From early May bank holiday Monday drinks to Coronation celebrations and alfresco cinema sessions in between, here are five of the best things to do with family and friends in London this week, May 1-6.

1 Bank Holiday Monday

If the weather plays ball, there’s nothing better than an afternoon beer on a sunny public holiday. Ally Pally’s terrace has reopened for the bank holiday, and comes withs food trucks and sweeping views of London. If strolling about town, hit Between the Bridges that comes with the London Eye hulking over it. Also, May 1 is the final day to catch Hampton Court Palace’s Tulip Festival and its 110,000-odd blooms. Here are more ideas on ways to spend your early May bank holiday.

2 Rooftop Film Club, Stratford & Peckham

Catch one of London’s marvellous sunsets before settling in to watch a flick from the comfort of a deck chair and blanket. Rooftop Film Club just reopened for the summer and it’s programming is always great, from the blockbusters and Oscar winners, to independent films and cult hits. Both sites have food truck vendors for a pre-film bite to eat, and the cinemas’ bars will bring popcorn and during-movie drinks.  

Time: Films screen at sunset (around 9.15pm)

Tickets: From £16.50

Address: Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4ST; 7&8 Stratford Multi Storey Car Park, Great Eastern Road E15 1XE

Website: rooftopfilmclub.com

3 The BBQ Club, South Bank

Not quite a picnic, not quite a backyard BBQ, not quite going out to dinner, yet somehow, all three, the BBQ Club on South Bank pop up for summer on May 4. Cook your own (there will be staff on hand to help) six-course meal over fire at the table in a Big Green Egg. Dishes include hand dived Dorset scallop, Cornish seaweed and burnt lime butter as well as salt beer braised bone marrow & beef cheek long-boys doughnut.

Price: From £49 per person, excluding drinks

Address: The BBQ Club, Riverside Queens Walk, Belvedere Road SE1 8XX

Website: designmynight.com

4 A Little Life at the Harold Pinter Theatre, West End

Based on Hanya Yanagihara’s Booker Prize shortlisted novel and starring James Norton (Happy Valley) Little Life tells the dark, troubling tale of four college friends dealing with the horrible secrets an miserable pasts. The play, which features an A-list cast, is as long as the book – it goes for about three hours, and two people fainted in the audience when my friend saw it, so come prepared for an intense story.

Tickets: from £15

Address: Harold Pinter Theatre, 4 Panton Street SW1Y 4SW

Website: haroldpintertheatre.co.uk

5 Coronation Bank Holiday

One week bookended by two bank holidays – utter bliss. How will you celebrate the King’s Coronation, or at least enjoy that extra day to yourself? Many of London’s finest hotels will host a Coronation themed afternoon teas, or Mayfair and Chelsea will each host street parties that look a treat – and there will be many smaller ones scattered across the capital. Here are more Coronation bank holiday ideas, but if you want to ignore it, what about another drink with a view?