Things to do in London over the May Day bank holiday weekend

If you’ve ever tried to leave London on a bank holiday, you’ll know that all that lies in wait is acres of traffic jams, family feuds and never-ending drizzle. The solution? Play it safe - stay in the capital and make the most of the long weekend

Cultural kicks | Outdoors | Clubs | Music | Comedy | Kids | Eating & Drinking

'The Fifth Column', Hugo Gellert, 1943, Colour Screenprint. Copyright courtesy of the Mary Ryan Gallery, New York

Get your cultural kicks
Museums and attractions
It wouldn’t be a bank holiday without a dose of James Bond, but if you really can’t bear watching any of the old films then why not pop down to ‘For Your Eyes Only’ at the Imperial War Museum? It literally goes behind the scenes, focusing on Bond creator Ian Fleming, who was born 100 years ago, plus there’s some seriously cool gadgetry and an Aston Martin model.

Comic book fans will enjoy the Science Museum’s new show ‘Dan Dare and the Birth of Hi-Tech Britain’ which gives an insight into how Britain made the transition to affluence from post-war austerity.

Terminal Five might not go down as his greatest achievement, but Richard Roger’s extensive back catalogue includes some of the world’s most striking buildings, with everything from Paris' Pompidou Centre to the Millennium Dome. It's on at the Design Museum.

See listings for all museums and attractions

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Art
If design’s not your bag, there’s a host of more traditional art offerings available, from the British Museum’s homage to modern American masters in ‘The American Scene’ to White Cube’s Edgar Allan Poe-inspired group show, 'You Dig the Tunnel, I'll Hide the Soil' featuring work by the likes of Damien Hirst, the Chapmans and Angus Fairhurst, whose recent suicide has put a tragic cloud over events.

If you find esoteric art inaccessible, then check out the new exhibition of Linda McCartney’s photographs. Turns out, there was more to the first Mrs McCartney than veggie sausages.

See all art listings

Theatre
And theatre junkies are well catered for; not only is the RSC’s innovative Roundhouse production of the Bard’s history plays continuing to pull in the punters, it’s also your last chance to see edgy one-woman fringe sensation ‘Fucked’, and if you can wangle tickets go and see Ralph Fiennes in ‘Art’ director Yasmin Reza’s new French farce – ‘God of Carnage’.

See all listings for theatre over the bank holiday weekend


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Covent Garden Flower Market

Embrace the great outdoors
Despite the odd shower it does seem that spring might actually be here. If the weather defies our cynical British murmurings then go gaze at the giant floral installations brightening up Covent Garden piazza. Buy some blooms from the flower market, pick up gardening tips and attend a honey tasting.

If you leave feeling inspired why not pass the time with a spot of gardening? Our recent urban gardens special has all the green-fingered info you need to make the most of the city’s open spaces, from the best garden centres to the latest hipster trends.

Pots, Plants & Paints is in theory one for the little ones, but grown-ups can join in too. Not only can you jazz up plant pots, sow sunflower seeds and follow a bumblebee trail, there’s even nectar bingo (whatever that might be!).

More fun for big kids at Crystal Palace ‘Dinosaur’ Park. Children going through the dinosaur phase always enjoy a visit to 'the monsters' - five dinosaur sculptures that lurk among the trees around the lake.

Keep your ears peeled on Sunday, the birds will be going wild as it's Dawn Chorus Day. Learn to tell your robins from your tits with our interactive birdsong player.

And if you fancy doing some exercise, and easing your eco-conscience, then why not dust off your bike, or rent one if you’re not already the proud owner of two wheels, and consult our London cycling special – there’s everything from route ideas to bike polo. There’s even space for non-cyclists to have their say, within reason!


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Nuke 'Em All (© Al De Perez)

Get your groove on
Despite this weekend’s worker roots, the only hard graft that party people look set to do is on the dancefloor. If you’re in the mood for an '80s nostalgia fix check out ‘Can You Bear It?’ The Pet Shop Boys show why they’re the grandes dames of Disco with support from Madness and Danny Rampling.

Turnmills might be dead but the Gallery lives on. Spread across Ministry of Sound’s four spacious rooms, this popular trance and techno Friday nighter returns with guests including everyone from Paul Van Dyk, Kuffdum and the Do You Like It Dirty house crew. Bangin!

If you fancy a more relaxed, reggae vibe then sway down south to University of Dub which takes over SeOne for this three-soundsystem bash. All the usual suspects are present, with Channel One, Aba-Shanti-I and Jah Youth. Wonder if the smoking ban applies?

Over in Hackney the area’s most flurotastic party crew, Nuke ‘Em All, returns with a bank holiday bender guaranteed to keep you bopping into Monday, with DJs Louis La Roché and Fonteyn, installations from Glow In The Dark gRAVE and zombie dancing courtesy of The Fresh Flesh – they’re so edgy it hurts.

Staying east, at the T-Bar there’s Monza presents Around The House with top German and Balearic techno talents. The Funktion One sound system was made for this…

If the temperature rockets (we can dream), then cool off at Club Aquarium’s (yes, that’s the one with the pool) Wet Yourself! Bank Holiday Super Soaker. Sounds range from minimal to maximal with Jo Jo De Freq (Nag Nag Nag), Hannah Holland (Batty Bass) and guest French techno producer Popof (Turbo).

