Natural History Museum announces transformation in South Kensington as it approaches 150th anniversary

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, with their iconic Victorian architecture, and return them to public use so that they can once again engage and inspire, creating planetary advocates for generations to come.

More than a third of our natural history collection is being moved to a state-of-the-art research and digitisation centre at Thames Valley Science Park so we can better care for it and more easily share its data with scientists around the world who are finding solutions to problems such as climate change, biodiversity loss and food security.

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

Notes to Editors

Images are available in the press kit here.

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About the Natural History Museum

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

Our vision is to build a future where people and the planet thrive. We aim to be a catalyst for change, involving planetary advocates in everything we do.

Our 350 scientists find 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.