![Natural History Museum, London](/img/gd_attr/53848.jpg)
Natural History Museum, London (must see)
Originally constructed to serve as the housing for the British Museum's collection of natural history, and enriched with contributions from prominent 19th-century British explorers and scientists, most notably Charles Darwin, this grand Victorian edifice of scientific exploration stands as one of the world's foremost institutions devoted to natural history and earth sciences. As expected, given its strong association with Darwin, the primary focus here lies in the realms of evolution and conservation. The building's exteriorfeatures terracotta embellishments adorned with relief panels depicting both extant and extinct creatures, with some species having undergone reclassification over time. The museum's interior hosts an astounding collection of over 70 million distinct specimens, although only a fraction is available for public viewing. A full day of exploration would still leave much unseen.
Upon entering the cathedral-like entrance hall, visitors are greeted by the imposing skeleton of a colossal blue whale. In the Dinosaur Gallery ('Blue Zone'), one can encounter similarly enormous dinosaur bones, technically transformed into rocks through fossilization, alongside the lone known fossil of Spicomellus, an armored dinosaur variety characterized by spikes on its ribs. The journey continues with an encounter with a virtual Jurassic-era sea dragon and a towering animatronic 'T. rex' (three-fourths its actual size) designed to detect the presence of nearby humans and react accordingly, resulting in exhilarating shrieks of fear and delight echoing through the space.
An escalator transports guests into the expansive Earth Galleries, offering multiple levels to explore, including the earthquake simulation featured in the Volcanoes and Earthquake Gallery. Within the Darwin Centre, around 80 million items await, items that the main museum area cannot accommodate, including "Archie", a massive 28-foot giant squid. To catch a glimpse of Archie and the myriad other preserved animal specimens, visitors can book one of the "behind-the-scenes" 45-minute "Spirit Collection" tours, which are available on select dates and times and can be reserved on the same day (it's advisable to arrive early, as space is limited). For those who prefer nighttime adventures, the museum offers evening talks and the opportunity to spend an entire night within its walls during the "Dino Snores" events.
Why You Should Visit:
Huge space; interesting for adults as well as teens. And, like the majority of London's museums, absolutely free to visit.
As an added bonus, there is an ice-skating rink open from October to January, along with a widely popular Christmas fair.
Tips:
There are two entrances available: the primary one on Cromwell Rd tends to be quite crowded. However, if you head around the corner to the side of the Victoria and Albert Museum, you can enter with ease. However, given the extensive ground to cover, it's advisable to wear comfortable shoes as there will be a substantial amount of walking involved.
Upon entering the cathedral-like entrance hall, visitors are greeted by the imposing skeleton of a colossal blue whale. In the Dinosaur Gallery ('Blue Zone'), one can encounter similarly enormous dinosaur bones, technically transformed into rocks through fossilization, alongside the lone known fossil of Spicomellus, an armored dinosaur variety characterized by spikes on its ribs. The journey continues with an encounter with a virtual Jurassic-era sea dragon and a towering animatronic 'T. rex' (three-fourths its actual size) designed to detect the presence of nearby humans and react accordingly, resulting in exhilarating shrieks of fear and delight echoing through the space.
An escalator transports guests into the expansive Earth Galleries, offering multiple levels to explore, including the earthquake simulation featured in the Volcanoes and Earthquake Gallery. Within the Darwin Centre, around 80 million items await, items that the main museum area cannot accommodate, including "Archie", a massive 28-foot giant squid. To catch a glimpse of Archie and the myriad other preserved animal specimens, visitors can book one of the "behind-the-scenes" 45-minute "Spirit Collection" tours, which are available on select dates and times and can be reserved on the same day (it's advisable to arrive early, as space is limited). For those who prefer nighttime adventures, the museum offers evening talks and the opportunity to spend an entire night within its walls during the "Dino Snores" events.
Why You Should Visit:
Huge space; interesting for adults as well as teens. And, like the majority of London's museums, absolutely free to visit.
As an added bonus, there is an ice-skating rink open from October to January, along with a widely popular Christmas fair.
Tips:
There are two entrances available: the primary one on Cromwell Rd tends to be quite crowded. However, if you head around the corner to the side of the Victoria and Albert Museum, you can enter with ease. However, given the extensive ground to cover, it's advisable to wear comfortable shoes as there will be a substantial amount of walking involved.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in London. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Natural History Museum on Map
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Sight Name: Natural History Museum
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Walking Tours in London, England
Create Your Own Walk in London
Creating your own self-guided walk in London is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
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Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles
Shakespeare's London Walking Tour
Often called England's national poet or simply "the Bard", William Shakespeare is revered as one of, if not the greatest playwright this world has ever seen. The dramas, such as Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth are among the finest creations in the English language, translated into every major language and performed more often than those of any other author.... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
South Bank Walking Tour
The South Bank is a stretch of the Thames in London that is beautiful to walk through because there are so many iconic and magnificent things to see along the way. A lively and ever-changing area at the heart of London’s cultural scene, it also has the advantage of offering views across the Thames to some of the most famous buildings anywhere. The Palace of Westminster is the major feature in... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
London Introduction Walking Tour
After the Roman invasion of 43 AD, the settlement of Londinium came into being. Things went well enough until 61 AD. Then Queen Boudica and her Iceni warriors arrived. They burned the town to ashes. They were not just rowdy tourists. Londinium had died but it rose again and it flourished until the Romans left in the 5th century.
With the Romans gone, Londinium was Anglo-Saxon Lundenwic. Until... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.2 Km or 2.6 Miles
With the Romans gone, Londinium was Anglo-Saxon Lundenwic. Until... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.2 Km or 2.6 Miles
Kensington/Knightsbridge Walking Tour
Situated just below Hyde Park, Knightsbridge and South Kensington are two adjacent neighborhoods with grand Victorian homes and leafy garden squares. Home to London’s most expensive homes, Knightsbridge has some of the highest density of millionaires in the world. This is clearly reflected in the selection of stores & restaurants in the area, including the famous Harvey Nichols and Harrods... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Jane Austen’s London
The celebrated English novelist Jane Austen primarily lived between Bath and Hampshire. However, London also held a special significance in Austen's life. Many of her novels drew inspiration from the capital, like Lydia Bennet and Mr Wickham’s elopement in “Pride & Prejudice.”
One of Austen's cherished spots in London was Twinings, a renowned tea shop. Jane Austen was known... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles
One of Austen's cherished spots in London was Twinings, a renowned tea shop. Jane Austen was known... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
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