Free things to do in London this week.
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, and have a helpful guide on where to see art in London for free, and where you can catch cheap and free comedy.
Claim your free Blue Monday pizza
Monday 19 January is Blue Monday, claimed by the marketing industry to be the most depressing day of the year. Whether you believe that or not, many businesses run Blue Monday offers and give away freebies, so it can be a fruitful day if you’re strategic about it.
Once such business is Holy Joes Pizza, which has taken up residence at The Boogaloo pub in Highgate. It’s offering 20 free pizzas each day on 19, 20 and 21 January between 4pm-6.30pm — just say “Blue pizza” when ordering. It’s first come, first served, so arrive in plenty of time to claim your cheesy freebie.
19-21 January.
Take a tour of Women in Print
Walthamstow’s William Morris Gallery offers a free introductory tour of its current exhibition, Women in Print, on Tuesday. Join the curators Rowan Bain and Róisín Inglesby to hear about the evolving influence and status of women in textiles over the past 150 years, particularly in relation to the rich history of Liberty fabrics.
20 January.
Bask in the glow of Canary Wharf Winter Lights
The bleak winter nights get a glow-up in the form of free illuminations trail Canary Wharf Winter Lights from Tuesday. The annual event sees lit artworks and installations popping up all over Canary Wharf, and is free to visit. It does get VERY busy, so be prepared for crowds. Previously, weekday evenings were quieter than weekends, but in the last couple of years, every day of the event has been a bit of a crush.
20-31 January, 5pm-10pm each day.
Catch a free lunchtime concert
LSE’s first lunchtime concert of 2026 features pianist Diana Cooper performing works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Ravel and Granados. Head to the Shaw Library in the Old Building to catch the free show.
22 January.
Dance the night away at Lobby Lates
It’s free entry to the Lobby Lates Takeover at One Hundred Shoreditch, and Brick Lane Jazz Festival curates tonight’s line-up. Catch Jay Phelps performing a DJ set with live trumpet, plus Charlie Femener from regular jam sessions Orii Community, and London-based DJ duo Hot Pants — all in the hotel’s Lobby Space.
22 January.
Explore The Weight of Being at Two Temple Place
On/off open venue Two Temple Place is back in action, with exhibition The Weight of Being: Vulnerability, Resilience and Mental Health in Art, which explores how artists have captured the psychological and emotional impact of societal pressures, resilience in the face of adversity and existential uncertainty — through portraits, landscapes, photographs and various other art forms. In the spotlight is John Wilson McCracken, described as having “all the intensity of Lucian Freud” but who was expelled from art school following hospitalisation due to mental health reasons.
24 January-19 April.
Take the kids along to a Ballroom Boogie
Children got energy to burn? Southbank Centre holds a free Ballroom Boogie in collaboration with Toasty Tots — think a dance party with DJ sets, singalongs, dance breaks and feel-good tunes for all ages in a welcoming space, where the whole family can dance together. It’s aimed at 5-11 year olds and everyone’s welcome.
24 January.
…or a Story Festival
Alternatively, take a family trip to the Young V&A in Bethnal Green, which holds a one-day Story Festival replete with free performances and activities. Check the schedule for pop-up shows by renowned organisations such as Chickenshed Theatre and Little Angel Theatre. Dancing, comedy, puppets and live bands all feature.
24 January.
Visit the Queen’s House before it closes
You’ve only got until Sunday to see the Queen’s House (Greenwich) in its current form, before it closes for a rehang, reopening in mid-February. After the closure, expect new displays featuring works by Sharon Walters, Shorsh Saleh, Remiiya Badru and others, exploring stories of connection, identity and reimagined histories. Plus, there’s a free lunchtime salon event about an ambitious project searching for images of Black and Asian people in the museum’s collections on Wednesday.
Until 25 January (reopens 14 February).
Catch a free lecture this week
As always, there are plenty of places to catch a free talk or lecture this week. Here are our team’s picks:
SCIENCE OF GRIEF: The early 2026 programme of free lectures at Gresham College is now well under way, including a look at the science of grief (21 January), in which Professor Robin May asks why some people are able to handle grief better than others. Also this week, Professor Malcolm Andrews marks the bicentenary of Constable’s painting The Cornfield (20 January) and Professor Helen Czerski delves into what the atmosphere is, and how it behaves (22 January).
ROADKILL: Henrietta Moore and Arthur Kay, authors of the book Roadkill: Unveiling the True Cost of Our Toxic Relationship with Cars, are at the Museum of the Home on Thursday to discuss the implications of car culture, including effects on our money, taxes, neighbourhoods, planet, health and happiness. 22 January
ART OF 1425: As part of its 600th anniversary celebrations, Guildhall Library hosts a free talk about the art of the year 1425. Find out what artists were creating that year, spanning painting, sculpture, architecture — and even armour. 22 January
LADY BUTLER: Historian Dr Catherine Wynne talks about the life and career of Elizabeth Thompson Butler, a war artist and favourite of Queen Victoria, who later travelled the globe with her husband, an officer in the British Army. 23 January
Cheap events in London this week
A couple more top things to do in the capital that won’t cost you more than a fiver:
🎤 £5 KARAOKE: Another Blue Monday deal is up for grabs at BAM Karaoke, which offers karaoke for two hours for just £5 per person at its Victoria venue, with money raised going to Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) mental health charity. £5, 19 January (3pm-12.30am)
🌮 £3 TACOS: From this Tuesday, Mexican restaurant Taco Bros is launching £3 Taco Tuesdays, running every Tuesday for the rest of the year. No exclusions, no rotating menu, all tacos £3 each. Every Tuesday from 20 January.
♥️ MEN AT WAR: Author Luke Turner is at the London Archives on Wednesday to discuss his new book, Men At War – Lusting Loving Fighting Remembering 1939-1945. Hear him talking about how the social upheaval of the Second World War had a profound impact on the sex lives of Londoners. £5, 21 January.
🎿 WINTER MOVIE NIGHT: Head to the The RSA (Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) on Strand on Thursday for a ski movie night hosted by outdoor clothing shop Ellis Brigham. Over two hours, watch a selection of films which celebrate different stories, athletes and styles of skiing. £5, 22 January.
👮♂️ FINDING FRED: Frederick Tibbs was a police officer who photographed London during the Second World War, and you can learn more about him in a lunchtime talk at the London Archives in Clerkenwell on Thursday. £5, 22 January.
