Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:45 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:45 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:45 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:45 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:45 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:45 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:45 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:45 PM
About
A center of scientific excellence in the discovery of taxonomy and biodiversity, this world-famous museum promotes the discovery and enjoyment of the natural world through such exciting exhibits as the Life and Earth Galleries, wildlife garden and geological collections.
Duration: More than 3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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from £6.00
£5.10
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Kensington and Hyde Park
Kensington and Hyde Park, a London neighborhood drenched in royal history and cultural prominence, is the perfect destination for all. With Kensington Palace, the former residence of Queen Victoria and current home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the stunning Hyde Park, one of the largest parks in London, there is no shortage of notable landmarks. For food lovers, Kensington High Street offers a range of upscale dining options, from Michelin-starred restaurants to charming bistros. Accessibility is never a concern in this neighborhood, with numerous underground stations like Hyde Park Corner and Knightsbridge, making it easy to explore other parts of the city. The lush greenery of the parks combined with the refined architectural beauty gives this neighborhood an aura of distinguished elegance.
How to get there
- Gloucester Road • 6 min walk
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4.5
38,390 reviews
Excellent
25,321
Very good
8,980
Average
2,968
Poor
765
Terrible
357
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Ann H
York, UK2,618 contributions
Mar 2025 • Couples
Having visited this amazing museum as children, we have tried on a couple of occasions to revisit over the past few years but have always been put off by the massive queues. Not such a problem this time as were staying locally and got there approximately 10mins after it opened. Don't get me wrong, we still had to queue but got in after about 15 - 20minutes. It is definitely worth going online and booking a ticket (it is free) but you get an allocated time and can bypass the queue. Once in we spent 3 hours wandering taking in all the exhibitions, especially enjoying the dinosaurs and the blue whale area. The building itself is impressive too!! Loved it
Written 17 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, thank you for your review - it sounds like you had a wonderful time wandering around, especially in our more popular galleries! We hope you'll come and visit again soon!
Written 18 March 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Glenn Matcham
Rainham, UK52 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
I visited the Natural History Museum today with my wife and 2 children aged 8 and 14
We had a great day here and spent a good 6 hours looking at everything and we still hadn't seen everything by the time we had left. There is so much to see and do. Highlights are the Dinosaur area and the kids liked the Earthquake area too.
Luckily we booked online a week before, when we arrived (11am) the que was very long but luckily we could skip it due to having booked already. We decided to have lunch there and ate in the T Rex Restaurant. We normally bring a packed lunch to places like this but as its the summer holidays we decided to not bother carrying it round with us all day and to eat there. The food was nice but expensive. I am coeliac and cant have anything containing wheat or gluten. Whilst the menu had a small Non containing gluten section, when I ordered, they told me they had no gluten free buns, so I was given just the burger itself with the fries. Although they never gave me a bun with my burger, I was still charged the full price of almost £16.00
My Wife and one of my sons had burger and chips and my other son had a pizza. we all had 1 drink each and it came to £64.50 The milkshakes were £6.00 each and when they came out, they weren't very big at all.
If others think this is quite pricey then I would advise bringing a packed lunch, there is plenty of areas to eat should you decide to bring your own food. The only other negative was just how busy it was. We have been here many times before but the crowds have never been as bad as they were today. When we stood at the top of the main stairs all you could see was a sea of people. All the walkways were busy too, so it wasn't like you could find quieter spots, everywhere was packed which can be a pain if your trying to read things or take a photo as people seem to be oblivious and will stand Infront of you whilst your reading something.
We had a great day here and spent a good 6 hours looking at everything and we still hadn't seen everything by the time we had left. There is so much to see and do. Highlights are the Dinosaur area and the kids liked the Earthquake area too.
