Dawnosaurs visual guide

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Overview

Welcome to our Dawnosaurs visual guide. This is a step-by-step visual guide to help you plan your visit to our Dawnosaurs event. Some sections of the guide will be updated with event-specific information closer to the time.

Open spaces

We do our best to open a variety of areas for Dawnosaurs. However, staff levels early in the morning mean we can’t open the whole Museum.

To keep the experience varied, we rotate what areas are open throughout the year.

Our Dinosaurs Gallery will be open at every event.

Blue Zone

  • Dinosaurs Gallery
  • Fishes, Amphibians and Reptiles Gallery
  • Images of Nature Gallery
  • Fixing our Broken Planet Gallery
  • Mammals Gallery
  • Mammals (blue whale) Hall
  • Marine Invertebrates Gallery
  • Contemplation Room
  • Visions of Nature

Green Zone

  • Birds Gallery
  • Wildlife Photographer of the Year (free entry)
  • Fossil Marine Reptiles Gallery
  • Investigate Centre
  • Breakout space
  • Minerals Gallery
  • Treasures (Cadogan Gallery)
  • The Vault Gallery
  • Hintze Hall: Ground Floor, Floor 1 and Floor 2
  • Museum Shop
  • Central Cafe

Red Zone

  • Earth Hall: Ground Floor, Floor 1 and Floor 2
  • Earth’s Treasury Gallery
  • From the Beginning Gallery
  • Restless Surface Gallery
  • Volcanoes and Earthquakes Gallery
  • Earth Hall Café
  • Human Evolution Gallery
  • Lasting Impressions Gallery
  • Lasting Impressions Learning Space (Sensory Room)

Closed spaces

The following galleries and spaces will be closed during your visit:

Blue Zone

  • Our Story with David Attenborough

Green zone

  • T. Rex Restaurant
  • Picnic Area

Red Zone

  • Flett Events Theatre
  • Cranbourne Boutique (Pokémon Store)

Orange Zone

  • Shake Bar
  • Attenborough Studio
  • Cocoon
  • Zoology Spirit Building
  • Darwin Centre

Gardens

  • Nature Discovery Garden
  • Evolution Garden
  • Nature Activity Centre

Arrival

East Entrance

On the morning of the event, arrive for the entry time shown on your ticket at our East Entrance on Exhibition Road. There may be a short queue to get inside.

If you’re unable to wait in queues for long periods, speak to our security staff and they’ll fast track your entry.


East Entrance on Exhibition Road, a door underneath a pillared building opens onto a paved street.

Inside

Once inside you’ll see a registration desk, where our staff will welcome you. Have your ticket ready to show them. They can also help you with other access requirements, such as requests for ear defenders.

Maps will be available to help guide you around the Museum and there will also be signage.

Near the registration desk there’s an accessible toilet, baby changing room and free cloakroom where you can leave your bags and coats. There are lifts to the Ground Floor of the building.

Two women sit at a desk with a green tablecloth. To the right of the desk is a set of stairs leading to an arched ceiling.
A set of steps behind the donation box leads to an arched hallway with Sophie the Stegosaurus on it

Staff and Volunteers

Some of our staff will be wearing green uniforms with the logo of the Museum in blue. Some of our staff won’t be in a uniform but will be wearing a lanyard around their neck.

Some of our staff will be using radios to communicate, so you might hear them during your visit.

There may also be cleaners working around the Museum during your visit.

A staff member smiles, wearing a green jumper with the logo of the Museum in blue
Three lanyards on a table, one is black and white, the second is black and the third is a rainbow pattern.

Museum map

Full map of the Museum, including all floors with icons representing galleries, cafes, baby changing rooms and toilets.

Icons and wayfinding

The Museum is split up into four zones – Red, Green, Blue and Orange. Each space within a zone has its own icon, which is displayed on signage within the Museum. An example is included below as well as an icon key to assist you with wayfinding.

