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Natural History Museum

Museum

Natural History Museum

Alfred Waterhouse's terracotta 'cathedral of nature', with a blue whale skeleton overhead and dinosaurs below. Free entry.

experiences to book
2
typical visit
2–3 hours
lowest price
£9

Things to do at Natural History Museum

Tickets

Guided tours

About Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum opened in South Kensington in 1881, in a Romanesque building by Alfred Waterhouse covered in terracotta plants and animals. Living species decorate the west side and extinct ones the east.

In Hintze Hall, the skeleton of Hope, a 25-metre blue whale, dives from the ceiling. The Dinosaurs gallery leads to a moving T. rex, Earth Hall holds Sophie, the most complete Stegosaurus skeleton ever found, and an escalator carries you through a giant globe into Volcanoes and Earthquakes.

Know before you go

  • Entry is free; a booked slot helps when walk-up visitors have to queue.
  • Bags may be searched at the entrance; cloakrooms charge £3–£6 per item.
  • Closed on Friday 9 October 2026 and 24–26 December.
  • Paid exhibitions, such as Wildlife Photographer of the Year, need a separate ticket.
  • Step-free entry is via the Cromwell Road ramp or the Queen's Gate entrance.