St. Patrick’s Day, free laughs and a little bit of magic
by Jen, who has recently decided to leave the Twittersphere
I think it’s finally happened – Spring has sprung! Pack up your scarves, put your wool jumpers at the back of the closet and get ready for sunshine (seriously, I saw it yesterday). There’s loads to do this month, most of it’s outdoors, but in case it decides to rain you can always pop into one of London’s many free museums. As always, if nothing on my list tickles your fancy, some of my fellow BrokeinLondoners have some more ideas for you in the Free Entertainment in London section.
#1 | Tall Ships Festival | 12th – 16th April
Image: Sail Royal Greenwich
I think that London is at its finest when it’s seamlessly showcasing the old and the new side by side. The Tall Ships Festival is an amazing opportunity to watch incredibly cool Tall Ships sail the Thames against the backdrop of Canary Wharf. Cruises take place every day from the 12th -16 (you can buy a ticket if you want here) and there will be music and events around Greenwich. In Woolwich you can tour the ships for FREE!
When: 12th – 16th April
Where: Greenwich and Woolwich
#2 | New Cross & Deptford Film Festival | 21st – 30th April
Grease, Telegraph Hill Park, NXDFFF 2014. Copyright: Electric Pedals
The New Cross & Deptford Free Film Festival is probably one of my favourite film festivals in London. It’s inclusive, it’s got great variety, and it is truly totally free. Opening night starts with Chef at The White Hart (a brilliant film if you haven’t seen it) followed by at least one film every night until the 30th. Other titles include: Big Hero 6, Her, Kung-Fu Panda, and Wall-E – you know you want to see ALL of those.
When: 21st – 30th April
Where: Across New Cross & Deptford
#3 | Vaisakhi Festival in Trafalgar Square | 29th April
Image: Visit London
London is a brilliantly multi-cultural city and there are countless opportunities to celebrate and learn about other cultures and their holidays. Vaisakhi is one of the most important holidays in the Sikh calendar and you can celebrate alongside 20 million Sikhs worldwide in Trafalgar Square. There will be performances, displays of work by Sikh artists and traditional foods – don’t miss out!
When: 29th April, 12 – 6 pm
Where: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
#4 | Oxford V Cambridge Boat Race | 2nd April
Image: Time Out
Head to the Thames to watch Oxford and Cambridge come head to head in the annual Oxford V Cambridge Boat Race. It gets a bit competitive so make sure you’re wearing the right colour blue! If you want to splash out you could go see the Oxford V Cambridge GOAT Race at Spitalfields City Farm for £13 – which honestly, is probably worth it.
When: 2nd April, from 12pm at Bishop’s Park but races start at 435pm (Women’s) and 535pm (Men’s)
Where: Along the river from Putney to Mortlake
#5 | People Power: Fighting for Peace | All Month
Image: IWM
There have been a lot of protests in recent weeks, and regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, I think we can all agree on the power of peaceful protest to bring about change. The Imperial War Museum’s People Power: Fighting For Peace takes you from WWI to modern day focusing on the stories of incredible people opposing war.
When: All Month
Where: Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ
#6 | Feast of St George | 22nd April
Image: Visit London
St. George is the patron saint of our great nation – so every year we celebrate him on St George’s Day! The story goes that George slayed a dragon that was terrorising the countryside and was about to eat a princess. Thank goodness he was there to save the day! Head to Trafalgar Square for free games, performances and cooking demonstrations!
When: 22nd April, 12pm – 6pm
Where: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
#7 | The Lock Tavern Festival | 13th – 16th April
Image: TimeOut
The Lock Tavern Festival has got you covered for the Easter weekend. Thursday – Sunday night there’s free music, DJ’s and street food from 7pm. Entry is free so you’ve got more to spend on pints. It’s a win-win! There’s a secret headliner on the 13th…so you should probably go.
When: 13th -16th April, music from 7pm
Where: The Lock Tavern, 35 Chalk Farm Rd, London NW1 8AJ
#8 | A World View: John Latham | All Month
Image: Serpentine Gallery
How would the universe look if it was viewed in time-based instead of spatial terms? John Latham’s A World View explores this idea, called “Flat Time Theory” at the Serpentine Gallery. Take a gamble and look at the world a bit differently in this slightly heady exhibition.
When: Tues-Sun 10am – 6pm
Where: Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens, London W2 3XA
#9 | Double Take | Until 22nd April
Image: TimeOut
Skarstedt Gallery have got a whole show about appropriation in photography: Double Take. ‘The great thing about appropriation is that even though the transformation reads as fiction, everybody knows that the source of the appropriation was at some point non-fiction, (magazine, movie, etc.), and it’s these sources, or elements of non-fiction, that gives the picture, no matter how questionable, its believable edge’ – Richard Prince.
When: Until 22nd April, Tuesday – Saturday
Where: Skarstedt, 8 Bennett Street, London SW1A 1RP
#10 | No Whey! Cheese & Wine Festival | 1st-2nd April
Image: Metro
If you love cheese, wine, street food and chocolate, then you probably want to head to East Village in Stratford for the No Whey! Cheese & Wine Festival. Alongside specialty cheese and wine stalls, Arancini Brothers will be there serving up delicious eats and Meantime Brewery will be serving up pints. So fill yourself up with free samples first, and then splash out on a meal. You’ve gotta eat, right?
When: Saturday 1st April 12-6pm ; Sunday 2nd April 11am-4pm
Where: East Village
