London › May Guide
Updated: October 10, 2026 • By Santorini Dave
See Also
My wife and I in London in May.
May is one of my favorite months to visit London. The parks are green, spring flowers are still blooming, and sunset is after 8:20 PM. Temperatures are generally comfortable for walking and sightseeing, though you’ll still need a jacket and should expect some rain.
For most visitors, the second week of May is my pick. You’ll miss the early-May bank holiday, Chelsea Flower Show, and the late-May school holidays. It’s a particularly good time for parks, gardens, and exploring London on foot.
London in May: At a Glance
- Weather: Average afternoon temperatures of 16°C to 18°C (61°F to 64°F), with cool evenings and occasional rain.
- Daylight: Sunset is around 8:20 PM at the beginning of May and 9:05 PM by the end.
- Best Time to Visit: The second week of May, especially Tuesday through Thursday.
- Crowds: Generally manageable outside bank-holiday weekends, Chelsea Flower Show, and school half-term.
- Book Ahead: Chelsea Flower Show, Warner Bros. Studio Tour, popular West End shows, major exhibitions, and family attractions during half-term.
Best Time to Visit London in May 2027
- May 1–3: Early May bank-holiday weekend. Monday, May 3 is a public holiday. Isabella Plantation’s azaleas and rhododendrons are usually at their best around this time.
- May 4–16: My preferred period for most visitors, particularly weekdays during the second week. Good for sightseeing without the biggest holiday crowds.
- May 18–22: RHS Chelsea Flower Show at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Chelsea in Bloom also takes place around show week.
- Late May: School half-term for many schools, with dates varying by school and local authority. Expect busier family attractions.
- May 29–31: Spring bank-holiday weekend. Monday, May 31 is a public holiday.
Avoid the two bank-holiday weekends if your dates are flexible. Expect busier attractions and trains, and check for planned rail closures.
Quick Hotel Picks for May
- Best for First-Time Visitors: NoMad London in Covent Garden.
- Best Classic Luxury: The Savoy on the Strand.
- Best for Parks and Luxury: The Connaught in Mayfair.
- Best for Museums: Kimpton Fitzroy London in Bloomsbury.
- Best for Families: Park Plaza Westminster Bridge on the South Bank.
- Best for Eurostar: St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel.
- Best Value: Motel One Tower Hill.
London Weather in May
May is mild but changeable. Average daytime highs are around 16°C to 18°C (61°F to 64°F), with nighttime temperatures around 8°C to 10°C (46°F to 50°F). Sunny afternoons can reach 20°C (68°F) or higher, but cool, wet days are also possible. Rain can mean a brief shower or several hours of steady drizzle.
What to Pack
- Light waterproof jacket: The most useful item to bring.
- Layers: A sweater or fleece for cool mornings and evenings.
- Comfortable walking shoes: Preferably water-resistant, especially for parks and gardens.
- Compact umbrella: Useful for rain when it isn’t windy.
Chelsea Flower Show and Chelsea in Bloom
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is London’s biggest gardening event and one of the best reasons to visit in May if you’re interested in garden design.
In 2027, the show runs May 18–22 at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Tickets are expensive, and popular days can sell out. Book directly through the RHS well ahead of your visit. Allow most of a day, wear comfortable shoes, and bring a waterproof jacket. Strollers and pushchairs are not permitted inside the showground.
Chelsea in Bloom is my recommendation for anyone who enjoys flowers but doesn’t want to spend the money or time on the main show. During Chelsea Flower Show week, shops, restaurants, and businesses around Sloane Square and King’s Road create elaborate outdoor floral displays. It’s free, and you can see the best displays in a couple of hours. Visit on a weekday morning before the busiest crowds arrive.
Best Parks and Gardens in London in May
Isabella Plantation: Best for Azaleas
Isabella Plantation is a 40-acre woodland garden inside Richmond Park. Its azaleas and rhododendrons usually peak in late April and early May, making this one of London’s best spring sights.
Some paths are uneven or muddy, so it’s less convenient for strollers and wheelchairs than Kew or the central London parks.
Getting here takes some planning. Richmond Park is enormous, and Isabella Plantation is well away from Richmond town center. Public transport gets you to the park, but you’ll still need to walk or arrange onward transport to reach the garden.
Allow one to two hours for Isabella Plantation itself, or most of a day if combining it with Richmond Park and Richmond town. Go on a weekday morning if possible.
