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DANDELION DISCOVERIES
What Made Us Smile This Week
Victorian Valentine
❤️ Head over to the Museum of Brands this half term and make a Victorian Valentine's day card for that special someone. For over 200 years people have been sending novelty cards on this romantic day.
Join the 'Love it or Hate it' family brand tour plus colouring fun in the time tunnels.
13,14 Feb 11-1, 2-4
Join the 'Love it or Hate it' family brand tour plus colouring fun in the time tunnels.
13,14 Feb 11-1, 2-4
Winter Glow
⚡️Head over to the whoppingly fabulous new Battersea Power Station for a gleaming new light trail this chilly winter. There are 8 installations to hunt down. Download the App before you go.
The installations include:
🔌1. Badstop
A giant bath plug
💡2. Eternal Sundown
Light filled LED tubes
🌑3. Moonburn
A gleaming huge moon
🚶🏻♀️4. My Light Is Your Light
A row of walking refugees
🐉5. Rotifers
Mysterical colourful creatures
🌈6. End Over End
A vast rainbow slinky
🧺7. Neighbourhood
An illuminated laundry line
🚦8. Strangers In The Light
Vast traffic light figure
Running to 5th March. Free.
The installations include:
🔌1. Badstop
A giant bath plug
💡2. Eternal Sundown
Light filled LED tubes
🌑3. Moonburn
A gleaming huge moon
🚶🏻♀️4. My Light Is Your Light
A row of walking refugees
🐉5. Rotifers
Mysterical colourful creatures
🌈6. End Over End
A vast rainbow slinky
🧺7. Neighbourhood
An illuminated laundry line
🚦8. Strangers In The Light
Vast traffic light figure
Running to 5th March. Free.
Vermeer in Amsterdam
🥛 Team dandelion were HUGELY excited when tickets finally went on sale for the largest ever exhibition of Vermeer paintings at the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam. Never before have so many Vermeers been brought together - this is billed as a once in a life-time chance. 28 of the known 35 paintings will go on display.
The lucky few might be able to get to Amsterdam to see this show in real life but FEAR NOT - the rest of us we can sit back, relax and let Stephen Fry welcome you into his painted world. A world filled with mystery, where every painting tells a story full of light, colour and ordinary people.
Click the link below for his full narration. We've watched it twice already.
Rijks Museum
Amsterdam
10 Feb-4 June
Open daily 9-5pm
The lucky few might be able to get to Amsterdam to see this show in real life but FEAR NOT - the rest of us we can sit back, relax and let Stephen Fry welcome you into his painted world. A world filled with mystery, where every painting tells a story full of light, colour and ordinary people.
Click the link below for his full narration. We've watched it twice already.
Rijks Museum
Amsterdam
10 Feb-4 June
Open daily 9-5pm
Floating Earth
🌎 The mesmerising Floating Earth created by the brilliant Luke Jerram returns once again but this time she is bobbing about in Canary Wharf as the stunning centrepiece for their annual Winter Lights festival.
Running 18-28 Jan the festival now in its seventh year will have over 22 gleaming luminous light installations brightening gloomy January.
You will spot this awesome globe right outside Canary Wharf tube station.
Free for all to enjoy.
Running 18-28 Jan the festival now in its seventh year will have over 22 gleaming luminous light installations brightening gloomy January.
You will spot this awesome globe right outside Canary Wharf tube station.
Free for all to enjoy.
🦖 Lost Lego at Sea
Can you imagine !? Five million pieces of Lego lost at sea in just one day.....
Back in 1997 a storm tipped over a vast cargo tanker off the coast of Cornwall. Beachgoers have been collected washed up Lego pieces for over 25 years. Among the pieces discovered were octopuses, sea grass, spear guns, life rafts, scuba tanks, cutlasses, flippers and dragons.
Author and beachcomber Tracey Williams has lent the Cathedral some of her lego finds which are now on display with a copy of her book - 'Adrift: The Curious Tale of the Lego Lost at Sea.
Free to visit and on display this month at Southwark Cathedral.
Back in 1997 a storm tipped over a vast cargo tanker off the coast of Cornwall. Beachgoers have been collected washed up Lego pieces for over 25 years. Among the pieces discovered were octopuses, sea grass, spear guns, life rafts, scuba tanks, cutlasses, flippers and dragons.
