Natural History Museum

The first thing you see on entering the Natural History museum is a large skeleton of a dinosaur, but do also take this opportunity to look up at the impressive stair case in front of you and, if you've got sharp eyes, the multitude of small animal sculptures all around the higher galleries.

The museum is easily reached by train; by SW Trains change to the District line at Wimbledon and get off at South Kensington. From here there's a pedestrian tunnel direct to the museum grounds (about 10 minutes), then a 3 minute walk in the open to the main entrance.

There's absolutely masses to see, but we tend to start off by heading sharp left to the dinosaur galleries and the rather noisy animatronic T Rex at the end. Returning to the main hall, if you go towards the back left of the building, you'll enter the mammals gallery through a door which leads you straight into a view of the massive blue whale hanging from the ceiling - I've always wondered how they got it up there!

Head for the back of the museum (the red or earth zone) you'll find a long escalator which will take you up through the 'earth' to the top floor. Turn right and at the end stop in what looks like the wreckage of a shop. Every 5 minutes or so the whole floor vibrates in a simulated earthquake, and I never tell the youngsters beforehand - only rarely do they spot the signs!

Of course there's lots more to see, especially if you take your time as you pass the displays in the corridors and look around in the older parts of the building. Eating on site has never impressed me, but the shop is full of pocket money dinosaurs etc, and in the earth gallery, minerals.

Well worth a visit - meanwhile see their website.

Webmaster - May 2007

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