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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.

The Natural History Museum Gardens

Daily
10 am - 5.50 pm
Natural History Museum
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Meet a full-size Diplodocus, encounter early mammals, and follow our ancestors’ footsteps. Explore grassland, wetland, and woodland habitats, and see how nature thrives in cities. No booking needed.

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

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.

Family Trails at the Science Museum

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

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

Dates & times vary
Institut français
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Ciné Lumière screens new releases, UK premieres, classics, documentaries, family films, and curated series or festivals, often accompanied by on-stage discussions with directors, actors, and critics.

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

Monday to Friday
10 am - 5 pm
Imperial College London
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The Blyth Gallery, curated by Mindy Lee, is an artist-run space for ambitious visual projects. Exhibitions include Imperial College students and staff shows, postgraduate Fine Art student work and work by visiting professional artists.

Artists Houses Free Walking Tours

Select Thur & Sun
11 am - 12.30 pm
Leighton House and Sambourne House
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Join free guided walks exploring the unique group of Victorian studio-houses built on Holland Park Road and Melbury Road (Kensington, West London) by the ‘Holland Park Circle’ of artists, sculptors and architects.

Sing in French

From 27th Mar
Institut français
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Come and sing with Institut français at one of their monthly singing group sessions. They are open to all levels and will feature songs from the classic repertoire as well as modern tunes. Expect songs by the likes of Brassens, Piaf, Aznavour, Trenet, Renaud, Zaz, Louane and many more.

Star Trek Warp Trail

Until 8th Sept 2026
10 am - 6 pm
Science Museum
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Calling all Starfleet recruits! Discover iconic Star Trek objects and outfits across the Science Museum in this free trail.

The Arab Hall:Past and Present

21st Mar - 4th Oct
10 am - 5.30 pm
Leighton House and Sambourne House
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Leighton House presents the first major exploration of its extraordinary Arab Hall, one of London’s most iconic interiors, through a specially commissioned short film, three site-specific art installations and an exhibition and new publication containing extensive new research.

The Queen's State Apartments

Wed - Sun
10 am - 6 pm from Mar to Oct; 10 am - 4 pm from Nov to Feb
Kensington Palace
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Explore these intimate rooms created for Queen Mary II. The Queen's apartments were where Mary, and later royal consorts, lived. This is where they had their bedroom, took their meals, entertained their friends and distinguished guests, and relaxed.

The King's State Apartments

Wed - Sun
10 am - 6 pm from Mar to Oct; 10 am - 4 pm from Nov to Feb
Kensington Palace
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Explore the King's State Apartments, each grander than the last. These rooms contain many sculptures and works of art, such as the terracotta busts of George II and his wife Queen Caroline, made by Michael Rysbrack in 1738 and 1739.

The Jewel Room

Wed - Sun
Mar to Oct: 10 am - 6 pm; Nov to Feb: 10 am - 4 pm
Kensington Palace
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The Jewel Room displays commissioned gems for Queen Victoria by her beloved husband, Prince Albert.

Image credit: © Cecily Brown, 2026. Photo: Genevieve Hanson

Cecily Brown: Picture Making

27th Mar - 6th Sept 2026
10 am - 6 pm
Serpentine
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Known for her vigorous brushwork, vivid colour and dynamic compositions, Cecily Brown presents paintings inspired by Serpentine’s unique location in Kensington Gardens, a site of personal significance to the artist.

Behind the Scenes Tour: Spirit Collection

Daily
11 am - 11.45 am, 3 pm - 3.45 pm
Natural History Museum
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Go behind the scenes with our knowledgeable science educators for a 45-minute behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum's fascinating zoology collection preserved in spirit.

Beyond the Galleries Tour

Every Friday
3 pm - 4.30 pm
Natural History Museum
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A special tour package that combines the Architecture of the Natural History Museum Tour with a behind-the-scenes library session, where you’ll get to view treasured archive materials up close.

Hyakkō: 100+ Makers from Japan

3rd Dec- 10th May 2026
10 am - 8pm
Japan House London
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Involving more than 120 artists, craftspeople and self-taught makers from across Japan, Hyakkō is a celebration of contemporary Japanese craft aesthetics.

Photography Now

15th Nov 2025 – 12th Sept 2026
10am-5:30pm
V&A South Kensington
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This free display explores some of today’s most pressing issues through diverse approaches to contemporary image-making.

Future Observatory: Tools for Transition

Sept 2025 - Aug 2026
Design Museum
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In this free display, discover four research projects from across the UK that are driving change in housing, healthcare, local planning and resource management.

After:hours adult education

Dates & times vary
Imperial College London
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Join adult education days and evening classes at Imperial. From humanities and science to art and creative writing. Open to everyone.

Image credit: © David Hockney

David Hockney: A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts about Painting

12th Mar - 23rd Aug 2026
10 am - 6 pm
Serpentine
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Presented at Serpentine North, the exhibition will showcase seminal works, shown in the UK for the first time. This event is free!

October Design Camps

October
Various times
Design Museum
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A programme of activities designed for children and young people to get creative, including our popular half-term Design Camps.

IMAX 70MM Season

Various dates and times
Science Museum
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From Christopher Nolan’s genre-defining Batman trilogy to his Oscar-winning epic Oppenheimer, experience a season of stunning IMAX 70mm film classics at the Science Museum this autumn.