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The home of science, arts and inspiration
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Spooky Season & Spectacular Events in South Kensington
Autumn has arrived, and South Kensington is shifting into a new season of inspiration. From world-class museums and galleries to hidden gems tucked around every corner, there’s a fresh energy in the air this October. With a new wave of students arriving, the neighbourhood is buzzing with life. Cafés are bustling, the leaves are turning orange, and the area is brimming with curiosity - making it the perfect time to explore everything South Kensington has to offer.
This month sets the stage for a season full of discovery: immersive exhibitions, after-hours adventures, and vibrant celebrations - from spine-tingling Halloween nights to the lights of Diwali, and (dare we say it…) the first whispers of Christmas. Whether you’re new to the area or a familiar face, there’s never been a better time to dive in.
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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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| South Kensington Student Food Guide 2025: Budget-Friendly Eats Near Campus |
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| South Kensington has plenty of options beyond campus cafés — from museum restaurants and cultural hotspots to budget-friendly pizzas, picnic areas, and street food. Find tasty and affordable bites to eat here! |
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| Exclusive Student Discount |
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The Royal Geographical Society are offering students in South Kensington an exclusive discount!
In a world of misinformation, the Society is an oasis of informed analysis and inspirational stories. Our events, talks and exhibitions, featuring leading geographers and how they’re addressing today’s most pressing global challenges, are open to all. Explore the intricate connections between people, places and environments and discover what really makes a difference to our future. Members get event more, including our renowned Monday night lecture series and monthly Geographical magazine.
Use code DSK15/12 to get 15 months of Royal Geographical Society membership for the cost of 12 when you join.
Please note, eligibility for some categories require geography (and allied subjects) study, however the Membership category is open to all. |
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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 the Museum's annual Halloween party that you’d be a ghoul to miss. This event is free! |
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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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| Wes Anderson: The Archives |
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Design Museum
21 Nov 2025 – 4 May 2026 10am-6pm |
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| Tickets now on sale! This landmark retrospective is the first major museum exhibition devoted to Wes Anderson’s extensive and distinctive cinematic output. |
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Image credit: Nippon Design Center
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| Pictograms: Iconic Japanese Designs |
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Japan House London
30th July-9th Nov 10am-8pm |
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| This exhibition celebrates the beauty and precision inherent in Japanese design through the exploration of pictograms – both past and present – and their future potential for international communication. |
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| Halloween at the Museum |
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Natural History Museum
31st Oct 7pm-12am |
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| Join the Museum for the most spooktacular night of the year! This Halloween we creak open our doors for an evening of beastly boogies and scary specimens. |
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Image credit: Courtesy of Shimabuku, Barbara Wien, Berlin, Amanda Wilkinson, London and Air de Paris, Romainville
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| More Than Human |
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Design Museum
Until 5th October 10am-6pm |
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| Last chance to see! A major exhibition bringing together art, science and radical thinking to ask how design can help our planet thrive by shifting its focus beyond human needs. |
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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. This event is free! |
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| Fright Night |
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Royal Albert Hall
30th Oct 7:30pm |
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| Prepare for a night of supernatural thrills on Halloween eve with "the UK's go-to ghost guy," Danny Robins. |
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| Lunchtime Lectures: Cartier Obsessed with Stones |
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V&A South Kensington
2nd Oct 1pm-2pm |
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| This talk will explore select pieces including some of the most remarkable and precious stones in Cartier’s storied history. This lecture is part of the free Lunchtime Lectures programme. No booking is required. |
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| Diwali: Harmonies of Light |
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V&A South Kensington
18th Oct 12pm-2:15pm |
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| Join us for Diwali: Harmonies of Light, a musical celebration of the multifaith festival of lights. This concert invites you to explore the vibrant intersections between Western and South Asian musical traditions. This event is free! |
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| Make & Meet |
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V&A South Kensington
3rd Oct Various times |
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| Make & Meet, an evening of connection and creative making with free workshops, free food, and free exhibition tickets to either Cartier or Design and Disability (for ages 14-26). |
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| Spider-Man: No Way Home in Concert |
