How long does it take to visit the Natural History Museum?

Most visitors spend around 2 to 4 hours exploring the main galleries. If you want to include special exhibitions or family activities, give yourself a little extra time.

What are the Natural History Museum's opening hours?

The museum opens daily from 10 am to 5:50 pm, with last entry around 5:30 pm.

Which entrance is best for the Natural History Museum?

Exhibition Road usually has shorter queues and is stroller-friendly. Cromwell Road is the main entrance, very iconic, but often the busiest.

Can I re-enter once I leave the museum?

Some tickets, especially timed or special exhibition tickets, may not allow re-entry, so it’s best to check when you book.

Are backpacks allowed inside the museum?

Yes! Small backpacks are fine, but bigger bags and wheeled suitcases need to go in the cloakroom.

Is the Natural History Museum wheelchair accessible?

Absolutely! Most galleries are step-free, lifts are available, and wheelchairs can be borrowed on-site if you need one.

Visit the Natural History Museum | Opening Hours, Best Time to Visit & Tips

Navigating your way

Enter via Hintze Hall

👉 The main Cromwell Road entrance takes you straight into Hintze Hall, the museum’s central space with the blue whale skeleton. This is also where you can pick up a free floor map to plan your visit.

Blue Zone

👉 Start to the left of Hintze Hall, where you’ll find dinosaurs, marine invertebrates, and mammals. Interactive displays make this zone a highlight, especially for families and first-time visitors.

Green Zone

👉 This zone explores birds, minerals, fossils, and other key collections that tell the story of life over millions of years. It’s perfect if you want to dive deeper into how the natural world has developed.

Red Zone

👉 Move on to the red zone, where you’ll find volcanoes, earthquakes, rocks and minerals, and galleries on human evolution. This area is usually less crowded and great for a more focused visit.

Orange Zone

👉 Around Queen’s Gate, you can explore the Darwin Centre, the Wildlife Garden, and the Zoology Spirit Building. These areas give a quieter, behind-the-scenes look at how the museum works.

Optional add-ons

👉 Once you’re done exploring, or if you want a break in between, stop by the on-site cafés and gift shops conveniently located on every floor.

How to make the most of your visit

Visit type	Duration	Route	What you get
Quick visit	2 hours	Hintze Hall → Dinosaur Gallery → Earth Hall → Mammals Gallery	A quick look at the museum’s must-see highlights from the blue whale to towering dinosaurs, in a single smooth loop.
Half-day exploration	3–4 hours	Hintze Hall → Dinosaur Gallery → Earth Hall → Human Evolution → Minerals & Fossils	A balanced experience combining the museum’s star attractions with quieter galleries. Enjoy key specimens and interactive displays while moving at a relaxed pace.
Full-day deep dive	5–6 hours	Hintze Hall → Dinosaur Gallery → Earth Hall → Human Evolution → Minerals & Fossils → Darwin Centre → Wildlife Garden	The ultimate museum experience covering both iconic and hidden gems. Perfect for enthusiasts who want to explore in depth and discover interactive zones at leisure.

Handy tips

Beat the crowds

Reserve ahead: Book a reserved entry ticket online to reduce queues. Without it, you may end up waiting 30–60 minutes during busy months.
Pick calmer windows: Arrive at opening around 10 am or in the last 90 minutes before closing. The busiest times are usually 11 am to 3 pm. Holidays and weekends attract extra families, while visiting on weekdays in term time is noticeably calmer.

Navigate smarter

Plan your zones: Start with less busy zones like Green or Red first, then visit the Blue Zone later when the crowds thin.
Visit the Hidden Treasures Gallery: Start through the West Entrance on Queen’s Gate and follow the independent trail. You’ll pass the spirit collection with preserved giraffe heads, the Images of Nature gallery with botanical art, and Darwin’s On the Origin of Species.

Explore the Natural History Museum

Hintze Hall

Step into the museum and you’ll immediately notice Hintze Hall’s ceilings, Victorian architecture, and displays. Look up to see “Hope,” the blue whale skeleton suspended above, and take a moment to admire the giant sequoia tree trunk nearby.

Blue Zone

If you’ve ever dreamed of walking with dinosaurs, pause at the Blue Zone. This section is packed with skeletons of dinosaurs and marine creatures. You’ll also find the Images of Nature gallery, which engagingly mixes science and art.

