Natural History Museum

[Cestfoutu]

I'm thinking of taking my 4 year old grandson to the Natural History Museum in October half-term, but haven't been for years. Will it be unbearably busy and does anyone have any tips for a visit there? Thanks.

Have you booked?

Unfortunately the crowds can be overwhelming.

You can book so you don’t have to queue to get in.

have to be honest though, my husband took my 5 year old recently and she was a bit underwhelmed. It’s quite an old fashioned museum, not very hands on. If you have a particularly dinosaur obsessed kid they might like it but it’s a lot of ‘look at this skeleton and read about it’. My husband felt it might be better for 8+. I’ve heard the science museum is better for younger kids.

I'd suggest going as early as possible, mid-week and plan what you want to see if possible. I don't know if you can view floor plans online, but I'd do your must-sees first, and then if time allows- others things. Its a massive museum, so I'd imagine a 4yr old would be tired out after several exhibits/floors/areas.
Plan toilet visits to any out of the way toilets. The ones in the main halls section always have massive queues!

I take school groups quite often, obviously in term time. I plan the rooms carefully according to interest.
With my own DC, we go at the end of a day (holiday time) and spend the last hour of opening there. That means we can see the best bits with no crowds.
Not sure how much a four year old would get out of it.

Hornimans might be a better option for his age

Last time we went DD preferred the rocks upstairs where there was space to look rather than being funneled through the dinosaur section.

If you can get to Cambridge they have some great fossils in the Universty museums and far quieter than NHM

The science museum is better for that age, or even the postal museum.

The queue for people who had not pre booked tickets was very long today at the history museum!

Mine loves animals and loved it.

Are you used to London crowds? I think that probably affects your ability to tolerate business.

Id probably aim to go at the start of the end of the day for that reason.

We went to both the natural history and science museum last week. I have a 5yo too.

They were a bit busy, but my children loved both! They’re right next to each other so easy to move between.

Definitely book beforehand though!

Thanks, everyone. Lots of helpful advice. I will look into the science museum too

Don't go on a rainy day, you'll be queued up for ages to get in.

I find the crowds at both the NHM and the Science museum fairly unbearable in the school holidays. I second the poster who suggested going late in the day to try to avoid the worst of it. Also agree that unless your grandson is very into dinosaurs that the Science museum might be more fun than the NHM for him. The transport museum is also pretty good for that age.

I'd do both - NHS first as it's busier and then Science Museum for more hands on and experimental bits.

If you do go to the science museum, there's a play area for younger kids in the basement. There's also a (paid) hands on exhibit called Wonderlab - we've had annual passes to Wonderlab since DC was a toddler and he never, ever tires of it. It's great for that age!

I would echo to go first thing when it opens or the last hour before it closes.. the outside garden area is nice for that age.. and definitely book free timed tickets online

if you go to the Science museum too then it’s worth going to the Garden play area in the basement - which is free and my son spent hours there at that age- and also perhaps paying for the Wonderlab exhibition upstairs which is great for kids as is very interactive.

Science museum or transport museum are fab 😊

Thanks again for all the tips. Looks like we may need a rethink! Really grateful for all the contributions!

Mine were never interested in the Natural History Museum but they loved the Science Museum. British Museum is good too. A bit further out but Brooklands in Weybridge is great for kids - lots of old buses, planes etc.

Not your question, but another option could be the V&A children's museum. I haven't been since the recent refurbishment, but it used to have hands on exhibits, interactive things etc. Its 1min from Bethnal Green tube station and smaller than the museums you have mentioned, so might suit a 4yr old better.
www.vam.ac.uk/young?srsltid=AfmBOooGBjkA5Cn_lh2Rr8GYPXm8thsK48R38ZRgLjxentSbfOSaTwP4

The transport museum is much more suitable for that age: smaller, better fun-learning ratio, quieter, great shop!

If you're going for taxidermy animals I would suggest the Horniman Museum (excellent for children), the Grant Museum of Zoology or the NHM outpost at Tring, Herts instead.

Thanks to everyone for your help. Having a rethink for sure!

I took my 4yo recently and we had the best time! Saw the birds exhibition and the dinosaurs, as well as the earthquake and volcanoes in the earth gallery. He was completely fascinated! If you book online you don't need to queue.

I don't know if they still do it, but when mine were little you used to be able to hire discovery bags on different topics from NHM, Science Museum and British Museum. They used to keep mine entertained. I have such a cute picture of DS aged about 6 in front of Dippy wearing the explorers hat from the NHM bag. He's now 20.

Disappointed to hear wonderlab is now paid for. Yet another hands on resource which inspired children in STEM now accessible only for those with the finance to do so.

Does she watch Andy's Dinosaur Adventures on CBeebies? The credit sequence is filmed in the entrance hall so she might recognise the building and know where he runs to get to his time clock - you could have a quick look at the show before you go so you also know?

We actually enjoyed the coral room most age 4 - very few other visitors and lots of shapes, textures, and also space to waltz about in the middle of the room as required without causing a hazard....

My DC used to love going in via the Earth galleries up the long escalator into the earth and then the earthquake simulator.
The insect gallery used to be good, especially the fake flies over food 🤢