Free And Cheap London Events: 30 June-6 July 2014

Laura Reynolds
By Laura Reynolds Last edited 117 months ago
Free And Cheap London Events: 30 June-6 July 2014

Interesting and unusual things to do for a fiver or less this week. For more ideas have a look at our Free & Cheap page.

Watch the charity volleyball tournament at Canary Wharf.

All Week

ART TRAIL: Bow Arts has an art trail going on all week taking place in Manor Park in Newham, artwork created by children from eight local schools is situated in public spaces around the area. Free, just turn up, until 7 July

BRAZILIAN FESTIVAL: The Joga Bola! Brazilian cultural festival is underway at Rich Mix in Shoreditch. The free festival’s line-up includes music and DJs from the UK, Brazil and Europe, artists at the forefront of contemporary Brazilian scene, film screenings, Brazilian culture and World Cup football. See website for full programme. Free, until 13 July

BEACH VOLLEYBALL: Action For Kids' Beach Volleyball Championships return to Wood Wharf in Canary Wharf from 30 June. Teams of 5-12 people compete against each other over three weeks, providing plenty of entertainment. Free to spectate (with a charge to take part), until 18 July

PORTRAIT EXHIBITION: The Society of Antiquaries, located at Burlington House in Piccadilly, opens a new exhibition on 30 June. It's a collection of paintings including portraits of eighteenth-century antiquaries and rare fifteenth- and sixteenth-century portraits of medieval and Tudor monarchs and rulers of early modern Europe. Free, just turn up, until 1 August

BRIDGE EXHIBITION: Museum of London Docklands’ largest ever art exhibition, Bridge, is open now. It consists of historical and contemporary depictions of London’s bridges in the form of artwork, film and photography, and also considers how bridges are used in London today. Free, just turn up, until 2 November

Monday 30 June

MUSIC EDUCATION DEBATE: Head to the London Symphony Orchestra's St Luke's venue on Old Street for this debate about why every child needs music, and whether the curriculum has the right balance between science and arts. Free, prebook, 6.30pm

UNDERGROUND PHOTOS: At Rich Mix in Shoreditch, Bob Mazzer launches his book of Underground photographs. The pictures date from the 1970s and capture a series of individual moments on the Tube. Mazzer will also be talking about them. Free, prebooking essential, 7pm

Tuesday 1 July

SCIENCE FUN: Royal Society’s Summer Science Exhibition begins today, inviting the public to learn about current research, with plenty of fun, games and live experiments to jolly things along. Free, just turn up, until 6 July

FILM EXHIBITION: A new exhibition opens at A&D Gallery in Marylebone today. State Of The Art Cinema showcases 75 contemporary film posters and photographs, split into six themes including Britain on Screen and Family Heroes. If you have a smartphone, you'll also be able to access extra audio-visual content. Free, just turn up, until 12 July

PEPYS' HOLBORN: See sites in the Holborn area referred to by Samuel Pepys in his famous diary on this guided walk. Starts at the GoToMidtown shop at 56 New Oxford Street. Free, just turn up, 5.30pm  

PHYSIOLOGY LECTURE: The Physiological Society holds its summer lecture at Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster. Professor Lord Robert Winston will discuss whether molecular biology has allowed us to manipulate evolution, and explores the ethics of related technological advances. Free, just turn up (first come, first served), 6.15pm

Wednesday 2 July

PALACE TOUR: Fulham Palace runs its monthly historical tour. It begins in the gardens, then heads to the Great Hall, Victorian Chapel, Bishop Terrick Drawing and Dining Rooms, Bishop Sherlock’s Room and concludes in the two Museum rooms where permanent displays are exhibited. £5, just turn up, 2pm

COMIC CAREERS: Want to get into the comic art industry? At Westminster Reference Library, there is a talk from a guest panel including author Christophe Bruchansky, artist Tom Pearce and Andrew Salmond from Gosh! Comics. Free, prebook, 6.30pm

FOLK MUSIC: Back to the Folklaws is a new weekly live folk music event at Lock 17 in Camden. Line-up changes weekly, TBC closer to the evening, but the event is completely free. Just turn up, 7.30pm

EDINBURGH COMEDY: Drink Shop Do in King's Cross has a night of Edinburgh comedy previews, with new and returning artists. £3, prebook, 8pm. If comedy isn't your thing, simply spend the evening piping Lionel Ritchie’s face onto a Rich Tea biscuit using icing. Free, just turn up, 7pm

