What's On May

Half Term fun at the National Maritime Museum

Make a splash this half term at the National Maritime Museum! From craft workshops to character encounters, there's something to keep the whole family entertained. 

Nearest pier: Greenwich

May Half Term at London Museum Docklands

Roll up, roll up for a Victorian reset! 

Trade the screen for the stage this half term. Step into the past to craft paper theatres, enjoy music hall melodies, and practice your best puns. It’s old-fashioned, offline entertainment at its finest.

Nearest pier: Canary Wharf

Architecture Explorers: Family Trail

Running 23–29 May, grab a map and explore the hidden details and unusual architecture of Southbank Centre on their interactive family trail — part of their 75th birthday celebrations.

Designed for children to lead the way (with a little help from grown-ups), this year's trail is co-designed with families and award-winning social enterprise MATT+FIONA. Maps available on site at the start point.

Nearest pier: London Eye (Waterloo)

May half-term at Shakespeare’s Globe

Bring the family and discover Shakespeare like never before! With shows, storytelling, workshops, and family tours designed for younger audiences, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Nearest pier: Bankside

Family fun at Cutty Sark

Set sail for adventure this half term aboard the iconic Cutty Sark! Get creative with star and navigation-themed craft workshops, meet historical characters, explore a family trail, and more - there's fun for all ages on deck.

Nearest pier: Greenwich

Best riverside playgrounds

Join Emmy and Roma from bablands as they sail between London's best playgrounds aboard Uber Boat by Thames Clippers!

With a Family River Roamer children travel free! Get on board and start exploring

Nearest pier: various

Tracey Emin A Second Life

Throughout May– step into the confessional world of Tracey Emin.

Spanning 40 years, the exhibition brings together career-defining works and never-before-seen pieces across painting, sculpture, neon, video and textiles. Emin explores love, trauma, the female body and healing, turning personal experience into powerful art.

Nearest pier: Bankside

Ramses & the Pharaoh's Gold: The Exhibition

Ancient kings. Timeless treasures. In the UK for the first and only time.

Step into the world of Ramses the Great at Neon, Battersea Power Station - where over 180 authentic Egyptian masterpieces are waiting to be discovered. Glittering gold, colossal statues, and royal coffins rarely seen outside Egypt. This is the unmissable experience of the year!

Nearest pier: Battersea Power Station

Hurvin Anderson at Tate Britain

This May at Tate Britain, Hurvin Anderson’s first major solo exhibition brings together more than 80 vibrant paintings spanning his career, from early works to new, unseen pieces. Moving between the UK and the Caribbean, his colour-rich landscapes and interiors explore identity, memory and belonging, drawing on his Birmingham upbringing and Jamaican heritage. A powerful showcase from one of Britain’s leading contemporary painters.

Nearest pier: Milbank

London Original Print Fair 2026

London's longest-running art fair is back from 14-17 May!

Europe's largest works-on-paper fair returns to Somerset House for another celebrated year of showcasing the finest in printmaking.

Nearest pier: Embankment

Battersea Park

200-acres of open green space, floral gardens and a boating lake, Battersea Park lies on the south bank of the River Thames. The park has stunning river views, a children's zoo and an adventure playground that kids love!

Nearest pier: Battersea Power Station

Greenwich Park

A short walk from Greenwich Pier, gorgeous Greenwich Park offers outstanding views of Canary Wharf and the City on a clear day. As one of London's largest Royal Parks, Greenwich Park offers a wide range of facilities and is home to the Royal Observatory and the Meridian line, as well as the National Maritime Museum and the Queen’s House.

Nearest pier: Greenwich

Thames Barrier Park

One of London’s newest parks, Thames Barrier Park offers the best view from the land of London's impressive flood defence, the Thames Barrier. Discover the delights of this urban oasis and its most creative feature 'The Green Dock' that provides a wind-protected microclimate for a variety of plants and butterflies.

Nearest pier: Royal Wharf

Mudchute Park and Farm

Llamas, in London?! Mudchute Park and Farm is located on the Isle of Dogs, a short walk from Masthouse Terrace Pier.

Set in 32 acres, the farm brings a touch of the countryside to Tower Hamlets and is home to pigs, sheep, cows, donkeys and chickens as well as llamas.

Nearest pier: Masthouse Terrace

St Dunstan in the East Church Garden

A 6-minute walk from Tower Pier lies the former church of Saint Dunstan in the East. A truly unique place in London, this peaceful green oasis is an escape from the hustle and bustle of the City. St Dunstan in the East Church Garden is set within the ruins of a Wren church which was bombed during the Blitz.

Nearest pier: Tower

St James’s Park

The oldest of London's Royal Parks, St James's Park is at the heart of Westminster. The park's artificial lake, flowers, trees and birds will make you forget that you are actually in the heart of London. It has breathtaking views of Buckingham Palace but don't forget to say hello to the pelicans!

Nearest pier: Westminster

Chelsea Physic Garden

Celebrating it's 350th anniversary, Chelsea Physic Garden is London’s oldest botanical garden. An oasis in the city, the tranquil garden was established to supply medicinal plants for scientific study and was only opened to the public in the 1980s.

Nowadays visitors are welcomed to learn more about fauna from around the world. Please note the site is compact so booking in advance is essential.

Nearest pier: Cadogan

Bishop's Park

Across Putney Bridge from Putney Pier lies Bishop’s Park which has been awarded Grade II status by English Heritage.

The park houses Fulham Palace, the historic home of the Bishops of London, a beautiful walled garden and an ornamental lake. Bordering the north bank of the River Thames, Bishop's Park provides one of the best views of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.

Nearest pier: Putney