Kew Gardens: Best Overall Garden Day
Kew Gardens is one of London’s best places to see spring flowers, particularly rhododendrons and azaleas.
Allow three to five hours, though garden enthusiasts could easily spend a full day. Don’t schedule several major central London attractions afterward.
Kew has glasshouses, cafés, toilets, and accessible paths, making it easier to visit than Richmond Park, particularly for families and travelers with limited mobility.
If you have time for only one: Choose Kew for the greatest variety of gardens and plants. Choose Isabella Plantation if you’re visiting in early May and particularly want to see the azaleas.
St. James’s Park: Best Central Park
St. James’s Park is one of London’s prettiest central parks, with formal flower beds, a lake, and views toward Buckingham Palace.
The main paths are flat and easy with strollers. A relaxed walk takes around an hour and fits naturally into sightseeing around Westminster Abbey, Parliament, Horse Guards Parade, and Buckingham Palace.
Regent’s Park: Best for a Long Central Walk
Regent’s Park is close to Marylebone and has easy connections to Primrose Hill and Camden.
Queen Mary’s Gardens are famous for roses, but the main rose display usually comes in June. May is still a good time to visit for spring flowers and greenery.
Continue up Primrose Hill for one of London’s best skyline views. The final climb is short but steep.
Hampstead Heath: Best for Views
Hampstead Heath has woodland paths, open grassland, ponds, and excellent views of London from Parliament Hill. The terrain is hillier and less manicured than London’s central parks, and paths can be muddy after rain.
Combine the Heath with Hampstead village and a pub. It’s one of my favorite ways to spend a relaxed afternoon away from the busiest tourist areas.
Best Things to Do in London in May
Take a Thames Boat to Greenwich
Most sightseeing boats to Greenwich have indoor and outdoor seating, so you can still enjoy the trip if it gets chilly.
In Greenwich, visit the Old Royal Naval College, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich Market, and Greenwich Park.
Walk up the hill toward the Royal Observatory for views across the river and Canary Wharf. The main route is paved but steep, so allow extra time with a stroller.
Plan on spending at least half a day, including the boat journey.
Walk the South Bank
Walk along the Thames from Westminster Bridge to Borough Market, passing the London Eye, Southbank Centre, National Theatre, Tate Modern, and Shakespeare’s Globe.
The direct walk takes roughly 45 minutes, but allow three to five hours if you plan to visit attractions, stop for photographs, and eat along the way.
This is an easy walk to do independently. Return by Tube or river boat rather than retracing the entire route.
Visit the Tower of London
Arrive at opening and see the Crown Jewels before the largest crowds arrive. Allow two to three hours for the Tower.
Combine it with Tower Bridge, St Dunstan in the East, or a Thames boat.
See a West End Show
Book popular musicals, limited-run plays, and weekend performances ahead, particularly during bank holidays. Covent Garden, Soho, and the Strand are the most convenient areas for dinner and theater.
Visit a Rooftop Viewpoint
The Garden at 120 is a good free option, with an open rooftop garden and views across the City. Admission arrangements are generally simpler than at the most popular reservation-only viewpoints, though access depends on opening hours and capacity.
Sky Garden and Horizon 22 offer higher views. Free timed reservations are the best way to secure entry.
The View from The Shard is a paid alternative with expansive views across London. It’s expensive, but worth considering if a high viewpoint is a priority.
Check visibility before visiting. A clear evening after rain can be better than a hazy sunny afternoon.
Visit Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia Road Flower Market operates on Sundays and is particularly colorful in spring.
Arrive early for easier walking and the best selection of flowers. Late morning is livelier but much more crowded.
The street is narrow and difficult with strollers when busy. Combine the market with Shoreditch, Brick Lane, or Spitalfields.
Take a Day Trip to Windsor or Oxford
Windsor is my pick for Windsor Castle, a compact historic center, and riverside walking. Trains from Paddington generally require a change at Slough. Services from Waterloo are slower but direct to Windsor & Eton Riverside.
Oxford is better for architecture, historic colleges, museums, and pubs. Direct trains from Paddington take about an hour on faster services, while Marylebone services generally take longer.
Choose Windsor for royal history and a shorter outing. Choose Oxford for a more varied full-day trip.
