Interesting and unusual things to do for a fiver or less this week. For more ideas have a look at our Free & Cheap page.
All Week
ART: Take a look at our July art events listings and find art openings happening this month. You should find the perfect fit to your creative side among painting, photography, drawing and more. Lots of free ones as well.
BRIDGE EXHIBITION: Museum of London Docklands's largest ever art exhibition, Bridge, is now open. It consists of historical and contemporary depictions of London’s bridges in the form of artwork, film and photography. It also considers how bridges are used in London today. Free, just turn up, until 2 November
CANARY WHARF: Enjoy outdoor Shakespeare plays, live music, film screenings and opera in Canary Wharf this summer — all for free. See website for full programme.
GO TO THE BEACH: Camden Beach is back at the Roundhouse. Why not head there with friends and pull up a deckchair? It's free, and feels like being at the British seaside (it's even got the capricious weather). Free, just turn up, until 23 August
Monday 28 July
LAST CHANCE: The exhibition Consumed by War: Physicians and the First World War on display at the Royal College of Physicians in Regent's Park closes today. Free, just turn up, 9am-5pm
MUSIC AT THE STATION: Alex Mendham & His Orchestra are back for an evening of free world class music at St Pancras International train station. The event takes place on the upper mezzanine by the Betjeman statue, where they'll play classic 1920s and 30s jazz. Free, just turn up, 5pm
POETRY: The Poetry Café in Covent Garden hosts John Clegg and The Emma Press, for an evening of poetry, tequila and Wild West guitar. Free, just turn up, from 6.30pm
LET'S DANCE: DDPP is a women-only freestyle dance session at The Amersham Arms in New Cross. Women of all ages are welcome to get together to dance to an hour-long playlist. Part of the money raised will be donated to charities. £5, just turn up, 7pm
FOLK CLUB: Torriano Meeting House in Kentish Town hosts Unity Folk Club, where various singers and poets perform. There's a particular focus on those who work against war, capitalism, exploitation, privatisation, imperialism and globalisation. £3, just turn up, 7.30pm
Tuesday 29 July
ART: State of the Art Cinema is an interactive exhibition showcasing posters and images from about 75 movies to be released in the UK from now until early 2015. The exhibition takes place at The Strand Gallery close to Embankment. Free, until 23 August
PERFORMING ARTS: The Conservatoire for Dance and Drama in Old Street offers (to those aged 14-17) a free one-day taster of performing arts. Choose between drama, dance, circus and backstage (technical theatre) workshops, led by industry professionals. Free, prebook, 10am-4pm
CINEMA QUIZ: You're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat is a touring cinema quiz, and tonight it's Upstairs at the Ritzy in Brixton. £4, prebook, from 6pm
FILM SCREENING: Genesis Cinema in Whitechapel hosts S4 Film Club, which celebrates the summer with a special screening of one of three 'filmumentaries'. The audience decides which one of the three 'filmumentaries' deserves to be screened. Free, prebook, 7pm
FREE TALK: Join Zuzana Hrdličková, a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Sociology of Goldsmiths, as she talks about natural catastrophes and human societies. The event takes place at the Cittie of Yorke in Holborn and includes drinks and nibbles. Free, just turn up, 7pm
CRAFTY: The Make Escape returns to Hackney Picturehouse for an evening of crafty activities celebrating the great British summer fair. Learn knitting, crochet and embroidery plus bunting and fabric badge making — all material provided. Free, just turn up, from 7.30pm
Wednesday 30 July
IDEAS SHARING: Would you like to help develop the business of two different social ventures focused on children and furniture? Ideas Hack presents a one-day event where people aged 18-24 are welcome to get stuck in a problem solving session. Lunch and a small bag of goodies are provided. Free, prebook, 9am-5pm
SKATE PHOTOGRAPHY: As part of the Cons Project, you can join a free skate photography workshop, taking place at the Copeland Gallery in Peckham. Free, prebook, 1pm-5pm
STANFORDS: Cycling fans should pedal over to Stanfords tonight, where cycling writers Max Leonard, Hannah Reynolds and Simon Warren present their books and talk about their experiences on the road. £3 (including a drink), prebook by email, 6.30pm
MUSEUM LATE: The Science Museum dedicates its late opening to Brazil. Explore the nation which hosted this year's World Cup through themed activities about samba, science and football (naturally). Free, just turn up, from 6.45pm
SOVIET COOKING: Waterstones Piccadilly hosts award-winning food writer Anya von Bremzen, who discusses her book Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking, in the store's Russian Bookshop. It’s part family memoir, part historical epic and part modern day kitchen adventure. Free, prebook, 7pm
IRISH FICTION: Tony Murray’s London Irish Fictions is the first book about the literature of the Irish in London. He speaks about his book at Housmans in King's Cross. £3, just turn up, 7pm
GOOD CAUSE: Non-profit organisation Oxfam Camden and Proud Galleries present Sister Act, a night to support and celebrate creative females. Expect live music on the main stage and various creative stalls in the stables, showcasing everything from clothing to cupcakes, all local. £3+bf, prebook, 7pm
POETRY SLAM: See a collective poetry slam featuring emerging talents aged 16-25 taking place at the Roundhouse in Camden. £5, prebook, 7.30pm
Thursday 31 July
