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.

1. Serpentine Pavilion 2019 The Japanese architect Junya Ishigami, celebrated for his experimental structures that interpret traditional architectural conventions and reflect natural phenomena, has been selected to design the Serpentine Pavilion 2019. On until 6th October. 

2. Science Museum - Top Secret: From Ciphers to Cyber Security - From the trenches of the First World War to the latest in cyber security, Top Secret explores over a century’s worth of communications intelligence through hand-written documents, declassified files and previously unseen artefacts from the Science Museum Group's and GCHQ’s historic collections. Free entry.

3. V&A - FOOD: Bigger than the Plate - From gastronomic experiments to urban farming, this exhibition brings together the politics and pleasure of food to ask how the collective choices we make can lead to a more sustainable, just and delicious food future. On until 20th October 2019.

4. Natural History Museum - Museum of the Moon - This is a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram. This six-metre model features meticulously detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface, ambient moonlight and an evolving soundscape. It's at the Museum in time for the fiftieth anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, accompanied by an exciting programme of events for space enthusiasts of all ages.On until 5th January 2020.

5. Design Museum - Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition - The exhibition tells the story of Stanley Kubrick the meticulous genius, exploring his unique command of the creative design process of film making, from storyteller to director to editor. You'll see step by step how Kubrick created genre-defining worlds for his films and relive iconic scenes from The Shining, Eyes Wide Shut, A Clockwork Orange, Full Metal Jacket, 2001: A Space Odyssey and more. Age 12+. On until 15th September 2019.

6. Day Promming at the Royal Albert Hall  If you don't have tickets, it's not too late! You can buy promming tickets:Online: A limited number of Promming tickets will be available to purchase online between 9am-12pm on the day of each concert for £7.12.These e-tickets are available for every Prom at the Hall (except the Last Night) and must be printed at home, or presented as a PDF on your smartphone.In Person: All remaining Promming tickets will be sold in person. Tickets are £6 each, limited to one per person, and can be purchased with cash or contactless payment card as the queue enters the building (approximately one hour before each concert and 30 minutes before Late Night Proms).There will be a queue numbering system, so you don’t have to stand in a queue all day. When you arrive at the venue, ask a member of staff for a queue number – these are handed out from 9am – and you can return later to take your numbered place in the queue.

7. Japan House London. Anno's Journey: the World of Anno Mitsumasa. This exhibition explores the work of Anno Mitsumasa, one of Japan’s greatest children’s book illustrators and authors, who is best known for his picture books, with few or no words, published from the late 1960s onwards. The display illustrates the story of Anno Mitsumasa’s life and creative journey. Opens 22nd August – 27th October.

8. Take a trail around South Kensington  - if you are not sure where to go in South Kensington, follow one of our trails around the area and discover hidden gems, museums in a day, things to do on a sunny day, where to take the kids or explore the arts or science trails. 

9. Kensington Palace - Victoria: Woman and Crown. Explore Queen Victoria’s private life behind her carefully managed public image in Victoria: Woman and Crown, a major new exhibition at Kensington Palace. The new display, created to mark the 200th anniversary of Victoria's birth, re-examines how she balanced her role as a wife and mother with that of Queen of an expanding empire. Included in admission.

10. The Italian Gardens, Kensington Gardens - Created in the 1860s, you can find this ornamental water garden on the north side of park, near Lancaster Gate. The gardens are believed to have been a gift from Prince Albert to his beloved Queen Victoria. They are now recognised as being a site of particular importance and are Grade II listed by Historic England.

If you are still not sure where to go, take a look at our calendar of events to find out what is on - you will also find our website is packed with events, stories from the area and some great competitions! Don't forget to sign up to our fortnightly newsletter (via our website) if you want to be kept up to date with what's on in South Kensington.