Natural History Museum

• Dippy the Diplodocus skeleton;
• The first T. Rex fossil ever discovered;
• The Wold Cottage meteorite (which is 4.6 billion years old – thus characterized as the oldest item in the museum);
• An archaeopteryx fossil (which is the most valuable fossil in the museum's collection);
• A 14,700-year-old cup made from a human skull (which was found in Somerset);
• The largest gold nugget in the world (which weighs 27.4 kg, and is worth around $1.5 million);
• The 1st edition of Charles Darwin's Origin of Species;
• The Pompeii casts of a man and dog (dating back to the Vesuvius volcano eruption near Naples in 79 AD);
• The Aurora Collection (consisting of nearly 300 different coloured diamonds);
• An earthquake simulator in the Earthquake Room (where visitors can step onto a platform in a “supermarket” and feel the room shake, just the way it would feel during a real earthquake. This essentially is an interactive experience aiming to unravel the reasons why volcanoes and earthquakes occur);
• Each year the museum also features regular exhibitions such as “Wildlife Photographer of the Year” with its show-stopping images and “Sensational Butterflies”, a tunnel tent that has hundreds of the colourful flying insects such as butterflies and moths which has become a summer favourite.

- Considering the age of the institution, many of the collections are associated with a great historical as well as scientific value, such as those collected by James Cook from his journey to the Pacific and of Charles Darwin from his’ on HMS Beagle;

- The museum also has a library that carries an extensive collection of books, journals, manuscripts, and artwork collections, all chiefly linked to the work and research of the scientific departments (Access to the library by appointment only);

- Star specimens such as Hope – the 25-metre blue whale that plunges from the ceiling of Hintze Hall, a rock as old as the solar system, and one of the UK’s most complete dinosaurs contribute to its strikingly picturesque appearance;

- You can also enjoy exciting after-hours event programmes featuring early morning yoga sessions, silent discos, live crime scenes, movie nights, and dinosaur sleepovers;

- There is always something for everyone who pays a visit such as regular family exhibitions, plenty of interactive activities and action-packed school holiday programmes;

- A visit to the museum during the evening hours is worth the shot as the building and hallways are especially beautiful when lit up at night;

- In case you’re interested in becoming a member of the Natural History Museum, you are able to get priority access to the dinosaur gallery. Adding to that, you can grab guest passes for your family and friends;

- One of the best tour options available focuses on Darwin Centre's Zoology building. The Behind-the-Scenes Spirit Collection Tour lets you explore the building's nearly 17 miles of specimen and book-stacked shelves, including items collected by Charles Darwin. You can also meet the museum's scientists, who can tell you some fascinating facts about the museum's many objects. These tours are suitable for kids over eight. Handheld guides are also available for those wanting to explore alone;

- The museum has been the setting of numerous books and films, including Paddington – a live-action animated comedy film where the villain is a taxidermist at the museum, which was shown in the cinemas in 2014.

Like other publicly funded national museums in the United Kingdom, the Natural History Museum doesn’t charge an admission fee. However, there are admission charges for some of the special exhibitions and events.

Type of Membership	Price
Adults	GBP 61
Joint Adult Membership	GBP 79
Family Membership (2 adults + up to 4 children)	GBP 85

Every day- 10:00 AM-05:50 PM

Last entry- 5:30 PM.

The museum is open until 10:00 PM on the last Friday of every month (except December). It is closed from 24th-26th December.

Tube: South Kensington- District, Piccadilly, & Circle Line (5-minute walk)

Train: West Brompton.

Bus: 14, 49, 70, 74, 345, 360, 414, 430, & C1.