Budget-friendly things to do in London this week for £5 or less.
Looking for more free things to do in London? Here are 102 of em! We've also compiled this epic map of free stuff in London.
Hear the story of a mysterious missing painting
Ever heard of Italian artist Guido Reni’s painting, Bacchus and Ariadne? It was commissioned in 1637, to go on the ceiling of Queen Henrietta Maria's bedchamber in Queen's House Greenwich, but it never turned up, and its whereabouts remains unknown.
Assistant Curator of Art at Royal Museums Greenwich, Vittoria Cervini gives a free lunchtime talk about the artwork, and what might have happened to it. We know that it arrived in Rome in 1640 but never crossed the Channel, after Cardinal Francesco Barberini, Pope Urban VIII's nephew, deemed it too lascivious to send to England...
Free, 24 July.
Sip a free Paloma on National Tequila Day
In need of a pick-me-up to get you through the mid-week slump? This Wednesday is National Tequila Day, and to mark it, Atelier Coupette in Soho is giving away free Paloma cocktails, mixed with Pancho Datos tequila, to the first 100 folks in through its doors. The bar opens at 3pm.
Free, 24 July.
Listen to Bowie in "the Ultimate Experience Room"
If you're anything like us, you'll have wrapped your ears around The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars many, many times before now — but KEF Music Gallery London is inviting you to do so with Dolby Atmos® surround sound, in their 'Ultimate Experience Room'. The free listening experience also features alternative versions from the original recording session mixed by original producer Ken Scott. It's free, but you must book ahead (which involves signing up to the KEF newsletter, although you can unsub at any time.)
Free, 24 July, 26 July and 31 July
See an exhibition of photography competition winners
Pictures from the 35th annual Lauderdale House Photographic Competition go on display in the Highgate venue's Lower Gallery from Wednesday, by both recreational and professional photographers. See shots from the Open category, and those entered for this year's theme, 'Purple'.
Free, 24 July-12 August. On the same dates, Lauderdale House also hosts the free Urban Focus photography exhibition, by last year's winner, Neville Morgan. And you may also be interested in the Hampstead Photography Society's Summer Exhibition, opening at Burgh House on the same day.
Cheer on your ducky new friend in Paddington
The annual rubber duck race returns to Paddington Basin on Thursday afternoon, raising money for local charity Cosmic (Children of St Mary's Intensive Care). 3,000 rubber ducks are released into Paddington Basin (and collected back afterwards). For £3, you can sponsor a duck, with the money going to the charity — and if your duck wins, you could earn yourself Eurostar tickets, cinema tickets, or a free meal. If you can't stretch to sponsoring a duck, it's free to go along and watch the fun. Later the same day, a dragon boat race takes place along the same stretch of water, also for charity, and also free to watch.
Free to watch/£3 to sponsor a duck, 25 July.
Keep up to date with the Olympics action
The 2024 Olympics begin on Friday, when the Opening Ceremony takes place in Paris. Then follows more than two weeks of athletics and other sporting endeavours, with the Paralympics taking place late August into September. As Paris is only one hour ahead of the UK, the events are scheduled at a decent hour for us Londoners, with many venues in the capital broadcasting the latest action on large screens throughout the competition, including official fan zones at King's Cross, Mayfair and Battersea. Many of the screenings are free, and you can drop in and out as you like.
Free, from 26 July.
Find out why the Warsaw Uprising was such an important event
Head to Chelsea's National Army Museum (or watch online) as Dr Paul Latawski gives a free talk about the events of the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, and why it was such an important point within the second world war.
Latawski — a senior lecturer in the Department of War Studies at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst — recounts the event, which saw thousands of Poles taking to the streets to fight the German occupying forces.
Free, 26 July.
Stay late at the National Portrait Gallery
Things get lively at the National Portrait Gallery, which hosts an evening of special events — beginning with a live, costumed performance by the six queens from West End show SIX the Musical, in the Entrance Foyer.
The whole evening is centred around the Gallery's new exhibition, Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII’s Queens, and also includes life drawing and creative sessions, DJ sets, and historical talks about the six queens featured in the exhibition.
Free, 26 July.
Catch the last weekend of this year's River Stage
This weekend sees the final incarnation of this year's River Stage, a programme of free performances on a pop-up stage on South Bank outside the National Theatre. It's the NT itself curating this weekend's programme, so expect family-friendly theatre, dance performances, live music, workshops for all ages, an open-air NT Live screening of Dear England, and backstage tours of the building.
Free, 26-28 July.
Get a closer look at some of Taylor Swift's costumes
A free trail dedicated to singer-songwriter Taylor Swift opens at the V&A Museum on Saturday, showcasing 16 looks from her musical 'eras'. Costumes, instruments, music awards and other objects from her personal collection feature in Taylor Swift | Songbook Trail, including the black ruffled dress seen in the music video for her latest single, Fortnight.
This one's likely to be very popular, particularly as it's free, so if you can wait, it might be worth sitting out the first weekend and putting in your diary for a couple of weeks time instead.
Free, 27 July-8 September.
Take your family along to a free Pride storytelling session
Coinciding with Waltham Forest Pride 2024, the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow hosts a Heart of Pride family day. Join storyteller Luke Saydon for interactive storytelling sessions throughout the day, combining music, movement and colours to celebrate everyone's individuality. Aimed at 5-12 year olds and their families.
Free, 27 July.
Look out for hot air balloons over London
Regular readers of this weekly article might be starting to feel like it's Groundhog Day. But this Sunday is the final standby date for this year's balloon regatta, which sees up to 50 balloons of all shapes and sizes taking off from Battersea Park at dawn. Whether it goes ahead depends on weather conditions — the two earlier dates this year were cancelled. There's no public access to the launch site, but if you're awake early, turn your eyes to the skies over London to try to get a glimpse — they set off from around 5am... if they set off, that is.
Free, 28 July.
Relax at a mindful crafternoon
Colour expert and Londonist contributor Momtaz Begum-Hossain hosts a special edition of her monthly mindful crafting workshop to celebrate the event's first birthday, at the Well Bean Co cafe in Royal Docks. Go along to learn a new crafting skills (each session covers a different craft) and spend a couple of hours in a relaxed environment. All materials are provided, and sessions are donations-based, with money raised going to suicide-prevention charity CALM.
Free/charity donation, 28 July.
See what's on at Summer by the River
A quick reminder that Summer by the River is going on all summer, with free events such as film and sports screenings and live music performances open to everyone. This week, that includes a sing-along screening of Encanto, choir performances, and a family-friendly theatre/circus show. Full schedule here.
Free, until September.
