London Hidden Gem | Grant Museum of Zoology
The Grant Museum of Zoology, located within University College London (UCL), was established in 1828 and is the only university zoology museum in London. It houses approximately 68,000 specimens spanning the entire animal kingdom. Founded by Robert Edmond Grant (1793-1874), it originally served as the teaching collection for the newly established University of London (later UCL). π Grant was renowned in his time for his research on marine invertebrates, particularly sponges, sea pens, and mollusks. His work on sponges ultimately established them as animals and coined the term "Porifera." His radical evolutionary views, especially his research, influenced the young Charles Darwin, who studied medicine with Grant during his second year at the University of Edinburgh (1826-1827). π³ Grant became the first professor of zoology and comparative anatomy in the UK. Upon arriving at the University of London, he found no teaching materials available for his courses. He immediately began collecting specimens, dissection materials, charts, and lecture notes, which formed the basis of today's museum. π The museum also offers an innovative VR experience called "Virtual Worlds: Coral at the Grant Museum." Traditional coral specimens in the museum often lead people to misunderstand corals as static, ignoring their dynamic role as vital parts of marine ecosystems. In this experience, visitors immerse themselves in a space that transforms from "floodwaters" to a coral reef, accompanied by Pacific audio recordings and underwater photography. They explore healthy, degraded, and recovering coral ecosystems, get up close with coral restoration efforts, and reimagine the museum's potential as a space for climate action. π Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday: 1pm-5pm Saturday: 11am-5pm (Free admission) #LondonLife #London #UCL #GrantMuseumOfZoology #MustVisitMuseum #Museum #LondonMuseum #LondonWeekend
