Coral Reefs: Secret Cities of the Sea, Natural History Museum

A feast for the eyes and a surprise lesson in economics and ecology, the coral reef exhibition at the Natural History Museum will be more than just a bit special – and we bet you never thought you’d be able to see a coral reef in London.

What is so special about coral reef?

Famous for their spectacular beauty, kaleidoscopic colours and delicate fans, fronds and other forms, coral reefs attract thousands of tourists per year. But as this exhibition in London shows, the reefs are more than just good-looking. The food they provide, combined with tourism and coastal protection, has been valued at around £200 billion per year. These diverse ecosystems might only make up 0.1% of Earth’s surface, but they are home to almost a quarter of all living species in the sea.

Coral Reef in the future

Today, many of the world’s reefs are under threat and a quarter are already damaged beyond repair – a consequence of pollution, changes in sea temperature and rising CO₂ levels. How long will it be before they disappear altogether? As well as showing how vital the coral reefs are, this exhibition at the Natural History Museum shows how human activity is putting the reefs at risk.

Natural History Museum exhibition 2015

A virtual reef dive, underwater photography and an aquarium displaying live sea coral and fish allow you to experience these colourful underwater rainforests. Over 200 specimens from the Natural History Museum collection – some gathered by Charles Darwin himself – introduce you to sea slugs, clown fish (think Finding Nemo), venomous sea monsters and the miniscule jellyfish-like creatures that cluster together to form coral.

Visually stunning, this exhibition is also a firm reminder that if we keep going as we are, these natural wonders may not be with us for much longer.

Suitable for children of all ages