Free London Museums

From the big-hitters to the small, specialist sites, London's crammed full of museums, most of which are free to all. Interactive displays, tours and, in particular, events for children and families are de rigeur for most of the larger museums and it's easy to spend a whole day just rummaging around.

Bank of England Museum

Bartholomew Lane, EC2R 8AH

Housed within the Bank of England, this museum traces the history of the bank from its foundation by Royal Charter in 1694 to its role today as the nation's central bank. There are gold bars dating from ancient times to the modern market bar, coins, and a unique collection of banknotes. There are also many items you might not expect to find - pikes and muskets used to defend the bank, Roman pottery and mosaics uncovered when it was rebuilt in 1930, and documents relating to famous customers such as Horatio Nelson, George Washington and the Duchess of Marlborough.

More info: Bank of England Museum Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

British Library

96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB

With over 150 million items, a copy of every publication produced in the UK and Ireland, artwork by artists such as Antony Gormley and Eduardo Paolozzi, and a host of historically momentous works - including the Magna Carta, the Gutenberg Bible, Shakespeare's First Folio and the Lindisfarne Gospels - a guided tour around the British Library is essential if you only have time for one visit. This is, after all, the largest public building constructed in the United Kingdom in the 20th century and, as such, warrants a guided tour around its cavernous spaces. While the library has a lot to offer the casual visitor - exhibition galleries (mostly free) special exhibitions, events, films, musical performances and poetry readings - if it's your first visit it's a good idea to let an experienced guide navigate you through the main treasures that call this place home. These guides also really know their stuff and will open your eyes to this gargantuan repository. Of particular interest is the Diamond Sutra, the world's earliest dated printed book, and the only surviving copy of 'Beowulf'. The King's Library - a three-storey glass tower - forms the centre-piece of the building both architecturally and in terms of its historic acquisitions. With 65,000 printed volumes, The King's Library refers to King George III, whose personal collection is on display here. Some of the tours include access to the reading rooms, access to which is usually limited to those with passes. While it is free to explore this iconic building, paying for a tour is more than worth it if you only have a few hours to take everything in.

Current events at British Library

A Hankering After Ghosts: Charles Dickens And The Supernatural event running until Sunday 4th March 2012
TIMES 29th November 2011 to 4th March 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
An exploration into how Charles Dickens used supernatural themes in his works, within the context of philosophical and scientific debates of his time.... More about this event

The Royal Library: Old And New: Talk event Friday 10th February
TIMES Friday 10th February 2012 - 6.30pm-8pm PRICING £7.50, concs £5
With Kathleen Doyle, John Goldfinch and Jane Roberts.... More about this event

Royal Manuscripts: The Genius Of Illumination Study Day: Talk event Friday 17th February
TIMES Friday 17th February 2012 - 10am-4pm PRICING £29, concs £27
Talks about the British Library exhibition.... More about this event

Late At The Library: Illuminate event Friday 2nd March
TIMES Friday 2nd March 2012 - 7pm-10.30pm PRICING £7.50, concs £5
A showcase of work by illustrators, including graphic novelists, comic artists, cartoonists, children's book illustrators and calligraphers.... More about this event

New Learning Out Of Old Books: Henry VIII And The Re-Invention Of The Royal Library: Talk event Friday 9th March
TIMES Friday 9th March 2012 - 6.30pm-8pm PRICING £7.50, concs £5
David Starkey discusses how the library became a working library.... More about this event

All events at British Library

British Museum

Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG

The British Museum's Great Court with its magnificent glass and steel roof by Sir Norman Foster is an exhibition piece in itself. And, like most of the galleries in the museum, it's free to wander around and look up in awe. In fact, over seven millions objects from all over the world are housed in this impressive museum of human history and culture (many of the artifacts are stored underneath the museum due to lack of space). Founded in 1753, displays ranging from prehistoric to modern times were primarily based on the collections of physician and scientist, Sir Hans Sloane. Notable objects - all of which can be seen without spending a cent - include the Parthenon Marbles, the Rosetta Stone, the Sutton Hoo and Mildenhall treasures, and the Portland Vase. With such a wealth of objects to discover you may want to sign up for one of the free events that regularly take place including talks, films, performances and discussions.

