the home of science, arts and inspiration

Some things to do today

La Médiathèque

Daily
Institut français
Map
Visit Website

This is the largest French library in the UK, and also contains the Bibliothèque Quentin Blake, which is full of exciting and educational materials for children up to 12.

The Kensington

Daily
The Kensington
Map
Visit Website

Traditional service and Victorian grandeur come together with sleek style and contemporary comfort at the Kensington, in one of London’s most cosmopolitan neighbourhoods. Embrace a sophisticated member’s club vibe, whether over afternoon tea or all day dining in the light, lively drawing rooms, cocktails in the glamorous K Bar.

The Franklin London – Starhotels Collezione

Daily
The Franklin Hotel
Map
Visit Website

Set in an elegant Victorian building nestling in the lush beauty of the private Egerton Gardens, The Franklin combines the warmth of a private home with the impeccable service of a luxury hotel. The hotel has recently been refurbished by celebrity designer Anouska Hempel, who created a temple to hospitality.

The Pelham London – Starhotels Collezione

Daily
The Pelham
Map
Visit Website

The Pelham is an elegant boutique hotel in the heart of South Kensington. It has the aristocratic atmosphere of a London townhouse and its interiors are a romantic mix of elegant patterns and rich tones, complemented by the warm welcome and flawless service of a noble residence.

The Gore London – Starhotels Collezione

Daily
The Gore
Map
Visit Website

Brimming with Victorian eccentricity, The Gore represents a piece of British history. Since it opened in 1892, in an enviable location among the high-life hotspots of Kensington, it has been celebrated as one of London’s most enchanting hotels.

The Vanderbilt Hotel

Daily
The Vanderbilt
Map
Visit Website

The 4-star Vanderbilt hotel is a 19th century, Grade II listed townhouse situated on Cromwell Road. Combining historical features with modern style, the beautiful bedrooms and Italian marble bathrooms all boast individual layouts, thanks to the building’s history.

The Rembrandt

Daily
The Rembrandt
Map
Visit Website

The Rembrandt is a four-star hotel bursting with culture and history. The beautifully modernised Edwardian rooms were originally apartments for Harrods. The Rembrandt also boasts modern event suites, a stylish restaurant, plus Aquilla Health and Fitness featuring an indoor pool.

Asia

Daily: 10am-5:45pm - Friday: 10am–10pm
V&A South Kensington
Map
Visit Website

The Victoria and Albert Museum's Asian collections include objects from East Asia, South and South-East Asia, and the Middle East. They are rich in a broad range of artistic media and illustrate many different aspects of religious, courtly and everyday life.

Serpentine Exhibitions

Daily
Serpentine
Map
Visit Website

Take a look at the regularly-changing exhibitions, displays and residences in the two Serpentine galleries, Serpentine South Gallery and Serpentine North Gallery on either side of the river in the centre of Hyde Park.

Blyth Gallery

Open Daily
9am-9pm
Imperial College London
Map
Visit Website

The Blyth Gallery, curated by Mindy Lee, is an artist-run space for creative exploration of ambitious visual projects. Exhibitions include Imperial College students and staff shows, exhibitions of postgraduate Fine Art student work and work by visiting professional artists.

The V&A's Glass Collection

Open Daily
Daily: 10am-5:45pm - Friday: 10am–10pm
V&A South Kensington
Map
Visit Website

The V&A's glass collection is one of the largest and the most comprehensive in the world, showcasing the development of design and technology in glass-making over 3,500 years. Find the exhibition in rooms 131, 129 and 83-84.

Atmosphere

Open Daily
10am-6pm
Science Museum
Map
Visit Website

The Atmosphere gallery is an exciting place to make sense of the climate—the science of how it works, what it’s doing now and what it might do next. Uncover the secrets of ice cores and stalagmites, then head for the future to wonder at the latest ideas for a low-carbon life.

Who Am I?

Open Daily
Science Museum
Map
Visit Website

Explore the science of who you are through intriguing objects, provocative artworks and hands-on exhibits. Discover what your voice sounds like as a member of the opposite sex, morph your face to see what you’ll look like as you age, or collect DNA to catch a criminal.

Making the Modern World

Wednesday-Sunday
10am-6pm (last entry 5:15pm)
Science Museum
Map
Visit Website

Chart 250 years of science and technology and discover some of the most iconic items that have shaped our society. The Making the Modern World gallery presents some of the Museum’s most remarkable objects.

Hintze Hall

Open Daily
Natural History Museum
Map
Visit Website

Walk beneath the largest animal on Earth and explore dozens of other exhibits representing 4.5 billion years of natural history in the gateway to the museum's collections and galleries.

Treasures

Open Daily
Natural History Museum
Map
Visit Website

Explore 22 objects spanning 4.5 billion years of the Earth's history in this collection of some of the museum's most extraordinary specimens.. Each exhibit tells a remarkable story and has been chosen for its scientific, historical and cultural importance.

RGS Exhibitions

Monday to Friday
10am-5pm
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
Map
Visit Website

The Royal Geographical Society Pavilion has a constantly changing programme of displays that include exhibitions created by external organisations, broadly linked to geographical themes and also by selected sponsors of the Society.

South Asia

Daily
Daily: 10am-5:45pm - Friday: 10am–10pm
V&A South Kensington
Map
Visit Website

The collections from South and South-East Asia comprise nearly 60,000 objects, including about 10,000 textiles and 6,000 paintings covering the Indian subcontinent south of the Himalayas. Find the collection on rooms 41 and 47b.

Designer Maker User

Open daily
Sun-Thurs 10am-6pm; Fri-Sat 10am-9pm
Design Museum Kensington
Map
Visit Website

Designer Maker User, the Design Museum's only permanent exhibition, features almost 1000 items of twentieth and twenty-first century design viewed through the angles of the designer, manufacturer and user, including a crowdsourced wall.

Tomorrow's World

Daily
10am-5:45pm
Science Museum
Map
Visit Website

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.

Hands On Design Workshops

Mon-Thurs during term time
10.30am, 11.45am, 1.30pm
Design Museum Kensington
Map
Visit Website

Suitable for Key Stage 2, 3, 4 and 5, available workshops include Stranger by Design, Chairs and Seating, and Designer Maker User and leads pupils to creating their own products based on a brief. Sessions run for one hour and are accompanied by a visit to the Designer Maker User gallery.

Serpentine School Visits

Open Tuesday - Sunday
10am - 6pm
Serpentine
Map
Visit Website

Organise a self-guided visit and explore the exhibitions at your own pace. A team of gallery attendants are on hand to field any questions your group may have and mobile tours are available across the sites to support your visit. Booking required for school groups.

Royal Geographical Society Teaching Resources

Online
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
Map
Visit Website

Lots of resources and activities to take into your school, with something for every age group. A wide range of topics are available with subjects including maps, volcanoes, countries, trade and ecosystems.

Kensington Palace Classroom Resources

Online & at the Palace
Kensington Palace
Map
Visit Website

Plenty of exciting classroom resources and activities based around the Historic Royal Palaces, including a look at the Kensington Palace timeline and the royal family trees. Free to download.