MAY HALF-TERM AND UPCOMING EVENTS AT BOW STREET POLICE MUSEUM
• Families are invited on an interactive storytelling adventure to help the Bow Street
Runners solve the case of Madame Pâtissier’s stolen cakes!
• Discover how Bow Street, an unremarkable thoroughfare at the heart of theatreland
became the centre of criminal justice reform with the return of FREE Friday tours.
• Discover the art of murder with Dr Clare Smith as she examines the horror and
fascination behind the art worlds depiction of murder, and the crimes of the artists
who create it.
• Join author Matt Johnson in conversation with former Bow Street police officer John
Murray, who will talk about his thirty-seven year quest to find justice for his friend
and fallen officer WPC Yvonne Fletcher.
• Learn about cases of the macabre from criminal barrister Naomi Ryan, as she talks
about some of the strangest acquittals in legal history.
Visit Bow Street Police Museum during May Half-Term and beyond to discover more about the
history of law, (dis)order and criminal investigations in Covent Garden.
Join us for an interactive storytelling session in the cells! All is not well at
Madame Pâtissier’s 18th century cake shop – someone has stolen all her cakes! Henry, our Bow Street Runner, is on the case, but he is going to need your help. Pick up clues, make observations and study the exhibits, and help Henry track down the culprits, in an era when fingerprinting, DNA and mobile CCTV were far, far away. Suitable for those aged 5-12 years. Normal Museum admission prices apply. Dates and times vary, see our website for more details. Booking is essential as spaces are limited.
In addition, our family trail invites all budding young detectives to pick up a case file and discover the history of policing on Bow Street. Follow the clues, complete the puzzles, and investigate why Bow Street Police Station was one of the most famous in the world. We have a range of trails suitable for all ages, including those that can be used by adults to help engage younger children with lots of the objects and stories on display.
FREE FRIDAY TOURS
On Friday 2nd June join the Museum team for a FREE 20-minute walking tour of Bow Street to discover how such a small, unremarkable thoroughfare in the heart of London’s theatreland became the centre of criminal justice reform. These tours offer a great introduction to the more in-depth exhibitions on display at the Museum. Tours take place at 11:00 and 14:00 and are offered for free to all on a first come, first served basis for up to 20 people. Meet at the Museum’s main entrance on Martlett Court.
THE ART OF MURDER
On Thursday 21st June (19.00) Dr Clare Smith will be examining the depiction of murder and murderers in art, including art that has been produced by murderers. Art has always engaged with violence, usually from Biblical or mythological sources. In this talk Dr Smith will examine the crimes behind the art and look at the works they inspired. From the gloomy interior of Sickert’s Jack the Ripper’s Bedroom and the portrait of moors murderer Myra Hindley that caused such public outcry, to the pretty figurine of Maria Manning, known as the Lady Macbeth ofBermondsey, these works explore the horror and fascination we have with murder. This event takes place at the Museum and will also be streamed live on Zoom.
NO ORDINARY DAY
On Thursday 29th July (19.00) join author Matt Johnson in conversation with former Bow Street officer John Murray, who will talk about his quest to find justice for his friend and fallen officer WPC Yvonne Fletcher.
On 17 April 1984, WPC Yvonne Fletcher was fatally shot during an
incident outside the Libyan People’s Bureau in London. As Yvonne lay dying, her colleague and close friend PC John Murray cradled her in his arms. Before she lost consciousness, he promised her he would not rest until those responsible for her murder had been brought to justice. Thirty-seven years would pass before John was able to fulfil that promise.
The story behind what happened outside the Libyan People’s Bureau is complex, shocking and revealing. Matt Johnson’s book, No Ordinary Day is a compelling account that pulls together a
series of seemingly unconnected threads into a coherent whole, incorporating all the inter-related
elements of politics, business, secret service missions and chance. This talk will include a Q&A and book signing by the authors. This event takes place at the Museum and will also be streamed live on Zoom.
HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER
There is a popular misconception that the law can be a little boring, but there has never been a
shortage of strange, macabre, and mysterious crimes. When they occur, strange, macabre, and
mysterious defences are sure to follow. Throughout history, defence barristers have sought to
persuade juries of the most fantastical things, from the presence of witches to the morality of
cannibalism and the existence of demon mongooses.
On Thursday 27th July (19.00) join criminal barrister, Naomi Ryan for a talk about some of the strangest acquittals in legal history and explore how a system that strives for rationality and objectivity tackles some of the weirder and darker claims made by defendants. This event takes place at the Museum and will also be streamed live on Zoom.
HOW TO BOOK
Tickets to visit the Museum and take part in any of our workshops, tours, or talks can be booked online via our website. As a small museum, places at all our events are limited, therefore we recommend booking ahead to avoid disappointment.