Free And Cheap London Events: 6-12 July 2015

Laura Reynolds
By Laura Reynolds Last edited 104 months ago
Free And Cheap London Events: 6-12 July 2015

All Week

Look our for these DNA sculptures, part of Cancer Research UK's art trail. Photo: Adrian Brooks/Imagewise

CITY OF LONDON FESTIVAL: The City of London is crammed with music, comedy, cabaret, performance, film and more for City of London Festival. Some events free, see programme for details, until 10 July

ASTRONOMY PHOTOGRAPHY: It's your last chance to see the Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition at Royal Observatory, Greenwich. This year’s selection includes a stunning aurora-topped landscape (by overall winner James Woodend), a fresh look at the famous Horsehead Nebula, and the ‘ripples in a pond’ of the sun’s surface. Free, until 19 July

BP PORTRAIT AWARD: The annual free showcase of the most talented portraitists is back at the National Portrait Gallery. This year the competition had a record-breaking 2,748 entries — subjects include famous people, nudes, family portraits and photo-realism. Free entry, until 20 September

MORE LONDON FREE FESTIVAL: From now until September, The Scoop at More London Riverside will be taken over by theatre, music, dance and film, as the More London Free Festival takes place. This month, the focus is on sport. Take a look at the calendar to see what’s on this week.

CHRISTINA BROOM: Museum of London Docklands’s new exhibition is all about the UK’s first female press photographer, Christina Broom, a self-taught novice who turned photography into a business venture to support her family. Free, just turn up, until 1 November

WIMBLEDON SCREENINGS: Didn't manage to blag Centre Court tickets this year? No fear, all the SW19 action is being shown on big screens across the capital, most of which are free. Find your nearest Wimbledon screening. Until 12 July

DNA ART TRAIL: Across London, Cancer Research UK has organised a DNA inspired art trail created by leading artists, designers and sculptors, including Ai WeiWei, Thierry Noir, Zaha Hadid and Orla Kiely. Use the map to find the sculptures before they're auctioned off in September.

Monday 6 July

HIT THE BEACH: The Beach at JW3 is now open with deckchairs, games, music and an in-built paddling pool and splash area on the sand. Free entry (charge for some events), until 31 August (closed Saturdays)

CURIOUS: The Rag Factory in Spitalfields hosts a showcase of new work produced and curated by students, graduates and professional artists associated with the Masters in Leadership programme at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Expect promenade performances, musical compositions and more. Free, prebook, 6-7 July

Hit The Beach at JW3

Tuesday 7 July

HOUSE OF FERMENT: Borough Market has teamed up with the Science Gallery at King’s College London to launch the House of Ferment, a pop up celebration of the fermented foods taking the world by storm. Free, prebook, 7-11 July

LONDON AFTER WW2: Gresham College hosts a lecture at Barnard's Inn Hall about rebuilding London after the destruction caused by the Blitz in World War Two. Part of City of London Festival. Free, just turn up, 6pm

HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY: The British Academy holds a talk at the Royal Geographical Society about the academic study of history and geography, and how geographers and historians should go about reaching academic and non-academic audiences in the 21st century. Free, just turn up, 6pm

CHRISTIE'S LATE: Christie's auction house in South Kensington is open late for a Great British Summer themed evening, with guest speakers and summer cocktails. Free, just turn up, 6pm-8.30pm. Find out about other little-known museum lates.

ZOOLANDER: Four free outdoor film screenings take place in the secluded setting of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens this summer, and it starts tonight with Zoolander. Free, just turn up, from 7pm (screening begins at sundown)

SPANISH FILM: Head to Doodle Bar in Battersea for a screening of Pedro Almodóvar's Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, in Spanish with English subtitles. £2, 7.30pm

BURN AFTER READING: Burn After Reading poetry celebrates its second birthday at the Seven Dials Club with a night featuring poets from both Burn After Reading and London collective EARLY DOORS. £5, just turn up, 7.45pm

