Going Out: Your Guide To What’s On In London This Weekend

It’s finally the weekend! How will you be spending it? Whether you’re in the mood for secret bars, exclusive pizzas or new exhibitions, there is always plenty going on in London to accommodate your desires. That’s why we’re here to cut through the noise and share the very best things do in London this weekend.

Here’s our pick for Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 May 2026. And for more inspiration, read our guide to going out in London this May, and sign up to our Staying In, Going Out newsletter which will deliver all this and more straight to your inbox everyday.

This page is refreshed every week with the coolest new pop-ups, deals, events and more to enjoy on the forthcoming weekend. Most of the entries in this list have been tried and tested by the C&TH team, but it is not always possible to visit limited-time entries. In those cases, we include highly rated events, pop-ups and special menus from C&TH-approved brands and businesses.

Best Things To Do In London This Weekend: 16–17 May 2026

Festival Of Norwegian Culture

Sunday 17 May is Syttende Mai, Norway’s Constitution Day, a national celebration of independence, community and heritage, traditionally marked with exuberant parades and performances and festive food. London has a famously strong connection with the Nordic nation: ever since we welcomed the exiled King of Norway to London during WWII, Norway has gifted the UK one of its very best spruces every Christmas. But the celebration of this international friendship need not be restricted to winter, says Covent Garden. From 14–17 May, the central London piazza is hosting ‘Passport to Norway’, a four-day open-air celebration of Nordic culture. Expect live performances, pop-up stalls and special food trucks serving Norwegian dishes.

Details: Thursday 14 to Sunday 17 May 2026 in Covent Garden (The Piazza, London WC2E 8RF). Find out more at coventgarden.london

St James’s Food Fair

An open air food market will take over the historic St James’s Market this Saturday, just a stone’s throw from Regent Street and Piccadilly. Expect tastings and special dishes from the area’s best loved restaurants and producers, all backdropped by live music. That includes Toba, Sael’s, FOWL, Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Gril, and plenty more.

Details: Midday to 7pm, Saturday 16 May 2026 at St James’s Market (London SW1Y 4HA). Find out more at stjameslondon.co.uk

Andy Earl’s Photography Exhibition

Beloved British broadcaster Sir David Attenborough just turned 100 years old. And while you could celebrate by watching one of his very best documentaries, here’s a way to celebrate the naturalist out and about (aside from visiting his preferred London spot, the Natural History Museum). An exhibition from acclaimed photographer and filmmaker Andy Earl arrives at Bankside Yards this weekend, celebrating his four-decade career in visual culture. Working across everything from Pink Floyd’s surrealist album covers Madonna, Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones, Earl has played a crucial role in shaping the visual language of popular culture across his career. One of his most iconic portraits? Blue Planet, a cinematic shot of Attenborough wading through the sea, captured in a water tank in 2003. Hosted in a historic Victorian railway arch – open to the public for the first time in 150 years – the exhibition features 39 more pieces spanning portraiture, landscape and commissioned imagery. It opens here in London, before embarking on an international tour.

Details: Open Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm–7pm, until 8 August at Arch 10, Bankside Yards, 250 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 9AX. Free tickets available on Eventbrite.

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magCulture Pop Up

If you are reading this, we have to assume you have a soft spot for magazines… If we are correct, you won’t want to miss this new Selfridges pop-up from Clerkenwell institution magCulture. Expect a selection of 200 print titles, showcasing the very best in today’s indie publications. Browse, study, shop, and refuel at the Club Culture Kiosk just outside, where coffee, tea and matcha will be flowing from the modular K67 kiosk all day long.

Details: Open for six weeks on the ground floor at the Duke Street entrance of Selfridges London (400 Oxford St, London W1A 1AB).

V&A East Museum

The V&A‘s much-awaited East London opening is finally here. Introducing the V&A East Museum (not to be confused with its neighbour V&A Storehouse): an all-new museum on Stratford’s Olympic Park dedicated to contemporary global culture. Expect two permanent galleries featuring 500 objects from the V&A’s collections, spanning art, architecture, design, performance and fashion – many on display for the first time. The exceptional opening exhibition is titled The Music is Black and celebrates 125 years of Black music in our country, complete with headphones for an immersive soundscape.

