Free things to do in London this week.
Pride Week at Wembley
Wembley Park gets the Pride celebrations started early with its free Pride Week programme. Music, comedy, drag, DJ sets and community moments take place across Wembley Park’s venues and public spaces — keep an eye on the website for full details.
28 June-5 July.
Glassblowing
London Glassblowing, the Bermondsey Street studio (previously located in Rotherhithe) dedicated to the craft, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It marks the occasion with a special exhibition — closing this weekend — of pieces by 40 artists, curated by the studio’s founder Peter Layton.
Until 5 July.
National Geographic photography
If you find yourself in King’s Cross over the next couple of weeks, take a wander around Granary Square, Lewis Cubitt Square and King’s Boulevard to view work from this year’s National Geographic Traveller (UK) Photography Competition shortlist.
The free open-air exhibition spans eight categories (Urban, People, Landscape, Wildlife, Food, Aerial, Rising Star and Portfolio) with images taken all over the world.
Until 12 July.
Summer science
Open from Tuesday, the Royal Society’s Summer Science Exhibition showcases the latest research from across the UK, through hands-on activities, talks and interactive exhibits. Topics this year include the mysteries of lightning, super computers, and the secrets of the universe. Suitable for all ages.
30 June-5 July.
Flying Fish tour
Artist Remiiya Badru leads a free tour of contemporary art in the Queen’s House on Wednesday lunchtime. Focus is specifically on the symbolic motif of the flying fish, which is used with different meanings and myths in several cultures around the world.
Learn about the cultural, symbolic and artistic significance of flying fish within new contemporary artworks on display in the Queen’s House, including Badru’s own collage work The Rhumblineage of Penelope Steel.
1 July.
Dickens’ note-taking
Many of the notes made by author Charles Dickens as he pieced together his works are held in the V&A’s National Art Library. On Thursday lunchtime, Dr. Anna Gibson, co-director of the Dickens Notes project, gives a free talk about the note-taking process Dickens used to plan his novels, which were published over weekly or monthly instalments. Find out how he kept track of characters, plots and other details which brought his enduring works to life.
The talk takes place at the V&A South Kensington.
2 July.
Covent Garden Rent Ceremony
One of those quirky London traditions we adore, the Covent Garden Rent Ceremony is an annual event which anyone can watch for free.
The Lord Mayor of Westminster, the Deputy Mayor of Camden, Covent Garden Area trustees, musicians, street entertainers and a town crier march around Covent Garden Piazza, followed by a ceremony in which the trustees pay the “peppercorn rent” of five rosy red apples and five posies of flowers to the landlords of the five properties of the ‘Protected Lands’.
A speech from the town crier and a musical performance interlude also feature — but perhaps most entertaining is watching the looks on unsuspecting tourists’ faces when they stumble across the spectacle.
2 July.
Lost music venues
It’s no secret that many grassroots music venues have faced closure over recent years, so much so that the V&A South Kensington currently has a free display featuring 50-odd such spaces.
On Thursday evening, curator Harriet Reed gives a free online talk about some of the venues included in the display, shining a light on both their cultural contribution and the challenges they face as a sector.
2 July.
Horniman late
This month’s Horniman Museum Late is a Pride special, celebrating South Asian queer and trans culture. Visit the museum after hours for entertainment including a set by South Asian DJ Ritu; a dance performance by drag queen, host and model Bolly-Illusion; a nature walk; garland-making; and dishes from local restaurant En Root.
2 July.
Waldmüller exhibition
Views from Austria and beyond are in the spotlight at the National Gallery’s newest free exhibition, Waldmüller: Landscapes, which showcases works by one of the country’s greatest painters, Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller.
Rendering of mountains, forests and lakes are set to stun, alongside trees from Vienna’s Prater Park. The hills and ruins of Sicily feature too.
2 July-20 September 2026.
Lark in the park
Join Chris Roberts in Denmark Hill’s Ruskin Park, for a ‘Larks in the Park’, i.e. a leisurely evening wander sprinkled generously with local history, daft folklore… and a touch of Mendelssohn. It lasts 90 minutes and is free/pay-what-you-want. Book ahead.
3 July.
Pride in London
One of the capital’s biggest annual events, Pride in London, takes place this Saturday, the big parade winding its way from Hyde Park Corner to Trafalgar Square. Only registered groups and organisations can take part in the procession, but everyone’s welcome to watch for free (and many thousands do, every year).
Beyond that, look out for stages with live drag/cabaret/musical performances in Golden Square, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and Dean Street, plus a family area at Victoria Embankment Gardens. Read our full Pride in London guide for more on what to expect.
4 July.
Tinchy Stryder live
Rapper Tinchy Stryder headlines Under The Stars, a free open-air evening of live water-side music at Silverworks Island in Royal Docks on Saturday evening.
4 July.
Wayzgoose hijinks
A wayzgoose was traditionally a summer party thrown by a master printer — and on Saturday, Bell House Print Room and Bindery in Dulwich brings the tradition back, with skilled printmakers, bookbinders, potters, quilters and calligraphers giving free live demos, and hosting hands-on taster activities — as well as selling their wares.
4 July.
Circus in Croydon
Taking inspiration from 19th century aerialist Anna Albertine Olga Brown, AKA Miss La La, free, family-friendly circus performances will delight audiences on Croydon High Street this weekend.
For Miss La La features aerial performances, high-energy acrobatics, rollerskating, juggling and tightwire — along with DJs and hands-on circus skills workshops.
4-5 July.
And now for a couple of cheap (but not quite free) things…
Happy hour cocktails
Not quite free, but deliciously good value, are the happy hour cocktails at Cinnamon Kitchen Battersea. From 3pm-7pm, Monday-Friday, you can cool off/wind down with an Aperol, a Hugo spritz or a Mango Chilli Margarita for a mere fiver (non-alcoholic options also available at that price). As for bar snacks: onion bhajis are just £1 a pop.
Mon-Fri weekly.
In Conversation With…
Australian comedian Rebecca-Maree hosts a chat show-style evening of comedy, in conversation with fellow funny person Nabil Abdulrashid at Covent Garden’s Top Secret Comedy Club. Supporting sets come from another Aussie comic, Michael Shafar, plus Radio X presenter Toby Tarrant. And all for five quid!
2 July.
