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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

Science City 1550–1800: The Linbury Gallery

Discover how London grew from a lively capital city to a global hub for trade, commerce, and scientific enquiry between 1550 - 1800. This new free gallery spanning over 650 m² takes visitors on a journey through the metropolis during a time of momentous change.
Science Museum
Opens 12th Sept
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Emerge Festival 2019

Two nights in September will see a creative kaleidoscope of Lates events take over London. With one ticket, you’ll have access to all the night’s venues and some of the best breakthrough artists in town. Their stage? Dozens of the capital’s iconic buildings. From deep house DJs and neo-soul bands to afrobeat and open mic jams, Emerge is a bona fide festival pick 'n’ mix bringing together some of London’s most electrifying new talent.
27-28 September
Times vary
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Exhibition Road Day of Design

For the finale of London Design Festival, there will be a special event on Exhibition Road focusing on design solutions to the climate emergency. There will be a street celebration to look at the role that design thinking can play in fostering new ideas and changing attitudes to the way we consume food, use energy and deal with waste.
V&A
22nd Sept
11am - 5pm
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The Brompton Design District

During the annual London Design Festival, Brompton plays host to a series of exhibitions and events discovered in shops, showrooms, galleries and institutions, and a curated design programme within temporary spaces in the District. The theme for the 2019 programme is 'Nature / Nurture'; exploring what design is doing to protect and learn from the natural world.
14th - 22nd Sept
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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.

Out & About in South Kensington

South Kensington has plenty of great attractions for you to visit outside from boating on the Serpentine, walking tours around Albertopolis, the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, ice cream in Kensington Gardens and more....

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.

Creative Quarter 2019

Creative Quarter is a day of free events in South Kensington offering thousands of students between the ages of 13 and 19 the chance to explore work in the creative industries and creative careers.

Open House in South Kensington

Open House returns to South Kensington with a chance to join architectural tours, self-guided tours and trails and to go behind the scenes at some of the world's leading cultural institutions.

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Top 10 things to see and do in South Kensington this summer

If you are coming to South Kensington over the summer, here are our top 10 suggestions of great things to do and see in the area.

The Great Exhibition Road Festival 2019

The Great Exhibition Road Festival was a chance to explore the extraordinary this summer. Over one weekend, South Kensington’s Exhibition Road hosted a celebration of curiosity and discovery, with a new, free festival of art, science and culture. 

Team London Ambassadors return to Exhibition Road

Team London Ambassadors return to Exhibition Road this summer to welcome visitors to the area. They will be here until 1st September.

Behind the scenes at the Science Museum

We met with Hannah, an Explainer at the Science Museum, for a little insight into what it’s like working there as well as some visitor tips and top picks.

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.

working together

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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.
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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.

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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