Things to do in London this week for £5 or less.
Looking for more free things to do in London? Here are 102 of em! We've also compiled this epic map of free stuff in London.
1. Get a ticket for National Lottery Open Week
This week is National Lottery Open Week, when venues all over the UK — including plenty in London — offer free or reduced price tickets. All you need to do to claim a special offer is present a National Lottery ticket or scratchcard (digital or physical).
How about free entry to the Heath Robinson Museum, or a free walk around the Horniman Museum Gardens led by Head of Horticulture Errol Fernandes on Saturday? You can also get entry for nowt to certain National Trust properties all week, as well as the Charles Dickens Museum. Browse the full programme and get booking.
Until 26 March.
2. Swot up on Korean culture
The V&A's free lunchtime lecture ties in with current exhibition, Hallyu! The Korean Wave. Hear from Rosalie Kim, Lead Curator of Hallyu! The Korean Wave, about how Korea evolved from a war-torn country to a global leading trendsetter, with a meteoric rise of popular culture from South Korea globally.
Free, 23 March.
3. Admire some River Lea photography
Cody Dock on the River Lea near Poplar hosts the private view of a new photography exhibition, showcasing the winning images from the annual photography exhibition. See the 12 top entries on display in an outdoor gallery and meet the photographers at the event on Thursday evening.
Free, 23 March.
Cody Dock also has two free events on Sunday this week; a celebration of spring, and a riverside clean up.
4. Stay late at Tate
Tate Britain stays open late on Friday night, for an evening of events curated by Black Blossoms. The arts organisation aims to support and highlight Black artists, and to decolonise and disrupt euro-centric arts education.
At the Pimlico gallery tonight, the theme is 'Flourish', with performances, installations, talks, and workshops taking place throughout the evening.
Free, 24 March.
5. Friday lates at the National Gallery
Tate Britain isn't the only venue staying up late this Friday night. The National Gallery is open until 9pm every Friday and entry is free — but certain Friday nights have special events going on, and this is one of them.
Take part in a free life drawing class by the 2b Or Not 2b Collective, or listen to new music compositions by students from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, inspired by paintings by Turner, Constable and Gainsborough. Plus, poet and performer SJ Fowler reads poems about chosen paintings in the collection, offering alternative interpretations of their meaning, history and standing.
Free, 24 March.
6. Take a BSL tour
Expert guide Edward Richards offers a British Sign Language (BSL) tour of the National Army Museum in Chelsea. Specifically, it's a tour of the current exhibition, Foe to Friend, examining the relationship between the people of Germany and the British Army after the second world war.
Free, 25 March.
7. Switch off the lights for Earth Hour
It's that time of year again, when lights go out across the world for 60 minutes. Earth Hour is an initiative by conservation charity WWF, to raise awareness of environmental issues and encourage us to do something about them. Various London landmarks switch their lights off for the occasion, and the campaign is going even further this year — read more about Earth Hour 2023.
Free, 25 March.
8. Cheer on the rowers at the Oxford vs. Cambridge Boat Races
One of the biggest rowing events of the calendar takes place on the Thames in west London on Sunday — and it's free to watch. The Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Races have a history dating back to 1829, and since 2015, two races take place each year on the same day; the men's and women's.
The course runs between Putney and Mortlake, with people crowding the river bank on both sides to get a view of the action. Read our guide to the 2023 Boat Races for everything you need to know.
Free, 26 March.
9. Check out Wembley Park's new outdoor exhibition
An all-female lineup of artists have taken over Wembley Park, for free al fresco exhibition, Equilibrium. Discover Acrylicize's hypnotic makeover of the Spanish Steps; Fiona Grady's piece, Sun-Kissed (which uses original K2 phone boxes); and Lucy Hardcastle's Jelly Experiments Series — featuring experimental digital films, inspired by suspended realities and physical illusions. It's a chance to see the permanent artworks installed here too.
Free, until 25 June
10. Change your clocks!
Though not the most thrilling of tasks (unless you're a keen horologist), remember to put your clocks forward an hour at 1am on Sunday 26 March, otherwise you'll be an hour late early late wrong for your plans on Sunday and going forward.
