Author Topic: Free events in London?  (Read 5328 times)

shelivesthedream

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 6744
  • Location: London, UK
Free events in London?
« on: August 08, 2017, 02:19:07 AM »
I'm back in London and catching up with a lot of old friends and am trying to be the one who suggests things in order to pre-empt the "I guess we'll go out for dinner then" default. Where is the best place to search for free events? I feel like Time Out has probably been superseded by now!

My ideal place would have lots of cultural events (rather than sport or kids stuff) and lots of evening and weekend events (not 9-5!) and would focus on actual events rather than things which are always free (because I know about things like the V&A already) and would be searchable with either a specific date or a small range of dates.

londonstache

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 115
Re: Free events in London?
« Reply #1 on: August 08, 2017, 03:18:17 AM »
I probably don't have my finger firmly on the beating pulse, but I tend to use Time Out still! Always good for an evening with Mrs Londonstache, ideally for my preferred price of free.

former player

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8822
  • Location: Avalon
Re: Free events in London?
« Reply #2 on: August 08, 2017, 04:07:34 AM »
I think Time Out is still where it's at.

I used to like the Royal Festival Hall for free foyer concerts (lunchtimes and Friday evenings) and I see they now have a social dance thing going too.

jade

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 520
Re: Free events in London?
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2017, 04:22:34 AM »
meetup.com?

ahm888

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 1
Re: Free events in London?
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2017, 09:12:40 AM »
one of my favorites is www.ianvisits.co.uk  I have found many unusual things to do listed there, many of which are based around science or transport topics.

shelivesthedream

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 6744
  • Location: London, UK
Re: Free events in London?
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2017, 10:08:17 AM »
one of my favorites is www.ianvisits.co.uk  I have found many unusual things to do listed there, many of which are based around science or transport topics.

YES YES YES. This is fabulous! I love a niche museum or a really specific history talk. Amazing! Thank you!

londonstache

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 115
Re: Free events in London?
« Reply #6 on: August 09, 2017, 03:00:28 AM »
one of my favorites is www.ianvisits.co.uk  I have found many unusual things to do listed there, many of which are based around science or transport topics.

Marvellous - what a find, thanks! I'm also a big fan of the price being clearly listed, unlike Time Out who assumes I might be looking for £100 of dinner and cocktails every weekend...

shelivesthedream

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 6744
  • Location: London, UK
Re: Free events in London?
« Reply #7 on: August 09, 2017, 05:34:56 AM »
Might there be an MMM London meetup in the offing...?

Playing with Fire UK

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3449
Re: Free events in London?
« Reply #8 on: August 09, 2017, 08:34:09 AM »
I like the Lates events that the museums do. They are always free but the Lates nights are a bit of an event.

Playing with Fire UK

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3449
Re: Free events in London?
« Reply #9 on: August 09, 2017, 08:34:37 AM »
Might there be an MMM London meetup in the offing...?

Yes!! Love this idea.

TartanTallulah

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 592
  • Location: The Middle of Scenic Nowhere
Re: Free events in London?
« Reply #10 on: August 09, 2017, 08:59:58 AM »
Might there be an MMM London meetup in the offing...?

Yes!! Love this idea.

I do too, though the likelihood of me being able to get to one before I've retired is tiny :-O

(I have a floor to sleep on in London, with a daughter who might be quite well-disposed towards mustachianism - she's frugal, but enjoys doing what she does for a living.)

Doubleh

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 288
  • Location: London
Re: Free events in London?
« Reply #11 on: August 09, 2017, 03:40:17 PM »
Slightly left field but the Hoop app for Android and iphone is basically exactly what you are talking about - only it is aimed at families and all activities are child friendly. 

That said it always had lots of events you would happily do without kids like major events at trafalgar square; it lets you search by time, tops of event and distance from you, as well as linking you straight  to directions with city mapper. Basically you just would like a version which also includes non-kid friendly stuff as well which seems amazing if that doesn't exist yet

dreams_and_discoveries

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 924
  • Location: London, UK
Re: Free events in London?
« Reply #12 on: August 09, 2017, 11:52:30 PM »
Some good ideas, there is also eventbrite, but it takes a lot of searching.

