London’s home of science and arts
Three vultures watch a paper boat that could be about to capsize. The artist Tere Chad wonders, "are we sinking?" She was inspired by the story of Noah's Ark and how a dove with a leaf provided a symbol of hope. Chad would like suggestions for names of the three birds. Go to Instagram and use the hashtag #arewesinking.
The Great Exhibition² is an innovative new STEM project, delivered by Imperial College London and Big Ideas, inviting young people across London to enter their own ‘Incredible Innovations’ for a chance to showcase them at The Great Exhibition Road Festival.
The Royal Parks is launching a campaign urging visitors to ‘Help Nature Thrive’ in some of the capital’s largest and busiest green spaces. Hyde Park attracts almost 13 million visits a year. Its popularity results in high volumes of wildlife feeding, which is upsetting the park’s delicate ecosystem.
As the Hall reopens they're giving everyone the chance to win a ticket to their 150th anniversary gala. Become a VIP for the night or live the full Royal Albert Hall experience by entering their 150th Raffle. Tickets cost £5 each.
In support of Charlotte Perriand: The Modern Life, French cognac brand Rémy Martin pay homage to French excellence and refined craftmanship with the Rémy Martin Mobile Sculpture, designed by artist and designer Charles Kaisin in collaboration with Atelier Thiery.
Book your free timed entry ticket to the Natural History Museum and explore the nation’s finest collection of natural history specimens.
Book your free timed entry ticket to the V&A and spend your day exploring their miles of galleries or dip into the exciting array of exhibitions and displays. Their café and shops are also open.
Don't forget to pre-book for your free entrance ticket to access both free displays and paid exhibitions.
Celebrate the wonderful world of science and the arts with the Great Exhibition Road Festival. Explore the latest free online events from home and discover Fantasies of Exhibition Road, featuring talks, workshops, interviews and much more for all ages.
From the rare metals in our phones to the cotton in our t-shirts, everything we use starts off as a part of nature. But with dwindling resources and escalating levels of pollution, is it time to rethink the resources we use?
The catastrophic effects of burning fossil fuels are already being seen in melting Arctic ice and raging wildfires. How can we create a greener, cleaner future and start to heal the planet?
The diets of the world's wealthiest nations are putting the planet in peril, so what are the solutions for a greener, more sustainable food system that could make us - and the planet - healthier?
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.
K+C Festival is re-imagining creativity and culture for everyone. Public art and curated tours, ballet and street art, broken beats and orchestras, circus arts and gaming culture, exhibitions and workshops. All will feature in well-known and unexpected places across Kensington and Chelsea’s iconic venues and public spaces, with online and interactive ways to get involved and enjoy the festival. It kicks off with the return of Kensington + Chelsea Art Week.
The Goethe-Institut has an Open Call for singers and choirs throughout Europe. No musical knowledge is necessary. Everyone can join in, whether amateur, professional or non-professional, young or old. Connect with people and communities from different countries and experience the unifying power of music. Become part of a collaborative work of art and enjoy its completion this summer.
Following a major revamp, the Science Museum's popular IMAX cinema has now re-opened. Enjoy heart-pounding audio, awe-inspiring images and immersive 3D shots on a screen the size of four double decker buses.
Seasoned storytellers Paul Rubinstein and Samantha Sutherland deliver a series of socially distanced sessions from the Hall’s Elgar Room for babies and toddlers, ages 0 - 4 years old, aiming to engage and encourage interaction between parents/carers and their little ones using singing, movement and stories.
The Royal Geographical Society is working in partnership with BBC Radio 4 on a radio series that showcases 39 ideas to relieve the stress that climate change is placing on the Earth. Presented by environmental journalist and Society Fellow, Tom Heap, each 15 minute programme features an expert who will provide practical, feasible and carbon-cutting advice.
The 20th Serpentine Pavilion has been designed by Counterspace, an all-woman Johannesburg-based practice. The Pavilion's varying scale of design reflect London's past and present - its places of meeting, organising and belonging. From the intimacy of restaurants and bookshops to markets and places of worship.
The LFA, V&A and Discover South Kensington have launched a new competition for an innovative series of installations supporting biodiversity and the recovery of London’s arts and sciences district in South Kensington. This initiative is supported by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851.
The Design Museum is open with the much awaited exhibition Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street. Pre-book your ticket and explore cutting edge design in the shape of Ai-Da, the world’s first convincing humanoid robot capable of creating artworks.
