London On The Cheap: 17-23 December

Lindsey
By Lindsey Last edited 171 months ago
London On The Cheap: 17-23 December

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Swan on the River Lea by bltphoto via the Londonist Flickrpool

Taking you right up to Christmas, cheap ways to avoid Christmas parties and distract yourself from your credit card bill. Enjoy.

Tonight: Make merry with singsongs in aid of Centrepoint tonight. Find your nearest singing collective at Victoria’s Cardinal Place, New Street Square, Fetter Lane and Bankside Mix behind Tate Modern between 6-7.30pm. Wrap up warm though! A hip flask might be handy for keeping those vocal chords lubricated.

Friday: The Oubliette open "Home Is Where Your Art Is" at their 5th interim base at 61 Curzon Street, Mayfair, tonight from 6pm. In association with The Connection at St Martin’s it's a one-off evening long event and everyone's invited. Find out about The Oubliette's signature style pop up exhibitions and the work and mission of The Connection alongside a variety of performances by emerging classical and avant-garde musicians. Rambling Food, London's hippest art gourmet chefs on-to-go, will serve innovative food for free throughout the evening.

Saturday: Check out Cabaret Melancolique, an amazing jamboree bag of surreal artists' performances - musical and visual and inexplicable. 7pm-10pm, Dalston, St Marks Church Hall, St Marks Rise. Melancholic but not always - £5 - first come first spat upon - bring your own vicar.

Sunday: Celebrate the winter solstice and get your blood pumping with an energetic old fashioned barn dance at Cargo from 7pm. There's a showcase of festival music between the ho-downs and you'll even be treated to a performance by The Belles of London City - our very own all dancing corseted female morris troupe. £5 in adv (£8 on the door).

Monday: The Roxy's film of the year, Let the Right One In, is on at 8pm. As they say, "Quite simply un-missable. Watch it again now before it’s remade badly by Hollywood…" £3 cover charge / Free entry to members/

Tuesday: The Quizmas Quiz includes rounds such as Elf Face Painting, Wrapping Rap Off, Kazoo Carols and The Old Queen’s Heads Christmas Choir - All Teams will join in unison at the end of the Quiz to form a Christmas Choir - and if they all successfully sing through the entire length of a carol everyone will receive free shots. The Old Queens Head, £2 per head.

Wednesday: Cross Bones is the scene of an alternative Christmas ritual - gather at the gates in Red Cross Way, SE1 from 6.45pm for a seasonal goose vigil. Come prepared to sing carols and the odd pagan variant song. Bring flowers and magical totems to renew the shrine - and something to eat to drink to share!

That's all for this year folks. London on the Cheap will return in 2010 with more ways to keep you solvent in this fund sucking city. Please keep us posted with information about cheap (less than a five) and free events wherever you may be.

Last Updated 17 December 2009