Taking a baby to the Natural History Museum in South Kensington

Living in London, one place I always love to visit is the Natural History Museum. There is something so special about stepping into the iconic Hintze Hall. Not only does it boast some of the most beautiful Victorian architecture in London, but it also has a 25-metre long blue whale skeleton, affectionately named ‘Hope’, suspended dramatically from the ceiling.

History truly comes alive here, through captivating exhibits and interactive displays. As you wander through grand halls, you will encounter a wealth of specimens, from towering skeletons to intricate fossil collections. Honestly, the Natural History Museum is well worth a visit, with or without a baby! But if you are bringing your little one, then these are the essential facts you should know before you visit.

Getting to the NHM

The museum is located in the heart of South Kensington (near the underground station) and is free to enter. There are two entrances currently open in early 2024:

Exhibition Road (after which you will pass Sophie the Stegosaurus to arrive at an escalator into a giant metal earth sculpture).
Cromwell Road (the main entrance, pictured below, which leads directly into the grand Hintze Hall, pictured above).

A baby's experience of the Natural History Museum

The first time we visited this museum, my son was 5 months old and much more portable. He was happy to be sitting in his pram or held in the baby carrier for the duration of the visit. He also had a few short naps during the day – another bonus! It meant we could look around the parts that we found interesting and not worry too much about entertaining him.

The second time, at 15 months old, he was much more alert, engaged and mobile. On the one hand, he enjoyed picking out his favourite animals among the wildlife photography and found fascination in exhibits like the moving Tyrannosaurus. On the other, he wanted to crawl around absolutely everywhere, and the Natural History Museum isn’t really designed for a baby to safely explore this way.

There are a number of museums in London designed to be more baby-friendly, for example:

the Science Museum on Exhibition Road (where babies can explore the Garden and Pattern Pod)
the Young V&A in Bethnal Green (with its own baby and toddler sensory zone)
the London Museum Docklands near Canary Wharf (which hosts an activity room called Mudlarks).

So until he’s a bit older and can toddle around reliably, I think I will prioritise visiting those. That way, both he and we can get more out of the experience together. However, all babies are different. So if you are planning on visiting the NHM with yours, there are some further factors of which you should be aware.

Accessibility

While the Museum is highly accessible, with step-free entrances and plenty of lifts inside, the nearest underground station, South Kensington, is not. Although it is a very short route from the platform to the ticket hall, there are no lifts and the steps can get very crowded even during off-peak times.

Baby Changing

There is one Baby Care facility located next to the central cafe with a small breastfeeding room (separated by a curtain) and three baby change units. It’s a very basic set-up but it does the job. There are two other accessible toilets with changing tables in the Green Zone and Red Zone, but no other dedicated areas to breastfeed.

Natural History Museum Memberships

If you visit fairly often and your budget allows, consider getting a membership to the museum. We have found our Joint Membership to be so helpful when visiting, and even more so with our son. Benefits of the membership include:

Being able to skip the (often long) queues at the entrance
Free use of the cloakroom – it’s so handy to get rid of bulky coats and bags!
Free unlimited access to exhibitions (even when sold out) including the popular Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Discounts in gift shops (20%) and cafes (10%)
Discounts on other events, like Dino Snores (sleepovers at the museum!) and their silent discos
But best of all, you get members-only access to The Anning Rooms, which is such a lovely space to escape to when the museum is getting crowded. They have a Benugo restaurant serving lunch and coffee, and an upstairs lounge for both relaxing and working. There are comfortable chairs, solid wifi and plenty of plug sockets. I happily plonked my son down for a bit and let him crawl and explore with my husband, while I gazed out of the windows at all of the amazing views.

Adventure Babies

The one truly baby-friendly activity at the NHM is Adventure Babies, a sensory storytelling class that currently runs on Tuesdays in the Marine Invertebrates room. These cost £20 per 45-minute class and include sensory props, a story session, a singalong and messy play.

This activity came highly recommended to me by another mum I got chatting to in The Anning Rooms. I haven’t managed to take my son to a class yet, but once I do, I’ll definitely report back!

Summary

Taking a baby to the Natural History Museum requires a bit more forethought and planning for a successful day out. Navigating the museum itself tends to be a balancing act between wonder and practicality. Truly baby-friendly facilities are a bit thin on the ground – at least to casual members of the public.

However, if you do choose to take advantage of the museum’s membership perks (which are what make it feel like a really special place for us), and time your visit to coincide with one of the exciting Adventure Babies workshops, you’ll be rewarded with the freedom to both explore and relax at your leisure amongst even the most bustling holiday crowds.

Looking for other exciting museums to take your baby? Read on for four more ideas on where to go.