Natural History Museum London
When this great cathedral of a building was opened in 1881, the exhibitions which were held here were a part of the British museum. In fact, it was not until 1963 that the Natural History Museum was established by Act of Parliament as an independent museum. Despite its relative youth, the Natural History Museum is a magnificent display of the glories and intricacies of nature. It is best to plan your visit either early or late in the day, in order to avoid the sea of schoolchildren who flood the building throughout the middle of the day.

Items of special interest include the Blue Whale exhibit, the mammal balcony, the dinosaur exhibit, the interactive earthquake exhibit and the moonlit rainforest in the ecology gallery. During the summer months you may also visit the wildlife garden and enjoy wild flowers, dragonflies flitting across the ponds and birds visiting or nesting in the garden.

In addition to the exhibitions, the museum is a top-notch research and scientific center. Those with particular interests should contact the museum for information on special tours and lectures which are often available.

Official website www.nhm.ac.uk