Natural History Museum

As much an unmissable part of London as any of the city's more prominent landmarks, the Natural History Museum is as diverse as the natural phenomena it houses in its ornate Victorian building. Prepare to be stunned from the moment you enter, as the main entry leads right into the vast central hall, which was once the home of the iconic Dippy the diplodocus skeleton replica. Dippy was replaced in 2017 with Hope, an actual skeleton of a blue whale that hangs from the ceiling and easily dominates the room.

Onwards through your visit, you'll find specimens from various natural history fields, carefully arranged throughout the museum's many halls. Some of the most extraordinary displays include extinct species such as the great auk and the moa bird, the pigeons that helped Charles Darwin develop his ground-breaking theory of evolution, a Moon rock from the final Apollo mission, and a large collection of dinosaur fossils, among others.

With all the fascinating treasures to be discovered, it's easy to spend a whole day wandering the museum's many halls, but regardless of how long you're there, you'll still discover something new each time you return. The majority of the displays is available free of charge, but there are various tours that grant you access to exhibits that are off-limits otherwise, such as a preserved giant squid, as well as various events that take place in the impressive building, from crochet lessons to silent disco nights in the central hall.