Interesting and unusual things to do for a fiver or less this week.
Monday 24 February
ART: £weatshop is the pop-up exhibition of contemporary artists inside a former Dalston sweatshop. You'd better hurry up as it's on just for a few days. Free, until 28 February
LAST CHANCE: Fancy a walk in Greenwich? Then you should also head to the Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition inside the Royal Observatory, which is on display for its final day. Free, from 10am
ART TALKS: The Wallace Collection presents two free seminars. The first is about Birds in Oriental Arms and Armour (free, just turn up, 2pm) and the second one concerns the History of Collecting with a focus on the Stafford Gallery at Cleveland House and the second Marquess of Stafford as a collector (free, just turn up, 5.30pm), both taking place in the Lecture Theatre and led by scholars.
TRIBUTE NIGHT: The Duke Mitchell Film Club pays tribute to the Shaw Brothers film studio, which helped to launch the martial arts as a film genre. An evening of film screenings, trailers and quizzes at the Phoenix Artists Club. Free, just turn up, 7pm
POETRY: Two of the Poetry Society's leading Stanzas, i.e. Cambridge and Harrow, meet and fight — just using the power of words — at The Poetry Society. Free, just turn up, 7.30pm
FREE GIGS: Solo singer Tony Bowen is at The Finsbury in Manor House (free, prebook, 7pm) while the Mowbird band play at the Old Blue Last in Shoreditch (free, just turn up, 8pm).
Tuesday 25 February
ART: Gioconda Project is the exhibition on display at the W3 gallery in Acton, showing different contemporary artists' interpretations of a Leonardo Da Vinci masterpiece. Free, until 5 March
MORE ART: Students from Kensington and Chelsea Colleges showcase their artworks, which explore sculpting within the college structures. Free, until 4 March
FREE TOUR: Discover the futuristic building of Roca London Gallery, thanks to this free tour. Free, prebook, 6.30pm
WATCH & TALK: The Genesis Cinema in Whitechapel hosts the screening of short film Two Dancers by director James Gardner. There will be a Q&A session and you can choose the film to accompany it. Free, just turn up, 7pm
PUB QUIZ: You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat is the itinerant pub quiz about films and cinema, settling down for a one-evening event at the Upstairs at the Ritzy in Brixton. Free, just turn up, 7.30pm
DIY: An evening of West End and Broadway inspired craft activities, accompanied by music. Make your own mask, knit, create a small paper artwork and enjoy yourself at the Hackney Attic Theatre. Free, just turn up, 7.30pm
MUSIC & WORDS: In Yer Ear is an evening of spoken word and music at the King & Queen in Fitzrovia. £3, just turn up, 7.30pm
Wednesday 26 February
WALK: GoToMidtown Walks presents a tour of a number of sites in Holborn connected with Freemasonry. Meeting point outside Holborn Station. Free, just turn up, 1pm
BACK IN TIME: Intimacies and Intimations: Storytelling between Servants and Masters is a lecture focused on the historical figure of the female house servant, happening at The Warburg Institute. Free, prebook by email, 6.30pm
LIT: Annexe Magazine hosts a double launch at Candid Arts Trust. Tom Chivers launches his poem Flood Plain, which is released as a limited edition two-tone pamphlet, and SJ Fowler launches his poem, Whale Hunt. Free, just turn up, 7pm
LGBT: Cafe of Good Hope in Hither Green hosts Rainbow Readings, an evening of literature forming part of LGBT History Month. Money raised goes to the Jimmy Mizen Foundation (£3+bf, prebook, 7pm) and Paradise Press launches two new titles by gay authors, Christopher Preston and David Gee, as part of LGBT History Month celebrations. Takes place at Housmans (Free, just turn up, 7pm)
CINEMA: Thursday till Sunday is the title of the independent film screened at the multi-function venue The Proud Archivist along Regent's Canal. £4+bf, prebook, 7.30pm
COMEDY: The Secret Comedians perform an hilarious comedy night at Paper Dress Vintage in Shoreditch. £3, just turn up, 8pm
Thursday 27 February
ART: The London Group new exhibition starts today at the Cello Factory in Waterloo. The show also celebrates the 100th anniversary of the original London Group. Free, until 12 March
