With the sun shining and the third bank holiday of May ahead of us, here are ten things to do in London this weekend.
1. Robin Hood at Chiswick House and Gardens ££
This Saturday, an outdoor performance of Robin Hood from award-winning theatre company Illyria will take place at Chiswick House and Gardens.
The fast-moving production is said to deliver ‘huge laughs, swashbuckling adventures, and well-deserved revenge!’.
In any case, there is free admission to Chiswick Gardens all through the weekend where you can take in the historic grounds and for a fee, gain admission to the house, which has just opened again for the summer.
2. World’s longest tunnel slide in east London ££-£££
This one could be fun if you like rides.
At 114m tall, the ArcelorMittal Orbit gives you a chance to take in some of London’s stunning skyline before whooshing down the UK’s tallest sculpture at a top speed of 15 miles an hour.
And maybe afterwards you can make a shopping trip to Stratford’s Westfield next door. More info here.
3. Afternoon Tea £££-££££
Go for a classic afternoon British tea in London this bank holiday weekend – it’s definitely not the cheapest option on here but why not treat yourself?
Enjoy fluffy Victoria sponge, fresh scones and perfectly cut finger sandwiches. Check out this list for options under £30 per person.
4. Boating at Hyde Park ££
Grab some friends and head down to Hyde Park where you can enjoy a Bluebird Boats ride along the Serpentine.
It’s the perfect way to sail smoothly into those warmer sunny months. When was the last time you had some fun on the water?
Bookings can be made here or then and there at ticket stalls.
5. Foodies Festival ££-£££
The UK’s largest food and drinks festival is coming to Syon Park.
This is your chance to watch last year’s Great British Bake Off winner work through stunning creations, let Masterchef professionals show you their pizazz and listen to headline acts all while sampling numerous foods from stalls around the park.
Why not try it out?
6. Science Museum then a picnic in St James’ Park £
The Science museum never gets old and luckily for us, it’s yet to get expensive.
Especially fun if you’re with family or children, this free museum has an exhibition open on science fiction at the moment along with its usual attractions.
And afterwards you can pay a visit to St James’ Park next door with a lovely picnic surrounded by leafy green trees.
Make sure you pre-book your free tickets to the museum, or paid ones if you’re willing to splash out a little money for the exhibition.
7. V&A exhibition – Hallyu! The Korean Wave ££
There’s an interesting looking exhibition on at the Victoria and Albert Museum for any K-pop fans out there – or else, just anyone who is interested in ‘the dynamic and explosive’ popular culture of South Korea.
It’s not just K-pop you’ll explore but Korean fashion, art and history.
Under 26s can also attend at a discounted rate. Further info here.
8. Charles Dickens’ obsession with fog at Charles Dickens Museum ££
Pop down to the Charles Dickens Museum this weekend if you’re interested in learning more about the writer and his ‘obsession’ with fog.
Admission to the exhibition is included as part of the museum visit and you can expect to learn about how the phenomenon influenced Dickens’ writing as well as the London experience of air pollution.
9. Football match £££-££££
Maybe you’re not the biggest football fan but who knows, you might come to enjoy the stadium buzz if you watched a live match.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Brentford all play their final games of the season at 4:30pm on Sunday and it’s also play-off final weekend if you fancy a trip to Wembley.
10. Get off at a random tube stop £
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – what on earth is Hainault? This bank holiday weekend might be your chance to find out.
The appeal of disembarking at a random tube station will depend on your temperament, how much time you have on your hands and if you’re in a particularly exploratory mood.
Featured image credit: Dawid Glawdzin licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
