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Natural History Museum London | Largest history museum in Britain
The Natural History Museum in London is a world-renowned center of natural history and science. Opened in 1881, it is housed in Alfred Waterhouse's grand Romanesque building, often called a "cathedral of nature" for its awe-inspiring architecture. Renowned for its vast collection of around 80 million specimens and its active role in scientific research, the museum is a pre-eminent center for understanding the natural world.
Why visit the Natural History Museum
Largest history museum in Britain: Explore 80 million specimens covering botany, zoology, mineralogy, and paleontology, including treasures collected by Charles Darwin.
World-class collections: Marvel at "Hope," the colossal blue whale skeleton suspended in Hintze Hall, and encounter an animatronic T. rex in the Dinosaurs Gallery.
Historic architecture: Step into a "cathedral of nature" – a grand Victorian building with intricate terracotta carvings and a soaring central hall that inspires awe.
Engaging for all ages: From the earthquake simulator to hands-on science activities and behind-the-scenes glimpses at research, the museum offers interactive learning.
Free general admission: Experience a world-class educational day out without an entry fee, making it an accessible and remarkable value.
Things to know before booking Natural History Museum London tickets
What’s included: While entry to the National History Museum in London is free, consider booking a reserved entry ticket with a multilingual audioguide in English, French, Italian, Spanish, and German to enhance your experience with insights from historians and experts about the museum’s collections. You also benefit from a complimentary digital map, allowing you to explore the expansive museum without missing any highlights.
Independent exploration:Your tickets allow you to explore the National History Museum London on your own using an audio guide and a digital map. Unlike a guided tour, you will not be led by a tour guide, and you are free to choose your own pace and explore the sights that interest you the most. These independent tours offer more flexibility and freedom and are a popular option for those who prefer to explore a destination independently.
Exhibitions: The Natural History Museum in London regularly conducts special rotating exhibitions on various sciences. These are ticketed events, and you can buy tickets to these exhibitions at the venue or online. Note that the National History Museum reserved entry ticket with an audio guide does not include admission to these paid exhibitions.
Accessibility: The London Natural History Museum is partially accessible to wheelchair users. You are also welcome to bring your guide dogs along with you.
Explore the Natural History Museum in London
The Natural History Museum is home to several distinct zones and special areas that offer unique experiences:
Hintze Hall
The grand entrance hall is dominated by Hope, the blue whale skeleton. It's the perfect starting point for your journey through natural history.
Dinosaurs Gallery
A perennial favourite, featuring towering fossil skeletons and an animatronic T. rex that brings prehistoric life to vivid reality.
Earth Hall & Earth Sciences
Ascend through a giant Earth model to explore galleries on volcanoes, earthquakes (including a simulator!), and dazzling mineral collections.
Treasures Gallery
A curated collection of 22 extraordinary objects, each with a unique scientific or cultural story, from Darwin's Origin of Species to ancient meteorites.
Darwin Centre & Wildlife Garden
Peek into working science labs, see preserved specimens (like Archie, the giant squid), and explore an urban oasis teeming with native wildlife.
What to see at the Natural History Museum
Hope
A 25-meter blue whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling in the Hintze Hall symbolizing the museum's mission for biodiversity.
Plan your visit to the Natural History Museum in London
Daily: 10am to 5:50pm
Last entry: 5:30pm
Closed on: December 24 to 26
Best time to visit: Plan your visit for a Monday to Thursday, either at 10am when the doors open or later in the afternoon. January to March and October to November are ideal months with fewer visitors. Spring and early fall are also nice, but summer draws the biggest crowds, even with fewer art exhibitions.
Address: Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom | Find on Maps
By tube: District, Circle, and Piccadilly lines Nearest station: South Kensington Station
By bus: Routes 14, 49, 70, 74, 345, 360, 414, 430, and C1 Nearest stop: Cromwell Road
By train: National Rail Nearest stations: Victoria and Paddington
By car: Via A4 Nearest parking: NeaQueen’s Gate parking
You can enter the museum through any of the three main entrances:
Central entrance: This entrance is accessible via the East Gate, on the corner of Cromwell Road and Exhibition Road. It’s step-free with a ramp.
