Explore Online

The Institut français has launched a great Click & Collect service for borrowing and returning items. Simple, safe and free to use, all you have to do is order on line, wait for confirmation and go along and pick-up.

Explore a story of natural history discovery in an interactive experience, Making Natural History, Dive into the museum's 80 million specimens, encounter a prehistoric marine reptile in virtual reality, discover pioneering Museum research, navigate the galleries in 360 degrees & take a tour of exhibits tackling natural history themes,

Striving to be the best place in the world for people to enjoy science, the Science Museum's world-class collection forms an enduring record of scientific, technological and medical achievements from across the globe. Explore the museum's exhibitions and online collections.

Explore online the world's leading museum of art and design - the V&A enriches people's lives by promoting the practice of design and increasing knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of the designed world.

As the world is facing a new economic crisis, how could the arts and civil society benefit from blockchain technologies? Hear from artists, curators, technologists and researchers who are using blockchain to revolutionise their way of working in the Goethe-Institut London’s latest Talking Culture podcast episode.

Initiated by the Goethe-Institut London, the first Women in Culture Network explores the increasing impact that women are having on shaping art and culture through interviews with female leaders like Frances Morris, director of the Tate Modern and Milota Sidorova, head of participatory planning at the Metropolitan Institute Bratislava.

The Goethe has an incredible selection of eBooks. In fact, more than 23,000 German language audio books, movies, materials for German language learners, magazines and newspapers available to download from the Onleihe, the Goethe-Institut’s digital library.

The Royal College of Music was the first music conservatoire to partner with the Google Cultural Institute, opening up collections to audiences around the world. The museum and library curate a range of interactive digital exhibitions, drawing on key social and historical themes to enrich our understanding of music history.

Learn German Online - anywhere, anytime and as part of a group! You will not be learning alone but in a small group of between six and 16 participants. The course will introduce you to the German language on the basis of everyday situations, and you will practice your German skills in various ways.

The Royal Society of Sculptors is pleased to provide free downloadable teachers’ resources to support classroom art activities. Have fun!

Championing new ideas in contemporary art since it opened in 1970, the Serpentine has presented pioneering exhibitions of 2,263 artists over 45 years, showing a wide range of work from emerging practitioners to the most internationally recognised artists and architects of our time. Explore more online.

Japan House London invite you to explore the stories about Japanese cultures.including Japanese wine, a Bonsai guide, sake and more.

Find out more about Japanese art and culture through a series of videos and interviews from the Japan House London.

Find out more about Japanese art and culture through a series of videos and interviews from the Japan House London.

For the Design Museum, design is a continually evolving subject which it explores through its exhibitions programme, publishing, permanent collection, learning and research activities. Find out more about the design of some of the most iconic objects from Concorde, to London Transport.

Follow step-by-step instructions for science activities and experiments that are safe and easy to do in the classroom or at home.

Explore over 250,000 objects and archives in the museum's ever-expanding digital collection. Find out about the fascinating histories behind even the smallest objects.

Explore over 325,000 objects and archives from the Science Museum, Science and Industry Museum, National Science and Media Museum, National Railway Museum and Locomotion.

The Science Museum will be sharing updates on their temporary closure, upcoming exhibitions and collection via their newsletters, which you can sign up for.

While our five museums are closed, join us online to discover inspiring stories of scientific achievement on our websites, delve into our incredible collections or through videos and 3D models, hear from scientific pioneers. Explore fun activities to try at home or simply have fun playing our online games.

School’s out for most children and The Royal Albert Hall understands how odd that must feel for the little ones (and the grown-ups!), which is why they asked comedian Tiernan Douieb to make a video for any kids at home who might be a bit worried about current things.

From ancient Chinese ceramics to Alexander McQueen evening dresses, take an incredible journey through 5000 years of human creativity with their online collections.

This history of the V&A is a story like no other. From its early beginnings as a Museum of Manufactures in 1852, to the foundation stone laid by Queen Victoria in 1899, to today's state-of-the-art galleries, the Museum has constantly evolved in its collecting and public interpretation of art and design. Its collections span 5,000 years of human creativity in virtually every medium, housed in one of the finest groups of Victorian and modern buildings in Britain.

A wealth of French resources is at your fingertips. Simply register online to keep up-to-date with daily news and current affairs, magazines galore, audio books, bestsellers - the selection is endless!

Since 1904, the Royal College of Music has published a seasonal magazine, celebrating the achievements of its students, graduates and staff.

Royal College of Music brings you performances from their extraordinary student's on their YouTube channel.

Enjoy a family Create and Make workshop at home. Colour, cut and build to create your own Design Museum exhibition. Colour, cut and build to create your own Design Museum exhibition. Bring the Design Museum to you by building your own furniture exhibition.

The Natural History Museum has lots of fab ideas to occupy yourself and family at home, in your garden or local outdoor space. Make a nature journal, a volcano or explore the world's best nature photography

Our Royal Parks are open for essential daily exercise, be that a walk, run or cycle for those who live nearby. Visit the Royal Park's website for an update on the changes temporarily in place. Please do not drive or use public transport to get to the parks.

Academics and researchers from Imperial College Business School have offered reactions and analysis of the impact of coronavirus on business and the economy.

COVID-19 Response Fund: Alumni accelerate global race against coronavirus. This new fund will help accelerate the critical work at Imperial on COVID-19. All donations, large and small, will make a tremendous difference.

Imperial researchers and Coursera have partnered to offer a free Massively Open Online Course explaining the science behind coronavirus.

Welcome to the V&A, the world's leading museum of art and design. Collections are unrivalled in their diversity. Explore historical and contemporary art and design, including works of art from many of the world's richest cultures.

For all the latest on Coronavirus advice and also disruption to RBKC council services, or additional support from the council, please visit their website.

For updates on the Coronavirus virus and useful links for residents and businesses, please see the Westminster City Council website. There is also a sign-up for anyone who would like to volunteer to help people in Westminster.

While the Gallery buildings are closed, the Serpentine’s work continues. Collected here are some of the ways you can interact with their programmes through online exhibitions, digital commissions, podcasts, special broadcasts and more.

Keep up-to-date with all the key business support from central Government and the Council for the self-employed and businesses within the borough. London Growth Hub has launched a new portal to support London-based businesses and employers to manage and mitigate their exposure to COVID-19 (coronavirus). In this toolkit, you will find all the resources needed to help promote this opportunity to your network:

The Royal College of Music would love to hear from RCM students, staff and alumni about the benefits, quirks and surprises of working from home. They would be thrilled to see your photos and videos and to hear your stories and insights. Join us in keeping the music alive within the RCM Community on Facebook. Here to keep the music alive in the #RCMCommunity!

Learn how royalty used fashion to entertain, control and impress. A History of Royal Fashion takes you into the wardrobes of British kings and queens across five royal dynasties from the Tudors, Stuarts and Georgians to the Victorians and Windsors.