ON THE THAMES: National Theatre Bookshop recently started a new season of live pop-up music on Thursdays. This week is the turn of jazz vocalist Katherine-Ellen Kotz. Free, just turn up, 5pm
SOUL MATE: A talk about whether a loving relationship is really important. Singletons and romantics can share their thoughts at the Eagle Marketing Suite. Free, prebook, 6.30pm
MUSEUM LATE: The Horniman Museum hosts an evening of science, screenings, tours, music and quirky performances inspired by the world of taxidermy. £5, prebook, 6.30pm
LGBT: Novelist Chris Fowler presents his recent book Film Freak, as part of LGBT History Month, at Gay's The Word in Euston. £2, just turn up, 7pm
TALKS: Listen to an account of the British genocide in Tasmania at the Wiener Library (Free, prebook, 6.30pm) or Explore the theme of British Israelism and its influence in British culture over the years. The latter talk takes place at the Bell pub in Aldgate (£3/£2, just turn up, 8pm)
BOOK CLUB: The Erotic Book Club is a gathering for readers of 'that kind of book'. Book discussion this time focuses on Tampa by Alissa Nutting, happening at the art bookstore X Marks the Bokship in Bethnal Green. Free, just turn up, 8pm
THEATRE IN A LIBRARY: Out Of Print is the live performance about the relationship between writers and the characters they create, taking place at Canada Water Culture Space. Donations welcome. Free, prebook, 8.30pm
Friday 28 February
ART: Outside In is the latest Tom Johnson photographic exhibition taking place at the Box Studio in Shoreditch, which focuses on London outsiders. Free, until 2 March
SCREENING: Regent's Human Rights Society hosts a screening of Girl Rising, a story of nine girls who want to change things around the world. Free, prebook by emailing [email protected], 5.30pm
TALK: Baby Boomers on Trial is the free talk organised by the LSE taking place at the Sheikh Zayed Theatre, analysing the post-war generation, here accused of wrecking the world for the generations that follow them. Free, prebook, 6pm
MUSEUM LATE: A lot of free activities and pop-ups take place in the setting of Victoria & Albert Museum. Free, just turn up, from 6.30pm
FANCY DRESS: Party Like It's Your Birthday is the 90s themed party taking place at the Bethnal Green Working Mens Club. Expect party games, funky music, balloons and glitters. £4+bf, prebook, 9pm
Saturday 1 March
GEEKY: Technology and digital media activities are the main fun at the two-day-long Barbican Weekender. Most of the events are free, some require prebooking. Until Sunday 2 March
VINTAGE: North London Village Market offers vintage dealers and plenty of cheap home ware. The event takes place in St Mary's Parish Hall both today (10am-5pm) and tomorrow (1pm-5pm). £1.50, just turn up
OPEN ART: Get a peek at art collections usually locked away behind private doors, with Art 14's Open Art initiative. Today's schedule includes visits to the Government Art Collection, Dover Street Arts Club and House of St Barnabas. Free, prebook, see website for full details
VINTAGE MARKET: Vintage womenswear, menswear, accessories, jewellery, homeware, maps, prints and books — all at So Vintage Fair at Old Spitalfields Market. Free, just turn up, 11am-5pm
BRAM STOKER: Join the themed walk about Bram Stoker's less famous book — The Jewel of Seven Stars. Meeting point outside No. 56 New Oxford Street: this walk is also available on Sunday 2 March at the same time. Free, just turn up, 2pm
POETRY: Some afternoon linguistics for you at Keats House, with a poetry reading with the theme of The Romantics and Dreams. £5/£3 (gets you free entry to Keats House for a year), just turn up, 3-4pm
Sunday 2 March
STREET WISDOM: Sunday Assembly, a group who describe themselves as "a godless congregation that celebrate life", take to the streets today for a masterclass in how to use the city streets around you as a tool for learning. Free, prebook, 11am-1pm
OCCUPY MAYFAIR: Join an Occupy London tour around Mayfair, getting a look at the secretive world of finance and politics in the area. These usually sell out so book now to avoid disappointment. Free, prebook, 2-4pm
Check out our map of free things to do in London for more frugal fun. Or pop over to BrokeInLondon.com who also have plenty of great ideas.
