Free And Cheap London Events: 24-30 August 2015

By Londonist Last edited 103 months ago
Free And Cheap London Events: 24-30 August 2015

Interesting and unusual things to do for a fiver or less this week.

All week

Paddington Central Summer Screenings

LONDON BRIDGE LIVE ARTS:
The annual London Bridge Live Arts festival returns with free workshops, talks, performances, installations and trails all inspired by London Bridge. This year's theme is exchange — not of money but ideas, stories and memories. Free, some events bookable, until 30 August

HOME AFFAIRS:
A new exhibition is opening at NOW Gallery which celebrates London's diverse creative landscape through cross-cultural installations. Free, just turn up, until 4 September

SWEET 'ART' SUMMER FESTIVAL:
Shoreditch is hosting its first summer arts festival over three venues. Expect an exciting week of art, installations, music and activities. Everyone is invited to interact with the beach-ball ball-park installation, snack on themed edibles and drinks, and enjoy a night of live music, live painting and DJs at this arty party. Free, just turn up, until 13 September

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION:
East London Life is an exhibition of black and white photographs by Colin O'Brien, which documents life both past and present in East London. The exhibition is on at Unit G Art Gallery in Hackney. Free, just turn up, until 14 September

ANIMAL TALES:
Here's an exhibition at the British Library exploring animals in literature which is sure to conjour up some childhood nostalgia. Free, just turn up, until 1 November

PADDINGTON CENTRAL FILM SCREENINGS:
Paddington Central hosts free film screenings throughout August, on the Grand Union Canal near Little Venice. This week you can see Annie on Wednesday, Sleepless in Seattle on Thursday, The Truman Show on Friday and Tangled on Saturday. Free, just turn up, weekday screenings begin at 6.30pm, weekend screenings begin at 3.30pm

Monday 24 August

ART FUNDRAISER:
OneArt holds a night of art and inspiration at Rich Mix to fundraise for charity Spotlight. Two spoken word artists and six visual artists will take to the stage to share their take on issues of intolerance and discrimination in the hope of using art to start a conversation about divisions within society. Add your penny's worth to the participatory piece which encourages attendees to express their reactions to the subject ‘Diversity is…’ £3, prebook, 6pm

LONDON LANDMARKS LIT UP:
The City Three Peaks challenge aims to raise around £4m for charities The Outward Bound Trust and The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity. Ahead of the challenge there will be a laser show which sees The Gherkin, Cheesegrater and Walkie-Talkie lit up with projections from 8pm into the early hours. Free, just turn up, 8pm  

Tuesday 25 August

LAST CHANCE EXHIBITION:
An exhibition exploring London's forgotten market gardens is on at Museum of Richmond. Free, just turn up, until 1 September  

BOOK EVENT:
Blackwell’s High Holborn bookshop hosts two fantastic short story writers, Thomas Morris and Stuart Evers. They will be reading and signing their books. Free, just turn up, 6.30pm-9pm

Wednesday 26 August

SCIENCE MUSEUM LATE:
A late at The Science Museum is the perfect excuse to be a big kid, discover playtime, make mutant teddies, create colourful pinwheels and learn about the science behind Doctor Who. Get nostalgic with face painting, colouring in and playground games. Plus all the regular highlights including a Punk Science comedy show and the best silent disco in town. Free, just turn up, 6.45pm-10pm

POPLAR FILM CLUB:
On the last Wednesday of every month Poplar Film Club screen films in different locations. Tonight it's a David Lynch night at Paper & Cup café at the St Pauls Way Centre. Free, just turn up, 7pm

FREE COMEDY:
Head to Beaufort House in South Kensington for an evening of free comedy. On the bill tonight are Andrew O'Neill, Ben Van Der Velde, Phil Lucas and Jules Oliver and MC Alexis Wieroniey. Free, prebook, 8pm

Thursday 27 August

COVENT GARDEN INSTALLATION:
Head to the indoor market at Covent Garden to see a new installation by French artist Charles Pétillon in the form of giant pulsating white balloons meant to reflect the dynamism and energy of the area. Free, just turn up, until 27 September

BOOK TALK:
Waterstones in Piccadilly is the venue for Post-Apocalyptic Book Club with authors Emily St John Mandel (Station Eleven), Frances Hardinge (Cuckoo Song), M. R. Carey (The Girl with All The Gifts), Emmi Itäranta (Memory of Water) and Dave Hutchinson (Europe In Autumn). All will be discussing the inspiration behind their novels. £3/£5, prebook, 6.30pm

