Name: Natural History Museum at Tring
Rating: 5.0

Natural History Museum at Tring

Akeman Street, Tring, UK

1-99 Years

Description

Welcome to The Natural History Museum at Tring is the private museum of Lionel Walter, 2nd Baron Rothschild; today it is under the control of the Natural History Museum, London. It houses one of the finest collections of stuffed mammals, birds, reptiles and insects in the United Kingdom.

Discover animal specimens from all over the world here, from tiny beetles to huge bears. The Museum is also a site of scientific research and houses the Natural History Museum's bird collection. Step into the wonders of our galleries at Tring, where more than 4,500 fascinating specimens are waiting to be discovered by you.

Free entry. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Polar bear: Meet the polar bear that Walter purchased from the Northeast Siberian Trading Company, part of the historical wildlife trade between North America and Siberia. This specimen is thought to have inspired Raymond Briggs’ book The Bear.
Emperor penguin: See one of the oldest specimens on display in our galleries. This emperor penguin was collected on an Antarctic expedition between 1839 and 1843 by botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker, one of Charles Darwin’s closest friends. We think that it may have been used to describe its species.
Dressed fleas: Visit one of our most famous exhibits. Purchased in Mexico in 1905, these tiny, hand-dressed fleas were crafted by women there as folk art.
Giant ground sloth: “What hangs there like a frozen pig, or knot all twisted rude?” The answer is our giant ground sloth, or as German poet Joseph Victor von Scheffel called it – The Megatherium. This cast was made from the original specimen that inspired his poem. Come and meet this gentle giant that once roamed South America and sparked verse.
Zebras: Explore the different species of zebra we have on display. No two zebras have the same stripe pattern, they’re as unique as fingerprints. But what do they use them for? Discover why they’re one of nature’s great mysteries.
Quagga: Ever heard an animal cry that sounds like ‘kwa-ha-ha’? No? That’s probably because the quagga has been extinct since 1883, but in our galleries you’ll get to see one up close. Come and discover the animal named after the sound it makes.
Lord Derby’s eland: Say hello to the world’s largest species of antelope. Mostly found in Central Africa, these powerful animals can leap 1.5 metres high and sprint at over 70 kilometres per hour. Pretty impressive for such a heavy creature! Come and admire their extraordinary strength and speed.
Giant panda: Did you know pandas were once thought to be a type of racoon because of their shared traits? That’s why our panda sits in the racoon case, although thanks to DNA testing, we now know they belong to the same family as bears.
Aldabra tortoise: See some of the 64 cassowaries and 144 giant tortoises that Walter kept during his lifetime. Ever wondered what a giant tortoise fancies for lunch? Walter experimented and found that his tortoises loved squash but turned their noses up at bananas.
Miriam Rothschild: Walter’s tenacious niece Miriam Rothschild didn’t let her lack of formal education stop her from becoming a world expert on fleas. She spent hours studying her uncle’s collections, discovering how fleas jump and adding many specimens herself.
Tiger moths: Meet Miriam’s favourites – the tiger moths. She studied how they absorb toxins from plants, making themselves unappetising to predators.
Self-guided tours: Encourage children to ask questions and discuss animal features with our free self-guided tours. Our self-guided tours are designed for use by an adult leading a small group of children.

Facilities

Parking: There’s free car parking on Hastoe Lane. It has 48 spaces, including three Blue Badge holder spaces and two parent-and-toddler spaces. The car park surface is small stones with a bound surface underneath. It’s about 120 metres from our step-free schools entrance on Park Street.
Food & Drinks: Take a break from exploring the Museum and enjoy a fantastic selection of hot and cold drinks, lunches, cakes, children’s lunches and daily specials.
Toilets: We have two sets of male and female toilets and an accessible toilet. All our toilets have adult and child toilet seats attached.
Dogs: We welcome support dogs.

Website

Contact

Video

Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00–17:00
Monday: 10:00–16:00

Address: Akeman Street, Tring, UK

Post Code: HP23 6AP

Council: Dacorum

County: Hertfordshire

By road: Tring is on the A41, 48 kilometres northwest of London. From the M25, exit using Junction 20.
By train: There are regular train services to Tring station, which is about three kilometres from us. From the train station you can reach us by bus or taxi. Use the National Rail journey planner to check train times. Find local transport information on the Tring Town Council website.
By bus: Buses run from most of the towns in the area. Plan your bus journey on the Hertfordshire Travel Information website or call Traveline on +44 (0)870 608 2608.
Parking: There’s free car parking on Hastoe Lane. It has 48 spaces, including three Blue Badge holder spaces and two parent-and-toddler spaces. The car park surface is small stones with a bound surface underneath. It’s about 120 metres from our step-free schools entrance on Park Street.