What's on in London - May

The weather is (slowly) getting warmer, flowers are blooming, and the days are getting longer. Spring has arrived - and Summer isn’t far behind. With two national bank holidays, May is the best month to explore London and practise your English skills – and we’ve made it even easier.

We’ve rounded up the very best things our Greenwich students can do this May, from new ways to experience UK pub culture to taking selfies with actual pieces of the moon. Read on for our top picks.

Our Top 3 Free Activities

1) Horizon 22: London’s Highest Free Viewing Platform

Want incredible views of London without paying to go up The Shard? We feel the same. This May, visit the 58th floor of Horizon 22 for 300-degree views of London’s most iconic Landmarks – without the price tag. Book a (free!) ticket here.

2) The Lord Mayor’s Balloon Regatta (May 11th)

Watch dozens of hot air balloons float across London’s skyline on May 11th during this magical yearly event. Track their route on the official website to find the best viewing spot – and remember to send us your pics!

3) Chelsea in Bloom (May 19th-25th)

Running alongside the iconic Chelsea Flower Show this month is London’s largest free flower festival – and Instagram haven. Head to Chelsea’s streets to see hotels, restaurants and retailers turn their buildings into fabulously floral displays. You can even join in by voting for the ‘People’s Champion’.

Cultural Spotlight: Bank Holiday Month

May has the most bank holidays than any other month in the UK. But what exactly is a bank holiday - and why are Brits so obsessed with them?

There are two Bank Holidays in May: May 5th and May 26th. Nowadays, bank holidays are a time for lazy weekends, barbecues with friends, and often one-too-many pints on a Sunday night. But originally, bank holidays were created for religious and agricultural reasons.

May 26th is also known as the Spring Bank Holiday – formerly ‘Whitsun’ or ‘Whit Monday’, the Monday after Pentecost, which is a Christian celebration held 50 days after Easter.

Things to do this May

• Fleet Street Literary Festival (14th-17th May) – This year, Fleet Street is launching a brand-new literary festival, the Festival of Words. Perfect for bookworms and wordsmiths, the festival will see a variety of writers give talks on their craft, including Kate Mosse OBE and booker-prize-winning Ben Okri.
  
• London Craft Week (12th- 18th May) – Feeling crafty? London is soon hosting its annual city-wide Craft Week. From Secret Ceramics to Puppet Making and Furniture Crafting, discover a wide range of workshops and talks across London.
  
• Men’s and Women’s FA Cup Finals (17th and 18th May) – Join in on the football fever this May at the FA Cup Finals. Most pubs will show the game live, or you could try to grab a ticket to the real thing.
  
• Westfield’s Good Festival (16th-18th May) – Fashion lovers unite! London’s Westfield Shopping Centre is hosting countless FREE workshops on sustainable fashion, from crafting your own beaded bag to mending your own denim. Whether you’re a Depop addict or an arts and crafts hobbyist, we’re sure you’ll find something fun to do.
  
• Eurovision Parties (17th May) – Eurovision is here, and it’s time to celebrate it in all its madness and extravagance. There are heaps of venues across London hosting their own all-out Eurovision Finals viewing parties this month. Head to Bounce for games, glitter, and drag queens, or BAM Karaoke Box for DJs, prizes, and post-screening singing.

Music & Festivals

• Pub in the Park (30th May – 1st June) – The most British of festivals, Pub in the Park is a great way to put your English skills to practice in the company of great food, drink, and music. There’ll be demonstrations from the UK’s finest chefs, award-winning music acts, and plenty of pub grub
  
• Field Day Festival (24th May) – Electronic music fans can see Peggy Gou, Mall Grab, and Jungle play at London’s annual Field Day Festival. ‘Have a field day’ means to have a fantastic time – and we’re sure you will. There you go, we’ve made it educational.
• Cross The Tracks (25th May) – Another day festival for jazz, funk, soul, and hip-hop lovers, headlined by Michael Kiwanuka and Ezra Collective.
  
• City Splash (26th May) – Can’t decide on how you’ll spend your Bank Holiday Monday? City Splash is celebrating Caribbean and African culture through music, from Reggae to Dancehall to Afrobeats. Even better – music will be accompanied by a range of Caribbean and African street food.
  
• The O2 – Just a walk away from our English Centre, our music list wouldn’t be complete without a word about this iconic venue. This month’s highlights include: Twenty-One Pilots, Bryan Adams, Tyler, The Creator, The Lumineers, and BabyMetal.

London Theatre Highlights

• The Crucible (Shakespeare’s Globe) – Catch Arthur Miller’s The Crucible at the Globe Theatre before it finishes its season on July 12th. This is the first non-Shakespearean play to be shown on the Globe’s outdoor stage. Take advantage of the Globe’s £5 standing ‘groundling’ tickets.
  
• 1536 (Almeida Theatre, May 6th – June 7th) – Be transported back to 1536 with well-known actress, Tanya Reynolds (from Netflix’s The Decameron and Sex Education) in this powerful drama centred around the murder of Anne Boleyn. Under 25s can get limited £5 tickets and under 30s discounted tickets.
  
• The Comedy About Spies (May 6th – September 5th) – Need a laugh? Grab tickets to The Comedy About Spies. From the award-winning company behind The Play That Goes Wrong, it’s packed with chaos, fun, and lots of British humour.

Special Exhibitions & Museum Events

• Tate Modern’s 25th Birthday (9th – 12th May) – Tate Modern is celebrating its birthday this weekend with tonnes of free events, talks, music, and tours - from tarot card readings to DJ sets and special exhibitions.
• Touch the Moon (really!) at the National History Museum (16th May – 22nd February 2026) – For as little as £14, you can touch a real piece of the moon, hold a fragment of Mars, and see a Meteorite older than the earth itself.

May’s Cheap Eat

Goddard’s Pie & Mash

Just a 20-minute walk from our Greenwich English Centre, Goddard’s Pie & Mash has been serving traditional pie and mash since 1890. It’s also, fortunately, known as one of the cheapest pie shops in London, with dishes for as little as £6, including vegan options and dessert. Go here for a slice of pie – and lots of history.

Phrase of the Month

“Make the most of it” = to do your best with what you have.

Examples:

‘It’s raining, but let’s just make the most of it.’

‘We only have one month in the UK – let’s make the most of it!’

Ready for May?

With so many exciting (and often free) things to do, May is the perfect time to get out, practise your English, and experience British culture. Whether you’re celebrating Eurovision, watching the football, or dancing the day away at Pub in the Park, don’t forget to make the most of it!

Thinking of studying English abroad? Don’t miss out - take a look at our range of immersive English courses in London, Eastbourne, and Dublin.