Cheapskate London - Monday 12 May 2025

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

The capital’s best free events from May 12-18th

Morning Cheapskater,

We hope you were able to make the most out of the glorious weather this weekend ā˜€ļø! This week, we’re wondering: have you done anything remarkable in London recently? Free or not, we’d love to hear your recs - and we’ll share your responses in a future edition. Let us know what London culture you’ve loved here.

We’re both looking forward to some downtime this month - Kate’s off to visit friends in Italy, and I’m heading to LA to see my sister (who happens to write our LA edition!). But don’t worry, we’re still bringing you plenty of exciting content, including a late May bank holiday special and a Cheapskate Kids edition just in time for half term. Keep an eye out - we hope we help you discover some wonderful, free things to do!

Georgia x

P.S. Congrats to our reader Kate T, who won the cookbook In for Dinner (our competition in last week’s email). Scroll down for your chance to win tickets to some wonderful saunas across London…

MONDAY

TV šŸ“ŗ Hoxton, from 7pm

Queer lives on screen

Head to the Museum of the Home to watch the first four episodes of Metrosexuality, a 2001 C4 comedy-drama exploring the lives of queer people of colour in Notting Hill (as part of the Undomesticated series).

FESTIVAL šŸŽ‰ various locations, until Sun

Sew far, sew good

Today marks the start of London Craft Week, a festival bringing together 1,000 established & emerging makers & brands from around the world. Tonnes of free events are taking place; see the full programme here.

TUESDAY

TALK šŸ½ļø Liverpool St, 7-8.30pm

Table for One

Emma Gannon, the award-winning podcaster & writer, is being interviewed at Second Home Spitalfields this Tues eve about Table for One, her new book ā€œabout modern love, for modern womenā€.

TALK šŸŒŽ London Bridge, 6.30-8.30pm

Climate justice explored

In an increasingly divided world, how can we solve global challenges like the climate crisis? That’s the topic being explored by a panel at Science Gallery London, as part of the Vital Signs exhibit which ends on Sat.

WEDNESDAY

FILM šŸæ Herne Hill, from 7.30pm

We Live in Time screening

The 2024 tear-jerking romance movie starring Florence Pugh & Andrew Garfield (which was filmed in Herne Hill) is being shown for free at Herne Hill Baptist Church, as part of the Herne Hill Free Film Festival.

FILM šŸæ South Quay, from 7pm

Lights, camera… who knows?

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?

THURSDAY

WORKSHOP 🌱 Arsenal, 6.30-8.30pm

Low waste, high growth

Learn about sustainable gardening - including how to promote biodiversity & reuse waste materials in your outdoor space - at a free workshop led by a ā€œgardening pioneerā€ (held at the Islington Ecology Centre).

FILM šŸŽžļø Stepney Green, from 6.25pm

Throwback to 1999 prices

Not completely free, but the indie cinema Genesis is showing Aftersun, the 2022 Paul Mescal film, for Ā£2.50 (the 1999 ticket price) this Thurs, to mark the cinema’s 26th birthday. There’s also Spy Kids on Tues.

šŸ“£ Competition time

We’ve teamed up with Community Sauna Baths - a collection of affordable, community-driven saunas in Hackney, Camberwell, Stratford, Peckham, Bermondsey & Walthamstow (coming soon).

Two lucky Cheapskate readers will each win two sauna tickets to use in any of the London-based saunas (plus you can bring a friend with you!).

To enter, 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 into the draw, & we’ll pick one lucky winner at random.

The second winner will be randomly selected from our Cheapskate club - which is currently 50% off. Become a member (& support our newsletter) today!

FRIDAY

ART šŸ–¼ļø Russell Sq, until July 25

Take a Gaaaaaaasp

Fri’s the launch of Gaaaaaaasp, an exhibit of the work of British-US artist Alexandra Metcalf. The work at The Perimeter explores ā€œnotions of gender & interiority through scenes of psychological turmoilā€.

LATE šŸŒ’ Pimlico, 6-10pm

Tate Britain after dark

Explore the relationship between technology & its influence on how we perceive ourselves, intimacy & loss after-hours at Tate Britain this Fri. Expect performances, talks, games & workshops.

WEEKEND

FILM šŸæ Herne Hill, Sat from 3.30pm

Station screening

Watch The Wild Robot - a beautiful, family-friendly film nominated for three Oscars this year - at Herne Hill Station Hall, a lovely community space found upstairs in the Herne Hill station building.

FESTIVAL šŸŽ‰ Hackney/Leyton, Sat & Sun

East London antics

Hackney Marshes will be taken over this weekend by Hackney Moves, a huge free festival featuring fitness sessions, kids’ activities, local food & drink, live music & more. Check out the Sat & Sun line-ups.

FESTIVAL šŸŽŖ Greenwich, Sun 11am-7pm

Urban Village Fete

Greenwich Peninsula’s annual Urban Village Fete is celebrating its 10th birthday this Sun. Expect a day packed with world-class DJs, live performances, indie markets, creative experiences & delicious street food.

FREEBIES šŸŗ east London, Sun

Hackney Half freebies

Runners of the Hackney Half Marathon can enjoy a free pint at Sebright Arms (an indie venue off the Hackney Road) &/or a free Hugo Spritz or taco at the Shoreditch restaurant UBA (show your medal!).

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.

šŸ’— I love going to the theatre, but it can be so expensive. That’s why I was excited to see that all tickets will be fee-free on the LOVEtheatre website this week! This includes shows like The Book of Mormon, Moulin Rouge! & even ABBA Voyage! - Georgia

šŸ’» Are you aged 18-30 & from a Black or ethnic minority background? Applications are now open for the third & final cohort of the Click Start Peckham Digital Accelerator Zone - a free digital skills training programme for young Londoners run by UAL CCI & UKBlackTech. Participants will gain in-demand skills in web development & data science, with a mix of daytime & evening sessions available. Find out more about this fantastic programme here.

šŸ‘• Simple, flattering & organic(!) - here’s my latest fashion obsession. I’m also a massive fan of these wide-leg jeans. - Kate

šŸ„— atis, the plant-powered bowl & salad brand, is opening a new store in Mayfair today - & all bowls will be 50% off until Sun.

šŸš€ I am obsessed with my Rockit - the device which rocks any pram or pushchair for you - as it always keeps my baby snoozing, even when I stop for a coffee! We’re giving a rechargeable Rockit (worth Ā£49.95) away in the next edition of Cheapskate Kids - our spin-off newsletter which curates the best free, family-friendly events. Sign up here today to receive our May half term edition. - Kate

šŸ„— Mildreds is launching a new lunch box to go, served from the restaurant’s window hatch on Lexington Street. To mark the launch, the box will be 50% off from today until Fri.

šŸ” Nanny Bill’s is celebrating its 10th anniversary by giving away 200 free burgers from 12pm this Fri at London Bridge (Vinegar Yard) & Croydon (Boxpark).

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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 (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 šŸ‘§ and our LA edition here šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø