I'm the opposite. I love doing things on my own. When I have people with me I feel trapped, I can't do what I want, walk where I want, change my plans...I get frustrated, I get moody...
People are good for eating out or going out in the evening. When i travel alone i have lots of early nights. But i see more during the day of what matters. Ive done most of my travelling alone.
Went on holiday with the 'girlfriend' to Greece ....wanted to see the old town ....nope ...beach all day ...turning to toast ...ahhh ..a room of one's own ..!!!😮😅😮😮
The Natural History Museum in London is my favourite place on earth. Visiting as a boy it was like walking into somewhere magical and mysterious, and no matter how many times I've been I still feel a thrill of excitement and wonder as I walk into Hintze Hall. Everything about it, from the exhibits and curations to the architecture housing it all, is a treat to be enjoyed. I love it so much.
I was lucky enough to work there when I was a student. The public access bit is great, but what you might not realise is that the rest of it is one of the greatest natural history research institutions in the world. What a place!
It's a beautiful museum; if you get a chance to look at the science museum round the corner, that's great too. But these museums also house some really interesting people. Erica McAllister, for example, is the curator for flies in the natural history museum, and is completely off her rocker, one of the most informative and entertaining speakers I've ever heard, a wonderful person. We are so, so lucky to have the museums we have, and the experts who run them. Thank you for sharing your journey and your experience.
I worked there for a summer in the 80's. It was the best job I ever had. On my first day, I had to go down to the basement store. My instructions were "Out of the lift, go left at the giraffes in plastic bags and underneath the half a blue whale." Sure enough, outside the lift was a stuffed family group of giraffes wrapped in plastic, then a massive 1/2 blue whale hanging from the ceiling. The other half was down a different corridor.
10:57: I'd like to mention the teacher here who, along with a colleague or colleagues, has accepted the terrifying responsibility of the health and safety of a few dozen young children on a trip through London, without the aid of a sheepdog, to broaden their education.
The architect of the Natural History Museum was Alfred Waterhouse (1830-1905) who was also responsible for many other buildings, including Manchester and Reading Town Halls - and Yattendon bus shelter (he was churchwarden at Yattendon Church in Berkshire).
It's a very impressive building. The modern trend for museums and galleries seems to be completely minimalist so that they don't detract from the exhibits (or maybe to save money).
I can still remember my first visit to the NHM with my primary school. It was an epic day, especially as a young boy, I think I was around 8 or 9 yo ! The whole day was amazing, and the excitement on the coaches was palpable... it was a very long coach trip, about 3 hours of hyper kids bouncing off the ceiling !! It took my imagination to places I'd never even imagined .... I am still a science nut, especially where space is concerned and the NHM is one of the reasons why it fascinates me 40 (ish) years later... thank you, Alanna. I loved this video. It took me back a long way to a simple time and place long ago...
Fun fact: when I were a lad they added that glass extension to the museum and made it predominately black - to MATCH the main building. The beautiful light brown and blue terracotta of the facade was literally completely black from the pollution. It was a real shock (and a good one) when they cleaned the building and rediscovered the fabulous exterior.
fun note, there is actually a lesser known Disney live action movie based in the London Natural History musuem , One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975), and yes a dinosaur does go missing
Yes, I remember it well. The dinosaur in question is based on dippy the diplodocus which was displayed in the main entrance hall until he decided to do a trip round the country, a few years ago. He is currently in my home city of Coventry.
@@andybrown4284 I thought it was a rolled up tiny piece of paper.. BUT the film is brilliant.. Peter Ustinov stars and there are lots of other actor/actress 'gems'. to spot too.
So pleased that your getting confident enough to go places on your own, it’s surprising though since you were brave enough to come to the UK & settle here, this is my favourite museum, it’s just so full of interesting stuff, looking forward to the future videos, loved the trainbow 😻
My two kids (and my wife) spent a night sleeping in the NHM one time. They managed to get a spot right underneath Dippy's tail. It was some sort of experience they were offering. (For those who don't know, Dippy is a 26metre diplodocus replica. Currently on tour of UK museums).
We did that this weekend! It was called Dino Snores only we were under the Blue Whale instead. Was a really good experience going around the museum by torchlight and staying the night.
One of my favourite places in the world. When I was a kid, my dad used to take me there every summer. I was (and still am to be honest) a huge fan of dinosaurs, so this place was just magical to me. Whenever I've been back as an adult, it just feels like a warm, safe and comforting place because of the memories I have there from going as a kid. I'd give anything to relive those times.
Oh, Alana - you should have gone to the science museum! Unless they’ve changed it, they have a whole section on space! They have rockets, and capsules, they have space suits, bits and pieces used by astronauts, they even have a full size lunar module, they have another section on flight, which should at least be visited to see the cross section of a 747. You'll be shocked at how thin the skin is! They have a lot of cool stuff, but for space stuff, that’s the place to go. I think you’d enjoy the Victoria and Albert more than the British or Natural History museum, it has a huge range of mostly British stuff, and even as someone who was born in the UK I find it very informative about all sorts of things that you might encounter in everyday life. In your early days of videos you would mention things like the designs of kitchens - or the placement of washing machines, or household plugs. Those are the sorts of things you'll see in their design section mock ups of typical houses through history, household appliances etc. It’s difficult to express how fascinating it can be, they also have vast collections of art and fashion. Two other places you might like are Hampton Court and Kew Gardens. When I was a kid, Hampton Court was quite close - and I think free? We would get taken there far more than I felt necessary and I hated it. About ten or more years ago I was back in the UK with my daughters, and my dad insisted on taking us there - I was dreading it and worried by how bored the kids would be. - it was the highlight of the trip! I would check that they have kept the 'new style' going. It was the crustiest and gloomiest place I ever visited as a kid, everyone whispering and tiptoeing around. When we last went they have actors and musicians kicking around, and the kitchen was in full swing, with the enormous fires going and cooks preparing food - and music in the kitchen too! The musicians really bring it to life. In the royal chambers they play quite pompous and regal stuff, in the areas where nobles would hang out it is more 'easy listening' and in the kitchen it is pretty raucous - the medieval equivalent of a boombox on a building site. I don’t think the kitchen operates every day, but they will have a schedule on line. It is the most accessible royal home around and one where you can really explore all the back room operations that went into keeping it running. Kew is one of the very oldest royal/public gardens, Mad King George lived there and it is pretty much the home of botany. Many of the plants that we know today are named after the various directors of Kew. They have an amazing collection of plants - their greenhouses are incredible and contain plants that have come from all over the world - tags give you their history, including where and when collected and by who - a few were donated by Charles Darwin. If gardens have any interest to you, Kew is the centre of the universe, their experts travel the world advising other gardens, they work in the field with countries on how to produce sustainable food in difficult circumstances, they also maintain the millennium seed bank, one of a few institutions that stores seeds that could replace plants in case of extinction or natural disaster. The BBC did a few series called “a year at Kew" - I expect it will be on the iplayer, it’s very watchable. Presented by Alan Titchmarch - who is an ex student from Kew, and there are some nice experts who work there - you know how the BBC excels at finding characters and making things accessible
Hey Alanna, in this video, you went to my favourite building in the UK... This museum is wonderful and worth a visit on EVERYONES list. Superb job as always 👏 👌 👍
Really enjoying this solo travel series...reminds me of school trips to London as a teen where we could just split up and go our own way as long as we were back for the Intercity 125 train back. I remember just a couple of us in Covent Garden, the Tate, The Hayward etc, but on my own in the National Gallery, V&A etc. No-one to have to make conversation with suited me just fine. Keep going you're doing great!
I find it fascinating that a Canadian girl who literally moved across the world without her family or friends to start a new life in the UK would be nervous about taking a daytrip! You can do it! You're so capable and you have proved you can do whatever you'd like to do. Enjoy it :)
I do like the video, and I think it's great that you're trying to get out of your comfort zone through solo travel. I love seeing other people become the best versions of themselves!
My favourite was always the Science Museum just round the corner. Back in the 70s we were blown away by the idea of interactive exhibits... things that move when you pushed buttons. Of course there has been a lot of progress and thankfully these places try to keep up... with the science. Having grown up all over the UK and spending a few of those years in London I was very familiar with the public transport. So when my class of 11 year olds from Bristol came up for the day, I took my friends on an sneaky adventure, we jumped the Tube, walked from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace, Downing Street the Houses of Parliament and got back to the rest of the class at the museums just in time for the coach home. We had not been missed at all and we were invited to a local radio station to talk about our trip to the London Museums the following week. Talk about bluff... we left in hysterics. I constantly crave adventure and solo trips to this day... nothing beats a good book on a long train ride, a warm hot tub after dark, the sun on your face as you take in a magnificent view or a friendly wild animal stopping real close to have a look at you.
As an introvert and a loner this is my ideal situation. There's certainly no need to feel embarrassed about going solo, I've been doing things on my own for years and i don't notice people around me. I do what I need to do go where I need to go. The thought of going somewhere in a group is definitely a struggle for me to cope with.
When I was a child growing up in Yorkshire, we had a few holidays in London, travelling on the Yorkshire Pullman and staying in a bed and breakfast. We always had to do the museums and art galleries (my father taught at a college of art and my mother had been a student there.) But wherever else we went, the Natural History Museum was our favourite.
