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, 31st October 2024?
Displayed in date order by how soon they close.
£9
Christy
Christy, the near 175-year-old British heritage brand credited with creating towelling as we know it today, is the centre of a two-month exhibition at London’s Museum of Brands. (Ending Soon Tue, 31st Oct)
Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising
The Belgravia Pumpkin Trail will comprise a winding series of stores boasting spooky and fun festive window displays throughout the neighbourhood. (Ending Soon Tue, 31st Oct)
Various locations
A free photography exhibition that seeks to explore the interconnectivity of Peckham and its people. (Ending Soon Tue, 31st Oct)
Peckham Levels
This temporary display highlights the contribution of the Indian Army across the globe during the First World War. (Ending Soon Sun, 5th Nov)
National Army Museum
Exhibited for the first time - ex-issue police riot helmets transformed by contemporary artists (Ending Soon Tue, 7th Nov)
Saatchi Gallery
An exhibition of highlights from The Pearson Silver Collection devoted to post-World War II British designer silver. (Ending Soon Fri, 10th Nov)
Noonans Mayfair
An exhibition in the foyer of One Canada Square office block of photos taken by Daily Mirror photojournalists over the decades. (Ending Soon Tue, 14th Nov)
One Canada Square
A fragile 1,500 Chinese scroll goes on display for a few weeks each year. (Ending Soon Wed, 15th Nov)
British Museum
£24
Latent Spaces
A meditative exploration of our collective unconscious through the eyes of artificial intelligence (Ending Soon Wed, 15th Nov)
Illusionaries
A display exploring the underrepresented history of Indian indenture in the British Caribbean. (Ending Soon Sun, 19th Nov)
Museum of London Docklands
Free
The Polar Silk Road
Gregor Sailer's photography exhibition explores the new Arctic trade routes opening due to melting ice cap. (Ending Soon Fri, 24th Nov)
Natural History Museum
This display celebrates the glittering world of musical theatre, exploring the evolution and craftmanship of iconic musicals (Ending Soon Mon, 27th Nov)
Victoria and Albert Museum
‘The Mews-eum’ tells the story of 4 Doughty Mews from humble stables to a quiet residential oasis, and now as a centre for exploring the cultural heritage of Egypt. (Ending Soon Wed, 29th Nov)
The Egypt Exploration Society
An exhibition, in collaboration with the BBC, celebrating the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who and its life at Riverside Studios. (Ending Soon Sun, 3rd Dec)
Riverside Studios
An exhibition celebrating the Royal Asiatic Society’s bicentenary and its involvement in the study of science, literature, religion, and the arts of Asia since 1823. (Ending Soon Fri, 15th Dec)
Brunei Gallery, SOAS
Free
Reformation Cardinal
An exhibition about the British priest who nearly became Pope. (Ending Soon Fri, 15th Dec)
Lambeth Palace Library
This exhibition celebrates three generations of women silversmiths from the Sultanate of Oman, showcasing their silver work and personal testimonies. (Ending Soon Sun, 17th Dec)
British Museum
An exhibition to mark the 50th anniversary of the Chilean military coup. (Ending Soon Wed, 20th Dec)
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
"Hidden in Plain Sight" is UCL Library Services' free public exhibition highlighting underrepresented voices in our historic and modern library collections. (Ending Soon Thu, 21st Dec)
UCL Main Library
Free
Inventing the Future
This exhibition celebrates the Tercentenary of the Constitutions of the Freemasons. (Ending Soon Thu, 21st Dec)
Museum of Freemasonry
Free
Sergio Lombardo
An exhibition of works by Italian artist Sergio Lombardo (b.1939, Rome). (Ending Soon Fri, 22nd Dec)
Cardi Gallery
This exhibition offers a glimpse into a past of tourism posters that resonates with the present. (Ending Soon Thu, 28th Dec)
Embassy of Japan in the UK
An exhibition of paintings showing many of Britain's folk traditions. (Ending Soon Sun, 31st Dec)
The Last Tuesday Society / Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities
Explore thread as a method and metaphor for connection, collaboration and conversation in this exhibition by ten students. (Ending Soon Sun, 31st Dec)
Whitechapel Gallery
Featuring over 200 items, this exhibtion presents historical items and royal, military, ecclesiastical, and theatrical costumes, and fine examples of modern jewellery, silversmithing, and embroidery. (Ending Soon Sun, 31st Dec)
Guildhall Art Gallery and Roman Amphitheater
This exhibition brings together a group of new and existing sculptures to explore Black women’s labour across histories and geographies. (Ending Soon Mon, 1st Jan)
Tate Britain
This exhibition explores the worldwide effort to develop vaccines at pandemic speed. (Ending Soon Sun, 7th Jan)
Science Museum
This exhibition will invite visitors to further their understanding of the Troubles through the multiple perspectives of individuals affected by the conflict. (Ending Soon Sun, 7th Jan)
Imperial War Museum
The Art of Banksy is the world’s largest collection of original and authenticated Banksy artworks showcasing more than 110 pieces including prints, canvases, unique works and ephemera, many of which are on display for the very first time. (Ending Soon Sun, 7th Jan)
