Free & Cheap London Events: 2-8 December

Ruth Hargreaves
By Ruth Hargreaves Last edited 123 months ago
Free & Cheap London Events: 2-8 December

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

Join a post-apocalytpic battlefield (kind of) in cardboard armour, details below.

Monday 2 December

RAMBERT: To celebrate their move to South Bank, dance company Rambert host a week of free events including dance classes, showcases, tours and discussions. See website for full listings. Free, prebook, until 14 December

ORCHESTRA: The Savoy Hotel's resident 1920s Orchestra perform at St Pancras Station, so you can pop along for a sneaky Charleston after work. Free, just turn up, 4-7pm

UKULELE: Whether you're a regular Ukulele-er or just Uke-curious, pop down to Queen of Hoxton and hire one for a Hootenanny (or if you're already a proud owner then bring yours along). Free (£20 returnable deposit for the ukulele), just turn up, 7.30pm

Tuesday 3 December

CRAP FILM: First there was Troll. Then there was Troll 2. And then there was .. oh wait, nothing, as Troll 2 was so abysmally crap that there wasn't a snowball's chance in hell of a third instalment (there aren't even any trolls in it). Watch it at The Book Club alongside a documentary that looks at the worst films ever made. £5/£3, prebook, 7-11pm

SHORT FILMS: An evening of short film screenings focuses on gender, at The Ritzy in Brixton courtesy of Short Sighted Cinema. Free, just turn up, 7.30pm

Wednesday 4 December

CHRISTINGLE: Pop along to Southwark Cathedral's St Nicholas Day Christingle Service, offering carols, candle lighting and a mulled wine reception. Free, just turn up, 5.30-6.30pm

TRADE UNIONS: STIR Magazine debates trade unions and co-operatives in relation to the struggle for the commons, at Oxford House in Bethnal Green.Free, prebook, 7pm

DIFFERENT LONDON: An evening of literary discussion at University College London looks at how London has been written and pictured throughout time.  Free, prebook, 7-9pm

CHRISTMAS GAMES: Put away the Boggle, Grandma. GamerDisco and Madcatz have teamed up at The Book Club for a night of old school arcade games, mince pies and prizes. Free, just turn up, 7.30pm

MORE SHORT FILMS: Whirligig Cinema's Spotlights at Hackney Attic focuses on comedy this month, with three filmmakers screening and discussing their work. £5/£4, prebook, 7.30pm

Thursday 5 December

MUSEUM CHRISTMAS: Step back in time with Geffrye Museum's Christmas Past exhibition, showing how Christmas has been celebrated in English middle-class homes over the past 400 years. Tonight's special open evening features carols, decoration making and greenery demonstrations. Free, just turn up, 5-8pm

SEW: The Good Wardrobe encourages people to share sewing, knitting and mending skills at their Sew It Forward event at The Railway in Streatham. Just bring a garment in need of some TLC. Free, prebook, 6-9pm

IDEAS FOR LONDON: The seventh Ideas for London salon features seven short presentations on ideas for solving London's housing crisis, at St Clements Hospital on Bow Road. Free (donations to Crisis encouraged), prebook, 6-8pm

CYCLE LONDON: Street Talks is at Look Mum No Hands in Hackney to discuss London's cycling infrastructure in light of a recent international study of cycle infrastructure, commissioned by Transport for London. Free, just turn up, 7pm

KARAUKE: Bad jumpers and ukuleles collide at KaraUke's Bad Jumper Christmas Party so you can sing to the live backing of a ukulele band while wearing your dodgiest jumper. Free, just turn up, 7pm

Friday 6 December

ASIA FAIR: 35 exhibitors sell jewellery, textiles, furniture, art, books, ornaments, clothes and handicrafts from across the Asian region, at Asia House's Winter Fair. Free, just turn up, until 8 December

Saturday 7 December

LANDSCAPE: The visually stunning Landscape Photographer of the Year 2013 starts its run at the National Theatre. Free, just turn up, until 9 February 2014

SPEAKER'S CORNER: This sounds brilliant. Bishopsgate Institute and On the Record celebrate the launch of a unique exhibition exploring Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park with an afternoon of presentations, performances and heckling workshops. Free (generously, lunch and refreshments included), prebook, 1-5pm

CINEMA: Waltham Forest celebrates one of their local high streets, Leyton, with a pop-up cinema in the Great Hall. See website for full details. Free, prebook, 1-10pm

CARDBOARD WARS: Cats, small children and would-be tobogganists have got it right - cardboard boxes can be great fun. Head to King's College London today to build yourself a cardboard suit of armour, before taking part in Juneau Projects post-apocalytpic battlefield. Free, just turn up, 2pm

BURRITO: We've been reliably informed that this month, if you pop into any London Chipotle Mexican Grill on a Saturday between 4-6pm wearing a cheesy Christmas jumper, then you'll get a free burrito. Free, just turn up, Saturdays 4-6pm

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

Last Updated 01 December 2013