Things To Do In London On The Cheap: 20-27 May

Lindsey
By Lindsey Last edited 155 months ago

Last Updated 19 May 2011

Things To Do In London On The Cheap: 20-27 May

Ideas for fun that's kind to your bank balance this week.

Friday: Pick up a free tomato plant in Trafalgar Square from 6.30am in a promotion by B&Q to get Londoners growing stuff.

Morley College runs an afternoon of free taster sessions for Adult Learners Week. From writing to a letter to buying a saxophone, languages, acting, reflexology to papermaking, zumba, clay sculpture, photography and more. From midday to 5pm at 61 Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7HT. Book your session now.

Saturday: Find out about 'The Ghosts That Weren't' with a free talk at the Victory Services Club by our very own Scott Wood of Fortean London fame, speaking at the Ghost Club, 2pm.

UEFA Champions League Football Festival begins in Hyde Park and goes on till 28 May. There's free admission and it's open from noon till 10.30pm this weekend. See the silverware, find football coaching and clinics, browse the official UEFA Champions museum and other fun footie stuff.

Intrigued by opera? You can watch a rehearsal of Macbeth at the Royal Opera House from 11am, paying just £4.10 if you can put up with a restricted view, or £12.30 if you've a bit extra to spend.

Sunday: Wandsworth Arts Festival concludes with The Shimmy and hundreds of origami butterflies along the river at Putney to Wandsworth Park. Free admission, from 1-5pm.

Take an hour long mural walk Dalston to Highbury with the London Mural Preservation Society between 1-2.20pm, starting at Dalston Junction Station. Free.

Coppetts Wood Festival takes place between 2-4.30pm at Coppetts Wood & Glebelands Nature Reserves, Finchley.

Monday: Catch a free lunchtime concert at St Martin-in-the-Fields as violinist Elizaveta Malyakina & pianist Maya Soltan play a mixed classical programme from 1pm, 45 minute duration.

Tuesday: Clerkenwell Design Week begins with an open house, open studios, a tea party, talks, upcycling, colour trends, cream teas, debate and a party. It's free but please register online.

Wednesday: See Bolivian folk dance in Southbank Centre Square at 1pm.

Thursday: The launch of the Gumball Rally 2011 will bring some motoring crazies out in public. See the 100 cars off from Covent Garden from 9am as they prepare for their mad drive to Istanbul. The flag drops at midday.

A free public lecture at LSE considers: Can single individuals still shape history? The Case of Osama bin Laden. First come, first served, starts 6.30pm in New Theatre, East Building.

Tango Spitalfields returns to the canopy on Bishops Square for a free evening milonga. Absolute beginners 6.30pm, open to all from 7-9.45pm.

What did we miss? Let us know in the comments.