25/04/2020
Our Curator's found THE #SassiestObject, fins down.......RT @tannis_davidson: That expression. That tail flip. She’s looking good and knows it. @GrantMuseum guitarfish #SassiestObject #CURATORBATTLE #NHlockdown
Grant Museum of Zoology, UCL
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The Grant Museum of Zoology is the only remaining university zoology museum in London. It houses around 68,000 specimens, covering the whole animal kingdom. Founded in 1828 as a teaching collection, the Museum is packed full of skeletons, mounted animals and specimens preserved in fluid. Many of the species are now endangered or extinct including the Tasmanian tiger or thylacine, the quagga, and the dodo. We run family activities during the half-terms and regular themed Saturdays. All of our activities are fun, hands-on and include the use of the Museum’s collections, allowing families to handle and see our specimens in a different light. From the light-hearted to the thought provoking, our adult programme aims to amuse, stimulate and challenge in equal measure. We cover the big issues in some of our panel discussions on current developments in science, showcase exciting research at UCL with PhD students in our lunchtime talks, and entertain with our cult movie screenings and themed late night openings. Our events are often followed by a private view of the Museum, during which visitors can enjoy the Museum in a relaxed environment. Full details of our events can be found on our website https://www.ucl.ac.uk/culture/grant-museum
16/03/2020
Due to the evolving coronavirus outbreak and related concerns the UCL Grant Museum of Zoology is currently closed and our events and research visits will be cancelled until the end of April 2020. We hope to be open again soon and our decision will be guided by the Government’s public health advice.
03/03/2020
Happy #WorldWildlifeDay! At the Grant Museum, we're celebrating invertebrates. They represent 95% of all known animal species, about 1.25 million species have been described and around 30% of species are threatened with extinction.
18/01/2020
There will be reduced access to the Museum on Saturday 18 January and Saturday 25 January.
As part of the project to relocate the Eastman Dental Institute into the Rockefeller Building, University Street will be closed for construction work on Saturday 18 January and Saturday 25 January. Entry to the Grant Museum will be through the side entrance on Gower Street. Pedestrian access is maintained.
Unfortunately there will be no step-free access to the museum on these two Saturdays. There are five stone steps up to the entrance on Gower Street, and no handrail.
Capacity inside the museum will be reduced, and visitors may be asked to queue outside if the museum is full. We will update social media on the day to inform visitors if queueing is likely.
03/01/2020
Drop in tomorrow to our 'Explore Zoology' family activities and get to grips with real specimens that are usually on display behind glass. Featuring themes from our 'Displays of Power' exhibition. Sat 4th Jan, 1-4pm, no need to book, we look forward to seeing you soon! #UCL
12/12/2019
Come and join us this Saturday for our #free Creature Creations family workshop in @GrantMuseum. Create works of art inspired by our specimens or perhaps make your own weird and wonderful imaginary animal. Drop in between 1-4pm.
07/12/2019
Reduced access Saturday 7 December
There is reduced access at the Grant Museum today! Our 'Explore Zoology' session will run as usual. More information to be found here: http://ow.ly/DfG250xsAix
As part of the Eastman Dental Institute relocation project, University Street will be closed for works on Saturday 7 December. In addition, there are a number of road closures around Store Street and Chenies Street with traffic diversions in place. Entry to the museum will be through the side entran...
05/12/2019
Reduced access Saturday 7 December
There will be reduced access at the Museum this coming Saturday, 7th December. Our 'Explore Zoology' session will still be running so please do come and visit us! More information to be found here: http://ow.ly/PXXJ50xsAf2
As part of the Eastman Dental Institute relocation project, University Street will be closed for works on Saturday 7 December. In addition, there are a number of road closures around Store Street and Chenies Street with traffic diversions in place. Entry to the museum will be through the side entran...
29/10/2019
Yesterday was our Grant Museum Friends' trip, this year held at @RoyalVetCollege - ranked the world's no.1 vet school. Thank you so much RVC for hosting this amazing event- we learnt so much including how to take a dog's pulse! Also a big thank you to the GMZ friends who joined us.
Visit the Grant Museum and find out how to become a friend.
25/10/2019
Don't miss #QI tonight @qikipedia featuring our curator @tannis_davidson ..will Tannis solve an age-old mystery relating to our famous quagga? BBC2, 10pm
25/10/2019
We have fallen hook, line and sinker for UCL Culture Museum Volunteer Margaret Peng's Specimen of the Week post on the subject of the garpike fish. https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/museums/
22/10/2019
Come along to our 'Creature Creations' event this Friday and create works of art inspired by the animals at the Grant Museum, or invent your own animal to add to our collection!
It's free & there is no need to book, drop in anytime between 1pm and 4pm- http://ow.ly/OJIE50wR3y1
18/10/2019
Come and hang out with us on #internationalgibbonday, 24th Oct! Meet the experts and learn about the behaviour, anatomy and sounds of this fascinating and endangered species, with talks, storytelling and activities. Free, just drop in, 13.00-15.00 http://ow.ly/kmrX50wOOsh
18/10/2019
Drop in to our 'Explore Zoology' family activities and get to grips with real specimens that are usually on display behind glass. Featuring themes from our 'Displays of Power' exhibition. 19th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd Oct, 1-4pm, no need to book, we look forward to seeing you soon!