Luckily we booked online a week before, when we arrived (11am) the que was very long but luckily we could skip it due to having booked already. We decided to have lunch there and ate in the T Rex Restaurant. We normally bring a packed lunch to places like this but as its the summer holidays we decided to not bother carrying it round with us all day and to eat there. The food was nice but expensive. I am coeliac and cant have anything containing wheat or gluten. Whilst the menu had a small Non containing gluten section, when I ordered, they told me they had no gluten free buns, so I was given just the burger itself with the fries. Although they never gave me a bun with my burger, I was still charged the full price of almost £16.00
My Wife and one of my sons had burger and chips and my other son had a pizza. we all had 1 drink each and it came to £64.50 The milkshakes were £6.00 each and when they came out, they weren't very big at all.
If others think this is quite pricey then I would advise bringing a packed lunch, there is plenty of areas to eat should you decide to bring your own food. The only other negative was just how busy it was. We have been here many times before but the crowds have never been as bad as they were today. When we stood at the top of the main stairs all you could see was a sea of people. All the walkways were busy too, so it wasn't like you could find quieter spots, everywhere was packed which can be a pain if your trying to read things or take a photo as people seem to be oblivious and will stand Infront of you whilst your reading something.
Written 22 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello TheMatchams, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. It sounds like you had a packed schedule in the 6 hours you were here, and we're pleased you enjoyed our Dinosaurs and Earthquake galleries.
We're sorry to hear of your disappointment concerning the lunch at the T Rex Restaurant. If you would like to discuss this further, please do feel free to drop us a line at feedback@nhm.ac.uk so that we can put you in touch with our catering partners.
We hope that the level of people in the Museum did not impact your visit negatively; at peak times we do expect to be busier, but numbers are managed by capping the quantity of tickets available. While we also have a walk-up queue for non-ticketholders, entry from this is only permitted based on the numbers leaving. Our operations managers do their best to maintain a balance between access and experience, and we're sorry if this fell short.
We hope that we can welcome you back soon!
Written 23 August 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
gabriella
Carunchio, Italy330 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
Located in the luxurious and exclusive Kensington neighbourhood of the Cromwell Road, it is a beautiful museum both for the majestic and spectacular Victorian building and for the millions of precious artefacts it houses.
It can be visited for free, but some temporary exhibitions and events may require an admission fee; it is also advisable to book an admission ticket online to skip the line, really long.
We were lucky enough to admire the new garden settings with its heart, the Evolution Garden, an area that offers a journey through billions of years of our planet's history: truly impressive.
Inside there are various sections and very interesting rooms. The structure is vast and you can not see every exhibition for this, unless you want to dedicate a whole day, Recommendation to see what interests and intrigues you most, as we did.
Right at the entrance, at the top, is the skeleton of the largest animal that ever existed: the blue whale Hope. Of course the thing that attracts children especially is the blue zone, with the dinosaur gallery and the robotic T-Rex.
We wanted to see the earthquake simulator, but there were really a lot of people.
On the ground floor of the museum there is also a picnic area with tables available for a quick lunch.
It can be visited for free, but some temporary exhibitions and events may require an admission fee; it is also advisable to book an admission ticket online to skip the line, really long.
We were lucky enough to admire the new garden settings with its heart, the Evolution Garden, an area that offers a journey through billions of years of our planet's history: truly impressive.
Inside there are various sections and very interesting rooms. The structure is vast and you can not see every exhibition for this, unless you want to dedicate a whole day, Recommendation to see what interests and intrigues you most, as we did.
Right at the entrance, at the top, is the skeleton of the largest animal that ever existed: the blue whale Hope. Of course the thing that attracts children especially is the blue zone, with the dinosaur gallery and the robotic T-Rex.
We wanted to see the earthquake simulator, but there were really a lot of people.
On the ground floor of the museum there is also a picnic area with tables available for a quick lunch.
Automatically translated
Written 8 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ciao Gabriella, grazie per aver dedicato del tempo a lasciare una recensione così incredibile. Siamo così felici di sapere che ti sei divertito così tanto a visitare le gallerie del museo e che hai pensato che i nostri nuovi giardini fossero così impressionanti guidandoti attraverso la storia di come la vita sulla Terra è cambiata nel tempo. Grazie per aver lasciato ottimi consigli sull'ingresso al museo e suggerimenti per la visita. Torna a trovarci presto!
