OVERVIEW
Like many other children our boys were desperate to visit this iconic museum, but our first attempt during what we thought would be a quiet Sunday afternoon in Winter was a bit of a disaster. It was simply too busy. The noise, the people, the jostling, the queues - it was totally overwhelming, for everyone.
We left after 40 minutes, feeling sad that our boys hadn't been able to make the most of what was on offer. We hadnt thought we woudl ever visit again, until I discovered perhaps the best kept secret in London:
The Natural History Museum's Dawnosaurs Events!
As our only attempt to visit the museum during normal weekend opening was a total fail this review will be based on our numerous attendances over the years at this special access event for neurodivergent children (aged 5 - 15years)
Photo Gallery
OUR EXPERIENCE
Did we feel welcome?
From the moment you enter the musuem through the entrance on Exhbition Rd you feel valued and welcomed. At the desk where you get your name ticked off they offer you a map and sometimes a badge for the children, which is a nice touch.
Just past this point there is often the first interactive experience - my eldest son's all time favourite was the billion year old piece of space rock that he got to handle on his own!
Throughout the museum you will find really friendly, experienced, neurodivergent-aware facilitators who run some brilliant sessions designed especially for children. These include drumming, lego and craft activities.
The staff are also very good at responding to different forms of communication and seem to know exactly when to stop talking or when one of the boys has lost interest, and they never take it personally!
Did we have to queue?
To access the NHM collection during normal opening hours you will need to join a queue, this is primarily because bag checks will be in operation. Timed tickets are availabe to book in advance online - it is recommended that you do this.
There is usually a small queue to enter the Dawnosaurs events, but it is manageable and the staff are experienced in communicating with neurodivergent / autistic visitors at this event and make it as tolerable as they can.
The Natural History Museum attracts a lot of families with buggies, so expect the lifts to be busy and in constant use and you wont be dissapointed when you have to queue.
Accessibility
The Dawnosaurs event is designed specifically for children / young adults aged 5 – 15yrs who struggle to access the collection in normal visiting hours (e.g. because of autism ADHD, Tourette’s, OCD and other sensory processing difficulties).
Other accessible options outside of the Dawnosaurs event include companion tickets, quiet spaces in each of their zones and audio guides narrated by Sir David Attenborough.
For a full listing you can visit their Accessibility Page.
Are the facilities neurodivergent friendly?
As you would expect the Natural History Museum is huge and sprawling. It is linked by a seried of lifts to different coloured zones in different parts of the buildings. It is not always clear to new visitors how to get from one section to the other without using steps, although it is possible. If you require step free access then a map in this situation is helpful.
Throughout the musuem there are gift shops, cafes and toilet facilities, including plenty of disabled cubicles.
For more information you can visit the museum's Accessibility Page.
Our favourite cafe is the cafe in the impressive Hintze Hall - this is the hall that is shown on the BBC Andy programmes, and in the first Paddington Movie when he is trying to escape the clutches of Montgomery Clyde's daughter at the end. The cafe is situated just past the alcove that contains Andy's clock in it. Every time we visit the boys make sure to re-enact the scenes from both shows, running down / up the stairs or standing in front of the clock and shouting "to the time of tyrannosaurus rex" in front of it.
This cafe has a reasonable section of (pricey) salads, sandwiches and cakes and is handily positioned for nearby disabled toilets but its super high ceilings and tiled floor does make it a bit echoey.
Natural History Museum Gardens:
The Museum also offers an enchanting outdoor space, recently revamped into a series of different gardens - these are free to visit and do not require a ticket. On its website the NHM writes:
Our new gardens are a living laboratory that offers nature of all shapes and sizes an inner-city home. From the tiniest microorganisms that keep our soil healthy to the foxes that play among our trees and bushes, there's so much to discover.
The Evolution Garden is open daily 10.00–17.50. The Nature Discovery Garden supported by
The Cadogan Charity is open daily, but only during daylight hours, as they have removed lighting in this part of our gardens to protect the wildlife that lives there.
Cost / Disabled Concession
Entry to the Dawnosaurs events are free but tickets must be booked in advance and the events regularly sell out. To recieve advance notification of when booking will open, join the NHM's accessibility mailing list.
Entry to the museum during normal opening times is also free, although there is a charge to visit the termporary exhibitions halls.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Natural Hisotry Museum has a wealth of knowledge to offer all children, but its own popularity has made its collection extremely hard for our autistic kids to access during general visiting hours.
We are so grateful to the sponsors and accessibility team for their incredible work on the Dawnosaurs programme.
If you can face the early start (the events begin at 8am) then you will not regret joining a Dawnosaurs event with your autistic child / children. They are fun, super welcoming and offer our children a wonderful experience.
For more information on the Dawnosaurs events visit the NHM Dawnosaurs webpage.