Meeting the legends of Earth’s prehistoric oceans at the Natural History Museum

Packed with monsters and fossils that are millions of years aold, the exhibition promises hands-on discovery and lots of fun- you will even get to touch fossil poo!

Opening on 22nd May and running until January 2027, the display is recommended for ‘fearless, underwater adventurers aged 8+’. 

Alongside the exhibition, school groups can also visit the Fossil Marine Reptiles permanent gallery which features some of the most complete fossils of prehistoric sea animals, including ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs.

Pupils will also be able to learn about the work of pioneering palaeontologist Mary Anning and see some of the specimens that she and her brother Joseph collected in the early 1800s.

Other specimens and exhibits on display in the gallery include fossils that inspired stories of sea dragons and a skeleton cast of the giant ground sloth, a land mammal often mistaken for a dinosaur.

School trips to the Natural History Museum 

A host of curriculum-linked workshops cater for students from Early Years to post-16 such as Dino Dig in which KS2 pupils become palaeontologists and dig for fossils, and Super Stegosauras which invites KS1 children to discover how scientists piece together fossil finds. 

There are several free learning resources available to schools visiting the Natural History Museum in South Kensington including activities and quizzes relating to rocks, fossils and dinosaurs to be used before and after visits. 

For example, KS1 groups can ‘make their own fossil’ using sponges and salt, discussing how fossils are formed. While KS2 students can examine why fossilisation is a rare occurrence, examining how leaves decay in different locations outside. 

School groups receive a discount on exhibitions at the museum for Monday-Friday visits during term-time that are pre-booked.