Prince Albert's legacy - a walk through South Kensington

Prince Albert's legacy - a walk through South Kensington

A walk exploring the history of Prince Albert's groundbreaking arts and science quarter, told through its extraordinary architecture

By Iya London - Guided Walks

Select date and time

Location

Outside the V&A Exhibition Road Entrance, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2PA

Princes Gate London SW7 2PA United Kingdom

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 1 days before event.

About this event

This walk explores the history and politics behind the development of South Kensington through its extraordinary architecture.

Discover how Prince Albert instigated the development of London’s first district dedicated to arts and science.

By exploring the area's architecture, we'll decode the symbols which asserted the dominance of Western ideas and technology, as well as the power of monarchy and empire.

You'll also hear about a dramatic act of anti-imperial resistance that took place in the heart of South Kensington.

The walk focuses on the V&A, the lost Imperial Institute, the controversial entrance to the Royal College of Mines, the Memorial to the Exhibition of 1851, the Royal Albert Hall and the Albert Memorial.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "As a Londoner of decades standing, I thought I knew everything about the Exhibition Road. I didn’t. Monarchy and Empire was a fascinating walk which introduced me to key players I’d never heard of and buildings and memorials I’d never noticed. Jo[anna] is an informed and approachable walk leader. Highly recommended."

Grace Spicer - Google

Photo 1: ©Frédérique Cifuentes

Photo 2: ©James Tye, Great Exhibition Road Festival

Frequently asked questions

What's the distance of the walk?

The walk's about one mile.

Are public toilets available?

Before the walk, you can find accessible public toilets in the V&A. At the end of the walk, you can find accessible public toilets 5 minutes' walk away at Mount Gate in Kensington Gardens. Royal Parks charges 20p for use and only accepts contactless payments.

Is the walk suitable for a wheelchair user?

Yes! The walk is accessible for a wheelchair user. If you have any other accommodation needs, please contact Iya London Walks through the Eventbrite organizer page. We'll do everything possible to accommodate your needs.

Is the walk suitable for children?

The walk is suitable for secondary school children. All children are welcome and must be accompanied by an adult if aged under 16.

Do the walks go ahead if the weather is bad?

Iya London Walks go ahead, rain or shine. However, in the rare event of the Meteorological Office issuing a red warning covering the location of the walk, we will cancel the walk. You will be offered an option to book an alternative date for the walk.

Where does the walk end?

The walk ends on Kensington Gore, near the Royal Albert Hall. Many buses stop on Kensington Gore. The nearest tube station is South Kensington on the Piccadilly, Circle and District lines. It is about 14 minutes walk away.

Can I bring my dog?

Unfortunately dogs are not admitted at the V&A, which we will enter at the start of the walk.

Tags

Organized by

Iya London - Guided Walks

Iya London - Guided Walks, brought to you by Joanna Oyediran.

Iya London unearths and shares London’s overlooked stories, past and present.

£10 – £15
Aug 16 · 11:00 AM GMT+1