The Natural History Museum Guided Tour

Description

Established in 1881, the London Natural History Museum contains more than 80 million objects, spanning more than 4 billion years of natural history. Step through time, witnessing the evolution of dinosaurs, birds and our mammal relatives, and the geological and climate changes that guided the development of life on Earth. Witness meteorites from the dawn of time, the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex and get to know the legendary scientists who shaped our knowledge of the distant past, such as Charles Darwin and Mary Anning.

The Natural History Museum tour begins in the Central Hall, adorned with terracotta arches and columns. The centrepiece of the hall is an example of the largest animal known to have ever existed; a breathtaking blue whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling, highlighting the ocean’s biodiversity. This room sets the tone for the incredible collection within. Here, you will also see a giraffe skeleton, an American Mastodon, and a 125 million-year-old dinosaur from the Isle of Wight, Mantellisaurus. 

Next, we’re introduced to the father of evolution Charles Darwin, and his rival in science and the curator of the Natural History Museum, Sir Richard Owen. Here, you may notice the playful terracotta monkeys scaling the columns and walls, a nod to Owen’s rejection of Darwin’s theory of evolution. We will explore birds both living and extinct; parrots, fowl and pigeons from Darwin’s collection, as well as skeletons of the Giant Moa, the Dodo, and the first bird, the first known specimen of the ancient Archaeopteryx! The tour will also explore the Geological Society Gallery, filled with geological wonders like priceless gemstones, volcanic rocks, and a meteorite fragment that landed in Argentina over 4,000 years ago. 

The tour’s next stop is the Dinosaur Gallery, featuring prehistoric skeletons, including the iconic Triceratops, the fearsome Allosaurus, the long-necked Camarasaurus, and you’ll even come face-to-face with a life-sized animatronic T. rex! Next, we will enter the Marine Reptiles Gallery, displaying diverse sea monster specimens and skeletons from the Age of Reptiles, from monstrous Mosasaurs to crocodile-faced Plesiosaurs, and the fish-like Ichthyosaurs, discovered by Mary Anning. 

We will see the most complete Stegosaurus ever to be discovered, the 85% complete Sophie, an animal who could grow to be the size of a bus, yet had a brain the size of a walnut! Finally, the tour concludes by the Human Evolution Gallery showcasing life-sized models and fossilised remains, providing insight into our ancestors' evolutionary journey. Close to where we finish are the museum's café and gift shop, where you can relax and pick up a souvenir. As you leave, you can admire the museum's stunning architecture and intricate wall carvings, reflecting the legacy of both extinct and living species.