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 EXHIBITIONS: Feeling arty this month? Look at our top ten art choices for January. The great thing is, most of them are free.
Monday 5 January
ARCHIVES: The British Library holds a day-long symposium on the topic of Archives In The Future. Panel discussions cover topics including who owns archives, and the impact of digitisation. Free, prebook, 10am-8pm
HOT STORYTELLING: Heat is the theme of this month's Spark Storytelling event (for adults) at Hackney Attic. Anyone can get up on stage and share their tale. £4, prebook, 7.30pm
Tuesday 6 January
LEARN TO DANCE: Dust off your dancing shoes and head to Cecil Sharp House, which offers three different dance classes today. You can choose between Morris Dancing (£5, prebook, 6.30-9pm) and Camden Clog (£4/£3, prebook, 6.45-9pm) or join the Sharp's Folk Club (£3.50/£3, prebook, 8-11pm).
FREE COMEDY: Enjoy a free comedy night at The Hemingford Arms in Caledonian Road. Tonight's headliners are Daniel Simonsen, Saskia Preston, Gatis Kandis, Gary from Leeds and Tom Greeves. Free, just turn up, 8pm
Wednesday 7 January
MUSIC MASTERCLASS: Head to the Purcell Room at the Queen Elizabeth Hall for a classical music masterclass. The event takes place before the performance of the Park Lane Group at 7.45pm. Free, just turn up, 6.15pm
FREE LECTURE: Dr. Joshua Howe gives a public lecture at King's College about climate change and global warming in the USA and is followed by a drinks reception. Free, prebook, 6.30pm
CINEMA NIGHT: Whirlygig Cinema’s Spotlights is a night of short films taking place at Hackney Picturehouse. This time, filmmakers Duncan Cowles, Michael Pearce and George Watson present short movies that look at family themes. £4, prebook, from 7pm
Thursday 8 January
ART FESTIVAL: The Anti-Gallery Show kicks off today at Espacio Gallery. A group of 35 artists takes over the gallery and turns it into an encounter space, where there will be an art festival open to everyone. Expect installations, performances, encounters and happenings. Free, until 29 January
THEATRE PLATFORM: DV8's director Lloyd Newson talks about his role in the National Theatre's production John — which we reviewed some time ago. £4/£3, prebook, 6pm
LITERARY TALK: Author and researcher Lyndall Gordon gives a talk to commemorate the 50th anniversary of T.S. Eliot's death, happening at Keats House. £5, prebook, 7pm
BOOK LAUNCH: Author and historian Tessa Dunlop presents her new book, The Bletchley Girls, at Waterstones Piccadilly. The book unveils the secrets behind wartime institution Bletchley Park and contains interviews with 15 women who worked there and whose lives were transformed by the experience. Free, prebook by emailing [email protected], 8pm
Friday 9 January
PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKSHOP: The Wiener Library hosts a photographic workshop on its historical archives. Lead by the Photo Archivist, you will explore the library's image collections and learn about their preservation, storage and digitisation. Free, prebooking essential, 12pm-1pm
Saturday 10 January
EXHIBITION: Bruce Castel Museum in Haringey hosts an exhibition about the Chinese workforce in the borough. The exhibition is connected to the Chinese Workforce Heritage Project. Free, until 5 July
ART TALK: Assistant Curator Emma Enderby leads a tour of the exhibition about Julio Le Parc at the Serpentine Sackler Gallery. Free, just turn up, 3pm
LONDON POETS: Four London poets are at Shoreditch's Rich Mix today to present their work. Listen to Wendy French, Brett Van Toen, Agnes Meadows and Richard Rickford. Free, just turn up, 8pm
Sunday 11 January
MUSIC WORKSHOP: People aged 12 to 26 with a passion for music can join a free music workshop today, led by the Grand Union Orchestra, at Rich Mix in Shoreditch. Free, 10am-1.30pm
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.
