ART 🍃 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 📚 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.

FILM 🎥 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 🏳️‍⚧️ 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.

ART 🎨 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 🎤 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.

EXHIBIT 📸 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 🎌 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.

📣 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 “Saiphin’s Set Lunch” - a special £15 menu created by co-founder Saiphin Moore. To celebrate the launch, Rosa’s is offering one reader a £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!

OPEN MIC 🎤 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 🖼️ 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 💡 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.

NATURE 🌿 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 🎧 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 🎻 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 🏺 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…