The capital’s best free events from Dec 2nd-Dec 8th
Dear {{ first name | Cheapskater }},
We wanted to start this week’s edition by saying a HUGE thank you to the readers who signed up to become founding members of the Cheapskate club! In case you missed our Thursday email, you can join the club for £2.50 a month or £25 a year, as part of our first ever Black Friday offer (ending tomorrow!). FYI, if you want to pay using Apple Pay, make sure you enter your email address, otherwise it won’t work…
As a thank you, we’ll automatically enter you into all of our weekly competitions, plus you’ll be entered into a monthly competition that’s exclusive to supporters 🧡. Don’t worry if you can’t afford to join - you’ll still receive this email as usual each week. But if you can, then we’d LOVE your support to help keep Cheapskate going!
Thanks also to everyone who responded to our poll in last week’s email, sharing suggestions for small businesses to support this festive period. Some of our highlights included:
“Luminary Bakery 🍰 it’s a social enterprise that supports women who’ve been through adversity. It’s also a coffee shop, with branches in Camden and Stoke Newington” - Tina B
“The makers at Cockpit Studios 🎨 - ceramics, jewellery, ethical fashion, wood-working, leather bags, homewares and art, all handmade by indie businesses in London.” - Ashley G
“Make Town 🧵- a wonderful crafting and textile creative studio where you can take part in classes, enjoy freestyle weaving or hire a sewing machine.” - Lauren C
“The Common Press 📚- a queer community hub on Brick Lane that holds a huge range of events. It’s also a coffee shop and a bookshop.” - Laura S
“Bianca Maria Bolum Art Jewellery 💍 - a London-based independent jewellery designer and metalsmith who creates one-of-a-kind wearable art using recycled precious metals.”
“Shoots and Leaves Christmas trees 🎄- a locally run company, based in Hanwell (Ealing), that sells the best quality trees” - Rosalind
“Holly Tiongco 🖼️ makes lovely prints, cards and stickers that would be perfect Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers!”
“Pur Kards 🎨 - this is my sister's hustle and it gives me no end of pride to see the utterly stunning (and sometimes extremely sentimental) pieces of art she creates. So much love, care and consideration goes into the creation of each piece.” - Caley P
Thanks to everyone who wrote in with suggestions - and another, massive thanks to everyone who’s joined the Cheapskate Club. We’re SO grateful for your support.
Wishing you a wonderful week,
Kate and Georgia x
PS. Congrats to our reader Khushi, who won a family ticket to the Fulham Palace Christmas Fair last Saturday (as featured in last week’s newsletter). Scroll down for another fab and free-to-enter competition…
MONDAY
HISTORY 👠 Oxford St, until Thurs
Dorothy’s ruby slippers
You’ve got until Thurs to check out an original pair of red glitter slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz. The shoes are on show at Heritage Auctions’ saleroom & offices, before their auction in LA on Dec 7.
EXHIBIT 🛄 Oxford St, until Mar 2025
Ikea’s iconic blue bag
Ikea has just launched a pop-up experience dedicated to one of the most iconic symbols of the IKEA brand: the blue FRAKTA bag. Hus of FRAKTA is located at 216 Oxford St, next to the massive store opening in 2025.
TUESDAY
PARTY 🎉 Holborn, 6-9pm
Booze-free Xmas party
Get into the festive spirit without the hangover at Festive AF, a booze-free Christmas party featuring live music, inspiring talks & “zero-proof beverages” provided by Club Soda. Register ahead here (18+ only).
DISPLAY 🖼️ Canary W, until May 2025
‘The Reflections Room’
London Museum Docklands has just opened The Reflections Room, a new display space for artists. The first display, Exodus, is an exploration of migration through the present lens, by British-Caribbean artist Zak Ové.
WEDNESDAY
EXHIBIT 🎨 Lambeth N, until Feb 2025
The power of cartoons
Check out Satirising a Statesman, a new IWM exhibit uncovering how satirical cartoons influenced public perception during Winston Churchill’s lifetime, to mark 150 years since the former British PM’s birth.
FILM 🍿 Canary Wharf, from 7pm
Mystery cinema screening
Theatreship, the brilliant non-profit arts venue, has a free cinema night on Weds with a catch: the film that’s being shown is a mystery (& the first person to guess what it is correctly gets a free round of drinks).
Competition time! ✨
We’re giving away a pair of adult tickets (worth £14.95 each) to see the Fulham Palace Festive Light Display, which is running until Dec 22.
This illuminated trail features 13 acres of stunning botanical gardens, rare trees & a walled garden, all of which have been transformed into an enchanted winter wonderland with thousands of twinkling lights.
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, & then we’ll pick the winner’s name at random. Good luck! 🤞
PS. Members of the Cheapskate club get automatic entry into all of our competitions (& access to a monthly prize that’s exclusive to supporters). Sign up today to take advantage of our 50% off Black Friday offer!