I love solo travel, it's like a weird sense of accomplishment, plus there is no better way to explore a place and maybe even meet people by traversing the unknown on your own, plus you can do whatever and go wherever unimpeded by the need to plan around others. I really hope you enjoy more solo adventures. Also there is nothing cooler than someone with the ability to go it alone.
A few times I've stayed with brothers, in the Lake District and North Wales. I generally go where they go, but after a couple of days I leave. I went to Limerick on my own. It was brilliant, I could chat with the locals, I could walk slowly through the castle, I could just get in the car and drive. I frequently just grab one of the local buses just after 9.30, go somewhere grab another bus, end some where nice, then grab buses back. Couldn't really do that with someone because I can change my mind, go home, go to another place, jog trot to the bus..
@@alanmon2690 That's brilliant, I feel the same, starting off your adventure and choosing what excites you and where you want to go, it is just the best.
Superb video Alanna. You really are a pro at what you do. I used to work at the Natural History Museum as an apprentice electrician in my teens and had keys to all areas of the museum. I could access giant storage rooms located in the basement areas of the museum which was a museum in itself with thousands of stored artifacts, fossils and extinct animals that were in jars and in preservation liquids. It was dimly lit, so quiet and very eerie down there But, what was more overwhelming was the musty smells of the artifacts, stuffed animals and embalming fluids. Hopefully, this may of answered your query to the vault question.
I was a cleaner there for a few months 2018 and with no one around, its the creepiest place to be. Yet also so educational. Loved it. The place is way bigger than what the public can see. I would say there is more rooms and basements than what the public walks through.
The Natural History Museum in London might just be my favourite building that I have ever visited. Oxford also has an excellent (though smaller) museum, where you can see the actual Dodo specimens which inspired Lewis Carroll to write Alice in Wonderland and the pub where friends and fellow writers CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien (writers of The Chronicles of Nania and The Hobbit+ Lord Of The Rings respectively) used to meet up and share a pint together, PLUS parts of the Harry Potter films were also actually filmed there- well worth the visit!
I first went there when I was 9 years old. In those, long ago days us kids would go without adult supervision. Crazy I know but that was the late 1950s. Even at that young age I fell in love with the place and have visited countless times since. Then later as a Dad and now as a Granddad. I NEVER get bored of the place. After St.Paul's Cathedral it is my favourite building too (followed by St. Pancras Train Station. Who could EVER get tired of London ??
I love in these videos when Alanna goes straight to the museum cafe and does a taste test review of the food. She should rename the series, 'Alanna's solo adventure to museum cafes'
If youd never mentioned the solo travel anxiety Id never have known, thats the best compliment I can think of, but kudos to you for facing up and admitting it. Never been, always wanted to, what a treasure trove. Youve done the V & A, Imp War and this, surely the British museum is next. All down to personal interest in the subject of course, but it can easily match all these and then beat them ... easily. Just the parthenon sculptures and rosetta stone are worth the trip alone. Mind blowing is not an exaggeration. The very item that taught us how to read Egyptian hieroglyphics ... wow, and its all free!
I loved going there ive been twice but not for 30 yrs which saddens me as i wasnt able to take my sons. I love museums and my ex wife wasnt so keen on them. These days my lack of mobility stops me with even going into the social anxiety issue. All i can say is you are taking us with you in these videos and i thank you for that
I' m 72 and have been to the NHM many times over the years. School trips, with family and friends and on business. A fanastic place to visit, very educational and entertaining.
Gideon Mantell was the man who first identified the Iguanodon fossil and realised it was of a species which no longer existed. Richard Owen was the person who was the driving force behind the Natural History museum (though by all accounts he was not a nice individual who constantly put forth other scientists work as his own - including Mantell). Famously Owen was one of the few people Charles Darwin really disliked.. This is an amazing place.
We visited the Natural History Museum with our kids when they were young. It was a wet day during the school holidays which is the very worst time to visit because it was jam packed and hot. I don’t think the heating was on, I think it was the heat of the thousands of people. But wow, what a place. Hardly any modern TV displays, all traditional displays which had the perfect balance of presentation and information. It’s a must-visit place. And the building is awesome and worth a visit in its own right.
It would be lovely to see you collaborating with Kalyn from Girl Gone London on one of these adventures: from comments that she's made, she's a fan of your channel! 🙂
I thought of that too. I think they would get on. I also recommended your channel to my daughter in law, a Canadian who loves making trips out and about. I think you are brave doing these solo trips. It's something I used to do when I lived in Richmond, but now I've had family, I seem to have got out of the habit of solo trips, except shopping ones.
Lovely video ! You are such an open and honest individual which is refreshing! Continue to have your solo experiences- I certainly have for many years. Phil 😊
Am an old ex-Londoner and haven't been to the NH museum in about 20 years. Last time I was there I spent as much time looking at the details in the architecture as I did the exhibits, the amount of custom details dotted around was incredible. Was great to see the blue whale is still there, that brought back memories for me as a small boy being amazed by it.
Congrats on the solo adventure! It gets easier. I basically turn into a teacher/tour guide whenever i go to the NHM. My kids friends loved it, my kids, not so much. 😂
You can call it a trainbow I suppose. Edinburgh can be reached by train as well, though it is probably twice the price of flying for some reason, takes about 4 hours for the fastest service but it will deliver you right into the city centre. I used to love travelling all over by train when I lived in Reading which has one of the best rail hubs in S. England. Sadly I am past that now. Make sure you get around and see things while you can is the moral of the tale. These SOLO videos are a lot better than your old "cooking" ones I can say.
The Natural History museum is one of my favourite buildings.. i visited many years ago and spent more time admiring the building than looking at the exhibits.
The nearest station, Colindale, is closed for refurbishment at the moment if anyone is thinking of going. I assume there are alternative train plus short bus ride options.
I went to school in South Kensington from 1946 to 1952. A frequent visitor to the Natural History Museum. There was at that time a separate museum called the Geological Museum, which showed all the gem stones and 'geological' exhibits - not very interesting to a 5-11 year old. This is probably why it has now become part of the NHM.
I finally went to Scotland in 2022. Sola! Advice - book accommodation ahead, and don't go when the schools are closed. I flew to Glasgow then bus to Fort William. The next day i hired a bike and used it sll morning around the Caledonian Canal. Neptune's staircase is wonderful, then went to Broadford on the Isle of Skye the following day. The hostel there is fine if you book your double room instead of a 8 person room. Portree is beautiful - i went to The Lump. All this on public transport as i can't drive for health reasons .I recommend it - especially as you're half my age. Go for it - it's amazing, silent except for birds etc I went the year after too. Fort William then Glen Coe. You'll have a blast!
The Museum of the Home in East London is worth a visit, much smaller than the Kensington ones, but gives a wonderful history of the evolution of homes in the UK over the centuries with mock ups of complete rooms, it’s also free. Good luck with the solo tours, I totally understand your feelings of travelling solo, it’s weird not being able to chat to someone about it while your doing it, but in your case at least you’re sharing the experience afterwards!
Alanna, you weren’t on your own, we were with you 😂. We are happy to go anywhere with you. The Natural History Museum and The Science Museum are great days out, but they sure take a toll on the feet. Fun fact: My wife lost her purse the the Natural History Museum. She left it in the Cafe after we had eaten there. We realised about an hour later and, you know what, it had been handed in, intact. Amazing.
Good video Alanna!!! I love the Natural History museum,,,But also the Science and Geology museums are awesome.....I see they moved the moon rock from the Science Museum!!😊😊
This museum is a great favourite of mine, and has been for 65 yrs. I don't live in the UK, so my visits are limited to when I visit my son and his boys in London. Over the years, my Vancouver grandsons and now my London ones, have been introduced to South Ken museums and they spent hours in each - plus lots of my Euros in the gift shops and cafés there! My next suggestion to you is the Science Museum, but not at weekends or during school hols. As Helen Keller said, Alanna, "Life is either a daring adventure, or it is nothing." 👩🚀
As someone else said, I love travelling on my own and I’ve done a lot of it. Re the Natural History Museum, a few years ago my seven year old son and I slept in the museum in sleeping bags on the floor next to Guy the gorilla. It was an organised event. They even put on a nighttime treasure hunt in the dinosaur gallery. It’s a superb museum.
You’ve visited three London museums that my wife and I have thoroughly enjoyed during our visits to the city (from the US). We were there last year for our fourth visit; London is definitely our favorite city outside the US…and maybe even favorite of *any* city.
Only been once and it was so long ago that 'Dippy' the Diplodocus skeleton cast was still in the main hall and it was before it was realised the tail was probably held out horizontal and the exhibit instead had the tail drooping down and dragging along the floor.
The Vault is dimly lit and filled with glass cabinets containing small precious objects, mostly gems/diamonds beautifully lit in their cabinets. Did you not try the earthquake simulator?! It's a mockup of a Japanese grocery store at a time when there was a big earthquake, the whole floor shakes and there are monitors and commentary!
It is fun to see you are going somewhere. I have actually been to! I stayed in a what was a Holiday Inn in Kensington near Cromwell Road, and it was a great location. I bought a beautiful necklace of gray beads that are magnetic for a souvenir. I can not remember the name of the stones. The museum was not that busy the day I visited but I went late in the day. I used to be very self-conscious eating alone but got over it.
I don’t know if they’re still doing them, but NHM used to do evening openings on certain Fridays. It was aimed more at adults who are working during the day. In the entrance hall, they would setup areas in the alcoves where you could talk to staff about their areas of expertise. Well worth doing if you get the opportunity.