Details: V&A East Museum is now open seven days a week at 107 Carpenters Rd, Stratford Cross, London E20 2AR.

Flea London

While you’re in the area, don’t miss the popular vintage market Flea London, which is settling into its new East London home just across the Olympic Park. One of London’s premier flea markets, expect an eclectic hunting ground of pre-loved treasures and future heirlooms. And for the first time, a line-up of artisan food traders will be selling everything from fresh loaves of bread to jam and olives, joining Hackney Bridge’s permanent line-up of food and drink outlets.

Details: Every weekend at Hackney Bridge (Units 1-28, Echo Building, E Bay Ln, London E15 2SJ). Find out more at flealondon.com

London’s Only Michelin Star Breakfast Tasting Menu

Do you ever treat yourself by having breakfast for dinner? The most important meal of the day is also the most overlooked – but there’s beauty in breakfast time, and plenty of London’s top restaurants are clocking on. But no where does it better than Pavyllon at the Four Seasons Park Lane. Globally renowned chef Yannick Alléno’s London Michelin-star restaurant has launched the city’s very first breakfast tasting menu, a five course bonanza with a drinks pairing to boot. It all begins with a selection of delicate pastries: a croissant, a pain au chocolat or a seasonal option (I opted for a delicious strawberry and almond creation). Then it’s onto the small and light-as-air flatbread piled with unctuous lobster and topped with rocket and parmesan, paired with the pleasingly named amuse juice. A cold interlude comes in the form of chia pudding or granola, paired with a green juice shot. Then choose between the chef’s weekly special or one of the three classic benedicts, before ending with the simple yet supremely decadent French toast. The perfect start to the morning – especially if it’s a special occasion.

Details: Saturdays and Sundays from 8am (last sitting at 10.15am) at Pavyllon London. £70pp + £20pp for the drinks pairing.

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Live Music In Chelsea

We know Chelsea pub The Trafalgar best for its tasty food and convivial atmosphere – but at the weekend it’s also a live music haven. On Saturdays, Prime Time Music Sessions take over the hidden bar in the Havannah Rom, bringing intimate acoustic sessions from emerging musicians to West London from 7 to 9pm. And come Sunday, enjoy your roast accompanied by the tinkling tones of a live pianist – every week from 2pm.

Details: Find The Trafalgar at 224–226 King’s Road, London SW3 5UA and book your table at thetrafalgarchelsea.com

Try A New Workout

Is this London’s prettiest fitness studio? There’s stiff competition, but we think new Notting Hill venue The Method Club is pretty as a picture. Founded on the simple belief that fitness should feel good, not forced, don’t be deceived by the artful lighting and tactile equipment: you’ve got a tough workout ahead, whether it’s a fiery HIIT-style ‘Blast’ or the dance-aerobic style ‘Beat Power’. If toned arms and abs are the aim of the game, the mat Pilates-style ‘Glide & Sculpt’ is the class to choose. Think sweat- and endorphin-inducing, high intensity muscle challenges without jumping or feeling overly breathless, using hand and ankle weights, sliders, balls and, of course, your own bodyweight. Meanwhile the original venue on Westbourne Grove is a dedicated Reformer studio, Studio R. Afterwards, treat yourself to a tasty smoothie and sip it in the secret garden – trust us, you’ve earned it.

Details: Find The Method Club at 133-137 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2RS, and Studio R at 235 Westbourne Grove, London W112SE.

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Dim Sum Masterclass

Fancy playing with your food this weekend? Park Plaza’s Pan Asian restaurant Chino Latino is hosting a series of Dim Sum Masterclasses every weekend this spring. Guided by Head Chef Ederson, guests will enjoy a pastry demonstration before guests roll, fill and shape their own dumplings using premium ingredients such as prawns, chicken, chilli, ginger, spring onion and garlic, rustling up classic dim sum like Har Gau prawn dumplings and Siu Mai dumplings. There will be a prize awarded for the best creation, and after the class, guests can enjoy tasting their dishes and take home recipes to recreate the experience with friends and family.

