Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum is one of London’s most popular museums, dedicated to understanding the natural world and the history of life on Earth. The museum first opened to the public on 18 April 1881, although its collections have much older roots. Its distinctive Romanesque building in South Kensington was designed by Alfred Waterhouse and was created around Sir Richard Owen’s idea of a “cathedral to nature”.

The museum’s collections contain more than 80 million objects covering areas such as zoology, palaeontology, botany, entomology and mineralogy. Visitors can see dinosaur fossils, animal specimens, minerals and other objects that help explain the development of life and the planet.

For many visitors, the dinosaur displays are a major highlight, while the building itself is also part of the experience. The museum continues to combine public exhibitions with scientific research and maintains one of the world’s most significant natural history collections.

General admission to the Natural History Museum is free. You can visit without booking, but the museum recommends booking a free entry ticket in advance to guarantee entry, particularly during busy periods.

Some temporary exhibitions and special events require paid tickets. If you want to visit a particular exhibition, check its ticket requirements before your visit.

• The museum may also carry out bag searches at the entrance.

The museum is located at Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD.

By Tube:

The nearest Tube station is South Kensington, around a five-minute walk from the museum. It is served by the Piccadilly, District and Circle lines. Gloucester Road is another option and is around 7–12 minutes’ walk depending on the entrance you use.

There are also several bus routes serving the area around Cromwell Road and Exhibition Road.

Allow around 2-4 hours for a comfortable visit. If you are mainly interested in the dinosaur galleries and major highlights, around two hours can give you a useful introduction. Visitors who want to explore more galleries at a relaxed pace should allow three to four hours.

• Book a free entry ticket in advance if you want to reduce the risk of queuing during busy periods.
• Weekday afternoons are generally less busy than mornings and weekends.
• The museum is large, so decide which galleries you most want to see before you arrive.
• Allow some extra time for the entrance security check.
• Comfortable shoes are useful because there is a lot to explore.
• Check the museum’s website before your visit for temporary gallery closures or maintenance updates.
• The museum has three main entrances: Central Entrance on Cromwell Road, East Entrance on Exhibition Road and West Entrance on Queen’s Gate.