60 fun ways to spend the May bank holiday weekend in London
Having a last minute panic over what to do with your bank holiday weekend? Then take a look at our guide to all of the awesome things happening this Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
All weekend
Have a barge one at the colourful canal boats gathering Canalway Cavalcade.
You’d better shape up for a Grease sing-a-long at the New Cross and Deptford Free Film Festival, an event that sees a series of film screenings in unusual places.
Get spaced out at Edgar Martins: The Rehearsal of Space & The Poetic Impossibility To Manage The Infinite, an exhibition of the Portuguese photographer’s work made during a collaboration with the European Space Agency.
Take a look at London in the ’50s through the lens of a great post-war photographer at Under the Influence: John Deakin and the Lure of Soho.
Get Arty at Moyra Davey’s newly opened solo show which blends everyday life with fiction.
In need of a Pick Me Up? Somerset House’s annual graphic arts festival offers loads of creative activities.
Build on your house design knowledge at Grand Designs Live with talks and advice from Kevin McCloud.
No need to look Elsewhere, this east London two-day festival includes acts like Floating Points, Keela and Mike Skinner.
Annual multi-venue festival Odd Box weekender returns with a weekend of scratchy, lo-fi pop.
Praise the Lord! Our Lady J pelts out some powerful gospel tunes in Soho.
Head to Angel Comedy Festival for some free laughs and special guests.
Check out comedy festival London Sketchfest 2014 in Bethnal Green for new and established acts.
Try David Baddiel- Fame: Not the Musical for some funny stories and great gags.
Listen to post-jazz quintet Led Bib perform their new album in Dalston on Friday and Saturday.
Friday night
Creep along to the riverside for a Silent Disco at Altitude London. Ssshhh!
Get totally tropical at new east London floating pop-up Flamingo Pier.
Ditch the Doritos and get yourself some real salsa as Grupo Niche provide Latino beats until 5am.
Folk duo The Askew Sisters ask you to their gig at Kings Place where they’ll perform some fabulous English tunes.
Rave it up to some heavyweight jungle sounds courtesy of Special Request at Deviation, XOYO.
Head down to watch Alan Partridge’s sidekick Tim Key in his show Single White Slut.
Jump on a gondola (or a tube) to club night Deep Trash Italia for music, live performance, art installations. Andiamo!
KORN ARE PLAYING A RARE HEADLINE SHOW! Thought we’d shout it as it’s sure to be a loud one!
Get your night goggles on and head to Elephant & Castle for club night Find Me In The Dark. (Goggles not compulsory).
What good is sitting alone in your room? Listen to Mari Wilson sing some cabaret songs.
Take a look at the other music events going on this Friday here!
Saturday
Shake off the blues by listening to John Mayall at Cadogan Hall.
Fall down the rabbit hole at the last date of the Alice in Wonderland Pop-Up Restaurant Experience.
Listen to The High Llamas as they launch their new album ‘Talahomi Way’.
House music lovers unite at the Random Magic May Day bank holiday: Cajmere vs Green Velvet club night in Vauxhall.
Love ’90s hip hop and R&B? Course you do! Indulge in some old school tunes and live performances at Supa Dupa Fly in Camden.
Head down to Live at the Chapel in Highbury for comedy galore!
Let Michael Kiwanuka soothe your soul with his Mercury-nominated songs.
We have a very important announcement to make… it’s this year’s Annual Anchorman Party! And it’s kind of a big deal!
Wherefore art thou? At Edible Cinema’s screening of Romeo and Juliet, of course!
If you love a bit of Blur, Bowie and Blondie get yourself to the Old School indie night in Islington.
Check out some more music events happening on Saturday here!
Sunday
Free music you say? We’re listening – or we will be at Busk The Box at Boxpark, which launches this week.
Be spontaneous and get involved at The Showstoppers improvised musical at Udderbelly.
Find your mojo while the Moderately Optimistic Jazz Orchestra perform some experimental jazz.
Hip hop down to Streetfest for some breakdance battles and lyrical bombs from Ms Dynamite.
Parisian singer Florence Joelle fuses blues, jazz and rock ‘n’ roll. Are we there? Oui oui!
Are you havin’ a laugh? Why not? Watch a bit of comedy at free one-day festival Gillespie Gathering.
Get a taste of royalty with Handel’s Water Music at the family-friendly concert Royal Music For a Family Occasion.
Allow Theo Jackson to charm you with his powerful vocals and band.
Could you Survive the Blitz? Find out at one of London’s immersive experiences!
Celebrate the Polish public holiday with music, art and cuisine at Days of Poland. Na zdrowie!
Get Up On The Roof in Brixton for some soulful sounds from Mr Norman Jay.
Check out Audion for an ‘immersive audiovisual experience’ in Bethnal Green.
Have a look at some more gigs happening on Sunday here!
Monday
Go cray at the first annual Crawdaddy Boil in Dalston.
Rock on to indie rock group The Hold Steady’s new album, ‘Teeth Dreams’.
Join Super Fury Animal front man Gruff Rhys as he launches his album and shows photos of his inspired expedition.
Rap up the bank holiday weekend with some of Philly rapper Asher Roth’s hip hop.
Find your Monday music match in our full list of events here!
Or why not…
Watch old classic The Mikado at The Battersea Barge.
Sip a latte on a pirate ship?
Go to an immersive party in ’60s Hollywood?
Escape into Italian culture at The House of Peroni, which opens today!
Go find Hide and Seed, west London’s adventurous new restaurant.