Free And Cheap London Events: 4-10 April 2016

By Londonist Last edited 95 months ago
Free And Cheap London Events: 4-10 April 2016

All week

Experience the inside of a Typhoon for yourself at the Science Museum (see below). Image: mikepaws

TATTOO LONDON: From sailors to Shoreditch, Londoners have a long history of getting inked. Get up close with Tattoo London at the Museum of London's exhibition. Have a peek into four London studios and see newly commissioned artwork from the city's tattoo artists. Free, just turn up, 10am-6pm

NIBBLES BOOK HUNT: Join Foyles book hunt at the Royal Festival Hall this week. Nibbles is a crunching, munching book monster and it's your job to catch him... before he scoffs his way through the whole store. Free, just turn up, 10am

TYPHOON FORCE: If you loved the RAF Typhoon jets at Horse Guards Parade last week, get in the cockpit of one yourself at the Science Museum. This new simulator takes you on a low-level mission, combining dynamic motion with audio-visual presentation, so you can experience descending from 40,000 feet, formation flying and landing the agile combat aircraft. £5/ £4, prebook, 10am-6pm

Monday 4 April

COSMIC SHOEBOX: Create your own characters inspired by the Museum of Childhood's Clangers, Bagpuss & Co exhibition. Will you make yours furry and friendly or create a museum monster? £5, prebook, 10.30am/12pm/2pm/3.30pm

GIN NIGHT: Start the week with "Mother's ruin" at this gin social at Graphic Bar. Tonight the spotlight's on Plymouth Gin, a brand favoured by seafarers and cocktail mixologists alike. Sip from a complimentary G&T and sample a selection of blends. £6.47 (yes we know it's a little bit over the usual, but there's a free drink involved), prebook, 6.30pm

DONALD TRUMP: Not the man himself, but Molly Crabapple launching her new book, Drawing Blood, with an evening entitled Trump, Isis And Capitalism at Waterstones tonight. She's joined by broadcaster Paul Mason for a wide-ranging discussion about her work and the world in general. £5, prebook, 7pm

FREE COMEDY: Catch Edinburgh Fringe previews from comic comrades Elf Lyons and James Veitch at the Camden Head tonight. Be the first to see their funny stuff before it goes up north. Free, just turn up, 8pm

Tuesday 5 April

YOUR PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE: Join an interactive day-long event at Portcullis House. Find out more about UK Parliament and how it can help you and your organisation. Meet and network with parliamentary representatives, find out about the engagement activities available and share your opinions. Free, prebook, 9am-5pm

SHAKESPEARE 400: Dr Sarah Dustagheer discusses the closing scene of The Winter's Tale, and its past interpretations, from the Blackfriars Playhouse in the 1600s to Kenneth Branagh and Michael Longhurst's more recent versions. Join the conversation at Guildhall Library. Free, prebook, 2pm

FILM FOR A FIVER: See captivating French film Marguerite at JW3 this Tuesday. Set in 1921, just outside Paris, the movie follows music-obsessed aristocrat (and out of tune singer) Marguerite as she misguidedly trains for her first music recital. £5, prebook, 5.50pm/8.30pm

CANDLELIGHT TOUR: Discover the secrets of Sir John Soane's Museum on this candlelight tour through the exhibits. It's a magical look at the extraordinary house of one of Britain's greatest architects. Free, just turn up, 6pm (but get in the queue by 5.30pm, it's extremely popular)

Wednesday 6 April

See the skating side to Ethiopia at Rich mix tonight.

PROJECT AWESOME: Get a 'power boost of positivity' at Project Awesome's fitness movement at The Scoop, London Bridge. Expect dazzling views of the city as you catch it at its best time. Free, prebook, 6.30am

FREE EVENTS: Chronicling the history and value of free events, Eventbrite hosts Celebrating Free Events For All — an (obviously) free exhibition at OXO Tower Wharf. With over 300 pieces of event history, from early Hyde Park gigs by the Rolling Stones to 90s raves, it's a fascinating look at the benefits of free fun for all. Free, just turn up, 11am-6pm, until 10 April

THE DARK SIDE: Dark matter dominates the universe, but this lecture by Professor Joseph Silk at the Museum of London sheds light on the contents of the Milky Way. Find out how clusters of galaxies can help us map the universe. Free, just turn up, 1pm

SKATE PHOTOGRAPHY: When Berlin-based photographer Daniel Reiter visited Addis Ababa, he fell in love with the local skateboarding community and documented his time with them on film. Rich Mix opens his exhibition, EthiopiaSkate, with an open house tonight. Free, just turn up, 6pm

