Cheapskate London - Monday 9 June 2025

šŸ‘€ London’s best no-spend events this week

The capital’s best free events from June 9-15th

Summer Showcase -21 June 2025

Happy Monday Cheapskater,

This week, we’re excited to have partnered with the British Academy - the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences. On Fri June 20 and Sat 21, the British Academy is hosting a free festival of ideas featuring interactive exhibits and workshops, inspiring performances and screenings, and thought-provoking talks.

Friday’s events have now sold out, but there’s still a tonne taking place on the Saturday - including a ā€œdead or alive writing workshopā€, a VR experience looking at how relationships inform our psychological health, and a session exploring how eyewitnesses can put together facial composites. Find out more here!

Have a wonderful week,
Kate and Georgia x

P.S. Congrats to Cheapskate reader Zoe D, who won a pair of tickets to the late event at the British Library that we promoted in last week’s email. Scroll down for your chance to win a meal for two (worth Ā£75!) at Rosa’s Thai…

MONDAY

ART šŸƒ King’s Cross, until June 29

Step into nature

This new immersive exhibit in Granary Square celebrates the connection between humans & plants through visual & audio effects, influenced by how guests interact with a living tree at its centre. 

HISTORY šŸ“š Camden, 10am-6pm

A Great Expectation

Today marks exactly 100 years since the Charles Dickens Museum first opened to the public. To celebrate, entry is free all day, plus the museum is open an extra hour. No need to book in advance.

TUESDAY

FILM šŸŽ„ Canary Wharf, from 7pm

Run, Forrest, Run!

Canada Square Park has kicked off its summer film series, & this Tues eve you can watch the Tom Hanks classic Forrest Gump. This Sat is another free screening of a beloved movie: Finding Nemo. Bring layers!

TALK/TV šŸ³ļøā€āš§ļø Hoxton, 7pm

Please do not swear

In 2004, Big Brother contestant Nadia Almada made headlines as the show’s first trans winner. Join film historian Jaye Hudson at the Museum of the Home to explore the portrayal of transness on the classic show.

WEDNESDAY

ART šŸŽØ Knightsbridge, until 10 Aug

Embrace your inner child

To celebrate World Play Day on Weds, the Serpentine is unveiling a limited-run special commission by Sir Peter Cook & sponsored by Lego, where adults & children alike can explore the creative power of play.

SING šŸŽ¤ London Bridge, 7-9.30pm

Belt out some bangers

Cult karaoke club night Karaoke Rumble is taking over The Scoop as part of the Summer on the River event series. Expect a night of power ballads & (very optional) audience participation.

THURSDAY

People looking at photos on the wall


EXHIBIT šŸ“ø Hoxton, Thurs-Sun 11am-6pm

The London Photo Show

Check out the free London Photo Show at Hoxton Arches, a vibrant, four-day exhibition bringing together a diverse range of photographic voices, from emerging talent to established professionals. Genres include documentary, street, portrait, fine art & abstract photography.

TALK 🌘 Shoreditch, 7.30-8.30pm

Dark side decoded

Love Pink Floyd & The Dark Side of the Moon? This Gresham College talk (hosted by Rich Mix) will break down the 50-year-old album’s iconic sound & legacy, & why it still hits today.

MARKET šŸŽŒ King’s Cross, Thurs-Sun

A taste of Japan

Inspired by Japan’s Shotengai markets, Coal Drops Yard is hosting a series of stalls selling Japanese homewares, fashion & accessories, as well as pan-Asian street food.

Saiphin's Set Lunch

šŸ“£ Competition time

We’re excited to have teamed up with Rosa’s Thai, the authentic (& delicious!) Thai group with restaurants across the UK.

Rosa’s recently launched ā€œSaiphin’s Set Lunchā€ - a special Ā£15 menu created by co-founder Saiphin Moore. To celebrate the launch, Rosa’s is offering one reader a Ā£75 gift voucher - enough to taste the new set lunch menu five times!

To enter the draw, simply refer a friend to Cheapskate by sending them this link (it contains your personalised referral code): https://cheapskate-london.beehiiv.com/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER. Once they’ve signed up, you’ll be entered & we’ll pick one lucky winner at random. Good luck!

