[title]
Put your money away! Here are the week’s best free events
Nelson Mandela: Centenary Exhibition
It’s 100 years since the birth of Nelson Mandela and the Southbank Centre is marking the occasion with an exhibition all about his life. Learn about the anti-apartheid revolutionary’s early days as a young freedom fighter, his 27-year prison sentence and his triumph in becoming South Africa’s first democratically elected president. The Southbank Centre. Tube: Waterloo. Tue Jul 17-Aug 19.
Want to see the doggy paddle performed by actual dogs? Head down to this swimming gala for pooches. There will be pup-themed inflatables, swimming lessons and a race in the water. It’s going to be barking mad. West Reservoir Water Sports Centre. Tube: Manor House. Tue Jul 17, 4pm.
Are you the kind of person who prefers raw cookie dough to actual cookies? Then don’t miss the opening of Naked Dough’s third branch. To celebrate the launch, there will be freebies on offer all day, including ‘buttery biscuit base’ and, erm, ‘emoji poo’. Yum! Camden Market. Tube: Camden Town. Fri Jul 20.
Who hasn’t had that awful moment where you’ve accidentally shattered your phone screen into smithereens? Now you can do some damage on purpose at Huawei’s pop-up phone-smashing booth. Sure. Why not? 19 Greek St. Tube: Leicester Square. Wed Jul 18, 1pm-4pm.
Reebok Classic House Party
Dig out your shag band collection and inflatable rucksack and go back in time at Reebok’s ’90s-themed party. There’s free food and booze and you can play in the arcades, learn how to DJ or take part in an 8Bit artwork workshop. Zigazig-ah! The Bargehouse. Tube: Waterloo. Fri Jul 20, 7.30pm-midnight. Book party tickets here and workshop tickets here.
Craft Courage opening party
Cute bottle shop Craft Palace is relocating around the corner from its current spot as Craft Courage. There’s a launch party to celebrate and there will be free pizza up for grabs, as well as free gin or beer for the first 30 people. Cheers! 23 Westow Hill. Crystal Palace Overground. Sat Jul 21.