The story behind it
On 9 May 1662 Samuel Pepys wrote in his diary about watching an Italian puppet play in Covent Garden, the first recorded performance in England of the character who became Mr Punch. The festival celebrates this as Punch’s birthday. St Paul’s, designed by Inigo Jones, is known as the Actors’ Church for its long links with the theatre, and it has hosted the fayre for decades, making it a reunion for Punch and Judy professors from around the country.
What to expect
Things begin at 11am with a procession of puppets and puppeteers, led by a brass band, to the plaque in Covent Garden marking Mr Punch’s arrival, where a toast is raised to him. At noon there is a special service inside St Paul’s Church, often with Mr Punch appearing in the pulpit. Through the afternoon the church garden fills with Punch and Judy booths and other puppet shows, alongside clowns, magicians, stilt walkers and pearly kings and queens, plus stalls selling puppets, crafts and refreshments.
Watching and joining in
Entry is free with no tickets needed, and donations are welcome at the gate. The performers are professional puppeteers, so visitors watch. Arrive by 11am to see the procession set off and get into the service, which can fill up. Bring a picnic blanket or something to sit on for the garden shows, and coins to drop in the bottle when the Punch and Judy hat comes round.
Joining in
If you’re a puppeteer, the fayre is as much a gathering as a show. Small Pond Theatre’s event website separates coming along with fellow puppeteers from actually presenting a show. To perform, you apply to the May Fayre Committee with details of your show and a public-liability insurance certificate. Get in touch with the organisers about the next edition before you turn up with a booth, start setting up kit or count on a slot. Traders after stall space should do the same.
Puppeteers are welcome to join the parade, with under-eighteens accompanied by a responsible adult. That’s quite a different thing from striking up an unarranged performance in the church garden. If you’re just starting out, soak up the range of styles and save your questions for a sensible pause, rather than collaring someone mid-show about their rig.
Coming as a family to watch? Notice how much a performer can say with rhythm, voice and the tiniest twitch of a puppet. Different booths can tell familiar stories in quite different ways. Let children pick one show and stay for the whole thing before wandering on; keep hopping about and you’ll miss the setup that makes the punchline land. Ask before photographing a performer’s work up close.
Practical bits
Getting there and home
St Paul’s Church is on Bedford Street, with its garden entrance tucked behind the Covent Garden piazza. Covent Garden and Leicester Square Underground stations are a few minutes’ walk away, and Charing Cross mainline station is about ten minutes on foot. Sunday Tube engineering works are common, so check before travelling. Driving and parking in the area are expensive and best avoided.
Access and families
One access limit to know first. The organiser says there’s wheelchair access from Bedford Street and a ramp into the church nave, but no step-free access to the garden lawns. Talk to the event team about the parts of the programme you want to see before you travel, as getting into the church doesn’t mean you can reach every puppet booth. Stewards are on hand to help, though they can’t make the steps disappear.
Seating is limited, so plan how your group will watch a full show. Ask the organiser what you can reasonably bring, especially if someone needs a chair rather than a picnic blanket. Pick a spot where children can see the performance and the path between booths stays clear. Keeping an eye on children is the accompanying adult’s job from start to finish.
According to the visitor information, there are food stalls in the garden and public toilets on the Piazza. Check this year’s set-up if you have particular access or dietary needs. If your child needs a quieter moment, take it between shows instead of keeping them in the thick of the crowd all afternoon. A first puppet festival can be a handful of chosen performances, not an endurance event from procession to closing time.
Questions people ask
Can a puppeteer turn up and perform without applying?
No. You need to apply to perform, with show details and a public-liability insurance certificate, before bringing a show.
Is the whole garden step-free?
No. The church is accessible, but the organiser says the garden lawns currently have no step-free access. Ask about the programme areas you want to reach.
Is seating guaranteed?
No, seating is limited. If someone in your party needs to sit for a show, ask the organiser what you can bring.
Where are the public toilets?
The event’s visitor information lists public toilets on the Piazza. Check they’re open and suit any access needs before travelling.
Plan your trip
Stay the night
Search places to stay in and around London for 9 May 2027. Rooms near popular events go early, so check cancellation terms.
Find a place to stay on Booking.comNearest station: London Charing Cross
St Paul’s Church garden is a few minutes’ walk from Covent Garden and Leicester Square Underground stations and about ten minutes from Charing Cross.
Check trains on TrainlineBooking.com and Trainline links are affiliate links. What that means.
Where it is
The pin shows the approximate area. Open in OpenStreetMap
Make a weekend of it
The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square tells stories in pictures of a different kind. General admission is free, though some exhibitions charge separately. You can book free timed tickets for quicker entry or just walk up, and its visitor page has access and family information. Choose a few paintings or a current family activity rather than attempting a whole major collection around the fayre.
Sir John Soane’s Museum, the architect’s former home in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, is another tempting outing. The house is shown as it was left when he died in 1837, full of collections and wonderfully distinctive rooms. General entry is free with no need to book, but space is tight so there may be a queue, and some tours run their own arrangements. Read the current visiting guidance before bringing a big group or squeezing a tour into a tight schedule.
Treat either as its own part of your London stay, particularly if the puppets fill your afternoon. Both deserve proper attention, and neither has anything to do with May Fayre admission. Leaving room for one quiet indoor visit keeps everyone happy when not all your party is puppet-mad, and saves you cutting every show short to chase the next landmark.
Odd things nearby
- Oranges and Lemons Service 0 miles away, Around the third Thursday in March
- Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival 1 miles away, A Sunday in late September (2026: Sunday 20 September)
- Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race 2 miles away, Once a year in late summer, timed to the tide; recently early September (2026: Wednesday 2 September)
Also in May
- Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza Llandudno, Conwy
- Oxford May Morning Oxford, Oxfordshire
- Padstow ’Obby ’Oss Padstow, Cornwall
- Rochester Sweeps Festival Rochester, Kent
Featured in May Day Traditions: ’Obby ’Osses & Maypoles, London’s Oddest Traditions & Ceremonies, 12 Free Odd Days Out in the UK, 12 Odd Days Out With Kids in the UK, Odd Day Trips From London.
About this guide
Check before you go. Check the Actors’ Church website for the confirmed 2027 date and programme before travelling.
About the date. The organiser’s 2026 page (Sunday 10 May 2026) says it is held on the second Sunday in May each year; Sunday 9 May 2027 is computed from that rule.
Researched from the sources below and last checked on . We haven’t visited every event or tested every journey, and the organiser’s own information always wins.
.jpg){kind=link}