Discover the history and essence of Japanese design through this seminar by Japan House’s Chief Creative Director and President of Nippon Design Center, Hara Kenya.

Led by V&A staff as well as independent researchers, the Lunchtime Lecture programme explores varied aspects of the V&A’s collection and displays in more detail.

If you are looking for inspiration for your next project, look no further than this free, downloadable sewing pattern. Create an original Mary Quant design from 1962: the bold and beautiful 'Georgie' dress. Get sewing!

Whether you're into knitting, coding, or crafting your own furniture, the V&A has got a creative project for you. These fun, free resources and tutorials are all inspired by their incredible collections – bringing you a range of DIY makes to try at home.

Did you know that all clouds are named and classified using a system invented in 1803 by amateur meteorologist Luke Howard? In this film, Alex Lathbridge talks to curator Alex Rose and finds out why Howard named the clouds and what he called them. Take a closer look at Howard's cloud illustrations (as seen in the video) on the Science Museum Group Collection website Clouds.

The Serpentine is collaborating with NOWNESS and K11 Art Foundation on a new online exhibition. Focusing on one artist and artwork gradually unveiled each week, this special moving image programme brings together a group of East Asia-based practitioners, featuring additional online content from the artists, curators and project advisors.

In the late 18th century, women's hair styles went crazy! It wasn't uncommon to see women sporting huge, towering creations coloured with scented powder and decorated with flowers, ribbons or even ships in full sail.

Famous worldwide as the painter of such masterpieces as the Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519) is also renowned for his notebooks in which he recorded his thoughts and inventions. Five of these fascinating notebooks, bound into three small volumes, have been in our collection since 1876 when they were bequeathed to the Museum by John Forster

From light bulbs to motorways and cups of tea to concrete, discover the extraordinary science stories behind familiar objects and technologies we encounter every day.

During this extraordinary period of forced isolation, Serpentine Galleries look for ways to support artists and keep the flame of creativity alive. They would love to hear your thoughts about how you see art's influence in a world changing over the coming months. How can people come together to support artists in this trying time? Please share and tag #SerpentineStories.

Catharsis totally immerses audiences within a digital simulation of a re-imagined old-growth forest, a forest that has developed undisturbed over hundreds of years. A wonderful way to escape and let your imagination run wild.

The Goethe-Institut are presenting weekly online updates about events and offers from the German-speaking world of culture and the arts to keep you entertained and stimulated.

Kensington Palace are bringing the stories of the palace to your home. Brilliant, resilient women have occupied Kensington Palace for over 300 years. For example, can we respect Queen Victoria as feminists? Hear the debate online.

The V&A Illustration Awards are seen as the UK's most prestigious annual illustration competition, celebrating excellence in student illustration. Free to enter, they attract a raft of creativity and talent. Read more on the V&A blog. The winners will be announced on Tuesday 2 June 2020.

Take an intimate look behind the scenes at the V&A in a 6-part series with BBC Two. Made with BBC Arts and Blast! Films, Secrets of the Museum explores some of the most fascinating objects and the curators, conservators, tech experts and teams who look after them.

From our friends in the arts, not to be missed, a wonderful virtual journey celebrating the architecture and heritage of London's historic bridges by transforming the capital at night and lighting up 14 bridges along the River Thames. Once complete it will be the longest public art project in the world.

Delve into the Museum from home with a virtual self-guided tour of the galleries, an interactive experience about Hope the blue whale and audio guides narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

Artists present exclusive sessions from their homes to yours. In these strange times, closing the Hall’s doors is the best way to look after the world, but we are now opening a (virtual) window for you to experience some of the most talented artists around.

Can't get out far to explore nature? The Natural History Museum has got lots of fun activities and ideas to occupy you and family at home, in your garden or local outdoor space.

#DesignDispatches invites you into the lives and work of familiar faces from the world of design, fashion and architecture including Morag Myerscough, Bella Freud, Stella McCartney and David Adjaye. Every Saturday on Instagram TV, tune in to see the Design Museum’s Director, Tim Marlow In Conversation.

Whether you’ve found yourself in charge of your children’s school day, or are simply after some creative fun to fill an afternoon, check out the Young Design Museum strand. Bring the world of design to life through everyday materials and household objects.

Upskill with free learning sessions for adults. Keep  inspired and  informed with fashion starter packs, lunch time sketching with leading architects and more.   Why not use this time to  learn some new skills?

From Alvar Aalto to Zaha Hadid, take a journey into the world of design through  the ages with this look  into the museum's collection and exhibitions - past, present and future.

Virtual Museum: nine ways to explore from home. Delve into the Museum from home with a virtual self-guided tour of the galleries, an interactive experience about Hope the blue whale and audio guides narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

Welcome, naturenauts! Are you ready for an adventure? Grab your phone or tablet to explore the nature on your doorstep.

Every Saturday come online and enjoy a lively discussion with the Design Museum's director, Tim Marlow, and a familiar face from the world of design, fashion and architecture. This coming Saturday 18th April at 2pm, it's the creative duo 2LG Studio.

Get closer to London based artist Morag Myerscough. In conversation with the Design Museum's director, Tim Marl0w.

A new COVID-19 project by Imperial researchers will look for potential new treatments using the computing power of people’s smartphones.

Imperial College London’s Regius Professor of Engineering, Chris Toumazou FRS, is working with clinical researchers to test a rapid, lab-free PCR test that detects COVID-19 and delivers results in just over an hour.

Britain's first astronaut, Helen Sharman, shares her thoughts on confinement and isolation when living and working in space, and how those lessons could apply to isolation during the coronavirus outbreak.

The RCM Chamber Orchestra is joined by three celebrated musicians from the Chamber Orchestra of Europe – violinist Mats Zetterqvist, clarinetist Romain Guyot and trumpeter Nicholas Thompson. Together they perform Brahms' richly textured Symphony no 2.

Jointly run by the RCM and Imperial College, London, the internationally celebrated research Centre for Performance Science (CPS) has launched a major new study to track the effects of Covid-19 on arts and culture students and professionals.

Geography teachers and students: now that your lessons have moved online, why not check out RGS' fascinating case studies and articles that link directly to key stages and course content? From the carbon and water cycles to geopolitics and development, they have a resource to help you learn.

WCC has created some useful links for volunteering in the community, information to support the most vulnerable and an interactive map for local support groups and organisations. Sign up to their newsletter for Coronavirus updates.

Get immersed in the stories behind the RGS' Collections from the comfort of your home.

The coronavirus is an extreme form of the flu which attacks the respiratory system, making the young and the old particularly vulnerable. Aimed at Key Stage 3, 4, 5 pupils.

Venice is one of the best known and most visited historic cities in the world. The 60,000 daily visitors far outweigh its inhabitants, creating demographic and environmental challenges. Can Venice be sustained as a living city for its residents? Suitable for Key Stage 4 and 5 students.

