Welcome to the IanVisits alternative guide to London.
Lectures, talks, heritage events, organised walks and other random geeky miscellany.
This is quite an old listings page, did you want: Thursday, 29th August 2024?
Displayed in date order by how soon they close.
This exhibition explores a century of model making, and tells the story of the lacemakers, locomotive drivers and engineers who built the modern world from their kitchen tables. (Ending Soon Sun, 29th Aug)
Science Museum
An exhibition devoted to the life and work of Claudia Andujar and her collaboration with the Yanomami, one of Brazil’s largest indigenous peoples. (Ending Soon Sun, 29th Aug)
Barbican Centre
See Disney costumes and puppets from the shows on display, interactive games and crafts, plus photo opportunities. (Ending Soon Sun, 29th Aug)
Carriage Hall
This definitive retrospective charts her ground-breaking career from the 1920s to the 1990s. (Ending Soon Sun, 29th Aug)
Whitechapel Gallery
Free
Holding the baby
A portrait of the strength and resilience of single parent families facing austerity. (Ending Soon Sun, 29th Aug)
The Museum of the Home
Free
Lost and Found
London based artist Perspicere makes street art from threads, and this is his first gallery show. (Ending Soon Sun, 29th Aug)
BSMT Space
Free
UNIQLO Tate Play
Tate Modern invites visitors of all ages to transform the floor of the Turbine Hall into an ever changing work of art. (Ending Soon Sun, 29th Aug)
Tate Modern
Discover the pioneering story of photography from the 1840s to today, told through stunning still lifes of plants and botany. (Ending Soon Sun, 29th Aug)
Dulwich Picture Gallery
This is a rare opportunity to see one of Poland’s most loved works of art. (Ending Soon Mon, 30th Aug)
National Gallery
The first exhibition in 20 years to explore the pioneering aesthetics and lasting legacy of this influential association of artists, designers and craftspeople. (Ending Soon Tue, 31st Aug)
William Morris Gallery
Meet one of the giants of 20th century design, a free spirit who championed good design for all and was often overshadowed by her famous male collaborators. (Ending Soon Sat, 4th Sep)
The Design Museum
A display celebrating dub reggae and its influence on the capital. (Ending Soon Sun, 5th Sep)
Museum of London
A special exhibition of dazzling Tudor treasures celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Field of Cloth of Gold (Ending Soon Sun, 5th Sep)
Hampton Court Palace
A series of tonal paintings produced by contraptions that have been assembled by hand from industrial materials. (Ending Soon Sun, 5th Sep)
Saatchi Gallery
Outdoor art exhibition by Malwawi-born artist Samson Kambalu, who has been creating flags throughout lockdown that explore ideas of national and individual sovereignty and links to emancipatory movements such as Pan-Africanism. (Ending Soon Sun, 5th Sep)
Southbank Centre
£8.80
Turner’s English Coasts
This exhibition focuses on the artist’s engagement with English marine and coastal subjects at a pivotal time in his career when he was living at Sandycombe Lodge. (Ending Soon Sun, 5th Sep)
Turners House
This touring exhibition unites contemporary indigenous artists and educators in the USA with museums and historic collections in Britain. (Ending Soon Sun, 5th Sep)
Guildhall Art Gallery and Roman Amphitheater
Copies of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic torches will be on display in London during the summer. (Ending Soon Mon, 6th Sep)
Japan House
This curated selection of artworks, on display for a limited time only, shines a new light on the experiences of ordinary people forced into new patterns of living by Nazi air raids. (Ending Soon Sun, 12th Sep)
Churchill War Rooms
£18
Epic Iran
Epic Iran explores 5,000 years of Iranian art, design and culture, bringing together over 300 objects from ancient, Islamic and contemporary Iran. (Ending Soon Sun, 12th Sep)
Victoria and Albert Museum
£14
Freud & Pandemic
This topical exhibition explores the similarities between Freud’s experience of the Spanish Flu and 2020’s COVID-19 pandemic, its impact on mental health and the response by psychoanalysts. (Ending Soon Sun, 12th Sep)
Freud Museum
A collection of work exploring artists’ responses to the Battle of Britain and the Blitz. (Ending Soon Sun, 12th Sep)
RAF Museum
Free
Miniature Books
This display showcases some of the miniature books submitted by children during the Covid lockdown. (Ending Soon Sun, 12th Sep)
The British Library
