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Hidden Treasures

Whether you're visiting South Kensington for the first time, or you've visited a hundred times, here's a list of some of the best, but least well-known, exhibits, galleries, and places.

Victoria's Childhood Christmas

4th Dec-5th Jan 2025
10am-6pm
Kensington Palace
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Step into the home of Princess Victoria and experience the magical atmosphere of a Regency Christmas, brought back to life at Kensington Palace.

Doodle Day

11th April
1:30pm-4:30pm
Design Museum
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Join the museum for an afternoon of playful drawing activities inspired by The World of Tim Burton exhibition.

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.

Afternoon Tea and Tour

Various dates
Various times
Natural History Museum
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Take a tour of the beautiful gardens and the highlights of the Museums collections before enjoying a nature-themed afternoon tea in the magnificent member’s room.

Design Camp: Digital Character Design for 11 to 14 year olds

17th Feb
10:15pm – 4:15pm
Design Museum
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Young people will be introduced to character design inspired by Tim Burton, design their own characters with plasticine and learn how to redesign them using 3D modelling software.

Film Screening: Tokyo-Ga

12th Feb
6pm-7:30pm
Japan House London
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Join Japan House for a free screening of Wim Wenders’ documentary Tokyo-Ga as part of a film season examining society in Japan through the lens of food and everyday life.

Japan House London Family Workshops

21st Dec 2024 – 5th Jan 2025
Drop-in
Japan House London
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Explore the cultures of Japan this festive season with a series of free family-friendly activity workshops at Japan House London.

Bookbinding with Kate Holland

8th-9th March
10:30am=4:30pm
V&A South Kensington
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Create your own stunning hand-bound book in this weekend bookbinding course.

Art and Crime: Forgeries, Theft and Fraud

15th Jan
10:30am-1pm
V&A South Kensington
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Join us at V&A South Kensington for a 12 week art history course where we will explore the fascinating relationship between art and crime from antiquity to the present day.

Hands-On History: Arts and Crafts Patterns

10th-14th Feb
10:30am - 4:40pm
V&A South Kensington
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Following in the footsteps of William Morris, this unique textile history course will uncover the history, production and use of Arts and Crafts wallpapers and textiles.

Directors and Directing

26th Feb- 2nd April
2pm-4pm
V&A South Kensington
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Join the V&A South Kensington for a six-week course exploring the history of theatre directing and directors.

Women Artists of the V&A (In-person)

11th March
10:30am-4:30pm
V&A South Kensington
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This study day at V&A South Kensington will explore the vital contributions of women artists to the V&A’s collections and their artistic, social, and political lives.

Italian Fashion History

14th Jan-18th Feb 2024
2pm - 4pm
V&A South Kensington
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From the Renaissance to the present, this online fashion history course will trace the story of Italian fashion.

Introduction to Fashion Illustration

1st March-5th April
10am - 12pm
V&A South Kensington
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Combining colour, texture and line, fashion illustration is the perfect way to tell the story of an outfit.

Imperial Lates: Weird Science

6th Feb
6pm-9pm
Imperial College London
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Experience an evening of unexpected delights, with opportunities to play quantum classic computer games, make mysterious 4D maths jewellery, or view a mushroom ballet show.

MA Architecture Work-in-progress Show 2025

22nd-25th Jan
12pm-6pm
Royal College of Art
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Meet the architects and designers of the future as their newest work comes together, and take a peek behind the doors of the world's #1 university for art and design.

Paddington in Peru

3rd-5th Jan
Various times
Institut français
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Paddington returns to the Peruvian jungle to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, now a resident at the Home for Retired Bears. Only £5 for under 25s!

Image credit: Surrounded, 1996 © Tim Burton

The World of Tim Burton

25th Oct- 21st April 2025
10am - 6:00pm
Design Museum
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Delve into the fantastical world of Tim Burton in this major exhibition exploring his remarkable creations and key collaborations with designers.

Visions of Nature: A Mixed Reality Experience

From 24th Oct
10am-5pm
Natural History Museum
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Equipped with a mixed reality headset, be transported a century into the future to explore what could lie ahead for the planet.

Looks Delicious! Exploring Japan’s Food Replica Culture

2nd Oct- 16th Feb 2025
10am- 8pm
Japan House London
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Take a mouth-watering journey through the uniquely Japanese phenomenon of shokuhin sanpuru – the unexpectedly realistic food replicas displayed in front of restaurants across Japan.

Versailles: Science and Splendour

12th Dec- 21st April 2025
10am-6pm
Science Museum
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Discover how the Palace of Versailles used science as a tool of power in this illuminating new exhibition.

Holly Herndon & Mat Dryhurst: The Call

4 October 2024 - 2 February 2025
10am - 6pm
Serpentine
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A collaboration between artists Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst, and Serpentine Arts Technologies, The Call proposes new cultural, legal, and technical rituals for art in the age of AI.

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.