Interesting and unusual things to do in London for £5 or less this week.
All week
INSIDE OUT FESTIVAL:
A huge number of events will take place in university campuses and leading London venues throughout the week as part of The Inside Out Festival. The 2015 programme includes an eclectic mix of debates, performance, workshops, screenings, walks and concerts (many of them free). 19-24 October
LONDON INDEPENDENT PHOTOGRAPHY 27TH ANNUAL EXHIBITION:
This is the London Independent Photography's 27th Annual Exhibition. Each year this is the highlight of the organisation’s calendar and a good chance to see some excellent photography. The Embassy Tea Gallery, Bankside, 20 October-1 November, free, Monday-Sunday, 10am-7pm
VIVA CUBA!: A collection of photographs documenting the beauty of Cuba. Viva Cuba! is at Lumas Gallery until 31 October, free, Monday to Saturday 10am-7pm, Sunday noon-6pm
BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL:The Bloomsbury Festival is a hugely popular landmark in London’s autumn diary, an explosion of arts, culture and fun throughout the streets, parks, museums, galleries and public and (normally) private buildings of this vibrant cultural quarter. This year's theme is light. Bloomsbury, Camden, 22-25 October, 10am-11pm
GRIT AND GLAMOUR:This touring exhibition marks 30 years since Elizabeth Taylor began her fight against HIV/AIDS. Proceeds from the sale of the special limited edition prints will go towards The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. Getty Images Gallery, Fitzrovia, free, Monday-Friday 10am-5.30pm, Saturday: noon-5.30pm; until 7 November
PICTURING ENGLAND:Historic England's exhibition Picturing England showcases the organisation's photographic archive. Historic England Archive holds 9m images that capture the changing face of England’s buildings, archaeology, landscape and social history from the 1850s to the present day. Read our review. All day, until October 25.
Monday 19 October
RITUALS AND WITCHCRAFT: A historic building survey at Knole, Kent enabled a very surprising revelation about the history of the house in the early 17th century. A series of symbols beneath the floorboards carved by the carpenters working at the house were intended to protect the building from possession by witches, demons and evil spirits. Further research showed that the symbols were related to James I, witch trials and the Gunpowder Plot. Museum of London, free, 1pm
HIGHLIGHTS TOUR AT THE WALLACE COLLECTION:Highlights Tours take place at the Wallace Collection on days when there is not a special themed talk programmed. They introduce the history of Hertford House and its occupants, and highlight some of the finest pieces in the collection, including furniture, porcelain and paintings. Free, 2.30pm-3.30pm
Tuesday 20 October
LUNCH HOUR LECTURES: HEARTS, MINDS AND ENVIRONMENT:The value in life of health and wellbeing, environmental sustainability and social cohesion depends on how people behave, and to improve in these areas requires significant change. However, developing policies and interventions to promote and support behaviour change is often hit and miss. This lecture considers why this is and how we can do better. Darwin Lecture Theatre, UCL, free, 1.15-1.55pm
MANHATTAN SCREENING:
Chapel Cinema, Bethnal Green is showing New York inspired films this month.The third film in the season is Woody Allen's classic, Manhattan (1979). Free, prebook, 6.45pm
Wednesday 21 October
ADA LOVELACE AND THE FEMALE PIONEERS OF PSYCHOLOGY:
Lecturer of Psychology at The University of Brighton, Dr Charlie Lea, will be giving a lecture on Ada Lovelace and the female pioneers of Psychology at The Old King's Head pub, 47-49 Borough High Street, free, 6pm for 7pm start
BACK TO THE FUTURE TRILOGY:
House Of Vans is celebrating 30 years since the birth of everyone's favourite time-travel trilogy by showing all three films back-to-back. 21 October is the day that the first chapter made its cinematic debut and the date that Marty McFly and Doc arrive in 2015 from 1985. Free, first-come-first-served, 4.10pm: BTTF I, 6.10pm: BTTF II, 8pm: BTTF III
Thursday 22 October
1001 DAYS IN LONDON:
An epic photography exhibition for all ages, celebrating the spirit of London. A mosaic of 1001 photographs by Steve Hollingshead brings together the people and places that define the distinctive creative character of London. Platform 1, Joan Street, free, 12-7pm
SLEEP TALKING:
Most of us will spend around a third of our lives asleep. Why do we need to do this? And what effect does it have on our creativity? At this panel discussion held in partnership with the Royal Society of Literature, these questions will be addressed among others on the subject of sleep. The Royal Society, free, 6.30pm
Friday 23 October
BILLY NAME — THE SILVER AGE EXHIBITION:
Friday is the last day of this exhibition of photos by Andy Warhol's factory worker, Billy Name, of New York icons of the time including Edie Sedgwick. Serena Morton Gallery, North Kensington, 10am-6pm
LIGHT UP STORE STREET:
Light Up Store Street will open the Bloomsbury Festival weekend in style. Store Street will be artistically reinvented — transformed by fire, light and pyrotechnics as it is taken over by local artists, musicians and creative agents. Free, 6.30pm
Saturday 24 October
THE MAGIC OF MUSIC HALL:
This free family weekender will be a tribute to music hall and Wilton’s heritage. Get involved with community music hall shows, make friends over arts and crafts activities, sing along to a Victorian hit list, and listen to memories of music hall. Wilton's Music Hall, free, 11am-6pm
NFL COMES TO REGENT STREET:
NFL will make its return to Regent Street with the famous Ohio State University Marching Band who will open the traffic-free event which will also include NFL activity. Regent Street, free, 12 noon
THRILL THE WORLD:Thrill The World is friends, families and other local residents who each year join together with thousands of people around the globe to celebrate Michael Jackson’s talent by dancing simultaneously to “Thriller”! Check out previous routines on their website. Covent Garden Piazza, free, 10pm
Sunday 25 October
KEATS HOUSE POET'S WORKSHOP:
Keep the fire burning this autumn with an afternoon of poetry writing. Free, prebook, 2-4pm
SLAMBASSADORS UK:
The SLAMbassadors UK National Finals are back, bigger, better and louder than ever. Hosted by the Poetry Society, the finals showcase the best young spoken word artists from across the country. Southbank Centre, Foyer Spaces, Free, 4pm-6.30pm
