We expect to arrive in London on Sunday, 1 May, and I know that the European holiday will be celebrated on Monday, 2 May. Will museums, palaces and other sights likely be closed during our visit? What about shows? Transportation? Alernatively, are we likely to encounter crowds anywhere during our visit?

All the museums, shows etc will be open. Transit will run on a Bank Holiday schedule (i.e. like it runs on Sundays) but you wont likely notice any difference.

Popular tourist sites will always be crowded, its unlikely to really impact anything. The City of London (the banking area around Bank station and Canary Wharf) will be dead and most pubs and restaurants in that area will be closed. Other than that you shouldnt notice much difference.

" that the European holiday will be celebrated on Monday, 2 May"

It damn well won't.

The Europeans can do as much of this new-fangled socialist "international workers' day" nonsense as they like.

We, however, celebrate Mayday, a now secularised, formerly Christianised, originally Germanic, spring festival that's entirely English and has got nothing to do with workers but a lot to do with having a good time, on May 1.

We then take the following Monday off because we deserve another holiday. What goes on the other side of the Channel means nothing.

>>We, however, celebrate Mayday, a now secularised, formerly Christianised, originally Germanic, spring festival that's entirely English and has got nothing to do with workers but a lot to do with having a good time, on May 1.<<

flanner and a few intimate friends, celebrating:
http://www.thekingsmorris.co.uk/IB_4...ncing_2007.jpg

The are at the right angle