Serpentine’s doors have opened with two stunning exhibitions from British-Ghanaian photographer James Barnor's Retrospective and New York-based painter Jennifer Packer's first institutional solo exhibition outside of the US. Visit the exhibition pages to book your free visit today.
Even the most ordinary objects have extraordinary stories to tell. Explore the past, present and future of the everyday things in your home, hosted by BBC Radio 5 Live's host Nihal Arthanayake. From bath toys to sticky tape and vacuum cleaners to the microwave oven, Nihal reveals how they changed science—and our world.
Explore the relationship between fashion designer and royal client. Featuring items from the archives of some of the most celebrated royal couturiers of the 20th century, alongside the glittering gowns and stylish tailoring created for three generations of royal women, the exhibition also includes the wedding dress of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Enjoy a yoga session inspired by the Museum's connections with the natural world. Early birds can start their day with a Yoga Experience, and night owls can unwind at Slow Flow or end their evening with Dynamic Vinyasa.
Can carbon capture help us fight climate change? The Science Museum's latest exhibition explores the cutting-edge technologies being developed to trap carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
This exhibition will explore master goldsmith, Carl Fabergé – whose internationally recognised firm symbolised Russian craftsmanship, luxury and elegance – and the Anglo-Russian relationship which saw the opening of a London branch in 1903.
Head to the Science Museum website to book your free admission tickets and explore their incredible galleries and exhibitions this summer.
The Royal Albert Hall can't wait to throw open their doors and welcome everyone back to toast their 150th birthday! Spanning two years of celebrations, they'll have major commissions from British artists, headline performances from musical legends, and events showcasing the next generation of talent from around the globe.
This summer, the stunning Kensington Gardens will host Van Gogh Alive, ‘the world’s most visited immersive, multi-sensory experience’ that exhibits the life and work of the seminal Dutch artist.
Not your average dinosaur cookies. These tasty biscuits are fun to bake with kids and make a colourful addition to a dinosaur-themed party.
A fun food-based activity to keep kids entertained at home. Create a colourful caterpillar, watch cress grow and eat the tasty results. Follow the simple instructions to transform eggshells and cress seeds into a caterpillar. There are hundreds of types of caterpillar in the UK to choose from and the Natural History Museum team have highlighted a selection of interesting ones for inspiration.
This is the second instalment in Sophia Al-Maria’s ongoing project with the Serpentine, Taraxos, which uses the dandelion as a vehicle with which to explore cycles of history, hierarchies of kinship and what the word ‘nature’ even means via the routes of conversation, correspondence, deep listening and the principles of meditation imagery.
From graphic design to fashion, architecture to activism, this edition of the Prize will celebrate contemporary design inspired by Islamic tradition. The eight designers hail from India, Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the UK.
A single large-scale photomontage by artist Katerina Jebb showcases a rare 19th century embroidery sampler from the V&A collections which narrates a deeply personal account of the incredible hardships of its young female creator, Elizabeth Parker.
As part of this month’s focus on the crafts of the Tōhoku region in north-eastern Japan, why not download Japan House London's worksheet and design your own "little monk"!
This free, evolving display explores how humans have transformed the natural world. Through over 40 objects chosen by Museum scientists, they reveal the consequences of our actions and examine some of the solutions that could help mend our broken planet. The display opens in three stages. From 21 May The Food We Eat, 23 July The Products we Use and from 20 September The Energy we Consume.
Discover beautiful and curious objects from the Royal College of Art's 2020 Ceramics & Glass MA graduate showcase.
From ancient Chinese ceramics to Alexander McQueen evening dresses, take an incredible journey through 5000 years of human creativity with the V&A's online collections.
Taking on the role of teacher can feel overwhelming but Kensington Palace has got some great ideas to help you teach. Here are five top history resources that will keep your kids learning AND smiling while you're staying home together. Five brilliant history resources for home schooling from a Tudor servant during the reign of Henry VIII to being locked up in the Tower of London. Parental participation optional!
Why not introduce the youngest members of your family to French with the Institut français' bilingual nursery rhyme classes. Easy and relaxed, they will instil your children with confidence through the power of play. This week it's all about body parts. So let’s make learning fun!
Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg is designing a garden for birds and bees and other pollen-carrying species. Ginsberg has developed a special algorithm that optimises garden designs – including plant species and layout – for pollinators rather than humans. This will result in a new outdoor garden in Cornwall and a website where you can replicate the design using the same algorithm.
