Natural History Museums in the United Kingdom
Natural history and marine museums with collections on animals, plants, minerals and the history of the Earth.
Scotland (12)
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
National Museum of Scotland
The Hunterian
Glasgow Science Centre
Dynamic Earth
Stromness Museum
Dumfries Museum
Paisley Museum
The Dick Institute
D'Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum
Dundee Science Centre
Elgin Museum
South East England (7)
London (6)
South West England (6)
East of England (5)
East Midlands (3)
North East England (3)
North West England (3)
Wales (3)
Yorkshire and the Humber (3)
West Midlands (2)
Northern Ireland (1)
Natural History Museums in the United Kingdom: Overview & Tips
Our guide lists 54 natural history museums in the United Kingdom, spread across 12 regions and 41 towns and cities. Most of them are in Scotland (12), South East England (7), and London (6).
At the city level, London (6), Glasgow (3), and Birmingham (2) lead the way – ideal if you want to see several natural history museums in a single day.
31 museums are free to visit. For the others with a published price, a regular adult ticket costs £13.95 at the median, and the middle half charge between £10 and £16.
34 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 44 offer dedicated programs for families, and 33 have a café or restaurant. These figures come from our ongoing research – museums whose details we haven’t verified yet aren’t included in the counts.
Top 10 natural history museums in the United Kingdom
The best-known natural history museums in the United Kingdom
Natural History MuseumNature · London
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and MuseumArt · Glasgow
National Museum of ScotlandHistory · Edinburgh
Oxford University Museum of Natural HistoryNature · Oxford
National Museum CardiffArt · Cardiff
Manchester MuseumNature · Manchester
Horniman Museum and GardensWorld cultures · London
Norwich Castle Museum & Art GalleryHistory · Norwich
Yorkshire MuseumArchaeology · York
Down HousePeople · London
Natural history museums in the United Kingdom with free admission
- Natural History MuseumNature · London
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery and MuseumArt · Glasgow
- National Museum of ScotlandHistory · Edinburgh
- Oxford University Museum of Natural HistoryNature · Oxford
- National Museum CardiffArt · Cardiff
- Manchester MuseumNature · Manchester
- Horniman Museum and GardensWorld cultures · London
Natural History Museum at TringNature · Tring
Bristol Museum & Art GalleryRegional · Bristol
World MuseumWorld cultures · Liverpool
Natural history museums in the United Kingdom with programs for families
- Natural History MuseumNature · London
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery and MuseumArt · Glasgow
- National Museum of ScotlandHistory · Edinburgh
- Oxford University Museum of Natural HistoryNature · Oxford
- National Museum CardiffArt · Cardiff
- Manchester MuseumNature · Manchester
- Horniman Museum and GardensWorld cultures · London
- Norwich Castle Museum & Art GalleryHistory · Norwich
- Yorkshire MuseumArchaeology · York
- Down HousePeople · London
Wheelchair-accessible natural history museums in the United Kingdom
- Natural History MuseumNature · London
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery and MuseumArt · Glasgow
- National Museum of ScotlandHistory · Edinburgh
- Oxford University Museum of Natural HistoryNature · Oxford
- National Museum CardiffArt · Cardiff
- Manchester MuseumNature · Manchester
- Horniman Museum and GardensWorld cultures · London
- Norwich Castle Museum & Art GalleryHistory · Norwich
- Down HousePeople · London
- Natural History Museum at TringNature · Tring
Natural history museums in the United Kingdom with the highest published visitor numbers
- National Museum of ScotlandHistory · Edinburgh
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery and MuseumArt · Glasgow
- Horniman Museum and GardensWorld cultures · London
Great North Museum: HancockNature · Newcastle upon Tyne- Bristol Museum & Art GalleryRegional · Bristol
- National Museum CardiffArt · Cardiff
Glasgow Science CentreTechnology · Glasgow
Life Science CentreTechnology · Newcastle upon Tyne- Natural History Museum at TringNature · Tring
Museum of ZoologyNature · Cambridge
By region
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many natural history museums are there in the United Kingdom?
Our directory currently lists 54 natural history museums in the United Kingdom across 41 towns and cities.
What are the best-known natural history museums in the United Kingdom?
Some of the best known are Natural History Museum, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, National Museum of Scotland, Oxford University Museum of Natural History, and National Museum Cardiff.
Which natural history museums in the United Kingdom offer free admission?
31 museums are free to visit – for example Natural History Museum, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, National Museum of Scotland, and Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
Which natural history museums in the United Kingdom are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 25 are open, such as Natural History Museum, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, and National Museum of Scotland.
Which natural history museums in the United Kingdom are wheelchair accessible?
34 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including Natural History Museum, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, and National Museum of Scotland. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit natural history museums in the United Kingdom?
A regular adult ticket costs £13.95 at the median, with prices ranging from £4 to £23. Children, students and families usually pay less.
Other categories: Art & Design · History & Cultural History · Science & Technology · Archaeology & Antiquity · Memorials · Castles, Palaces & Monasteries · Open-Air Museums · City & Regional Museums · World Cultures & Ethnology · People & Literature · Special-Interest Museums