London is about to be taken over by design this May! Between London Craft Week and Clerkenwell Design Week, the city is filling up with installations, workshops, and open showrooms. It is a brilliant time to see the process behind how things are made, shifting the focus from mass-produced items to craftsmanship, sustainable materials, and intentional design.

Whether you are a designer yourself or just fancy a wander for some home inspiration, there really is so much to see. I’ve mapped out my route and top pics for 2026, from woodworking demonstrations to late-night jam sessions.

London Craft Week (11–17 May)

The programme is huge this year, covering everything from mid-century furniture and sculptural form to heritage print techniques. These are the installations and workshops I’ve got my eyes on:

Sadie Clayton: Flow & Renewal

Where: Old Spitalfields Market, 16 Horner Square, E1 6EW

When: 12–14 May
Sadie is a friend of Weirdstock (and a fan of our Moondream silk). She works with copper in a way that mimics fabric, and you can watch her sculpting live on the market floor. Her installation in the red phone box is a must-see for anyone interested in how raw materials can be transformed into fluid, organic forms.

Batik: Recolouring Tradition

• Where: Gallery 8, 8 Duke Street, St James's, SW1Y 6BN
• When: 12–17 May
  Lisa King’s project takes traditional Indonesian Batik and translates it into a modern visual language. It’s a fascinating look at how heritage print techniques can be pushed into new territory through bold colour and pattern.

Makers of Trellick Tower: Behind the Shutter

• Where: Trellick Tower (Ground Floor), 5 Golborne Rd, W10 5PA
• When: 14–16 May
  Trellick Tower is a London icon and a masterclass in Brutalist architecture. The woodworking workshop at its base is opening for three days to show the process behind timber framing and furniture making. They’ll be demonstrating a mix of UK and Japanese hand-tooling techniques, which is a rare treat for fans of structural design and form.

Palefire at 8 Holland Street

• Where: 8 Holland Street: South of the River, 31-33 Kennington Lane, SE11 4LS
• When: 11–17 May
  This exhibition takes over two townhouses in Kennington, featuring lighting from Palefire Studio alongside 20th-century furniture. It’s a perfect opportunity to see how mid-century soul and modern shapes work together in a real home setting.

Hands-on Rangoli by Group Drawing

Where: Battersea Power Station, Circus Rd W, SW11 8AL

When: 12 May, 18:00 – 20:00
An immersive session on the art of Rangoli using rows of pure colour to create intricate patterns. It’s a meditative way to explore traditional decorative art and get a bit of colour therapy.

See the full programme for London Craft Week and reserve your place here.

Clerkenwell Design Week (19-21 May)

Clerkenwell is always a highlight for me. The showrooms of Clerkenwell and Farringdon open their doors for three days of events, panel discussions and more. Alongside the design talks, you’ll find installations popping up on the streets and loads of fun stuff like puppy therapy, rooftop yoga, chocolate making and plenty of cocktail hours!

Here's the breakdown of what is in my diary:

Tuesday 19th May

Fold & Flourish: Origami Planters (11:00)Location: Amtico Flooring, 102-108 Clerkenwell Rd, EC1M 5SA
A calming workshop using traditional folding techniques to craft miniature planters.

Lush Bath Bomb Masterclass (15:00)Location: Solus Ceramics Stand, 80 Clerkenwell Rd, EC1M 5RJ
You'll be able to get tactile with ingredients and make your own Lush product to take home.

Circular Textures Workshop (15:00) Location: Forma 5 esPattio Stand, 14-18 Old St, EC1V 9AB
Participants get to create unique textile pieces using fabric offcuts while exploring circularity.

Woven Values: Ethics & Innovation (15:00) Location: Church of Design (St James Church), Garden, EC1R 0EA
Author Katie Treggiden explores the technologies and transparency requirements transforming the textile industry.

The Meaning of Objects (17:30) Location: Deadgood, 46 Old St, EC1V 9AQ
A chat about why we get so emotionally attached to the things in our homes.

Wednesday 20th May

The Role of Colour (12:00) Location: Mapei World London City, 6 Great Sutton St, EC1V 0BX
Karen Haller explores how colour choice can enhance mental health and the user experience.

Nightclubs as Collective Transcendence (13:00) Location: Domus, 23-25 Great Sutton St, EC1V 0DNA
Talk examining the sensory intensity and psychology of club culture.

The True Nature and Power of Colour (14:00) Location: Church of Design (St James Church), Garden, EC1R 0EAA
Panel discussion on how we use colour for communication and identity.

Thursday 21st May

From Palette to Pile (14:00) Location: REDDIE (with Creative Matters), 153 Goswell Rd, EC1V 7HDA
Weaving workshop exploring how tone shifts when translated into fibre through palette-building and yarn selection.

Stitch It, Wear It: Embroidery Workshop (15:30) Location: Milliken Floors, 5 Berry St, EC1V 0AAA
Relaxed "sip & sew" session. Bring your own garment to embellish under expert guidance.

The Five Points Project Live Jam (16:00 – 18:00) Location: Solus Ceramics, 80 Clerkenwell Road, EC1M 5RJA
Fully improvised jam session to close out the week!

Register for your CDW 2026 pass and various workshops here. They're all completely free!

Whether you're heading in for some home inspo, a panel talk or even the free lunches and wine (no judgement here!) I hope to see you there!

Johanna x