Free Exhibition at the National Archives and optional visit to Kew Gardens

Every exhibition I have seen at the National Archives has been superb and the latest one sounds no different. Join me to see this Exhibition that marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence. The exhibition charts the emergence of the United States of America, featuring original maps, correspondence, first-hand accounts and reports. Also on display is a rare, original ‘Dunlap broadside’ of the Declaration of Independence, printed on the night of 4 July 1776. To compliment the exhibition, and straight from London's West End, there will also be the opportunity to see a small exhibition of iconic costumes from the hit musical Hamilton.

We will likely stay at the exhibitions for around 1.5 hours total.

Following the exhibitions, for those who fancy, we can move on to visit Kew Gardens that has a special entry price of £10 on this day (Members free and Boundless Card free). In particular, we can explore as a group some of the sculptures of Henry Moore which are temporarily dotted all over the Gardens and are an absolute delight. If anyone is a member of Kew Gardens and has the ability to take in a guest for free, then please let me know in the comments below and and any savings can be shared out among the group to make the entry price cheaper for all. Please note that a fair amount of walking will be involved in our visit around Kew Gardens.

As we will be moving between two events, I suggest that you either bring a packed lunch or eat a snack at the National Archives Café. We will not have time to visit another of the restaurants in the area, as we have a packed day.

As always, please only sign up if you are intending to attend. The first event is free, then the optional visit to Kew Gardens is £10 (pay yourself on the day, but may be cheaper if other attendees can take a guest in). In addition, a £2.50 fee is charged to help cover Meetup fees that the Group has to pay. The £2.50 is none refundable, even if you cancel and Meetup will also charge you a small amount on top which does not come to the group. If we have to cancel the event for bad weather or other reasons beyond our control, then your £2.50 will be brought forward as a credit against a future event as refunds are all but impossible to manage.

We would appreciated it if you cancelled no later than 2 days before the event and to please avoid cancelling on the day as that may get you removed from the group.

We are meeting at Kew Gardens station at 11.00am and we will leave at that time. We will not be stopping for food before the exhibition, so please eat beforehand or get a drink etc, should you desire. Once we are on the move you may not find us. Therefore, please be on time. It is a 20 minute slow walk from the station.