The Covid Diaries 99 – Grant Museum of Zoology, London
A review of a visit to the Grant Museum of Zoology in London. It’s quirky and historic, just what you want a museum of zoology to be!
Grant Museum of Zoology
The Grant Museum of Zoology is one of several museums which are part of University College London. Another is the Petrie Museum which we saw at the start of the year. Robert Edmond Grant established today’s museum in 1827 as a teaching resource. (As an aside, Grant was also an influence on a young Charles Darwin.) Now the only university zoology museum remaining in London, the Grant Museum of Zoology opened to the public in 1996. Its primary function is still as a teaching and research aid for academics and students. Alongside this, the museum engages with school students and has a programme of public events.
The museum itself is rather small. In fact, it consists of only one gallery, with a mezzanine. A lot of specimens are packed into its glass cases and soaring shelves, yet this represents only 7% of the collection. Despite all of these constraints, however, the Grant Museum of Zoology is somewhere you could spend a considerable amount of time. This is down to a few factors:
- It’s quite simply fascinating
As you wander the cabinets, there are constantly new things to discover. Species you have never heard of. The ability to compare a skeleton specimen with one that is fluid-preserved, taxidermied or freeze-dried. Labels old and new. Thousands of prepared slides to look at in the Micrarium (image above). - The presentation is like an Aladdin’s Cave
I mean just look at the photos. This is somewhere you need to take your time to ensure you don’t miss any hidden treasures. - There is an old-fashioned museum atmosphere which encourages slow looking
I really love the Grant Museum’s wooden and glass cases, mezzanine gallery ringed with yet more specimens, and low lighting. Even during school holidays with families following activity trails, it is peaceful and quiet and encourages you to take your time.
Recommended For Londoners And Visitors Alike
I really enjoyed visiting the Grant Museum of Zoology. I have a well-developed appreciation for the bizarre in museums, to be fair, so I was never going to dislike somewhere that has a jar of moles as a star attraction. But I also enjoyed its sense of humour: for example in displaying its 1970s plastic dinosaurs. And the human touch of supporters ‘adopting’ a specimen to help preserve it for the future.
Like many university museums, the Grant Museum has fairly restrictive opening hours, particularly at the moment. When we visited, it was only open on Saturdays for advance bookings, and had limited capacity (now less restrictive, I believe). It was worth the effort though, so I would encourage you to check the website for current arrangements and then make plans to go. Whether it’s as a family outing or just for your own interest, the Grant Museum of Zoology is one of London’s hidden museological gems.
On its own merits: 4/5
Implementing Covid measures: 4/5
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