the home of science, arts and inspiration

Free Events in South Kensington

We have an abundance of free events in South Kensington for a great day out. From guided tours through the galleries, self-led walks, a new series of Lates events, free displays and miles of galleries covering art, science, design, natural history and so much more. 

Portrait of Melissa Thompson by Kehinde Wiley

Until 26th Oct 2023
10am-5:45pm
V&A
Map
Visit Website

Nigerian-American artist, Kehinde Wiley is best known for his portraits of people of colour in settings and poses that reference Old Master paintings. Wiley’s portraits replace European figures of power, asking us to consider the power dynamics behind who is represented in these portraits and why.

Titanosaur: Life as the Biggest Dinosaur

31st March-7th Jan 2024
10am-6pm
Natural History Museum
Map
Visit Website

Step into the world of the colossal titanosaur Patagotitan mayorum, the largest known creature to have ever walked our planet. On display for the first time ever in Europe, this is your chance to meet this extraordinary dinosaur up close.

Serpentine's Pavilion 2023

June 2023
Serpentine
Map
Visit Website

Serpentine have announced that Lebanese-born, Paris-based architect Lina Ghotmeh, has been selected to conceive the 22nd Pavilion. Ghotmeh’s Pavilion will be unveiled at Serpentine South in June 2023 with Goldman Sachs supporting the annual project for the 9th consecutive year.

The Web(s) of Life

19th Jun-17th Oct
Serpentine
Map
Visit Website

From June to September 2023 Serpentine will present The Web(s) of Life, a major new exhibition by artist and researcher Tomás Saraceno. The exhibition will present a series of artworks, activities & experiences that explore the ways life forms, weather systems and climate change are connected.

Pay What You Want at Leighton House

First Monday of Every Month
10am-1pm
Leighton House and Sambourne House Museum
Map
Visit Website

Set your diaries for Monday 6 February for the start of a new Pay What You Want scheme at Leighton House. Visit the museum on the first Monday of each month (from 10am to 1pm) and take the chance to only pay what you want to see inside the iconic historic house interiors.

Quiet walking routes to and around South Ken

Discover South Kensington
Map
Visit Website

If you’re planning your trip to South Ken, take a look at our new walking map, created with Footways, where you can discover a range of wonderful routes to take a quiet stroll & discover our extraordinary history. Get off the tube a stop early and explore London’s home of arts, science and inspiration by foot.

John James Audubon and his Birds of America

Now open
10am-5:50pm
Natural History Museum
Map
Visit Website

This free display of engravings from John James Audubon's The Birds of America reaffirms why it continues to inspire artists, bird experts and conservationists alike.

Laughing Matters: The State of a Nation

Until 8th Dec
10am-5:45pm
V&A
Map
Visit Website

Through over 30 objects, ranging from costumes to scripts, from puppets to music, this display unpicks the punchlines to discover what humour since the Victorian era – whether subversive, surreal, mocking or celebratory – can tell us about what it means to be British today.

Pride at the Royal Albert Hall

Royal Albert Hall
Map
Visit Website

Introducing Pride at the Royal Albert Hall, a pop-up exhibition celebrating the rich history of LGBTQ+ trailblazers, icons and events at the Hall.

Seeing Things Queerly

10am-6pm
Science Museum
Map
Visit Website

Follow this self-led trail to discover some of the objects on display at the Science Museum that tell stories of queer communities, experiences, and identities.

Open Samstag- Library Tour

Every Second Saturday of the Month
2pm-2:30pm
Goethe-Institut
Map
Visit Website

Every second Saturday of the month, the library staff at the Goethe-Institut London offer an introduction to the collection and use of the library.

Windrush 75 at the V&A

12 May- 31st December
10am-6pm
V&A
Map
Visit Website

A season of events and displays marking the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush. Find out more about the Windrush generation, their legacies and the impact of the Caribbean on art, design and culture in Britain.

Outdoor Activities for Kids

Online
Natural History Museum
Map
Visit Website

Fun, free things to do in a park, on the street, or anywhere outdoors.

BBC World Service: The Engineers

Royal Commission for the Exhibition 1851
Map
Visit Website

Each summer, the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 holds an Albertopolis event in partnership with the BBC World Service bringing together three ground-breaking engineers and a public audience.

Thomas J Price at the V&A

Until 27th May 2024
10am-6pm
V&A
Map
Visit Website

British artist Thomas J Price is celebrated for his arresting yet contemplative sculptures depicting everyday people. This display sets his work in dialogue with the V&A's historic collections.

Power Up

Opens 27th July
10am-5:30pm
Science Museum
Map
Visit Website

Immerse yourself in this hands-on gaming zone, featuring the very best video games and consoles from the past 50 years. From Pong to Pacman and Minecraft to Mario, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a retro games fan, a serious gamer or just want to beat your family at Mario Kart.

The Zizi Show

25th May- 20th April 2024
10am-5:45pm
V&A
Map
Visit Website

The Zizi Show is a deepfake drag cabaret that explores the ethical problems which exist in Artificial Intelligence (AI). The display explores what AI can teach us about drag, and what drag can teach us about A.I.

WAVE: Currents in Japanese Graphic Arts

6th July- 22nd October
10am-8pm
Japan House London
Map
Visit Website

Explore the vibrant diversity of Japanese graphic arts in this bold exhibition which bridges the worlds of fine art, commercial illustration and counterculture.

Image credit: Naoya Hatakeyama, ‘Blast #5707’, 1998. © Naoya Hatakeyama

Photography Centre

Opens 25th May
V&A
Map
Visit Website

The Photography Centre is the UK’s largest space dedicated to a permanent photography collection. The newly reopened galleries will showcase the museum’s world-leading holdings and enable visitors to experience photography and its diverse histories in new ways.

How Not to Photograph a Bulldog

25th May- 20th April 2024
10am-5:30pm
V&A
Map
Visit Website

This book display reveals how dogs have been used to teach photography, and how dog photography has developed as a discipline in its own right.

Between Two Worlds: Vanley Burke and Francis Williams

12th June- 31st December
10am-6pm
V&A
Map
Visit Website

Explore portraits of two Jamaican gentlemen scholars. Burke's photography and archives, alongside historical artefacts and scientific images shedding new light on the Williams painting, invite reflections on quests for identity and colonial legacies.