A Cheapo's guide to London

Cheapo Calendar

January

Until the 24th
Christmas at Kew
Kew
Jan 15–Jan 24
London Short Film Festival
Soho
Mid–Late January
Winter Lights at Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf
Late January
London Art Fair
Islington
From the 18th
London International Mime Festival
South Bank
From Late January
VAULT Festival
Waterloo
All month
Sculpture in the City
Liverpool Street
From the 3rd
Capital Carboot Sale Pimlico
Pimlico

February

Mid February
Chinese New Year
Charing Cross
Feb 12–Feb 14
London Motorcycle Show
Custom House
Mid February
Love Beer London
Custom House
Mid–Late February
The London Classic Car Show
Kensington
Late February
London Pancake Day 2021
Kensington
Late February
Inter-Livery Pancake Race
Bank
Late February
The Flippin’ Good Fun Pancake Race
Greenwich
From Early February
Kew Orchid Festival
Hammersmith
All month
VAULT Festival
Waterloo
All month
Sculpture in the City
Liverpool Street
All month
Capital Carboot Sale Pimlico
Pimlico

March

Until Early March
Kew Orchid Festival
Hammersmith
Mid March
Move It
Custom House
Mar 15, Monday
London Gaming Market
Custom House
Mar 17, Wednesday
St Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival
Camden Town, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, St Paul's, Westminster
Late March
Head of the River Race
Mortlake, Putney
Early–Late March
Brew Con
Mortlake, Putney
Until Late March
VAULT Festival
Waterloo
Mid–Late March
The Other Art Fair
Holborn
Mid–Late March
BMW Tate Live Exhibition 2021
Blackfriars
From Late March
London Games Festival
Westminster
All month
Sculpture in the City
Liverpool Street
All month
Capital Carboot Sale Pimlico
Pimlico

April

Early April
Urban Food Festival
Shoreditch
Apr 4, Sunday
The Boat Race
Mortlake, Putney
Early April
West Norwood Feast
West Norwood
Early April
Vape Jam UK 5
Custom House
Early April
London International Pillow Fight 2021
Custom House
Until Early April
London Games Festival
Westminster
Early–Mid April
Brixton Windmill Open Days
Brixton
Mid April
Brixton Windmill Open Days
Brixton
Mid April
Horniman Easter Fair
New Cross
Mid April
Urban Food Festival
Shoreditch
Mid April
Feast of St George in Trafalgar Square
Westminster
Late April
Vaisakhi Festival 2021
Westminster
Late April
Acton Depot Open Weekend
Acton
All month
Sculpture in the City
Liverpool Street
From Early April
Underbelly Festival
South Bank
From Mid April
Summer Season at Shakespeare’s Globe
South Bank
All month
Capital Carboot Sale Pimlico
Pimlico

May

Until Early May
Sculpture in the City
Liverpool Street
May 2, Sunday
Alexandra Palace Antiques & Collectors Fair
Wood Green
Early May
West Norwood Feast
West Norwood
Early May
Canalway Cavalcade
Little Venice
Early May
Days of Poland Festival
London Bridge
Early May
Brixton Windmill Open Days
Brixton
Until the 10th
New Cross and Deptford Free Film Festival
Deptford, New Cross
Early May
Covent Garden May Fayre & Puppet Festival
Covent Garden
Mid May
MCM Comic Con May
Custom House
May 15–May 16
The Great British Tattoo Show
Wood Green
Mid May
Urban Village Fete
Greenwich
Mid May
London Wine Week
Liverpool Street, Moorgate
May 20–May 22
BrewLDN
Rotherhithe
Mid–Late May
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Chelsea
Late May
Star of Bethnal Green Street Party
Bethnal Green
Late May
The National Theatre Home Quiz
Bethnal Green
Until the 31st
Canary Wharf Short Story Competition
Canary Wharf
From Late May
Summer By The River Festival
London Bridge, Tower Hill
All month
Underbelly Festival
South Bank
All month
Summer Season at Shakespeare’s Globe
South Bank
All month
Capital Carboot Sale Pimlico
Pimlico