The science museum is super fun BTW. Lots of interactive things that are for kids, but go on a school day you can go on all the kids interactive stuff with less weird looks.
Alanna, another great video. Can I suggest that before you do Scotland, perhaps look at Bath, Nottingham or Leicester, they can act as a stepping stone to your goal of Scotland.
So nice to see you enjoy this place! I was down in London back in September, where we visited the NHM in the morning and V&A in the afternoon. It's great to see you do both and get a new perspective on it all!
I’m completely opposite to you Alanna. I love solo travel. I do it regularly. Absolutely love it. Btw when is next taste test. Come on Alanna I rely on you to tell me what is worth it and what is not. Don’t want to waste my money on rubbish stuff. I rely on you to do it for me😊❤ I love love love visiting galleries and museums and old Tudor house museums castles etc especially as almost all are free and you can just take your time., no rush. This video made me feel so relaxed! Ps if you like space, you have to watch solar system with professor Brian cox on bbc2. It is an incredible programme beautifully shot. You would love it!
Last time I went, the vault had loads of coloured diamonds and other precious gems, I'd also recommend signing up for one of the behind-the-scenes tours. I got to see the giant squid in the basement
I travelled to and across Canada on my own last year ( I have been a solo traveller for some time) but have to say I loved my time there and would recommend solo travel to anyone!
This was lovely. The London Natural History Museum is perhaps my favourite building in the world, though it is often overcrowded. There is a great deal I could tell you about the architecture. I see the museum as an important part of the story of palaeontology and it's history, and there have been quite a number of dramas involved with the building (literally, or otherwise) The architecture is Neo-Gothic and Romanesque, which is deliberately intended to evoke Cathedrals of the same styles. There is a lot of Blue and Yellow/cream terracotta made to masterful standards, and the woodwork is incredibly beautiful as well. There is High Victorian Ironwork which runs throughout the structure of the ceiling, holding up those beautiful paintings (which would have been done on ground level of course) The first Superintendent of the museum, when it was considered a mere extension of the British Museum, was Sir Richard Owen. He was an interesting, important yet rightly controversial figure. Some call him the 'Grandfather of British Palaeontology', although that could be said of several other individuals from his era, including (but not limited to) Reverend William Buckland and Dr Gideon Mantell (the latter of which, Owen provably plagiarised work - on Iguanodon - from, later in life) Owen was a shining star of Comparative Anatomy, Zoology and Surgical bioscience, in the early 19th century. He was a naturalist and anatomist with immense talent, though his personality and attitude towards others was lofty. Think of him as a sort of Saruman figure rather than a Gandalf, if that makes sense to you; as in, he was a brilliant individual, though he knew it _too well_ and it went to his head (perhaps it is a bit harsh on Owen to compare him to Saruman, though we have plenty of evidence of what he got up to; e.g. blaming colleagues for a variety of things such as acquiring funding for an Archaeopteryx Specimen from Bavaria which he just wanted to try and prove wasn't a valid evolutionary transition fossil, passing the blame to a colleague for the cost of the specimen; also taking credit for work Dr Mantell and his wife had done on Iguanodon specimens from Surrey, Southern England) To put it plain, he was a 'bit of a character', but also a bit of a piece of work himself. Owen, for all his behavioural flaws, was still a phenomenal scientist in his heyday, teaching Queen Victoria's grandchildren Biology and Natural History lessons. He was a remarkably famous scientist, and knower of things so to speak, whom the general public in London, would have seen as a remarkable font of wisdom. His ego was quite absurd, though it was highly typical of the era. He was the great showman and classic Victorian learned gentleman (whom actually could be quite ungentlemanly on the sly) One of his great friends was Charles Darwin. They fell out, eventually, due to Darwin's publication of _On the Origin of Species By Natural Selection_ (Owen, in spite of being a prolific naturalist, was ironically a _Creationist_ as well, and a God-fearing Christian in general) The processes of evolution and extinction, were practically heretical to men like him. Although it may sound strange to people now in the 21st century, the very notion of extinction in nature, without necessarily having a divine cause, was highly controversial (both in the 19th century, and in the 18th century prior) Work by individuals like James Hutton (Scottish Geologist) helping to develop the notion of Deep Time over vast spans of time. William Buckland, at Oxford (he whom described the first ever scientifically named Dinosaur, _Megalosaurus bucklandii_ (the specific/species name, modestly after himself; that's how things often were and rolled back then; still sometimes happens today; ffs there is an ancient Amphibian that got named, 'Fedexia' because it was found on their land so got called that in a rather bizarre manner, but I digress), was outright a clerical figure at the university. Dean and Reverend William Buckland, by Anglican Church title. He was not questioning the bible either. Owen outright fell into a form of enraged indignation over Darwin's most famous and paradigm shifting work, resorting to rather petty behaviour. He slandered and insulted his former friend, via aliases, in newspaper columns (except, any fool, let alone Darwin, could hear Owen behind the thin veil of his alias, due to how subject-specific and articulately flowery his language was) In better times, Darwin had brought fossils back from Peru, as well as Patagonia (Chile), and Owen would analyse and describe them. One of these, was a species of Giant South American Ground Sloth, which Owen named _Mylodon darwinii_ after his then friend, Charles Darwin. Owen named that one in 1840, based on fossils Darwin had brought back from his famous participation in the Voyage of the Beagle (HMS _Beagle_ a scientific survey ship) When the ship dropped Darwin off in South America to go have fun for a few weeks finding fossils and geological specimens, they told him to be ready for being picked up at a certain time (the surveys being conducted were of a quasi-military nature, with the majority of it's purpose, being hydrographic and meteorological in nature, rather than specifically about Natural History or Geology; nevertheless, the opportunity for lots of different scientists to go run riot in the once in a lifetime scientific tour of that part of the world, on both sides of South America, meant that many people were jostling for a place on HMS _Beagle_ (and Darwin managed to land a spot there; it helped that he was landed gentry from the upper-classes, as well; much like Owen, whose own connections were considerable, at least before he fell out of favour in his later life) What angered Owen so much about what Darwin had decided to do, a couple of decades later, was that much of that work was based on findings Darwin had gleaned from his time on the biodiverse wonderland of the Galapagos Islands. Ideas began to spark and fire in his mind, whilst surveying the wildlife and geology (Darwin was also a trained geologist, due to his days at Cambridge University; not the only university he went to, either) He was a very talented man. The Gandalf to Owen's Saruman, if you'll pardon the deliberately dramatic analogue. Darwin's work on evolutionary principles, he kept quiet for two decades, because of a variety of reasons. [part 1/2; shorter part 2/2 in reply to myself below]
[part 2/2] Anyway, back to the London Natural History Museum. And just what exactly, Sir Richard Owen's faith had to do with informing the architectural layout. As soon as Darwin published his most famous text, Owen broke ties with him, denounced him and went full-on anti-Evolutionist, launching a tirade of letters against Darwin, and even being sly enough (in what we'd now see as a sort of really 'b*tchy' thing to do) going behind Darwin's back and telling on him effectively, to their old geology professor. Soon enough, this Professor Adam Sedgwick (whom has a museum named after him, in Cambridge), wrote scathing letters of his own, back to Charles Darwin, decrying his work as appalling and reprehensible. He was alienated against Charles Darwin, his former student, because of Owen (you see what I mean? Owen is a bit of a piece of...) The layout of the museum was originally decided on the wings of the building either side of the dual towers at the centre; the symbolism being, that everything LIVING (EXTANT) species specimen was put in one wing of the building, and everything EXTINCT was in the other. This was not out of some neat organisation on Owen's part; it was him making a deliberate and incredibly petty point, to Evolutionists; God maketh and God destroyeth. Owen practically pestered the architects to make this so. Many of the statues and terracotta carvings attest to this design philosophy. It's meant to delineate living vs extinct, in an obscurely passive aggressive way on the part of Owen. That's how much he tried to control things. There was no connection between the living and extinct without God's will, according to Owen. No force of nature alone, could end a creation of God, without his say. Later in his life, once he was roundly turned on for his misbehaviour, and even kicked off the Royal Society for his proven acts of plagiarism against the by then, long deceased Dr Gideon Mantell, Owen's attitude softened, though he still got himself bogged down in needless spats over the reconstructions of Iguanodon he had made in the 1840's and 1850's. Newer finds in Belgium, studied by Belgian Palaeontologist Louis Dollo, at the famous Dinosaur Mine (where _many_ Iguanodon were found, near Bernissart), proved his reconstructions badly wrong. Owen eventually accepted the idea of evolution, though still basically said, 'God did it' (which may be the case from a certain point of view, though Owen had begun by strongly disparaging it until he was proven wrong, repeatedly) Owen's shenanigans regarding Archaeopteryx (key evidence for evolution) are a tale unto themselves, with his strive to discredit transition fossils in the 1860's and 1870's achieving nothing in the end. Owen had coined the term DINOSAURIA in 1841 and published it widely in 1842. He studied the Giant Moa of New Zealand and named many other species from around the world. He was brilliant in his day. But he was also a devout Christian whom despised what Darwin had 'done' in 1860 and spent a long time pestering him via newspaper columns and letters to other people. Darwin was a prolific letter writer, corresponding with many scientists around the world (including Alfred Russell Wallace; whom _independently_ came up with an outline for a theory of evolution, in part, whilst working in Borneo; he wasn't as wealthy as Darwin and had to do so, to make a living, selling particularly colourful or shiny insect specimens to entomologists and rich collectors in general, back in London) As Owen's star diminished, Darwin's grew. In 2009, the statue of Sir Richard Owen, which had presided over the grand atrium of the LNHM for over a century, was moved. It was the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth back in 1809. Owen would have been _absolutely seething_ to see that, carted off to a darker corner of the galleries, where he still stands 15 years later. An outrage, for sure, he would likely say. It was long overdue in the opinions of many, knowing what Owen represented VS what Darwin represented. However, like him or not, Owen was a titan of the science. It's popular to disrespect him (and I'm sure he'd irritate me a lot if I were listening to him in life, talking smack about Darwin etc) Still, as difficult as it can be to extend an olive branch to his memory, I think that he still deserves respect (for the good work he did, not the bad) He is forever a titan of the subject. A polymath and scholar; yet someone I would not like as a person, in even the slightest way. His coining of Dinosauria alone goes a long way for making a defence of him, but the truth is, he still a very complex figure and had his day. P.S. - Iguanodon is pronounced, 'Ig-wah-no-don'. It means, 'Iguana Tooth'. Don like Den in Dentistry. Iguano, because Iguanas. The old naturalists were rather literal about naming things. Sometimes, that can be a good thing. Also, you're probably the cutest human personage in this world. Introvert knows introvert, m'kay. Be confident in yourself because you're a great person. Charming humility and politeness. It's too rare a thing to see any more. Been a long time since I last had the chance to visit the museum, but I used to visit at least once a year. The teeth of Iguanodon reminded Gideon Mantell of leaf-cutting Green Iguana teeth (the resemblance isn't especially strong, though it is perceptible) The early naming conventions of these animals which later became grouped within Dinosauria, are highly-indicative of the straightforward way in which they saw them; like giant lizards. Iguanodon; Iguana Tooth. Megalosaurus; Great/Big Lizard. It's that simple. It is convenient in terms of the history of the subject of Dinosaur Palaeontology, because it sort of cutely and honestly demonstrated how directly simple these observations were in the 19th century. Talented and insightful, yes, though directly comparing what they had experience of in their world, to what was known back then. We take it for granted now that there are the better part of 2,000 Dinosaur species quibbled over. In 1825, we had Megalosaurus (1824) and Iguanodon (1825) That was it (Dinosaurs had been found around the world, earlier; e.g. Protoceratops aka the likely origin of the Gryphon/Griffin mythological creature) However, it was British Palaeontology which grouped them into a categorised dynasty (Owen's doing) and things like Protoceratops wouldn't receive their names until much later. The long, giant lizards of the early reconstructions gave way to the rhinoceriform, rotund, hulking creatures that Owen proposed. These depictions gave way to the Kangaroo like postures of the 1880's and Dollo's knowledge. Catch being, to get them to stand, Dollo _broke their tail bones_ which kind of implies that wasn't the way, but they just went with it; and they'd proven the thumb spike, disproving the nasal horn that used to be considered the correct reconstruction. Modified and improved versions of that endured into the 1920's with palaeoart reconstructions like those by Charles R Knight. By the 1960's, more dynamic reconstructions started to emerge, with many Iguanodontids and other Ornithopods starting to be understood better. By the 1980's we have John Sibbick's Iguanodon reconstructions, and by the 1990's the equine, gracile quadrupel/optionally bipedal reconstructions for Iguanodon become more common. The Iguanodon in 1999's Walking With Dinosaurs, are a classic example of how far these reconstructions of Iguanodon had come (and since 1999, further changes have been squabbled over) By the 2010's, some reconstructions looked much bulkier (ironically, considering Owen's old reconstructions) and by the 2020's it's even more common to see strange integumentary structures (for simplicity, let's just say skin folds and quills etc) Wattles and the like. Things that may not fossilise. It's a complex matter. Anyway, you can always be a palaeontologist. I can see you'd make a great palaeontologist. 🦕🦕🦕🤠🦖🦖🦖
I just came back from 4 days by myself in the Lake District. Stayed at a Premier Inn, which is a known quantity and kind of anonymous - so I could just come & go whenever I wanted. Loved it. Hope to see you doing more solo trips in the future Alanna - you're inspiring people to get out there and try stuff for themselves!
Going places on my own is a joy. No worry about where the other person is. No such thing as getting lost. No waiting. No pressure to move on when you really want to study something.
Well done. When visiting a museum, feel free to bring your own food. Cheaper! I would recommend the British Museum. Don't miss the Assyrian stuff (on left as your enter the main site) or the Egyptian stuff on top floor - but Sutton Hoo and other artefacts are also wonderful. A whole day can be spent and you would only see part of it. It will be busy so get there as ear;ly as possible and ideally not at the weekend. Best done outside of tourist season. Find out about how important the Rosetta stone is beforehand. The other recommendation is Hampton Court Palace. So much history - the building is partly Henry VIII tudor but also Georgian and everything in-between. It is a brilliant slice through history in one visit with extensive grounds as well. But so much else as well - Ightham Mote and Knole are both near Sevenoaks are just two examples with great grounds - plus more reasonable costs for cream teas etc.
I was lucky enough to live about ten minutes from the Natural History Museum. That part of London is a wonderful area to visit and live. Each time you visit the museums you see something different. Each visit is a new experience.
The Gem Vault is very cool. It's full of precious stones and minerals. Huge gold nuggets, every colour of diamond. But it's quite easy to find, and quite small, so easy to pop in when visiting other Kensington museums.
I took my son to the Science Museum last year, then next door to the Natural History Museum. Neither of us had ever been to either before, and I was so looking forward to seeing the dinosaurs. Unfortunately, the Natural History Museum was absolutely rammed and really hot. I didn't feel safe on my crutches, and we couldn't get close enough to anything to see it properly, so we didn't stay more than 10 minutes before heading to the gift shop and then out. Had the Science Museum not been so good, the day would have been a disappointment.
Great video, one of the finest buildings in London. Next up should be the science museum, which is next door. The most fun museum ever. When I was a kid it was my favourite place in the whole world.
Alana that was a lovely record of your solo trip. When you go back to Kensington, please take some time to look at the outside of the building. It is magnificent, and has stone carvings depicting wonders from the natural world. See how many different creatures you can spot!
My ancestor was actually there having a tour of the building when it was being constructed, by the architect Alfred Waterhouse back in the Victorian period.
There is also a side entrance which is usually queue free. There were twice as many people when I went in July. It was like a sauna inside at that time. The vault houses some rare jewellery, gems and some more space rock. It normally has security and I think no cameras so you wouldn't have been able to record anyway. My tip is avoid the dinosaur and mammal section until late afternoon when all the kids have gotten worn out and gone home. You missed out the Geology area. It shows the geological history of earth and there is a natural disaster area with earthquake simulator
I'm the opposite. I love doing things on my own. When I have people with me I feel trapped, I can't do what I want, walk where I want, change my plans...I get frustrated, I get moody...
I’m with you on that. I went to The Portrait gallery yesterday, just me, was perfect.
People are good for eating out or going out in the evening. When i travel alone i have lots of early nights. But i see more during the day of what matters. Ive done most of my travelling alone.
I tend to mix hostels and hotels because you meet people in hostels but hotels are better for solitude
The last time I went to London with female friends they took me to Primark on Oxford Street, never again
Went on holiday with the 'girlfriend' to Greece ....wanted to see the old town ....nope ...beach all day ...turning to toast ...ahhh ..a room of one's own ..!!!😮😅😮😮
The Natural History Museum in London is my favourite place on earth. Visiting as a boy it was like walking into somewhere magical and mysterious, and no matter how many times I've been I still feel a thrill of excitement and wonder as I walk into Hintze Hall. Everything about it, from the exhibits and curations to the architecture housing it all, is a treat to be enjoyed. I love it so much.
I was lucky enough to work there when I was a student. The public access bit is great, but what you might not realise is that the rest of it is one of the greatest natural history research institutions in the world. What a place!
You don't go alone! ....WE are with you! 💙
☺️💖
@@AdventuresAndNaps .with you everyday ....sometimes...ok !!!....maybe the odd weekend .. 🤐🤐😭😭
It's a beautiful museum; if you get a chance to look at the science museum round the corner, that's great too. But these museums also house some really interesting people. Erica McAllister, for example, is the curator for flies in the natural history museum, and is completely off her rocker, one of the most informative and entertaining speakers I've ever heard, a wonderful person. We are so, so lucky to have the museums we have, and the experts who run them. Thank you for sharing your journey and your experience.
I worked there for a summer in the 80's. It was the best job I ever had. On my first day, I had to go down to the basement store. My instructions were "Out of the lift, go left at the giraffes in plastic bags and underneath the half a blue whale." Sure enough, outside the lift was a stuffed family group of giraffes wrapped in plastic, then a massive 1/2 blue whale hanging from the ceiling. The other half was down a different corridor.
I would dine out on that story 😮
Did you ever find out where the other half is?
@@caw25sha The other half was hanging from the ceiling of another corridor. The non-public areas of the museum are massive.
@@timdiamond1056 I was there on vacation studentships in entomology. Paradise!
The LSD was pretty potent back in the 80's.
