The Royal Academy

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Hattie Lloyd 31/01/25


Lectures & Talks In London

Going to talks can broaden your horizons, encourage empathy, and ultimately leave you a smarter, wiser and kinder human being than you were when you went in.

But we don’t want to lecture you.

Instead we’ll leave that to the many guest speakers, research professors, illustrious poets, artists, and social activists who regularly take to the stage in London to share their insights with the masses. Whatever you want to brush up on – whether it’s the history of London cults or the neuroscience behind music – there’s a lecture, candlelit evening, or mind-broadening salon to suit you.

And so to buoy you forwards on your quest for intellectual enlightenment, we’ve picked out the most interesting talks taking place this month, as well as the places that put on regular talks in London so you can look ahead:


TALKS & LECTURES IN LONDON THIS MONTH

The Conversation

conversation talks series

It’s time we had The Conversation. No, not that one. The new series of enlightening talks with cultural, philosophical and scientific luminaries on a vast range of subjects, all held in the atmospheric surrounds of a crypt in Central London. Each week there’ll be a different guest speaker, with February’s invitees including the astronomer Maggie Aderin-Pocock; The Buddha of Suburbia author Hanif Kureishi; galvanising writer Ahdaf Soueif and social philosopher Roman Krznaric. And after the opening discussion, they’ll actually come and join you at your table for more personal conversations on the topic at hand.

Details: Tuesdays throughout February, 6.30-7.30pm St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 4JJ £15

 

Vogue Conversations

Vogue’s vast, 360° runway exhibition in King’s Cross is so immersive, you already feel like you’re rubbing shoulders with the designers. But this Spring they’re inviting some of the fashion world’s biggest names to actually appear there in real life. The exclusive series of ‘in conversation’ events kicks off in January with Simone Rocha, with John Galliano, Sarah Burton and McQueen creative director Seán McGirr all lined up for later in the season…

Details: 4th, 11th & 25th February | Lightroom, 12 Lewis Cubitt Square, London, N1C 4DY | £25 (inc. entry to the exhibition)

 

The Great Mughals: Art, Architecture & Opulence

The V&A’s current exhibition attempts to condense the extraordinary artwork and craftsmanship of a 100-year empire into one comprehensive show. And this talk attempts to condense all that into one hour. It’s a totally free to visit lunchtime lecture, and you’ll get to hear from the exhibition’s curator Sue Stronge about the amazing pulling power of this Persian-speaking court and the distinctive artistic language that developed there.

Details: 6th February, 1-1.55pm V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL | Free, just turn up

 

Imperial Lates: Weird Science

The what.three.words address for Imperial College’s South Ken campus is ‘debate.party.plenty’ – which pretty much sums up the vibe at their monthly Lates. February’s event is themed around the topic of Weird Science, so expect an evening of talks, workshops and demonstrations on everything from Einstein’s ‘Great Mistake’ to zombie cells, invisibility cloaks and artificial skin…

Details: 6th February, 6-9pm | Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ | Free (registration required)

 

Fatally Romantic with Giles Abbott

Last Tuesday Society

It’s almost Valentine’s Day! And what could be more romantic than gathering around a sarcophagus in the basement of London’s most gloriously macabre drinking den, sipping absinthe, and listening to tales of doomed love, jilted lovers and amorous revenge? Well, quite a lot of things. But the mellifluous tones of master storyteller Giles Abbott are almost powerful enough to convince you otherwise…

Details: 9th February, 7-8pm & 8.30-9.30pm | The Last Tuesday Society, 11 Mare Street London E8 4RP | £15

 

Sunday Papers Live

The sell-out Sunday Papers Live is back. If you’ve never been before, it’s basically the ultimate Sunday packed into one enormous public living room: we’re talking Bloody Maries, Sunday roasts, live music, comfy sofas, pub quizzes and more. But the real attraction is the event’s ability to turn your Sunday paper ritual into one big, live podcast: dozens of fascinating speakers, from poets and philosophers to activists and journalists, cram into the space to bring the different sections to life, resulting in a whole load of varied, unusual and interest-piquing talks running all day long.

Details: 16th February, 12.30-10pm | Park Village, One Park Village East, NW1 7PX | £20+

 

Russia’s War In A Global Perspective

As the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaches, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, will be appearing in conversation with BBC journalist Clive Myrie, who reported from the frontline at the beginning of the conflict. They’ll be discussing the far-reaching consequences of conflict; the role of international solidarity; and the challenges shaping the future of global democracy with highly personal insights from their own experiences.

Details: 21st February, 6.30-7.30pm The RSA, 8 John Adam Street, London, WC2N 6EZ Free

 

Single and Thriving

If you’re single, you’re not alone – 40% of the UK is too, at any given time. Journalist and author Nicola Slawson advocates for being single and fabulous, exclamation point. Her upcoming book is all about embracing the opportunities for growth, independence and self-knowledge that come with being single – and how to navigate a world that seems geared around partnering up.

Details: 23rd February, 3-4.30pm Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL£10

 

A Scientist’s Guide to Health, Ageing and Death

Immunologist John Tregoning has spent the last few years researching apparently life-extending hacks, habits and treatments by volunteering himself as a human guinea pig – and so far, it seems to have worked. This talk, based on his newly published book Live Forever?, shares some of the bizarre insights he gained along the way, alongside a darkly funny take on the 17,000 different ways the human body can go wrong.