The RGS has created ten curated datasets, on a variety of topics, to help teachers guide students in the use of open datasets. The principles behind these resources can be applied by teachers and students to other relevant open datasets. Suitable for key stages 3, 4 and 5.

Find out more about the Royal Geographical Society's online lectures offered through their School Membership package

What has been happening in Australia? The 2019/2020 fire season has seen abnormally high temperatures, searing heat and vast wildfires, which are still raging out of control. The severity of the wildfires are a consequence of global warming with ‘climatic extremes’ now being widely forecast around the world.

Get inspired and rediscover the joy of science during the stay home guidance. You can join Imperial from wherever you are in the world with their online content and events!

RBKC libraries have a fantastic online library to keep you entertained and uplifted. In addition to daily newspapers, there is a vast selection of journals, comics, books, audiobooks, language-learning platform, reference books and much more! If you don't have a library card, all you have to do is join online and download the CloudLibrary app.

From light bulbs to motorways and cups of tea to concrete, discover the extraordinary science stories behind familiar objects and technologies we encounter every day

Who is going to win the war on COVID-19? When will the pandemic be over? Roger Highfield, Science Director, outlines the science of lockdowns and how to end the pandemic. A fascinating and thought-provoking analysis.

The Serpentine launches 'Earth Perspectives', a new artwork conceived by Olafur Eliasson for Earth Day 2020, comprising of nine images featuring nine different views over the Earth.

Distinct, elegant and vivid in colour, items from the V&A's fashion collections reveal the relationship between Art Deco design and the clothing and jewellery of the 1920s and 1930s. Jeanne Lanvin's 1930s beautiful evening dresses were the epitome of Art Deco elegance, combining simple, fluid forms with severe geometry. Immerse yourself in a bygone era!

Turning their eyes towards the sky, the Russian people pioneered space travel, becoming the first nation to launch satellites, animals and humans into orbit. Their early achievements were seen as a challenge by America, and created fierce competition between the two nations. Delve into a fascinating world of exploration and discovery..

Every Wednesday, the V&A has some exciting ideas to nurture your creativity. Making our world safe and inclusive to all people is a key part of design. This week's challenge is to design something in your home or your community to be more accessible, like this tactile paving slab.

Have you always wanted to learn French but never had the time? Or felt self-conscious amongst a group of strangers in a classroom? Well now you have no excuses! The Institut français has a dedicated team of native speakers who can teach you one-to-one - or even with a group of friends. Work at your own pace and really enjoy learning again. C'est si facile!

Delve into the V&A's archives and discover a weird and wonderful selection of V&A exhibition posters from 1915 – 2015.

Ever wondered about the story behind your underwear? Modesty laws, changing fashions, and a desire for comfort have all influenced the design of underwear over time. Take a rummage through the V&A collection and find everything from the practical to the provocative.

One of the most influential designers of the 2oth Century, Elsa Schiaparelli's subversive, often surreal designs have been beautifully captured in this film, by senor curator, Sonnet Stanfill.

Which post-quarantine couture look you would go for? The V&A would love to hear which option you would choose.

Earth Photo is an international competition and exhibition created by the Society and Forestry England. This virtual exhibition showcases the very best in environmental visual media and how it can better connect us with the world by telling stories and encouraging discussion about our planet, its inhabitants and our treatment of both.

Watch environmental scientist Alex McGoran and take a virtual trip down the Thames to discover how plastic is affecting the animals that call the river home.

Hang out with the Nature Live Online team on Tuesdays at 12.00 and Fridays at 10.30 for interactive talks featuring topical discussions with the NHM scientists and cutting-edge research.

Keeping a nature journal is a great way to record any nature you see, from plants in the park to a spider in your living room. If you keep up the habit, you will quickly build up a record of your local wildlife and surroundings. Your findings could even help scientists monitor wildlife changes.

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Diaphonique's Franco-British fund for contemporary music, Pascal Dusapin’s opera Passion highlights how dance and opera work beautifully together.

Of the Museum's 80 million specimens, only a tiny fraction ever go on display. Uncover colourful stories behind the specimens, meet collectors and curators past and present and read about their contributions to our understanding of the natural world.

Nestled among the iconic museums and institutions of South Kensington, the Ismaili Centre with its distinctive architecture, offers an oasis of calm and harmony. Find out more about its beautiful interiors and stunning roof terrace and its history over the last 35 years.

Japan House launches their first virtual exhibition, 'Anno’s Journey: The World of Anno Mitsumasa', showcasing the lifeworks of the beloved story teller and illustrator. A captivating and sensory experience.

The COVID-19 induced turmoil included US oil prices turning negative for the first time in history. Experts from Imperial have provided analysis of the global downturn in the price of oil.

Want to learn German while social distancing? The Goethe-Institut London's next online group course gets underway on 30 April, providing you with a flexible way to learn #GermanforReal with like-minded people, from the comfort of your home!

The Royal Parks have launched the first episode of the Hidden Stories of the Royal Parks podcast. Sit back and relax in the comfort of your own home as they bring the parks to you.

The Design Museum has the ideal solution to keep your little ones entertained while stimulating their creative juices - and all you need are every day objects found around the home.

The Goethe-Institut's popular podcasts regularly feature a dynamic and thought-provoking selection of exclusive interviews and debates. Kris Nelson, Artist Director of LIFT discusses 'why does theatre matter right now?' against a background of rising right-wing parties, and the current challenges of COVID-19.

For a new residency, the Goethe-Institut London and Somerset House Studios welcome artist, DJ, writer, and performer Juliana Huxtable. Working remotely from her studio, Juliana will be taking part in live streams and artist development opportunities.

Are you a resident of Kensington and Chelsea or a frequent visitor of the local area? Sign up to receive the latest news and updates from the Council via K&C Life, their weekly enewsletter. In addition to discovering more cultural things to do in the area, you’ll learn the latest information about changes in service, Covid-19 support and much more. Stay informed and sign up today.

A research team from Imperial College London, whose COVID-19 model influenced the UK Government's decisions, has written a version aimed at teenagers. Working with Science Journal for Kids, the article comes with lesson ideas, questions, a teacher’s key and a glossary of scientific words with their meanings explained.

Hospitals with no beds or blankets. Emaciated, weak and dying soldiers. Rats and fleas everywhere. When Florence Nightingale arrived with her 38-strong nursing team in the Crimea in November 1854, this was the appalling scene that greeted them. Two years later, she had developed pioneering statistical methods to convince other people that widespread reform was vital.

Imperial College London researchers have launched a new wellness survey to explore the impact pandemic lockdown has had on our mental health, and what determines how we cope with isolation.

Climate change could mean mosquitoes that can carry diseases like dengue, zika and yellow fever become established in southern Europe within 10 years, reveals a new study from Imperial College London.

When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, 35 MSc Petroleum Geoscience students were determined to ensure their field trip to the Pyrenees mountain range still went ahead in an entirely new format, in what is thought to be the first in a UK university setting at Master's level.

