The capital’s best free events from June 30th - July 6th
Happy Monday {{ first name | Cheapskater }},
For this week’s newsletter, we’ve partnered with the incredible Southbank Centre - we love them because they run so many free, diverse cultural events all year round. This weekend is the New Music Biennial - a free festival where you can discover some of the best new music being composed in the UK across all genres.
There are tonnes of amazing free events taking place (like immersive sound experiences, live performances and even a Baroque clubbing session) - see the full programme here! Tickets are being snapped up quickly, so make sure you book ahead.
Also, we have a new Cheapskater on the team! My name’s Clementine and I’m a recent Magazine Journalism graduate working on the newsletter one day a week - I’m so excited to write about all that London has to offer. I grew up in the city and am obsessed with all of its great cultural institutions, though I particularly love the theatre (the last thing I saw was a very interesting take on Medea at the Coronet in Notting Hill).
Have an amazing week,
Clementine x
P.S. Congrats to Cheapskate reader Mary E, who won tickets to the British Library’s summer exhibition in last week’s email. Scroll down for your chance to win an amazing experience at The Understudy, the riverside pub at the National Theatre.
MONDAY 30th JUNE
SPORT 🎾 various, until Jul 13
Game, set, match
Whether you’re cheering on Alcaraz or just enjoying strawberries & cream, catch all the action from Wimbledon at free outdoor screenings across London. Try Eccleston Yards, Merchant Square, The Understudy or St Katharine Docks.
FILM 🎬 King’s X, 5-6.45 & 7.30-9.30pm
Outdoor cinema season
London’s most picturesque outdoor cinema, Everyman on the Canal, is back for another year at Granary Square. Things are kicking off this Mon with Dirty Dancing & Top Gun. Remember to start queuing early!
TUESDAY 1st JULY
MUSIC 🎻 Wembley Park, 7-8pm
Summertime sadness
Missed out on Lana Del Rey tickets for this week? This isn’t quite the same, but City String Ensemble is performing an orchestral reimagining of the sad-girl icon’s work, as part of Wembley Park’s Summer Rocks.
EXHIBIT 🔬 Piccadilly Circus, until Jul 6
It’s not rocket science
How do spider senses work? Could we make pop music using our facial expressions? Explore questions like these & more at the Royal Society’s Summer Science Exhibition of the latest cutting-edge research.
WEDNESDAY 2nd JULY
MUSIC/THEATRE 🎭 Milton Court, Weds & Thurs
Trailblazers of tomorrow
This week, choose between two exciting free events at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama (as part of Making It Festival 2025). On Weds, check out a very original-sounding puppet & poetry show about vampires going to Mars, or listen to an electronic & produced music showcase on Weds & Thurs.
EXHIBIT 🎨 King’s Cross, 12-8pm
Artists of the future
Get a first look at the next generation of boundary-pushing artists at Central Saint Martins’ annual postgrad degree show. The exhibit includes work from Fine Art, Photography & Exhibition Studies grads.
EXHIBIT 💧 Euston Sq, until Feb 1 2026
Feeling thirsty?
What does water mean to you? The Wellcome Collection’s new exhibit, Thirst: In Search of Freshwater, examines humanity’s vital relationship with H2O, from ancient Mesopotamia to the present day.
THURSDAY 3rd JULY
LATE 🧑🎨 Aldgate East, 5.30-8.30pm
Under pressure
One for the high concept performance art fans: in this month’s Whitechapel Gallery late, artist Helen Davison will lie on the floor beneath a sheet of glass, while various sonorous objects bounce on & off the surface above her.
CONTEST 🍵 Old Street, 6.30-10pm
Matcha-do about nothing
Now this is a new one for us: Ozone Coffee is hosting a competition where baristas will showcase their matcha latte art skills in the hope of winning a cash prize. It’s £10 to participate, but totally free to watch.
🍓 Competition time!
We’ve teamed up with The Understudy, the riverside pub at the iconic National Theatre, to give away an amazing prize!
