Free & Cheap London Events: 13-19 May 2013

Ruth Hargreaves
By Ruth Hargreaves Last edited 130 months ago
Free & Cheap London Events: 13-19 May 2013

Interesting and unusual things to do for a fiver or less this week.


Monday 13 May

TALK: Put on by The Moot With No Name, Professor Roger Luckhurst discusses the life of William T Stead - a journalist, imperialist, feminist, liberal radical and towering figure in late Edwardian England. £3/£2, just turn up, 7.30pm

Tuesday 14 May

PHOTOGRAPHY: Francesca Foley takes photographs that explore the relationship between people and their environment. One Photograph, at Redchurch Gallery is an exhibition of four series taken in Bolivia, India, Peru and Argentina. Free, just turn up, until 19 May

FANS: Curiosities and Quirky Fans opens today at The Fan Museum in Greenwich, celebrating how fan-makers combine artistry and humour to create fans that still delight today. Take a look at fans that can transform into parasols, guns and even cigars. £4/£3, just turn up, until 1 September

FEMALE FILM FESTIVAL: Time of the Month is a free networking event for female filmmakers. As well as an opportunity to network, there is also an open mic section where filmmakers can screen their shorts for audience feedback. Free, just turn up (email in advance if you want to screen your film), 6.30pm

Wednesday 15 May

FORAGING: Sift for your supper at a foraging walk and talk around Hackney Downs. Jason Irving from Forage Wild Food will lead the walk and then talk alongside Blanch and Schock (design and catering company), Ipso-Phyto (food and medicine plant forager) and The Foragers (team of hunter gatherers) about a range of foraging subjects. £4, just turn up, 6pm

SHAME: Try an experiment in catharsis and share your stories of shame at the Camden Head with Natural Born Storytellers. Free, just turn up, 7.45pm

FOLK'S FOLK: Steve Folk is a travelling troubadour who lives and records his music on his two roaming canal boats. Tonight he performs at The Narrow Pub and Restaurant. Free, just turn up, 8pm

Thursday 16 May

SCRIPT-WRITING: Genesis Cinema host their second New Writing Night, where three writers submit their script writing for the audience to read, critique and help develop. Free, just turn up, 7pm

KARAUKE: Like cheese and toast, karaoke and ukeleles fit together like a hand to a glove. Head to The Royal George on Charing Cross Road for KaraUke, where you can perform your favourite songs with the backing of a ukelele band. Free, just turn up, 7.30pm

Friday 17 May

ARCHIKIDS: This weekend, Open-City launches Archikids Festival 2013 today, with over 50 free architectural activities for all the family including workshops, activities and tours in iconic London buildings and public spaces. Free, see website for listings, until 19 May

JAZZ: The Royal Albert Hall's free ignite jazz series continues today with Giacomo Smith (clarinet) and Robin Katz (guitar) performing the music of two of the greatest jazz musicians, Django Reinhardt and Sidney Bechet. Free, just turn up, 12pm

TASTE OF SCANDINAVIA: Experience the food, culture and music of Scandinavia at Taste of Scandinavia in Haslemere Hall, Thornton Heath tonight. Skål! Free, just turn up, 7pm

COMEDY: Head along to one of The Invisible Dot’s Free Shows. Tonight's line-up isn't confirmed yet but it is always brilliant. Book in advance because they sell out quickly. Free, prebook, 7pm

Saturday 18 May

PUBLIC ART: The Curious Exchange at Dulwich Leisure Centure ends tomorrow. Southwark residents can create and submit an object to the exhibition and in return, they get to take someone else's curious object home with them. Free, just turn up, until 19 May.

FREE FILM: The Herne Hill Free Film Festival is still spoiling us with free screenings and tonight, the anime classic Spirited Away is playing in Brockwell Park. Free, just turn up, 8.30pm

Sunday 19 May

CAMERA FAIR: Photographica is the UK's largest photographic collectors fair and there will be over 135 tables offering images, cameras, books, accessories and restoration tools. £5, just turn up, from 10am

FEEL-GOOD EVENT: Join Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong, a Buddhist nun and internationally renowned meditation teacher, at Friends House on Euston Road for a talk on how to develop inner confidence and happiness. Free, prebook, 1.30pm

Check out our map of free things to do in London for more frugal fun.

Last Updated 10 May 2013