London events & things to do in May 2027
Start with Victoria and Albert Museum, National Gallery, plus British Museum. May in London averages 17°C / 62°F highs, 9°C / 48°F nights, and about 17 rainy days.
Expect 17°C/62°F days and about 17 rainy ones in May. Start with these:
- Victoria and Albert Museum★ 4.8 · 66.8k reviewsThe V&A in South Kensington holds decorative arts, fashion, sculpture, photography, Islamic art, cast courts, theatre collections, and design objects.
- National Gallery★ 4.8 · 61.4k reviewsThe Trafalgar Square museum opened in 1838 and holds Van Eyck, Leonardo, Titian, Velazquez, Rembrandt, Turner, Monet, Van Gogh, and Seurat.
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - One Part ShowMay 1 – Jun 1Palace Theatre · Source: Ticketmaster
30% off a Going membership when you plan your trip.
By TripSapien Research · Updated June 3, 2026
London in May 2027
Weather
TempTemperature
62°F / 48°F
16.7°C / 8.9°C
RainPrecipitation
17d
2.1in · 53.7mm
LightDaylight
14.9h
May is one of London's best walking months, strong for Hampstead Heath, Camden canals, and South Bank evenings.
Events & festivals
Event calendar- May 1 – May 4
- May 1 – Jun 1
- May 1 – May 30
Show all 16 events for May
- May 1 – Jun 1
- May 1 – Jun 1
- May 1 – May 4
- May 1 – May 2
London Marathon Expo 2027
The official expo for the London Marathon, featuring exhibitors, athlete registration, and running-related events held in London.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- May 9 – May 10
- May 10 – May 16
London Craft Week 2027
A celebration of craftsmanship and creativity across London, featuring workshops, exhibitions, and special events showcasing artisans and designers.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- May 15
FA Cup Final 2027
The final match of the Football Association Challenge Cup, held at Wembley Stadium in London, a major sporting and cultural event attracting fans nationwide.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- May 18 – May 22
The world's greatest flower show reveals cutting-edge garden design.
GBP 35.36; GBP 38.90
Source: festival calendar
- May 25 – May 29
Chelsea Flower Show 2027
The world-famous horticultural show held by the Royal Horticultural Society, showcasing innovative garden designs and floral displays in Chelsea, London.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- May 27 – May 29
- May 29
In the packed London festival scene, Field Day continues to stand apart from the crowd each summer.
Source: festival calendar
- May 30
It also boasts a wealth of London’s finest street food traders and craft beer brewers.
Source: festival calendar
- May 31
Source: festival calendar
Holidays, observances & long weekends
Holiday and observance schedules can affect services and venue hours; confirm each place directly.
- May 3Early May bank holidayPublic holiday
- May 31Spring bank holidayPublic holiday
- May 1-May 3Long weekend
- May 29-May 31Long weekend
About London
City overview
London sits on the River Thames, where Westminster, the City, South Kensington, Camden, Shoreditch, Notting Hill, Greenwich, Mayfair, and Covent Garden compress royal government, finance, museums, markets, theatre, and immigrant food into one transport map. The Tube, Elizabeth Line, National Rail terminals, and river piers make the city work as a set of village-like districts rather than one walkable center.
Food & drink
London food spans fish and chips, full English breakfasts, Sunday roasts, pie and mash, Brick Lane curry houses, salt-beef beigels, jellied eels, and modern pub dining. Borough Market, Brick Lane, Chinatown, Brixton Village, Broadway Market, and Southall are the first food map rather than one single restaurant row.
Top sights
Ranked for May suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1British Museum
- 2Westminster Abbey
- 3Natural History Museum
- 4Tower Bridge
- 5Tower of London
- 6Buckingham Palace State Rooms
- 7Tate Modern and Millennium Bridge
- 8Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
1British Museum
4.7★ · 172,964indoorOpen dailyThe Bloomsbury museum opened to the public in 1759 and displays Egyptian mummies, the Rosetta Stone, Assyrian reliefs, Greek sculpture, prints, coins, and global archaeology. Tottenham Court Road and Holborn stations are the easiest Tube approaches.
