This summer there is lots to do in South Kensington if you are looking for a great day out - from boating on the Serpentine, visiting some of South Ken's brand new exhibitions, enjoying a big-screen experience at the Science Museum's IMAX cinema and so much more...
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
Park Nights return for 2026 offering you a unique way to experience architecture and performance. On selected evenings from July to October the Serpentine Pavilion 2026: a serpentine becomes the stage for a series of interdisciplinary artistic interventions.
In this free display, look at the life of the man whose vision led to the creation of the Natural History Museum. On display for the first time are a selection of his published works and original drawings.
18 July 2025 – 23 July 2026
10am-6pm
Natural History Museum
Visit Website for Sir Richard Owen: A Natural Legacy at Natural History Museum
Immerse yourself in this hands-on gaming zone, featuring the very best video games and consoles from the past 50 years. From Pong to Pacman and Minecraft to Mario, there’s something for everyone.
Vibrant, in-person German courses for children and teens aged 6-17. From beginner classes to creative options like Coding & German, young learners enjoy a hands-on, engaging approach to language learning – right here in South Kensington.
Various dates and times
Goethe-Institut
Visit Website for Courses for Children and Young Learners at Goethe-Institut
Explore the vision and legacy of Japanese designer and creative director NIGO – from street style to music and beyond, in the first UK exhibition showcasing his multifaceted creative work, alongside vintage objects and traditional crafts from his personal collection.
1st May – 4th Oct 2026
Mon to Thur: 10 am – 5 pm; Fri to Sun: 10 am – 6 pm
the Design Museum
Visit Website for NIGO: From Japan with Love at the Design Museum
Pattern Pod is an amazing multi-sensory area for children under 8 years old. Fun, interactive exhibits encourage them to recognise and copy patterns.
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.
Until 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
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
This year's Serpentine Pavilion has been designed by the Mexican architecture studio LANZA atelier, founded by Isabel Abascal and Alessandro Arienzo. The crinkle-crankle wall derives its stability from its curving form, requiring fewer bricks than a straight wall.
Until 25th Oct 2026
Serpentine
Visit Website for Serpentine Pavilion 2026 by LANZA atelier at Serpentine
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
Celebrate 60 years of Star Trek and experience the complete cinematic legacy from the original voyages to the modern reboot on one of the biggest screens in the UK, in a world-first presentation exclusively at the Science Museum.
Formal avenues, magnificent trees, ornamental flower beds, and wildflower meadows outside Kensington Palace make this a stunning end to our trail as well as home to the Princess Diana Playground, the Italian Water Gardens and the Albert Memorial.
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
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
Rising Voices offers an unparalleled view of the Asia Pacific region’s dynamic creative landscape. Foregrounding First Nations perspectives and diverse artistic approaches, the exhibition features rare works by over 40 pioneering creatives.
Until 10th Jan 2027
Mon to Sun: 10 am - 5.45 pm; Fri: 10 am – 10 pm
V&A South Kensington
Experience the magic of the BBC Proms, with a summer-long celebration of world-class orchestras, musicians, and conductors at the Royal Albert Hall. Tickets are now on sale!
17th July - 12th Sept 2026
Times vary
Royal Albert Hall
Visit Website for BBC Proms 2026 at Royal Albert Hall
At this interactive gallery, discover the beauty of the science and math that shape our everyday lives. This unmissable experience will ignite your curiosity, fuel your imagination, and inspire you to see the world in new and exciting ways.
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.
Until 3rd Jan 2027
10 am - 4.30 pm
Natural History Museum
Visit Website for Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep at Natural History Museum
Discover the story of Punjabi princess and suffragette icon, Sophia Duleep Singh and five women who shaped her extraordinary life, in a new exhibition at Kensington Palace for 2026.
Until 8th Nov 2026
10 am - 6 pm from Mar to Oct 2026; 10 am - 4 pm from Nov to Feb 2026-7
Kensington Palace
Visit Website for The Last Princesses of Punjab at Kensington Palace
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.
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
Looking for fun things to do in London with young children? Join the Science Museum Explainers for Bubble Explorers, an engaging and lively interactive live show designed especially for young children and their families.
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