Current events at British Museum

Grayson Perry: The Tomb Of The Unknown Craftsman event running until Sunday 26th February 2012
TIMES 6th October 2011 to 26th February 2012 - Various Times PRICING £10, concs £8, disabled carer/accompanied under 16s/mems Free
Vases, tapestries and a richly decorated cast iron coffin-ship by the Turner Prize-winning artist are showcased alongside objects from the museum's c... More about this event

Landscape, Heroes And Folktales: German Romantic Prints and Drawings event running until Sunday 8th April 2012
TIMES 29th September 2011 to 8th April 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
More than 1000 prints and drawings from the 18th and 19th centuries by artists including Caspar David Friedrich, Philipp Otto Runge, Wilhelm Tischbein... More about this event

Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam event running until Sunday 15th April 2012
TIMES Daily 10am-5.30pm, Fri 10am-8.30pm PRICING £12 (Adults), Free (Children Under 16 & Members)
One of the five pillars of Islam central to Muslim belief, Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim ... More about this event

Mine to Medals event running until Sunday 9th September 2012 PRICING Free
For some this British Museum exhibition may be as close as they'll get to an Olympic gold medal - despite th... More about this event

Britons On Hajj Before 1940: Lecture event Friday 10th February
TIMES Friday 10th February 2012 - 1.15pm PRICING Free
William Facey discusses Britain's relations with Islam and the people who have performed the pilgrimage.... More about this event

Renaissance To Rococo In 3 Easy Steps: Talk event Friday 10th February
TIMES Friday 10th February 2012 - 1.15pm PRICING Free
Hillary Williams discusses the artistic movements.... More about this event

Malcolm X event running until Thursday 16th February 2012
TIMES Friday 10th February 2012 - 6.30pm PRICING general admission Free
... More about this event

Hoshino Yukinobu: Manga At The British Museum event running until Sunday 8th April 2012
TIMES 29th September 2011 to 8th April 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Drawings and prints from the manga series Professor Munakata's British Museum Adventure, including concept and preparatory sketches.... More about this event

All events at British Museum

Imperial War Museum

Lambeth Road, London, SE1 6HZ

Occupying the former Bethlehem Hospital for the Insane ('Bedlam'), the Imperial War Museum is the national museum of 20th-century conflict. Founded in 1917, it not only contains a fascinating display of the vehicles and weapons of war, but also makes an in-depth study of the social effects of conflict. From the M4 Sherman tank, the V2 rocket and Polaris missile, to the walk-through recreation of a front line trench from the Somme, the Imperial War Museum represents all facets of fighting and its aftermath. Both World Wars are chronicled with thought-provoking displays of painting and poetry from Sassoon to Wilfred Owen, and a reconstructed air raid shelter and Blitzed street from 1940. The sights, sounds and smells have been carefully recreated to really bring the experience to life. Over 15,000 paintings, 120 million feet of cine film and 30,000 posters make this a unique collection.

Current events at Imperial War Museum

Francesc Torres: Memory Remains event running until Sunday 26th February 2012
TIMES 26th August 2011 to 26th February 2012 - 10am-6pm PRICING Free
Photographs of the some of the wreckage cleared from the World Trade Center site and housed in Hangar 17 at JFK Airport, marking the 10th anniversary ... More about this event

IWM Film Festival 2011 Programme Eight event running until Thursday 16th February 2012
TIMES Wednesday 15th February 2012 at 11.30am & Thursday 16th February 2012 at 4pm PRICING Free, additional charges for special exhibitions
... More about this event