NATIONAL THEATRE: Listen to journalist Katie Adie talking about her new book Fighting on the Home Front, which explores the momentous legacy of women in WWI. The event takes place at the National Theatre, as part of its ongoing events series Platforms. £4/£3, prebook, 6pm
LONDON MAPS: Join Henry Eliot and Matt Lloyd, the writers and urban cartographers behind the map series Curiocity, talking about unusual things to do in London and alternative city maps. The event takes place at Waterstones Piccadilly and free wine is provided. Free, prebook by email, 7pm
CONS PARTY: To celebrate the end of Cons Project, you can take part in their Celebration Party happening at their main venue in Peckham's Copeland Gallery. Expect house, techno and UK bass music plus free drinks and free BBQ on a first-come first-served basis. Free, prebook, from 7pm
BOOK TALK: Award-winning author Dr Jacqueline Simpson talks about her book The Folklore of Discworld at Dirty Dicks pub in Liverpool Street. £3+bf, prebook, 7.30pm
GIG: Moses Boyd Exodus perform tonight at the No. 178 bar in New Cross. Free, just turn up, from 8pm
Friday 1 August
FREE FESTIVAL: Main Yard Affair Festival takes place at Number 90 in Hackney Wick, as part of the Hackney WickED Festival. This three-day festival includes art exhibitions, live performances and music, plus food and drinks. Check website for full programme. Free, just turn up, until 3 August
SUFFRAGETTE FESTIVAL: This east London-based festival celebrates 100 years since the East London Federation of Suffragettes was independently established in Bow by Sylvia Pankhurst. Most of the events are free or cheap and include walks, talks, workshops and more. Check website for full events programme. Until 10 August
BEACH RUGBY: Join a free-to-watch Beach Rugby Tournament, taking place at Wood Wharf in Canary Wharf, which lasts today and tomorrow. Free, just turn up, 11am-8.30pm
HAYSTACK WORKSHOP: Learn the traditional skill of scything in this two-hour workshop at the Valley Centre in Leyton. After the scything, there is a picnic followed by informative talks from local historians and community groups on conservation, urban agriculture, land management and the arts. £5, prebook, Friday & Saturday 1.30pm-3.30pm & 4.30pm-6.30pm
FLAMINGO PIER: This time, Flamingo Pier's monthly event aims to bring a slice of the Côte d'Azur to Hackney Wick with food and drink from the South of France and DJ sets peppered with French disco and house. £5, just turn up, from 6pm
NATIONAL THEATRE: Director and writer Neil Bartlett talks to Michael Coveney about his novel The Disappearance Boy, set in the tarnished world of 1950s variety theatre. The event takes place at the National Theatre, as part of its ongoing events series Platforms. £4/£3, prebook, 6pm
MUSEUM LATE: Tate Britain presents a Museum Late that explores youth culture and the position it occupies between social structures and cultural boundaries. Expect an evening of exploratory spoken word and sound inspired by the artwork in the Tate Collection from a mix of storytellers, poets, beat boxers and musicians. Free, just turn up, from 6pm
FOLK IN A BOAT: Listen to some folk music aboard the Golden Hinde II near London Bridge station. Music is played by Tiller Flat Folk Club and money raised benefits the conservation and the restoration of the ship. £5, prebook, 7pm
Saturday 2 August
EID: The Mayor of London’s Eid Festival takes place in Trafalgar Square. There's a food festival with global cuisines, live music performances and activities for children including face-painting, henna, calligraphy and sports. Eid-al-Fitr is celebrated by Muslim communities worldwide and marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. Free, just turn up, 12pm
VINTAGE FAIR: Jumble & Pearls Vintage Fair returns to The Book Club in Shoreditch. On display are a lot of new designers' creations, with a vintage backing track. Free, just turn up, 12pm-6pm
FAMILY WORKSHOP: The Cuming Museum leads a free family workshop about mythical creatures at Peckham Library. Free, just turn up, 2pm
INTO THE PARK: Explore The Holme, a private mansion within Regent's Park, once owned by Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie. It's open today and tomorrow and children get in for free. £4/free, just turn up, Saturday & Sunday 2.30pm-5.30pm
ART TALK: Emma Enderby, Assistant Curator of the current Marina Abramović: 512 Hours exhibition at Serpentine Galleries, talks about the interactive art exhibition. This event is on a first-come first-served basis. Free, just turn up, 3pm
Sunday 3 August
BRIXTON SPLASH: This Brixton Street Festival takes place all across the central roads of the borough, organised by the local community. During the day there will be food, music, a craft market, art performances and so on. You can support the street festival by making a donation on their website as well. Free, just turn up, 12pm-7pm
FAMILY FUN: Families who visit the Lee Valley Centre in Leyton today can gather the hay from the scything workshops into giant haystacks, join the Ranger Ramble walk and talk with the site ranger. Free, just turn up, 12pm-6pm
NATURE WALK: Join London Wildlife Trust and Friends of One Tree Hill for a four-mile walk, covering Honor Oak Park, Crystal Palace Park, Cox's Walk and Sydenham Hill Wood. Meeting point is One Tree Hill noticeboard in Honor Oak Park. Free, just turn up, 12pm-4pm
UNION CHAPEL: Get the chance to see the secrets bits of Union Chapel you don't usually get to see — join a guided tour of the historical building. £5, prebook by email, 12.15pm
TREE WALK: Discover local trees in the area close to Wood Green called Tower Gardens, join the Tree Walk. Meeting point is at the corner of Waltheof Avenue and Lordship Lane. Free, just turn up, 3pm
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.