The Booth Museum of Natural History is a family-friendly site with a fascinating collection of animal treasures. What began as a personal collection of Victorian traveller Edward Booth is now an eccentric museum open to curious visitors. See its collections of birds, butterflies, bones and fossils that tell the story of many intriguing creatures. With its interactive exhibits and the Discovery Lab, it is an ideal spot for kids and interesting for adults as well.
Make your way to the butterfly exhibit to see hundreds of multi-colored fliers. The walls are completely covered in the beautiful insects. Capture photos of the butterflies in every colour of the rainbow.
Examine the stuffed bird collection that demonstrates Edward Booth’s aspiration to capture and display as many British birds as possible. Each exhibit portrays the birds in recreations of their natural habitats.
The bone room is perhaps the eeriest and most fascinating part of the museum. Peruse the array of bones to see the frames of prehistoric beings, such as dinosaurs and woolly rhinos. Learn about each skeleton from the informative plaques and imagine the days when these beasts ruled the earth.
Take the toddlers to one of the Early Years sessions, where they can handle objects and play with arts and crafts. Head to the Discovery Lab to learn interesting facts about the animals, play with toys and draw pictures. The gift shop has fun souvenirs with a natural history theme.
The museum is closed on Thursdays but otherwise open daily from morning until late afternoon with a brief closing time in the middle of the day. Admission is free. Book ahead if you are travelling with a group.
The Booth Museum of Natural History is located about 2 miles (3 kilometres) northwest of the city centre. Use buses that leave regularly from Brighton Railway Station and take less than 10 minutes to reach the museum. You can also walk from the beach in about half an hour. Nearby attractions include Preston Park and Preston Manor.
