London’s home of science and arts
The Royal Albert Hall will open its doors this December with a programme of festive favourites, welcoming a live audience to a much-needed celebration of Christmas in 2020. The audiences will be smaller to ensure your safety and enjoyment but this iconic building will once again reverberate to the sound of music and laughter!
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?
As part of the Royal College of Art's In Session events with leading designers, Nadia Danhash, Director of InnovationRCA discusses with Judah Armani, Founder & Director of InHouse Records, about how to tackle some of the toughest challenges of our age, through design.
In an everchanging world, designers of tomorrow need to be inspired. The V&A's Innovate is a fantastic opportunity for students in years 7, 8 and 9 to work in teams to design a solution to a real-world problem. The two themes this year are Home and Community. Become an Innovator.
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.
Europe is more than a continent or an idea. Europe consists of many different stories – personal stories of people from different generations. The project “Tell me about Europe” brings the memories of well-known Europeans alive and invites you to listen and join in the discussion
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.
For a limited time only 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?”.
Sanne Visser is a Dutch designer who works and lives in London. Learn how to harness the potential of natural materials and circular design in a behind-the-scenes look into her home studio.
Cromwell Place, South Kensington’s highly anticipated flexible arts space, has recently announced that it will officially open its doors on 10 October 2020 following five years in development. 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.
A new website uses reported cases and deaths to estimate the probability regions in England, Scotland and Wales will become COVID-19 ‘hotspots’. The team behind the website, from Imperial College London, define a hotspot as a local authority where there are more than 50 cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 of the population per week.
Sharks’ non-bony skeletons were thought to be the template before bony internal skeletons evolved, but a new fossil discovery suggests otherwise. The discovery of a 410-million-year-old fish fossil with a bony skull suggests the lighter skeletons of sharks may have evolved from bony ancestors, rather than the other way around.
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.
How about a French top-up! The Institut français is holding Express Saturday Group courses from 12 September. The classes are small, and you will get a lot of support and attention. If you've always wanted to learn but from the comfort and security of your home, sign-up now! And if you're still not sure, hear what some of their students have to say.
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.
We're excited to announce that Leighton House Museum is reopening this Saturday. For the present, it will only be open on the weekends. The former home of Victorian artist Lord Leighton presents its permanent collection enhanced with new artworks on display for the first time and there's a last chance for art fans to see the collections before refurbishment in spring 2021. Don't forget to book!
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.
The much loved Stein's Berlin restaurant reopens in Kensington with carefully spaced seating and special air purifiers to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable experience. Enjoy some wonderful dishes in their modern contemporary interior on on their terrace overlooking Princes Gardens.
New development plans for South Kensington station include much needed step-free access to the street and museum subway. The deadline for comments on the planning application is 4 September. If you use the station and care about its future, please have your say on the planning application.
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
James Bowen's A Streetcat Named Bob is Westminster Libraries' Book of the Week. Since the publication of his popular book, Bowen now dedicates his time to working with homelessness, literacy, and animal welfare charities. Visit one of their libraries today and give it a read!
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.
Get up close with nature, discover fascinating creatures and intriguing science with these top tips for family visits and a self-guided tour. Can't make it to the Museum? There are still plenty of ways to get involved online with live talks, dinosaur crafts and ways to explore nature in your local area
Asante gold court regalia is richly symbolic of an economy centred on the gold trade. Small brass goldweights were shaped to express proverbs encouraging honesty, integrity and the need to leave a legacy of good deeds. 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.
First Plinth: Public Art Award (formerly FIRST@108: Public Art Award) is designed to offer sculptors an opportunity to extend their practice into competing for public art commissions. The sculpture terrace will feature new work by the 2019 winner, Fabio Lattanzi Antinori, examining how digital technology and online communication are affecting the way we view the world and relate to one another.
The Institut français has reopened with a wealth of things to do and see. Join their popular online bookclub, sign-up for that French class you've been meaning to take, or reserve your seat at the Ciné Lumière for a jampacked programme of fantastic films.
