It’s a weekend for dancing, sipping cocktails and trying new things.
Some of us are still basking in the glow of the four-day April weekend, incandescent with excitement at the prospect of floating into the early May bank holiday and yet another day off.
Others may be desperately scrambling to catch up in the hope of being able to switch off and enjoy it.
Either way, it should be a fun one. If you’re stuck for what to do, here’s our pick of the best happenings in London.
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Brixton Disco Festival
Looking for a way to genuinely let loose? Perhaps you should dance the weekend away! Held at multiple venues including Electric Brixton, Brixton Jamm, Phonox and Ritzy, this festival celebrates all aspects of disco and funk culture. DJs such as Natasha Diggs, Melvo Baptiste and Norman Jay MBE will be providing the tunes, while international performers, pop-up bars and interactive experiences add extra layers of history, education and energy. Tickets get you access to all venues.
Kentucky Derby at Cato
On Saturday 2 May, Covent Garden’s cocktail bar Cato is bringing the Kentucky Derby to London with a late-night viewing party. Watch the race live from Louisville in the ground floor House of Julep bar while sipping mint Julep cocktails and nibbling Southern-inspired snacks. Each guest is assigned a horse — there are 20 horses in the race, which means there’ll only be 20 tickets available at £55 per head. If you’ve hitched your saddle to the winning horse, you’ll win the full price of your evening returned. With a 20-to-one chance, the odds may be in your favour.
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Ceramic workshop with Earthworks
If the longer weekend feels like a good opportunity to try something new — or catch up with a friend over something crafty — Brixton’s artist-run ceramics studio Earthworks has just the thing.
The studio welcomes makers of all levels, offering taster sessions, full-day workshops and ongoing classes and courses. All tools and materials are provided and one-to-one guidance is guaranteed — whether you’re a beginner or not.
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London’s first Korean food festival
Foodies, fear not — someone has been listening to your prayers. From Friday 1 May to Monday 4 May, JUNG Festival — London’s first ever Korean food festival — will bring a line-up of Korean food traders and independent brands to King’s Cross’s Canopy Market. Confirmed stalls include Chickenhaus, Hoho London, Kiwa, Hongdae Pocha and Cheemc, celebrating the best of kimchi, bibimbap, Korean fried chicken and an array of the lesser-known dishes.
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Peroni’s Il Fresco
Those partial to a little mind-bending art — and a tipple — over a long weekend, Peroni Nastro Azzurro’s Il Fresco di Peroni is worth a gander. At this large-scale Renaissance-inspired optical illusion pop-up artwork, beer will be literally pouring out of the fresco — so you can enjoy a crisp free half pint of Peroni. It’s open from Thursday 30 April to Saturday 2 May from 12pm to 8pm in the Covent Garden piazza with limited pours. So, the early bird catches the worm (or beer) after all.
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The Doodle Boy event
On Sunday 2 May, families can head to London’s South Bank for Doodle on Our Noodles. From 10am to 6pm, British-born artist Joe Whale, AKA The Doodle Boy, is inviting children to scribble on a giant 6m x 4m billboard near the London Eye. The canvas will feature artwork designed by The Doodle Boy himself, with pens provided so children can add their own doodles. Once doodled out, enjoy some of the family-friendly entertainment including face painting.
Build your own snack
From 1-3 May, London Southbank will host the Kind Snacks toppings truck, where you can build your own snack. Starting with a Kind bar as the base, customise it with toppings such as hot honey chilli flakes, almonds and triple chocolate. The best selfie wins a prize (hopefully edible).
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Chiharu Shiota: Threads of Life at the Hayward Gallery
Ending Sunday 3 May, this is the last weekend to see Chiharu Shiota’s striking exhibition of large-scale installations that take over the Hayward Gallery’s top floor. Known for her immersive environments made from vast webs of thread, Shiota combines sculpture, performance video, drawings and floor-length installations to create atmospheric experiences. The exhibition also features some of her past works such as performances of During Sleep (2026), which plays out alongside runs of the exhibition. Tickets cost £19.
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Queen’s Yard Summer Party
Hackney Wick’s annual multi-venue party returns this year to bring in the start of summer. The festival takes place outdoors and spans open spaces in Queen’s Yard and venues near it, including The Colour Factory and CRATE brewery. More than 100 DJs will be performing live, and you’ll also spot an array of art exhibitions celebrating community, culture and the East London neighbourhood. Fuel the festivities with craft beers and food from dozens and vendors, and if you’re not ready to call it a day, many of the venues will be hosting afterparties until late. Tickets are available from £44.80 to £89.10, depending on entry times.
Feature image: Pexels
