The capital’s best free events from Feb 12-18th
Happy Monday {{ first name | Cheapskater }}!
This week is a pretty busy one as it contains Valentine’s Day, Pancake Day and, as my calendar insists on reminding me, the Venice Carnival 🤷♀️. It’s also half-term, which is why you’ll find several kid-friendly events and deals as you scroll down.
On that note, we’d love to get your thoughts on an idea in the pipeline 😉
Would you be interested in a Cheapskate email specifically for parents, featuring free things to do with kids?
Have a gorgeous week,
Kate and Georgia x
PS. Congratulations to Montanna and Giulia, our lovely readers who referred friends to Cheapskate and won tickets to My Fantasy Valentine and The Choir of Man in the West End. We hope you and your +1s have a great time! Scroll down for another fab competition…
MONDAY
DISCUSS ❤️ virtual, 7-9pm
The language of love
Dive into the depths of the “language of love” - a universal language that transcends borders & cultures - at this “heartfelt” evening of speeches hosted by London Cardinals.
DATING 🍸 King’s Cross, 7-9pm
Playing the Feeld
Alternative dating app Feeld is holding an IRL social at The Standard hotel, where guests can “feel free to get curious, get chatty & maybe even get flirty”. Entry is first come, first served.
TUESDAY
PANCAKES 🥞 Bank, from 12.30pm
15 flippin’ years
Head to Leadenhall Market to watch its annual pancake race. It will be the 15th year that the pancake-tossing spectacle has taken place on the Victorian market’s ancient cobblestones.
V-DAY ⏰ Peckham, from 6.30pm
Speed-dating event
The Feminist Library is hosting its first-ever butch-femme speed dating event. Question sheets will be provided, as well as nibbles & non-alcoholic drinks. Book your spot ahead of time.
WEDNESDAY
FOOD 🍽️ Farringdon, 11:30-2:30pm
Free lunch for self-love
To “celebrate self-love”, Cowcross Yards is giving away more than 100 free lunches to solo visitors on a first-come-first-served basis this Valentine’s Day. Get there early if you can!
FLOWERS/FOOD 💐 Bank, 6.30-8.30
More V-Day freebies
To mark Valentine’s Day, Windsor Flowers is giving away flower posies & French bakery Aux Merveilleux de Fred is treating customers to free mini cakes if they identify a “secret code”.
Competition time! 😂
We have 10 pairs of tickets to give away to Good News / Bad News, a new comedy night at Aces & Eights in Tufnell Park.
Hosted by Suchandrika Chakrabarti (a writer for Have I Got News For You), this “damn funny” night will feature comedy acts bringing along their best and worst news stories from the past month.
To enter the draw, 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 & we’ll then pick 10 names at random. Good luck! 🤞
THURSDAY
EXHIBIT 🖼️ South Ken, until Feb 18
Quentin Blake: Now
It’s the last week to see Quentin Blake: Now at Cromwell Place - a collection of new works by the internationally renowned & prolific artist (best known for illustrating Roald Dahl’s books).
EXHIBIT 🌎 Hackney, 6-8pm
Environmental art
It’s the opening night of two new Autograph shows: one that “interweaves indigenous knowledge, colonial legacy & ecological urgency” & one looking at the eco crisis in the Niger Delta.
FRIDAY
LATE 🖼️ Charing Cross, from 6-9pm
Art after-hours
The National Gallery is hosting a special late event this Friday, featuring a life drawing workshop, a stand-up comedy show & a gallery tour focused around “serpent symbolisms”.
STORIES 🗣️ Shoreditch, 6.30-12am
Clubbing & confessions
Head to Shoreditch Arts Club for a free storytelling, performance, art & music night centred around the theme of “confessions”. It’s guaranteed to be a night out unlike any you’ve had before.

Love Cheapskate? Please help spread the word about our newsy! 🧡
Help your colleagues, family & friends get the best out of London for free by referring them to Cheapskate using your personalised code: {{rp_refer_url}}
WEEKEND
MOVE 🏃♂️ Crystal Palace, Sat 1.15pm
Alternative Fitness Fest
Head to Crystal Palace Park for part two of the Alternative Fitness Festival, featuring four inclusive mini fitness classes (VIIT, Retro Fit, Shesensu & Bass Camp), plus DJs & live drumming.
And for dessert...
🍱 Kids can eat for free with Bamboo Mat (the Japanese X Peruvian restaurant with branches in Leyton & Stratford) this half term. Until Feb 18, children will be offered a free “Mini Maki sushi platter” with every paying adult’s order.
🥢 Similarly, Sticks’n’Sushi is offering free kids’ bento boxes to children eating lunch with a fully paying adult from Mon-Weds (at the Greenwich branch only).
🧾 Have you heard of First Table? It’s an incredible website which gives you 50% off your food bill when you reserve a restaurant’s “first table” of the night through it. Get £3 off your first booking here.
💪 Want to try ClassPass & get access to hundreds of gyms & classes across London? Here's an exclusive month-long trial (with a whopping 72 credits to use).
🍜 Love udon noodles? Sign up to the Marugame Club (for free) between now and Feb 18 to get a discount up to the value of £5.95 on any udon noodle dish!
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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 but we only recommend things we genuinely like. You can also support Cheapskate by buying us a coffee or making a monthly donation.

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