Robert Irwin's dramatic bird's-eye view depicting the destruction wreaked by a bushfire in Northern Australia has won the 2020 Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award. Taken in the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve in Cape York, Queensland, the area is of high conservation value and is home to over 30 different ecosystems with many endangered species. Robert spotted smoke billowing out in the horizon and knew this was something he had to capture.
Fasten your seat belts – The Car Man is back! In a spectacular new staging for the Royal Albert Hall’s 150th anniversary, Matthew Bourne and his acclaimed dance company New Adventures bring their multi-award-winning production of The Car Man to the Royal Albert Hall for the very first time.
The V&A is launching Explore the Collections, a new digital platform that enables everyone from around the world to search, explore and discover over 1.2m objects from the museum’s collections. This new online experience forms a key part of the V&A’s goal to revolutionise access to national collections, which will culminate in their new collections and research centre at V&A East – an entirely new cultural experience and the first of its kind in the UK.
Led by contemporary artists Laurelie Rae and Ayesha Gamiet, this online course will teach students how to analyse, draw and paint motifs and patterns, exploring different techniques and colour palettes. Each session takes inspiration from the beautiful examples of Islamic Art found in Leighton House.
'Calling at the Sambournes' is a visual exploration into the private life and work of Victorian illustrator, Edward Linley Sambourne (1844 - 1910). Curated by art, history and photography experts, the first short film presents Linley as a ‘genius photographer’ and includes a beautiful demonstration of the cyanotype process that he would have followed in his Kensington home.
For a limited time, visitors can discover Japan in depth and detail through this Teikūhikō series. Created by Japan House London’s Creative Adviser, Hara Kenya, Teikūhikō is not about aeroplane travel. It is a combination of beautiful videos, articles and photographs introducing spots that Hara has specially selected, posing the question to visitors, “What do you think of this kind of Japan?”
The Museum houses an astonishing collection of over 80 million specimens spanning everything from meteorites to mice. But what does it take to look after one of the world's most important natural history collection during lockdown? And who is going to look after the flesh-eating beetles?
MAKING NUNO Japanese Textile Innovation from Sudō Reiko showcases the innovative work of Japanese textile designer Sudō Reiko, who is renowned for pushing boundaries of textile production and championing new methods of sustainable manufacturing.
The V&A's Sustainable Exhibitions For Museums Network (SEFM) has recently joined up with The Happy Museum to look at how the museum sector can respond to the challenge of creating a more sustainable future.
The V&A is staging its first Africa Fashion exhibition, which will be as eclectic and varied, diverse and dynamic as its people. It will tell a story of fashion as a self-defining art form; a kind of movement culture that goes beyond individual garments to encompass attitude, gesture, style.
The Science Museum has pooled together an expansive field of resources including experiments, games and videos to bring the thrills and fun of science into living rooms across the country. Discover activities to support a range of curriculum topics - and don't miss the Museum's Explainers Bitesize at 1pm daily this week on BBC2, and iPlayer, to help with homework, revision and learning.
Step into an online world full of fantastic real-life and magical beasts. There are highlights, stories and games galore. Walk around the exhibition from home with a 360° Google Streetview with Google Arts & Culture.
Featuring a collection of architectural designs for dogs by world-class architects and designers such as Ban Shigeru, Kuma Kengo, Itō Toyō and Sou Fujimoto, the Architecture for Dogs virtual exhibition explores architecture and design that can be joyful for both dogs and their human companions.
Know your Air Jordans from your Air Force 1s? Step up and discover the footwear phenomenon that has challenged performance design, inspired new subcultures and shaken the world of fashion
The V&A welcomes you back with a host of new exhibitions and displays. Book your free timed-entry and get ready to explore seven miles of galleries in the world's leading museum of art, design and performance.
The Natural History Museum's virtual tour allows you to explore 14 exhibitions and access 300,000 specimens. Zoom in on the tiny details of the main hall's gilded ceiling or take a closer look at the marine reptiles discovered by Mary Anning. Enjoy a day at the Museum without even having to leave your home!
Treat the whole family to a Wonderlab's pass for a year’s worth of mind-blowing science. Fuel your child's imagination and give them the gift of wonder to the most spectacular interactive gallery in the world. Revealing the beauty of the science and maths that shape our everyday lives, this unmissable experience will ignite their curiosity and inspire them to see the world around them in new and exciting ways.
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!
