A sunny May bank holiday scene with bunting, a village green, and spring flowers

Top Picks

May Bank Holiday Weekend

2–4 May 2026 Near London

Not every listing gets a golden ticket

Same legwork as always: we check a frankly silly number of local websites, then keep the May bank holiday plans that are nearby, properly described, and worth your time. No mystery listings, no vague seasonal waffle.

Happening Saturday 2 May 2026 to Monday 4 May 2026.
Picked for London, not somewhere halfway across the county.
Only Local Gems and Curated venues make the cut, because standards are still a thing.
Listings with proper descriptions get bumped up the list. Three words and a shrug will not do.

Our 10 picks near London

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at Ashcroft Playhouse

What's on Grid view Recently added Calendar Show all Classical Comedy Dance Family & Panto Group Rates Music Variety Festive List of Events Celebrating Karl Jenkins with Croydon Philharmonic Choir Sun 19 Apr 2026 Book now A Country Night In Nashville Fri 24 Apr 2026 Book now Frankie's Guys Sat 2 May 2026 Book now Patel's Millions 2 Sat 16 May 2026 Book now Why Didn't I Get Married? Mon 25 May 2026 Book now Thank You For The Music Sat 30 May 2026 Book now London Mozart Players: The Colors of Harmony: Hitoshi Sakimoto 40th Anniversary Celebration Sat 13 Jun 2026 Book now London Mozart Players: The Art of Game Music with Troy Baker and Austin Wintory Fri 19 Jun 2026 Book now Kensington Symphony Orchestra Sat 20 Jun 2026 Book now Croydon Symphonic Band Wed 24 Jun 2026 Book now LDN Wrestling Sun 28 Jun 2026 Book now Forbidden Nights Fri 3 Jul 2026 Book now Peppa Pig's Big Family Show! Fri 21 – Sat 22 Aug 2026 Book now Chuckl Croydon with Sara Pascoe, Terry Alderton, Special Guest & Dave Ward Fri 18 Sep 2026 Book now Country Superstars Sat 19 Sep 2026 Book now Francis Rossi Thu 24 Sep 2026 Book now South London Darts Showdown Fri 25 Sep 2026 Book now The Magic of the Bee Gees Sat 3 Oct 2026 Book now Brian Bilston: How To Lay An Egg With A Horse Inside Wed 7 Oct 2026 Book now The Voice of Black Opera Grand Gala Finals Fri 9 Oct 2026 Book now The ELO Experience Fri 9 Oct 2026 Book now Michael Starring Ben Sat 24 Oct 2026 Book now Mike Osman's JETHRO: Whatever Happened to Denzil...

9.4 milesSat 2 May
Local gemSee the details→
Community
Guilty Or Not Guilty? Jeremy Bamber - The White House Farm Murders2

Guilty Or Not Guilty? Jeremy Bamber - The White House Farm Murders

at Churchill Theatre

Join award-winning investigative journalist and criminologist Mark Williams-Thomas for a gripping, immersive theatre experience delving into one of the most infamous and debated murder cases in British criminal history: The Jeremy Bamber White House Farm Murders. Nearly forty years after Bamber’s conviction for the 1985 killings at White House Farm—a crime for which he has consistently maintained his innocence—the case continues to provoke fierce discussion, new claims, and ongoing scrutiny. Over the decades, Mark Williams-Thomas has conducted extensive investigative work on the story, including direct communication with Jeremy Bamber himself, examining both the original evidence and the material that has since emerged. In this uniquely interactive live event, you, the audience, take on the role of a jury. Guided by Mark’s expert insight, you will journey through the key moments, evidence, controversies, and unanswered questions that have shaped the case for almost four decades. Has the full truth yet been uncovered? Is the conviction safe? And what should justice look like after 40 years of protestations of innocence? Thought-provoking, forensic, and often deeply emotional, this show invites you to confront one of the UK's most enduring true-crime mysteries—and cast your own verdict: Guilty… or Not Guilty? Age restriction: 16+

9.4 milesSun 3 May
Local gemSee the details→
Community
Creeper - 02/05/263

Creeper - 02/05/26

at Islington Music

*By purchasing a ticket to this event you are agreeing to adhere to Islington Assembly Hall's terms and conditions: https://islingtonassemblyhall.co.uk/customer-terms-conditions-2022/* *All tickets to shows at Islington Assembly Hall are subject to a Venue Levy of £1.50 + VAT. As a Grade II listed building, this levy will be reinvested into Islington Assembly Hall and its services, meaning the customer experience can continue to be enhanced.* Presented by Live Nation. This is a 16+ event.

2.5 milesSat 2 May£1.50
Local gemSee the details→
Live Music
Xenia Saturday Session4

Xenia Saturday Session

at Whitechapel Gallery

Xenia hosts a regular Saturday morning session for women to meet, exchange stories, and learn English using objects and stories from shared histories. All women, including trans+ individuals, are welcome to drop in.

2.5 milesSat 2 May10:00
Local gemSee the details→
CommunityWorkshops & Classes
Cardiac Exercise Group8

Cardiac Exercise Group

at Cambrian Community Centre

A friendly and supportive exercise group focused on cardiovascular fitness, aiming to meet guidelines for moderate-intensity physical activity most days of the week. This is a pay-as-you-go session.

8 milesSat 2 May13:30£8
Local gemSee the details→
Sports & FitnessWellness & Wellbeing

More Top Picks

Keep the good ideas rolling

If this page has done the trick, there is more where that came from.

Round-upFamilies This WeekendTen family-friendly picks with proper details, decent venues, and no mystery listings that leave you guessing.Round-upFree Things This WeekendA smarter list of local free picks for the weekend, chosen for quality, clarity, and the sort of detail that saves a wasted journey.All PicksBack to Top PicksSee all our curated round-ups in one place.