free : things to do

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boot sales I comedy I museums I music I talks I theatre I tv I walks

free : boot sales

I love car boot sales. Australians call them 'trash and treasure', and I think that description is just beautiful. I get a buzz of excitement finding a book I've been thinking about buying, a retro jumper that fits perfectly, or an ornament from the funky side of kitsch, all for 50 pence each. The joy of finding a little gem amongst all the worn-out, throw-away items can't be explained rationally. You've got to experience it, and now that London is getting lighter and warmer in the morning, there's no excuse not to go for a good rummage. So here we present our 5 favourite free-to-enter weekend car boot sales. Save a lamp for me!

New Covent Garden Market, Nine Elms Lane, SW8 / Vauxhall tube / 8.30am to 2.30pm Sundays

Hounslow West Station Car Park, Bath Road, TW3 / Hounslow West tube station / Saturdays 7am to 4pm and Sundays 7am to 2pm

Opposite Odeon Cinema, Holloway Road (near junction with Seven Sisters Road), N7 / Holloway Road tube / Saturdays 8am to 4pm and Sundays 10am-2.30pm

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free : comedy

There may not be such a thing as a free lunch, but how about a free laugh:

Theatre Royal - Stratford East / Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford, E15 / Stratford tube
A weekly line-up of comedy shenanigans on Monday nights. For listings visit: www.stratfordeast.com

Red Lion / 20 Great Windmill Street, W1 / Piccadilly Circus tube
A whole host of new comedy acts set Central London alight. Events take place upstairs most evenings and doors are at 8pm. Phone 020 7479 7611 for details.

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free : museums

CENTRAL I EAST I NORTH I SOUTH I WEST

Attendance at museums and galleries in England with free entry has risen by 62% since entrance fees were scrapped on 1 December 2001 (BBC / 09.08.02). The londonlostandfound.com editorial team are pleased by this news as we are always on the look out for freebies. We believe that London has some of the finest museums in the world, so why not get out of the rain and take in some culture? Here are twenty of our favourite free museums:

CENTRAL MUSEUMS

British Museum / Russell Square, WC1 / Russell Square tube / 020 7636 1555 / Open 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 5.30pm on Sunday
A visit to the building is a trip in itself since the unveiling of the new Great Court in December 2000. The Africa section downstairs is also a particular favourite of mine.

Museum of Freemasonry / Great Queen Street, WC2 / Covent Garden tube / 020 7395 9258 / Open 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday
It's worth a visit just to find out what they really get up to!

Sir John Soane's Museum / 12/14 Lincoln's Inn Fields, WC2 / 020 7405 2107 / Open 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday
A crazy house which belonged to a crazy guy! The architect John Soane established his home as a museum in the early nineteenth century, and visitors have been enjoying its unique maze-like intrigue ever since. It's definitely a London must-see.

London Brass Rubbing Centre / The Crypt, St Martin-in-the-Fields church, Trafalgar Square / Charing Cross tube / 020 7766 1100 / 10am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 12pm to 6pm Sunday
Or maybe not...

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EAST MUSEUMS

Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood / Cambridge Heath Road, E2 / Bethnal Green tube / 020 8983 5200 / Every day 10am to 5.50pm but closed on Friday
If you like toys or have some children to amuse this should keep you interested.

Geffrye Museum / Kingsland Road, E2 / Old Street tube / 020 7739 9893 / 10 to 5 Tuesday to Saturday and 12pm to 5pm Sunday
The Geffrye Museum is one of London’s best-loved museums. It shows the changing style of the English domestic interior in a series of period rooms from 1600 to the present day.

Hackney Museum / Technology and Learning Centre, 1 Reading Lane, E8 / Hackney Central train station /020 8356 3500 / 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday
In 1986, the London Borough of Hackney established the Hackney Museum. Its remit is to collect, preserve and interpret evidence regarding the history of Hackney and the world-wide roots of its people.

