Friday 4 December 2015

December at the Natural History Museum

Tim Peake launch day
© ESA - M Koell
© ESA - M Koell 
Join space-themed events taking place across the UK to celebrate as Tim Peake becomes the first Briton to visit the International Space Station. Take part in family activities at the Museum, and hear from our space scientists in an evening event at the Science Museum.

Interested in space travel? Pre-book tickets to our major space photography exhibition Otherworlds: Visions of our Solar System, launching in January.


See the events programme
Brain fossils break new ground
Museum scientists use cutting-edge imaging techniques to unravel the secrets of 517-million-year-old animals, uncovering new evidence for brain fossilisation. 
Read the story
Wonderful wildlife photography
© Rosamund Macfarlane
© Rosamund Macfarlane
Wildlife Photographer of the Year showcases images from all over the natural world, but this seasonal shot of a mountain hare was taken closer to home in Scotland. Rosamund Macfarlane captured it as the hare scrabbled for food in the snowy surroundings. See this image and more at the exhibition. 
Until 10 April 

Book exhibition tickets
David Attenborough's Great Barrier Reef Dive

© Atlantic Productions

In partnership with BBC, Atlantic Productions and powered by Samsung Gear VR.

© Atlantic Productions

In partnership with BBC, Atlantic Productions and powered by Samsung Gear VR.
Join Sir David Attenborough inside a glass-domed submersible with 360-degree views of the reef. Immerse yourself in a world of colourful corals, darting fish and sleek reef sharks in this extraordinary new virtual reality experience.

Daily showings start 11 December
Book tickets
Become a photography judge 
© Claudio Contreras Koob
© Claudio Contreras Koob
Choose your favourite in this year's People's Choice Award from 25 images pre-selected by the Wildlife Photographer of the Year jury. The winning image as voted by the public will be added to the exhibition from January 2016.

Voting closes 5 January
See the images and cast your vote 
Have a wonderful winter at the Natural History Museum Swarovski Ice Rink 
Experience the thrill of skating surrounded by fairy lights nestled in frost-covered trees, with the smell of mulled wine in the air. Whether you're a first-time skater or Torvill and Dean, a visit is a must this festive season.

Until 3 January
Book tickets now
Great gift experiences for adults
Our exclusive evening events make great gifts for night owls. Try your hand at forensics and work with scientific experts to solve a murder mystery at Crime Scene Live. Or why not sleep over at the Museum and enjoy a night of music, food, comedy, science and film at Dino Snores for Grown-ups.


Book event tickets as a treat
Christmas gifts from our online shop
Support the Museum and choose from our range of Christmas cards, decorations and hundreds of gifts for the whole family. Look out for exclusive weekend offers from our online shop in the run-up to the holiday season. 
You can also visit our new Dino Store at Bluewater shopping centre this Christmas, featuring a huge range of dinosaur gifts, including our own brand of soft toys, models and games. 
Shop now