Hope the blue whale in the Museum’s Hintze Hall CREDIT Trustees of the NHM, London 

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Natural History Museum announces transformation at South Kensington ahead of its 150th anniversary

Our revitalised Museum will be the heart of a global mission to create 100 million advocates for the planet, powered by our scientists’ work to find solutions to the planetary emergency

  • Natural History Museum to fundraise £150 million to transform the museum at South Kensington in time for 150th anniversary in 2031

  • To celebrate NHM150, we are restoring four existing galleries, including the ever-popular Dinosaur gallery, and reopening two new galleries - one of which has not been seen by the public since the Second World War

Today the Natural History Museum announces its plans to raise £150 million by 2031, when it will celebrate its 150th anniversary. 

Museum Director Dr Doug Gurr said, “Since 2017 when we unveiled Hope the blue whale diving through the heart of the Museum, a symbol of humanity’s power to act for the planet, we’ve been working hard to help people understand the importance of looking after the natural world. In 2020 we declared a planetary emergency and our mission to create advocates for the planet.”

“This step-change from a catalogue of natural history to a catalyst for change will be fully realised as our galleries here in South Kensington are renewed and revitalised, powered by our scientists’ work to find solutions to some of the biggest challenges we face.”

To mark our 150th anniversary, we will restore and renew four existing galleries, including our world-famous Dinosaur gallery, and open a brand-new space dedicated to connecting our youngest visitors to the natural world. Before then, opening in 2025 is Fixing Our Broken Planet, a new free gallery addressing environmental challenges and showcasing what visitors can do to protect the planet.

The Origins gallery will reopen as a public gallery as a result of our collections move CREDIT: Trustees of the NHM, London

The Origins gallery will reopen as a public gallery as a result of our collections move CREDIT: Trustees of the NHM, London

Plans are also underway to reopen the Origins gallery and the Old General Herbarium, which have been closed to the public since 2004 and 1948 respectively.  Currently used to house collections, we will restore these spaces to their former glory, complete with iconic Victorian architecture, and return them to public use so they can engage and inspire once more, creating advocates for the planet for generations to come.

More than a third of our natural history collection is moving to a state of the art, science, research and digitisation centre at Thames Valley Science Park so we can take better care of it and more easily share its data with scientists all over the world who are finding solutions to problems like climate change, biodiversity loss and food security. 

By moving the collection out of unsuitable, unsustainable storage in South Kensington and into a purpose-built research centre, we are preserving this powerful scientific tool for next 150 years, while increasing access and collaboration with the science community, and returning gallery space back to its intended use.

 
Notes to Editors

Images are available in the press pack here.

Press contact

Natural History Museum Press Office

Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5654 / 07799690151

Email: press@nhm.ac.uk

Web: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/support-us/nhm-150.html

About The Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum is a world-leading science centre and one of the most visited attractions in the UK. A global source of curiosity, inspiration and joy.

Our vision is to build a future in which both people and the planet thrive. We aim to be a catalyst for change, engaging advocates for the planet in everything that we do.

Our 350 scientists are finding solutions to the planetary emergency in all aspects of life.

Visit, join and support the Natural History Museum today. Protecting the planet. It's in our nature.