Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 23-29 April 2018

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Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 23-29 April 2018

All week

Explore the wilderness of Patagonia in a new photography exhibition.

UNKNOWN PATAGONIA: Explore the wilds of South America's southernmost tip at an exhibition by seven international travel and nature photographers. Having journeyed through the fjords and channels of Patagonia, they present a rare glimpse of the region's most striking flora and fauna. Coningsby Gallery (Fitzrovia), free, just turn up, 23-27 April

SWEET SIXTEEN EXHIBITION: DreamBagsJaguarShoes, a time-honoured hipster haunt known for its lovingly preserved vintage signage is celebrating a whopping 16 years of championing east London creativity and avoiding death by gentrification. To mark the occasion, the Shoreditch bar is showcasing art by 75 talented startups, each nominated by an artist who themselves displayed their work at the venue before moving onto the likes of the V&A and the Tate Modern. JaguarShoes (Shoreditch), free, just turn up, until 31 May

SPIN THE BOTTLE: It's time to pucker up at Pumphouse Gallery. Their new exhibition, We Are Having A Little Flirt offers playful perspectives on the uncertainty of attraction and desire. Alongside the installations, textile and video art, from Wednesday onwards you'll have the chance to get a bit more involved yourself — with a game of spin the bottle. Don't worry, you won't be snogging any strangers. Instead, each turn of the bottle will decide what new work is made next. Pumphouse Gallery (Battersea Park), free, just turn up, 25 April-8 July

Monday 23 April

PIMP YOUR HIP FLASK: As the warmer weather brings al fresco drinking back into our lives, don't reach for a lukewarm can of lager — instead, create your very own vamped-up hip flask so you can imbibe with pride. With gems, sequins, and sharpies, Drink, Shop & Do have everything you need to create the hippest of vessels for your poison of choice. Drink, Shop & Do (King's Cross), £5, book ahead, 6pm

FREE WILL: Are we really in control of our own actions? Or do unconscious and uncontrollable brain processes actually dictate what we do? A philosopher, a psychiatrist, and a neuroscientist discuss what recent research into the brain might mean for our understanding of free will and its implications on our sense of morality. Wolfson Theatre, LSE (Holborn), free, just turn up, 6.30pm-8pm

Tuesday 24 April

Rotten Bliss takes her cinematic soundscapes on the road.

SWAP TIL YOU DROP: Ever wondered what designer treasures might be hidden in a textile recycling facility? Bring some unwanted clobber of your own and rummage through thousands of preloved and unworn items with the help of a professional stylist to find the new outfit of your dreams. The only catch? There's a £15 deposit to reserve your space, which you'll get back on the day providing you don't bail (the proceeds from any no-shows go to social enterprise Fashion Revolution). L M Barry Textile Recyclers (Canning Town), free (£15 deposit returned on admission), book ahead, 10am-12pm

ENDING AIDS: Huge strides have been made in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of HIV in recent years. Yet many of these advancements have not yet entered public consciousness. Dr Nneka Nwokolo argues that the end of AIDS could be within reach, but that success or failure all lies in our hands. The National Archives (Kew), free, book ahead, 6pm-7.30pm

HOLOCAUST CONSCIOUSNESS: Learn about the participation of Jewish refugees in the African American Civil Rights Movement with Dr. David Juenger, who views Jewish involvement through the lens of early Holocaust memory in this free talk. The Wiener Library (Russell Square), free, book ahead, 6.30pm-8pm

ROTTEN BLISS: Avant-garde cellist, vocalist and instrument inventor Rotten Bliss is going on the road. Experience her feral folk artistry and cinematic soundscapes in Haringay's uber cool warehouse district, alongside a performance from fellow Reverb Worship artist David CW Briggs. New River Studios (Haringay), £5 suggested donation, just turn up, 7.30pm-11pm

Wednesday 25 April

Liven up your Wednesday with a bit of lunchtime jazz.

LUNCHTIME JAZZ: Squeeze in a little midweek culture (and maybe a cheeky pint) as Guildhall's finest perform live jazz at Theatre Deli. Their sets are just half an hour long, making it the perfect lunch hour excursion. Theatre Deli (Broadgate), free, just turn up, 1.30pm-2.30pm

FOREST PHOTOGRAPHY: Learn how to take beautiful and dramatic nature snaps in the sprawling woodland of Epping Forest. All you need is a digital camera or smartphone — photographer Tim Mitchell will teach you the rest. The View (Epping Forest), free, just turn up, 1.30pm-3.30pm

A SUPERBUG'S LIFE: Get up close and personal with the trillions of bacteria that call our bodies home, and learn about how certain strains have fought back against modern medicine at the Science Museum's Superbugs Late. Enter a dystopian world where antibiotics no longer exist with short film Catch, use VR to shrink yourself and explore the hidden secrets of bacteria, and even help save the world by taking part in antibiotic research. Science Museum (South Kensington), free, book ahead for some events, 6.45pm-10pm

HUMP DAY HORN SOCIETY: The Flat Iron Square Horn Society is back with a weekly night dedicated to brass-based music. On Wednesday, they present Op Sa!, a fiery Balkan band with repertoire from Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia and the Romani Culture, as well an anthology of original songs. Apres London (Southwark Street), free entry, just turn up, 7pm-10pm

Thursday 26 April

Experience a classical concert in total darkness.

