Free Events in South Kensington

Recharge and cool down in the heart of the V&A. A place for kids to paddle in the courtyard shallow pool or grab a drink while surrounded by summer planting and stunning Victorian architecture.

This brand new exhibition celebrates the beauty and precision inherent in Japanese design through the exploration of pictograms – both past and present – and their future potential for international communication.

Join the Museum for this relaxed session in the gardens with Camille Lesforis, founder of The Black Wellbeing Collective. Discover the nature around you, take time to reflect and explore tools and techniques to look after yourself.

A 13m Great Ape by artist Lisa Roet is coming to the Royal Geographical Society, with talks exploring art, science, and sustainability during London's Design Congress.

After a warm and sunny summer, the allotments are bursting with colour, scents, and lots of tasty fruits and vegetables. So, lettuce celebrate! This event is free.

The theme for the 2025 prize is Storm. It invites reflections on the growing volatility of our age, forever poised on the brink of the next crisis. The 12 shortlisted photographers will have their work exhibited at the V&A’s Photography Centre.

Part of an international family of Ismaili Centres, this is a religious, cultural and social space for the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims. This is an opportunity to join a free guided tour of the building, including the roof garden - a hidden gem.

In this free display, look at the life of the man whose vision led to the creation of the Natural History Museum. On display for the first time are a selection of his published works and original drawings.

Join the Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens for their free Bandstand Concert series this August and September!

Spook-tacular free family activities! Come and join this October half-term at the Hyde Park Learning Centre for our scarily good Halloween Discovery Days.

Discover a series of contemporary installations, workshops, talks and more, exploring design’s response to crisis and urgent issues – from natural resource extraction, cultural heritage at risk, geo-political conflicts to AI.

Brompton Design District is a design hub during the London Design Festival featuring a mix of global design brands & cultural institutions alongside a curated programme of exhibits with a reputation for nurturing inventive design by independent designers.

Join artists and designers for a weekend of free workshops, immersive experiences and demonstrations exploring the intersection of art, design and technology.

The Ripple Effect is a newly commissioned ceramic seating installation for the V&A’s garden and pond, by artist and designer Alicja Patanowska.

Celebrate Caribbean culture through fun family activities, games, and stories.

Join artist Chiizii for a free drop-in workshop to create a unique artwork to take home, inspired by your individual food culture.

Wish, Make and Celebrate is a new space for families to explore what brings you joy, through creating a wish, and celebrating the things that makes you happy!

For this year's London Design Festival, Pith® and Marina Willer are collaborating to create an exhibition of expressive and playful sketchbooks, each containing an original artwork by Marina made of colourful stickers forming intricate compositions.

Serpentine is honoured to announce an exhibition of recent works by David Hockney. Presented at Serpentine North from 12 March to 23 August 2026, the exhibition will showcase seminal works, shown in the UK for the first time.

Learn all about the Institut’s fascinating history and stunning Art Deco architecture including its Grade II listed library and recently renovated foyer with guided tours and an archives exhibition, as part of Open House London. This event is free!