the home of science, arts and inspiration

May Half Term

Our museums, galleries and cultural spaces are excited to welcome you this May half-term. Explore the largest creature to have ever walk the earth at Natural History Museum, let off some steam at the Science Museum or enjoy the sunshine at the Royal Parks. There is something for everyone at South Ken this half term!

Cinderella In-The-Round

15th June-25th June
2:00pm, 2:30pm & 7:30pm
Royal Albert Hall
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English National Ballet return to the Royal Albert Hall for the first time since 2019, with 14 performances of Cinderella in-the-round, featuring over 90 dancers, a live orchestra, magnificent sets and transformational projections.

Energy: Sparks from the Collection

25th May-20th April 2024
10am-6pm
V&A
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This display shines a light on the diverse kinds of energy in photography, from the hidden processes intrinsic to creating a picture, to the subjects in front of the camera.

Windrush 75 at the V&A

12 May- 31st December
10am-6pm
V&A
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A season of events and displays marking the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush. Find out more about the Windrush generation, their legacies and the impact of the Caribbean on art, design and culture in Britain.

Serpentine Lido

Mid-May to mid-Sept
10am-6pm
The Royal Parks
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The Serpentine Lido is, arguably, London's most iconic 'open water' swimming location. The Lido is open for public swimming on weekends from mid-May, and every day between June and Mid-September.

Under the Sea 3D (U)

1st-16th April
Times vary
Science Museum
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Encounter some of the most stunning creatures of the sea face-to-face, explore the wonder of the oceans, and investigate the impact of global climate change on these spectacular yet delicate ecosystems.

Kensington Palace Sunken Garden

Wed - Sun
10am - 6pm
Kensington Palace
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Walk in the footsteps of royalty in the beautiful gardens of Kensington Palace. The historic Sunken Garden is resplendent with white and pastel flowers to provide a picturesque setting for a new statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, unveiled to commemorate her 60th birthday.

IMAX: Hubble 3D

Dates & Times Vary
Science Museum
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Join a team of space-walking astronauts as they perform one of the most difficult and important tasks in NASA’s history. Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, Hubble 3D explores the mysteries of our celestial surrounding.

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.

A Beautiful Planet 3D (U)

Dates & Times vary
Science Museum
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Experience Earth like never before in a breath-taking portrait of the planet captured from the International Space Station on the biggest screen in Europe. See fantastic images of the Earth from the Space Station and gain a new understanding of how wonderful and unique our planet is.

Book Your Free Entrance Ticket to the Natural History Museum

Mon-Sun
10am–5:50pm
Natural History Museum
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Book your free timed entry ticket to the Natural History Museum and explore the nation’s finest collection of natural history specimens.

Out of hours Titano Tours

Dates and times vary
Natural History Museum
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Journey through time and learn how dinosaurs were first discovered, how they adapted to life on Earth and why they're so important to our science today. Roam the Museum's newest exhibition before it opens to the public.

Laughing Matters: The State of a Nation

Until 8th Dec
10am-5:45pm
V&A
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Through over 30 objects, ranging from costumes to scripts, from puppets to music, this display unpicks the punchlines to discover what humour since the Victorian era – whether subversive, surreal, mocking or celebratory – can tell us about what it means to be British today.

John James Audubon and his Birds of America

Now open
10am-5:50pm
Natural History Museum
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This free display of engravings from John James Audubon's The Birds of America reaffirms why it continues to inspire artists, bird experts and conservationists alike.

Quiet walking routes to and around South Ken

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

Children & Families at The Royal Albert Hall

Royal Albert Hall
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The Royal Albert Hall have a wide range of shows and events for children and families to get involved in, which all promise an unforgettable day out. From storytelling for babies and toddlers to interactive concerts featuring Albert’s Band, there is something to fascinate and inspire children of every age.

Ai Weiwei: Making Sense

7th April- 30th July 2023
10am-6pm
Design Museum Kensington
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Ai Weiwei's first exhibition focusing on design mixes recent works with commissioned pieces, inviting us into a meditation on value and humanity, art and activism.

Injecting Hope: The Race for a Covid 19 Vaccine

30th Nov - 7th Jan 24
10am - 6pm
Science Museum
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A new free exhibition explores the worldwide effort to develop vaccines at pandemic speed. See how scientists and researchers adapted to the various challenges of this massive programme.

Book your free entrance ticket to the Science Museum

Daily
10am-6pm (last admission 5:15pm)
Science Museum
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Head to the Science Museum website to book your free admission tickets and explore their incredible galleries and exhibitions this summer.

Adventure Babies

Every Tuesday til July
Times vary for baby-pre crawlers/Toddlers/Little ones
Natural History Museum
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Delight the little one with a sensory storytelling class designed to boost their development and nurture a love for books. And afterwards, don't miss the chance to explore the rest of the Museum with a ready-written self-guided tour.

Behind the Scenes Tour: Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Daily
11am, 3pm
Natural History Museum
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Join the Museum hosts for a special tour of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition and discover the stories and details that didn't make it into the captions.

Antarctica 3D (U)

Dates and times vary
Varies
Science Museum
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With never-before-seen footage and the latest underwater filming techniques, this epic documentary transports you to the farthest reaches of this majestic land and reveals that what happens there affects every single one of us.

3D Red Arrows

Daily
10.20am-5pm
Science Museum
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With stunning high definition 3D vision and flight simulator motion technology, you can see and feel for yourself what it’s like in the cockpit of a Red Arrow.

Designer Maker User

Open daily
Sun-Thurs 10am-6pm; Fri-Sat 10am-9pm
Design Museum Kensington
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Designer Maker User, the Design Museum's only permanent exhibition, features almost 1000 items of twentieth and twenty-first century design viewed through the angles of the designer, manufacturer and user, including a crowdsourced wall.

V&A trail: Explore as a family

Daily: 10am-5:45pm - Friday: 10am–10pm
V&A
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Are you ready to go on an adventure? This trail takes you on a journey through V&A galleries, exploring some of the incredible cultures and traditions you can see. You will discover objects that are hundreds of years old, uncover secret meanings behind animals and colour in art, and learn about some of the wonders of the museum, from an emperor's throne to dragons, from plaster casts to wigs!