IWM Film Festival 2011 Programme Five event running until Thursday 16th February 2012
TIMES Friday 10th February 2012 at 3pm & Thursday 16th February 2012 at 11.30am PRICING Free, additional charges for special exhibitions
... More about this event

IWM Film Festival 2011 Programme Four event running until Thursday 16th February 2012
TIMES Friday 10th February 2012 at 2pm & Thursday 16th February 2012 at 10.30am PRICING Free, additional charges for special exhibitions
... More about this event

IWM Film Festival 2011 Programme One event running until Thursday 16th February 2012
TIMES Wednesday 15th February 2012 - 2pm PRICING Free, additional charges for special exhibitions
... More about this event

IWM Film Festival 2011 Programme Seven event running until Thursday 16th February 2012
TIMES Wednesday 15th February 2012 at 10.30am & Thursday 16th February 2012 at 3pm PRICING Free, additional charges for special exhibitions
... More about this event

IWM Film Festival 2011 Programme Six event running until Thursday 16th February 2012
TIMES Friday 10th February 2012 at 4pm & Thursday 16th February 2012 at 2pm PRICING Free, additional charges for special exhibitions
... More about this event

IWM Film Festival 2011 Programme Three event running until Thursday 16th February 2012
TIMES Friday 10th February 2012 at 11.30am & Wednesday 15th February 2012 at 4pm PRICING Free, additional charges for special exhibitions
... More about this event

IWM Film Festival 2011 Programme Two event running until Thursday 16th February 2012
TIMES Wednesday 15th February 2012 - 3pm PRICING Free, additional charges for special exhibitions
... More about this event

Shaped By War: Photographs By Don McCullin event running until Sunday 15th April 2012
TIMES 7th October 2011 to 15th April 2012 - 10am-6pm PRICING £7, concs £6
Pictures, objects, magazines and personal memorabilia marking the 75th anniversary of the acclaimed frontline war photographer.... More about this event

All events at Imperial War Museum

Museum of London

150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN

Experience the real flavour of London life from the prehistoric to present day at this modern museum boasting over 1.1 million objects - many rescued from archaeological digs or discovered during building works in the City. A chain of chronological galleries guides visitors through the history of this ancient city; 47,000 objects from Roman London pave the way with buckles, brooches and belt-fittings to the medieval period, 17th-century glassware leads onto vivid Victorian street scenes, interiors and shop fronts. From the skulls of those thought to have been massacred by Queen Boudica to boots worn by the Duke of Wellington, Queen Victoria's Parliamentary robes and paraphernalia from the Suffragettes' Movement, the history of London and its inhabitants is brought back to life with startling intensity. Don't miss fragments of the old London Wall located just outside the museum.

Current events at Museum of London

Dickens And London event running until Sunday 10th June 2012
TIMES 9th December 2011 to 10th June 2012 - 10am-6pm PRICING £8, child/concs £6, family £18-£36, adv £7, child/concs £5, family £15-£30
Marking the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens's birth, this exhibition explores the relationship between the author and the city. Featuring origin... More about this event

Museum Explored event running until Sunday 19th February 2012
TIMES Sunday 19th February 2012 at 11.30am-1.30pm and 2pm-4pm PRICING Free
Explore the galleries through fun, hands-on activities.... More about this event

Archaeology Up Close: Jewellery: Workshop event running until Monday 20th February 2012
TIMES 12noon-2pm PRICING Free
An object-handling session with members of the museum's Archaeological Collections department.... More about this event

Mini Moles Babies Group (Under 5s) event running until Wednesday 29th February 2012
TIMES Wednesday 29th February 2012 - 11am-12noon PRICING Free
Themed activities for little ones and their carers.... More about this event

Writing London: Course (Over 18s) event running until Wednesday 29th February 2012
TIMES 15th February, 22nd February and 29th February 2012 - 11am-1pm PRICING £140
Explore how to write fiction, autobiography or poetry.... More about this event