Each week our newsletter is packed with things to do whether online or here in South Ken - there are so many places to explore, hidden gems to discover, experiences to enjoy, food to feast on and so much more.
Join us for a celebration of science and the arts. Discover the Festival at home with our new exhibition, Fantasies of Exhibition Road, and a year-round digital events programme for all ages, featuring talks, workshops, interviews and more each month.
If you would like to keep up to-date with everything that is happening at our amazing science and arts institutions in South Ken, why not sign-up to our weekly newsletter. Bursting with great content, you'll be spoilt for choice. Every fortnight, there's something different to see and do, from fantastic new exhibitions and wonderous collections to unique, one-off events to tantalise and excite.
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.
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.
Inspirational and legendary—this is the story of the colossal engineering feats that allowed travellers to cross a continent in style. A small display about the Trans-Siberian Railway will be opening at the Science Museum on 26 March 2021 in support of the major exhibition about this astonishing feat of engineering at the National Railway Museum in York.
The Maria Lassnig Foundation and the Serpentine Galleries are delighted to announce that the 2021 Maria Lassnig Prize is awarded to UK-based Ghanaian artist Atta Kwami. A comprehensive monograph publication and a public art commission will be launched in 2022.
The much anticipated exhibition of British-Ghanaian photographer James Barnor, opens at Serpentine North Gallery. A career spanning six decades and two continents, his work encompasses numerous photographic genres with studio portraiture, photojournalism, editorial commissions and wider social commentary.
Encounter paintings and drawings from the past decade by Jennifer Packer, one of the most significant artists of her generation at Serpentine South Gallery. Don’t miss 'The Eye Is Not Satisfied With Seeing' at The Serpentine. Book your free visit today
Making instant ice-cream is just one of the activities on the Science Museums website to try at home. You can also take a virtual tour via Google Streetview, let a curator guide you round the galleries, explore online exhibitions, play games and so much more.
Being in the fresh air and close to nature is crucial for mental and physical wellbeing. Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park are open during lockdown, and this time playgrounds and outdoor catering will stay open too. If you’re not nearby, there’s plenty of ideas on the Royal Parks website to try at home or in your local green spaces.
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!
Decorate your home with exquisite Christmas ornaments inspired by all the historic royal palaces and celebrate 'the most festive time of the year!' with their perfect gifts. Beautifully designed Christmas cards, advent calendars, plus a range of unique stocking fillers to tempt.
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.
If you're looking for something different, the V&A shop showcases a wide range of designs inspired by the museum's collections and exhibitions. Beautiful prints from the recent Kimono exhibition, extraordinary designs from Filthy Lucre, and for every fan of Alice in Wonderland, a unique publication of beautiful illustrations from Peter Blake, Salvador Dali and Ralph Steadman.
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.
Discover one of the great furniture designers and architects of the twentieth century whose work was often overshadowed by her male peers, such as Le Corbusier and Jean Prouvé.
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
Explore the 100-year history of the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance. Discover a host of costume, designs, film and unique material from the last century including shoes worn by Dame Darcey Bussell DBE at her 2007 farewell performance.
See South Kensington in a whole new light as it is transformed by a selection of artists re-imagining spaces along Exhibition Road in Albertopolis, where the Great Exhibition Road Festival takes place. The artists were inspired by conversations with scientists at Imperial College London on mental health and wellbeing research to create digital dreams of these iconic places.
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
Go on a small safari with a handy guide to the minibeasts that live in the Wildlife Garden and their habitats. Then, complete the NHM's leaf bingo by spotting fabulous foliage in the Museum's outdoor space. There's an incredible variety and volume of life in the garden just waiting to be discovered.
For over 300 years, steam has been the driving force behind the working factories, shipping and railways that are essential for trade. Even now, steam turbines generate the majority of the electricity we use every day, both at home and at work. See the huge, red Burnley Mill engine in action.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Combine a German film, language lesson or a visit to the library at the Goethe-Institut London with a visit to Stein’s Berlin restaurant. The restaurant offers a journey through all of Germany's kitchen in a well-designed contemporary and cosy atmosphere. For your safety during the Covid-19 pandemic, Stein’s Berlin has introduced air-sanitising equipment and is frequently updating their opening hours.
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.
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.
From great exhibitions to debates with experts, and fun activities to try at home, there’s so much more to discover here.
Crisp autumn days are wonderful for walking, and it’s a great way to explore this cultural district. Discover the history of the area with this free walking tour from Go Jauntly, curated by the Royal Geographical Society as part of the programme for Kensington + Chelsea Art Week.
