Interesting and unusual things to do for a fiver or less this week. For more ideas have a look at our Free & Cheap page.
All Week
PUB: Just want to kick back and relax with a pint and a packet of pork scratchings? Our pubs guide has information about all of the best pubs in London, organised by area for your convenience. Find a boozer near you, or see if your favourite made the cut.
BLACK HISTORY: October is Black History Month, featuring a packed programme of events and activities celebrating the contribution of African and Caribbean people to the richness of British life, as well as championing and promoting knowledge of the history and cultures of black and ethnic minorities. Many of the events are under £5, check website for full schedule or follow our suggestions.
COLLEGE FESTIVAL: King's College Arts and Humanities Festival has a plethora of events going on, including life drawing, dance workshops and guided tours of Somerset House. Many events are free but booking is required. See full programme. Until 24 October
ART EXHIBITION: Head to Nancy Victor Gallery and see Satirism exhibition, featuring artworks by MA Product Design Nick Smith. He focuses his works on Pop Art's most famous exponent Andy Warhol. Free, until 17 October
FREE FILM FESTIVAL: St Martin's Courtyard hosts The Silent Swoon Free Film Festival, from Tuesday 14 until Thursday 16 October. Check the programme and enter your details on the page to get the chance to win tickets. There will be some more free tickets available during the festival as well. Free, until 16 October
Monday 13 October
JESSIE WARE: Singer Jessie Ware will be at HMV Oxford Street, meeting fans and signing copies of her new album Tough Love. This event is on a first-come first-served basis so we suggest you get there early to avoid disappointment. Free, just turn up, 6pm
HISTORY IN THE PUB: Join Londonist's editor-at-large Matt Brown and London brewing historian Alan Greenwood for an evening of pub history in the Water Poet in Spitalfields. You will hear the grisly Victorian history of the Water Poet itself and there will be prizes during the night as well. £4/free, prebook, 7pm
ADULT STORYTELLING: Spark London storytelling takes over Hackney Picturehouse for an evening of stories along the theme of second chances. Listen to others, or take the chance to tell your own story. £4, prebook, 7.30pm
COMEDY: The Loft Tickler Free Comedy Night takes place at The Loft in Clapham. Tonight’s acts are Joey Page, Luke Graves, Paul F Taylor, Saskia Preston and Stephen Bailey. Free, just turn up, 8pm
Tuesday 14 October
GUIDED WALK: Coram Charity celebrates its 275th anniversary with two free walks taking place today and on Friday 17 October. Join an historic walk through Bloomsbury and find out about the famous faces and places that played key roles in the development of the Foundling Hospital. Free, prebook, 12.30pm both days
TREASURE HUNT: Join Action Aid for a charity treasure hunt around Mayfair. You will explore the companies in the area and learn more about tax havens. £2.50, prebook, 6pm
MAN BOOKER: Brick Lane Bookshop hosts an alternative Man Booker Prize Party. Paul Ewen will be talking about his Booker-inspired debut novel, Francis Plug — How To Be A Public Author, in the run-up to the winner being announced. Free, prebook, 6.30pm
WIENER LIBRARY: Author Thomas Weber is at Wiener Library discussing his book Hitler's First War, a radical revision of the period of Hitler's life that is said to have made him. Professor Weber discusses his research on Hitler and the First World War and also the forthcoming adaptation of the book for television. Free, prebook, 6.30pm
POETRY LAUNCH: Templar Poetry is at Keats House in Hampstead for the launch of Matthew Henley’s first collection, Beetle, alongside readings from Paul Maddern. Free, prebook, 7pm
PLAY BINGO: The Breakfast Club in Angel hosts a bingo night. And it will be happy hour all night, so your drink won't be too expensive. £5, prebook, 7pm
COMEDY: The Hemingford Tickler Free Comedy Night takes place at The Hemingford Arms in Caledonian Road. Acts confirmed are Michael Fabbri, Harriet Kemsley, Ben Van Der Velde, Jessica Fostekew, Stephanie Laing and Amy Howeska. Free, just turn up, 8pm
Wednesday 15 October
PHOTO EXHIBITION: The Great Londoners exhibition starts today at Hoxton Hotel. Photographer Nicholas Goodden captures photos of Londoners during their everyday lives. Free, until 31 January 2015
HERITAGE WALK: Living Streets, Valence House and the Creekmouth Preservation Society present a free heritage walk to the site of the old Creekmouth Village in Barking. Meeting outside Sue Bramley Centre in Barking: email [email protected] or call 07703 741078 to book your place. Free, prebook, 1pm
HISTORY LECTURE: King's College London presents a free lecture about sheltering in London during the Second World War. The event takes place at the Edmund J Safra Lecture Theatre and is led by author Antony Beevor, art critic Andrew Graham-Dixon and lecturer Lara Feigel. Free, prebook, 6.30pm
SCIENCE IN A PUB: Join a PubSci event curated by Melissa Marr, who will showcase the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for the annual Ada Lovelace Day. The event takes place at The Old King's Head in London Bridge. Free, just turn up, 7pm
