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It’s time to dive headfirst into festive season. There are only five weekends left until December 25, meaning that gifts, decor and the all-important Christmas Day menu are probably beginning to cross your mind. And there may be a small sense of panic at the thought of how much all of that is going to cost.
You might presume that saving your pennies in the lead up to Christmas means a suffering string of dull, uneventful weekends, but we’re here to inform you that that’s not the case. London is constantly teeming with tonnes of fun and completely free things to fill your time with. This weekend’s offering of free stuff includes a wholesome lantern festival, some brilliant jazz sessions and, of course, a twinkling assemblage of Christmas markets and illuminations. We’ve got all the details below.
📍 Things to do in London this weekend.
The best free things to do in London this weekend
2. Wander through the city’s best festive markets
Amp the Christmas activities up a notch and pair your light-gazing with a trip to one of London’s magical Christmas markets. Many, like the Southbank Centre Winter Market and the Covent Garden Market, will be around for the whole festive season, but others are popping up for just a few days. This weekend will be your only chance to browse the Scandi stalls at the Swedish Church Christmas in Marylebone and the Christmas Fair at the Norwegian Church in Rotherithe, and your one opportunity to explore Fulham Palace’s fifth annual Christmas fair. It’s also the first weekend of the expansive King’s Cross Christmas fair and the Christmas Market at St.Martin-in-the-Fields.
Various locations. Various dates. Free.
2. See London’s Christmas lights sparkle
If you need something to kick you into festive gear, one of the city’s Christmas light displays is bound to do the trick. With pretty much all the major shopping streets now festooned in sparkly lights, You won’t need to go very far before stumbling across an illumination in central London – Carnaby Street, Oxford Street, Bond Street and Covent Garden are glistening with glowing snowflakes, stars, bells and crackers as soon as the sun goes down. Discover where you can find all of London’s best Christmas lights here.
Various locations. Until early Jan. Free.
3. Borrow some festive bits and bobs from Home A Loan
Friday evening is your last chance to take advantage of CreditSpring’s Home A Loan pop-up at 137A Bethnal Green Road. The space has been transformed into a treasure trove of twinkling fairy lights, wreaths, baubles, tableware and other festive essentials; all available to be borrowed without spending a single jingling penny. Think of it as a magical mash-up of a Library of Things and the McCallister family home. There’s no faff either: no sign-ups, no forms, just walk in, browse, and borrow. Once Christmas is over, you can return your borrowed delights, with everything donated to local charities, or if you’ve become emotionally bonded to your bauble set (it happens), you’re welcome to keep it for next year.
137A Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG. Fri Nov 21 9am-6pm. Free.
4. Catch a free gig at the EFG London Jazz Festival
EFG London Jazz Festival has free shows and workshops aplenty this weekend. One Jazz Live’s Debra Richards is hosting a live broadcast from the Jazz Social with special guests Zara McFarlane and Jake Sherman (Friday November 21), acclaimed percussionists Abbos Kosimov, Ayman Mabrouk and Andrea Piccioni are joining forces to showcase traditional percussion from across Europe, North Africa and Central Asia (Saturday, November 22) and beloved east London jam night Orii Community is putting on a session as part of a whole afternoon celebrating Nigeria’s impact on UK jazz (Sunday November 23). Explore EFG’s full programme of free events here.
Various venues. Until Sun Nov 23. Free for select events.
5. Get arty at the National Gallery’s Friday Late
The National Gallery is staying open after hours this Friday with a series of life drawing workshops, poetry readings, lectures and panels. You’ll have to cough up some cash for some of the events, but there are a couple of workshops you’ll be able to walk into free of charge. Poet and writer Obsidian Nick Makoha is bringing along a group of poets to perform responses to paintings in the gallery’s collection, and Early Masterworks Life Drawing Club will be leading a free drawing session inspired by the Wright of Derby: From the Shadows exhibition.
The National Gallery, WC2N 5DN. Fri November 28. Free for select events.
6. Take part in Bermondsey’s dazzling Lantern Procession
Throughout October and November, Bermondsey and Rotherhithe residents have been making paper lanterns in local schools, libraries and community centres in preparation for the annual Lantern Procession, a free festival inspired by the histories of the Thames, the docks and migration. Everyone will congregate with their glowing creations at the Blue Market on Southwark Park Road and parade through the neighbourhood towards Southwark Park Bandstand, led by by St Micheal’s Collage Samba Band. There’ll be last-minute lantern making workshops at Blue Market from 4pm and a few spares for anyone who arrives empty-handed. Hot pies and baked potatoes will also be on hand to keep participants warm and fuelled.
The Blue Market, SE16 3UQ. Fri November 21, 5pm. Free.
Start planning a great end to the year with our roundups of the best things to do in December and our ultimate guide to Christmas in London.
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