The capital’s best free events from Nov 17th-23rd
Happy Monday {{ first name | Cheapskater }},
We hope you had a wonderful weekend! We’re super excited for you to read this week’s edition of Cheapskate – it’s packed full of amazing free events, offers, recommendations, prizes and so much more. We hope you enjoy it!
This week, we’ve teamed up with The Londoner – a brilliant newsletter that’s become a must-read for anyone who cares about this city and wants to understand what’s really going on here. Launched just a year ago, it’s already made waves for its fearless reporting – like this exposé on one of London’s most famous chefs. But it’s not all hard news – there’s plenty of fun too (we loved this write-up of the London Pickle Festival).
Subscribe here to get The Londoner’s agenda-setting, award-winning journalism in your inbox today.
Wishing you a great week ahead,
Kate, Georgia and Clementine x
PS: Congrats to our readers Lucy B and Robyn C, who each won a pair of tickets to SpyGames London in last week’s newsletter. Scroll down for your chance to win tickets to a fabulous festive concert 🎶
MONDAY
🌍 ‘Voices for Change’
Head to the Natural History Museum this evening for an inspiring night of climate action featuring discussions, performances, storytelling & more (booking required).
🗓️ Mon 17th Nov, 6.30-9.30pm
📍 South Ken
🎙️ Poetry slam
Speakers Corner, a new, interactive poetry & spoken word event, is taking place at the vibey Canada Water cultural hub Corner Corner tonight. Take part or just spectate!
🗓️ Mon 17th Nov, 7-10pm
📍 Canada Water
TUESDAY
❤️ All you need is love
Choose Love, the pop-up charity shop where you can make purchases that support refugees, is taking over 245 Regent Street from this Tues. It’s well worth a browse (not just for the celeb guests!).
🗓️ Tues 18th Nov-Weds 24th Dec
📍 Oxford Circus
🎷 All that jazz
The totally free Guildhall Jazz Festival (part of the London-wide EFG Jazz Festival) kicks off on Tues. Expect vibrant performances from current students & alumni in Milton Court.
🗓️ Tues 18th-Sun 23rd Nov
📍 Moorgate
WEDNESDAY
🎄 Good tidings we bring
The Highgate Society switches on its Christmas lights this week, with the help of a celebrity guest (👀). South of the river, there’s Greenwich Market’s annual lantern parade.
🗓️ Weds 19th Nov, various times
📍 Highgate/Greenwich
🏛️ Figure it out
Head to the Lisson Gallery for the new Tony Cragg exhibit to feast your eyes on the artist’s somewhat unsettling abstract figures, sculpted through a rigorous hand-carving process.
🗓️ Weds 19th Nov-Sat 31st Jan
📍 Edgware Road
🎅 Competition time!
We’re giving away a pair of tickets to the BIG Gospel Choir Christmas show at King’s Place (7.30pm on Dec 12th). This joyful concert will be jam-packed with all your fave festive hits & gospel classics.
For your chance to win, get someone you know to subscribe 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 a draw, then we’ll pick a winner at random. Good luck! 🤞
THURSDAY
🎨 Journey of recovery
The Spitalfields Crypt Trust is hosting an opening night for its annual exhibit of artists with experience of addiction & homelessness, at the Atrium gallery next to BloomsYard.
🗓️ Thurs 20th Nov, 6-8pm
📍 Liverpool Street
🕰️ Running late
‘About Time’, a late event at Imperial College, will explore the mysteries & mechanics of time. Also on Thurs eve is ‘Pattern Up!’, an exciting late event hosted by the Horniman Museum.
🗓️ Thurs 20th Nov, various times
📍 South Kensington/Forest Hill
FRIDAY
💃 Mix & Move
Whether you’re a dab hand at salsa or fear you may have two left feet, there’s room for everyone to get their groove on at the Southbank Centre’s ‘Mix & Move’ accessible dance workshops. Plus, if you like your first session, you can come back every month to keep practising what you’ve learnt.
🗓️ Fri 21st Nov, 3-6pm
📍 Waterloo
🎶 She’s got soul
Fancy seeing an emerging star for free? Head to the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge to watch Maxine Scott, a soul-pop artist who’s been compared to Jorja Smith.
🗓️ Fri 21st Nov, 9pm-12am
📍 Waterloo
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SAT - SUN
🎁 Eat, drink & be merry
‘Tis the season for Christmas markets, & we love the sound of this one dedicated to female makers in Coal Drops Yard, & this one in St James Square, Muswell Hill.
🗓️ Sat 22nd Nov, various times
📍 King’s Cross/East Finchley
📚 You’ve got the write idea
The free Writeidea Festival is taking over Tower Hamlets Town Hall this weekend, & we particularly like the sound of this talk on how we can fix London’s broken housing system.
🗓️ Sat 22nd Nov, 1-2pm
📍 Whitechapel
☕ But first, coffee
Ever wanted to know more about what goes into your morning cup of coffee? Head to Volcano Works to taste a range of different blends, & even improve your latte art skills.
🗓️ Sat 22nd Nov, 9am-4pm
📍 Brixton
☃️ Bauble bonanza
Paint your own Xmas decorations at this Sun’s SoLo Craft Fair at St Martin-in-the-Fields. All materials are provided, & there’s an illustrator on hand to help get you inspired.
🗓️ Sun 23rd Nov, various time slots
📍 Charing Cross
And for dessert...
🍽️ Love eating out but not the bill that comes with it? EatClub’s here to help – this amazing app gives you instant discounts on both food & drink at great London restaurants. Use the code CHEAPSKATE20 to get £20 credit when you redeem your first offer… so your next dinner out will basically be free! Download the free app here.
🤍 A Cheapskate reader is involved in this important-sounding grief & poetry workshop happening in Hackney tonight – it’s a safe space where those experiencing bereavement can express themselves through verse, & there are still £3 reduced-price tickets available.
🇮🇳 Masakali, a Reading restaurant known for its imaginative takes on Indian cuisine, has just opened its first London location in Euston, & is offering 50% off food until the end of the month.
😎 Black Friday has come early at Meller, where it’s 2-for-1 on glasses in a wide range of styles. There’s truly something for everyone, but I especially love this leopard print cat-eye number. - Clementine
🎨 Another early Black Friday alert: from 6pm this Fri & Sat, you can enjoy free entry to all Tate Modern exhibitions. Find out more.
😢 Want to feel chic & artsy even when you weep? You can do just that with these Kleenex x Mr Doodle illustrated tissues. If you’re planning on buying something (anything!) on Amazon, please use our affiliate link to help us make a bit of cash & keep Cheapskate going 🧡.
What did you think of this edition?
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 ads and 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.
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