10:57: I'd like to mention the teacher here who, along with a colleague or colleagues, has accepted the terrifying responsibility of the health and safety of a few dozen young children on a trip through London, without the aid of a sheepdog, to broaden their education.
I once went on that school trip. Otherwise I might never have gone. I appreciate it teachers.
Hopefully they've all been tagged...
Was scrolled in London. Can confirm that a sheepdog is necessary!
Now that's what a museum should look like. Love this series.
I'm loving your solo travel series!
Thank you so much!!! That means a lot 💖
@@AdventuresAndNaps. My. Name. Shaun. Have. You. Got. A. Ring. So. I. Can. Have. Love you. Kettering
@@shaunfowell5228 Huh???
The architect of the Natural History Museum was Alfred Waterhouse (1830-1905) who was also responsible for many other buildings, including Manchester and Reading Town Halls - and Yattendon bus shelter (he was churchwarden at Yattendon Church in Berkshire).
It's a very impressive building. The modern trend for museums and galleries seems to be completely minimalist so that they don't detract from the exhibits (or maybe to save money).
This is why I appreciate the winter months. Mid week, so quiet, the perfect time to visit a museum or gallery in London.
I can still remember my first visit to the NHM with my primary school. It was an epic day, especially as a young boy, I think I was around 8 or 9 yo !
The whole day was amazing, and the excitement on the coaches was palpable... it was a very long coach trip, about 3 hours of hyper kids bouncing off the ceiling !! It took my imagination to places I'd never even imagined .... I am still a science nut, especially where space is concerned and the NHM is one of the reasons why it fascinates me 40 (ish) years later... thank you, Alanna. I loved this video. It took me back a long way to a simple time and place long ago...
I used to work across the road from the Natural History Museum, its such a beautiful building, i took my daughter when she was 5 and she loved it.
Fun fact: when I were a lad they added that glass extension to the museum and made it predominately black - to MATCH the main building. The beautiful light brown and blue terracotta of the facade was literally completely black from the pollution. It was a real shock (and a good one) when they cleaned the building and rediscovered the fabulous exterior.
Haven't been there for many years, but it was always one of my favourites. Like most of the main museums, you need a week to see everything!
fun note, there is actually a lesser known Disney live action movie based in the London Natural History musuem , One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975), and yes a dinosaur does go missing
Yes, I remember it well. The dinosaur in question is based on dippy the diplodocus which was displayed in the main entrance hall until he decided to do a trip round the country, a few years ago. He is currently in my home city of Coventry.
A spy hides a top secret microfilm on it, not saying the contents because *spoilers*
@@andybrown4284 I thought it was a rolled up tiny piece of paper.. BUT the film is brilliant.. Peter Ustinov stars and there are lots of other actor/actress 'gems'. to spot too.
It was made in the good old days when Disney made good old movies!
@@B-A-L so true
So pleased that your getting confident enough to go places on your own, it’s surprising though since you were brave enough to come to the UK & settle here, this is my favourite museum, it’s just so full of interesting stuff, looking forward to the future videos, loved the trainbow 😻
Thank you!!! 🙏🏻
My two kids (and my wife) spent a night sleeping in the NHM one time. They managed to get a spot right underneath Dippy's tail. It was some sort of experience they were offering. (For those who don't know, Dippy is a 26metre diplodocus replica. Currently on tour of UK museums).
We did that this weekend! It was called Dino Snores only we were under the Blue Whale instead. Was a really good experience going around the museum by torchlight and staying the night.
One of my favourite places in the world. When I was a kid, my dad used to take me there every summer. I was (and still am to be honest) a huge fan of dinosaurs, so this place was just magical to me. Whenever I've been back as an adult, it just feels like a warm, safe and comforting place because of the memories I have there from going as a kid. I'd give anything to relive those times.
Oh, Alana - you should have gone to the science museum! Unless they’ve changed it, they have a whole section on space! They have rockets, and capsules, they have space suits, bits and pieces used by astronauts, they even have a full size lunar module, they have another section on flight, which should at least be visited to see the cross section of a 747. You'll be shocked at how thin the skin is! They have a lot of cool stuff, but for space stuff, that’s the place to go.
I think you’d enjoy the Victoria and Albert more than the British or Natural History museum, it has a huge range of mostly British stuff, and even as someone who was born in the UK I find it very informative about all sorts of things that you might encounter in everyday life. In your early days of videos you would mention things like the designs of kitchens - or the placement of washing machines, or household plugs. Those are the sorts of things you'll see in their design section mock ups of typical houses through history, household appliances etc. It’s difficult to express how fascinating it can be, they also have vast collections of art and fashion.
Two other places you might like are Hampton Court and Kew Gardens. When I was a kid, Hampton Court was quite close - and I think free? We would get taken there far more than I felt necessary and I hated it. About ten or more years ago I was back in the UK with my daughters, and my dad insisted on taking us there - I was dreading it and worried by how bored the kids would be. - it was the highlight of the trip!
I would check that they have kept the 'new style' going. It was the crustiest and gloomiest place I ever visited as a kid, everyone whispering and tiptoeing around. When we last went they have actors and musicians kicking around, and the kitchen was in full swing, with the enormous fires going and cooks preparing food - and music in the kitchen too! The musicians really bring it to life. In the royal chambers they play quite pompous and regal stuff, in the areas where nobles would hang out it is more 'easy listening' and in the kitchen it is pretty raucous - the medieval equivalent of a boombox on a building site. I don’t think the kitchen operates every day, but they will have a schedule on line. It is the most accessible royal home around and one where you can really explore all the back room operations that went into keeping it running.
Kew is one of the very oldest royal/public gardens, Mad King George lived there and it is pretty much the home of botany. Many of the plants that we know today are named after the various directors of Kew. They have an amazing collection of plants - their greenhouses are incredible and contain plants that have come from all over the world - tags give you their history, including where and when collected and by who - a few were donated by Charles Darwin. If gardens have any interest to you, Kew is the centre of the universe, their experts travel the world advising other gardens, they work in the field with countries on how to produce sustainable food in difficult circumstances, they also maintain the millennium seed bank, one of a few institutions that stores seeds that could replace plants in case of extinction or natural disaster.
The BBC did a few series called “a year at Kew" - I expect it will be on the iplayer, it’s very watchable. Presented by Alan Titchmarch - who is an ex student from Kew, and there are some nice experts who work there - you know how the BBC excels at finding characters and making things accessible
Hey Alanna, in this video, you went to my favourite building in the UK... This museum is wonderful and worth a visit on EVERYONES list. Superb job as always 👏 👌 👍
Really enjoying this solo travel series...reminds me of school trips to London as a teen where we could just split up and go our own way as long as we were back for the Intercity 125 train back. I remember just a couple of us in Covent Garden, the Tate, The Hayward etc, but on my own in the National Gallery, V&A etc. No-one to have to make conversation with suited me just fine. Keep going you're doing great!
I always felt a bit self conscious on school trips because we had to wear our uniforms but at least we didn't have hi-viz jackets like they do now.
@@caw25sha I seem to remember we wore our own clothes on those trips, and no, thankfully no silly hi-viz!
i went there in 1979 on a school trip and loved it , and i remember all those big skeletons too , its a cracking place to spend a day out
There are,in several behind the scenes rooms,thousands of exhibits that have been waiting 200 years to be catalogued.
That alone blows my mind.
I find it fascinating that a Canadian girl who literally moved across the world without her family or friends to start a new life in the UK would be nervous about taking a daytrip! You can do it! You're so capable and you have proved you can do whatever you'd like to do. Enjoy it :)
I'm a nerd, so I love a good museum video!
Hope you like this one! ☺️
I do like the video, and I think it's great that you're trying to get out of your comfort zone through solo travel. I love seeing other people become the best versions of themselves!
My favourite was always the Science Museum just round the corner. Back in the 70s we were blown away by the idea of interactive exhibits... things that move when you pushed buttons. Of course there has been a lot of progress and thankfully these places try to keep up... with the science. Having grown up all over the UK and spending a few of those years in London I was very familiar with the public transport. So when my class of 11 year olds from Bristol came up for the day, I took my friends on an sneaky adventure, we jumped the Tube, walked from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace, Downing Street the Houses of Parliament and got back to the rest of the class at the museums just in time for the coach home. We had not been missed at all and we were invited to a local radio station to talk about our trip to the London Museums the following week. Talk about bluff... we left in hysterics. I constantly crave adventure and solo trips to this day... nothing beats a good book on a long train ride, a warm hot tub after dark, the sun on your face as you take in a magnificent view or a friendly wild animal stopping real close to have a look at you.
I recommended that too - especially since they have a lot of space stuff
As an introvert and a loner this is my ideal situation. There's certainly no need to feel embarrassed about going solo, I've been doing things on my own for years and i don't notice people around me. I do what I need to do go where I need to go. The thought of going somewhere in a group is definitely a struggle for me to cope with.
When I was a child growing up in Yorkshire, we had a few holidays in London, travelling on the Yorkshire Pullman and staying in a bed and breakfast. We always had to do the museums and art galleries (my father taught at a college of art and my mother had been a student there.) But wherever else we went, the Natural History Museum was our favourite.
I love solo travel, it's like a weird sense of accomplishment, plus there is no better way to explore a place and maybe even meet people by traversing the unknown on your own, plus you can do whatever and go wherever unimpeded by the need to plan around others. I really hope you enjoy more solo adventures. Also there is nothing cooler than someone with the ability to go it alone.