Written 17 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A83
Berkshire, UK146 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
The natural history museum is a must do. I visit at least once a year and I swear I see something new every time which I’ve missed previously!
They have a vast amount of additional ‘pay for’ activities and I have personally done the spirit tour, the ice skating (before this shut down and got turned into the garden) and the before hours dinosaur tour. Throughout both of the tours the individuals taking us around had an extreme amount of knowledge and made sure to keep us captivated throughout and even though we were one of the oldest at the dinosaur tour, they made sure to keep it entertaining for all age ranges. Even the price range for these activities are not bad seeing as you are in one of the “main” tourist hotspots with the tickets being £25pp. I have also known individuals who have done the crochet evenings or even the dinosnore sleep over (prices of these vary) and they have thoroughly recommended!
If you are planning on going then definitely book to avoid being disappointed on the day or to avoid the longer queues for those who do not have pre-existing tickets.
They have a vast amount of additional ‘pay for’ activities and I have personally done the spirit tour, the ice skating (before this shut down and got turned into the garden) and the before hours dinosaur tour. Throughout both of the tours the individuals taking us around had an extreme amount of knowledge and made sure to keep us captivated throughout and even though we were one of the oldest at the dinosaur tour, they made sure to keep it entertaining for all age ranges. Even the price range for these activities are not bad seeing as you are in one of the “main” tourist hotspots with the tickets being £25pp. I have also known individuals who have done the crochet evenings or even the dinosnore sleep over (prices of these vary) and they have thoroughly recommended!
If you are planning on going then definitely book to avoid being disappointed on the day or to avoid the longer queues for those who do not have pre-existing tickets.
Written 27 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there, thank you for taking the time to leave a review following your recent visit to the museum. We are so pleased to see that you enjoyed your visit and the tour. Great advise to book free general admission tickets to avoid queues. We hope to see you at the museum again soon.
Written 3 December 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
priscila severo de oliveira
Porto Alegre, RS8 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
Extraordinary place. Beautiful on the outside and inside. We went in the afternoon during the London summer, so it was very hot inside the museum and it was crowded with people, making it difficult to view and locomotion on site. Few environments had ventilation. We enter free of charge without Reservation. I suggest going early to the museum to enjoy and make the Reservation in advance by the site to not face queue.
Automatically translated
Written 27 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ciao, grazie per aver lasciato una recensione: siamo felici di sapere che hai trovato il luogo bellissimo. Ci auguriamo che la temperatura all'interno dell'edificio non abbia influito fortemente sulla vostra fruizione del Museo e non vediamo l'ora di darvi nuovamente il benvenuto presto.
Written 28 August 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tiziana T
Rome, Italy75 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
Museum suitable for young and old. Gorgeous from the outside, it looks like a castle! Surely the part dedicated to dinosaurs is among the most successful, but there is so much to see! The main room, with the giant whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling, is a sight. My family and I enjoyed the visit so much. Recommended!! NB. The museum is free and so is online Reservation, recommended to skip the long line.
Automatically translated
Written 28 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Buongiorno, grazie per aver lasciato una recensione in seguito alla tua recente visita al museo. Siamo molto lieti di vedere che ti è piaciuta la tua visita e grazie anche per i tuoi consigli molto utili. Ci auguriamo che visiterai nuovamente il nostro museo in futuro.
Written 3 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Antoine1776
pouzol99 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
On site you will discover the building and it is just beautiful! The museum is amazing there is so much to see! Admission is free, I still advise you to book a time slot on the museum’s website, otherwise you will be in a queue and will drop in
Automatically translated
Written 14 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Merci pour votre généreuse critique ! S'il vous plaît, revenez nous rendre visite bientôt !
Written 18 December 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
781tam
London, UK12 contributions
Oct 2024 • Family
My teenage daughter and I did a sleepover, focused on birds / dinos. It was magical … a couple of well pitched talks, organised trails, a late night visit into the bowels of the museum to see the eerie specimen jars (this cost extra) and an opportunity to roam this incredible, beautiful building at night & without the crowds. But the best bit was waking up in the iconic Hintze Hall, under the blue whale. WOW.