Wednesday 8 July

BEER FESTIVAL: Ealing Beer Festival takes place in Walpole Park with over 500 real ales, ciders, perries, foreign beers and wines available. £4/£2 entry, just turn up, 8-11 July

CITY BEERFEST: Guildhall Yard hosts the third City Beerfest, part of City of London Festival. More than a dozen British breweries serve up a selection of beers, along with delicious food and live world, jazz and folk music onstage throughout the day. Free entry, just turn up, 12.30pm-9.30pm

EMPIRE OF THE ANTS: Grant Museum of Zoology film club screens Empire of the Ants, about a world where these insects have grown to gigantic proportions and enslaved the human race. The film is introduced by Historian of Biology and film-buff Professor Joe Cain. Free, 6.30pm

SHORT STORIES: Short story writers Kate Clanchy and Stuart Evers will be at Slightly Foxed on Gloucester Road discussing the tricky art of the short story and reading from their new, widely acclaimed collections. Both authors will also answer questions and sign books. £5, prebook, 6.30pm

Thursday 9 July

SUMMER PARTY: There's a summer party on Seymour Place and New Quebec Street in Marylebone. Enjoy some live music, family entertainment and creative activities for all ages. Sample foods, cocktails and summer drinks. Free entry, just turn up, 5pm-10pm

STREET PERFORMANCE: Take part in a discussion of the history of busking and street music in the City of London. Learn about the way in which various residents of the City responded to the ‘street music problem’ of Victorian London. At Barnard's Inn Hall. Free, just turn up, 6pm

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION: The British Academy holds a panel discussion about Racial Discrimination and Criminal Justice in the EU, brought under scrutiny by the 2012 convictions for the murder of Stephen Lawrence. Free, prebook, 6pm

DESERTER: We can’t believe it’s only been a year since Deserter unleashed its sweary, boozy slacker website upon us. Celebrate its first birthday and their very own IPA, made with Late Knights Brewery, at London Beer Dispensary in Brockley. Free, RSVP, 8pm

THE UNDEAD: South East London Folklore Society meets at The Old King's Head for an evening of talks about the undead in London and elsewhere. £3/£1.50, prebook, 8pm

Friday 10 July

Your dog will be as happy as this if you take him/her to the Forty Hall social dog walk.

DOG WALKING: Give your pooch some playmates at Forty Hall in Enfield. The weekly social dog walk involves a brisk walk around the country estate, followed by tea or coffee in the cafe. £4, just turn up, 10am

LOCK LIVE: Camden Market kicks off its summer events season with Lock Live, a one-day free festival featuring live music, shopping and delicious street food. Free, just turn up, noon-10pm

COMEDY: See Rhys James and Adam Hess try out new material ahead of the Edinburgh Fringe at Aces and Eights in Tufnell Park. Free, just turn up, 7.30pm

Saturday 11 July

NAVY SHIP: Take a tour of a Royal Navy Frigate — specifically, HMS St Albans which will be in Docklands on a visit. Tour the upper deck and see some of the equipment used onboard, weapons systems and speak with members of the ship's company. Free, prebook, 9am-4pm

BRIXTON MARKET WALK: The Brixton Society leads a guided tour around the markets, indoor and outdoor. £3, prebook by emailing marketwalks@brixtonsociety.org.uk, 2.30pm

FREE COMEDY: See Edinburgh previews from Bec Hill, Tom Neenan and Chris Coltrane at the Carpenter's Arms in Marble Arch for nowt. Free, just turn up, 7.30pm

Sunday 12 July

Jeff Hart leads a walk on the 2014 FOBLC Open Day

SUMMER STREETS: It’s the second of Regent Street’s Summer Streets events, when the busy shopping thoroughfare is closed to traffic, and events and entertainment take place throughout the day. Free, just turn up, all day

OPEN CEMETERIES: Friends of Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries have a open day, with tours of the graves, a photographic exhibition, refreshments and a plant stall. Free, just turn up, 11am-4.30pm

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

Last Updated 05 July 2015