MUSIC NIGHT: Head to The Drury Club, where solo singer Johnny Lucas launches his latest single, The Best Days. £5, just turn up, 8.30pm
Thursday 16 October
VET COLLEGE NIGHT: The Royal Veterinary College in Camden opens its door to the public and hosts a one-off event about supersize animals. Meet veterinary researchers, try out science activities and visit the college museum: see full schedule of events on the college website. Free, prebook, from 5pm
MORLEY COLLEGE: The Westminster-based college hosts Professor Roger Kneebone who explores how framing operative surgery as a performance and a craft can bring new insights. Drawing on his extensive collaborations with musicians, actors, dancers and craftsmen, Roger describes how he uses realistic simulation to invite outsiders into the hidden world of the operating theatre. 1p, just turn up, 6pm
FREE LECTURE: Celebrate naturalist David Bellamy with this lecture given by Pete Wilkinson, taking place at the Royal Geographic Society. Pete, co-founder of Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace UK, launches his autobiography From Deptford to Antarctica and speaks of over 30 years of environmental campaigning. Free, prebook, 7pm
KING'S COLLEGE: 2014 sees the 60th anniversary of the discovery of the temple of Mithras near the Walbrook, just south-west of the Bank of England and at the centre of Roman London. King's College dedicates a free lecture about the temple, led by a panel of experts. Free, prebook, 7pm
POETRY: Join the Emma Press at The College Arms in Bloomsbury for the launch party to celebrate Rachel Piercey and Stephen Sexton's new poetry pamphlets. London poet Rachel Piercey and Belfast poet Stephen Sexton will give short readings from Rivers Wanted and Oils, and there will be themed biscuits. Free, just turn up, 7pm
FILM SCREENING: As part of Black History Month, Stratford Picturehouse hosts a free screening of Fire in the Blood. This film talks about the scandal of Big Pharma’s refusal to reduce the prices of the anti-retroviral drugs that could have saved the lives of many millions of developing-world AIDS sufferers. Free, prebook, 8.30pm
Friday 17 October
FREE FILM FESTIVAL: London Fields Film Free Festival starts today. Totally run by volunteers and completely free, this film festival brings a movies to different locations around the area. Check website for full schedule. Free, until 26 October
THE GIRLS ARE: Forge Venue in Camden runs a series of events and free workshops offering advice to women who work in or want to work in music journalism and live music photography. Free, just turn up, 17-19 October
LATINO AND AFRICAN CULTURE: Grow Hackney in Hackney Wick presents a weekend of Latin American and African culture. Over three days and nights, a host of performers from around the world share their skills, knowledge, energy and passion for their art form. There will also be workshops, documentaries, food, drink, arts and crafts for sale, a Yoruba art exhibition by Ade Sose Wallace throughout the weekend and DJs. 17-19 October
CLASSICAL MUSIC: Listen to London Symphony Orchestra performing live at LSO St Luke's in Old Street. Vocal works by Schubert and Wagner will be performed and introduced by postgraduate musicians from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Free, just turn up, 12.30pm
LUNCH BREAK: Head to Bishopsgate Institute for a free lunchtime concert. Violinist Soh-Yon Kim plays classical music together with pianist Maksim Štšura. Free, just turn up, 1.05pm
BIRTHDAY PARTY: The Social in Little Portland Street celebrates its 15th birthday with an evening of music and dance, everyone welcome. Free, prebook, from 6pm
FILM CLUB: Coin Street neighbourhood centre hosts a free screening of The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner. Tickets are £4 and include a snack and a drink. £4, just turn up, 7pm
FREE GIG: Solo singer Namvula performs a free gig tonight at The Forge in Camden. She will be fusing the folk and urban traditions of her Zambian homeland with her Scottish roots. Free, just turn up, 7.30pm
Saturday 18 October
HOME MOVIE DAY: Got any old films lying around of your family? Take them along to Home Movie Day at the Cinema Museum in Kennington to get advice on how to store them from a professional film archivist, and a chance to see them projected onto the big screen. Free, just turn up, 11am-5pm
SHADOW BANKS: Occupy London's Mayfair Tour takes a look at the Shadow Banks of the area. Find out about links between unregulated finance and our politics: from enigmatic Tory funders to the company which lists ex-presidents and prime ministers on its payroll. Free, prebook, 2pm
Sunday 19 October
THEATRE FUNDRAISER: Theatre company House of Stray Cats hosts the first 12-hour Actathon at Matthew's Yard in Croydon, to raise money for charity Medical Aid for Palestinians. From monologues to musicals, from comic sketches to rap battles, any style of performance is welcome and anyone attending is free to join in, be it for 12 seconds or the full 12 hours. £3, 10am-10pm
COMEDY: The Lion on Stoke Newington Church Road hosts Laugh Out London, a comedy night featuring Sam Simmons, David Trent, Karl Schultz and more. £5/£4, prebook, 7pm
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.
