Free things to do in London this week.
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, and have a helpful guide to where to see art in London for free, and where you can catch cheap and free comedy.
Try your hand feet at line dancing
Waterloo, Who Knew? is an ongoing initiative, showcasing the surprising things the area has to offer. This Tuesday evening it takes the form of a free urban line dancing taster session at Morley College, open to everyone including complete beginners. Learn short, choreographed sequences that are easy to follow, to an uplifting soundtrack of soul, jazz, and rhythm & blues.
2 September.
Go on a bat walk
Head to Windmill Gardens alongside Brixton Windmill at dusk on Wednesday, and join environment and bat expert Dr Iain Boulton for a bat discovery walk. Bat detectors are supplied as you explore the area around the windmill in search of wildlife. It's completely free, no booking required.
3 September.
Stay late at Horniman Museum
One of London's regular evening openings, this month's Horniman Museum Late takes place on Thursday, shining the spotlight on female creatives from across the South-West Asian and North African (SWANA) region. Visit the museum after hours and wander through a female-owned market, take part in hands-on workshops and activities, and enjoy a line-up of live artists and DJs.
Entry and much of the entertainment is free, but note that there is a charge to some of the workshops, as well as the museum's current charged exhibitions.
4 September.
Greet London's new Great Ape
A 13m × 13m × 10m inflatable primate sculpture appears on the forecourt of the Royal Geographical Society this Thursday, free to view and in situ for 10 days.
Lisa Roet's large-scale sculptural installation, GREAT APE, acts as a call for climate action, timed to coincide with the World Design Congress: Design for Planet taking place 9‐10 September in London, encouraging conversations about deforestation and the stability of Earth's biosphere. It's made of thousands of satin‐finished, hand‐cut and machine‐quilted fabric panels, joined together by weather‐resistant thread. An accompanying installation in the Society's Pavilion is also open to the public.
4-14 September.
Immerse yourself in Asian culture
Head to Battersea Power Station this weekend to celebrate South East Asian culture at CelebrASIA festival. The free-entry festival features live performances including dance, orchestras and DJ sets, as well as Asian-inspired market stalls, games and competitions. Note that though entry is free, there is a charge for some of the events, such as workshops and masterclasses.
5-7 September.
Dance in the streets of Soho
Famous music thoroughfare Denmark Street — AKA Tin Pan Alley — is the venue for free one-day music festival Denmark Street Sessions on Saturday. Expect "part street party, part open house, and a series of intimate live shows" at stores, bars and venues in and around the area to keep you grooving through the afternoon and late into the night.
Artists on the line-up include Jay Mehler (Kasabian, Beady Eye), who'll share stories and sounds in an intimate talk and performance; DJ Amazonica spinning tunes throughout the night; a show from piano icon Jim Brickman; and gigs from unsigned and independent live bands such as Muck Spreader, Doom Club and Silkarmour.
6 September
Watch brass bands parading through south London
Things get loud and lively in Woolwich on Saturday, for Brassworks 2025. Proceedings kick off with a parade through town at lunchtime, followed by a programme of free concerts in the open-air courtyard at Woolwich Works throughout the afternoon, featuring performers including Crystal Palace Band, Bollywood Brass and Brassic Parp, with a few DJs sprinkled into the mix too.
6 September.
Catch the final week of GDIF
Greenwich + Docklands International Festival continues until the end of this week, offering free open-air theatre, circus and dance performances in east London. Highlights of the final week include The Weight of Water, a dance show on a floating platform exploring the effects of climate change, and Dancing City, which brings performances to a variety of outdoor spaces in Newham.
Until 6 September.
Rock the boat(s) at St Katharine Docks
All manner of vintage vessels moor up at St Katharine Docks (next to the Tower of London) for the Classic Boat Festival this weekend. Even if you don't know your port from your starboard, it's a fascinating spectacle, with around 50 preserved vessels on display, including Dunkirk Little Ships, all free to view. Wobbly on your sea legs? Stay on dry land for live entertainment, food and drink stalls, kids' activities and other nautical-themed happenings across both days.
6-7 September.
Work up an appetite ogling these food photos
This week is your last chance to see photographs shortlisted for the World Food Photography Awards on display at the Museum of the Home in Hoxton. The pictures come from all over the world, and showcase all of the ways food affects our lives, from growing, harvesting and cooking, to eating, celebrating and surviving.
Until 7 September.
Listen to live music at the Regent's Park Bandstand
Musicians continue to make the most of the bandstand on Holme Green by the boating lake in Regent's Park. On Sunday, it's the turn of the Barnes Concert Band (playing 12pm-2pm) followed by the Bournemouth District Concert Band (3pm-5pm). Show up whenever you like, and linger with a coffee or ice cream for wholesome Sunday vibes.
7 September.
See what's on at Totally Thames
An annual celebration of London's river, Totally Thames Festival returns from Monday for a month of tours and river cruises, music performances, talks, art installations, theatre shows and guided walks. Many (though not all) of the events are free, including the River of Hope exhibition showcasing artworks made by local schools, and a mudlarking exhibition in the Roman Amphitheatre at Guildhall this weekend.
Browse the full programme for other free events coming up throughout the month.
Until 30 September.
Other cheap things to do in London this week
Events and things that'll cost you a fiver or less.
🗝️ Dr Kiran Mehta introduces her new book To Detain or to Punish: Magistrates and the Making of the London Prison System, 1750–1840, at the London Archives. Hear about the diverse penal landscape of 18th century London, including how imprisonment was more common than is generally acknowledged, and how the prison system was reformed from the late 18th to mid-19th century. £5, 3 September.
🎭 One of the great deals of the London theatre world is the 'groundling' tickets at the Globe, available at just five quid a pop, if you're willing to stand in the theatre yard. They're available for Twelfth Night or What You Will, which is still on for another couple of months — though the earlier you go, the warmer the weather is likely to be! £5 Until 25 October.