The Royal Society of Sculptors has teamed up with ArtUK for this week's creative challenge - sculpture inspired by architecture. Look at books & photos for inspiration from unusual buildings, or explore the internet for ideas from around the world. Then use anything recyclable around your home and start creating!

Take a virtual tour of the magnificent Crystal Palace and experience its innovative design and beauty. Constructed in 1851, it defined Prince Albert's ambitions to showcase the best of Victoria's reign.

The Isabella Plantation is famous for its azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias, but The Royal Parks have had to close it to the public for now. You can still see and experience its spectacular flora as it comes to life in late April and early May each year.

South Korea is a success story for managing Covid19. Is surveillance the answer?

Serpentine Galleries presents a new online exhibition series on NOWNESS in partnership with contemporary artist Cao Fei, who shares her Pac-Man-inspired installation to launch the series.

Roger Highfield, Science Director, explains why the fate of the nation rests on a seemingly simple number R - the ‘reproduction number' - and the cornerstone of the Government’s lockdown policies. Another great read.

The Science Museum's Learning Resources is bursting with interesting and fun experiments. Bring the wonder home and explore science and maths with their hands-on activities the whole family can do together.

Discover more about how science and maths affect the world around us with the Science Museum's free games, and apps. Spring your way through 30 obstacle levels on Launchball or test your own all-terrain space rover.in Rugged Rovers. For early learners through to KS4.

Every week Westminster libraries will be posting their #BookoftheWeek. This week's book is Normal People by Sally Rooney - and to make it even easier you can download a copy from cloudLibrary with your library card.

Fun activities for young ones to discover more about this iconic landmark and its namesake Lord Leighton. Learn about the amazing paintings which line its walls and create a masterpiece of your own!

Imperial College's adult education classes are open to everybody, offering a broad expanse of courses in the arts, languages, humanities and sciences. A great way to learn new skills, keep in touch and make new friends.

RAHome has even more great artists performing exclusively from their homes to yours. These are exceptional times but our iconic house of music has risen to the challenge. Reserve your seat for the Kaiser Chiefs, Tim Burgess, and Imogen Heap, who's letting her fans choose the setlist.

In the latest Imperial College podcast, hear about Britain’s intelligence and mental health, COVID-19’s impact on primary care, and a sustainable economic recovery after the pandemic.

On the 10th anniversary of Diaphonique, the Franco-British fund supporting contemporary music, Institut français hightlights Errollyn Wallen CBE. For the bicentenary of the abolition of slavery in France, the Belize-born British composer created Only, a work in response to Afro-West Indian 18th century composers Ignatius Sancho and Chevalier Saint Georges.

70 years after Partition, Shreyashi Dasgupta goes in search of her grandfather's old home. A tale that explores the idea that even the greatest moments in history are played out in small, intimate, human dramas. One of many fascinating podcasts you can watch with the Royal Geographical Society.

Inspire students' creativity and passion with the Design Museum's fantastic range of ready made lessons. Make a wiggle side chair, redesign your kitchenware or design your own environmentally friendly packaging - with everyday materials and household objects.

Hard to believe that Pac-man turns 40 this month. To celebrate, Head of Commercial Experiences and gaming fan, Mark Cutmore explores the story of the much-loved character and pop-culture icon and the undisputed granddaddy of gaming mascots.

Reserve your spot every Friday with Kensington & Chelsea Libraries' Book of the Week. This week Chan Ho-Kei’s Second Sister is up for discussion; part-thriller, part-detective, it's a tale of sexual harassment, internet bullying, and youth suicide.

Westminster Libraries & Archives have some great online activities for your kids from rhyme time on Wednesday mornings to story telling on Mondays and Fridays.

The Royal College of Music is the first institution to partner with digital sheet music library nkoda, offering students access to hundreds of thousands of scores.

In celebration of 80 years in Exhibition Road, Ognisko Polskie would love to see your drawings, paintings or illustrations of their building, or something that reminds you of them. Email your creations to: office@ogniskopolskie.org.uk by 21.6.20.

Join Historic Royal Palace's Joint Chief Curator, Lucy Worsley, in a special one-off programme, 'Lucy Worsley's Royal Photo Album', as she uncovers the stories behind some of the most famous photographs of the British Royal Family.

Not everyone can come to the Royal Parks right now, so they want to bring the Royal Parks to you. Be prepared to escape into the nature, heritage and beauty of these incredible green spaces from the comfort of your own home.

Join the NHM for their first ever Lates Online streamed live on Friday. Grab a drink, turn on your computer, and take part in a quiz and panel discussion.

This is a hairy anglerfish, one of only 17 discovered so far. This specimen is particularly intriguing because it has a huge expanded stomach. Scientists didn't want to cut it open and damage the specimen so instead used a CT scanner to discover what was inside.

A virus is showing us how interlinked we are globally and yet how fragile our public life is. What does the pandemic mean for each of us and for society as a whole? Artists and intellectuals from around the world respond to our present predicament and what lies in store.

DesignDispatches's latest chat is with Design Museum's Director, Tim Marlow, and interior designer, Sophie Ashby and fashion designer, Charlie Casely-Hayford about their personal style, working in partnership and design inspirations.

In the first of a series of seminars on COVID-19, two experts will talk about their work into mitigating the impacts of this infection through the development of a new vaccine and other therapeutic approaches.

Lockdown and school closures in Europe may have prevented 3.1m deaths. This is the conclusion of a modelling study from Imperial College London scientists, published online in Nature today, which suggests that lockdown measures have been sufficient to control the growth of the epidemic.

Watch curator Alex talk about the world’s first fitted kitchen, made to fit the room perfectly - and then have a go at designing your own.

New simulations from Imperial College London have revealed the asteroid that doomed the dinosaurs struck Earth at the 'deadliest possible' angle. Such a strike likely unleashed billions of tonnes of sulphur, blocking the sun and triggering the nuclear winter that killed the dinosaurs and 75 per cent of life on Earth 66 million years ago.

In times like these, the reflective space poetry offers can give respite to breathe and recharge. Every day this week book suggestions from Westminster Libraries' staff will be highlighted. All the books are available for free on their cloud library service with your membership card.

What’s your experience of engaging with arts and culture online during the COVID-19 crisis? Have you discovered new art forms? Has it helped to boost your mood? The Royal College of Music would love to hear from you in their survey.

Punk Science man Dan shows us how to save energy and resources and look cool at the same time (well, almost!)…

Do you kids like making noise? Using a kind of gong made from a coat hanger and some string, this activity investigates how sound travels, The gong makes a surprising and intriguing sound – but only when you have your fingers in your ears.

Asian ceramics have been the subject of international and inter-Asian trade for over one thousand years. Transported by sea through dangerous waters, many of these ceramics never made their final destination, but not all have ended up on the ocean's bed.

This awe-inspiring series has seen the release of three creatures captured on 50p coins - the Megalosaurus, the Iguanodon and the Hylaeosaurus that originally led the coining of the term ‘dinosaur’ in 1842.

