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Halloween is fast approaching, but some of us don’t need leering pumpkins, dangling skeletons or teenagers coated in blood to feel pure existential terror. We just have to spend a minute or two thinking about our financial situation, present and future. Still, petrifying though London’s impact on our collective bank balances might well be, this city has also been uncannily generous in serving up free things to do this weekend.
Banish the gloom at a free Diwali party. Say ‘up yours!’ to consumerism at a celebration of punk culture. Or sip a free matcha at an Oatly pop-up. Whatever you pick, you won't have to shell out for tickets, so you can leave your bankcard dozing peacefully in its leathery bed. The weekend is waiting for you: here’s our pick of budget-friendly ways to banish the gloom.
The 6 best free things to do in London this weekend
1. Go to a cockney knees-up at the Imperial War Museum’s weekend fest
This weekend, Imperial War Museum is throwing an inspiring line-up of events celebrating the power of storytelling, to tie in with its current exhibition, Childhood in War. There are free family-friendly illustration and storytelling workshops, hands-on object handling sessions, and a Sunday singing session that’ll transport you straight back to the jollier bits of WWII, courtesy of musician Tom Carradine. He’ll lead two music hall style singalongs, complete with puppets, at 10.15am and 12 noon. Grab a wristband on arrival to be sure you get a spot, then bellow with the best of ’em.
Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, SE1 6HZ. Sunday Oct 25. Free.
2. Meet punk’s undersung female champions at a new exhibition
If you haven’t made it down to the new Museum of Youth Culture yet, then now’s the time to get your teenage kicks. A new exhibition is dedicated to shining a light on the female punks who scandalised society, and thought in radical new ways. It’ll showcase the late Poly Styrene's archive, exploring how she created her own aesthetic and sound in a hostile world, as well as offering leftfield perspectives on the scene from radical feminist photographer Linder, and outrageous fashions from Dame Zandra Rhodes.
Museum of Youth Culture, St Pancras Campus, N1 OTH. Until Nov 22. Free.
3. Join a kaleidoscopic Diwali party in Trafalgar Square
Soon, Trafalgar Square will be dominated by London’s most gigantic (and most complained-about) Christmas tree. But first, there’s another massive winter festival to celebrate, and it comes with spectacular dancing and music that’ll fill Trafalgar Square with Diwali joy. The centrepiece of Sunday’s celebrations is a mammoth performance on the main stage, featuring 200 dancers from different Indian movement traditions. There’ll also be yoga and meditation classes, puppet shows, kids activities, displays on Sikh and Hindu traditions and, of course, street food stalls where you can pick up vegetarian and vegan delights.
Trafalgar Square, WC2 5DN. Sunday Oct 25. Free.
4. Rub shoulders with this city’s emerging literary talents
Sure, you could make a beeline for the bestseller tables at Waterstones. Or you could immerse yourself in London’s indie and grassroots publishing scene to find your next read. October is a big month for London’s literary scene, with plenty for bookworms to do this weekend. Head to Newington Green on Saturday for the Hackney Indie Press Fair, where you can meet authors and publishers, and hear about how independent publishing works in a world dominated, and browse stalls fulled with indie books on every topic under the sun.
Or make your way to the Southbank Centre for the London Literature Festival, curated by Dua Lipa. Alongside paid for talks with international luminaries, the book-loving pop star has put together a programme of free events across the festival. On Saturday’s Poetry Day, alumni of the Southbank Centre’s New Poets Collective will be doing live readings in the National Poetry Library, while Sunday’s Creative Future Writers' Day features loads of short talks and networking events for aspiring authors curated alongside Service95 Book Club, plus a book fair in the Southbank Centre foyer.
Southbank Centre. Sat Oct 24-Oct Nov 25. Free. / Newington Green Meeting House. Sat Oct 24. Free.
5. Sip a free matcha at an Oatly pop-up
Oatly will not rest until we're all converted to the joys of oat-based drinks (to be fair, they are pretty tasty) and to that end, they've created The Oatly Embassy, a south Kensington pop-up dedicated to official mylk business. On the ground floor, you’ll find The Diplomat’s Cafe, which will serve up free signature drinks including matcha, plus drop-in workshops teaching you how to create dreamy cuppas at home. You’ll also find tongue-in-cheek artworks at the Museum of Modern Oats, a library with drop-in chess and knitting sessions, and best of all (assuming you’re converted to the joys of Oatly) the chance to win an Oatly passport if you’re among the first 100 guests through the door on both days, which’ll bag you free oat-based beverages at partner cafes across London. Delicious.
The Lavery, 4 Cromwell Place, SW7 2JE. Fri Oct 23-Sat Oct 24. Free.
6. Join a spooky treasure hunt at a Halloween-themed market
Between the Bridges is serving up plenty of chills by the Thames as Halloween approaches, and its special edition of SoLo craft fair is no exception. There are creep-tastic handmade ceramics, accessories, clothes, cards and jewellery to browse, making it a handy stop-off for anyone seeking costume inspiration. And you'll also find a free market treasure hunt, with clues that'll take you round the stalls, and a free prize at the end for anyone brave enough to reach the end.
Between the Bridges, Queens Walk, SE1 8XX. Sun Oct 25. Free.
Make the most of October with our guide to the best things to do in London this month.
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