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.
Meet a full-size Diplodocus, encounter early mammals, and follow our ancestors’ footsteps. Explore grassland, wetland, and woodland habitats, and see how nature thrives in cities. No booking needed.
Daily
10 am - 5.50 pm
Natural History Museum
Visit Website for The Natural History Museum Gardens at Natural History Museum
This Design Museum's only permanent exhibition, features almost 1000 items of 20th and 21st century design viewed through the angles of the designer, manufacturer and user, including a crowdsourced wall.
Open daily
Mon to Thur: 10 am – 5 pm; Fri to Sun: 10 am – 6 pm
the Design Museum
Visit Website for Designer Maker User at the Design Museum
One of the greatest city parks in the world covering 142 hectares with over 4,000 trees, a large lake, a meadow and further ornamental flower gardens, all here in the home of London’s arts and science district.
If you’re planning your trip to South Kensington, why not take a look at our brand new walking map, created in collaboration with Footways. Get off the tube a stop early and explore London’s home of arts, science and inspiration by foot.
Fun, free things to do in a park, on the street, or anywhere outdoors.
Online
Natural History Museum
Visit Website for Outdoor Activities for Kids at Natural History Museum
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.
Royal Commission for the Exhibition 1851
Visit Website for BBC World Service: The Engineers at Royal Commission for the Exhibition 1851
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.
Discover how the world can use energy sustainably to fight climate change in the Science Museum’s Energy Revolution gallery, exploring the past, present, and future of a low-carbon world.
Mon - Sun
10 am - 6 pm
Science Museum
Visit Website for Energy Revolution: The Adani Green Energy Gallery at Science Museum
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.
Mon - Sun
10 am - 6 pm
Science Museum
Visit Website for Science City 1550-1800: the Linbury gallery at Science Museum
Featuring around 50 ‘lost’ performance spaces from the 1980s to 2010s, this display celebrates music venues as centres of creativity, shining a light on both their cultural contribution and the challenges they face as a sector.
Until 30th Oct 2027
10 am - 6 pm
V&A South Kensington
Visit Website for Lost Music Venues at V&A South Kensington
Calling all Starfleet recruits! Discover iconic Star Trek objects and outfits across the Science Museum in this free trail.
Until 8th Sept 2026
10 am - 6 pm
Science Museum
Visit Website for Star Trek Warp Trail at Science Museum
Dora House galleries are closed until autumn 2026, but outdoor works continue, including Richard Hudson’s Tear on the terrace as part of a two-site exhibition with The Roof Gardens.
22nd May - 11th Sep
24/7 Outdoor Installation
The Royal Society of Sculptors
Visit Website for Tear by Richard Hudson MRSS at The Royal Society of Sculptors
The Royal College of Music Museum’s special exhibition explores the world of contemporary folk traditions, celebrating how and why folk musics continue to evolve, live and thrive.
Until 25th Oct 2026
Tue - Fri: 10.15 am - 5.45 pm; Sat - Sun: 11 am - 6 pm
Royal College of Music
Visit Website for Shared Airs: Our Thriving Folk Musics at Royal College of Music
Their collection of photography from the United States – one of the largest outside North America – reveals the breadth of the country's photographic traditions and the central role of image-making in American life.
Until 16th May 2027
10 am - 6 pm
V&A South Kensington
Visit Website for American Photographs at V&A South Kensington
Get more from your lunchtime by dropping in on a special event, guided tour or lecture from the V&A curators and guest speakers. Discover something new about their collections, exhibitions, displays and beyond.
9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th Nov & 7th Dec
1:00 pm
V&A South Kensington
Visit Website for V&A Lunchtime Lecture series at V&A South Kensington
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.
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.
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.
Daily
10 am - 5.50 pm (last entry 5.30 pm)
Natural History Museum
Visit Website for Hintze Hall at Natural History Museum
Encounter two of Japan’s most exciting photographers – Kawada Kikuji and Iwane Ai – in a rare opportunity to see their thought-provoking works in the UK.
3rd June - 18th Oct 2026
Mon - Sat: 10 am - 8 pm; Sun: 12 pm - 6 pm
Japan House London
Visit Website for Kyotographie: Kawada Kikuji x Iwane Ai at Japan House London
In January Pokémon celebrated its thirtieth anniversary. To mark the occasion, the Natural History Museum brought an exclusive pop-up shop to fans – a first of its kind for Pokémon with a UK museum.
Mon - Sun
10 am - 5.50 pm
Natural History Museum
Visit Website for Pokémon x Natural History Museum at Natural History Museum
Early Birds is a sensory friendly event for families with members who need a quieter environment to enjoy the museum.
4th July, 15th Aug & 26th Sept 2026
Times vary
Science Museum
Visit Website for Early Birds at Science Museum
Join free guided walks exploring the unique group of Victorian studio-houses built on Holland Park Road and Melbury Road (Kensington, West London) by the ‘Holland Park Circle’ of artists, sculptors and architects.
Select Thur & Sun
11 am - 12.30 pm
Leighton House and Sambourne House
Visit Website for Artists Houses Free Walking Tours at Leighton House and Sambourne House
Photographs looking back through the past 20 years of exhibitions installed in the Blyth Gallery.
Join Imperial for this deeply immersive, free meditative experience where participants are 'bathed' in sound waves produced by therapeutic instruments.