All events at Museum of London

National Maritime Museum | Queen's House | Royal Observatory

Romney Road Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF

National Maritime Museum

Located in the heart of historic Greenwich, the National Maritime Museum houses the most important collection of objects relating to the history of Britain at sea. The collection dates back to 1823 when a National Gallery of Naval Art was established, featuring some 300 portraits, paintings and artefacts. The museum occupies a former asylum and hospital school, and enjoys fantastic views of the Thames from its elevated position. With the addition of the covered Neptune Court, the museum now boasts galleries dealing with topics ranging from navigation, naval exploits and Nelson, to exploration, the ecology of the sea and emigration. Visitors can try their hand at signalling and gunnery, explore the expansion of the Empire or just revel at the power, majesty and romance of the sea through poetry, painting and photography.

Queen's House

As far as royal residences go this is a modest palace - an appealing, but simple, bright white, classical, Palladian villa flanked by colonnades. Its understated appearance, however, belies its immense historical significance. Built in 1616 by Inigo Jones for Anne of Denmark - the wife of James I - Queen's House was the first neo-classical building seen in England. Originally conceived as a hunting lodge and addition to the Palace of Greenwich, it also acted as a bridge spanning the public road to Deptford, which divided the park in two. Despite revolutionising Jacobean architecture the house, itself, didn't get finished until 1635 when it became home to Charles I and his Queen, Henrietta Maria. The house went on to survive tumultuous times. Queen Anne died before it was completed, shortly after Civil War broke out and Oliver Cromwell stripped the Stuarts of the residence and its many treasures. It is now used by the National Maritime Museum to exhibit paintings of illustrious seafarers and historic Greenwich. The Stuart 'Tulip Staircase', purported as the first spiral staircase in Britain, has been reinstated and takes its name from the beautiful floral patterning on the wrought-iron balustrade. Some faded painted panels remain on the ceiling of the royal bedchamber while the cuboid Great Hall is swathed in impressive computer-enhanced copies of Gentileschi frescos. For the valiant among you, Queen's House is notoriously haunted and photos of shrouded figures ascending the spiral stairs are thought to be legitimate.

Royal Observatory

This museum of time and space was built by Sir Christopher Wren in 1675. It marks the site of the Greenwich Meridian - the base point for World Time and the site of Longitude 0. If you time it right, you can watch the timeball drop at 1pm each day. The National Maritime Museum, at this site since 1937, and Royal Observatory have accumulated over 2 million objects about the sea, ships, astronomy and time. Visitors can also see the Astronomer Royal's apartments, the famous Harrison timekeepers (1735-60) with computer simulations, intricate instruments, Wren's Octagon Room and the largest refracting telescope in Britain. In 2007 the £15 million Peter Harrison Planetarium opened, a beautiful cone-shaped addition to the Royal Observatory designed by architects Allies and Morrison. This 120-seat, state-of-the-art facility replaces the small and out of date planetarium in the dome of the South Building.

Current events at Royal Observatory Greenwich

An Evening with the Stars event Tuesday 14th February
TIMES 5.25pm, 5.30pm, 6.45pm, 6.50pm PRICING £28
If you believe your relationship with your loved one was ... More about this event

An Evening With The Stars: Valentine's Day Special event Tuesday 14th February
TIMES Tuesday 14th February 2012 at 5.25pm, 5.30pm, 6.45pm and 6.50pm PRICING £28
Romantic planetarium show and telescope viewings.... More about this event

Explore Saturdays (Over 5s) event running until Saturday 25th February 2012
TIMES 11th February, 18th February and 25th February 2012 at 12noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm PRICING Free
Learn about discoveries made.... More about this event

An Evening With The Stars: (Over 5s) event running until Wednesday 29th February 2012
TIMES 15th Feb, 17th Feb, 18th Feb and 29th Feb 2012 at 5.25pm, 5.30pm, 5.45pm and 5.50pm PRICING per person £16, family £50
... More about this event

