Interesting and unusual things to do for a fiver or less this week, sponsored by CommuterClub.
All Week
TINY PEOPLE: Miniature superheroes are on show at Curious Duke on Whitecross Street, in a new — and adorable — exhibition from Roy’s People. Free, until 9 May
CITYREAD: The month of free events around Ben Aaronovitch’s book Rivers of London continues. Catch Ben reading at a library near you. Free, until 30 April
Monday 27 April
FARM GIG: There's a free gig at Hackney City Farm, featuring Scottish singer Samantha Whates, folk band Wintershours and Icelandic songwriter Osp Eldjarn. Free (donations welcome), 6pm-11pm
WESTMINSTER TALKS: Television producer Michael Jackson is at the University of Westminster to talk about his illustrious career in television and media. Free, prebook, 6pm
Tuesday 28 April
LIVE MUSIC: Head to Horniman Museum for a live performance on the 1772 Kirckman harpsichord in the Music Gallery. Free, just turn up, 3.30pm
FOOD ASSEMBLY: Head to the Ladywell Tavern for the launch party and taster session of the Ladywell Food Assembly. Meet the farmers, bakers and makers and try some samples of their food. Free, prebook, 5.30pm
WAR, HEALTH AND MEDICINE: Gresham College is at Museum of London for a talk about health and medicine in World War One. Free, just turn up, 6pm
Wednesday 29 April
POLITICS: Two good free talks to choose from: at the British Academy, three political scientists and historian discuss what happens when nobody wins an election (free, prebook, 6.30pm), while at St Paul’s Cathedral speakers including Shami Chakrabarti from Liberty and Loretta Minghella from Christian Aid ask how we can get politics and business working for the common good (free, prebook, 6.30pm)
BOOK TALK: Antoine Laurain, author of The Red Notebook, and Caroline Vermalle, author of George's Grand Tour, are at Blackwell's in Holborn reading from their novels and answering questions about writing or their books. Free, prebook, 6.30pm
MUSEUM LATE: Science Museum has its monthly late opening. The theme is wearable technology, with workshops, talks and performances along this theme, as well as food, drink, a silent disco and more. Age 18+. Free, just turn up, 6.45pm-10pm
The list continues after a message from our sponsor.
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Thursday 30 April
HARROW FILMS: London Screen Archives brings historical films of Harrow to Pinner Memorial Park. Hear about the borough's film history from speakers including David Whorlow and local experts, and see how the area has changed over the past century. Free, prebook, 3pm
THEATRE PLATFORM: In tonight's National Theatre Platform, director Lyndsey Turner discusses the new production of Caryl Churchill’s play, Light Shining in Buckinghamshire, chaired by Libby Purves. £4/£3, prebook, 6pm
LITERARY SALON: Author Andrew O'Hagan is in discussion with journalist Sam Leith about the inspiration behind his latest novel, The Illuminations. Takes place at the Radisson Blu Edwardian on Bloomsbury Street. Free, prebook, 6.30pm
RANDOM ACTS OF CRAFT: A new craft night starts at Kahaila on Brick Lane. No crafting experience is necessary as plenty of activities will be going on. Ticket includes all activities plus a goody bag. £5, prebook, 7.30pm
FORTEAN SOCIETY: London Fortean Society meets at Dirty Dicks on Bishopsgate. Dan Baines, the hoaxer behind the Derbyshire Mummified Fairy gives a full account of what he did, why he did it and the strange repercussions that followed. £3/£2, 8pm
Friday 1 May
DEPTFORD JACK PARADE: The annual Deptford Jack Parade takes place — it's a revival of a Jack in the Green from about 1906 which was taken out around Deptford, South East London, on May Day by the original Fowlers Troop. See the full route. Free, just turn up, from 11am
MILKMAIDS' GARLAND: Another May Day tradition is the Islington Milkmaids' Garland. It used to be tradition for milkmaids to dress up on May Day morning with a special garland made for the day. Long neglected, it has been revived by a local all-female Morris dancer troupe. Here's the route plan.
Saturday 2 May
CANAL CAVALCADE: Canalway Cavalcade is a waterways boaters’ gathering with boats, trade show stalls and boaters that has been taking place at Little Venice since 1983. As well as boating activities there’s Morris dancing, food stalls, a real-ale bar, little shops selling the weird and the wonderful and many beautiful narrow boats. Free, just turn up, 2-4 May
RESTORED ALMSHOUSES: The Geffrye Museum gives the public a chance to see inside one of its 18th century almshouses which has been fully restored to its original condition, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of London's poor and elderly in former times. £3, 11am/12pm/2pm/3pm/4pm
SEWING MACHINES: The London Sewing Machine Museum in Balham has its monthly open day. See a machine which was given to Queen Victoria's eldest daughter as a wedding present, among the 600 machines on show. Free, just turn up, 2pm-5pm
Sunday 3 May
BARBICAN CONSERVATORY: A green haven against the Brutalist architecture, Barbican Conservatory is open to the public. It houses exotic fish and over 2,000 species of tropical plants and trees. Free, just turn up, 11am-5pm
LANTERN PROCESSION: Enjoy a sunset walk followed by a night time lantern procession down the Meridian Line of River Lee Country Park, starting at Waltham Abbey Gardens. Bring your own lantern. Free, just turn up, 8.45pm-10.15pm
Check out our map of free things to do in London for more frugal fun.
