Museums at Night Festival 2012
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To paraphrase Dorothy: 'There is no place like London.' I hope I can convince you of that here. Also check out my blog at damselwithadulcimer.wordpress.com and my theatre reviews at www.playstosee.com
Event: 18/05/2012 - 20/05/2012
We all lead busy lives so late night museum openings are a boon for those of us who wish there were 25 hours in a day and eight days in a week. If you need a culture fix, or just want to do something different in the evening, there is a huge choice of places to visit. Many also have special events or talks laid on to enhance your enjoyment. This is just a small sample of where you could go over the weekend of 18-20 May.
Friday, 18 May
You could head out of town to seventeenth-century Ham House near Richmond.
You might want to head south of the river to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich to learn about beers brewed from Thames water, and then take part in a quiz to test how much you can remember. If you're more of a sober frame of mind, you could just take advantage of this late night opening to see the 'Royal River' exhibition, which is part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Remaining in south east London, the Horniman museum will be opening its doors to 'The Body Adorned', where you can learn about western and non-western tattoo traditions.
The Cartoon Museum in Bloomsbury will be hosting an Edwardian evening. Postcards and cartoons from the era will be available and there will also be a talk about Edwardian women. Remaining in Bloomsbury, the Grant Museum of Zoology at UCL will be hosting a hunt to find objects of love and lust, culminating in drinks and a private view of the museum. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology at UCL will be open late on Saturday night for a screening of Carry on Cleo followed by a talk on the film.
The London Transport Museum is running 'Mind the Map', which will include a workshop, a reading and a cocktail bar.
Somerset House is staying open late for guided tours, workshops and live music on all three nights: Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The Ragged School Museum will be staging an evening with '60s photographer, Terry O'Neill, who has photographed many stage and screen actors throughout his long career.
If you're more interested in paintings than photographs, there's still time to catch up with the Lucian Freud portraits at the National Portrait Gallery.
The Bank of England Museum will be open late for visitors to learn more about gold and banknotes.
Saturday, 19 May
You may find you need gold and banknotes to buy Christian Louboutin shoes, but if you just want to dream, you could toddle off to the Design Museum for lullabies and shoe-related bedtime stories to help you dream about this fabulous footwear with the red soles.
If you have inquisitive children who wouldn't dream of squashing a bug under the sole of their shoes, why not head off to John Keats House in Hampstead to learn about the kind of insects that live in a Regency House?
Saturday, 19 May
The Benjamin Franklin House, close to Trafalgar Square, will be open for visitors to learn more about the eighteen-century American statesman who spent many years in this country.
Sunday, 20 May
The Museum of Soho will be home to Future Shorts. The evening will be devoted to a history of short films and six of these, including ones by directors Sam Taylor-Wood and Spike Jonze, will be screened.
Many of the events have to be pre-booked, so be sure to contact the individual locations in advance.
See also:
Diamond Jubilee Celebrations
John Keats House
Lucian Freud Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery
Bank of England Museum
The Benjamin Franklin House
London Transport Museum
Friday, 18 May
You could head out of town to seventeenth-century Ham House near Richmond.
Royal River Pageant at the National Maritime Museum - Picture Courtesy of the Museum's Website
Remaining in south east London, the Horniman museum will be opening its doors to 'The Body Adorned', where you can learn about western and non-western tattoo traditions.
The Body Adorned - Picture Courtesy of Time Out's Website
The Cartoon Museum in Bloomsbury will be hosting an Edwardian evening. Postcards and cartoons from the era will be available and there will also be a talk about Edwardian women. Remaining in Bloomsbury, the Grant Museum of Zoology at UCL will be hosting a hunt to find objects of love and lust, culminating in drinks and a private view of the museum. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology at UCL will be open late on Saturday night for a screening of Carry on Cleo followed by a talk on the film.
The Petrie Museum - Picture Courtesy of their Website
The London Transport Museum is running 'Mind the Map', which will include a workshop, a reading and a cocktail bar.
Somerset House is staying open late for guided tours, workshops and live music on all three nights: Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Raquel Welch Photographed by Terry O'Neill - Picture Courtesy of Time Out's Website
If you're more interested in paintings than photographs, there's still time to catch up with the Lucian Freud portraits at the National Portrait Gallery.
The Bank of England Museum will be open late for visitors to learn more about gold and banknotes.
Saturday, 19 May
You may find you need gold and banknotes to buy Christian Louboutin shoes, but if you just want to dream, you could toddle off to the Design Museum for lullabies and shoe-related bedtime stories to help you dream about this fabulous footwear with the red soles.
Christian Louboutin Shoes - Picture Courtesy of the Design Museum Website
If you have inquisitive children who wouldn't dream of squashing a bug under the sole of their shoes, why not head off to John Keats House in Hampstead to learn about the kind of insects that live in a Regency House?
John Keats House
Saturday, 19 May
The Benjamin Franklin House, close to Trafalgar Square, will be open for visitors to learn more about the eighteen-century American statesman who spent many years in this country.
Benjamin Franklin House
Sunday, 20 May
The Museum of Soho will be home to Future Shorts. The evening will be devoted to a history of short films and six of these, including ones by directors Sam Taylor-Wood and Spike Jonze, will be screened.
Many of the events have to be pre-booked, so be sure to contact the individual locations in advance.
See also:
Diamond Jubilee Celebrations
John Keats House
Lucian Freud Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery
Bank of England Museum
The Benjamin Franklin House
London Transport Museum
Related Articles
Why? To take advantage of late night openings
When: Outside of normal opening hours on 18, 19 and 20 May
Where: All around London
Cost: Varies
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