If you want to spend your lunchtime learning new things, waking up your mind or getting inspired, there's plenty to do in South Kensington. Take a walk through Hyde Park, learn from exhibitions at the Natural History Museum or Science Museum, or wander through galleries at the V&A, Design Museum or Serpentine.
The Photography Centre showcases over 600 captivating images, from some of the oldest known photographs to modern masters, forming one of the world’s most significant collections since 1852.
Daily
Mon to Sun: 10 am - 5.45 pm; Fri: 10 am – 10 pm
V&A South Kensington
Visit Website for V&A Photography Centre at V&A South Kensington
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
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.
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
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.
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.
Open Daily
Daily: 10am-5:45pm - Friday: 10am–10pm
V&A South Kensington
Visit Website for The V&A's Glass Collection at V&A South Kensington
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.
Mon - Sun
10 am - 6 pm
Science Museum
Visit Website for Mathematics: The Winton Gallery at Science Museum
The Blyth Gallery, curated by Mindy Lee, is an artist-run space for ambitious visual projects. Exhibitions include Imperial College students and staff shows, postgraduate Fine Art student work and work by visiting professional artists.
Get closer to the Museum and its incredible collections with our wide range of free or paid-for bespoke tours.
Daily: 10am-5:45pm - Friday: 10am–10pm
V&A South Kensington
Visit Website for V&A free tours & talks at V&A South Kensington
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.
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.
Daily
Daily: 10am-5:45pm - Friday: 10am–10pm
V&A South Kensington
Visit Website for South Asia at V&A South Kensington
A range of cafes, restaurants and kiosks offering everything from ice creams, sandwiches to three course meals.
Showcasing over 1100 objects from the V&A’s collections of 17th- and 18th-century European art and design in a suite of seven galleries.
Daily
Mon - Sun; 10 am-5.45 pm; Fri: 10 am – 10 pm
V&A South Kensington
Visit Website for Europe 1600-1815 at V&A South Kensington
A unique fountain memorial to Princess Diana designed to reflect her spirit of life and love of children.
Showcasing extraordinary medical artefacts including the world’s first MRI scanner, Fleming’s penicillin mould, a professional pianist’s prosthetic arm and even robotic surgery equipment.
Mon - Sun
10 am - 6 pm
Science Museum
Visit Website for Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries at Science Museum
Step inside a landmark like no other. Together with a friendly guide, take a peek at the royal areas of the Hall.
Daily
Various times
Royal Albert Hall
Visit Website for Royal Albert Hall Tours at Royal Albert Hall
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
See iconic spacecraft, out-of-this-world objects and discover inspiring stories of human achievement in space travel in the Museum's exciting free gallery.
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.
10:15am–5:45pm
Royal College of Music
Visit Website for The Royal College of Music Museum & Guided Tours at Royal College of Music
Presented at Serpentine North, the exhibition will showcase seminal works, shown in the UK for the first time. This event is free!
12th Mar - 23rd Aug 2026
10 am - 6 pm
Serpentine
Known for her vigorous brushwork, vivid colour and dynamic compositions, Cecily Brown presents paintings inspired by Serpentine’s unique location in Kensington Gardens, a site of personal significance to the artist.
Until 6th Sept 2026
10 am - 6 pm
Serpentine
Visit Website for Cecily Brown: Picture Making at Serpentine
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
Join one of our volunteer guides on this tour and discover the origins of the museum while learning about the fascinating treasures held in the V&A’s extensive collections.
Daily
10.30 am, 1 pm, & 2 pm
V&A South Kensington
Visit Website for Highlights of the V&A at V&A South Kensington
Join volunteer guides and discover the fascinating garments and fashion-related objects that help shape the V&A’s rich collection.
Until 31st Dec 2026
12.30 - 1.15 pm
V&A South Kensington
Visit Website for Tour: Fashion - Dress and Style at V&A South Kensington