With a bumper number of bank holidays and evening light finally stretching beyond 7pm, May is the month that London really starts gearing up for the heady days of summer. So, how to fill those long balmy hours? From the capital’s chicest new restaurants to horizon-expanding workshops, and fashionable pop-ups and festivals galore, here are the best things to do in London in May 2026.

The art: The Royal Society of Portrait Painters annual exhibition, and Affordable Art Fair

Portrait of the actress Joanna Vanderham as Diana Mitford by David Caldwell RP

The RP Annual Exhibition. Image: Mark Sepple

From 7-19 May, the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (RP) returns to Mall Galleries with its highly-anticipated annual exhibition, Europe’s largest and most significant celebration of contemporary portrait painting. Bringing together work from both established society members and emerging talent, a distinguished jury of artists have selected the works, including a special collaboration with Shengxinyu Art to mark the Chinese Year of the Fire Horse. The exhibition also features prizes and awards totalling more than £40,000, including the William Lock Portrait Prize and three newly introduced awards. Accompanying the week-long event, art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon will deliver a talk exploring Vermeer’s depictions of women on 14 May (tickets required) and the Society’s Portrait Commission Service will be available throughout, giving visitors a chance to discover more about the process. 

The Affordable Art Fair returns to Hampstead Heath from 6-10 May, marking the second of its spring editions and the first and only Hampstead fair of the year. More than 100 galleries from the UK and beyond will present, with highlights including Ceramics Unbound – a new exhibition curated by Caroline Jackman, featuring boundary-pushing work from talented ceramicists – and displays including Heath & Heart, celebrating art inspired by Hampstead Heath; Investing in Her, an AJ Bell Money Matters’ returning exhibition supporting women artists and spotlighting conversations to help women feel good investing; and Finds Under £500. Also don’t miss al fresco painting workshops on the heath, and the return of Summer Lates, which offers visitors the chance to browse the fair into the evening accompanied by DJ sets and St-Germain cocktails on the Treetop Terrace. 

The Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition runs from 7-19 May 2026 at Mall Galleries, The Mall, SW1Y 5AS, visit mallgalleries.org.uk; Affordable Art Fair runs from 6-10 May 2026 at Lower Fairground Site, East Heath Road, Hampstead Heath, NW3 1TH, visit affordableartfair.com 

The wellness: The Salad Project x Bon Charge, Sky Garden Summer Stretch Series and Fitzrovia Quarter Wellness Festival

The Salad Project and tech brand Bon Charge have launched Recover and Recharge: a series of London-based wellness events taking place throughout May. Showcasing great food and smart recovery, don’t miss the gua sha workshop on 2 May at The Salad Project in Notting Hill, to learn gua sha techniques, facial massage guidance and nutrition insights for skin health before refuelling with salads and a special Bon Charge gift. Later, on 27 May, join the 5km run club in Victoria before a recovery yoga flow, powered by Bon Charge red light therapy, alongside free salad and gifts. 

Yoga and Pilates more your thing? London’s highest green oasis, Sky Garden, will herald the arrival of its Summer Stretch Series this month. Offering yoga classes every Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer, it’s Pilates with Verity that kicks off the first wellness residency on 9 and 10 May, followed by a women’s-only feel-good wellness experience hosted by Ria Gandhi on 30 May. Tickets start from £33 per person and sessions run monthly through to August, with more to be announced. Keep your eyes peeled. 

Fitzrovia Quarter will welcome the return of its Wellness Festival – a vibrant, week-long celebration of health and wellbeing – from 11-17 May. Bringing together a curated mix of top-tier fitness studios, wellness pioneers and beauty clinics, this year’s festival presents more than 50 special activations and offers aligning with Mental Health Awareness Week. Proving that just 30 minutes of intentional action can reduce stress and restore balance, the festival offers a practical blueprint to energise and inspire. Creo Margaret Street, a co-working space with a rooftop terrace offering stunning views of London, will host an array of classes from F45 and its sister yoga-Pilates brand FS8, as well as sound vibration meditation by Sun Kyeong. Also don’t miss wellness rituals at The Mandrake, discounts at The Newman, and complimentary cocktails at The Beauty Club. Who said wellness wasn’t relaxing? 

