the home of science, arts and inspiration
The exhibition shows a shortlist of 50 exceptional photographs and 4 films that document the earth in all its diversity. Earth Photo focuses on four key themes - People, Nature, Place and Change. The works have been selected from 1280 submissions from 19 different countries .
There’s a nature trail to follow and plenty of arts and crafts to keep your little ones entertained including pond dipping, creating a water creature and trying their artistic hand with a massive pond mural.
Become a sustainable fashion designer, make new pieces and learn about the circular economy. Work alongside ONEBYME designers on Fridays and Sundays. On Monday 27 August join in with our summer festival with music and dance.
A summer exhibition of members' work has been curated by Jo Baring, Director of the Ingram Collection of British Modern Art. The show features 2D and 3D work by 23 of the Society's members. All work is for sale..
Over the summer holidays, laugh out loud and be silly in the Museum. In September become designers and vote for change in Victorian England and head up to level 6 and meet Mr Polito and some amazing ceramic animals. Performances last approximately 30 - 40 minutes
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—one of the most challenging planetary missions ever launched.
The Japanese restaurant, Akira, is on the first floor of Japan House London in Kensington. Named after Chef SHIMIZU Akira, the restaurant presents an authentic Japanese dining experience based on Akira’s ‘trinity of cooking’ principles – food, tableware and presentation.
Join this daily volunteer-led tour which introduces the V&A's stunning British Galleries which house the most comprehensive collection of British design and artworks in the world.
Experience eight exceptional contemporary artists and designers working in fields as diverse as fashion, multi-media installation, and painting in the Jameel Prize 5 showcase.
Take a guided tour of the V&A's exciting theatre and performance collections. Discover the Theatre & Performance collections that document current practice and the history of all areas of performing arts in the UK, including magnificent theatre costumes, puppets, stage sets and more.
Drawing inspiration from religious art, mythology, and fairy tales of all cultures, Carolein Smit uses her sublime modelling skills to create highly seductive works with a strong emotional impact. This display brings together some of her latest creations, including a spectacular site-specific wall installation.
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.
Featuring 110 objects located throughout the Museum, including shrines, chests and rare Latin American examples, this display highlights the varied manufacturing techniques, surface treatments, decorative styles and application around the world.
Buildings dictate who feels welcome – this is particularly the case for disabled people. This display charts the shift in design practice from designing for, to designing with, disabled people and asks how we can achieve truly universal design.
Stein's Berlin Restaurant is a new and exciting addition to the well loved Stein's group of German restaurants. Their modern contemporary restaurant inside a Grade 2 listed building also features a fantastic terrace overlooking Princes Gardens.
Artist Christo has created a temporary sculpture in Hyde Park, titled The Mastaba (Project for London, Hyde Park, Serpentine Lake), which will float on the Serpentine Lake this summer. It is an opportunity for visitors to experience the work of one of the most pioneering artists working today.
A BBC Proms concert is never ‘sold out’ before the day because for each Prom up to 1,350 standing, or ‘Promming’ places are available in the Arena and Gallery on the day. A limited number of these tickets are released online in the morning and the rest are sold in person when the doors open. Find out how to get your £6 Promming ticket.
See the full line up of events for this year's 124th BBC Proms. Tickets are now on sale.
Every day of the Proms season you will find a free pre-concert event at Imperial College Union’s Beit Venues, offering opportunities to look deeper and learn more about the ideas and history behind some of the music at the Proms. The events range from talks, discussions and readings to film screenings and live recordings of favourite radio programmes.
There are regular matinees for all the family to enjoy, with tickets half-price for all young people aged 18 and under. Or for families looking to delve deeper into the music, the Proms Family series offers the perfect introduction to the classical Proms. Whether you play an instrument or sing, whether you are a complete novice or an aspiring virtuoso, come and join in the fun at our family-friendly workshops.
This summer the Hall welcomes back some of classical music’s biggest names to the BBC Proms. The big names are pretty easy to spot, as in most years, but what about the rising stars and new names to watch? Here are some tips on who to watch this season.
The Late Night Proms are a highlight of the Proms season, showcasing an eclectic array of music. This year try one of these nine late night gigs, which blur the lines of the classical genre.
Explore the remarkable story of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) from the opposition and immense challenges faced by early pioneers to the latest research today. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the 'miraculous' birth of Louise Brown on 25 July 1978.
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.
Tomma Abts first solo exhibition in a UK public institution. One of the most significant artists of her generation and the winner of the 2006 Turner Prize, Abts is known for her acrylic and oil paintings whose extraordinary magnetism belies their modest scale.
