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London Museums and Galleries

London Museums and Galleries

London is home to over 300 museums and galleries, making it the epicentre of culture and collections in the northern hemisphere! From the world's largest Maritime Museum to an art gallery in an old power station, London delves into the history of everything from boats to Botticellis and mosaics to manuscripts. Over the following pages you will find information about London's top museums and galleries - specially chosen to give you a flavour of some of London's great cultural assets.

British Museum

Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG
World-renowned museum of human history and culture

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, the British Museum displays ranging from prehistoric to modern times were primarily based on the collections of physician and scientist, Sir Hans Sloane. Notable objects include the Parthenon Marbles, the Rosetta Stone, sculptures from the Parthenon, the Sutton Hoo and Mildenhall treasures, and the Portland Vase. The hieroglyphics and classical sculptures are instantly recognisable and world famous, but more surprising is the workmanship and beauty of the Saxon jewellery collection. The treasures assembled here, from Britain's Dark Ages, reveal a period of original and brilliant artistry. The museum's Great Court with its magnificent glass and steel roof by Sir Norman Foster is an exhibition piece in itself. Regular events include talks, films, performances and demonstrations.

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

Mega Mummy Animation Workshop (over 7s) event Sunday 12th February
TIMES Sunday 12th February 2012 - 11am-2pm PRICING Free
Create a giant animation of the mummification process using a digital video camera and stop-motion software.... More about this event

Malcolm X event running until Thursday 16th February 2012
TIMES Fri 6.30 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

National Gallery

Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN
Huge range of European art, ranging from 1260 to 1900

The National Gallery dominates London's Trafalgar Square with its neo-classical columns and portico designed by William Wilkins adjoining the square where it has been pedestrianised. Some of the finest examples of European art, ranging from 1260 to 1900, are included among the 2300 paintings filling its halls and rooms. Holbein's 'The Ambassadors', 'The Hay Wain' by Constable, and Jan Van Eyck's 'Arnolfini Marriage' are just some of the major attractions. Works on display also include those of Botticelli, Monet, Constable, Van Gogh and Rembrandt. This really is the place to come for top quality artwork spanning a wide spectrum of styles and periods. From the Early Renaissance to the Post-Impressionists, every significant stage in the development of painting is represented in its collection, often by masterpieces. Originally established by Parliament in 1824, the collection belongs to the British public and every effort is made to encourage the public to visit, view and experience the art: free entry, free events, free talks and free tours support this ethos of encouragement and enthusiasm. Regular activities include: audio tours, guided tours, sessions for visitors with a visual impairment, lunchtime talks, live music and late night openings on Fridays.

Current events at National Gallery

National Gallery - Permanent Collection event running until Monday 31st December 2012
TIMES 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free, additional charges for special exhibitions
Located on Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery houses one of the greatest collections of European paintings in the world. Masterpieces on permanent... More about this event

Claude: Landscape With Narcissus And Echo: Talk event Monday 13th February
TIMES Monday 13th February 2012 - 1pm-1.30pm PRICING Free
A talk about the artist's painting.... More about this event

Holbein The Younger: Christina Of Denmark, Duchess Of Milan: Talk event Monday 13th February
TIMES Monday 13th February 2012 - 4pm PRICING Free
A talk about the painting.... More about this event

Love Stories: Beloved Or Betrayed': Guided Tour event Tuesday 14th February
TIMES Tuesday 14th February 2012 - 1pm-2pm PRICING Free
A tour of paintings from the collection.... More about this event

Rubens: The Birth Of Venus: Talk event Tuesday 14th February
TIMES Tuesday 14th February 2012 - 4pm PRICING Free
A talk about the artist's painting.... More about this event

All events at National Gallery

Tate Britain

Millbank, SW1P 4RG
British art and the Turner Prize, Blake, Spencer and Stubbs

Overlooking the River Thames, Tate Britain was originally founded through the philanthropy of the sugar magnate Sir Henry Tate. The Tate legacy now encompasses three other galleries around the UK, including Tate Modern also in London. Dedicated to showcasing Britain's artistic talent, Tate Britain is home to the greatest collection of British art from 1500 to the present day. Since it opened in 1897, the collection has expanded to include works from Blake, Rossetti, Spencer and Stubbs. It also hosts the Turner Prize - the contemporary art world's premier award. Turner's Gallery (another tribute to the artist himself) is a virtual reconstruction of the room in which Turner showed his own paintings.

