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Original poster

Natural History museum today

32 replies

GrumpyMug2 · 18/02/2020 07:55

I was planning on taking DS to the Natural History museum today in London.

How rammed.do you think it will be?

OP posts:
DaphneFanshaw · 18/02/2020 07:59

It will be busy, I would get in as early as possible if you can.
There always used to be massive queues to get in through the main entrance where Dippy used to be, we used to sneak in the different entrance through the centre of the Earth which is just as impressive but no where near as busy.

DippyAvocado · 18/02/2020 08:00

I went last Easter. Get there before opening if you can. It is supposed to open at 10 I think. We got there at 9.45 and they had already opened the doors. We went straight through to the dinosaurs and it wasn't busy but started filling up almost immediately. By the time we got out of the dinosaurs section about 10.30ish it was pretty rammed. The other exhibits weren't too crowded.

DaphneFanshaw · 18/02/2020 08:00

The science museum next door won’t be quite as busy if it gets too much and if the weather is nice you could always nip to Hyde park.

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bookmum08 · 18/02/2020 08:04

It will be horrible. You will be exhausted after ten minutes and want to run screaming to the exit. Ditto for the Science Museum next door.
Don't do it. Save your sanity.

DaphneFanshaw · 18/02/2020 08:04
Grin It really won’t be that bad.
DaphneFanshaw · 18/02/2020 08:06

If I see someone screaming running to the nearest fire exit next time I’m at the NHM I will shake my MN scarf at you and shout “Fruit Shoots!” At you as you run past.

bookmum08 · 18/02/2020 08:08

Daphne I forgot to mention the hell that is the gift shop.....

HumpHumpWhale · 18/02/2020 08:08

I'd aim to be there at opening and agree, side entrance is usually quieter.

DaphneFanshaw · 18/02/2020 08:11

Oh gosh, we go through the gift shop in the same way we would pass a horrific accident. “Don’t look, don’t stop, keep your eyes on the door, keep moving”

lunasunshine · 18/02/2020 08:13

I went there yesterday and it was rammed but still enjoyable! Get there as early as possible if you can. We got there about 11 and there was a queue to get in but it moved quickly. I would recommend the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition too - it was amazing Grin

onemouseplace · 18/02/2020 08:13

We went yesterday and walked straight in at 11. By the time we left just after 1 we heard one of the staff say it was an hour queue to get in.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 18/02/2020 08:17

We have up last time we went. Dinosaurs was horrific (didn't they have timed tickets at one point? It was much more pleasant and you could actually see the exhibits). The rest isn't too bad. Science museum was quieter.

Original poster
GrumpyMug2 · 18/02/2020 08:23

I knew it!

I don't think we will get there much before 11 now. Sigh. DS is adamant he wants to go.

Oh the regret of promising him stuff! And he loves the effing gift shop as well.

Off to google where the side entrance is

OP posts:
Disfordarkchocolate · 18/02/2020 08:25

I thought the whole museum was too busy and too tired to ever visit again last time I went.

BonnesVacances · 18/02/2020 08:29

We went on Sunday. It was rammed. It's such a fantastic museum though. We decided we'd get membership so we never have to queue again. We also wanted to go into the photography exhibition but it was sold out. Membership would have got us into that for free too.

Anyway, the queue at 11am isn't too bad, 1pm is about an hour's queuing. The best time to go is when it opens or at 4pm, as it'll also be a bit quieter.

shivermetimbers77 · 18/02/2020 08:30

Hi OP side entrance is on Exbibition road... it will be crowded whichever way you go in but just go to the dinos quickly and then escape to the galleries upstairs where it is always quieter...my advice would be to take a packed lunch too!

SquirmOfEels · 18/02/2020 08:37

T'll be very busy, because it always is during the school holidays at the times of year when the weather is likely to be bad.

But as it's been so terribly bad, it's possible that it won't be at its very worst (as some people will choose not to travel) and it's a warnmsh blue skies day here, so locals might make the best of a good day between rain and do something outdoors.

So get there are early as you can, use the less popular entrance, but go through and join the queues for the bits you want to seeand get them done first. Then you can go to the shop, and perhaps hit somewhere completely different for lunch and the afternoons (the V&A is quite a lot quieter. Science will be much the same as NH. What other interests do you/he have? Perhaps there will be other, less busy places to try later in the day)

CeibaTree · 18/02/2020 08:40

We decided we'd get membership so we never have to queue again.
Is there a special members entrance? That would persuade us to get membership too!

Lordfrontpaw · 18/02/2020 08:43

Can’t to go another day? Get there before it opens (usually a queue but it moves quickly) then out before lunchtime.

onemouseplace · 18/02/2020 08:44

You just walk straight in the normal entrance past the queue with membership. Plus it’s free to get into the exhibitions like the Wildlife Photographer of the Year, and the cloakroom is free which is great in winter.

SquirmOfEels · 18/02/2020 08:58

You may still have to queue for security. And that's the big queue (as basic entry is free and you buy tickets for special events much further inside)

Or is there a separate members queue for security too?

Smallinthesmoke · 18/02/2020 09:01

Another option is to go quite late. It shuts at ten to six.
That's what I would do. Queen's Gate entrance at 1600.
If you might want to see the photography award, book online first as it sells out.

BadCatDirtyCat · 18/02/2020 09:03

Sorry to hijack the thread - any thoughts on what the Tower of London might be like? We're planning to go this afternoon..

MrsJacksonAvery · 18/02/2020 09:07

We went late yesterday - 3.30pm, Exhibition Rd entrance. No queue, straight in. Was very busy but manageable.

SquirmOfEels · 18/02/2020 09:07

Also very busy, but it seems to absorb people well IYSWIM, and apart from the Bloody Tower is doesn't feel crowded.

You will need to queue for the Crown Jewels, but that'll be no worse than prime attractions anywhere (tip - don't get on the moving walkway past the main Jewels if you want to gaze, go up the few steps to the higher level where you walk in your own time)