June

Early June
London Pizza Festival
London Bridge
Early June
West Norwood Feast
West Norwood
Early June
Open Garden Squares Weekend
West Norwood
Early June
Trooping the Colour
Westminster
Jun 12, Saturday
London Naked Bike Ride
Clapham Junction, Croydon, Hyde Park, Regent's Park, Tower Hill
Mid June
Brixton Windmill Open Days
Brixton
Late June
West End Live
Charing Cross
Jun 15–Jun 26
Houses of Parliament Guided Tour
Westminster
Until the 27th
London Design Biennale 2021
Covent Garden
Late June
The National Theatre Home Quiz
Covent Garden
Late June
London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival
Silvertown
Late June
London Symphony Orchestra Open-Air Concert
Charing Cross
From the 29th
The London Book Fair
Kensington
From Late June
Greenwich & Docklands International Festival
Greenwich
From Mid June
BP Big Screens at Trafalgar Square
Charing Cross
All month
Summer By The River Festival
London Bridge, Tower Hill
From Mid June
Zip Now London
Lambeth
From the 10th
Luna Cinema summer film screenings
Lambeth, Wood Green
From Mid June
Free Tango Classes
Spitalfields
All month
Underbelly Festival
South Bank
From Mid June
Skylight (Summer opening)
Wapping
All month
Summer Season at Shakespeare’s Globe
South Bank
All month
Capital Carboot Sale Pimlico
Pimlico

July

Until the 1st
The London Book Fair
Kensington
Jul 2–Jul 4
London Anime and Gaming Con
Kensington
Early July
West Norwood Feast
West Norwood
Early July
The Creative Craft Show London: Summer
Custom House
Early July
London Pride Parade
Baker Street, Charing Cross
Until Early July
Greenwich & Docklands International Festival
Greenwich
Until Early July
BP Big Screens at Trafalgar Square
Charing Cross
Early–Mid July
Brixton Windmill Open Days
Brixton
Early–Mid July
Hyper Japan Festival 2021
Kensington
Mid July
Lovebox Festival
Bethnal Green
Mid July
Acton Depot Open Weekend: Family Fun
Acton
Mid July
Walthamstow Garden Party
Walthamstow
Jul 16–Jul 18
The London Motor & Tech Show
Custom House
Mid–Late July
Lambeth Country Show
Brixton, Lambeth
Late July
The National Theatre Home Quiz
Brixton, Lambeth
Late July
London Coffee Festival
Aldgate
All month
Summer By The River Festival
London Bridge, Tower Hill
All month
Zip Now London
Lambeth
All month
Luna Cinema summer film screenings
Lambeth, Wood Green
All month
Free Tango Classes
Spitalfields
All month
Underbelly Festival
South Bank
All month
Skylight (Summer opening)
Wapping
All month
Summer Season at Shakespeare’s Globe
South Bank
All month
Capital Carboot Sale Pimlico
Pimlico

August

Early August
West Norwood Feast
West Norwood
Early August
Ride London FreeCycle
Aldwych, Bank, Blackfriars, Blackfriars, Charing Cross, South Bank
Early August
Great British Beer Festival
Kensington
Mid August
Brixton Windmill Open Days
Brixton
Late August
Notting Hill Carnival
Notting Hill, Westbourne Park
All month
Summer By The River Festival
London Bridge, Tower Hill
All month
Zip Now London
Lambeth
All month
Luna Cinema summer film screenings
Lambeth, Wood Green
All month
Free Tango Classes
Spitalfields
All month
Underbelly Festival
South Bank
All month
Skylight (Summer opening)
Wapping
All month
Summer Season at Shakespeare’s Globe
South Bank
All month
Capital Carboot Sale Pimlico
Pimlico

