Keen to make the most of the warmer weather? Here’s our favourite happenings in May that you should book now.
Bookended by bank holidays, May often feels like a natural time to ramp up social outings and make the most of the city.
Luckily, London’s brimming with one-off events, pop-ups and new launches. Learn a skill, try a new cuisine or discover centuries-old craft traditions. Here’s the best of the bunch.
Dinner and live music at Little Baobab
Over four evenings between May and August, the Africa Centre’s Senegalese restaurant Little Baobab will be hosting a series of food and live music experiences. For £35 per person, you’ll get to sample a buffet of traditional Senegalese dishes such as vegetarian mafe (a rich vegetable and peanut butter stew) and chicken yassa (grilled marinated chicken with lime-caramelised onions). While you eat, live acoustic performances from emerging African artists will soundtrack the evening. Events take place on the second Thursday of every month, with the first being 13 May; tables can be booked through the Little Baobab website.
Garden-inspired afternoon tea at Botanica
Inspired by The Garden Against Time, Olivia Laing’s bestselling memoir about her time restoring a walled garden in Suffolk, 100 Queen’s Gate Hotel London Kensington’s Botanica restaurant is offering a limited-time afternoon tea menu from 18 to 24 May. The bright, airy tea room — decorated in cherry blossom and greenery — conjures the feel of a greenhouse. Here, enjoy a selection of delicate treats such as a rose-shaped tart with salmon, parmesan mousse and balsamic on brown bread, and assorted macarons with orchard-inspired flavours.
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Fortnum & Mason’s biscuit wonderland
For the biscuit-lovers — of which we assume there are many among our readers — a whole room devoted to biscuits might seem only a pipe dream. But that dream comes to life in Fortnum & Mason’s new Biscuitorium — a biscuit wonderland at the brand’s Piccadilly store containing over 70 varieties. When it launches on 14 May in the mezzanine level, visitors will get to browse the interactive Biscuit Library and the Made in Picadilly counter’s array of in-house pastry creations. You’ll also get a first taste of some of the brand’s new offerings such as the Whoppalossus, Fortnum & Mason’s largest ever biscuit, and the new Biscuits for Drinks collection.
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London Craft Week 2026
London Craft Week returns 11 to 17 May as a celebration of crafting all over the world. Over a thousand emerging makers, designers, brands and galleries will come together to deliver events, exhibitions, talks, workshops and demonstrations. Events take place in venues all over London and cover everything from ceramics and carpentry to 3D modelling and Japanese tea culture. Many of the events are free, you’ll just need to register your interest online to secure your spot.
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Japanese whisky tasting and ice carving experience
As part of London Craft Week 2026 (11-17 May), Waltz, Gento Torigata’s Japanese cocktail bar in Shoreditch, is hosting The Art of Japanese Whisky over on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 May. For £40 per person, you’ll experience a guided whisky tasting focusing on Japanese brand Hibiki, led by Raffaele Di Monaco, UK Brand Ambassador for the House of Suntory. There’ll also be a demonstration of traditional Japanese ice carving.
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High Street Kensington’s Wellness Week 2026
Returning for its third year, High Street Kensington Wellness Week 2026 will run from 11 to 17 May with a mix of free and ticketed events across the area’s health, fitness and wellness venues. Attend free classes at BoxcleverLDN, 1Rebel, Virgin Active and F45 before heading to the Milestone Hotel for complementary a massage. Events also include mindful art sessions hosted by Cass Art, 5km social runs with Lululemon and Urban Greens, PT sessions in Holland Park and a women’s wellbeing summit at Kensington Library.
Indian cookery class
East Dulwich restaurant KOKUM is running a series of Indian cuisine cooking classes led by head chef Sanjay Gour. At Naan Stop: An Indian Bread Workshop on 30 May, you’ll discover how to make authentic Indian breads such as naan, roti and charred flatbreads for £75 per person. After the session, you’ll get a chance sit down with your fellow sous chefs to enjoy the dishes you’ve created and leave with a goodie bag of essentials so you can recreate the spread at home.
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An evening of seafood at Borough Market
A regular spot for weekend ambles for many Londoners, Borough Market is renowned for its fishmongers, as well as a cornucopia of high-quality seafood restaurants and stalls. Now, at a one-off evening event on 20 May, you can explore the market by night, discovering exclusive dishes and chatting to its top traders and chefs. Oyster shucking and fish filleting demos, plus tastings and expert talks, will be followed by samples of food and drink from big names such as Richard Haward’s Oysters, Shellseekers, Brindisa and Applebee’s. Tickets cost £7 plus a booking fee.
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St James’s Food Fair
As part of the Regent Street and St James’ Future of Food Festival, the one-day open-air St James Food Fair will take over St James Square on Saturday 16 May. Restaurants such as Sael, FOWL, Scully and Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill will be hosting stalls, complemented by tasters from sustainable producers such as Lockdown Liquor Co. Expect interactive experiences and live music throughout the day, and if you’ve not had your fill of fun, head to the nearby SNEF store for a £5 masterclass.
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Covent Garden’s Passport to Norway festival
From 14 to 17 May, the West End’s four-day free festival Passport to Norway takes over Covent Garden’s piazza with live music, Noridic food and stalls. Bringing Scandinavian traditions to London, the event celebrates Syttende Mai (Norway’s National Day) with a lineup of music from Norwegian artists such as Sletta, Zigrid Zeiner and The London Nordic Choir. Feast on Norwegian waddles, speciality coffee and cocktails made with Norway’s signature spirit, Aquavit. There’ll be games, family-friendly experiences and Nordic storytelling, and if you’re feeling the Scandi vibes, the travel retail pop-up from lifestyle brand Pastael will give you much-needed inspiration for any future trips.
Feature image: St James Square
