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The home of science, arts and inspiration
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From New Galleries to Hidden Gems: South Kensington’s Autumn Line-Up
Autumn in South Kensington is here - even if the weather can’t quite make up its mind. Between the sudden showers and bursts of sunshine, there’s plenty to draw you indoors (and outdoors) for a new season of culture.
The London Design Festival transforms South Kensington with bold installations and workshops, while Open House offers a rare chance to step inside the Ismaili Centre and the Institut français. The Science Museum opens a new Space gallery, and across South Kensington a wave of exhibitions set the tone for the months ahead.
Whether you’re chasing design inspiration, hidden spaces or simply shelter from the rain, this season’s line-up has you covered.
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| Win 2x Tickets to Blitz: the club that shaped the 80s and a meal for two at The Kensington Quarter! |
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| We’ve teamed up with the Design Museum and Kensington Quarter to give you the chance to win two tickets to the brand-new exhibition Blitz: The Club That Shaped the 80s, plus a 3 course meal for two at The Kensington Quarter! |
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| London Design Festival 2025 in South Kensington |
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| South Kensington is buzzing this September as the London Design Festival (13–21 September 2025) takes over the neighbourhood with bold installations, thought-provoking talks, and hands-on workshops |
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| Limited Offer: £50+ Off Select Courses |
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V&A South Kensington
Closes 18th September 2025 |
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| Experience the V&A like never before. Learn from world-leading experts and unlock a world of creativity. Save £50 on select in-person courses or £64.50 on courses that go behind the scenes with added gallery talks. Use code LEARN25 at checkout. |
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| Space Opening Weekend |
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Science Museum
20th & 21st Sept |
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| Celebrate the new Space gallery with a galaxy of free activities over opening weekend, as well as screening and experiences across the Autumn. |
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Image credit: © Jamie Smart
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| Wildlife Photographer of the Year |
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Natural History Museum
17th Oct - 12th July 2026 10am-6pm |
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| Pause, reflect and reconnect with the natural world through images that celebrate nature’s awe-inspiring beauty and urge us to protect it. Now in its sixth decade, the exhibition sees photographers from across the globe set out to document nature’s most incredible moments. |
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Image credit: Antoinetta, 2005 by Manolo Blahnik
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| Marie Antoinette Style |
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V&A South Kensington
20th Sept 2025 - 22nd March 2026 10am - 5:45pm |
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| A complex fashion icon, Marie Antoinette's timeless appeal is defined by her style, youth and notoriety. Explore the lasting influence of the most fashionable (and ill-fated) queen in history. |
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| Victorian Treasures from Cecil French and Scott Thomas Buckle |
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Leighton House and Sambourne House
24th May-21st Sept 10am-5:30pm |
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| Last chance to see! 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. |
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| Blitz: the club that shaped the 80s |
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Design Museum
20 Sept 2025 — 29 March 2026 10am-6pm |
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| Delve into the music, fashion, and design stories that shaped Blitz – the club, the people, and the movement that transformed 1980s London style. |
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| Summit Photo 2025 |
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Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
26th-28th Sept |
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| This event convenes renowned photojournalists, advocates, policymakers, artists and explorers including Chris Packham, Frans Lanting, Susan Meiselas and Ami Vitale to discuss the role of photography in confronting the environmental and humanitarian challenges of our time.