ANIMATION LAUNCH EVENT:
Head to The Laundry where a collection of animators, designers and directors are launching their project Super Turbo Atomic Ninja Rabbit with exhibitions, screenings and an immersive 3D virtual reality experience. Free, just turn up, 7pm-11pm

Friday 28 August

Get up close to the theatrical life sized horse from War Horse at the River Stage

CORAM HISTORIC WALK:
Meet at the Thomas Coram statue outside Coram headquarters in Brunswick Square before embarking on a walk which covers the Foundling Hospital site, Charles Dickens, royal connections, the first London traffic by-pass and how this part of Bloomsbury became the centre for child health and welfare. Free, prebook, 12.30pm-1.15pm

AIRFIX:
Head to The Royal Air Force Museum for a talk with Simon Owen, who will be offering an insight into Airfix and the skill and process of scaling down large aircraft for replica models. Free, prebook, 1pm

LATE AT V&A:
Pushing Buttons is the theme of this month's V&A late. Expect installations, music, performance, workshops and talks exploring the theme of video games. Look out for pop-up museum FEMICOM which archives femininity and girly culture in 20th century video culture. Listen out for 65daysofstatic's DJ set of sounds from the video game No Man’s Sky. Free, some events bookable, 6.30pm-10pm

RIVER STAGE:
It's the final weekend of events at The River Stage outside The National Theatre. Tonight you can see street theatre, and tomorrow create your own sustainable garden in a family friendly workshop. Stay the evening to hear Roundhouse DJs. Sunday is packed with live music, dance and theatre. Check the website for more details. Free, some events bookable, until 29 August

Saturday 29 August

Curious? Festival at King's Cross

KING'S CROSS FESTIVAL CURIOUS?:
Curious? is a free festival taking place this weekend for knowledge seekers which includes talks, performances, interactive games, walks, experiments and tours. Free but some events bookable, until 30 August

THE VALENCE FAIR:
To celebrate the Fifty Years a Borough Project there will be a Valence Fair in Dagenham, mimicking those of the 1960s. It will be filled with fairground rides, a helter-skelter, fortune teller and plenty of stalls and performers. Free, just turn up, 11am-4pm

WIMBLEDON PARK FOOD FESTIVAL:
Head to Wimbledon Park this weekend for a bank holiday feast including regional produce from over 40 stalls. Grab some craft beer and a gourmet burger while you listen to live music or take part in one of the many cookery demonstrations that are happening over the course of the weekend. Free, just turn up, 10am-5pm, until 31 August

INTERACTIVE ANIMAL ART TRAIL:
As part of London Graphic Centre's Colour in Summer series, there's a range of free workshops for all ages and abilities. Today join street artist HIN as he creates an interactive trail of animal illustrations throughout the store in Covent Garden. Join in the illustration as it develops. Free, just turn up, 2pm-5pm

TEDDY BEAR'S PICNIC:
Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice’s ever popular Teddy Bears’ Picnic returns to the Hospice grounds today. Youngsters can enjoy a yummy picnic lunch with their teddies alongside dance displays and workshops. To add to the excitement Owly, the Hospice mascot, Peppa Pig, Olaf from Frozen and Sketch from Frankie & Benny’s will also be making very special appearances. There will also be food stalls and a woodland nature walk. Children's ticket includes a picnic lunch box and entertainment £3, adults 50p, prebook, 1.30pm-4.30pm

Sunday 30 August

BOOKWOOD BOOK FAIR:
Browse the best in indie publishing at Bookwood Book Fair at Netil Market in London Fields. Look out for publishers Influx Press (who published Darran Anderson's Imaginary Cities) and And Other Stories. There will also be readings from some of the best contemporary authors and poets throughout the day. Free, just turn up, noon-5pm

LONDON BELOW:
A new market in Epic Dalston aimed at London's infamous underground subcultures. Whether you have a fetish for all things rubber, you are partial to punk, love all things retro or just like things a little different, this market has you covered. £5, just turn up, noon-6pm

POETRY WORKSHOP:
In this workshop at Keats House you'll learn how to write poetry for children using colour, sound, rhythm and drama. Free, prebook, 2pm-4pm

Last Updated 26 August 2015