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Exhibitions and events

23 events

Pieces of paper laid out on the floor on top of each other.

Artists making books: poetry to politics
. Free .

This intriguing new show explores the history of artists taking on the medium of books.

Japanese festival float model teaser 1

Japan’s Festival Floats
. Free .

For centuries, summertime in Japan has centred around spectacular local festivals with costumes, singing, dancing and incredible floats.

A close up photograph of a silver griffin. The griffin has curled horns, a beak and gold details including its wings.

Luxury and power: Persia to Greece
. Book now .

Drawing on dazzling objects, this exhibition explores how luxury shaped the political landscape of Eurasia in the first millennium BC.

Ink and colour picture showing the head and shoulders of an elderly Chinese woman with her hair tied back. She is wearing green earings and a blue jacket decorated with gold leaves around the neck.

China’s hidden century
. Book now .

In a global first, the resilience and innovation of 19th-century China is revealed through the stories of its remarkable individuals.

Five women posing for the camera at Notting Hill at Carnival.

Festivals & special events / Family activity

4 Jun 2023

Windrush 75: Jamaican sound system culture
. Free .

Join us for a special day curated by Linett Kamala celebrating the gift of sound system culture from the Windrush generation.

Gold armlet with two dragon looking figures attached.

Gallery talks & tours / Members' exclusive

£35 (Members)
6 Jun 2023–1 Aug 2023

Members' tour of Luxury and power: Persia to Greece
. Book now .

Join us for a Members' exclusive private curator-led tour of Luxury and power: Persia to Greece.

Bust of Ramesses the Great in Room 4

Online events / Lectures & discussions / Members' exclusive

£16 (Members)
12 Jun 2023

Ramesses the Great: Egypt's king of kings
. Book now .

Join acclaimed Egyptologist Toby Wilkinson to explore the life, dramatic reign and enduring legacy of the pharaoh Ramesses the Great.

Decorative foldable fan with a white background and colourful floral decoration and an outdoor scene.

Gallery talks & tours / Members' exclusive

£35 (Members)
13 Jun 2023–12 Sep 2023

Members' tour of China's hidden century
. Book now .

Join us for a Member's exclusive private curator-led tour of China's hidden century.

Colourful kimono-like informal gown with a swooping phoenix on the front. Colours are mainly brown, pink, purple and blue.

Accessible event

15 Jun 2023

Audio-described tour of China’s hidden century exhibition
. Book now .

VocalEyes' Timna Fibert leads this audio-described event, which provides evocative visual descriptions with a guided tour of the exhibition.

On the left, a limestone head of a male statue with curly hair and beard and a wreath of leaves on his head. On the right, a marble portrait of an ageing man with curling beard and moustache.

Members' conference / Members' exclusive

£75 (Members)
17 Jun 2023

Great civilisations: Greece and Persia
. Book now .

Members are invited to this exclusive day-long conference, featuring talks by leading experts on the ancient Greek and Persian worlds.

Headshots of Gareth Russell and Philippa Gregory.

Lectures & discussions / Members' exclusive

19 Jun 2023

Philippa Gregory in conversation with Gareth Russell
. Book now .

Gain insight into the bestselling author's latest novel in her spellbinding Fairmile series, which reimagines the tumultuous Stuart period.

Close up of conservator performing careful cleaning of a straw raincoat.

Gallery talks & tours / Members' exclusive

£35 (Members)
28 Jun 2023

Members' Conservation tour
. Book now .

Gain access to the Conservation studios and discover the methods involved in treating fascinating objects made of organic materials.