🎉 EARLY MAY BANK HOLIDAY EDITION 🎉
Dear {{ first name | Cheapskater }},
We’re back with another bank holiday special 🥳! There is SO much going on for free over the next couple of days - and we’re excited to be sharing the very best of these no-spend events with you.
We hope you have a great long weekend (if you’re lucky enough to get one) and we’ll be back in your inbox on Tuesday!
Kate and Georgia x
PS: Congrats to our reader Eva M, who won the prize featured in Monday’s edition of Cheapskate: a beautiful print from the self-taught figurative artist, Elly Hadjipateras. Scroll down for another amazing, free-to-enter prize draw!
EVENTS
Chalamet cinema night
FILM 🍿 Herne Hill
Fri, from 7pm
A Complete Unknown, the Oscar-nominated film about an unknown 19-year-old Bob Dylan (played by Timothée Chalamet) is being shown for free tonight as part of the Herne Hill Free Film Festival. Just show up.
Put a ring on it
SHOP 💍 King’s Cross
Running until Mon
The Indie Jewellers’ Market is taking over Lower Stable Street this early May bank hol weekend. Expect to see a line-up of 80 emerging & established designer-makers, studio collectives & boutique brands.
You’ll Never Walk Alone
LECTURE 🗣️ Holborn
Fri, from 7.30pm
Learn about how You’ll Never Walk Alone - the Rodgers and Hammerstein song sung at the Last Night of the Proms & by Liverpool football fans - was made, at this Gresham College lecture. Expect live performances!
Standing the test of time
EXHIBIT 🖼️ Crystal Palace
Fri, until May 25
Fri is the launch of the Tom Cox Gallery’s Timeless - a compelling group exhibit which invites visitors “to contemplate what truly stands the test of time”. Expect thought-provoking pieces from a range of artists.
FAMILY 💗 Waterloo, Sat from 1pm
Saturday Sessions with Body Odyssey
Be transported into a wonderland of glowing inflatable organs, floating cells, larger than life puppets & mesmerising soundscapes at a family-friendly event at the Southbank Centre this Sat. This drop-in session is themed around writer Camille Dawson’s musical show Body Odyssey.
Shadow Kingdom
PERFORMANCE 🎭 South Ken
Sat, 11:30am, 13:30pm & 15:30pm
Experience the magic & craft of shadow puppetry at Shadow Kingdom, a special performance at the V&A this Sat. Expect to see light & shadow “transformed into a live animated movie before your eyes”.
May Day at the farm
FESTIVAL 🎪 Stepney Green
Sat, 10am-3pm
The Stepney May Day Festival returns to Stepney City Farm. There’ll be an extra large farmers’ market, maypole dancing, sheep sheering & yarn-spinning/pottery wheel demos. Plus the grand opening of the new cafe!
Plant power
OUTDOORS 🪴 Sloane Square
Sat, 10am-5pm
It’s the Chelsea Physic Garden Plant Festival this Sat, where you can browse 30+ stalls filled with perfect plants for your home or garden, & enjoy gardening demos. This is a fab opportunity to visit the garden for free!
A Wicked evening
FILM 🍿 New Cross Gate
Sat, from 8pm
Enjoy an open-air screening of 2024’s award-winning Wicked (hosted by Eckington Gardens) as part of the New Cross & Deptford Free Film Festival. Bring a blanket, a picnic & friends/family members of all ages.
Competition time! 🪩
The UK’s largest outdoor spatial audio festival is coming to Crystal Palace Park this weekend - & we have three pairs of tickets to give away to Sunday’s events!
Polygon Live LDN is an immersive music experience like no other, featuring some of the biggest names in electronic, world music & ambience who will perform in 360º spatial audio.
To enter, 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 into the draw, & we’ll pick one lucky winner at random.
If don’t win, don’t worry! Cheapskate readers can use the code INTERNALSUN30 to take 30% off ticket prices.
