London: UK Weekend News Briefing May 2025 – It’s been a tumultuous week, India and Pakistan are on the brink of war, Netanyahu has launched an operation to create concentration camps in Gaza and President Trump has distanced himself from Netanyahu. It seems global conflicts may distract us from critical events at home.
Your UK Weekend News Briefing May 2025 – We’ve got you covered for the weekend of MAY 9th –11th
Anyway, it’s 5pm on Friday so by our calendar the weekend has started. There’s lots to look forward to, for a start, there was white smoke at the Vatican, we have a new Pope, an American one, not everyone is convinced with that. Anyway the weather is bright and there’s lots of hiking opportunities for Brits to get out and about and take in the fresh countryside weather and have a lovely picnic.
What a Thursday it’s been for Spurs and United, a season contesting relegation may be salvaged for one of the clubs by winning the Europa League. Manchester United and Tottenham will meet in an all-English Europa League final on 21 May. Both teams comfortably made their way through to the Final.
The Gooners have had a tough week, with any chance of silverware diminished by PSG, who comfortably knocked them out of the Champions league. It’s raised questions about Arteta’s leadership, and if he is the right manager to lead Arsenal to glory.
🌤️ Weekend Outlook: 11–12 May 2025
As the weekend approaches, the UK is set to enjoy mild spring weather: Here’s a rundown of the weekend outlook for this weekend
- London: Expect sunny intervals with temperatures around 17°C. – Get the Barbeque out for Sunday!
- Manchester: Cloudy with occasional sunshine, highs of 16°C. Go to the Lake District
- Edinburgh: Breezy and cool, temperatures near 14°C. Perfect for Hiking
- Cardiff: Partly cloudy skies with highs of 17°C.
- Dublin: Light rain showers expected, temperatures around 15°C.
Perfect conditions for enjoying the array of events happening across these cities!
“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.” —Abraham Lincoln.
📰 Top UK News Stories this week (Week of 5 May 2025)
- UK–US Trade Agreement Signed: Former US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have agreed a new trade deal, aiming to strengthen economic ties between the two nations and lowering Tariffs to 10%.
- PMQs Non-Aggression Pact: Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch appeared to avoid direct confrontations during this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions, leading to speculation about a strategic non-aggression pact.
- Medical Research Bias Highlighted: A Guardian editorial has brought attention to ongoing gender bias in medical research, emphasizing the need for more inclusive studies focusing on women’s health.
- Labour’s Fiscal Concerns: Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces scrutiny over projections that suggest Labour could miss its fiscal rules by £60 billion if elected.
- Brockwell Park Festival Dispute: Residents in Lambeth, South London, are contesting the hosting of large-scale festivals in Brockwell Park, citing concerns over noise and environmental impact.
- Growing Cyber Attacks in the UK: COOP is the latest retailer to become a victim of Cyber attacks, as shelves are still empty; Marks and Spencers has still not recovered.
Latest news & breaking headlines
🎭 Places and things to do this weekend around the UK
Cultural & Social Events This Weekend
What’s happening in London:
- Hot Sauce Festival: Spice enthusiasts can explore a variety of hot sauces, enjoy live music, and participate in games at this fiery festival in Peckham.
- Antique and Vintage festival: Chiswick is hosting the Antique and Vintage festival on Chiswick High Road on sunday from 9am to 3pm.
What is happening in Manchester:
- The Future Is Ours Festival: A celebration of arts and creativity, featuring performances, workshops, and exhibitions across the city.
What is happening in Edinburgh:
- Porty Festival: A community-driven event in Portobello, offering music, food stalls, and family-friendly activities.
What’s happening in Glasgow:
- Orchid Fair: Hosted at the Glasgow Botanic Gardens, this fair showcases a stunning variety of orchids and offers expert advice on cultivation.
What’s on in Cardiff Belfast and Dublin
What’s happening in Cardiff:
- Introduction to BSL Course: A six-week British Sign Language course kicks off this weekend, promoting inclusivity and communication skills.
