I often find museums as intriguing for their architecture as for their contents. London’s Tate Modern, housed in an abandoned power station; the Musee D’Orsay in Paris, an old railway station; or Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art, whose interior resembles a giant oyster shell. And, as soon as I set foot in the Natural History Museum, I realised I had found another fascinating building to explore.
Looking down to the Central Hall from the upper gallery
A Grand Victorian Building
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.
The exterior of the museum is reminiscent of a cathedral, or a railway station
Purpose built for the museum, the building stands in Exhibition Road, alongside the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. It is a grand Victorian building and, 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.
Inside the Minerals Gallery
The Natural History Museum Collections
The building may be grand and ornate, but you never forget that you are in a natural history museum. The entrance hall is dominated by a 32 metre long replica Diplodocusskeleton, a statue of Charles Darwin sits on top of the main staircase, and other scientists can be spotted as you walk around. Look carefully at the details on the tiles and pillars too; plants and animals have been incorporated into the design.
The diplodocus dominates the Central Hall
Panels on pillars have intricate carvings of animals and birds
Look up to the ceiling for pictures of plants and flowers
And monkeys climb around the arches
Look for pictures of fossils and extinct animals in the Minerals Gallery
And, when you leave, remember to glance at the outside of the museum, where you will find more animals climbing up the stonework.
Remember to look for carvings of animals outside the museum
Tagged with: architecture • London • museums
Wow, excellent, I look forward to visiting the museum in October, will have to look for all these details Karen
Hope you enjoy it. Lots of other great museum buildings in London too.
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!
Have a great time 🙂
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!