Natural History Museum at Tring
The Natural History Museum at Tring is one of Hertfordshire’s most distinctive museums, a Victorian treasure house created by Lionel Walter Rothschild, whose passion for zoology produced one of the world’s largest private natural history collections. The building itself, designed to resemble a medieval hall, sets the tone for a visit filled with curiosity, eccentricity, and scientific discovery. Inside, the galleries are packed with more than 4,000 mounted animals, arranged much as Rothschild displayed them over a century ago. One of the most striking sights is the famous giant tortoise carriage, a whimsical reminder of Rothschild’s habit of riding his pet tortoises around the estate. Equally memorable is the collection of extinct and endangered species, including quaggas, thylacines, and rare birds that offer a poignant glimpse into lost biodiversity. The bird galleries are a highlight, showcasing hundreds of species from across the globe, many collected during Rothschild’s expeditions. Detailed labels and historic cases preserve the atmosphere of early zoological study. Visitors can also explore displays on insects, mammals, and taxidermy techniques, revealing how naturalists documented the world before modern photography.
Tring United Kingdom
The Natural History Museum at Tring is in the market town of Tring in west Hertfordshire, on the edge of the Chilterns. You will find it at The Walter Rothschild Building, Akeman Street, Tring HP23 6AP. It was built in 1889 to house the private collection of Lionel Walter Rothschild and is now part of the Natural History Museum London, famous for its huge collection of stuffed animals, birds and insects. In Tring itself you have Tring Local History Museum on Brook Street, which tells the story of the town and the Rothschild family, plus the High Street with its cafes and old coaching inns. Right behind the museum is Tring Park, a beautiful woodland park with walks, chalk downland and views over the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Very close by you have Berkhamsted Castle, a big Norman motte and bailey ruin managed by English Heritage at White Hill, and Ashridge Estate with the Bridgewater Monument, huge beech woods and deer park run by the National Trust. If you like stately homes, you have Waddesdon Manor, the Rothschilds' French-style chateau, about 20 minutes away, plus Mentmore Towers and Chequers nearby. For family days, Whipsnade Zoo and Dunstable Downs are an easy drive.
Museum