The icon key for the Orange Zone shows: An orange microphone icon representing the Attenborough Studio. An orange icon of the Cocoon building representing the entrance to it. An orange dragonfly icon representing the Gardens. An icon of three specimen jars to represent the entrance to the Zoology Spirit Building.
The icon key for the Green Zone shows: A green stork icon representing the Birds Gallery. A green star icon representing the East Pavilion. A green sword fish icon representing the Marine Fossils Way. A green log icon next representing the Giant Sequoia. A green magnifying glass icon representing the Investigate Centre. A green gemstone icon representing Minerals Gallery. A green dodo skeleton to represent the Treasures in the Cadogan Gallery. A green treasure chest icon representing The Vault Gallery.
The icon key for the Red Zone shows: A red diamond icon representing the Earth’s Treasury Gallery. A red clock icon representing the From the Beginning Gallery. A red human skull icon representing the Human Evolution Gallery. A red ammonite icon representing the Lasting Impressions Gallery. A red mountain with falling stones icon representing the Restless Surface Gallery. A red volcano icon representing the Volcanoes and Earthquakes Gallery.
The icon key for the Blue Zone shows: A blue dinosaur icon representing the Dinosaurs Gallery. A blue lizard icon representing the Fishes, Amphibians and Reptiles Gallery. A blue flower representing the Fixing Our Broken Planet Gallery. A blue picture frame icon representing the Images of Nature Gallery. A blue star icon with a letter J inside representing the Jerwood Gallery. A blue lioness icon representing the Mammals Way. A blue whale icon representing the Mammals (blue whale) Gallery. A blue octopus icon representing the Marine Invertebrates Gallery.

Museum zones

Hintze Hall

Hintze Hall will be open for Dawnosaurs. Carved into the archways and pillars are sculptures of animals. Here you can see all sorts of specimens, including Hope our blue whale.

This area also has toilets and a giftshop.

Hintze Hall, the large skeleton of Hope the blue whale hangs above a central set of stairs, leading onto a grey tiled floor.
A map showing all three floors of our Red Zone, with icons representing galleries, cafes, baby changing rooms and toilets.
A room with three large bean bags and two cushions with books on top of them.

Red zone

Our Red Zone is made of three floors. All three will be open for this Dawnosaurs.

The Earthquake Simulator on the third floor will not be on. This is due to sensory adjustments made to the space.

The ground floor contains Earth Hall, Human Evolution and the Lasting Impressions Gallery.

Sensory Space

For this event, our sensory space will be found in the Lasting Impressions Learning Space, in the Lasting Impressions Gallery.

This drop-in space is designed to be a calm space with sensory elements, including soft furnishings and lights, where you can come and go as you wish.

Green zone

The Green Zone is made of four floors, including mezzanine floors. For this Dawnosaurs the first three floors will be open.

The Ground Floor contains the Birds Gallery, Marine Fossil Way and Hintze Hall. The third floor contains Minerals Treasures and The Vault. The Investigate Centre in the basement will be open.

Breakout space

For this event there will be a breakout space. This can be found in the basement of our Green Zone, next to the Investigate Centre. This drop-in space is designed to be a calm space where you can come and go as you wish.

There may be an activity happening in the Investigate Centre that you’ll have to walk through to enter and exit the Breakout Space.

A map showing all three floors of our Green Zone, with icons representing galleries, cafes, baby changing rooms and toilets.
A room with three large bean bags and two cushions with books on top of them.
Sensory space

The sensory space can be found in the basement of our Green Zone, next to the Investigate Centre.

This drop-in space is designed to be a calm space where you can come and go as you wish.

There may be an activity happening in the Investigate Centre that you’ll have to walk through to enter and exit the sensory space.

Our ability to open the sensory space depends on staffing. Check this section nearer to the event to check if the sensory space will be open.

Blue zone

Our Blue Zone has two floors.

This is where you can find the Dinosaurs Gallery, which is open at every Dawnosaurs event.

Details about what other areas of our Blue Zone are open will be updated closer to the event.

A map showing the two floors of our Blue Zone, with icons representing galleries, cafes, baby changing rooms and toilets.
An arched entrance on a brick wall with a blue sign on the right-hand side that says Dinosaurs
An animatronic Tyrannosaurus Rex is lit from the front surrounded by model foliage

In our Dinosaurs Gallery you can find our animatronic T. rex.

We adjust settings for our moving and audio displays for Dawnosaurs, including turning down the volume of displays and limiting movement. Ask our staff if you have any questions.

There’s also toilets, a Changing Places toilet and a Contemplation Room.

The Changing Places toilet can be accessed using a RADAR key. Ask our staff for one and they can help you.

Orange zone

For this event, our Orange zone and our Gardens will be closed.

A map showing the two floors of our Orange Zone, with icons representing galleries, cafes, baby changing rooms and toilets.

Exhibitions and activities

Exhibitions

We sometimes offer free entrance to one of our paid exhibitions during Dawnosaurs.