Featuring works by children from 30 different primary schools, the exhibition showcases the richness of children's creative responses – from armoured beasts and shining shields to plumed helmets and printed flowers. (Ending Soon Sun, 12th Sep)
National Gallery
This landmark exhibition brings together major works by Turner from Tate and other collections, including The Fighting Temeraire 1839 and Rail, Steam and Speed 1844. (Ending Soon Sun, 12th Sep)
Tate Britain
An exciting new force in painting, Michael Armitage draws from Titian, Goya, Manet and Gauguin to explore East African culture and folklore. (Ending Soon Sun, 19th Sep)
Royal Academy of Arts
Free
No Comply
An exhibition exploring the phenomena of skateboarding and the impact of its culture and communities on the UK over the past 45 years. (Ending Soon Sun, 19th Sep)
Somerset House
Embrace the wonderfully weird world of plant biodiversity through newly commissioned interactive art installations using music, sound and colour. (Ending Soon Sun, 19th Sep)
Kew Gardens
The exhibition showcases the people and places in Harrow who have contributed to preserving Harrow’s natural spaces. (Ending Soon Sun, 26th Sep)
Headstone Manor Museum
This exhibition looks at the Cold War and its effect on cultural practices in the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa region, which generated one of the most fertile periods in the history of Arab culture and publishing. (Ending Soon Sun, 26th Sep)
The Mosaic Rooms
An exhibition about the 20th century’s most influential floral decorator, Constance Spry. (Ending Soon Sun, 26th Sep)
Garden Museum
Made in the spring of 2020, during a period of intense activity at his home in Normandy, this exhibition charts the unfolding of spring, from beginning to end, and is a joyous celebration of the seasons. (Ending Soon Sun, 26th Sep)
Royal Academy of Arts
£17.50
Naturally Brilliant Colour
Experience colour like never before in an exhibition that celebrates the spectacular shades of the natural world. (Ending Soon Sun, 26th Sep)
Kew Gardens
The first major show of art by French post-war painter Olivier Debré in 44 years, bringing together some 30 oils and works on paper. (Ending Soon Sun, 26th Sep)
Estorick Collection
£10.50
Quentin Blake: Gifted
Enjoy works from Quentin Blake from two emotive series, Children and Dogs, and Children, Birds & Dogs. (Ending Soon Sun, 26th Sep)
Foundling Museum
£29
Van Gough Alive
This summer, Kensington Gardens will host Van Gogh Alive, an immersive “experience” based around the life and work of the Dutch artist. (Ending Soon Sun, 26th Sep)
Kensington Gardens
Discover the story of Ai-Da, the world’s first convincing humanoid robot capable of creating artworks. (Ending Soon Wed, 29th Sep)
The Design Museum
Original artworks and illustrations from his booklets, inspired by the art in the Painted Hall, will be on display. (Ending Soon Thu, 30th Sep)
Old Royal Naval College
Free
Making Paradise
An exhibition exploring the concept of Eden through Art & Islamic Garden Design (Ending Soon Thu, 30th Sep)
The Aga Khan Centre
Free
On Tenterhooks
Inspired by artist Anna Ray’s Huguenot ancestors who settled in Spitalfields as textile makers in the 18th century, the exhibition explores the past and present of textile making. (Ending Soon Fri, 1st Oct)
99 Bishopsgate
The largest solo museum exhibition to date in London of the internationally recognised French artist JR, featuring some of his most iconic projects from the past fifteen years. (Ending Soon Sun, 3rd Oct)
Saatchi Gallery
Free
Falling Birds
A series of X-ray photographs and poetic texts highlighting extinction and the alarming decline in bird species around the world. (Ending Soon Sun, 10th Oct)
Horniman Museum
This exhibition shows photographs from fine-art photographer Hugo Rittson-Thomas' new book Wildflowers For The Queen (Ending Soon Sun, 17th Oct)
The Garden Museum
Bringing together over 200 objects from collections across Europe and America, this exhibition shows how Sophie Taeuber-Arp (1889-1943) blazed a new path for the development of abstraction. (Ending Soon Sun, 17th Oct)
Tate Modern
Starting over 50 years ago, this great photographer has been documenting life in the west London communities of Ladbroke Grove and Notting Hill. (Ending Soon Sun, 17th Oct)
Royal Festival Hall
Celebrating south London’s music scene, Music Curator Adem Holness highlights the relationship between Black British music and physical space. (Ending Soon Sun, 24th Oct)
Horniman Museum
£7.70
Julian Opie
