Japan House in Kensington is the cultural home of Japan in London. Japan House organise a number of exciting exhibitions and events throughout the year, including talks, workshops and film screenings. Most events are free but a small number of events require a participation fee.
21 March to 4 October 2026Leighton House presents the first major exploration of its extraordinary Arab Hall, one of London’s most iconic interiors, through a specially commissioned short film, three site-specific art installations and an exhibition and new publication containing extensive new research.
Included in the admission ticket.
Until 4 October 2026
Explore the vision and legacy of Japanese designer and creative director NIGO – from street style to music and beyond, in the first UK exhibition showcasing his multifaceted creative work, alongside vintage objects and traditional crafts from his personal collection.
The VICKISARGE Spooky Sample Sale, showcases an exclusive collection of one-of-a-kind necklaces, bracelets, and garlands perfect for the scary season and beyond.
All Spooky Samply sale items now 50% off original price.
Each piece is crafted from rare and vintage beads sourced directly from the VICKISARGE vaults, offering a unique twist on Halloween glamour.
The Holland Park Ecology Centre helps to promote awareness and understanding of biodiversity and the local environment through events for children and adults as well as environmental visits for schools and holiday activities.
Events for spring 2025 include a Botany Walk, Dawn Chorus Bird Walk, Family Bird Walk, Spring Bat Walk, Herbal Medicine Walk, pre-school activities
The Holland Park Ecology Centre is run by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's Ecology Service.
PLATFORM is an annual display dedicated to showcasing contemporary design practice. Free to visit, the display presents the fascinating work of designer Simone Brewster
Photo: Charles Emerson
Discover the story of Punjabi princess and suffragette icon, Sophia Duleep Singh and five women who shaped her extraordinary life, in a new exhibition at Kensington Palace for 2026.
Kyotographie is a thought-provoking free exhibition, featuring works by two of Japan’s most influential photographers - Kawada Kikuji and Iwane Ai. The exhibition includes Kawada’s seminal 1965 photobook Chizu (The Map), a powerful reflection on postwar Japan, alongside works from The Last Cosmology, which explores his fascination with celestial imagery. Marking her first major UK presentation, Iwane Ai showcases her award-winning series Kipuka, documenting the lives of Japanese immigrants in Hawaii. The show also features works from A New River, capturing hauntingly illuminated cherry blossoms in Japan’s Tōhoku region. Please note that this exhibition contains some challenging themes that may only be deemed suitable for older children and teenagers so we recommend reviewing the website before visiting.
Every Sunday 10am-2pm, Phillimore Walk, High Street Kensington W8 7RX
Stroll through the stalls and you'll find everything you need from freshly caught fish and shellfish to seasonal fruit and vegetables, pies, fresh bread, game in season, free range and organic eggs and poultry, meat, preserves, flowers and much more.
The full autumn programme at Leighton House, Kensington features a range of fantastic events, from the long-term partnership with Kensington and Chelsea Music Society, to an art comedy night with Verity Babs and curator-led tours exploring our upcoming exhibition, Magic and Mess: The Artist's Studio Revealed.
Calling all plant lovers! Come to Phillimore Walk for a day of greenery, garden finds, rare plants, handmade planters, botanical art and outdoor living inspiration.
Every month Kensington transforms into vibrant greenhouses filled with growers, makers, botanical artists, bulbs, tools, vintage garden furniture, ceramics, prints and outdoor living inspiration.
Expect rare and familiar houseplants, outdoor blooms, bulbs, botanical prints, ceramics, handmade planters, parasols, tools, vintage garden furniture, lighting, pots, seeds, wreaths and all the small green-world wonders that make a home feel alive.
From sculptural cacti to trailing ivy, from antique terracotta to mid-century plant stands, every stall is chosen for its beauty, quality and story. Plus plant-based street food and drink.
