Warmer days and brighter evenings mean there’s even more reason to get out of the house. Grab a pal, go solo, or take the family, and make the most of the huge range of events and activities Vauxhall has to offer. This month’s a good ‘un!

Tuesday 2nd

Knitting at Tea House Theatre

Join the lovely Grace at Tea House Theatre for their weekly drop-in knitting and crochet evening. Open to all ages and levels, the friendly bunch meet every Tuesday (barring the second Tuesday of every month) for lots of chatting, knitting, tea and cake! 

From 7pm | Tea House Theatre, 139 Vauxhall Walk SE11 5HL | Free

Thursday 4th 

Drag & Cabaret Star Wars Celebration 

May the fourth be with you at the RVT this Star Wars Day. The LGBTQ+ cabaret scene joins forces with Star Wars paraphernalia to raise money for Cabaret vs Cancer – an independent charity set up in 2014 by performer Rose Thorne raising money to help families, especially children, cope with the effects of cancer. RVT’s own Reece Connolly will be joined by Me the Drag Queen, Oedipussi Rex, Mark Anthony, and Benjamin Louche for a night of Star Wars themed performances. There will be a raffle and collection on the night, and all ticket sales will be split between the charity and performing artists. 

7pm–12am | Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane SE11 5HY | £13

Friday 5th

Cinco de Mayo at Frida’s

Transport yourself to Mexico to celebrate this year’s Cinco de Mayo! Inspired by the iconic Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo, this new Mexican bar and restaurant opened its doors in 2021 and has been serving freshly-made, traditional Mexican dishes right next to the Thames ever since. Treat yourself to a range of mouthwatering cocktails and enjoy a taco, quesadilla, or both (!) alongside Frida’s very own El Mariachi Band who will play a big show between 1pm–3pm.

12pm–11pm | Frida’s Vaxuhall, 31 Albert Embankment SE1 7GR 

Saturday 6th

Drag Disco Brunch

Darby’s, the NYC-inspired neighbourhood restaurant, is hosting its first all-day drag disco brunch hosted by one of gay culture’s biggest assets, A Man to Pet. Expect plenty of sleaze, cocktails, and brunch options to satisfy even the biggest appetite. Add some well-earned indulgent fun to the bank holiday weekend!

10:30am–4pm | Darby’s, 3 Viaduct Gardens SW11 7AY 

Sunday 7th

Parkour for Kids

Whoever said Sundays were for rest didn’t have a 6–9 year old! Get the kids out of the house and moving with the weekly parkour class hosted by London Parkour. A wonderful opportunity to build their confidence and skills, as well as teach them the importance of collaboration and teamwork. Mini ninjas assemble! 

9am–10:30am | Vauxhall Tube Station, Exit 2 SW8 2LN | £15

Thursday 11th

Robert Dawson Exhibition: Part 2

Celebrated artist Robert Dawson’s exhibition of experimental large clay paintings opens its second part, ‘Signifying Nothing in Colour’. Dawson has experimented with unfired clay as a painterly medium since 2015, and is known for ceramics which integrate printed motifs and geometric structures to create ambiguous illusions. This collection is a reaction to the histories of painting and the decorative arts. 

11–27 May | ken artspace, 16 Windmill Row SE11 5DW | Free

Friday 12th

Garden Museum Courtyard Dining

Take in the fresh greenery of the Garden Museum’s light and airy courtyard while enjoying a spot of award-winning lunch or dinner. Where better to enjoy their choice selection of modern-British and European, light, fresh, and seasonal dishes than amongst a leafy oasis? Tables of up to 6 can be booked everyday for lunch, and on Tuesdays and Fridays for dinner. 

12pm–9pm | Garden Museum, 5 Lambeth Palace Road SE1 7LB 

Tuesday 16th 

Oyster Tuesdays at the Riverside

To make the start of the week just that little bit easier, the stunning riverside garden terrace with panoramic views of the London Eye and Battersea power station has started doing Oyster Tuesdays. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a glass of Nyetimber classic cuvee and some oysters for £16. You heard it here first!

Tuesdays until 10pm | The Riverside, Hamilton House, 5 St George’s Wharf SW8 2LE | From £16

Wednesday 24th

Preview of Kent Chan’s ‘Future Tropics’

Gasworks presents the first UK solo exhibition of Amsterdam-based Singaporean artist, Kent Chan. Previously, Chan’s work has explored the legacies of colonial modernity in a time of climate crisis. In this exhibition, Chan takes a multidisciplinary approach in collaboration with other artists, writers, and musicians, to imagine potential scenarios of a future and global tropic. Get the first peek at the exhibition before it opens to the rest of the public at the Wednesday preview. 

6:30pm–8:30pm | Gasworks, 155 Vauxhall Street SE11 5RH | Free

Ongoing

Beefeater Gin Distillery Tour

Treat the gin lover in your life to an interactive exhibition and tour around the Beefeater distillery. Lasting an hour and a half, you’ll be guided through a tasting session of four London Dry Gins, and learn all about the making of their award-winning concoction, before being shown the all-important Still House where every single drop of Beefeater gin is distilled. To finish off the experience, you’ll head back to the bar for a signature Beefeater G&T. Best to get public transport to this one. 

11am–5pm | Beefeater Gin Distillery, 20 Montford Place SE11 5DE | £25