To coincide with The Understudy’s free open-air Wimbledon screenings (which are running for the length of the tournament), one Cheapskate reader will win two servings of strawberries & cream, two glasses of Pimm’s, & a £50 voucher to spend at The Understudy on food & drink!
The prize must be claimed by July 13 - see other T&Cs at the bottom of this email.
Do you want to win this experience at The Understudy?
*By selecting yes please, you are agreeing for us to share your email address and any comments with our partner, National Theatre.
FRIDAY 4th JULY
MUSIC 🎶 Barbican, from 6pm
Uplifting queer voices
Just before the final UK Classical Pride concert at the Barbican, there’s a free recital from emerging young classical performers. They’ll sing works from LGBTQ+ composers like Tchaikovsky & Leonard Bernstein.
SING 🎤 Covent Garden, from 7pm
Sing your heart out
Time to practise Bohemian Rhapsody, because starting this Fri, arcade game-themed bar chain Bat & Ball’s Covent Garden outpost is offering free karaoke each week. There are also 2-4-1 cocktails for some liquid courage.
SAT 5th JULY - SUN 6th JULY
LGBTQ+ 🏳️🌈 various, Sat from 12pm
Happy Pride!
Pride in London is back for another year of celebration of queer history & awareness of ongoing issues faced by the community. The parade runs from Hyde Park Corner to Whitehall, & you can watch from anywhere on the route.
FESTIVAL 🔥 Mile End, Sat 12-7pm
Ice & fire
This year’s Coldfire Festival in Mile End Park features live music, a Caribbean dance workshop & morning pilates, all in memory of local artist Thomas Crosbie Pace, who aimed to forge a creative hub in East London.
TOUR 🖼️ Crystal P, Sat & Sun 11am-5pm
Open house Sunday
Crystal Palace-based artist co-op Gipsy Hill Studios is opening its doors this weekend, so pop over to see how the artists work, shop for vintage furniture & even get your portrait painted.
FAIR 🎪 Hampstead, Sun 12-5pm
Heath happiness
The Hampstead Summer Festival is culminating with a “Big Fair” on Heath Street this Sun, featuring 110 craft & food stalls, a fun fair, live music, a circus school for kids, a giant chess set & more.
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 just found the sunnies I’ll be wearing all summer - they’re super simple, effortlessly cool & don’t cost a fortune. If I had a bit more spare cash, I’d love to get a pair of these “champagne” frames (I’m obsessed). - Georgia
🩸 Organic menstrual healthcare brand Here We Flo is launching a new campaign to end period shame - & they’re giving away free tampons, pads & liners by Blackfriars (12-1pm) & Hackney Road (5-6pm) this Weds.
🍕 I had a fantastic dinner at the Islington branch of Santa Maria, which has just launched a new pizza menu. Their Neapolitan-style pizzas are consistently excellent, but the standout for me was the San Vincenzo - topped with rich aubergine parmigiana, smoked mozzarella, tangy tomato sauce & crisp shards of parmesan. It’s a perfect spot for a special meal that won’t break the bank. - Kate
🤝 Looking for a new good cause to donate to? We’re huge fans of Our Second Home, a charity that empowers young refugees to build their community in the UK. Donations fund exciting residential programmes, leadership training & fun socials aimed at young people who are new to the UK.
🥘 Since having a baby, I have pretty much lived off COOK’s frozen ready meals - they’re so much tastier (& more nutritious) than ones you’d get in a supermarket. Fancy trying them for yourself? Take 15% off using my referral code. - Kate
⚽ Excited to cheer on the Lionesses at the Euros & celebrate Pride in the same week? Some of the most influential queer voices in football are coming together for this interesting panel event on Weds, hosted by The Standard.
What did you think of this edition?
Competition T&Cs: The prize must be claimed by July 13, is non-transferable & no cash alternative will be offered. The winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries & will be notified by email. If the winner does not respond within two days, a new winner may be selected. National Theatre Food and Drink reserves the right to cancel or amend the giveaway & these terms and conditions at any time. By entering, participants agree to be bound by these terms & conditions.
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