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.
Pay a visit to The Hugging Machine
You've got three more days to catch The Hugging Machine, a small exhibition of paintings by Emily Hana, which meditate on loneliness, artificial intimacy and the longing for touch. Find it at 261 City Road, and peruse more of the Australian artist's remarkable works on Instagram.
Until 22 October.
Check out SE London Bookfest
SE London Bookfest is now in full swing, with bookshops, cinemas and churches across south east London hosting a diverse slew of authors chatting about their works. Appearances this week include Michele Roberts, discussing her debut cookbook, French Cooking for One (21 October) and Jamie Taylor, telling the story of Sheffield's Studio Electrophonique (25 October). Free tickets are available for most events, though a £5 donation is encouraged if you can afford it — £2 of which will go to a local foodbank.
Until 29 November.
Try out Triple Trouble
That 'Triple Trouble' being three of the world's best-known contemporary artists, Shepard Fairey, Damien Hirst, and Invader — whose work is now on show at Newport Street Gallery in Vauxhall. Fairey's OBEY iconography, Hirst's spots and cabinets, and Invader's space mosaics appear, although sometimes in unexpected ways... invader alien in formaldehyde anyone?
Until 29 March 2026.
See Harrods lit up for Diwali
Monday (20 October) is Diwali, with a rather special feast for the eyes in Knightsbridge.
Posh department store Harrods holds its biggest-ever Diwali celebration, lighting up its world-famous facade for just one night. Every hour between 6pm and 10pm, watch a vibrant light display, featuring vibrant colours to symbolise the triumph of light over darkness.
20 October.
Meet some prize-shortlisted authors
As the shortlist for the British Academy's Book Prize 2025 is announced, it hosts a special event (both in-person and online) with the shortlisted authors on Tuesday.
The non-fiction book prize celebrates bold and original thinking, with women's health, Ancient India and western ignorance around African economies among the topics covered in this year's six shortlisted books. Award-winning journalist Rosie Goldsmith chairs a discussion with five of the six authors (William Dalrymple cannot attend live and has pre-recorded content) ahead of the winner being announced on Wednesday.
21 October.
Browse the London Literature Festival programme
London Literature Festival begins at Southbank Centre on Tuesday, and while there's a charge for many of the events, the programme also has a few free things to do.
On Wednesday, watch a live stream of the six authors shortlisted for the Goldsmiths Prize 2025 reading from and discussing their novels, in conversation with author and critic Erica Wagner.
Alphabet Soup begins on Saturday, just in time for half term, offering family-friendly workshops and activities to get everyone involved with creating a giant evolving artwork.
The National Poetry Library celebrates Poetry Day on Saturday with a free display and live performances from the UK's best poets. Browse the full London Literature Festival programme.
21 October-2 November.
Travel back to 1425
Guildhall Library marks its 600th anniversary with a look back at the art of its founding year, 1425. Tour guide Louise Halfpenny gives a free talk about art being created in that year, spanning painting, architecture, sculpture and even armour, including Lorenzo's Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise, a life-size cast of which can be seen at the V&A Museum.
22 October.
Explore an extraordinary art collection
Thursday's lunchtime lecture at the V&A South Kensington delves into the extraordinary art collection of Lady Charlotte Schreiber. She was a self-taught artist, as well as an antiquarian, collector and connoisseur, who donated her collection to the South Kensington Museum (the V&A's predecessor) 140 years ago.
Hear from art historian, curator and writer Dr Caroline McCaffrey-Howarth about some of the 5,000 objects she acquired from more than 30 collecting trips across the world.
23 October.
Get the lowdown on Lee Miller
While Tate Britain currently has an excellent exhibition of work by photographer Lee Miller (entry fee applies), Guildhall Library offers a free talk about her on Thursday. Hear from Arts Society lecturer Frank Woodgate about how Miller rose from being an artists' model for the likes of Surrealist painter Roland Penrose, and friend Pablo Picasso — to being one of the most important photographers of the 20th century, chronicling the Second World War in inimitable style.
23 October.
Victoria Cross history
Intelligence historian Dr Tony Insall is at the National Army Museum on Friday lunchtime to tell the true story of his great-uncle, one of the first pilots to be awarded the Victoria Cross. Group Captain Gilbert Insall holds a unique record as the only person to have been awarded a Victoria Cross and to have successfully escaped from a German prisoner of war camp during the First World War, and his story is told in new book, The Madness of Courage.
24 October.
Fill your lunch break with harps
Trinity Laban music college in Greenwich often hosts free lunchtime concerts at venues around the area, giving the public a chance to hear students perform. This Friday, the Trinity Laban Harp Department plays in the chapel at the Old Royal Naval College — heavenly music in a stunning venue.
24 October.
Get spooked on a Halloween trail
Kids keen for Halloween? From this Friday, Kensington High Street has a free Halloween trail. Download a map and guide online or pick one up from High Street Kensington station and explore the area, searching for the spooky clues as you go. Once you've got all the answers, head to the Amazon Fresh store to collect your prize.
24-31 October.
Celebrate Diwali at the National Maritime Museum
London's Diwali celebrations continue until Saturday, when the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich holds its annual (and free!) Diwali festival.
Mehala Ford, founder of South Asian arts platform CommonGround&, curates the family-friendly day, which includes a bharatanatyam dance performance on the museum's Ocean Map floor, puppet performances and storytelling to introduce youngsters to Diwali, and rangoli art workshops. Stick around until the end for the lantern parade (you can make your own lantern at workshops throughout the day), which wends around Greenwich Park accompanied by the Eternal Taal dhol drummers.
25 October.
