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Discover South Kensington is an initiative of the Exhibition Road Cultural Group

Discover amazing exhibitions, inspiring events and great places to eat 

Welcome to South Kensington - London's arts and science district

The Great Exhibition Road Festival returns next year in early July

top picks

Walking Tour: Christmas with Victoria and Albert

Get in the festive spirit and discover the seasonal folklore, traditions and feasts of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. As the year’s shortest day approaches,discover how Queen Victoria and her consort Prince Albert introduced many of the traditions we recognise today.
Kensington Gardens
14th Dec
10.30am - 12pm
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Christmas Choirs

Festive music fills the Grand Entrance this Christmas season. Special recitals are taking place almost daily, performed by friends and favourite choirs from London's choral scene. You can catch them during the day and special evenings!
V&A
1-3, 5-9, 11-22, 29-30th December
10am-5pm
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Luna Winter Cinema

The Luna Cinema, the UK’s leading producer of open air and pop up film screenings, is back with its festive cinema, The Luna Winter Cinema, offering audiences the chance to enjoy classic festive films on the big screen.
Kensington Palace
15th - 22nd Dec
Between 4:15 - 8:15pm
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Father Christmas at the Hall

Father Christmas once again returns to his secret London headquarters at the Royal Albert Hall. In this theatrical walk-around event, children will encounter a range of magical North Pole characters in various spaces of the Hall on their way to meet Father Christmas himself.
Royal Albert Hall
5th - 22nd Decembers
From 9am
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Great Exhibitions

Great exhibitions in South Kensington, London. Experience the design and culture of video games, see extraordinary art, marvel at stunning wildlife photography, explore life in the dark, discover how homes are changing and so much more.

Christmas in South Kensington

The ultimate collection of what to do this Christmas season. Be sure not to miss the fun and check out all the festive treats on offer!

Fun for the Kids

Explore and experiment - interactive activities for families - music, science, arts, performance, film, parks, playgrounds, simulators and so much more here in South Kensington.

Tours and Talks

Enjoy a talk, join a debate, take yourself on a tour or book into one of the guided tours in South Kensington.

A trip to the movies

Enjoy a trip to the movies in South Kensington from blockbusters, live orchestras, film festivals, IMAX screens to Sunday classics. There is something for everyone.

A night out in London

From DJs, films, late night exhibitions, concerts, inspiring talks, immersive performances, sleepovers, Museum Lates, lectures - there is plenty to do here in South Kensington in the evening.

Hidden Treasures

Whether you're visiting South Kensington for the first time, or you've visited a hundred times, here's a list of some of the best, but least well-known, exhibits, galleries, and places.

Music in South Kensington

For all music lovers, South Kensington has plenty to offer from masterclasses, percussion festivals, big bands, classical, world music, live orchestras, music for all the family and so much more.

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Win 2 tickets to the premiere of Cirque du Soleil's LUZIA

We have 2 tickets to the premiere of Cirque du Soleil's spectacular LUZIA at the Royal Albert Hall on 15th January 2020, 7.30pm

Creative Quarter 2019 - inspiring students into creative careers

On 22nd November students from around the UK attended our annual Creative Quarter day which aimed to inspire students to explore creative industries and find out about creative careers through a series of talks, workshops and tours in the cultural and educational venues of South Kensington.

Innovative new arts space, Cromwell Place, to open May 2020

Cromwell Place, South Kensington’s highly anticipated flexible arts space, has recently announced that it will officially open its doors in May 2020 following five years in development.

World's Largest Medicine Gallery opens at the Science Museum

Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries opens at the Science Museum creating the world’s largest medical galleries featuring more than 3,000 medical artefacts, striking artworks, interactive games and immersive experiences that bring the history of medicine to life.

eat, meet & stay

Places to eat

There are plenty of delicious places to eat or enjoy a drink here in South Kensington - from cafes, bars, afternoon tea, cocktails, bars, indoor picnic spots to a weekly Farmer's market.

Places to meet

If you are looking to hire somewhere in South Kensington, London,  whether it is for a conference, private party, meeting room, film location or wedding, there are some unique venues to consider. To make it easier to find, we have compiled a list of venues that are available in the area.

Places to stay

The cluster of world-leading cultural and educational organisations in South Kensington makes this a unique place to stay - with the Science Museum, Natural History Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Hyde Park and the Royal Albert Hall all within walking distance of each other.

Our Story

About Us

Discover South Kensington is an initiative of the Exhibition Road Cultural Group which brings together the leading cultural and educational organisations to promote innovation and learning. South Kensington is the home of science, arts and inspiration.

South Kensington Timeline

South Kensington has a rich history associated with royalty, arts and sciences. Sometimes known as Albertopolis, London's original cultural quarter is a legacy of the Great Exhibition of 1851 organised by Prince Albert. Find out more about our history through our timeline.

Working Together

We work together to promote and develop innovation and learning in arts and science and make this a great place to visit, work, live and study today and for generations to come.

find your way

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Take a tour

One of the best ways to see South Kensington is to explore some of the amazing cultural venues within walking distance from each other. We have put together some suggested itineraries for you to explore – themed around art, science, royal connections, great days out with the kids, exploring the museums and so much more.

Our members

Natural History Museum

Science Museum

V&A

Royal Albert Hall

Imperial College London

Royal College of Music

Goethe-Institut

Institut français

Kensington Palace

Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

Serpentine Galleries

Royal Parks

Design Museum

The Ismaili Centre

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Royal Commission for the Exhibition 1851

South Kensington Estates

The Royal Society of Sculptors

Japan House

Leighton House Museum

Royal College of Art

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