Free And Cheap Events In London This Week: 29 April-5 May 2019

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Free And Cheap Events In London This Week: 29 April-5 May 2019

All week

Work by Véronique Avon goes on display in Hammersmith

PAINTINGS, ILLUSTRATIONS AND HAIKU: Works by artist Véronique Avon are on display in a free exhibition, inspired loosely by Antoine de Saint Exupéry’s book of The Little Prince. Each oil painting is accompanied by a haiku, and illustrations from Avon's own story books can also be seen. Apothecary Gallery (Hammersmith), free, just turn up, 30 April-24 May

CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS: Students from Central Saint Martins have created work on the themes of migration and movement — of people, ideas and trade. See the artwork in the setting of UCL's Petrie Museum, among Ancient Egyptian artefacts. Petrie Museum (UCL), free, just turn up, 30 April-1 June

TYPOGRAPHIC DANTE: Artist Barrie Tullett displays a range of works created in response to Dante's Divine Comedy. 100 typographic illustrations each represent a Canto of Dante’s narrative, so the exhibition is a chance to experience the whole journey of the Divine Comedy in visual form. Southbank Centre, free, just turn up, 30 April-30 June

BRILLIANT VISIONS: A new exhibition at the Museum of the mind displays artworks by artists who took part in the Guttman-Maclay mescaline experiments of the 1930s. The experiments encouraged schizophrenia patients to make art in an attempt to 'explain themselves' — but only a minority of patients had the capacity to translate their hallucinations into pictorial form. So surrealist artists were called in to take part in experiments involving the drug mescaline, believed to produce an 'experimental psychosis'. Museum of the Mind (Beckenham), free, just turn up, 1 May-31 August

The Typographic Dante is a new exhibition at Southbank Centre

Monday 29 April

REDUCE SPEED NOW: It's your final chance to clock Justin Brice Guariglia's Earth Day installation Reduce Speed Now in the courtyard at Somerset House. Nine solar-powered LED screens — the type usually seen on motorways — display words by international activists, poets and philosophers on the theme of climate change. Somerset House, free, just turn up, until 29 April

LANCET LECTURE: More than 70% of global health deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) — think diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity. For this reason, NCDs are being recognised as a pandemic. Hear from Dr Rachel Nugent, Vice President for Global Non-communicable Diseases at RTI International, about how every country in the world can conquer NCDs in an ethical, sustainable and affordable way. UCL Institute of Education (Bloomsbury), free, book ahead, 5pm-7pm

Tuesday 30 April

Hear from fashion expert Lucia Cuba

AIRCRAFT ENGINE: PhD student Edward Young talks about the mass production methods of aircraft engine in the second world war, looking at precisely how mass production came about — something which he believes is often overlooked in history books. Royal Aeronautical Society (Mayfair), free, book ahead, 6.30pm

LUCIA CUBA ON FASHION: Dr Lara Torres chats to fashion designer, artist and social researcher, Lucia Cuba about her use of garments as performative and political devices. The talk coincides with the current Mundo Latinx exhibition, which looks at issues of representation and identity in art. Fashion Space Gallery, free, book ahead, 6.45pm-9pm

SPARE PARTS: What would happen if part of your brain was removed? Find out at Parts to Spare, an evening looking at how removing part of the brain in epilepsy patients can affect the person's personality and sense of identity. A patient who experienced this takes part in the panel discussion. Science Gallery (London Bridge), free, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm

Wednesday 1 May

Learn about UFOs and the Cold War

UFO: There's more to the Ministry of Defence UFO files than reports on strange sightings in the sky (though that's what fascinates most of us). UFO records specialist (excellent job title) Keith Mitchell discusses the public’s perception of the Cold War and technological advances. National Archives (Kew), £4-£5, book ahead, 2pm-3pm

FIRST WORLD WAR: Find out about the transformation to the British Army throughout the first world war, and how this ultimately led to the defeat of Germany. Dr Jonathan Boff, senior lecturer in History and War Studies gives a talk focusing specifically on the final stages of the war. National Army Museum (Chelsea), free, book ahead, 6pm-8pm

