Interesting and unusual things to do for a fiver or less this week.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Going on throughout October, Black History Month celebrates African and Caribbean history in the UK with plenty of free and cheap events. Check your local council or take a look at our highlights.
Monday 7 October
NANOPARTICLES: Keeping things light on a Monday, University College London hosts a lecture on how nanoparticles have the potential to revolutionise medicine. Free, prebook, 6pm
UNA NUOVA LINGUA: Lingua Diversa at Conway Hall offers language beginners the chance to learn the basics for a fiver. Tonight it is Portuguese, Wednesday is Italian and Thursday is Spanish. Book quick as they sell out. £5, prebook, 6.30pm
Tuesday 8 October
LAZY LONDON: Upstairs at The Yorkshire Grey on Theobalds Road is a talk on the Welsh Assembly’s Active Travel Bill, and what differences a similar introduction would make to England and the capital. Free, just turn up, 7pm
COMEDY: Comedy Cafe offers two cheap laughs this evening: Alex Dubus talks UFOs and bean festivals (£3), while Luke Benson & Carly Smallman discuss their respective life adventures (£5). Prebook, both at 7pm
Wednesday 9 October
FINANCE: STIR Magazine's Autumn launch at Housman's Bookshop focuses on the alternatives and possible innovations to our financial system, with guest speakers. £3, just turn up, 7pm
MORRIS DANCING: If you fancy giving this traditional English folk dance a whirl, then pop down to Napier Hall on Hyde Place for an open night with Westminster Morris Men. Open to all. Free, just turn up, from 7.45pm
Thursday 10 October
HELEN FIELDING: Meet the author of the Bridget Jones' Diary series at Foyles on Charing Cross Road. Get your hands on her new book and get it signed by the author herself. Free, prebook, 12-1.30pm
INCLUSIVE ART: The Urban Dialogues exhibition at Red Gallery on Rivington Street brings together 24 artists with unique perspectives on who we are and what we believe. Tonight they also host a special women-only event celebrating female voices in Britain today. Free, just turn up, from 6pm
Friday 11 October
ART: A new exhibition opens today at Brunei Gallery. The Everlasting Flame: Zoroastrianism in History and Imagination provides a visual narrative of the history of Zoroastrianism - an ancient Iranian religion and a religious philosophy. Free, just turn up, until 14 December
CHEESE & WINE: Oh yum. The Cheese & Wine Festival returns to London’s Southbank Centre from today with plenty of free and cheap (and more importantly, cheesey and winey) events taking place. Until 13 October
EDIBLE BAKERY: To mark National Baking Week, an edible pop-up bakery is ROLLing in (sorry) to Kingly Court, just off Carnaby Street. Entitled Baketopia, it will be open for the public to devour. We predict it lasts 5 minutes. Free (£2 donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital suggested), prebook, until 12 October
Saturday 12 October
CURIOSITY ROADSHOW: Wellcome Collection takes their wares to Camden Lock Market on a converted Routemaster bus for a unique object handling session. Free, just turn up, 10am-6pm
CLASSIC CAR BOOT SALE: Mosey down to Southbank Centre for London's first classic car boot sale, with over 70 classic vehicles trading fashion, homewares, collectibles and food. Browse the offerings or enjoy some of the free music from the top of an open air London Routemaster. £3, just turn up, 10am-6pm
BIG DRAW: Join The Big Draw's launch event at The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for a day of free activities and DIY art installations. Even the art materials are free. Prebook, 11am-5pm
Sunday 13 October
FILM: DocDays at Dalston Social screens Infiltrados, a documentary film about FARC - one of the world’s oldest and deadliest terrorist organisations. Followed by a discussion. Free, just turn up, 2pm
TURKISH MUSIC: Turkish Mystic Sufi musician Latif Bolat presents music, poetry, Sufi mystic stories and images from the ancient land of Turkey, at Newington Green Unitarian Church. £5, just turn up, 7pm
Check out our map of free things to do in London for more frugal fun.
