How to get to the Natural History Museum

Take a trip to the pre-eminent centre of natural history in the world

Originally built from the personal collection of Sir Hans Sloane, the Natural History Museum in London contains over 80 million specimens of the natural world. Featuring items from the fields of botany, entomology, mineralogy, palaeontology and zoology, the museum is more than just a collection of pieces from the past, it’s an active research centre for over 200 scientists. 

Originally part of the British Museum, it eventually separated under the vision of Sir Richard Owen, known for coming up with the name for dinosaurs, who commissioned the new building and insisted the establishment be free for all.

• The Natural History Museum sits on Exhibition Row which is also home to the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Science Museum.

• Sir Owen’s foresight to build the new museum as a “cathedral to nature” meant it had the space to display large specimens like whales and dinosaur casts.

• The museum is split into 4 colour coded zones each with a broad theme: Red Zone for Earth’s changing history, Green Zone features the evolution of the planet, Blue Zone for the diversity of life and Orange Zone for science at work.

• Visitors can watch scientists work in the open plan labs within the Darwin Centre.

• The museum also houses more than 30,000 geological specimens after merging with the Geological Museum of the British Geological Survey in 1986.

• The Darwin Centre also houses the Attenborough Studio (named after Sir David Attenborough), a multimedia environment designed to better communicate science education and conservation work.

Planning your trip to the Natural History Museum

Whether you’re planning a quick visit or spending the best part of a day exploring, here are a few practical things to know before visiting the Natural History Museum.

• The Natural History Museum is open daily from 10:00 until 17:50, with the last entry at 17:30.

• It’s recommended you budget between 2 hours and 4 hours for your visit to ensure you can see everything you want to.

• Entry to the Natural History Museum is free, and it accepts voluntary donations at the door. Book a free entry ticket to guarantee your timeslot and avoid waiting in line.

• The museum also hosts a number of limited time exhibitions and events that require tickets, generally ranging from £10 to £40.

• Events like nights in the museum, with tickets from £235,  and yoga in the main hall with tickets starting at £32, are available regularly throughout the year.

• The Natural History Museum is home to two cafes, a restaurant, a shake bar, and a kitchen in the garden. You can also book afternoon tea in The Anning Rooms for a naturally inspired take on a British classic.

• There are six toilets and six accessible toilets in the museum, located on the ground and lower ground floors.

• The Natural History Museum also features three different gift shops, so you can ensure you go home with the right souvenirs and plushies.

• The museum is wheelchair accessible with lifts and step-free access to most areas. It has large print and visual guides as well as hearing loops built in at information desks and key points around the building.

Since the Natural History Museum sits on Exhibition Row, if you’re planning a museum day trip it’s easy to see the Science Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum as well, since they’re all within a two minute walk of each other on the same street. Built in the heart of historic Kensington, it’s easy to find pubs, bars and restaurants to suit your tastes for when your museum wandering is done.