Six of the best free things to do in London this weekend

Last weekend was the first May bank holiday, so it’s understandable that your bank account might be hurting right now. But fear not, because as London launches into summer there are plenty of fabulous and free happenings taking place across the city this Friday May 9 to Sunday May 11. 

Looking for inspo for things to do this weekend that won’t break the bank? From the Tate’s big birthday weekender, to a stunning hot air balloon festival, and independent shopping markets, we’ve rounded up five of the best free things you can do in the capital. Take a peak below.  

Celebrate Tate Modern’s 25th birthday 

London’s finest modern art gallery turns 25 this May, and it’s celebrating a quarter of a century with a bang. Across one long weekend, the institution will mark its anniversary with a series of special one-off events and artworks, plus free tickets to its temporary exhibitions for 16 to 25-year-olds. Head to the Bankside gallery this weekend to see live tarot readings, big name DJ sets, old art gems resurrected (remember Louise Bourgeois’ giant bronze spider?), special performances, workshops, talks and more. More info here. 

Tate Modern. May 9-12. Free (some events require booking in advance).

Browse vinyl at the Independent Label Market

Indie record labels, local brewers and DJs will come together at Kings Cross’ Coal Drops Yard this Saturday for the May edition of the Independent Label Market. Music heads will be able to shop for exclusive and rare vinyl while sipping crafties and listening to live DJ sets, supplied by KX station Voices Radio. There will also be live music, spotlighting emerging artists from participating labels.

Coal Drops Yard. Sat May 10. Free. 

See the swanky new Sainsbury Wing at the National Gallery

The National Gallery’s Sainsbury Wing has been closed for the past two years while it underwent a serious £85 million renovation. It finally reopens this weekend, newly kitted out with plenty of sleek, neutral limestone, vast expanses of glass, digital screens, new staircases, seating areas and more. The wing opens in conjunction with the ‘Wonder of Art’: a major rehang of around 1000 works in the gallery’s collection of European painting. See our first look of the new wing here. 

National Gallery, WC2N 5DN. Opens Sat May 10. Free.

Gawp at the Lord Mayor’s Hot Air Balloon Regatta

It’s been six years since the last Lord Mayor’s Hot Air Balloon Regatta was able to take place, thanks to Covid-19 and then years of bad weather, so this is one for the books. All being well, this Sunday May 11 50 hot air balloons will take off into the London skies. You’ll be able to spot them sailing past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, from Buckingham Palace and the London Eye to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. Sunday’s forecast is looking like blue skies and low winds, so fingers crossed. More information here. 

Various locations. Sun May 11. Free. 

Catch the final weekend of the Museum of Transology

Over the last 10 years, the Museum of Transology has been building up what is now the world’s biggest collection of objects and stories relating to trans, non-binary and intersex lives. Its landmark exhibition, ‘TRANSCESTRY: 10 years of the Museum of Transology’ comes to a close this Sunday, so now is your last chance to check out the more than 1,000 artefacts that tell the the underrepresented and often forgotten stories from the trans community. More information here. 

Lethaby Gallery, N1C 4AA. Until Sun May 11. Free. 

Chomp on St John doughnuts and crémant at the opening of a new community grocery store

North London community grocery store Nourished Communities is opening a new outpost in Walthamstow this weekend. To celebrate, they are giving away 100 free mini doughnuts and glasses of crémant, both supplied by St John, plus 25 litres of extra virgin olive oil. And if that’s not enough to get you out of bed on Saturday morning, we don’t know what is. It’s first-come-first-served and doors open at 9.30am, so get there sharpish. 

28 Saint James Street, E17 7PF. Sat May 10. Free. 

Find more London fun in the sun with our roundup of the best things to do in London this May

And, here’s how much the cost of a night out in London has changed over 30 years

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