![The 7 best free things to do in London this weekend [April 24-26 2026]](https://media.timeout.com/images/106123527/750/422/image.jpg)
The last weekend of April is heading our way and what a splendid – and spenny – month it’s been. First, the Easter bank holiday weekend imperilled our finances with four lovely days off, spent squandering our cash on brunches, boozy lunches, and sunny days out. Then the warm(ish) weather and lighter evenings went to our heads and got us buying breezy summer fits, cooling iced coffees, and refreshing pints after work – when it’s light til 7pm, it would be a waste not to! Now, here we are at the end of the month, contemplating the grim consequences of our own extravagance.
But before you resign yourself to a tedious, oh-so-sensible two days of telly and laundry, take heart. There’s loads of free stuff coming up that’ll brighten your weekend without lightening your wallet. Read on for six ways to have fun in London without hammering your credit card.
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📍 All of the best things to do in London this weekend.
The best free things on in London this weekend, April 24-26 2026
1. Cheer on the runners at the London Marathon
If you’ve only ever experienced the London Marathon as a serious travel inconvenience (spawning road closures and cancelled buses) then maybe this is the year to remedy that. Head in to watch the runners pound their way through the city and you’ll find a festival atmosphere, with massive crowds assembling to cheer on their faves at key spots like Cutty Sark, Canary Wharf and Tower Bridge. This year, you’ll be able to spot celebs including Cynthia Erivo, James Norton, Dame Laura Kenny, Ore Oduba and, err, Daddy Pig (of Peppa Pig fame) all sweating their way through the route. And if you’re actually taking part (or supporting a friend who is), then there’s a deluge of freebies you can claim. Burgers, bath products, matcha, socks... check out our full guide for all the giveaways that medal holders can take advantage of, if they’ve got the energy for a shopping spree after all that exertion.
Various locations. Sunday April 26. Free.
2. Discover new sounds at Brick Lane Jazz Festival
London’s thriving underground jazz scene comes into its own during this annual fest, with gigs from sonic experimentalists popping up at venues across east London. Not sure if you’re ready to unleash your inner hepcat? Check out one of the free gigs at the fest this weekend. Cafe 1001, 93 Feet East’s Main Bar and the Headline Audio Music Zone are all free to access throughout the festival, giving you a chance to encounter fresh sounds from new talents, whether they’re vocalists, instrumentalists or selectors.
Cafe 1001, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL; 150 Brick Ln, 93 Feet East, E1 6QL; Headline Audio Music Zone, Ely’s Yard, E1 6QR. Friday April 24 - Sunday April 26. Free.
3. Step into underground queer culture at V&A
Nominally, the V&A’s annual April performance festival is a celebration of Shakespeare, but the reality is way more eclectic than that. This year, its theme is Echoes, with a resonant line-up of free events exploring music and sound, memory, and lost spaces. Head to South Kensington this weekend and you’ll find fest highlights including a drop-in Friday Late themed around lost queer venues (Apr 24), a performance for South African Cultural Gospel Choir (Apr 25) and a workshop on creating your own British underground music mag (Apr 26).
V&A, SW7 2RL. Until May 2. Free.
4. Check out a Tracey Emin-curated late at Tate Modern
In celebration of her wonderful Tate Modern retrospective A Second Life, Margate’s finest has enlisted the help of the creative community that has burgeoned at her TKE Studios in staging a Friday Late at the gallery this weekend. Expect performances from a curated selection of performance artists, mono-printing workshops, screenings of Guy Oliver’s film Millennial Prayer, drawing classes, as well as ticketed events, including a conversation with Emin hosted by Guardian Live and a live recording of the Polyester Zine podcast. Plus, the whole thing will be soundtracked by London nightlife legend DJ Fat Tony.
Tate Modern, SE1 9TG. Fri 24 April. Free.
5. Set off on a cinematic adventure at New Cross and Deptford Free Film Festival
Give Netflix a rest and see something new at this annual fest of free film screenings in weird and wonderful venues across south east London, including boxing gyms, pubs, parks and churches. Local library Deptford Lounge is putting on Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion with a disco afterwards (Apr 24), historic manor Hatcham House is showing heartwarming aristocrat flick Untouchable (Apr 25), and Armada Court Community Centre is screening Buena Vista Social Club: Adios (Apr 26). No tickets required, just show up, and make a donation if you can.
Various south east locations. Until May 3. Free.
6. Go to a climate change cafe at Natural History Museum
Generation Hope is a massive get-together that’ll bring climate activists from all over the world to South Kensington for a free four-day programme of events and talks. Museum experts will lead tours of the collection, and there’ll be pop-up science stations, storytelling and a wildlife photography workshop. For anyone who wants to devote their life to saving the planet, there’ll also be networking sessions and a careers workshop on biodiversity. It’s all designed to inspire young people, so sessions are free, but booking a spot in advance is essential.
Natural History Museum, SW7 5BD. Until Apr 26. Free.
7. Scale a free climbing wall on the South Bank
Test your nerve by climbing a 10-metre wall on the banks of the Thames at this free pop-up from PayPal. In honour of its new loyalty programme, it’s encouraging Londoners to take on a climb in pairs, working together to reach the top. Then, once you get there, you've got to decide whether to split the reward, or grab it all for yourself. Show up early to secure your spot, and make sure you’re in with a chance to win a hoard of gorpcore-inspired prizes.
South Bank Observation Point, SE1 9PP. Saturday Apr 25, 10am-4pm. Free.
Curate your calendar with our guide to all of London’s best things to do in April and May.
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