Top 10 things to do this May bank holiday

The South London (‘SoLo’ Craft Fair) has been going for years, usually with cosy Sunday set-ups in pubs like Ninth Life in Catford, but now it’s going big with 16 weeks of themed markets at Between the Bridges, a new beer garden spot on Queen’s Walk that covers 4,000 square feet. First up is a Maker’s Market on May 30 (knitted hats, handmade earrings, you get the gist).

When is it? Sat May 30. Where is it? Queen’s Walk, South Bank. Find out more here. 

The Museum of Youth Culture is sharing a snapshot of its collection in person with a pop-up shop, gallery and event space. Inside, you’ll find a bunch of books on youth counterculture, as well as dozens of pictures of mods, rockers, Acid Ravers and glum punks. If you were one of the thousands of people who submitted photographs for the museum’s ‘Grown Up in Britain’ campaign, keep your eyes peeled. You might just see your sulky teenage face staring right back at you.

When is it? Open Mon-Sat until early July. Where is it? 3 Carnaby St W1F 9PH. Find out more here. 

Remember that giant beer garden we mentioned a moment ago? Well, Between the Bridges has a whole bunch of events planned for its Bank Holiday weekend launch, but you’ll need to book a table. On Friday evening, there’s an unashamedly pop-addled DJ set from Guilty Pleasures, and on Saturday, the pride of Glasgow city Lawrence Chayney, winner of ‘Rupaul’s Drag Rac UK’, will be crashing drag brunch with a live performance. It’s not every yet you get a chance to meet the queen over breakfast. 

When is it? Fri May 29-Mon May 31, events are ongoing. Where is it? Queen’s Walk, South Bank. Find out more here. 

It’s finally happening: the theatres are reopening, social distancing is set to be eased in June, and it feels like there’s a reasonable chance that you can book for plays and musicals with the reasonable expectation that they’ll actually go ahead. This weekend alone you can see a very extra production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at The Globe or a revival of Alfred Fagon’s ‘The Death of a Black Man’, playing at Hampstead Theatre. Move quickly and you might be able to snag tickets to new drama ‘Walden’ at the Harold Pinter theatre, in which Gemma Arterton stars as a Nasa botanist returning from a year on the moon.

More into musicals? Here are the big West End shows returning for 2021. 

The pubs are open! That’s good. All the pubs are booked up until November! That’s not good. One result of the easing of lockdown rules to allow for outdoor dining has been a mad rush for seats. Quite simply there are more thirsty Londoners prepared to brave the cold than there are seats in beer gardens. We believe that disorganised people deserve a chance to socialise too, so we’ve put together a list of London pubs that are open to walk-ins. You’re welcome.

London’s art scene has been locked down with the rest of us, but now it’s had a towel down, spat in the bucket and is coming out of its corner swinging. The major art galleries are reopening on or around May 17, including major shows from Matthew Barney, Zanele Muholi and Jean Dubuffet. Until then, there are scores of shows at small independents. Here’s where you should be heading to get your spring art fix. Check with the galleries first if you ned to book an appointment.

If you’re at the stage of open-water swimming where you now have a wetsuit in your wardrobe, you might be ready to register with the National Open Water Coaching Association, which provides safety bands and access to swim at specific locations. One of those locations is the London Royal Docks, a scenic spot that has set courses for casual swimmers. Whatever you do, do not forget that wetsuit, temperatures at the Docks can be less than 10°C, even in summer. London Royal Docks. Session days vary. £8 per swim + £12 annual membership fee. Find out how to register here. 

For anyone else that’s been feeling distressed by the current inability to eat wraps on a stone bench on Queen’s Walk, we have some good news: the Southbank Centre’s Street Food Market is going to reopen on April 30. That means you can arrange to meet another human by that big bust of Nelson Mandela, and spend an afternoon choosing between Korean BBQ, absurdly rich Truffle burgers, Oh My Dog! hot dogs or a nice sickly Nutella crêpe. Throw in some chopped nuts and banana slices, you deserve it. 

All the organised people have gone and booked up beer garden spots across the city right through summer, but SOMEONE has to cancel, right? Here’s a round-up of some of our favourite beer gardens that are taking bookings. Some have been included for their bucolic vibe and lush foliage, some for their summery drinks or smoky barbecues, some for their riverside location (although a lot of those will also pop up in our guide to London’s best riverside pubs and bars).