Ragged School Museum / 46-50 Copperfield Road, E3 / Mile End tube / 020 8980 6405 / 10am to 5pm Wednesday and Thursday
The Museum was opened in 1990 in three canal-side warehouses in Copperfield Road, East London. These buildings were previously used by Dr Barnardo to house the largest ragged school in London. In a re-created classroom of the period, visitors can now experience how Victorian children were taught. There are also displays on local history, industry and life in the East End and a varied programme of temporary exhibitions. Fascinating stuff.

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NORTH MUSEUMS

British Library / 96 Euston Road, St Pancras, NW1 / St Pancras or Kings Cross / 020 7412 7000 / 9.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am to 5pm Saturday and 11 to 5 Sunday
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and one of the world's greatest libraries, with a copy of every book ever published in the UK. OK, so it's not technically a museum, but it has some fabulous manuscript displays, and some interesting sound archives.

Kenwood House / Hampstead Lane, NW3 / 020 8348 1286 / Hampstead tube / 10am to 4pm every day
This neo-classical house situated in Hampstead heath has an interesting art collection including works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals and Van Dyck, so if Flemish painting is your thing you should be in seventh heaven. The building itself is quite fabulous, and the landscaped garden holds some treasures with a lake and sculptures by Moore and Hepworth.

Museum of Domestic Architecture and Design / Cat Hill Campus, Middlesex University, N11 / 020 8362 5244 / Cockfosters tube / 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday and 2pm to 5pm Sunday
The Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture (MoDA) houses what is widely regarded as one of the world's most comprehensive collections of nineteenth and twentieth century decorative arts for the home.

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir / 105-119 Brentfield Road, NW10 / 020 8965 2651 / Neasden tube / 9am to 6pm every day
I am quite ashamed to say that I have lived in London for years, and only just come across this fascinating place, which is apparently the largest Hindu temple outside of India. The building is truly a spectacle, and one of the unknown treasures of London.

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SOUTH MUSEUMS

Black Cultural Archives and Museum / 378 Coldharbour Lane, SW9 / 020 7738 4591 / Brixton tube / 10.30am to 6pm Monday to Saturday
Since the 1980s the Archives have held one of the largest collections of historical artifacts and items relating to the black presence in Britain. Its material details the history of black people in Europe from 208 AD to the 1890s and in Britain from 1900 to today. Historical artifacts include letters, photographs, interviews, magazines, newspapers and video.

Crystal Palace Museum / Anerley Hill, SE19 / 020 8676 0700 / Crystal Palace train station / 11am to 5pm Sundays and bank holidays
I've always been fascinated by the idea of the Victorian Great Exhibition, and the strange glass structure moved from Hyde Park to Norwood. The grounds are worth a Sunday stroll as well as the exhibition now housed in a brick building.

Horniman Museum / 100 London Road, SE23 / 020 8699 1872 / Forest Hill train station / 10.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday and 2pm to 5.30pm Sunday
Victorian tea trader Frederick John Horniman began collecting specimens and artifacts from around the World in the 1860s. Horniman's key mission was to bring the world to Forest Hill and he opened part of his family house to the public so they could view the riches he had collected. It all sounds a bit dull, but there is something about this unique museum that makes it more than the sum of its parts.

Imperial War Museum / Lambeth Road, SE1 / 020 7416 5000 / Lambeth North tube / 10am to 6pm every day
It's probably not very fashionable to go to a war museum, but this is certainly worth a visit if you are near Waterloo. The museum presents an often analysed subject in very new and informative ways.

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WEST MUSEUMS

The West is certainly where it's all at when it comes to London museums, holding three of the largest in the country (Natural History, Victoria and Albert and Science Museums). The area is also great for going for a stroll or a picnic, with some fantastic parks (Richmond, Holland, Hyde, Kensington and Osterley to name but a few). Although London hosts some of the richest areas in the country, you can also hang about if you are short of a bob or two.

