A Natural History Museum London tour is a different purchase from tickets, because the museum is free to enter. Per the official visit page, the galleries are free to explore, so the $7 to $172 you pay for one of the ten tours I compared goes on a guide, an audio route or a priority entry slot. This page sets the tours side by side with the meeting point, group size, language and what reviewers say. For the free entry and how the listings relate to it, see my page on tickets for the Natural History Museum London.
Tour
From
Rating
Length
Free cancellation
Book
Natural History Museum Guided Tour w/ Priority Entry
Without a guide, a visit starts with walking into a very large building and pick a direction. A Natural History Museum London tour gives you a route, a person who knows which specimens matter and, on several listings, a priority entry line at busy times. It does not give you entry that you could not get free, and it does not cover special exhibitions: most listings state that those are not included.
Group Natural History Museum London Tours With Priority Entry
Five of the group tours follow the same shape: meet the guide outside, go in through the priority line and spend one to two hours on the highlights. A group Natural History Museum London tour is the cheapest way to get a live guide.
Best Tours London is the Natural History Museum London tour I would put first. It costs $39 for 2 hours, in a group of up to 10, with English or Italian, and a priority time slot. The rating is 5.0, but from only 27 reviews. You meet inside the museum, left of Hintze Hall next to the giraffe display, and tickets are shared the day before. Reviewers describe grandchildren who talked about it for two days.
BEST TOURS LONDON LTD
Natural History Museum Guided Tour & Priority Entry
★5.0 (27 reviews)
2 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The Natural History Museum London tour I would book first: $39, 2 hours, up to 10 people, priority slot; 5.0 from 27 reviews.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ 2-hour guided tour of the Natural History Museum
✓ Professional English-speaking guide
✓ Small group experience for a more personal visit
✓ Entrance tickets with priority timeslot
Not included / not suitable
✕ Tips
✕ Transport
✕ Food and drinks
Meeting point: Enter the museum through the main entrance on Cromwell Road and use the ticket holders’ line: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LA8vig5NvnjYxtMB7?g_st=ac. Tickets will be shared the day before the tour.
The meeting point is inside the museum, on the left-hand side of Hintze Hall, next to the giraffe display. Please see the attached meeting-point photo. Your guide will be there 5–10 minutes before the tour starts and will have a yellow flag. Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD, UK
Languages: Italian, English
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Daniel was a fantastic tour guide. He was so knowledgeable and personable. We had a lovely time, would highly recommend this tour.” – GetYourGuide review
Strabo is $33 for 1.5 hours and has the biggest sample of the group tours, 339 reviews, at 3.4 stars. The meeting point is outside the Embassy of Venezuela on Cromwell Road, opposite the museum, and the listing includes entrance, the permanent exhibitions and a guide. The guide earns praise for answering questions. The 20 reviews I read were mostly warm about the guide, and the one complaint was about logistics: a reviewer was told by the company that the tour they booked for 12pm could not run, and had to rearrange.
Strabo
Natural History Museum Guided Tour w/ Priority Entry
★3.4 (339 reviews)
1.5 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The cheapest regular group tour at $33: 1.5 hours with priority entry, but only 3.4 from 339 reviews.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Entrance to the Natural History Museum
✓ Access to permanent exhibitions
✓ Tour guide
Not included / not suitable
✕ Special exhibition tickets
Meeting point: I look forward to meeting you outside the Embassy of Venezuela, 1 Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2JB. We will then make our way towards the Natural History Museum 1 Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2JB, UK
Languages: English
Duration: 1.5 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Patrick was puntual, professional, knowledgeable and accommodating with the group. Delightful!” – GetYourGuide review
Ancient Monsters, from Vox Londoners, costs $27 for a tour built around the dinosaurs: the Tyrannosaurus rex, Stegosaurus, Diplodocus, marine reptiles and the extinction of the dinosaurs. It includes skip-the-line access, a complimentary coffee or tea, a free digital booklet and phone contact with the guide afterwards. The listing is inconsistent about length, with a 1.5 hour duration but a 3-hour description, so confirm it. One reviewer said one hour with the guide was a little short, and a French family wrote that the guide did not speak French although they had booked a French visit.
