Monday 26 October – Sunday 1 November
Free
South Kensington, London
Family Festival: Ocean October
Monsters of the deep sea, Jurassic Jaws and terrific tyrannosaurs means it’s time to get your teeth into some fantastic fun this half-term.
Dive into October half-term with some family-friendly activities. Themed around our thrilling Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep exhibition, we’re bringing you all things terrifically toothy across the week.
These activities are perfect for deep-sea explorers of all ages, so come and learn more about the wonders of the ocean… and beyond.
School holidays are our busiest times of the year. Book free general admission tickets ahead of your visit for guaranteed entry.
For paid events, book tickets online or at one of our information desks.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
- Free activities are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You don’t need an exhibition ticket or paid event ticket to enjoy these activities.
- Check out our Family Festival visual guide.
Programme
Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep
In our exhibition, you’ll get to meet the legends of Earth’s prehistoric oceans, from the pliosaur – a gigantic, gnarly toothed creature – to the ichthyosaur, a majestic and speedy, dolphin-like predator. Open all half-term. Booking required.
Daily
Adult: £17.50
Child: £8.75
T. Rex Show with Teach Rex
Teach Rex use life-like dinosaur puppets to perform their show about the anatomy and life of Tyrannosaurus rex, one of the most amazing creatures to have ever roamed the planet. The show delves into the jaws of this iconic animal, taking you on a thrilling interactive, prehistoric journey.
Monday 26 – Friday 30 October
10:30, 13:00 and 15:30
Non-member: £15
Member: £13.50
Flett Events Theatre, East Wing, Floor 1
Recommended for ages 3+
Jurassic Jaws
“You’re gonna need a bigger… microscope!”
Become an underwater detective of mysterious sharks from the ancient oceans. Investigate the clues and use tools and techniques inspired by real marine palaeontologists to help us solve crimes. Discover incredible shark adaptations and find out how these remarkable animals have survived in our oceans for more than 400 million years.
Monday 26 – Friday 30 October
Weekdays 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:30 and 15:30
Investigate Centre, Central Building, Lower Ground Level
Free, no need to book
Recommended for ages 6+
LEGO® Biodiversity Super Builders
Free, first-come, first-served – no need to book
Calling all builders of the future – nature needs your help! Get hands-on and learn about some of the biggest challenges facing the natural world. Then use your imagination, creativity and LEGO bricks to build and share your very own amazing solution.
Tuesday 28 July – Thursday 27 August
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 13:30–16:30
Entry every 30 minutes, last entry at 16:00
Investigate Centre, Central Building, Lower Ground Level
Recommended for ages 6+
Pond Explorers
Free, no need to book
Join our Learning Team to explore the biodiversity of our vibrant pond in our Nature Discovery Garden. From newts to dragonflies, there are many animals who call it home. In this free event, you’ll step into the shoes of a scientist and have a go at using microscopes, hand lenses and other scientific equipment to identify the different insects and amphibians in our urban garden.
Friday 24 July – Friday 28 August
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:30–13:00
Pond, Nature Discovery Garden
Recommended for ages 4+
Ocean Tales
Free, no need to book
Dive into a sensory ocean adventure for young explorers and their families. Discover amazing creatures from Jurassic seas through sensory props, movement and imaginative storytelling. Led by our learning volunteers, you’ll explore ocean textures and sounds while joining in with the interactive tale Plesi Finds a Family.
Sunday 25 October – Sunday 1 November
Sundays, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
12:00, 13:00 and 14:00 (calm session)
Nature Activity Centre in the Nature Discovery Garden
Recommended for ages 4+
Subject to volunteer availability
Behind-the-Scenes Tour: Spirit Collection
Go behind the scenes and discover our fascinating zoology collection of 22 million specimens preserved in spirit. Encounter creatures from land and sea, including today’s ocean titans, the giant and colossal squids.
Monday 26 – Friday 30 October
Weekdays 15:00
Hintze Hall, Central Building, Ground Floor
Meet by Turbinaria Wonderbay
Strictly for ages 10+ only
Non-member: adult £35, child £28
Member: adult £28, child £23
Women in Science Tours: Diverse History of Science
Free, no need to book
Encounter numerous treasures, including specimens collected by Mary Anning herself. Plus, learn more about our displays and the cutting-edge research we carry out.
Tuesday 27 October
12:15–13.00 and 13:15-14:00
Hintze Hall, Central Building, Ground Floor
Meet by the Learning Volunteer Tours sign
Recommended for ages 12+
Subject to volunteer availability
Visions of Nature
Join us for a mixed-reality experience that imagines a possible future a hundred years from now. Don your headset and be transported a century into the future to explore what could lie ahead for the planet. Journey around the globe as you’re surrounded visually and audibly by the awe and wonder of the future natural world.
Friday 24 July – Friday 28 August
Daily, 10:15–17:00, slots every 15 minutes
Non-member: £9.95
Member: £7.95
Zoology Spirit Building, West Wing, Ground Floor
Ages 10+ only due to headset size
Behind the Scenes Tour: Spirit Collection
Go behind the scenes for a look at the fascinating zoology collection we care for. You’ll encounter numerous treasures among the 22 million specimens kept in spirit, including Archie our giant squid. Tours last around 45 minutes.
Tuesday 28 July – Thursday 27 August
Daily, 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00
Non-member adult: £35
Non-member child: £28
Member adult: £28
Member child: £23
Meet by the Turbinaria Wonder Bay in Hintze Hall, Central Building, Ground Floor
Ages 10+ only
Enter the sixty-third Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition
Are you a budding photographer who loves all things wild?
Our Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is among the best in the world – it’s kind of like the Oscars!
So, if you love the great outdoors and have a keen eye for spotting captivating moments in nature, then this is for you. Your images can cover any aspect of the natural world – from creepy crawlies and terrific trees to interesting habitats and urban wildlife.
Ready for the challenge? Grab a camera or smartphone and get snapping.
It’s free to enter your photos, but you need to do so by 3 December 2026. You can submit up to 10 photos into one of these three age groups: 10 years and under, 11–14 years and 15–17 years.
The winner of each age category will also be considered for the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year award. We can’t wait to see your entries – good luck!
Guided tours
Explore our brilliant tours happening throughout the half-term that explore our galleries, exhibitions and the collections we care for.
Learning volunteers
Throughout the week, our learning volunteers will be out and about sharing their wonderful natural history knowledge. You’ll find them at our interactive pop-up stands and they’ll also be delivering tours exploring the diverse history of science. Tours are subject to volunteer availability.
Share your adventures with us on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
Become an Explorasaurus, see our exhibitions for free
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