What to Do Today: Wrap Your Head Around Votes for Women

Today's opening kicks off The Representation of the People Act centenary

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A behind-the-scenes look at the lives of those who made it happen….

This new display features iconic objects that offer a chance to better understand the perseverance of well known, and lesser known suffragettes.

Votes for Women at the Museum of London; 2 February 2018 – 6 January 2019

As well as a film showing some of the figures who campaigned tirelessly to achieve votes for women, Emmeline Pankhurst’s hunger strike medal and Louise Mary Eates pendent, presented to her on her release from prison, will be on display.

Everything that’s Happening this Year to Mark 100 Years of Suffrage

This medal was presented to the Suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst to commemorate one of her many periods of imprisonment with hunger strike. The medal, engraved with the date March 1st 1912, refers to a two month prison sentence Emmeline received for throwing a stone at a window of 10 Downing Street. © Museum of London

This enamelled pendant was presented to Louise Mary Eates on her release from prison in May 1909. Designed by the enamellist Ernestine Mills, the pendant represents the winged figure of Hope singing outside the prison bars. Louise Eates was a founding member and Secretary of the Kensington Branch of the Women’s Social and Political Union. © Museum of London

Can’t make it to the opening today? On 3 -4 February, from 12:40 – 4pm, Votes for Women Weekend has wall to wall activities planned for an immersive experience of this thrilling history. Especially for children ages 10 and up, this weekend’s festivities are a family-friendly opportunity to see if you have what it takes to be a suffragette.

Suffragette rally

12.40pm & 3.40pm
Fancy yourself as a Suffragette? This participatory performance invites you to come to a recreated Suffragette rally before going on a journey through time, right up to the present day.

Banner-thon

11am –1pm & 2-4pm
Join Digital Drama to make a large-scale banner as part of Digital Drama‘s 100 Banners project. Inspired by the iconic Suffragette designs, these banners will be taken on a march to Parliament.

Suffragette poster parade, 1911 © Museum of London

Suffragette surveillance

11am – 4pm
Become a member of the early 20th century police. Learn about how surveillance photography was used to spy on the Suffragettes and set off to capture your own images of illegal Suffragette activities in the galleries.

Suffragette games

11am – 12.30pm & 1.30-4pm
Step back in time to an Edwardian living room and take part in a large, interactive version of Pank-a-squith, a special board game invented by the Suffragettes.

Poetry Masterclass

11am – 1pm & 2-4pm
Meet spoken word artists Sara Hirsch and Deanna Rodgers and be inspired by the powerful poems of the Suffragettes.

Millicent Fawcett, a timeless and courageous leader

11am – 1pm & 2-4pm
Create magazine covers inspired by the life of Millicent Fawcett with LSE Women’s Library.

Sophia, the Suffragette princess

12.45-1.30pm, 2-2.45pm & 3.15-4pm
Hear the incredible tale of Sophia Duleep Singh, god-daughter to Queen Victorian, daughter of a Maharaja and passionate Suffragette.

Make more noise

11am – 4pm
Find out about an incredible collection of brand new short stories, from ten of the UK’s very best storytellers, celebrating inspirational girls and women. Join author Katherine Woodfine and discover little known stories about Suffragettes and use these as inspiration for your own piece of creative writing. Create a Sufragette badge and wear it proudly as you pose for an Edwardian style photograph. In partnership with Nosy Crow.

Entrance to The Museum of London is free, from 10am – 6pm daily, at 150 London Wall London EC2Y 5HN

Looking for more things to do in London and beyond? Check out our culture section here