A few times I've stayed with brothers, in the Lake District and North Wales. I generally go where they go, but after a couple of days I leave. I went to Limerick on my own. It was brilliant, I could chat with the locals, I could walk slowly through the castle, I could just get in the car and drive. I frequently just grab one of the local buses just after 9.30, go somewhere grab another bus, end some where nice, then grab buses back. Couldn't really do that with someone because I can change my mind, go home, go to another place, jog trot to the bus..
@@alanmon2690 That's brilliant, I feel the same, starting off your adventure and choosing what excites you and where you want to go, it is just the best.
Superb video Alanna. You really are a pro at what you do. I used to work at the Natural History Museum as an apprentice electrician in my teens and had keys to all areas of the museum. I could access giant storage rooms located in the basement areas of the museum which was a museum in itself with thousands of stored artifacts, fossils and extinct animals that were in jars and in preservation liquids. It was dimly lit, so quiet and very eerie down there But, what was more overwhelming was the musty smells of the artifacts, stuffed animals and embalming fluids. Hopefully, this may of answered your query to the vault question.
I was a cleaner there for a few months 2018 and with no one around, its the creepiest place to be. Yet also so educational. Loved it. The place is way bigger than what the public can see. I would say there is more rooms and basements than what the public walks through.
The Natural History Museum in London might just be my favourite building that I have ever visited. Oxford also has an excellent (though smaller) museum, where you can see the actual Dodo specimens which inspired Lewis Carroll to write Alice in Wonderland and the pub where friends and fellow writers CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien (writers of The Chronicles of Nania and The Hobbit+ Lord Of The Rings respectively) used to meet up and share a pint together, PLUS parts of the Harry Potter films were also actually filmed there- well worth the visit!
I’m totally enjoying your ‘solo’ videos!! Keep em coming!
Thanks! Will do!
You could go to the Science Museum, it has Charles Babbage's "Difference Engine".
The first London museum I ever went to, and it was a solo trip in 1977. Took the train into London for it as well.
I first went there when I was 9 years old. In those, long ago days us kids would go without adult supervision. Crazy I know but that was the late 1950s.
Even at that young age I fell in love with the place and have visited countless times since. Then later as a Dad and now as a Granddad. I NEVER get bored of the place.
After St.Paul's Cathedral it is my favourite building too (followed by St. Pancras Train Station. Who could EVER get tired of London ??
Nice, love the natural history museum. Probably my favourite in London
I love in these videos when Alanna goes straight to the museum cafe and does a taste test review of the food. She should rename the series, 'Alanna's solo adventure to museum cafes'
If youd never mentioned the solo travel anxiety Id never have known, thats the best compliment I can think of, but kudos to you for facing up and admitting it.
Never been, always wanted to, what a treasure trove.
Youve done the V & A, Imp War and this, surely the British museum is next. All down to personal interest in the subject of course, but it can easily match all these and then beat them ... easily. Just the parthenon sculptures and rosetta stone are worth the trip alone. Mind blowing is not an exaggeration. The very item that taught us how to read Egyptian hieroglyphics ... wow, and its all free!
Go back to the museum in December, they set up a full size ice rink outside !
Probably not this year. I noticed the new layout doesn't leave much room for an ice skating rink
I loved going there ive been twice but not for 30 yrs which saddens me as i wasnt able to take my sons. I love museums and my ex wife wasnt so keen on them. These days my lack of mobility stops me with even going into the social anxiety issue.
All i can say is you are taking us with you in these videos and i thank you for that
4:50 Trainbow
My thought exactly.
Thanks Alana that was a great video.
So glad!
I' m 72 and have been to the NHM many times over the years. School trips, with family and friends and on business. A fanastic place to visit, very educational and entertaining.
Gideon Mantell was the man who first identified the Iguanodon fossil and realised it was of a species which no longer existed. Richard Owen was the person who was the driving force behind the Natural History museum (though by all accounts he was not a nice individual who constantly put forth other scientists work as his own - including Mantell). Famously Owen was one of the few people Charles Darwin really disliked..
This is an amazing place.
We visited the Natural History Museum with our kids when they were young. It was a wet day during the school holidays which is the very worst time to visit because it was jam packed and hot. I don’t think the heating was on, I think it was the heat of the thousands of people. But wow, what a place. Hardly any modern TV displays, all traditional displays which had the perfect balance of presentation and information. It’s a must-visit place. And the building is awesome and worth a visit in its own right.
It would be lovely to see you collaborating with Kalyn from Girl Gone London on one of these adventures: from comments that she's made, she's a fan of your channel!
🙂
I was about to leave a similar comment, so I'm glad I saw yours first.
But then the solo experience won't be true...
I thought of that too. I think they would get on. I also recommended your channel to my daughter in law, a Canadian who loves making trips out and about. I think you are brave doing these solo trips. It's something I used to do when I lived in Richmond, but now I've had family, I seem to have got out of the habit of solo trips, except shopping ones.
I also love the V&A and the Science Museums.
Lovely video !
You are such an open and honest individual which is refreshing!
Continue to have your solo experiences- I certainly have for many years.
Phil 😊
Loving the solo travel series, can't wait to see you venture a bit further than London, this small island has so much to offer!
Am an old ex-Londoner and haven't been to the NH museum in about 20 years. Last time I was there I spent as much time looking at the details in the architecture as I did the exhibits, the amount of custom details dotted around was incredible.
Was great to see the blue whale is still there, that brought back memories for me as a small boy being amazed by it.
The Blue Whale actually got taken down in 2015, they put it up again a couple of years later.
Congrats on the solo adventure! It gets easier.
I basically turn into a teacher/tour guide whenever i go to the NHM. My kids friends loved it, my kids, not so much. 😂
You can call it a trainbow I suppose. Edinburgh can be reached by train as well, though it is probably twice the price of flying for some reason,
takes about 4 hours for the fastest service but it will deliver you right into the city centre.
I used to love travelling all over by train when I lived in Reading which has one of the best rail hubs in S. England. Sadly I am past that now.
Make sure you get around and see things while you can is the moral of the tale.
These SOLO videos are a lot better than your old "cooking" ones I can say.
There's now an excellent tram which takes about 20 minutes to get from the airport to the city centre.
The Natural History museum is one of my favourite buildings.. i visited many years ago and spent more time admiring the building than looking at the exhibits.
Trust me, it gets easier the more you do stuff on your own. Am a Canadian living in Scotland
Reminding us we can never be bored . Our world is filled with so many attractions that really appreciate our interest.
The last time I went to a London Museum was in 2021, and that was the RAF museum at Hendon
The nearest station, Colindale, is closed for refurbishment at the moment if anyone is thinking of going. I assume there are alternative train plus short bus ride options.
I went to school in South Kensington from 1946 to 1952. A frequent visitor to the Natural History Museum. There was at that time a separate museum called the Geological Museum, which showed all the gem stones and 'geological' exhibits - not very interesting to a 5-11 year old. This is probably why it has now become part of the NHM.
I finally went to Scotland in 2022. Sola! Advice - book accommodation ahead, and don't go when the schools are closed.
I flew to Glasgow then bus to Fort William. The next day i hired a bike and used it sll morning around the Caledonian Canal. Neptune's staircase is wonderful, then went to Broadford on the Isle of Skye the following day. The hostel there is fine if you book your double room instead of a 8 person room. Portree is beautiful - i went to The Lump.
All this on public transport as i can't drive for health reasons .I recommend it - especially as you're half my age. Go for it - it's amazing, silent except for birds etc
I went the year after too. Fort William then Glen Coe.
You'll have a blast!
The Museum of the Home in East London is worth a visit, much smaller than the Kensington ones, but gives a wonderful history of the evolution of homes in the UK over the centuries with mock ups of complete rooms, it’s also free. Good luck with the solo tours, I totally understand your feelings of travelling solo, it’s weird not being able to chat to someone about it while your doing it, but in your case at least you’re sharing the experience afterwards!
Alanna, you weren’t on your own, we were with you 😂. We are happy to go anywhere with you. The Natural History Museum and The Science Museum are great days out, but they sure take a toll on the feet. Fun fact: My wife lost her purse the the Natural History Museum. She left it in the Cafe after we had eaten there. We realised about an hour later and, you know what, it had been handed in, intact. Amazing.
Good video Alanna!!! I love the Natural History museum,,,But also the Science and Geology museums are awesome.....I see they moved the moon rock from the Science Museum!!😊😊
Well done for challenging yourself. Thats very brave.
This museum is a great favourite of mine, and has been for 65 yrs. I don't live in the UK, so my visits are limited to when I visit my son and his boys in London. Over the years, my Vancouver grandsons and now my London ones, have been introduced to South Ken museums and they spent hours in each - plus lots of my Euros in the gift shops and cafés there! My next suggestion to you is the Science Museum, but not at weekends or during school hols. As Helen Keller said, Alanna, "Life is either a daring adventure, or it is nothing." 👩🚀
You are so brave travelling to London on your own, I cannot imagine ever being able to so that.
The best museum 😁 Very relatable video and lovely to see this place again.
As someone else said, I love travelling on my own and I’ve done a lot of it.
Re the Natural History Museum, a few years ago my seven year old son and I slept in the museum in sleeping bags on the floor next to Guy the gorilla. It was an organised event. They even put on a nighttime treasure hunt in the dinosaur gallery. It’s a superb museum.