Vox Londoners
Natural History Museum Ancient Monsters Guided Tour
★4.5 (37 reviews)
1.5 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The dinosaur tour for children: $27, skip-the-line, free booklet; 4.5 from 37 reviews, but length and language need checking.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Skip-the-line access
✓ 3-hour in-depth guided experience
✓ Tyrannosaurus rex
✓ Stegosaurus
✓ Diplodocus and other prehistoric giants
✓ Ancient predators and marine reptiles
Meeting point: I look forward to meeting you opposite the Natural History Museum, outside the Embassy of Venezuela, 1 Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2JB. We will then make our way towards the Natural History Museum 1 Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2HW, UK
Languages: English
Duration: 1.5 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Good. Just about an hour! Very knowledgeable and friendly” – GetYourGuide review
UTG Experience London charges $72 for 1 hour with an express security check, in English, and is rated 3.8 from 213 reviews. It is the shortest of the full guided tours. Reviewers say the guide focuses on the highlights and helps you plan what to revisit, and one said it is better with older children than with toddlers. The review summary asks for clearer meeting details after some no-shows and late cancellations. At more than twice the price of Strabo for 30 minutes less, I do not see where the value is.
UTG EXPERIENCE LONDON
Natural History Museum Entry Ticket and Guided Tour
★3.8 (213 reviews)
1 hour
Free cancellation
My pick: A one-hour highlights tour at $72; 3.8 from 213 reviews, and meeting details need to be read carefully.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Guide
✓ Reservation ticket
✓ Headsets to hear the tour guide if necessary
Not included / not suitable
✕ Transportation
✕ Food and drink
✕ Tips
Meeting point: Metro: South Kensington. Take the Natural History Museum/Ismaili Centre exit and meet your tour guide at the metal plate marked ‘The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea,’ Exhibition Road, SW7. 1-7 Cromwell Gardens, South Kensington, London SW7 2SL, UK
Languages: English
Duration: 1 hour
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Our guide gave us an excellent view into the wealth of things to see in the museum. We were able to know what we might want to go back and see later. Our guide was also kind and knowledgeable.” – GetYourGuide review
Golden Tours - Gray Line London is $40 for 2 hours and wheelchair accessible. It is rated 2.7 from 48 reviews, and I would not book it. Seven of the ten reviews I read gave a low score, and the complaints are the same: the guide did not turn up, or left after an hour, or the tour was cancelled. The listing also says the tour is not the official one provided by the museum.
Golden Tours - Gray Line London
Guided Tour of the Natural History Museum
★2.7 (48 reviews)
2 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: A group tour with a 2.7 rating from 48 reviews and repeated reports of missing guides: I would pick another.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Guided tour
Not included / not suitable
✕ Transportation
✕ Food and drink
Meeting point: Follow signs for the main entrance to Natural History Museum and in Evolution Garden you will see a large bronze skeleton statue of a long-necked dinosaur. Your Golden Tours tour guide will be located opposite the bronze skeleton, with a blue and white Golden Tours umbrella. Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD, UK
Languages: English
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Really enjoyed the tour! Very thorough and knowledgable! Joe was great!” – GetYourGuide review
If a group Natural History Museum London tour puts you off, three listings go private or semi-private.
Babylon Tours London is $117 for 2.5 hours and is rated 4.9 from 96 reviews. It is led by a professional art historian and offered as either a private tour or a group of up to 8, with a minimum of 2 guests for a group. It is in English only, and temporary exhibits are not included. Reviewers name individual guides and one said the guide turned the visit into a walk with the dinosaurs for an eight-year-old.
Babylon Tours London
Natural History Museum Guided Tour
★4.9 (96 reviews)
2.5 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The best-reviewed guide: $117, 2.5 hours, private or group of up to 8, 4.9 from 96 reviews.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Professional art historian guide
✓ Private and semi-private options
Not included / not suitable
✕ Gratuities (optional)
✕ Hotel pick-up and drop off
✕ Food and drinks
✕ Temporary exhibits
Meeting point: Meeting point may vary depending on the option you select. Check availability for more details.