Current events at Tate Britain

Has The Film Already Started? event running until Sunday 26th February 2012
TIMES 27th June 2011 to 26th February 2012 - 10am-5.40pm PRICING Free
A suite of collection galleries highlighting the presence of performance in art during the last 30 years, featuring Marc Camille Chaimowicz's Partial... More about this event

BP British Art Displays: Don McCullin event running until Sunday 4th March 2012
TIMES 2nd September 2011 to 4th March 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Photographs by one of the most significant war photographers of the 20th-century featuring subject matter as diverse as war-torn Vietnam, Lebanon, Cyp... More about this event

BP British Art Displays: Drawings By The Camden Town Group event running until Sunday 18th March 2012
TIMES 1st January 2011 to 18th March 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Drawings by members of the London-based society of 16 artists who exhibited three times between 1911 an 1912, highlighting the diverse nature of their... More about this event

BP British Art Displays: Rubens And Britain event running until Sunday 6th May 2012
TIMES 22nd November 2011 to 6th May 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
An exploration into the connection between the Flemish artist and the British monarchy and court, featuring the sketch for the Banqueting House ceilin... More about this event

Romantics event running until Sunday 3rd June 2012
TIMES 9th August 2010 to 3rd June 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Paintings by Henry Fuseli, JMW Turner, John Constable, Samuel Palmer and William Blake, exploring the origins, influence and legacies of Romantic art ... More about this event

Migrations event running until Sunday 12th August 2012
TIMES 31st January 2012 to 12th August 2012 - 10am-5.40pm PRICING Phone for prices
An exploration of British art seen through the theme of migration from the 1500s onwards, featuring works by Lely, Kneller, Fuseli, Sargent, Epstein, ... More about this event

BP British Art Displays: Thin Black Line(s) event running until Sunday 18th March 2012
TIMES 2nd September 2011 to 18th March 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Works in a variety of media by Black and Asian women artists who worked in the 1980s.... More about this event

Colour & Line: Turner's Experiments event running until Monday 30th April 2012
TIMES 2nd May 2007 to 30th April 2012 - 10am-5.40pm PRICING Free
Works on paper by Turner exploring his working methods and techniques.... More about this event

David Tremlett: Drawing For Free Thinking event running until Monday 31st December 2012
TIMES 19th September 2011 to 31st December 2012 - 10am-6pm PRICING Free
A large-scale wall drawing consisting of bold blocks of colour and clean lines that are inspired by traditional styles of 20th-century constructivism.... More about this event

All events at Tate Britain

Natural History Museum

Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD
Interactive, life and earth science museum

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. Highlights of the Natural History Museum include: 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, The Power Within - a sensational earthquake experience, and Ecology and Mammals. Investigate - a hands-on science centre - is especially great for children and kids can also follow gallery trails and try their hand at art activities. The annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year also demands attention and is a highlight of the museum's temporary exhibitions. For those wanting to explore further a visit to The Darwin Centre in its magnificent cocoon building is highly recommended. Regular lectures and demonstrations combined with interactive exhibitions aim to bring to life the millions of preserved specimens on show. There is also a tranquil wildlife garden containing native fauna and flora.