Man's best friend has their very own exhibition premiering at Japan House London. Featuring a collection of architectural designs by world-class architects and designers, with the addition of a brand new piece by eminent UK architect, Asif Khan, guests can become designers and makers themselves, with blueprints available for download and opportunities to design their own architecture for dogs.
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.
Tune in to Imperial's digital Lates to hear personal stories from those working on the pandemic frontline and explore how cutting-edge research is improving our NHS. Put your questions to their COVID vaccine developers as we celebrate those who care for our nation with talks, a drawing workshop, the Pub-less Quiz, and more!
The Serpentine Galleries' latest podcast features perspectves from self-organised Indigenous organisations at the front line of extraction and climate change, as well as artists researching our more-than-human entanglements.
The Chrysler Building, the Waldorf-Astoria, Rockefeller Center – these are among the hundreds of Art Deco monuments which helped create the image of New York City as the world’s Modern Metropolis in the 1920's and ‘30s . Come along to this exciting virtual tour of Art Deco New York with renowned author and native New Yorker, Anthony Robins.
Finally! Summer has started, lockdown restrictions are easing and other than keeping your distance and wearing a mask on public transport it’s pretty much back to normal. Right? Not exactly. The Royal Parks have been hugely popular during lockdown but they need a little TLC. Please pick your litter up and bin it or take it home. Just yours. Treat the wildlife, trees and plants as the wonderful living things that they are and we can all enjoy these special places of tranquility.
A quarter of British mammals are at risk of extinction. Out of the 47 native mammals, 11 are at risk of extinction, including the much-loved hedgehogs and water voles. Discover tips on how to help hedgehogs and build your own hedgehog house.
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. Don't forget to pre-book your ticket.
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!
The museum will be partially open to the public with the exhibition Electronic: From Kraftwerk to The Chemical Brothers from Friday 31 July 2020. Your visit is going to be a bit different. You will need to pre-book your tickets online and new measures have been introduced to ensure all visitors and staff can feel safe.
The Science Museum reopens on 19th August. Their top priority is the health and safety of their visitors. To help manage the number of people in the museum at one time, all visitors are now required to pre-book a free ticket in advance to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit.
The V&A reopens on 6th August. They've made some changes to keep you safe during your visit. For now all visitors – including Members – need to book a free timed entry ticket here.
The Natural History Museum reopens on 5th August. To help keep everyone safe, a timed entry system is in place. Please book a free ticket in advance as only a limited number of people are allowed in their galleries. If you are unable to book online, please call +44 (0)20 7942 5000.
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.
The Institut français' online French courses have proved so popular that they are continuing through July and August. There's still time to sign up and there's a great choice: if you're an early bird, a night owl or a determined intensive learner, their timetable can accommodate all!
Enjoy the best of French and world cinema on the big screen and an exciting cultural programme with both onsite and online events. Why not also try French courses, the Library Click & Collect service or the Food & Drink Takeaway Pop Up? Hygiene and social distancing measures are implemented so you have the safest and most comfortable and pleasing experience.
How has the coronavirus pandemic impacted upon what and how we eat? In a new Imperial Stories feature, Imperial College London experts explain how our diets have been affected by COVID-19.
The Solar Orbiter spacecraft has unveiled its first images, including what appear to be ubiquitous miniature solar flares. The ‘campfire’ flares may solve a longstanding mystery about our star: why its outer atmosphere is hotter than its surface.
For the first time, a new study simultaneously tracks brain activity, eye movements and body movements of a pro race car driver in extreme conditions. The Imperial College London research team worked with Formula E World Champion Lucas di Grassi to compare how his brain and body reacted to steep curves and straight segments of the Top Gear race track under wet and rainy conditions. The results, published in Scientific Reports, could help explain how experts in physical tasks have tuned their bodies to react.
Sir Michael Marmot, Director of the Institute of Health Equity at University College London, talks to Science Director Roger Highfield about why some communities are at higher risk of COVID-19. His pioneering studies of civil servants revealed how, as you move down the social hierarchy to an office messenger, your risk of illness and death rises.
RBKC is launching a Culture Plan with a difference in September. There will be 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.
