5 Natural History Museum

www.nhm.ac.uk

A family favourite, where dinosaurs roar back to life, an erathquake shakes the ground and creepy-crawlies make the flesh tingle.

Surveying the diplodocus skeleton that dominates Central Hall is the marble statue of Charles Darwin. To coincide with the 150th anniversary of the publication of his theory of evolution, the new Darwin Centre opened in 2009. The most exciting addition to the Museum since 1881, this eight-storey glass and steel building boasts state-of-the-art exhibits, where visitors can watch scientists at work in their laboratories.

To help you get around this vast museum, follow the colour-coding. Orange is dedicated to Darwin, with an exit to the outdoor wildlife garden (Apr-Oct). Blue is all about dinosaurs and mammals, while Green covers birds, bugs, fossils and minerals. It includes another tribute to Darwin, called TREE, an artwork inspired by Darwin’s ‘tree of life’ diagram. The former Geological Museum, now the Red Zone, is all about the planet itself.

Although dinosaurs are at the top of every child’s list of must-sees, there are other heavyweights. A model of a blue whale measures 28m (92ft), alongside a real 25m (82ft) long skeleton. At the other end of the spectrum are the insects in the Creepy Crawlies exhibit. Scientists seem to love insects and fossils. In fact, the fossil insect collection includes Rhyniognatha hirsti, the world’s oldest fossil insect, dating back 400 million years.

The Human Biology section fascinates, with its explanations of how the body works. And all this is set in the 1880 neo-Gothic cathedral-like building, with its extraordinary brickwork, sculptures and carvings. There are regular tours, and for children, self-guided trails using backpacks and booklets.

Map Reference 3C Cromwell Road (Life Galleries), Exhibition Road (Earth Galleries) 020 7942 5000 Daily 10–5:50. Last admission 5:30. Closed 24–26 Dec Free Restaurant (££) and cafés (£) South Kensington 14, 49, 70, 74, 345, 360, 414, C1 Explore tour: daily 45 mins long. Reserve on the day at the information desk or call 020 7942 5011. Free