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

Cocoon

• 22 February 2013 — 22 February 2015 *on now

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

Treasures

• 22 February 2013 — 22 February 2015 *on now

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

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

• 18 October 2013 — 23 March 2014 *on now

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

Britain: One Million Years of the Human Story

• 13 February — 28 September 2014 *on now

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

This display features a selection of works from the Islamic collections at the British Museum, hand-picked by the Middle East department's curatorial assistant team and highlighting the theme of animals in Islamic art

Suitable for

• Any age

The Crosby Garrett Roman helmet was found on the fells of Crosby Garrett in Cumbria in 2010 and sold at auction in 2011.

Now, thanks to the generosity of the owner, it is on display in Room 37 at the British Museum, having been displayed at Tullie House Museum, Carlisle from 1 November 2013 – 26 January 2014.

The helmet was not used in normal combat but is a splendid example of the spectacular bronze face-mask visor-helmets used in special events known as cavalry sports. It is exhibited alongside the Ribchester Helmet, the most famous cavalry sports helmet, which was found on the site of the Roman fort at Ribchester, Lancashire, in 1796

Suitable for

• Any age

This display combines the facial depiction of Richard III's head with two objects from the British Museum's permanent collection relating to the king, Richard's admiralty seal matrix and a boar badge. The facial depiction of King Richard III was created by Professor Caroline Wilkinson and the forensic art team of the University of Dundee. The head is exhibited by kind permission of the Richard III Society as part of a national tour organised by Leicester Arts and Museums Service

Suitable for

• Any age

Two important and unique sets of progressive proofs, along with the finished works, that document the evolution of two linocuts by Pablo Picasso.

The two prints, Still Life under the Lamp and Jacqueline Reading, were both made in 1962, when the artist was over 80. They are counted among Picasso’s most important works in linocut, a technique that he explored in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The progressive proofs trace the step-by-step sequence by which Picasso created his linocut images, showing the development of the image into its final form

Suitable for

• Any age

Sensational Butterflies

• 3 April — 14 September 2014

Experience the wonder of walking among hundreds of free-flying butterflies this spring when our tropical butterfly house returns to the Natural History Museum. This family-friendly exhibition allows you to wander through a tropical enclosure, discovering the science behind these delicate creatures and their amazing life cycles as they evolve from crawling caterpillars into beautiful butterflies. Book your tickets now to come and see them take flight

Suitable for

• Any age

Mammoths: Ice Age Giants

• 23 May 2014 — 23 May 2015

Enter the amazing world of some of the largest creatures to ever walk the earth. See huge fossils and life-size models of mammoths, and square up to the powerful trunks and tusks of these great beasts.

You’ll even be able to try out life as a mammoth: tusk jousting, trunk moving and feeling the weight of the hundreds of kilogrammes of food a mammoth ate each day – equivalent to about 230 bags of sugar.

The exhibition will take you on an inspiring journey from the time when these titans roamed the land through to today’s research into the causes of mammoth extinction and ways to protect their precious modern relatives, the elephants

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

This major exhibition will explore a golden age in China's history. Between AD 1400 and 1450, China was a global superpower run by one family – the Ming dynasty – who established Beijing as the capital and built the Forbidden City. During this period, Ming China was thoroughly connected with the outside world. Chinese artists absorbed many fascinating influences, and created some of the most beautiful objects and paintings ever made.

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

Hands-on Nature: Dinosaurs

• 15 March 2014 2-5pm
• 29 March 2014 2-5pm
• 5 April 2014 2-5pm

Step back in time and discover more about dinosaurs by handling real fossils and inspecting a variety of prehistoric specimens. Work out which ones were once dinosaurs and find out how scientists classify animals through studying fossils. Compare their features with those of modern animals and explore what they ate by looking at fossilised teeth.

Suitable for

• 5-6
• 7-10
• 11-13

Discover the Rosetta Stone, the Lewis Chessmen and the Parthenon Sculptures, as well as some lesser-known but fascinating objects, with expert guidance that will take you to the heart of the museum's collection. 11.30am and 2pm

Admission

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

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

A gallery talk by Nicole Rousmaniere, IFAC Handa Curator of Japanese Arts, British Museum

Suitable for

• Any age

A gallery talk by Marianne Bergeron, British Museum

Suitable for

• Any age

Dino Snores for Grown-ups

• 14 — 15 March 2014 7pm-8:50am

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

Dino Snores for Grown Ups: The ultimate sleepover

• 14 — 15 March 2014 7pm-9:30am
• 16 — 17 May 2014 7pm-9:30am
• 20 — 21 June 2014 7pm-9:30am
• 22 — 23 August 2014 7pm-9:30am
• 25 — 26 October 2014 7pm-9:30am

Museums at Night: Ever wondered what happens when the doors close at one of the world’s most famous sites dedicated to natural history? Now you can find out for yourself at Dino Snores for Grown Ups, one of the UK’s most extraordinary sleepovers. This unique sleepover offers an unforgettable night of music, art, science and cinema, all in the mysterious setting of the Museum at night.

All you need to enjoy the night is an enquiring mind, a sense of adventure and a sleeping bag, of course.

Suitable for

• 18+
• Not suitable for children

Admission

Website

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/after-hours//dino-snores-grown-ups/

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

Dino Snores

• 22 — 23 March 2014 7pm-9:50am

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

Lates with MasterCard

• 28 March 2014 6-10:30pm

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

For the first time, you can bring a dinosaur and an early human to life before your eyes with the unique, state-of-the-art interactive film Who Do You Think You Really Are?

Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, this film uses screens, webcams and specially designed, hand-held devices to takes you on a virtual journey through your evolutionary past. Extinct creatures appear to roam around in the studio using augmented reality – the blending of computer graphics into real life. Using CGI models developed with the support of the Wellcome Trust, BBC natural history footage and interviews with leading Natural History Museum scientists, the interactive film explores how we have gradually evolved from the earliest life form. Thanks to an innovative partnership with BBC Research & Development, this is the first time augmented reality has been used in a high-profile public space.

Every day at 3.30pm; most weekends at 11am.

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

Suitable for

• 7-10
• 11-13

Admission

Each month, with the help of a Museum scientist, we explore a different object from the new Treasures exhibition. The new Treasures exhibition features 22 of the Museum's most fascinating artefacts. 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 led to major scientific discoveries as well as some of extraordinary objects that didn't make it on display

Suitable for

• Any age

Join us as we meet a curator and volunteers from the museum to explore how they care for the extraordinary fossil mammals found in London during the Pleistocene, with a live link and footage from behind the scenes

Suitable for

• Any age

Learn how to spot flies and find out about the lifestyles and changing forms they take at different stages in their lives. When you think of flies, maybe the small black creatures buzzing around your picnic come to mind. In fact we have more than 7,000 species of flies in Britain, each looking very different and with unique life cycles. Join us as we meet a Museum curator who will dig out the weirdest and the most beautiful flies from our collection. Come and find out about their lifestyles and the changing forms they take at different stages of their short lives

Suitable for

• Any age