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.
Keep the kids entertained at Family Film Week
For weatherproof half term fun, have a look at Barbican Cinema's Family Film Week. It's a week of children’s films from around the world, special guest introductions and free workshops and events — including special previews of Oink, and Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. Many events keep prices the same as the venue's weekly Family Film Club (£3.50) — but tickets are selling fast, so be quick!
Various prices, 21-29 October.
Learn how science superheroes crushed Covid
How many events invite you to dress up as a bogey AND meet a world-leading scientist? Both are possible at Ker-Pow! How Science Superheroes Crushed Covid, a show aimed at 7-11 year olds, on at the Royal College of Physicians. Time Out deemed it one of the best kids' shows at 2022's Edinburgh Fringe.
£5 adults/free children, 23 October.
Dive into Dickensland
Author Lee Jackson gives a free talk about his newest book, Dickensland: The Curious History of Dickens's London. Get the lowdown on how tourists have sought out the landmarks, streets and alleys of Dickens's novels for more than 150 years. The event is hosted by the Charles Dickens Museum, but takes place online- — so you don't even need to leave your sofa!
Free, 23 October.
Go on a Black history tour of Canary Wharf
Author S.I. Martin is running free walking tours of the Canary Wharf area this Tuesday and Wednesday — delving into its ties with Black history. Discover the human cost of the West India Docks, follow in the footsteps of victims of the 1919 race riots, and visit the final resting places of forgotten 18th century servants and settlers. Spaces are limited so book ahead.
Free, 24 and 25 October.
Explore a 'forest den' at Waterloo station
An immersive 'forest den' comes to Waterloo station for one day only, on Wednesday (7am-8pm). The WWF multisensory Forest Den offers a pocket of calm and tranquility amid the hustle and bustle. Narrated by Miranda Richardson, it explores the importance of the world's rainforests, and the measures needed to bring them back to full health.
Free, 25 October.
Celebrate World Pasta Day with FREE PASTA
This Wednesday (25 October) is World Pasta Day. Naturally, plenty of restaurants are offering special menus and events for the occasion, but Pasta Evangelists are going one step further by giving away free pasta.
Pasta-related tube stations Farfallingdon (Farringdon), Claphamellini (Clapham Junction), Fusilli (Fulham Broadway), Tootelloni (Tooting) and Camdenlloni Town (Camden Town) are the places to head between 11.30am-1.30pm, to claim one of 1,000 free portions being given away, including carbonara, beef shin ragu, spicy arrabbiata, and wild mushroom pasta. It's likely to be popular, so get down there as close to 11.30am as you can for your best shot at bagging a free lunch.
Free, 25 October.
Immerse yourself in the Cult of Beauty
Wellcome Collection opens a new, free exhibition, The Cult of Beauty, looking at how notions of beauty have varied across time and through different cultures. Historical objects, artworks, films and new commissions are among the 200 objects on show.
Free, 26 October-28 April.
Dine at the Play-Doh Restaurant
A Play-Doh restaurant doesn't sound appetising on first glance, but we're assured the food takes the form of pizza, pasta, fruit and donuts rather than the squishy toy dough.
Book your spot in advance to take your family along for a free meal at the one-day pop-up in Cambridge Heath. It's aimed at parents who struggle with children who are picky eaters. The idea is that they can choose what's for dinner, and create a (non-edible) version of it out of Play-Doh in the play kitchen, while a team of real chefs in a real kitchen cooks up your edible dinner.
Free, 27 October.
Stay late at Tate
Tate Modern throws one of its regular Tate Lates on Friday evening, this time celebrating El Anatsui, the latest large-scale artwork to fill the gallery's Turbine Hall. The evening's programme includes live DJ sets, drawing workshops, film screenings, 10-minute talks about selected items within Tate's collection, and more.
Free, 27 October.
Catch the tail end of Croydon Stands Tall
If you've been to Croydon recently, you might have spotted a few colourful giraffes. In fact, there are 30 of the creatures — plus 30 mini ones — to hunt out for the Croydon Stands Tall art trail, but they're only in situ until this Friday.
Free, until 27 October.
Celebrate Diwali in Trafalgar Square
Although Diwali falls on 12 November this year, London's official celebrations in Trafalgar Square take place this Sunday afternoon, with live music, dancing and more. It's free entry, and open to all — thousands of people usually attend.
Free, 29 October.
Get creative at a mindful craft session
Colour expert and Londonist contributor Momtaz Begum-Hossain runs another of her mindful crafting events for adults at the Well Bean Co Cafe in Royal Docks. Take a couple of hours out of your busy schedule to unleash your inner artist and enjoy the therapeutic powers of crafting.
Projects vary each session and could include anything from painting and collage to mindful sewing and embroidery. Whatever you end up making, all materials are provided and no previous art/craft experience is necessary. Tickets are available on a donation basis, with the option to 'pay it forward', so that somebody who couldn't otherwise afford to can also attend. Age 16+.
Donation, 29 October.
Follow a new Wildlife Wellbeing Trail
Down at Barking Riverside, a new Wildlife & Wellbeing Trail has just been unveiled, taking visitors on a 5km walk along the Thames Foreshore and into Oystercatcher Park. Look out for wildlife, including endangered species as you go — the trail has six artworks plus two sound installations, offering an insight into the water voles, bats, snakes and bird species which live in the area. It's free to visit and a map is available online.
Free, ongoing.
Let off steam at one of London's fantastic free playgrounds
Parents and carers will be well aware that it's half term this week — and it can be expensive to keep kids entertained while school's out. We've got our guide to half term events and activities, which includes some free things to do, but if the weather's on your side, why not take it back to basics and visit some of London's playgrounds? We've mapped all of the ones we know about in central London — and our own little Londonists have tested out several of them.
