I nonetheless bear in mind my very own childhood visits to the Pure Historical past Museum in London – Dippy the well-known dinosaur skeleton made an impression that lasts a long time – so I made certain to start out my daughter off younger, planning a primary journey to the Pure Historical past Museum with a toddler.
We’ve been numerous instances since, to find extra at this free world-class museum however there’s nonetheless a lot to entertain toddlers, whether or not they’re dinosaur followers or would moderately 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 normally inside scuttling distance, excessive chairs within the cafes and child-friendly meals (plus locations to eat your individual picnic). However should you’re planning a go to, listed below are 9 issues that you must know earlier than visiting the Pure Historical past Museum with a toddler.
1. Use the Exhibition Street entrance
Should you prebook tickets – which I’d extremely advocate, particularly in class holidays and at weekends – you’ll be able to skip a lot of the queue.
However for an additional solution to bypass the strains, keep away from the principle Cromwell Street door for the smaller entrance on Exhibition Street, because it’s the quietest and step-free.
There’s a cloakroom right here too, though that does replenish shortly, and when you don’t get the dramatic affect of the suspended whale skeleton within the Hintze Corridor (Dippy the diplodocus now having been changed), 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 normally the quietest instances 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 should you can keep away from some crowds.
The perfect time to go to? The Pure Historical past museum isn’t quiet, and also you’ll encounter faculty teams year-round, in addition to individuals in search of issues to do on a wet day in London however weekdays in winter are a very good guess.
College holidays and peak vacationer season are unsurprisingly the museum’s busiest time, so it’s greatest to reach early should you’re visiting with faculty age siblings.
Should you reside in or close to London, you may as well get precedence entry and skip the Pure Historical past Museum queue should you’re a member – plus free entry to ticketed exhibitions and different bonuses. Household membership is an possibility.
For my full set of tips about visiting London’s museums with toddlers and children, try my final information in addition to the perfect issues to do in London with toddlers and preschoolers
3. Skip the dinosaur queues
If you wish to see the Dinosaur Gallery, make this your first cease on the Pure Historical past Museum because it’s some of the standard areas. For teenagers, it’s in all probability high of their record anyway, and even when there are strains, they transfer fairly quick.
You may at all times play the museum’s on-line ‘which dinosaur are you‘ quiz to cross the time if you’re ready for T-Rex.
For nervous toddlers, do remember that T-Rex does transfer and roar, in case you need to put together small dinosaur followers and reassure them they aren’t about to be eaten.
4. Make a plan
The museum is so large, I typically really feel like I ought to go away a path of breadcrumbs to seek out my approach again out. And roaming randomly along with your fingers crossed isn’t the perfect method should you’re visiting the Pure Historical past Museum with toddlers.
Break up into 4 colour-coded areas, there are indicators dotted round nevertheless it’s price 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.
My daughter, for instance, was by no means a fan of the noises within the Pink Zone or the flickering lights as you experience up the escalators.
For different preschoolers, this may be some of the thrilling sections – however even should you stick with the Blue and Inexperienced zones (my mini animal-lover’s favourites), you’ll have a lot 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 might simply wander and see what you stumble throughout, which is good should you can go to recurrently, however in any other case it’s simple to overlook one thing wonderful.
Or strive my scavenger hunt to ensure you discover a number of the greatest highlights.
5. Pack gentle
There are two cloakrooms within the Pure Historical past Museum, though the one on Cromwell Street is for giant baggage and suitcases solely, which is one other good motive to go in through Exhibition Street.
It prices £4 to go away a pushchair, however these do must be folded up (so cramming a lot of baggage beneath isn’t a very good technique until you’re ready to hold them.
Coats and baggage may also be left for a price, in addition to folding bikes, whereas youngsters’s scooters price £2. You can even wheel or carry these across the museum, however you’ll be able to’t scoot round.
6. Do some homework
The Pure Historical past Museum web site has an important youngsters solely part with video games, information and little introductions to the celebs 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. Should you’re undecided what they’ll like most, this may also help with the planning too.
7. Go to Andy’s clock
In addition to the Pure Historical past Museum youngsters’s actions for various ages, don’t miss a go to to Andy’s clock.
The clock, which will likely be acquainted from the CBeebies TV reveals Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures and Andy’s Prehistoric Adventures, is within the Central Cafe close to the Hintze Corridor.
Presumably essentially the most thrilling factor within the Pure Historical past Museum for three-year-olds if my daughter is any information… One phrase of warning: Andy would possibly want it again for an additional journey at any time, so there’s at all times the likelihood it may be gone once you go to.
8. Take a deep breath
If the museum is getting overwhelming, the Wildlife Backyard is the proper area to flee the crowds (closed to early 2024 whereas work is underway)
Undergo the Darwin Centre within the Orange Zone to succeed in it – there are additionally typically free household actions right here.
There are some quiet areas contained in the museum as nicely. The minerals gallery tends to have fewer crowds, whereas there are different areas to go should you want some respiration area.
9. Find time for the Examine Centre
[EDIT: currently closed] Tucked away within the basement – one other good motive to verify the map – the improbable Examine Centre allows you to decide up and look at every kind 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 should 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, and higher for older preschoolers than youthful toddlers.
Take a look at my expertise visiting the Pure Historical past Museum with a toddler and our return journey to see the dinosaurs plus my tips about the perfect issues to do in London with toddlers and preschoolers
**First revealed 2015, up to date 2024**
PIN FOR LATER: LONDON’S NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM WITH A TODDLER
Pictures copyright MummyTravels