Open Art Spaces returns to Phillimore Walk! Browse a carefully curated collection of original artwork and handmade pieces from independent artists, meet the makers behind the work, and enjoy a welcoming day out for all ages. With prices to suit every budget, there's something for everyone — from affordable keepsakes to statement pieces you'll treasure.
They also have a class on the day: Open Art Sketch Club
Look out for the Open Art Spaces team in pink high-vis on arrival!
Open Art Sketch Club is a relaxed urban sketching and social event for creatives of all abilities, whether you're picking up a pencil for the first time or sketching professionally.
Open Art Sketch Club is a relaxed urban sketching and social event for creatives of all abilities, whether you're picking up a pencil for the first time or sketching professionally.
Together, we'll explore the local area through a guided sketch walk, stopping at carefully selected locations with creative drawing prompts along the way. You'll have plenty of freedom to develop your own ideas, discover new perspectives, and connect with fellow artists. We'll finish back at the Open Art Market to share our work and celebrate a creative afternoon together.
Itinerary
12:00pm – Meet the team (Look out for the Open Art Spaces team in pink high-vis on arrival!)
12:00pm – 2:45pm – Guided sketch walk with drawing prompts and free exploration time
2:45pm – Return to the market
3:00pm – Event ends
Running late? No problem. Look for the team in pink high-vis and we'll point you in the right direction.
Settle into a cosy corner for a morning of beloved tales, giggles, and shared imagination.
Gather round for a special reading of our favourite Halloween stories.
Also available 3, 10 and 17 October
Kiko-ween returns to Kiko Milano for 2026
Get spooky (or cute) with free 10-minute Halloween makeup sessions at KIKO with KIKO products. Walk-in service.
Join VICKISARGE Kensington in-store this Halloween season for a magical, family-friendly activity! Little ghouls and goblins are invited to step up to the bubbling cauldron and test their luck in a spooky Lucky Dip game.
To play, brave little hands simply reach deep inside the VICKISARGE cauldron to draw three magic crystals from the depths. If all three crystals match, they instantly win a special Halloween prize!
This activity is completely free and available exclusively at the London boutique from 26-31 October
Things are getting a little spooky at Trotters High Street Kensington this Halloween! From 26–31 October, the Halloween Grotto is open for a whole week of fun crafts and activities, from making witches’ brews to creating your very own monsters. Booking essential.
Other activities including Halloween Knit Club, Trick or Treat Bag Making and Potion Workshops are also available.
Then, on 31 October, little ones can finish off their Halloween look with a special Halloween Hair appointment, with spooky styles including spider buns and more!
Enjoy a unique Halloween-themed dessert at Jacuzzi this Halloween.
94 Kensington High Street
Get crafty this Halloween and create your very own knitted pumpkin or friendly ghost to take home.
Alongside the main activity, children will enjoy a Halloween game or story and 1-2 creative activities during the 45-minute session.
Advance booking is recommended to guarantee your place. Recommended age: 5+
Join Waterstones Kensington for a fantastic evening of conversation with Ross Montgomery as he discusses the release of his brand new book The Shadows of Kensington Gore, the second installment in his Stockingham & Pike detective series.
Get creative and make your own spooky bag to stash all your Halloween goodies this year!
Booking is advised for this 45 minute workshop. Recommended ages 3+
Join The Britannia for a cosy afternoon of pumpkin carving, autumn treats, and half-term fun. Pumpkins, carving tools and plenty of spooky inspiration provided. Just bring your creativity (and maybe a little rivalry with the table next to you).
Pumpkin carving is booking only – pumpkins are limited, so be sure to reserve your spot!
Calling all little witches and wizards!
Mix, stir and create your very own Halloween brew in this hands-on potion-making workshop.
Advance booking is recommended to guarantee your place. Recommended age 5+
Join cartoonist Phil Corbett for a dead-funny, hands‑on comic‑making workshop inspired by his brand‑new graphic novel series, Ghost and Toast!
