Things to do in London for £5 or less this week.
All week
FREE MINI GOLF: Get swinging at Columbus Courtyard in Canary Wharf, where a free-to-use 9-hole mini golf course has popped up. All equipment is provided, and it's open to everyone, regardless of age or golfing ability — a win-win situation really. Columbus Courtyard, free, just turn up, ongoing
BLOOMING MARVELLOUS: Explore over 55 colourful floral installations in two festivals to coincide with the Chelsea Flower Show. The theme of this year's Belgravia in Bloom theme is children's books; expect to see pieces inspired by favourites such as The Secret Garden, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, A Bear Called Paddington and The Jungle Book. Meanwhile, Chelsea in Bloom has taken on a floral safari theme. Various locations, free, just turn up, all hours
VIRTUAL REALITY: The Barbican already feels out of this world, but now this VR installation promises to take you even further afield with a serene meditating experience. Mezzanine Level, Barbican, free, just turn up, 9am-9pm
Monday 22 May
WORKING CITY: From politicians to servants, nurses to rat catchers, London has long been a magnet for those looking for work. This exhibition explores the fascinating and sometimes grim reality of working life for city dwellers over the past 500 years. Guildhall Yard, free, just turn up, until 23 May
RED CROSS: As seven million in Africa's Lake Chad region suffer from malnutrition, award-winning photographer Chris de Bode's imagery offers a pertinent reminder of one of the world's most silent humanitarian emergencies. St Martin-in-the-Fields, free, just turn up,8am–8pm
ALL YOU CAN EAT: Tracking the journey from seeds sown to the meals served, 1000 Londoners serve up a film night featuring a selection of short films about food in the city and excerpts from hungry Londoners. It's followed by a Q+A with those featured — and you can get your hands on some tasty treats too. Hackney Attic, £5, book ahead, 7pm
DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY: Spread across the there rooms of Heaven nightclub, enjoy a smorgasbord of musical delights from DJs playing the best in house, hip hop & RnB — all for the bargain price of a fiver. Heaven Nightclub, £5, 11pm-5am
Tuesday 23 May
TFL DESIGN:TfL does more than provide our capital with a great transport service — we love their eye for design too. TfL is launching an exhibition of Underground-inspired brooches for Clerkenwell Design Week, and hosting a pop up shop to showcase them, along with new designer collections spanning from bike bags to coasters and cushions to cufflinks. St John's Square, free,10am-5pm
DOING THE SUMS: Apparently maths can make you fly — well, not quite, but find out how maths can at least make it seem so, and explore how such principles can be used beyond special effects, in the reconstruction of crucial information in satellite images of our earth to the renovation of digital photographs and medieval artwork. Museum of London, free, just turn up, 6pm-7pm
Wednesday 24 May
SHIP SHAPE: The Cutty Sark is allowing little sailors to climb aboard for a dedicated morning of songs, stories and playtime on this historic ship. Cutty Sark, £5 and includes admission to the ship, book ahead, 10am-11.30am
HEARTBEAT: A job he describes as both a duty and a privilege, Great Ormond Street heart surgeon Martin Elliott reflects on some of the astonishing experiences that have made his job so fascinating - expect the funny, the scary and the sad. Museum of London, free, just turn up, 6pm-7pm
SHORT FILMS: Did you know over 20,000 short films have crowd sourced their funding from Kickstarter? Discover a selection of the finest to have done so, followed by a Q&A from some of the filmmakers themselves. 93 Feet East, Shoreditch, £3/£4, book ahead, 7pm-11pm
Thursday 25 May
FUTURE FESTIVAL: Dig beneath the earth's surface in a stunning virtual reality experience, generate energy in giant zorbs and snack on a burger cooked by used coffee grounds in this action-packed festival celebrating the very best of innovation, inventions and bright energy ideas. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, free, just turn up, 25-28 May
LUNCHTIME TALK: Learn more about the elusive and misconstrued London-born composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor at this lunchtime talk delving into what we can discover from overlooked documents in the BCA's archives. Black Cultural Archives, Brixton, £3, book ahead,1pm-2pm
BRIXTON BEACH: Who needs a summer holiday when Brixton offers up a sunshine lifestyle of its very own? Don your summer wear and chill out at this urban beach (which opens today), transporting you to a paradise of cocktails and delicious street food. Brixton Rooftop, Pope's Road, free, book ahead, 6pm-midnight (and then all summer)
POTTER PINS: Magic up a badge to show the world just how Potter-mad you are at this badge making masterclass, free with purchase of a cocktail. Drink, Shop & Do (King's Cross), free with a drink, just turn up, from 7pm
Friday 26 May
TATE LATE: Take everything you love about Tate, and throw late opening hours, pop-up talks, hand-on workshops and great food and drinks offers into the mix - and you have a Tate late! Tate Modern, free, just turn up, 6pm-midnight
TO THE RESCUE: The MCM Comicon is in town, so what better way to celebrate than with a night of superhero cosplay and an eclectic mix of EDM, 80s and dance music to keep you bopping until 2am. Best dressed wins a prize. Drink, Shop & Do, free entry until 10pm, £3 after, just turn up, 7pm-2am
Saturday 27 May
FAMILY FUN: A highlight of Hackney's cultural calendar, this fun and free festival celebrates creativity and play, with plenty of activities on offer for all the family. Italian chef Lorenzo Toppi is also on hand, so if you're lucky, you can grab one of the 500 free portions of pasta. Various locations, free, book ahead, various times
LIGHT WALLS: Mecca's sacred mosque, Al-Masjid al-Haram inspires this mesmerising light display on four large-scale light walls arranged in cube-like formation, in this exhibition's final weekend. Southbank Centre, free, just turn up, until 29 May
DIY MARKET: 60 emerging artists showcase their eclectic range of original items, offering a great opportunity to pick up anything from art, to sculptures and even comics. Copeland Gallery (Peckham), free, just turn up, 11am-6pm
FIELD OF FOLK: The enduring influence of medieval poetry is evident at this exhibition showcasing the best of The National Poetry Library's collection, from medieval and contemporary poets alike. Southbank Centre, free, just turn up, 11am-8pm
ART AND SOUND: Explore SOAS's deep library of manuscripts, paintings, books and photographs in this multi-sensory experience, bringing the best of visual and sound arts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East to life. Brunei Gallery, SOAS, free, just turn up, 10.30pm-5pm
Sunday 28 May
HAIKU WORKSHOP: Perfect for a Sunday lunchtime, this walk through Peckham Rye's arboretum, sensory garden and Japanese Garden offers all the inspiration you'll need to put pen to paper and write your own haiku. Cafe on the Rye, free, book ahead, 11am-12.30pm
CERAMICS MARKET: A mix of students, graduates and established ceramicists showcase their diverse range of ceramic artwork including lamps, sculptures and vases, offering you the opportunity to purchase a piece for yourself. Copeland Gallery (Peckham), free, just turn up, 11am-6pm
DANCE PARTY: It might be a Sunday night, but that's no excuse not to let loose (especially as it's a bank holiday). Put on your dancing shoes and down a sambuca at this club night featuring the best in street style music. The Yard (Hackney Wick), £3, book ahead, 10pm-2am