Author and beachcomber Tracey Williams has lent the Cathedral some of her lego finds which are now on display with a copy of her book - 'Adrift: The Curious Tale of the Lego Lost at Sea.
Free to visit and on display this month at Southwark Cathedral.
🎠 Les Enfants Du Paradis
A brand new lavish spring show has just been announced by dandelion favourite Gifford's Circus.
Taking inspiration from French Romanticism in the mid-19th Century it promises to be a wondrous new show with old favourites (Tweedy the clown) and new aerialist artist Anthony Cesar.
Shows kick off on the 6 April at Fennells Farm the home of Gifford's Circus in the Cotswolds before touring 13 venues across the south with a bonus extra week at Chiswick House and gardens in June.
Get booking now.
Taking inspiration from French Romanticism in the mid-19th Century it promises to be a wondrous new show with old favourites (Tweedy the clown) and new aerialist artist Anthony Cesar.
Shows kick off on the 6 April at Fennells Farm the home of Gifford's Circus in the Cotswolds before touring 13 venues across the south with a bonus extra week at Chiswick House and gardens in June.
Get booking now.
Retro Christmas Toys
🧸 So much joy in our hearts for the new Christmas Toys display at the Museum of Brands. Simon Says, Barbie, Furby's, Chatty Doll - they are all here. EXCELLENT stocking fillers in the museum shop too. The perfect Christmas holiday pit-stop.
Toys, Tech and Tamagotchis is on display until 6 Jan.
Tickets: £9 adults, £5 children
Toys, Tech and Tamagotchis is on display until 6 Jan.
Tickets: £9 adults, £5 children
Alternative Christmas Tree!
🎄 No pine needles to sweep up at the V&A this festive season. Instead of opting for a big green bushy Christmas Tree they commissioned the brilliant Miss Sohee to create this dramatic chiffon ensemble. This towering sparkling gown, with a star-inspired Swarovski bodice, is an angelic sight. Julia rather loved it, Anya and Emily aren't quite so sure ??
Miss Sohee's peony gown is also on show in the brilliant Hallyu! The Korean Wave until 25 June 23'.
The 'Christmas Tree' will be on show until 5 Jan.
Free
Miss Sohee's peony gown is also on show in the brilliant Hallyu! The Korean Wave until 25 June 23'.
The 'Christmas Tree' will be on show until 5 Jan.
Free
Piero's Nativity
👼🏻 After a three year shape and shine this glorious nativity scene is back on display at the National Gallery just in time for advent ! The poor shepherds heads had been rather damaged by some over zealous cleaning.
Now in perfect condition the painting shines bright once again.
From 1 December
Head to room 17a
Free
Piero Della Francesca, The Nativity, early 1480's © The National Gallery
Now in perfect condition the painting shines bright once again.
From 1 December
Head to room 17a
Free
Piero Della Francesca, The Nativity, early 1480's © The National Gallery
Fleece Navidad
🐑 26 seconds of pure Christmas joy from Shaun the Sheep creators Aardman. Merry Christmas to all from the Royal Albert Hall.
Biscuit Monopoly
💵 Bring this family favourite to life with 12 delicious hand-iced biscuits.
£55 a tin
£55 a tin
Grand Little Nativity Tour
👼🏻 Join dandelion favourite the Little Grand Tour for a festive Nativity Tour at the National Gallery. These brilliant art wizards will teach your little ones how Renaissance artists depicted the Annunciation, Nativity & The Three Wise Kings through looking at works by Botticelli and Fra Angelico.
The perfect location for parents to do some last minute shopping whilst your little people whizz around the gallery.
Christmas themes snacks included !
17 Dec 10am-12pm
£40 per child
The perfect location for parents to do some last minute shopping whilst your little people whizz around the gallery.
Christmas themes snacks included !
17 Dec 10am-12pm
£40 per child
Festive Tunnel Walks
🚂 Book up a Christmas Tunnel Walk and explore the hidden passages below our pavements. This tour includes special access to the Mail Rail's tunnels, tracks and platforms exploring parts of the network the little train can't reach. Look out for the secret festive surprise !
