| Where: | Islington, London - various locations including Highbury Place, the Narrowboat |
| When: | May 1st |
| Time: | Starts 12 noon- approx 7pm |
In the good old days, it was customary for London milkmaids to dress up in their finery with garlands of flowers and silver, to welcome the spring on May Day morning. The silver was often borrowed and piled high in a pyramid, carried or worn as a head-dress. This picturesque custom has been revived by New Esperance Morris, an all-female side based in London, and they perform with their garland on a tour of Islington every year.
Helpful Hints
It’s on actual May Day, the 1st, not the Bank Holiday (unless it also falls on 1st!). See website link for full itinerary – it’s usually on from mid-day/early afternoon and the schedule is set very close to the due date. 2027 details are yet to be announced.
In 2026 they started at 12 noon at the Camden Head, then the Steam Packet, the York and the Island Queen before the finale at 4pm at the Narrowboat. They finished earlier than usual as they were performing at Hastings Jack in the Green over the weekend- in 2026 1st May was a Friday, which only happens every few years, and the HJITG was on from the Saturday so they needed to get there ready.
The list below is the schedule for 2025 for reference, which is more typical:
12:15 Brewhouse and Kitchen, 2a Corsica St. N5 1JJ
1:00 outside Highbury and Islington tube
2:00 Town Hall, opp the Vineyard, 179 Upper St. N1 1QN
2:30 St Mary’s church, opp the Kings Head, 115 Upper St. N1 1QN
3:00 the Fox on the Green, 1, Islington Green. N1 2XH
3:45 the Steam Passage, 45 Upper St. N1 0PN
4:30 the York, 82, Islington High St. N1 8EQ
5:30 the Narrowboat, 119 St Peter’s St. N1 8PZ
7:30 the Island Queen, 87, Noel Rd. N1 8HD
Click here for the Esps website : https://newesperance.wordpress.com
and here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/11361754892/
No details of May Day?
Hi Mark, Follow the link to the website under Helpful Hints and you’ll find the full schedule with timings and locations, starting noon at the Narrowbaot!
Best wishes
Averil
Hi Averil,
I looked at the website this morning and I looked again this afternoon and still I could not find “nothing”.
I looked everywhere, I expected to find it under diary, but still I could not find “nothing”.
Ah well, next year.
Mark.
Hi Mark,
How very peculiar and disappointing! John & I both checked the Esps website just before I replied earlier, and it was working perfectly with all the times and dates under the Diary section where you looked. The only thing we can think of (I say we but really it’s John as technical support!) is that perhaps your browser is showing you an older version of the page and you need to check your browser cache settings. As with most multi-venue pub tours, I usually advise checking the organiser’s page because they are frequently difficult to arrange and subject to change close to the date (even on the day itself sometimes) but it looks as though something went wrong with your view of the website. The Esps also use Facebook and Twitter so may be worth checking that out.
Best wishes,
Averil
Dear Mark
After your disappointment on May Day I thought you might be interested to hear that New Esperance will be at Hastings Jack in the Green this coming weekend. I so wish I’d realised that you had technical problems with their website as if I’d known I could have found a way to copy the schedule to you but by the time your second message came through it was too late ,so I’ve been feeling guilty about that ever since! However having looked at the diary again they have a number of engagements coming up so hopefully you won’t have to wait a year to see them
Best wishes
Averil
Apart from a statement on the website that “1st May: May Day dance of Islington” is a “Dancing out confirmed date” I can find no details of the start point and intinerary for this year?
Hi Martin,
I sent a message to New Esperance asking for approximate timings & locations for 1st – they usually put a list up on their website & social media but I couldn’t see anything for this year other than the confirmed date either- and this is their plan for the day:
12pm Highbury Place
12:30pm The Brewhouse
1:15pm The Famous Cock
2pm The Vineyard
2:30pm The King’s Head
3:15pm Islington Green
3:30pm The Steam Passage
4:15pm The Camden Head
6pm The Narrowboat
7pm The Island Queen
Hope that helps!
Best wishes,
Averil