Explore the Museum

Discover what you can see and do in our free galleries, and where you can eat, drink and shop across the Museum.

Two hour self-guided tours

Whether you're visiting us for the first time or the fiftieth, these self-guided tours will show you the best we have to offer.

Family favourites

Round up your family and take a  tour  to see some of our biggest sights⁠ including dinosaurs, whales and volcanoes.

Hidden treasures

Even if you've visited us before there's still plenty to discover. This tour guides you through some of our lesser-known treasures and is great for all ages.

Exhibits with impact

Uncover some of our most fascinating stories and learn something new with this engaging tour aimed at adults and solo travellers. 

Take an audio-guided tour of Hintze Hall

Sir David Attenborough's unmistakable voice and expertise on all things nature make him the perfect person to take you on an audio-guided tour of Hintze Hall's star specimens.

Six free things to do at the Museum

There is so much for families to explore in the galleries, including your favourite dinosaurs, volcanoes and mammals. Don't miss Andy's clock, the Dinosaur gallery and our earthquake simulator.

14 things to do this winter for adults

Find out what you can do with us during December, January and February. With museum tours, the world's biggest dinosaur and fabulous photography - there's an activity for everyone.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Explore the natural world in all its fragility and diversity at the annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, where 100 powerful photographs tell the story of a planet under pressure.

Now open

What you can find in our galleries

  • Dinosaurs and fossils

    From prehistoric predators to early humans and fossilised plant life, these specimens tell the incredible story of how life evolved on our planet.

    Dinosaurs

    The Museum's dinosaurs are world-famous. Meet the roaring T. rex, see the skull of a Triceratops and wander among fossils in the Dinosaurs gallery.

    Blue zone

    Lasting Impressions

    Examine remarkable fossil evidence of long-ago events in the Lasting Impressions gallery.

    Red zone

    Fossils from Britain

    Trace our fossil record through mud, silt, sand and time. See preserved shark teeth and spot the fossil fakes in the Fossils from Britain gallery.

    Green zone

    Fossil Marine Reptiles

    Find out what was going on in the oceans while dinosaurs dominated the land in the Fossil Marine Reptiles gallery.

    Green zone

    Human Evolution

    Trace the origins and evolution of our species, and explore what makes us human.

    Red zone

  • Animal kingdom

    Encounter hippos and hedgehogs, snails and serpents, mice and molluscs in our galleries and discover the incredible diversity of the natural world. 

    Closed: Mammals (blue whale model)

    This gallery is currently closed for conservation work until early 2024.

    Blue zone

    Fishes, Amphibians and Reptiles

    Meet some of the most weird and wonderful water-dwelling species in the Fishes, Amphibians and Reptiles gallery.

    Blue zone

    Mammals

    Explore the rich diversity of mammals, from polar bears to pygmy shrews in the Mammals gallery.

    Blue zone

    Birds

    Discover an extinct dodo, our historical hummingbird cabinet and a Victorian avian anatomy display in the Birds gallery.

    Green zone

    Marine Invertebrates

    Investigate the lives of ocean inhabitants in the Marine Invertebrates gallery.

    Blue zone

    Creepy Crawlies

    Satisfy your curiosity for insects, crabs, centipedes and spiders, and explore all things arthropod in the Creepy Crawlies gallery.

    Green zone

  • Earth, minerals and the environment

    Take a journey through our spectacular Earth sculpture and find out about the tremendous forces that shape our planet.

    Earth Hall and Stegosaurus

    Meet our incredible dinosaur specimen, the most intact Stegosaurus fossil skeleton ever found. At three metres tall and almost six metres long, it's a dramatic welcome to Earth Hall.

    Red zone

    Volcanoes and Earthquakes

    Epic forces are at work every day, changing the face of our planet. Explore how the powers within shape the world in which we live and don't miss the famous earthquake simulator.

    Red zone

    The Vault

    Some of nature's most unique and valuable treasures are on display in the Vault gallery. See a piece of the Winchcombe meteorite, from the first meteorite fall to have been recovered in the UK for 30 years.

    Green zone

    Minerals

    Step back in time to see the Museum as it was in 1881 with its original oak display cabinets in the Minerals gallery.

    Green zone

    From the Beginning

    Explore the evolution of life on our planet in the From the Beginning gallery.

    Red zone

    Earth's Treasury

    Discover minerals, gemstones and rocks in the Earth's Treasury gallery.

    Red zone

    Restless Surface

    How has wind, water and other weather shaped Earth? And how long has it taken? Find out in the Restless Surface gallery.

    Red zone

  • The history of natural history

    Step back in time and explore how our relationship with the natural world has changed. 

    Hintze Hall Balconies

    Look down on Hope the blue whale, discover more about the practice of natural history and get a closer look at our intricate painted ceiling. 

    Green zone

    Treasures

    Explore 22 objects spanning 4.5 billion years of Earth's history. Each exhibit tells a remarkable story and has been chosen for its scientific, historical and cultural importance.

    Green zone

    Images of Nature

    See how artists and scientists view the natural world through more than 100 images from the Museum's collection in the Images of Nature gallery.

    Blue zone

  • Gallery closures and maintenance works

Eat, drink and shop

Roaming the galleries can be exhausting stuff, so why not rest and refuel in one of our cafes? There's a selection of fresh food and hot and cold drinks available. Browse the shops for dinosaur- and other nature-inspired gifts.