Interesting and unusual things to do for a fiver or less this week.
Monday 3 March
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY: Beetles+Huxley art gallery's new exhibition, Aerial Perspectives, opens today, featuring the work of photographer Alex MacLean. Free, just turn up, until 29 March
SHAKESPEARE DISCUSSION: The National Theatre's Olivier Theatre hosts a discussion between psychoanalyst Mike Brearley, and academic Laurie Maguire about the human mind, as represented in Shakespeare's King Lear. £3/£4, prebook, 5.30pm
IMMIGRATION DEBATE: A debate takes place at Guildhall tonight questioning whether London really does need more immigration. Speakers include Tessa Jowell and Nigel Farage. Free, prebook, 6.45pm
CRAFT EVENING: Cocktails + cross stitching sounds like it could get messy but that hasn't stopped Drink Shop Do from putting on Mr X Stitch Hangout. Bring your cross-stitch along and mingle with like-minded crafters. £5, just turn up, 7.30pm
LGBT: Amnesty International London hosts Spotlight on LGBT+ Rights Post-Sochi at Goldsmith's College, a debate which looks at how LGBT rights have changed as a result of the Sochi Olympics, and what can be done to improve gay rights in the future. Free (donations welcome), just turn up, 7.30pm
Tuesday 4 March
FREE PANCAKES: Dirty Dicks pub in Bishopsgate celebrates Pancake Day, giving away pancakes for free. You'd better hurry up, stocks won't last that long. Free, just turn up, 12pm-2pm
MAGNETIC: The Royal Society hosts a lecture about the magnetic resonance. Free, prebook by email, 6.30pm
MEET THE AUTHOR: Meet the bestseller author Dave Eggers at Waterstones in Picadilly. He signs copies of his latest book The Circle. Free, just turn up, 6.30pm
POETRY SLAM: Hammer & Tongue‘s renowned poetry slam event returns to Hysteria in Dalston. This month’s guest is Ben Mellor. £5/£4, just turn up, 7pm
POP UP: We Are Big Chill’s pop-up film night kicks off today with a screening of cult classic Pulp Fiction, at The Big Chill House in King's Cross. Tickets include a drink and a bag of popcorn. £3, just turn up, 7.30pm
GIG: Electronic, funky, disco and house genres mix together at The Windmill in Brixton for an evening of fun and dance. £3, just turn up, 8pm
Wednesday 5 March
DOUBLE BILL: Two exhibitions open today at the Serpentine Galleries, Martino Gamper: design is a state of mind (free, until 21 April) & Haim Steinbach: once again the world is flat showcasing a wide variety of the artist's artworks (free, until 21 April)
JAZZY: Explore the golden age of British popular music with the exhibition All That Jazz, displaying the collections of the National Jazz Archive at the Barbican Music Library. Free, until 29 April
GUIDED WALK: Horrible Holborn is a themed walk around Holborn, uncovering the dark and bloody history of the area. Meeting point outside Holborn Station, the walk repeats on Friday. Free, just turn up, 1pm
CAPITALISM: The 'C Word' is the focal point of What are we going to do about Capitalism? a talk led by two field experts at Conway Hall.
CINEMA: Whirlygig Cinema’s Spotlights is a short film night featuring emerging filmmakers who screen and talk about their films. The event takes place at the Picturehouse in Hackney. £4, prebook, 7.30pm
Thursday 6 March
ART: A strange combination of items is exhibited in the Beer, Tea & British Folklore exhibition at the Full Stop in Brick Lane, focusing on the representation of Britishness. Free, until 31 March
LUNCH BREAK: The Grant Museum of Zoology hosts Show'N'Tell: Insects, a lecture given by UCL PhD students who showcase objects from the museum. Free, just turn up, 1pm
POETRY: The Poetry Cafe presents Poetry at Three, an open mic poetry event where every participant has a four-minute poetry slot. Not just for aspiring poets. Free, just turn up, 3pm
TURNER: Join the talk connected to Turner and the Sea exhibition at the National Maritime Museum. Two experts discuss the influence of astronomers and scientists on Turner’s depiction of the heavens. £5, prebook, 6pm
FILM TALK: Professor Sir Christopher Frayling leads the film talk about Sergio Leone's masterpiece Once Upon a Time in America at the Wiener Library. Free, prebook, 6.30pm
BOOK TALK: Brian Nevill presents his first novel Boom Baby at Westminster Reference Library, which focuses on 60s and 70s counter culture in London. Free, just turn up, 6.30pm
TAI CHI: Get the chance to join a free Tai Chi lesson at the David Game College in Notting Hill. Free, just turn up, 7pm
CREATIVITY: An early Women's Day celebration takes place at CoolTan Arts charity in Walworth. Free workshops, talks and an exhibition: all focused on the theme of positive change. Free, just turn up, from 1pm
Friday 7 March
MUSEUM LATES: See in the weekend with a spot of culture at the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, or National Portrait Gallery. Free, check websites for closing times and events
FILM FESTIVAL: UCLU presents the Festival of the Moving Image 2014. The three-day festival has a rich program of screenings and talks. Free, until 9 March
FREE TASTING: The Dirty Dicks pub in Bishopsgate celebrates its 200th anniversary with music and, even better, free food and its new stout — while stocks last, of course. Free, just turn up, from 5pm
MUSIC: Take your vinyls and bring them to the Kings Head pub, join the Crouch End Record Club and play your favourite music in their historical basement. Free, just turn up, 8pm
SKATING: Join in the London Friday Night Skate, open to roller skaters and bladers, weather permitting and starting at Wellington Arch. Free, just turn up, 8pm
PARTY NIGHT: Crimes Of The Future is a night of live music with DJ Scott Fraser at The Horse and Groom in Shoreditch. £3, prebook, 9pm
Saturday 8 March
FEMME FIERCE: To celebrate international Women's day, over 100 female graffiti writers, street artists and painters join forces and paint in the Leake Street Tunnel, Waterloo. The good news is: you can join them! £2.50+bf, prebook, from 8am
WOMEN: The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama hosts a dedicated festival in aid of Women's Day, consisting of talks, a panel discussion, performances and workshops. Free, prebook, 9.45am-5pm
FESTIVAL: Dedicated to Women's Day, the two-day-long Wowzer Festival is an independent community event happening at the LSE Students Union. There will be music, talks, art and much more. Free, prebook, until 9 March
ACTION HERO: Promising to inject a bit of 'badass' into your afternoon, Hackney Attic is the scene for 'an hour of Super Badass action hero training', including battle reenactment, one-liners, and a cardboard car chase. Or have a nap and a cup of tea. Up to you. £5, prebook, 3pm
Sunday 9 March
PHOTOGRAPH FAIR: Collectors of all types of photography are welcome at The London Photograph Fair at Holiday Inn Bloomsbury, which takes place four times a year with dealers, visitors and an emphasis on late 19th and early 20th century photography. £3, just turn up, 11am-4pm
SPANISH FILM: The Arcola Theatre is currently presenting Spanish film screenings every Sunday. Today it's the turn of 1973 film The Spirit of the Beehive, about a little girl’s fascination with the 1931 film of Frankenstein. £5, prebook, 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.