Digital Astrophotography For Beginners: Course event Tuesday 21st February until Tuesday 27th March
TIMES 21st Feb, 28th Feb, 6th Mar, 13th Mar, 20th Mar and 27th Mar 2012 - 7pm-9pm PRICING £70, concs £56
... More about this event

All events at Royal Observatory Greenwich

Natural History Museum

Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD

An 8-metre long giant squid, a walrus from Hudson Bay overstuffed by a London taxidermist in the 1880s, the skeleton of a Triceratops, a life-size Blue Whale and a sea cow are just a few of the 70 million items to call this exciting, interactive, life and earth science museum home. The permanent galleries show exhibitions on topics as diverse as: Dinosaurs - the ultimate prehistoric exhibition; Creepy-Crawlies - guaranteed to have you scratching in seconds; Human Biology - the must-see exhibition about the evolution of the species; and The Power Within - an examination of the earthquake experience. The Vault - a permanent exhibition of gems and rare meteorites - contains some famous, historic and priceless jewels. For those wanting to explore further a visit to The Darwin Centre is highly recommended. Book in for one of their free regular lectures and demonstrations and you'll see the how the museum's work is not just about preserving the past but conserving for the future. In warmer months the tranquil wildlife garden (open April to October), offers a further free attraction where you can get closer to nature.

Current events at Natural History Museum

Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year event running until Sunday 11th March 2012
TIMES Daily 10am-5.50pm, last adm 5pm | Open late last Fri of the month, except Dec PRICING £9 (Adults), £4.50 (Concs & Children 4-16), £24 (Family - 2 adults & 3 children), Free (Children 3 & Under)
Some photographers wait for weeks in order to catch that one great action shot, some set up elaborate timing systems, others have simply seen an oppor... More about this event

Love In The Natural World: Talk event Tuesday 14th February
TIMES Tuesday 14th February 2012 at 12.30pm-1pm and 2.30pm-3pm PRICING phone for prices
A talk about love in the wild.... More about this event

Behind The Lens: Meet A Wildlife Photographer: Talk event Wednesday 15th February
TIMES Wednesday 15th February 2012 at 12.30pm-1pm and 2.30pm-3pm PRICING Phone for prices
A photographer discusses their work.... More about this event

The Valley Of Silence: Talk event Saturday 11th February until Saturday 18th February
TIMES 11th February, 16th February and 18th February 2012 at 12.30pm-1pm and 2.30pm-3pm PRICING phone for prices
A talk about field work and the work taking place in the Costa Rican tropical forest.... More about this event

Bugs In Disguise: Talk event running until Sunday 19th February 2012
TIMES Friday 10th February 2012 at 2.30pm-3pm & Sunday 19th February 2012 at 12.30pm-1pm and 2.30pm PRICING phone for prices
A museum scientist discusses how insects avoid being detected.... More about this event

All events at Natural History Museum

Science Museum

Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2DD

Home to one of the world's most magnificent collections of science, industry, technology and medicine, the Science Museum is one of London's most hands-on and interactive museums. Funded by the profits of the Great Exhibition of 1851, it started life in the 19th century as part of Prince Albert's grand scheme to promote industrial technology. Today, it occupies a purpose-built building and contains some 300,000 objects, covering the entire history of Western science, technology and medicine. Displays are designed to encourage interaction with certain areas aimed at specific age groups. In the Launchpad gallery, for example, visitors are invited to learn about forces and motion with exhibits that make physics fun for children aged between 8 and 14 years. There's a whole host of scientific things to discover, from how aircraft are built to morphing your face to see how you'll look in 10 years' time. The monthly Science Museum Lates are also free - offering adults a chance to enjoy the museum free of charge as well as free from marauding kids.

