Free things to do in London this week.
See inside a rather special Map Room
The Royal Geographical Society opens the Map Room in its Kensington HQ for a special talk from artist Hormazd Narielwalla, and the Society's Cartographic Collections Manager, Dr Katherine Parker. Hear them discuss the artworks and artefacts kept in the room, and their historical and creative significance.
13 April.
Bag yourself a free ice cream
The annual Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day takes place on Tuesday 14 April, when you can get free, unlimited(!) ice cream from the Soho store (74 Wardour Street). Simply turn up during opening hours (1pm-10pm) and join the queue to claim a free scoop of ice cream in a flavour of your choice. Still got room for another scoop after that? Join the queue again to try a different flavour — there's no limit to the number of times you can do that (though expect fairly long queues).
14 April.
Celebrate Earth Day at Somerset House
Earth Day — an annual, international event promoting the protection of our environment — falls on 22 April, but Somerset House marks the occasion this week, with an Earth Day Weekender.
Some (though not all) of the events on the programme are free, including a chance to see the creative climate-focused work taking place within the Somerset House resident community; and a drop-in screen-printing workshop using compost specially made on site.
It's also a chance to get a last look at the Serpentine Currents sculpture on display in the courtyard. It's shaped like a sea snake and displays ocean data from the British coastline on its LED surface.
16-18 April.
See the latest free display at the British Museum
Head to Room 90 in the British Museum from Thursday this week to view free display, Early Netherlandish drawings, which celebrates the time when Netherlandish drawings became an art form in their own right, one which is now rare.
See 110 works by renowned artists in Rogier van der Weyden, Lucas van Leyden, Pieter Bruegel the Elder and Hendrick Goltzius, as well as workshops copies which give an insight into the working practices of early Netherlandish artists in the running of their studios and the training of their pupils.
16 April-20 September.
See an exhibition on Yorùbá spirituality
British-Nigerian artist Angie Aniwura and British painter Lucy SM Johnston have collaborated to create the exhibition Iya Beji: Mother of Twins. Six artworks reflect Aniwura's exploration of Yorùbá spirituality, following experiences with a hysterectomy, followed by breast cancer. Call in at Unit G19, The Sidings at Waterloo station.
17-21 April.
View unseen Winnie the Pooh sketches
Rare books specialist Peter Harrington holds an exhibition of Winnie the Pooh sketches in its Mayfair gallery.
Where It All Began marks the centenary of the publication of the beloved children's book, showcasing previously unseen preliminary sketches by E. H. Shepard, which have been revealed by the Shepard family for the first time. The early sketches reveal scenes from the original 1926 book that were never developed into finished illustrations, and are presented alongside other notable Pooh material and collectable children's books.
17-27 April.
Explore London's huge new museum
One of our cultural highlights of 2026 is the new V&A East, which opens its doors this Saturday. What'll be the largest V&A outpost is located in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park with a focus on multiculturalism. Two free and permanent 'Why we make' galleries will offer up examples of creativity "from a range of countries, cultures and times". Temporary exhibitions will also feature, starting with The Music is Black: A British Story. Entry is free, with a charge for special exhibitions — although it's likely to be very busy for the first few weeks.
The V&A East is not to be confused with the V&A East Storehouse and its David Bowie Centre, both also free and located nearby.
From 18 April.
Watch a pack of stylish cyclists sauntering through town
Style meets cycling as the Tweed Run meanders through London's streets and parks on Saturday, with cyclists competing in categories including best-dressed individuals, finest moustaches and most elegantly adorned bicycles. Stops for tea, a picnic and a celebratory cocktail are built into the schedule. How sophisticated.
There's a charge to take part in the 12-mile route, but spectating is free. Location details will be published on the Tweed Run website on the day. Worth getting dressed up for, we reckon.
18 April.
Get to know the sounds of Hounslow
Watermans Art Centre hosts Sounds of Hounslow — Transit Tonalities in Situ, a free exhibition of voices, memories, personal histories and shared experiences of the local area. Hear everything from air traffic from nearby Heathrow, to the local resident parakeets at this one-day event, which invites you to pause and consider familiar sounds in new ways.
18 April.
Celebrate Vaisakhi in Trafalgar Square
Vaisakhi — the Sikh and Punjabi cultural festival — takes place on 14 April this year, but London's main celebration returns to Trafalgar Square this weekend. The free festival features live entertainment and performances, martial arts demonstrations, a showcase of Sikh art, plus food and drink stalls.
18 April.
...then return the following day for St George's celebrations
23 April is St George's Day, a celebration of the patron saint of England (plus Catalonia, Ethiopia and various other regions). London's free St George's Day Festival takes place in Trafalgar Square a couple of days before (19 April 2026), with live music and performers, family activities and refreshments.
19 April.
And in the latest £5 pint news...
The £5 London pint is fast vanishing (especially the more central you are) but it can still be found. Long Arm Brewery & Tap Room in Shoreditch serves a range of lagers, hazy IPAs, stouts and more for just a fiver a pint. What's more, you don't have to wait for happy hour: those prices are baked in for whichever time of the day or evening you call in — seven days a week.
