May is one of the most inspiring times to be in London. As the city eases into early summer, its streets, galleries, gardens and showrooms become the backdrop to a season of creativity and celebration. Here are some of our favourite events taking place this month.
London Craft Week, from 11th–17th May, is always a highlight of the calendar. Across the city, from Mayfair to Shoreditch, ateliers come alive with exhibitions and gatherings celebrating the beauty of the handmade. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet the makers themselves and hear the stories behind a woven textile or hand thrown ceramic vessel. Craft becomes personal, tactile and full of soul. Discover more here.
Closely following is Clerkenwell Design Week, from 19th–21st May, when London’s design district comes alive with energy, creativity and conversation. Across Clerkenwell, showrooms are transformed into immersive installations, historic buildings become galleries and every corner offers a new visual discovery.
Join Minnie Kemp at the Bert Frank showroom on Tuesday 19th May at 6.30pm for a panel discussion exploring immersive interiors and how thoughtful design can shape atmosphere, connection and meaningful experiences.
No May in London feels complete without the Chelsea Flower Show, running from 19th–23rd May, a joyful celebration of gardens, colour and imaginative planting. Beyond the grounds of the show itself, the King’s Road bursts into bloom, with elaborate floral installations climbing façades, framing shopfronts and spilling dramatically from doorways. The entire neighbourhood feels transformed into a living canvas where nature and creativity meet in the most uplifting way.
Join us for a Chelsea Flower Show afternoon tea at Number Sixteen, where our chefs have created floral-inspired masterpieces in a limited edition seasonal menu designed especially for the occasion. Discover more details here.
Future Icons Selects brings together an exciting group of independent artists and designers whose work feels both playful and deeply considered. Expect sculptural lighting, richly glazed ceramics and beautifully crafted pieces that bring character to any room. It is impossible not to leave inspired. Learn more here.
There is still time to book tickets for Barkitecture at Goodwoof this coming weekend, a wonderfully eccentric day out in the Sussex countryside, where architects and artists from around the world reimagine the humble dog kennel through the lens of design, creativity and play.
Our own cosmic creation, The Legend of Diego, Astro Dog, will be on display in the Barkitecture tent in the Duchess Paddock on 16th–17th May. We believe good design should spark joy wherever it appears, and this May it has landed in a field in West Sussex. Discover more and book your tickets here.
May in London is not simply about exhibitions, it is about curiosity, colour and the joy of discovering creativity in unexpected places.