East entrance: This entrance is on Exhibition Road. It’s not step-free, but there’s a lift from the entrance lobby to the galleries. Note that this gate is sometimes closed to manage crowds during busy periods.
West entrance: This entrance is open daily until 5pm and is accessible via the Upper West Gate on Queen’s Gate. It’s not step-free, but there’s a lift from the entrance lobby to the galleries.
Toilets: Located throughout the museum.
Cafes & restaurants: Several options, including the Central Cafe and the T. rex Grill.
Shop: Multiple gift shops offering souvenirs, books, and educational items.
Cloakroom: Available for coats and small bags (available at a small fee).
Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the museum.
Baby-changing facilities: Available in designated restrooms.
First aid: On-site first aid facilities are available.
Wheelchair access: The museum is largely wheelchair accessible, with lifts and ramps providing access to all floors and galleries.
Accessible toilets: Available throughout the museum.
Wheelchair hire: A limited number of wheelchairs are available for loan on a first-come, first-served basis.
Assistance animals: Registered assistance animals are welcome.
Timed entry: Even though general admission is free, book a free timed entry slot online in advance, especially during peak times, to guarantee entry and avoid long queues. Walk-ins are only accepted based on capacity, but pre-booking allows you to use a priority queue.
Food and drink: Only bottled water is permitted inside the exhibition spaces. You should use the designated cafe areas for eating.
Cloakroom: There is a fee for using the cloakroom to store coats and small bags.
What's not allowed: Alcohol, sharp objects, drones, knives, pepper spray, imitation firearms, offensive weapons, protest materials, and fireworks are strictly prohibited at this experience for safety reasons.
Pets: Unfortunately, pets are not allowed at this experience due to venue restrictions, but service animals are welcome to accompany their owners.
Photography: Flash photography is strictly forbidden at the venue to protect exhibits and ensure an enjoyable experience for all visitors.
The museum is home to fabulous cafés! Here's a sneak peek at them:
Central Cafe: Offers a range of hot and cold food, snacks, and drinks.
T. rex Restaurant: A family-friendly option, often serving burgers, fries, and other quick meals.
Earth Hall Cafe: Choose from a selection of hot meals, sandwiches, seasonal salads, and muffins.
Anning Rooms: Enjoy Afternoon Tea and the best of British seasonal produce, including dinosaur-footprint macarons.
Shake Bar: For lighter bites, shakes, and sundaes.
Garden Kitchen: A designated indoor space for small and larger sharing plates.
Science Museum: Right next door, offering interactive exhibits on science and technology.
Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A): A short walk away, showcasing art, design, and performance.
Hyde Park: A large royal park perfect for a stroll or relaxation.
Skip crowds using the Exhibition Road & Queen’s Gate entrances: Use the side entrances to avoid the long lines at Cromwell Road; the Exhibition Road entrance is often the quietest and is pushchair-friendly.
Beat the dinosaur rush: Head straight to the Dinosaur Gallery right at opening (10am) or after 3pm to avoid the busiest times. The T‑Rex animatronic can be loud—bring ear defenders if you’re sensitive.
Visit the Hidden Treasures Gallery route: Start through the West Entrance on Queen’s Gate and follow the Hidden Treasures independent trail. You’ll pass the spirit collection (preserved giraffe heads, squids, bats), the Images of Nature gallery (botanical art and CT scans), British fossils, and Darwin’s On the Origin of Species.
Peek behind the scenes in the Spirit Specimens: Wander into the lower-ground Darwin Centre atrium and explore the Zoology Spirit Building. If you do opt for the paid Spirit Specimen tour, you'll see fascinating jars of baby bats, giant squid, and more.
Seek the lesser-known galleries: Check out the Images of Nature Gallery with over 500,000 natural history artworks, including geological maps and shark micro-CT scans, and Fossils from Britain, a compact but remarkably detailed geological timeline.