BOOK SHOPPING: Stay late at London Review Bookshop for a relaxed evening choosing a new read or two. Staff are on hand to offer their recommendations, the cafe stays open late, and you get a 10% discount on any books you buy on the night. London Review Bookshop (Bloomsbury), free, book ahead, 6pm-8pm

Thursday 2 May

Learn about the Basingstoke Canal at London Canal Museum

CHILD MEDICAL TREATMENT: Cases where there is disagreement over whether a child should received medical treatment have been widely reported recently, from the parents of Aysha King who successfully secured proton beam therapy for their son, to the despair surrounding baby Charlie Gard. Professor Jo Delahunty QC talks about what should happen in cases where parents and medical professionals disagree, and what rights parents have. Barnard's Inn Hall (Holborn), free, just turn up, 6pm-7pm

BASINGSTOKE CANAL: London Canal Museum's monthly illustrated talk focuses on the Basingstoke Canal. Find out about the people who have been involved in constructing and working on the canal, and its demise and rebirth. London Canal Museum (King's Cross), £5, just turn up, 7.30pm

Friday 3 May

Visit Lambeth Palace Gardens

NOISE OF BATTLE: Tony Colvin, author of The Noise of Battle, gives a talk about the little-known Battle of Winnekendonk. It took place in the final stages of the second world war, and Colvin argues that it shows the British Army failed to learn from mistakes made previously at the Battle of Amiens. National Army Museum (Chelsea), free, book ahead, 11.30am

PALACE GARDENS: It's the first Friday of the month, which means Lambeth Palace opens its gardens to the public. For a £5 charity donation, you're invited behind the brick wall to see the Archbishop's garden — we visited in 2017 and found it rather enchanting. Lambeth Palace, £5, just turn up, 12pm-3pm

LIVE AT LUNCH: If you find yourself in the Covent Garden area at lunchtime, step into Royal Opera House's Linbury Foyer for a free surprise performance. Part of the Live at Lunch series, it's a chance to see Royal Opera House artists and guest artists showing off their talents without paying a penny. Royal Opera House (Covent Garden), free, just turn up, 1pm

Saturday 4 May

The Canalway Cavalcade returns to Little Venice

CRAFTY FOX: Browse art and craft products made by specially curated local designers at the Crafty Fox Market. Makers exhibiting this time produce ceramics, jewellery, prints, soaps, leather goods and plenty more, and craft workshops run alongside the fair if you're feeling creatively inspired. Mercato Metropolitano (Elephant & Castle), free, just turn up, 11am-5pm, 4-5 May

CANALWAY CAVALCADE: One of our favourite annual London events is the IWA Canalway Cavalcade, a free festival which takes place alongside the canal in Little Venice. Canal boats moor up with bunting strung between them, and stalls and entertainment offer up a festival entertainment on dry land. Little Venice, free, just turn up, 4-6 May

SHORT FILMS: Kick back and watch a variety of short films which have been produced all over the world. Genres as diverse as horror, comedy, animation, documentary and drama are all represented. Cafe 1001 (Brick Lane), free, book ahead, 2pm-5pm

Sunday 5 May

There's a dog show on Hampstead Heath

MAY FAIR: Mayfair park Grosvenor Square hosts a May Fair that's free entry and open to all. There's a British seaside theme, with helter skelters, fish and chips and coconut shys, plus plenty of other rides, live music and Morris dancing. Grosvenor Square, free entry, just turn up, 11am-6pm, 5-6 May

PLANT FAIR: Expert plant growers and specialist nurseries from around the country gather for the Garden Museum's plant sale, an annual extravaganza of green-fingered goodness. Stock up on flowers, indoor and outdoor plants, vegetable seeds and more. Garden Museum (Lambeth), £5, book ahead, 10.30am-5pm

BARK OFF: A dog show and pooch-themed bake off take place on Hampstead Heath, raising money for canine charity All Dogs Matter. Enter your own pooch, or watch others go head to head as you tuck into a cake or two. Parliament Hill, £5 to enter your dog, just turn up, 11am-3.30pm

Last Updated 29 April 2019