The Art of Banksy exhibition
£12.50
The Missing Thread
Spanning from the 1970s to the present day, this exhibition charts the shifting landscape of Black British culture and the unique contribution it has made to Britain’s rich fashion design history. (Ending Soon Sun, 7th Jan)
Somerset House
Four times heavier than Dippy the Diplodocus, 12 metres longer than Hope the blue whale and making its European debut, prepare to meet titanosaur and learn all about life as the biggest dinosaur. (Ending Soon Sun, 7th Jan)
Natural History Museum
Bringing together 36 artists from different generations and geographies, this exhibition explores how photography and video have allowed artists to examine legacies of the past while imagining more hopeful futures. (Ending Soon Sun, 14th Jan)
Tate Modern
A major exhibition of work by British artist Claudette Johnson (born 1959) at The Courtauld Gallery. (Ending Soon Sun, 14th Jan)
Courtauld Institute of Art
A group exhibition exploring the relationship between gender and ecology, highlighting the systemic links between the oppression of women and the degradation of the planet (Ending Soon Sun, 14th Jan)
Barbican Arts Centre
A British artist's brash and tender exploration of what makes us human (Ending Soon Sun, 14th Jan)
Tate Britain
From across the sea, an art revolution is coming. Discover the art of the Van de Veldes at the Queen's House (Ending Soon Sun, 14th Jan)
Queen's House
£20
Frans Hals
This exhibition, the first major retrospective of Hals in more than thirty years, means a new generation can discover why he deserves his place as one of the greatest painters in Western art. (Ending Soon Sun, 21st Jan)
National Gallery
£31.50
Disney 100 Exhibition
The exhibition includes ten themed galleries with classics from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to contemporary releases such as Encanto, including the latest members of the Disney family—Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel. (Ending Soon Mon, 22nd Jan)
ExCeL London
A display celebrating the 400th anniversary of the publication of William Shakespeare’s First Folio. (Ending Soon Thu, 25th Jan)
Guildhall Art Gallery and Roman Amphitheater
The first major retrospective of R.B. Kitaj in the UK for a decade features over 40 paintings, pastels and drawings, covering all major periods of his work. (Ending Soon Fri, 26th Jan)
Piano Nobile
Free
Slavery & the Bank
This exhibition explores the history of transatlantic slavery through its connections with the Bank of England and the wider City of London. (Ending Soon Fri, 26th Jan)
Bank of England Museum
This exhibition explores the dynamic relationship between contemporary painting and photography. (Ending Soon Sun, 28th Jan)
Tate Modern
This display of prints by American artist Ed Ruscha focuses on his prevailing interest in the physical world around him. (Ending Soon Sun, 28th Jan)
British Museum
Revel in the beauty of nature at this display of works by Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues – one of the most gifted botanical artists of his age. (Ending Soon Sun, 28th Jan)
British Museum
Free
Genetic Automata
This is an ongoing body of video works by artists Larry Achiampong and David Blandy, exploring race and identity in an age of avatars, videogames and DNA ancestry. (Ending Soon Sun, 11th Feb)
Wellcome Collection
Poet, artist and filmmaker Julianknxx explores themes of inheritance, loss and belonging as he crosses the boundaries between written word, music and visual art. (Ending Soon Sun, 11th Feb)
Barbican Arts Centre
This display presents an outstanding group of around twenty Venetian drawings from The Courtauld’s collection. (Ending Soon Sun, 11th Feb)
Courtauld Institute of Art
This exhibition will be one of the most wide-ranging surveys of contemporary fashion culture ever staged in the UK. (Ending Soon Sun, 11th Feb)
The Design Museum
Explore the design and history of the Royal Festival Hall foyers, and discover the people behind them, in this free Archive Studio exhibition. (Ending Soon Sat, 17th Feb)
Royal Festival Hall
Free
Zach Blas: CULTUS
An immersive exploration of AI Gods, spirituality, and Silicon Valley’s techno-religion. (Ending Soon Sat, 17th Feb)
arebyte Gallery
Whether subverting, inverting, celebrating or exploding – this intriguing new show explores the history of artists taking on the medium of books. (Ending Soon Sun, 18th Feb)
British Museum
£10
Reworking Manet
An exhibition showcasing the creativity and imagination of young people responding to Édouard Manet’s A Bar at the Folies-Bergère (1882). (Ending Soon Sun, 18th Feb)
Courtauld Institute of Art
Journey through the enchanting, mysterious and sometimes monstrous makings of fantasy. (Ending Soon Sun, 25th Feb)
British Library
This exhibition will present the landscape and nature paintings and sculptures of Frank Walter. (Ending Soon Sun, 25th Feb)
Garden Museum
£20
Philip Guston
One of the 20th century’s most captivating painters responds to a world in turmoil (Ending Soon Sun, 25th Feb)
Tate Modern
£16.50
Sara Shamma
Dulwich Picture Gallery presents a new body of work by the renowned artist Sara Shamma. (Ending Soon Sun, 25th Feb)
Dulwich Picture Gallery
UVA’s experimental practice uses light, space, sound and custom-made “kinetic instruments” to create dynamic, immersive experiences and atmospheric performances. (Ending Soon Sun, 25th Feb)
