Explore the Palace of Dragons

Explore the Palace of Dragons runs at the Royal Pavilion from Saturday 28 March to Sunday 1 November 2026. It's a family exhibition that takes a look at the dragons that have lived in the Pavilion's ceilings and chandeliers for more than two centuries, a recurring motif in the Chinese-inspired interiors.

The exhibition brings those creatures down from the heights and puts them on display across the historic rooms, featuring both Chinese and European dragons. It draws on the museum's collections, including Chinese textiles, porcelain, and delicate drawings from George IV's designers—one of which is a design by Frederick Crace from around 1815. The whole thing centres on a mysterious dragon nest that's appeared inside the palace, which sets up a hunt for hidden dragons and encourages you to look a bit more closely at the building's design and décor.

At the heart of it is 'The Great Dragon Count', a challenge to figure out exactly how many dragons live inside the palace—a number no one has ever counted in the building's 200-year history. It's a mix of a treasure hunt and a storytelling adventure, and it works as a gentle introduction to the craftsmanship that makes the Pavilion what it is. It's built for families, so it's as much about the activity as it is about the objects on display.

The exhibition runs from Saturday 28 March to Sunday 1 November 2026 at the Royal Pavilion & Garden in Brighton.