Free And Cheap London Events: 23-29 May 2016

By Londonist Last edited 94 months ago
Free And Cheap London Events: 23-29 May 2016

All week

Head for new heights on the Emirates Air Line. Image: Warren Christmas

A DIFFERENT SHAKESPEARE: His work's globally famous but this is Shakespeare as you've never seen it before. The Southbank Centre screens an extraordinary documentary about UK theatre company Graeae working with Bangladesh’s Dhaka Theatre to create a production of Romeo and Juliet. Free, just turn up, from 10am

£3 CINEMA: If you're aged 16-25, take advantage of BFI's 25 And Under offer and grab £3 tickets for last minute screenings at their South Bank cinema. See website for details.

AIR LINE: See London from above with Emirates Air Line. This is a must-do London experience for a bargain price. Jump aboard in Greenwich and enjoy magnificent river views. You can even use your Oyster. £4.50, just turn up, from 7am (8am/9am on Saturday/Sunday)

Monday 23 May

FREE PIANO LESSONS: Take a free class on the old Joanna at St Pancras Station. Barbara de Biasi, founder of Fireworks Music School, will show you how to tinkle the ivories on the Yamaha B3 piano, donated by Sir Elton John. Free, prebook, 11am-12pm, until 27 May

CULTURE FESTIVAL: UCL's Festival Of Culture starts today with a packed event programme of talks, experiments and experiences. Discover The London Department Store, find out why we post selfies and visualise time. Free, prebook, from 12.15pm

SHORT FILMS: Weekly film festival, The Concave, heads to Proud East tonight with an eclectic mix of genres celebrating all that's good about short form cinema. Free, prebook, 7pm

WALLACE AND GROMIT: Deptford Cinema promises a Grand Day Out with their Analogue Animation homage to Aardman Animations. From The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit to Creature Comforts and even an appearance from Morph, celebrate the best in claymation. £3.50-£5, prebook, 7pm

Tuesday 24 May

Try yoga with a view this morning. Image: Arch_Sam

SUNRISE YOGA: Watch the sunrise with this yoga class at Hay's Galleria. Based on the DeRose Method, you'll feel refreshed and invigorated. Free, prebook, 7am

ST MARTIN'S TAKEOVER: 12 of Central St Martin's best Fine Art graduates take over the Eranda Studio Floor of the Photographers' Gallery. Free, just turn up, 10am-6pm

DESIGN WEEK: Explore how science is transforming design at this Clerkenwell Design Week event. How has high performance computing revolutionised our creativity? Find out more at City University's Tait Building. Free, prebook, 6pm

Wednesday 25 May

SCIENCE MUSEUM LATE: For the best in space-inspired fashion, boldly go to the Science Museum's Space and Fashion Late. Meet researchers of the Antarctic testing suits worn in space, discover astrobiology and plunge into an array of space-themed workshops. Free, just turn up, 6.45pm

FREE ART: See a one-day special exhibition celebrating the launch of Francis Bacon: Catalogue Raisonné at 6-10 Lexington Street. Six Studies In Soho features five Bacon paintings and Triptych, 1987. Free, just turn up, 10am-9pm

JAWDANCE: Calling poets, musicians, open mic pros and stand up novices — Rich Mix presents Jawdance, a combination of all things spoken word. Come and get your midweek fix of creativity. Free, just turn up, 7pm

Thursday 26 May

RUSH HOUR MUSIC: For a tuneful interlude on your way home, head to St John's Waterloo where Ben Gernon conducts pieces by both Mendelssohn and Beethoven. Free, just turn up, 6pm

EDINBURGH PREVIEW: Comic duo Max and Ivan tell their story in this preview of their Edinburgh show at The Pleasance Theatre. Catch them now before they go north of the border. £5, prebook, 7.45pm

FREE COMEDY: Head to Dogstar in Brixton for sets by hilarious sets by Chris Stokes, Nico Yearwood and Jimmy Bird. Free, just turn up, 8pm

Friday 27 May

It's all about the butterflies at the Natural History Museum's Late. Image: Conal Gallagher

CHILDREN'S TRAIL: Take a treasure trail as part of Brockley Max. Travel back to 1883 and fight to save the area of Hilly Fields by completing the trail — collect stamps from local shops to complete the challenge and be entered into a prize draw. Free, download map online, from 10am, until 4 June 2016

FREE WALK: Take a stroll through south London's secrets with Cool Walks. Discover the rich history of Nunhead, architecture, public art and stories. Free, prebook, 11am

AUSTEN LECTURE: The Wallace Collection invites you to learn about the history of muffs in the work of Jane Austen's novels. Much Ado About Muffs examines how the muff represented fashion and status among female celebrities. Free, just turn up, 1pm

BIOBLITZ: Brompton Road Cemetery throws its gates open for Bioblitz. Join plant and wildlife experts on the hunt for species of plant, animal and fungi. You'll be helping conservation as you help a host of organisations count the living things making their home in the cemetery. Free, just turn up, 5pm

NATURAL HISTORY LATE: Watch the Natural History Museum come alive after dark with their Friday Late. Journey through the Winged Wonders Odyssey, laugh along with The Wunderkammer's comedy take on butterflies and moths and feast on cocktails and cakes. Free, prebook some events, 6pm

Saturday 28 May

SHOP WORKSHOPS: Stour Space launches its brand new online shop with a selection of activities at their Roach Road base. Join a print workshop, explore your dreams or draw with The Tiger Lady. Free, just turn up, from 10am

STREET FOOD: It's a weekend packed with street food at Alexandra Palace. From pizzas, ice cream and BBQ, to Pimms, waffles and a Tiki bar, the Street Food Craft Beer Festival has something to tempt your tastebuds. Free entry, just turn up, 11am

WOOLLY MAMMOTHS: Over 200,000 years ago, Ilford was home to mammoths, elephants, rhinos, deer — even lions. Hundreds of their bones were unearthed 150 years ago and became property of the National History Museum. See some of the bones back at the Redbridge Museum for this special exhibition on the Ice Age. Free, just turn up, 10am-4pm

Sunday 29 May

TOWER TOUR: It's a rare chance to see inside Hackney's oldest building this Sunday. Get yourself to Mare Street for a free peek into St Augustine's Tower. It's Grade I-listed and has been there since the 1700s. Impressive. Free, just turn up, 2pm-4.30pm

£1 COMEDY: That works out at less than a penny a laugh (probably). Make Sunday nights loads funnier with four fabulous comedians at Top Secret Comedy Club. Luisa Omielan, Johnny Kats and Dylan Gott spoil you with stage antics. £1, prebook, 8pm

Last Updated 03 June 2016