20 March 2026
The University of Reading has congratulated the Natural History Museum after more than 7.1 million people visited the Museum in 2025, a new record for any UK museum or gallery.
The Museum is planning to continue the positive growth by opening a new or revitalised gallery every year until its 150th anniversary in 2031, an ambition supported with the establishment of a new science and storage facility at the University of Reading's Thames Valley Science Park in Shinfield.
The new state-of-the-art collections, research and digitisation centre will house purpose-built storage for 28 million specimens, which is around a third of the museum's collection. By relocating these items, two previously closed galleries at South Kensington, shut in 1948 and 2004, will be reopened to the public, helping the museum to increase exhibition space for visitors further in the years ahead.
Professor Robert Van de Noort, University of Reading Vice-Chancellor, said: "Congratulations to the Natural History Museum on this extraordinary milestone. This is testament to the power of science and culture to inspire the public.
"We are proud that the growing partnership between our two institutions, and the new collections centre taking shape at Thames Valley Science Park, is helping to create a once-in-a-generation step change that will help inspire millions more people in the years ahead."
The move to Shinfield will be the largest transfer of natural history specimens anywhere in the world, backed by £201 million of government investment. Reading's expertise studying environmental sustinability, climate science, food and biodiversity mirrors the museum's own scientific priorities, with the partnership helping to generate new opportunities for research, learning and engagement.
The new facility is expected to be complete in 2027, with full operations beginning by 2031.
We are in the process of finalising our postgraduate taught courses for 2027/28 entry. In the meantime, you can view our 2026/27 courses.
