The capital’s best free events from August 18th-22nd
Happy Monday {{ first name | Cheapskater }},
Happy almost bank holiday Monday! If you’re looking forward to the long weekend as much as we are, you’ll be pleased to know we have a special edition coming out this Friday, full of fabulous free events. And while we have you, we’re wondering:
Do you have any fun bank holiday plans?
In the meantime, we’ve got you covered for the next five days of free fun. If you’d like to support what we do, please consider joining the Cheapskate club - it’s just £2.50/month, and really helps with our growing running costs. Thanks to our amazing supporters, we can bring the very best of free London to more than 45,000(!) of you every week. 🧡
Have a great week,
Clementine x
P.S. Congrats to Cheapskate reader Celina N, who won tickets to Twist Museum’s Twilight Thursday (as featured in last week’s email). Scroll down for another free-to-enter prize draw!
MONDAY
🏖️ To the seaside!
There are just a couple of days left to catch this outdoor exhibit at The Photographers’ Gallery about the nostalgic energy of summertime by the seaside in the UK & beyond - perfect for this heatwave!
🗓️ Until Weds 20th Aug
📍King’s Cross
👺 Intergenerational fun
Throughout August, Penfold Community Hub in Marylebone has been transformed into a free, open-access creative workspace. This Mon, you can help design a series of giant papier-mâché masks. Sign up here!
🗓️ Mon 18th Aug-Fri 29th Aug
📍Edgware Road
TUESDAY
🧠 ‘Mind the Gap’
This new exhibit at the Museum of the Home invites audiences to consider the everyday challenges faced by neurodivergent people, starting with the simple question: ‘how was your journey here today?’.
🗓️ Tues 19th Aug-Sun 19th Oct
📍Hoxton
💡 For your eureka moments
Got a burning idea for a new project, business or piece of art, but struggling to get it off the ground? Head to BUILD THE THING, at The Reliance pub, where you can get advice & support from fellow creators.
🗓️ Tues 19th Aug, 6.30-8.30pm
📍Old Street
🏖️ Competition time!
This week, we’ve teamed up with Costa del Croydon, south London’s rooftop beach experience, to give away an amazing prize.
One lucky reader - plus four(!) friends - will each win lunch, a drink & one go on each of the rides. The prize must be redeemed in one visit, & the experience is running until the end of the month.
To be in with a chance of winning these tickets, simply refer a friend to Cheapskate London by sending them this link (it contains your personalised referral code): {{rp_refer_url}}. Once they’ve signed up, you’ll be entered into the draw, & we’ll pick one lucky winner at random. Good luck! 🤞
Members of the Cheapskate club get automatic entry into all of our competitions - join today & get 50% off your monthly or annual membership!
WEDNESDAY
🖋️ Telling tales
Love creative writing? Meet fellow writers & learn from novelist Varaidzo at this Staffordshire St workshop, with a particular focus on folktales & world-building. Check out the current folk horror exhibit while you’re there!
🗓️ Weds 20th Aug, 6.30-8.30pm
📍Peckham Rye
🎧 Party in the park
In The Neighbourhood, the community festival in Victoria Park, has loads of fab events on this week. This Weds, there’s a Cafe 1001 takeover, with DJ sets & panel talks curated by the Brick Lane venue.
🗓️ Weds 20th Aug, 4.30-7.30pm
📍Mile End
THURSDAY
🧮 Crack the code
The Bank of England Museum is back with another great Thursday late, this time all about wartime spies. Try your hand at cracking an Enigma-inspired puzzle, & listen to a talk on the world of WW2 espionage.
🗓️ Thurs 21st Aug, 5.15-8pm
📍Bank
🎥 Women in cinema
Belgian filmmaker Chantal Akerman is a strong candidate for the greatest female director of all time. Watch her 1976 film News From Home, a time capsule of 1970s New York, at BBC Television Centre this Thurs.
🗓️ Thurs 21st Aug, 5.30-7pm
📍Wood Lane
Fact-based news without bias awaits. Make 1440 your choice today.
Overwhelmed by biased news? Cut through the clutter and get straight facts with your daily 1440 digest. From politics to sports, join millions who start their day informed.
FRIDAY
🎉 Last of the summer nights
Summer’s not quite over yet, but Rich Mix is hosting a ‘Last Day of Summer’ nonetheless. This drop-in evening event is a celebration of UK Afroswing, with creative workshops & even a chance to get a tooth gem.
🗓️ Fri 22nd Aug, from 5pm
📍Shoreditch High Street
🤸 Parkour!
Greenwich + Docklands International Festival is bringing tons of fab, free outdoor arts events to south-east London this summer, & kicking things off is this live parkour performance in Beresford Square.
🗓️ Fri 22nd Aug, from 6.45pm
📍Woolwich
Bank holiday edition coming on Friday!
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.
🎶 I have a day ticket for All Points East in Victoria Park this Sat, & can’t wait to see Raye & Doechii performing live. Drop me a message if you’ll also be there soaking up the music & the sunshine! - Georgia
🪴 Big news for fans of aesthetic social media pics: the Barbican Conservatory has opened again to the public for the summer, with extended hours. The free timed slots will sell out ASAP, so grab yours here.
🧘 Are you, like me, obsessed with pilates content on Instagram? If so, you’ll be pleased to know that Yoga-Go offers a dedicated pilates programme, alongside two different types of yoga. It’s totally customisable & accessible to any age or experience level. - Clementine
⚡️ I use Octopus energy at home, which is 100% renewable & the customer service is actually good. If you’d like to try it, here’s £50 free credit! - Kate
🍔 Fancy an extravagant meal without a hefty price-tag? Burger & Lobster has just launched four £20 “premium” rolls: buttery lobster & crayfish, buffalo crispy prawn, luxe lobster & wagyu, & smoky wagyu. Plus, they’re “served fast”, making them a perfect lunch-break treat.
😋 While we’re on the subject of burgers, it’s National Burger Day this Thurs, so Juju’s Bar & Stage in Shoreditch are serving FREE smash burgers on their terrace from 12pm. Run, don’t walk!
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.
Sign up for Cheapskate Kids, our spin-off newsletter featuring free, family-friendly events across London, here 👧