Natural History Museum

The cathedral of dinosaurs — Waterhouse's Romanesque building alone justifies the trip, and it's free. Hope the blue whale in Hintze Hall, the dinosaur gallery, an earthquake simulator and new wildlife gardens make it London's best family museum. Weekends and school holidays get intense; book the free timed ticket and go early.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

Is the Natural History Museum free?

Yes, all permanent galleries and the gardens are free. Book a free timed ticket online for weekends, school holidays and summer — walk-up is possible but the Cromwell Road queue can run 30-45 minutes on a peak Saturday.

How do I beat the dinosaur gallery queue?

Go straight there at 10am opening before doing anything else — by 11am on busy days there's an internal queue just for that gallery. With young kids this single move can save your whole visit.

Is the building itself worth seeing?

Absolutely — Alfred Waterhouse's 1881 terracotta 'cathedral to nature' is crawling with carved monkeys, fish and extinct creatures on every column. Look up in Hintze Hall: the ceiling panels are hand-painted botanical illustrations.

Natural History Museum or Science Museum with kids?

They're next door to each other and both free, so do both if stamina allows — NHM for dinosaurs, whales and the earthquake room; Science Museum for rockets and hands-on galleries. NHM first, since its queues build faster.

Does the Natural History Museum still have the dinosaur?

Dippy the Diplodocus cast has been replaced in the main hall by Hope, a 25-metre real blue whale skeleton diving from the ceiling — honestly a more spectacular sight. The dinosaur gallery with the animatronic T. rex is still there and still mobbed.

What are the Natural History Museum's opening hours?

Daily 10am to 5:50pm, last entry 5:30pm, closed only 24-26 December. The final 90 minutes of the day are noticeably calmer if mornings don't suit you.

Which entrance should I use at the Natural History Museum?

The Exhibition Road side entrance often has a much shorter queue than the main Cromwell Road steps — and if you arrive by tube, the Victorian pedestrian tunnel from South Kensington station brings you right to it.

What paid exhibitions are on at the Natural History Museum?

In 2026 there are three ticketed shows including Wildlife Photographer of the Year (roughly £15.50-18) and a David Attenborough exhibition (£20-25). The free permanent galleries are honestly enough for most first visits.

Nearby in Ask London

• Science MuseumMuseum0.06 km · 1 min walk
• Victoria and Albert MuseumAttraction0.29 km · 4 min walk
• Easy Day Trips from London by TrainAttraction0.48 km · 6 min walk
• Notting HillNeighborhood1.94 km · 24 min walk
• Battersea ParkPark2.39 km · 30 min walk