On 13 July Kensington’s Natural History Museum reopened the gateway to its galleries with a new hanging installation – a 25.2m long blue whale skeleton.
We love the idea of holding an event here before many get the chance to see the whale in action beneath the huge space’s cathedral-esque arches. There’s also a cool lighting display for said whale by White Light that’s available for evening functions.
The marine mammal replaces Dippy the dino who called Hintze Hall home for 35 years, and has been christened with her own affectionate name. She will be known as Hope, as a reminder of humanity’s power to shape a sustainable future. While blue whales faced extinction last century, they’ve made quite the comeback thanks to the humans who fought to save them on a global scale.
Bookers can invite up to 600 for a dinner or 1,200 for a drinks reception, while giving guests a first look at the museum’s new centrepiece.
Elsewhere, hundreds of new specimens are now on show to celebrate the natural world, with 10 of them arranged in the ground floor alcoves. An exclusive-use of the venue includes these spaces, and boosts capacity to 3,000 guests, while keeping Hintze Hall as the central venue. Plus the adjacent galleries – Fossil Way and Dinosaur Way – are well suited to pre-dinner drinks.
Dive in quick whether you’re planning a corporate dinner or a Christmas do.
Check out some of our other favourite museums for events here.