London is a city with a wealth of world-class museums, but the Natural History Museum simply stands out. Being one of the three major museums in London’s South Kensington, this museum is sure to be an experience like never before! Its collection comprises over 29 million specimens, from dinosaur fossils to moon rock, making it one of the largest natural history collections in the world!

Each year, the museum welcomes over five million visitors. But with so much to see and do here, it can be helpful to have a plan before you visit. With an opulent stay at a hotel near Paddington station, you’ll only be minutes away from this extraordinary museum and can easily experience the charm of the city, from an ideal a central London location.

Natural History Museum Highlights

To save time and know exactly where to go, it’s important to acquaint yourself with the museum’s four color-coded zones:

• Green Zone: This zone is home to exhibits of birds, insects, fossils, and minerals. It’s a great place to learn about the diversity of life on Earth.
• Red Zone: This zone focuses on Earth, the planets, and the universe. It’s home to exhibits on dinosaurs, volcanoes, earthquakes, and other natural wonders.
• Blue Zone: This zone houses exhibits on mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and marine invertebrates. It’s a great place to learn about the different types of animals that live on Earth and how they adapt to their environment.
• Orange Zone: This zone is home to the Wildlife Garden, which is only open from April to October. The Wildlife Garden is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to see native British wildlife up close.

Here are a few of the museum’s must-see exhibits:

• Dippy the Diplodocus skeleton: This iconic skeleton hangs in the Central Hall and is a replica of the Diplodocus dinosaur that lived about 150 million years ago.
• The first T. Rex fossil: This remarkable fossil was discovered in South Dakota in 1902 and is one of the most complete T. Rex fossils ever found.
• A 14,700-year-old cup made from a human skull: This cup was found in Somerset, England, and is one of the oldest known examples of human craftsmanship.
• The 1st edition of Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species: This book is one of the most important scientific works ever written, outlining Darwin’s revolutionary theory of evolution.
• The Aurora Collection: This spectacular collection of nearly 300 different coloured diamonds from all over the world is a truly dazzling sight.

Tips

Here are a few special tips to help you make the most of your visit to this brilliant museum near the exquisite Queens Park Hotel:

• Follow the museum trails: If you’re worried about missing anything important, take one of the museum’s self-guided tours. You can do so by simply following the museum trails!
• Download the Natural History Museum Visitor App: The museum’s app is a comprehensive tool for planning your visit beforehand. The app includes interactive museum maps and information about upcoming events to guide you.
• Avoid the long queues: The main entrance to the museum tends to have long queues, especially on the If you want to avoid the crowds, head to the side entrance, which usually has shorter queues.

Getting There

Easily accessible from your hotel in London near Hyde Park, if you’re looking to take the Tube to the museum, the nearest station is South Kensington, served by the Piccadilly, District, and Circle lines. The station is a short four-minute walk from the museum’s main entrance.

The nearest train station to the National History Museum is West Brompton Station which is served by the London Overground.

Also, the following bus routes stop near the museum: 14, 49, 70, 74, 345, 360, 414, 430, and C1.

It’s always a good idea to spend some time learning about the evolution theories about world we live in. When in London, there is no better place to do so than the National History Museum. Look out for discounts on your hotel in Bayswater, reserve yourself an exquisitely comfortable stay and remember, the museum is open daily from 10 am to 5:50 pm, with the last entry at 5:30 pm. The best part is that the entry to the museum is free, except for a few temporary exhibitions. So, plan now and create memories, exploring one of the best museums in the world.