Written 6 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there, thank you so much for leaving a review after your recent sleepover at the museum. We are very pleased to see that you had a great time at the sleepover event. We aim to make it a memorable and very enjoyable night for all so it's very pleasing to see your lovely feedback. We hope you will visit the museum again in the future.
Written 8 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Narvin27
Hanoi, Vietnam39 contributions
Dec 2024 • Family
Beautiful location for kids that love dinosaurs and animal. Parents will be equally entertain with all the exhibitions. Food are slightly pricey inside so be prepared or walk across the street, multiple food options.
Written 2 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Narvin27, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are very pleased to see that you enjoyed your visit to the museum and that the kids enjoyed the dinosaurs (also one of our favourites). We hope to see you at the museum again soon.
Written 3 January 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BigMeesh30
Dallas, TX70 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
What a delightful museum for adults and children alike. Explore the wonders of how this earth was formed, what treasures exist on our planet, and interact with the natural history! Though busy on a Saturday (don't forget to reserve a ticket ahead of time so you can skip the line -- we were a couple hours late for our timed entry because of our flight but they let us still bypass the line because it was a reservation for that day), there's plenty of room and plenty to do. The hallways are wide and there were volunteers all around helping you find the exhibits of most interest to you.
The dinosaurs exhibit had an interesting mix of history, factoids, fossils displays, and animatronics. It also explored what really happened to the dinosaurs and the lives of the palaeontologists who studied them. There are exhibits for space, ocean life, gems, etc. Though we were only able to spend a couple hours here due to jet lag, it was well worth our time, and I'd go back again to explore some of the exhibits that we missed. One of the most interesting finds of the museum is that it's very interactive. There were art installations that were immersive, there were things to read and touch and hear and smell, and there were things that would interest adults and children.
The dinosaurs exhibit had an interesting mix of history, factoids, fossils displays, and animatronics. It also explored what really happened to the dinosaurs and the lives of the palaeontologists who studied them. There are exhibits for space, ocean life, gems, etc. Though we were only able to spend a couple hours here due to jet lag, it was well worth our time, and I'd go back again to explore some of the exhibits that we missed. One of the most interesting finds of the museum is that it's very interactive. There were art installations that were immersive, there were things to read and touch and hear and smell, and there were things that would interest adults and children.
Written 12 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there, thank you for taking the time to leave us a review following your recent visit to the museum. We are so pleased to see you enjoyed the visit and felt it was well worth your time. Thanks again for your detailed review and we hope you see you at the museum again in the future.
Written 13 November 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Buongiorno vorrei sapere se possiamo entrare e fare la visita al museo
history, abbiamo 4 zainetti da scuola e 2 trolley?
Written 25 March 2025
Mixx1963
Giugliano in Campania, Italy
Gli zainetti non penso siano un problema, i trolley non li lasciano entrare per cui devi lasciarli al deposito a pagamento all' ingresso principale (costo circa 5 sterline)
Written 26 March 2025
Qualcuno è andato di recente ? È ancora gratuito l’ingresso?
Written 14 February 2025
Bonsoir, merci de me dire s'il faut faire une réservation en ligne même si musée gratuit ?
Written 21 November 2024
Do you need to be in the museum exactly at the hour you made the reservation?
Written 18 November 2024
KATIE BARLEX
Benfleet, United Kingdom
is the musuem wheel chair easy access and disabled parking near by
Written 18 July 2024
KATIE BARLEX
Benfleet, United Kingdom
is the musuem wheel chair easy access and disabled parking near by
Written 18 July 2024
Ant F
London, United Kingdom
Is it possible to rent a headphone guide in the German language?
Written 1 May 2024
Devendra G
India
Try to pre-book the audio guide, we could not get one when we visited the museum. Most of the audio guides are available in british museums in all european languages.
Written 1 May 2024
Fat Joe Lampshade
Runcorn, United Kingdom
Visiting London for 1 day only in the summer, 1x adult and 3x children (under 11's). How long can we expect to spend on the visit to the Natural History Museum? So I can book other attractions around our visit here. Thanks in advance.
Written 28 April 2024
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