Photo: Jim Osley, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Autumn is in full swing on our doorstep, and the next ten days bring a wonderful mix of film, poetry, dance, art and theatre to Waterloo, the South Bank and across Lambeth. Here are some of our favourite picks – many of them completely free, so do come along and enjoy what our community has to offer.

Free events

• LFF for Free – Thu 15 to Sun 18 Oct, various times, BFI Southbank. Free (book ahead). The final days of the London Film Festival's free talks, screenings, family workshops and DJ nights – a brilliant way to enjoy the festival buzz.
• Quentin Blake: The Southbank Parade – until Sun 8 Nov, Tue–Sun 10am–11pm, Royal Festival Hall and across the Southbank Centre site. Free. The much-loved illustrator celebrates the 1951 Festival of Britain with a joyful installation to discover as you wander.
• Koestler Arts: Rock, Paper, Scissors – from Fri 16 Oct (until 29 Nov), Tue–Sun 12 noon–8pm, The Undercroft, Southbank Centre. Free. Around 200 inspiring artworks from the 2026 Koestler Awards, curated by young people from the Parental Imprisonment Collective.
• Black Zine Fair – Sat 17 Oct, 12pm–6.30pm, Brixton Tate Library. Free. A Black History Month celebration of a new generation of Black self-publishers and zine makers.
• Black British Ballet Dance Workshop – Mon 19 Oct, 2pm–6pm, Tate South Lambeth Library. Free (book your place). Ballet meets contemporary, African and Caribbean dance in a fun session for all levels, led by Royal Ballet School graduate Darren Panton.
• Creative Encounters: Poetry and Ink – Wed 21 Oct, 6pm, The Clore Ballroom, Royal Festival Hall. Free, no ticket required. Play with words and stamp-making to help create a giant collaborative visual poem.
• Wavelengths: October – Thu 22 Oct, 5.45pm–8.30pm, Blue Room, Royal Festival Hall. Free, no ticket required. A new night of live performance, workshops and connection for young people aged 14–25.
• Mix & Move: Jazz and Funk – Fri 23 Oct, 3pm–6pm, The Clore Ballroom, Royal Festival Hall. Free, no ticket required. Learn Lindy Hop and funk moves with Grounded Movement – no experience or partner needed.
• Poetry Day! – Sat 24 Oct, from 11am, Queen Elizabeth Hall. Free, no ticket required. The National Poetry Library brings out its hidden gems, with drop-in writing activities for all ages and readings from emerging poets.

Also worth booking

• Martin Guerre – until Sat 31 Oct, The Old Vic. From £14.50. Matthew Warchus directs a thrilling in-the-round reimagining of the musical from the creators of Les Misérables.