Where to Stay in London in May
For a first visit, I recommend Covent Garden, Soho, Bloomsbury, or the South Bank. Mayfair and St. James’s are excellent if you want luxury hotels and easy access to parks.
See my full guide to the best places to stay in London and use the London hotel map to compare neighborhoods.
Covent Garden and Soho: Best for First-Time Visitors
Covent Garden and Soho put theaters, restaurants, Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, and much of the West End within a 5 to 25-minute walk.
NoMad London is my favorite upscale choice. Z Hotel Soho and The Z Hotel Covent Garden cost less but have tiny rooms.
This is the best area for restaurants, theater, and a short first visit. Expect crowds, street noise, and high prices.
Mayfair and St. James’s: Best for Parks and Luxury
Mayfair is best for luxury hotels, shopping, and restaurants, with Hyde Park and Green Park nearby. St. James’s is quieter and particularly convenient for St. James’s Park, Buckingham Palace, and Westminster.
The Connaught is my favorite Mayfair hotel.
Bloomsbury: Best for Museums
Bloomsbury is close to the British Museum and within walking distance of Covent Garden, Soho, and King’s Cross.
Kimpton Fitzroy London overlooks Russell Square and sits beside Russell Square Underground station, with direct Piccadilly line service to Heathrow.
Bloomsbury is calmer and often better value than Covent Garden, though there’s less nightlife immediately outside your hotel.
South Bank and Waterloo: Best for Families
The South Bank is convenient for the London Eye, SEA LIFE London Aquarium, Southbank Centre, National Theatre, Tate Modern, Westminster, and river boats.
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge has family rooms and an indoor pool.
The riverside paths are generally easy with strollers, though the area around Westminster Bridge and the London Eye gets crowded during half-term.
King’s Cross and St Pancras: Best for Eurostar and Day Trips
King’s Cross and St Pancras are best for Eurostar arrivals and rail trips north of London.
St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel is connected to St Pancras International and sits beside six Tube lines.
The area is exceptionally well connected but less convenient for walking to Westminster, the South Bank, or the Tower of London.
Tower Hill and the City: Best Value
The City often has lower hotel prices on weekends, particularly in business-oriented hotels. Tower Hill is convenient for the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and Thames boats.
Motel One Tower Hill offers good value and transport connections.
Much of the City becomes quiet after office hours, though Tower Hill still has restaurants and pubs. Stay in Soho or Covent Garden if nightlife is a priority.
Marylebone: Best for a Central Residential Feel
Marylebone has excellent restaurants, independent shops, attractive streets, and easy access to Regent’s Park and the West End.
The Z Hotel Gloucester Place is a compact, relatively inexpensive option near Baker Street. Marylebone is quieter than Soho and Covent Garden.
Getting Around London in May
Contactless bank cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Oyster cards are the easiest ways to pay for most London public transport.
Use the same payment method throughout the day. A physical bank card and that same card in Apple Pay are treated as different payment methods, so switching between them can prevent journeys from counting toward the same fare cap.
Touch in and out on the Tube, Elizabeth line, DLR, and London Overground. On buses, touch in only. Contactless and Oyster coverage on National Rail services is not identical, so check your route if traveling beyond central London.
The Elizabeth line is usually the best-value rail option from Heathrow for central London. Heathrow Express is faster to Paddington but generally more expensive.
Check planned Tube and rail closures before traveling on bank-holiday weekends. Engineering work can affect airport journeys and day trips, and some routes may require replacement buses.
London in May vs April and June
- April: Cooler, with spring blossom and tulips. A good choice if you prefer earlier spring flowers. Hotel prices depend on Easter dates and other events.
- May: My favorite overall balance of comfortable temperatures, green parks, spring gardens, and long evenings. The second week is particularly good.
- June: Warmer, with the year’s longest daylight and better odds of comfortable outdoor dining. Popular attractions and hotels can be busy, so compare prices rather than assuming June is always more expensive.
How Many Days Do You Need in London?
Four full days is a good minimum for a first visit. That gives you time for Westminster, the Tower of London, major museums, the South Bank, and neighborhoods such as Covent Garden and Soho.
With five or six days, add Kew Gardens, Richmond Park, Greenwich, or a day trip to Windsor or Oxford.
If you’re visiting specifically for Chelsea Flower Show, allow an additional day rather than trying to squeeze it between major attractions.
About Santorini Dave