When you’re visiting London with kids, you’re spoilt for choice of places to go. But the Natural History Museum remains one of the top places to head and hours of fun can be found here, whether you want to explore space and creatures that used to walk the Earth. It might even inspire a love of science in your little ones as you discover the secrets in the numerous galleries.
If you’re staying at one of the 4-star hotels in Kensington London, the Natural History Museum is one of the easiest destinations to reach. From our hotel, it’s just a 15-minute walk to reach the entrance of the museum and the other surrounding attractions, such as the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. You’ll be left with plenty of time to discover everything the Natural History Museum has to offer.
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Blue Whale Skeleton
Just a short walk from the Park Grand Kensington you can see one of the most majestic sea creatures – a blue whale. Suspended from the ceiling of the Hintze Hall, the skeleton was only installed last year, and its sheer size will captivate the attention of kids visiting. It’s one of the first sights you see when you visit the Natural History Museum, setting a great tone.
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The Dinosaur Gallery
The Dinosaur Gallery actually contains many artefacts but it’s an area that’s a clear winner with kids. From seeing the first fossil found of a Tyrannosaurus rex to the tooth of a Daspletosaurus, there’s an instant appeal for kids that love to play with dinosaur figures and the perfect opportunity to gather facts to share.
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The cursed amethyst
If your children like a spooky story, be sure to take them to The Vault to see the infamous cursed amethyst for themselves. Legend has it that everyone who has owned it has died in mysterious or tragic circumstances, causing one man to throw it into the Serpentine, not far from the Park Grand Kensington, with lucky charms, only for it to be returned to him when discovered.
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The Nakhla meteorite
If your child is obsessed with all things related to space, they’ll want to get a good look at the Nakhla meteorite. While there are thousands of meteorites in the world, this is one of only a few that are known to come from Mars and it demonstrates that there was a presence of water on the red planet in the distant past – perfect for creating all sorts of alien stories that will keep children interested.
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The Archaeopteryx
Do you have a budding scientist on your hands? Then the Archaeopteryx is a must visit. It provides evidence of Darwin’s theory of evolution, looking like a small dinosaur but with avian characteristics. It’s an important artefact for natural history as a whole and could inspire a love for the natural world in your child.