Pitzhanger presents a new body of work by renowned British artist Julian Opie, including site specific pieces, focusing on architecture, people and nature. (Ending Soon Sun, 24th Oct)
Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery
This exhibition explores the true story of Rome's fifth emperor informed by new research and archaeological evidence from the time, challenging the biased historical accounts written after Nero’s death that have shaped his legacy. (Ending Soon Sun, 24th Oct)
The British Museum
£18
Paula Rego
The largest and most comprehensive retrospective of Paula Rego’s work to date. (Ending Soon Sun, 24th Oct)
Tate Britain
Step up and discover the footwear phenomenon that has challenged performance design, inspired subcultures and shaken the world of fashion. (Ending Soon Sun, 24th Oct)
The Design Museum
An exhibition to celebrate the release of A Field Guide to Larking by Lara Maiklem, author of the bestselling Mudlarking: Lost and Found on the River Thames (Ending Soon Sat, 30th Oct)
Southwark Cathedral
Free
Agatha Christie
An exhibition on perhaps the Isokon’s most renowned resident: Agatha Christie. (Ending Soon Sun, 31st Oct)
Isokon Gallery
Free
Asante Goldweights
A display of Asante treasures from Ghana, shedding light on 19th-century collecting and the British Empire. (Ending Soon Sun, 31st Oct)
Victoria and Albert Museum
Five monumental views reunited for the first time in more than 250 years. (Ending Soon Sun, 31st Oct)
National Gallery
Featuring over 50 books, documents, film clips and original artworks, the exhibition explores Michael Bond’s creation of Paddington, from his arrival in the UK from Peru, to finding a new home, and his adventures in London. (Ending Soon Sun, 31st Oct)
The British Library
Come face-to-face with the kings and queens who have shaped British history for over 500 years (Ending Soon Sun, 31st Oct)
National Maritime Museum
This exhibition invites you to step inside the story and characters of one of the world’s most iconic graphic novels: V for Vendetta. (Ending Soon Sun, 31st Oct)
Cartoon Museum
Free
West Indian Soldier
Discover the shared military heritage between the UK and the Caribbean in this special exhibition exploring the role of West Indian soldiers in the British Army. (Ending Soon Sun, 31st Oct)
National Army Museum
A new photographic art display exploring contemporary relationships with spiritualism, reality and surrealism, through a Black British lens. (Ending Soon Sun, 7th Nov)
Horniman Museum
This exhibition explores the pioneering design strategy and lasting legacy of the historic Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games. (Ending Soon Sun, 7th Nov)
Japan House
Free
On the Other Hand
An outdoor exhibition of sculpture that reasserts the liveliness of ordinary things. (Ending Soon Fri, 12th Nov)
Canada Square Park
Free
Beuys’ Acorns
In response to the climate emergency, artists Ackroyd & Harvey have installed Beuys’ Acorns, a group of 100 oak trees, on Tate Modern’s South Terrace (Ending Soon Sun, 14th Nov)
Tate Modern
Free
Remember the Future
This group exhibition and artist led research project unearths and interrogates our connection with our habitats and ecosystems, both global and local. (Ending Soon Sun, 14th Nov)
Orleans House Gallery
£24.50
The Art of Banksy
The Art of Banksy holds the world’s largest collection of privately owned Banksy art. (Ending Soon Sun, 21st Nov)
Belgo
This major exhibition is the first to focus on the importance of plaster in his work. (Ending Soon Sun, 21st Nov)
Tate Modern
Discover where the real world and the Wizarding World intertwine. (Ending Soon Thu, 25th Nov)
Natural History Museum
This display reflects on the role of humour in debates around identity, empire and power over the past two hundred years. (Ending Soon Thu, 25th Nov)
Victoria and Albert Museum
This display of artworks and manuscripts explores the life and interests of Joseph Banks (1743-1820) through some of his extraordinary collections. (Ending Soon Thu, 25th Nov)
Natural History Museum
Free
Works by Paula Rego
This exhibition will display works from throughout the artist’s career and explore how her admiration for William Hogarth has inspired elements of her work. (Ending Soon Fri, 26th Nov)
Hogarth's House
This exhibition examines the pivotal role of women as both artists and as behind-the-scenes organisers within the Surrealist movement in Britain in the 1930s. (Ending Soon Sun, 12th Dec)
Whitechapel Gallery
Free
Departures
