Seeing

The Charleston Festival returns from 13–25 May, bringing together artists, thinkers, writers and changemakers for a programme of live conversations, performances and workshops in the Sussex countryside.

We’ve got our eye on talks from Kate Bryan, Adam Buxton and Irvine Welsh. The line-up feels thoughtful, curious and wonderfully eclectic which, unsurprisingly, is exactly our kind of thing.

Tasting

It’s International Cocktail Day on 13th May, which feels like the perfect excuse to spend an evening at Larry's beneath the National Portrait Gallery.

Live music, atmospheric interiors and cocktails inspired by the gallery’s portraits? Say no more.

Looking to expand your cooking skills? Migrateful is the cookery school that is led by chefs who are migrants or refugees, helping them integrate in their new home and share their skills with the students. They offer intimate, authentic classes that are fun as well as educational. 

Their next event is an Algerian Cooking Class, which will be hosted on 23rd May.

Listening

One of the most beautiful soundtracks of the season is completely free: the dawn chorus. May is the very best time to hear birdsong at its fullest, with early mornings filled with blackbirds, robins and wrens competing for the spotlight.

If you’re feeling ambitious, set your alarm for 30 minutes before sunrise and open the windows. Or, for a more guided approach, the RSPB are hosting Dawn Chorus walks around the country this month.

Smelling

‍‍The Chelsea Flower Show returns from 19–23 May, filling the city the kind of scent that stops you in your tracks.

Even if you haven’t managed to get tickets, there’s still plenty to enjoy. Some of our favourite moments happen outside the show itself, as you stumble across the free flower displays dotted around the local streets. Sometimes the best inspiration appears when you least expect it!

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Arts

There are still a handful of tickets left to see Tosca at Glyndebourne and we can already tell it’s going to be one of those productions people talk about all summer.

Although if you’ve left things a little too late (like we have!), their Autumn Season events are now live and firmly bookmarked. Head to their site asap to book your tickets before they sell out!

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