Things to do for £5 or less in London this week.
All week
EASTER HOLIDAYS: The school holidays are here, and there's plenty going on in London including family exhibitions, nature trails, egg hunts and museum workshops. Take a look at what's on near you, whatever their age, and whatever your budget.
REMEMBERING THE DOCKLANDS BOMB: This exhibition at Republic Gallery remembers the 1996 IRA bomb at South Quay, including a short film and archive images. As well as the immediate impact of the bombing, it explores the effect the incident had on regeneration in the surrounding area. Republic Gallery, free entry, just turn up, until 9 April, Thursday-Sunday
WAR AND REFUGEES: Richard Mosse has created a hard-hitting installation. Three screens show footage from military grade thermographic imaging technology. We see refugees being rescued from boats and footage from refugee camps, where a lone man prays. Seeing fighter jets taking off and strafing targets with a deafening roar of a soundtrack is shocking and brings home the reality of the world we’re often insulated from. The Curve (Barbican), free, book ahead, until 23 April
HEINZ BEANS: Celebrate all things beans at Selfridges. This pop-up marks the 50th anniversary of Heinz Meanz Beanz. Buy yourself a limited edition can for £2, or tuck into dishes including Beanz with scrambled egg or crispy bacon for £3. Selfridges Foodhall, dishes £3, just turn, until 23 April
THE BEST IN PHOTOGRAPHY: We always look forward to the Deutsche Borse Photography Prize as the benchmark of photography as art. The finalists' styles change dramatically every year, and this annual exhibition has included many impressive winners in the past. The Photographers' Gallery, £4 (free before noon), just turn up, until 11 June
Monday 3 April
LONDON'S LAYERS: Museum of London hosts an archaeology-themed workshop for under fives and their parents — an ideal chance to get them interested in London's history and what's going on under their feet. Free, just turn up, 10.30am/1pm
VIKING TALES: Head to Shoreditch's Skye Halla themed rooftop for an evening of Viking tales courtesy of storyteller Giles Abbott. Queen of Hoxton, free, just turn up, 7pm-8pm
Tuesday 4 April
HUMANITY LECTURE: Is humanity naturally good? That's the subject of this lunchtime lecture, which takes into account the physical, chemical and biological components of human nature. Museum of London, free, just turn up, 1pm-2pm
LUNCHTIME CONCERT: Experienced chamber musicians the Moeran Quartet put on a lunchtime concert, playing Haydn's 'Joke' Quartet and Mozart's 'A Musical Joke'. Promises to be funny. Lauderdale House, free, just turn up, 1.15pm-2pm
CHRISTIE'S LATES: The South Kensington auction house hosts its monthly late night opening. The theme this month is Contemporary Living; take a guided tour, or join in a design workshop. Christie's South Kensington, free, just turn up, 6pm-8.30pm
Y2K LECTURE: Remember the Millennium Bug? Y2K? What was it all about — and did it even exist at all? Find out at this Gresham College talk. Museum of London, free entry, just turn up, 6pm-7pm
CURATOR TOUR: Join a curator for a tour of the current Miles & Stirling architecture exhibition. The exhibition examines two plans which were put forward for buildings on the No.1 Poultry site in the City of London. RIBA (66 Portland Place), £5, book ahead, 6.30pm-7.30pm
Wednesday 5 April
GREAT FIRE OF LONDON: How much did the Great Fire really change London? Was it solely responsible for the architectural changes of the period? Museum of London hosts this lecture about the inferno of 1666. Museum of London, free, book ahead, 3pm
PUBSCI: Science in a pub — an excellent combination. This month, hear from engineer Dr Fiona Nairn Scott, who will discuss the challenges of fireproofing iconic and historic buildings. The Old King's Head (Borough), free (there's a whip-round to cover costs), just turn up, 6pm for 7pm start
MUSEUM BY CANDLELIGHT: Explore Sir John Soane's Museum after hours by candlelight. The house's collection includes antiquities and other curiosities, as well as paintings by the likes of Turner and Hogarth. Sir John Soane's Museum (Lincoln's Inn Fields), free, just turn up (worth getting there early to avoid disappointment), 6pm-9pm
CRAP FILM CLUB: Celebrating the worst of the film world, Crap Film Club hosts a screening of 1986 indie slasher film Chopping Mall. Four young couples decide to spend the night in a shopping mall, but the security system malfunctions and robots turn into kill-bots. The Book Club, £5, book ahead, 7pm-10pm
POLITICAL POWER OF MUSIC: Head to Housmans book shop in King's Cross for a talk by musician Dave Randall about his new book. It discusses how musicians have used their craft to spread political messages through the years. Housmans, £3, just turn up, 7pm