Explore 'how electronic music rewired the world'. Electronic: From Kraftwerk to The Chemical Brothers will be the the first exhibition since the lifting of lockdown, when the museum partially reopens on 31 July. Your visit is going to be a bit different. You will need to pre-book your tickets online and new measures have been introduced to ensure all visitors and staff can feel safe.
The Design Museum has launched a new pay it forward scheme in partnership with local charities, including The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, that distributes free exhibition tickets in the local community. Launched to coincide with the partial reopening of the museum on 31st July, it 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' 5,000 acres of historic green spaces have been a haven during these extraordinary times, a place to hang out with family and friends, exercise or simply unwind. But their popularity has produced an astonishing 258 tonnes of trash equivalent to 20 London buses! This summer the Royal Parks are asking everyone to spread some kindness and help look after our precious green spaces. Spread the word!
Technology is revolutionising modern medicine and has the potential to impact all of our lives. But how much do we understand the developments shaping the future of healthcare? ARTxSCIENCE brings together students from the Royal College of Art and the Centre for Doctoral Training in Smart Medical Imaging to collaborate and create innovative digital exhibitions to open up the conversation around cutting-edge research. RCA student Beth Hadfield as part of her Simulated Vessel film in the 'Artificial Intelligence' exhibit.
South Kensington is London’s home of arts and science, with a vital role to play in enriching lives. Our arts and science institutions face unprecedented challenges as a result of Covid-19. Ensuring the survival and recovery of these institutions, and the local businesses they support, will require imagination, innovation, the ability to act quickly and strong local support. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster City Council and the members of the Exhibition Road Cultural Group (ERCG) are working closely together towards this goal. And it is essential that the safety of our visitors, residents, students and staff is always the top priority for our organisations.
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.
Caroline Achaintre's recently installed Echo Peel on The Royal Society of Sculptors' terrace, has gained extra meaning during lockdown as we adjust to wearing face masks and coverings in our daily lives. The French-born artist describes the hand knotted rafia sculptor as "fragile but also a protective layer" the two holes resembling eyes, looking out and looking in.
Breath is Invisible is a new public art project exhibiting the work of four artists to celebrate, reflect, question and heal. A project born out of urgency to address issues of social injustice, the first installation is the work of Khadija Saye, the young Gambian-British artist who tragically lost her life in the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. Khadija was the youngest artist to be exhibited at the Diaspora Pavillion at the 2017 Venice Biennale. Later this summer artists Martyn Ware, Zachary Eastwood-Bloom and Joy Gregory will present site-specific commissions created in partnership with the local community. [image courtesy of the Estate of Khadija Saye, Photo Jeff Moore]
Kensington Palace is thrilled to be re-opening on 30th July. There will be some changes to ensure visitors are safe, but they are confident everyone will have a great time!
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.
Science Director Roger Highfield explores how growing human tissue into mini-organs, or ‘organoids’, will help the fight against COVID-19, from explaining puzzling complications to creating novel treatments.
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..
Every Wednesday, the V&A team challenges you to use design to think cretively abour your world. What can you fix, improve and iterate? Don’t forget to share your design remixes with them. Let’s make Wednesdays more creative!
The Shellworks, founded by Imperial College London graduates Insiya Jafferjee, Amir Afshar and Edward Jones, won the Venture Catalyst Challenge 2020 for their invention which turns waste crustacean shells into biodegradable, composable products that can be used as an alternative to plastic. 6.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste has been created on earth to date but might now become a thing of the past.
Researchers have solved the mystery of why a species of bacteria that causes food poisoning can swim faster in stickier liquids, such as within guts. The findings could potentially help scientists halt the bacteria in its tracks,
The Serpentine's phased re-opening begins on 4th August with Cao Fei's immersive Blueprints, exploring her ability to create virtual worlds, navigate physical and virtual spaces, and considers the changing landscapes of cities in China and beyond. The exhibition is free but booking in advance is essential. Tickets available later this month.
'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.
