Expect a mix of kid-friendly theatre, cinema, dance, and floral festivals, alongside plenty of FREE fun, workshops, exhibitions and activities. With two Bank Holidays and London in full bloom, this is the perfect time to explore everything this vibrant city has to offer—whether you’re local or just visiting.
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Family-friendly, outdoor and flower-themed activities in London
Whether you are interested in horticulture or just love a colourful flower display, there is plenty of floral beauty to admire in London this month. Come to see the artful outdoor displays popping up all over London, take memorable photos and just enjoy the warm weather.
The world famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show returns on 19 – 23 May 2026 with its cutting-edge garden designs and horticultural excellence. While tickets are required for the main event, plenty of London boroughs come alive with their own FREE floral festival delights that are free to enjoy and explore this May.
- Chelsea in Bloom goes ‘Out of this World’ this year (18 – 24 May). Come and see the floral installations that turn the streets of Chelsea into an open floral art show.
- Belgravia in Bloom runs between 18 – 24 May and this year’s festival is all about ‘Fairy Tales in Belgravia’. The themed displays will bring a sense of magic to the area, with displays inspired by nostalgia, imagination and other-worldly charm. Expect plenty of free family-friendly activities too.
Henry Moore: Monumental Nature opens on 9 May at Kew Gardens and is included with your Kew Gardens ticket. This is the largest-ever outdoor presentation of the renowned British artist’s work. The exhibition features 30 monumental sculptures spanning Moore’s 70-year career, strategically positioned across the garden’s iconic botanical landscape.
Play in the Park is a free play programme packed with fun and creative nature-inspired activities taking place in Kensington Gardens, Greenwich Park and The Regent’s Park throughout the spring and summer.
Children’s Garden Trail is a free garden exploration taking place each weekend in the Orozco garden at the South London Gallery.
Fairy Tales at the British Library is a magical, multi-sensory journey through the world of fairy tales where visitors are encouraged to explore enchanted landscapes—from royal palaces to dark forests—while engaging with theatrical sets, puppets, and tactile displays, such as smelling a witch’s potion or joining the Three Bears for breakfast. This event runs until 23 August 2026. Tickets £13.50.
Summer is a-coming in! Celebrate May Day on the evening of 1 May at Chelsea Physic Garden. This event includes a twilight tour led by the “Spring Spirit of the Garden,” followed by a communal break featuring traditional mead and an evening theatrical performance depicting the Winter Hag yielding her power to the Summer Goddess. Tickets £25.
The Free Canalway Cavalcade 2026 takes place 2-4 May 2026 (10am-6pm Saturday, 10am-6pm and 9pm-10.30pm Sunday, and 10am-5pm Monday). It’s free to visit, and is a great day out for the whole family.
Duke and Disorderly at Tower of London is an original experience of historical chaos with a family-friendly program set in 1826, just as the Duke of Wellington takes charge as the new Constable. As his strict new vision threatens the livelihoods and eccentric traditions of the local community, visitors will find themselves in the middle of a hilarious struggle between the Duke’s quest for order and the delightful disorder of a neighbourhood pushed to the brink of change. Ends on 31 May. Included in palace admission ticket (from £18.50).
Splash, explore, play: a day of outdoor family fun at the London Wetland Centre with an adventure playground, a sound garden and our favourite: the mud kitchen. Tickets from £11.80.
Free weekend tennis in London Parks – Enjoy free social tennis sessions every weekend at 10am, open to all ages and skill levels. Rackets provided, no partner needed. Available in parks across London and beyond. Book online via the LTA website (free account required).
Arts, Crafts, Song and Dance
A midsummer Night’s Dream at the Unicorn theatre end on 10 May. This fresh retelling of Shakespeare’s classic comedy is for everyone aged seven and up.
Guildhall Art Gallery’s free family day on 9 May — A day filled with creative activities, story sessions and fun for all young Londoners aged 3–11!
Crafts and Carriages at the The Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace on 23, 24 and 31 May is free with entrance ticket to the Royal Mews. Young creators are invited to enjoy art and crafts activities, inspired by the history, horses, carriages and cars of the Mews.
The Dulwich Festival takes part between 8 and 17 May and is packed with plenty of enjoyable things to do: family dub-club, wellness talks, live drawing, shows, dancing and creative workshops.
Films in concert at The Royal albert Hall will delight audiences of all ages with The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in Concert (30 April – 9 May), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in Concert (1 – 10 May) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in Concert (3 – 10 May).
Family Space at the South London Gallery is a free, relaxed and inclusive space designed for families with kids aged 5 -12 encouraging exploration and creating together – drop in whenever and stay as long as you like.
YAMATO: The Drummers of Japan at Saddlers Wells between 12 – 30 May is an explosive show of drumbeats, passionate performances, and meticulously crafted stage and lighting designs.