15,16 Nov
6,13, 20 Dec
Varying times.
Tickets £55, ages 12+
15,16 Nov
6,13, 20 Dec
Varying times.
Tickets £55, ages 12+
Ice Ice Baby
🧊Head to Canary Wharf later this week and follow a brand new trail of 15 ice sculptures dotted around Jubilee Park. There are some great bookable masterclasses too.
Chainsaws at the ready!
Free
17–19 Nov
Click the link below for the Winter Ice Map
Chainsaws at the ready!
Free
17–19 Nov
Click the link below for the Winter Ice Map
Lift 109
🏭 Zoom up 109 meters inside one of the power stations iconic chimneys for the newest skyline view in town.
Rides start from 15 Nov. Tickets £15.90 adults, £11.50 child.
Rides start from 15 Nov. Tickets £15.90 adults, £11.50 child.
Royal Movie
🎥 The Luna Winter Cinema is back! Head to Kensington Palace Pavilion, slump down on a squashy beanbag surrounded by festive decs and settle down to watch a Christmas Classic.
Choose from;
🎄Home Alone 10,11,16,23 Dec
🎄Love Actually 11,17,19,20,22 Dec
🎄Elf 12,15,17,20,22 Dec
🎄How The Grinch Stole Christmas 12 Dec
🎄Bridget Jones Diary 13 Dec
🎄The Greatest Showman (sing-a-long)14 Dec
🎄Last Christmas 14 Dec
🎄Arthur Christmas 15 Dec
🎄Die Hard 16 Dec
🎄Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone 18 Dec
🎄The Holiday 18,21 Dec
Gremlins 19 Dec
🎄The Muppet Christmas Carol 21 Dec
🎄It's a Wonderful Life 23 Dec
Tickets on sale now. Adults £22.50 / kids £14
Choose from;
🎄Home Alone 10,11,16,23 Dec
🎄Love Actually 11,17,19,20,22 Dec
🎄Elf 12,15,17,20,22 Dec
🎄How The Grinch Stole Christmas 12 Dec
🎄Bridget Jones Diary 13 Dec
🎄The Greatest Showman (sing-a-long)14 Dec
🎄Last Christmas 14 Dec
🎄Arthur Christmas 15 Dec
🎄Die Hard 16 Dec
🎄Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone 18 Dec
🎄The Holiday 18,21 Dec
Gremlins 19 Dec
🎄The Muppet Christmas Carol 21 Dec
🎄It's a Wonderful Life 23 Dec
Tickets on sale now. Adults £22.50 / kids £14
Missing Someone
🧚🏼♀️ The brilliant team behind the International Elf Service have come up with a great idea for little ones struggling with their mental health. Send your child a special letter with themes ranging from 'Fear of Failure' to the 'Worry Blaster'. Just charming.
Individual letters from £6.95.
Individual letters from £6.95.
Ginger Town!
🍭 This awesome mini edible metropolis returns once again to Motcomb Street.
Run by the Museum of Architecture this is baking on a whole new scale. Expect towering sweet-laden skyscrapers and epic candy constructions.
This year there is not just one gingerbread city, but FIVE candy-laden cities created by 100 cunning architects, engineers and designers across differing climate zones; Polar, Dry, Tropical, Temperate and Continental.
Book up one of their festive house-making workshops. Following this years climatic them , there's a chance to build a your very own eco mansion. 🌳 We had so much fun doing them a few years ago.
Opens 3 December to 2 January. 6–7 Motcomb Street in Belgravia.
Tickets: £15 adults, £10- U12s, U3s free.
Family workshop £50 (a adult, 1 child) to make one gingerbread house.
Run by the Museum of Architecture this is baking on a whole new scale. Expect towering sweet-laden skyscrapers and epic candy constructions.
This year there is not just one gingerbread city, but FIVE candy-laden cities created by 100 cunning architects, engineers and designers across differing climate zones; Polar, Dry, Tropical, Temperate and Continental.
Book up one of their festive house-making workshops. Following this years climatic them , there's a chance to build a your very own eco mansion. 🌳 We had so much fun doing them a few years ago.
Opens 3 December to 2 January. 6–7 Motcomb Street in Belgravia.
Tickets: £15 adults, £10- U12s, U3s free.
