the home of science, arts and inspiration

Summer in South Ken

This summer there is lots to do in South Kensington if you are looking for a great day out - from boating on the Serpentine, visiting some of South Ken's brand new exhibitions, enjoying a big-screen experience at the Science Museum's IMAX cinema and so much more...

Adventures Babies

Various Dates
Various Times
Natural History Museum
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Delight the little ones with this sensory storytelling class at the Natural History Museum. Take part in a host of activities designed specifically to engage babies and encourage their development.

The Garden

Daily
Open 10am- 3:40pm term time, 10am-5:40pm weekends and school holidays
Science Museum
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The Garden is an exciting interactive space, created especially for children aged 3–6 and their parents and carers in the basement of the Museum.

Image credit: Historic Royal Palaces / Alex Rory Jacobs

The Orangery Restaurant

Daily
10am - 6pm
Kensington Palace
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After major conservation work, the 18th-century Orangery at Kensington Palace has reopened its doors. Visit the iconic restaurant in a stunning setting for an elegant lunch or an indulgent afternoon tea.

Footways - exploring London on foot

Online Map
Footways
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Why not plan your visit to South Ken using the Footways walking map available at railway stations and online? You can plan your route away from the busy roads and discover a quiet and alternative side to London.

More-Than-Human Rights: Towards a Flourishing Earth

22nd July
7pm-8:30pm
Design Museum
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Join this conversation on how science, law and storytelling can help us to reimagine the boundaries and connections between humans and non-human species.

John Madejski Garden & Café

Daily
10am - 5.45pm
V&A South Kensington
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Recharge and cool down in the heart of the V&A. A place for kids to paddle in the courtyard shallow pool or grab a drink while surrounded by summer planting and stunning Victorian architecture.

Victorian Treasures from Cecil French and Scott Thomas Buckle

24th May-21st Sept
10am-5:30pm
Leighton House and Sambourne House
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Cecil French and Scott Thomas Buckle both began acquiring Victorian art against the grain of fashionable taste. This exhibition will offer visitors an up-close look at the act and process of art collecting.

Summer Nature Roadshows

30 July – 21 August
11am - 3pm
The Royal Parks
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Join the Royal Parks this summer for FREE drop-in activities perfect for families, nature-lovers and budding environmentalists!

Play in the Park

10 April - 14 August 2025
11am - 3pm
The Royal Parks
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The Play in the Park project offers a free play programme of fun, creative activities and events inspired by the Royal Parks’ wildlife and open spaces

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?

American Photographs

Until 16th May 2027
10am-6pm
V&A South Kensington
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The V&A's collection of photography from the United States – one of the largest outside North America – reveals the breadth of the country's photographic traditions and the central role of image-making in American life. This event is free.

Serpentine Pavilion 2025 by Marina Tabassum

6th June - 26th Oct
Serpentine
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The Serpentine Pavilion 2025, A Capsule in Time, designed by Bangladeshi architect and educator Marina Tabassum and her firm, Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA), is now open with Goldman Sachs supporting the annual project for the 11th consecutive year.

Pavilion Family Day

19th July
11am-3pm
Serpentine
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Join a free, vibrant Family Day at the 2025 Serpentine Pavilion, designed by Marina Tabassum Architects. Immerse yourself in a day of creativity and culture with hands-on activities and performances for all ages.

Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth?

16th May-22nd Feb 2026
10am-6pm
Natural History Museum
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Touch a piece of Mars, wrap your hands around a fragment of the Moon and snap a selfie with the Allende meteorite, which – at 4.567 billion years old – is even older than Earth!

Cartographies of Remembering

12th July
11.30am - 5pm
Serpentine
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A day of free live panel discussions and musical activations that brings Arpita Singh’s exhibition Remembering into dialogue with A Capsule in Time, the 2025 Pavilion designed by architect Marina Tabassum.

Coding & German – a holiday course for ages 10-17

21st July – 1st Aug
Various times
Goethe-Institut
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Through hands-on projects, interactive lessons, and creative challenges, participants will explore both coding and language in a dynamic, engaging environment.

Planetary Gong Bath

22nd July
6.45–7.45 & 8.15–9.15
Natural History Museum
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Enter Hintze Hall and experience an out-of-this-world sound journey beneath Hope, our majestic blue whale.

Hot Milk

4th-`16th July
Various Times
Institut français
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Rebecca Lenkiewiczs’ directorial debut is a poetic adaptation of Deborah Levy’s Booker Prize-nominated novel.

Move Imperial Wimbledon

11th July
12pm-1pm
Imperial College London
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Come and join Move Imperial for some free tennis sessions in Hyde Park to celebrate Wimbledon!

Weaving Stories, Vicariously

25th June - 1st Sept
10am-5pm
Imperial College London
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An exhibition by Imperial College Students Maia Cheung and Kosuke Ikeya, winners of this years Blyth Art Fellowship.

Hyde Park Self Guided Walks

All Year Round
Hyde Park
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Discover the magic of Hyde Park and head on a self-guided walk. All of the activities are guaranteed to get you walking and discovering interesting things about the history, wildlife and horticulture around you.

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.

Playday in the Garden

6th Aug
1:30pm-4:30pm
Design Museum
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Join the Design Museum for a festival of play, creativity and design for children and families, exploring our garden and the creatures that inhabit it!

Pattern Pod

Daily
Science Museum
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Pattern Pod is an amazing multi-sensory area for children under 8 years old. Fun, interactive exhibits encourage them to recognise and copy patterns.