Details: Every Saturday at 3pm until 30 May 2026. Classes run for two hours and take place at Chino Latino inside Park Plaza Riverbank (18 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TJ). Tickets are £55 per person, with options to upgrade to include cocktails at £65 per person or dinner from the Regent Set Menu at £90 per person.

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Twilight Tea At The Savoy

One of London’s most storied hotels has a new tale to tell. Shifting the city’s afternoon tea fixation a few hours later, The Savoy is now hosting Twilight Tea in the evening. Think Nyetimber fizz and elegant bites under the soft glow of all-day dining spot Gallery’s stained glass dome. There’s also a special installation to celebrate harvest season, inspired by Nyetimber’s West Sussex, Hampshire and Kent vineyards.

Details: Available from 7pm to 9pm at The Savoy (Strand, London WC2R 0EZ). The menu is £49pp including a glass of Nyetimber.

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Visit The Claridge’s Bakery

‘When you’re buying bread, you should buy it from someone who makes it with their heart.’ By name and nature, there’s no better man to buy it from, then, than Richard Hart, who we spoke to at the preview of his newest venture as Executive Baker and Creative Director of the Claridge’s Bakery. The concept is simple; expect all the nostalgic English favourites that have fallen out of favour as French-style patisseries take over. ‘I want to eat a bloomer and a french fancy, an iced finger and a jammy dodger tart,’ he told us, while also sharing that he was a little nervous because British baked goods, while arguably the tastiest, might not appeal to the Insta-crowd because ‘they look… not so great’. We’re inclined to disagree; everything looks and tastes absolutely delicious.

Details: Open 9am–4pm every Saturday and Sunday, as well as throughout the week. Find out more at claridges.co.uk

Sunday Service At Acre

Even if you’re reluctant to love this industry bad boy, there’s no denying Tom Straker can cook. And just a stone’s throw from his packed-to-the-rafters debut restaurant Straker’s, in May he opened the doors of a new, ever-so-slightly quieter joint in which to gobble up his seasonal dishes. And gobble you will: from focaccia and whipped ricotta drizzled with hot honey and bite-sized, sesame-covered prawn toasts to pleasingly pickly beef tartare scooped onto salty crisps, with Head Chef James Freeman at the helm, every seasonal bite is flavour-packed and fresh yet somehow comforting, nostalgic. Visit between midday and 8pm on a Sunday to enjoy Sunday Service, which invites guest DJs to spin groove and soul, transforming a lazy lunch into a long and lively evening. There’s also a £10 Martini Menu and plenty of cocktails to order from the steel half moon bar, spanning classics to Acre originals.

Details: Every Sunday at Acre (60 Golborne Rd, London W10 5PR). Book ahead to secure your table, though walk-ins are welcome.

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Late Nights At Junsei

We’ve found the vibiest way to brighten up a gloomy evening. Junsei, Aman Lakhiani’s yakitori restaurant and listening bar inspired by Tokyo’s izakayas, has launched a slate of late night listening sessions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings for a mellow dose of partying without the sore feet in the morning. Sample sake sourced from the snowy mountains of Japan or thoughtfully crafted cocktails like Heat (a Japanese twist on the spicy marg), Clear (Suntory Chita Whisky, passion fruit, cacao, citric) or Air (Suntory Haku Vodka, honeycomb, ginger, jasmine tea), with no-alcohol options available too. Accompany the body-bopping beats of leading London DJs with small bites like fried chicken with tartare mayonnaise, crab croquettes and chicken skin chips with togarashi salt and freshly flame grilled skewers flipped over the centuries old Binchō-tan. The wing, thigh with skin and aorta (be brave) are the tastiest.

Details: From 9.30pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at Junsei (132 Seymour Pl, London W1H 1NS).

