Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 18-24 November 2024

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.

Check out free comedy every day of the week

We could probably all do with a laugh right now — and fortunately, Angel Comedy Club at the Camden Head (the pub in Angel, NOT the one in Camden) has our backs seven nights a week. Head to their upstairs space to watch a torrent of comedians — from newbies giving it a go to famous face shaping fresh material — Monday through to Sunday. As the old gag goes, it's free to get in but not to get out, i.e. cough up a little dough at the end if you're able to.

Free, daily.

Enjoy live music on your lunch break

Musicians from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance perform a free lunchtime concert at Queen's House in Greenwich. Exact line-up is TBC at time of writing, but it's a chance to experience live music in a relaxed setting, in an historic house and art gallery. Bolster the experience by booking a free entry ticket to explore the rest of Queen's House either before or after the performance.

Free, 20 November.

Hear about the Americans who saved people from the Nazis

Among the free lectures at Gresham College this week, hear from Professor Debórah Dwork, a noted expert on the Holocaust, on Wednesday. She gives an insight into the often-overlooked contributions of Americans who risked their lives to save others during the Nazi era. Hear stories of courageous individuals, particularly women, who ventured to aid victims of Nazi Germany. Watch in person at Barnard's Inn Hall, or online via livestream. 

Free, 20 November.

View artworks by musician Chrissie Hynde

Musician and frontwoman of The Pretenders Chrissie Hynde opens an exhibition of her artworks at 4 Cromwell Place on Thursday. Hynde Sight offers up 60 of her recent works for public viewing, with subjects ranging from furniture and musical instruments to self-portraits, as well as portraits of friends including Brian Eno and Paul Weller.

Free, 21 November-14 December.

Watch a demo by The Dorchester's Executive Pastry Chef 

Michael Kwan, Executive Pastry Chef at the Dorchester, makes an appearance at Le Cordon Bleu cookery school in Bloomsbury Square for a patisserie demonstration, with tickets just a fiver. It's a chance to learn the techniques used by one of London's most respected chefs, and up your home baking game just in time for Christmas.

£5, 22 November.

Catch the final days of Newham Festival of Stories

Running until Friday, Newham Festival of Stories is a programme of free storytelling themed events, taking place at various venues across the borough. On Monday, North Woolwich Library hosts a family-friendly VR workshop based on children's book Wolves in the Walls, and on Tuesday, Plaistow Library celebrates positive local news by encouraging residents to tell their own stories and those of their area. That's just a selection of the events for all ages running this week.

Free, until 22 November.

Attend east London's free literature festival

As one literature festival closes, so another one begins. The WriteIdea reading festival is a weekend of free events at Tower Hamlets Town Hall. On the line-up are Olivia Laing (discussing her book about restoring a walled garden in Suffolk), Madeleine Pelling (whose book Writing on the Wall is a cultural history of the 18th century, told through its graffiti) and Tasneem Abdur-Rashid in conversation with Dr Fatima Rajina, about British Bangladeshis. 

Free, 22-24 November.

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Visit the Hampton Court Palace gardens for free

Every so often, the lovely people at Hampton Court Palace hold a garden open day/weekend, when the public can visit the gardens without paying the usual admission fee. This weekend is one such occasion, so get out there and enjoy the Great Fountain Garden, Kitchen Garden, Privy Garden and other areas, without spending a penny. Note that the normal admission fee still applies to visit the palace itself, the Maze and the Magic Garden Playground — as well as the Hampton Court Palace ice rink, which opens this week.

Free, 23 and 24 November.

Winter light at Southbank Centre

A reminder that among all the Christmas lights and illumination festivals opening around London at the moment, Southbank Centre has a free lights trail. Winter Light consists of 12 glowing artworks dotted around the Southbank Centre area, illuminated every night and free to visit. Simply wander until you find them all, or download the map to help you on your way.

Free, until 2 February. If that's your vibe, bookmark the very similarly named Winter Lights, returning to Canary Wharf in January 2025 (also free!).