You’ve visited three London museums that my wife and I have thoroughly enjoyed during our visits to the city (from the US). We were there last year for our fourth visit; London is definitely our favorite city outside the US…and maybe even favorite of *any* city.
One of my very favourite museums. Used to force the kids to go around with us before they were allowed in the Science museum next door.
Only been once and it was so long ago that 'Dippy' the Diplodocus skeleton cast was still in the main hall and it was before it was realised the tail was probably held out horizontal and the exhibit instead had the tail drooping down and dragging along the floor.
This solo travel series was a great idea! Looking forward to the next installment...🇬🇧
More to come!
Fantastic show, you do a great job. And I thank you for your effort, it must be hard but you are winning 😄🙃
The Vault is dimly lit and filled with glass cabinets containing small precious objects, mostly gems/diamonds beautifully lit in their cabinets.
Did you not try the earthquake simulator?! It's a mockup of a Japanese grocery store at a time when there was a big earthquake, the whole floor shakes and there are monitors and commentary!
That earthquake sim is very good!
It is fun to see you are going somewhere. I have actually been to! I stayed in a what was a Holiday Inn in Kensington near Cromwell Road, and it was a great location. I bought a beautiful necklace of gray beads that are magnetic for a souvenir. I can not remember the name of the stones. The museum was not that busy the day I visited but I went late in the day. I used to be very self-conscious eating alone but got over it.
I don’t know if they’re still doing them, but NHM used to do evening openings on certain Fridays. It was aimed more at adults who are working during the day. In the entrance hall, they would setup areas in the alcoves where you could talk to staff about their areas of expertise. Well worth doing if you get the opportunity.
Abbie Barnes does mainly solo walks/hikes around the UK with the emphasis on fresh air an exercise boosting mental health. Cool hats too!
The science museum is super fun BTW. Lots of interactive things that are for kids, but go on a school day you can go on all the kids interactive stuff with less weird looks.
Alanna, another great video. Can I suggest that before you do Scotland, perhaps look at Bath, Nottingham or Leicester, they can act as a stepping stone to your goal of Scotland.
I absolutely love your series on your solo trips i think it's great and also very inspiring.thank you much appreciated! Positivity peace and love ♥️
So nice to see you enjoy this place! I was down in London back in September, where we visited the NHM in the morning and V&A in the afternoon. It's great to see you do both and get a new perspective on it all!
Sometimes people are happy share their table with a stranger and it doesn't hurt to ask.
I’m completely opposite to you Alanna. I love solo travel. I do it regularly. Absolutely love it.
Btw when is next taste test. Come on Alanna I rely on you to tell me what is worth it and what is not. Don’t want to waste my money on rubbish stuff. I rely on you to do it for me😊❤
I love love love visiting galleries and museums and old Tudor house museums castles etc especially as almost all are free and you can just take your time., no rush.
This video made me feel so relaxed!
Ps if you like space, you have to watch solar system with professor Brian cox on bbc2. It is an incredible programme beautifully shot. You would love it!
Last time I went, the vault had loads of coloured diamonds and other precious gems, I'd also recommend signing up for one of the behind-the-scenes tours. I got to see the giant squid in the basement
I travelled to and across Canada on my own last year ( I have been a solo traveller for some time) but have to say I loved my time there and would recommend solo travel to anyone!
This was lovely. The London Natural History Museum is perhaps my favourite building in the world, though it is often overcrowded. There is a great deal I could tell you about the architecture. I see the museum as an important part of the story of palaeontology and it's history, and there have been quite a number of dramas involved with the building (literally, or otherwise) The architecture is Neo-Gothic and Romanesque, which is deliberately intended to evoke Cathedrals of the same styles. There is a lot of Blue and Yellow/cream terracotta made to masterful standards, and the woodwork is incredibly beautiful as well. There is High Victorian Ironwork which runs throughout the structure of the ceiling, holding up those beautiful paintings (which would have been done on ground level of course)
The first Superintendent of the museum, when it was considered a mere extension of the British Museum, was Sir Richard Owen. He was an interesting, important yet rightly controversial figure. Some call him the 'Grandfather of British Palaeontology', although that could be said of several other individuals from his era, including (but not limited to) Reverend William Buckland and Dr Gideon Mantell (the latter of which, Owen provably plagiarised work - on Iguanodon - from, later in life) Owen was a shining star of Comparative Anatomy, Zoology and Surgical bioscience, in the early 19th century.
He was a naturalist and anatomist with immense talent, though his personality and attitude towards others was lofty. Think of him as a sort of Saruman figure rather than a Gandalf, if that makes sense to you; as in, he was a brilliant individual, though he knew it _too well_ and it went to his head (perhaps it is a bit harsh on Owen to compare him to Saruman, though we have plenty of evidence of what he got up to; e.g. blaming colleagues for a variety of things such as acquiring funding for an Archaeopteryx Specimen from Bavaria which he just wanted to try and prove wasn't a valid evolutionary transition fossil, passing the blame to a colleague for the cost of the specimen; also taking credit for work Dr Mantell and his wife had done on Iguanodon specimens from Surrey, Southern England) To put it plain, he was a 'bit of a character', but also a bit of a piece of work himself.
Owen, for all his behavioural flaws, was still a phenomenal scientist in his heyday, teaching Queen Victoria's grandchildren Biology and Natural History lessons. He was a remarkably famous scientist, and knower of things so to speak, whom the general public in London, would have seen as a remarkable font of wisdom. His ego was quite absurd, though it was highly typical of the era. He was the great showman and classic Victorian learned gentleman (whom actually could be quite ungentlemanly on the sly) One of his great friends was Charles Darwin. They fell out, eventually, due to Darwin's publication of _On the Origin of Species By Natural Selection_ (Owen, in spite of being a prolific naturalist, was ironically a _Creationist_ as well, and a God-fearing Christian in general) The processes of evolution and extinction, were practically heretical to men like him.
Although it may sound strange to people now in the 21st century, the very notion of extinction in nature, without necessarily having a divine cause, was highly controversial (both in the 19th century, and in the 18th century prior) Work by individuals like James Hutton (Scottish Geologist) helping to develop the notion of Deep Time over vast spans of time. William Buckland, at Oxford (he whom described the first ever scientifically named Dinosaur, _Megalosaurus bucklandii_ (the specific/species name, modestly after himself; that's how things often were and rolled back then; still sometimes happens today; ffs there is an ancient Amphibian that got named, 'Fedexia' because it was found on their land so got called that in a rather bizarre manner, but I digress), was outright a clerical figure at the university.
Dean and Reverend William Buckland, by Anglican Church title. He was not questioning the bible either. Owen outright fell into a form of enraged indignation over Darwin's most famous and paradigm shifting work, resorting to rather petty behaviour. He slandered and insulted his former friend, via aliases, in newspaper columns (except, any fool, let alone Darwin, could hear Owen behind the thin veil of his alias, due to how subject-specific and articulately flowery his language was) In better times, Darwin had brought fossils back from Peru, as well as Patagonia (Chile), and Owen would analyse and describe them.
One of these, was a species of Giant South American Ground Sloth, which Owen named _Mylodon darwinii_ after his then friend, Charles Darwin. Owen named that one in 1840, based on fossils Darwin had brought back from his famous participation in the Voyage of the Beagle (HMS _Beagle_ a scientific survey ship) When the ship dropped Darwin off in South America to go have fun for a few weeks finding fossils and geological specimens, they told him to be ready for being picked up at a certain time (the surveys being conducted were of a quasi-military nature, with the majority of it's purpose, being hydrographic and meteorological in nature, rather than specifically about Natural History or Geology; nevertheless, the opportunity for lots of different scientists to go run riot in the once in a lifetime scientific tour of that part of the world, on both sides of South America, meant that many people were jostling for a place on HMS _Beagle_ (and Darwin managed to land a spot there; it helped that he was landed gentry from the upper-classes, as well; much like Owen, whose own connections were considerable, at least before he fell out of favour in his later life)
What angered Owen so much about what Darwin had decided to do, a couple of decades later, was that much of that work was based on findings Darwin had gleaned from his time on the biodiverse wonderland of the Galapagos Islands. Ideas began to spark and fire in his mind, whilst surveying the wildlife and geology (Darwin was also a trained geologist, due to his days at Cambridge University; not the only university he went to, either) He was a very talented man. The Gandalf to Owen's Saruman, if you'll pardon the deliberately dramatic analogue. Darwin's work on evolutionary principles, he kept quiet for two decades, because of a variety of reasons.
[part 1/2; shorter part 2/2 in reply to myself below]
[part 2/2] Anyway, back to the London Natural History Museum. And just what exactly, Sir Richard Owen's faith had to do with informing the architectural layout. As soon as Darwin published his most famous text, Owen broke ties with him, denounced him and went full-on anti-Evolutionist, launching a tirade of letters against Darwin, and even being sly enough (in what we'd now see as a sort of really 'b*tchy' thing to do) going behind Darwin's back and telling on him effectively, to their old geology professor. Soon enough, this Professor Adam Sedgwick (whom has a museum named after him, in Cambridge), wrote scathing letters of his own, back to Charles Darwin, decrying his work as appalling and reprehensible. He was alienated against Charles Darwin, his former student, because of Owen (you see what I mean? Owen is a bit of a piece of...)