Details: 24th February, 7-8.30pm The Royal Institution, 21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS£5-16

 

The History of Misinformation

history of misinformation talk

You might think that misinformation is a recent phenomenon, spurred on by social media, powerful algorithms and our polarised society. But that’s fake news. Spreading false facts has been happening since the dawn of time, and this talk will delve into a whistle stop history of misinformation, from the French Revolution to the Great Moon Hoax of 19th century NYC – and hopefully find a little insight as to how we can fight it in future.

Details: 25th February, 6.30pm The British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y 5AH Free, but book ahead

 

Messy, Modern Love

Continuing Conway Hall’s ‘Sexpectations’ series, this lecture looks at modern love in all its forms – from sexting to ghosting. It’s hosted by the multidisciplinary artist Philippa Found, whose Lockdown Love Stories project gathered more than 1,500 anonymously-submitted experiences. She managed to whittle down to just 1/6th of these true stories for her book, some of which she’ll be sharing tonight in an exploration of our shared humanity and understanding of ourselves.

Details: 26th February, 6.30-8pm Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL | £10

 


POPULAR LONDON VENUES FOR TALKS & LECTURES

V&A Museum

V&A Lunchtime lectures in London

Tucked away from the museum’s busier rooms is the V&A’s princely lecture hall, lined with some of history’s great thinkers (which, very shortly, will also include you). They offer free lunchtime lectures as well as ticketed evening talks, variously inspired by current exhibitions; prized objects; and even the process of collecting itself.

Details: Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL | What’s On Listen to previous lectures

Nicer Tuesdays

A regular evening curated by It’s Nice That, during which speakers from creative industries discuss their most seminal projects to date, and reveal the processes behind them in short, snappy presentations. They also sell out quicker than hotcakes, so subscribe to their mailing list to stay updated on ticket releases.

Details: EartH, 11-17 Stoke Newington Rd, London N16 8BH Monthly | What’s on

How To Academy

Striking the tricky balance between talks that aren’t overly broad and vague, but aren’t university-level specific either, the How To Academy hosts lectures across London with a range of speakers. You can listen to in-depth discussions from historians, professors and researchers; learn life skills from some of the world’s most experienced consultants and coaches; and hear from famous figures from Alain de Botton to Al Gore.

Details: Across London What’s On

National Gallery

The National Gallery is essentially moonlighting as an art school, with free lunchtime talks on various paintings; longer lectures on broader themes; ‘Talk and Draw’ workshops, where you’ll hear from an expert on a particular painting before creating your own take on the piece; and gallery talks every Friday night when the NG stays open after-hours.

Details: Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN | What’s On

The British Museum

british museum lecture hall

Curators, historians and archaeologists take to the stand at the British Museum, where you can dip into everything from free gallery talks to Latin classes. There are regular free lectures linked to current exhibitions, as well as study days on weekends that combine talks, tours and screenings for an intensive introduction to some of the world’s most fascinating places, people and eras.

Details: Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG | What’s On

Royal Academy of Arts

The Royal Academy has been training and promoting artists since the reign of George III. Now, it’s promoting art appreciation, too, thanks to both the 15 minute mini-talks that take place around its galleries, and the more in-depth discussions covering both the history and future of art.

Details: Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD What’s On

The Last Tuesday Society

Last Tuesday Society Talks and Lectures in London

The Last Tuesday Society is not your average bar. And the Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities is not your average museum. So the events held amongst the stuffed two-headed animals and voodoo dolls are just a touch unusual too; from absinthe tastings to taxidermy classes; and gothic storytelling to séances round the sarcophagus.

Details: 11 Mare Street, E8 4RP What’s On

The British Academy

Set in the grandiose surroundings of William Gladstone’s former mansion, the British Academy is a century-old society dedicated to tackling the big questions in the humanities and social sciences. Drop by for discussions on loneliness or the future of romance, while taking a peek at one of London’s most opulent buildings.

Details: 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y 5AH What’s On

Conway Hall

conway lecture hall

The Conway Hall Ethical Society has roots going as far back as 1793, and is now the only remaining ethical society in the UK.

Essentially, it’s there for moral support.

And it’s achieving this not only through courses, photography workshops, film screenings, free concerts, comedy nights and language classes, but also by lining up a roster of esteemed activists, writers and academics who speak on topics like the societal impact of big data and the technocracy, political extremism, and the significance of corridors.

Details: 25 Red Lion Square, WC1R 4RL What’s On

Gresham College

Gresham College has been hosting free lectures for Londoners for over four centuries, so it’s fair to say they’ve got the formula down. They host around 130 lectures throughout the year on topics across the arts and sciences, while the 2,000+ lectures that have been recorded there since the ’80s can be found on their website, too. Ideal for a classic evening of “How To Be A Shakespearean Atheist” ‘n’ chill.

Details: Barnard’s Inn Hall, EC1N 2HH What’s On

The Old Operating Theatre Museum

Mike Peel

Tucked away in a church attic, The Old Operating Theatre Museum was once the venue for surgery performed on female patients from the neighbouring St. Thomas hospital. Now, it’s home to film screenings, secret concerts, quirky historical talks and the occasional after-hours Victorian surgical demonstration.

Details: Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret, 9a St Thomas Street, SE1 9RY What’s On

University College London

UCL has over 100 different academic departments, which together make for an insanely varied calendar of both free talks and ticketed lectures, on topics as wide as artificial intelligence to Latin American street art. Held in the University’s own lecture rooms, it’s all the useful bits of uni (broadening your mind) without any of the bad bits (essays, exams, jägerbombs).

Details: Across the UCL Campus What’s On

 


Thirst for knowledge still not quenched? Pay a visit to the most unusual museums in London