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Explore South Kensington This May Half Term
A long bank holiday weekend and the May half term are just around the corner, and South Kensington is full of ways to make the most of that extra time.
Families can step back in time at Hyde Park’s Discovery Days: Time Travellers, where hands-on activities bring the history of the Royal Parks to life. For a slower-paced cultural escape, the V&A South Kensington’s newly opened Rising Voices: Contemporary Art from Asia, Australia and the Pacific showcases work by more than 40 pioneering creatives from across the region. And while you’re out-and-about, this month marks 35 years since Helen Sharman became the first Brit in space and you can see her real spacesuit in the Science Museum’s new, free Space gallery.
As you plan your May half term adventures, it’s also worth looking a little further ahead, when our free walking tours return as part of the Great Exhibition Road Festival on 6 - 7 June. These drop-in tours offer a chance to explore local biodiversity, discover how London’s wildlife is adapting to climate change, and pick up practical ways we can all help support it.
Enjoy the long weekend and May half term in South Kensington - and if you’re looking for more inspiration, our May half term walking trail is a great place to start!
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| Win a Marriott Kensington stay & Design Museum NIGO tickets |
To celebrate our new name and identity, we've teamed up with the London Marriott Hotel Kensington and the Design Museum to bring you the ultimate South Kensington experience. One lucky winner will receive an overnight stay for two at the London Marriott Hotel Kensington complete with breakfast, plus 2x tickets to the Design Museum’s major new exhibition NIGO: From Japan with Love. |
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| May Half Term in South Ken |
Our museums, galleries and cultural spaces are excited to welcome you this May half term. Enjoy the sunshine in South Kensington’s parks, explore our inspiring exhibitions and family‑friendly activities, and discover something new around every corner. There’s something for everyone at South Ken this half term. |
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| London Festival of Architecture 2026 |
South Ken Culture Quarter and High Street Kensington join together as an LFA Neighbourhood in this year's London Festival of Architecture. |
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| The Great Exhibition Road Festival |
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| 6th - 7th June 2026 12 pm - 6 pm |
Join us on 6-7 June 2026 to celebrate science and the arts! Expect a weekend packed with free exciting events for all ages: from hands-on workshops and inspiring talks to immersive performances and art installations. |
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| South Ken Nature Tours |
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South Ken Culture Quarter
6th - 7th June 2026 Sat: 12.30 pm; 3 pm & 4 pm; Sun: 1 pm & 4 pm |
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| Take part in a free ‘walkshop’ around South Kensington to learn about nature, biodiversity and wildlife. You’ll hear how London’s plants and animals are being affected by climate change and discuss what can be done about it. |
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| Rising Voices: Contemporary Art from Asia, Australia and the Pacific |
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V&A South Kensington
Until 10th Jan 2027 Mon to Sun: 10 am - 5.45 pm; Fri: 10 am – 10 pm |
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| 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. |
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| Shared Airs: Our Thriving Folk Musics |
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Royal College of Music
Until 25th Oct 2026 Tue - Fri: 10.15 am - 5.45 pm; Sat - Sun: 11 am - 6 pm |
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| 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. |
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| Jurassic Oceans After Hours |
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Natural History Museum
29th May 2026 6.45 pm - 9.30 pm |
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| Away from the daytime crowds, this exclusive event is your chance to meet some of the fiercest underwater predators to have ever lived. |
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Image credit: © &™ Lucasfilm Ltd
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| Star Wars Weekender |
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Royal Albert Hall
29th Apr - 2nd May 2027 Times vary |
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| Experience the original Star Wars trilogy back-to-back, over one weekend: Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. |
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Image credit: Marco Di Marco, A Volcanic Siege, Iceland
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| Earth Photo 2026 |
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Royal Geographical Society
Until 24th July 2026 10 am - 5 pm |
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| Earth Photo addresses prescient issues affecting our planet, aiming to stimulate conversations about our environment and the impact of climate change. |
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| Gwen John: Strange Beauties |
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Institut français
20th May 2026 7 pm |
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| On the occasion of the exhibition Gwen John: Strange Beauties at the National Museum Cardiff, curator Lucy Wood and art critic Chloë Ahsby will shine a light on one of Wales’ most extraordinary artists, who worked in France for most of her career. |
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| Discovery Days: Time Travellers |
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Hyde Park
26th - 28th May 2026 11 am - 3 pm |
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| Join the parks as they travel back in time through The Royal Parks' history! Drop in anytime between 11 am - 3 pm to take part in a variety of activities |
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| Space Gallery |
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Science Museum
Mon - Sun 10 am - 6 pm |
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| 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. |
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| BBC Proms 2026 |
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Royal Albert Hall
17th July - 12th Sept 2026 Times vary |
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| 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! |
