Hidden Gem: The Weird & Wonderful World of Zoology

Discover a fascinating collection of preserved creatures at UCL's Grant Museum of Zoology

Location	Industry	Trend Watch
London	Art	Little Known Fact

When I was an fashion student in London, we were always told to look for inspiration in unconventional places. We were encouraged not to look towards other fashion designers or brands for ideas, but rather to embrace other disciplines that felt foreign or new. The luxury of living in London is the absolute abundance of art and culture that surrounds the city, from world-famous art museums to little known hole-in-the-wall bookstores. My favourite sources of inspiration were strange and wonderful museums and collections that had surreal origins, from war memorabilia to Victorian medical instruments. 

The purpose of this series is to introduce these little known museum gems from around the world to an audience who will hopefully find it just as fascinating as me. Our first stop: UCL's Grant Museum of Zoology in London. 

Established in 1827 by Robert Edmond Grant as a teaching resource for University of London (now UCL), this extensive collection of land and sea creatures is a treat for anyone with a curious mind. 

The museum boasts around 68,000 zoological specimen, where you'll find everything from marine invertebrates in glass jars to bisected monkey heads. Housed in richly coloured oak cabinets, the shelves of pickled creatures and skeletal remains stimulates a twisted sense of curiosity in the regular passerby. 

The Micrarium is another little discovery within the museum - microscopic slides each arranged beautifully against a warm backlit wall. Visit the Grant Museum to get a taste of what early Victorian zoology was like. 

Grant Museum of Zoology (UCL)
Rockefeller Building, University College London
21 University Street,
London WC1E 6DE

Mondays - Saturdays
1-5pm
Free Admission

Photo Credits: Grant Museum of Zoology, UCL / Matt Clayton