FRIDAY

Works in Progress: Speak Easy


OPEN MIC šŸŽ¤ Waterloo, Friday June 20, from 5.30pm

Works in Progress: Speak Easy

Calling all dancers, rappers, singers, musicians, performance artists & spoken word/poetry artists aged 16-30! You’re invited to a special open mic event at the Southbank Centre next Fri (June 20). The space, built exclusively for Little Simz’ Meltdown, is designed to spotlight emerging talent & enable connection through creativity & community.

ART šŸ–¼ļø Bethnal Green, until 20 Jul

Is This Love?

That’s the title of a new exhibit by the Hong Kong artist Cary Kwok, which opens at the Herald Street gallery this Fri (there’s a private view on Thurs eve). The show features Kwok’s humorous & unsettling erotic drawings.

FESTIVAL šŸ’” Temple, Fri & Sat

Elevate your creativity

Somerset House is playing host to Upgrade Yourself, a festival aimed at young creatives. On offer are zine-making classes, knitting workshops, personal development sessions & short film screenings.

WEEKEND

NATURE šŸŒæ Balham, Sat 2-4pm

Take it or leaf it

Bring a plant to Balham Library & take home another, to commemorate climate initiative The Great Big Green Week this Sat. There will also be nature-related craft activities designed for adults.

MUSIC šŸŽ§ Barbican, Sat 12-6pm

Feel the frequency

Celebrate the history & influence of pirate radio stations at a live radio broadcast hosted by the Barbican Centre & emerging youth-led station Reprezent Radio. Expect every genre, from reggae to dubstep.

MUSIC šŸŽ» C Cross, Sat 5-6.40pm

Open-air orchestra

It’s time for the London Symphony Orchestra’s free, open-air concert in Trafalgar Square, this year including pieces by Verdi, Rossini & Puccini (as well as the world premiere of a new work). You don’t need a ticket.

CRAFTS šŸŗ Waterloo, Sun 1-6pm

Sip & sculpt

Part of Little Simz’ Meltdown festival (which launches on Thurs), Mould the Moment will provide guests with clay & the opportunity to spend time sculpting it into whatever you fancy. Sounds like mindfulness heaven…

And for dessert...

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

šŸ˜Ž I just found the sunnies I’ll be wearing all summer - they’re super simple, effortlessly cool & don’t cost a fortune. I’ve also been living in these (less affordable) shoes. - Georgia

šŸŽ‰ We’re giving away two pairs of tickets to NOiSE - an immersive live music & live art event at The Blues Kitchen Brixton on Thurs. This women-run night will feature a handpicked line-up of independent artists, followed by an open jam. To enter the draw, simply give us some feedback on Cheapskate by Weds 10am.

šŸ‘Ø It’s Father’s Day this Sun, & various restaurants/venues are running special offers to celebrate. Our faves include: 

  • A free half pint of house lager at Spitalfields restaurant Noodle and Beer when you order the spiciest dish on the menu

  • Free whiskey & handmade truffles with your Sunday roast at Pivot in Covent Garden (quote FATHERSDAY when booking)

  • A free Sunday roast for dads dining with at least two others at Town House, 108 Brasserie or Dalloway Terrace. You can also get bottomless roast potatoes & Yorkshire puddings for the whole table!

  • A free main meal for the father figure in your life at Burger & Lobster

  • A free pint of draught beer & a bowling session at any Lane7 venue

  • Free games of ping pong, crazy golf & more, the whole weekend, at Bat & Ball’s Covent Garden & Stratford locations

šŸŗ On that note, are you looking for Father’s Day gift ideas? Check out the Ā£25 London Independent Pub Collection - it gets you Ā£100 worth of food & drink at any 10 of 70+ fantastic pubs. Use the code CHEAP25 for free standard shipping.

šŸ³ The Parlour (located in the five-star Great Scotland Yard Hotel in Westminster) has launched a new Swedish breakfast from Michelin-starred chef Niklas Ekstedt. You can take 40% off the entire breakfast menu from June 11-18 if you have a reservation - book here.

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