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Luxurious Morning Rituals

Looking to elevate your morning routine? Here’s how: zoom up to Four Seasons Park Lane’s 10th floor penthouse spa and indulge in one of the two new spa packages: Rise and Relax or Rise and Recharge. The former is all about tranquility, starting with an indulgent breakfast: think avocado, smoked salmon and poached egg tartine, sliced fruit, a fruit smoothie and a hot beverage of your choice, all enjoyed with a marvellous view of the city’s skyline from the tranquil TEN Lounge. Then you’ll have time in the spa with its mesmerising vitality pool, soothing steam room, cocooning relaxation pods and wood-clad sauna with its window peering over Hyde Park, before indulging in a 60 minute massage or deep cleansing facial. The latter meanwhile makes the most of the Four Seasons’ fully equipped state-of-the-art gym with its breathtaking views across London (including the London Eye and The Shard) with the help of an expert personal trainer who is all yours for a 50 minute session. Then refuel with a breakfast wrap, banana bread, a peanut butter and banana smoothie and more, before soothing sore muscles in the spa. Then get ready to face the weekend in the spa’s pleasingly comprehensive changing rooms, with all the hair tools, lotions and potions you could need at your disposal.

Details: Rise and Relax (from £270pp) and Rise and Recharge (from £190) are available everyday from 9–11 am at Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane (Hamilton Pl, Park Ln, London W1J 7DR).

Live Music In Queen’s Park

For a cosy weekend wind down and to wave away the Sunday scaries, head to Queen’s Park where neighbourhood pub The Salusbury is hosting free live music nights, kicking off at the sensible time of 7.30pm. Helmed by two music industry folks (including the founder of Printworks), expect an ad-hoc night of brilliant, eclectic performances featuring local talent and collaborators from the Institute of Contemporary Music. Start with a roast (served until 5pm) and stay for the music, snacking on top-tier bar snacks like fried parmesan churros as the night unfolds.

Details: Every Sunday from 7.30pm at The Salusbury (50-52 Salusbury Rd, London NW6 6NN). Find out more at thesalusbury.co.uk

The Grill At The Hero

For a long wine-fuelled lunch that bleeds into dinner, The Grill at The Hero is our top pick this weekend, perched above the buzzy Maida Vale pub (where the elevated pub grub is also a big draw). Helmed by Public House (the same team behind dazzlingly successful joints The Bull in Charlbury and The Pelican in Notting Hill), The Grill is all white tablecloths and candles dancing in the wind, with speciality cuts of meat and fish cooked over an open fire and served with seasonal accompaniments collected from Public House’s Cotswolds farm. (The raw tuna with fresh cherries is delicately divine, while rich meats like beef short rib are elevated with revelatory freshness from green pickled cucumber.) Downstairs in the pub, the dishes are more British-nostalgic; think ham egg and chips, cheese and onion pie, steak and chips and more. Come Sunday indulgent roasts are served upstairs in The Loft.

Details: The Hero is open midday to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and midday to 10pm on Sundays at 55 Shirland Road, London W9 2JD.

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Royal Gemmology Workshop

Fan of the Royals? This is the workshop for you. Hosted by the opulent Peninsula London, which opened just last year, the Crown Jewels Tour and Gemmology experience commences with a private guided tour of the magnificent crown jewels at their home, the Tower of London, where they have been guarded since 1661. Then return to the hotel and immerse yourself in the wonders of Garrard, the Royal family’s first Crown Jeweller. The Peninsula is home to a glimmering Garrard boutique brimming with beautiful gems, and guests can learn all about them in a masterclass led by the in-house gemmologist. After a chance to don replica Royal tiaras for yourself, end the experience with a delicious signature Peninsula Afternoon Tea to feel like royalty yourself.

Details: The Crown Jewels Tour and Gemmology experience is available for a maximum of three guests at a time, priced at £605 for groups of one to three.

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INKO NITO DJ Nights

Fancy starting the weekend with a bang? Every Friday, tucked away on Soho’s Broadwick Street, INKO NITO hosts vibrant and bustling DJ nights offering a mix of funk, soul, hip hop and deep house music alongside the unconventional Japanese robatayaki and sushi dishes that the restaurant is known for. Special dishes bespoke for DJ Nights will also be available, including portobello mushrooms with smoked butter, sea bream with salsa rosa, salmon teriyaki, and kimchi rice.