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

The Valley Of Silence: Talk event running until Saturday 18th February 2012
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

The Scarab Beetles Of Peru: 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 scientist discusses the insects and the challenges of tropical fieldwork.... More about this event

All events at Natural History Museum

Science Museum

Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2DD
IMAX, interactivity, twiddling, tweaking and technology

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 gallery and contains some 300,000 objects, covering the entire history of Western science, technology and medicine. Visitors are invited to learn about forces and motion in Launch Pad and discover how aircraft are built in the Flight gallery. The Wellcome Wing allows visitors to morph their faces to look older or younger, manipulate their voices and create digital music, or be sucked into the 3D world of the stunning IMAX cinema. The scientific questions of the day are hotly debated in Antenna.

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 10th 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

National Portrait Gallery

St Martin's Place, WC2H 0HE
Portraits from the 14th century to the present day

This isn't the place to come for serious works of exceptional artistic merit - the overriding aim of this gallery is to reflect the status of the sitter, not the artist - but where else in London could you hope to find The Beatles, Henry VIII, Fatboy Slim and Joan Collins all hanging out together? The appeal of the National Portrait Gallery (opened in 1856) rests simply in its comprehensive commemoration of British history from the late 14th century to the present day through the medium of portraiture. The sense of progression and the feeling of familiarity with many subjects are what make the gallery so appealing. Having said that, critically acclaimed self-portraits by William Hogarth, Sir Joshua Reynolds and other notable British artists are also displayed alongside the 10,000 portraits of everyone from statesmen to showbiz stars and media barons. The collection represents Britain and is arranged thematically, starting with the Tudors and ending with present day politicians and pop stars. Look out for the only surviving portrait of Shakespeare taken from life in The Ondaajte Wing, the Hans Holbein cartoon of Henry VIII, the anamorphic portrait of Edward VI, and the sculpture of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in medieval costume. Photographs, caricatures, drawings and sculpture are included in the collection which also boasts 250,000 archived images. The National Portrait Gallery also hosts the annual BP Portrait Prize competition alongside ever-changing collections of contemporary work.

Current events at National Portrait Gallery

The Southwell Brothers: Photographers Royal event running until Sunday 19th February 2012
TIMES 11th May 2011 to 19th February 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Examples of the brothers' cartes-de-visite photographic portraits of royalty and aristocracy, including a recently acquired portrait of Queen Victori... More about this event

William Dobson 1611-46 event running until Sunday 18th March 2012
TIMES 17th August 2011 to 18th March 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Four oil paintings by the esteemed portrait painter that examine his relationship with printmaker William Faithorne featured alongside examples of his... More about this event

Herbert Morrison: The Cockney Socialist event running until Sunday 18th March 2012
TIMES 26th July 2011 to 18th March 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
A display featuring caricatures, drawings, press photographs and paintings, which chart the career of the influential, post-war Labour minister, and g... More about this event

Herbert George Ponting: Scott Of The Antarctic event running until Sunday 22nd April 2012
TIMES 16th August 2011 to 22nd April 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
This display brings together four of Ponting's photographs of the expedition, for which he acted as official photographer and cinematographer. Three ... More about this event

Lucian Freud Portraits event running until Sunday 27th May 2012
TIMES Mon-Wed, Sat & Sun 10am-6pm, Thu & Fri 10am-9pm PRICING £12-£15.40
More than 100 of Lucian Freud's realist portrait paintings are shown in this blockbuster 2012 More about this event

Victorian Connections event running until Sunday 17th June 2012
TIMES 8th December 2011 to 17th June 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
A photographic exploration evaluating the impact made by prominent Victorians such as Charles Darwin and Robert Browning on the lives and careers of c... More about this event

Beautiful Souls event running until Tuesday 7th August 2012
TIMES 5th December 2011 to 7th August 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Photographs and prints of the group of 19th-century aristocrats and socialites known as The Souls, which included former-Prime Minister Arthur Balfour... More about this event

Sixteen By Fourteen: Recent Photographic Acquisitions event running until Saturday 1st September 2012
TIMES 7th February 2012 to 1st September 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Contemporary photographs acquired by the gallery by photographers including Jay Brooks, Henry Browne, James Galloway, Francesco Guidicini and Tricia M... More about this event

