May in London. The trees are leafy, the tube is stuffy, and somewhere out there, a child is asking “are we there yet?” before you’ve even left the driveway.
But fear not, brave mum. I’ve done the hard work so you don’t have to. Here’s your slightly chaotic, definitely opinionated, and genuinely useful guide to keeping the small humans entertained this May – including both bank holiday weekends and that glorious/terrifying stretch called half-term.
Let’s go. Wine optional. (But recommended.)
Early May Bank Holiday (Sat 2nd – Mon 4th May)
Three whole days. No school. No routine. Just you, the kids, and the faint sound of your sanity waving goodbye. Here’s where to channel that chaos.
London Zoo’s Big Birthday Bash
ZSL is turning 200 – which, let’s be honest, is basically ancient in toddler years. They’re throwing a street party-style bash with live music, fairground games (zoo-themed, because obviously), creative workshops, and a “Birthday Banquet” picnic area.
Cheeky verdict: All included in your entry ticket. Translation: no hidden costs to ruin your day. You’re welcome.
Date: Sat 2nd – Mon 4th May
IWA Canalway Cavalcade
Little Venice. Free entry. Over a hundred colourful narrowboats. Live music. Craft stalls. And kids’ entertainment that doesn’t involve a screen.
Cheeky verdict: This is the kind of “hidden gem” you can mention at the school gate to sound incredibly cultured. In reality, you’ll be eating ice cream and chasing a toddler away from the water’s edge. Bliss.
Date: Sat 2nd – Mon 4th May | Free
Stepney May Day Festival
Stepney City Farm is doing May Day properly. Think maypole dancing, pottery wheels, face painting (fingers crossed it washes off), and – wait for it – sheep shearing demonstrations.
Cheeky verdict: Finally, a place where your child isn’t the only one losing their wool.
Date: Saturday 2nd May | Free
May half-term (Mon 25th – Fri 29th May)
The week every parent simultaneously dreads and secretly loves. Fear not – London’s museums and galleries have your back.
Royal Museums Greenwich
“Stars” is their half-term programme, and it’s out of this world (sorry). Star-themed crafts, storytelling, sensory music, and an “Astronomers Take Over” gallery where your kids can feel cleverer than you.
Cheeky verdict: Great for when you need to pretend you understand the solar system. (“Yes, darling, that’s definitely Jupiter. Or a biscuit. Let’s move on.”)
Date: 23rd – 31st May
Family Fun at the British Library
Yes, a library. But hear me out. The Family Station on the upper ground floor runs free creative workshops that actually make books look fun.
Cheeky verdict: Free. Indoors. Quiet(ish). What more could a tired mum want? (Okay, a nap. But this is second best.)
Note: Book ahead – spaces vanish faster than your last chocolate bar.
Arts and Crafts Workshops
Udette Arts in South Woodford is doing animal-themed window art – messy, joyful, and guaranteed to involve glitter in places you didn’t know existed. Alternatively, the Young V&A in Bethnal Green is free, hands-on, and mercifully not precious about sticky fingers.
Cheeky verdict: Craft workshops = your child is busy + you get 45 minutes of relative peace. Maths.
Festivals and big events all month long
Because who says you can’t eat your way through a bank holiday?
Foodies Festival at Syon Park
Late May bank holiday (23rd–25th). Kids Cookery School. Funfair. Live music (Scouting For Girls, Gareth Gates – yes, that Gareth Gates). Plus MasterChef and Bake Off chefs doing demos.
Cheeky verdict: You’ll go for the kids’ activities. You’ll stay for the brownies. No judgment.
Date: 23rd–25th May
Mighty Hoopla (Brockwell Park)
A gloriously inclusive pop festival on 30th–31st May. And here’s the absolute winner: kids under 14 go free with a paying adult.
Cheeky verdict: A first festival experience where you can teach your children to dance badly in public. It’s called heritage.
Date: 30th–31st May
Chelsea Flower Show
19th–23rd May. Gorgeous gardens, ridiculous hats, and the kind of floral displays that make your own wilting houseplant feel deeply inadequate.
Cheeky verdict: Great for older kids who love nature – or for you to take a solo “loo break” that lasts an hour. We won’t tell.
More fun and free things to do
Because May in London is basically the universe apologising for January.
- King’s Cross Super Nature Trail – free, runs all month until 31st May. Pick up an activity booklet from Lightroom and follow the trail. It’s like a treasure hunt, but the treasure is … plants. Kids love it. Weirdly.
- Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre – summer season kicks off 2nd May. Theatre under the stars, and no one tells you to shush (okay, maybe a little).
- Affordable Art Fair Hampstead – (6 – 10 MAY 2026) will be returning to the picturesque Hampstead Heath, bringing together the very best in contemporary art from over 100 galleries across the UK and around the world.
Look, May is glorious and exhausting in equal measure. You’ll forget the wet wipes, someone will cry over a balloon, and you’ll still wonder why you didn’t just stay home.
But you’ll also get ice cream, sunshine, and the look on your child’s face when they see a real-life llama at the zoo. Worth it every time.
Now go forth, book a few things, and remember: a picnic blanket hides a multitude of sins.
Happy May, mums. You’ve got this.
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Monica Costa founded London Mums in September 2006 after her son Diego’s birth together with a group of mothers who felt the need of meeting up regularly to share the challenges and joys of motherhood in metropolitan and multicultural London. London Mums is the FREE and independent peer support group for mums and mumpreneurs based in London https://www.londonmumsmagazine.com and you can connect on Twitter @londonmums
