Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum on Cromwell Road, South Kensington, is free to visit and one of London's most popular days out. Its galleries cover dinosaurs, human evolution and the natural world, and Hope, a 25.2-metre blue whale skeleton, hangs in the central Hintze Hall.
Photos
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Hope and Hintze Hall
The cathedral-like Hintze Hall is the first space many visitors see. Since July 2017 its centrepiece has been Hope, a blue whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling on a bespoke mount, her jaw more than four metres above your head. Ten other star specimens were unveiled around the hall at the same time. Engineers tested her position with a 3D-printed scale model before raising her slowly over several days.
Galleries to prioritise
The dinosaur galleries are the big draw for families, so go early if they are top of the list. Human evolution and changing exhibitions such as Jurassic Oceans fill out a day, and some temporary exhibitions and events are ticketed. Outside, the museum's gardens are planted for wildlife and are a calm place to pause.
Planning your visit
Entry to the galleries is free, and you can book a free timed ticket online. Queues build at weekends and in school holidays, and members and ticket holders can skip them. Bags may be searched on arrival. The museum sits beside the V&A and the Science Museum, and the Royal Albert Hall and Hyde Park are a short walk north. Cafés and shops are inside the building.
Highlights
- Free entry to the main galleries
- Hope, the 25.2 m blue whale skeleton in Hintze Hall
- Dinosaur and human evolution galleries
- Wildlife gardens
Good to know
- Book a free entry ticket online to plan your arrival time.
- Expect queues at weekends and in school holidays.
- Some exhibitions and events charge for entry.
- Bags may be searched on arrival.