Ripley's Believe It or Not! - 🔭 Great Wall Visible from Space?

 

#1 – Did 300 Spartans Hold Off a Persian Army of Millions? The Greek sacrifice at “The Hot Gates” proved greater than history remembers it. Who can forget the tale of the 300 Spartans who held the pass of Thermopylae for three days against Persian hordes from the east? Movies such as 2006’s 300 continue to bring this landmark moment in ancient Greek history to life. They emphasize themes central to the fight, including freedom against oppression and courage in the face of insurmountable odds. But did 300 Spartans really make a final stand against King Xerxes’s massive army of millions? Here’s what we now know about the Spartan and Greek sacrifice that occurred that day... Read Here #2 – Court Fools and Jesters Were Actually Very Intelligent Fools often knew more about what was going on in the court than the king. The Kings and Queens of history have been a confusing bunch, haven’t they? They’ve been respectable, knowledgeable, worthy leaders, and they’ve been shockingly unfit-to-rule disasters. They’ve been as dignified and restrained as Queen Elizabeth II, and they’ve gorged themselves until they were horribly rotund like King Henry VIII. There are a lot of misconceptions around monarchs, and around a particular member of their entourage: the court jester. This much-maligned figure of fun is often portrayed as... Read Here #3 – Can You See the Great Wall of China From Space? People claimed it could be seen from the Moon before space travel even existed. Since 1904, people have been claiming that the Great Wall of China is so big and so prominent, that it can be seen from the surface of the moon. After years of waiting, Apollo astronauts were able to confirm the authenticity of this claim. Their answer: no. Alan Bean, of the Apollo 12 mission, recounts that all you can really make out on the Earth are lots of white clouds and snow, some blue patches, a little bit of yellow, and, every once in a while, a patch of green... Read Here #4 – Will Touching a Baby Bird Make the Mother Abandon It? Although baby birds are sometimes seen outside their nests on the ground, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Were you the kind of kid who liked to get into nature, to handle things from the great outdoors in order to learn more about the world around you? Then you probably heard the old saying from a parent or another adult at one time or another, the one that cautioned you from picking up baby birds found on the ground because, if they were handled by humans, their mothers would abandon them. Sounds legitimate, right? Well, this one’s actually not true for a number of reasons... Read Here LEVEL UP! Level 20 Unlocked With Ripley's Newest Book Push the limit. Progress. Pride yourself on what makes you stand out and take things to the next level! That’s what Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is inspiring readers to do with the twentieth edition of their annual book, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Level Up. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Level Up  is on sale and available at major retailers and on Amazon. Get Your Copy Experience the Excitement of Ripley’s Where the unbelievable comes alive right before your eyes! Venturing through themed galleries, adults and children alike will become immersed in curiosities, incredible art, animal oddities, pop-culture memorabilia, interactive games, and stories of people and places that are incredibly hard to believe, but undeniably true! Get Tickets

V&A South Kensington

 

William Shakespeare Celebrate Shakespeare's birthday month by exploring his legacy through art and design at V&A South Kensington. Don't miss the Performance Festival at V&A South Kensington, centred each year around Shakespeare’s birthday, a thrilling ten-day programme celebrating theatre and performance in all its forms. Explore Shakespeare ▸ Performance Festival ▸

Shakespeare in the collections Shakespeare's first folio Uncover the mysteries held within a 400-year-old copy of the first collected edition of Shakespeare's plays. Without this extraordinary book, several of his best-loved plays would have been lost. Watch now ▸ Greater Shakespeare Discover treasures from the Prints and Drawings collection at a free talk with a curator, including this playful homage to the iconic London Underground design with characters from Shakespeare's plays. Find out more ▸ Shakespeare in ceramics Shakespeare's timeless plays have inspired numerous ceramic designs found in V&A South Kensington's collections, such as this dish with printed decoration of scenes from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Take a closer look ▸ Shakespeare in jewellery A shell cameo brooch with a gold frame from 1840 depicts Ariel, the magical spirit in Shakespeare’s play 'The Tempest', with a large feather in his left hand on the back of a flying bat.  Discover more ▸

Performance Festival Friday 19 April - Sunday 28 April From mesmerizing performances to interactive workshops, immerse yourself in a celebration of all things theatre and performance with special events across V&A South Kensington.

Royal Collection Trust - Buckingham Palace East Wing Tours now on sale

 

Buckingham Palace East Wing Tours now on sale Tickets are now on sale for East Wing Highlight Tours combined with a visit to Buckingham Palace this summer. As an email subscriber, you have 24 hours priority access before remaining tickets go on general sale on our website tomorrow. We expect tickets to sell fast so don't delay in securing your place. BOOK TICKETS If you already have a ticket for the State Rooms or a 1-Year Pass, you can add on an East Wing Highlights Tour by telephoning +44 (0)303 123 7300. Alternatively you can purchase your East Wing Highlights Tour ticket online and then email bookinginfo@rct.uk for a refund on your original ticket. Please be advised that we aim to respond to all emails within 48 hours.

Learn more about the East Wing The East Wing of the Palace includes the front façade and features the famous central balcony. The Monarch and members of the Royal Family have made appearances on the balcony since 1851. Learn more about who built the East Wing and what it contains. WHAT IS THE EAST WING?