Critic's choice: top five exhibitions

Power and Taboo: Sacred Objects from the Eastern Pacific
British Museum, WC1
The word taboo made its way into the OED via Captain Cook, who borrowed it from the Polynesians. In English, it means forbidden, but in its original it stands for something far more nuanced, as this intriguing exhibition reveals. British Museum curators have raided their collection of Polynesian artefacts dating back to the 18th and 19th century, before the arrival of missionaries spelt the end of indigenous gods. Wrapping sacred objects in barkcloth, feathers or coconut fibre was a trusted way of containing their capricious might, resulting in works that are as beautiful as they were once deemed potent. Unsurprisingly, they caught the eyes of modernists like Picasso and Henry Moore, and continue to inspire Polynesian artists today. (020 7323 8181). Until Sun 7 Jan.

Leonardo da Vinci: Experience, Experiment, Design
Victoria & Albert Museum, SW7
Whether dreaming up flying machines or pondering the anatomy of man, Leonardo jotted down his ideas in fluid, complex images, cramming page after page with ink and brownish red chalk. While his body of surviving work is scant, these questing, life-filled sketches - at once scientific and vibrant - confirm his genius. Accompanying computer animations and large-scale models of his inventions are interesting but unnecessary; the drawings say all there is to say and more. (020 7942 2000). Until Sun 7 Jan.

Holbein in England
Tate Britain, SW1
When Hans Holbein sailed to England to dodge religious turbulence in his native Germany, he brought the Renaissance with him. In all, he spent more than a decade here, creating extraordinary works of which the Tate has assembled a glorious haul. Along with portraits of the King and his many wives, you'll find vivid drawings in chalks and pen and ink, allegorical paintings, and even designs for jewellery. Don't miss the Holbein-themed Late at Tate event tomorrow night, which features a talk on food in Holbein's painting from ES restaurant critic Fay Maschler. (020 7887 8008). Until Sun 7 Jan.

LAST CHANCE: Front Page
British Library, NW1
This arresting exhibition brings together 200 front pages to illustrate the changing face of the nation's press, spanning the Sufragettes' struggle, two world wars and the terrorist attrocities of 9/11. Whether right or wrong ("No Lives Lost" cheered one paper when the Titanic went down), celebrated ("Murderers" ran the Daily Mail's headline above mugshots of the Stephen Lawrence murder suspects) or notorious (remember "Gotcha"?), it's a fascinating glimpse of history's first draft. (020 7412 7332). Until Sat 8 Oct.