Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 17-23 September 2018

By Maire Rose Connor Last edited 66 months ago

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Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 17-23 September 2018

All week

Fancy watching the full 24 hours?

THE CLOCK: Follow the unrelenting march of time at the Tate Modern's latest film installation by artist Christian Marclay. He's painstakingly stitched together thousands of film and TV images of clocks into a 24 hour film that shows the actual time. So it's both a fascinating slice of cinematic history and super handy if you've left your watch at home. Now that's what we call a dual function timepiece. Tate Modern (South Bank), free, just turn up, 14 September-20 January

FOCUS/18: Immerse yourself in a kaleidoscope of colour at Focus/18, a massive interior design event offering more than 100 experiential sessions. As well as free workshops, demos, and discovery tours, you're invited to take a Journey of Colour through Moritz Waldemeer's specially commissioned installation. Design Centre (Chelsea Harbour), free, just turn up, 16-21 September

CAMPARI CREATES: An art installation that pays homage to Italy's famous ruby red liqueur pops up in Shoreditch this week. Explore the vibrant translucence of The Mostra while sipping on Campari concoctions all this week — and don't miss Saturday's Q&A with its creator Mark McClure. The Mostra (Shoreditch), free, book ahead for some events, 12pm-10pm, 18-30 September

Monday 17 September

THE CRAFT OF CARICATURE: The Guardian's political cartoonist Martin Rowson heads up a panel discussion on the art, craft, and mischief of caricature. He's joined by fellow doodlers Andy Davey, Rebecca Hendin, John Roberts, and Chris Burke. Charing Cross Library (Charing Cross), free, just turn up, 6pm-8pm

VENOOR ARTS EVENING: Contemporary lifestyle brand Vênoor Living has teamed up with Theatre Deli to create a unique furniture installation as part of London Design Festival. Be the first to see it at tonight's private view, featuring pop up puppet shows, abstract art, and tunes from DJ outfit Ok_Ma. Theatre Deli (Broadgate), free, book ahead, 6pm-11pm

Tuesday 18 September

Discover how to make the most of your living space with interior designer Gail Race

ISLINGTON SUFFRAGETTE WALK: Wander through a key battleground in the fight for women's suffrage on this guided walk though Islington. Hear how over 200 suffragettes were imprisoned in the now-defunct Holloway prison, stop at a poignant war memorial, and look at where the first birth control clinic open to women began. Meet at Cat and Mouse Library (Holloway), free, book ahead, 2pm-4pm

INTERIOR DESIGN INSIGHTS: Bored of your bedroom? Lounge lacking a little lustre? Enlist the help of an interior designer and start really planning your home makeover. British Institute of Interior Designers member Gail Race is offering more free 30 minute consultations this Tuesday — so come armed your colour swatches, floor plan and Pinterest boards. Theatre Deli (Broadgate), free, book ahead, 2pm-5pm

SASS YOUR SOCKS: With autumn right around the corner, it's time to get cosy. But that doesn't mean sacrificing style — particularly when it comes to footwear. Thanks to Drink, Shop & Do's customisation workshop, you can keep your tootsies warm in a uniquely jazzy pair of socks. Drink, Shop & Do (King's Cross), £5, just turn up, from 6pm

THE ORIGINS OF ROMANTICISM: Kicking off a series of lectures on English Romanticism, professor Jonathan Bate takes you on a journey in search of the movement's origins. Travel from the Scottish Highlands to a teenage suicide in London, through to the Geneva of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Museum of London (London Wall), free, just turn up, 6pm-7pm

Wednesday 19 September

Get up close to Jim Jack's twisty sculptures

PROJECT CASSAVA: Borough Market will be welcoming Greenwich Cooperative Development Agency to showcase their fully traceable cassava flour and its social impact on the female African farmers who help produce it. There's baked goods, Indian street food samples, and cookery demos to show you how you can incorporate cassava flour into your own recipes. Borough Market (London Bridge), free, just turn up, 11am-3pm

TWISTS AND TURNS: Artist Jim Jack presents a new exhibition of his sawn, shaped, and sanded down spears. Made from wood and corrugated card, and brought to life through burnishing and oil, his larger-than-life pieces are examples of extraordinary craftsmanship. Unit G Gallery (Hackney Wick), free, just turn up, 12pm-5.30pm, until 22 September

PAINTING, PATRONAGE, AND POLITICS: Follow the rise and fall of Tudor England's great patrons at a lecture that shines a light on the relationship between cultural and political ambition. Museum of London (London Wall), free, just turn up, 6pm-7pm

EXPERIMENTAL POP: With INMIRIAM Ellie Rose Rusbridge presents a new musical project of biblical proportions. Inspired by Old Testament poet and prophetess Miriam, she explores themes of addiction and faith. Theatre Deli (Broadgate), free, book ahead, 7.30pm-8.30pm

Thursday 20 September

Create your dream meal at a chef-free restaurant

CHEF-LESS RESTAURANT: Recipe box company Gousto invite you to don your chef's hat and pinny, and embark upon a journey of culinary discovery. You'll create your perfect meal (and complementary cocktail) using their freshly prepared ingredients, before snapping a couple of Insta-friendly foodporn shots and settling down to devour your dish. First Option Studio (Shoreditch), £3, book ahead, 12.30pm-3pm/6.30pm-8.30pm/8.30pm-late