Book by 22 September to get 20% off your tickets using code SPFLASH20 at the checkout. |
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| Back to the Future in Concert (PG) |
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Royal Albert Hall
26th Oct 2:30pm & 7:30pm |
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| See the movie projected on a HD screen with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra performing Alan Silvestri’s dazzling musical score. |
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| Imperial Lates: Lights, Colour, Action |
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Imperial College London
23rd Oct 6pm-9pm |
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| Come along to Imperial’s most lit Lates! Brighten up your night with a celebration of Diwali and the power and beauty of light through science, art and entertainment. This event is free! |
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| Lasting Impressions: Women Printmakers 1900 – Now |
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V&A South Kensington
Opens 27th Sept |
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| Celebrate the innovative printmaking techniques and bold visions of 25 women printmakers from 1900 – Now. From Käthe Kollwitz to Faith Ringgold, explore the work of artists who have used print to make their own lasting impression. This event is free! |
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| Anas Séguin |
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Institut français
25th Sept 7pm |
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| Baritone Anas Séguin joins pianist Cécile Turby for a recital that explores themes of identity, memory, and movement. |
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| Making Osaka-style oshizushi with AKIRA |
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Japan House London
29th Sept 12pm-2pm |
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| Learn how to make Osaka-style oshizushi (lit. ‘pressed sushi’) in this hands-on workshop with AKIRA Restaurant Chef Takahashi Toshiya. |
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| Channel Swimmer by Ulrike Draesner |
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Goethe-Institut
25th Sept 7pm-8pm |
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| Celebrate the launch of Channel swimmer with an evening of literature and conversation, exploring the poetic and psychologically rich tale of self-discovery and the elemental forces that shape us. |
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| Nature Adventurers: Immersive Outdoor Sessions |
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Hyde Park
13th, 20th, 27th Sept & 4th October 10am - 3pm |
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| Come along to the purpose-built Hyde Park Learning Centre for Nature Adventurers, a series of immersive activity sessions for 8–12 year-old adventurers and nature lovers. |
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| In the autumnal garden with.. |
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Design Museum
11th Oct 1pm – 3:20pm |
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| Discover more about the relationship between pollinators and flowers with Eliza Collin, 'cybergardening' with Kalpana Arias, get your hands in the soil to plant spring bulbs with Mandy Lee, and try botanical-inspired weaving with Sara Kelly. |
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| Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley: THE DELUSION |
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Serpentine
30th Sept 2025 - 18th Jan 2026 10am-6pm |
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| Artist and game designer Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley invites visitors into a post-apocalyptic world shaped by a catastrophic event—the Day of Division. Visitors will be welcomed into an immersive installation that blends history, religious and spiritual symbols and elements of horror. |
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| Young People: The Art of the Pen with Nayab Ahmed |
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Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
18th Oct 2pm-4pm |
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| Explore the history of the Arabic script, develop practical calligraphy skills and discover how to write your name in Arabic |
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| Hidden Stories of Hyde Park Walking Tour |
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Hyde Park
19th Sept 11:00am - 12:30pm |
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| In the heart of the city, Hyde Park is one of London's most iconic and well-known green spaces. Discover its history like never before on our guided tour! |
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| Workshop: DIY Customisation with Heat Transfer |
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Design Museum
18th Oct 10am-4pm |
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| Taking inspiration from the self-expression and DIY spirit of the Blitz club scene, learn textile design techniques to customise your clothes with fashion designer Sadie Williams. |
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| London Spanish Film Festival |
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Institut français
18th – 25th Sept Various times |
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| Get ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Spanish cinema, as we proudly present the 21st edition of the London Spanish Film Festival! |
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| Inspiration Africa: Stories beyond the Artefacts - Black History Month |
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V&A South Kensington
4th - 25th Oct 15.30 – 16.30 |
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| Come and join our volunteer guides and share in their passion and pride as they reveal the extraordinary African Heritage narratives within the V&A collections. |
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| Friday Late: Caring in Common |
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V&A South Kensington
19th Sept 6.30pm – 10pm |
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| How can we foster care, restoration, and resilience during challenging times? Caring in Common will explore these themes through music, performances, workshops, and talks. This event is free! |
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| Halloween Lates |
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Science Museum
31st Oct 6:45pm-10pm |
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| Join the Museum for a night of spooky science at a very special Lates. Watch the galleries come alive after hours at our annual Halloween party that you’d be a ghoul to miss. |
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| Ghost Trail |
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Institut français
16th-28th Sept Various times |
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| In this tense thriller, based on true events, Hamid is part of a secret group pursuing the Syrian regime’s fugitive leaders. His mission takes him to France, on the trail of his former torturer whom he must confront. |
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| Peter Doig: House of Music |
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Serpentine
10th Oct 2025 - 8th Feb 2026 10am-6pm |
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| Serpentine presents a new project by Peter Doig that explores the role of music, film, and sites of communal gathering, listening and creative exchange within his practice. |
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Discover South Kensington is an initiative of the Exhibition Road Cultural Group, a partnership of the cultural and educational organisations in and around Exhibition Road, South Kensington.
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Our partners include:
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The Design Museum
Goethe-Institut
Imperial College London
Institut franҫais
The Ismaili Centre
Kensington Palace
Natural History Museum
Royal Albert Hall
South Kensington Estates
Royal College of Art
Westminster City Council
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Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Royal Brompton Hospital
Royal College of Music
Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
The Royal Parks
Serpentine Galleries
The Science Museum
V&A South Kensington
The Royal Society of Sculptors
Japan House London
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