I love spring in London. With balmy weather and temperatures reaching highs of 19°C (66°F) – and higher, if there’s a May heatwave – May is the perfect time to explore London’s parks and gardens. 

With several “Bank Holidays” (basically, an extra day off work!) in May, I always love the buzz of rooftop bars and famous green spaces like Hyde Park, where Londoners eat, drink, and enjoy the sunshine. Join a walking tour to learn more about the city’s history, or book a ticket at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre for an outdoor experience like no other.

With so many things to see and do, you might not know where to begin. So we’ve compiled our list of the absolute best things to do in London in May for you. Stick to these fun and unique London bucket list experiences, and there’s no doubt you’ll have an incredible time exploring the UK’s capital. 

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The 11 Best Things to Do in London in May

1. Stroll through St. James’s Park

One of London’s most famous outdoor parks is beautiful in May. St. James’s Park might only boast 23 hectares (57 acres) of landscaped gardens and duck ponds, but the city’s oldest royal park is perfectly located in the heart of London. 

I’d recommend first making your way to Admiralty Arch, the grand entranceway to The Mall. This iconic thoroughfare is where you’ll see the Changing of the Guard Ceremony, as soldiers in their finest regalia troop along to Buckingham Palace.

The Mall runs alongside St. James’s Park, and once you’ve strolled around the lake, you can take in the iconic sight of Buckingham Palace, too.

2. Picnic in Hyde Park

May in London is glorious (most of the time, anyway), and when the sun’s shining, nothing quite beats a picnic in Hyde Park. It might only be half a mile away from Buckingham Palace, but Hyde Park has always been known as the People’s Park.

Take a stroll to Speaker’s Corner and you’ll hear outspoken political types voicing their views to the crowds. Even in May, The Serpentine (Hyde Park’s freshwater lake) is filled with swimmers and lined with sunbathers, while every spot of sunshine is packed with picnickers popping bottles of bubbly and gorging on cucumber sandwiches and pork pies. 

On the May Bank Holiday weekends (when everyone has an extra-long weekend), Hyde Park is always particularly buzzing. In May, there are often fun runs and outdoor concerts, too, so keep an eye on Hyde Park’s events schedule for more information. 

3. Join a Walking Tour of London

It’s perfect walking weather in London in May, although I’d suggest packing an umbrella or light rain jacket just in case the heavens do open up (don’t forget, you’re in England!). Walking tours are a fun way to see more of the city, and if it’s your first time in London, I’d recommend joining one of the many free walking tours to begin. 

They’re not actually free, but you only pay what you feel the tour was worth or what you can afford at the end. In my experience, that means the guides have to work harder to keep you entertained and informed!

Several free walking tour companies operate out of the Covent Garden area, leading groups of tourists to Westminster, Buckingham Palace, and Trafalgar Square for a broad overview of London’s history. After this, you could consider joining a themed walking tour, like a Jack the Ripper Tour, a Harry Potter Tour, or a Sherlock Holmes Tour. 

4. Embrace Spring at the Chelsea Flower Flow

The best place to appreciate spring in London is the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. This annual event is a celebration of springtime, and you’ll love the floral features and colorful horticultural displays curated by Britain’s best gardeners and florists. 

The event is generally five days long and held toward the end of May. Hosted by the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society), the show is held within the gardens of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. It’s incredibly popular, especially given the royal family is almost always in attendance, so make sure you purchase a ticket in advance. 

5. Enjoy an Evening in the West End

London’s evenings can still be chilly in May, so I’d suggest reserving at least one night of your trip for a West End extravaganza. The West End is London’s world-famous theater and entertainment district, and it’s packed with shops, restaurants, cinemas, and venues. 

Renowned West End theaters include the likes of the London Palladium, the Lyceum Theatre, the Palace Theatre, and the Apollo Theatre. Many host long-running shows, like “Les Misérables” or “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” while others feature new musicals, comedy acts, or experimental performances.

Some of the best events in London in May will be found in the West End, so check out online ticket sellers in advance to see what’s on during your trip. 

6. Take a Cruise on the River Thames

The tides of the River Thames have calmed by May, and you’ll love exploring the city’s famous waterway by boat. The Thames Clippers are fast boats plying the river, dropping travelers and commuters off at various docks in London. You can even book tickets via apps like Uber, and they’re a fun way to get around the city and experience a mini cruise on a budget.

For a more extensive sightseeing tour, multiple companies operate longer river cruises. Offering spectacular panoramas of famous sights like St. Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, the Tower of London, and the London Eye, you’ll meander down the Thames in comfort. 

7. Enjoy the View from the Top of The Shard 

When the skies are clear, then a trip to the top of The Shard is one of the best things to do in London in May. Standing 309.6 meters (1,015.7 feet) tall, The Shard, with its pencil-like glass facade, is the tallest building in the United Kingdom.

A London landmark, you can take the elevator to the viewing areas at the top of The Shard for an unforgettable panorama of the city. “The View From The Shard” is located on floors 68 to 72, and you can enjoy tea and champagne while admiring the cityscape around you. 

8.Visit Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre 

A visit to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is another one of the best things to do in London in May. With just over 1,300 seats, this is the UK’s largest outdoor theater, and you’ll love how the open-air auditorium is located within the beautiful climes of Regent’s Park, one of London’s beloved Royal Parks.

Theater season begins midway through May, so you’ll catch the very first outdoor performances of the year. The schedule changes regularly, but given that many of the shows have won coveted Olivier Awards in the past, you can expect high-end performances from all involved. 

9. Spend Rainy Days in London’s Museums

Spring might be turning into summer, but inevitably, you’re going to need to plan some rainy-day activities, just in case. Rather than wallowing away in your hotel, why not escape the rain with a trip to one of London’s many museums?

You’re spoiled for choice in London, and the city is home to some of the world’s oldest and most prestigious museums. A great place to start is the British Museum, somewhere I return to time and time again and never quite get bored of, given the exhibits span millennia of human history. 

The Natural History Museum, with its dinosaur skeletons and collections of taxidermied animals and insects, is perfect for naturalists, while the Science Museum is the best place to delve into chemistry, physics, and biology. 

The V&A is known for showcasing fashion and design, the National Gallery is home to an extraordinary collection of artwork, and the London Transport Museum offers a fun insight into the evolution of the capital’s buses, trams, trains, and automobiles over the years.

10. Have a Drink at a Rooftop Bar

Rooftop bars are all the rage in London right now, and new venues seem to be popping up or opening rooftop terraces every month. May is when London’s rooftop bar season officially begins, as the weather turns for the better, and you can really start to enjoy an alfresco beer or cocktail. 

Some of my favorite rooftop bars in London include the London Bridge Rooftop Bar, where you’ll have glorious views of The Shard, the Sabine Rooftop Bar, which is right next to St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the Queen of Hoxton, a Shoreditch bar with a rooftop nightclub. 

11. Enjoy the Spring Colors in Kew Gardens 

If you’re wondering what to do in London in May, Kew Gardens is home to a continent-spanning collection of some 8.5 million trees, plants, herbs, fungi, and other specimens and is one of the best botanic gardens in the world. 

Kew Gardens traces its origins back to 1759, and over the centuries, it’s amassed a vitally important collection, much of which is spread across the gardens themselves and within purpose-built greenhouses and herbariums. The gardens are so extensive that they have a dedicated police force.

Take a walk through the outdoor gardens, enjoy the views from the Treetop Walkway, and enjoy tea and cakes in The Orangery. 

There you have it! The best things to do in London in May. What’s your favorite thing to do in London in May? 

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