Watch a free(ish) film in a bar at London Bridge

Down at the very sedate Roxy Bar and Screen in London Bridge you can catch free (or very cheap) films most weeknights, and during the daytime on weekends.

This is a genuine bar in all but the discreet cinema screen, which is rolled down to show classic, arthouse and just plain good films on a daily basis.

Most films are free entry. However, they have had to start charging a very small cover charge on some screenings, to cover the cost of the film etc.

None of the screenings require tickets, so you can just rock up and grab a chair / table. All the screenings operate on a first-come first-served basis, so arrive early if you want a sofa!

They also do pretty good food, and if you want to come for dinner they can reserve you a table on 020 7403 4423.

Follow this link to see what's playing: http://www.roxybarandscreen.com/

Take your pick from the Londonist's London for Free Map

Here's a useful tool, courtesy of those clever sorts over at the Londonist. You can also click on their logo below to visit their excellent site. It's a map of a whole bunch places where you can find free events at galleries, theatres and attractions in London all laid out on Google Maps.

Surely that's well worth a look. Click on the map below and it should open in a new window (albeit slowly).

Meet the animals at London Zoo

London Zoo was opened in 1828 and is "the world's oldest scientific zoo", whatever that means.


It's undoubtedly one of Britain's leading zoos (cos it's in London, innit) and it says here there are 15,104 animals. That's pretty impressive for a few sheds by the canal on the Camden borders.

The Zoo is slowly undertaking a renovation project to make the cages more like animals' natural environments, and this has seen the opening of renewed areas like the Blackburn Pavilion, which recreates a tropical rainforest atmosphere in what was the Bird House (the birds are, naturally, still there), Gorilla Kingdom and various other natural things.

It all sounds very nice, but it is still just a Zoo, and it's a bit steep at £13.90. Nevertheless, I do not doubt that it's a reasonable day's entertainment. The nearest tube is Camden Town and from there it's a pleasant walk down the canal, or along a busy road. You choose.

Here's the website: http://www.zsl.org/

_{^Picture from Flickr courtesy of neiljs^}

Take in the new Saatchi Gallery

Now in it's third incarnation at the Duke of York's HQ off the Kings Road in Chelsea, the Saatchi Gallery reopened in the new 70,000 square ft space in October 2008.


The current exhibition is called The Revolution Continues: New Art from China, and brings together the work of 24 young Chinese artists over four floors.

It's just down the road from Sloane Square tube, it's open 10am-6pm, 7 days a week, and it's absolutely free, thanks to the oodles of cash Saatchi has made from hawking tired advertising ideas over the years.

Visit the website at http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/

_{^Picture from flickr courtesy of Jim Linwood^}

Go boating in the Park

There are many places to hire a rowing boat in London, and enjoy the simple pleasures of messing around in boats. Here are just a few of them:

Battersea Park Boating Lake. Around £3.50 for half an hour or £4.50 for an hour, according to Time Out in 2007.

Serpentine Boats, Hyde Park. Boat Hire in London's most famous Park for less than £10.

Regents Park Boating Lake. Similar to Hyde Park, and just like in the end bit of that Happy Go Lucky Film.

Alexandra Palace Boating Lake, N22. In the shadow of the palace itself, and bound to be reasonably priced. Plus it's next to the (pitiful) deer park and you can do a nice countryside walk to Hampstead Heath.

Richmond Boat House, TW9. Hire a rowing boat on the Thames at Richmond.

Most are only open roughly March-September so give them a call before packing your picnic.

^{^Picture of the Regent's Park Rowing Lake from flickr courtesy of Metro Centric^}

Explore the Wellcome Collection

The Wellcome Collection, in Euston, is a series of Exhibitions displaying a mix of medical artefacts and artworks, apparently intended to explore 'ideas about the connections between medicine, life and art'.


Based on the collections of notable pharmacist, entrepreneur, philanthropist and collector (and undoubtedly eccentric) Sir Henry Solomon Wellcome, the collection only opened in 2007 and is made up of three exhibition spaces, an auditorium and an events space. There is also a cafe and bookshop.

The Collection is generally open 10am - 6pm, with later opening on Thursdays and the nearest tube stations are Euston and Euston Square, and I'm pretty sure it's free.

Visit the website here: http://www.wellcomecollection.org/



_{^Picture from Flickr courtesy of graham^}

Watch the Lord Mayor's Firework Display

Don't miss a great free fireworks display in the heart of the city this Saturday evening, and every year in early November.


From 5pm, the Annual Lord Mayor's fireworks display will explode more than half a ton of fireworks in the sky above London.

It all takes place between Blackfriars and Waterloo bridges, and you can watch for free from either bridge, or the Victoria Embankment/ South Bank between them.

Click here for more information: http://www.lordmayorsshow.org/visitors/fireworks

_{^Picture from flickr courtesy of ajps2^}

Visit a nature reserve in the heart of West London

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust's 42 hectare London Wetland Centre at Barnes is a recognised as the best urban site in Europe to watch wildlife. It is an international award winning visitor attraction and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).


It's just a few minutes by bus from Hammersmith Tube, 9.30-6pm in Summer (last admission 5pm) and 9.30am to 5pm in Winter (last admission 4pm).

Whilst it is a little pricey at £8.95, it's a rare chance to get back to nature without leaving the city, and because of this it attracts an unrivalled array of wildfowl and wildlife, looking for a stop-off in the urban sprawl.

Just visit the website here.

_{^Picture by frielp^}