Grant Museum of Zoology - Summer Season

Hello, Grant Museum of Zoology Fans! Here's what we've got coming up in July and August, and the latest from the blog.  We'll now be taking a short mailing hiatus for summer, but will be in touch at the end of August with all our news, plus next term's programme of events. GMZ will be open as normal throughout summer holidays, Mon-Sat 1-5pm.

Family activities

Creature Creations Saturday 14 July Saturday 25 August 1:30pm - 4:30pm Drop-in, Free

Create works of art inspired by some of the weird and wonderful animals that call the Grant Museum home or invent your very own brand new animal, give it a name and add it to our collection in our family art day with our Museum artist. Drop in between 1:30pm and 4:30pm, no need to book.

Explore Zoology Saturday 28 July Saturday 11 August 1:00pm - 4:00pm Drop-in, Free

Ever wondered how sharp a shark’s tooth is or how many scales a pangolin has? Well, bring along your budding zoologists for our family hands-on specimen based activities and be inspired by the natural world. Drop in between 1pm and 4pm, no need to book.

From the blog

Specimen of the Week 345: The Pikermi Casts

Specimen of the Week 346: The Young Rattlesnake

Specimen of the Week 348: The salp

You can view all of this month's specimens of the week (345-348) here.

Horniman Museum and Gardens - What's On in July

World Gallery Now open We are delighted that our much-anticipated World Gallery opens its doors today. Featuring over 3,000 objects – 10 times as many as the previous display – the Gallery is a celebration of human creativity, imagination and adaptability. Presented as a series of encounters with cultures from across the continents, the World Gallery gives visitors a glimpse into other ways of understanding the world. ‘The effect is one of splendid profusion… The common thread is one of inclusiveness.’ Financial Times ‘The World Gallery offers more than a description of human life in all its broad and astounding diversity. It explores the depths of what it means to be human too.’ The Times The opening of the World Gallery is the culmination of a five-year project that has also involved the transformation of the gallery space to re-introduce daylight and capture the spirit of the original museum building which first opened on this day in 1901. The project has been made possible by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the generosity of many Trusts and Foundations, businesses and individuals. Entry free Find out more The Luna Cinema Tuesday 3 July: Labyrinth (U) Wednesday 4 July: The Shape of Water (15) Film starts 9.30pm It's perfect weather to enjoy two nights of open-air cinema in our stunning Gardens. Cult classic Labyrinth is a musical fantasy adventure starring the late, great David Bowie and The Shape of Water is an other-worldly fable set against the backdrop of Cold War-era America starring Sally Hawkins. Tickets: Adult £15, Child £10, Disabled and carer £7.50 Book tickets at thelunacinema.com Festival of Dance Sunday 8 July 10.30am-5pm Join us for the opening event of our Shared World Summer Season with a wonderful celebration of dance. There will be unique performances across our beautiful Gardens, dance and drumming workshops, vibrant live music from London-based bands as well as an arts and crafts market and the London Brewers’ Market. Find out more. In partnership with Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Free entry Wonderful World Late Thursday 19 July 6.30-9.30pm Discover the wonders of our World Gallery at this special evening of performances, talks, tours and food. As DJ Chris Tofu plays music from across the globe, explore the worlds of science fiction, virtual reality and the Horniman’s collection of taxidermy, and don't miss a site-specific performance inspired by our new World Gallery by British Brazilian choreographer Jean Abreu. Tickets: £5. Over-18s only. Book now Sunset Sessions Thursdays, 26 July, 2 and 9 August 6.30-8pm Chill out to global sounds on our Bandstand Terrace with styles ranging from Afro-Punk to New Orleans brass. The series starts on 26 July with the award-winning Kabantu. The Horniman Café will be open on the Bandstand Terrace serving drinks and snacks. Free Find out more Summer Welly Walk Saturday 28 July 1.45-3.30pm Join us on the Horniman Nature Trail for a family friendly welly walk. Have a go at sweep-netting, tree-beating and other fun activities to discover the plants, animals and insects that thrive on the Nature Trail during the summer. Suitable for children aged 5+. Tickets: Adult £5, Child £3 Book now

Natural History Museum - A collection of dinosaur delights

Despite what some films would have us believe, we're unlikely to see dinosaurs roaming zoos and safari parks anytime soon. So how do scientists determine how these intriguing animals fed, ran, bred and died? Museum palaeontologist Prof Paul Barrett fills us in.

Tips from a palaeontologist >

How an asteroid ended the age of the dinosaurs Find out about dinosaurs' ultimate bad day. Gone but not forgotten > Dinosaur survivors Did you know dinosaurs are still with us today? Explore what survived, and why. Watch our animation > A bit of dino fun What dinosaur are you? Discover which dinosaur shared your habits and personality. Take the quiz > Create an origami dinosaur Give yourself a craft challenge and see if you can make this charming T. rex - it even has the famous tiny arms. Get folding > Want more dino facts? Has Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom got its claws into you? It's certainly got Museum dinosaur researcher Dr David Button hooked. Find out why > Watch the Museum's Stegosaurus skeleton brought to life as Sir David Attenborough tells us more. See it move > Win an exclusive dinosaur experience Go behind the scenes Enter our free prize draw for a chance to win a tour of the Museum's dinosaur collection with one of our palaeontologists, for you and five friends or family. Enter now >