You might have heard of the Great Exhibition, an extravaganza of world riches and inventions that drew six million visitors to Hyde Park in 1851. Prince Albert used those funds to help develop the V&A, the Natural History Museum, the Royal Albert Hall – pretty much every grand institution on Exhibition Road in Kensington – creating his ‘Albertopolis’.
2025’s answer to the Great Exhibition will return for the second time this summer, with many of London’s most esteemed museums taking part. For one weekend in June Exhibition Road in South Ken will be closed to cars and come alive with cutting-edge experiments, mind-bending technology, music, dance, art, live science shows and parades.
The Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Parks and Imperial College London are all taking part. Highlights this year include insect yoga, a butterfly carnival, and the tiniest disco in the universe. Plus, it’s all free to attend.