TALE OF THREE CITIES: Santa Clara's Silicon Valley takes centre stage in a photography exhibition by Niall O’Brien that explores the enormous inequality prevalent within this epicentre of tech-based innovation. Sid Motion Gallery (King's Cross), free, book ahead, until 20 May

SUFFRAGETTES IN TROUSERS: We're (hopefully) all familiar with the great women who fought for the right to vote in the UK, but did any men get involved? A surprising number, actually, according to history lecturer Claire Eustance. Find out about the men who campaigned for women's suffrage at this free talk. The National Archives (Kew), free, book ahead, 2pm-3.30pm

BLIND CONCERT: They say that when you lose one of your senses, your others become heightened. Put that theory to the test with Southbank Sinfonia's latest rush hour concert. Handed a blindfold upon entry, you'll be free to focus solely on the music. St John's (Waterloo), free, book ahead, 6pm-7pm

CHARITY SHOP LATE: Support garment workers in Bangladesh while getting your hands on some unique new threads. Seven of TRAID's London charity shops are staying open late, with all evening purchases going to a project that provides day-care, nutritious food and education to around 200 at-risk children of the very poorest garment workers, TRAID (Brixton, Camden, Clapham, Dalston, Kilburn, Peckham, and Shepherd's Bush), free entry, just turn up, 6pm-8pm

Friday 27 April

Artist Joe Webb counts Coldplay and Janelle Monáe as fans.

WEBB-TROSPECTIVE: Think acclaimed printmaking and collage artist Joe Webb's work looks familiar? His art has graced the album covers of Janelle Monáe and Tears for Fears, as well as inspiring a Coldplay video. Catch his first ever retrospective, which charts his trajectory from graphic designer to overnight superstar of the silk screen. For Arts Sake (Ealing), free, just turn up, until 20 May

NOT SO SECRET CABARET: Multi-talented cabaret artiste Jacinta Maud guest hosts a night of feminist comedy, rookie burlesque and a triple dose of magic at the Not So Secret Society's spring show. The best bit? It's all free. ArtsWorks (Elephant & Castle), free, just turn up, 8pm-11pm

THEY SAY JUMP: With influences ranging from the revolutionary reggae of Bob Marley to the dicey rhythms of ska pioneers like Prince Buster, They Say Jump's new EP launch is sure to be a lively affair. Stick around to hear Waaju, a band that takes Mali music as its centrepiece, and horn-heavy quintet Barnacles. The Hootenanny Brixton, free entry before 9pm/£5, just turn up, 9pm-3am

COMEDY ROAST BATTLE: A late night show which turns smack talk into an art form. Roast Battle London pits comedian against comedian in an epic battle of wit. The Bill Murray (Islington), free, just turn up, 11pm-12.30am

Saturday 28 April

Discover the 1960s protest scene at Camden Lock.

GIRLS MUSIC DAY: Trying to break into the music industry? Are you aged 16-24 and self-identify as a  woman or non-binary person? If the answer to these questions is 'yes', DICE has your Saturday sorted. Apply to attend their Girls Music Day, which feature Q&As, a music x tech panel discussion and specialist workshops covering everything from songwriting to PR, DJing, and, giving expert tips for that pesky CV. DICE, free, book ahead (event by application only), 10am-4pm

TRASH TO TREASURE: Bag up your unwanted clothes and get ready to revamp your wardrobe for less — you can buy, sell or swap your clobber at this one off shopping experience. Among other surprises, you can also try your luck at a luxury raffle, or freshen up your fingertips at the pop up nail bar. City of Westminster College (Paddington Green), free entry, book ahead, 12pm-5pm

THE POSTER WORKSHOP: Step back in time to London's late sixties political protest scene, with a pop-up exhibition showcasing blown-up recreations of the The Poster Workshop's most striking political posters. You'll have the opportunity to meet the original team behind the art, and even take home a piece of history, with posters, totes and t shirts on sale. The Old Art Gallery (Camden Market), free, just turn up, 12pm-6pm, until 1 May

AMATEUR ALBUM ART: Fancy your brood as the next Jackson 5 or Sister Sledge? Music prowess (or lack thereof) aside, the Serpentine Gallery is giving you the chance to create imaginary album covers for when you inevitably hit the big time. Serpentine Gallery (Kensington Gardens), free, just turn up, 1pm-5pm, until 29 April

LEGO SCULPTURES: Celebrate International Sculpture Day by helping to build a giant imaginary playground at The Royal Society of Sculptors.  They have hundreds of bright white lego bricks literally hot off the press for an evening of collaborative construction, so, it's definitely not the time or place to experiment with going shoeless. The Royal Society of Sculptors (South Kensington), free, just turn up, 4pm-8pm

Sunday 29 April

Learn how London fought hate with music at this Rock Against Racism retrospective.

ROCK AGAINST RACISM: In 1978, 80,000 people danced their way from Trafalgar Square to the East End's Victoria Park for the first big Rock Against Racism Carnival. Find out how they used music to break boundaries and fight bigotry with a guided tour of the Migration Museum's RAR display, as well as films, speakers and discussion to commemorate the event's 40th anniversary. Migration Museum (Lambeth), free, book ahead, 11am-6pm

PIECE OF CAKE: Comedy + free cake = a very happy you. Careful you don't choke on the crumbs as you cackle away at Angel Comedy Club's monthly lazy Sunday gig. The Bill Murray (Islington), pay-what-you-want, just turn up, 3.30pm-5.30pm

SILENT SOUNDTRACKS: Listen to Genesis Cinema's band-in-residence breath new life into Sergei Eisenstein's 1925 Soviet masterpiece Battleship Potemkin. They'll be performing a live score to accompany the silent film screening — expect improvisational post-rock guitars, melodic bass, responsive rhythms and atmospheric electronics. Genesis Cinema (Whitechapel), free, book ahead, 6.30pm

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Last Updated 23 April 2018