhibition in the Design Museum's history, The World of Tim Burton continues until the end of this weekend, showcasing the director's unique aesthetic, through his films and items from his own personal archive. It's likely to sell out in its final days, so do book as early as you can. Until 26 May
FEEL THE SOUND: Barbican's summer season of events, Feel The Sound, intends to make you question what sound is. As part of it, In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats is a virtual reality experience taking you back to the Acid House scene of 1989, followed by a small exhibition. 22 May-31 August
ANCIENT INDIA: The origins of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist sacred art is the focus of new exhibition Ancient India: living traditions, at the British Museum. Find out about the inspiration behind now-familiar depictions of the deities and enlightened teachers of these world religions such as Buddha, and how they spread across the Asian continent. 22 May-29 October
JURASSIC WORLD: Step into scenes inspired by the Jurassic Park film franchise, as new immersive experience Jurassic World opens at Battersea Power Station. Visit the fictional Isla Nublar via 10 immersive zones — and come to face to face with species including brachiosaurus, velociraptor and T-rex. From 23 May
MCM COMIC CON: Dust off your cape — MCM Comic Con is back at Excel London for the weekend. Highlights include guest stars (David Tennant is scheduled to appear this year!), author talks, costume competitions and more. 23-25 May
SHUBBAK FESTIVAL: Celebrating contemporary Arabic culture, Shubbak Festival takes place at various venues around the capital, with events spanning visual art, theatre, fashion, film and dance. 23 May-15 June
UNSILENCED: The Imperial War Museum opens a hard-hitting but important new exhibition Unsilenced: Sexual Violence in Conflict, exploring the contexts in which sexual violence occurs in conflict, and how people around the world are fighting for justice. Stories of child evacuees, victims of trafficking, prisoners of war, and survivors from the First World War to present-day conflicts are told. Age 16+. 23 May-2 November
Saturday 24 May
MOTORING PAGEANT: Start your engines! The Enfield Pageant of Motoring roars into Enfield Playing Fields, with hundreds of classic cars, bikes and other vehicles on display, along with motorcycle stunts, car club parades, and miniature railway rides. Money raised at the event goes towards installing a lift to the second and third floors of the Whitewebbs Museum of Transport. 24-25 May
CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW: A highlight for any green-fingered Londoner, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show ends its stint in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea today, with gardeners from all over the country showing off their work; stalls where you can buy flowers and plants to take home; and a chance to pick up tips from gardening experts. On the last day, many of the plants are sold off at reduced prices, making for scenes of palm trees and the like being lugged home on the Tube. 8am-5.30pm
FLORAL MASTERCLASS: Sit among the beautiful seasonal decor of Dalloway Terrace to take part in a floral masterclass, and learn the art of creating your own hand-tied bouquet with help from one of expert florists from Richard Eagleton. Take your masterpiece home with you at the end. 10am-12pm
VINTAGE SUPERSTORE: Head to Fairfield Halls in Croydon to browse at the Vintage Superstore pop-up. Rummage through men's and women's clothing dating from the 1960s onwards, and pay for your new togs by weight: everything's priced at £20 per kilo, though there's no minimum spend. 11am
FASHION IN FILM: The Fashion in Film festival takes over this week's Family Film Club at Barbican Cinema. Watch a programme of short films and animations, with an intro by Fashion in Film curator Marketa Uhlirova and Barbican Film Curator Susie Evans, followed by a kids' clothes swap event. 11am
BEER FESTIVAL: Selhurst Park, the home of Crystal Palace FC, swaps the players for pints at the Crystal Palace Beer Festival. Hundreds of beers and ciders from breweries both local and beyond are available to try, accompanied by food stalls and live entertainment. Your ticket includes two half-pint drink vouchers, and a complimentary festival glass. 12.30pm
SOAPBOX SCIENCE: Soapbox Science is an initiative promoting women and non-binary scientists and the work they do. Their events are a chance to meet real scientists and chat to them about their work. Head to South Bank to hear Emma Belhadfa from the University of Oxford talking about space rocks, and Dr Charlie Outhwaite, from the Institute of Zoology at ZSL on why we should care about insects. FREE, 1pm-4pm
RADCLYFFE HALL: Ever heard of Radclyffe Hall? She was the author of the so-called 'Lesbian Bible', The Well of Loneliness (1928), one of the most famous banned books in LGBTQ+ history. Dr Hannah Roche from the University of York gives a talk about the author's domestic life and legacy, with a focus on houses and homes both real and fictional. Takes place at Queer Britain in King's Cross. 2pm
DEAR ENGLAND: Rave reviewed footy play Dear England ends its run at the Olivier at the National Theatre with two final shows today, depicting the story of Gareth Southgate's attempts to turn fortunes around during his time as manager of the England men's team. 2pm/7.30pm
CINEMATIC SOUNDS: Docklands Sinfonia gives a special concert to celebrate a century of films and TV shows being filmed at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. The Chapel of St Peter & St Paul hosts the performance of scores from the likes of Les Misérables, Pirates of the Caribbean, Wicked, and The Dark Knight Rises. 6pm-7.15pm
NIGHTS FOR UKRAINE: Ukrainian and British performers team up for fundraising show Nights For Ukraine at the Cockpit Theatre. Among the programme: live music by Ukrainian composer and pianist Mariia Yaremak; The Trumpeter, a play inspired by the 2022 siege of Mariupol; and Ukraine rising, a series of short plays written by young Ukrainian writers in exile. 7.30pm
