May 2024: If you ask us, London might just be at its absolute best in May. The weather is pretty much perfect; sunny enough that all you need is a light jacket, not so warm that you have to nip out of the office mid-morning for an emergency roll-on deodorant and a multi-pack of Calippos. Festival season has arrived, the city’s rooftop bars and beer gardens have come into their own, and everyone seems to be walking with a spring in their step, full of anticipation for a summer of day trips, park picnics, barbecues and general alfresco fun.
And that’s before you even get onto the fact that we have two separate bank holidays this month. Looking to make the most of those blissful long weekends? Be sure to check out our roundup of the best things to do in the city this month, including major festivals like Wide Awake, Cross The Tracks and Gala, a plethora of fabulous open-air theatre shows and film screenings and absolutely loads more.
No matter what your vibe, tastes or interests, there is always something to do in London. When the sun’s out, London’s parks turn into leafy social clubs, restaurants dust off their outdoor seating and fountains erupt from dusty concrete squares.
Whether you want to see cutting-edge art exhibitions, iconic attractions, secret spots, world-beating theatre, stunning green spaces, it’s all here and you can probably fit all this in and more still barely feel like you’ve scratched the surface of the city. And that’s before you factor in all those historic London pubs, the latest must-visit restaurants and vibrant LGBTQ+ venues. And if you need somewhere to stay? Check out London’s best hotels or Airbnbs.
This London bucket list (curated by our editors and always hotly debated in the Time Out office) is a good place to start because exploring this city can be a little daunting. There’s something for everyone here, but you need to know where to look.
Plus, if you want to know what’s happening in London, like, right now, check out things to do in London this week and things to do in London this weekend. After a few days pottering about in the capital, you’ll be more than ready to reel off Dr Samuel Johnson’s famous quote: ‘When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.’
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