London’s best free events from Sat May 24 to Sun June 1

Hello there,

May half term is here, but have no fear, because this week’s newsletter has a bevy of brilliant events for you and your kids to enjoy. I’m talking immersive space exhibits, a celebration of the Moomins, day festivals, fashion shows and good old farmyard fun.

Congratulations to reader Ilana M, who won a gorgeous personalised picture as a memento of her pregnancy, as featured in last week’s newsletter. This edition we have another stonking prize on offer - the chance to win a Rockit pram rocker which can help your babe or tot snooze for longer! Scroll down to enter.

Have a fantastic week, fingers crossed for some sunshine and if you like the newsletter, then please do spread the word using your personalised referral code: {{rp_refer_url}}. We’d greatly appreciate it.

Kate and Tom x

EVENTS

Key: Baby 0-1, Toddler 1-3, Child 4-12, Teen 13-19

Fashion fiesta

CHILD-TEEN 🛍️ Waterloo
Sat & Sun May 24-25, 12-6pm

Head to the Southbank Centre to get your global fashion fix at the Swag from Swana pop-up event. Indie fashion brands from South West Asia & North Africa will ply their wares while regional music plays throughout.

Purrfect prints

CHILD-TEEN 🎨 Walthamstow Central
Sat May 24, 1-4pm

Join artist Lucy Rainbow at the William Morris Gallery for a hands-on workshop where kids can design & screen print a Morris Mania-inspired Lucky Cat poster, which they can then take home with them.

Eid Bazaar

TODDLER-TEEN Forest Hill
Sun May 25, 10-3pm

Enjoy a special Eid extension of the Horniman Market, where everything from abayas, fashion accessories, Arabic food & more will be on offer. Regular traders will also be there, selling all sorts of artisanal goods.

Explore imaginary worlds

TODDLER-CHILD 💭 Southbank
Until Jan 2026, 9.30-5pm

Step out into space, explore deep in the jungle & dive under the ocean at this story explorer experience at the British Library. Make sure to book a slot for your chance to see some weird & wonderful items up close.

📣 Competition time!

This week you’ve got the chance to win a lifesaver for parents - a Rockit stroller rocker worth £49.95!

If your baby or tot wakes up every time you park the pram, then the Rockit is what you need. It safely rocks your pram for you, keeping your little one moving – and snoozing – for longer.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply refer a friend to Cheapskate Kids by sending them this link (it contains your personalised referral code): {{rp_refer_url}}. Once they’ve signed up, you’ll be entered into the draw, & we’ll pick one lucky winner at random.

Cheapskaters can also take 15% off their first Rockit order using the code cheapskate15.

Popcorn!

TODDLER-TEEN 🎤 Whitechapel
Until Sun Sept 21 2025

This new, interactive Whitechapel Gallery exhibit invites visitors to explore the sonic world through voices, bodies & props. The show’s inspired by designers who produce the sounds we hear in films & on TV.

That’s rubbish

TODDLER-CHILD 🎨 Canary Wharf
Tues May 27 until Fri May 30

One man's trash is another man's treasure… or something like that. Kids can make their very own monster hand-puppet using scraps, buttons & other materials at this drop-in activity at the London Museum.

Moomin magic

BABY-CHILD 🎉 Waterloo
Tues May 27 until Sun June 1

Journey into the marvellous world of the Moomins at the Southbank Centre, with a Moominhouse installation & a range of activities, celebrating 80 years since the publication of the first Moomin story.

Powerful memories

TODDLER-CHILD 🧡 Lambeth N
Tues May 27, 10.30-3.30pm

The Imperial War Museum is hosting a special family day this Tues where young people can meet veterans & eyewitnesses of conflict to gain a unique insight into the impact of war on people’s lives.

Brockwell Bounce

BABY-TEEN 🎊 Herne Hill
Weds May 28, 12-6pm

Head over to Brockwell Park for London’s biggest free festival for kids. Expect a day filled with music, entertainment, workshops, arts & crafts, street food, dance classes, funfair rides… & much more!

‘Bin-struments’

TEEN 🎎 Waterloo
Weds May 28, 5.30-8.30pm

Make noise, not waste, at the one-day Ura Matsuri festival at the Southbank Centre. Visitors can immerse themselves in Japanese music & use recycled materials to make their own instruments.

Discover ancient India

CHILD-TEEN 🪷 Tottenham CR
Thurs & Fri May 29-30, various times

This half term, the British Museum is running a series of free, family-friendly events inspired by the (not free) Ancient India: living traditions exhibit. Activities include Indian woodblock printing.

Power of printmaking

TODDLER-CHILD 🎨 Hoxton
Weds May 28, 10.30-3.30pm

The Museum of the Home is hosting a day of creative activities, exploring our connection to the natural world. Kids can get hands-on with a range of woodworking, weaving & printmaking activities.

Sports, sports, sports

CHILD-TEEN Whitechapel
Fri May 30, various times

Want to keep your kids active this half term? They can burn off some energy at this sports club event at the Artizan Library, with a range of games & activities aimed at children aged between 8-16.

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Green-fingered fun

TODDLER-CHILD 🪴 Forest Hill
Sat May 31, 2-4pm

Kids can get their hands dirty at the Horniman Museum as part of National Children’s Gardening Week, where they can decorate pots & create life by planting seeds.

Spring Family Festival

TODDLER-CHILD 💃 South Kensington
Sat May 31, various times

Celebrate the magic of storytelling at the Spring Family Festival at V&A South Kensington. Kids can enjoy a mix of workshops, hands-on crafts, dancing, puppetry & performances.

Farm fanatics

TODDLER-TEEN 🐑 Vauxhall
Sat May 31, 10-4.30pm

Vauxhall City Farm is hosting its annual Spring Fair, a day of fun where kids can cuddle some of the animals, watch sheep shearing, spin wool, play games & learn all about farm life.

Behind the scenes

TODDLER-TEEN 🏛️ Stratford
From Sat May 31

V&A East Storehouse opens its vast, free-to-visit space where you can explore half a million works from the museum’s collection & peek behind the scenes of a working museum.

And for dessert...

🫶 Want to support Cheapskate without spending any money? Please click on our links like this one or this one - it doesn’t cost you a thing, but you’ll massively help with our running costs.

🍕 There are tonnes of kids-eat-for-free deals running this half term, including at Franco Manca, Marco Pierre White Restaurants, YO! Sushi & Cinnamon Kitchen. Budgeting Mum has a good list here.

👞 If money was no object, I’d buy these shoes in every colour (this pair is my #1). If you’re like me & love high fashion but not the high price tags, check out Dupe.com. - Kate

🎳 To celebrate the new Karate Kid film, Hollywood Bowl & Putt & Play centres across the UK are offering free bowling games to anyone who rocks up with their official martial art belt, in any colour (offer running from May 26-30).

🧑🏻‍🌾 Chiswick House & Gardens is running a special “garden together” volunteering session on Weds, where kids can help the team to enable the beautiful gardens & woodlands to thrive. Sign up here.

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We try to only include accurate information, but sometimes things can change. Everything included in the newsletter is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time the newsletter is sent out. Sometimes we make money from the links we include (like this one!) but we only recommend things we genuinely like. You can also support us by joining the Cheapskate club as a monthly or annual member.

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