Free And Cheap Events In London This Week: 8-14 April 2019

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Free And Cheap Events In London This Week: 8-14 April 2019

All week

Get a dose of Victorian eccentricity

EASTER HOLIDAYS: Take a look at our guide to spending the Easter holidays in London — there are plenty of free and cheap events and activities to choose from if you're on a budget. Until 22 April

BATSFORD PUBLISHING: It's 175 years since Batsford Publishing was established at a bookshop on High Holborn. The company marks the occasion with an exhibition about its history, featuring some of the books it's published, as well as documents and photos from its archive. Holborn Library, free, just turn up, 8 April-28 June

VICTORIAN ECCENTRICS: This new exhibition is a totally bizarre collection of unconventional and intriguing images, giving an alternative view of 19th century British life. They're all the work of Victorian photographer Samuel Heracles Gascoigne-Simpson and his fascinating imagination. Stories Art Gallery (Mayfair), free, 9-26 April

SMOKE AND MIRRORS: Get an insight into the psychology of magic at Wellcome Collection's new exhibition. Objects including a gorilla costume worn by Derren Brown, Harry Houdini’s Bell Box, and Tommy Cooper’s fez are used to question what magic can tell us about the human mind, and whether our senses can be 'hacked'. Wellcome Collection (Euston), free, just turn up, 11 April-15 September

Monday 8 April

Hear from a curator at The Jewish Museum

GREAT BRITISH JEWS: From founding Marks & Spencer to introducing us to fish and chips, the achievements of Great British Jews are explored in a current exhibition. Today, hear from curator Jemima Jarman about some of the stories told in the display. Jewish Museum (Camden), free, book ahead, 3pm-3.30pm

WORLD OF SPORT: Michael Brunström's new show is not your average comedy performance. He plays an athlete determined to win an Olympic gold medal, trying out diving, badminton, archery and chess along the way. The Albany (Great Portland Street), £5, book ahead, 9.15pm-10.15pm

Tuesday 9 April

Hear the tale of The Railway Children

DYING TODAY: The concept of a 'good death' is a bizarre one, but Professor Ilora Baroness Finlay of Llandaff explains all in this free lecture. She discusses how lessons from research have revolutionised care of the dying in the UK and in many places around the world, and why many are denied the treatment they deserve. Museum of London, free, just turn up, 1pm-2pm

THE RAILWAY CHILDREN: Here's a treat for the kids that won't cost you a penny; take them to see a telling of the story of The Railway Children, E. Nesbit's classic book about three children who move from London to a Yorkshire village. Museum of London Docklands, free, just turn up, 1pm/2pm/3pm

WARREN STREET MURDERER: In December 1855, Emmanuel Barthelemy was hanged at Newgate Prison for a double murder. Marc Mulholland, Professor of Modern History at Oxford University, discusses his book, The Murderer of Warren Street, which covers events that led up to Barthelemy's death. Southwark Cathedral, £3/£1, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm

Wednesday 10 April

Bishopssgate Institute hosts the Queer Tours Archive launch

TUDOR LONDON: Gresham College's Tudor festival continues with a free lecture about the natural environment of Tudor London. Contemporary maps, paintings and writing have been used to discover whether the capital was a filthy, polluted mess or a bucolic, green space at the time. Museum of London, free, just turn up, 6pm-7pm

ARCHIVE LAUNCH: Bishopsgate Institute launches the 2019 season of Queer Tours of London, which shine a light on London’s rich LGBT history, by offering a look inside the Queer Tours Archive. Bishopsgate Institute (Liverpool Street), free, book ahead, 6.30pm

THE SHAPE OF YOU: In a dance show that leads the audience through the museums, performers from The University of East London explore the concepts of belonging, migration, structure and collapse, inspired by objects from the museums' collections. (UCL), free, book ahead, 7pm-9pm

Thursday 11 April

South East London Folklore Society investigates the Lost Gods of London

WOMEN OF WESTMINSTER: MP Rachel Reeves discusses her new book, Women of Westminster: The MPs Who Changed Politics. It tells the stories of female MPs whose work and achievements have often been overlooked, dating back as far as 1919. LSE (Holborn), free, book ahead, 6.30pm-8pm