Red Zone

Walk through the Red Zone to explore the forces that shape the Earth. Explore the From the Beginning gallery that traces how our planet was formed and the Volcanoes and Earthquakes gallery, where you can feel the floor shake in the earthquake simulator.

Green Zone

The Green Zone follows the story of life through fossils from Britain, marine reptiles, and the Birds gallery. Step into The Vault to see minerals and gems, including the Ostro Blue Topaz.

Orange Zone

This is where you see how science actually happens. The Darwin Centre and Wildlife Garden offer a behind-the-scenes look at research and conservation with interactive displays, live specimens, and the spirit collection.

Nature gardens

Step outside into the Urban Nature Gardens, a quiet green space in the middle of London. Opened in 2024, the gardens feature meadows, ponds, and woodland areas designed to support wildlife.

Know before booking your Natural History Museum tickets

Standard free entry: Entry to the Natural History Museum is free and gives you access to all permanent galleries. This option works well if you are happy to explore casually and do not need added context.
Reserved entry ticket: If you want a deeper and more structured experience, a reserved entry ticket with audio guide offers a more immersive and well-rounded visit. These tickets offer you a timed slot and include a multilingual audio guide with expert commentary.
Temporary exhibitions: The museum runs rotating temporary exhibitions focused on science, nature, and photography. These exhibitions require separate tickets and are not included with either free entry or reserved entry audio guide tickets.
Accessibility considerations: The Natural History Museum is partially accessible, with step-free access available in many public areas but not all galleries. If full accessibility is essential for you, this is something you should consider before booking.

Select your experience

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Tickets

Natural History Museum Reserved Entry Ticket & Audio Tour

Free cancellation

Book now, pay later

Flexible duration

Audio guide

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Check availability

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 host to greet you at the meeting point, a digital map for easy navigation, a multilingual 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.

Inclusions #

Reserved entry ticket to the Natural History Museum
Highlights audio tour in Chinese, German, English, French, Italian, Korean, and Spanish
English-speaking host at the meeting point
Digital map
£1 donation to the Natural History Museum

Exclusions #

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.

Day	Timings	Last entry	Closed on
Monday – Sunday	10 am to 5:50 pm	Around 5:30 pm	24, 25, 26 December

Best time to visit

The Natural History Museum is busiest on weekends and late mornings, especially between 11 am and 2 pm.

Weekday vs Weekend

Weekdays: Tuesday to Thursday are calmer, and arriving right at opening at 10 am or later in the afternoon after 3 pm gives you a more relaxed experience.
Weekends: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are generally busier, particularly in the Blue Zone and Hintze Hall. However, weekend afternoons allow for slightly thinner crowds once early visitors have left.

Peak Season vs Low Season

Peak season: June to August, school half-terms, and UK holidays see the highest visitor numbers, with longer queues at main entrances.
Low season: January to March and November to mid-December (excluding Christmas week) are quieter, ideal for exploring the galleries at your own pace.

Where is the Natural History Museum located?

Address: Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom

The Natural History Museum is located in South Kensington, London, right next to the Victoria and Albert Museum and close to the Science Museum. This area is a cultural hub with plenty of cafes, green spaces, and iconic London architecture.

Closest landmark: Victoria and Albert Museum, approximately 150 meters away.

Getting there

Entrances

Name	Location	Who it's for	Crowds & wait times
Central Entrance	Front of Cromwell Road, South Kensington	General visitors, all ticket types. Main, step-free entrance with ramp, often busiest.	Often the main entry point, busiest during peak times. Queues vary by crowd levels.
East Entrance	Exhibition Road side	General visitors, independent exploration. It’s not step-free, but there’s a lift from the entrance lobby to the galleries.	Usually slightly quieter than central, may be closed temporarily when managing crowds.
West Entrance	Queen’s Gate side	General visitors, drop‑off access.	Open daily until late afternoon. Typically less crowded than Cromwell Road.

