Free And Cheap London Events: 17-23 November 2014

By Silvia Baretta Last edited 112 months ago
Free And Cheap London Events: 17-23 November 2014

Interesting and unusual things to do for a fiver or less this week. For more ideas have a look at our Free & Cheap page.

As part of Parliament Week, Southbank Centre hosts a free music event this Tuesday. Details below

All Week

ART EXHIBITIONS: Feeling arty this month? There's plenty to choose from in London. Take a look at our November art listing: this month includes fashion, sleep, art and sex. Most of the exhibitions listed are free.

CHRISTMAS MARKETS: We're still in November but Christmas markets are starting to spread all over town. To find the closest one to you, check our Christmas markets and fairs listing. Need more ideas? See our November markets and shopping events listing.

SOUTHBANK: World Press Photo of the Year 2014 is open at Southbank Centre. See 143 selected pictures from over 130 countries that capture news, portrait and sports. Amazingly, this exhibition also costs nowt to get into. Free, until 26 November. For more openings this month, see our November art listing.

EXHIBITION: Mum, Dementia and I is an exhibition at Bernie Grant Art Centre. Annemarie Anang shares her experience of living with a mother who has dementia, through a series of intimate photographs. Free, until 23 November

Monday 17 November

LONDON GOTHIC: London Metropolitan Archives hosts an exhibition about dark stories and horrifying popular tales of London. All materials shown come from the very depths of their archives. Free, until 12 March 2015

IMPERIAL COLLEGE: The People Who Are Keeping Me Alive is a new exhibition organised by Imperial College, starting today at their headquarters in South Kensington. The exhibition focuses on 20-25 individuals from three different hospitals, who are responsible for the care of one cancer patient, Rina Dave. Free, until 30 November

TOILET EXHIBITION: To mark World Toilet Day, My Toilet charity launches a photography exhibition which documents stories of women and girls and their toilets from around the world. The exhibition takes place at the Royal Opera Arcade Gallery and aims to build a visual representation of the day to day reality and the effect this has on their lives, both positive and negative. Free, until 22 November

FAMILY FUN: Join a StoryCraft storytelling session at Rich Mix, aimed at  mums, dads and carers with children aged two to five. Led by a different storyteller or poet each month, all sessions feature a hands-on craft activity. This month the theme is The Magic Carpet, with Rachel Rose Reid. £2 per child, prebook, 1.30pm

STORYTELLING: John Yorke, author of Into the Woods: How Stories Work and Why We Tell Them, is at Hatchard’s on Piccadilly to talk about the nature and structure of stories. £5, prebook, 7.30pm

LOUCHE WOMEN: A live poetry-chat show featuring poetry, singalongalouche, guests and live music. The audience is encouraged to bring A Thing for the chance to win a prize. Co-hosted by Caroline Smith and Sue Kreitzman, at Poetry Cafe. 8pm

Tuesday 18 November

NORMAN CONQUEST: Slightly Foxed on Gloucester Road hosts Paul Kingsnorth, who will be giving a talk on the Norman Conquest followed by a reading from The Wake, his award-winning fiction debut. Erica Wagner, former editor of The Times and one of this year’s Man Booker Prize judges, chairs the event. £5, prebook, 6.30pm

LIBRARY TALK: Head to John Harvard Library in Borough and listen to curator Chris Jordan speak about the original collection of Southwark's Cuming Museum. Free, just turn up, 6.30pm

ZOOLOGY LECTURE: Grant Museum of Zoology hosts the 18th annual Grant Lecture, with a focus on marsupials and reproductive strategies among vertebrates. The talk is followed by a drinks reception and a private view of the museum. Free, prebook by email, 6.30pm

JOAN OF ARC: Helen Castor explores the facts behind the myth of Joan of Arc — reexamining the story and giving a fresh perspective to an already extraordinary tale, at Waterstones Kensington. £5/£3, prebook, 7pm

CINEMA EVENING: The Ritzy in Brixton hosts Short Sighted Cinema, an evening of screenings that explore the shades and shadows of the human condition. Films are followed by drinks and a Q&A session with the filmmakers. £3, prebook, 7.30pm

DO DEMOCRACY: As part of Parliament Week, Southbank Centre hosts an evening of live performance and debate. A panel of young musicians and decision makers discuss the relationship between politics and music, followed by a free gig. Free, just turn up, from 7.30pm

PLAY BINGO: The Breakfast Club in Clapham Junction hosts a night of bingo. Plus, it's Happy Hour all night (which means half price drinks): just need to call your friends now. £5, prebook, 7.30pm

FREE COMEDY: The Tickler Free Comedy Night takes place tonight at The Hemingford Arms in Caledonian Road. Acts appearing are Rhys James, Daryl Perry, Gary From Leeds, Ben Van Der Velde, Twayna Mayne and Ben Clover. Free, just turn up, 8pm

Photo by Jamie Hall

Wednesday 19 November

MEN's DAY: CoolTan Arts celebrates International Men's Day with a whole day of free activities. There will be talks, workshops, a cooking group and even free health checks. Free, email olivia@cooltanarts.org.uk for more information, 12.15pm-6pm

FREE WALK: Join a free guided walk around Holborn organised by GoToMidtown Walks, with a focus on the Knights Templar. This ancient order set up its first English base in Holborn before moving to the New Temple Church. The walk meeting point is outside Holborn Station, the event repeats on Friday 21 November as well. Free, just turn up, 1pm

