This London museum turns into a club once a month.

Whether you're a museum enthusiast or the kind of person who gets dragged into one, chances are that at some point in your life you've wondered what it would be like to spend the night. Perhaps you were inspired by the film Night at the Museum, hoping to see the dinosaurs move after hours. Today is your lucky day if you want to experience the magic of the museum by night, because once a month the Natural History Museum hosts a big silent disco in the iconic Hintze Hall, right under the impressive 25-metre long blue whale skeleton. You won't see the collections come to life, but you will see the place come alive. Get ready to dance to the rhythm of the music in this unique setting, without disturbing the various collections as they’ll sleep through the night.

Natural History museum

- © Jacinto Marabel Romo / Shutterstock

A Silent disco like no other

There’s no nightclub in the world quite like Hintze Hall. With its cathedral-like ceilings, grand marble columns, and centuries of history, it offers an extraordinary setting for a night out. And once the natural lights dim, the hall fills with blue, red and green lights, partiers and silence. Indeed, if you're a stranger to the silent disco concept, let us tell you what you can expect.

Here's how it works: instead of loudspeakers, participants wear wireless headphones. You might wonder what’s the point of this system! This way, everyone can choose the type of music they want to listen to, with the flick of a button, to dance to the mix of their choice. Thus, with three DJs playing simultaneously at the top of the Hall stairs and battling it out on different wireless channels, you can choose your mood for the night and change to your heart's content. Whether you're a fan of the latest pop music, indie classics or nostalgic throwbacks, there's a playlist for everyone.

Best of all, you won't have to compromise with your friends, because while one of you dances to pop hits, the other can sing along to Disney classics, all while standing side by side and sharing the same dance floor. The fun thing is that each DJ is differentiated by a colour: blue, red or green, which lights up their mixer. What's more, when you listen to a certain DJ, your headphones light up in the DJ's colour, so you know what most people are listening to.

If, at any point during the party, you fancy some silence and feel like having a quiet chat, it's very simple: just take off your headphones! Once you've taken them off, the room is completely silent, except for the people singing along to their favourite tune or occasional chatter from the dancers!

What's more, as soon as you get thirsty, don't hesitate to look for some drinks. With a bar on either side of the room, you can easily quench your thirst throughout the evening with wine, beer and soft drinks that you can pay for by card. You can also have a drink at the cocktail station if that suits you better. Take this opportunity to recharge your batteries so that you can dance the night away. It's the perfect opportunity to discover the magic of Hintze Hall in a whole new way, to your own beat.

Practical information

  • Usually taking place on a friday night, the Museum of Natural History’s silent disco is the place to be! But be warned, this unique experience can be hard to come by as tickets sell out fast! So if you're ready for a unique and electrifying evening, make sure you book your tickets a few months in advance.
  • Although museums generally invite everyone to come to learn and have fun, it's a different story here! Don't forget that this is a party and only people over the age of 18 are welcome, so don't forget to bring your ID.
  • For the occasion, a free cloakroom is available on site where you can leave your coats and bags.
  • The silent disco will run from 10pm to 1am, with the last entries at 11.30pm.
by Clara Uveteau
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