As we approach our 150th anniversary, we need your help to transform our building and create advocates for the planet.
Our revitalised Museum will be the heart of a global mission to find solutions to the planetary emergency.
For NHM150, we’re raising £150 million to revitalise our building and create advocates for the planet.
How your support will help us
Your support will enable us to:
- open two magnificent new galleries
- breathe new life into four existing galleries
- showcase the natural world’s treasures to a million more visitors a year
- engage 10 million school children, families and changemakers through local, national and global programmes
- create over 100 million advocates for the planet
Our progress
In summer 2024, we unveiled our new five-acre Gardens to visitors.
By moving 28 million specimens to our new site at Thames Valley Science Park, we’ll free up space for public access to the collections.
This will help us:
- bring magnificent spaces long closed to the public back into use
- restore and renew our existing public galleries
- open new circulation routes to improve the visitor experience and sustainably increase our capacity
We need to raise £150 million to complete this transformation, so we can be a beacon for protecting, preserving and renewing the natural world long into the future.
Our new Gardens opened in summer 2024.
Artist view of our new science and digitisation centre. © Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios architects
Our next major projects
Fixing Our Broken Planet Gallery
Opening in 2025, this central gallery will explore climate solutions by addressing environmental challenges and showcasing actionable, positive changes.
A new gallery for young visitors
In 2027, we’ll open a new, permanent gallery for families. Interactive, playful exhibits will help children connect with the natural world.
Evolving our “cathedral to nature”
Nearly 150 years ago, Richard Owen, the Superintendent of the Natural History Collections at the British Museum, had a vision.
He pictured a “cathedral to nature” that would celebrate the richness and abundance of life on Earth, inspire the public and fuel scientific research.
Owen’s vision succeeded magnificently.
- Today, the Natural History Museum houses over 80 million specimens. It is one of the world’s most important natural history collections.
- More than 200 million visitors have been inspired by the natural wonders on display.
- Thousands of scientists have worked tirelessly to classify and understand the natural world.
The history of our building and Museum
Our building dates back to 1881, but our story starts even earlier in 1753.
Our role now is more important than ever
Today the natural world faces threats Sir Richard Owen may never have imagined 150 years ago.
In 2020, we declared a planetary emergency and shifted our focus to pioneering science-based solutions, for and from nature.
Our public platform has the power to engage a global audience in this mission and create advocates for the planet.
We have a unique chance to make an impact.
Our collections are full of hidden discoveries that could benefit life on our planet, just waiting to be unlocked by our scientific expertise.
We’ve raised more than £400 million to secure the future of our collections and transform our gardens and grounds.
We’ve also expanded our influence beyond our walls, launching the National Education Nature Park and delivering award-winning global advocacy programs.
With your support, we can transform the Natural History Museum. Together we can inspire more advocates for the planet, accelerate scientific discovery and provide solutions from and for nature.
The future of the natural world, on which we all depend, is in our hands.
Sir David Attenborough
How you can support us
Help us raise £150 million
To discuss how your financial support could help us achieve our transformation, please contact:
Jennifer Cormack
Director of Development
Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road
London
SW7 5BD
Other ways to support us
To donate a smaller amount or support us in another way, see all the ways you can support our work.