Hogarth's House / Hogarth Lane, Great West Road, W4 / 020 8994 6757 / Turnham Green tube / Tuesday to Friday 1pm to 4pm and 1pm to 5pm weekends
Visit the home of this famous British artist, creator of the Rake's Progress.

Natural History Museum / Cromwell Road, SW7 / 020 7938 9123 / South Kensington tube / 10am to 5.50pm Monday to Saturday and 11am to 5.50pm Sunday
I thought this museum was all about dinosaurs, and steered clear for years. When I eventually ventured back, I was very impressed by the intelligent exhibitions and sheer volume and type of displays. They always seem to be adding bits too, so you can never go too many times.

Science Museum / Exhibition Road, SW7 / 0870 870 4771 / South Kensington tube / 10am to 6pm every day
With lots of things to press and poke and pull, this is definitely one to take the kids to.

Victoria and Albert Museum / Cromwell Road, SW7 / 020 7938 8500 / South Kensington tube / 10am to 5.45pm every day
This is probably my favourite of the London museums. Its myriad rooms seem to throw up something new every time I visit. The only downside is that the interesting exhibitions (such as the recent 1920s extravaganza) seem to charge. Still, there is certainly enough to see for free.

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free : music

CLASSICAL I JAZZ

London is undoubtedly one of the top cities in the world for hearing great music. Whatever you are into you can find a wealth of performances. Here is just a sample of some of the places you can go to hear music for free:

CLASSICAL

Royal Academy of Music / Marylebone Road, NW1 / Baker Street tube / 020 7873 7300
There are several free jazz and classical concerts taking place each week, both at lunchtimes and in the evenings.

Royal College of Music / Prince Consort Road, SW7 / South Kensington tube / 020 7591 4314
Students perform concerts both at the College and at other venues across town.

Royal Festival Hall / South Bank, SE1 / Waterloo tube / 0870 401 8181
The RFH has music at lunch times on Wednesdays to Sundays.

Royal National Theatre / South Bank, SE1 / Waterloo tube / 020 7452 3400
The RNT has a variety of music playing in the foyer every evening at 6pm (except Sundays) and also at 1pm on Saturdays.

Royal Opera House / Covent Garden, WC2 / Covent Garden tube / 020 7304 4000
You can attend free chamber music concerts on Mondays at 1pm in the Linbury Studio or Crush Room.

St Martin's-in-the-Fields church / Trafalgar Square, WC2 / Leicester Square tube / 020 7839 8362
Free classical concerts taking place on Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays at 1pm.

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JAZZ

The Effra / Kellet Road, SW9 / Brixton tube
Every Sunday night from 9pm. Don't miss a chance to see some brilliant jazz with the amazing regular band in the first set and visitors can step up in the second set (if they dare!).

Jazz in the Bistro / The Spitz Bistro, Spitalfields, E1 / Liverpool Street tube
Free jazz every Tuesday and Friday nights from 8pm in this informal bar next to Spitalfields market.

The Standard Music Venue / Blackhorse Road, E17 / Blackhorse Road tube
Free Blues Fusion jam night at The Standard every Sunday night from 9pm.

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free : talks

There are plenty of places in London to hear a free lecture, and get those little grey cells working. Why not try one of the following:

Bookshops
Plenty of bookshops in town invite writers to talk about their new publications. Shops with regular events include Foyles and Borders on Charing Cross Road, Books etc on Finchley Road, and Ottakars on St Johns Road, Clapham. Visit www.foyles.co.uk, www.borders.co.uk, and www.ottakars.co.uk for full listings.

Dana Centre / 165 Queen's Gate, South Kensington, SW7 / South Kensington tube
It seems no small feat to bring tricky science debates to skeptical, time pressured Londoners in an intelligent, engaging way, but that's just what the brains behind the Dana Centre intend to do. The centre aims to be "the place for experimental dialogue events, blending the best from science, art, performance and multimedia to provoke discussion and real engagement with the key issues of the day." For full listings visit: www.danacentre.org.uk. Tickets are free but you need to book in advance, by phoning 020 7942 4040 or emailing tickets@danacentre.org.uk.

