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.
Explore A Ripple in Time
The latest exhibition to land at Orleans House Gallery in Twickenham is A Ripple in Time, in which artist Gary Stewart has "remixed sonic elements, original narration, multi-channel video work, vintage objects and artworks from the collection". Dialogues between different time periods are opened up, and visitors are invited to explore, reflect, play, and become dub experimenters themselves.
Free, 6 August-23 February 2025.
Take a tour of this magnificent church
St. Mary Magdalene's, a Neo-Gothic church in Paddington, offers a free lunchtime tour. A volunteer shows you around the 1860s building, which is widely recognised as one of the finest Gothic Revival churches in the country. It's now used as events venue Grand Junction.
Free, 7 August.
Visit a new exhibition about homelessness
Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea opens a new, free exhibition with Prince William’s Homewards programme and Eleven Eleven Foundation. Homelessness: Reframed explores the complexities of homelessness through artworks by artists in the UK and beyond, inspired by their own or others' experiences of homelessness. It also includes pieces created by children and young people at a series of creative workshops
Free, 7 August-20 September.
Bag yourself a pint for just £2
For one day only, you can get yourself a pint — or several — for just £2 a pop. All day on Thursday, the deal is available at these seven sports pubs: Greenwood (Victoria), Northwood (Angel), Redwood (London Bridge), Goldwood (City), Beechwood (Shoreditch), Westwood (Shepherd's Bush) and Broadwood (City).
You don't need to order anything else to claim your bargain bevvy, and there's no limit per customer (though do drink sensibly, obviously). Beer connoisseurs may want to note that there are just two choices of beer available in the £2 offer: Heineken or Heineken 0%...
£2 per pint, 8 August.
Spend an afternoon watching classic films
Lower Marsh in Waterloo offers an afternoon of classic film screenings — for free! Napoleon Dynamite, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Back to the Future are all being shown on a large open-air screen. There's no booking — just turn up and bag yourself a deckchair. It's likely to be popular, so worth getting there early.
Free, 8 August. For other free film screenings, check out Screen on the Canal in King's Cross, and the events programme at Summer by the River.
Step inside a Somali home
A domed steel structure based on an Aqal, a Somali nomadic home found in the arid landscapes of Somalia, appears in the Roof Garden at Southbank Centre this week, and it's free to visit. House of Weaving Songs features tapestries adorned with tales of tradition and resilience, and is accompanied by a soundtrack of Somali women's weaving songs.
Free, 8-11 August
Celebrate south-east London at Thamesmead Festival
The free Thamesmead Festival returns to Southmere Park for its 52nd edition. Several stages pop up, allowing local performers to showcase their talents, spanning R&B, soul and rap music, Bollywood dancing and more, including MOBO Award-winner Kele Le Roc, and spoken word and acoustic sets from the likes of Brit School graduate Gönül and singer-songwriter Sam Winston. There are plenty of other stalls and activities dotted around the park too, and it's just a 15-minute walk from Abbey Wood station.
Free, 10 August.
Party until late at Turning Tides
Thamesmead Festival (above) isn't the only party happening in south-east London on Saturday. Free music festival Turning Tides is back at Greenwich Peninsula, with UK and international music artists taking to the stage throughout the afternoon. It culminates in a headline performance by north London rock band Girl Ray.
Free, 10 August.
Sing your heart out at Bearpit Karaoke
A phenomenon which started in Berlin, Bearpit Karaoke is back at the amphitheatre in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. Strut your stuff as you sing along to karaoke anthems. All sorts of folk get involved, including professional singers and West End stars, as well as non-professionals — each trying to coax the audience into joining in.
Free, 10 August.
Ride a miniature train in a pub garden
Kids and adults alike will go loco for the miniature train which rides in a loop around the beer garden of the Holly Tree pub in Forest Gate, east London. It does so every Saturday and Sunday in the summer 1pm-4pm, and it doesn't cost you anything to hop aboard (although you should of course buy a drink from the bar!).
Free, 10-11 August (and every weekend in the summer).
Catch some rays at London's newest pop-up beach
Fancy a trip to the beach, but can't face the traffic/train to the coast? Head to Costa Del Croydon, a rooftop beach which has popped up on top of a car park, complete with a giant sandpit, beach hut seats, bungee trampolines and a water splash zone. It's open daily throughout August, and is free entry.
Free, until 28 August.