September

Until Early September
Summer By The River Festival
London Bridge, Tower Hill
Early September
West Norwood Feast
West Norwood
Early September
The Great River Race
Millwall, Richmond
Early September
West Norwood Feast
West Norwood
Until Mid September
London Tech Week 2021
Custom House, Shoreditch
Mid September
Brixton Windmill Open Days
Brixton
Until Mid September
Zip Now London
Lambeth
Until the 19th
Luna Cinema summer film screenings
Lambeth, Wood Green
Mid September
London Design Festival
Lambeth, Wood Green
Until Late September
Free Tango Classes
Spitalfields
Late September
Greenwich Comedy Festival
Greenwich
Mid–Late September
Open House London
Camden Town, Holborn, King's Cross, Peckham
Sep 17–Sep 27
London Literature Festival
Camden Town, Holborn, King's Cross, Peckham
Until Late September
Underbelly Festival
South Bank
Late September
Acton Depot Open Weekend: All Change
Acton
Late September
Japan Matsuri Festival
Charing Cross
Until the 30th
Totally Thames Festival
Wapping
All month
Skylight (Summer opening)
Wapping
All month
Summer Season at Shakespeare’s Globe
South Bank
All month
Capital Carboot Sale Pimlico
Pimlico

October

Until Early October
Skylight (Summer opening)
Wapping
Early October
Walker Fireworks
Wapping
Early October
West Norwood Feast
West Norwood
Oct 3, Sunday
London Marathon 2021
Greenwich, Westminster
Early October
Festival of Fire and Light
Brent Park
Until Early October
Summer Season at Shakespeare’s Globe
South Bank
Early October
Vegtoberfest
Camden Town
Early October
Brixton Windmill Open Days
Brixton
Early–Mid October
Catford Arts Trail
Catford
Oct 7–Oct 11
Photo London
Aldwych
Oct 10–Oct 12
Sweaty Betty Live
Shoreditch
Oct 13, Wednesday
Royal Parks Half Marathon
Westminster
Oct 15–Oct 17
The Om Yoga Show
Alexandra Palace
Mid October
London Literature Festival
South Bank
Oct 23, Saturday
Africa on the Square
Westminster
Oct 22–Oct 24
MCM Comic Con London (October)
Westminster
Early–Late October
State Opening of Parliament
Westminster
Mid–Late October
Bloomsbury Festival
Bloomsbury
Until Late October
London Cocktail Week
Aldgate, Angel, Clerkenwell, Farringdon, Islington, Shoreditch, Waterloo
Until the 31st
London Month Of The Dead
Aldgate, Angel, Clerkenwell, Farringdon, Islington, Shoreditch, Waterloo
All month
Capital Carboot Sale Pimlico
Pimlico
From Early October
Sliders Curling on Roof East
Stratford
From Mid October
Natural History Museum Ice Skating
South Kensington

November

Early November
Diwali Festival 2021
Westminster
Early November
Battersea Park Fireworks
Wandsworth
Early November
Ravenscourt Park Fireworks 2021
Hammersmith
Early November
Newham Guy Fawkes Night
Silvertown
Early November
Morden Park Bonfire & Fireworks
Silvertown
Early November
Finchley Cricket Club Fireworks
Finchley
Early November
Blackheath Fireworks
Blackheath
Early November
Lambeth Fireworks
Herne Hill
Early November
Victoria Park Fireworks
South Hackney
Early November
Wimbledon Park Bonfire & Fireworks
Wimbledon
Nov 6, Saturday
The Regent Street Motor Show
Marylebone
Early November
West Norwood Feast
West Norwood
Early November
Kingston Fireworks
Kingston Vale
Early November
Royal Gunpowder Mills: Guy Fawkes Festival and Fireworks
Waltham Abbey
Early November
The Lord Mayor’s Show
Blackfriars, London Bridge, St Paul's
Late November
Scandinavian Christmas Market
Rotherhithe
From Mid November
Enchanted Woodland at Syon Park
Notting Hill
From Late November
E17 Designer’s Christmas Markets
Walthamstow
All month
Capital Carboot Sale Pimlico
Pimlico
All month
Sliders Curling on Roof East
Stratford
From Early November
South Bank Centre Winter Market
South Bank
From Mid November
Tower of London Ice Skating
Tower Hill
From Late November
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Westminster
From Late November
Christmas By the River: London Bridge Market
London Bridge
From Early November
Leicester Square Christmas Market
Leicester Square
From Early November
Oxford Street Christmas Lights
Oxford Circus
All month
Natural History Museum Ice Skating
South Kensington
From Mid November
Ice Skating at Somerset House
Aldwych
From Late November
Winterfest at Wembley Park
Wembley
From Early November
Canary Wharf Ice Skating
Canary Wharf

