Free And Cheap Things To Do In London This Week: 23-29 October 2017

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Free And Cheap Things To Do In London This Week: 23-29 October 2017

All week

© Hassan Hajjaj, courtesy Vigo gallery.

MAKE & TAKE: Choose the aircraft that takes your fancy and let the Airfix building commence. Nimble fingers a definite help. RAF Museum (Hendon), £3, just turn up, 11am-2pm, until 27 October

BLACK SOUND: Learn about the players, promoters, producers and punters that changed Britain’s cultural history in this exhibition, which closes soon. Black Cultural Archives (Brixton), free, just turn up, until 4 November

UNDERGROUND PRESS: See the radical underground newspapers, posters, ads and flyers that flourished in the 1960s, spawning British counterculture. A22 Gallery, free, just turn up, until 4 November

PHOTOGRAPHY: These vibrant photos from British-Moroccan artist Hassan Hajjaj upend gendered and religious stereotypes, all the while oozing style. Somerset House, free, just turn up, until 7 January 2018

Monday 23 October

See sculptures inspired by mythology. © Victoria Rance

FREE CHICKEN: The thought of free fried chicken should be enough to brighten any dull Monday. Get 50% off all food (until 26 October), nab one of 50 free 'The Thigh Life' burgers (from noon, 23 October) or one of 50 'Holy F**k You’ve Pulled' meals (from noon, 24 October). And enjoy one of 50 free cocktails if you buy a meal deal (from 6pm, 25 October) Billy and the Chicks (Soho), free, just turn up, 11am-late, until 26 October

LONDINIUM IN VR: See Leadenhall Market morph into Roman London via this virtual reality experience created by the clever technical theatre students at Guildhall. Leadenhall Market, free, just turn up, noon-3pm, until 24 October

OTHERWORLD OBJECTS: If you like your art cute and cuddly, with menacing overtones then check out this ten year retrospective by sculptor Victoria Rance, featuring new tiny mythological-inspired figures. Cello Factory, free, book ahead, until 30 October

Tuesday 24 October

Brush up on your cookery skills then eat your culinary creations at the Garden Museum.

COOKERY CAMP: Cook up a storm at this Autumn cookery camp, which teaches a different cuisine every day, plus explore the museum and veg patch. Suitable for 6-10-year-olds accompanied by an adult. The Garden Museum, £3, book ahead, 11am-1.30pm, until 26 October

SNOW FEST: Digging your winter warmers out for the ski season? Hear sporting chat from Team GB athletes plus live music from Tom Speight and Tom Forest at the shop's winter launch. Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports Covent Garden, free, just turn up, 5pm-10pm

DRIVERLESS CARS: Driverless cars are no longer part of a fanciful sci-fi future, they're already zooming around roads all over the world but is society ready? Museum of London, free, book ahead, 6pm-7pm

SOULS AT STAKE: Brainbox Melvyn Bragg and theology whizz Jane Williams discuss William Tyndale's bible. Why was it such a big deal and what impact has it had on contemporary life? St Paul's Cathedral, free, just turn up, 6.30pm-8pm

Wednesday 25 October

The Science Museum will be full of gaming fans this half term.

HITCHCOCK FOR KIDS: Take part in Hitchcock-inspired arts activities, explore a Victorian classroom and an East End kitchen this half term. Ragged School Museum, free, book ahead, 10am-5pm, until 26 October

FACE-OFF: Damn good doodler or pants with pencils? Whatever your drawing ability add your self-portrait to this Big Draw Festival Project which aims to end up with a continually changing digital face made up of all your lovely mugs. John Lyon's Theatre foyer, free, just turn up, noon-2pm, repeated 26 October

TAP TAKEOVER: Partake in some midweek boozing at this talk and tasting of four of the Brewery's beers, plus there's a cash bar. Southwark Brewery, free, book ahead, 6pm

POWER UP: Get your game on at this Science Museum Late, which celebrates 50 years of video game history with 180 consoles and enough retro games to power a lifetime's worth of nostalgia. Science Museum, £5, just turn up, 18+, 6.45pm-10pm

Thursday 26 October

Enjoy a spiced hot buttered rum inside a giant Moroccan lamp at the Queen of Hoxton. © Graham Turner