Meet creatures that thrive at night, in the total darkness of caves and deep in the ocean. Get up-close to specimens with fascinating adaptations and find out how they navigate their environment, hunt, mate and evade predators. Discover nocturnal animals through sight, sound, touch and smell.
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.
Pick up a family trail activity from the trail stand in White Court for a fun way to spend the day at Kensington Palace with children aged 5-11 years.
These FREE tours will allow you to get up close and personal to the magnificent statue of Queen Victoria, admire the iconic Gold Gates and pause and reflect by the enchanting Sunken Garden, the planting of which takes inspiration from the dresses of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude are celebrated for their ambitious sculptural works that intervene in urban and natural landscapes and temporarily alter both the physical form and visual appearances of sites. This summer, Christo will present The Mastaba, a temporary floating sculpture on The Serpentine lake.
The Science Museum's exhibition explores how society is responding to the enormous challenge of antibiotic resistance, featuring scientific research from across the globe and the personal stories of those waging war on the superbugs.
Architect Frida Escobedo, has been commissioned to design the Serpentine Pavilion 2018. Harnessing a subtle interplay of light, water and geometry, her atmospheric courtyard-based design draws on both the domestic architecture of Mexico and British materials and history.
See hundreds of live butterflies and moths up-close in the tropical butterfly house. This technicolour exhibition features a huge variety of these beautiful insects, ethically sourced from Africa, Asia and the Americas.
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.
Uncover the hidden views and go on a visual treasure hunt with a range of exciting trails to guide your family through this amazing museum. Suitable for ages 3+
Available to borrow from Level 1, Sackler Centre, the V&A's award-winning backpacks are recommended for 5-12 years, whilst under 5s can explore sounds and textures with the Agent Animal bag. Discover curious ceramic objects, architectural inventions and incredible interiors.
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.
Celebrate the timeless beauty of the female form with thirty-five years of haute couture from Azzedine Alaïa, and discover the mastery of cut, tailoring, fit, innovative form and materials behind the designer's unique creations.
This exhibition will present an extraordinary collection of personal artefacts and clothing belonging to the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Locked away for 50 years after her death, this collection has never before been exhibited outside Mexico.
Exploring the power of design in shaping the world of tomorrow. From smart appliances to satellites, artificial intelligence to internet culture, this exhibition will bring together more than 100 objects as a landscape of possibilities for the near future.
This exhibition will present fashionable dress alongside natural history specimens, innovative new fabrics and dyeing processes, inviting visitors to think about the materials of fashion and the sources of their clothes.
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.
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.
Download the free Time Explorers app and try the new Digital Mission at Kensington Palace for children and their families.
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.
Trace the evolution of Diana, Princess of Wales' style, from the demure, romantic dresses and other outfits of her first public appearances, to the glamour, elegance and confidence of her later life. Recently re-opened with a selection of new outfits.
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.
Based on the Apollo lunar landings, this film's exceptional 3D computer animation will fly you to the moon, where you can experience the sights and sounds of an Apollo expedition.
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.
Witness the talent of outstanding young musicians studying at the Royal College of Music in this free lunchtime and rush-hour concert series.
Experience Earth like never before in a breath-taking portrait of the planet captured from the International Space Station on the biggest screen in Europe.
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.
Meet the giant creatures – sabre-toothed cats, giant sloths, cave bears, dire wolves and mammoths – living in the frozen landscapes of our planet ten thousand years before modern civilization.
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.
Borrow a V&A backpack and embark on an adventure across the Museum. Backpacks are free to borrow and do not need to be booked.
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.
With stunning high definition 3D vision and flight simulator motion technology, you can see and feel for yourself what it’s like in the cockpit of a Red Arrow.
The Information Age gallery celebrates more than 200 years of innovation in information and communication technologies. Relive some remarkable moments of history.
Explore how we’ve sent spacecraft to other planets, walked on the Moon and peered into the heart of our galaxy and beyond.
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.
Join expert science educators for a behind the scenes look at the Museum's fascinating zoology spirit collection.
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 Victoria’s long and fascinating life in her childhood home, Kensington Palace
Home to the royal family for centuries and the birthplace of Queen Victoria, it is an exquisite palace with acres of manicured gardens.
There's lots for families to see and do especially in the holidays, as well as enjoying a family-friendly café and shop. Kids go free!
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.
Ciné Kids screenings cater to children aged 4 and over – and their families – so they can discover the best animated films. In English, French or French with subtitles. Including Despicable Me and Paddington.
The children's library has reopened providing children with easy access to a wide range of interactive resources.
Based at Imperial College London, a unique Saturday science tuition featuring specialists in science education and highly qualified scientists.
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.
