What to do in London in May

If you are planning a trip to London, May is one of the best months to visit. The weather finally looks like spring. And thanks to longer daylight hours (with sunsets until 9:30 p.m.), you have more time to enjoy all that London has to offer.

As temperatures warm up, London shifts into high gear with iconic events like the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Whether you’re looking for cultural days out, picturesque pub gardens or memorable walking tours, this month delivers.

As always, I rounded the top afternoon teas It’s worth booking in May, along with my favorite candlelight concerts of the month, including a few that regularly sell out. There’s also a curated list of day trips from London and discount codes for many activities.

Be sure to read my costly mistakes to avoid when visiting London. And book in advance for popular attractions and tours over holiday weekends.

You will find activities to do in London in May organized below by:

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them. It costs you nothing extra and helps support the Sunny in London blog.

Coming/On sale now

Current discounts on tickets to London in 2026

Next update on May 2, 2026

Discount code: SUNNYINLONDON10

Get 10% off until May 1st

Polo Chesterton in the park

The UK’s largest three-day polo and lifestyle event

Appreciate:

• World-class polo from the stand
• Fulham Food Festival
• Champagne Pommery Garden
• Pimm’s Bus, gardens and bars
• Luxury shopping village
• Activities for children

SUBSCRIBE FOR FUTURE UPDATES

To make sure you don’t miss out on these ticket sales, activities and event information opportunities, receive our weekly emails.

Things to do in London in May: Candlelight concerts

I have attended several of these concerts and highly recommend them for date nights, special occasions like birthdays or just a fun night out! You can read more about my first experience at the Tribute to Coldplay. I also attended the Taylor Swift Tribute, Hans Zimmer Candlelight Concert, Christmas Movie Soundtracks, and EDM.

Specific dates

• Tribute to Adèle, May 16
• Chopin candlelight piano concerts, May 30
• A tribute to Mozart concertos, June 20
• Classical guitar, June 26
• Best of Bridgerton on Strings, July 11

In progress

• The best works of Hans Zimmer
• Ed Sheeran and Coldplay
• Candlelight movie music
• A tribute to Fleetwood Mac
• Summer dates available

Day Trips & Tours

May is always a great month to visit London. Long days give you a lot more time to get out and explore. The weather is generally fantastic, neither too cold nor too hot. this makes it a perfect month for day trips.

Remember that train tickets are exorbitant here, if not booked well in advance. I always use Train line to book my tickets to anywhere in the UK.

Things to do in London in May: Theater

Popular shows

• Wicked
• Paddington
• The Book of Mormon
• Six
• The Hunger Games on stage

New shows

• Paddington
• Beetle juice
• Naughty boots
• Sinatra

Afternoon Tea: Things to do in London in May

May is a fun month for afternoon tea, as many hotels and restaurants offer a floral-themed afternoon tea for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. This month, I’ve selected a few new, fun and seasonal ones to try.

One of my favorites is the Royal High Tea at Kensington Palace Gardens. It’s quite forgiving. However, you can wear jeans and dress casually, as many people tour the palace and gardens beforehand. I followed the Tea Master’s recommendations for all my selections and loved it.

If you’re looking for an afternoon tea in London that’s delicious and in a beautiful setting, try this one. You may want to sit indoors to avoid bees if the weather is very hot and sunny.

London Travel Guides and 1:1 Travel Consultations

If choosing the right activities for your trip to London is a difficult task, grab one of my London travel guides or book a one-on-one planning appointment with me.

London Trip Planners

1:1 travel consultations

Iconic London 2026 3 Day Trip Planner

Ultimate Guide to Christmas in London

London Restaurant Guide

Things to do in London in May: exhibitions and shows

EMPORIUM NRG – LIVE WRESTLING + RAVE

A new concept on the London and British scene, merging live wrestling and rave culture. The first evening will take place on May 2 at Unit 58 Tottenham, London. Find more on their Instagram at Emporumprowres.

BELGRAVIA IN FLOWER

Get your fill of fabulous flowers at the free Belgravia in Bloom festival, taking place from May 19-26, 2025. Visitors can expect stunning floral displays and unique experiences throughout the neighborhood. This year’s theme is “Seasons” with installations reflecting spring, summer, fall and winter.

BANKSY LIMITLESS: Cropped

This is a museum-quality temporary exhibition created for London, showcasing street art in a gallery in the cultural heart of the city. It presents 250 works, including certified originals, unique pieces and exclusive reproductions of the iconic street artist.

For similar activities, don’t miss this article on Immersive experiences in London.

Chelsea Flower Show

It is one of the most popular annual events in London. You will see stunning gardens, magnificent flower displays and exclusive boutiques.

Things to do in London in May: pubs for views and gardens

Londoners still love to have their pints outside. However, this is one of the most popular times of year to do so. So you can expect pubs to look busy from the outside, especially after hours on a sunny day.

Below is a list of pubs in London which we believe offer some of the best pub gardens and views in London. And don’t forget that Mr Sunny recommends a new pub every week in our Sunny News email.

Pubs with views and gardens

• Marquess of Anglesey, Covent Garden
• Punch & Judy, Covent Garden
• Bow Tavern, Covent Garden
• The Ship, Wandsworth
• The Lamb, Bloomsbury
• The Mayflower, Rotherhithe
• The bottle, Highgate
• Edinboro Castle, Camden
• The George Inn, London Bridge
• Spaniards Inn Hotel, Hampstead Heath

London Trip Planner