Free And Cheap London Events: 10-16 November 2014

By Silvia Baretta Last edited 112 months ago
Free And Cheap London Events: 10-16 November 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.

The Alibi in Dalston hosts The Quiz About Nothing: Seinfeld Trivia this week. Details below

All Week

ART EXHIBITIONS: Feeling arty this month? There's plenty to choose from in London. Take a look at our November art listing: this month includes fashion, sleep, art and sex. Most of the exhibitions listed are free.

CHRISTMAS MARKETS: We're still in November but Christmas markets are starting to spread all over town. To find the closest one to you, check our Christmas markets and fairs listing. Need more ideas? See our November markets and shopping events listing.

SOUTHBANK: World Press Photo of the Year 2014 opens today at Southbank Centre. See 143 selected pictures from over 130 countries that capture news, portrait and sports. Amazingly, this exhibition also costs nowt to get into. Free, until 26 November. For more openings this month, see our November art listing.

Monday 10 November

OPEN EXHIBITION: Al Jazeera English holds an interactive exhibition at St Pancras International. Find the display close to the Euro Tunnel entrance, which features a series of 6-10 light box installations with connected audio. Free, until 22 November

TALK ABOUT RESEARCH: The Farr Institute does research using electronic health records in order to create bigger database for the public health system. Tonight the Institute holds an event to give we the public an insight into its main tasks. Free, prebook, 6pm

FREE CONCERT: Head to Conway Hall for The Stages of Love free concert, featuring opera talents Mary Bevan and Richard Peirson. The concert is followed by a Q&A which will be conducted by Ashutosh Khandekar, Editor of Opera Now magazine. Free (including a glass of wine), prebook, 6.15pm

WAR COMMEMORATION: The Western Front Association holds its annual Unknown Warrior Commemoration at Victoria station. The body of the Unknown Warrior was brought to Platform 8 at Victoria on 10 November 1920, prior to being interred at Westminster Abbey the next day, 11 November. Free, just turn up, from 8pm

Tuesday 11 November

PHOTO EXHIBITION: #Bagsie kicks off today at The Proud Archivist: it's an exploration into the contemporary phenomenon of the selfie. Ten artists were asked to create a self portrait on a paper bag that reflected their personality within: they were then photographed by Jonathan Knowles. Free, until 16 November

FOXGLOVE SUMMER: Ben Aaronovitch signs copies of Foxglove Summer at Hatchard’s in St Pancras. In the fifth of the best-selling Rivers of London series, Peter Grant is out of whatever comfort zone he might have found and out of London — to a small village in Herefordshire. Free, just turn up, 1pm

PUBLIC LECTURE: A public lecture about the future of Bioethics takes place tonight at Barbican Centre, organised by The Nuffield Council. A panel of four guest contributors from a range of disciplines will lead the discussion by sharing their own views about key bioethics issues. Free, prebook, 6pm

CINEMA NIGHT: Head to Cafe 1001 in Brick Lane tonight for Shorts on Tap, a regular cinema event that features the screening of seven short films by emerging filmmakers. Tonight's theme is Autumn Leaves: a trip down Memory Lane. Free, prebook, 7pm

LIARS LEAGUE: The Phoenix on Cavendish Square hosts the monthly Liars League. Actors and authors stand up to tell stories they have written along the theme of Vice and Virtue. £5, just turn up, 7.30pm

POETRY PANEL SHOW: Never Mind The Full Stops at Hackney Picturehouse is a poetry comedy panel show. Two teams compete with couplets and score with sonnets to see who will make victory from their verse. £5/£4, prebook, 7.30pm

COMEDY: The Hemingford Tickler Free Comedy Night takes place tonight at The Hemingford Arms in Caledonian Road. Acts confirmed are: Danny Ward, James Shakeshaft, Special Guest Who Cannot Be Named, Harriet Kemsley, Stephen Bailey and Amy Howerska. Free, just turn up, 8pm