Gresham College / Bernard's Inn Hall, Holborn / Holborn tube
The College offers a variety of free lectures taking place in the week, at 1pm or 6pm. The subjects are varied, and often contemporary - previous titles have included Did the universe have a beginning? and Plugging computers in.
The lectures take place at Gresham College, but can also be seen via live web casting (wow, we love it!). For a full programme visit www.gresham.ac.uk/default.asp.

Inner Space / 36 Shorts Garden / Covent Garden tube
Inner Space, a personal development centre in Covent Garden, offers a variety of free courses including practical meditation, positive thinking, stress management and self esteem. Also on offer are public lectures every Friday evening. To find out more call 020 7836 6688 or drop by.

RSA / 8 John Adam Street, WC2 / Charing Cross tube
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce sounds pompous and out-dated, but they have an interesting remit running projects and talks around themes of enterprise, the environment and globalization amongst other things. Lectures are held every few days across the country, although most take place at the RSA offices just behind the Strand. For a full programme and to book tickets online go to www.rsa.org.uk/events/index.asp.

Tate Gallery
Both Tate Modern and Tate Britain have an extensive Education programme which includes free lectures, about the permanent collections and special exhibitions. Visit www.tate.org.uk/eventseducation/#talks for full listings. Or if you don't have the time or the inclination to go along in person, but are still interested in learning about issues in contemporary art, why not view a web cast on the Tate gallery website. There is a full and varied list of artists, including Anish Kapoor, Martin Parr and Jake Chapman. Visit http://www.tate.org.uk/audiovideo/archive.htm#artiststalks to hear and see some fascinating talks and discussions.

And for kids...

Horniman Museum / 100 London Road, SE23 / Forest Hill train station
Family story telling takes place at the fabulous South London Horniman Museum, with a different story teller bringing the museum to life every Saturday. To find out who's talking, or for other free events for grown ups call 020 8699 1872.

National Gallery / Trafalgar Square / Charing Cross tube
Every Saturday and Sunday at 11.30am the National Gallery hosts a free talk with a different theme each week to introduce the collection to families with children aged five to eleven. To find out more call 020 7747 2885.

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free : theatre

If you want to go and see a play for free, why not take a visit to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Silk Street, EC2 (Barbican tube)? Events take place during term time, so call 020 7628 2571 for a programme.

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free : tv

Have you ever wondered how a TV studio works? Or do you just want a free night's entertainment? Many TV and radio shows are recorded in front of a live audience, and you can quite often watch them for nothing. You will need to book, but you can usually do that online through the websites listed below.

BBC TV and Radio
You can find out about future TV and radio shows on the BBC website at www.bbc.co.uk/whatson/tickets. The shows take place at one of five locations in central London, so why not see what's being recorded nearest to you:

BBC Maida Vale studios / Delaware Road, W9 / Warwick Avenue tube
BBC Radio theatre / Broadcasting House, Portland Place, W1 / Oxford Circus tube
BBC Television Centre / Wood Lane, W12 / White City tube
The Drill Hall / 16 Chenies Street, WC1 / Goodge Street tube
The Mermaid / Puddle Dock, Blackfriars, EC4 / Blackfriars tube

Hat Trick Productions TV
Generally you need to book tickets for the popular shows such as Have I Got News for You well in advance, but the tickets are still free. Visit their website at www.hattrick.co.uk for further details.

Standing Room Only
The TV company who produce shows such as Graham Norton and Angus Deayton's new series. Visit www.sroaudiences.com for ticket details.

TV Recordings
You can pick up tickets for programmes such as The 5 O'Clock Show and The Frank Skinner Show. Visit www.tvrecordings.com.

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free : walks

Walk away your worries with London Footprints. The website lists walks in the Docklands, Central, South East, South West, North and West London, with a description of the buildings of note on the way, along with the necessary random factoids. Find details of all the walks on this page:
www.london-footprints.co.uk/walkslist.htm

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