Accessing the collections

Discover how you can use the collections for research and other non-scientific purposes.

The curators are currently clearing backlogs of acquisitions, loans and enquiries and preparing for a major collections move to a new science centre.

Please contact the relevant curator, Curator in Charge or Head of Collections with enquiries about whether research visits or research loans are possible.

Due to many major projects in the Museum, loans will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. This also means we will require a minimum 12-month notice period from the official loan request, rather than the usual nine months.

We regret that we cannot accommodate loan requests made with less than 12 months’ notice. 

All other exhibition loan information remains the same.

Restricted access to collections

We are preparing to relocate 28 million specimens to our new science facility at Thames Valley Science Park, as well as many millions more to newly refurbished collection stores in South Kensington. Construction of our new facility is due to be completed in late 2027.

To prepare for the move, collections are currently being stabilised, conserved and documented. While this ambitious programme of work is underway, we must stop some of our usual activities until further notice.

We will no longer be able to approve loans, receive visitors or fulfil collection-based enquiries in the following collections:

Fossil mammals from 1 August 2025

Anthropology from 1 September 2025

Mammals from 19 September 2025

This does not affect any existing commitments, bookings or visits and enquiries from descendant communities or relating to requests for the return of human remains.

These restrictions are temporary, and dates for the recommencement of access to these collections will be shared as soon as they are available. Access to other collections may also be affected by the move programme at a later date.

To stay up to date, please check our science centre webpage, which will be updated with the latest project progress.

Our Digital Collections are, as always, openly accessible through the Data Portal, where over six million of our specimens have been digitised and released online, with more data being added every week.