Learn how to draw expressive characters, create hilarious comics, and turn silly ideas into visual storytelling gold - no experience required, just a big imagination (no idea is too weird) and love of drawing and fun.
Perfect for ages 7+
Celebrate Halloween at The Ivy with the inaugural Little Monsters Breakfast Banquet – the perfect half term treat. Little monsters and their grown-ups are invited to enjoy a delicious breakfast, seasonal treats and plenty of spooky surprises along the way. Dine and enjoy for £32.50 for adults and £27.50 for children, including breakfast and a special Halloween gift for our smallest guests. Fancy dress is highly encouraged, so bring along your little ghosts, ghouls and monsters for a morning brimming with Halloween fun. A non-refundable £10 deposit per person is required to secure your booking.
T&Cs: A non-refundable deposit for £10 is required per person. Little Monsters Breakfast Banquet is available on 31st October & 1st November on a first come first serve basis. Seating times are from opening till 11am. The ticket price is £27.50 for children and £32.50 for adults inclusive of breakfast, entertainments and Children's gift.
Dress to impress this Halloween with costume contests for kids and grown-ups!
The Kids’ Costume Contest kicks off at 1pm, with check-in from 12.30pm, and prizes for the best-dressed little monsters. Then it’s the adults’ turn, with check-in from 8.30pm and the contest starting at 9pm.
Prizes to be announced – so get creative and go dressed to win.
Holland Park will transform into the Playful Park of Peculiar. Free tickets now sold out, with more tickets due to be released soon.
Join exhibition curator Hadeel Eltayeb for a special Halloween tour of LAIKA presents Wildwood: The Exhibition at the Design Museum, exploring what goes into making the strange feel real.
Celebrate Halloween among the skeletons and specimens of the Natural History Museum, with a vampire-themed experience, live music, a silent disco, spooky specimens and after-hours access to the galleries.
Live music from Jenny & David, a properly spooky atmosphere, and drinks strong enough to steady the shakiest of skeletons. Dress code: terrifying. If your nan wouldn't recognise you, you're doing it right. Snap a pic in front of the pub, tag The Britannia and you're automatically entered into their raffle — because nothing says Halloween like winning something for free.
Fangs, cobwebs, or questionable clown makeup — all welcome. Come mingle with the other things that go bump in the night. The Britannia — cold drinks, undead company.
Get creative this Halloween at Petit Bateau with a fun mask-making session for kids and adults. Drop in between 1pm and 5pm and create your own spooky, silly or magical Halloween mask.
Book your little one in for a Halloween hairstyle, perfect for little monsters out trick or treating.
Various times available.
Join the Design Museum any time between 3:30pm and 7:00pm for an afternoon of mythical monsters, spirits and shapeshifters, with a little Design Museum twist. The activities are designed for children aged 5-11, but all family members are welcome to join in.
This Halloween we're inviting our youngest visitors and their grown-ups to join us for some spooky season fun: paper-modelling inspired mask-making, a search-and-find trail inspired by Samhain (the ancient Gaelic festival predating Halloween), and a collaborative drawing activity inviting you to conjure your own myths and monsters out of your imagination.
This is a free, drop-in event with no ticket or booking required. However, please note some activities have limited space and will run on a one in, one out basis at busy times.
Please note:
• The Family Drop-in activities are child-focused: all adults attending must be accompanying at least one child. Adults attending by themselves will not be granted entry to dedicated Family Dro
Our regular vintage Flea Market
Think statement fashion, rare finds, retro homeware & handpicked gems.
No mass production. No repeats. Just pure vintage vibes.
If you live for the thrill of the find, this one’s for you.
Bring your tote. Bring your crew. Dig through decades.
Get your dachshund Halloween-ready for the Hyde Park Sausage Walk, with an afternoon of four-legged fun and a Best Dressed competition for the spookiest sausages. Free to join, with prizes for the top three costumes.
