London Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum is one of a handful of prestigious museums located on Exhibition Row, a common stop on sightseeing and hop-on hop-off bus tours of London. Visitors to the museum can tour the galleries independently, see scientists at work at the Darwin Centre, buy tickets for special behind-the-scenes tours, and attend drop-in talks, workshops, and events.

• Wheelchair users can access the museum via the Exhibition Road entrance.

• This museum is big; download the visitor app or pick up a map upon arrival to help you navigate.

• Be prepared for a short wait for security checks at the entrance.

• London Natural History Museum tickets are free. Reserving a timed entry ticket is recommended.

The Natural History Museum has two entrances: one on Cromwell Road and the other on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, opposite the Victoria and Albert Museum and beside the Science Museum. Take the Tube to South Kensington (District, Piccadilly, or Circle line) and follow the underground Exhibition Road tunnel from the station, taking the signposted Natural History Museum exit.

The Natural History Museum is open daily from 10am, with the last entry at 5:30pm. Crowds flock here on weekends and during school breaks; arrive shortly after opening to avoid them. The museum also opens its doors for occasional after-hours events such as movie nights and even sleepovers. Among the most popular annual exhibitions are the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, which typically opens in October and closes in May, and Sensational Butterflies, which runs from April to mid-September. In the build-up to Christmas, the museum’s seasonal open-air ice rink is the perfect place to get in the festive spirit.

Since 1979, the 85-foot-long (26-meter-long) Dippy the Diplodocus dinosaur skeleton has stolen the show in the museum’s magnificent Hintze Hall. That is, until 2017, when Dippy went off on tour and was replaced by Hope, an equally impressive 126-year-old blue whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling.

Yes, general admission to the Natural History Museum in London is free. You don’t need to book in advance, but prebooking a timed entry ticket is a good idea in busy periods such as weekends and holidays. You might need an admission ticket or advance reservation for some temporary exhibitions and events.

General admission to the Natural History Museum is free and includes all of the museum’s permanent exhibitions. You’ll be able to visit more than 20 galleries, including popular displays such as the Dinosaurs gallery, the Hall of Meteorites, and the Hall of Ocean Life, with its famous blue whale skeleton.

The Natural History Museum is one of London’s biggest museums—it’s home to more than 20 permanent exhibitions and has almost 80 million items on display. You’ll need around 3-4 hours to take in the highlights, but you can always take a break at one of the cafés or snack bars.

It depends. You can take small handbags and purses into the Natural History Museum, but all items will be subject to a security inspection. Backpacks, suitcases, and large bags aren’t allowed inside the museum, but there are two paid cloakrooms where you can leave luggage, strollers, folded bikes, and coats.

The quietest days to visit the Natural History Museum tend to be Wednesday and Thursday. You’ll find the biggest crowds on weekends, Fridays, and during school holidays—for thinner crowds, plan your visit for the morning or late afternoon (after 3pm), once the school groups have departed.

Yes. You can take photos of the permanent exhibitions at the Natural History Museum using a smartphone or hand-held camera, provided they’re only for personal use. You need permission for commercial filming and photography—with a minimum of five working days’ notice—and fees apply.