Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 17-23 February 2025

Space Week, half term on a budget and FREE CUPS OF TEA!

Budget-friendly 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.

See incredible art for free

In the mood for some culture, but on a budget? We've just published a guide to where to see art for free in London. Find out about globally-renowned galleries as well as lesser-known venues which don't charge you a penny for ogling their collections, including works by JMW Turner, Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Tracey Emin and Yinka Shonibare. Let's face it, at this time of year, indoor venues which you can visit for free are ideal. Even if your schedule's full this week, bookmark it for future use.

Slurp down a free cuppa

Clipper Tea have enlisted nature-loving DJ SUAT to hand out free cups of tea at How Matcha on 47 Blandford Street, Marylebone (1pm-3pm) while spinning the sounds of nature from his portable decks. It's got something to do with research that suggests on average, Brits only spend one day a year in nature. And on that one day, they often encounter some bloke with portable decks... Anyway, in short: FREE TEA!

Free, 17 February.

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Celebrate Lunar New Year

Although officially, Lunar New Year was a couple of weeks ago, the celebrations continue at the Museum of the Home in Hoxton, which throws a free Lunar New Year family day. Celebrate the Year of the Snake with storytelling sessions, crafting, musical instruments, face painting and a mini playhouse.

Free, 18 February.

Browse the free events at Imagine Festival

Southbank Centre's Imagine Festival is back for February half term, aimed at 0-11 year olds and celebrating children's literature and creativity. Though there's a charge for many of the events, it's worth perusing the programme for free happenings too. Highlights include Singing All Over The World, a chance to learn songs in different languages; kids' comedy show Big Laughs for Little Bellies; dance workshops and performances at ZooNation's Hip-Hop Half Term; and Prancer the Dancer's DanceDanceDiscoParty FunShow, which sounds like a lively end to the half term week.

Some events free, 18-23 February.

See photos of Rohingya refugees

Bloomsbury's Wiener Holocaust Library opens its latest exhibition on Tuesday. A Chance to Breathe showcases the award-winning photography of Omal Khair, Dil Kayas and Azimul Hasan, three survivors of the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar. The works hone in on Rohingya life in the refugee camps of Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh.

Free, 18 February-3 April.

Stay late at the Bank of England Museum

On Thursday evening the Bank of England Museum stays open for Museum late: Fashion, Empire and Finance. Coinciding with London Fashion Week, the event delves into the Paisley pattern — which is worn by a woman in George Elgar Hicks' painting Dividend Day at the Bank of England — to find out where it originated. Hear a talk about the painting, or take part in a watercolour painting workshop (both free but must be booked in advance). Or just explore the galleries and exhibitions after hours.

Free, 20 February.

Blast off at Space Week

The Geological Society in Mayfair opens its doors for two days of free, family-friendly activities to celebrate Space Week, bound to elicit a "Cooooool!" or two from kids. There's a chance to hold rocks from space, learn about space exploration and how to save the planet from asteroids. Tbh they had us at space rocks.

Free, 20-21 February.

View the new installation at Somerset House

New, free exhibition Salt Cosmologies opens in the courtyard at Somerset House, taking the form of an 80m-long fabric installation representing the Inland Customs Line, a 2,500 mile-long 'hedge' created by the British to enforce salt taxation during colonial rule in India. The exhibition continues inside the building, focusing on other aspects of Britain's imperial salt monopoly in India.

Free, 20 February-27 April.

Go on a poetry pub crawl

Regina Avendaño launches a physical poetry collection, Eight Nights, with a pub crawl around south east London, pausing at various pubs — starting at SET Social in Peckham and ending at the Fox and Firkin in Lewisham — for a reading. Regina describes the work as "a collection of aimless observations recounting eight separate nights in south east London."

Free, 22 February.

Celebrate local history at Highgate Heritage Weekend

Lauderdale House hosts the annual Highgate Heritage Weekend, celebrating the history of the local area through a selection of events including talks, a fair with local history societies represented, and a family fun day.

Free, 22-23 February.

Get a final look at Battersea Light Festival

This is the final week of Battersea Power Station Light Festival, which has eight playful glowing installations dotted around both inside and outside the power station building.

While you're there, Battersea Power Station also has a free Disney's The Lion King pop-up this week (17-23 February), showcasing masks, puppets and costumes from the long-running West End musical. Combine both for a free day out.

Free, until 23 February. You can still get your free light trail fix at Westfield London until 2 March.

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Finish your week with some mindful crafting

Colour expert and Londonist contributor Momtaz Begum-Hossain hosts her monthly mindful crafting workshop at the Well Bean Co cafe in Royal Docks. Go along to learn a new crafting skills (each session covers a different craft) and spend a couple of hours in a relaxed environment. All materials are provided, and sessions operate on a pay-what-you-can basis.

Pay what you can, 23 February

Do February half term on the cheap

It's half term in London, meaning that parents and carers all over the capital will be scrambling for ways to keep children entertained — ideally on a budget. Fear not, our guide to things to do in half term has you covered, and we've also included a section on free events and activities. If the weather's on your side, try our map of playgrounds in central London, or how about this free maze out west?

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