Totally jaw-some! Come face-to-face with some of the fiercest predators to ever live at the Natural History Museum’s new exhibition Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep

• Plunge into the prehistoric deep and come face-to-face with the ocean’s all time deadliest predators! Embark on an electrifying adventure through ancient waters teeming with real-life sea monsters from ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs and the terrifying T.rexes of the sea, the mosasaurs.

• This exhibition is informed by the Museum’s world-leading scientists, experts in understanding how ecosystems change over time, and using our vast palaeontology collections to look back on past events and predict what the future could be for the natural world.
  

Today, London’s Natural History Museum announces a new blockbuster exhibition Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep opening Friday 22 May – just in time for the half-term holidays.

While dinosaurs triumphed on land and pterosaurs ruled the skies, fearsome marine reptiles dominated the oceans. These ferocious giants were highly adapted predators that feasted on scores of underwater creatures, from intricate ammonites to giant fish – and even each other.

Exploring the oceans of 200 million years ago, you'll come face-to-face with these monsters of the deep. Get a little too close for comfort to a mosasaur tooth, touch a cast of a Baryonyx claw and see how you measure up next to a complete plesiosaur. Dare to hold Jurassic poo and use our fierce factor to rate the deadliest creatures to ever patrol Earth’s oceans. 

But be careful, you wouldn’t want to dip a toe in these waters…

Lead scientist on the exhibition, Dr Marc Jones said, “Packed with star specimens from our world-leading palaeontology collection, this exhibition opens a dramatic window into a more dangerous, awe-inspiring past. It also celebrates the dynamism of science itself, showing how astounding new discoveries continue to emerge from creatures, some of which disappeared more than 200 million years ago.”

Museum Director, Dr Doug Gurr said, “The Jurassic oceans were home to some of the most extraordinary and terrifying creatures ever to exist. That sense of scale and drama is irresistible to children and creates the perfect gateway to learning about our planet. These colossal creatures that once ruled the oceans can help young minds bring big ideas such as extinction, adaptation and biodiversity thrillingly to life.”

Experience the astonishing diversity of life in the Jurassic oceans and meet those that acted as dinner for monstrous marine creatures. Dive into their world through captivating film, cutting-edge science from our world-leading palaeontologists and fossils and casts that you can touch. As these predators got bigger and bigger, see how they played an important role in keeping the oceans healthy, just like sharks and whales do today.

Discounted early bird tickets are available to prebook for a limited time. An accompanying programme of events and activities for all ages is also now available to book. More information can be found here. 

Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep  is generously supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation.

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Notes to editors 

Assets 

Images and video are available here. 

The press preview is provisionally booked to take place on Wednesday 20 May, 08:30-16:00. Contact [email protected] to register your interest. 

Dates: From Friday 22 May 2026
Times: Monday – Sunday 10.00-17.50 (last entry 16.30)  
Price: Peak: Adult £17.50, child £8.75  
              Off-peak: Adult £15.00, child £7.50  
               Members, patrons and children under 4 go free 
Concessions available
Tickets: Discounted early bird tickets are available to pre-book from 09.00 on Wednesday 18 March using the code MONSTERBIRD at the link: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/jurassic-oceans.html

Press Contact 

Natural History Museum Press Office 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5654 / 07799690151 

 Email: [email protected] 
 

The Natural History Museum is a world-leading scientific research centre and one of the world’s most visited museums. Our mission is to create advocates for the planet – people who act for nature. Our 400 scientists are finding solutions to the planetary emergency - from reversing biodiversity loss to resourcing the green economy.

We are seeking an additional £150 million to transform our South Kensington building: placing our groundbreaking research at its heart, revitalising four existing galleries, opening two new magnificent galleries and delighting 1 million more visitors a year with the wonders of the natural world.

About the Blavatnik Family Foundation 

The Blavatnik Family Foundation provides many of the world’s best researchers, scientists, and future leaders with the support and funding needed to solve humankind’s greatest challenges. Led by Sir Leonard Blavatnik, founder of Access Industries, the Foundation advances and promotes innovation, discovery, and creativity to benefit the whole of society. Over the past decade, the Foundation has contributed over US$1.3 billion to more than 250 organizations. See more at www.blavatnikfoundation.org.