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Royal Albert Hall
14th Nov 7:30pm |
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| Swing by the World Premiere of Spider-Man: No Way Home in Concert, and hear the film's iconic soundtrack performed live-to-picture for the first time ever. |
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| Live Drawing with Rosemary Jane Cronin |
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V&A South Kensington
3rd Oct 5:30pm-9pm |
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| Sit, draw and relax in the V&A Cafe and create drawings inspired by architecture, music and a live model. This event is free! |
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| Beyond The Binary |
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Goethe-Institut
2nd Oct 6:30pm |
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| Join a fast-paced translation showdown! This year’s slam explores gender-sensitive language in translations from German and French into English – pitting human craft and creativity against AI tools. In collaboration with the Institut Français du Royaume-Uni. |
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| A Man Vanishes |
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Japan House London
12th Oct & 29th Oct 2025 3pm & 6pm |
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| The film starts in a documentary style, investigating the real-life disappearance of Ōshima Tadashi, a young salesman from Niigata Prefecture. A restless curiosity about human nature is a genre-blending story of the search for a missing man. |
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| Family Fun: The mystery of the stolen painting |
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Leighton House and Sambourne House
25th Oct 11am - 12:30pm & 2:30pm-4pm |
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| Children and their adults will work together to discover who stole Frederic Leighton’s famous painting, in an actor led interactive crime mystery puzzle. |
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| Young People: Artivism Zines with Roshi Rouzbehani |
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Leighton House and Sambourne House
8th Nov 2pm-4pm |
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| How can art be a voice for change? In this creative workshop, young people will explore 'artivism', the powerful space where art and activism meet, and discover the DIY world of zines as a way to share bold ideas, personal stories, and activist messages. Only £5! |
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| Noticing Nature: Mindfulness and Science Tour and Talk |
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Natural History Museum
4th Oct 1.45pm–3pm & 3.15pm–4.30pm |
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| Do you find it hard to carve out time for yourself? Are you looking to connect with nature at your own pace? Join this relaxed session in the gardens with Camille Lesforis, founder of The Black Wellbeing Collective, and scientist Ed Baker. This event is free! |
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| Welcome home: postcards from the field |
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Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
31st Oct 6:30pm-9pm |
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| Short talks from recently returned expeditions and field research projects – hear what they did and the lessons they learned. Followed by a chance to meet, connect, and celebrate their work. |
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| Evening Yoga at the Museum |
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V&A South Kensington
Various dates and times |
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| Unwind after your day with our unique evening yoga class hosted in collaboration with East of Eden. |
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| Family Concert: A Musical Voyage! |
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Royal College of Music
19th Oct 12pm |
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| Dive into an unforgettable orchestral adventure! This uplifting performance features enchanting melodies and thrilling rhythms inspired by the ocean’s beauty, mystery, and power. Perfect for all ages. |
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| Dino Snores for Grown Ups |
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Natural History Museum
10th Jan & 20th Feb 2026 6:30pm-10am |
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| Enjoy a night of fun, food, science, movies and music at the Natural History Museum's sleepover, Dino Snores for Grown ups. |
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| Kurt Cobain's Plectrum Prize Draw |
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Royal College of Music
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| Enter now for your chance to win Kurt Cobain’s plectrum, used for the 1993 MTV Unplugged performance, and own a piece of rock history. |
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| Fête du cinéma d’Animation |
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Institut français
4th-31st Oct Various times |
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| Fans of animated films, whatever your age, enjoy this animation festival with a great selection of new films alongside ultimate classics. |
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| Prix Pictet 2025 – Storm |
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V&A South Kensington
26th Sept- 19th Oct 10am-6pm |
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| The theme for the 2025 prize is Storm. It invites reflections on the growing volatility of our age, forever poised on the brink of the next crisis. The 12 shortlisted photographers will have their work exhibited at the V&A’s Photography Centre. |
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| Hyde Park Winter Wonderland |
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Hyde Park
14th Nov - 1st January |
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| The ultimate destination for festive fun is back with over 150 rides and attractions for visitors of all ages to enjoy. |
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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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