We're not trying to lure you down a #FridayFeeling dino-shaped rabbit hole (okay, maybe we are), but have you seen the reel of our Gallery Albums, zooming in on Museum visitors past? See every page here: buff.ly/rbGgrFP #MuseumArchives #DigitisedCollections #FridayFaces #HistoryOfFashion

Recent new additions to our library book collections 📚️ Visitors to our reading room can access our physical and online collections. ⬆️Use the link in our bio to learn more about our collections and how to make an appointment. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Whale #Moths #Snakes #Botany

16 October 2026, 11.00 - 15.00. Location: Lasting Impressions Gallery. (Free, drop in.) Visitors to the Museum will have the opportunity to enter this collection space, speak with the Library and Archives team, and view a selection of material from across the collections. #NaturalHistoryMuseum

Never judge a book by its cover or size... Deutschlands Giftpflanzen : zum Gebrauch für Schulen auf einer Tafel abgebildet und fasslich beschrieben, edited by Karl Gottlieb Plato (1829-1840). Germany's poisonous plants : depicted on a chart and described in accessible terms for use in schools.

When the NHM opened in 1881, visitors with cameras had to buy a permit and send two copies of each print to the Museum’s collections. You can scroll through a few highlights from each album by swiping left in this post. See every page here: buff.ly/31893CL #MuseumArchives #DigitisedCollections

Recent new additions to our library botanical journal collections 📚️ Visitors to our reading room can access our physical and online collections. ⬆️Use the link in our bio to learn more about our collections and how to make an appointment. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Botany

Thomas Pennant's (1726-1798) body of work spanned natural history, antiquities and travel. To celebrate his tercentenary, we've added his correspondence and catalogues to our Digital Special Collections: buff.ly/ZFULOe0. #Manuscripts #18thCentury #HistoryOfScience #HistoryOfNaturalHistory

Every celebration deserves cake! In 1950, Museum botanist John Ramsbottom's retirement was marked with this fungi-bedecked baking showstopper! We wonder who got the Stinkhorn slice... #NaturalHistoryMuseum ##GBBO #Bakeoff #ExploreYourArchive

Do you remember visiting the Geological Museum when the galleries looked like this? For many, it is a complete surprise to see this image from our archives. The Geological Museum was founded in 1835 by Sir Henry de la Beche; the first institution of its kind in the world. #NaturalHistoryMuseum

A peek at what is on the returns shelf at our Ornithology Library @NHM_Tring. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Booksky #ModernCollections #Birds #Nightjar #Penguin

16 October 2026, 11.00 - 15.00. Location: Lasting Impressions Gallery. (Free, drop in.) Visitors to the Museum will have the opportunity to enter this collection space, speak with the Library and Archives team, and view a selection of material from across the collections. #NaturalHistoryMuseum

Dig Deeper: The Traveller with Andrea Wulf Tuesday 8 September 18:30–20:00 Join us for a special evening as acclaimed author Andrea Wulf explores the remarkable life and legacy of eighteenth-century naturalist George Forster. £25 (Members £15) Book tickets: buff.ly/3UGnwhq

Beyond the Galleries Tour After a guided walk looking at the architecture of the Museum, cool down in our Reading Room, and join one of our archivists for a show-and-tell display from the Museum Archives. For more information see the link in our bio. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Archives

The school holidays are here 🥳 We always find it inspiring to come across visitors drawing away, especially during the school holidays. You will find many opportunities to engage with Library and Archive collections in the public galleries. The perfect excuse to get your sketchbook out.

Recent new additions to our library book collections 📚️ ⬆️Learn more about our collections and how to visit us via the link in our bio. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #ModernCollections #NaturalHistory #Science #Birds #Moths #Diptera #Minerals #Palaeontology #Algae #Flora #Botany #BookSky #Insects

Founded by John Frost in 1821, the Medico-Botanical Society of London existed until 1849. This signature book, contains twenty-six pages of signatures. Among them are dignitaries such as Queen Victoria, King William IV, and European royalty. It also features two watercolours by an unknown artist.

The school holidays are here 🥳 We always find it inspiring to come across visitors drawing away, especially during the school holidays. You will find many opportunities to engage with Library and Archive collections in the public galleries. The perfect excuse to get your sketchbook out.

Recent new additions to our library book collections 📚️ ⬆️Learn more about our collections and how to visit us via the link in our bio. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #ModernCollections #NaturalHistory #Science #Diptera #Minerals #Flora #Botany #Butterflies #BookSky #Insects #Thailand #Palaeontology

In 1665 Robert Hooke (1635 – 1703), scientist, biologist, astronomer and architect, published 'Micrographia', containing illustrations of specimens studied under a microscope. At the time a ground breaking way to study and view the natural world. #Entomology #SciArt #SpecialCollections

Today is the 206th birthday of naturalist Gilbert White (1720-1793). But who was he and why is he important? For more in-depth knowledge than we can fit here, see buff.ly/ykmOf4V or visit buff.ly/O0qUNt7. Happy birthday, Gilbert! #otd

Born on this day in 1861, Frederick William Frohawk (1861-1946) was an English zoological artist, author and naturalist. Our Library Special Collections hold a significant number of his original artwork and publications. We have digitised three collections of his watercolours. #NaturalHistoryMuseum

Out now! The Summer 2026 issue of the Museum's Magazine, free to Museum members & subscribers of Apple News+ & Readly. Featuring articles on the creation of the #NaturalHistoryMuseum, by Karolyn Shindler, & tales of the Abominable snowman from the #Archives, by Assistant Archivist, Rebecca Keddie.

Friday 17 July 2026, 11.00 - 15.00. Location: Lasting Impressions Gallery. (Free, drop in.) Visitors will have the opportunity to enter this collection space, speak with the Library & Archives team, & view a selection of material from across the collections. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #SciArt

We're hiring! Come work with us as a Project Library and Archives Assistant. See more at buff.ly/CkgpFwK, or check the Current Vacancies section of the NHM website. #Hiring #Jobs #GLAMJobs #LibraryJobs

Our very own Andrea Hart @drewy_hart (Head of Special Collections) presenting her poster at the Society for the History of Natural History conference. ‘From carcass to knowledge: dissecting the zoo with Richard Owen (1804 - 1892).’ @natural_history_museum @officialzsl

Recent new additions to our library book collections 📚️ ⬆️Learn more about our collections and how to visit us via the link in our bio. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #ModernCollections #NaturalHistory #Science #Fossils #Palaeontology #Iceland #Linnaeus #Moths #BookSky

POV: Hearing the ice-cream van on your lunch break. From a collection of forty-nine original watercolour drawings by Ferdinand Bauer (1760-1826). ⬆️ See link in our bio to the 'Digitised Collections' to view this collection and to explore many others. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #UKHeatWave #HeatWaveUK

POV: You have the iceberg, but no piña colada big enough to get you through the UK heatwave. #UKHeatWave #HeatWaveUK #Iceberg #KeepingItCool #IceIceBaby #NaturalHistoryMuseum

Feeling crabby in this week's hot weather? Distract yourself with a lovely picture of a purple-legged crustacean. Pl. 39 Portunus pelagicus by Ferdinand Bauer (1760-1826). ⬆️ See link in our bio to the 'Digitised Collections' to view this collection and explore many others. #NaturalHistoryMuseum

Due to the extreme weather alert this week, but have taken the decision to postpone our planned open day. We will let you know when the next open day is, as soon as we can. Stay tuned!