If a Londoner wanted to visit a museum where he or she could study the bones of animals of nearly every shape and size, chances are the Natural History Museum in South Kensington would come to mind. The problem is that every other fan of the natural sciences will head there too - often with screaming children in tow. For the more serious-minded fan of stuffed animals and elephant skulls, the Grant Museum of Zoology is the more appropriate (and much calmer) choice.
This centrally located museum is more compact than the Natural History Museum, but I find myself spending more time studying certain displays without the need to rush along to the next exhibit. Along with the usual skeletons of monkeys or cats, there are more quirky displays that show the richness of the 67,000 specimen collection. Keep an eye out for the dodo and the Tasmanian Devil. The jar of tiny moles is also a strange but oddly intriguing sight.
The museum also provides a number of events (most of them free) for the intellectually curious, including lectures, films, and Q&A sessions with curators.
Find your way with 276 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Loved this Spot?Join your international community. Share your favs and become part of our international community!
As an independent wine bar their focus is on stocking wines from smaller producers, lesser known regions and grape varieties, and also female winemakers.
by
The team at the Penny Drop are real coffee geeks in the best possible sense of the word and go to great lengths sourcing the best coffee beans out there.
by
If you arrive in the morning you’ll find their popular morning buns with a variety of fillings, sticky buns, beignets, and more!
by
Rondo La Cave is a hip wine bar situated in the basement of the Hoxton hotel and has a charming rustic interior with dim lighting.
by
Quiet yet somehow buzzing, classy yet unpretentious, central yet hidden. What impresses me most is the concentration of great spots in such a small area.
by
The menu has all the brunch classics you’d expect and also some more unusual offerings as well as weekend specials that change regularly...
by
The Bloomsbury farmers market is a small market for fresh produce and lots of different food stalls held every Thursday on Bloomsbury square.
by
Southwark Brewing company has a range of traditional beers such as ales, IPAs, porter, and bitter - all really fresh and available on draft or bottle.
by
Museum Lates is a concept that is essentially a late-night opening when you can explore the exhibitions without the day-trip crowds getting in your way.
by
Stir Coffee Brixton is a lovely neighbourhood coffee shop located on the corner of Brixton Hill and Arodene Road which has a very chilled vibe.
by
It was set up in 2009 by Highbury resident and cat enthusiast Doreen Rolph, as a place to raise funds for local animal welfare organisations.
by
Past topics include tent-making in Islamic Cairo, recycling methods in Japan and underground pop culture in ‘50s to ‘80s Ghana.
by
276 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 276 Insider Tips