Hello there! For Wednesday we have collected 17 free events taking place in and around London. Here are some ideas:
free craft sessions (banded entry every 45 minutes, Horniman Museum, 11am-3.30pm, last entry at 2.45pm) celebrating two seasonal festivals – The Day of the Dead and Halloween. Make Scary Halloween Pumpkin Masks and Day of the Dead Skeleton Stick Puppets for scares and fun. For families with children aged 3+- free drop-in event (Horniman Museum, 2pm-3.30pm) where you have the opportunity to explore with the assistance of the museums Explainers, thousands of real objects from around the world that the “Hands On Base” Gallery holds (e.g. sari, shark’s teeth, West African thumb piano)
- explore with the assistance of Jim Murphy from the Trust for Urban Ecology, the oldest Nature Trail in London and to get to know its pond, meadow and log pile inhabitants (free, ticketed session, Horniman Museum & Gardens, 2pm)
- free, ticketed, guided tour exploring more about Southbank Centre’s roots, architecture and some memorable moments in its 60-year history (2.30pm). Suitable for ages 6 and over. Children must be accompanied by an adult
- two 15-minute introductory talks to painters Hogarth and Degas (The National Gallery, 1pm and 1.20pm respectively)
- free themed tour on the role of ethics in understanding medicine (Wellcome Collection, 2.30pm)
free gig with Riamba, a salsa dance and Latin jazz band (percussion, drums, keyboards, trumpet, bass, vocals) that combines the rhythms of Latin America with European harmony and jazz music (5.45pm, National Theatre). Watch them here- the daily free guided tours of the Victoria and Albert Museum (highly recommended) and the National Gallery ones are a good option too.
To get the full list of events and all their details for Wednesday, 31 October 2012, or to make plans for any future dates please scroll down to the calendar and click on the event(s) you are interested in.
Have an inspiring Wednesday!
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if you are still there at 4pm why don’t you attend the free 10-minute talk/introduction to Poussin’s painting “
start the weekend with a free 5K parkrun at 9am taking place in various parks in London and beyond. It’s very refreshing!
for children (aged 3+) there are free ticketed (pass) interactive hands-on workshops related to the collections of the Horniman museum were you will have the opportunity to touch real museum objects. The focus of the workshops is Africa (start at 11.45am & 1pm)
free gig with Guy Gardner Trio performing jazz standards and originals (National Theatre, 1pm & 5.45pm). Find more about Guy Gardner (pianist) 
if you feel more scientific join “Medicine Now” gallery free guided tour instead (2.30pm, Wellcome Collection). The topics explored in the gallery are: the body, genomes, malaria, obesity and living with medical science [ Image Credit: Rama Knight/Wellcome Images ]
free recital by an award-winner of the Martin Musical Scholarship Fund (Royal Festival Hall – Southbank Centre, 6pm). Shiry Rashkovsky (viola) and Alison Rhind (piano) will play Ernest Bloch’s Suite hébraïque arr. for viola (or violin) & piano, Johannes Brahms’s Sonata in F minor for clarinet/viola & piano, Op.120 No.1 and George Enescu’s Concertstück for viola & piano. A rare opportunity to attend a concert in the Royal Festival Hall for free!
for children (aged 3+) there are free ticketed (pass) interactive hands-on workshops related to the collections of the Horniman museum were you will have the opportunity to touch real museum objects. The focus of the workshops is music (start at 11.45am & 1pm)
free gig by singer-songwriter Sumudu performing acoustic/country/folk material (National Theatre, 1pm & 5.45pm). Watch her singing “Blackbird” (The Beatles) 
free ticketed talk, where Lauren Couch, Grants Adviser, Wellcome Trust, reveals personal accounts of the painful side of love in seventeenth century England, using case books, court records and diaries (Wellcome Collection, 6pm). This event is fully booked. Spaces may become available on the day of the event. You can register for the waiting list 90 minutes before the start of the event (i.e. from 4.30pm) in Wellcome Collection
London free shows & activities 