Grant Museum of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy

Grant Museum of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy houses one of the oldest natural history collections in the UK, the collection dates from 1828 and contains many extremely rare and extinct animals.

The collection was founded by Robert Grant and even today many of his original specimens survive. Grant was the first professor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy in England, on his arrival at University College London he discovered no teaching materials and began to amass specimens and material for dissection and discussion.

It was during his teaching period at the university of Edinburgh that Grant heavily influenced and inspired a young Charles Darwin. On his deathbed in 1874 Grant was persuaded to leave his now extensive collection to the University College London.

The museum is the only remaining university zoological museum in London. It houses over 55,000 specimens, many of which are preserved in fluid. Highlights of the museum include a quagga skeleton, dodo skeleton and one of the thylacine or Tasmanian tiger.

The museum is open to members of the public every day from 1pm till 5pm, however, the opening of the museum coincides with the university term time and so is closed over the Easter Holidays, Christmas holidays and Bank Holidays.

Find out more about the Grant Museum of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy.

How to get there

The closest tube stations are at Euston Square and Warren Street. If travelling by bus the number 10, 14, 18, 24, 27, 29, 30, 73, 88, 134, 205 and 390 all serve the area.