Interesting and unusual things to do for a fiver or less this week.
NOUR FESTIVAL: Kensington & Chelsea’s Nour Festival of Arts continues, with free and cheap exhibitions, talks and music taking place all week.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Throughout October, Black History Month celebrates African and Caribbean history in the UK with plenty of free and cheap events. Check your local council to catch the last events taking place.
Monday 28 October
FILM: The Duke Mitchell Film Club presents new and vintage short horror films from around the world, at The Phoenix Artist Club. Free, just turn up, from 7pm
Tuesday 29 October
STORY ADVENTURE: For half-term at the British Library, children can wind their way in and out of the Picture This: Children’s Illustrated Classics exhibition with a Peter Pan-inspired adventure, courtesy of storyteller Kevin Graal, before creating a giant Peter Pan installation with artist Sara Byers. Free, just turn up, 11am and 2pm
DRAWING: Campaign for Drawing patron Andrew Marr discusses the role that drawing played in his recent recovery from a stroke and the link between creativity and happiness with neurologist, Professor Paul M. Matthews, at Charing Cross Hospital. £5, prebook, 6.30pm
GENEROSITY: Give a bit of your time to listen to panellists debate how to make the world a better place, under the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral. Today’s theme is ‘generosity’. Free, just turn up (early arrival recommended), 7.15-8.45pm
CRAFT: The Make Escape are back at Hackney Attic with a special edition Fright Night of craft workshops. Take part in some monsterbroidery, create freaky fascinators, or knit a ghoulish ghost (although judging by the picture above, they are more sweet than scary). Free, just turn up, from 7.30pm
Wednesday 30 October
THEATRE WRITING: The National Theatre looks to the future in a series of platform events, the first of which focuses on theatre writing. £4/£3, prebook, 5.45pm
SPACE: Another excellent Science Museum late, this time focusing on space (including a multimedia dance installation that the audience can influence). Free, just turn up, from 7pm
Thursday 31 October
COMEDY: Lewis Schaffer, Rachel Parris and Kishor Nayar are all on the line-up at the Get Happy comedy night at The Island Queen in Angel. There's competitions, games and dodgy prizes too. £5/£4, prebook, 8pm
BETHNAL GREEN: A series of film screenings at Saint John on Bethnal Green look at how London locations, East London and Bethnal Green specifically, are represented in film. Tonight, I Hired A Contract Killer shows, followed by a discussion led by Nick Tesco, who acted in the film. £4.40, prebook, 8pm
Friday 1 November
MARITIME: Take a trip to the National Maritime Museum today where kids can make a Navy hat, join a storytelling session about Nelson's Column, or step into a step-dance workshop with their parents. All free, see site for further details
CRAP FILM: The Crap Film Club are back and oh boy is it a goody. In a Halloween special, they are at Lime Wharf with a screening of Frankenhooter - because nothing says "enjoy this annual celebration" quite like freak gardening accidents and exploding prostitutes. £4.50/£3.50, prebook, 7pm
Saturday 2 November
CHOCOLATE: Get a dose of the good stuff at Brixton's Chocolate Museum Festival. You can look around the museum, enjoy a free chocolate demonstration and tasting (which is the bit everyone really wants, right?) and children can take part in a chocolate making workshop (£2 charge). Free, just turn up, from 11am
SUCCESS: Join a motivational class with Inner Space at Shoreditch Town Hall, to find out how you can make a success of failure (or tomorrow at Pirate Castle in Camden they're talking about how to have better conversations, 4pm). Free, prebook, 11.30am
Sunday 3 November
MATHS ON TRIAL: Coralie Colmez is at Conway Hall to discuss how numbers get used and abused in the courtroom, and examples where mathematical misconceptions have resulted in grave miscarriages of justice. £5, prebook, 11am
JAZZ: South African jazz singer Kate Winter is at Primo Bar tonight, and you can enjoy the set for nothing. Free, just turn up, 8pm
Check out our map of free things to do in London for more frugal fun.