TALK DEMOCRACY: How do you imagine democracy in 2115? Sci-fi, fantasy and comic fans, gamers and scientists are invited to join the discussion led by Parliamentary Outreach. The event takes place at the Macmillan Room inside Houses of Parliament. Free, book your place by emailing parliamentaryoutreach@parliament.uk, 6.30pm

BHOPAL DISASTER: Bhopal: Facing 30 is the culmination of a photographic project that portrays the site of the 1984 Bhopal disaster, in which seven tons of the deadly gas methyl isocyanate leaked, and the people that continue to be affected. A book was produced to commemorate the 30th anniversary and tonight, photographer Francesca Moore and Colin Toogood, campaigns manager for the Bhopal Medical Appeal, are at Housmans Bookshop to discuss it. £3, just turn up, 7pm

DRUNKEN NIGHTS: The George Tavern in Shadwell hosts Drunken Nights III, a mix of live performances including comedy and improvised theatre. Full line-up still to be announced. Free, just turn up, from 8pm

FREE TALK: Listen to Philip Barker who's at Islington Town Hall taking about the power of language and spoken traditions. He looks at how the linguist's understanding of the relationship between language and reality often stands in contrast to such approaches to history. Free, just turn up, 8pm

Thursday 20 November

CHARITY EXHIBITION: Stars on Canvas is an art exhibition taking place at The Hub in Heddon Street, just off Regent Street. The exhibition features artworks made by famous people in arts and entertainment, which will be sold during an auction from 13-23 November. Artworks start from 99p. Free, until 23 November

LUNCH BREAK: The Royal College of Nursing hosts a free lunchtime lecture considering how we can work to look after ourselves and our loved ones to stay well this winter. Free, prebook by emailing eventsreg@rcn.org.uk, 1pm

GUILDHALL LIBRARY: The historic library hosts Len Taphouse who talks about his apprenticeship as an engineer with Harland & Wolff, at North Woolwich, between 1956 and 1961. He tells of the characters in the docks and some of the associated stories about them. Free, prebook, 2pm

LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY: The Old Truman Brewery teams up with Canon UK for a two-day-long photography event called Capture the Night. Head to Ely’s Yard and experience capturing low-light photography in an urban setting plus get the chance to win a photography workshop with professional photographer Jamie Hall. Free, 20 and 21 November, 4pm-10pm daily

BOOK LAUNCH: RED Gallery in Shoreditch hosts a book launch and a photo exhibition. The book tells of the growth and the development of the gallery from its very beginning. Free, just turn up, 6pm

CHEAP CONCERT: Brent Youth String Orchestra and Regent Brass perform live tonight at Brent Civic Centre, close to Wembley Park. Repertoire includes Bach, Holst, John Williams and Vivaldi. £5/£3, prebook, 7.30pm

Friday 21 November

EXHIBITION: Mark Neville: London/Pittsburgh starts today at Alan Cristea Gallery. The artist presents a photographic documentary of the social communities in London and Pittsburgh. His work aims to explore the role of art in contemporary society. Free, until 24 January 2015

FILM CLUB: Head to the Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre for an evening of cinema. Sarah's Key will be on screen and popcorn, wine and soft drinks are included in the ticket price. £4, just turn up, 6.30pm

Why not trying Urban Food Fest in Shoreditch this weekend? Details below

Saturday 22 November

BOOK SALE: Amnesty International Blackheath and Greenwich has a book sale at Church of the Ascension in Blackheath, with thousands of good quality fiction and non-fiction books available. 10am-4pm

FOOD FEST:Urban Food Fest at Euro Car Parks in Shoreditch is a street food night market that takes place every Saturday. There's a different festive street food menu every week, with dishes including: English roast chicken and cranberry pie, Italian turkey and burrata wood-fired pizza, Venezuelan feta and sage stuffing arepas and American three-bird brioche. Free entry, just turn up, from 5pm

WINTER FAIR: Stroud Green WI's Winter Fair takes place at Stapleton Tavern on Crouch Hill. It features the work of local talented artists and craft experts, with homemade produce to tempt Christmas shoppers. And it’s in aid of local charity Open Door so you can shop guilt free, knowing you’re making a difference. 12pm-4pm

CITY TOUR: Occupy London Tours is a free alternative tour company, run by volunteers, who want to throw open the secretive world of finance and politics for all to see. Today they tell the story of the UK’s smallest city, the City of London, the history of money in the heart of London and the Square Mile’s role in the financial crisis of 2007/8. Find out just what the Corporation of London actually is and more. Free, prebook, 2pm

Sunday 23 November

CHRISTMAS FAIR: Get into the Christmas spirit at Turner's House in Twickenham. The Christmas Fair has cards and prints by artists Beverley Waller and Katie Sollohub, scarves by Annie Simpson, Stella & Dot jewellery, calendars and other gifts, a cake stall and much more. All profits go towards Turner's House Trust’s restoration project. 11am-3pm

OPEN STUDIO: London Centre for Book Arts near Hackney Wick has an open day, and will have books, prints and gifts available for purchase and will be running demonstrations on the printing presses throughout the day. 11am-5pm

FAMILY WORKSHOP: Join artist Raksha Patel at Pumphouse Gallery in Battersea Park, as she teaches you how painting and photography combine. Alongside the workshop, at 1.30pm there will be a free family tour of the gallery's current exhibition. Free, 11.30am-3.30pm

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.

Last Updated 16 November 2014