The capital’s best free events from Jan 22nd-28th
Happy Monday {{ first name | Cheapskater }}!
I hope you all had lovely weekends. I’ve had a jam-packed few days of activities which included watching the incredible Dele Sosimi at the Jazz Cafe and sampling some delicious South Korean food at Masigo. My busy week definitely reinforced to me how lucky I am to live in London - a city where there is just so much going on.
This week, we’ve partnered with Thrive LDN, the Mayor of London’s mental health movement, which is hosting a series of fantastic free online and in-person events to celebrate Great Mental Health Day 2024 (taking place this Friday!).
Highlights include spoken word and movement workshops, webinars on grief and stopping smoking, suicide prevention training and a WalkTalkWalk - an inclusive, in-person event where Londoners will walk together from Tower Hill Station to the Southbank. Register here for access to these fabulous free events.
Have a good one!
Kate x
MONDAY
FILM/EXHIBIT 🎞️ Barbican, until Fri
Poor Things costumes
Watched the film Poor Things? There are just a few days left to check out a Barbican exhibit of the movie’s eye-catching costumes, curated by costume designer Holly Waddington.
PHOTO 📸 Knightsbridge, until 1 Feb
Antarctic exhibition
Royal Geographical Society’s fascinating Fine Art Antarctic Photography 1910 to 1917 exhibit has returned due to popular demand. Catch a glimpse of the stunning prints while you can!
TUESDAY
TALK 🗣️ virtual, 7-8pm
Motivation & self-worth
Should we prioritise our happiness now or in the long-term? That’s the subject of this pay-what-you-want Action for Happiness talk with psychologist Dr Lora Park.
STORIES 📝 virtual, 6.30-7.30pm
2024 goal setting
Set your goals, share your wins & position yourself for success at this interactive webinar with Lara Sheldrake, speaker, mentor & founder of Found & Flourish. Aimed at 18-30 year-olds.
WEDNESDAY
LATE EVENT 🎸 Green Park, 5-10pm
Auctioneer after-hours
Head to Christie’s (the auction house) for a special late event featuring panel discussions & demonstrations set to the sound of Dire Straits’ timeless tracks. Entry is free & open to all.
WELLNESS 🌿 Stratford, 11-5pm
Winter Happiness Festival
Everyone’s welcome at the UCL Winter Happiness Festival, where various workshops will offer science-backed practices to support mental health & build emotional resilience.
Competition time! 🎨
Fancy making a one-of-a-kind tufted rug that suits your style perfectly? We’ve teamed up with our pals at Cheeky Studio in Hackney Wick to gift one lucky reader a spot at a three-hour rug-making workshop (worth £140!).
To enter the draw, 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 & we’ll then pick a name at random on Friday. Good luck! 🤞
THURSDAY
FESTIVAL ✨ Battersea, until 25 Feb
Light Festival 2024
Battersea Power Station’s annual Light Festival, featuring seven light art installations, returns this Thurs - & it will supposedly be “brighter & more interactive than ever before”.
EXHIBIT 💄 Euston, 6.30-7.30pm
Cult of Beauty VIP tour
Wellcome Collection curator Janice Li is running a special tour of the fantastic The Cult of Beauty exhibit. She’ll outline how the show came together & explain some of its themes. Book ASAP.
FRIDAY
LATE 🖼️ Blackfriars, 6-10pm
Return of Tate Late
Head to the Tate Modern this Fri for an evening exploring art & activism hosted by Guerrilla Girls - an anonymous group of feminist artists. There’ll be DJ sets, workshops, talks & more.
WELLBEING 🌿 all day, London-wide
Breaking the stigma
Great Mental Health Day - which is designed to get us talking about mental health - is taking place across London this Fri. There are loads of free online & in-person events taking place.

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WEEKEND
EXHIBIT 🎨 Shoreditch, 26-28 Jan
Toilet graffiti explored
Check out Sh!t Show - a new exhibit exploring London’s toilet-cubicle graffiti, featuring photos of more than 250 pub toilet walls, doors & ceilings. You can also add your own scribblings to the scene.
MEND 🧵 Bethnal Green, Sat 10-1pm
Repair cafe
Got any clothes that need mending or altering, or small electrical appliances in need of some TLC? St Margaret’s House is running a drop-in Repair Cafe that could be right up your street.
And for dessert...
🍛 Bamboo Mat, the Japanese X Peruvian restaurant in Stratford & Leyton, is offering an extra dish for £1 to anyone who spends £20 dining with them until the end of the month.
👚 To celebrate the release of the new Mean Girls movie, SOUND Cafe at The Cumberland Hotel is giving away free Mean Girls-themed cocktails (on Wednesdays only). You need to wear at least one pink item of clothing to qualify & tell a member of staff that “on Wednesdays we wear pink” when you arrive.
💪 I’m on a bit of a fitness hype this new year & have been considering buying this for my flat (cheaper recs welcome!). I’ve also got my eyes on one of these…
🍕 Sourdough pizza chain Franco Manca is offering free pizzas this January to anyone named Franco or Franca (valid photo ID needed).
🍝 Like the sound of a weekly fresh pasta delivery? You might want to give Pasta Evangelists a try. Use my code for £10 off your first order. (Or do you fancy learning to make proper authentic Italian pasta? It’s not free but this workshop looks great.)
🍲 Banana Tree is offering two-for-one on mains on the all-day menu (excluding char-grilled meats) until Wednesday. Get a code here.
💌 A final rec from me: I’ve been enjoying reading Peak Performers, a free newsletter by an ex-L’Oréal-director-turned-career-coach which features actionable career tips.
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