Budget-friendly things to do in London this week for £5 or less.
Looking for more free things to do in London? Here are 102 of em! We've also compiled this epic map of free stuff in London.
Tuck into Japanese lunch for a fiver
Fancy a change from a sarnie, but don't want to pay much more for the privilege? Japan Centre Ichiba in Westfield White City has just started doing £5 lunch deals: pork-bone based ganso tonkotsu ramen topped with char-siu pork or vegan soy milk-based ramen with tofu and broccoli (Mon); Chicken katsu curry or pumpkin croquette curry (Tues); soba or udon specials (Weds).
£5, Mon-Weds weekly.
Celebrate St George's Day in Leadenhall Market
Tuesday is St George's Day, something being celebrated at Leadenhall Market in the City of London. Head down to the beautiful covered arcade for free performances by the Ewell St Mary’s Morris Men, at 11am and 1pm.
Free, 23 April.
Locate the epicentre of queer history
Tuesday's Gresham College lecture delves into how queer urban life has changed in the last 70 years. Specifically, Professor Matt Cook uses the examples of Leeds, Manchester, Brighton and Plymouth to challenge the idea that London was leading the way in shifts in economy, culture, attitudes, and technology. Watch in person at Barnard's Inn Hall, or online.
Free, 23 April.
Learn how to read church graffiti
Archaeology/History PhD candidate Crystal Hollis gives a free talk about historic graffiti, such as scratches and indentations which can be seen on old church walls, and how it can help historians and architects to learn about the past.
You can watch in person at Guildhall Library, or online.
Free, 23 April.
Find out how the 'Dig For Victory' campaign came about
Head to the RHS Lindley Library in Westminster for a short lunchtime talk about how the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) led the Dig For Victory campaign in the second world war, encouraging people to grow their own food. See pamphlets and photography from the time, designed to inspire people to take up gardening.
Free, 23 April.
Get to know 'The Undesirables'
Sarah Wise launches her new book, The Undesirables, in a free event at LSE. It tells the story of innocent people who were locked away after being labelled with a new diagnosis: moral imbecility. An estimated 50,000 people were detained for life under the 1913 Mental Deficiency Act, for 'crimes' including having children born outside of wedlock, and rebellious teenagers caught shoplifting.
Wise tells the story of some of the people affected, and delves into how attitudes to class, gender and disability resulted in a nationwide scandal.
Free, 23 April.
Have a laugh in Wembley
Box of Laughs is a regular, free-entry comedy night taking place at Boxpark Wembley. New and established comedians grace the stage to test out new material. Best get down there early to be in with a chance of getting a seat.
Free, 24 April.
Find out about life on the home front during the Cold War
The National Army Museum in Chelsea hosts Dr Matthew Grant for a free talk (in-person or online) about volunteers on Britain's home front during the Cold War. Find out how the government resurrected the Civil Defence Corps and Home Guard organisations from the second world war, to help deal with possible attacks from both conventional and atomic weapons.
Though hundreds of thousands of people signed up, the response fell short of government targets — Grant examines the reasons for this in the talk.
Free, 26 April.
Simmer Down at Southbank Centre
Get your dancing shoes on and head to Southbank Centre for the free monthly Simmer Down reggae revival session. Immerse yourself in the infectious energy of reggae music, and dance along. Everyone's welcome, though the sessions are most popular with older adults, and parents with young children.
Free, 26 April.
See a free concert at the Royal Opera House
Often on Fridays, the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden hosts a Live at Lunch show. The free performances star Royal Opera House and guest artists (details not revealed until you arrive), and take place in the Paul Hamlyn Hall.
Free, 26 April.
Visit the Hampton Court Palace gardens for free
This weekend is one of the few times a year when you can visit the gardens of Hampton Court Palace for free. Garden Open Days give you access to areas including the Great Fountain Garden, the Pond Garden and the Kitchen Garden, all of which you normally have to pay an admission fee to visit.
Free, 27-28 April. Note that you'll still need a paid admission ticket if you want to visit the palace itself, the Maze, or the Magic Garden Playground. But there's plenty of space to visit without paying a penny.
Call in at the oldest building in Hackney
The last Sunday of the month means open day at St Augustine's Tower, the oldest building in Hackney. The tower is all that remains of the old church of St. Augustine — the rest of which was demolished in 1798. You can climb to the top of the tower for views over Hackney, and for those with access issues, a small exhibition on the ground floor has an interactive virtual reality rooftop panorama.
Free, 28 April.