The Salad Project x Bon Charge events will take place on 2 and 27 May 2026, visit eventbrite.com and eventbrite.com; Sky Garden Summer Stretch Series starts on 9 May 2026 at 1 Sky Garden Walk, EC3M 8AF, visit skygarden.london; Fitzrovia Quarter Wellness Festival takes place from 11-17 May 2026, visit fitzroviaquarter.co.uk 

The festivals: Jung, and Chelsea Barracks Spring Fair

Jung Festival

London’s appetite for Korean cuisine shows no signs of slowing, but beyond kimchi, bibimbap and Korean fried chicken, much of the country’s rich food culture remains largely unexplored. Jung Festival is on a mission to change that, bringing a bold, new, culture-led food festival to the capital for the very first time. Taking place from 1-4 May at Canopy Market in King’s Cross, the free four-day celebration will host 20 traders alongside 10 independent food brands, all carefully curated to showcase the breadth of Korean flavours. Highlights include Chickenhaus, Hoho London, Hongdae Pocha, Cheemc and others, spanning everything from cult Korean fried chicken and street food classics.

Chelsea Barracks Spring Fair

Now in its fifth year, Chelsea Barracks Spring Fair will return to SW1 from 20-23 May 2026. Coinciding with the Chelsea Flower Show, located just across the road, the fair has become a must-visit for those seeking the finest artisan shopping and a moment of relaxation in one of London’s most elegant, and historic, settings. This year, the fair will take part in Belgravia in Bloom, embracing the fairytale theme, while offering curated stalls, seasonal food and drink offerings, and interactive experiences and activities for all ages. 

Jung Festival runs from 1-4 May 2026 at Canopy Market, King’s Cross, N1C 4BH, visit jungfestival.uk; Chelsea Barracks Spring Fair runs from 20-23 May 2026 at Mulberry Square, SW1W 8BG, visit chelseabarracks.com

The restaurants: Lokal, Bread Street Kitchen and All Roads

Lokal

Lokal, a new restaurant from the team behind Fred Bakery and Faros, will open its doors in Fitzrovia on 1 May. Combining the rich culinary traditions of Türkiye with the energy and diversity of London, the kitchen – led by head chefs Salih Serden and Akacan Agir – is inspired by regional flavours from across the country. Dishes include handmade mezze and fresh salads to reinterpretations of classics, such as lamb tandır, that are paired with signature cocktails. Our top pick? Galata – an elegant, east-meets-west composition of Yeni raki, Tokaji sweet wine, lychee liqueur and elderflower which pays homage to Istanbul’s iconic tower of the same name. 

Reservations are also now open for Bread Street Kitchen & Bar at 22 Bishopsgate, which completes Gordon Ramsay’s sky-high empire on the 59^th floor of the building and marks his 100^th restaurant worldwide. Together with neighbouring Lucky Cat, Bread Street Kitchen represents the chain's most elevated expression to date, following locations across China, Singapore and Dubai. In London, the all-day dining experience is curated by executive head chef Kamarl Rees John and begins with breakfast from 6.30am before flowing through lunch, afternoon tea (available seven days a week), dinner and late-night dining until 3am, accompanied by DJ sets. Highlights from the new menu include lobster benedict and hot cakes at breakfast, Galician T-bone steak and meyer lemon cheesecake, as well as a brand new tasting menu.

All Roads, the debut restaurant from Malika Green and Paschelle Brown, launches in Brixton on 6 May. Following the pair’s sweep of sold-out supper clubs, All Roads has been conceptualised around the same community-driven approach to create a 35-cover neighbourhood restaurant with an outdoor terrace. The menu is shaped by their Caribbean heritage, global travels and experience in some of London’s most respected kitchens, so expect bold, generous dishes like torched mackerel on toast with tomato jam, and slow-cooked pork chops served with pimento peppercorn sauce and buttered apple with thyme. Designed for midweek dinners, weekend gatherings and long Sunday lunches, All Roads combines relaxed hospitality with a music-led atmosphere, including regular DJ sets, alongside approachable wines and cocktails.

Lokal opens on 1 May 2026 at 7-8 Market Place, W1W 8AG, visit lokalrestaurant.co.uk; Bread Street Kitchen & Bar opens on 6 May 2026 at Floor 59, 22 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AJ, visit gordonramsayrestaurants.com; All Roads opens on 6 May 2026 at 44 Atlantic Road, SW9 8JN, visit sevenrooms.com

The workshop: Still Life in Bloom at The Egerton House Hotel

If the imminent arrival of Chelsea Flower Show is getting you in a floral mood, book Egerton House’s Still Life in Bloom workshop on 6 May. As part of the hotel's new Salon Series, and designed to highlight the beauty of floristry through the lens of the Old Masters, the session is guided by long-standing resident florist Jane Wadham, who creates striking floral installations at the entrance of the hotel every year and will bring that same artistry to this intimate eight-person setting. Sip champagne on arrival as you watch a live demonstration, before creating your own seasonal arrangement to take home. Priced at £95 per person, book your ticket now. 