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| Nandini Das: This Little World |
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V&A South Kensington
28th May 2026 7 pm - 8.45 pm |
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| Join prize-winning author Nandini Das in conversation with historian Alex von Tunzelmann to explore a bold new history of Tudor and Stuart England. |
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Image credit: NIGO photographed at the Design Museum. Photo credit Elliot James Kennedy
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| Audio-Described Tour of NIGO: From Japan with Love |
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the Design Museum
5th June 2026 10.30 am - 12 pm |
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| Discover the highlights of the exhibition NIGO: From Japan with Love in this group tour for blind and visually impaired visitors and their companions. |
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Image credit: © David Hockney
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| David Hockney: A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts about Painting |
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Serpentine
12th Mar - 23rd Aug 2026 10 am - 6 pm |
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| Presented at Serpentine North, the exhibition will showcase seminal works, shown in the UK for the first time. This event is free! |
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| Innovation Lates at the Science Museum |
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Science Museum
5th June 2026 6.30 pm - 10 pm |
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| Join a free special Lates bringing together music, making and ideas inspired by innovation from India, in collaboration with Serendipity Arts and part of the Great Exhibition Road Festival celebrating creativity, innovation and exchange. |
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Image credit: ©Hajime Isayama, Kodansha/"ATTACK ON TITAN" Production Committee. All Rights Reserved.
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| Attack on Titan: Symphony from Paradis |
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Royal Albert Hall
17th Oct 2026 2.30 pm & 7.30 pm |
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| Join us for the world premiere of Attack on Titan: Symphony from Paradis, the first official orchestral concert dedicated to the series. Featuring newly created symphonic arrangements curated by original composers Hiroyuki SAWANO and KOHTA YAMAMOTO, this is a powerful new way to experience anime. |
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Image credit: Wes Anderson: The Archives © Luke Hayes for the Design Museum
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| Artists in the Wes Anderson Universe: From Canvas to Screen |
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the Design Museum
30th June 2026 7 pm - 8.20 pm |
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| Join artists Sandro Kopp and Michael Taylor in conversation with Chief Curator Johanna Agerman Ross to discuss how art informs the iconic aesthetic of Wes Anderson films. |
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Image credit: © LANZA atelier. Photo Iwan Baan. Courtesy Serpentine.
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| Serpentine Pavilion 2026 by LANZA atelier |
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Serpentine
Until 25th Oct 2026 |
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| 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. |
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| Generation Hope London Climate Action Night |
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Natural History Museum
24th June 2026 6.30 pm - 9.30 pm |
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| This London Climate Action Week join the Natural History Museum for a free evening of creativity and nature positivity. . From battling urban heat to reducing waste, let’s talk about how cities such as London are tackling the climate crisis with solutions from nature, for nature. |
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| T. Rex Show with Teach Rex |
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Natural History Museum
Dates & times vary |
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| Teach Rex use life-like dinosaurs to perform their show about the anatomy and life of Tyrannosaurus rex, one the most amazing creatures to have ever roamed our planet. |
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| Water Pantanal Fire |
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Science Museum
Until 31st May 2026 10 am - 6 pm |
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| Last chance to see this thought-provoking, free photography exhibition, revealing the fragile beauty of the Pantanal - the world’s largest wetland - and the threats to its rich wildlife. |
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| Junk Sculptures |
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The Royal Society of Sculptors
6th - 7th June 2026 12 pm - 3 pm & 3.30 pm - 6 pm |
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| Make your own junk sculpture using up-cycled and everyday materials! |
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| Tear by Richard Hudson MRSS |
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The Royal Society of Sculptors
On until 11th Sep 24/7 Outdoor Installation |
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| Dora House is closed until Sept 2026, but the sculpture terrace is open, showcasing Richard Hudson’s ‘Tear’. Inspired by nature, ‘Tear’ is a reminder of the preciousness of water and the balance it sustains in our world. |
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South Ken Culture Quarter is an initiative of the Exhibition Road Cultural Group, a partnership of the cultural and educational organisations in and around Exhibition Road, South Kensington.
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Our partners include:
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the Design Museum
Goethe-Institut
Imperial College London
Institut franҫais
The Ismaili Centre
Kensington Palace
Natural History Museum
Royal Albert Hall
South Kensington Estates
Royal College of Art
Westminster City Council
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Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Royal Brompton Hospital
Royal College of Music
Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
The Royal Parks
Serpentine Galleries
Science Museum
V&A South Kensington
Royal Society of Sculptors
Japan House London
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| Copyright © 2026 South Ken Culture Quarter. All rights reserved. |
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