Catch an Outdoor Photography Exhibition
You have until Thursday to see The Living Neighbourhood, a free outdoor photography exhibition around Wembley Park. Photographer Chris Winter documents a decade of change between 2015 and 2025 through architecture, ecology, and human moments. You can find the works on Olympic Way, Market Square, and Wembley Park Boulevard.
- Date: Until April 30.
Watch Free Films in South London
The New Cross and Deptford Free Film Festival continues until Sunday, bringing various films like Kinky Boots, Showgirls, and Almost Famous to film lovers for free. Venues include Little Nan’s, Acme Studios, and Deptford Junction, while the festival culminates on Sunday with an outdoor screening of School of Rock at Telegraph Hill Upper Park. Meanwhile, the nearby Herne Hill Free Film Festival kicks off on Monday. While the festival gains full speed next week, there are a few events scattered throughout this week as well.
- Date: Until May 3.
Attend a Free Lecture
London is full of wonderful institutions offering free public talks and lectures on a variety of subjects. Here are a few that caught our eye this week:
- Franklin’s Arctic Expedition (April 27): Learn about the life of James Fitzjames, captain of the ship Erebus during Franklin’s 1845 Arctic expedition, in this lecture by historian Fabiënne Tetteroo at the Royal Geographical Society (also available online).
- Agatha Christie (April 28): Curator Giorgia Maffioli Brigatti will speak at the V&A South Kensington about the author’s chest of drawers. Discover the history of Syrian craftsmanship and the traditional sunduq style of the novelist’s mother-of-pearl inlaid furniture.
- Old Masters (April 28): In this free talk at the Guildhall Library (with an online viewing option), Arts Society lecturer Val Woodgate will compare modern art that tackles the same subjects as works by the Old Masters.
- The Geometry of Tiling (April 28): Alain Goriely, Professor of Geometry at Gresham College, will explain why geometric shapes with straight edges that fit together without gaps or overlaps are so common in man-made designs, while nature prefers soft or irregular patterns.
- Catherine Dickens (April 30): The Charles Dickens Museum hosts Lillian Nayder, Professor of English, to examine the real-life bonds of the women surrounding the novelist. Rediscover these figures through their actual connections beyond their fictional portraits.
- Lost Music Venues (April 30): Join curator Harriet Reed at the V&A South Kensington for a preview of the museum’s new exhibition celebrating the cultural impact of independent music spaces in the UK. Learn how these venues, spanning from the 1980s to the 2010s, served as creative hubs for musicians and designers.
Go to a Free Poetry Open Mic Night
On the last Thursday of every month, Walthamstow Trades Hall hosts Poems Not Bombs, a free open mic poetry night. Poets of all levels can take the stage to share their work. Hosted by Paul McGrane of the local poetry collective Forest Poets, the evening welcomes works on any subject. Not a poet? It is completely free to join as an audience member.
- Date: April 30.
Celebrate the Return of This Summer Venue with a Free Drink
It was initially thought that the popular summer party spot Between the Bridges would not open for the 2026 season. However, plans have changed, and this great spot next to the London Eye returns starting Thursday. To top it off, the first 500 people through the door for Thursday’s free opening party will get a free drink to kick off the season in style.
- Date: April 30.
Sip a Free Frothy Coffee…
There’s a free, frothy coffee waiting for you on Thursday! The Finnish plant-based brand Oddlygood is giving away free barista-series frothy coffees at its pop-up in Shoreditch (67-68 Charlotte Road) on Thursday from 08:30 to 17:30. Hair stylist Tobias will also be there to give lucky individuals a modern “mullet” cut (you must enter the event contest beforehand to win a haircut).
- Date: April 30.
Visit London’s Sewing Machine Museum
On the first Saturday of most months, London’s Sewing Machine Museum opens its doors to the public. Step into this building in Balham to examine a private collection of hundreds of sewing machines and see how the technology behind them has changed over time. Entry is free, but donations to the RNLI or Leukaemia Research are welcomed.
- Date: May 2.
Watch a Free Outdoor Dance Performance
Bell Square in Hounslow is gearing up for summer with a series of free outdoor performances open to all. This Saturday, the Vanhulle Dance Theatre will perform ORB, a captivating 22-minute dance duet blending explosive physicality, breathtaking partnering, and movements inspired by martial arts. Performances will take place at 13:00 and 15:00.
- Date: May 2.
Head Down to the Water for the Canalway Cavalcade
Once a year, the Canalway Cavalcade takes over Little Venice with dozens of boats decorated with colorful flags and bunting for the May Bank Holiday weekend. For those of us without our own narrowboat, there is plenty of free entertainment on land, including live music and various activities to keep the kids entertained. If you can, stay until Sunday evening to watch the illuminated boat parade after dark.
- Date: May 2–4.
Get the Paints Out in the World of Creativity
Crayola, the crayon brand whose name you likely know by heart, is setting up a free, family-friendly event at OXO Gallery over the May Bank Holiday. Children can get their own Crayola passports to travel through different creativity zones and participate in various fun tasks. Be ready for plenty of colorful scribbling—this time in the right place, not on your living room’s best wallpaper!
- Date: May 2–4.
