Free & Cheap London Events: 27 January-2 February 2014

Laura Reynolds
By Laura Reynolds Last edited 122 months ago
Free & Cheap London Events: 27 January-2 February 2014

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

Dragon masks at The Make Escape. Details below.

Monday 27 January

CREATIVE INSPIRATION: Rich Mix hosts the CreativeXPO 2014, a free two-day-event aimed at people who want to get started in the creative industry, consisting of talks, demonstrations and exhibitor stands. Free, prebook seminars, 9am, continues tomorrow

SURPRISE FILM CLUB: The Duke Mitchell Film Club's first meeting of 2014 takes places at The Phoenix  Artist Club and it's a Super Special Secret Surprise night (try saying that after a couple of pints). Don't be expecting a regular night at the cinema — instead of a feature film, trailers, shorts and teasers will all form part of the agenda. Free, just turn up, 7pm

Tuesday 28 January

DARK COMEDY: Over it — Death, Anorexia and Other Funny Things uses laughter as a way to get people thinking and talking about tough issues, and the show's London preview takes place at Effra Social. Pay what you want, just turn up, 8pm

COASTAL PHOTOGRAPHY: Courage on our Coasts, an RNLI exhibition, opens at City Hall today, featuring photos taken by volunteer life boat crew member Nigel Millard and depicting the work that RNLI crews do. Free, just turn up, until 10 March

LITERARY STAND-UP: A new monthly comedy event, In Yer Ear, kicks off tonight around the theme of literature. Brace yourself for poetry, prose, monologues and more, with the evening culminating in live music. Suggested donation of £1 to Macmillan Trust, (there will be a £3 charge for future events), just turn up, 7.45pm

CHINESE CRAFTS: The lovely people at The Make Escape are back with their monthly craft evening, this time based on the Chinese Year of the Horse. Learn how to make paper lanterns or rosettes, or simply learn to knit. There is also a bar and live DJ. Free, just turn up, 7.30pm

Wednesday 29 January

ADULTS ONLY: Science Museum Lates, an adults-only event encompassing bars, a silent disco and a pub quiz, takes place on the last Wednesday of each month. This month it focuses on the Large Hadron Collider. Entry to the Lates is free, just turn up, but there is a charge for the Collider Exhibition, 6.45pm

MEDIA DEBATE: The Wiener Library plays host to a debate for 16-25 year olds discussing how social media content relating to the Holocaust should be regulated. Heavy, but interesting. Free, booking required, 6pm

NEW TRAIN: A chance to see into the future when a life-size model of a future Thameslink train goes on display at ExCel Centre. Free, just turn up, 2pm

GEORGIAN CONSERVATION: As part of the Morley Gallery's Waterloo Sights & Sounds Exhibition, this talk by conservationist Stephen Bull discusses the conservation of Georgian buildings on Roupell Street. Free, prebook, 6pm

Thursday 30 January

COMEDY: Get Happy @ The Island Queen features comedians Tony Law, Suzy Bennett and David Mills, to name but a few, plus games and prizes. Prebook £4, or just turn up £5, 7.30pm

MEET PEOPLE: Break the rules inflicted on us by the tube deities and *hushed tones* talk to a stranger. The aptly names Talking to Strangers #22 at the Devereux provides the opportunity to discuss various topics. £4, prebook, 7pm

Friday 31 January

LATE NIGHT MUSEUM: The Natural History Museum's monthly late-night, adult-only opening features live music and pop-up bars and restaurants, as well as the chance to peruse the usual exhibits. Free entry (charge for some exhibits), 6pm

ROLLER SKATING: Every week, the Friday Night Skate gives roller skaters and roller bladers a chance to skate the streets of London in harmony. Usually meets at Wellington Arch, but keep an eye on the website for route changes and cancellations due to bad weather. Free, just turn up, 8pm

Saturday 1 February

GET RUNNING: We know that really, really important things keep cropping up which prevent you from sticking to your running resolution, but there's no excuse this Saturday as parkruns take place at various locations across London. Free, prebook, mostly 9am (check individual locations)

MORNING POETRY: As part of Pop Up Holloway weekend, join poet and comedian John Hegley for a morning poetry session. The weekend's events continue tomorrow, with proceeds going to Holloway Arts Festival 2014. Pay what you can, prebook, 11am

MARTIAL ARTS: See in the Year of the Horse at Rich Mix's free event, which features live dance, music and martial arts performances, food and drink, and children's art workshops. Free, just turn up, 12pm

Sunday 2 February

CHINESE NEW YEAR: The annual festivities kick off from 10am with the parade from Duncannon Street to Shaftesbury Avenue, with dances, events and performances taking place in Trafalgar Square throughout the day. Free, just turn up, 10am

SPACE ART: Today is the last chance to see the Republic of the Moon exhibition at the Bargehouse, OXO Tower. In celebration of the moon landing, and in anticipation of a closer relationship with the moon in the future, a multitude of artists have prepared photographs, workshops, performances and more, on a futuristic lunar theme. Free, just turn up, last day

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

Last Updated 26 January 2014