National Portrait Gallery - Permanent Collection event running until Monday 31st December 2012
TIMES 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free, additional charge for some special exhibitions
Founded in 1856, the gallery collects portraits of famous British men and women, around 1,400 of which are on display throughout the year in London. T... More about this event

Highlights Of The Collection: Talk event Sunday 12th February
TIMES Sunday 12th February 2012 - 3pm PRICING Free
A talk about the gallery's paintings.... More about this event

All events at National Portrait Gallery

Victoria and Albert (V & A) Museum

Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL
Museum of decorative and applied arts

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

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

Heroes And Heroines event running until Wednesday 25th April 2012
TIMES 3rd October 2011 to 25th April 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Objects from the museum's collections exploring inspirational figures from the worlds of religion, mythology, folk tales and popular culture.... More about this event

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

National Maritime Museum

Romney Road Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF
Navigation, navy, the sea and the Empire

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, partly housed in former royal palace Queens House, 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. While you're here leave time to visit the Peter Harrison Planetarium as well as the Meridian line by which time across the globe is measured.

Current events at National Maritime Museum

Behind The Scenes: Chinese Ship Models event Wednesday 15th February
TIMES Wednesday 15th February 2012 - 2pm-4pm PRICING £12, £40, for the series
A look at the world of the ship model maker.... More about this event

When China Ruled The Waves' The Maritime Cultures Of Asia In Context: Panel Discussion event Wednesday 15th February
TIMES Wednesday 15th February 2012 - 6.30pm-8pm PRICING £8
A panel discussion about Asian maritime cultures.... More about this event

John Morgan: Voice Of A Lascar event running until Saturday 25th February 2012
TIMES Saturday 11th February and Saturday 25th February 2012 at 12noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm PRICING Free
South Asian lascar John Morgan talks about working for the British East India Company.... More about this event

Discover Sundays event running until Sunday 26th February 2012
TIMES 12th February, 19th February and 26th February 2012 at 11.30am-1.30pm and 2pm-4pm PRICING Free
A look at personal connections to the sea.... More about this event

Play Tuesdays (Under 5s) event running until Tuesday 28th February 2012
TIMES 14th February, 21st February and 28th February 2012 at 10.30am, 11.30am, 1pm and 2pm PRICING Free
... More about this event

All events at National Maritime Museum

Museum of London

150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN
Record of London from the prehistoric to the present day

Experience the real flavour of London life from the prehistoric to present day at the Museum of London, a 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 guide visitors through the history of this ancient city; 47,000 objects from Roman London pave the way to buckles, brooches and belt-fittings of 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

The Real Miss Havisham event running until Wednesday 15th February 2012
TIMES 12th February and 13th February 2012 at 1pm-1.30pm, 2pm-2.30pm and 3pm-3.30pm & 15th February 2012 at 11am-11.30am, 12.30pm-1pm and 2pm-2.30pm PRICING Free
Find out who Charles Dickens based his characters on.... More about this event

Characters From History: Charles Dickens: Talk event running until Wednesday 15th February 2012
TIMES Saturday 11th February 2012 at 1pm-1.30pm, 2pm-2.30pm and 3pm-3.30pm & Wednesday 15th February 2012 at 11.45am-12.15pm, 1.15pm-1.45pm and 3pm-3.30 PRICING Free
A costumed character talk about the plots and characters of his novels.... 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

Imperial War Museum

Lambeth Road, London, SE1 6HZ
War and weapons, tanks and rockets, painting and poetry

Occupying the former Bethlehem Hospital for the Insane ('Bedlam'), the Imperial War Museum is the national museum of 20th century conflict. Founded in 1917, the museum 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

Tate Modern

Bankside Power Station, 25 Sumner Street, London, SE1 9TG
The Turbine Hall, 20th century art, Matisse to Moore.