Facilities

Cafes: The museum has several on-site cafes, including T. rex Restaurant, Central Café, Earth Hall Café, Shake Bar, and The Garden Kitchen, allowing you to pause and take a break.
Picnic area: The indoor lower-ground space allows you to enjoy the food between galleries.
Museum shop: The main shop near Hintze Hall sells nature-inspired gifts, books, and souvenirs.
Cranbourne boutique: This boutique offers fashion, homeware, and themed prints for museum fans.
Dino store: A dedicated dinosaur-themed store with toys, books, and gifts is available on-site.
Free Wi-Fi: Wireless internet is available throughout the museum for visitor use.
Water bottle refill points: Refill stations are placed in café areas to help you stay hydrated.
Baby care: Baby care rooms and high chairs are available for families with young children.
Toilets: Restrooms are located near dining areas and throughout public spaces for convenience
Audio guides: The museum has audio guides available for rent at the entrance.
Wheelchairs and lifts: There are accessible ramps for wheelchairs, lifts and step-free access throughout the museum.
Luggage and cloakroom: There are luggage storage areas (available for a specific amount) for use at the entrance.

Accessibility at the Natural History Museum

General facilities

Step‑free access, lifts, and ramps are available in most areas.
Visitors with specific access requirements and their accompanying family members and personal carers can skip the queues to enter the museum.

For visitors with physical disabilities

Guide dogs and other types of assistance dogs are welcome at the museum.
Manual wheelchairs or transit chairs are available for free from the cloakrooms at the Cromwell Road and Exhibition Road entrances, on a first‑come, first‑served basis.
Accessible restrooms are clearly marked throughout public spaces.

For visitors with hearing impairments

Hearing loops are installed at the information desks and at various points throughout the museum.
British Sign Language deaf-led tours are available around the fascinating Spirit Collection.

Rules and restrictions

Large bags, suitcases, and umbrellas must be left at the free cloakroom.
Photography is allowed in galleries, but flash, tripods, and selfie sticks are prohibited.
Eating and drinking are restricted to cafés, picnic areas, and designated zones.
Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is not permitted anywhere on site.
Animals are not allowed, except for certified assistance or guide dogs.
Re-entry is only allowed with a valid timed or reserved ticket.
Mobile phones must be on silent in galleries and exhibitions.
Access to some temporary exhibitions may be restricted due to age, health, or safety requirements.

Where to shop

Museum Shop

The main museum shop offers a wide selection of nature-inspired gifts, books, toys, and homewares for all ages.

Highlights: Nature-themed puzzles, science books, educational toys, home décor, and museum souvenirs.

Cranbourne Boutique

This boutique specialises in fashion, homeware, prints, and stylish natural world–themed gifts for adults and collectors.

Highlights: Art prints, stationery, home accessories, and unique collector items.

Dino Store

This is a dedicated store for dinosaur enthusiasts, offering toys, games, clothing, and themed gifts.

Highlights: Dinosaur models, children’s books, apparel, and fun educational toys.

Where to stay

The Ampersand Hotel

This is a luxury hotel with family-friendly amenities located near the museum and Kensington Gardens.

Highlights: Stylish rooms, convenient location, family accommodations, on-site dining.

The Kensington Hotel – Town House

This modern hotel offers European dining on-site and comfortable rooms close to cafés and shops.

Highlights: Quiet side streets, family rooms, easy access to museums, boutique feel.

Citadines South Kensington London

This is an apartment-style accommodation with kitchenettes, perfect for longer stays or families.

Highlights: Self-catering, spacious apartments, central location, near public transport.

Fraser Suites Kensington

This mid-range accommodation offers serviced apartments with extra space, ideal for families and extended visits.

Highlights: Family-friendly, kitchen facilities, quiet location, close to South Kensington Tube and museums.

Insider tips

Weekends and school holidays can get very busy at the Cromwell Road entrance, with lines sometimes taking 30 to 60 minutes. Try using the Exhibition Road or Queen’s Gate entrances for a faster start.
The museum is busiest between 11 am and 3 pm. Arriving right at 10 am or in the last couple of hours before closing often lets you enjoy popular galleries like the Dinosaurs without the crowds.
Grab a map first and plan your route. Start with the big-ticket exhibits like Dinosaurs or Earth Hall, then explore the quieter galleries later.
Take short breaks in quieter spots such as the Wildlife Garden or some of the lesser-known galleries. It’s a nice way to recharge before heading back to the action.