LONDON

ITINERARY:MARVELLOUSMUSEUMSGreat reasons to visit museums and heritage hotspotsthis month. By David G. Taylor1. AFTER-HOURS FUNHead for Museums At Nightweekend (16-18 May), the annualfestival of late-night cultural eventsheld in museums, galleries and otherattractions for history buffs, from theLondon Canal Museum (p. 62) to theVictoria And Albert Museum (p. 65).This year’s highlights include theKids Kensington Sleepover (16-17May) at Kensington Palace(p. 32). In the Night Garden (16 May),an evening party in the beautifulgrounds of the Horniman Museum(p. 62) and Vintage Bop (16 May),a night of 1960s music, art andfashion at the William Morris Gallery(p. 59). Watch out for the mini-skirtedall-girl dance troupe The Actionetteswho you might remember from the2010 film Made In Dagenham.For details of all Museums At Nightevents and participating venues, visit museumsatnight.org.ukOutside of the festival manymuseums hold their own regularlate night events, often with specialactivities laid on. For example, head tothe V&A with its monthly Friday Latefor a Russian-themed White NightsFestival on 31 May (18.30-22.00),or the National Portrait Gallery(p. 58) any Thursdays and Fridays forits weekly Late Shift, 18.00-21.00.2. FREE TALKSIf you’re intrigued by current BritishMuseum exhibition Ice Age Art(p. 60), discover what happened nextat a free 45-minute lecture entitledAfter The Ice Age: The Arts Of TheFirst Farmers (15 May).Find out about composer (andformer London resident) GeorgeFrideric Handel and his favouritefemale singers on 11 May in HandelAnd His Divas at the Handel HouseMuseum (p. 62). Next, it’s time formuseum visitors and collectorsto reevaluate their attitudes toreproduction furniture on 14 May atthe Wallace Collection (p. 65), withthe free lecture Copies Or Fakes?Meanwhile, money talks – quiteliterally – at the Bank Of EnglandMuseum (p. 59), as some of thehistorical figures featured on Britishbank notes, such as Charles Darwin(28 & 30 May), are brought to lifeto tell their stories in a series offascinating and free events aimedat families.3. UNIQUE EXPERIENCESFind out how food would havebeen prepared for King Henry VIIIand his successors with Live TudorCookery demonstrations (4-6 May)at Hampton Court Palace (picturedabove, p. 30). Learn about thehistory of burlesque and unleashyour inner diva as expert TempestRose (House Of Burlesque)teaches you a few moves in AlterEgos: The Art Of Burlesque at theV&A on 17 May.Hear evocative Tales Of OldLondon Bridge (25-26 May) ina family storytelling event at theMuseum Of London (p. 64), or jointhem in a hunt for archaeologicalfinds along the foreshore of theRiver Thames in Finds From TheRiver (28-29 May).TUDOR COOKERY © HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES/RICHARD LEA-HAIR10 | visitlondon.com|LONDON PLANNER|May 2013