It's almost here – just a few more days to keep pushing through until the first May bank holiday.
While it’s not due to be quite as hot as the Easter break, there’s still plenty to tempt you out the house to make the most of the three-day weekend.
Party-goers can enjoy Cinco de Mayo celebrations across the capital on Sunday, while dog and cat lovers are both in luck too.
Elsewhere, creative types should check out the homemade markets and crafty workshops springing up. These are our picks of the best events taking place in London this bank holiday weekend.
Model Market
On Friday, Model Market returns to the converted 1950s market just off Lewisham High Street for another year. The late night food spot will open every Friday and Saturday from 5pm-1am, from now until September. New traders setting up shop at the venue include GOAT (by Great British Menu star James Cochran), KraPow, Growlers, Secret Nicky’s, Phung Kay Vegan and Tucka Burger. They all join returning favourites Wandercrust and Rastawaala.
May 3, 196 Lewisham High Street, SE13 6LS
Fertility Festival at Barbican
Back for a third year, this is London's only festival entirely dedicated to reproduction and modern families. Fertility and infertility will be the main focus of the event and an eclectic line-up of visual arts, literature, workshops will take guests on a deep dive into the topics. Over the bank holiday weekend the festival will be putting on talks on egg freezing, solo motherhood as well as a discussion on whether a woman’s reproductive status has become public property. Read our guide to Fertility Festival here.
Until May 12, fertilityfest.com
Cinco de Mayo at Pop Brixton
To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Pop Brixton are throwing a Mexican extravaganza on Sunday night, featuring live music, female mariachis, DJs, traditional dance, food and themed decor. London-based dance group Mestizo Folklore will be taking to the stage for some traditional Mexican footwork, while pre-hispanic Mexican dance group Atlachinolli Aztec will explore different elements of Aztec culture through performance. DJs Coco Maria, Gypsy Box and Cal Jader will all take a turn behind the decks to ensure an almighty fiesta.
May 5, 49 Brixton Station Rd, SW9 8PQ, facebook.com
Great Hampstead Bark Off
Dog lovers should descend on Hampstead Heath this weekend for a celebrity-judged dog show for a great cause. The event will see hundreds of dogs (and their respective humans) enter into the competition — all to raise money for All Dogs Matter, a re-homing and rescue charity. The alternative dog-show categories include cutest pup, best child handler, golden oldies, best rescue, Miss Heath and Mr Heath. Elsewhere, aspiring bakers will be able to enter a dog-themed bake sale, which will be judged by author Felicity Cloake.
May 5, Highgate Road, NW5 1QR, alldogsmatter.co.uk
Whiskey and wings at Clutch Chicken
What's a bank holiday for if not to indulge? Bulleit Whiskey have teamed up with Clutch Chicken for an all-you-can-eat feast, where wings are piled high and the sauces keep on coming. There's iced tea on arrival, before the wings arrive, and the £35 ticket price includes three whiskey cocktails. Our pick is the B.I.G, a classic sour mixed up with sesame, almonds, and touches of caraway and cumin, but there's a vegan option on tap too, and the Backin' It Up, which promises plenty of burnt orange flavours.
May 6, 4 Ravenscroft St, E2 7QG, eventbrite.com
Crafty Fox at Mercato Metropolitano
Crafty Fox comes to Mercato Metropolitano this weekend. The monthly pitch-up is dedicated to emerging designer makers and artists and their handmade products, and boasts all kinds of treats from original ceramics and candles, to prints and artworks. The two-day event will also offer a variety of workshops, with card making and plant pot marbling on Saturday and an embroidery session on Sunday.
May 4-5, 42 Newington Causeway, SE1 6DR, craftyfoxmarket.co.uk
Craig Charles' Funk and Soul Club at Brixton Jamm
A bank holiday is clearly the best time for a big night out, with a whole extra day of recovery. Saturday night sees actor, DJ and presenter Craig Charles bring the Funk and Soul Club to Brixton Jamm for a day-to-night party. Craig will play two sets – one on the terrace during the daytime and one in the club once the sun has gone down.
May 4, 261 Brixton Rd, SW9 6LH, brixtonjamm.org
TOAST Cultural Festival
Lifestyle brand TOAST is set to host a three-day programme of workshops and activities in Islington this weekend. The festival will have plenty of hands-on activities for guests to try, including a botanical drawing class, a potting session and a weaving workshop led by ex-V&A textile resident Sue Lawty. There'll also be Taiwanese tea tasting with XU Teahouse, as well as a canapé and tablescape class with supper club host and author Alexandra Dudley.
Across the weekend, 9 City Garden Row, N1 8DW, toa.st/uk
LondonCats: International Show and Expo
Call yourself a cat-lover? This feline-fanatic show at Tobacco Dock is the purr-fect way to spend the long weekend. The furry extravaganza promises a variety of cat-themed stalls as well as appearances from celebrity cats, including Bob from James Bowen’s memoir A Streetcat Named Bob, and some Insta-famous moggies too. A cat competition will also be running with prizes for categories such as best kitten, best cat and best household pet.
May 4-5, Wapping Lane, E1W 2SF, londoncats.org.uk
Pergola Paddington re-opening
Paddington’s most Instagrammable open-air terrace is back for 2019. Four new vendors will be opening up at the al fresco hotspot this year: Babek Brothers, serving up their signature kebabs; Honi Poke, offering customisable bowls; Smash Patty — a new burger joint from the Patty & Bun team — and An Choi, who boast dumplings and Asian small plates.
From May 2, 5 Kingdom St, W2 6PY, pergolalondon.com
Night Tales
Hackney haunt Night Tales is back with a bang this weekend, with a three-day bumper bank holiday special to kick off the summer season. Music across the weekend will be covered by Tom Grainger on Thursday, followed by sets from Theo Kottis, Paramida, Nadia Ksaiba on Friday and Soul Clap and Sunshine Soul on Sunday. The east London sun terrace and beer garden will also be launching a new garden spritz bar, with sharing cocktails in punch bowls for groups to share.
May 2-4, 14 Bohemia Pl, E8 1DU, for more information visit facebook.com
