Free And Cheap London Events This Week: 10-16 April 2017

Laura Reynolds
By Laura Reynolds Last edited 83 months ago

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Free And Cheap London Events This Week: 10-16 April 2017

Things to do for £5 or less in London this week.

All week

Tall Ships Festival comes to Greenwich.

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS: As the school holidays enter their second week, banish boredom with our guide to things going on in and around London.

GEOMETRIC PLAYGROUND: This is a playground with a difference; kids and adults alike can get hands on with the cogs, levers and pendulums of the Geometric Playground at Artsdepot. Free, just turn up, 2-15 April 2017 (closed Good Friday)

LEA RIVER PARK: The banks of the River Lea used to be little more than an industrial wasteland, but a recent project has regenerated the area, creating the Lea River Park. This exhibition gives further details about current and future plans for the area. New London Architecture (Bloomsbury), free, just turn up, 6-27 April

HAMLET FOR FREE: Under 25s can get involved in all manner of theatrical activities at Almeida Theatre's Hamlet For Free Festival. Events include acting masterclasses, writing workshops, sword fighting, and behind the scenes tours. Almeida Theatre, free, book ahead, 10-13 April

TALL SHIPS: If you're in the Greenwich vicinity, keep your eyes peeled for some unusual boats on the river; Tall Ships Festival is back. For a charge, you can visit some of the larger ships. There are also events going on back on dry land throughout the week. Greenwich and Woolwich, 14-17 April

Monday 10 April

Take a British Sign Language tour at Museum of London Docklands

SIGN LANGUAGE TOUR: A British Sign Language tour of the London, Sugar & Slavery display tells how London was involved in the transatlantic slave trade for deaf and hard of hearing visitors. Museum of London Docklands, free, book ahead, 6pm

PUNDEMONIUM: Love a double-entendre? This event's for you. A gameshow based on linguistic puns and tomfoolery, led by guest pundits including comedians and poets. The Book Club (Shoreditch), £5, book ahead, 7.30pm

FREE FILM: The final screening of Camberwell Free Film Festival is Victoria, a German drama shot in a single continuous take. Sun of Camberwell, free, just turn up, 8pm

Tuesday 11 April

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION: Bit of a niche one, this, but if you're interested in conservation issues, get yourself to the ZSL offices for a talk about threats to the mountain chicken species of frog, and what can be done to avert these threats. ZSL London Zoo, free, just turn up, 6pm-7.45pm

PODCAST RECORDING: Author and podcast extraordinaire Emma Gannon has the BBC's Gemma Cairney as a guest on her latest episode. The recording takes place in front of a live audience, and could cover anything from first love to mental health. Waterstones Tottenham Court Road, free, just turn up, 6.30pm

ARCHITECTURE PANEL: Is Architecture Art? That's the central question this panel consider. One panellist is Londonist's own superstar art critic Tabish Khan who — fair warning — has a penchant for leaving controversy in his wake. The Exhibitionist Hotel, free, RSVP required, 6.30pm for 7.15pm start

BLACK MUSIC CAPITAL: Former sound system owner and pirate radio broadcaster Lloyd Bradley talks about how London is the black music capital of the world. Rye Wax (Peckham), free, just turn up, 7.30pm-9pm

Wednesday 12 April

Take a crash course in London architecture

EXPERT WITNESSES: This Gresham College lecture debates the merits and problems of relying on expert witnesses in the family courts. Barnard's Inn Hall, free, just turn up, 6pm

LONDON ARCHITECTURE: Architectural historian and writer Chris Rogers offers a crash course in London's architecture, to mark the launch of his book on the topic. Stanfords (Covent Garden), £4, book ahead, 6.30pm

STREET ART:  What is street art and what is graffiti? Find out at this  interactive art talk by Paint Jam London. Cass Art (Islington), free, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm

BOOK LAUNCH: Poet Inua Ellams launches his new book at Southbank Centre's Poetry Library — the location where much of the book was written. Hear short readings from Ellams himself, plus there's a live DJ. Poetry Library, free, book ahead, 8pm

Thursday 13 April

NATURE EXPLORERS: Go on safari without leaving London. Horniman Museum's minibeast safari takes place on the nature trail in the museum's grounds. £3, buy tickets on the day, 11am/noon/2pm/3pm

GRIMELIGHT: Who decided what poetry is? This evening of performances and discussion explores the relationship between poetry and grime. Age 16+. Rich Mix (Shoreditch), free, book ahead, 8pm

Good Friday 14 April

The Passion of Jesus is performed in Trafalgar Square.

EASTER EGG HUNT: London's not short of Easter egg hunts this weekend but we like the sound of this offering at Forty Hall in Enfield. Keep the kids occupied with a trail around the Hall before they get their chocolate reward. £1, book ahead, 14-17 April

EASTER BUNNY DAY: If your little ones are excited at the thought of the Easter Bunny visiting, take them to Battersea Park Zoo where they can become the Easter Bunny themselves, making their own ears and getting whiskers painted on. £1 + entrance fee, 11am/1.30pm

THE PASSION OF JESUS: A Good Friday tradition, watch the Easter story played out in the open air with 100 actors, plus donkeys and horses, and relayed on large screens. Trafalgar Square, free, just turn up, 90-minute performances at noon/3pm (get there early for any chance of actually seeing anything — there's a lack of sycamore fig trees to shimmy up).

SOUTHBANK CENTRE: There are plenty of free activities at Southbank Centre this Good Friday, including a social dance where visitors of all ages can learn a street dance from Jamaica (1pm), live jazz and blues music courtesy of Randolph Matthews (5.30pm) and a vogue workshop and club night (7.30pm).

BENGALI NEW YEAR: As well as being Good Friday, today's also Bengali New Year. Celebrate with traditional music, spoken word, dance and rituals. Age 10+. Rich Mix (Shoreditch), free, just turn up, 5pm

Saturday 15 April

Get stuck into some London maps at Southbank Centre

EASTER FAIR: Puppet making, face painting, dance workshops and Alice in Wonderland storytelling are just some of the family-friendly activities at the Horniman Easter Fair. There's also an arts and crafts museum in the Conservatory, as well as the weekly farmers' market. Horniman Museum (Forest Hill), free entry (charge for some individual events), just turn up (although you'll need to book ahead for storytelling), 15-16 April, 10.30am-4.30pm

MAP LONDON: We're quite excited about this one — London Metropolitan Archives is digging out some of its most interesting maps of London and showcasing them for the day. Royal Festival Hall, free, just turn up, 1pm. Also at Southbank Centre today is Craft the City, a chance to use cardboard to show what you think cities of the future will look like. Free, just turn up, 11am

BOOK SWAP: Kids run out of reading material? Take them along to this book swap where they can get rid of their old books, and take home a new tome or two to keep them busy. Children's book lovers will be on hand to help them choose their new books too. Rich Mix, free, just turn up, 11am-1pm/2pm-4pm

SHORTS ON TAP: New beginnings is the theme of this short film evening. Watch the films, which focus on childhood and preadolescence, then take part in Q&A sessions with the filmmakers. Rich Mix, free, book ahead, 7pm

Easter Sunday 16 April

FAMILY DAY: Spend your Easter Sunday tracking down bunnies in the gardens of Keats House in Hampstead. Kids can also make their own carrot cone, which they can carry their chocolate prize home in. £1 donation suggested, just turn up, 1pm-4pm

OPEN MIC: Expect an eclectic blend of funk, soul and house music at Allsortz Open Mic Night. Rich Mix, free, just turn up, 7.30pm

Last Updated 10 April 2017