All Week
MORE LONDON FREE FESTIVAL: From now until September, The Scoop at More London Riverside will be taken over by theatre, music, dance and film, as the More London Free Festival takes place. This month, the focus is on music. Take a look at the calendar to see what's on this week.
FORENSICS: Only a couple more weeks to catch Forensics: the Anatomy of Crime at Wellcome Collection. It's not one for the squeamish, as it examines methods of forensic pathology throughout time. Weekends can be very busy, with long queues, so time your visit well. ★★★★★ Free, just turn up, until 21 June
HENRY MOORE: Three exhibitions in Mayfair showcase the work of British sculptor Henry Moore, ahead of the 30th anniversary of his death next year.
UNOFFICIAL WAR ARTIST: Through his art, Peter Kennard has campaigned consistently for peace and decreasing the gap between rich and poor in the world, and now he has a retrospective at the Imperial War Museum. ★★★★☆ Free, until May 2016
ILLUSTRATION AWARDS: See this year’s entries to the V&A Illustration Awards at the museum. Works consist of book, editorial and student illustration. Free, just turn up, until 2 August
Monday 8 June
SAFETY AT SEA: Gresham College holds a free lecture at Museum of London about the Brethren of Trinity House, who have been responsible for safety around our shores, through lighthouses, for five hundred years. Free, just turn up, 1pm
MAGNA CARTA: There's a lunchtime talk at St Paul's Cathedral about how St Paul's became a major focus of opposition to King John during the crises of 1212-1216. Find out why the majority of the cathedral canons sided with the barons against the King and what led to the dramatic moment King John resigned the crown in St Paul's Cathedral. Free, prebook, 1pm-2pm
WESTMINSTER ABBEY: Head to the gothic setting of Westminster Abbey for an evening of music, poetry and contemplation. Ben Quash, Professor of Christianity and the Arts at Kings College London, will chair a discussion with celebrated Scottish composer James MacMillan, interwoven with various performances. Free, prebook, 7pm
COMEDY: Joe Lycett and Aisling Bea are testing out new material at Aces and Eights in Tufnell Park, and all for 0p. Free, just turn up, 7pm
Tuesday 9 June
LUNCHTIME CONCERT: The Billroth Quartet perform one of their regular lunchtime concerts at Lauderdale House on Highgate Hill. Free, just turn up, 1.15pm-2pm
AUTHOR TALK: Hendon library hosts a Regency Girls Night In with author Eloisa James, who will be talking about her latest book Four Nights With the Duke. The evening includes spa treatments, bubbly, cake and Regency dancing. £4.95, prebook, 7pm
SPEAKEASY: The monthly speakeasy is back at Drink Shop Do, with readings from authors including Laura Barnett and Stark Holborn, as well as short stories made up on the spot, and more. Free, prebook, from 7pm
LIARS' LEAGUE: Head to The Phoenix in Cavendish Square for Liars' League, a themed monthly fiction night, where professional actors read new short stories by writers from around the world. This month's theme is Near and Far. £5, just turn up, 7.30pm
COMEDY NIGHT: Head to Soho's Mediterranean Cafe for Night Howls Comedy, a comedy night with random acts. Free (donations welcome), just turn up, 8pm
Wednesday 10 June
EXHIBITION TOUR: Join Strange Creatures curator Jack Ashby at the Grant Museum of Zoology for a tour of the exhibition exploring the themes of discovery and Australian wildlife. Free, just turn up, 1.15pm-1.45pm
RUSH HOUR CONCERT: Violinist Jennifer Pike performs a rush hour concert at Conway Hall in Holborn. The recital will be followed by an informal Q&A between Jennifer and Kimon Daltas, editor of Classical Music magazine. Free, prebook, from 6.15pm
Thursday 11 June
CLERKENWELL CURIOSITIES: Meet at Farringdon Station for this guided walk around Clerkenwell. Visit the pub where Dickens drank, Gotham City’s police HQ and the house that started the gentrification of the area. £3, prebook, 12.45pm
V&A BACKSTAGE: Take a curator-led backstage tour of the V&A's theatre and performance archives at Blythe House near Kensington Olympia. Free, prebook, 2.30pm
RUSH HOUR CONCERT: Guy Barker and the Guy Barker Jazz Orchestra perform the premiere of his orchestration of Miles Davis’s iconic album Kind of Blue, at St John's Waterloo. Free, 6pm-7pm
WILD GUIDE: Authors Daniel Start, Elsa Hammond and Lucy Grewcock are at Stanfords in Covent Garden to talk about the best places in the south east of England for wild swimming rivers, secret beaches, canoeing, ancient woods, lost ruins, sunset hilltops, meadows, wildlife wonders, caves and general outdoor adventures. £3, prebook, 6.30pm
VAN ZANDT TRIBUTE: The Monarch in Camden hosts an evening of live music with a host of acts paying tribute to country legend Townes Van Zandt by covering his songs. There will also be country and folk DJs, a special Townes Van Zandt themed cocktail and Townes Van Zandt fanzines for sale. Free, just turn up, 7pm
SCREENING ROOM: The Overlook Screening Room is at The Water Poet in Spitalfields for a screening of Red Rock West, about a Vietnam war veteran and drifter who arrives in the town of Red Rock, Wyoming. Suggested donation £3, just turn up, 7pm
COMEDY: Nick Hall and Gareth Cooper are doing Edinburgh preview shows at Comedy Back Rub in Camden, hosted by Sarah Campbell. £3, just turn up, 7.30pm
Friday 12 June
LOVE SONGS: Argentine troubadour Guillermo Rozenthuler is at Southbank Centre's Festival of Love to perform a selection of his favourite love songs from Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Cuba, accompanied by Latin musicians. Free, 1pm-2pm
AFROBEAT COLLECTIVE: London Afrobeat Collective take over The Clore Ballroom at Southbank Centre for a full live set, supported by live DJs, for an evening of dancing. Free, 5.30pm-8pm
Saturday 13 June
GRANDFEST: Learn skills such as bread making, crocheting and home brewing from volunteers aged 70+, who have years of experience in the skill they're teaching. Grandfest takes place at venues around Hoxton Square. Free (donations to Royal Voluntary Service welcome), prebook individual masterclasses, 11am-6pm
WORLD ARCHAEOLOGY FESTIVAL: UCL holds a family orientated world archaeology festival, where you can take tours of UCL's collection and handle some of the objects. Other activities include seeing how animal hides are transformed into leather, learning how flint can be used to make tools and more. Free, just turn up, 12pm-5pm
FAIR IN THE SQUARE: Pond Square in Highgate Village is home to Fair in the Square. The Square itself will be turned into an open air circus, with traditional fairground rides, a creative play tent, Punch and Judy shows, circus skills workshops, stilt walkers and a sheep shearing show. Free, just turn up, 12.30pm-5.30pm
Sunday 14 June
POLICE STATION OPEN DAY: Lewisham Police Station has an open day where the public can drop in to see vintage police vehicles and original police artefacts that include old-fashioned handcuffs and historic police uniforms from the 1800s. Free, 10am-3pm
GEORGIAN VILLA: 19 Princelet Street, a Georgian villa near Old Spitalfields Market which was once home to Huguenots, has a free open day. Early arrival recommended to avoid queueing. Free (donations encouraged), just turn up, 12pm-5pm
Check out our map of free things to do in London for more frugal fun.