HOUSMANS EVENT: Radical King's Cross bookstore Housmans invites you to meet the author of Who's Afraid Of The Easter Rising, James Heartfield, at tonight's event. He'll be answering questions about his work and research into the 1916 rising that killed over 500 people. £3, just turn up, 7pm

Thursday 7 April

HAIKU ON FOOT: For walking-powered poetry, join Haiku On Foot — a chance to stroll through South London, while sharing and writing haiku. You can even be published in the zine that chronicles this Thursday's walk. Free, prebook, 6.30pm

BOOK LAUNCH: Tender Books celebrates the release of Bernie Marshall's From Sleepwalking To Sleepwalking with drinks and a reading from the ninth book in the Fellow Travellers series. Free, just turn up, 6.30pm

IAIN SINCLAIR: Socio-geographical historian, author and man who walked the "ginger line" in just one day, Iain Sinclair heads to Waterstones Islington to discuss his latest book, London Overground. Free, just turn up, 7pm

FREE FILM: The Overlook Screening Room at The Water Poet screens the debut feature from director Claudia Weill. Girlfriends follows two New York friends and their friendship journey. Free, just turn up, 7.30pm

KILLER FILMS: Shorts On Tap is quickly gaining a reputation for showcasing killer films, and even more so with tonight's screening of seven thrillers at Cafe 1001. Check out new work, meet film makers and give yourself a good scare. £3, prebook, 8pm

Friday 8 April

BOOTCAMP: Start your day the Southbank Way with an Urban Bootcamp. Instructor Mimi takes you through this intense, energetic experience as you use the surrounding outdoors as your gym, complete with dazzling early-morning views of London. Free, just turn up, 7.30am, also on 4/5/6/7 April

LUNCHTIME SOUNDS: St Martin-in-the-Fields provides the perfect classical soundtrack to your lunch with this Cornelius Lewenberg concert. Free, just turn up, 1pm

WILD LIFE: Do you like a pre-weekend party? Of course you do. Head to Queen Of Hoxton for party tunes from the likes of Michael Jackson, M.I.A, Fleetwood Mac and more. For darker tunes, take it to the basement where you'll get a blast of house, disco and electro. Free/£5, just turn up, 8pm

FREE COMEDY: Save money on splitting your sides at this Friday's Angel Comedy offering. Tonight's funny comes courtesy of Kae Kurd, Gatis Kandis, Arielle Souma and Jack Barry. Free, just turn up, 8pm

Saturday 9 April

See how London looks in early video games today: Image: Museum Of London

LONDON IN VIDEO: Head to the Museum of London to discover London in video games, from 1984's Hampstead (yep that's a video game based on Hampstead) to London Racer from 2000, try your hand at a collection of weird and wonderful games. Free, just turn up, 10am-6pm

KEATS HOUSE: Take the Keats and Shakespeare trail at Keats House, exploring the relationship between the two poets, 400 years after Shakespeare's death. Take this rare opportunity to see Keats's own annotated copy of Shakespeare's works. Free (with unlimited admission ticket), just turn up, 11am-5pm

OPEN MIC: An open mic specially designed for kids to show off their talents, head to Brixton Youth Open Mic at the Ritzy. Talented teens and kids, plus supervising parents, are welcome at this friendly and supportive afternoon. Free, just turn up, 1.30pm (sign up)

POP: Club POP dances into The Shacklewell Arms tonight with the kind of classic tunes you feel guilty for loving so much. Expect cheese in great supply... Free, just turn up, 11pm

Sunday 10 April

PROJECT TOBONG: Catch the last day of this fascinating photography exhibition at the Horniman Museum. British artist Helen Marshall and Indonesian artist Risang Yuwono have collaborated to capture incredible images of Ketoprak Tobong Kelana Bakti Budaya — one of the last remaining nomadic theatre troupes in Java. Free, just turn up, 10.30am-5.30pm

MICHAEL ROSEN'S BEAR HUNT: Former Children's Laureate Michael Rosen's work comes to life at Discover: Children's Story Centre. Step inside an enormous chocolate cake or splash your way through a bear hunt. It's the last day today, so catch the bears while you can. £5, prebook, 11am-5pm

RELIGIOUS DEBATE: What's next for religion? This Conway Hall talk by Dr Lois Lee examines the prospects for religion in the future. With the emergence of post-secular society, are we looking at a resurgence of religion? £3, prebook, 11am

POETRY: Torriano Meeting House invites all poets to take to the stage at its Poetry Reading. Tonight hear from Katherine Gallagher and Joan Michelson, and take part yourself as poets from the floor are welcome. £5, just turn up, 7.30pm

Last Updated 03 April 2016