180 Studios
A special exhibition about a little-known local scientific invention with a huge global impact: the development of artificial silk. (Ending Soon Thu, 29th Feb)
Museum of Richmond
How can we design our homes to respond to the climate emergency? Discover how architects are reimagining wood, stone and straw to design homes fit for the future. (Ending Soon Thu, 29th Feb)
The Design Museum
An exploration into the overlooked world of historical boy’s dress through a collector’s eye. (Ending Soon Sat, 2nd Mar)
Fashion and Textile Museum
This exhibition explores printed propaganda textiles over more than two centuries, from the French Revolution to Brexit. (Ending Soon Sat, 2nd Mar)
Fashion and Textile Museum
The forgotten story of the Indian Army camps at Hampton Court Palace (Ending Soon Sun, 3rd Mar)
Hampton Court Palace
The first UK exhibition dedicated to the work of French couturière, Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel, charting the establishment of the House of CHANEL and the evolution of her iconic design style. (Ending Soon Sun, 10th Mar)
Victoria and Albert Museum
Free
Unforgotten Lives
This exhibition presents the stories of Londoners of African, Caribbean, Asian and Indigenous heritage who lived and worked in the city between 1560 and 1860 and are recorded in London’s archives. (Ending Soon Wed, 27th Mar)
London Metropolitan Archives
Showcasing prints and drawings from Genoa's golden age, this display spotlights an artistic powerhouse that rivalled Venice, Florence and Rome. (Ending Soon Mon, 1st Apr)
British Museum
This free installation invites visitors to orient themselves in the buildings and their complex, fascinating histories in an exciting new display at the heart of the Barbican’s Foyers. (Ending Soon Fri, 5th Apr)
Barbican Centre
£20
DIVA
Expect an explosion of over the top fashions at the V&A Museum this summer, as it brings together a collection of outfits worn by celebrities under the title of "divas". (Ending Soon Sun, 7th Apr)
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Devil is in the Detail will display one of the most important series of woodcuts in Albrecht Dürer’s career, the Great Passion, which is rarely seen in its complete set, as well as several other key works from the era. (Ending Soon Wed, 10th Apr)
Strawberry Hill
An exhibition to mark the film's 30th anniversary. (Ends on Sun, 14th Apr)
Cartoon Museum
£27.40
Delight
A multimedia exhibition that combines visuals, sound, and augmented reality to animate the cultural heritage and spirit of South Korea's Seoul. (Ends on Sun, 14th Apr)
Borough Yards
A monumental sculptural installation made of thousands of metal bottle tops and fragments. (Ends on Sun, 14th Apr)
Tate Modern
Discover over 100 years of intrigue, deceit and real-life secret agents. (Ends on Sun, 14th Apr)
Imperial War Museum
This free display brings together ten works by the two artists: with four views of Yorkshire by Turner and five scenes of Normandy and Venice by Bonington. (Ends on Sun, 21st Apr)
Wallace Collection
Free
The Cult of Beauty
This exhibition explores notions of beauty across time and cultures. (Ends on Sun, 28th Apr)
Wellcome Collection
Explore how music shapes our lives in this interactive exhibition. (Ends on Mon, 6th May)
Science Museum
How do you develop a vaccine quickly and effectively to combat a global pandemic? (Ends on Sun, 12th May)
Science Museum
The museum exhibition features first-hand accounts of the horrors and moments of hope faced by doctors tackling the impact of the virus. (Ends on Fri, 24th May)
Royal College of Physicians Museum
An exhibition about the west London hive of workshops and design studios that fed into some of the country’s most iconic Sci-Fi films and TV shows. (Ends on Sun, 2nd Jun)
Gunnersbury Park and Museum
£18
Skateboard
The first major UK exhibition to map the design evolution of the skateboard from the 1950s to today – a story of design, daring and disobedience. (Ends on Sun, 2nd Jun)
The Design Museum
A forest rodeo, a hidden stargazer and a mason bee at work are just a few of the awe-inspiring images featured in the 59th Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. (Ends on Sun, 30th Jun)
Natural History Museum
The exhibition explores tea’s complex history and myriad of meanings – from its popularisation and globalisation connected to stories of imperialism and colonial violence. (Ends on Sun, 7th Jul)
Horniman Museum
For the first time, this exhibition will uncover the major contribution of Jewish designers in making London an iconic fashion city. (Ends on Sun, 7th Jul)
Museum of London Docklands
From Hokusai to Pokémon, Studio Ghibli, robots and beyond, the exhibition takes young visitors on an atmospheric and playful journey revealing the influence of folklore on Japan’s art and design. (Ends on Sun, 11th Aug)
Young V&A
This exhibition follows the lives of British soldiers in Germany over the past 75 years. (Ends on Wed, 21st Aug)
National Army Museum
Free
Shakespeare and War
This exhibition explores some of the ways in which Shakespeare has shaped how we think about soldiers and the Army, and how we imagine war and its consequences today. (Ends on Sun, 1st Sep)
National Army Museum