Located along the banks of the River Thames, Tate Modern opened to great acclaim in 2000 and has since welcomed millions of visitors through its imposing doors. If you are visiting for the first time, you should approach from Blackfriars (Tube / Rail) station, crossing Norman Foster's 'Blade of Light' Millennium Bridge, walking towards this spectacular modernist masterpiece with the dome of St Paul's Cathedral behind you. Housed in the former Bankside Power Station, the gallery pays homage to art from 1900 to the present day. The awesome Turbine Hall creates a stunning entrance and a vast space, used to display temporary installations on a grand scale. There are three levels of galleries enclosed by a spectacular two-storey glass roof that provides fantastic views of London and a great cafe. Full of the jokey eccentricities of contemporary art, it's one of the few art galleries that children and teenagers will enjoy, but it also offers the full set of iconic 20th century artists, from Matisse to Moore, Dali to Picasso. Justifiably the most popular art gallery in Europe.

Current events at Tate Modern

Half Term at Tate Modern event running until Sunday 19th February 2012
TIMES 11am-4pm
The Tate Modern is giving families the chance to beat the boredom of half term and instead drop into the More about this event

Photography: New Documentary Forms event running until Saturday 31st March 2012
TIMES 1st May 2011 to 31st March 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Photographs by Luc Delahaye, Mitch Epstein, Guy Tillim and Akram Zaatari in which the artists explore a variety of subjects through documentary photog... More about this event

The Unilever Series: Tacita Dean event running until Monday 9th April 2012
TIMES Mon-Thu, Sun 10am-6pm, Fri & Sat 10am-10pm, closed Dec 24-26 PRICING Free
Berlin-based English visual artists Tacita Dean undertakes the 12th commission in More about this event

No Lone Zone event running until Sunday 13th May 2012
TIMES 27th January 2012 to 13th May 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Contemporary sculpture, videos, photographs and installations exploring the relationship between history, nature and politics, by Teresa Margolles, Ci... More about this event

Yayoi Kusama event running until Tuesday 5th June 2012
TIMES 9th February 2012 to 5th June 2012 - Various Times PRICING £10 (Adults), £8.50 (Concessions)
Well-known for her repeating dot patterns, influential Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama first came to prominence ... More about this event

Barbara Hammer Programme 10: Life In The 1980s: Struggles In Conservative Times event running until Thursday 16th February 2012
TIMES Wednesday 15th February 2012 - 6.30pm
... More about this event

Barbara Hammer Programme 6: Fragile Light event running until Thursday 16th February 2012
TIMES Fri 7.00
... More about this event

Barbara Hammer Programme 7: Shattering The Mirror event running until Thursday 16th February 2012
TIMES Saturday 11th February 2012 - 7pm
... More about this event

Barbara Hammer Programme 8: Seeing With A Horse's Eye event running until Thursday 16th February 2012
TIMES Sunday 12th February 2012 - 5pm
... More about this event

Barbara Hammer Programme 9: The Goddess Zeitgeist event running until Thursday 16th February 2012
TIMES Tuesday 14th February 2012 - 6.30pm
... More about this event

All events at Tate Modern

Somerset House

Strand, WC2R 1LA
Gallery and former Tudor palace

Somerset House, once the site of a spectacular Tudor palace, now includes a magnificent 18th century art gallery housing celebrated collections belonging to the Courtauld Institute Gallery, as well as the Embankment Galleries (which replaced the Hermitage Rooms and The Gilbert Collection - the latter re-opened at the Victoria and Albert Museum in June 2009). Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector of Edward VI, built the great mansion on the banks of the river to match his new-found status and rank. Following the Duke's execution for treason in 1552, the house passed onto Queen Elizabeth I and then Anne of Denmark and Norway - wife of James I - who christened it 'Denmark House'. Charles I's Queen, Henrietta Maria of France, was the next royal occupant. Having lived through the Civil War, the Great Fire, various refurbishments and other regal guests including Queen Catherine of Braganza, the palace fell into disrepair in the 1700s and was eventually demolished. Sir William Chambers was commissioned to design a replacement building whose purpose was to house various learned societies of the day. The current building still looks and feels like a palace with its great courtyard and elegant fountains, riverside terrace and magnificent collection of art and sculpture. It's easy to imagine a time when kings, queens and courtiers graced its grounds. Modern-day concerts now held in the courtyard echo the dramatic and musical masque entertainments popular during the reign of Anne of Denmark. While visitors have to pay to view the main galleries, admission to the courtyard, riverside terrace, restored Seamen's Hall, Nelson Stair, interpretation gallery and 18th century Commissioner's Barge are all free.