TRIVIA QUIZ: The Alibi in Dalston hosts The Quiz About Nothing: Seinfeld Trivia, which is all about the 90s hit show Seinfeld. Teams can be up to six people, each person pays just £1 to play. Email joelpneale@gmail.com to book your place. £1, 8pm

Join Carnaby Street Shopping Party on Thursday, it's free. Details below

Wednesday 12 November

EXHIBITION: Mum, Dementia and I opens today at Bernie Grant Art Centre. Annemarie Anang tells us about her experience living with her mother, a dementia sufferer, through a series of intimate and suggestive photographs. Free, until 23 November

FREE WALK: Join Real Cinderella guided walk, organised by GoToMidtown Walks. The walk will reveal the rags-to-royalty story of Nell Gwynn, one of the characters from Restoration England. Meeting point is by the orange information kiosk outside Holborn Station. Free, just turn up, 1pm

LUNCH BREAK: Learn more about the life and work of fashion photographer Horst by joining a free lunchtime talk led by Susanna Brown, the exhibition curator at the V&A. This event is connected to the exhibition Horst: Photographer of Style. Free, just turn up, 1pm

SIR ALEX FERGUSON: No, not the man himself. Professor Damian Hughes is at Waterstones on Trafalgar Square to talk about his new book, How To Think Like Sir Alex Ferguson. £3, prebook, 7pm

CHEAP TALK: Former Weather Underground Organization (WUO) member Jeff Laster is at Housmans tonight to talk about his experience in the political group and the American student revolutions of the 70s. £3, just turn up, 7pm

FREE GIG: Head to the Old Blue Last tonight for some free live music. On stage will be Jagaara and Fred Page. Free, just turn up, 7.30pm

THE DRURY CLUB: Covent Garden's The Drury Club hosts live music tonight from Ruth Royall and Tom Butler. The first 150 in get a free drink on the door. £5, just turn up, 7.30pm

Thursday 13 November

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY: Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize opens today at the National Portrait Gallery. The annual photographic exhibition showcases the work of some of the most talented emerging young photographers from around the world, alongside that of established professionals, photography students and gifted amateurs. £3, until 22 February 2015

FREE EXHIBITION: Reverb exhibition opens today at DIG in Lewisham. Contributing artists are: Astrid Ahlbom Andersson, Charlotte Barnard, Louise Madsen, Emily Woolley and Camille Yvert. Private view starts at 6pm. Free entry, until 16 November

OPEN STUDIOS: Wimbledon Art Studios has an open weekend where the public can meet the artists and buy art directly from them. Disciplines covered include painting, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, photography, printmaking and furniture design. Free, just turn up, until 16 November

CARNABY STREET PARTY: Carnaby Street Shopping Party sees the shops in the area stay open late for one night only, with discounts available to those who register for a free ticket, plus instore activities such as makeovers in Benefit. Free, prebook, 5pm-9pm

MUSEUM LATE: National Maritime Museum opens its doors after the normal opening time and hosts an evening of fun activities. There will be themed workshops, a photobooth and music, plus the ticket gives you entrance to the museum's current exhibition Ships, Clocks & Stars. £5/£4, prebook, 6pm

BOXPARK: Meet new friend tonight at Shoreditch's BOXPARK. #TheFriendZone is an evening of social games, music and drinks. Free entry, from 6pm

HORNIMAN MUSEUM: Go behind the scenes at Horniman Museum and join curators and members of staff for a special tour after the normal opening times. Discover the museum's gallery of musical instruments with music curator Margaret Birley and learn more about the Horseman Gardens. £5, prebook, 7pm

Friday 14 November

NEW EXHIBITION: Why are Europeans drawn to explore the Arctic? Find out at Lines in the Ice exhibition which opens today at the British Library. Take a journey into the history of icy escapades, in particular of the Northwest Passage, showcasing maps, writing materials and photography. Free, until 29 March 2015

