Five of the best free things to do in London this weekend

It’s mid-May, and London is in for another pretty balmy weekend. But if you’re anything like me, a week of (mostly) gorgeously sunny evenings has seen you spending plenty of time outside the house, tapping your credit card with reckless abandon as you treat yourself to mid-week beer garden sessions, alfresco dinners with friends, and a few new bits for your summer wardrobe. 

But don’t resign yourself to a weekend on house arrest just yet. There’s all sorts of wallet-friendly fun to be had around the capital this weekend, including a whole host of freebies on offer, from pints to haircuts.

Give your wardrobe a free makeover at Westfield Good Festival

Planning a big old wardrobe clearout? You’ll love Westfield’s free festival of pre-loved fashion. The world-renowned shopping centre has teamed up with pre-loved fashion marketplace Depop to stage a series of experiences that will inspire you to embrace embrace sustainable shopping habits. Head down early doors this weekend to shop a curated edit of second-hand threads at an IRL Depop Marketplace, take part in free styling workshops, enjoy free skincare consultations from Kiehl’s, and even nab up to £40 of free clothing alterations courtesy of door-to-door repair business Sojo. 

Westfield London, W12 7GF. Fri May 16-Sun May 18. Free (first come, first served).

Get a free trim from celebrity barber A Star

Fancy getting a trim to rival Jack Grealish’s or Jude Bellingham’s? To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, London Designer Outlet is offering shoppers free cuts courtesy of a team of elite barbers lead by A Star, whose clients include half the England team. Having been trained through the Talk Club’s ‘Captain’ programme, the barbers are also able to offer emotional check-ins while fixing up your barnet; because a problem shared, is a problem halved. 

London Designer Outlet, HA9 0FD. Sat May 17. Free (donations welcome).

Watch the FA Cup Final at a live screening

South London club Crystal Palace will be hoping to secure their first ever FA Cup win on Saturday afternoon against seven-time victors Manchester City. And while the match at Wembley Stadium might have long since sold out, fans and neutrals looking for front row seats to all the action will find plenty of atmospheric screenings around London, most of which are free to attend. From Boxpark Shoreditch and Vinegar Yard to Between the Bridges and Flat Iron Square, we’ve rounded up the best of them here. 

Various London venues. Sat May 17. Free (booking advised for many venues). 

Take part in crafty workshops at Urban Village Fete

Greenwich free family festival Urban Village Fete returns this May, with a cracking line up of live music and DJs, a crafty market, street food stalls and a host of creative workshops and panel discussions, happening around Greenwich Peninsula all day on Sunday. The likes of 6Music’s Gilles Peterson and Londons station LOOSE.FM will be providing the tunes, BBC Radio London’s Robert Elms will be hosting a bunch of interesting talks, and you try your hand at anything from pottery making to basket weaving. Sign up online for the events you’re interested in and you might even go home with one of 130 prizes. 

Various Greenwich Peninsula venues, SE10. Sun May 18. Free (some events require booking).

Head to an afterparty for the Hackney Half

Hackney will be in a festive mood on Sunday afternoon, as more than 24,000 runners celebrate completing the 2025 edition of the Hackney Half at a host of afterparties happening across the borough. Beloved venues like Grow Hackney, the People’s Park Tavern, 40ft Brewery and Netil360 will be packed with sore-legged and sweaty east Londoners basking in their success, and there are a plethora of freebies (including many, many free pints) to claim if you’re one of them. Check out our roundup of the best afterparties and freebies on offer here. 

Various Hackney venues. Sun May 18. Free.

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