Discover mind-blowing exhibits and demonstrations that fuel your imagination and immerse yourself in a world of wonder.
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!
Planning a visit to the museums in South Kensington? What better way than by walking - safe, easy and now even more enjoyable with Footways' fantastic new walking map. Not just any map but a profusion of interesting streets woven together across London.
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.
Gentle giant or fierce meat-eater: which dinosaur shared your habits? Do you think you're more like a Tyrannosaurus Rex? Or a Sauropad? Or maybe even a Raptor? Take the Natural History Museum's quiz and find out who you really share your habits with!
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?
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
Exploring its origins, adaptations and reinventions over 157 years, this immersive and theatrical show charts the evolution of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland from manuscript to a global phenomenon beloved by all ages.
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.
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 Royal Parks popular guided tours may be temporarily on hold but there is a lot you can discover by yourself! Covering over 253 hectares, explore the park and learn all about the environments, wildlife and heritage that surrounds you.
Cromwell Place, South Kensington’s highly anticipated flexible arts space, is bringing a new dynamic to the London art scene, Cromwell Place is an arts membership organisation - the first of its kind globally - providing a hub for UK and international galleries, dealers, advisors, curators, collectors and art professionals.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Royal College of Music has launched its autumn events season for 2020, including the first performances in London’s newest concert hall. The state-of-the-art Performance Hall is part of a recent £40 million investment in the RCM’s iconic South Kensington campus.
This is the ideal time to explore Kensington Palace, the birthplace of Queen Victoria and home to young royals for over 300 years. Walk in the footsteps of royalty in Victoria's re-imagined childhood rooms and the magnificent King's State Apartments and Queen's State Apartments.
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.
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
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.
Asante gold court regalia is richly symbolic of an economy centred on the gold trade. This display highlights contested heritage: some items were taken by British troops when they raided the Asante capital, Kumasi, in 1874 in conflicts over gold-trading ports.
Listen up and hear the beat! Time to take a closer look at this hidden hardworking hero… your heart. Get your blood pumping in this fun, family-friendly workshop where you can make your very own working stethoscope and put it to the test.
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.
As we enter a new decade characterised by technological acceleration, 24/7 working, and climate uncertainty, there is a crucial role for design in supporting the ways we care for ourselves, each other and the planet, and to this end four emerging designers are exploring alternative avenues for communities to become more resilient.
Ciné Lumière reopens on 26th August with some fantastic films in their programme of events. For our youngest audience there's The Lost Prince, a father's world of magic begins to disappear as his daughter grows up, the classic and memorable Les Misérables, the award-winning comedy of manners Le Charme discret de la bourgeoisie, and more!
William III and Mary II were crowned as joint monarchs in 1689, after they were invited by Parliament to take the throne in the place of Catholic King James II, Mary’s father. They bought Kensington Palace to become their new home, away from the bustle of Whitehall Palace, and transformed the building into a royal home. The Queen's apartments were where Mary, and later royal consorts, lived. This is where they had their bedroom, took their meals, entertained their friends and distinguished guests, and relaxed.
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 a 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.
The Design Museum has launched a new pay it forward scheme in partnership with local charities, including The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, The scheme is aimed at offering free access to the museum's temporary exhibitions to young people and adults in the local community for whom price might be a barrier to participation - including those most affected by the Coronavirus crisis.
The Royal Parks are pleased to announce that almost all cafes and catering kiosks are open in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, and for their youngest visitors, the playgrounds are due to open imminently.
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.
For Benjamin Britten – one of the foremost composers of the 20th century – a quiet place to compose was absolutely essential. He was fortunate enough to achieve this for most of his life, spending his last two decades at The Red House, which has become a new creative retreat open to women members of the Royal Society of Sculptors to spend time in Suffolk..
'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.
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.
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.
Sir Ian Blatchford describes how the Science Museum Group is focused on meaningful and ongoing change in response to Black Lives Matter.
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 for nearly 40 years.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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..
Find out more about the Royal Geographical Society's online lectures offered through their School Membership package
Welcome, naturenauts! Are you ready for an adventure? Grab your phone or tablet to explore the nature on your doorstep.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rediscover the newly refurbished V&A’s Raphael Court - home to the iconic Raphael Cartoons. Commissioned in 1515 by Pope Leo X for the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, they depict the lives of the apostles, Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
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
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.
