Happy 200th birthday Charles Darwin
Celebrate with us on Thursday 12 February
This famous statue of Charles Darwin overlooks the Museum's Central Hall from the top of the grand staircase.
Charles Darwin 1809 - 1882
Discover the great Charles Darwin at the Natural History Museum and on our website. Join us on his 200th birthday for some special talks, films and events, as well as the chance to meet our Darwin character, eat like Darwin and find out why he was, and still is, so vitally important.
Special events on Thursday 12 February
Happy Birthday Mr Darwin!
12.30, Marine Invertebrates gallery
Celebrate the achievements of Charles Darwin with us. Enjoy some birthday cake while you find out more about Darwin's revolutionary work and legacy.
Darwin Originals Films
One of the day's highlights is an exclusive screening of 2 artists' films that explore the scientific and social concerns of Darwin’s theory, followed by a discussion with the artists. These are part of the Darwin Originals series of 8 short films inspired by the life and work of Charles Darwin appearing on Channel 4 television.
Film 1: Bookworms - Ackroyd and Harvey
11.30, Marine Invertebrates gallery
Artists Ackroyd and Harvey celebrate the digestive power of earthworms, the legacy of book collecting and the plain unpredictability of life.
Film 2: Curious – Fit to Survive?
14.30, Marine Invertebrates gallery
Artists from Curious look back on Darwin’s voyage on HMS Beagle and ask what species will be fit to survive in the new environments we are creating.
Darwin's birthday soup
Try Darwin's wife's delicious recipe for Pea Soup in our Restaurant or Sandwich bar. Emma Darwin's recipe book has just been published with filling ideas such as Irish chocolate, veal pie and crème a la Victoire.
Visit our Restaurant
Visit our Sandwich bar
Gallery characters - Charles and Annie Darwin
Meet Charles Darwin in the Central Hall and hear about his famous theory for the evolution of all living things. Also meet Darwin's bright and energetic daughter Annie in Fossil Marine Reptiles gallery and Lasting Impressions gallery.
See what's on in our Nature Live daily events
More about Darwin
Charles Darwin the man and the scientist
Visit our critically acclaimed Darwin exhibition open until 19 April 2009.
Find out about the Darwin exhibition
Read our online biography of Darwin and timeline
Darwin200
This UK-wide programme brings together many organisations to celebrate Darwin's ideas and impact in Darwin's bicentenary year.
Check out what's on in your area for Darwin200
HMS Beagle interactive voyage
Hop on board our online HMS Beagle interactive voyage to learn amazing facts about Darwin's life-changing world trip.
Join the HMS Beagle interactive voyage
Darwin's mockingbirds video
Witness the vital significance of the Floreana mockingbirds collected by Darwin in the Galapagos Islands.
Watch the Darwin mockingbirds video
Evolution
What is evolution? Videos and games help explain the scientific concepts behind the theory in the evolution section of our website.
Find out about Evolution