CORNERSTONES: Things get rocking at Stanfords tonight, when a group of experts offer fascinating insights into Britain's geology. Mark Smalley, editor of BBC Radio 3 series Cornerstones talks to nature writer Neil Ansell about shale and fracking, and archaeologist and writer Rose Ferraby about gypsum, alabaster and Portland limestone. Stanfords (Covent Garden), £4, book ahead, 7pm-8.15pm

LOST GODS OF LONDON: South East London Folklore Society focuses on the Lost Gods of London at this month's gathering. Robert Kingham discusses London’s historical, mythical and contemporary pagan connections, many of which were already established before the Romans arrived and introduced their own Gods. The Old King's Head (Borough), £5/£2.50, book ahead, 8pm

Friday 12 April

Watch Leave No Trace at the Foundling Museum

SCIENCE OF SURGERY: Find out about technological and scientific advances which are changing what surgery will be like in the future. This day of activities and demonstrations — include a chance to try mock keyhole surgery — is aimed at all ages and offers a fun introduction to the world of surgery. Charles Bell House (Fitzrovia), free, book ahead, 12pm-4pm

LEAVE NO TRACE: Watch 2018 film Leave No Trace, about father Will and his teenage daughter who live in the forests of Portland, until social services force them to integrate back into society. The screening is part of a series looking at childhoods spent in difficult circumstances, and is followed by a panel discussion about the issues raised. Foundling Museum (Bloomsbury), £5/£3, book ahead, 7pm

BENGALI NEW YEAR: A three-day festival celebrating Bengali New Year begins today, with traditional Bangla music, dancing and poetry, curated by poet and director Ahmed Kaysher. Rich Mix (Shoreditch), free, just turn up, 7.30pm

Saturday 13 April

Stock up on the good stuff at Duke of York Square

CHOCOLATE MARKET: Stock up on Easter gifts — or just treat yourself — at this pop- up chocolate market. The usual weekly food market has a cocoa theme, with a selection of artisan chocolate stalls peddling their wares, and regular stalls offering twists such as chocolate sushi and chocolate Guinness cake. Duke of York Square (Chelsea), free, just turn up, 10am-4pm

OPEN MIC: 11-17 year olds are invited up onto stage to showcase their skills at this open mic event. Local dancers, singers, musicians, actors and comedians all take part — and they need a supportive audience to show their appreciation (that's where you come in). Ritzy (Brixton), free, book ahead, 1pm-3pm

PRINCE TRIBUTE: Marking the third anniversary of Prince's death, this dance party is held in honour of His Royal Badness. Dance the night away to his classic floorfillers as well as some of his lesser-known tracks. Ritzy (Brixton), free, book ahead, 8pm-2am

Sunday 14 April

North End Road goes traffic-free for the spring market

SPRING MARKET: North End Road in Fulham goes traffic-free for the day, making way for a spring market. Browse the stalls, tuck into food and drink, and enjoy entertainment including live music — fingers crossed the weather holds out. North End Road (Fulham), free entry, just turn up, 9am-6pm

FARMERS' MARKET: The first Forty Hall Farmers' Market of 2019 brings together local fruit, vegetable, meat, bread and cheese producers to sell directly to the public. Take time to explore the farm while you're there, and tuck into lunch from the street food stalls. Forty Hall (Enfield), free entry, just turn up, 10am-3pm

VINTAGE FAIR: 60 vintage fashion dealers come together under one roof for the Frock Me! vintage fair. Rummage through vintage fashion, textiles and accessories dating back to the 1900s, including designer labels such as Biba, Ossie Clark, Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel. Chelsea Old Town Hall, £4, book ahead, 11am-5.30pm

KEATS AND COLERIDGE: Celebrate the centenary of the meeting of two of the greatest Romantic poets. Keats and Coleridge apparently met on Hampstead Heath in April 1819, an encounter celebrated in this reading of work by both writers. Keats House (Hampstead), free, book ahead, 2pm-3pm

Last Updated 05 April 2019