10/10/2019
We are closed on occasional Saturdays in 2019 for essential building work. The next closures will be Saturday 26th October 2019 & Saturday 2nd November 2019. Additional closures will be announced as soon as possible.
21/09/2019
Find out more about the animals that roam at night guided by the moon in UCL's free family interactive museum trail. Part of UCL's #ItsAllAcademic Festival and Bloomsbury Festival 2019. www.ucl.ac.uk/campaign/festival
19/09/2019
Displays of Power
Be one of the first to see our new exhibition #DisplaysOfPower, which opens today.
Once you’ve seen how Empire shaped the Grant Museum collection, you’ll never look at natural history museums in the same way again.
When the practice of collecting animals for science was at its height, so was the British Empire. This free exhibition connects the specimens in the Grant Museum of Zoology to a wider history of science and Empire, by asking one simple question: “How did all these things come to be here in the fir...
07/09/2019
The UCL Pathology Museum is home to thousands of human medical specimens. As part of Open House weekend, we will be open between 10:00 and 16:00 on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September 2019 - come & explore how the collection is used to understand disease. http://ow.ly/freT50w0MXy
05/09/2019
Due to building work in the area, we will be closed on occasional Saturdays in September and October. The next closure will be Saturday 14th September. Further closures will be announced as soon as possible. For help planning your visit, please call 020 3108 9000.
29/08/2019
UCL - London's Global University
Due to essential construction work in the area we will be closed on the following Saturdays:
31st August 2019
7th September 2019
14th September 2019
We apologise for the inconvenience. You can find our fantastic upcoming events and exhibitions at https://bit.ly/2Hiyw58
UCL (University College London) is London's leading multidisciplinary university, with 8,000 staff and 25,000 students.
16/08/2019
What has a brain the size of a sesame seed, can travel over 6,000 miles and can multiply its own lifespan by 8? Find out in today's Specimen of the Week blog, by volunteer Melissa Wooding! https://bit.ly/2OVmNzP
14/08/2019
Thank you to Sylvie W who created this fantastic drawing of the jar of moles (photographed alongside the original). This is one of the Museum’s most popular objects - perhaps because they look rather like a jar of sweets. Read more about the moles at http://ow.ly/t6NN50vx5Yx.
09/08/2019
Specimen of the Week 388: Lunar Orbiter Images | UCL Museums & Collections Blog
In honour of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landings, read all about the Lunar Orbiter images in the UCL Science collections, in this week’s blog by science curator Hannah Cornish.
UCL Homepage
03/06/2019
Vigil
Thursday's performance of Vigil by artist Tom Bailey is now SOLD OUT but there are still a few tickets left for Friday. Book yours to get up close and personal with internationally threatened species at the Grant Museum.
A Cinnamon-coloured Cryptic Tree Hunter. A Problematic Flasher. Dusky Seaside Sparrow. Fire Millipede from Hell… Vigil is a wild, playful encounter with internationally threatened species.
20/05/2019
Scientists: Why we should appreciate wasps
Ever wished for a world without wasps? UCL researcher Dr Seirian Sumner says these unpopular insects are actually doing humans a huge favour. Find out more on the BBC website - and hear from Seirian herself at UCL at the 22nd Annual Grant Lecture this Thursday.
Wasps are seen as 'bothersome and pointless' and not given the attention they deserve - researchers.
29/03/2019
We’re sorry to say that due to unforeseen circumstances there will be no Creature Creations session tomorrow. We will be open as usual, 1pm-5pm.
11/02/2019
Free And Cheap Things To Do In London
Our alternative Valentine's evening event is one of the Londonist's top picks for things to do this Thursday! Book your £5 ticket now and join us for games, crafts and lurvely cocktails.
05/02/2019
Smile! It's #ChineseNewYear 2019 - Year of the PIG! 🐷 This specimen of a domestic pig skull (Z1089) is one of several in the Grant Museum of Zoology. Delve into the astonishing diversity of our collections with our free drop-in workshop Explore Zoology on 22 February 13.00-16.00.
18/01/2019
www.ucl.ac.uk
We're experiencing some technical problems with the UCL Culture website. Sorry for any inconvenience this causes and thanks for bearing with us while we get it fixed.
