Family Trails at the Science Museum
Go on a journey of discovery and exploration around the Science Museum.
Our museums, galleries and cultural spaces are excited to welcome you this May half‑term. Enjoy the sunshine in South Kensington’s beautiful parks and gardens, explore inspiring exhibitions, and discover plenty of family‑friendly activities across the area. There’s something for everyone at South Ken this half term.
Go on a journey of discovery and exploration around the Science Museum.
Engineers shape the world that we live in, creating bold, ground-breaking innovations that respond to global challenges and improve billions of lives. But how much do we know about the people behind these innovations?
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
This trail explores V&A South Kensington galleries, revealing centuries-old objects, hidden meanings in art, and museum wonders - from emperors’ thrones and dragons to plaster casts and wigs.
Daily
Mon - Sun: 10 am - 5.45 pm; Fri: 10 am – 10 pm
V&A South Kensington
Visit Website for V&A trail: Explore as a family at V&A South Kensington
With never-before-seen footage and the latest underwater filming techniques, this documentary transports you to the farthest reaches of this majestic land and reveals that what happens there affects every single one of us.
Experience Earth like never before in a breath-taking portrait of the planet on the biggest screen in Europe. See images of the Earth from the Space Station and gain a new understanding of how wonderful and unique our planet is.
Ever wanted a sleepover with a giraffe or camp under a blue whale? Kids aged 7–11 can explore the Museum after dark with fun, educational activities.
Dates vary
6.45 pm - 10 am
Natural History Museum
Visit Website for Dino Snores for Kids at Natural History Museum
Ciné Lumière screens new releases, UK premieres, classics, documentaries, family films, and curated series or festivals, often accompanied by on-stage discussions with directors, actors, and critics.
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
Step into the fascinating world of technicians for a peek behind the scenes in the Museum's interactive gallery. Experience what it’s like to create visual effects on a film set or operate a robot in a manufacturer's workshop,
Mon - Sun
10 am - 6 pm
Science Museum
Visit Website for Technicians: The David Sainsbury Gallery at Science Museum
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
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
It’s a showdown for the ages! What are the fiercest animals to have lived on Earth – dinosaurs or sharks? Come on a journey to decide which are the most powerful predators.
Dates vary
10.30 am - 11.30 am & 1 pm - 2 pm
Natural History Museum
Visit Website for Dinos vs Sharks Show at Natural History Museum
Experience this fully immersive IMAX on one of the UK’s largest screens, featuring IMAX Laser 4K and 70mm projection. Enjoy scientific documentaries and the latest blockbusters.
Recognised as one of the most famous boating spots in London, Hyde Park is the perfect place to take in the scenery, enjoy an ice cream and float down the Serpentine in the middle of the park.
Daily except Nov - March (Wed - Sun)
From 10 am (closing times vary)
Hyde Park
Visit Website for Boating on the Serpentine at Hyde Park
In this exhibition, visitors are invited into the imaginative world of Axel Scheffler through a series of original illustrations. Known for iconic works such as The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom, Axel reveals his work created for Wuschel auf der Erde.
17th Mar - 31st Jul 2026
Mon - Fri: 10 am - 8.30 pm; Sat: 1 pm - 5 pm
Goethe-Institut
Visit Website for Creating the World of Wuschel at Goethe-Institut
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
The UK’s first Elsa Schiaparelli exhibition spans the 1920s to today, celebrating the designer’s legacy and the fashion house’s evolution under creative director Daniel Roseberry.
28th Mar – 1st Nov 2026
Mon to Sun: 10 am - 5.45 pm; Fri: 10 am – 10 pm
V&A South Kensington
Visit Website for Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art at V&A South Kensington
A free exhibition examining how science can help us find more sustainable ways to grow and produce, purchase and cook, eat and enjoy food to help protect the planet.
Until 1 September 2026
10 am - 6 pm
Science Museum
Visit Website for Future of Food at Science Museum
Meet the legends of Earth’s prehistoric oceans and and decide who really was the most ferocious of them all. Dare to touch a mosasaur tooth, feel a shark’s skin and come face-to-face with fearsome marine crocodiles.
22nd May - 3rd Jan 2027
Entry from 10 am - 4.30 pm daily
Natural History Museum
Visit Website for Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep at Natural History Museum
PLATFORM is an annual display dedicated to showcasing contemporary design practice. Opening in February 2026, the second edition in the series will present the fascinating work of designer Simone Brewster.
13th Feb 2026 – Jan 2027
Mon to Thur: 10 am – 5 pm; Fri to Sun: 10 am – 6 pm
the Design Museum
Visit Website for PLATFORM: Simone Brewster at the Design Museum
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.
Pause and reconnect with nature through images that capture its beauty and inspire protection. Now in its sixth decade, photographers worldwide document nature’s most remarkable moments.
17th Oct - 12th July 2026
10 am - 6 pm
Natural History Museum
Visit Website for Wildlife Photographer of the Year at Natural History Museum
If you are planning a day out in South Kensington, there are lots of delicious places to eat or enjoy a drink both inside and outside depending on the weather. From cafes, bars, afternoon tea to indoor picnic areas - there is plenty of choice!