THURSDAY
XMAS 🎄 Waterloo, 5-9pm
Miracle on Leake Street
This wonderful, festive event is returning to the iconic Waterloo graffiti tunnels. There’ll be Christmas karaoke (ft. a professional choir), graffiti workshops, live performances, wreath-making, a craft market & more.
LATE 💃 South Ken, 6-9pm
Senses meet science
Challenge your friends to see who has the strongest taste buds, explore science through the art of Bollywood dance & get your spidey-senses tingling at this Imperial College late event focused on the five senses.
FRIDAY
XMAS 🎄 Aldgate, 12-7pm
Aldgate in Winter Festival
Aldgate’s annual community festival returns this Fri. Expect an evening of “music, dance, light & celebration”, including a community feast, an Xmas lights switch-on & a lantern parade. See the full programme here.
SHOP/EXPLORE 🇯🇵 Dalston, Fri-Sun
Japan-themed market
Explore traditional & contemporary Japanese arts, crafts, food, gifts & culture at Yokimono, a free-entry, Japan-themed market & cultural event running from Fri-Sun at The Factory on Shacklewell Lane.
WEEKEND
XMAS/MUSIC 🎶 Wembley, Sat 1-6pm
A global Christmas concert
Wembley Park is kicking off its festive season with a free concert which will “showcase the universal spirit of Christmas through music”. The Wembley Park Festive Market launches the same day.
MARKET 🎨 King’s Cross, Sat 11am-5pm
‘Freshly illustrated’ stuff
Explore stunning artwork from talented local independent artists & discover a treasure trove of prints, cards, zines & more at the London Illustrators’ Fair, a pop-up marketplace in King’s Cross.
FAMILY 🎨 Waterloo, from 1pm
‘Saturday Sessions’
Kick off your weekend in style at a fun & creative session for families, where you can make new friends, get crafty & even join a band(!). This “Saturday Sessions” event at the Southbank Centre is drop-in (no booking required) & aimed at ages 5-11.
PARTY 🥳 Walthamstow, Sat 12pm-1am
Christmas come early
Big Penny Social & the Blackhorse Beer Mile are throwing a free-entry Xmas party on Sat, featuring music from nine-piece collective The Brass Funkeys, a Christmas tree market, live DJs & festive food specials.
MARKET 🎄 Chiswick, Sat-Sun 11-4pm
Shop small this Xmas
Head to Chiswick House’s historic grounds for a special festive market championing Hounslow makers. It will be a great chance to shop for unique, handmade gifts, from fashion & accessories to homeware & art.
MARKET 🛍️ Stepney G, Sat 10am-4pm
Fun on the farm
Stepney City Farm’s Xmas market also returns this Sat. Head to the farm to browse 25 stalls featuring festive produce & gifts, as well as tunes from London City Brass & free Christmas crafting activities for kids.
XMAS 🤶 Canning T, Sat 4.30-7.30pm
‘Yuletide merriment’
The waterfront neighbourhood Goodluck Hope is hosting “an evening of yuletide merriment”, with carol performances by the London Docklands Singers & free mulled wine, hot cocoa & mince pies.
And for dessert...
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📚 If you’re looking for your next read/festive gifting inspo, we’ve pulled together a list of books we’ve loved recently on Bookshop.com, which financially supports local, independent bookshops (unlike other major retailers…). If you buy a book from our list, we’ll get a small commission 🥰
😬 If you’re someone who takes great pleasure in using a toothpick at the end of a meal, we have a random rec you’re going to love: these premium picks with delicious flavours which are made from natural ingredients.
🍾 PSA: If you’re a champagne lover like me, then you need to know about the amazing deal Asda is offering on Taittinger Brut Réserve NV at the mo. A bottle usually costs around £52.95, but Asda is selling them for £33 - plus, if you buy six bottles then you save 25%! Perfect for any NYE parties or Christmas gatherings. - Kate
🍔 The Netherlands-based burger brand Fat Phill’s is opening its first branch in London (Clapham Junction) this week - & free burgers are being given away this Fri to celebrate. Head there between 12-3pm to get your hands on a single or double cheeseburger, a Nashville hot chicken burger or a vegan burger.
👯♂️ This silky 100% cotton pyjama set would be the perfect Christmas present (& we love the matching set for men too).
🍻 Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for a pub lover? If you spend £25 on a CityStack London Pub Collection, you can treat a loved one to £100-worth of food & drink at 60+ stunning independent pubs across London. Use the code CHEAP24 for free standard shipping.
🫖 This December, I’m going to try all of the finest teas & infusions from the Whittard range, thanks to my new loose leaf tea advent calendar! Are you going to be opening the doors of an unusual advent cal this festive period? Let us know here. - Kate
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