The museum will be open as usual on Saturday from 13:00-17:00 and our events programme is online here:
18/01/2019
Check out this picture of our specimen of the week from when it was just a work in progress. Find out more about the history of our Hypsilophodon here http://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/museums/2019/01/18/specimen-of-the-week-374-hypsilophodon-foxii-cast/
Material from the Natural History Museum archives is used here by kind permission of the Trustees of the Natural History Museum
27/07/2018
Kaboom! Specimen of the week is the exploded crocodile skull* http://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/museums/2018/07/27/specimen-of-the-week-353-the-exploded-crocodile-skull/
*no crocodiles were exploded in the making of this blog
16/07/2018
This specimen of the week is all about the carrion crow. Find out how these intelligent birds use pedestrian crossings to crack open nuts, and more interesting facts here: http://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/museums/2018/07/13/specimen-of-the-week-351-the-carrion-crow/
06/07/2018
It's that time of the week again! Specimen of the Week is dedicated to the colourful fossil casts and moulds in our collection
http://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/museums/2018/07/06/specimen-of-the-week-350-the-plastic-fantastics/
22/06/2018
Specimen of the week arrived at the Grant Museum from the sea off Naples where it had been jetting around the Mediterranean breaking records and enjoying a remarkably complicated love life. Meet the salp http://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/museums/2018/06/22/specimen-of-the-week-348-the-salp/
15/06/2018
The Bengal monitor shelters in abandoned termite mounds and sometimes climbs trees to catch roosting bats. Find out more about this lizard in specimen of the week!
http://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/museums/2018/06/15/specimen-of-the-week-347-the-bengal-monitor-skull/
Address
University College London, 21 University Street
London
WC1E 6DE
Nearest Underground stations: Euston Square, Euston, Goodge Street, Warren Street
Opening Hours
| Monday | 13:00 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 13:00 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 13:00 - 17:00 |
| Thursday | 13:00 - 17:00 |
| Friday | 13:00 - 17:00 |
| Saturday | 13:00 - 17:00 |
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Videos
The Museum of Ordinary Animals is now open! Read about our new exhibition, which tells the stories of the boring beasts that changed the world: http://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/museums/2017/09/21/the-museum-of-ordinary-animals-opens-at-the-grant-museum/
Check out the Grant Museum's story of 2016, through the medium of blog: http://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/museums/2017/01/09/the-top-ten-grant-museum-blogs-of-2016/
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Our Story
The Grant Museum of Zoology is the only remaining university zoology museum in London. It houses around 68,000 specimens, covering the whole animal kingdom. Entry to the museum is free and we’re open Monday - Saturday from 13:00-17:00. Founded in 1828 as a teaching collection, the museum is packed full of skeletons, mounted animals and specimens preserved in fluid. Many of the species are now endangered or extinct including the Tasmanian tiger or thylacine, the quagga, and the dodo. We run family activities during the half-terms and fortnightly Saturdays. All of our family workshops are fun, hands-on and include the use of the museum’s collections, giving children and young people the chance to handle and see our specimens in a different light. From the light-hearted to the thought-provoking, our adult programme aims to amuse, stimulate and challenge in equal measure. We’re proud to be part of UCL Culture and showcase exciting research at UCL with researchers and PhD students in our programme of talks, temporary art exhibitions and late night openings. Find out more about the museum and our full events programme at ucl.ac.uk/culture/grant-museum
Nearby museums
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University College London, Gower Street
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University College London
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University College London,
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South Cloisters, Wilkins Building, Gower Street, University College London
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Gower St, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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Gower Street
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USEUM LTD, 29 Gordon Square
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UCL Museum Studies: 2015 Upcoming Exhibition
Leventis Gallery, Institute of Archaeology 31-34 Gordon Square -
UCL Museum Studies: Upcoming Exhibition
Leventis Gallery, Institute of Archaeology 31-34 Gordon Square -
Upcoming Exhibition: Mysteries of the Mind
UCL Institute of Archaeology -
Institute of Archaeology, Gordon Square 31-34
Other Museums in London
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Neasden lane -
575 Wandsworth Rd
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Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LR
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Cutty Sark, King William Walk, Greenwich
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Westminster Bridge Road
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Crofton Rd
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University College London, Gower Street
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Station Approach
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SW1H 0DH
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Punch's Playhouse and Marionette Theatre
5 Aldwych -
No1 Street, Royal Arsenal
Comments
A real hidden gem this place. Free admission although donations very gratefully received. Extremely helpful and friendly staff. Something for everyone here. Offering an education unachievable by book or lesson. The experience of being up close to an elephant skull and heart or a whale vertebra leaves both young and old in absolute awe of the animal kingdom. Highly recommended :)
Spent a fascinating hour wandering around the museum, will definitely go back.
Hello Grant Museum, I'm a long time reader of Dr. Carnall's Underwhelming Fish Fossil of the Month blog. I've noticed that it has been many months since the last installment. I understand that Dr. Carnall now works at Oxford. Is the end of UFFotM or will another curator take up the torch? I hope dearly to be underwhelmed again in the future. Thank you
Hi everyone! I would like to invite you to participate in a questionnaire for my Masters dissertation on Dark Tourism, this should take no longer than 20 minutes of your time. Dark Tourism is defined as tourism that involves travelling to places associated with death and suffering. Dark Tourism locations range from Auschwitz-Birkenau to Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary to The Somme Battlefield to visiting cemeteries to watching battle re-enactments. All information collected will remain anonymous and you have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without reason. Thank you!
Good morning! there is an event on the 26th - (Ordinary) Animal Showoff
Is it free? Do we need to book? I have tried to call the event team, but it said the mailbox is full and had no answer. Thanks in advance for your help,