The capital’s best free events from May 6-11th

Good morning {{ first name | Cheapskater }},

We hope you had a good bank holiday weekend (if you were lucky enough to get the time off work!). If you visited any of the events we featured in our special newsletter, please do let us know as we’d love to hear how it was.

This week, we’ve teamed up with Science Gallery London, a brilliant university-based gallery by London Bridge station which showcases new ideas across art, science and health. We highly recommend checking out Vital Signs, a fascinating exhibition about how the health of the natural world is linked to our personal health, before it closes on May 17! The gallery’s final event of the season - a panel event exploring climate justice - also takes place next week.

Have a terrific Tuesday,
Kate and Georgia x

P.S. Congrats to competition winners Jordan S and Gaby S, who each won a pair of tickets to immersive music experience Polygon Live LDN, as featured in our special bank holiday edition. Scroll down for your chance to win a new cookbook!

TUESDAY

EXHIBIT 🖼️ King’s Cross, until Sun

A ‘landmark’ exhibition

It’s the last week to check out Transcestry - a Lethaby Gallery show featuring 1,000+ objects & stories celebrating trans, non-binary & intersex lives, donated by members of the community in the UK & Ireland.

PARTY 🎉 Oxford Circus, 7–11pm

Dip into the party

Celebrate the launch of Hellmann’s Ranch at Stormzy’s seven-floor House Party Club with DJs, games, giveaways & a whole lot of sauce. Expect cocktails, snacks & Americana vibes at this one-day-only pop-up. RSVP here.

Seeking impartial news? Meet 1440.

Every day, 3.5 million readers turn to 1440 for their factual news. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you a complete summary of politics, global events, business, and culture, all in a brief 5-minute email. Enjoy an impartial news experience.

WEDNESDAY

HISTORY 🎊 Hackney Wick, 6-7pm

The Olympic Park’s legacy

Explore the rich history of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, uncovering its evolution from industrial land to a global tech & creative hub, as part of the Hackney History Festival (see the full programme here).

FILM 🍿 Canary Wharf, from 7pm

Mystery cinema night

Head to Theatreship for mystery cinema - where a film is shown for free, but you don’t know what it is until you arrive. The first person to guess correctly gets a free round of drinks. Can you work out this week’s clue?

📣 Competition time

This week, we’ve teamed up with Rosie Kellett, the chef, food writer & supper club host, to give away a free copy of her brilliant new cookbook.

In for Dinner features 101 affordable & delicious recipes & is inspired by Rosie’s experience of living communally with six others, making delicious seasonal food on a budget of £25 per person per week.

To enter, simply refer a friend to Cheapskate by sending them this link (it contains your personalised referral code): {{rp_refer_url}}. Once they’ve signed up, you’ll be entered into the draw, & we’ll pick one lucky winner at random. Good luck!

THURSDAY

ART 🖼️ Haydons Road, Thurs-Sun

Meet the makers & more

Explore 180 open art studios from London’s most talented artists & makers at the Wimbledon Art Fair, which returns this Thurs. You’ll have the chance to buy original art directly from the makers themselves.

HISTORY ✌️ various locations, all day

VE Day 80

This Thurs is the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day - & there are tonnes of free events taking place across the UK to mark this historic occasion & pay tribute to the heroes of WW2. Browse all the events here.

FRIDAY

PARTY 🎉 Blackfriars, Fri-Mon

Tate Modern turns 25

Celebrate 25 years of Tate Modern with live music, performances, talks & tours, all of which are free & open to all. This Fri eve, there’s a special late event spotlighting south London’s creative communities.

EXHIBIT 🖼️ Bethnal Green, 6.30-8.30pm

Arty opening night

Fri’s the opening event to mark the launch of Escape the Hollow, a “deeply personal” exhibit at St Margaret’s House that will “delve into the complex emotions of depression, inner turmoil & transformation”.

WEEKEND


EXHIBIT 📸 Bond Street, Sat until July 10

World-leading photography

Check out From The Heart, a new Leica Gallery London exhibit exploring the six-decade career of Canadian-born photographer & filmmaker Douglas Kirkland, who was known for being on the cutting edge of fashion, portraiture & celebrity photography.

FILM 🍿 Herne Hill, Sat from 7.30pm

You’ve got red on you

Head to Brockwell Lido for an open-air, late-night screening of the cult comedy classic Shaun of the Dead, as part of the Herne Hill Free Film Festival. Bring warm layers & something to sit on, but no glass!

TALK 🗣️ WI Quay, Sat 1.45-3.30pm

‘Crimes without criminals’

London Museum Docklands is hosting a thought-provoking talk examining the contrasting legacies of oppressive figures like Edward Colston, & the resistance heroes who risked everything to fight for freedom.

MARKET 💿 King’s Cross, Sat 11-6.30pm

Vinyl lovers, rejoice!

Celebrate the vibrant & enduring community of independent UK record labels at the Independent Label Market, which returns to Coal Drops Yard this Sat. The London Brewers’ Market will also be running that day.

EXHIBIT 🖼️ Charing Cross, from Sat

The Wonder Of Art

Marvel at works by van Gogh, Monet, Rembrandt & hundreds of other world-famous artists at C C Land: The Wonder of Art, a new National Gallery exhibit which opens on Sat & will display more than 1,000 pieces.

And for dessert...

🫶 Want to support Cheapskate without spending any money? Please click on our links like this one - it doesn’t cost you a thing, but you’ll massively help with our running costs.

🩸 Do you want to care for the planet while caring for your body? We love Ruby Cup’s sustainable menstrual cups & period underwear. Plus, for every cup sold, one is donated to someone without access to safe period care. Use code CHEAP25 for 25% off (yes, period underwear included!) & free shipping.

👞 If money was no object, I’d buy these shoes in every colour (this pair is my #1). If you’re like me & love high fashion but not the high price tags, check out Dupe.com. - Georgia

⛲️ Every now & again, Hampton Court Gardens (which features 60 acres of formal gardens & 750 acres of historic parkland) opens its doors to the public for free. That’s the case this coming weekend.

🍜 To celebrate the launch of its new menus & one-year anniversary, the pan-Asian restaurant UBA is giving away free bowls of noodles to the first 50 lunchtime guests this Weds. Guests must dine in & purchase a cocktail or mocktail from the menu.

🛒 We’re obsessed with the (free-to-use) cashback app JamDoughnut, which gives you up to 20% instant cashback at thousands of shops, restaurants & supermarkets. Use our referral code EAMT to get a £3 bonus when you use the app for the first time.

What did you think of this edition?

Click to share your feedback

Login or Subscribe to participate

We try to only include accurate information, but sometimes things can change. Everything included in the newsletter is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time the newsletter is sent out. Sometimes we make money from the links we include (like this one!) but we only recommend things we genuinely like. You can also support us by joining the Cheapskate club as a monthly or annual member.

Sign up for Cheapskate Kids here 👧 and our LA edition here 🇺🇸

Keep Reading