In addition to the galleries opening, Serpentine's work continues online. Collected here are some of the ways you can interact with their programmes through online exhibitions, digital commissions, podcasts, special broadcasts and more.
Imperial researchers and Coursera have partnered to offer a free Massively Open Online Course explaining the science behind coronavirus.
Their doors might be closed for now but the Royal Albert Hall is still here to bring you stories, performances, and activities to keep you entertained and inspired at home. Stay tuned!
Find answers to your big nature questions. Delve into stories about the Museum's collections, scientists and research. Uncover the history of life on Earth, from the smallest insects to the largest mammals.
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.
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!
From its early beginnings 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.
From ancient Chinese ceramics to Alexander McQueen evening dresses, take an incredible journey through 5000 years of human creativity with their online collections.
The Royal Albert Hall's stage may have temporarily fallen silent but there's a lot to see and read on their blogs to lift your spirits.
Stay connected with The Royal Society of Sculptors through their online blogs.
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.
The V&A's team of writers will take you behind the scenes to discover a kaleidoscopic world of art and design spanning over 5000 years, from the weird and wonderful to the obscure and intriguing.
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.
Go behind the scenes on the Science Museum's blog and explore the world of espionage and code breaking, celebrate women in space, unlock the myths and misconceptions of quantum computing - and more!
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.
Follow step-by-step instructions for science activities and experiments that are safe and easy to do in the classroom or at home.
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.
Find out more about Japanese art and culture through a series of videos and interviews from the Japan House London.
Japan House London invite you to explore the stories about Japanese cultures.including Japanese wine, a Bonsai guide, sake and more.
Championing new ideas in contemporary art since it opened in 1970, 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.
The Royal Society of Sculptors is pleased to provide free downloadable teachers’ resources to support classroom art activities. Have fun!
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
With five vast and visually stunning galleries containing more than 3,000 medical artefacts, striking artworks, interactive games and immersive experiences, Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries brings the history of medicine to life. Take a closer look at what's on display in the Collection Online
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,
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.
Discover where the real and wizarding worlds intertwine, and how the wonders of the natural world have inspired myths, legends and magical creatures for generations.
If you haven't seen it already, don't miss this wonderful and immersive installation by contemporary artist Darren Waterston. His detailed and decadent interpretation of James Abbott McNeill Whistler's famed Peacock Room, a sumptuous 19th-century interior, will leave you in awe.
Showcasing extraordinary medical artefacts including the world’s first MRI scanner, Fleming’s penicillin mould, a professional pianist’s prosthetic arm and even robotic surgery equipment.
The exhibition will offer unprecedented insight into Prada’s creative approach, inspirations and landmark collaborations.
Discover space firsts such as Sputnik, Yuri Gagarin and the work of Sergei Koralev. Delve into an amazing history, bringing to life objects from our Exploring Space gallery.
Trace the remarkable story of steam and how it shaped the world we live in today. Steam has been the driving force behind British industry for 300 years. Without it, the Industrial Revolution could never have happened. Even now, steam provides 75% of the electricity we use every day.
Fly Kids is a pay-as-you-go flight simulator that lets your child experience the sights and sounds of flying with the Red Arrows during one of their aerobatic displays.
Explore some of the world's richest habitats, see fascinating animal behaviour and get to know some extraordinary species. Go deeper and discover the surprising - and often challenging - stories behind the images during a time of environmental crisis.
Discover how London grew from a lively capital city to a global hub for trade, commerce, and scientific enquiry between 1550 - 1800. This new free gallery spanning over 650 m² takes visitors on a journey through the metropolis during a time of momentous change.
Whether seeking guidance across a broad area, or niche support on topics such as, audience development, forging new revenue streams, organising private hire events, and collections management, there’s a plethora of subjects to choose from. Led by expert staff, learn and share best practice with colleagues from fellow UK and international cultural organisations.
Discover the magic of Hyde Park in the palm of your hand! A free scavenger hunt game using mobile phones that takes you on an adventure through one of London's most popular parks.
Exploring 5,000 years of art, design and culture, Epic Iran shines a light on one of the greatest historic civilisations, its journey into the 21st century and its monumental artistic achievements, which remain unknown to many.
From rucksacks to despatch boxes, Birkin bags to Louis Vuitton luggage, Bags! will explore the style, function, design and craftsmanship of the ultimate accessory.
