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.
Delve into the ruins of an ancient city
Ever heard of Vijayanagara? It's a spectacular 14th-16th-century city, also known as Hampi, located alongside a sacred river in southern India. The British Library holds an illustrated talk about the ruins, and a 1980s mission to catalogue the details, on Monday.
13 October.
Check out a free Black History Month installation in Brixton
Dan Oracle is a new, free art installation at Brixton Village, exploring indigenous African knowledge and heritage through the lens of Vodoun spirituality. Curated by artist Ana Beatriz Almeida, it launches on Monday with a performance of song, dance and rituals from Yoruba Ifá and Afro-Brazilian tradition (6pm-9pm). Dan Oracle then runs Thursdays to Sundays until Friday 31 October.
13-31 October
See photos of Wandsworth's Windrush Generation
Britain Called & We Answered is Steve Reeves' exhibition of portraits of members of the Windrush Generation who call Wandsworth home — and you can see it from Tuesday in Battersea Library. It features people like Carmen, who has lived on the same Balham street for over 60 years; and Veronica, who moved from Jamaica to Clapham, working for most of her life as a nurse.
14-31 October
Immerse yourself in a world of Americana
Head to Avivson Gallery in Highgate from Thursday to view A State Of Sunshine, a solo exhibition by artist Emma Loizides.
Her eye-catching paintings transport you Stateside, via depictions of swimming pools and sunsets. Expect dreamy, sun-soaked scenes, and a nostalgia for America past.
16-21 October
Hear about Sir Alf Ramsey's war experience
World Cup-winning football manager Sir Alf Ramsey served with the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry during the Second World War, an experience that he described in 1952 as "one of the greatest things which ever happened to me". Find out how it shaped him in a free lunchtime talk at the National Army Museum in Chelsea on Friday. Booking required.
17 October.
See the Imperial War Museum's latest exhibition
Emergency Exits, opening on Saturday, is the newest exhibition at Lambeth's Imperial War Museum. It covers the wave of independence movements that followed the end of the Second World War, as many of Britain's former imperial territories gained independence. Particular focus is on three significant conflicts, fought in Malaya (now Malaysia), Kenya and Cyprus — with a chance to hear stories from people on different sides of the conflict, showing how the events shaped their lives.
17 October-29 March.
Enter the world of Frankenstein
Coinciding with the release of Netflix's adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the Old Selfridges Hotel hosts director Guillermo del Toro's free exhibition Frankenstein: Crafting a Tale Eternal.
Go behind-the-scenes on the creation of the film and view props, artwork, costumes and Tiffany & Co. jewellery which all feature in it. Also on display is a collection of books curated by the rare books specialist company Peter Harrington, to honour Mary Shelley's legacy.
17 October-9 November.
Hear Black women's experiences at the Red Threads exhibition
This weekend Art Hub Studios in Lewisham hosts Red Threads, a Black History Month exhibition exploring Black menstrual and reproductive health experiences. Through visual art, photography and personal narratives, the exhibition sheds light on conditions like endometriosis, fibroids and fertility challenges, while creating space for Black women's voices and perspectives.
18-19 October.
Visit the Hampton Court Palace gardens for free
Get out in the fresh air with an autumnal stroll through the gardens of Hampton Court Palace. It's an open gardens weekend, which means you can visit areas which you'd normally have to pay to access, for free. The Great Fountain Garden, Privy Garden and Kitchen Garden are included, though note that admission still applies if you want to enter the palace itself, the maze, the playground and certain other areas.
18-19 October.
Celebrate Diwali in Greenwich Peninsula
There's lots going on around London to mark Diwali this week, but the biggest (and most budget-friendly) celebration that we know of is Diwali at Greenwich Peninsula.
The free-entry event is family-friendly and open to all, celebrating the Festival of Light through South Asian-inspired dance, music, food and creative workshops across Peninsula Square, Design District and Barton Yard. Take part in lantern making and dandiya stick decorating, dance to Bollywood DJ sets, or learn the basics of garba dance or dhol drumming. Things culminate in a procession led by an illuminated rickshaw and performers in traditional costume dancing beneath a canopy of lights.
18 October.
Attend a traditional Horn Fair
The annual autumn Horn Fair — a free, family-friendly event which dates back to the 13th century — is back at Charlton House and Gardens on Sunday. Expect performances from The Charlie Chaplin Show, Punch & Judy, and Piano Jam, along with history talks, crafts and a costume competition.
19 October.
Other cheap things to do in London this week
Events and things that'll cost you a fiver or less.
🎤 The always-popular Musical Bites at The Other Palace is a chance to see script-in-hand readings of brand-new musicals which are currently in development, followed by an opportunity to provide your feedback to the writers. This week it's one-man fashion musical Ready To Wear, about designer Yves Saint Laurent. £5, 15 October.
🎨 While Frieze Sculpture goes on in Regent's Park, artist Divya Sharma is in the spotlight at an evening in Shoreditch delving into soft sculpture and the future of contemporary sculpture. Sharma is known for transforming textiles into sculptural forms through folds, drapes, and layers.£2.50-£5, 16 October.