BIOSCIENCE FESTIVAL: The Great British Bioscience Festival kicks off today at the Museum Gardens in Bethnal Green. For three days, BBSRC researchers will be exhibiting the best of British bioscience — full programme on the website. Free, until 16 November

LUNCH BREAK: Head to the Bishopsgate Institute and listen to Ukrainian-born musician Dinara Klinton performing a piano concert. Repertoire includes Schubert, Prokofiev and Mendelssohn. Free, just turn up, 1pm

FREE TALK: Tonight at the Free Word lecture theatre, author Laleh Khalili talks about her new book Time in the Shadows. The book chronicles detention and confinement of both combatants and large groups of civilians, from colonial times to present day. Free, prebook, 7pm

MUSIC: The Aidan Woodcock Charitable Trust presents classic chamber music by Bach, Haydn, Webern and Beethoven performed by young musicians in a Maiastra concert. The event takes place at St Anne’s Church in Kew Green. Free (donations welcome), just turn up, 7.30pm

MORE MUSIC: Listen to Café Manouche tonight, a young Gypsy jazz and swing band formed by three brothers. Tonight they perform for free at The Elgin Pub in Notting Hill. Free, just turn up, 8.30pm. For more gigs this week, see our weekly music listing.

Jumble and Pearls pop-up is at The Book Club this Saturday, free entry. Details below

Saturday 15 November

OPEN STUDIOS: Chocolate Factory Artist Studios in Wood Green opens its door to the public this weekend. There will be over 120 artists and you'll get the chance to visit this vibrant hub of cutting edge design, product development and creativity. Artworks will be on sale as well. Free, Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 November 12pm-6pm daily

DIGITAL AGE: Senate House, home to the Ministry of Information during WWII and inspiration for Orwell’s 1984, opens its doors for a day of free activities. This mini-festival explores the contemporary phenomenon of ‘data overload’ and its impact on human consciousness with talks, tours and exhibitions. Free, prebook, 10am-10pm

POP-UP VINTAGE: Pop Up Vintage Fairs London is at Old Spitalfields Market on the third Saturday of every month. Start Christmas shopping vintage-style with over 40 stalls selling ladies and menswear, jewellery and accessories, homeware, antiques, collectables, posters, maps and curios. Free, just turn up, 11am-5pm

JUMBLE & PEARLS: The Book Club in Shoreditch is the venue for Jumble & Pearls (early) Christmas pop-up. Innovators, designers and art sellers all come together to showcase their products, while a DJ spins records. Celebrities including Dawn French, Pixie Geldof and blogger Susie Bubble have all been spotted rummaging at the event in the past. Free entry, 12pm-6pm

EXPLORE ZOOLOGY: The Grant Museum of Zoology at UCL has organised a family day where visitors can get hands on with some of the specimens in the Museum's collection. Find out what the skin of a python feels like or how sharp a shark’s tooth is or how many spots a leopard has. Free, just turn up, 1pm-4.30pm

FOOD FEST: Urban Food Fest at Euro Car Parks in Shoreditch is a street food night market that takes place every Saturday. From today, there's a different festive street food menu every week, with dishes including: English roast chicken and cranberry pie, Italian turkey and burrata wood-fired pizza, Venezuelan feta and sage stuffing arepas and American three-bird brioche. Free entry, just turn up, from 5pm

Sunday 16 November

CAPITAL CARBOOT: Every Sunday in Pimlico, an indoor and outdoor car boot sale takes place. Early bird buyers entry is at 10.15am and costs £5, or public entry is 11.30am- 2.30pm, costing £1. Every Sunday

FAMILY DAY: Head to Keats House for a witches and wizards themed family day with tales, songs and poems with a magical flavour from their resident storyteller. Learn some of the secrets of Merlin, and invent your own magic spell. Free, just turn up, 1pm-4pm

ACOUSTIC NIGHT: The Antelope Pub in Tooting Broadway runs a monthly acoustic music night, The Breathing Room. Tonight features singer songwriter Ady Johnson, folk artist Steve Folk and others. £3, 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 09 November 2014