Everyone has their own favourite tunes, songs that make their mind drift off into daydreams or remind them of a particular time in their lives. But what happens when we listen to music we like? Or more accurately, how do our brains respond to music even if we claim not to like it?

During times of pandemic, a host of everyday, often-overlooked ‘objects’are suddenly charged with new urgency. Pandemic Objects is one of many thought-provoking articles written by V&A bloggers.

In the second series of conversations with contemporary artists, classically trained calligrapher, Soraya Syed, talks about her creative journey. Through the talks, Leighton House will showcase Frederic, Lord Leighton’s travels and appreciation of Turkey.

From goats colonising deserted streets in Wales to cleaner air and clear skies in London, the Covid-19 pandemic has presented a unique view of our world with minimal human presence. As part of a brand new public engagement initiative around the environmental impacts of the virus, the Natural History Museum is gathering data to illustrate how the movement of people has altered during lockdown.

In Imperial's latest edition of podcasts, we find out how to make a billion COVID-19 vaccines, why women feel unsafe on public transport, and how emerging economies fare under COVID-19.

Crisis and the rise of the right... We refer to Europe mainly in terms of its political and economic systems, and often only when those systems are being challenged. With Brexit now a certainty, we want to address Europe as a place and as a concept - a continent formed of an international community.

RBKC Libraries Book of the Week is Julian Barne's exquisitely written The Sense of an Ending. Tony Webster and his clique first met Adrian Finn at an all boys' school. Sex-hungry and book-hungry, they traded affectations, in-jokes, rumour and wit. Now Tony is retired. He's had a career and a single marriage, a calm divorce. He's certainly never tried to hurt anybody. Memory, though, is imperfect. It can always throw up surprises, as a lawyer's letter is about to prove.

A wonderful opportunity to see and listen to Michael Morpurgo each day as he reads an extract from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince, accompanied by Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Okri, Jade Anouka, Ruth Wilson & Thereal Nihal. Stay for the discussion afterwards othe timeless themes of this classic tale that still resonate today, from writing in times of crisis to the importance of cross-cultural relationships between countries to celebrate lasting creativity.

How can botanical knowledge support practices of ecological and personal healing? Victoria Sin and Lucia Pietroiusti co-host a round table with Emma Nicolson from Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh with artists Keg de Souza, Nabihah Iqbal and botanist Greg Kenicer. Featuring sound works by Rachel Pimm and Keg de Souza.

Did you know... Atwood was known to carry around newspaper clippings to demonstrate The Handmaid’s Tale’s basis in reality. Set in New England in the near future, Atwood posits a Christian fundamentalist theocratic regime in the former United States that arose as a response to a fertility crisis. Free to download with your library card.

The Wornington Green Estate in W10 is a unique part of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, sitting adjacent to the famous Portobello Road. Soon to be demolished as part of a major regeneration project, the residents spent a year documenting and preserving a people's history, creating an installation which travelled the North of the Borough. A fascinating glimpse into the lives of individuals that make up London.

Are you wishing you were at Worthy Farm this weekend? Explore the Glastonbury Festival Archive at the V&A and find out how you can can add your memories to this eclectic and fascinating resource that documents how the Festival has developed over the past 50 years.

In his latest blog exploring the science of coronavirus, Science Director Roger Highfield speaks to Sir Michael Marmot, Director of the Institute of Health Equity at UCL, about why some communities are at higher risk of COVID-19.

From joyful depictions of nightclubs to the tensions between police & the Afro-Caribbean community during the late 1970s & early 80s, ​Denzil Forrester (Painting, 1983) ​has been painting about the British Afro-Caribbean experience​ f​or nearly 40 years.

In the last entry in the Royal Society of Sculptors' series of blogposts written by their Trustees whilst in lockdown, Richard Stone FRSS considers time and balance through the medium of a dandelion clock - a perfect, timeless form.

Bringing together world-leading experts in polar and marine exploration, the expedition aimed to solve unanswered questions about one of the most remote and least-studied wilderness areas on our planet. From Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 5. ,

The Institut français has launched a great Click & Collect service for borrowing and returning items. Simple, safe and free to use, all you have to do is order on line, wait for confirmation and go along and pick-up.

Sir Ian Blatchford describes how the Science Museum Group is focused on meaningful and ongoing change in response to Black Lives Matter.

Trumpet virtuoso Håkan Hardenberger leads Jack Wilson through a masterclass on From the Wreckage, by RCM Research Fellow in Composition Mark-Anthony Turnage. Supported by the RCM Symphony Orchestra under the directorship of Timothy Lines, watch this engaging journey through a classic of contemporary concerto repertoire.

This time last year hundreds of staff, students and volunteers were getting ready to host the Great Exhibition Road Festival. We’re sorry Covid-19 means we can’t do it all again this year but it means we’re even more excited about 2021. Meanwhile, relive some of the highlights of last year here.

Flowers in a Glass Vase (1667) is the earliest-known signed work by the Dutch artist Jacob van Walscapelle. This striking still life explores the theme of transience, depicting a bouquet of fast-fading flowers. Ironically, the beauty of the painting itself had started to fade, as it had not been treated since it arrived at the V&A in 1900. A fascinating video of its transformation.

The Science Museum has joined forces with the BBC to bring you Bitesize Daily. Experience the wonders of science at home with exciting experiments and demonstrations carried out using exhibits at the Museum's Wonderlab: The Equinor Gallery in London.

'The perniciousness of Covid-19 is that it forces physical separation, even in death' writes Catrin Jones, Chief Curator at the V&A, in her blog about the pandemic's effect on mourning. Even in our digital age, virtual goodbyes cannot compensate for the touch of a hand, which has become a public marker of personal rites of passage. An absorbing read.

Researchers have solved the mystery of why a species of bacteria that causes food poisoning can swim faster in stickier liquids, such as within guts. The findings could potentially help scientists halt the bacteria in its tracks,

The Shellworks, founded by Imperial College London graduates Insiya Jafferjee, Amir Afshar and Edward Jones, won the Venture Catalyst Challenge 2020 for their invention which turns waste crustacean shells into biodegradable, composable products that can be used as an alternative to plastic. 6.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste has been created on earth to date but might now become a thing of the past.

Multi-award-winning musician and composer Nitin Sawhney will present a special session from lockdown as part of the Royal Albert Home series. Sawhney has had a rich and varied career, working across music, film, television, theatre and dance as a producer and composer. Expect at-home performances, classic clips and stories from Nitin himself.

Science Director Roger Highfield explores how growing human tissue into mini-organs, or ‘organoids’, will help the fight against COVID-19, from explaining puzzling complications to creating novel treatments.

With the outbreak of coronavirus, many of us are spending more time at home. With quizzes being particularly popular here's a ready-made quiz round of 15 questions featuring facts from the Science Museum Group Collection.

Volcanic eruptions are one of the most powerful natural forces on our planet. Making your own miniature erupting volcano is a great, safe way to start learning about these incredible geological features.