For this Dawnosaurs you can visit the Wildlife Photographer of the Year for free. This exhibition is in the Green Zone at the end of the Fossil Marine Reptiles Corridor. The Entrance to the exhibition is opposite the Birds Gallery.

There are Content warnings for this exhibition. There will be a member of staff at the entrance to this exhibition to tell you about these images and where they are in the exhibition. You’ll also receive pre-visit information about this.

There is also a visual guide specifically for Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

Activities

We’ll be hosting the following activities at this Dawnosaurs event:

Draw and Explore – Ceiling Spotters

Location: Hintze Hall, drop-in until 9.30

Join us to look up and discover our fascinating, hard-to-reach spaces. You’ll have the chance to create your own imaginative drawings to take home. You’ll be tracing and drawing objects using patterns and LED backlights.

Volunteer Crafts

Location: Hintze Hall, drop in until 9.30

Our team of learning volunteers will be running a fun craft session exploring butterflies.

LEGO® Build The Change

Location: The Investigate Centre, Green Zone Basement
08:15, 08:45 and 09:15

We’ve partnered up with the LEGO Group to bring you an exclusive hands-on LEGO® activity as part of the Build the Change program for Dawnosaurs.

In the LEGO Nature-Friendly Neighbourhood mass build activity, join us to create a neighbourhood from LEGO® bricks where birds, the dinosaurs of today, people and nature can thrive together.

LEGO workshops tend to be very popular, which can make them busier and louder than other parts of Dawnosaurs. You can leave the activity at any time if it becomes overwhelming.

LEGO is a trademark and copyright of the LEGO Group. ©2025 The LEGO Group. All rights reserved.

I Spy Trail

Take on this self-guided trail to explore parts of the Museum you may not have seen before. This activity pack will be available at the welcome desk.

Dawnosaurs activity map

A map of the Museum pointing at the places where the activities take place

Facilities

Our Dawnosaurs visitors have access to the following facilities:

  • Cafe

  • Baby changing room

  • Toilets

  • Accessible toilets

  • Changing places toilet

  • Disabled access lift

  • Giftshop

  • Cloakroom

Check the Museum map or ask our staff for directions to these facilities.

A brown closed door with the words "Contemplation room" on it.

Contemplation Room in our Blue Zone.

A closed door with a logo depicting a wheelchair user and the words Accessible toilet. Next to it, an ajar door door with the same logo plus a logo signaling baby changing facilities.

Accessible toilets and baby changing facilities in our Red Zone.

A closed door with the words "Changing places" next to it.

Changing Places toilet in our Blue Zone.

Blue Badge parking

All Blue Badge parking must be booked ahead of the event by emailing Dawnosaurs@nhm.ac.uk. We’re unable to accept Blue Badge parking on the morning of your visit if you haven’t booked ahead. Our car park entrance is on Queen’s Gate. Below is a bird’s-eye view of the Museum.

An aerial view of the Museum with a number 1 over the West entrance on Queen’s Gate, a number 2 over the Central Entrance on Cromwell Road and a number 3 over the East Entrance on Exhibition Road. Imperial College Road runs at the back of the Museum on the North side.

1. Queen’s Gate (Blue Badge parking entrance)

2. Central Entrance on Cromwell Road (not in use)

3. East Entrance on Exhibition Road (use this entrance if you’re not parking)

Our Blue Badge parking entrance is on Queen’s Gate. Head towards the gates, where a member of security will be stationed.

They already have your car registration details and will be expecting you. You’ll be asked to confirm your name.

Once through these gates, carry on down the straight road ahead of you until you reach the open courtyard style carpark.

Our security staff will be on hand to help you into our building via a basement entrance. From here there are lifts or stairs up to the main galleries.

The Blue Badge parking entrance on Queen’s Gate, which consists of a grey road surrounded by tall buildings leading to a black gate.

Dawnosaurs events calendar

  • Saturday 28 February – Up Above: Feathers and Flight
  • Saturday 9 May – Investigators and Close Encounters
  • Saturday 11 July – Summer Special
  • Saturday 10 October – Jurassic Dawnosaurs: Creatures and Currents
  • Saturday 5 December – Fossils and Dinosaurs

Our Dawnosaurs team hope you have a wonderful experience. If you have any questions about the event or want to sign up to our mailing list for updates, contact us at dawnosuars@nhm.ac.uk

Go back to the Dawnosaurs event page.

An orange circular sticker reads “I’ve been to Dawnosaurs” above the picture of a T. Rex in front of plants and a mountain range.

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