This time last year hundreds of staff, students and volunteers were getting ready to host the Great Exhibition Road Festival. We’re sorry Covid-19 means we can’t do it all again this year but it means we’re even more excited about 2021. Meanwhile, relive some of the highlights of last year here.
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.
In times like these, the reflective space poetry offers can give respite to breathe and recharge. Every day this week book suggestions from Westminster Libraries' staff will be highlighted. All the books are available for free on their cloud library service with your membership card.
For the first time in their 150-year history, the Royal Albert Hall hosted a very special concert behind closed doors, marking the 75th anniversary of VE Day, with Mezzo Soprano Katherine Jenkins.
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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.
The V&A needs you! The creatures of Wonderland are spreading nonsense around the museum. Help find them and restore logic before it’s too late!
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
Jointly run by the RCM and Imperial College, London, the internationally celebrated research Centre for Performance Science (CPS) has launched a major new study to track the effects of Covid-19 on arts and culture students and professionals.
Get closer to London based artist Morag Myerscough. In conversation with the Design Museum's director, Tim Marl0w.
Every Saturday come online and enjoy a lively discussion with the Design Museum's director, Tim Marlow, and a familiar face from the world of design, fashion and architecture. This coming Saturday 18th April at 2pm, it's the creative duo 2LG Studio.
Welcome, naturenauts! Are you ready for an adventure? Grab your phone or tablet to explore the nature on your doorstep.
Virtual Museum: nine ways to explore from home. 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.
From Alvar Aalto to Zaha Hadid, take a journey into the world of design through the ages with this look into the museum's collection and exhibitions - past, present and future.
Upskill with free learning sessions for adults. Keep inspired and informed with fashion starter packs, lunch time sketching with leading architects and more. Why not use this time to learn some new skills?
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.
Inspired by the John Madejski Garden, Kengo Kuma, who designed the V&A Dundee, has created a doughnut-shaped ring woven out of bamboo. Bamboo (竹) Ring, or ‘Take-wa 竹わ’, has the ambition to become a catalyst for weaving people and place together.
From our friends in the arts, not to be missed, a wonderful virtual journey celebrating the architecture and heritage of London's historic bridges by transforming the capital at night and lighting up 14 bridges along the River Thames. Once complete it will be the longest public art project in the world.
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.
Kensington Palace are bringing the stories of the palace to your home. Brilliant, resilient women have occupied Kensington Palace for over 300 years. For example, can we respect Queen Victoria as feminists? Hear the debate online.
Catharsis totally immerses audiences within a digital simulation of a re-imagined old-growth forest, a forest that has developed undisturbed over hundreds of years. A wonderful way to escape and let your imagination run wild.
The Goethe-Institut are presenting weekly online updates about events and offers from the German-speaking world of culture and the arts to keep you entertained and stimulated.
During this extraordinary period of forced isolation, Serpentine Galleries look for ways to support artists and keep the flame of creativity alive. They would love to hear your thoughts about how you see art's influence in a world changing over the coming months. How can people come together to support artists in this trying time? Please share and tag #SerpentineStories.
Want to learn German while social distancing? The Goethe-Institut London's next online group course gets underway on 30 April, providing you with a flexible way to learn #GermanforReal with like-minded people, from the comfort of your home!
Cartoons are considered among the greatest treasures of the Renaissance. When Leo X was elected pope in 1513 he commissioned Raphael, the leading artist of the day, to produce a series of tapestry cartoons for the Sistine chapel in the Vatican Palace. These magnificent and unique paintings illustrate passages from the Bible concerning the lives of 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
In the late 18th century, women's hair styles went crazy! It wasn't uncommon to see women sporting huge, towering creations coloured with scented powder and decorated with flowers, ribbons or even ships in full sail.
The Serpentine is collaborating with NOWNESS and K11 Art Foundation on a new online exhibition. Focusing on one artist and artwork gradually unveiled each week, this special moving image programme brings together a group of East Asia-based practitioners, featuring additional online content from the artists, curators and project advisors.
Want to make your own videogame, craft your own plywood furniture, sew a Mary Quant dress or try out some 1940s knitwear? Get creative with these free making activities inspired by our collections.