What’s happening in Swansea:
- Clyne in Bloom: Experience the vibrant floral displays at Clyne Gardens, celebrating the peak of spring blossoms.
What’s happening in Belfast:
- Sunday Sessions at The Dirty Onion: Enjoy live traditional music and folk bands in a relaxed pub setting.
What’s happening in Dublin:
- WellFest 2025: Europe’s largest outdoor health and wellness festival returns with fitness classes, expert talks, and wellness activities.
⚽ Sports this weekend
Premier League Fixtures: 11–12 May 2025
Saturday, 11 May:
- Fulham vs. Everton
- Ipswich vs. Brentford
Sunday, 12 May:
- Newcastle vs. Chelsea
- Manchester United vs. West Ham
- Nottingham Forest vs. Leicester
- Tottenham vs. Crystal Palace
- Liverpool vs. Arsenal – Guard of Honour for Champions Liverpool
Fir crickets fans the PSL has been moved to Dubai, for safety concerns, following India’s air strikes on Pakistan territory. Similarly the IPL has been postponed for one week as there has been an exodus of overseas players from India.
🎉 Getting you ready for the weekends pub trivia and games
Pub trivia for you this week
- Adele (Born 5 May 1988): The acclaimed British singer-songwriter known for her powerful vocals and emotive ballads.
- Chris Brown (Born 5 May 1989): American R&B singer and dancer, recognized for his dynamic performances and chart-topping hits.
- Karl Marx (Born 5 May 1818): German philosopher and economist, whose works laid the foundation for modern socialism and communism.
- Napoleon I (Born 5 May 1769): French military leader and emperor, renowned for his role in the Napoleonic Wars.
- Henryk Sienkiewicz (Born 5 May 1846): Polish novelist and Nobel Prize laureate, celebrated for his historical novels.
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky(Born 7 May 1840-1893) Russian composer of the late-Romantic period (1812 Overture; The Nutcracker; Swan Lake), born in Votkinsk, Russia
- The Dome of Hagia Sophia Collapses: On 7th May 558 in Constantinople ( modern day Istanbul) the Dome of Hagia Sophia collapsed, Justinian I immediately orders it rebuilt
- Anthony Wilding (Born 9 May 1883- Died 1915) – New Zealand tennis player (Wimbledon 1910-13), killed in action on the Western Front at 31
👑 Royal Family Highlight
On 5 May 2025, the Royal Family commemorated the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey. Queen Elizabeth II’s memories of the day were shared, recalling her incognito walk among the celebrating crowds in 1945.
And on Thursday their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at Westminster Abbey for the Service.
Some Inspirational pictures for this week
Take a Hike in the Lake District
The Buttermere valley and Lake in all its spring glory!
Ideal for a short evening hike, the summit at 355m can be reached quickly but steeply from the car park at Hause Point or from the village using the excellent path to Whiteless Pike.
This is one of the Lake District’s more remote walks, so if you would like to get away from the crowds on the weekend then this is ideal.
Hiking in the Lake district is a real thing, not just for Instagram. Pick a fair weather day with good visibility to do this hike, Sunday looks good, if you can, we promise, the views are fantastic. I would put this down as one of my favourite Lake District rounds.
The route is a lovely leisurely walk, so anyone with a moderate level of fitness should be able to do this one.
👣 Trail details: Yoke (707m), Ill Bell (757m), Froswick (720m), Thornthwaite Crag (784m), Gray Crag (699m), High Street (828m), Mardale Ill Bell (760m), Harter Fell (779m), Kentmere Pike (730m) and Shipman Knotts (587m) 👣 27.3km ⌚️ 7-8 hours 📈 1,420m
For the Londoners who find it a challenge to get past the M25, try this for a walk. Ham Lands in Richmond.
If you want a peaceful walk along the river, through some fields then this is the place. It’s full of wildlife and great the watch the horse riders too, and on a good day, you’ll bump into a celeb or two!
That’s all folks – Enjoy your weekend filled with culture, sports, and enjoy yourself, tag us on Instagram