Life Galleries

Floor plan

10 Wonders of the Natural History Museum: From an extinct giant sloth to the massive dinosaur Diplodocus in the main hall, this exhibition displays a selection of some of the more bizarre and unusual wonders of the natural world.
12 Fishes, amphibians and reptiles: Some of the 20,000 species of fishes found in our rivers and seas can be seen in this gallery, alongside reptiles and amphibians from around the world.
13 Marine invertebrates: Overlooked by a spectacular giant squid, this redesigned gallery displays a variety of sea creatures, from the king crab to tiny starfish and spiky sea anemones.
21 Dinosaurs: Scientific evidence and state-of-the-art design give an updated and comprehensive view of dinosaur life.
22 Human biology: This exhibition is about you. It has sections that tell you about the growth and development of your body and mind, and others where you are invited to think about the way you do things.
23/24 Mammals: Suspended from the gallery ceiling, the life-size model of a blue whale forms a dramatic centre-piece to this exhibition, inviting you to explore the world of mammals.
32 Ecology: This exhibition looks at how living things interact with one another and their environment to form thriving communities.
33 'Creepy-crawlies': Investigate the roles and impact of the arthropods - centipedes, crabs, spiders and insects - on our environment and daily lives.
40 Bird gallery: From peacocks and parrots, to traditional Victorian displays of bird anatomy and a fossil replica of the first bird, this gallery explores many different aspects of bird life.
101 Our place in evolution: This exhibition considers how human beings are related to other animals and the various 'fossil men' whose remains have been discovered around the world.
102 Minerals: From gemstones to meteorites, this gallery displays a huge variety of minerals and rocks discovered on Earth.
105 Origin of species: Investigate the reasons why there is such diversity of life on Earth by exploring the theory of evolution and the work of Charles Darwin.
107 Primates: This exhibition investigates the lifestyles and behavioural differences and similarities between ourselves and primates.
108 Plant power: This exhibition uses digitally enhanced photographs to explore the cultural and social relationships between plants and people.