If you are looking for inspiration for your next project, look no further than this free, downloadable sewing pattern. Create an original Mary Quant design from 1962: the bold and beautiful 'Georgie' dress. Get sewing!
Led by V&A staff as well as independent researchers, the Lunchtime Lecture programme explores varied aspects of the V&A’s collection and displays in more detail.
Discover the history and essence of Japanese design through this seminar by Japan House’s Chief Creative Director and President of Nippon Design Center, Hara Kenya.
Learn how royalty used fashion to entertain, control and impress. A History of Royal Fashion takes you into the wardrobes of British kings and queens across five royal dynasties from the Tudors, Stuarts and Georgians to the Victorians and Windsors.
The Royal College of Music would love to hear from RCM students, staff and alumni about the benefits, quirks and surprises of working from home. They would be thrilled to see your photos and videos and to hear your stories and insights. Join us in keeping the music alive within the RCM Community on Facebook. Here to keep the music alive in the #RCMCommunity!
Keep up-to-date with all the key business support from central Government and the Council for the self-employed and businesses within the borough. London Growth Hub has launched a new portal to support London-based businesses and employers to manage and mitigate their exposure to COVID-19 (coronavirus). In this toolkit, you will find all the resources needed to help promote this opportunity to your network:
While the Gallery buildings are closed, the Serpentine’s work continues. Collected here are some of the ways you can interact with their programmes through online exhibitions, digital commissions, podcasts, special broadcasts and more.
For updates on the Coronavirus virus and useful links for residents and businesses, please see the Westminster City Council website. There is also a sign-up for anyone who would like to volunteer to help people in Westminster.
Welcome to the V&A, the world's leading museum of art and design. Collections are unrivalled in their diversity. Explore historical and contemporary art and design, including works of art from many of the world's richest cultures.
Imperial researchers and Coursera have partnered to offer a free Massively Open Online Course explaining the science behind coronavirus.
COVID-19 Response Fund: Alumni accelerate global race against coronavirus. This new fund will help accelerate the critical work at Imperial on COVID-19. All donations, large and small, will make a tremendous difference.
Academics and researchers from Imperial College Business School have offered reactions and analysis of the impact of coronavirus on business and the economy.
Our Royal Parks are open for essential daily exercise, be that a walk, run or cycle for those who live nearby. Visit the Royal Park's website for an update on the changes temporarily in place. Please do not drive or use public transport to get to the parks.
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!
The Natural History Museum has lots of fab ideas to occupy yourself and family at home, in your garden or local outdoor space. Make a nature journal, a volcano or explore the world's best nature photography
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.
Since 1904, the Royal College of Music has published a seasonal magazine, celebrating the achievements of its students, graduates and staff.
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!
This history of the V&A is a story like no other. From its early beginnings as a Museum of Manufactures in 1852, 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.
Stay informed with the latest news, announcements and stories from the Royal Geographical Society.
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.
School’s out for most children and The Royal Albert Hall understands how odd that must feel for the little ones (and the grown-ups!), which is why they asked comedian Tiernan Douieb to make a video for any kids at home who might be a bit worried about current things.
Due to the current situation, the Goethe-Institut London is closed to the public until 19.4.2020. Language classes will change to online-teaching for the time being. There will be no language exams. All public events during this time are cancelled or postponed. The library will also remain closed.
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.
The Science Museum will be sharing updates on their temporary closure, upcoming exhibitions and collection via their newsletters, which you can sign up for.
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.
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.
Take an intimate look behind the scenes at the V&A in a 6-part series with BBC Two. Made with BBC Arts and Blast! Films, Secrets of the Museum explores some of the most fascinating objects and the curators, conservators, tech experts and teams who look after them.
Championing new ideas in contemporary art since it opened in 1970, the 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.
A new podcast Talking Culture will regularly feature exciting talks and debates at the Goethe-Institut London. Ranging from topics such as Europe, feminism or post-colonialism, the episodes reflect on worldwide perspectives on contemporary discourse in culture and society.