Parties in pubs are all the rage at the mo, and nobody does it better than Transient who welcome Mobilee head honcho Ralf Kollman who’ll be spinning some Berlin styles and Freak 'n' Chic’s Dyed Soundorom.

And finally some d ’n’ b kicks can be got down at Plastic People’s Monday Club. Line-up reads like a Who’s Who with Goldie, Fabio, DJ Bailey among others. One notable exception though – free Grooverider!

See all club listings for the bank holiday weekend


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The Wombats

Squeeze into skinnies and go indie
Kicking things off on Friday, the Kooks bring their summery brand of cod-reggae to Brixton Academy to plug their second album. Pretty boys in skinnies and straw hats – what’s not to like?

If you really can’t stomach the thought of seeing a bunch of southern ponces then save your gigging energy for Saturday when those cheeky, scuzz-pop scousers, the Wombats, headline the same venue. Anyone who doesn’t go crazy to ‘Let’s Dance to Joy Division’ is made of steel.

There’s a few mini-fests with Rob da Bank’s Bandstand event featuring everyone’s fave super-producer Mark Ronson, electro-poppers Late of the Pier plus crazy capers from the Cuban Brothers.

While over in indie HQ, aka Camden Town, stalwart venue The Barfly hosts a messy all-dayer showcasing the best up-and-maybe-coming bands. With an age limit of 16+, looks like the Skins kids will be out in force.

If you’d rather see an act who are definitely on the up, as predicted by, erm, us – then check out the Shortwave Set who are getting props for their new Danger Mouse-produced album headline with support from absurdly young-yet-savvy all-girl quartet, Poppy & The Jezebels.

If indie's not your bag, but you still like all things six-string, head down to the Southbank where The London Guitar Festival welcomes a plethora of super-talented strummers. Highlights over the weekend include Grammy-winner Vicente Amigo and various Latin, flamenco and jazz-fusion greats.

And if none of that grabs your imagination then broaden your horizons with a trip to Dalston Songs. Ok, so this it’s not strictly speaking an indie event but the hipster title and esoteric approach of this musical homage to East London’s multi-cultural community brought it onto the radar.

See all music events over the bank holiday weekend


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Dina Martina

Have a good giggle
One of the maddest drag acts ever, surreal and divine Dina Martina defies all labels. This is cult comedy with a capital 'C', packed with ludicrous song and dance.

More mainstream fare can be consumed over at the Bloomsbury Theatre, where Stewart Lee presents his five fantasy comedy gigs, topping Friday’s bill is the irrepressible Harry Hill and the sublime Boothby Graffoe.

There’s a chance to catch the Time Out Comedy Award-winner, Robin Ince, in action alongside the brilliant Ian Stone and entertaining Ben Norris at Clapham’s majestic Grand.

Take comedy out of its traditional context and hop on board the (Mis)Guided Literary Tour of Archway with poet and comic Richard Tyrone Jones. Spend two hours examining the dubious delights of this North London enclave and the last hour in the pub.

If you stay there for long enough you might be in the right state to endure Trevor Nunn’s overblown production of 'Gone With The Wind' . By no means stay for the duration, but if you can wangle it pop in just for the hilarity of seeing ex-Pop Idoler Darius Danesh trying to be Rhett Butler.

See all comedy listings for the bank holiday weekend


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Charlie and Lola (Charlie and Lola™ and © Lauren Child 2005)

Get down with the kids
Everyone loves Charlie and Lola, and apparently this is their ‘Best, Bestest Play’. This Polka Theatre adaptation of Lauren Child's books brings the characters' most memorable moments to life with a mix of puppetry and animation and is a surefire winner with anyone under seven.

In a similar, illustrated vein there’s the ‘Ten Best New Illustrators’ exhibition – a high-profile competition for aspiring illustrators including Polly Dunbar, Mini Grey and Joel Stewart.

If that's inspired you, why not take budding artists along to a workshop at one of London's museums or galleries. There's a family workshop at Somerset House on Saturday, or the 'Little Draw' at the Wallace collection on Sunday. Those of a thespian bent might prefer the ChildsPlay workshop at Shakespeare's Globe on Saturday.

At the other end of the scale, 'Jump' bills itself as ‘family-friendly martial arts’. Well, they say seeing is believing…

And if the weather’s bad or you’ve simply had enough, you might want to shut the little darlings up by plonking them in the cinema in front of one these fab films.

See listings for all kids' events over the bank holiday weekend


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Colourful cakes at Broadway Market (© Britta Jaschinski)

Drink & dine alfresco
These days, some of us spend lots of time outside pubs regardless of the climate conditions. But that’s no reason not to try and improve the experience by picking a bank holiday boozer with a decent beer garden.

After boozing it up on the Friday, recover with a slap-up, hangover-curing breakfast or browse one of the city’s many food markets for gastronomic goodies to take home.

If the sun bucks the bank holiday trend and shines, then dine alfresco at one of London's best park cafés.

For special occasion-inspiration browse our definitive list of London’s 50 best restaurants and top-notch eateries.

And if nothing London-based tempts your tastebuds why not sack the Big Smoke off and hotfoot it on the new super-fast Eurostar to Paris? Our round-up of Paris' 50 best restaurants should whet your appetite.

See all London restaurants and bars and pubs.

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Feature by Serena Kutchinsky