Details: Every Friday at INKO NITO (55 Broadwick St, Carnaby, London W1F 9QS).

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Islington Square Saturday Market

Every Saturday, Islington Square is overtaken by a carefully curated weekly market in partnership with Urban Food Fest. Visit for mouth watering street food, unforgettable desserts and artisanal products alongside creative crafts for all the family.

Details: Every Saturday from 11am–5pm at Islington Square (116 Upper St, London N1 1AB).

West London’s Best Roast

Big words, but the Sunday roast at Chelsea’s No. 50 Cheyne is (rightly) the stuff of legend. Tucked away on Cheyne Walk – a stone’s throw from the River Thames and Albert Bridge with the King’s Road to the north – this light-filled brasserie is brimming with pretty flowers, bright interiors, and a buzzy atmosphere. Begin with a glass of fizz or treat yourself to a cocktail, before tucking into the legendary roast, choosing between 40 Day Aged Beef Sirloin, Roasted Cauliflower Heritage, Cumbrian Chicken or the restaurant’s prized 100 Day-Aged Belted Galloway Beef Rib Roast, with a limited quantity available. With Executive Chef Iain Smith inspired by a desire to first find and then cook London’s best roast, you’ll find all accompanied with perfectly roasted classic sides: roast potatoes (super crispy yet buttery soft in the middle, just as they should be), Yorkshire pudding (with a surprise stuffing ball nestled inside), huge glazed carrots and hispi cabbage, with a generous serving of gravy to boot. Divine. Best of all, this well-priced, in-demand roast is available on Saturdays as well as Sundays – but you’ll still need to be quick to cinch your table.

Details: Roasts are available every Saturday and Sunday at No. Fifty Cheyne (50 Cheyne Walk, London SW3 5LR), with prices starting at £25 on Saturdays and £28.30 on Sundays.

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MORE: London’s Very Best Roasts

Learn To Make Gelato

Say hello to warmer days with a gelato making session. Join Elisa and Fabiano in Wandsworth to learn all about the art of gelato and sorbet making, before tucking into your creation – 500g of it, no less.

Details: Sessions take place on Wednesdays and Sundays in Wandsworth, priced at £65 per person. See all of the details at wecandoo.uk

Sound Healing At The Mandrake

Seeking some serenity? Experience the transformative combination of Reiki and Sound Healing every Saturday at The Mandrake Hotel, guided by skilled sound healer Maria Lodetoft. Expect Reiki healing amid the soothing soundscape of alchemy crystal singing bowls, producing tones and frequencies thought to align the chakras, calm the mind, and open the heart.

Details: Every Saturday at 11am at The Mandrake Hotel (20-21 Newman St, London W1T 1PG). Places cost £40pp.

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Columbia Road Flower Market

Brighten the gloomy winter days with a trip to London’s premiere flower market this weekend: Columbia Road. Taking place every Sunday between Bethnal Green and Hoxton, it attracts people from far and wide in droves and for good reason, offering a glorious slice of unchanging London life, with reasonable prices across flowers and bulbs, succulents and houseplants. With a rainbow of vibrant colours, it’s hard to resist succumbing to the classic Instagram shots. Afterwards, head into Shoreditch, or grab a bagel on the ever-popular Brick Lane.

Details: Sundays, 8am–2pm at Columbia Road, Bethnal Green E2 7RG. Find out more at columbiaroad.info

Go Bowling

OK, OK, a generic weekend suggestion – but London’s bowling alleys are some of the nation’s best. Whether you’re looking to host a big birthday blowout, make plans with friends or you’re in need of new date ideas, you’ll bowl everyone over with these spots.

Learn To Make Pasta

Wondering what to do in London next weekend? Try your hand at the Italian art of pasta making at Pasta Evangelists’ Pasta Academy in Farringdon. Expect to learn all about the best ingredients and techniques, and eat your creation at the end, too. Read our review of the Beginners’ Class here.

Details: Pasta Evangelists’ Pasta Academy (62-63 Long Lane, Barbican, London EC1A 9EJ). These classes are extremely high-demand, so your weekend activity will inevitably be booking ahead for a future weekend.

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