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MUSEUM
V&A East Storehouse
Parkes Street, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London
Open now
http://www.vam.ac.uk/east/storehouse/visit
The V&A’s new working store and visitor attraction has just opened its doors to the public. This groundbreaking museum experience, which spans four levels and covers an area of 16,000m2, invites visitors to immerse themselves in over half a million works from the V&A’s collections, and offers an opportunity to see behind the scenes of a working museum. Also available is a revolutionary ‘Order an Object’ experience, which allows you to book in advance to see any object on-site up close. Entry to the Storehouse is free and booking is not required.
EVENT
Archaeology Day
National Museum of Rural Life, East Kilbride
19 July
http://www.nms.ac.uk/events/archaeology-day
National Museums Scotland presents a family-friendly Archaeology Day at the National Museum of Rural Life. The team from Treasure Trove Scotland will be on hand to tell you about the amazing finds they have helped uncover across the country, or, if you have found an object that you think could be of archaeological significance, you can book a free appointment to have your item assessed. Other activities include mini metal-detectors and clay-pot making. Entry is included in museum admission and free with the Annual Pass.
CONFERENCE
Society for Medieval Archaeology 2025 Conference
University of Leicester
12-14 September
http://www.medievalarchaeology.co.uk/events/conferences/
The theme of the Society for Medieval Archaeology’s 2025 conference is ‘Fresh thinking and new ideas in the archaeology of medieval urban lives (c.600-1600)’. A line-up of 24 speakers will explore the development of urban life in this period from a range of angles and through a variety of archaeological materials. The keynote speakers will be Stephanie Wynne Jones and Søren Sindbæk. Tickets cost £85, with discounts available for members, unwaged attendees, and students.
EXHIBITIONS
Waddon Hill Roman Fort
Bridport Museum and Beaminster Museum
Until 2 August and 3 November 2025 respectively
http://www.bridportmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/view/?v=archaeology-exhibition-waddon-hill
http://www.beaminstermuseum.co.uk
Supported by Bournemouth University, both Beaminster Museum and Bridport Museum have temporary exhibitions on Waddon Hill Roman Fort, in addition to their permanent collections. Beaminster Museum is using digital technology to bring together scattered artefacts from the site with 3D models, while Bridport ’s temporary exhibition includes the originals of the Tolley Collection intaglios, and the newly conserved Puglio dagger scabbard. Entry to both is free.
Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum
Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds
Until 2 November
http://www.royalarmouries.org/leeds/whats-on/gladiators
Royal Armouries Leeds presents a blockbuster international exhibition that separates fact from fiction and illustrates the fascinating world of gladiators, the heroes of ancient arenas across the Roman Empire. Visitors will have a chance to see rare Roman artefacts from Pompeii and the Colosseum; discover the gruelling training, battle tactics, and fame of the ancient world’s fiercest fighters; and immerse themselves in interactive experiences. Tickets cost £6.50 for adults, with concession prices available.
HERITAGE FROM HOME
VIRTUAL VISITS
• Qatar Museums
https://collections.qm.org.qa/en
Explore artworks, artefacts, and cultural treasures from several of Qatar’s museums with this new online collection platform, which offers virtual access to hundreds of masterpieces.
• Canada Museum of History
Find out more about Canada’s history and culture through virtual tours, exhibitions, and more in the museum’s ‘Digital on demand’ section, as well as a wealth of other resources across the website.
• Necropolis of Makli, Pakistan
https://artsandculture.google.com/story/_wVR-13XIBEhLQ
Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Makli Necropolis, one of the largest funerary sites in the world, with this online resource from Google Arts & Culture.
• Crow Canyon, USA
https://tapestry.cyark.org/content/dinetah
Discover the ancient rock art of Crow Canyon in Dinétah, the ancestral homeland of the Navajo, and learn more about this storied landscape with the guided virtual tour.
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
• ListenQueer
This new app, developed by two UK academics, invites users to take a guided walk around London and learn about the queer people who lived and worked in the city during the 18th century.
• Explore Ancient Worlds through Art
https://exploreancientworlds.getty.edu
Discover a wealth of helpful learning resources from Getty, including educational guides and videos, and information about a selection of ancient objects.
• History Rage
Enjoy this weekly podcast that asks historians of all flavours and periods the question: ‘What is the one historical “fact” that you wish everyone would stop believing?’.
• Colchester Museums
https://bsky.app/profile/colmuseums.bsky.social
Explore posts from several Colchester museums on social media platforms such as Bluesky, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), featuring objects and artworks in their collections.
FAMILY FUN
• Heritage Hunters
http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/heritage-hunters
Learn more about Bath and north-east Somerset across time with a variety of craft activities from the Roman Baths, ranging from Celtic torcs and Saxon crowns to Roman weaving and medieval floor tiles.
• Royal Collection Trust
Explore an array of learning resources from the Royal Collection Trust, from lectures to online interactives, games, and challenges, all full of fun historical facts.
• Walking with Dinosaurs
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0024qbn
The groundbreaking television series returns, using visual effects to bring to life dramatic dinosaur stories, based on extraordinary excavations around the world.
• Titanic: Our Secret Histories
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/titanic-our-secret-histories
Discover the untold stories of the passengers and crew from the Titanic who survived and those who perished in the 1912 disaster, with details about what happened on that night.
• Volcano with Dara Ó Briain
http://www.channel5.com/show/volcano-with-dara-o-briain
Find out more about the immense power of Italy’s most active volcanoes. In the second episode of this two-part series, Dara Ó Briain explores the story of Mount Vesuvius and its AD 79 eruption.