WINTER ROOFTOP: The weather may be colder and the days shorter but that doesn't mean we can't pretend we're living it up in Marrakesh. Snuggle up in a wigwam at this Moroccan-themed rooftop drinking den, but maybe keep your winter coat on. Queen of Hoxton, free entry, just turn up, 5pm-10pm

MARY BEARD: When it comes to Roman London, Mary Beard sure knows her stuff. Hear her chat about how to spot a Roman Emperor at this first come first served talk. Museum of London, free, just turn up, 6pm-7pm

NIGHT MUSEUMS: It's that time of year again where we all do a Ben Stiller and race around the city's museums after hours. Free highlights tonight include a film screening at the Wiener Library and a talk on shell shock at Bethlem Museum of the Mind. Various venues, free, just turn up, until 28 October

Friday 27 October

Meet the museum's scientists and visit the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at this Science Museum late.

ANTI-SWEATSHOP: This Singaporean pop-up shop celebrates craft over fast fashion. Browse graphic silk scarfs, resin clay bookends, and super cool plates inspired by London and even have a go at designing your own print. The Old Truman Brewery, free, just turn up, until 19 November

LATE AT THE BANK: Discover the mysterious story of the Bank nun, browse unlikely objects in the Bank's possession and even hold a real gold bar (though you can't take it home) as part of this Museums at Night late. Bank of England, free, just turn up, 5.30pm-9pm

NHM LATE: At 14, Josh was wowing Wildlife Photographer of the Year judges, today he talks photos and conservation. Plus, see a magic lantern demonstration, pop up science demonstrations and put your nature drawing skills to the test at this month's late. Natural History Museum, free, just turn up, 6pm-10pm

UNIQLO LATE: Short on time during the week? A Tate Late is a good way to let your hair down and get your culture fix. If you didn't nab tickets to see Mount Kimbie, you can still join a DIY print production line, wander the gallery while listening to a hypnotic soundtrack and hear Uniqlo ten minute talks. Tate Modern, free, just turn up, 6pm-10pm

Saturday 28 October

The Old Operating Theatre and Herb Garret is one of the museums appearing in the medical museum's trade fair. © The Old Operating Theatre, 1822.

SWEET LIKE HONEY: Bees are going through a hard time at the moment, what with pesticides and diseases. National Honey Week is a chance to remind ourselves of the humble bumble bee's importance. Get sticky with honey tasting, candle making and learn about the craft of beekeeping. The Hive (Kennington Park), free, just turn up, 11am

INVENTION OPEN DAY: Meet the robots of the future, create jewellery using beads that resemble cancer cells, try your hand at virtual reality design and chat to engineers about their exciting research projects. White City Campus, Imperial College London, free, just turn up, noon-3pm

BITES AND BOLTS: Pass places linked to the lives of Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley. Your guide for this tour is the one in the vampire costume — meet by the red sculpture in Central Saint Giles Courtyard, free, book ahead, 2pm-4pm

LONDON MEDICAL HISTORY: A trade fair featuring 13 of London's medical museums. Join workshops in Victorian pill making, suturing and handle objects from medical history like painful-looking sixteenth-century forceps. Cowdray Hall (Marylebone), free, just turn up, 2pm-5pm

Sunday 29 October

Rummage through pre-loved clothes at the Hackney Vintage Kilo Sale.

DULWICH POP-UP: With Christmas fast approaching, this pop-up market showcasing the wares of more than 50 independent traders provides a perfect gift buying opportunity. Belair House, free entry, just turn up, 10am-4pm

VINTAGE KILO SALE: Rummage through six tonnes of vintage stock, then pay for any gems you find by weight. The Round Chapel, £1.50, book ahead, 10am-5pm

BLACK GIRL FESTIVAL: Although panels and workshops have reached capacity, you can still wander around the market, grab some food and listen to live music at this much-needed celebration of Black British women. Kachette (Old Street), free, book ahead, 10am-11pm

PECKHAM GHOST TRAIL: Discover a ghostly side to Peckham you didn't know existed on this tour from occasional Londonist writer and author of London Urban Legends: The Corpse of the Tube, Scott Wood. Honor Oak station, £5, book ahead, 2.30pm-5pm

BAND TEE EXCHANGE: Are your draws bursting with 100s of band t-shirts from your gigging days? Wash them, coathanger them and bring them along to this t-shirt swap. The Shacklewell Arms, free, just turn up, 5pm-9pm

Last Updated 20 October 2017