Attractions industry news

10 Oct 2017

V&A boss calls for pedestrianisation of Exhibition Road following car crash

V&A director Tristram Hunt has called for a full pedestrianisation of South Kensington’s Exhibition Road following the car crash that left 11 injured on Saturday (7 October).

Exhibition Road, London, which is home to not only the V&A but also to the Science Museum and Natural History Museum, is an outdoor area shared by both pedestrians and vehicles, with patterned street tiles and no raised pavements.

Around 11 million people a year walk through the area, which underwent a £30m (US$39.6m, €33.5m) transformation in 2012.

Commenting on the traffic arrangements for the road, Hunt – who was named V&A director in January – called them “confusing, dangerous and unsatisfactory”.

"The safety and security of our visitors, staff and volunteers is paramount,” Hunt said.

“We believe that reviving the original vision for the area as an open, civic space and shared cultural quarter will greatly improve the experience for all visitors to one of the world's great cultural destinations.

“Saturday's incident has made it clear that we need a solution, and we will be working together with our neighbouring organisations, residents and the council to address this."

Following the incident, which has since been confirmed not to have been a terrorist incident, a 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, but released the following day.

Hunt has previously called for the Exhibition Road area to be fully pedestrianised, even calling for the change the day before the accident at an event held by Frieze Academy. During the talk Hunt said the move would be primarily for safety reasons but that it would also create a more pleasant environment for visitors in the area.

The change would also create a safer environment for V&A visitors, after the institution opened its new V&A Exhibition Road Quarter in June, which includes a new entrance to the museum through an open courtyard.

<< Back

News powered by attractionsmanagement.com

The Everyday Heritage initiative celebrates and preserves working class histories

Off the back of the success of the first round of Everyday Heritage Grants in 2022, Historic England is funding 56 creative projects that honour the heritage of working-class England. [more...]

Heartbreak for Swedish theme park, Liseberg, as fire breaks out

A fire has destroyed part of the new water world, Oceana, at Liseberg in Sweden, and a construction worker has been reported missing. [more...]

Raby Castle reveals ambitious plans to become a major visitor destination

Raby Castle, known as one of the finest medieval fortifications in England, is nearing the end of an ambitious two-year renovation project. [more...]

Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion

Wake the Tiger, the Bristol-based immersive art experience, is set to open its 1,000sq m expansion on Friday 2 February. [more...]

Tate Modern and Frame collaborate on a mind/body experience

London boutique operator, Frame, has teamed up with the Tate Modern to offer two yin and sound yoga classes, following by a tour of the art gallery. [more...]

Elvis Presley Live is rolling out globally

Immersive entertainment specialists, Layered Reality, is creating a tribute to Elvis Presley featuring a concert experience with a life-sized digital Elvis. [more...]

In brief:

@PerthMuseumUK to open Easter weekend, bringing the Stone of Destiny back to Scotland for the first time in more than 700 years @culturepandk @mecanoo_ [more...]
Excitement for Bedford as the town could be home to Europe’s first Universal Studios @parks_universal [more...]
Google launches Gemini AI – its ChatGPT killer @google [more...]
Tourism think tank explores gender equity and male allyship @tourismsociety [more...]
Accenture says AI is bringing on a decade of deconstruction @AccentureSong #Accenture #AI #Technology [more...]
Back in time – visitors experience 1960s healthcare in Black Country Museum's new living history centre @BCLivingMuseum #BlackCountry #NHS #History [more...]
Attractions.io creates night-time map for Alton Towers @attractions_io @daz_black @altontowers #AltonTowers #MerlinEntertainments #DazBlack #DazGames [more...]
'Birthplace of Scottish tourism', Trossachs Pier, to get iconic viewing tower @lomondtrossachs #LochLomond #Trossachs [more...]
Therme appoints UK CEO as £250m Therme Manchester gets planning approval #spa #wellness #wellbeing #health #fitness #investsment #development #progress [more...]
More news from attractionsmanagement.com>>
<< Back