Languages: English
Duration: 2.5 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Very knowledgeable and helpful guide. Matilda was great!” – GetYourGuide review
DS Tours London is $172, the most expensive, for a private tour of 2 hours for up to 10 people. It includes skip-the-line entry, an earthquake simulator and interactive experiments, and is wheelchair accessible. The languages are Italian and English, and it meets at the bus stop between the Victoria and Albert Museum and the museum on Exhibition Road. It is rated 4.9 from 70 reviews. Reviewers praise guides who kept children interested, and the review summary notes that some wanted more insight than the labels give.
DS Tours London
Natural History Museum Private Tour & Skip the line
★4.9 (70 reviews)
2 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The private tour for families: $172, up to 10 people, earthquake simulator, 4.9 from 70 reviews.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Skip the line
✓ Private guide
✓ Earthquake simulator experience
✓ Interactive experiments
Not included / not suitable
✕ Food and drinks
✕ Transportation to/from the museum
✕ Temporary exhibitions
✕ Gratuity
Meeting point: The bus stop is in between the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum. It is located at Exhibition Road, very close to the traffic light. Londra SW7 2RL, Regno Unito
Languages: Italian, English
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Damiano was extremely knowledgeable and engaging. We had a great time!” – GetYourGuide review
The Great Weekender tour is $92 for 2.5 hours, private or small-group, in English, with an express security check. It has 12 reviews at 4.4, which is too few to rely on, and they are mixed. A honeymoon couple were the only people in the group, and another visitor found it overpriced after learning entry is free. One reviewer found it basic.
The Great Weekender
Natural History Museum Guided Tour
★4.4 (12 reviews)
2.5 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: A private-style 2.5 hours at $92; only 12 reviews, and one reviewer said it was basic.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ 2-hour tour of the Natural History Museum
✓ Access to the museum's main highlights
✓ Access to the museum accompanied by a Tour Guide
Not included / not suitable
✕ Gratuities
Meeting point: Meet outside the red telephone box opposite the Exhibition Road entrance to the Natural History Museum. Exhibition Rd, London SW7, UK
Languages: English
Duration: 2.5 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Sasha was an excellent guide and engaged everyone in the family. We enjoyed it throoughly” – GetYourGuide review
Two listings are not guided tours of the exhibits. Vox City Walks sells a 30 to 40 minute live introduction at $7, with reserved entry and an audio guide app. The listing says the guided tour of the exhibits is not included, and one reviewer said the tour is outside and the museum is not really covered. WeGoTrip is $9 for a self-guided audio tour with a reserved free entry slot, and it carries a £1 donation. Its 3.4 rating from 32 reviews includes reports of tickets not recognised and an audio guide that would not download, and a Swedish visitor wrote that the activity turned out to be free.
Vox City Walks
Natural History Museum Tour + Reserved Entry & Audio
★4.1 (367 reviews)
30 minutes
Free cancellation
My pick: A $7 introduction to the museum, not a tour of the galleries; 4.1 from 367 reviews.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Natural History Museum reserved entry
✓ Live 40-min guided tour in English only (exterior and museum introduction)
✓ Digital map and downloadable audio guide app
✓ Multilingual audio commentary in English, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Korean and Spanish
✓ Child-friendly audio guide in English only
✓ Donation to the Natural History Museum
Not included / not suitable
✕ Headset and mobile device
✕ Guided tour of the exhibits
✕ Priority entry
✕ Entry to special exhibitions
Meeting point: Meet your tour guide under the large white arch entrance for ‘Victoria & Albert Museum' located on Exhibition Road Courtyard (near Knightsbridge).
Your guide will be holding a ‘VoxCity’ flag. Please arrive 5 minutes early and bring your own headphones.
