Explore the Museum

Discover what you can see and do in our free galleries, and where you can eat, drink and shop across four zones: Blue, Green, Red and Orange.

Two hours at the Museum

Whether you're visiting for the first time or the fiftieth, these self-guided tours will take you through the best the Museum has to offer. 

Family favourites

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

Exhibits with impact

Uncover some of the Museum's most fascinating stories with this tour aimed at adults and solo travellers. 

Hidden treasures

Even if you've visited the Museum before and have seen the highlights, there's still plenty to discover. This tour guides you through some of the Museum's lesser-known treasures and is great for all ages.

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 Mammals (blue whale) gallery and the popular earthquake simulator.

14 things to do this spring for adults

Need some inspiration for things to do on your next visit?

Find out what's on at the Museum during March, April and May With silent discos, live talks with scientists, a great big dinosaur and fabulous photography - there's an activity for everyone.

Walk alongside a giant

Titanosaur: Life as the Biggest Dinosaur is now open.

Discover the colossal Patagotitan mayorum. Four times heavier than Dippy the Diplodocus and 12 metres longer than Hope our blue whale, don't miss your chance to see this extraordinary dinosaur up close.

Galleries

  • Blue Zone

    From dinosaurs to mammals, explore the amazing diversity of life on Earth.

    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.

    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.

    Mammals (blue whale model)

    Discover the biggest mammals in the animal kingdom.

    Fishes, Amphibians and Reptiles

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

    Marine Invertebrates

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

    Andy's clock

    See the clock from the CBeebies shows Andy's Dinosaur Adventures and Andy's Prehistoric Adventures in the Central Cafe near Hintze Hall.

    Contemplation Room

    This is a quiet, naturally lit room used for prayer and reflection.

    Please speak to our staff in Hintze Hall if you wish to use the room.

    Mammals

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

  • Green Zone

    Follow our planet's evolution and walk beneath a 25.2-metre blue whale skeleton. 

    Hintze Hall

    Whale hello there! Walk beneath the largest animal on Earth and explore dozens of other exhibits representing 4.5 billion years of natural history.

    Birds

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

    Creepy Crawlies

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

    Minerals

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

    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.

    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.

    Fossil Marine Reptiles

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

    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.

    The Anning Rooms

    The Anning Rooms are a private lounge, study area and restaurant perfect for a light lunch or coffee away from the hustle and bustle. Open only to Members and Patrons.

  • Red Zone

    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.

    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.

    Don't miss the famous earthquake simulator.

    Human Evolution

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

    Earth's Treasury

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

    From the Beginning

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

    Restless Surface

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

    Lasting Impressions

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

  • Orange Zone

    See scientists at work in the Darwin Centre and marvel at curious specimens stored in spirit. 

    Zoology spirit building

    The Museum has over 23 million specimens stored in alcohol in the spirit collection. You can find some of the spirit collection on display next to the Attenborough Studio. 

    The Zoology spirit building is a public space tucked away from the main areas of the Museum, offering a quiet place for reflection and prayer.

    Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the spirit collection.

    The Cocoon

    Explore science and nature in the Darwin Centre's Cocoon and meet experts at Attenborough Studio events.

  • 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.