Thursday 3 July

THAMES SEAL CONSERVATION: The ZSL London Zoo pop-up shop on Carnaby Street has ZSL Conservationist Joanna Barker talking about her work to monitor and conserve harbour seals in the Thames Estuary. Free, just turn up, 1pm/1.30pm/6pm/6.30pm

THEATRE PLATFORM: Today's National Theatre Platform features Aidan McArdle and Ronan Raftery, the actors who are currently playing Sylvester and Harry in The Silver Tassie. The discussion is chaired by Libby Purves. £5/£4, prebook, 3pm

ANTIBIOTICS SCIENCE: St George's University in Tooting has a free lecture about how our bodies are growing resistant to antibiotics with thoughts on what we can do. Learn about ground-breaking research, see some of the equipment the researchers use and chat to the university's experts. Free, prebook, 5.30pm

VICTORIAN SEX: Head to Guildhall Library for an evening about sexual desire, practises and deviance in the Victorian era with cultural historian Fern Riddell, followed by a signing of her new book, The Victorian Guide to Sex. £5 (+0.95 booking fee), prebook, 6pm

BOOK LAUNCH: Westminster Reference Library hosts the launch of Tea and Pineapple Cake, a book which is split into two travel journals. Tom's journal is set in Limehouse, and Sue's is set in Bournemouth. Free, just turn up, 6pm

SHORT FILMS: Head to Truman Brewery on Brick Lane for Nature of the Beast, Tales of Violence, a screening of seven short films by Shorts on Tap. Free, prebook, 8pm

Friday 4 July

EAST BARNET FESTIVAL: Over 100 stalls, a dog show, children's entertaiment, a bar, food fayre, theatre and three stages. Takes place in Oak Hill Park. Free, just turn up, until 6 July

FOUNDING FATHERS: Celebrate Independence Day by visiting sites in Bloomsbury and Holborn connected to Benjamin Franklin's stay in London in the 18th century. The guided walk begins outside Holborn Station. Free, just turn up, 1pm

WILD FILM: Watch Call of the Wild (1935) on a big screen at the J.Z. Young Theatre on Gower Street, courtesy of the Grant Museum of Zoology. Historian of Biology, Professor Joe Cain will introduce the film which is followed by a free drinks reception in the Museum. Free, just turn up, 6.30pm

FOLK MUSIC: Tiller Flat Folk Club has its monthly music evening on board Golden Hinde II on Clink Street. All proceeds go towards the restoration and preservation of Golden Hinde II. £5, prebook or just turn up, 7pm

Saturday 5 July

BUS GARAGE OPEN DAY: The latest in the series of London Bus Garage open days sees Potters Bar Bus Garage open to the public for one day only.  Free, just turn up, 10am-5pm

CREATIVE SHOPPING: Queens Parade in Willesden Green has been transformed into a space for creative independent businesses. The first Saturday of every month is a day of activities, workshops, entertainment, special offers, live music and more. Free, just turn up, 11am-6pm

JESTER FESTIVAL: The 42nd annual Jester Festival takes place on Fortune Green in West Hampstead with a multitude of stage performances as well as stalls from arts and crafts people and local community organisations. Plenty of children's activities will be taking place, as well as a dog show on Sunday. See the full programme here. Free, just turn up, 12pm-6pm, continues tomorrow

SUMMER BEE-ZAAR: The Mill in Walthamstow has a Summer Bee-zaar, giving the public a chance to learn about bees through games, stalls, refreshments and music. Free, just turn up, 2pm-5pm

Sunday 6 July

SONG PROMENADE: Take a walk through the historic borough of Southwark led by well-known tour guide Nigel of Bermondsey. Walk through Bermondsey to Rotherhithe with entertaining songs performed at the locations where the events inspiring them occurred. Begins at the gates of the Crossbones Burial Ground on Redcross Way. £5, prebook by email, 4pm

SUMMER CONCERT: Belsize Commuity Choir teams up with Fleet Singers for a summer concert. Takes place at Gospel Oak Methodist Church, Agincourt Road, NW3. Free (donations welcome), just turn up, 7.30pm

Check out our map of free things to do in London for more frugal fun. Or pop over to BrokeInLondon.com who also have plenty of great ideas.

Last Updated 29 June 2014