RADICAL KITCHEN: Chefs from 'black power kitchen' Ghetto Gastro come to the Serpentine Pavilion for a foodstuff-themed gathering. They're talking tubers for a discussion about yams. Serpentine Pavilion (Kensington Gardens), free, just turn up, 1pm

WASTE STREAMS: What would a world without industrial waste look like? That's the question posed by this lively debate hosted by design and innovation consultancy MaterialDriven, which considers how we can begin to think of our trash as treasure. Makerversity at Somerset House (The Strand), £5, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm

CIGAR BOX BLUES: From smooth blues to foot-stomping Chigaco-style rhythms, there's a lot Eric Molyneux can do with his three string cigar box guitars. Discover his unusual, hand-crafted instruments at a night of Americana, blues, and traditional English folk. Theatre Delicatessen (Broadgate), free, book ahead, 7.30pm-8.30pm

Friday 21 September

Interactive art from Yelena Popova

SUPREME COURT OPEN DAY: Visit the highest court in the land for a day of workshops, legal talks, and the chance to drool over some truly magnificent interiors, like Sir Peter Blake's pop art carpet and the triple-height library. There's also plenty to entertain younger visitors, including a dress up box and a legal eagle trail. UK Supreme Court (Parliament Square), free, just turn up (book for some workshops), 9.30am-4.30pm

YELENA POPOVA: If you like your art to be interactive, this is the exhibition for you. In Her Name is Prometheus, Russian-born artist Yelena Popova invites viewers to explore and reconfigure her plutonium-inspired gallery floor game — a plastazote sculpture that echoes the deadly material's molecular structure. L'etrangere (Old Street), free, just turn up,  12pm-8pm, until 3 November

LONDON JOB SHOW: After a new career? Sick of sending endless CVs into the void to no avail? Get some actual face time with the nation's top employers at the London Job Show. There's over 60 organisations taking part, offering training and employment opportunities that range from entry level to senior executive. The Atrium, Westfield Shopping Centre (Shepherds Bush), free, just turn up, 11am-6pm, until 22 September

HANDPAN PERFORMANCE: Man-bun-sporting German duo Yatao are packing up their handpans and didgeridoos and heading to Hackney for a night of sensuous improvised rhythms. It's free entry, but donations are welcome. Grow (Hackney), free, just turn up, 8pm-1am

Saturday 22 September

Join Chris Packham on a plod through Hyde Park

WALK FOR WILDLIFE: Stand up and take action against the rapid loss of UK wildlife on a walk through Hyde Park. Organised by TV presenter and naturist Chris Packham, the gathering is also an opportunity to chat to your favourite wildlife charities, meet like-minded people, and spread the word about the importance of conservation. Begins at Reformers Tree (Hyde Park), free, just turn up, 10am-2pm

ROYAL COLLEGE OF NURSING TOUR: Climb an Italian Baroque painted staircase and observe the Royal College of Nursing's intriguing mix of architectural styles on a special tour of its HQ. It's all part of Open House London weekend — visit their website to see which other buildings are available for you to have a nose around. Royal College of Nursing (Marylebone), free, just turn up, 10am-4.30pm

SHORT FILM FESTIVAL: Short attention span? That's not a problem at The London X4 Short Film Festival, which returns to Brick Lane this Saturday. Enjoy a whole afternoon of award-winning bite-sized films, including drama, action, horror, and documentary. Cafe 1001 (Brick Lane), free, book ahead to guarantee seats, 2pm-5pm

BLOOMSBURY SUFFRAGE TOUR: Explore Bloomsbury's historical associations to the suffrage movement on a walking tour with Dr Matthew Ingelby. Retrace the steps of Emily Davison's funeral cortage, and visit sites associated with activists as diverse as Millicent Fawcett and Mahatma Gandhi. The Fountain, Russell Square (Bloomsbury), £5, book ahead, 2.30pm-4pm

Sunday 23 September

Music and merriment at Sevendroog Castle's annual Autumn Fayre

SEVENDROOG AUTUMN FAYRE: Explore Greenwich's secret castle for free at its annual autumn fair. There's street food and tons of free entertainment, including stuff to keep the kids occupied. Sevendroog Castle (Greenwich), free, entry, just turn up, 10am-4pm

CHISWICK HOUSE DOG SHOW: Roll up to Chiswick House for a circus-themed canine celebration. Classes range from Naughtiest Dog to Best Veteran and every type of hound is welcome. Chiswick House (Chiswick), free, just turn up, 11am-4pm

SUBMERSION: Back in 1709, a popular pastime was to watch a good pirate execution (hey, no judgement — it was a different era and Love Island hadn't been invented yet). This time around, though, instead of cheering on the executioners, rally behind a swashbuckling escapologist as he attempts to thwart his captors and escape his watery cell using nothing but a nail file. Old Royal Naval College (Greenwich), free, just turn up, 2.30pm/4.30pm

Last Updated 14 September 2018