Current events at Somerset House

London Fashion Week event Friday 17th February until Wednesday 22nd February
TIMES Various
This February London Fashion Week will be once again injecting a burst of style into More about this event

East Wing X Collection: Material Matters event running until Saturday 27th July 2013
TIMES 20th January 2012 to 27th July 2013 - Various Times PRICING Free
Contemporary works in a variety of media by established and emerging artists including Caroline Achaintre, Rosalind Davis, Damien Hirst, Kristy Howe a... More about this event

Somerset House Fountains event running until Thursday 1st January 2015
TIMES 10am-11pm Daily | To confirm fountain displays are on call 020 7845 4600
The Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court at More about this event

Mondrian/Nicholson: In Parallel event Thursday 16th February until Sunday 20th May
TIMES 16th February 2012 to 20th May 2012 - 10am-6pm PRICING £6, concs £4.50, NUS/disabled carer/Mon 10am-2pm/under 18s Free
An exploring of the relationship between Piet Mondrian and Ben Nicholson during the 1930s, featuring a selection of paintings and reliefs.... More about this event

The Courtauld Collection event running until Tuesday 31st December 2013
TIMES 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2013 - Various Times PRICING £6, concs £4.50, NUS/under 18s/mems/unwaged/disabled carer/Mon 10am-2pm Free
Paintings, sculpture, drawings and prints from the early Renaissance period to the 20th century.... More about this event

All events at Somerset House

Design Museum

28 Shad Thames, London, SE1 2YD
Furniture, fashion, architecture and art

This was the first museum in the world to focus on the exhibition of mass-produced items and today boasts a celebrated collection of everyday objects from the 20th and 21st centuries. While the items allow visitors to reminisce about the past, the Design Museum also provides an opportunity to examine innovative prototypes for the future. The objects relate to engineering, technology, furniture, fashion and architecture. Housed in a 1950s building re-designed by the Conran Group, the museum lies just downriver of Butler's Wharf and the old spice-importing warehouses.

Current events at Design Museum

Terence Conran: The Way We Live Now event running until Sunday 4th March 2012
TIMES From Nov 16, Mon-Sun 10am-5.45pm, last adm 5.15pm, closed Dec 25 & 26, ends Mar 4 PRICING £10, NUS £6, concs £9, under 12s Free
A major exhibition which marks the designer's 80th birthday, featuring key pieces from the 1940s and 1950s, his work on Habitat, and a recreation of ... More about this event

Runabouts: Workshop (Ages 5-11) event Sunday 12th February
TIMES Sunday 12th February 2012 - 2pm-4.30pm PRICING child £4.50, accompanying adult with donation £11
Design futuristic transport models.... More about this event

Long Lunch With Lava: Talk event Monday 13th February
TIMES Monday 13th February 2012 - 7.30pm PRICING £15, mems £7.50
How to run a successful agency without account managers.... More about this event

Drawing Tour event Sunday 19th February
TIMES Sunday 19th February 2012 - 1.30pm PRICING Free
... More about this event

PechaKucha X: British Design event Tuesday 28th February
TIMES Tuesday 28th February 2012 - 7.30pm PRICING £15, mems £7.50
Short presentations about the design world.... More about this event

All events at Design Museum

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