Technology is revolutionising modern medicine and has the potential to impact all of our lives. But how much do we understand the developments shaping the future of healthcare? ARTxSCIENCE brings together students from the Royal College of Art and the Centre for Doctoral Training in Smart Medical Imaging to collaborate and create innovative digital exhibitions to open up the conversation around cutting-edge research. RCA student Beth Hadfield as part of her Simulated Vessel film in the 'Artificial Intelligence' exhibit.

Singer-songwriter Becca Stevens will deliver an exclusive set from her home in Brooklyn as part of the Royal Albert Home sessions. Since making her debut with the 2008 album Tea Bye Sea, the multi-instrumentalist has won plaudits for her distinctive blend of genres including jazz, Irish folk and indie-rock.

SK Shlomo will deliver an exclusive set from his home as part of the Royal Albert Home sessions. The genre-defying, award-winning, record-breaking beatboxer, producer and live-looper burst into the mainstream as ‘Shlomo’, collaborating with Björk and performing with famous fans including Damon Albarn, Lily Allen and Imogen Heap.

RBKC is launching a Culture Plan with a difference in September. There will be fantastic choice of online and open space activities for residents and visitors. The world-famous Notting Hill Carnvival is going digital; front row seats guaranteed! Theatre projects will bring together playwrights and actors with the local community, and K+C Art Week will be creating a public art trail in shop windows on the iconic King's Road and Kensington High Street.

For the first time, a new study simultaneously tracks brain activity, eye movements and body movements of a pro race car driver in extreme conditions. The Imperial College London research team worked with Formula E World Champion Lucas di Grassi to compare how his brain and body reacted to steep curves and straight segments of the Top Gear race track under wet and rainy conditions. The results, published in Scientific Reports, could help explain how experts in physical tasks have tuned their bodies to react.

The Solar Orbiter spacecraft has unveiled its first images, including what appear to be ubiquitous miniature solar flares. The ‘campfire’ flares may solve a longstanding mystery about our star: why its outer atmosphere is hotter than its surface.

How has the coronavirus pandemic impacted upon what and how we eat? In a new Imperial Stories feature, Imperial College London experts explain how our diets have been affected by COVID-19.

The Institut français' online French courses have proved so popular that they are continuing through July and August. There's still time to sign up and there's a great choice: if you're an early bird, a night owl or a determined intensive learner, their timetable can accommodate all!

Congratulations to the winners of the 2020 Awards. From imaginary worlds and fairy-tales to the difficult reality of life in a refugee camp, the winners of this year's awards demonstrate the versatility and breadth of contemporary illustration.

RBKC is launching a Culture Plan with a difference in September. There will be fantastic choice of online and open space activities for residents and visitors. The world-famous Notting Hill Carnvival is going digital; front row seats guaranteed! Theatre projects will bring together playwrights and actors with the local community, and K+C Art Week will be creating a public art trail in shop windows on the iconic King's Road and Kensington High Street.

Scientists have tracked a ‘boomerang’ earthquake in the ocean for the first time, providing clues about how they could cause devastation on land. The rupture initially spreads away from the initial break but then turns and runs back the other way at higher speeds.

An increasing number of women, supported and encouraged by Imperial College, are participating in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-related careers, leaving their mark and encouraging future generations of women to take up the gauntlet. Watch some of their women in action and find out how you can follow in their footsteps.

Imperial’s COVID-19 Response Team has been working with health services and governments around the world to help plan responses to the pandemic. Since January, the team have been working relentlessly to model the pandemic in real-time, providing policymakers and health leaders around the world with the latest estimates of the scale of outbreaks.

Join the surgeon and academic Professor Roger Kneebone in conversation with unorthodox people whose careers defy traditional boundaries and who swim against the tide. Howard Williams, distinguised international conductor, explores the parallels between our experiences, discussing similarities and differences between music and medicine.

A quarter of British mammals are at risk of extinction. Out of the 47 native mammals, 11 are at risk of extinction, including the much-loved hedgehogs and water voles. Discover tips on how to help hedgehogs and build your own hedgehog house.

A morning of talks exploring alternative ways of living through ‘Active Engagement’ by Art & Design practitioners by leading researchers and practitioners. The speakers will discuss aspects of their practice, share their insights, and offer their views and opinions to explore the theme of active engagement.

An online festival showcasing films by designers, and films on design by filmmakers and artists. Students from three graduate programmes investigate the relationship between design and film – film as a medium of worldmaking, film as a response to and reflection of current environments and conditions, film as a material for research and development and film as a conceptual and practical tool for designing.

Awarded Industrial Fellow 2018, Ben Barnes is developing a method to purify exosomes that is both scalable and economically viable, so that they can be used therapeutically. Purification of these biomolecules is essential for the development of regenerative treatment, which could potentially be used to tackle cancer and act as delivery vehicles for therapeutic molecules.

James Bowen's A Streetcat Named Bob is Westminster Libraries' Book of the Week. Since the publication of his popular book, Bowen now dedicates his time to working with homelessness, literacy, and animal welfare charities. Visit one of their libraries today and give it a read!

What is queer ecology? How do queer theory and artistic practice inform environmental activism and climate justice? How can we think decolonisation and queerness together? Victoria Sin welcomes guest host Kostas Stasinopoulos to dive into transformation, queerness, the natural and unnatural, wild, decolonial and submerged perspectives

New development plans for South Kensington station include much needed step-free access to the street and museum subway. The deadline for comments on the planning application is 4 September. If you use the station and care about its future, please have your say on the planning application.

The Ismaili Sounds presents Shab-e-Didam, a song in praise of Hazrat Ali. This rendition is performed by the DN Khorog Band from Tajikistan and features original lyrics by the celebrated Persian poet and philosopher, Hafez-e Shirazi.

How about a French top-up! The Institut français is holding Express Saturday Group courses from 12 September. The classes are small, and you will get a lot of support and attention. If you've always wanted to learn but from the comfort and security of your home, sign-up now! And if you're still not sure, hear what some of their students have to say.

A podcast series where you can take a behind-the-scenes look at the eight Royal Parks. From the Royal Observatory of Greenwich Park to the roaming deer of Richmond, explore 5,000 acres of historical parkland right in the middle of London. Meet some of the incredible experts who work at The Royal Parks and discover the fascinating stories of these iconic green spaces.

Join Nick de Leon of RCA’s School of Design in conversation with Laura Citron, CEO of London & Partners and Theo Blackwell, Chief Digital Officer for London. They will discuss the importance of collaborative and inclusive Open Innovation (OI), exploring its importance to London, the role of place in designing OI strategies and the importance of diversity and inclusion in OI.

When we think about the history of exploration, we often imagine it as the work of exceptional individuals in extraordinary circumstances. Men and women venturing forth on some incredible journey, a fundamentally collective and shared experience. This wonderful online exhibition draws on images of exploration since 1800.