The layout of the museum was originally decided on the wings of the building either side of the dual towers at the centre; the symbolism being, that everything LIVING (EXTANT) species specimen was put in one wing of the building, and everything EXTINCT was in the other. This was not out of some neat organisation on Owen's part; it was him making a deliberate and incredibly petty point, to Evolutionists; God maketh and God destroyeth. Owen practically pestered the architects to make this so. Many of the statues and terracotta carvings attest to this design philosophy. It's meant to delineate living vs extinct, in an obscurely passive aggressive way on the part of Owen. That's how much he tried to control things.
There was no connection between the living and extinct without God's will, according to Owen. No force of nature alone, could end a creation of God, without his say. Later in his life, once he was roundly turned on for his misbehaviour, and even kicked off the Royal Society for his proven acts of plagiarism against the by then, long deceased Dr Gideon Mantell, Owen's attitude softened, though he still got himself bogged down in needless spats over the reconstructions of Iguanodon he had made in the 1840's and 1850's. Newer finds in Belgium, studied by Belgian Palaeontologist Louis Dollo, at the famous Dinosaur Mine (where _many_ Iguanodon were found, near Bernissart), proved his reconstructions badly wrong. Owen eventually accepted the idea of evolution, though still basically said, 'God did it' (which may be the case from a certain point of view, though Owen had begun by strongly disparaging it until he was proven wrong, repeatedly)
Owen's shenanigans regarding Archaeopteryx (key evidence for evolution) are a tale unto themselves, with his strive to discredit transition fossils in the 1860's and 1870's achieving nothing in the end. Owen had coined the term DINOSAURIA in 1841 and published it widely in 1842. He studied the Giant Moa of New Zealand and named many other species from around the world. He was brilliant in his day. But he was also a devout Christian whom despised what Darwin had 'done' in 1860 and spent a long time pestering him via newspaper columns and letters to other people.
Darwin was a prolific letter writer, corresponding with many scientists around the world (including Alfred Russell Wallace; whom _independently_ came up with an outline for a theory of evolution, in part, whilst working in Borneo; he wasn't as wealthy as Darwin and had to do so, to make a living, selling particularly colourful or shiny insect specimens to entomologists and rich collectors in general, back in London) As Owen's star diminished, Darwin's grew. In 2009, the statue of Sir Richard Owen, which had presided over the grand atrium of the LNHM for over a century, was moved. It was the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth back in 1809. Owen would have been _absolutely seething_ to see that, carted off to a darker corner of the galleries, where he still stands 15 years later. An outrage, for sure, he would likely say.
It was long overdue in the opinions of many, knowing what Owen represented VS what Darwin represented. However, like him or not, Owen was a titan of the science. It's popular to disrespect him (and I'm sure he'd irritate me a lot if I were listening to him in life, talking smack about Darwin etc) Still, as difficult as it can be to extend an olive branch to his memory, I think that he still deserves respect (for the good work he did, not the bad) He is forever a titan of the subject. A polymath and scholar; yet someone I would not like as a person, in even the slightest way. His coining of Dinosauria alone goes a long way for making a defence of him, but the truth is, he still a very complex figure and had his day.
P.S. - Iguanodon is pronounced, 'Ig-wah-no-don'. It means, 'Iguana Tooth'. Don like Den in Dentistry. Iguano, because Iguanas. The old naturalists were rather literal about naming things. Sometimes, that can be a good thing. Also, you're probably the cutest human personage in this world. Introvert knows introvert, m'kay. Be confident in yourself because you're a great person. Charming humility and politeness. It's too rare a thing to see any more. Been a long time since I last had the chance to visit the museum, but I used to visit at least once a year.
The teeth of Iguanodon reminded Gideon Mantell of leaf-cutting Green Iguana teeth (the resemblance isn't especially strong, though it is perceptible) The early naming conventions of these animals which later became grouped within Dinosauria, are highly-indicative of the straightforward way in which they saw them; like giant lizards. Iguanodon; Iguana Tooth. Megalosaurus; Great/Big Lizard. It's that simple. It is convenient in terms of the history of the subject of Dinosaur Palaeontology, because it sort of cutely and honestly demonstrated how directly simple these observations were in the 19th century. Talented and insightful, yes, though directly comparing what they had experience of in their world, to what was known back then. We take it for granted now that there are the better part of 2,000 Dinosaur species quibbled over. In 1825, we had Megalosaurus (1824) and Iguanodon (1825) That was it (Dinosaurs had been found around the world, earlier; e.g. Protoceratops aka the likely origin of the Gryphon/Griffin mythological creature) However, it was British Palaeontology which grouped them into a categorised dynasty (Owen's doing) and things like Protoceratops wouldn't receive their names until much later.
The long, giant lizards of the early reconstructions gave way to the rhinoceriform, rotund, hulking creatures that Owen proposed. These depictions gave way to the Kangaroo like postures of the 1880's and Dollo's knowledge. Catch being, to get them to stand, Dollo _broke their tail bones_ which kind of implies that wasn't the way, but they just went with it; and they'd proven the thumb spike, disproving the nasal horn that used to be considered the correct reconstruction.
Modified and improved versions of that endured into the 1920's with palaeoart reconstructions like those by Charles R Knight. By the 1960's, more dynamic reconstructions started to emerge, with many Iguanodontids and other Ornithopods starting to be understood better. By the 1980's we have John Sibbick's Iguanodon reconstructions, and by the 1990's the equine, gracile quadrupel/optionally bipedal reconstructions for Iguanodon become more common. The Iguanodon in 1999's Walking With Dinosaurs, are a classic example of how far these reconstructions of Iguanodon had come (and since 1999, further changes have been squabbled over) By the 2010's, some reconstructions looked much bulkier (ironically, considering Owen's old reconstructions) and by the 2020's it's even more common to see strange integumentary structures (for simplicity, let's just say skin folds and quills etc) Wattles and the like. Things that may not fossilise. It's a complex matter.
Anyway, you can always be a palaeontologist. I can see you'd make a great palaeontologist.
🦕🦕🦕🤠🦖🦖🦖
I just came back from 4 days by myself in the Lake District. Stayed at a Premier Inn, which is a known quantity and kind of anonymous - so I could just come & go whenever I wanted. Loved it. Hope to see you doing more solo trips in the future Alanna - you're inspiring people to get out there and try stuff for themselves!
Going places on my own is a joy. No worry about where the other person is. No such thing as getting lost. No waiting. No pressure to move on when you really want to study something.
Loved it.
Spent many happy hours exploring the Natural History Museum and the other Kensington museums. 😃
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@AdventuresAndNaps I hope you did too. 🙂
There is a lot of interesting things to see throughout all of the Kensington museums.
Well done. When visiting a museum, feel free to bring your own food. Cheaper! I would recommend the British Museum. Don't miss the Assyrian stuff (on left as your enter the main site) or the Egyptian stuff on top floor - but Sutton Hoo and other artefacts are also wonderful. A whole day can be spent and you would only see part of it. It will be busy so get there as ear;ly as possible and ideally not at the weekend. Best done outside of tourist season. Find out about how important the Rosetta stone is beforehand. The other recommendation is Hampton Court Palace. So much history - the building is partly Henry VIII tudor but also Georgian and everything in-between. It is a brilliant slice through history in one visit with extensive grounds as well. But so much else as well - Ightham Mote and Knole are both near Sevenoaks are just two examples with great grounds - plus more reasonable costs for cream teas etc.
I fell in love with this building. The visit was even better because at the time there was an excellent stage play about Charles Darwin.
I was lucky enough to live about ten minutes from the Natural History Museum. That part of London is a wonderful area to visit and live. Each time you visit the museums you see something different. Each visit is a new experience.
The Gem Vault is very cool. It's full of precious stones and minerals. Huge gold nuggets, every colour of diamond. But it's quite easy to find, and quite small, so easy to pop in when visiting other Kensington museums.
Great video! Some of my favorite solo activies are: browsing at bookstores, thrift store shopping, swimming at the beach and solo hiking.
I took my son to the Science Museum last year, then next door to the Natural History Museum. Neither of us had ever been to either before, and I was so looking forward to seeing the dinosaurs. Unfortunately, the Natural History Museum was absolutely rammed and really hot. I didn't feel safe on my crutches, and we couldn't get close enough to anything to see it properly, so we didn't stay more than 10 minutes before heading to the gift shop and then out. Had the Science Museum not been so good, the day would have been a disappointment.
Love these little solo trips.
Great video, one of the finest buildings in London. Next up should be the science museum, which is next door. The most fun museum ever. When I was a kid it was my favourite place in the whole world.
Alana that was a lovely record of your solo trip. When you go back to Kensington, please take some time to look at the outside of the building. It is magnificent, and has stone carvings depicting wonders from the natural world. See how many different creatures you can spot!
My ancestor was actually there having a tour of the building when it was being constructed, by the architect Alfred Waterhouse back in the Victorian period.
Enjoyed the tour! Love old architecture. That building is amazing. You should do castles and palaces sometime. I'd watch them all.
Thank you so much! 🙏🏻
There is also a side entrance which is usually queue free. There were twice as many people when I went in July. It was like a sauna inside at that time. The vault houses some rare jewellery, gems and some more space rock. It normally has security and I think no cameras so you wouldn't have been able to record anyway. My tip is avoid the dinosaur and mammal section until late afternoon when all the kids have gotten worn out and gone home. You missed out the Geology area. It shows the geological history of earth and there is a natural disaster area with earthquake simulator