14 things to do this autumn for adults

Find out what's on at the Museum during September, October and November 2024. With spooky openings, museum tours and fabulous photography - there's an activity for everyone.

Last updated 1 September 2024

1. Find your zen

Stretch out underneath the blue whale skeleton in Hintze Hall with a unique series of yoga classes hosted in collaboration with East of Eden. 

29 September, 27 October, 24 November

Adult from £35, Members from £31.50 

2. See the world through a new lens

Discover the natural world in all its wonder and diversity at Wildlife Photographer of the Year, where 100 remarkable photographs illustrate the precious beauty of our planet.

Adults from £15.50

Opens 11 October

3. Run into a reptile

October 21 is Reptile Awareness Day, giving you the perfect reason to encounter some of the most weird and wonderful species in the Fishes, Amphibians and Reptiles gallery.

Permanent, free.

4. Learn about women in science

Take a guided tour of the first floor Hintze Hall balconies and the Minerals gallery, and discover the fascinating work of women scientists past and present.

Hear the gripping histories of several women scientists across history including some who've worked at the Museum.

Various dates. Free, tickets recommended.

5. Grab a hot coffee as the temperature cools down

It's International Coffee Day on 1 October, so take the opportunity to get cosy with a brew in the Central Cafe. Enjoy a selection of sandwiches and salads, or tuck into crisps, cakes, pastries and fruit.

Top tip: we've also got free (and fast) Wi-Fi.

6. Unravel the epic story of birds

From surviving a mass extinction event to inhabiting every continent on Earth. Discover the secrets to their success and their surprising and often shocking tactics for survival at Birds: Brilliant and Bizzare.

Open now

Adult tickets from £16.50

7. Learn something new

Sign up for one of our new Naturally Curious short courses and learn from our world-famous experts. Whether it's Rocks in Space or Dinosaurs 101 - we've got something for every curious mind.

8. See our dinos out of hours

Book a Dinotour with one of our knowledgeable tour guides to get up close and personal with the all the main characters in our world-famous Dinosaurs gallery, all before it opens to the public.

45-minute tours from 9.00-9.45

Adult £30, child £20, Member £27

9. Let the sounds of the Thames wash over you

Visit our Jerwood Gallery and hear a unique sound installation by Jana Winderen in collaboration with Tony Myatt.

The River explores the beauty and importance of underwater sound and how human-made noises can contribute to sound pollution in our waters.

Free, open now

10. Celebrate sloths on International Sloth Day

When you think of a sloth, often a slow-moving, bleary-eyed, tree-dwelling creature comes to mind. But what about their predecessors? The giant ground sloth (Megatherium americanum) was up to 10 times the size of living sloths reaching weights of up to four tonnes (similar to a present-day bull elephant). On its hind legs, it would have stood a full 3.5 metres (12 feet) tall.

A Megatherium skeleton cast is on display at the end of the Fossil Marine Reptiles gallery.

Permanent, free

11. Watch the seasons change in our gardens

Escape the hustle and bustle of city life and follow the story of how life on Earth has changed over time in our new gardens. Take time to watch the leaves fall and contemplate a future that works for people and the planet.

Open daily, free

12. Celebrate 60 years of Wildlife Photographer of the Year

This year is the sixtieth anniversary of our world-renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

Make your way to the Images of Nature gallery to see this free display thatlooks at the role photography has played in advancing the science of natural history.

Free, open now

13. Have a fright you'll never forget

Explore the Museum after hours this Halloween and experience the galleries after darkness has fallen.

Tuesday 31 October 2023, 18.45-23.00

Adult: £40, Member: £36

14. How do you measure up against the giant sequoia?

This sequoia has a long history. It has been in the Museum since 1893.

The tree was 1,300 years old and 101 metres tall when it was felled in California.

Its incredible lifespan is evident in its many rings. Tree rings are created under the bark as the organism grows taller and thicker. Experts can tell how old a tree is by its number of growth rings.

See it on display on the upper balcony in Hintze Hall.