The Know Daily - Thursday 21 May 2026

_{Read in 4m 05s ∙ Listening to Beyoncé ∙}

Did you know that the sky has been smiling at us for the past couple of days? I’ve never thought of planets as cute before… there’s a first for everything! 🪐

🌞 15 things to do this bank holiday weekend

The weather forecast for this bank holiday weekend is looking seriously glorious – think sunshine, blue skies and temperatures climbing nicely just in time for the long weekend. After what has felt like an endless run of grey days, this is your official sign to get outside, make plans and romanticise absolutely everything for the next few days. Here are 15 things to do this bank holiday weekend:

🧺 Have a proper picnic in the park with supermarket picky bits, strawberries and at least one person who loves a game (we’ve got some recs for this too!).

✍️ Based in Edinburgh? Spend an afternoon at the Writers’ Museum and lean fully into your literary main-character era.

🍦 Go for a long walk that has absolutely no purpose other than ending with ice cream.

💻 Throw an “admin party” – invite friends over, put music on, answer emails, organise your life and reward yourselves with snacks and wine afterwards. Weirdly satisfying.

🌊 Walk the part of the newly opened England Coast Path closest to you and soak up sea views, salty air and inevitable pub stops.

🎶 Find an outdoor gig, beer garden DJ set or local food festival and stay out longer than you planned.

📚 Skip scrolling and pick up the book you’ve been meaning to start since the beginning of the year. 

🎨 Visit one of London’s brilliant free art exhibitions and pretend you’re the kind of person who spends every weekend in galleries.

🚆 Pick a random town on the train departures board and go there for the day… but maybe check it’s not too far away before hopping onboard 😂

🪴 Spend an afternoon fixing up your garden, balcony or windowsill plants whilst getting better acquainted with the herbs you can throw into future spag bols.

🍓 Wander around a farmers’ market and buy things you don’t need but absolutely deserve. 

🧑‍🍳 Attempt that overly ambitious recipe because this is finally the weekend you “have time”.

🚲 Rent a bike somewhere scenic and cycle around aimlessly in the sunshine – think the Camel Trail, Box Hill or Cardiff Bay.

🌅 Watch the sunset somewhere elevated – rooftop, hilltop, beach front, anywhere with a good view.

🏕️ Book a last-minute countryside escape, campsite or tiny cabin and disappear for the weekend.

🛒 Price caps on some essential food items are being encouraged by the government as part of efforts to ease pressure on household budgets.

• The bigger story: Ministers are in talks with major supermarkets about voluntary limits on the cost of everyday essentials, as concerns over the cost of living continue despite inflation slowing from recent highs. The idea is aimed at helping consumers manage rising grocery bills by keeping staple products more affordable, particularly for lower-income households. Supporters say it could offer short-term relief at the checkout, while critics argue supermarkets are already operating on tight margins and warn price caps can be difficult to sustain over time.

👓 Smart glasses are set to be released by Google this autumn, more than a decade after their first attempt.

🗒️ GP fit notes declaring people unable to work are set be replaced with support to help employees stay in their job under a government pilot scheme.

💸 $300m has been pledged by a foundation to defend democratic institutions and advance economic security in the US.

👣 Greenhouse gas emissions are being cut by China quicker than promised, a new report has found.

📸 160 photographs and films from around the world have been shortlisted for the 2026 edition of the Earth Photo competition.

🏖️ A new app dedicated to Portugal's river beaches has launched, helping travellers discover hidden spots.

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Trivia answer: C) 2026 is becoming the year of this cute trend (even the King has got on board!).

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