For all the latest on Coronavirus advice and also disruption to RBKC council services, or additional support from the council, please visit their website.
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,
For almost 200 years the medium of photography has created an unprecedented intimacy between Sovereign and subjects. The new display explores the British Royal Family’s enduring relationship with the camera. Going on display at Kensington Palace for the first time will also be a selection of images taken by Royal Family members themselves
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.
Johannesburg-based practice Counterspace, directed by the all-woman team of Sumayya Vally, Sarah de Villiers and Amina Kaskar, has been selected to design the Serpentine Pavilion 2020. All three were born in 1990 and are the youngest ever architects to be commissioned for this renowned architecture programme.
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.
Formafantasma are an Italian design duo based in Amsterdam. Their work looks at design's ecological and political responsibilities, while probing the global industries that consume natural resources.
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.
Utilising various media, including video, the internet, interactive technologies, photography, drawing, painting and watercolour, Suzanne Treister explores emerging technologies, alternative belief systems and potential human futures through a newly commissioned book and web-based augmented reality work.
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.
The fifty-fifth Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition will immerse you in the breathtaking diversity of the natural world. Encounter the beauty and fragility of wildlife, see fascinating animal behaviour and get to know 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.
A free scavenger hunt game for your mobile phone that takes you on an adventure through one of London’s most popular parks. Move at your own pace between the park’s most interesting sights uncovering photo challenges, amazing facts and games for all ages to enjoy.
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.
From rucksacks to despatch boxes, Birkin bags to Louis Vuitton luggage, Bags! will explore the style, function, design and craftsmanship of the ultimate accessory.
This exhibition will present the kimono as a dynamic and constantly evolving icon of fashion, revealing the sartorial, aesthetic and social significance of the garment from the 1660s to the present day, both in Japan and the rest of the world.
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.
Discover the story of Princess Victoria, the young girl destined to be queen, in the rooms where she was born and raised at Kensington Palace. Explore how an indulged young princess blossomed into the independent and iconic monarch we remember.
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.
Technology developers are racing to create fully autonomous machines with the ability to make decisions on their own. How many of these smart machines already exist? And how much control are we willing to transfer to them?
The new Photography Centre opens at the V&A with 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.
IKEA and the Design Museum present the Last Straw, an installation featuring the last ever single-use plastic straw IKEA will serve or sell in any store in the UK and Ireland.
From mankind's earliest dreams of flight to the wide-body aeroplanes of today, discover the absorbing story of flight.
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.
The monumental porcelain sculpture '399 Days' by contemporary British artist Rachel Kneebone will be displayed amongst the V&A's Medieval and Renaissance collection, highlighting the sculptors' shared interest in capturing highly emotive states.
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.
Artist Lee Ufan brings new public sculpture to Kensington Gardens. Comprised of two, angled, mirrored, steel sheets and two different-sized stones, Relatum – Stage will merge the natural and industrial in an installation that reflects the surrounding environment of the Park.
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.
Get out and about this summer with the Mayor’s new London Curriculum Family Explorer Trails which includes the 'Creative Quarter' in South Kensington. Taking you on a circular trail starting at the V&A, up Exhibition Road and through the Royal Parks.
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.
V&A Secret Seekers is a new mobile game for families, launched to coincide with the opening of the V&A's Exhibition Road Quarter. Let eight characters from the V&A's history guide you on an exciting treasure hunt to uncover some of the secrets of the Museum.
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.
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.
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.
Find out if you’ve got the problem-solving, big-thinking, team-working skills to be a globe-trotting engineer of tomorrow.
Guided tours offer the inside story of the Royal Albert Hall, taking you on a fascinating journey through its unique history, incredible architecture and legendary performances.
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. -
Now is the perfect time to visit Kensington Palace. Wander through the King’s State Apartments, the Queen’s State Apartments and Queen Victoria’s childhood at your leisure, and really get to see and appreciate the history of this unique place.
Explore Queen Caroline's Temple which is a classical style summer house overlooking the Long Water, east of Lancaster Walk, Hyde Park.
Explore and 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.