Mathmagics! on 2 May at the Royal Institution is a dynamic and smart show that reveals incredible match facts through stories, tricks and a dynamic presentation. The Fantastic Fungi Festival on 9 May is an exciting new performance blending neuroscience, fungi, sound and behaviour.
Photo London 2026 brings the finest international photography to the British capital every year. The Fair presents the best historic and vintage works while also spotlighting fresh perspectives in photography. Along with a selection of the world’s leading photography dealers and galleries, Photo London’s Discovery section is dedicated to the most exciting emerging galleries and artists. Photo London returns for its eleventh edition from 14 to 17 May 2026.
At the Museums and Art Galleries
Tracy Emin: A Second Life, at Tate Modern is a deeply personal journey through passion, pain, and healing. The exhibition features seminal works—including the iconic My Bed—alongside brand-new paintings and previously unexhibited material. It also pays homage to her multicultural heritage, exploring her Turkish Cypriot and Romanichal roots.
Free family-friendly drop-in workshop at the weekend (and school holidays) at the National Gallery invites families to explore the gallery paintings with play resources designed by artists with children and families. Check out our reel of the Roden Centre.
Discover Encounters: Giacometti x Huma Bhabha at the Barbican (ends 31 May). This unique display, marking the opening of a new intimate gallery space, spans nearly 100 years of artistic evolution, featuring a diverse range of materials including plaster, bronze, terracotta, and found objects.
Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep opens on 22 May at the Natural History Museum. Meet the dinosaurs of the ocean! Learn about the pliosaur – a gigantic, gnarly toothedcreature – then marvel at the speedy ichthyosaur, a majestic dolphin-like predator. And, of course, the T. rex of the sea is also part of this show.
Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends is at the Young V&A Museum until November. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of Gromit’s silent expressions or a child picking up a piece of modelling clay for the first time, this playful exhibition is a reminder that the biggest adventures always start with a very small idea. The best bit: You can come back to visit as many times as you like with your entry ticket.
Music in the museum: Enjoy classic live music from London’s most talented students, every Friday during term time at the London Transport museum. Kids go free and an adult ticket offers free, unlimited day-time returns for a year.
Moco Museum: Perfect destination for contemporary art. From Yayoi Kusama and Andy Warhol to Banksy, this friendly museum is the perfect place to explore art and creativity.
Voyage to the Deep. and Octonauts at the Horniman Museum and Gardens are all about under water adventures.
A Thread That Binds Us is a FREE series of two new works by textile and mixed media artist Amber Roper opening on 5 May. They explore intergenerational mental health and parents’ beliefs and concerns about mental wellbeing within families.
Tots at the Docks. Free monthly play sessions inspired by the history of London’s Docklands on 27 May.
Sorted! The Postal Play Space indoor play area at the Postal Museum. Hands on 45min play sessions for under 8 year olds. Tickets £4.50
Astronomers Take Over at the National Maritime Museum is a multi-zone, family-friendly experience, perfect for little ones and anyone with a love for all things space!
London family friendly theatre and dance shows this May 2026
NT Connections at The Little Lyric in Hammersmith runs until the end of the year and it is absolutely packed with great shows for young theatre goers. We love the sound of Oldilocks and the Three Bears on 16 May or The Selfish Giant on 6 May.
Planet Omar at the Unicorn Theatre (21 May – & Jun) take a peek into the fantastically imaginative and chaotic world of a 8 year old boy named Omar with a wild imagination, a big heart, and a knack for getting into trouble.
Aardman in Concert at the Cadogan Hall celebrates 50 Years of Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep & Friends on 2 May with a world-class live orchestra.
My Neighbour Totoro at Gillian Lynne Theatre – The magical Ghibli adaptation returns to the West End. Until Nov 2, £29.50–£160.
The Lion King: Disney’s award-winning musical continues to captivate audiences with its stunning visuals and memorable music. A timeless story that resonates with all ages is currently running at London’s Lyceum Theatre.
Tortoise and the Hare at Polka Theatre is the toe-tapping, laugh-out-loud retelling of a children’s classic story. 2 – 31 May
Pie-Rat Island at Half Moon Theatre is on 15 and 16 May. A play-along theatre silly adventure for 2-6 year olds. Play-acting, games, music and laughter.
MakeBeth at Arts Depot is on 3 May and is all about cardboard and retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth for families and young audiences.
The Flying Bath at splashes about at the Little Angel Theatre from 2 May. The adventurous story follows the book by Julia Donaldson and David Roberts.
The family day at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is on 24 May and is packed with performances, music and outdoor fun for all .
For further recommendations for theatre and shows to see in London for young theatre goers please visit our Theatre & Dance page.
For the latest reviews, updates and recommendations follow @younglondonist on Instagram. For more ideas of things to do with the kids in London, visit our events and activities area which provides details of free events and special offers in London’s finest venues.