Take time to admire the ornate ceilings: Hintze Hall’s ceilings contain 162 botanical panels painted in 1881, each representing historically important plants. The level of detail is astonishing and often overlooked.
Spot the museum’s wartime espionage plaque: In the Mammals Gallery, keep an eye out for a plaque commemorating SOE spies, used during WWII, when the museum housed secret operations like the infamous “exploding rat” device.
Combine with the Science Museum: After you're done, exit through the underground tunnel that links directly to the Science Museum. Great way to continue without stepping outside. You can catch a live science show next door too.
Frequently Asked Questions about Natural History Museum London tickets
General admission to the Natural History Museum's permanent galleries is free. However, special exhibitions and some guided tours or events may require a paid ticket.
All major galleries and zones like the Dinosaurs Gallery, Earth Hall, Hintze Hall, and Treasures Gallery are part of the free general admission and can be accessed once you enter the museum. The Darwin Centre's public areas are also freely accessible. However, some specialized guided tours require a separate ticketed booking.
A typical visit to the Natural History Museum can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours to explore the main highlights and key galleries. If you plan to delve into every exhibit, attend talks, or visit a special exhibition, you could easily spend 5-6 hours or even a full day.
Yes, the Natural History Museum often hosts special events and workshops. These events usually require separate paid tickets and should be booked in advance, as they are very popular.
For free timed entry tickets, re-entry on the same day is permitted, but you might need to queue again if the museum is at capacity. For paid special exhibition tickets, re-entry is usually not allowed unless explicitly stated.
To experience the museum with fewer crowds, it's generally best to visit right when it opens at 10am or later in the afternoon, typically after 3pm. Weekdays outside of school holidays are also usually less busy than weekends.
While bottled water is generally permitted, eating and drinking are not allowed within the exhibition galleries. The museum has designated cafes and a picnic area where you can consume your own food and beverages.
See 80 million specimens at London’s Natural History Museum with reserved entry and a multilingual audioguide.
Everything you get: Reserved entry to the Natural History Museum in London, a digital map for easy navigation, a digital audio guide with commentary that covers all the highlights, and a £1 donation to the museum.
Why choose this: Discover the blue whale in Hintze Hall, the animatronic T. rex, and more at your own pace, with expert audio insights in your preferred language.
Options: Choose between Headout's AI-powered audio guide that's responsive in real-time or hosted entry with a downloadable multilingual audio guide for insights in your preferred language.
Inclusions
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Reserved entry ticket to the Natural History Museum
Highlights audio tour in Chinese, German, English, French, Italian, Korean, and Spanish
Immersive stories, directions, and insights on your own phone; no onsite device rental required
Exclusions
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Priority entry
Entry to special exhibitions
Guided tour
Headset and mobile device
What to bring
Bring your own headphones to use with the digital audio guide.
What’s not allowed
Sharp objects such as scissors and knives, large bags, and suitcases are not allowed on this experience.
Due to venue restrictions, your pets cannot tag along.
Accessibility
The experience is partially wheelchair accessible.
Your guide dogs are welcome at the venue.
Additional information
Special exhibition tickets are not included and can be purchased separately.
Scan the QR code on your voucher to download the audio guide before arrival.
A child-friendly audio guide is available in English.
It is recommended to arrive at least 5 mins before your scheduled entry time.
Collect your tickets from your host at the Exhibition Road Courtyard, in front of the Victoria & Albert Museum arch. Look for a host in a dark blue ‘VoxCity’ uniform.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Tickets
Natural History Museum Reserved Entry Ticket & Audio Tour
See 80 million specimens at London’s Natural History Museum with reserved entry and a multilingual audioguide.
Everything you get: Reserved entry to the Natural History Museum in London, a digital map for easy navigation, a digital audio guide with commentary that covers all the highlights, and a £1 donation to the museum.
Why choose this: Discover the blue whale in Hintze Hall, the animatronic T. rex, and more at your own pace, with expert audio insights in your preferred language.
Options: Choose between Headout's AI-powered audio guide that's responsive in real-time or hosted entry with a downloadable multilingual audio guide for insights in your preferred language.
