From rooftop film screenings to riverside brunches and wellness festivals, these are the best affordable things to do over the long weekend.
As London slips into its first true stretch of summer, the late May bank holiday arrives with long evenings, packed cultural calendars and a renewed appetite for being outdoors.
Across the capital, rooftops reopen, parks fill with picnickers and hotel terraces become the ideal setting for leisurely rosé-fuelled afternoons.
And you don’t need to spend wildly to make the most of the long weekend.
Whether you’re looking for open-air cinema nights, affordable family days out, immersive city adventures or laid-back brunches with skyline views, London is full of wallet-friendly ways to celebrate the extra day off.
Read more: The five best restaurants in London for dining al fresco this spring and summer
Catch a film under the stars at Rooftop Cinema Club
Outdoor cinema season has officially landed in London, and there are few better ways to spend a warm bank holiday evening than sitting back in a deckchair with skyline views and a cult classic on screen.
Across the weekend, Rooftop Cinema Club’s programme includes the likes of Notting Hill, La La Land, Interstellar and Zootropolis 2.
Tickets start from £14, making it one of the capital’s more affordable rooftop nights out — especially if you skip the cocktails and focus on the sunset.
For more information or to book, visit Rooftop Cinema Club
Join a Guinness World Record attempt at London Zoo
This May half term, London Zoo is inviting visitors to help break a Guinness World Record for the most contributions to a painting-by-numbers artwork. Created to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Zoological Society of London, the giant mural features 200 animals and forms part of a wider programme of family-friendly activities taking place throughout the holiday week.
Tickets start from £31.80 — not the cheapest on the list, admittedly, but worthwhile if you’re planning a full day out with younger children.
For more information or to book, visit London Zoo
Read more: Pooch-to-table dining? These are the 10 best dog-friendly dining spots in London
Sip rosé above the skyline at Sky Garden
London’s rooftop season reaches new heights at Sky Garden, where the terrace has been transformed for a seasonal takeover in collaboration with Whispering Angel. Expect pale pink decor, panoramic city views and long lunches designed for lingering.
The £55 sharing menu includes six dishes and a bottle of rosé between two — surprisingly reasonable considering the setting, 37 floors above the City.
For more information or to book, visit Sky Garden
Wander the historic gardens at Fulham Palace
Swap central London crowds for a slower-paced afternoon at Fulham Palace, home to one of the city’s oldest botanic gardens. The guided garden tour explores rare plant species, biodiversity projects and centuries of horticultural history, all tucked away beside the Thames.
Tours take place on Sunday 24 May, with tickets from £9 for students and £12 standard entry.
For more information or to book, visit Fulham Palace House & Gardens
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Read more: London’s best beer gardens to embrace the sunshine this spring
Solve a mystery with StreetHunt Games
Part escape room, part city adventure, StreetHunt Games transforms London into a live-action detective story. Using only your phone, you’ll follow clues through hidden streets and overlooked corners of the capital, uncovering mysteries as you go.
It’s an inventive way to explore the city with friends, and considerably cheaper than many immersive theatre experiences, with games starting from £16.50 per person.
For more information or to book, visit StreetHunt Games
Watch Wes Anderson classics at W London
For cinephiles, W London’s intimate screening room near Leicester Square is hosting a month-long celebration of Wes Anderson every Saturday throughout May.
The line-up includes Fantastic Mr Fox, Moonrise Kingdom and The Darjeeling Limited, with tickets from £10, including popcorn. For £19, guests can also add a themed cocktail inspired by Anderson’s unmistakably whimsical aesthetic.
For more information or to book, visit Eventbrite
Reset at the Mind Body Spirit Festival
Returning to Olympia London across the bank holiday weekend, the Mind Body Spirit Festival blends wellness workshops, sound baths, yoga, meditation and holistic therapies under one roof. More than 100 free sessions are included with entry, alongside a marketplace filled with independent beauty, wellness and spiritual brands.
Whether you’re booking in for a massage, browsing crystals or simply escaping the city’s fast pace for a few hours, it’s an easy-going alternative to the usual bank holiday plans. Tickets start from £18.
For more information or to book, visit Mind Body Spirit Festival
Try something new at Akila Pole Studio
South London’s Akila Pole Studio is offering beginner-friendly taster classes across the bank holiday weekend, with no prior strength, fitness or experience required. The studio focuses on movement, confidence and self-expression in an inclusive environment — ideal if you’re looking to shake up your normal workout routine.
Classes take place on Sunday 25 May and Monday 26 May, and you can claim a £10 taster session using the code LIVING360.
For more information or to book, visit Akila Pole Studio
Make the most of National Rail offers
Bank holiday weekends are made for family outings, and several London attractions are running discounted National Rail promotions this May.
At Chessington World of Adventures Resort, the newly opened Paw Patrol-themed land features four rides, interactive play zones and character appearances, with tickets from £23 per person through the rail offer.
Meanwhile, Thames Rockets is offering discounted tickets for its Rocket Rebel speedboat experience, combining high-speed thrills with some of London’s best riverside sightseeing.
Elsewhere, history-lovers can make use of two-for-one entry offers at Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace, where The Big Bahooey transforms the palace gardens into a playful family festival filled with music, theatre and acrobatics.
For more information or to book, visit National Rail
Book a brunch worth lingering over
For a more leisurely bank holiday, London’s brunch scene delivers in style.
At Market Kitchen inside 22 Bishopsgate, an Italian-inspired menu of truffle arancini, toasted focaccia and breakfast pizza is paired with optional bottomless Aperol Spritz and access to Horizon 22 — London’s highest free viewing gallery.
Tickets from £27.50 per person. Add bottomless Aperol Spritz, prosecco or house wine for £20 per person.
For more information or to book, visit Horizon22
Feast to Bhangra beats
South of the river, Cinnamon Kitchen Battersea hosts a lively Saturday Bhangra brunch beneath the Battersea arches, with DJ sets and vibrant Indian sharing plates from chef Vivek Singh. Add prosecco or champagne if the long weekend calls for celebration.
Food is priced at £29 per person. Add bottomless prosecco for £29 per person or bottomless champagne for £59 per person.
For more information or to book, visit Cinnamon Kitchen
Feature image: Horizon22
