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Hidden Treasures

Whether you're visiting South Kensington for the first time, or you've visited a hundred times, here's a list of some of the best, but least well-known, exhibits, galleries, and places.

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.

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.

Behind the Scenes Tour: Spirit Collection

Daily
11am, 3pm
Natural History Museum
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Go behind the scenes with our knowledgeable science educators for a look at the Museum's fascinating zoology collection preserved in spirit.

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.

Take – Away. Blyth Art Fellowship Exhibition

Until 12th Sept
9am - 10pm
Imperial College London
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A free mixed media exhibition by Blyth Art Fellow Lisha Zhong, exploring cultural dysphoria and the personal notion of ‘heritage’ as a result of immigration.

LGBTQIA+ Tours

Last Saturday every month
5pm - 6pm
V&A South Kensington
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Last Saturday of the month, except December. Join the V&A Volunteer Guides to explore gender and sexual identities through a selection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer plus objects in the V&A’s rich and surprising collections.

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.

Future Observatory display

20th Nov - 31st Aug
10am - 5pm
Design Museum
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The first display in a new space for research at the Design Museum is now open. The Future Observatory display showcases six researchers who are confronting environmental concerns and working towards liveable futures.

National Art Library and Archive talks: each Monday from 15 January

https://shorturl.at/ioOV1
V&A South Kensington
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The V&A will be holding free, open sessions every Monday (except bank holidays) in the National Art Library. A member of the Library or Archives staff will introduce the history and purpose of the Library and talk about an item from their collections.

Lucian Freud’s Etchings: A Creative Collaboration

opens 22nd January
10am - 5.45pm
V&A South Kensington
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One of the foremost British artists of the 20th century, Lucian Freud is best known for his figurative paintings, but he also made many etchings, often of the subjects and sitters featured in his painted works. A selection of these intricate and intimate prints will be on display at the V&A South Kensington in 2024.

Leslie Linder: Decoding Beatrix Potter

Until 15th Sept
10am - 5.30pm
V&A South Kensington
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On the 50th anniversary of Leslie Linder’s gift to the V&A, This display celebrates his unrivalled Beatrix Potter collection and shines a light on Linder’s contribution to our knowledge of the world-famous author and illustrator.

Family Trails at the Science Museum

Science Museum
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Go on a journey of discovery and exploration around the Science Museum.

Astronights

Dates and times vary
Science Museum
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If your child has ever wanted to explore the museum after dark, or if the idea of spending the night in one an iconic galleries fills them with excitement, then they’ll love Astronights, a sleepover at the Museum!

Young V&A

Opens 1st July
10am-5:30pm
V&A South Kensington
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Get ready to spark your creativity at Young V&A – the museum where children, young people and families can imagine, play and design. From 1 July 2023, be inspired by spaces, explore our collection and get creative. Right now, keep in touch on social.

Engineers

Daily
10am-6pm
Science Museum
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Engineers shape the world that we live in, creating bold, ground-breaking innovations that respond to global challenges and improve billions of lives. But how much do we know about the people behind these innovations?

Ciné Lumière

Various
Institut français
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Showcasing the best of foreign film - it screens a mix of French, European and Global films - with subtitles.

Treasures

Open Daily
Natural History Museum
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Explore 22 objects spanning 4.5 billion years of the Earth's history in this collection of some of the museum's most extraordinary specimens.. Each exhibit tells a remarkable story and has been chosen for its scientific, historical and cultural importance.

The Royal College of Music Museum & Guided Tours

10:15am–5:45pm
Royal College of Music
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The Royal College of Music's Museum offers a unique opportunity to interact with over 500 years of musical history. Items include the world’s oldest guitar and earliest keyboard instrument with strings. Enjoy a tour of the Museum, led by their knowledgeable team on Wednesdays at 12:30pm.

Serpentine Exhibitions

Daily
Serpentine
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Take a look at the regularly-changing exhibitions, displays and residences in the two Serpentine galleries, Serpentine South Gallery and Serpentine North Gallery on either side of the river in the centre of Hyde Park.

The Italian Gardens

Daily
Kensington Gardens
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The Italian Gardens is a 150-year-old ornamental water garden located on the north side of Kensington Gardens near Lancaster Gate. It is believed to have been created as a gift from Prince Albert to his beloved Queen Victoria.

Blyth Gallery

Open Daily
9am-9pm
Imperial College London
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The Blyth Gallery, curated by Mindy Lee, is an artist-run space for creative exploration of ambitious visual projects. Exhibitions include Imperial College students and staff shows, exhibitions of postgraduate Fine Art student work and work by visiting professional artists.

RGS Exhibitions

Monday to Friday
10am-5pm
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
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The Royal Geographical Society Pavilion has a constantly changing programme of displays that include exhibitions created by external organisations, broadly linked to geographical themes and also by selected sponsors of the Society.

The Cadogan Gallery

Daily
Natural History Museum
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Explore 22 objects spanning 4.5 billion years of the Earth's history. Each exhibit tells a remarkable story and has been chosen for its scientific, historical and cultural importance.From a meteorite to Darwin's pigeons, uncover some of the most extraordinary specimens in our collection.

The Vault

Daily
Natural History Museum
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Some of nature's most unique and valuable treasures are on display in the Vault gallery. See the world's largest collection of coloured diamonds, discover gems that glow in the dark, and marvel at rare meteorites from out of this world.