Liberty Drives is a voluntary service, helped by sponsors and donations, for people who find walking difficult. A fleet of six electric buggies can accommodate five passengers plus one person in a wheelchair. The tours last up to one hour and show visitors around the main sights.
The Library at Japan House offers a new approach to appreciate and engage with books, by displaying books in a particular way, and through bookshelf exhibitions curated by HABA Yoshitaka of BACH, a book specialist in Japan.
Come face-to-face with a full-size engineering model of BepiColombo, the European Space Agency’s first ever spacecraft to explore Mercury. Standing over six metres tall, this Structural Thermal Model (STM) of the spacecraft was used to test BepiColombo’s resilience during its seven-year journey to Mercury.
Swim alongside some of the most exotic creatures on the planet, from the bizarre Rainbow Nudibranch to the Giant Pacific Octopus. Narrated by Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet, Deep Sea 3D transports you below the ocean surface on a unique underwater adventure.
In this workshop, pupils work in small teams to design and build a LEGO Martian rover. They then code, test and evaluate their designs. After receiving missions from scientists, they will have to decide what their rover should investigate and build appropriate tools for the challenge. In a final challenge, pupils will see how their rovers perform on a large-scale realistic Martian surface.
The new Photography Centre at the V&A houses over 600 spellbinding photos including some of the oldest known photographs to modern masters. The Museum began acquiring photographs in 1852, and its collection is now one of the largest and most important in the world.
From mankind's earliest dreams of flight to the wide-body aeroplanes of today, discover the absorbing story of flight. Overhead walkways allow you to get up close to aeroplanes suspended in the air. Examine exhibits from the pioneer days of aviation, including the world's most authentic Antoinette monoplane (1909), Amy Johnson's Gipsy Moth and the Vickers Vimy, which first crossed the Atlantic in 1919.
From dinosaurs to mammals, explore the amazing diversity of life on Earth. Follow our planet's evolution and walk beneath a 25.2-metre blue whale skeleton. Take a journey through our spectacular Earth sculpture and find out about the tremendous forces that shape our planet. See scientists at work in the Darwin Centre and enjoy the tranquil habitats of our Wildlife Garden.
A new app from the Museum which encourages kids and their favourite grown-ups to head outdoors and learn fun facts about UK wildlife. Grab your phone or tablet to explore the nature on your doorstep.
Help to explode some rocket-fuelled bubbles, melt some marshmallows, and learn all about the challenges of space in this free interactive family show. This show is suitable for children aged 5 and above.
How do today’s scientific discoveries shape tomorrow’s world? Get the scoop on the most surprising science stories and the biggest breakthroughs in the Tomorrow's World gallery.
A brilliant online resource that can be used in schools to accompany D&T lessons, or alongside a trip to the Design Museum. This site looks at the design of objects and the story behind designs, and includes teacher guidance.
Cool off at the ice-cream and milkshake bar. Indulge your sweet tooth with sundaes and milkshakes or design your own ice cream tubs. Find the Shake Bar right outside Wonderlab.
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!
The beautiful Sunken Garden was planted in 1908, transforming part of the gardens previously occupied by potting sheds into a tranquil ornamental garden. Today, the garden continues the tradition of rotational flower displays in the spring and summer.
Explore nature in the flourishing Wildlife Garden, a tranquil haven for plants and animals in the heart of the city. The garden is home to thousands of British flora and fauna.
The Italian Gardens is a 150-year-old ornamental water garden located on the north side of Kensington Gardens near Lancaster Gate. It is believed to have been created as a gift from Prince Albert to his beloved Queen Victoria.
Hyde Park has a fleet of rowing and pedal boats on the Serpentine and the UK's first Solarshuttle, a magnificent vessel which glides across the lake powered only by the sun. The Solarshuttle carries up to 40 passengers and the pedal and row boats hold up to 6 persons each.
The trail will include creative looking, thinking and drawing activities as you explore the museum and exhibitions. The trail asks the user to consider what it's like to be a designer, maker and user of some of the wonderful objects in the collection. Takes 30 - 40 minutes.
Explore the different time periods dinosaurs lived, sort the facts from the myths about why they died out, and find out what our scientific research has taught us about these prehistoric giants.
Are you big on museums, but short on time? NHM's knowledgeable visitor assistants have designed just the dinosaurs tour for you. It will introduce you to some of the Museum's most famous and imposing specimens. One hour
As the European Space Agency's first British astronaut, Tim Peake spent six incredible months aboard the International Space Station. Using VR technology, get a 360° look inside a Soyuz capsule and retrace Tim's 400km journey back to Earth from the ISS.
