The Natural History Museum is hosting a jam-packed week of family events this October half-term.

From 21-29 October 2023, NHM’s October Family Festival promises a week of engaging and insightful talks, tours, events and workshops, inspiring all ages to immerse themselves in the wonderful world of natural history.

Explore the wonders of the Museum with its world-leading scientists, educators and researchers. See the Museum like never before with the behind-the-scenes Spirit Collection tours. Uncover the secrets of our prehistoric world with experiences such as Titano Tales, Jurassic Encounters and the incredible Prehistoric Planet Trail. Become totally immersed in the wonders of the water and explore our seas in the Ocean Show. Or, celebrate National Moss Day and explore the beauty and importance of these often-overlooked plants, with Meet The Scientist: House of a Million Mosses.

The October Family Festival offers a range of both free and ticketed events. For guidance on recommended age suitability for each event, please visit the event page for more information.

FREE EVENTS
Meet the Scientist: House of a Million Mosses: Join NHM’s curator of mosses for a short talk, exploring the weird and wonderful world of moss to celebrate National Moss Day
Saturday 21 October
12.30-13.00, 14.00-14.30

Ocean Show: Take on the role of a scientist and journey on an adventure into the deep by helping us explore the oceans in this immersive show
Saturday 21 to Sunday 29 October
11.00-11.45, 15.00-15.45

LEGO® Build the Change Nature-Friendly Neighbourhood Build: Welcoming all builders of the future! We’ve teamed up with The LEGO Group and we need your ideas to help build solutions to the challenges of today.
Monday 23 to Friday 27 October
11.00-16.30. Entry every 30 minutes (last entry 16:00)

Family Activities: Connect children to nature through scientific discovery, crafts and other activities
Monday 23 to Friday 27 October
11.00-16.00, drop in event

TICKETED EVENTS
Prehistoric Planet Trail: The popular dinosaur trail, inspired by the new season of the incredible Apple Original Series, Prehistoric Planet, returns to the Museum once again
Saturday 21 to Sunday 29 October
10.00-17.30
£2.50 per trail

Museum Highlights Tour: Visit the Museum’s most iconic specimens, from the world’s most complete fossil stegosaur to an infamous gorilla (ages 7+)
Saturday 21 October
11.00-12.00, 15.00-16.00
Adult: £15 (Member: £12); Child: £12 (Member: £9.60)

Secrets of the Natural History Museum: Explore the fascinating stories hidden within the architecture of the Museum’s stunning building (ages 11+)
Saturday 21, Thursday 26 and Saturday 28 October
11.00-12.00
Adults: £15 (Members: £12); Child: £12 (Members: £9.60)

Behind the Scenes Tour: Spirit Collection: Go behind the scenes with the Museum’s educators for a look at the Museum’s fascinating zoology collection preserved in spirit (ages 8+)
Saturday 21 to Sunday 29 October
11.00-11.45, 13.00-13.45, 15.00-15.45
Adult/Child: £25 (Members: £22.50)

Jurassic Encounters: Animal Show: Delve into the Jurassic and meet the modern-day relatives of the animals that lived alongside dinosaurs in this fantastic animal handling show
Wednesday 25 October
11.00-11.45, 12.00-12.45, 13.15-14.00 and 14.15-15.00
Adult/Child: £8 (Members: £7.20)

Titano Tales: Discover Titanosaur’s secrets during this immersive special storytelling event, plus enjoy priority entry to Titanosaur: Life as the Biggest Dinosaur
Monday 23 and Thursday 26 October
11.00-12.00, 12.15-13.15, 13.30-14.30
Family packages: £22.50-£69

T. Rex Show with Teach Rex: Discover the life and times of Tyrannosaurus rex, one the most amazing creatures to have ever roamed our planet.
Tuesday 24 October
11.00-12.30, 13.30-15.00, 16.00-17.30
Friday 27 October
10.45-12.15, 13.15-14.45, 15.45-17.15
Adult/Child: £10 (Members: £9.90)

Experience the Natural History Museum’s October Family Festival this half-term, 21-29 October 2023. For more information or to book tickets, visit www.nhm.ac.uk/events/october-family-festival.