Current events at Science Museum

Ten Climate Stories event running until Friday 28th September 2012
TIMES 1st January 2011 to 28th September 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Photographs, objects, audio and artefacts highlighting designs and discoveries that have affected man's relationship to the planet, featuring apparat... More about this event

Electroboutique Pop-Up event running until Tuesday 14th February 2012
TIMES 9th Feb to 14th Feb 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Interactive multimedia installations exploring themes of consumerism, capitalism, art production, media control and the progress of technology.... More about this event

Nancy The Waterseller: Talk event running until Wednesday 15th February 2012
TIMES Wednesday 15th February 2012 - 12.30pm-1pm PRICING Free
A costumed character talks about London's water.... More about this event

Hidden Heroes: The Genius Of Everyday Things event running until Tuesday 5th June 2012
TIMES 20th November 2011 to 5th June 2012 - Various Times PRICING £6, child/NUS £3.50, family £11-£16
Simple and significant inventions, including clothes pegs and tea bags, shown alongside plans and drawings by the people who designed them.... More about this event

All events at Science Museum

Sir John Soane's Museum

13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, WC2A 3BP

An appealingly higgledy-piggledy treasure trove of artefacts, this extraordinary house elegantly located on Lincoln's Inn Fields is well worth an exploratory rummage. Lurking in nooks and crannies within the sprawling rooms and halls of neo-classical architect Sir John Soane's former residence are over 30,000 architectural drawings and antiquities. Works by Turner, Canaletto and Piranesi feature in the painting collection, with William Hogarth's eight canvasses of 'A Rake's Progress' forming the centre-piece. Each of the many spaces in this museum has its own strong identity and appeal. From the domed ceiling of the Breakfast Room and the Gothic library, to the study with its Roman architectural fragments and the two courtyards crammed with ancient stonework, this is a house of diversity and architectural merit. One of the most intriguing rooms is the Picture Gallery. Here, Canaletto's magnificent Riva degli Schiavoni, looking West, takes centre stage. Look out for the alabaster Egyptian Sarcophagus of Seti I dated 1370 BC appropriately located in the basement 'Sepulchral Chamber'.

NOTE: No. 12 Lincoln's Inn Fields, including the Breakfast Room and Soane Gallery, is closed, due to reopen in summer 2012. Further restoration works will continue until 2014.

Current events at Sir John Soane's Museum

Sir John Soane Museum Tour event running until Monday 31st December 2012
TIMES Tours - Every Sat 11am | Candlelit opening - 1st Tue of each month, 6pm-9pm | Entry to museum - Tue to Sat 10am-5pm, last adm 4.30pm, closed on Sundays, Mondays and Bank Holidays. PRICING Sat tour tickets £5 (General), Free (Students & unemployed) | Entry to museum Free
Every Saturday morning at 11am guests can take an hour-long tour of the Sir John Soane Museum, the former hom... More about this event

London In A Large Watercolour: Workshop event running until Friday 10th February 2012
TIMES Thursday 9th February and Friday 10th February 2012 - 10.15am PRICING £75, inc meal
... More about this event

Stunning Self Portrait: Workshop (Over 7s) event Wednesday 15th February
TIMES Wednesday 15th February 2012 at 10.30am-12.30pm and 2pm-4pm PRICING £12
... More about this event

It's Carnival!: Workshop (Over 7s) event Thursday 16th February
TIMES Thursday 16th February 2012 - 10.30am-3pm PRICING £20
Create costumes and masks.... More about this event

Opening Up The Soane: Update And Improve The Museum!: Workshop (Over 7s) event Friday 17th February
TIMES Friday 17th February 2012 at 10.30am-12.30pm and 2pm-4pm PRICING £12
Give the museum a facelift.... More about this event

