I often find museums as intriguing for their buildings as for their contents. London’s Tate Modern, housed in an abandoned power station; the Musée D’Orsay in Paris, in an old railway station; or Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art, whose interior resembles a giant oyster shell. And, as I discovered, the architecture of the Natural History Museum in London is equally fascinating.
The Natural History Museum Building
The Natural History Museum building stands in Exhibition Road, alongside the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. It was purpose built for the museum by the architect Alfred Waterhouse. Building began in 1873 and was completed by 1881.
Built of terracotta, the museum is a grand Victorian building in the Romanesque style. Like those other giants of 19thcentury architecture – the great railway stations – it resembles a cathedral: a glorious concoction of space, arches, sweeping staircases and stained glass windows.
I’d been to the Natural History Museum many times when I was younger, but I remembered it as a dingy, dusty building, a poor rival to the nearby Science Museum. All that has changed now; the museum has been cleaned and given a facelift, so that you can see it in all its finery.
Animals and Plants in the Natural History Museum
The building may be grand and ornate, but you never forget that you are in a natural history museum. A statue of Charles Darwin sits on top of the main staircase, and other scientists can be spotted as you walk around. Until 2016 the entrance hall was dominated by a 32 metre long replica Diplodocus skeleton. However, this has now been replaced by a blue whale.
The Victorian era was a time of immense curiosity about the world. There were lots of private collectors, and the activities of explorers aroused interest in exotic animals and plants. All of this was reflected in Alfred Waterhouse’s design: he wanted the building of the Natural History Museum to reflect its contents.
Images of animals are incorporated everywhere in the museum. Look carefully at the details on the tiles and pillars, and see how many animals you can spot. Then look up at the ceiling for the pictures of plants and flowers. Waterhouse went to great trouble to ensure that all of his images were scientifically accurate.
The Minerals Gallery
In 1986 the Natural History Museum absorbed the adjacent Geological Museum to create the Minerals Gallery. The Geological Museum was opened in 1851, a smaller building but grand in its own way. It is filled with brick pillars and the original oak display cabinets. Look for images of fossils and extinct animals around the edge of the Minerals Gallery.
As you leave, remember to glance at the outside of the museum, where you will find more animals climbing up the stonework.
Visiting the Natural History Museum
Entry to the Natural History Museum is free. However, there may be a charge for special exhibitions. The nearest underground station is South Kensington.
19 thoughts on “Admiring the Architecture of the Natural History Museum, London”
Wow, excellent, I look forward to visiting the museum in October, will have to look for all these details Karen
I had a lovely time there aside from the place being crowded.
The architecture of the Natural History Museum looks fantastic from your photos — haven't been there yet. I always appreciate the architecture and design of places I visit. You mentioned the exterior resembling a cathedral or railway station which reminded me of the gorgeous central station in Antwerp, Belgium which is nicknamed "The Railway Cathedral".
Ahhh, my favourite London museum, used to visit lots as a child, and was always fascinated by the giant bug collection! But you're right, we often overlook the buildings housing the collections, which are so often just as magnificent! I'll remember to look up a bit more on my next visit!
We're going today, out the door right now, I LOVE it!
I love looking at the architecture of the museums too. I missed this one last time I was in London. I'm definitely going to add it to my list for next time!
I´m not a museum person but that building is pretty impressive! Would love to go!
I have a thing for architecture and it is getting stronger as I get older. I find buildings like this fascinating as well, I just love all the ornate carvings on the walls, the ceilings and the windows. So beautiful!
Wow! What an incredible building. The details are pretty cool too!
Beautiful details of the animals climbing up the arches. The building looks very majestic on the outside.
Great pictures!
Those monkeys… I really love the small details that are like a wink in great and majestic buildings!
What a beautiful place, I love museums they always facinate me – and luckily my kids like them too. Great photos, we will have to add this to our to do list next time we visit London – thank you for sharing!
What a great place indeed! I love the minerals gallery, it looks like one of these ancient Hungarian baths inside! Love the details (monkeys, fish, …) as well. The architecture alone seems to make the museum worthwile!
I've never been but would love to fit a visit in – whenever I next get to London.
Oh this is so beautiful..! What a great idea to house a museum in a building like that. I must admit I'm not a huge museum fan, but this one totally stroke my fancy! Thanks!
Karen, Love the details…more to look at than just the exhibits! See you at TBEX!
I agree with you – it's definitely an architecturally stunning building. I must admit though that I often prefer art museums to natural history ones!
The terracotta work was modelled by the company Farmer and Brindley, based in Lambeth, south London. There’s an interesting article on them by Emma Hardy in the Victorian Society Annual (1993). They were rivals with the nearby firm Doulton’s in terracotta work, although F&B also did work in stone and wood, often working for GG Scott as well as Waterhouse. But they collaborated with Doulton in establishing the Lambeth School of Art (now known as City and Guilds of London Art School). Lovely pictures of the museum Karen.
Thanks for your comment – I didn’t know about the Art School connection.