Celebrating London’s canals
FESTIVAL 🛥️ Warwick Avenue
Sat-Mon, various times
Celebrate the best of life on London’s waterways at IWA Canalway Cavalcade, a vibrant canal festival featuring music, food, art & special boating activities, which returns to Little Venice this weekend.
Mexican Fiesta
FESTIVAL 🎉 Hackney Wick
Sat & Sun, 12-7pm
Mex Fest - a free, two-day Mexican Fiesta - is taking place at Hackney Bridge this weekend. Expect Mexican food traders, a Mex-Market, live mariachi, Sonidero beats, dance, games, workshops & piñatas.
Shop small this Sunday
MARKET 🛍️ Chiswick
Sun, 10am-4pm
Duck Pond Market - a “charming” selection of local arts, crafts & homewares which celebrates sustainability & ethical shopping - returns to Chiswick House & Gardens this Sun. Entry is free.
VE Day in the Gardens
HISTORY 📚 Finchley
Sun, from 10am
Stephens House & Gardens, a Grade ll listed house with extensive landscaped gardens, is hosting a free VE Day event that will feature readings from Spike Milligan’s war diaries plus the recreation of this photo.
FAMILY 🎨 Euston, Sun 10am-1pm
Playful fun with little ones!
Camden People’s Theatre is hosting a free family day for 0-8 year olds this Sun. Hop into a selection of drop-in workshops designed to encourage connections, playfulness & imagination (with snacks provided)! No booking required.
A south east Feast
MARKET 🛍️ West Norwood
Sun, 10am-4pm
Sun marks the return of West Norwood Feast - a collection of 60+ stalls selling food, handmade gifts & artisan crafts across three south east London sites. There will also be live music & free activities for kids.
A spooky setting
FILM 🍿 West Norwood
Sun, from 7pm
Watch a screening of Fatal Attraction, the high-concept psychological thriller, at the West Norwood Cemetery and Crematorium, as part of the West Norwood Free Film Festival. Get there early to grab a seat.
May Day party
FESTIVAL 🎉 Brixton
Mon, 1-5pm
Brixton Windmill (London’s last working windmill) is throwing a free May Day party featuring live folk music from local bands, Morris dancing, crafting & planting workshops, & food/drink stalls.
A celebration of Camden
PARTY 🥳 Camden
Mon, 12-6pm
Take part in Camden at 60: The Big Street Party - a free, community-centred event celebrating Camden’s 60-year legacy while also commemorating VE Day 80. Walk-ups will be accepted until 2pm.
And for dessert...
🫶 Want to support Cheapskate without spending any money? Please click on our links like this one or this one - it doesn’t cost you a thing, but you’ll massively help with our running costs.
🩸 Do you want to care for the planet while caring for your body? We love Ruby Cup’s sustainable menstrual cups & period underwear. Plus, for every cup sold, one is donated to someone without access to safe period care. Use code CHEAP25 for 25% off (yes, period underwear included!) & free shipping.
👞 If money was no object, I’d buy these shoes in every colour (this pair is my #1). If you’re like me & love high fashion but not the high price tags, check out Dupe.com. - Georgia
🍕 The American-inspired pizza chain Common Pizza is offering 50% off pizzas & £5 “prime time” pints from now until May 22. Just show this post when you pay!
🍵 The Japanese tearoom Katsute100 is opening at 4 Broadway Market Mews this Sat - & the team will be giving away free drinks to the first 50 customers on both days of the weekend. Get there early!
🍺 1664 Blanc, the fancy French beer, is running a pop-up experience at Battersea Power Station on Sat & Sun. Guests can enjoy a complimentary half pint, plus play pétanque!
🧁 Moonpig is celebrating its 25th birthday & has teamed up with The Hummingbird Bakery to give away 200 free cupcakes at each of the six London stores (Victoria, St John’s Wood, Notting Hill, South Kensington, Spitalfields & Soho) today. Get there while stocks last!
🤔 We’d love to know what you think about our bank holiday edition & whether you’d like to see more one-off Cheapskate newsletters like this one. Please share your feedback here:
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