The Natural History Museum in London is one of the best free things to do in the capital. Inside, you’ll find more than 80 million artifacts that tell the history of planet Earth and its inhabitants. It’s the second most-visited attraction in the UK, after the British Museum.
The museum is a great place to visit for families with children, couples, and solo travellers. Anyone with an interest in animals, nature, and our planet will enjoy spending time here.
Kids will love visiting the Dinosaurs gallery to find out more about prehistoric giants, while adults will relish the opportunity to learn more about how we can conserve energy and resources in the Fixing Our Broken Planet gallery.
The museum is open every day from 9am until 5.50pm (closed 24th-26th December). Last entry is at 5.30pm.
You can book a guided tour of the museum for a fee. Alternatively, there are some free self-guided tours available on the museum’s website. These tours are themed and highlight some of the best things to see, along with a guide on how to find them.
You can spend as long as you like in the Natural History Museum. There are over 20 galleries and spaces to explore, so you could easily spend a whole day here. As a rough guide, most people spend between three and four hours looking around the exhibits.
There are four different zones to explore, so if you don’t have much time, you could just pick one and save the rest for another day.
The Natural History Museum is free to visit. You can book a free-of-charge ticket in advance to guarantee entry. There is also walk-in availability, but you may need to queue at busy times.
For some special events or temporary exhibitions, there may be a fee, and you’ll need to book tickets in advance.
There’s so much to see at the Natural History Museum. Here are just a few of the highlights.
Not only is the Natural History Museum a fun place to learn more about the living world, but it also hosts a range of fun special events. For something unique to do, choose from dancing the night away at the silent disco or spend a night at the museum as you have a sleepover where you can explore the exhibits after dark. You can even get married at the Natural History Museum!
There is a charge for these special events, and you must book in advance.
Visit the website for more information.
The Natural History Museum is less than a mile from YHA London Earl’s Court. The easiest ways to get there are by walking, cycling, or public transport.
On foot: It’s around an 18-minute walk from YHA London Earl’s Court to the Natural History Museum.
Cycling: It takes about seven minutes to cycle from the Youth Hostel to the museum.
By public transport: From YHA London Earl’s Court, you can catch the C1 bus from Earl’s Court Road, alighting at South Kensington Station. The journey should take about 13 minutes.
WiFi
Cycle store
Near underground
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