Natural History Museum

Explore the Dinosaurs gallery and come face-to-face with an animatronic T-rex

Suitable for

• Any age

Become a scientist in our hands-on education space where you can examine hundreds of real natural history specimens

Suitable for

• Any age

Highlights include a collection of 296 naturally coloured diamonds known as the Aurora Pyramid of Hope, Medusa, a giant, one-of-a-kind emerald from Zambia, and Tissint, a Martian meteorite that landed in Morocco last year

Suitable for

• Any age

Travel through the Cocoon experience deep into the heart of the collections to glimpse the working life of our scientists. See the previously hidden world of scientific research through viewing decks, video, intercom and more than 40 high-tech installations and hands-on interactive activities. Visitors will be able to interact with learning activators stationed throughout Cocoon and discover more about scientific techniques used in labs at Science Focus activity points near the viewing decks

Suitable for

• Any age

Indulge your passion for natural history, botanical illustration and scientific investigation. This permanent gallery showcases highlights from the Museum’s extensive collection of prints, watercolours and oil paintings, alongside intriguing scientific images. The art of India is the theme for this year’s temporary exhibition, which showcases Indian botanical and zoological watercolours commissioned by those working for the British East India Company during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Also on display is a modern response to this work by contemporary Indian artist Sunoj D

Suitable for

• Any age

See 22 of the most valuable and significant items in the Museum’s collection. This cabinet of curiosities includes unique, famous and surprising specimens from the worlds of botany, mineralogy, zoology and palaeontology. Highlights include Charles Darwin’s pigeons, which provided him with the crucial evidence for the theory of evolution by natural selection, and the skull of a Barbary lion, which is thought to have lived in the Tower of London around 1280–1385

Suitable for

• Any age

Revealing nature photography in its purest form, this collection of images uniquely combines the work of talented young photographers and gifted amateurs with leading lights of the profession from around the globe. The images celebrate the beauty and magnificence of the world we live in, while providing a stark reminder of the fragility of our environment

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

Travel back in time and experience the dramatic story of prehistoric Britain, its changing landscapes and the people that lived here one million years ago. Find out how Britain looked long before the Romans, Saxons and Vikings arrived and discover rarely seen specimens from behind the scenes, brought to life using the latest scientific techniques and life-size models. Incredible finds from sites around Britain will reveal what life was really like one million years ago

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

The 950-square-metre ice rink can be found on the Museum's east lawn, a setting made even more magical by the fairground carousel and 76,000 twinkling fairy lights. If you don't fancy a skate, you can still enjoy the atmosphere with a hot chocolate, mulled wine or some festive food from the Café Bar, with its balcony overlooking the rink

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

Nip along to Nature Live for your chance to learn something about these worms, their jaws and why fossils are so useful for discovering evidence of their past. Although it seems unlikely, some marine worms can give you a painful bite. These worms are active predators and, seen from their prey’s point of view, have terrifying jaws

Suitable for

• Any age

Each month we put a different object in the spotlight and, together with a Museum scientist, explore what makes it such a treasure

Suitable for

• Any age

Meet some of the world's leading wildlife photographers, and find out about their work, experiences and techniques out in the field. Diving into freezing oceans, perching in treetops, stalking through savannah and remaining motionless for hours – such is the dedication of wildlife photographers in capturing the perfect image

Suitable for

• Any age

Come and see our scientists and volunteers in action in the Cocoon’s Specimen Preparation Area, where they are busy working on our diatom collections and helping to bring the tiny world of phytoplankton – which are invisible to the naked eye – to life. 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm

Suitable for

• Any age

Each month we put a different object in the spotlight and, together with a Museum scientist, explore what makes it such a treasure. See unique, famous and surprising specimens that lead to major scientific discoveries as well as some of extraordinary objects that didn't make it on display. 12.30pm and 2.30pm

Suitable for

• Any age

Meet a scientist who investigates the behaviour of ancient humans, piecing together the past by carefully examining cut marks on bones and teeth, and tiny details on prehistoric tools. Discover how she works out how our ancestors lived with exciting new imaging technologies used here at the Museum. 12.30pm and 2.30pm

