🎨MuseumClosed · Opens 10:00 AMFree

Natural History Museum

Name: Natural History Museum
Rating: 4.6

4.6 ·

Step into the Natural History Museum's cathedral-like halls in South Kensington. Wander beneath Hope the blue whale skeleton, explore dinosaur galleries and mineral collections, and take in the ornate terracotta architecture around you.

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Reasons to go

The entrance hall's suspended blue whale skeleton is nicknamed Hope.
The Darwin Centre houses a cocoon-shaped building with behind-the-scenes science displays.
The terracotta facade and ornate entrance hall were designed as a cathedral-like showcase for natural science.

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Full description

The Natural History Museum's terracotta facade and soaring, ornately decorated entrance hall make it as much an architectural spectacle as a scientific one, with a suspended blue whale skeleton, nicknamed Hope, greeting visitors overhead. Its dinosaur gallery and mineral collections have made it a perennial favorite for families and school groups, reflected in the museum's excellent rating across tens of thousands of reviews.

A perfect must-see and culture score confirms its status as one of London's essential free attractions, alongside its South Kensington neighbors. Plan for at least two hours given both the scale of the building and the volume of visitors.

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Address

Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD, UK · South Kensington

Website

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Hours

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Booking

Booking recommended

Duration

Best time

morning, lunchtime, afternoon or early evening

Intensity

Active — lots of walking

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Good to know

Book a free timed ticket online, particularly for weekends and school holidays
arrive right at opening to beat the queues
the Darwin Centre's cocoon and behind-the-scenes displays are easy to miss but worth seeking out.

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Reviews

Great Free Museum for Families The Natural History Museum is free to enter and is a great place for families to visit. The dinosaur section is located on the ground floor and is very popular with children. Personally, I enjoyed the Earthquake and Volcano section even more. It was interesting and educational. There…

Zhiqun Chua

5/5

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