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The weekend has crept up on us once again, gifting (most of) us with 48 glorious hours to do whatever the hell we want with. No 6am alarm, no Slack messages, no two-hour meetings. Bliss. The only thing that may limit what you do with the next few days is how much money you’re willing to spend.
Being on a budget tends to rule out things like fancy dinners, star-studded theatre shows and blockbuster art exhibitions. But it doesn’t rule out a good time altogether. Of the many, many things London has going for it, one of them is that there are always fantastic free events you can get involved in.
This weekend, there’s a free protest rave bringing people together in Trafalgar Square, a free night blending videogames and performance at the V&A, free luxury pamper sessions at Westfield and more. Read on for the best things to do this weekend that won’t make a dent in your wallet.
The best free things on in London this weekend, March 27-29 2026
1. Reset your nervous system at the Westfield’s wellness sensorium
With its gaggles of teenagers, in-your-face ads and blasting music, Westfield White City certainly isn’t the first place you’d go when you need to relax your nervous system. But for the next two weekends, in the middle of all the shopping chaos, the mall has a luxury wellness experience offering some calm. You’ll find ‘Feel the Frequency’ in Westfield’s The Village. There’ll be pilates sessions, facial masterclasses, sound bath workshops, meditations and custom-crafted mocktails, all for free.
The Village Westfield White City. Until April 4. Free.
2. Rave with anti-racists in Trafalgar Square
Dance music has long been tangled up with protest. And this weekend, some of the UK’s greatest DJs and club collectives are rallying together to soundtrack the Together Against The Far Right demonstration in central London. R3 Soundsystem (named after the three R’s: Reject, Revolt and Resist) has put together a stacked lineup of electronic musicians to take to the stage in Trafalgar Square for House Against Hate. It includes Ben UFO, Shygirl, Gideön feat Jessie Ware, Body Movements, Daniel Avery, Katy B, Horse Meat Disco, DJ Paulette, L-Vis 1990 and many, many more.
Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DS. Saturday March 28, 1pm-6pm. Free.
3. Pay homage to queer film and music at BFI Flare
Most of the stuff happening at BFI Flare (the UK’s UK's largest queer film fest) requires spending some cash, but there is a small programme of free things to get involved in. Queer icon and mother of pop Robyn is making a return with her new album Sexistential this week. On the hotly anticipated release day (Friday March 27), the BFI Bar is hosting a free DJ night dedicated to the Swedish star. DJ Joe Egg will be spinning hwe biggest hits, deep cuts, remixes and tracks from the new album alongside other electro-pop faves like Chvrches, Romy, Charli xcx, Goldfrapp and La Roux. There’s also the free exhibition BFI Flare: Through the Years, telling the story of the film festival from its humble beginnings in 1986 all the way through to the globally-celebrated event it is today.
BFI Southbank, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT. Until March 30. Free.
4. Get your game on at the V&A Friday Late
It’s done gender expression in South Asia, it’s done the lesbian-coded history of Marie Antoinette, it’s done radical kinship. For it’s next Friday Late, the V&A is joining forces with the London Games Festival and exploring the links between performance and gaming. As you wander the halls of the institution after hours, expect to stumble upon experimental music being coded in real-time, improv comedy, cosplay cabaret, game stations (with prizes sourced from a car boot sale) and videogame zine-making. There’s also Robo Bingo, Robot Karaoke and a panel all about the art of acting within videogames.
V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL. Fri March 27. Free.
5. Explore different attitudes to growing old at the Wellcome Collection
The Wellcome Collection’s big spring exhibition is a deep dive into perceptions of ageing. Expect the Euston Road institution’s typical blend of art, science and pop culture in the 120+ artworks and objects on display, which range from sixteenth century woodcuts made by German printmaker Sebald Beham to Deborah Roberts’ contemporary collages exploring Black childhood. There’ll also be a spotlight on the Wellcome Trust-funded health research project Age of Wonder – one of the largest studies of adolescence in the world – and an exploration of how societies can adapt to improve everyone’s experience of ageing.
183 Euston Rd, NW1 2BE. Until Nov 29. Free.
6. Walk with elephants at Battersea Power Station
For the past few years the Elephant Family, a wildlife conservation charity, has organised the Big Egg Hunt – a trail of giant eggs dotted throughout London, designed by some of the country’s foremost artists and designers. That’s not happening this Easter. Instead, there’s a parade of 21 colourful elephants over in Battersea Power Station. The elephants have been decorated by creatives such as Studio Phantasma and Patricia Collins. Download the art trail app and you can tick off each sculpture as you come across them, unlocking special offers from retailers at the site.
Battersea Power Station, SW11 8BJ. Until April 26. Free.
Curate your calendar with our guide to all of London’s best things to do in March and April.
And start planning for the double bank holiday with our roundup of the best Easter events in London.
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