December

Early December
The St John’s Hospice Christmas Fayre
St John's Wood
Early December
Portobello Winter Weekends
Notting Hill
Until Early December
Enchanted Woodland at Syon Park
Notting Hill
Early December
West Norwood Feast
West Norwood
Dec 11, Saturday
The Christmas Pudding Race
West Norwood
Mid December
Njinga Santa Cycle
Richmond
Until Mid December
E17 Designer’s Christmas Markets
Walthamstow
Until the 19th
Capital Carboot Sale Pimlico
Pimlico
Until Late December
Sliders Curling on Roof East
Stratford
Late December
Chanukah in Trafalgar Square
Westminster
Early–Late December
Ally Pally Christmas 2021
Wood Green
Early–Late December
Columbia Road Christmas Wednesdays
Bethnal Green
Early–Late December
Christmas Carols in Trafalgar Square
Westminster
Dec 25, Saturday
Peter Pan Cup
Hyde Park
Until Late December
South Bank Centre Winter Market
South Bank
From the 31st
New Year’s Eve Fireworks 2021
Westminster
All month
Tower of London Ice Skating
Tower Hill
All month
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Westminster
All month
Christmas By the River: London Bridge Market
London Bridge
From Early December
Gingerbread City at the Museum of Architecture
Kensington
All month
Leicester Square Christmas Market
Leicester Square
All month
Oxford Street Christmas Lights
Oxford Circus
All month
Natural History Museum Ice Skating
South Kensington
All month
Ice Skating at Somerset House
Aldwych
All month
Winterfest at Wembley Park
Wembley
From Early December
Hampton Court Palace Ice Skating
Richmond
All month
Canary Wharf Ice Skating
Canary Wharf

January

Jan 1, Saturday
New Year’s Day 10k Run and 3k Fun Run
Hyde Park
Until the 1st
New Year’s Eve Fireworks 2021
Westminster
Jan 1, Saturday
New Year’s Day Parade
Westminster
Until Early January
Tower of London Ice Skating
Tower Hill
Until Early January
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Westminster
Until Early January
Christmas By the River: London Bridge Market
London Bridge
Until Early January
Gingerbread City at the Museum of Architecture
Kensington
Until Early January
Leicester Square Christmas Market
Leicester Square
Until Early January
Oxford Street Christmas Lights
Oxford Circus
Until Mid January
Natural History Museum Ice Skating
South Kensington
Until Mid January
Ice Skating at Somerset House
Aldwych
Until Mid January
Winterfest at Wembley Park
Wembley
Until Mid January
Hampton Court Palace Ice Skating
Richmond
All month
Canary Wharf Ice Skating
Canary Wharf
From Mid January
Condo Complex
Charing Cross, East Central London, Euston, Holborn, Hoxton, Lambeth

February

Until Early February
Canary Wharf Ice Skating
Canary Wharf
Until Early February
Condo Complex
Charing Cross, East Central London, Euston, Holborn, Hoxton, Lambeth

April

Early April
Urban Food Festival
Shoreditch
Early April
Brixton Windmill Open Days
Brixton