Slanhirn

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 53
Re: Free events in London?
« Reply #13 on: August 11, 2017, 06:19:34 AM »
I keep an eye on this website:

https://thenudge.com/london-lifestyle/pop-up-london/

Not free-focused but free events do pop up on there.

sea_saw

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2488
Re: Free events in London?
« Reply #14 on: August 11, 2017, 07:05:36 AM »
This man has been at it for a decade: https://diamondgeezer.blogspot.co.uk/

Good for obsessive public transport geekery, and random tiny attractions in all sorts of corners of London. What's the highest bit of land in each borough? How about this park with every species of rose in? etc. Also lots of museums, art exhibitions, and places of historical interest. 

Not that helpful for dinner-substitutes for weekday evenings, but a nice source of weekend ideas for people who like to take a bit of a walkabout to see a new place.

Kwill

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2333
Re: Free events in London?
« Reply #15 on: August 12, 2017, 05:27:17 AM »
I don't know if it would work in the big city, but several months ago, a few of the tenants in my group of buildings started a group to plan social events, starting with one tenant who got others going. They put up flyers on the bulletin boards and convinced the building management to send out emails. We now have a Facebook group and events almost every week: a BBQ, a potluck, a movie night with DVDs, wine and cheese gathering, etc. Tonight we're getting together to watch the Perseids nearby. I've only been to one event so far, but the feeling in the flats seems to have changed. People actually speak to each other now, hold doors, etc. If someone loses something or needs a screwdriver or something, they post to the FB group.

This is in a development with flats mostly for new international employees where I work, so it's a very specific context where maybe people feel like they already have something in common. Still, I lived here maybe eight months without getting to know any of my neighbours, and all of a sudden, one motivated person has created a community.

shelivesthedream

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 6744
  • Location: London, UK
Re: Free events in London?
« Reply #16 on: August 12, 2017, 07:12:34 AM »

dreams_and_discoveries

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 924
  • Location: London, UK
Re: Free events in London?
« Reply #17 on: August 12, 2017, 10:20:31 AM »
I don't know if it would work in the big city, but several months ago, a few of the tenants in my group of buildings started a group to plan social events, starting with one tenant who got others going. They put up flyers on the bulletin boards and convinced the building management to send out emails. We now have a Facebook group and events almost every week: a BBQ, a potluck, a movie night with DVDs, wine and cheese gathering, etc. Tonight we're getting together to watch the Perseids nearby. I've only been to one event so far, but the feeling in the flats seems to have changed. People actually speak to each other now, hold doors, etc. If someone loses something or needs a screwdriver or something, they post to the FB group.

This is in a development with flats mostly for new international employees where I work, so it's a very specific context where maybe people feel like they already have something in common. Still, I lived here maybe eight months without getting to know any of my neighbours, and all of a sudden, one motivated person has created a community.

That sounds lovely Kwill - although I did laugh at people who lived next door using FB to borrow tools....I guess the old fashioned knocking on doors is still a long way away. As a kid I remember being sent out to borrow the odd random tool...and to be told to keep going along the street until I got one!

Kwill

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2333
Re: Free events in London?
« Reply #18 on: August 12, 2017, 11:03:15 AM »
That sounds lovely Kwill - although I did laugh at people who lived next door using FB to borrow tools....I guess the old fashioned knocking on doors is still a long way away. As a kid I remember being sent out to borrow the odd random tool...and to be told to keep going along the street until I got one!

Really? I think it'd be a little awkward to go knocking on everyone's doors without ever having met any of them first. When I was growing up and we were moving a lot with the military, my parents would make banana bread or something and take loaves around to the neighbours to introduce themselves. I don't know how that would go now. If nothing else, so many people have special diets, that it'd be a gamble to bring something that isn't gluten free or vegan and might include nuts.