HAIKU DAY: Shimmy along to Southbank Centre to celebrate International Haiku Day (prematurely — it's on 17 April). Hear Haiku poets reading their work. Poetry Library at Southbank Centre, free, book ahead, 8pm
Thursday 6 April
CHERNOBYL DISASTER: It's 30 years since the Chernobyl disaster, but what consequences has it had on food production and consumption in Europe? That's what's being explored in this new mixed media exhibition, which opens today. Rich Mix, free entry, just turn up, 6-28 April
FROM THE SOMME: Hear the story of how the British and Canadian forces were able to win the Battle of Arras over the Germans in 1917, despite the fact that inexperienced pilots were pitted against Germany's Red Baron. The National Archives (Kew), free, book ahead, 2pm-4pm
MEGACITIES: As the world's population grows, megacities will become increasingly common. Find out about some of the challenges of designing megacities, such as providing enough food for the inhabitants and keeping the air clean enough to breathe. Barnard's Inn Hall, free, just turn up, 6pm-7pm
CHICKEN AND BEER: Free beer, discounted chicken and hip hop tunes come together for an evening of urban music. Boxpark Shoreditch, free, book ahead, 6pm-9pm
GIRL ON GIRL: Artists Juno Calypso and Maisie Cousins are just some of those taking part in this panel discussion about female photographers and the female gaze. It's to celebrate the launch of new book Girl On Girl. Photographers' Gallery, free, just turn up, 6pm-8pm
COMEDY SHOW: Annie McGrath, Lou Sanders and Stuart Laws are among the comedians on the bill at this bargain-cheap comedy night.The Star of Kings (King's Cross), £3, book ahead, 8pm-10.30pm
Friday 7 April
NEW EXHIBITION: A new photo exhibition, opening today, portrays the first world war battlefields 100 years on, juxtaposing the death and horror of war with the peace and tranquility of the fields today.Guildhall Yard, free, just turn up, 7-23 April
GARDEN OPENING: For the first time in 2017, Lambeth Palace Gardens open to the public. The oldest continuously cultivated garden in London only opens a handful of times each year. Lambeth Palace Gardens, £5, just turn up, 12pm-3pm
TAP JAM: Kick off your weekend with some impressive tap dancing performances, part of Southbank Centre's Urban festival. Not always the reserved art form it is now, tap dancers used to gather in city streets in the 1930s to challenge each other. Southbank Centre, free, just turn up, 5.30pm
LATE AT TATE BRITAIN: Britain: Stand Firm is the rather topical theme for this late night gallery opening. It's based around the long-standing contributions that African and Caribbean immigrants have made to UK society, and includes live music, discussions, performances, film screenings and more. Tate Britain, free entry, just turn up, 6pm-10pm
MACHO? A bromance themed drag king cabaret, expert talks and a pop-up choir are just some of the events on offer at Wellcome Collection's Macho! themed lat night opening. Wellcome Collection, free, book ahead, 7pm-11pm
Saturday 8 April
FOOD MARKET: Leyton Food Market reopens for the year today, with street food stalls, produce including fish and bread, arts and crafts, buskers and live music. After today, it runs every Saturday until December. Coronation Gardens, free entry, just turn up, 10am-4pm
VICTORIA CROSS WALK: The Royal Parks Foundation hosts a guided walk around Green Park themed around recipients of the Victoria Cross. Hear the history of the medal and some of the people who have been awarded it. Green Park, £5, book ahead, 10.30am-noon
WARWICK AVENUE WALK: Join in a canal-side wander from Warwick Avenue to Westbourne Park. Along the way you’ll visit London’s oldest gardening centre, wander through the whimsical Meanwhile Community Gardens and take in Erno Goldfinger’s iconic Trellick Tower. Warwick Avenue station, suggested £4 donation, book ahead, 11am
CHARACTER PARADE: If you're in the vicinity of St Paul's Cathedral, you may well catch a glimpse of the London Games Festival Character Parade, with cosplayers and gaming fans dressing up as their favourite video games characters or designs. City of London, free, just turn up, 1.30pm
Sunday 9 April
VINTAGE MARKET: Mid-century, antiques, decorative and retro items are on sale from over 60 stallholders at this new vintage market launching in Vauxhall. The Workshop (Vauxhall), free, just turn up, 10am-4pm
ANTIQUES FAIR: If the vintage fair doesn't quench your thirst for bargains, switch tactics and head for this antiques fair, with dealers specialising in fine jewellery, silver, ceramics and paintings amongst other items. Royal Horticultural Halls (Victoria), £4 entry, booking recommended, 10am-4.30pm
EXHIBITION TOUR: The recently reopened (and excellent) National Army Museum offers a free guided tour of its War Paint exhibition including a discussion about the purpose of painting during war. National Army Museum (Chelsea), free, book ahead, 2.30pm
