Tourist Attractions in London-London’s Natural History Museum

Originally part of the British Museum, the Museum of Natural History commenced with Sir Hans Sloane’s donation of collections to the country in 1753. Sloane, who was a physician, is said to have collected "natural curiosities".

When a second collection by botanist Joseph Banks (who travelled with Captain James Cook) was added to Sloane's collection, museum curators began to see a need for a separate location for these items.

A competition was held to determine the architect for the new building. The winner was Captain Francis Fowke who, unfortunately, died before he was able to complete his design. The honors then went to Alfred Waterhouse, who designed a German Romanesque structure that is now known as the Waterhouse Building.

The collections were moved to their new home in 1883, but it wasn't until 1963 that these and additional collections were considered a museum in their own right.

Waterhouse Building

Considered one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in Britain, the Waterhouse Building has become a London landmark. Its high-spired towers soar above much of the skyline; and its huge grand façade - inspired by the basalt columns at Fingal's Cave in western Scotland, is awe inspiring.

 The most modern Victorian techniques were used for its construction, resulting in an iron and steel framework. The framework is hidden by beautifully decorated terra cotta façades. This structure is famous for its many terra cotta features, and Waterhouse's use of terra cotta as a building material was groundbreaking in Great Britain.

Don't forget to look up at the intricately painted ceiling panels in the Central Hall. Decorated with plants from all over the world, these gilded tiles all tell their own story.

The Exhibits

The museum's enormous collection of artifacts and specimen (over 70 million), covering life on earth, can be overwhelming. The museum is divided into different colour-coded zones, each focusing on a specific aspect of life on earth.

The collection of dinosaur skeletons is one of the museum's biggest attractions. There are several life-sized models in the Dinosaur hall; and you'll also encounter the skeleton of a Diplodocus in the central hall.

Also a favorite with visitors is a hall dedicated to large mammals, including an enormous model of a blue whale and several elephants. Other halls feature exhibitions on reptiles, fish, etc.

Another zone of the museum focuses on geology. Here, you can see the earth viewed from outer space; and a simulated earthquake and volcanic eruption. There's also a large collection of minerals and stones.

Are you considering visiting London and the U.K.? Then contact the London official visitor agency-Visit London and Partners at: 08701 566 366  visitorinfo@londonandpartners.com     

You can also contact the City of London Information Centre: Opposite St Paul's Cathedral:

City of London, Guildhall, PO Box 270, London, EC2P 2EJ     pro@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Telephone: 020 7606 3030

They can offer you credible, pursuable and realistic information and advice on the following fronts: Cheap flights to London, hotels in London, cheap hotels in London, boutique hotels in London, bed and breakfast in London, guest houses in London, holiday apartments in London, timeshare accommodation in London, youth hostels in London, transportation in London, bus tours in London, river tours in London, coach tours of the U.K., entertainment in London, tourist attractions in London etc.