Where can I use tools free?

Hello all, due to lack of internet it's been a while since I've posted. My bike is finally up and running in London, so now I've turned my attention to getting my girlfriend on a fixie, via singlespeed. I found an old frame with horizontal dropouts which is the perfect size for her, and I managed to find an old 80s (probably) Peugeot that was going spare. I basically was hoping to strip all the desired parts off the Peugeot and put them on the frame I found so that I could save money for a new wheelset with a flipflop hub.
I'm aware that many of the parts might not be so easily swapped over, but I haven't been able to even try because I keep discovering that there is a new tool I need that I don't have. As I'm not even sure the parts are going to work, I don't want to keep shelling out for new tools that I might only ever use once, if at all. So:

Is there anywhere in London (a bicycle collective, bike kitchen, public workshop, etc.) where you can go and use tools for free and just mess around for an hour or two on your project?

I searched the forum and found the ones in hackney and tower hamlets, and was gutted to find that the tower hamlets one is once a month and that it ends in 20 minutes, so I'll have to wait another month. The next hackney one is on 4th december (if it's still running at all - does anyone know/has anyone ever been?). I really don't want to wait another two weeks, as this project was meant to be for her birthday and is already late due to unforeseen costs and tool issues - is there anything of this kind on a more regular basis?

Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions

this place

http://www.56a.org.uk/bikeshop.html

Nice one edmund thats really close to me!

Waltham forest runs one up in walthamstow. I forget the details but i found them on the web.

thanks edmundane, i'll definitely check that out. it'll be a pain getting 2 incomplete frames down there from north london, but i'll figure something out i'm sure...
cheers, hammo, waltham forest is closer, but they won't be open next saturday; if 56a doesn't work out, i'll try them.

thanks, guys

I know a guy trying to start a bike workshop kinda place in Rampart off commercial st too where eventually should be able to go to use tools.... he's always looking for help!

Really Rakan? I'd be interested in that. Do you have any info?

Chris

"this place

http://www.56a.org.uk/bikeshop.html"

Sorry to rain on your parade but I used to live near this place and visited to find that they no longer run the self-help workshop due to lack of volunteers to man it or Health and Safety issues Additionally the site was last updated September 2005 which gives a little backing to my assertion/assumption.
NLL

Check out wiggle they do a cheap tool kit for 34 quid http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360031531&N=LifeLine%20Workshop%20Tool%20Kit

that really is not alot, think of one night out including a cheap meal, or alot of drinking. Unless you are only going to be in the uk for less than 6 months it really is worth buying some tools. That kit will allow you to do most things and make life so much easier.

I got a tool kit like that one, super good. Not pro quality, but enough to stop me skinning my knuckles as often as before...

NorthLondonLight "this place

http://www.56a.org.uk/bikeshop.html"

Sorry to rain on your parade but I used to live near this place and visited to find that they no longer run the self-help workshop due to lack of volunteers to man it or Health and Safety issues Additionally the site was last updated September 2005 which gives a little backing to my assertion/assumption.
NLL

when was the last time you went?
i was there 2 months ago and they just added a few more bits even got a park tools workstand... if they really stopped it it's a shame.

I just bought that Wiggle toolkit today and I got an extra fiver off cos i hadn't bought anything in a while....can't wait til it arrives

i go to 56a most weeks to get new zines, the bike workshop is always open when im there, and if it isnt just ask and they generally open it for you. the times on the website havent been changed, thats why they havent updated the site.

yeah 56a is open for the bike shop but it is a bit random.... i worked there a little a while ago but no one used to go down.

Hammo the info i know is http://www.bicycology.org.uk at Rampart (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RampART_Social_Centre) 13th - 16th December, Alexis on here can probably give you more info otherwise I can find out more for you somewhere. Might check it out myself but not that keen on it.

i know what you mean rakan, one time i was down there and there was this guy there who was talking complete rubbish about how we all dont exist and that we should all be chefs and stuff, very strange. but it is the best place in london to pick up zines, and there always a lot cheaper than that pretentious place on brick lnae where a photocopied zine that cost 50p to make costs £5 because it is "art"