the home of science, arts and inspiration

Some things to do today

V&A Schools

Special event dates vary
V&A South Kensington
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A wide variety of possibilities at the V&A for primary & secondary school children. Including information about planning a visit, discovery sessions, literacy live storytelling, practical workshops and special events.

Private Room Hire at Ognisko Polskie

Ognisko Polskie
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Ognisko is well suited to large corporate events, exhibitions, product launches, gala dinners, fashion shows, weddings and other private functions.

Venue hire at the V&A

V&A South Kensington
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The magnificent gallery spaces and stunning John Madejski Garden combine to make the V&A a unique venue for corporate entertaining. The Museum is available to hire for a range of events, from breakfasts and private views to fundraising dinners and awards ceremonies. Also available for filming.

Venue hire at the Design Museum

Design Museum Kensington
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Host your event in London’s newest venue located on Kensington High Street with beautiful views over Holland Park. The stunningly refurbished 1960s building features an incredible hyperbolic paraboloid roof and features seven beautiful spaces for hire.

Venue hire at the Science Museum

Science Museum
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The museum offers the perfect destination for an inspirational and accessible event experience. The Science Museum has a wide range of unique galleries and blank canvas spaces to accommodate from 10 to 1500 guests for either events in the day or evening.

Venue hire at the Natural History Museum

Natural History Museum
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The Natural History Museum is one of London's most iconic venues. Its magnificent architecture and collections create the perfect backdrop for any event. From informal and intimate to creative and spectacular, the Museum's variety of spaces will suit any corporate event, private party or wedding.

Learning resources at the Science Museum

Online
Science Museum
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This site brings together learning resources from their four Museums, including activities, games and videos. Browse all the resources and discover activities to support a range of curriculum topics for use in the classroom, in museum galleries and beyond.

The Vault

Daily
Natural History Museum
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Some of nature's most unique and valuable treasures are on display in the Vault gallery. See the world's largest collection of coloured diamonds, discover gems that glow in the dark, and marvel at rare meteorites from out of this world.

Science Museum's Shake Bar

Daily
Science Museum
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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

Online
V&A South Kensington
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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 Italian Gardens

Daily
Kensington Gardens
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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.

Boating on the Serpentine

Daily except Nov- March (Wed - Sun)
From 10am (closing times vary)
Hyde Park
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Head to the Serpentine Bar & Kitchen to hire a boat over the summer. Recognised as one of the most famous boating spots in London, Hyde Park is the perfect place to take in the scenery, enjoy an ice cream and float down the Serpentine in the middle of the park.

Explorer Trail at the Design Museum

Daily
Design Museum Kensington
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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.

Dinosaurs

Natural History Museum
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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.

Dinosaur Trail

Daily
Natural History Museum
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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

Serpentine Sackler Gallery & Magazine Restaurant

Tue - Sun
10am - 6.30pm
Serpentine
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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.

Mathematics: The Winton Gallery

Daily
10am-6pm (last entry 5:15pm)
Science Museum
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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.

Wonderlab: The Equinor Gallery

Daily
10am-6pm (last entry 5:15pm)
Science Museum
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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.

Fashion

Daily
V&A South Kensington
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Spanning five centuries, the Fashion collection is the largest and most comprehensive collection of dresses in the world.

Discovering Britain: Albertopolis Walk

Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
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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

Daily
Open from 11.15 am
Science Museum
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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.

London's secret gardens

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
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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.

Hop on a Santander bike

Santander Bikes
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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.

Kensington Garden cafes

Daily
Kensington Gardens
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The Broadwalk Cafe and Playcafe serves a great range of pizza, salads, wraps and sweet treats as well as a children's menu.