I nonetheless bear in mind my very own visits to the Pure Historical past Museum in London once I was younger – Dippy the well-known dinosaur skeleton made an impression that lasts many years.
So I’ve liked going again with my daughter since she was been a toddler, and profiting from a free world-class museum. There’s loads to entertain toddlers, whether or not they’re dinosaur followers or would slightly stare upon an elephant, whale and giraffe – together with Hope the blue whale skeleton which changed Dippy.
It’s additionally enormously household pleasant with loads of lifts, bogs often inside scuttling distance, excessive chairs within the cafes and child-friendly meals (and locations to eat your personal picnic). However in case you’re planning a go to, listed below are 9 issues you should know earlier than visiting the Pure Historical past Museum with a toddler.
**2021 replace** Tickets are nonetheless free however at the moment should be prebooked for timed entry slots. Face coverings are really helpful for adults and kids aged over 11 except exempt**
1. Use the Exhibition Street entrance
Skip the primary Cromwell Street door for the smaller entrance on Exhibition Street, because it’s the quietest and step-free so you may usually skip among the queues.
There’s a cloakroom right here too, though it does refill shortly, and whilst you don’t get the dramatic affect of the suspended whale skeleton within the Hintze Corridor (Dippy the diplodocus now having been changed and headed off on a tour of the UK), it does imply you don’t must distract their consideration as you wrangle them out of coats or fold up buggies.
2. Go within the morning
Mornings are often the quietest occasions all year long, so attempt to get there for opening at 10am – it’s a a lot much less overwhelming expertise within the Pure Historical past Museum for toddlers in case you can keep away from some crowds, though the present restricted numbers do assist.
College holidays and peak vacationer season are unsurprisingly the museum’s busy time, so it’s greatest to reach earlier than opening and get in line in case you’re visiting with college age siblings too.
The most effective time to go to? The Pure Historical past museum isn’t quiet, and also you’ll encounter college teams year-round too, in addition to individuals on the lookout for issues to do on a wet day in London when the climate’s unhealthy however weekdays in winter are a great wager.
If you happen to dwell in or close to London, you can even get precedence entry and skip the Pure Historical past Museum queue altogether in case you’re a member – plus free entry to ticketed exhibitions and different bonuses together with with the ability to queue bounce. Household membership is an possibility.
For my full set of tips about visiting London’s museums with toddlers and children, take a look at my final information in addition to the very best issues to do in London with toddlers and preschoolers
3. Skip the dinosaur queues
If you wish to see the Dinosaurs Gallery, make this your first cease on the Pure Historical past Museum because it’s probably the most in style space. For youths, it’s most likely high of their checklist anyway, and even when there are traces, they transfer fairly quick.
You may all the time play the museum’s on-line ‘which dinosaur are you‘ quiz to go the time in case you are ready for T-Rex.
You don’t want a separate timed ticket to discover this space (though beforehand throughout college holidays, there has generally been the choice to guide free timed entry tickets to keep away from big queues).
4. Make a plan
The museum is so huge, I generally really feel like I ought to depart a path of breadcrumbs to search out my approach again out. And roaming randomly along with your fingers crossed isn’t the very best method in case you’re visiting the Pure Historical past Museum with toddlers.
Break up into 4 colour-coded areas, there are indicators dotted round however it’s price taking a look at the map on-line to work out the place you’d most wish to go earlier than you go to and which areas are prone to upset toddlers – Minnie, for instance, is just not a fan of the noises within the Crimson Zone, with the flickering lights as you experience the escalators up.
For different preschoolers, this may be probably the most thrilling sections – however even in case you follow the Blue and Inexperienced zones (my mini animal-lover’s favourites), you’ll have loads to fill your time.
The museum additionally has concepts for two-hour excursions, together with one for household favourites with some highlights.
There are such a lot of discoveries round each nook, you would simply wander and see what you stumble throughout, which is good in case you can go to often, however in any other case it’s straightforward to overlook one thing superb.
Obtain my scavenger hunt for the Pure Historical past Museum, good to assist youthful children discover the highlights
5. Pack mild
Beforehand kids aged three and underneath might depart gadgets totally free within the cloakroom close to the Cromwell Street entrance, however pushchairs needed to be folded (so cramming numerous baggage beneath isn’t a great technique except you’re ready to hold them.
Presently the official steering is that buggies, coats and small baggage aren’t accepted: in apply some individuals have been in a position to depart buggies (and scooters, though there could also be a £2 charge for these) however in the interim, it’s greatest to not depend on this.
6. Do some homework
The Pure Historical past Museum web site has an awesome children solely part with video games, info and little introductions to the celebrities of the museum.
It’s nice for getting toddlers excited and helps cease them getting too overwhelmed when there’s displays they know a bit about. If you happen to’re unsure what they’ll like most, this will help with the planning too.
7. Take a look at the youngsters’s actions
There are a string of Pure Historical past Museum kids’s actions for various ages – some designed to be accomplished at house earlier than or after your go to, and a few which happen on particular dates or throughout holidays.
It’s also possible to go to Andy’s clock, from the CBeebies TV reveals Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures and Andy’s Prehistoric Adventures within the Hintze Corridor – probably probably the most thrilling factor within the Pure Historical past Museum for three-year-olds if my daughter is any information.
The free Explorer Backpacks, beforehand obtainable from the primary Hintze Corridor data desk and geared toward kids aged seven and underneath, usually are not at the moment on supply, though you should purchase welcome again packs together with dinosaur face masks for teenagers for £5.
8. Take a deep breath
If the museum is getting overwhelming, the Wildlife Backyard is open year-round (extra restricted hours in winter and closed on moist days). Undergo the Darwin Centre within the Orange Zone to succeed in it – there are additionally generally free household actions right here.
The wildlife backyard is closed till autumn 2023 for redevelopment, with crops for a bigger backyard and cafe as soon as work is full
9. Find time for the Examine Centre
[EDIT: currently closed] Tucked away within the basement – one other good cause to verify the map – the implausible Examine Centre enables you to decide up and look at all types of objects from meteorites to shells, with a microscope to see extra element.
Nevertheless it’s reserved for varsity visits on weekdays throughout time period time, so that you’ll want to go away it till after 4pm in case you’re visiting then.
Against this, on weekends and holidays, the centre is open from 11am so it’s greatest to reach as early as attainable. Geared toward kids aged 5 to 14, so higher for preschoolers than toddlers.
Take a look at my expertise visiting the Pure Historical past Museum with a toddler in addition to our return journey to see the dinosaurs – or discover 48 extra free issues to do in London with children
**First printed 2015, up to date 2021**
PIN FOR LATER: LONDON’S NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM WITH A TODDLER
Photographs copyright MummyTravels
