Grant Zoology Museum

The Grant Museum of Zoology, located in Bloomsbury, London, is one of the oldest natural history collections in the UK and the only university zoology museum remaining in the city. Founded in 1827 by Robert Edmond Grant, the museum was established as a teaching collection for University College London (UCL) to support the teaching of zoology and comparative anatomy. Grant, the first professor of zoology in England, built the collection as an educational resource for students, gathering an impressive variety of specimens from around the world. The museum houses approximately 68,000 specimens, many of which are rare or extinct, representing a wide range of the animal kingdom. Among the most notable exhibits is the skeleton of a quagga, an extinct South African zebra, one of only seven complete skeletons known in the world. Another specimen of great interest is the skull of a dodo, also extinct, which was rediscovered after being hidden for a century. The collection also includes thylacine skeletons, a marsupial extinct in the 1930s, and Blaschka glass models, which intricately reproduce marine invertebrates such as jellyfish and anemones.The museum’s history is closely linked to Grant’s figure, a pioneer in his field who greatly influenced the study of evolutionary biology. Grant was also a mentor to Charles Darwin, and the museum preserves materials reflecting the progress of natural sciences during the Victorian era. The collection has been continuously expanded, incorporating materials from other university collections and scientific expeditions such as those of the Challenger and Discovery.Originally open only to students and academics, the museum opened its doors to the public in 1996. In 2011, the museum moved from its historic location in the Darwin Building to the Thomas Lewis Room in the Rockefeller Building, formerly the library of UCL’s medical faculty. This move allowed for better preservation and a wider display of specimens, offering visitors a more engaging experience.A visit to the Grant Museum offers the opportunity to explore the wonders of the natural world through a wide range of specimens, from small invertebrates to the skeletons of large mammals. The exhibitions are organized to tell the story of evolution and biodiversity, highlighting the interconnections between different species. Visitors can get up close to the famous jar of moles, one of the museum’s most curious and fascinating exhibits, composed of a series of moles preserved in a large glass container. The museum’s atmosphere, with its antique wooden display cases and specimens preserved in fluids, retains the charm of Victorian collections while also providing a modern and interactive education. Admission to the museum is free, making it a must-visit for anyone in London interested in natural history.