All events at Sir John Soane's Museum

Victoria and Albert (V & A) Museum

Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL

With over 145 galleries to explore and over 4 million items, the V & A is one of the most influential museums of decorative and applied arts in the world. It was originally founded in 1852, with the aim of enthusing and educating British manufacturers and designers. It is now home to a stunning collection of European, Indian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Islamic artefacts ranging from ceramics, glass, metalwork and sculpture to costume, armour, weaponry and furniture. The gallery also houses the national collection of photography. Visitors can delve into the fascinating dress collection that features samples from historical dress to 21st-century haute-couture or examine the celebrated Arts and Crafts interiors of the Morris and Gamble Rooms. The gallery is often cited as housing the greatest collection of Italian Renaissance sculpture outside Italy, while the British Galleries - which opened to great acclaim in November 2001 - are unique in their exploration of British design from Chippendale to Morris, Adam to Mackintosh. Highlights include the Great Bed of Ward as mentioned in Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night', and James II's wedding suit. In recent years the trend at the V&A has been towards style retrospectives of entire periods like Art Deco, Art Nouveau and shows focusing on individual designers like Armani and Ossie Clarke. The museum is second-to-none in this regard. The building itself - a mix of Victorian and Edwardian design - also presents a truly formidable display. The two halls (Cast Courts), in particular, form a major focal point for the gallery - with their high glass roof, elevated corridors and walkways.

More info: Victoria and Albert (V & A) Museum Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Current events at Victoria and Albert (V & A) Museum

The House Of Annie Lennox event running until Sunday 26th February 2012
TIMES 15th September 2011 to 26th February 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
A display featuring costumes, videos, interviews, images and personal objects, exploring the image, inspiration and style of Annie Lennox, presented i... More about this event

Rabindranath Tagore: Poet And Painter event running until Sunday 4th March 2012
TIMES 11th December 2011 to 4th March 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Paintings from the early-20th century by the Indian poet best known for being the first non-European writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literatu... More about this event

Ai Weiwei: Dropping The Urn (Ceramic Works, 5000 BC - AD 2010) event running until Sunday 18th March 2012
TIMES 15th October 2011 to 18th March 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Installations, films, ceramics and objects investigating the effects of rapid globalisation and capitalism on traditional Chinese production technique... More about this event

Porcelain City: Jingdezhen event running until Sunday 25th March 2012
TIMES 4th November 2011 to 25th March 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Contemporary ceramics made in collaboration with the factories in China's most historically important city for the production of porcelain, by Roger ... More about this event

Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton: A Diamond Jubilee Celebration event running until Sunday 22nd April 2012
TIMES Daily 10am-5.45pm, late opening every Fri until 10pm PRICING £6
Cecil Beaton, one of the most famous fashion photographers of the 20th century, may have worked for Vogue and Vanity Fair but he also had a long stand... More about this event

Golden Spider Silk event running until Tuesday 5th June 2012
TIMES 25th January 2012 to 5th June 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Contemporary textiles, featuring a brocaded shawl made from the silk of over a million female golden orb-weaver spiders collected in Madagascar, toget... More about this event

Beatrix Potter Country: A Legacy In Lakeland And Beyond event running until Sunday 10th June 2012
TIMES 13th December 2011 to 10th June 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Drawings and paintings reflecting Potter's deep connections with the Lake District, exploring the role of her legacy in the preservation of British h... More about this event

Japanese Enamels: The Seven Treasures event running until Sunday 19th August 2012
TIMES 14th June 2011 to 19th August 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
More than 120 cloisonne-enamelled objects and vases from the late-17th century to the 20th century by artists and designers including Hayashi Kodenji,... More about this event

Diana Rigg: Talk event Friday 10th February
TIMES Friday 10th February 2012 - 7pm-8pm PRICING £9, concs £6
The actress discusses her career.... More about this event

Venetian Visions: The Art Of Canaletto, Tiepolo, Carlevarijs And Their Contemporaries 1700-1800 event running until Sunday 1st April 2012
TIMES 7th October 2011 to 1st April 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Historical prints, drawings, textiles, ceramics and glass from the museum's collections.... More about this event

All events at Victoria and Albert (V & A) Museum