Free and cheap things to do is sponsored by Chang Beer.
All week
INSIDE ABBEY ROAD: Since the mid-seventies, renowned rock photographer Jill Furmanovsky has captured musical legends at work inside the iconic Abbey Road Studios. See prints, photographs, artefacts and unique paraphernalia from the recording studio that gave birth to some of the greatest records of all time. Barbican Music Library, free, just turn up, 9 April-27 June
THE FLIPSIDE: Hold on to your hats, it's time to enter The Flipside. Part art exhibition, part performance space, this is your chance to explore altered states of luxury in a showcase of luxury brands and the Google Pixel 2. Enter a forest of sculptural forms, peer into a dystopian future or create a personal portrait to share with the world. The Old Selfridges Hotel (Orchard Street), free, book ahead, 26 April-20 May
BATTLEGROUNDS: Witness the healing power of time and nature captured in a series of stunning landscape images of former first world war battlefields. This poignant outdoor photography exhibition marks the centenary of armistice with the theme of reconciliation. Guildhall Yard, free, just turn up, 30 April-28 May
Monday 30 April
BARD-LY A PHILOSOPHER: From declaring all the world a stage, to asking 'to be or not to be', Shakespeare's works are packed with musings on humanity and the universe at large. But should we think of the Bard as a philosopher? Four Shakespeare aficionados discuss at this lively literary panel discussion. London School of Economics (Houghton Street), free, just turn up, 6pm-8pm
FAKE NEWS: It was Collins Dictionary's 2017 word of the year — a phenomenon that poses a serious threat to democracy. Now, an expert panel weighs in on the EU Report on Fake News and Online Disinformation, assessing the legal, social, and policy implications of the findings. Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (Bloomsbury), free book ahead, 6.15pm-8pm
CRAP FILM CLUB: Get ready for wild ride at a film club dedicated to the most brilliantly awful flicks. 1989 Indonesian fantasy horror film Lady Terminator follows a sexually rapacious Asian goddess on a rampage of revenge, and includes scenes suspiciously familiar to the James Cameron opus The Terminator. The Book Club (Shoreditch), £5, book ahead, 7pm-10pm
MOVING PICTURES: What really went down at the first crop of film screenings? Did a silent film about a train actually cause a cinema stampede, or were early audiences more savvy than we give them credit for? Find out how early moving pictures shaped the Edwardian world at this free lecture. Museum of London, free, just turn up, 6pm-7pm
Tuesday 1 May
MAY DAY FESTIVITIES: Celebrate spring with a parade through Deptford and Greenwich that boasts a decidedly Wicker Man aesthetic. The Blackheath Morris Men revived The Fowlers Troop Jack in the Green back in the 80s and it's still going strong today. Begins at the Dog & Bell pub (Deptford), free, just turn up, from noon
STREET WISDOM: Join entrepreneur Natasha Goldstein in her north London stomping ground for a mindful meander that'll help you get to know yourself a little better. Street Wisdom returns to help you tune into your environment and find answers to life's burning questions. Meet at Camden Town station, free, book ahead, 6pm-9pm
LOVING VINCENT: Herne Hill's free film festival kicks off with a screening of the gorgeous Loving Vincent, an Oscar-nominated investigation into the death of Dutch master Vincent Van Gogh and the world’s first fully painted feature film. Stick around for a Q&A with the film's producer. The Lido Cafe (Herne Hill), free, just turn up, 7.30pm
Wednesday 2 May
DISAPPEAR HERE: Get lost in deceptive murals and cunning architectural structures. A new commission by Sam Jacob Studio explores how perspective straddles truth and illusion, uniting the disciplines of art, architecture and mathematics. RIBA (Marylebone), free, just turn up, 2 May-1 October
TRANSCENDENTAL THRESHOLDS: Where better to explore bodily impermanence than a gallery in a crypt. Sculptor Krisitina Horne evokes the transitory nature of earthly existence through fragile glass forms in this blink-and-you'll-miss-it exhibition. The Crypt Gallery (Euston), free, just turn up, 11am-5pm, until 3 May
UNNATURAL HISTORY: Author and zoologist Jack Ashby is swooping into The Old King's Head to chat about how bias can operate in museums of natural history, over a pint. It's one of the many themes of his new book, Animal Kingdom: A Natural History in 100 Objects, which will be available to buy on the night. The Old King's Head (Borough), free — donations to cover costs welcome, just turn up, 6pm
BLUE HEART: Join the fight for Europe's last wild rivers and watch the premiere screening of Blue Heart. This documentary follows the battles to rescue the endangered Balkan lynx, to preserve Kruščica's only fresh water source, and to save the largest undammed river in Europe from irreversible damage. The screening is followed by a director's Q&A and your ticket includes a free drink. CRATE Brewery and Pizzeria (Hackney Wick), £5, book ahead, 7pm-11pm
CHECK UP: With the NHS in apparent perpetual crisis, comedian Mark Thomas finds out what's going wrong, how it can go right and what the future might hold for all of us. He'll be grilling Professor Chris Ham, Chief Executive of the King’s Fund on how we can maintain a health service fit for the coming decades. Pleasance Theatre (Islington), £2.50, book ahead, 7.30pm
Sponsor message
Like Thai food? Thai beer? You'll love Chang Sensory Trails
If your tastebuds tingle when Thai food is on the menu, then this one's for you.
