Natural History Museum
A Romanesque 'cathedral of nature' with dinosaur skeletons and a blue whale skeleton. Free to enter, and a must for families.
This is the star of the Albertopolis museum district in South Kensington. Its terracotta-brick building itself resembles a cathedral. The central Hintze Hall hangs a 25-meter blue whale skeleton named Hope. The Dinosaur Gallery features an animatronic Tyrannosaurus rex, and the Earth Gallery has an escalator that carries visitors through a model of the Earth. There are also exhibits on minerals, gemstones, and an earthquake simulator. Permanent exhibitions are free, though booking a timed slot on the official website is recommended. Special exhibitions charge admission. The museum is open daily from about 10 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. Weekends and school holidays bring long queues, so arriving at opening time is best. South Kensington Underground station has a direct underground passage to the museum.
Opening hours
10:00–17:50
Nearby sights
- Science Museum
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Royal Albert Hall
- Harrods
- Kensington Palace
- Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens
- Design Museum
- Notting Hill / Portobello Road Market