Wikipedia
2Westminster Abbey
4.6★ · 51,061indoorThe Gothic abbey church was largely built under Henry III from 1245 and remains the coronation church and burial place for monarchs, poets, scientists, and statesmen. It stands beside Parliament Square, Big Ben, and Westminster station.
WikipediaAbbey entry uses timed tickets; worship services are not sightseeing slots.
3Natural History Museum
4.6★ · 35,091indoorOpen dailyAlfred Waterhouse designed the Romanesque museum building, which opened in 1881 on Cromwell Road. Dinosaur skeletons, Hintze Hall, minerals, mammals, and earth-science galleries sit above South Kensington station tunnels.
Show 3 more sights
- 4Tower Bridge
- 5Tower of London
- 6Buckingham Palace State Rooms
Neighborhoods
1Westminster and St James's
Westminster is ceremonial and governmental, with Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, St James's Park, Buckingham Palace, and The Mall in one high-security walking zone.
2South Kensington and Chelsea
South Kensington is museum-heavy, with the V&A, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Royal Albert Hall, Exhibition Road, and Chelsea streets nearby.
3Covent Garden and Soho
Covent Garden and Soho are theatre-and-nightlife dense, with Seven Dials, Neal's Yard, Chinatown, Carnaby Street, West End theatres, and late restaurants.
Day trips
90km / about 1h by train from London Paddington or Marylebone
Oxford
College quads, Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera, Ashmolean Museum, covered market, and river punts make the easiest university day.
185km / about 90min by Great Western Railway from London Paddington
Bath
Roman Baths, Georgian crescents, Bath Abbey, Pulteney Bridge, and compact streets work as a full day by rail.
35km / 35-50min by train from Paddington or Waterloo
Windsor
Windsor Castle, St George's Chapel, Eton, and Thames paths make the closest royal day trip.
Getting around
Transport for London runs the Tube, Elizabeth Line, Overground, DLR, buses, trams, river buses, and contactless/Oyster fares with daily caps. Use the Tube for cross-core trips, the Elizabeth Line for Heathrow and east-west speed, buses for short central hops, and National Rail terminals for day trips.
Planning a London trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in May.
Common questions about London in May
- Best rainy-day things to do in London in May
May averages 17 rainy days in London, so keep these indoor stops as realistic backups.
- Victoria and Albert Museum — The V&A in South Kensington holds decorative arts, fashion, sculpture, photography, Islamic art, cast courts, theatre collections, and design objects. It sits beside the Natural History Museum and Science Museum.
- National Gallery — The Trafalgar Square museum opened in 1838 and holds Van Eyck, Leonardo, Titian, Velazquez, Rembrandt, Turner, Monet, Van Gogh, and Seurat. Charing Cross and Leicester Square stations are short walks away.
- British Museum — The Bloomsbury museum opened to the public in 1759 and displays Egyptian mummies, the Rosetta Stone, Assyrian reliefs, Greek sculpture, prints, coins, and global archaeology. Tottenham Court Road and Holborn stations are the easiest Tube approaches.
- Westminster Abbey — The Gothic abbey church was largely built under Henry III from 1245 and remains the coronation church and burial place for monarchs, poets, scientists, and statesmen. It stands beside Parliament Square, Big Ben, and Westminster station.
- Natural History Museum — Alfred Waterhouse designed the Romanesque museum building, which opened in 1881 on Cromwell Road. Dinosaur skeletons, Hintze Hall, minerals, mammals, and earth-science galleries sit above South Kensington station tunnels.
- What to pack for London in May
Pack for May's weather, not a generic London checklist.
- Layerable daytime clothes for average highs around 17°C / 62°F.
- A light evening layer because nights average 9°C / 48°F.
- Compact rain gear and shoes that handle wet pavement across about 17 rainy days.
- How many days do you need in London
- 4 days covers the main London highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
Ready to plan London?
You've seen what's on — now get a day-by-day London plan for May 2027, every place checked for your exact dates.