Calling all plant lovers! Come to Phillimore Walk for a day of greenery, garden finds, rare plants, handmade planters, botanical art and outdoor living inspiration.
Every month Kensington transforms into vibrant greenhouses filled with growers, makers, botanical artists, bulbs, tools, vintage garden furniture, ceramics, prints and outdoor living inspiration.
Expect rare and familiar houseplants, outdoor blooms, bulbs, botanical prints, ceramics, handmade planters, parasols, tools, vintage garden furniture, lighting, pots, seeds, wreaths and all the small green-world wonders that make a home feel alive.
From sculptural cacti to trailing ivy, from antique terracotta to mid-century plant stands, every stall is chosen for its beauty, quality and story. Plus plant-based street food and drink.
Open Art Spaces returns to Phillimore Walk! Browse a carefully curated collection of original artwork and handmade pieces from independent artists, meet the makers behind the work, and enjoy a welcoming day out for all ages. With prices to suit every budget, there's something for everyone — from affordable keepsakes to statement pieces you'll treasure.
They also have a class on the day: Open Art Sketch Club
Look out for the Open Art Spaces team in pink high-vis on arrival!
Open Art Sketch Club is a relaxed urban sketching and social event for creatives of all abilities, whether you're picking up a pencil for the first time or sketching professionally.
Open Art Sketch Club is a relaxed urban sketching and social event for creatives of all abilities, whether you're picking up a pencil for the first time or sketching professionally.
Together, we'll explore the local area through a guided sketch walk, stopping at carefully selected locations with creative drawing prompts along the way. You'll have plenty of freedom to develop your own ideas, discover new perspectives, and connect with fellow artists. We'll finish back at the Open Art Market to share our work and celebrate a creative afternoon together.
Itinerary
12:00pm – Meet the team (Look out for the Open Art Spaces team in pink high-vis on arrival!)
12:00pm – 2:45pm – Guided sketch walk with drawing prompts and free exploration time
2:45pm – Return to the market
3:00pm – Event ends
Running late? No problem. Look for the team in pink high-vis and we'll point you in the right direction.
Our regular vintage Flea Market
Think statement fashion, rare finds, retro homeware & handpicked gems.
No mass production. No repeats. Just pure vintage vibes.
If you live for the thrill of the find, this one’s for you.
Bring your tote. Bring your crew. Dig through decades.
Celebrate Christmas with an enchanting evening of festive music, readings and traditions at Leighton House. Enjoy seasonal classics such as O Holy Night and In the Bleak Midwinter alongside Music Hall favourites and, of course, opportunities to join in with some much-loved carols. Surrounded by the magical interiors of Leighton House, this relaxed and atmospheric concert brings the spirit of Christmas to life for a very special evening. In Partnership with Kensington Olympia Festival of Music and the Arts
Design and make your own Christmas tree ornaments inspired by the arts and patterns of Leighton House in this drop-in workshop. First learn how to make unique Victorian style Christmas baubles decorated with velvet, pearls and gems. Next discover the art of metal embossing and learn how to work with lightweight metal sheets to create your own decorations to give as gifts or decorate your own tree at home.
Just drop in
For children aged 5-10(£6). One accompanying adult free.
Yalda is the ancient Persian festival marking the longest night of the year and the return of light. Traditionally, Yalda is a night when family and friends of all generations gather together, sharing food, poetry, stories and music late into the night. For one evening Leighton House will become a place for that gathering - join us if you already celebrate Yalda or are discovering it for the first time. Experience the warmth and atmosphere of Yalda night through live Persian music, storytelling and poetry, Yalda-inspired decorations, and traditional food and drinks. There will also be a drop-in paper craft activity for children and anyone who would like to take part, alongside a special display of contemporary Persian illustration in the Winter Studio. This event is part of Persian Seasons at Leighton House, generously supported by the British Institute of Persian Studies.
£20, FREE for under 18yrs