Sharks’ non-bony skeletons were thought to be the template before bony internal skeletons evolved, but a new fossil discovery suggests otherwise. The discovery of a 410-million-year-old fish fossil with a bony skull suggests the lighter skeletons of sharks may have evolved from bony ancestors, rather than the other way around.

A new website uses reported cases and deaths to estimate the probability regions in England, Scotland and Wales will become COVID-19 ‘hotspots’. The team behind the website, from Imperial College London, define a hotspot as a local authority where there are more than 50 cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 of the population per week.

For all who love creating beautiful things or simply being inspired by other's creativity, don't miss Leighton House Museum's new series The Artist Studio, featuring three contemporary artists who respond to Leighton House collections using their craft.

Introducing Professor Universe who has seven educational videos for children aged 6+. This fun, educational series is like Monty Python meets Bill Nye the Science Guy. After crash landing on a strange planet, Professor Universe must use his knowledge of science to get back home. Get ready to learn about orbits, light, stars, gravity and more with a cast of weird and wonderful characters.

Sanne Visser is a Dutch designer who works and lives in London. Learn how to harness the potential of natural materials and circular design in a behind-the-scenes look into her home studio.

Stay informed with the latest news, announcements and stories from the Royal Geographical Society.

From questions about the Imamat and AKDN to history, science, and popular culture, quiz yourself, test your knowledge, and play with family and friends! A new set of questions will be released each week.

Do you live, work, study or visit Kensington & Chelsea and want to explore a new cultural corner in the borough? Take a look at their new One Year Culture Plan! They have over 50 ambitions including digital programs, from investing £175,000 in the delivery of the digital Notting Hill Carnival to supporting Kensington + Chelsea Art Week, working with local artists and creative studios for its annual public art trail - and the launch of their first ever Culture Night on 2nd October.

An international team of astronomers from Cardiff University and Imperial College has discovered a rare molecule – phosphine – in the clouds of Venus that could indicate the presence of life.

The digital artwork “Earth Speakr” by Olafur Eliasson on the occasion of the German EU Council Presidency invites children to speak for the planet – and adults to listen to what they have to say.

Back by popular demand, Playful Prints! Discover how prints were made before photocopiers and printers were invented, then have a look at the V&A's fantastic collection of prints (which go back over 600 years) to fire your imagination. And if you want to try something really different, have a look at woodcut prints

In an everchanging world, designers of tomorrow need to be inspired. The V&A's Innovate is a fantastic opportunity for students in years 7, 8 and 9 to work in teams to design a solution to a real-world problem. The two themes this year are Home and Community. Become an Innovator.

As part of the Royal College of Art's In Session events with leading designers, Nadia Danhash, Director of InnovationRCA discusses with Judah Armani, Founder & Director of InHouse Records, about how to tackle some of the toughest challenges of our age, through design.

The Crystal Palace dinosaurs might look comically incorrect, but they hold an important place in the history of palaeontology and at the time of construction in 1854 were as accurate as was possible based on the scientific data available. But just how much did Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins and his scientific advisors get right and wrong about these prehistoric reptiles?

Since their Book of the Week group began in June, K&C libraries have welcomed participants from as far as America, Saudi Arabia, and the Philippines. Every Monday on their social media channels, a new book will be chosen for a discussion on the Friday. This week it's Murder on The Orient Express by Agatha Christie. Get reading!

First to feature in Japan House London's new travel series, is the Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum, an interactive open-air space in western Tokyo featuring preserved buildings from the Meiji period. Take a look at a wonderful selection of Japan's culture from

The Ismaili Sounds is pleased to present Calmate, performed by Hip-Hop artist Fidah, who in this song explores the balance between faith and world, and encourages open conversation on the existential questions of life.

The Institut français has made it so easy to sign up and learn French. They've even extended the starting date to October. You can learn with your own tutor or with a friend or in a group. The possibilities are endless. And if you book now they're offering an early bird 10% discount. There's no excuse!

A fortnightly online talk series on cultivating care for the world beyond our lifetimes. 2020 is a poignant reminder that we need longer-term thinking now to tackle the existential risks we face and create a better world for future generations. It will bring together leading thinkers and doers from art, culture, philosophy, science, technology, law, finance and politics to take a longer view. Speakers will explore how engaging with the long-term can change the way we act in the short term.

Celebrate science and the arts at home with a year-round programme of online events from organisations across South Kensington. This month. peek behind the curtain with a magician helping surgeons develop new skills and explore how arts engagement affects mental and social wellbeing.

Set off on a treasure hunt to unlock the secrets of the museum hidden in its walls. Meet a cast of characters, collect gems and reveal the museum's secrets!

Use objects from around the home to help you create your own story. Then design the costumes and sets, and bring it to life! Take a look at the objects in the V&A collections for more inspiration. Designed for ages 7 and up.

Becoming a master craftsman took years of hard work. Beginning as an apprentice you then became a journeyman, often travelling for miles around the country. Eventually, you might join a guild as a master craftsman. Can you become a master of your trade? Start the game as an apprentice and test your skills.

Tribes is a fascinating exploration of both the benign and malign effects of our very human need to belong. How this need – genetically programmed and socially acquired – can manifest itself in positive ways, collaboratively achieving great things that individuals alone cannot. And yet how, in recent years, globalisation and digitisation have led to new, more pernicious kinds of tribalism.

There’s not much fun to be had on a rainy day, but Emma-Jayne Parkes wanted to use her design skills and a special type of ‘smart’ material to change that perception. Discover more about her Squid London’s colour changing umbrella!

Play with objects, artworks and your favourite animals in these creative drawing challenges designed for ages 7 and up. Start off by sketching a creature in clothes, and then create your own funky critter.

Rediscover the V&A’s Raphael Court - home to the iconic Raphael Cartoons - reopening on 14 November. Following an extraordinary refurbishment, gain a new understanding of the ingenuity of Raphael and explore the fascinating history of a Renaissance treasure. They were commissioned in 1515 by Pope Leo X for the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel and depict the lives of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul – Fathers of the Christian church. The Cartoons have been on loan to the V&A from Her Majesty The Queen since 1865.

My Dino Mission AR is aimed at 7-10 year olds and enables budding young palaeontologists to help a stranded dinosaur get back to its own time period many millions of years ago. Combining the latest augmented reality technology with STEM skills, children can recognise a dinosaurs’ species, what it eats, likes and needs to survive. Young explorers can care for and capture fun photos of themselves interacting with their new dinosaur friend in the backdrop of their home or back garden

Flick through Wildlife Photographer of the Year images and explore the exhibition at your own pace (and without the crowds!) in this online gallery filled with stunning nature photographs.

This Black History Month the RGS is sharing the stories of Black geographers from the 1800s through to the present day who have contributed to the better understanding of our world. Each Thursday during October, they will be sharing short profiles of some of the Black geographers who have a connection with the Society or who appear in the Society’s historical Collections.