The Serpentine Sackler Gallery & adjoining Magazine Restaurant, opened in 2013, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The Serpentine is now two contemporary art galleries in the heart of the Royal Park of Kensington Gardens in central London.
City of Towers is an installation presenting research into a new concept for the design and construction of high-rise buildings. City of Towers explores the concept of the tower through the lens of Parametricism – an architectural style created by the use of 3D software that renders shapes and forms using complex mathematical formulas. These 3D printed studies are sculptural in quality, precise in their creation, and sometimes appear to imitate natural forms.
Mathematics is too often perceived as dry and complex, but this new gallery will tell stories that place the subject at the heart of our lives, exploring how mathematicians, their tools and ideas have helped to shape the modern world.
Revealing the beauty of the science and maths that shape our everyday lives, this unmissable experience will ignite your curiosity, fuel your imagination and inspire you to see the world around you in new and exciting ways.
Spanning five centuries, the Fashion collection is the largest and most comprehensive collection of dresses in the world.
Take a self-guided tour and explore how London’s quarter for the arts and sciences was created. Discover more about it's great institutions and magnificent buildings.
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.
A suggested route where you can enjoy a ride through some of London's hidden gardens and get a glimpse of some of the Parks including Hyde Park along your way.
Meander from Clerkenwell, through our Museum quarter and through historic Hyde Park. Here is a suggested route from TfL and Santander Cyles.
Why not hop on a Santander bike and explore South Kensington - take a ride through the Parks, pass Kensington Palace, around the Serpentine and arrive at the Museums.
Every Tuesday, the market is open to all, providing great-tasting locally-sourced provisions on the Queen's lawn.
Afternoon Tea includes finger sandwiches, musically-themed sweet treats, homemade scones and a pot of fine tea, provided by the East India Company.
From babies to teens, RCM Sparks run a variety of inspiring events for a range of abilities, including family workshops, concerts and courses
One of the finest collections of jewelry in the world - over 3,500 jewels, including pendants given by Queen Elizabeth I.
Set design, costumes, make-up, posters - and the first folio of Shakespeare's play.
Showcasing over 1100 objects from the V&A’s collections of 17th- and 18th-century European art and design in a suite of seven galleries.
Get closer to the Museum and its incredible collections with our wide range of free or paid-for bespoke tours.
Pattern Pod is an amazing multi-sensory area for children under 8 years old. Fun, interactive exhibits encourage them to recognise and copy patterns.
The Information Age gallery celebrates more than 200 years of innovation in information and communication technologies. Relive some remarkable moments of history.
Could you shape the world we live in? Find out if you've got the problem-solving, big-thinking, team-working skills to be a globe-trotting engineer of tomorrow.
Take a peek inside London's most iconic music venue. Did you know that the Royal Albert Hall once hosted a séance; flooded the auditorium with 56,000 litres of water for an opera concert; and that criminals, as well as musicians and politicians, have graced the Hall’s stage?
Through dramatic film footage, exhibits, interactive games and our famous earthquake simulator, explore how the powers within shape the world in which we live.
Meet your ancient relatives, trace the origins and evolution of our species, and explore what makes us human.
Inside the Cocoon see hundreds of Museum specimens. Marvel at beetles and butterflies, metre-high plants, huge tarantulas and historic herbaria.
Get a feel for how scientists work by having a go yourself. Come and explore hundreds of real nature specimens that form the evidence museum scientists use in their daily work.
Explore the rich diversity of mammals, from polar bears to pygmy shrews in the Mammals gallery. -
Swim, stroll, play, eat, relax, row - some top tips of things to do in Hyde Park from Buzzfeed.
Explore Queen Caroline's Temple which is a classical style summer house overlooking the Long Water, east of Lancaster Walk, Hyde Park.
Explore and have a great adventure in the playground with a huge wooden pirate ship which is the centrepiece of the Diana, Princess of Wales' Memorial Playground.
Tree-lined avenues and flower beds provide a stunning back drop to Kensington Palace.
Showcasing the best of foreign film - it screens a mix of French, European and Global films - with subtitles.
The children's library has reopened providing children with easy access to a wide range of interactive resources.
The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Walk takes visitors through four of the most beautiful parks in the world, including Hyde Park and Kensington Palace.
A unique fountain memorial to Princess Diana designed to reflect her spirit of life and love of children.
