1 / 2Grant Museum of Zoology
📍 London, Greater London
Compact university museum housing 100,000 specimens from every animal group and continent, including the Micrarium with 2,300 back-lit microscope slides, giant deer antlers, and preserved specimens from living and extinct species. Free entry.
Fascinating museum. Not overly busy and interesting range of exhibits. Man on reception (sorry, I didn’t catch his name!) was very knowledgable and happy to share information about the animals on display.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for families with curious children aged eight and above who enjoy natural history without the crowds of London's larger museums. The compact scale — one to two hours maximum — makes it manageable for children with shorter attention spans. The Micrarium is the standout for children drawn to the unusual.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →1,238 Google reviews
Joshua M
5 months ago
“Fascinating museum. Not overly busy and interesting range of exhibits. Man on reception (sorry, I didn’t catch his name!) was very knowledgable and happy to share information about the animals on display.”
Louise Watson
7 months ago
“The Grant Museum of Zoology is a hidden gem in London that perfectly captures the charm of Victorian scientific curiosity. Founded in 1828 by Robert Edmond Grant, it’s one of the UK’s oldest natural history collections and feels like stepping into a 19th-century cabinet of curiosities. The museum has a charming antiquated vibe with wooden display cases, handwritten labels, and a sense of timeless discovery. The collection is surprisingly vast including intricate butterflies, preserved animals and their organs in jars, taxidermy animals and delicate nests to full animal skeletons. A must visit for anyone with an interest in nature, history, or the beautifully curious.”
Miles Everhart
a month ago
“I visited the Grant Museum of Zoology in the Rockefeller Building on University Street and was genuinely impressed. It’s not a huge museum, but that’s part of its charm — it feels intimate and thoughtfully curated. The collection is fascinating, with everything from preserved specimens to rare skeletons, and there’s plenty to look at if you take your time. It’s a great spot if you’re curious about natural history and want something a bit different from the larger, busier museums in London. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area.”
Andrau
6 months ago
“An intriguing zoological museum. Very small and compact but with thousands of weird and wonderful exhibits including preserved organs, skeletons and remains from living and extinct animals. It has the feeling of an old Victorian scientific curiosity shop.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
The Grant Museum of Zoology opened in 1828 and retains its Victorian cabinet-of-curiosities character. The collection covers 100,000 specimens including skeletons, preserved organs, taxidermied animals, and remains from extinct species. The Micrarium displays 2,300 back-lit microscope slides in a dedicated darkened space. Giant deer antlers are among the more dramatic pieces. Reception staff are consistently noted as knowledgeable and happy to discuss exhibits.