To pin point exact location please use - what3words: cube.stump.wrong Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL, UK
Languages: English
Duration: 30 minutes
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“The Historical Museum in London is excellent, outstanding!” – GetYourGuide review
Natural History Museum Reserved Entry & Audio Tour
★3.4 (32 reviews)
3 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: A $9 audio route with a free reserved slot; 3.4 from 32 reviews and several access problems.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Reserved free timed entry to the Natural History Museum - via the WeGoTrip app or web browser
✓ Self-guided audio tour through the museum's highlights - via the WeGoTrip app or web browser
✓ Self-guided Hyde Park walking route - via the WeGoTrip app or web browser
✓ Offline maps, navigation, and audio commentary
✓ £1 donation to the Natural History Museum
Not included / not suitable
✕ Live tour guide
✕ Temporary exhibitions
✕ Headphones and smartphone
Meeting point: This activity has 3 meeting points. Your meeting point depends on the option you select. 8 Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD, Великобритания
Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Aktiviteten visade sig vara gratis. Vi hade betalt för falska biljetter. Vi fick pengarna tillbaka men är ändå missnöjda!” – GetYourGuide review
What Reviewers Say About Natural History Museum London Tours
The praise is consistent: knowledgeable, patient guides who are good with children. The complaints about a Natural History Museum London tour are about the operator, not the museum: guides who did not appear, tours cancelled at short notice, length shorter than described, and a language that was not the one booked.
“Dylan was very engaging and told us lots of interesting facts that I never would have known by walking around on my own.”
— GetYourGuide reviewer
I read that as an argument for small groups with many good reviews, and against the cheapest options with weak ones.
Guided Tour or Free Entry Only?
Entry is free, so a guided Natural History Museum London tour costs its full price, from $27 for the dinosaur tour to $172 for the private one. A reviewer who learned of the free entry after booking called a tour overpriced, and that is the risk. If you only want to see the blue whale in Hintze Hall and a few galleries, go in free. If you want a route, a story and an hour that is not spent choosing, pay for a guide. My page on Natural History Museum London tickets covers the free entry, and for what you can see inside, read my Natural History Museum London map and the museum facts and history.
How I’d Choose a Natural History Museum London Tour
First visit, small group: Best Tours London at $39.
Best-reviewed guide: Babylon Tours London at $117, private or a group of up to 8.
Children and dinosaurs: Ancient Monsters at $27, or the DS Tours London private tour at $172.
Short on time: UTG Experience London at $72 for 1 hour, or the $7 introduction.
Wheelchair users: DS Tours London, UTG Experience London and Ancient Monsters all list wheelchair access; I would avoid Golden Tours, which also lists it, for its reviews.
Skip: the 2.7-rated Golden Tours tour.
Book your Natural History Museum London tour before you travel. When you are ready, the full list of Natural History Museum London tickets is the next step, and the home page lists the other attractions I compare.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Natural History Museum London tour worth it?+
It depends on what you want, because entry is free and the whole price of a tour pays for a guide. The ten I compared run from $7 to $172. The ones I would consider are the small-group tours: the Best Tours London tour at $39 is rated 5.0 from 27 reviews, and the Babylon Tours London tour at $117 is rated 4.9 from 96.
Is the Natural History Museum in London free?+
Yes. The official visit page says the galleries are free to explore, and paid exhibitions are ticketed separately. Every tour here sells a guide, an audio guide or priority entry, not admission to the permanent galleries.
How long is a Natural History Museum London tour?+
From about 30 to 40 minutes for the $7 introduction tour, to 2.5 hours for the Babylon Tours London and Great Weekender tours. Most guided tours of the exhibits run 1.5 to 2 hours in the listings.
Which Natural History Museum London tour is best for children?+
Two listings are built around families. The Ancient Monsters tour at $27 follows the dinosaurs and gives you a free digital booklet, and the DS Tours London private tour at $172 has an earthquake simulator and interactive experiments. Reviewers of several tours say the guide was good with children.
Can I take a private Natural History Museum London tour?+
Yes. DS Tours London sells a private tour for up to 10 people at $172, rated 4.9 from 70 reviews, and Babylon Tours London offers private or semi-private options at $117. The Great Weekender tour is also listed as private or small-group.
Do I need to book a Natural History Museum London tour in advance?+
I would, for a guide and a fixed time. Entry itself needs no ticket, but a tour starts at a set time and place, and all ten listings allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Check the official visit page for opening hours: 10:00 to 17:50 with last entry at 17:30.