Still Life in Bloom workshop at The Egerton House Hotel takes place on 6 May 2026 at 17-19 Egerton Terrace, SW3 2BX, visit egertonhousehotel.com 

The Cinco De Mayo celebrations: Ixchel, Side Hustle and Madera 

Ixchel

Honouring Mexico's victory over the French on 5 May 1862, Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration that sees London’s best Mexican restaurants mark the occasion with music and, of course, food. First up, head to King’s Road restaurant Ixchel from 4-10 May to enjoy the soulful sounds of a Latin music trio alongside a menu to match. Order the Cinco Trio: an agave tasting flight presented in the colours of the Mexican flag and featuring a miniature spicy peach margarita, mezcal-spiked horchata and cucumber jalapeño margarita, all priced at £9. In the kitchen, chef Ximena Gayosso Gonzalez will be preparing a special short rib mole served with tortillas, alongside signature dishes such as hibiscus and coconut tiradito with stone bass, and aguachile with tiger prawns and charred avocado. Arriba!

Side Hustle

Madera

Side Hustle, the award-winning bar nestled in the NoMad Hotel in Covent Garden, will be  marking the occasion with a one-day-only taco and margarita pairing. Set within the building’s former police station, Side Hustle blends a Latin American influenced menu with a seriously good agave-led cocktail programme, recently earning the title of World’s Best International Hotel Bar at the Spirited Awards. The evening will serve a trio of margaritas, each matched with a taco: expect rhubarb margarita paired with carne asada, cantarito al pastor paired with chicken tikka taco, and cantaloupe margarita paired with a guest taco from open-fire Soho restaurant, Sucre. 

Madera at Treehouse Hotel in Marylebone will celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style with Taco Tuesday. Situated on the 15^th floor, book unlimited tacos for £38 per person, including fillings of chicken mixiote, carne asada, slow-roasted lamb shoulder, mushroom nopales, and roasted cauliflower served on corn tortillas. Drink specials will also be available throughout the evening, including the must-try Don Julio paloma, while live DJ sets and dancers will set the tone for a fun celebration. 

Ixchel will host Cinco de Mayo celebrations from 4-10 May 2026 at 33H King's Road SW3 4LX, visit ixchellondon.com; Side Hustle will host Cinco de Mayo on 5 May 2026 at 28 Bow Street, WC2E 7AW, visit hilton.com; Madera at Treehouse Hotel will host Cinco de Mayo on 5 May 2026 at 14-15 Langham Place, W1B 2QS, visit treehousehotels.com 

The pop-ups: Longchamp La Plage, Hendrick’s Anotherland and Alexandra Miro Spring Residency

PSA: Longchamp’s exclusive sun-drenched pop-up on Sloane Square is open until 12 May. La Plage Longchamp brings surf culture with a Parisian twist to London via a curated selection of bespoke beverages and ice creams, as well as a series of complimentary artist-guided workshops including shell painting and sunset watercolour sessions. That’s not all – an interactive Mölkky game introduces a beloved French seaside tradition to London; capture picture-perfect moments with Polaroid; shop the SS26 collection; and enjoy live DJ sets on select evenings and throughout the bank holiday weekend, with beach club-inspired playlists and Longchamp surfboards ready to ride the Parisian wave. Très chic. 

This May, Hendrick’s Gin brings its wondrous world, Anotherland, to London with a unique immersive experience at Selfridges. The entrance will be located at Porte Cochère on Orchard Street and celebrates Another Hendrick’s: a new gin infused with orange blossom and cacao, layered with the signature Hendrick’s rose and cucumber. Running from 7-10 May, guests can move through a three-act narrative, guided by curious hosts, exploring the botanical composition of Another Hendrick’s while encountering moments that blur the boundary between audience and performer. Tickets are priced at £15, which is redeemable against a bottle of Another Hendrick’s, purchased in-store at Selfridges.

London-based fashion designer Alexandra Miro has opened a new pop-up store, open in Notting Hill until 19 July 2026. Marking a significant evolution in the brand’s physical retail experience, the pop-up is held in collaboration with Studio Nahorniak, a multi-disciplinary design studio dedicated to innovative and sustainable design. Drawing on artistic and architectural references, including Lina Bo Bardi, Barbara Hepworth, Eduardo Chillida, and Isamu Noguchi, the space is seriously Instagrammable, as is Alexandra Miro’s new collection. Get snapping – and shopping. 

La Plage Longchamp is open until 12 May 2026 at Sloane Square, SW1W, visit longchamp.com; Hendrick’s Anotherland runs from 7-10 May 2026 at 400 Oxford Street, W1A 1AB, visit eventbrite.com; Alexandra Miro spring residency will be open until 19 July 2026 at 85 Ledbury Road, W11 2AG. 

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