Museum of Zoology Museums

The Museum of Zoology is home to a huge variety of recent and fossil animals.

Our collections rival those of the major university museums world-wide, and are used for academic study by researchers within and beyond the University.

Families and group visitors enjoy our regularly-changing, free, self-led trails and activities. (Please note that groups visiting the museum must book in advance.)

Displays trace the evolution of animal life, with intricately beautiful shells, a comprehensive collection of British birds, and many large skeletons of mammals.

Our events include art and photographic exhibitions, talks and family fun days.

Darwin at the Museum of Zoology The Museum has strong links to Darwin. A permanent exhibition was opened in 2009 displaying specimens collected and used by Darwin, including animals collected during the Beagle voyage, and beetles he collected while he was an undergradate student at Cambridge.

The museum houses an extensive collection of scientifically important zoological material designated as being of outstanding national and international significance by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (formerly Re:source).

As part of the Department of Zoology we are also home to a thriving research community.

Overall, the Museum of Zoology receives around 70,000 visitors each year. These visitors include many people from the general public, school parties, visiting researchers and academics.

Special events are held throughout the year, such as National Science Week, which attracts over 3,000 visitors in a single week.