Free things to do in London this week.
Do half term on the cheap
With children off school this week, parents and carers will be needing our things to do in half term guide. It's packed full of shows, events, exhibitions and activities, and — helpful if you're on a budget — has a whole section dedicated to free things to do for all ages.
See this thought-provoking environmental exhibition
This week is your last chance to see Water Pantanal Fire, a free photography exhibition by Lalo de Almeida and Luciano Candisani, at the Science Museum. Focus is on the Pantanal, the world's largest wetland which is spread across Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay.
More than 60 images are on show contrasting the Pantanal's rich wildlife with the drought and wildfire damage threatening the region. As it's half term, the museum will be very busy so booking in advance is strongly recommended.
Until 31 May.
Get your fill of football shirts
The London Jersey Gallery stages the final week of its independent pop-up exhibition, From Woolwich to the Emirates – 140 Years of Shirts, at the Weaver's Arms in Canonbury.
Curated by football historian Abdul Rashid Zakari, the free display brings together historic kits to show the evolution of design, notable eras and collectors' culture, while exploring the history of local team Arsenal.
Until 31 May.
Get a free margarita down ya
Oh... Marg... Od. Bar Nana (see what they did there?) on the ground floor of Seven Dials Market is giving away 100 El Rayo margaritas on bank holiday Monday. The bar opens at 12pm, and it's first-come first-served. Get there early — imagine they'll be gone faster than you can yell "Tequila!"
25 May.
Celebrate 100 years of Gunnersbury Park
Head west on bank holiday Monday, for free, family-friendly celebrations marking 100 years of Gunnersbury Park.
The open green space holds a community day of music, dance and heritage, with live performances from Jasper Squire, Green Ribbon Club and the Orchard Jazz Quartet, plus swing dance workshops.
Browse a community market of 30+ stalls, take tours of the Gunnersbury Park Museum, or join in with a whole selection of other activities and entertainment. Note that although events are free, some require booking.
25 May.
Swing a crazy golf freebie
What to do once you've drained your free bank hol Monday marg (see above)? The savvy savers among you will have booked a free round of crazy golf at Swingers West End. The offer celebrates eight years of the Oxford Street venue, and there are also DJS, prizes, balloons and (careful now) cheap margaritas. Slots can be reserved now (select Monday 25 May and choose "Crazy Golf"), but they're limited, so hurry!
25 May.
Learn how to grow edible plants
If you work in the Waterloo area, head down to Lower Marsh on Tuesday lunchtime for a free hands-on gardening workshop. Learn how to grow and care for edible plants, get tips on herbs, vegetables and seasonal planting — and take a plant home with you.
26 May.
Get an insight into Tracey Emin's career
Coinciding with the current (paid) Tate Modern exhibition, Tracey Emin: A Second Life, Arts Society lecturer Frank Woodgate gives a free talk about the show. He covers key works from throughout Emin's career, including My Bed and the tent All the People I Have Slept With. Watch in person at Guildhall Library, or online.
26 May
Catch a free lunchtime string concert
Trinity Laban's Sinfonia Strings performs side‑by‑side with musicians from the Duchess of Edinburgh's String Orchestra, directed by Ofer Falk, in a free lunchtime concert on Thursday.
The performance, at St Alfege Church in Greenwich, includes Holst's St Paul's Suite, movements from Warlock's Capriol Suite, Coleridge‑Taylor's Novelletten and Britten's Simple Symphony.
28 May.
Check out Newport Street Gallery's new exhibition
Newport Street Gallery presents White Stripes legend Jack White's first public exhibition, These Thoughts May Disappear, featuring sculptures from found objects, interactive works, installations and furniture-design pieces, including a remake of White's 2015 sculpture The Red Tree.
29 May-13 September.
Watch a free open-air concert
As the Opera Holland Park season gets underway properly, it continues its Songs on the Steps programme of free concerts. On alternate Fridays for the next couple of months, performers from the company give free recitals on the open-air steps in Holland Park, alongside the main venue.
Everyone's welcome, and the show lasts about 40 minutes, so pack a picnic blanket and your lunch, and watch some new and familiar songs and arias performed by artists at the top of their game.
29 May.
Celebrate 60 years of the BT Tower
To mark 60 years of the BT Tower, artist‑researcher Jordan Rowe and cultural historian Dr David Anderson lead a free walking tour tracing sightlines to the famous tower from parks and squares. The walk begins at Goodge Street station and takes a gentle route from Fitzrovia to Primrose Hill, exploring the clear, uninterrupted radio path the building relied on when it was used as a telecommunications beacon.
29 May.
Take a tour of a beautiful private library
Join Stuart Baines, former chair of the Highgate Literary and Scientific Institutions's Library Committee, for a free guided tour of the society's Library & Members' Room, located just off Highgate High Street.
The tour explores the building's history, notable features of the library and its collections, and how the little-known space is used today.
29 May.
Stay late at the National Portrait Gallery
As its current (paid) exhibition Catherine Opie: To Be Seen draws to a close, the National Portrait Gallery stays open late on Friday for a gallery‑wide evening of workshops, performances, talks and films.
Highlights include a play‑for‑fun poker night, smartphone photography workshops, zine‑making, a live DJ and guided tours. Entry is free, though donations are welcome.
29 May.
Celebrate Eid in Trafalgar Square
The Mayor of London’s free festival Eid in the Square festival celebrates Eid al-Adha in Trafalgar Square with a full programme of main-stage performances, talks and family activities.
Hosts Nadia Ali and Juwayria Ghazali lead a programme that includes music from the London Arab Orchestra, Khan Brothers Qawwali, Isam B and AmenA, plus community stalls, food traders, an immersive installation by Everyday Muslim, children's workshops and fencing sessions from Muslim Girls Fence.
30 May.
Treat your ears to some free jazz
The Garden Café within the Flower Station in Finchley launches a new live jazz event, taking place every other Sunday from this week. Head to the plant-filled, sunny sanctuary at the edge of Hampstead Garden Suburb for an afternoon of smooth tunes.
31 May.
