Interesting and unusual things to do for a fiver or less this week, sponsored by CommuterClub.
All Week
LAST CHANCE: Several exhibitions come to a close in the next few weeks, including this nature double bill at Camden Arts Centre, the paintings of Renato Guttuso at The Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art, and Nick Fox's work dotted around a Tudor manor.
NEW EXHIBITIONS: Recently opened are the experiments of Joshua Reynolds at The Wallace Collection (★★★), and Wellington: Triumphs, Politics and Passions at National Portrait Gallery (★★).
FLORA AND FAUNA: On Monday, Bank of England Museum opens a new exhibition, Flora and Fauna, which examines the symbolic meaning of the plants and animals which appear within the design of the bank building, on banknotes and depictions of the bank over the years. Free.
TROPHY HUNTING: Oxford House Gallery in Bethnal Green hosts a wildlife photography exhibition by Marta Ariza, focusing on the canned hunting industry in South Africa, ahead of her documentary film, Death For A Trophy. Free, just turn up, until 31 March
Monday 23 March
LOVE AND WAR: At Slightly Foxed bookshop on Gloucester Road, three novelists ruminate on love and war in their works of fiction. Ben Byrne’s debut novel, Fire Flowers, is set in post-second world war Japan, Catherine Hall’s The Repercussions deals with the psychological and emotional reality of war, and Alex Preston’s In Love and War is a tale of love, heroism and resistance. £5, prebook, 6.30pm
Tuesday 24 March
VICTORIAN HOMELESS: The Geffrye Museum opens a new exhibition today about the places the poor inhabited in Victorian London, bringing them to life through paintings, photographs, and objects, as well as through personal stories and reports. £5/£3, until 12 July
WESTMINSTER TALKS: As part of the University of Westminster's public lecture series, Baroness Caroline Cox talks about her humanitarian work, which takes her to conflict and post-conflict zones, including Sudan, Nigeria and Uganda. Free, prebook, 6pm
SKIPPY THE KANGAROO: Tying in with the current Strange Creatures exhibition, Grant Museum of Zoology screens back-to-back episodes of TV show Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. For adults. Free, just turn up, 6.30pm
READING THE WORLD: Head to Stanfords in Covent Garden where literary adventurer Ann Morgan, author of Reading the World, shares the story of how, and why, she set out to read one book from every independent country in the world. £3, prebook, 6.30pm
RAYMOND BLANC: The renowned chef is at Foyles on Charing Cross Road discussing his new book and TV series, Kew on a Plate, which focuses on using produce when it is in season. £5, prebook, 7pm
Wednesday 25 March
ART EXHIBITION: City Lit in Covent Garden showcases work by Art and Design Foundation Diploma students, in an exhibition which opens today. Free, just turn up, until 28 March
SPRING ART: Highgate Contemporary Art Gallery opens a new exhibition with work by five established artists on the topic of Spring. Free, until 18 April
GENETIC SCIENCE: Gresham College holds a lecture at Museum of London about the theories of nature vs. nurture in genetic science, and asks whether the truth could in fact be neither. Free, just turn up, 6pm
SOLAR POWER: The Building Centre in Fitzrovia has an evening about the potential for solar energy generation in desert-belt countries, such as parts of Africa. Free, prebook, 6.30pm
JAWDANCE: The spoken word open-mic night is back at Rich Mix in Shoreditch. As well as spoken word performances, expect poetry, music and short films. Free, just turn up, 7.30pm
The list continues after a message from our sponsor.
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Thursday 26 March
THE SPY WHO LOVED ME: The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology screens 1977 James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, starring Roger Moore and set largely in Egypt. £5 donation, prebook, 6pm
MARTYRS OF INDIA: Keats House in Hampstead hosts the launch of Reginald Massey’s Shaheed Bhagat Singh and the forgotten Indian martyrs, with a recital of poems commemorating martyrs read in English, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu. £5, prebook, 6.30pm
SENNA: DocHouse screens the 2010 documentary film about the life of F1 driver Ayrton Senna, followed by a Q&A with editor of the film, Chris King. £5, prebook, 3pm
POETRY READING: There's a poetry reading by Vesna Goldsworthy and Bernard O'Donoghue, chaired by Ruth Padel, at King's College. Followed by a Q&A session. Free, prebook, 7pm
LONDON MAGIC: Join London Fortean Society for a night of shrines and magic in London with three expert City explorers and magical practitioners. At Dirty Dicks on Bishopsgate. £3/£2, prebook, 8pm
Friday 27 March
CORAM WALK: Join a Coram Walk around the local area and find out about Thomas Coram, The Foundling Hospital, and how the charity created one of the loveliest parts of London. Free, prebook, 12.30pm
NICHOLAS HYTNER: As he steps down from his position as director of the National Theatre, Nicholas Hytner is the subject of a National Theatre platform about his time in charge. £4/£3, prebook, 5.30pm
MUSEUM LATE: It's the last Friday of the month so Natural History Museum stays open late for adults only, and the theme tonight is the new Coral Reefs exhibition. Free (charge and booking for some exhibitions), from 6pm
Saturday 28 March
PITZHANGER MANOR: Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery in Ealing has an open day before work begins on a major restoration project. Access areas that have never been seen by the public before, and record your memories. Free, just turn up, 11am-4pm
Sunday 29 March
FROCK ME: The Vintage Fashion Fair is back at Chelsea Old Town Hall with over 50 stalls of vintage fashion and accessories and a pop-up tea room selling vintage-style afternoon tea. £4, 11am-5.30pm
ART MARKET: The DIY Art Market at Epic Dalston is a platform for London’s emerging and establised independent artists/makers to sell directly to the public. Free, just turn up,11am-6pm
COMEDY: Join Gein’s Family Giftshop at the Backyard Comedy Club in Bethnal Green with guests The Boy With Tape on His Face, Tim Key, Goose and sketches from Beard. £5/£3, prebook, 6.30pm
OPEN GARDEN: There's an open garden in Highgate Village, with visitors invited into the 1/2 acre plot complete with a water garden. It's a good time of year to see the magnolias and camelias. £3.50, just turn up, 2pm-5.30pm
Check out our map of free things to do in London for more frugal fun.
