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Free Events in South Kensington

Discover an unforgettable day in South Kensington with our guide to free events. Delve into guided tours through galleries, embark on self-led walks, immerse yourself in our new series of Lates events, explore captivating free displays, and journey through miles of galleries showcasing art, science, design, natural history, and beyond. 

Outdoor Activities for Kids

Online
Natural History Museum
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Fun, free things to do in a park, on the street, or anywhere outdoors.

The Raphael Court

Daily
Daily: 10am-5:45pm - Friday: 10am–10pm
V&A South Kensington
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Rediscover the newly refurbished V&A’s Raphael Court - home to the iconic Raphael Cartoons. Commissioned in 1515 by Pope Leo X for the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, they depict the lives of the apostles, Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

Seeing Things Queerly

10am-6pm
Science Museum
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Follow this self-led trail to discover some of the objects on display at the Science Museum that tell stories of queer communities, experiences, and identities.

BBC World Service: The Engineers

Royal Commission for the Exhibition 1851
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Each summer, the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 holds an Albertopolis event in partnership with the BBC World Service bringing together three ground-breaking engineers and a public audience.

The Royal College of Music Museum & Guided Tours

10:15am–5:45pm
Royal College of Music
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The Royal College of Music's Museum offers a unique opportunity to interact with over 500 years of musical history. Items include the world’s oldest guitar and earliest keyboard instrument with strings. Enjoy a tour of the Museum, led by their knowledgeable team on Wednesdays at 12:30pm.

Theatre & Performence

Daily
Daily: 10am-5:45pm - Friday: 10am–10pm
V&A South Kensington
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The collections document current practice and the history of all areas of performing arts in the UK, including drama, dance, opera, circus, puppetry, comedy, musical theatre, costume, set design, pantomime, popular music and much more...

National Art Library and Archive talks: each Monday from 15 January

V&A South Kensington
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The V&A will be holding free, open sessions every Monday (except bank holidays) in the National Art Library. A member of the Library or Archives staff will introduce the history and purpose of the Library and talk about an item from their collections.

Energy Revolution: The Adani Green Energy Gallery

Daily
10am - 6pm
Science Museum
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Discover how the world can generate and use energy more sustainably to limit climate change in the Science Museum’s new, free gallery. Energy Revolution looks at the past, present and future of sustainable energy and how we can achieve a low carbon world.

Science City 1550-1800: the Linbury gallery

Daily
Science Museum
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Discover the world’s oldest collection of timepieces at the Science Museum. See over 600 watches and clocks charting the history of clock making in London.

The Clockmakers’ Museum

Daily
10am - 6pm
Science Museum
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Discover the world’s oldest collection of timepieces at the Science Museum. See over 600 watches and clocks charting the history of clock making in London.

Cromwell Place - what's on

Daily
Cromwell Place
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Five townhouses in South Kensington hosts a year-round free programme of diverse, interdisciplinary exhibitions and events across beautiful gallery spaces, open to all.

Fables for our Time

Open now
10am-6pm
Design Museum
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Fables for our Time is a triptych of stories about environmental urgencies, that uses folktales and a new collection of emoji to examine humanity’s relationship with the natural environment.

Enthoven Unboxed: 100 Years of Collecting Performance

14th Sept 2024- 4th Jan 2026
10am - 5:45pm
V&A South Kensington
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Marking 100 years since Gabrielle Enthoven founded the theatre and performance collection, explore an A–Z of themes to show how performance continues to entertain, provoke and inspire

Image credit: Blooms_B6 — Criss Cross collection by Bethan Laura Wood, Italy, 2013

PLATFORM: Bethan Laura Wood

14th Feb- Jan 2026
10am-6pm
Design Museum
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Wood is a multi-disciplinary designer whose work is characterised by material investigation, artisan collaboration and a passion for colour, detail and decoration.

Nature Study: Ecology and the Contemporary Photobook

Until 18th May 2025
10am-6pm
V&A South Kensington
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Landscape, flora and fauna have inspired photographers since the camera’s earliest days. Contemporary artists continue to experiment with the format of the book to adapt to the pressing challenges of our environment today.

Image credit: © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

V&A trail: Christmas

V&A South Kensington
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Take the museums family trail to uncover Christmassy highlights in their collection.

Dr Esther Mahlangu: Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu

4 Oct 2024 - 28 Sept 2025
Serpentine
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Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu presents a new public art mural in the garden at Serpentine North. The work emphasises the importance of communities and unity among humans and other living species.

Image credit: My English Heart, Vicky Lindo, 2019

British Studio Pottery and the V&A

Until 28 September 2025
10am-6pm
V&A South Kensington
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This display explores the V&A's collecting and exhibiting of studio pottery from the movement's beginnings to the present day.

Women in Science Tour: Fashion

Various dates
Various times
Natural History Museum
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Join the Museum to explore the relationship between fashion and the natural world and discover the female scientists and activists whose work has shaped our understanding.

Earth Photo 2025 Exhibition

17th Jun-20th Jun
10.00am - 5.00pm
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
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Earth Photo addresses prescient issues affecting our planet, aiming to stimulate conversations about our environment and the impact of climate change.

Arpita Singh: Remembering

20th March - 27th July
10am- 6pm
Serpentine
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Just announced! Her first solo exhibition of Arpita Singh outside India, Singh’s paintings centre on her emotional and psychological state, drawing from Bengali folk art and Indian stories, interwoven with experiences of social upheaval and global conflict.

The Craft of Carpentry: Drawing Life from Japan’s Forests

12th March-6th July
10am-8pm
Japan House London
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Just announced! Step into the serene world of Japanese carpentry. This exhibition transports visitors from the living forests that sustain the craft to the celebrated structures it has produced.

Fixing Our Broken Planet Gallery

Open daily from 3rd April.
10:00am - 5:50pm
Natural History Museum
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The Museum is excited to finally share Fixing Our Broken Planet, their first new permanent gallery since 2016! Explore the biggest challenges facing the planet and discover science-backed, hopeful solutions that will help us to create a more sustainable world.

Generation Hope

29th April - 3rd May
Various times
Natural History Museum
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This series of events brings together young changemakers, activists and scientists to chat, challenge and come up with ideas about how we’re currently tackling the planetary emergency.