Suitable for

• Any age

Come and see our scientists and volunteers in action in Cocoon's Specimen Preparation Area, where they are busy working on our collections of algae and helping to bring the tiny world of phytoplankton organisms – which are invisible to the naked eye – to life. 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm

Suitable for

• Any age

Can we really see everything that goes on in our environment? This show, which features live animals, reveals a world only visible to certain reptiles and invertebrates. See how adaptations in snakes, iguanas and chameleons allow them to escape predators and locate prey and discover how bees detect ultraviolet light to help the process of pollination. This event is open to everyone and is also British Sign Language-interpreted. 10.30am and 12.30pm

Suitable for

• Any age

Meet a Museum scientist who has been out in the field collecting new species. Hear about his recent experiences in the rainforests of Chile and discover more about these diverse and important insects. Earlier session at 12.30pm on March 8

Suitable for

• Any age

Investigate teeth and diet using our amazing animal skulls. Handle, observe and compare animal skulls in order to identify different shapes of teeth and see how Museum palaeontologists can use skulls to find out about dinosaur diets.

This workshop is ideal for families with children of primary school age, though younger and older family members will be welcome for the session. 11.30am 12.15pm, 1.15pm–2pm and 3.15pm–4pm

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

Ever wondered what happens when the doors close at one of the world's most famous natural history venue? Now you can find out at Dino Snores for Grown-ups, one of the UK’s most extraordinary sleepovers.

All you need to enjoy the night is an enquiring mind, a sense of adventure and, of course, a sleeping bag. A whole host of fantastic activities will be on offer throughout the night, with highlights including the opportunity to sleep under Dippy, the much loved Diplodocus skeleton in the Museum’s famous Central Hall, a science show featuring gruesome forensics and the sex lives of insects, plus stand-up comedy and live music. The evening will be topped off with a three-course evening meal and breakfast in the morning before the doors open to the public. Please check online for a full schedule of activities.

Dino Snores for Grown-ups is for adults only. No under-18s will be admitted and proof of age may be requested

Suitable for

• 18+

Admission

Discover the wonder and variety of marine creatures with the help of our science educators. Handle real specimens, make your own 3D starfish and take part in rock star challenges, featuring amazing starfish costumes from costumier Anna Cocciadiferro

Suitable for

• Any age

Discover what really happens at the Museum when the staff and visitors have gone home. Stalk the corridors as night descends, join a torch-lit trail in the Dinosaurs gallery, watch an amazing live show by our scientists and snuggle down at midnight in the shadow of the Diplodocus skeleton in the Museum’s Central Hall. Before the doors open to the public in the morning, ogle owls and marvel at meerkats in a spectacular live animal show with Animal Man, Nick Spellman. For 7-11 year-olds

Suitable for

• 7-10

Admission

Meet some of the world’s leading wildlife photographers, and find out about their work, experiences and techniques out in the field. 12.30pm and 2.30pm

Suitable for

• Any age

Visit the Museum after hours and experience a unique Friday night out in London. Take the opportunity to visit our special exhibition Britain: One Million Years of the Human Story. Relax to the sounds of artists performing open-mic live in the Central Hall and enjoy British farmers' market-style fare from our pop-up restaurant. Visit our shop, bursting with imaginative ideas for gifts, and take a stroll back through time in the world-famous Dinosaurs gallery

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

Meet scientists from the past as they roam the Museum's galleries and discover how they contributed to our understanding of the natural world.

Sir Hans Sloane was a wealthy gentleman and popular physician to high society and royalty in eighteenth-century London. He was especially interested in the natural sciences and his private collections of plants, animals, antiquities, coins and other curios eventually contributed to the founding of the Natural History Museum. Meet our Sir Hans Sloane gallery character to hear about his experiences collecting plants and animals from overseas, and how he is responsible for bringing the recipe for chocolate to England. 11.30am-1pm and 2pm-3pm

Suitable for

• Any age