Natural History Museum

While its permanent collections are showing their age now – that age being approximately 163 years – the Natural History Museum’s temporary exhibits are a world apart. Modern, witty, spacious and hi-tech: they’re a window into what might be if the NHM was refounded in the twenty-first century. ‘Birds: Brilliant & Bizarre’ doesn’t have an especially incisive story to tell beyond ‘birds are great!’ (It would be weird if it was ‘birds are terrible!’) but it is is, nonetheless, a beautifully put together journey through the story of our avian pals that mixes slick techy stuff with a thoughtful delve into the museum’s vast taxidermy vaults (if your archive includes an entire family of stuffed hummingbirds – including the nesting babies – you might as well give it a public airing occasionally). One great thing for younger audiences is that our feathered friends are an offshoot of dinosaurs - hence licence for the first quarter or so of ‘Birds’ to concern itself with their prehistoric ancestors, with particular attention paid to dino-bird crossover creature archaeopteryx. After that it’s an entertaining grab bag, a nicely laid out mix of… bird stuff, with a striking early piece being the gigantic stuffed albatross suspended from the ceiling with its gigantic fluffy chick under it. We’re told the mother was killed by a fishing trawler, which sets up the eco undertones of the rest of the exhibit. It’s not just about wacky bird facts, but the sense that these creatures’ lives are in ou

This renowned annual photography exhibition returns to the Natural History Museum for its sixtieth edition, showcasing the very best entries of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. On display are images of the most extraordinary species on the planet captured by professional and amateur photographers. This year’s entries are TBA right now, but the winners are reliably spectacular – pictured is last year’s champion Max Waugh’s triumphant ‘Snow Bison’. Don’t miss what is always a highlight in the NHM’s calendar.

The Natural History Museum at night seems like the perfect, spine-tingling place to spend Halloween. There’s so many skeletons looming around the place and, in the Tank Room, you’ll find jars full of strange specimens that will make you squirm. This year, the museum’s Halloween knees-up comes with the theme of Method To The Monsters, and you’ll be able to discover a wealth of spooky myths and legends, plus the science behind them. If you fancy a break from all that, there’ll also be a silent disco, tours, and the decidedly unfrightening Wildlife Photographer Of The Year exhibition to ogle.

Forgot peering up into the Christmas Eve sky for a glimpse of Santa – he’s taking up residency at the Natural History Museum in December, before his busy period really takes off. Head down to South Kensington to intro the kids to Father Christmas in his grotto, which will be decorated with snowy trees and comfy cushions perfect for chilling on while the big man tells everyone a festive tale. Each session lasts 45 minutes and, after, there’s the chance for the little ones to receive a present and take a photo with Mr Claus himself. Ho ho ho!