Sunday 25 May
LONDON CYCLING FESTIVAL: On yer bike! The bulk of the London Cycling Festival takes place today, with family-friendly rides and activities, including bike markets, BMX events, obstacle courses, live music and a performance from the Bicycle Ballet Company, spread across 14 London boroughs. See the full programme here, including events in Islington, Harrow, Brent and Newham. FREE, 25 May
GREENWICH DOG SHOW: All dogs, big and small, well-behaved or wonderfully mischievous are welcome to take part in the Greenwich Dog Show in the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College. Competition categories include waggiest tail, best Bridgerton lookalike and cutest pup. FREE, 10am
EID BAZAAR: There's a special twist on this week's Horniman Market in the grounds of the Horniman Museum. Shaymaa Elbarbary of Dandoushat Bazaar curates a special Eid Bazaar, with stalls selling abayas (robe-like garments worn by some Muslim women in the Middle East and North Africa), Arabic food and products among the usual weekly stalls. 10am-3pm
OPEN AIR THEATRE: There's a Family Takeover Day at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, with performances including a Bach to Baby Family Concert and Comedy Club 4 Kids, as well as a dance party and craft activities. 10am-2pm. That's followed by Shakespeare for Every Day of the Year – Live, featuring an all-star cast reading and performing a collection of speeches and scenes from across Shakespeare's works. 7.30pm
1-CLICK-AWAY: Commons dance festival at Stanley Arts in Norwood wraps up with 1-Click Away, a family-friendly dance performance that explores the growing issue of waste and excess packaging. The performances use dance, sound and storytelling to look at ways to repurpose different materials, and is followed by workshops to build tall towers and transform everyday materials into something new.12.30pm-1.30pm
HANDEL'S MESSIAH: The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and London Philharmonic Choir team up for a performance of Handel's Messiah at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre. 2.30pm
CATASTROPHE ETHICS: How should we, as individuals, act in the face of climate change? Philosopher, bioethicist and author Travis Rieder is at Conway Hall to talk about the actions we as individuals should take, and whether we on our own can make a difference to worldwide issues. 3pm-4.30pm
SIP AND PAINT: Head to London Art Bar in Holborn for a Pop Up Painting session where you can create your own version of Elizabeth Kennedy's painting, Sunset in Lavender Wood. No experience is necessary and all supplies are provided, with an expert artist on hand to provide guidance. 3pm-5.30pm
FREE MUSIC TRAIL: Brixton Chamber Orchestra holds a free music trail in Ruskin Park. BCO musicians are dotted around in hidden corners of the park, ready to perform, for free, for anyone who tracks them down. Follow a special map to find them, and solve clues to find out the secret location of an orchestral finale to the day. FREE, 4pm-7pm
WINE TASTING: It's International Wine Day, so it'd be rude not to quaff a vino or two. Why not do so under expert guidance at the Golden Hinde's wine tasting event. A representative from local supplier Lant Street Wine talks you through five wines from across the world, sampled as you take a tour of the vessel, a replica of the one used by Sir Francis Drake to circumnavigate the globe. 4.30pm-9pm
ROB BRYDON: Actor/comedian Rob Brydon is in conversation with Sparks — the band comprised of brothers Ron and Russell Mael — ahead of their 28th album release, and a tour this summer. Head to Islington's Union Chapel to hear the trio discussing the band's five-decade career. 7pm
Bank holiday Monday 26 May
BEER & BITES: Forty Hall in Enfield has a free-entry Beer & Bites festival, with food and drink stalls, and live music and open mic performances throughout the afternoon, all taking place on the lawn. 11am-4pm
ON THE RYE: A brand new, free community festival, On The Rye takes over Peckham Rye Park. The celebration of local community and culture features live music and DJs including Charlie Dark, Rebel Clash and David Kayode, as well as family and children’s activities, a pop-up market and food and drink options. FREE, 1pm-9pm
LIVE MUSIC: Legendary live music pub the Half Moon in Putney takes its usual Monday New Moon music event and extends it throughout the afternoon. Watch up-and-coming musicians including Finnish garage rock band Us, blues singer Louise Rowley, and Putney local, indie folk artist Matty Long. 2pm
LDN WRESTLING: Top American wrestling stars face off against UK talent as LDN Wrestling brings its UK tour to the Dugdale Centre in Enfield. It's a family-friendly show. 7pm
TOP GUN: Watch 2022 action adventure film Top Gun: Maverick on a large screen at the Royal Albert Hall, with live musical accompaniment. The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra performs the score, featuring music by Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga and Hans Zimmer. 2.30pm/7.30pm
JAZZ IN THE ROUND: The Cockpit Theatre isn't letting a little thing like a bank holiday stop its monthly Jazz in the Round from going ahead. Multi-instrumentalist and singer Jackson Mathod headlines, joined by jazz guitarist Joe Herbert, and other performers TBC. 8pm
CABARET LABRATS: A group of creatives across all artistic disciplines who all met as part of the Soho Theatre Drag and Cabaret labs, the LabRats perform a show of stand-up, songs, silliness and scandalous debauchery at The Divine in Dalston. 8pm
THE NOTEBOOK: Rooftop Film Club's Stratford branch screens 2004 film The Notebook, based on Nicholas Sparks' book of the same name. It stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as a young couple in the 1940s who fall in love, with their story being told in a nursing home in the present day. Be warned, it's a bit of a tearjerker. 8.15pm
