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Fun things to do with kids in South Kensington

Looking for family-friendly activities in South Kensington? Dive into a world of exploration and experimentation with interactive experiences tailored for families. From music and science to arts, performance, film, parks, playgrounds, immersive galleries, and beyond, there's plenty of inspiring fun for your kids to discover!

T. Rex Show with Teach Rex

30th July - 29th August
Various Times
Natural History Museum
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Teach Rex use life-like dinosaurs to perform their show about the anatomy and life of Tyrannosaurus rex, one the most amazing creatures to have ever roamed our planet.

Energy Revolution: The Adani Green Energy Gallery

Daily
10am - 6pm
Science Museum
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Discover how the world can generate and use energy more sustainably to limit climate change in the Science Museum’s new, free gallery. Energy Revolution looks at the past, present and future of sustainable energy and how we can achieve a low carbon world.

BBC Proms 2024

19 July - 14 Sept
Various Times
Royal Albert Hall
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See your favourite classical standards, a wealth of special guests, contemporary concerts including Florence and the Machine, Sam Smith, and the return of the CBeebies Prom, and much more!

Natural History Museum Gardens Opening Soon!

Daily
10am - 5.50pm
Natural History Museum
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It's official on July 18th will unveil its new gardens! Discover a haven for wildlife sights and sounds this summer season.

Young People: Portrait Photography with Smartphones

8th June & 27th July
2pm - 4pm
Leighton House and Sambourne House Museum
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Learn from the original selfie king, Linley Sambourne, and discover the skills to take your own high quality portraits, inspired by Sambourne's street photography showcased in their exhibition Out in Paris (as part of Out Shopping: The Dresses of Marion and Maud Sambourne (1880-1910).

Serpentine Pavilion 2024

7th June - 27th Oct
Serpentine
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Seoul-based Korean architect Minsuk Cho and his firm Mass Studies have been selected to design the 23rd Pavilion which opens at Serpentine South on 7 June.

Summer Family Festival: Build!

3rd August
11am - 4pm
V&A South Kensington
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Celebrate the vibrant spirit of the Tropical Modernism exhibition, architecture and illustration. Dive into a day filled with immersive workshops, hands-on activities, and captivating performances.

The Sunken Garden

Wed - Sun
9.30-17.45
Kensington Palace
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The beautiful Sunken Garden was planted in 1908, transforming part of the gardens previously occupied by potting sheds into a tranquil ornamental garden. Today, the garden continues the tradition of rotational flower displays in the spring and summer.

Top Gun: Maverick in Concert

27th Sept
7.30pm
Royal Albert Hall
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Experience the Academy Award® winning blockbuster on the big screen, with Lorne Balfe, Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga and Hans Zimmer's epic score performed live-to-picture by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, conducted by Lorne Balfe himself.

Wild Life Drawing Workshop

26th July & 30th August
6.45pm – 9.30om
Natural History Museum
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From Jurassic botanicals to urban wildlife, capture the natural beauty of the Natural History Musuem gardens in this special botanical drawing workshop perfect for beginners and seasoned artists.

Playday

7th August
11am - 4pm
Design Museum
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Join the Design Museum for UK Playday, an annual celebration of playfulness. Explore the rich and lively culture of children’s play throughout the building.

Kensington and Chelsea Art Week public Art Trail

20th June - 30th August
All Day
Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
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An unmissable highlight on London’s summer culture calendar, the Art Trail features world-class sculpture, installations, and murals throughout the borough inspired by thisyear’s curatorial theme Changing Landscapes.

Wonderlab

Daily
10am - 5.30pm
Science Museum
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At this interactive gallery, discover the beauty of the science and math that shape our everyday lives. This unmissable experience will ignite your curiosity, fuel your imagination, and inspire you to see the world in new and exciting ways.

Taylor Swift | Songbook Trail

Opens 27th July
All day
V&A South Kensington
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Explore a free trail across the museum celebrating Taylor Swift, with a range of her iconic looks on display. The costumes will sit alongside instruments, music awards, storyboards and previously unseen archival which will explore her childhood and recording legacy, many on display for the first time.

Museum Family Concert and Workshop

27th July
11:-12:30pm
Royal College of Music
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Enjoy this interactive concert inspired by objects, stories and exhibitions from the Royal College of Music Museum. Hear live music from talented RCM musicians with opportunities for you and your family to creatively contribute to the performance.

Yayoi Kusama: Pumpkin

9th July - 3rd Nov
All day
Serpentine
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Serpentine and The Royal Parks are hosting a new large-scale sculpture by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. Since 1946 Kusama’s pumpkins have taken many forms, colours and shapes, but they are always covered in the artist’s signature polka dot pattern. Located by the Round Pond in Kensington Garden.

Summer Show 2024

20th July - 21st Sept
11am - 5pm
The Royal Society of Sculptors
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This year's annual Summer Show's theme is Reality Check selected by guest curator David McAlmont. Explore a fabulous showcase of members' and fellows' work at Dora House.

Westminster's Inside Out Festival

Various Dates
Various Times
City of Westminster
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Celebrate open-air arts and culture across Westminster this August with the Inside Out festival. There will be inspiring guided walks, dance and drama performances, family workshops, live music and so much more.

Summer Family Activities

27 July – 1 Sept
11am - 4.30pm
Natural History Museum
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Throughout the Summer holidays discover the Natural History Museum's new gardens and enjoy a whole bunch of free family activities from pond dipping to nature-themed arts and crafts.

Image credit: Matthew Kaltenborn

August Design Camps

26th - 29th August
Various Times
Design Museum
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A fun and engaging in-person creative workshops suitable for children aged 8 – 11 and young people aged 11 – 14. Learn skills such as creating with natural dyes, lino printing or skateboard deck design!

Echoes of Untold Lives: Live Performances

21st July - 31st August
11am - 3.30pm
Kensington Palace
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Through live performances and conversations with expert palace guides, discover their forgotten histories in Echoes of Untold Lives, inspired by the Untold Lives exhibition.

Pop up Performance: Anansi and the Lost Sun

31st Aug
11.00am – 3.40pm
V&A South Kensington
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Join Swallow’s Wings Puppetry for a performance mixing puppetry, storytelling, and traditional West African music.

Ocean Odyssey

Dates Vary
Times Vary
Science Museum
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Embark on an extraordinary journey through Earth’s vast ocean highways with a baby humpback whale to uncover the secrets of ocean currents.

Science City 1550-1800: the Linbury gallery

Daily
Science Museum
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Discover the world’s oldest collection of timepieces at the Science Museum. See over 600 watches and clocks charting the history of clock making in London.