An exhibition exploring 400 years of emigration from Britain from the Mayflower to the present day through personal narratives, contemporary art and a range of media. (Ending Soon Sun, 19th Dec)
Migration Museum
An installation exploring two important social questions: who are our buildings and shared spaces for and how do they affect us? (Ending Soon Thu, 23rd Dec)
Barbican Centre
The exhibition brings together rarely-seen original artwork and costumes, photographs, documents, audio and video to tell the story of Noël Coward's life. (Ending Soon Thu, 23rd Dec)
Guildhall Art Gallery and Roman Amphitheater
Tate presents a rare chance to experience two of Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms. These immersive installations will transport you into Kusama’s unique vision of endless reflections. (Ending Soon Thu, 23rd Dec)
Tate Modern
Free
Tranquillity
This exhibition offers new commissions that take a deeper look at feelings of peace and balance. (Ending Soon Fri, 24th Dec)
Wellcome Collection
Heather Phillipson engulfs Tate Britain’s grand central galleries with colour, sound and motion (Ending Soon Wed, 29th Dec)
Tate Britain
Exploring its origins, adaptations and reinventions over 157 years, this immersive and theatrical show charts the evolution of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland from manuscript to a global phenomenon beloved by all ages. (Ending Soon Fri, 31st Dec)
Victoria and Albert Museum
An outdoor exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the seat of Poland’s diplomatic post in London at 47 Portland Place. (Ending Soon Fri, 31st Dec)
Embassy of the Republic of Poland
Sixty-five paintings that usually hang in the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace and are widely acknowledged to be among the highlights of the Royal Collection have been brought together in a gallery exhibition for the first time. (Ending Soon Fri, 31st Dec)
The Queen's Gallery
Explore the fascinating world of primates in this immersive family friendly exhibition. (Ending Soon Sun, 2nd Jan)
Horniman Museum
This exhibition explores the intimate relationship between fashion designer and royal client. (Ending Soon Sun, 2nd Jan)
Kensington Palace
This exhibition celebrates and explores the iconic role the postcard has played in connecting people for more than a century and a half. (Ending Soon Sun, 2nd Jan)
The Postal Museum
£12
Bags: Inside Out
From designer handbags to despatch boxes, vanity cases to military rucksacks, this exhibition explores our longstanding fascination with the bag. (Ending Soon Sun, 16th Jan)
Victoria and Albert Museum
The exhibition invites audiences to consider one of ancient Korea’s most significant, but enigmatic, archaeological sites. (Ending Soon Sat, 29th Jan)
London Mithraeum
A selection of the finest prints from Lloyd's collection that reveal his admiration for the Alpine landscape and his interest in Swiss customs and mythology. (Ending Soon Sun, 30th Jan)
The British Museum
Free
Our Future Planet
An exhibition that offers a first look at the technologies being developed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, to help mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. (Ending Soon Thu, 10th Feb)
Science Museum
Light Years is a special four-part exhibition series in celebration of TPG’s 50th anniversary. (Ending Soon Sun, 13th Feb)
The Photographers' Gallery
£7.70
Soane Restored
Soane Restored reveals the fascinating story of how Pitzhanger – special as an almost intact example of Sir John Soane’s work – was returned to its original vision. (Ending Soon Fri, 18th Feb)
Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery
Free
Joy
Explore the diversity of euphoric experiences and the effect of positive emotion on the body. (Ending Soon Wed, 23rd Feb)
Wellcome Collection
This exhibition explores the characters, events, places and personal tales of triumph and tragedy that inspired and shaped the novel that made Charles Dickens a household name across the world. (Ending Soon Sun, 13th Mar)
Charles Dickens Museum
A display exploring the central role food plays in Black enterprise and identity in South East London. (Ending Soon Sat, 9th Apr)
Museum of London Docklands
Explore the 100-year history of the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance. (Ending Soon Sun, 28th Aug)
Victoria and Albert Museum
Visit an 'abandoned' Tube station underworld and discover what secrets lurk beneath our busy streets in this Hidden London exhibition. (Ending Soon Mon, 31st Jul)
London Transport Museum
