Budget-friendly things to do in London this week for £5 or less.
Looking for more free things to do in London? Here are 102 of em! We've also compiled this epic map of free stuff in London.
Hear about the lost novels of Faith Compton Mackenzie
Faith Nona, also known as Faith Compton Mackenzie, was a prolific writer of novels, short stories, memoirs, and biographies — but her legacy has been largely subsumed by that of her husband, celebrated author Compton Mackenzie.
Now, as a new edition of her first and last books is published, Kate Macdonald of Handheld Press gives a free online talk hosted by Guildhall Library, about Faith's life and work.
Free, 11 June.
Get a better understanding of climate change
The Royal Geographical Society hosts a free online talk about how we as humans perceive the subtle changes happening around us as a result of climate change. Find out how scientists and artists are striving to make climate change intelligible to human senses, with particular focus on heat.
Free, 13 June.
See an art exhibition in a railway station
Head to the Old Waiting Room at Peckham Rye station to see the latest exhibition of work by Soviet artist Pavel Otdelnov. Hometown is a series of paintings depicting his birthplace, Dzerzhinsk, a Soviet city built on sand, once a chemical capital, now one of Russia's largest munitions hubs. The works are split into different series including Gangs, Families, and Honest Workers, all telling the stories of the people of Dzerzhinsk. The exhibition is part of the Making Connections community arts festival.
Free, until 14 June.
Munch on a 71p burger
Hard Rock Cafe in Piccadilly celebrates its birthday on Friday, and in a nod to the fact it first opened in 1971, it's offering its Original Legendary Burger (vegan and veggie options available) for just 71p. Only one bargain burger can be claimed by each diner, and the offer only runs today from 11.30am-2.30pm. There's also live music, a Harley Davidson Drive by and a cake ceremony.
71p (plus whatever else you spend on lunch), 14 June.
Get the lowdown on the Flying Nightingales
Ever heard of the Flying Nightingales? They were the first British women on active service to be flown into a war zone — delivering supplies and equipment, and treating injured soldiers during the second world war. Find out more about them in a free online talk given by Kara Neave, author of A Nightingale Flew, and hosted by the Florence Nightingale Museum.
Free, 15 June.
Explore London's queer history
Chelsea Library marks Pride Month with Dr Isabell Dahms giving a talk about the history of gay male cruising in London, including illicit cross-class contact, policing, blackmail and damaging criminalisation.
Free, 15 June. Also this week, Gresham College offers a lecture about the queer history of the Bloomsbury Group. Free, 11 June.
Eye up classic cars in Waterloo
The monthly Waterloo Classics takes place on Saturday, when owners of classic vehicles park them up on Lower Marsh in Waterloo for passers-by to admire. Head for the area in front of Scooter Caffe.
Free, 15 June.
Attend the Great Get Together in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Every year, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford hosts the Great Get Together, a free community event featuring music, dance, arts, sport and food. This year's event — which takes place on Saturday — offers music and dance acts on the main stage, sports-day style events to take part in, plus face painting and more.
Free, 15 June.
Take the whole family to the Great Exhibition Road Festival
The Great Exhibition Road Festival takes over the eponymous road this weekend, offering two days of art and science activities courtesy of local institutions including the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Imperial College, Royal Geographical Society and V&A. It's free, and family-friendly, and some highlights of the huge event include a paint lab, AI arcade games, live music, several stages, a sensory craft garden, AI-proof face painting, a windmill workshop and lots more.
Free, 15-16 June.
Catch the free events at Wandsworth Arts Fringe
Wandsworth Arts Fringe continues all week (and into next), and although there's a charge for many of the events, there are several ways to get involved without parting with a penny — use the 'Free event' filter on this page to find them. Catch Musical Symphony: Sensory Film at Sprout Community Arts this weekend, take the kids to a teen yoga session on Monday, or see Marcus Morgan's Cabiret - A Night of the Bisexual Variety at The Bedford, among other free entry events,
Until 23 June.