Chang Sensory Trails promises to give visitors the ultimate taste of Thailand on 12 May, and some of London's top Thai restaurants will be taking part, each serving up a delicious signature dish on top of their regular menu.
The event is completely free to enter, and it's not just food — live music and art feature too, making this tasty event a feast for all the senses.
Chang Sensory Trails takes place on 12 May, noon until 10pm, at Last Days of Shoreditch.
Thursday 3 May
RUBBISH CAFE: Turn your garbage into grub at this eco-friendly pop up cafe. Fear not, chef Tom Hunt won't be serving up your discarded potato peelings — simply bring along a recyclable piece of plastic and you'll get a delicious, waste-free meal without spending a penny. Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch? Ecover Rubbish Cafe (Covent Garden), free, just turn up, 8am-4pm, 3-4 May
NEW GALLERY: Wren London's inaugural exhibition comes courtesy of internationally acclaimed photographic artist Robin Broadbent. His work provides abstract documentation of today’s material culture, and is described as a 21st century reconfiguration of late Bauhaus minimalism. Wren London (Old Street), free, just turn up, until 20 June
ROCK 'N ROLL ROOTS: Former Warner Music Group UK Chairman Rob Dickins CBE invites you on an audio-visual journey through the tangled history of rock 'n roll. Having signed the likes of Prince, Joni Mitchell and The Sex Pistols, it's safe to assume that he knows his onions. London Metropolitan University (Holloway Road), free, book ahead, 5.45pm-8pm
Friday 4 May
EYE FOR A PYE: It's your last chance to catch renowned sculptor Will Pye on film before this exhibition comes to end of its run. See video documentation spanning his career as an artist, as well as collaborations with fellow filmmakers Sasha Snow and Ian Helliwell. Royal Society of Sculptors (Kensington), free, just turn up, 11am-5pm
ARTY EP LAUNCH: Avant-garde musician G9 Luv is celebrating the launch of his new EP with a night of art. Four photographers will display their work on the theme of commuting, while a short film by Antonio Celotto accompanies the listening party. Snacks and drinks are provided and you're free to BYOB (no plastic cups allowed, though). Green Lens Studios (Haringay), free, just turn up, 6pm-11pm
ART DETECTIVES: Cultural historian Janina Ramirez joins curators Ian Jenkins and Bénédicte Garnier to investigate accounts of Auguste Rodin’s regular visits to the British Museum. Find out the profound influence of its antiquities on his work at this special evening discussion. British Museum (Holborn), £5, book ahead, 6.30pm-8pm
Saturday 5 May
PECKHAM SALVAGE YARD: Find your next great bargain in the industrial-chic setting of Peckham's Copeland Park. Expect salvaged kitchenalia, reclaimed homeware and a thumping soundsystem. Copeland Park & Bussey Building (Peckham), free entry, just turn up, 11am-6pm
WESTMINSTER MORRIS MEN: It's Trafalgar Square's annual day of dance, and the Westminster Morris Men will be there with bells on. See them resurrect a centuries-old tradition as they frolic through the streets of central London alongside morris dancing teams from all over the country. Trafalgar Square, free, just turn up, 2pm-5pm
SERPENTINE TOUR: Curator Rebecca Lewin is leading a free tour of Ian Cheng's first solo UK exhibition. You'll have the pleasure of meeting BOB (aka Bag of Beliefs), a sentient artwork that might love you, hate you, mistake you for someone else, or ignore you. The Serpentine Gallery, free, just turn up, 3pm
PAPER TRAVELLER: Part-treasure hunt, part-immersive theatre, The Paper Traveller takes you on a storytelling journey across London libraries to explore the imaginary worlds concealed inside books. Equipped with a pair of headphones and your own two feet, you'll encounter pop-up books, miniature papercut sets, sound installations, and live theatre performances in this intimate show. Battersea Library (Wandsworth), £5, book ahead, 1pm-5pm, until 16 May
Sunday 6 May
EASTBURY MANOR MAY DAY: Celebrate the arrival of May just as the Tudors did. Elizabethan merchant's house Eastbury Manor is opening its doors for an afternoon of Maypole dancing, arts and crafts, and live music. You'll also get the chance to join their resident Shakespeare troupe, The Three Inch Fools, and have a nose around the historic property. Eastbury Manor (Barking), free entry with £3 charge for craft activities, just turn up, 11am-4pm
MUSEUM OPEN DAY: Kirkaldy Testing Museum is giving you the rare chance to explore its Victorian workshop. Have a look at its totally unique Universal Testing Machine, and discover the story of the family who ran this hub for experimentation for almost 100 years. Kirkaldy Testing Museum (Southwark), £5/£4, just turn up, 11am-5pm
DAY OF POLAND: The UK's biggest Polish festival returns to Potters Fields Park. Enjoy traditional and contemporary music, crafts, and cuisine all the way from Poland, as well as face painting, gigantic bubbles, and national dance displays. Potters Field Park (Southwark), free, book ahead, 1pm-4pm
SIMON JABLONKSI: Join standup Simon Jablonski on an entirely unerotic journey that begins in a pub toilet at the latest edition of Angel Comedy Club's pay-what-you-want matinee. The Bill Murray (Islington), £5 to reserve a seat/pay what you want OTD, book ahead, 3.15pm-4.15pm
404
