Diwali on the Square

This Week in London – Science and the making of America; Freddie Mercury’s looks; ‘Diwali On The Square’; and tapestries at Guildhall…

by exploringlondon
‘The Bald Eagle’, Mark Catesby, 1722-26 © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection Trust

• The role science played in shaping America is explored in a new exhibition at the Science Museum. Opening tomorrow, Becoming America: How Science Shaped a Nation marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and features at its heart a rare surviving copy of the Declaration as well as items used by King George III and George Washington and a pioneering map made by Benjamin Franklin which charts the Gulf Stream. Others among the 100 items on display in this free exhibition include a 10 foot long traditional Indigenous dugout canoe, the painting The Exhumation of the Mastadon which became a symbol of national pride for the US, and a surveyor’s compass believed to have been used to define the Mason-Dixon Line. The ticketed event runs until 25th April next year. For more, see https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/becoming-america.

General view of the cloak and crown ensemble worn on the Magic Tour, 1986, featured in ‘Splendid Things’. PICTURE. David Parry/Assignments/the Press Association

• Eight looks worn by iconic performer and songwriter Freddie Mercury go on display at the V&A this Saturday. Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things marks the 80th anniversary of the late singer’s birth and has been developed with Mary Austin, Freddie’s former fiancée and confidante. The looks span the 1970s and 1980s and include a monochrome ensemble Freddie wore at an early Queen gig at Imperial college which later featured on the cover of Queen’s debut album in 1973, the ‘Mercury Wing’ catsuit designed by Wendy de Smet that was worn on stage for Night At the Opera tour in 1975- 1976 (and seen in Bohemian Rhapsody video), and Mercury’s signature crown and cloak designed by Diana Moseley and worn on the Magic Tour including for his last stage appearance with Queen at Knebworth, 1986. The free display runs until 17th January. For more, see https://www.vam.ac.uk.

• Diwali returns to Trafalgar Square this Sunday. Diwali On The Square is a free, family-friendly event which runs from 1pm to 7pm and features music, dance and performances celebrating the cultural heritage of London’s Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities as well as arts, crafts, storytelling, yoga and meditation, dance workshops and food stalls. Families can enjoy StoryHour UK’s Ramayana Puppet Show, which brings the Diwali story to life with handcrafted puppets, music and narration. For more, see https://www.london.gov.uk/events/diwali-square-2026

• More than 20 tapestries created with world-leading artists including David Hockney, Yinka Shonibare, Tania Kovats, Alberta Whittle, and Rachel Maclean go on show at the Guildhall Art Gallery tomorrow. Beyond Bayeux: Tapestry Now, which complements the display of the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum, represents a unique collaboration between the gallery and Dovecot Studios and features two major new commissions by Hurvin Anderson and Farshid Moussavi. The display can be see until 21st March next year. Admission is under a pay what you can approach. For more, see www.onecitylondon.com/beyond-bayeux-tapestry-now.

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