Explore the universe from the comfort of your home in a series of online talks hosted by Japan House London which introduce the exciting work of JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Various dates to be announced soon

The most prestigious global environment prize in history is being launched today by Prince William with the Aga Khan Development Network as a Founding Partner. The Earthshot Prize aims to encourage large-scale change over the next 10 years — a critical decade for the Earth. To find out more visit

The French Film Festival will return to the Ciné Lumière in December and January. Meanwhile, enjoy the most anticipated films by first class directors and with your favourite French stars (Isabelle Huppert, Gérard Depardieu, Juliette Binoche, Vincent Cassel) online from 27 November to 4 December.

Chosen by the V&A's African Heritage Gallery Guides, this selection of extraordinary objects invites you to take a closer look at European depictions of race, enslavement, pride, freedom, equality and activism.

With Christmas just around the corner, the Natural History Museum has hand-picked a selection of presents perfect for lovers of the natural world. Choose from ranges that promote sustainability, products that support communities or unique experiences - all with nature in mind.

Look no further than the Science Museum for some space-inspired gifts to share your love of astronomy this Christmas, from fun little stocking fillers for kids and adults to games for budding young scientists.

This year, the Goethe-Institut will end their monthly Goethe-Kino screenings with Maria Speth's film Madonnas. After her release from prison, Rita is re-united with her five small children. When she meets an American soldier stationed in Germany, some stability seems to enter into her life. But Rita doesn't trust normality. Actress Sandra Hüller (Toni Erdmann) gives a daring performance in this portrait of motherhood.

South Kensington's museums and galleries might be temporarily closed for a month but their online shops are still open and bursting with great ideas for Christmas presents. It’s a great way to support these charities at this difficult time. So put your feet up, relax and unwind with a little retail therapy!

Discover a fantastic selection of ideas from the Royal Albert Hall gift shop, featuring exclusive prints, souvenirs, and the ever-popular Steward Bear - and more..

The Serpentine Galleries have an exceptional selection of ideas and presents for Christmas, from limited prints from Anish Kapoor: Monad, Maria Lassnag and the recent Cao Fei exhibition to beautiful publications and Tracy Emin's fragrance, exclusive to the Serpentine.

The Design Museum Shop sells a unique selection of classic, beautiful and cutting edge books and objects for wonderful and unique festive gifts.

In this lecture Dr Kate Simpson explores the RGS-IBG’s digital library to identify the African women in the expeditions of David Livingstone, to present alternate narratives of exploration through which these women can be restored, and to reinscribe their role within the historical archival record

In the fourth instalment of the Serpentine's General Ecology project, an ongoing series of festivals on consciousness and intelligence across species, this year’s festival will take place online. Unfolding over two days, it will involve participants from all over the world from artists, anthropologists, and architects to scientists, ecologists and writers.

Premiering online, this is the first film about the life and work of the visionary abstract painter, Hilma af Klint, Convinced that the world was not yet ready to understand her art, af Klint stipulated that her own work should not be shown for twenty years following her death.

Create your own robot and help it overcome future world problems with the Science Museum’s new augmented reality app. Created in partnership with 42 Kids, this exciting new skills-building app combines a series of fun challenges and the latest AR technology to help you think like a scientist. Recommended for ages 10–12. Download for free.

A unique online concert, live from the Natural History Museum, raising funds for the Urban Nature Project. An evening of music and art inspired by the natural world as Spell Songs perform a live concert broadcast from Hintze Hall.

Chilly Gonzales, the Grammy-winning Canadian pianist and entertainer, will be joining Classic Album Sundays’ Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy for an exclusive live interview and perform songs from his upcoming album A Very Chilly Christmas. Expect a broad selection from feudal oldies to newer holiday pop canon, grandeur and solemnity, austerity and merriment!

This exhibition showcases a selection of platinum prints, available to purchase, made from the newly digitised glass and celluloid negatives of the 1921 British Mount Everest Reconnaissance Expedition.

In the age of lockdown the Design Museum is excited to bring you three new virtual experiences to enjoy from the comfort of your home. Join a specially-curated tour of the five-star exhibition Electronic: From Kraftwerk to The Chemical Brothers featuring exclusive interviews. Explore Beazley Designs of the Year 2020 and Margaret Calvert: Woman at Work in online interactive experiences where you can go behind the designs with bonus videos and articles.

From chemical cook-alongs and science cocktails, to gut health and the facts behind our new food trends, pick from our delectable menu of exploratory evening and festive fun.

We have five reasons to give a V&A Membership this Christmas - Free unlimited access to all exhibitions - Priority booking for courses and talks - Exclusive access to the RIBA awarded Members’ Room and Subscription to the V&A Magazine, weekly news and online exclusives.

How are London’s leading cultural organisations adapting for the future? Join us for special, live online event, to reflect on lessons from the Covid crisis and to reimagine the future for our cultural venues and districts. The Covid Culture Shock brings together leading voices from South Kensington’s art and science district, featuring the Royal Albert Hall, V&A, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Serpentine Galleries, Ismaili Centre and Goethe-Institut London.

Until the Royal College of Music can welcome you back in person, RCM Sparks is delighted to continue to offer a range of digital resources as well as participatory workshops and courses via Zoom, all designed to support the Recovery Curriculum. The digital resources are grouped by age: Early Years (0-4), Ignite and Explorers (5-11) and Springboard (12-18) and consist of activity packs, backing tracks or videos and are suitable for use in the classroom.

Be part of something big and become a Museum Member. Your support helps the Natural History Museum work for a future where people and planet thrive - and you'll enjoy colossal benefits!

Discover how to make cheese from scratch and create your own tasty cheesecake in this live cook-along with the Chemical Kitchen team at Imperial College London.

Join nutritionist Dr Katerina Petropoulou to explore how food interacts with the human body. Armed with her ‘super peas’, Katerina hopes to fight diabetes through replacing ingredients in some of our favourite foods.

Explore the winter night sky and the impacts of light pollution with this simple family-friendly star gazing experiment you can do in your garden or out of your window. I spy celebrates the Nobel prize winner Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar and his ground-breaking discoveries around how stars form and how they explode.

With the end of their Tell Me About Europe series, the Goethe-Institut would like to invite you to share your own thoughts and perspectives on the present as well as your hopes for the future of Europe! Participate in their survey and get the chance to win a book by celebrated European authors.

Climate Fiction Festival 2020 is the world-first, multi-day literary festival with a sole focus on the climate crisis and literature. International panels online will dive into questions ranging from the dystopic to the utopian, from imaginative to realistic, from speculative to factual.

To celebrate the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we are pleased to join the worldwide screenings of I Am Not Your Negro. The film weaves the lives of human rights lawyer Medgar Evers, civil rights activists Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. into a panorama of racism and resistance.

Join the V&A for a live performance streamed on their Instagram by musician, producer, DJ and broadcaster Nabihah Iqbal- as part of their online Friday Late event series.

Have bags of fun with costume and set designer Ryan Dawson Laight and make your own bag creation!