Family workshop £50 (a adult, 1 child) to make one gingerbread house.
Manet & Eva
🧑🏻🎨 Entering Manet’s studio in 1869 at the tender age of 22 Eva Gonzales (Manet’s star pupil) soon became a 19th century trailblazer 🧑🏻🎨
Manet repainted the face of his brilliant prodigy an astonishing 25 times.
‘Discover Manet & Eva Gonzales’ is the very first in a series of exhibitions that look at a single painting.
Great for any art GCSE student or A leveller !
Open 21 Oct-15 Jan National Gallery
Free
Manet repainted the face of his brilliant prodigy an astonishing 25 times.
‘Discover Manet & Eva Gonzales’ is the very first in a series of exhibitions that look at a single painting.
Great for any art GCSE student or A leveller !
Open 21 Oct-15 Jan National Gallery
Free
Affordable Art Tour
👨🏼🎨 Dandelion fave The Little Grand Tour are partnering with the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea on the 22 Oct.
Join for a fun 45 min tour led by one of their fab history wizards.
Tickets for the tour are £20 and must be booked in advance along with a Saturday Family Hour ticket (11am–12pm).
Click the link below to book.
Join for a fun 45 min tour led by one of their fab history wizards.
Tickets for the tour are £20 and must be booked in advance along with a Saturday Family Hour ticket (11am–12pm).
Click the link below to book.
Textile Triumph
🐑 The Turbine Hall at the Tate has been filled with two enormous hanging woven, textile sculptures by Chilean Artist and poet Cecilia Vicuna. Falling from the top of the hall they measure a staggering 27m in length.
The installation (created with a mix of unspun wool, plant fibres, rope and cardboard) is an act of mourning for the destruction of forests and the violence against Indigenous people.
Once again The Hyundai Commission does not disappoint.
Brain Forest Quipu
13 Oct–16 April, free
Tate Modern
The installation (created with a mix of unspun wool, plant fibres, rope and cardboard) is an act of mourning for the destruction of forests and the violence against Indigenous people.
Once again The Hyundai Commission does not disappoint.
Brain Forest Quipu
13 Oct–16 April, free
Tate Modern
Battersea Power Skate!
⛸ Tickets are now on sale to spin around three interconnecting rinks and a whopping 30ft Christmas tree surrounded by sparkling lights. This rink promises to be the biggest and possibly the best this festive season. Book up now to avoid disappointment.
Anti-colonial hero
🇲🇼 Next time you are in Trafalgar Square, look up to see the giant figure of African preacher John Chilembwe on the fourth plinth. Back turned, holding a bible, he towers over the life-sized figure of European missionary John Chorley. Chilembwe, who was killed after leading an unsuccessful uprising against colonial rule in 1914 is wearing a hat, something that was forbidden in front of white people at the time. Celebrated as one of the fathers of modern Malawi, the statue, by Samson Kambalu, is entitled Antelope. There is a QR code at the base you can scan to find out more about the history. It is an arresting piece and will start a number of important conversations with kids about colonialism, BLM and the statue-toppling controversy.
Mexico arrives at Kew!
🇲🇽 Get ready to escape to Mexico as the winter nights draw in. With bold vibrant installations all across the Temperate House for the month of October this explosion of colour will brighten any autumnal day.
Great Mexico Family Fiesta planned for half-term with Carnival Parades.
Opens 1 Oct
Kew Gardens
Great Mexico Family Fiesta planned for half-term with Carnival Parades.
Opens 1 Oct
Kew Gardens
Nature outside Tate Modern
🦋 🎶 You have until 1 Oct to go and see Es Devlin's beautiful, immersive Come Home Again, in its temporary home outside Tate Modern. A cross section of the dome of St Paul's is filled with drawings and sounds of 243 wildlife species that are on London's watch list as declining in numbers and needing active conservation. By day, come with little ones and stand inside the dome, listen to the soundscape, scan the QR codes and learn more about the precious moths, birds, bugs and fungi that surround you.
At dusk (and also at 10am on 1 Oct), the space is host to choral performances. Uplifting and free! Open 10am-10pm.
At dusk (and also at 10am on 1 Oct), the space is host to choral performances. Uplifting and free! Open 10am-10pm.
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