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The weather’s finally starting to warm up, and that means that Londoners who until recently were hunkering down sensibly indoors are now free to skip through the streets, spending cash with gay abandon. Five quid for a matcha latte? £9 for a pint? £826 for some blossom-pink Miu Miu ballerinas? Why not, it’s spring goddammit! But exhilarating though the change of seasons might be, there’s no need to fully pack away your financial good sense, along with that boring winter coat.
London’s full of free things to do, if you know where to look. So read on for our tips for lifting your spirits this weekend, without leaving your bank account emptier than your office on a sunny Friday afternoon. From free jazz events to art shows to delicious treats, the fun’s on us.
The best free things on in London this weekend, March 13-15 2026
1. Paint the town green at central London’s St Patrick’s Day fest
London’s Irish community is set to turn out en masse for a huge St Patrick’s Day festival in central London, with over 50,000 attendees enjoying the craic. The action will start out at Hyde Park Corner with an 11am parade full of pageantry and elaborately decorated floats, then finish up among the famous lions and fountains of Trafalgar square, where there’ll be stages with Irish music and performances, both traditional and modern. You’ll also find food and drink stalls and kids activities, plus plenty of nearby pubs once the fest comes to a close at 6pm.
Trafalgar Square, WC2 5DN. Sun Mar 15. Free.
2. Score a free fish finger wrap at a seaside-themed Leon pop-up
It’s been a tricky few months for healthy fast food chain Leon, which was forced to close 22 locations after going into administration. But in great news for meatball lovers, the company seem to be putting its all into a big comeback. Original founder John Vincent is back on board, and he’s keen to bring back the dishes that made its name. And that means a triumphant return for the brand’s fish finger butty, which pairs a baked, breadcrumbed sustainable cod fillet with rocket, tartare sauce, and a healthy wrap.
Leon’s Regent Street branch will be rebranded as the ‘Leon Chippy’ this weekend, from noon-8pm on Saturday and Sunday. In classic seaside chippy style, there’ll also be a free cuppa or pint with your sandwich, plus waffle fries, crushed peas, a pin badge, and a scratchcard to win prizes including a year's worth of Leon. The first 100 wraps each day will be free, so show up early to get your free chippy dinner.
275 Regent Street, W1B 2HB. Mar 13-15. Free while stocks last.
3. Get free or discounted tickets to a top London attraction at National Lottery Open Week
Think of a major historic London landmark. Chances are pretty high that it’s funded by the National Lottery. The nation’s casual gamblers have helped support architectural icons including Tate Modern, Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Hampton Court Palace, the Foundling Museum and loads more. And to celebrate, a slew of venues are offering free or heavily discounted entry this weekend over the final few days of the National Lottery Open Week. Check out our roundup of the city’s best offers for more details on how to claim, and spend the weekend being a tourist for a change!
Citywide. Until Mar 14. Discounted or free.
4. Join an interactive jazz sesh at Southbank Centre
Jazz buffs are getting pretty excited about the second link-up between Switzerland’s massive Montreux Jazz Festival and London’s Southbank Centre, which is bringing world-class musicians together to celebrate the legacy of trumpeter Miles Davis. But you don’t need to know your bebop from your boogie-woogie to get involved in the free jazz events this fest is bringing to Southbank this weekend. On Saturday, The Five Points Project is bringing an open jam session to the Clore Ballroom: come along to watch instrumentalists, singers and rappers create new sounds. Or get creative on Sunday at Hidden Tracks, a workshop that’ll guide you towards coming up with your own piece of writing based around a piece of music.
Southbank Centre. Sat Mar 14-Sun Mar 15. Free.
4. Marvel at Hockney’s moon-inspired artworks
Much like the moon, David Hockney looms large in London's constellation of contemporary artists. If you haven’t got to one of his exhibitions recently, then check out this new free Serpentine exhibition: a highlight is his Moon Room, a celebration of the lunar cycle that takes the form of digital paintings of the night sky, mounted on midnight blue walls. Also on display is A Year in Normandy, a ninety-metre-long frieze, inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, showing the change of seasons at the artist’s Normandy studio, displayed in the run-up to the hugely anticipated arrival of the legendary artefact at the British Museum in autumn 2026.
Serpentine North, W2 2AR. Thu Mar 12-Aug 23. Free.
6. Soak up the atmosphere at a spring market
You know what we said about avoiding temptation? Well, you’ll need to be pretty darn sensible to remain tight-fisted in the face of the affordable treasures at this weekend's artisanal markets. Go East Vintage Flea Market is bringing secondhand records and fashion finds to Shoreditch's Strongroom Bar, while craft-lovers are well served by Wanstead Maker’s Market, which brings together 50 local artists. Or head to Hackney Depot for Go East Ceramics Market, which’ll offer free pottery workshops and demos that’ll inspire you to make your own trinkets, instead of buying them.
Various east London locations. Sat Mar 14-Sun Mar 15. Free entry.
Curate your calendar with our guide to all of London’s best things to do in March.
And start planning for the double bank holiday with our roundup of the best Easter events in London.
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