Leon Kong Chian Natural History Museum: Unravel The Mysteries Of Nature And Science

The entrance area of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum is a part of the Kent Ridge campus of the National University of Singapore. This museum is named after a prominent businessman and active philanthropist of Malayalam and Singapore between 1930 and 1960. This natural history museum was opened officially to the public in 2015. The idea of this museum is to build a natural history collection of the Southeast Asian biodiversity where the idea was given by Sir Stamford Raffles from the National Museum. It is a very interesting place to visit and explore the interesting collections to gain knowledge about biodiversity.

Quick Facts About Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Location: National University of Singapore, Singapore
Opening Date: April 18, 2015
Dimensions: 8,500 square meters
Timings: 10 AM to 6 PM, closed on Mondays
Architect: Mok Wei Wei

Location

The interior plantations of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Photo: Jacklee / Wikimedia Commons

Lee Kong Chian natural history Museum is located in the National University of Singapore, a leading place for biodiversity and research in Asia, which is a part of the Kent Ridge campus. This university is on Clementi Road. It is located at the 2 Conservatory Drive of the National University of Singapore, which is a seven-story building around 8,500 square metres with 16 thematic zones.

How To Reach Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

View of the Kent Ridge metro station, making the museum easily accessible

Photo: ZKang123 / Wikimedia Commons

By Air: The Singapore Changi Airport is located 31 km away from the museum, where there are many local transports available.

By Rail: The nearest metro station to reach the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum is the Kent Ridge metro station, which is a 26-minutes walk away.

By Road: The nearest bus stop to reach the museum is the Kent Ridge Cres-Nus Raffles Hall stop, which is just a 2-minutes walk away.

Things To Do In Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Here are a few things to do in the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum to enjoy the experience of visiting the place to the fullest.

1. Explore The Dinosaur Zone

An amazing view of the Dinosaur Zone in Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Photo: Jacklee / Wikipedia

Exploring the dinosaur zone is one of the best things to do in the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum. They are a variety of species of dinosaurs with their skeletons being displayed and each of them is nearly 20 m long. Some of the original bones of the dinosaurs are pieced together with cash to replicas and displayed. The visitors can also feel the bones of the real dinosaur, which is really knowledgeable and an interesting experience for all age groups.

Timings: 10 AM – 6 PM, closed on Mondays

2. Take A Tour Around The Biodiversity Gallery

Various collections of species at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Photo: Jacklee/ Wikimedia Commons

The biodiversity gallery is a really captivating place, especially for children and those who are into the science of biodiversity. The entire floor of this gallery has 15 zones that showcase different life forms in the earth’s history regarding their origin and formation. There are different zones of plants, fungi, fish, reptiles, birds and many more. In some of the zones, visitors can also touch the species for a realistic experience.

Timings: 10 AM – 6 PM, closed on Mondays

3. Visit The Heritage Gallery

A display about the various life forms in the heritage gallery

Photo: Jacklee/ Wikimedia Commons

The Heritage gallery is styled like an old-school museum with various specimens being displayed on dark wooden cabinets. There are various collections from the war years after 1942. There are also collections by Sir Stamford Raffles, who also was the reason for the idea of having the Natural History Museum in Singapore. The visitors can get a chance to feel the different types of rocks that have been found on the land of Singapore.

Timings: 10 AM – 6 PM, closed on Mondays

Places To Visit In And Around Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Here are a few places to visit in and around the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum to explore the surroundings and to enjoy the trip.

1. Gardens By The Bay

An amazing view of the gardens located near the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / Wikimedia Commons

Gardens by the Bay is a famous horticulture attraction located in Singapore that is known for its diverse range of themed gardens and amazing structures. The major attraction is the supertree grove with towers that also provide shade to the solar panels. The flower dome is the world’s largest greenhouse, with many plants showcased from Mediterranean climates. This place is a collection of more than 1.5 million plants from around the world, which is the stunning place of vibrant flowers and lush greenery.

Location: 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953
Timings: 5 AM – 2 AM

2. Singapore Botanic Gardens

Scenic view of the Singapore  botanic gardens

Photo: Basile Morin / Wikimedia Commons

The Singapore Botanic Gardens, located in the heart of the city, is a 166-year-old tropical garden that has a collection of nearly 3000 species of tropical and subtropical plants. This botanic garden is also recognised by the UNESCO World Heritage site. This garden has three zones, where each of them represents different species and attractions. There is also a separate orchid garden, a ginger garden, a fragrant garden, and many different thematic gardens for the visitors to explore and learn about nature.

Location: 1 Cluny Rd, Singapore 259569
Timings: 5 AM – 12 AM

3. Singapore Flyer

A stunning view of the flyer near the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Photo: Dikaiosp / Wikimedia Commons

The Singapore Flyer is Asia’s largest observation wheel at a height of 165 m, offering a breathtaking 360-degree view of the Lion City. It offers a beautiful view of the Singapore River and Merlion Park. The Singapore Flyer is a 28-bus-sized air conditioner capsule that is designed to carry 28 passengers for a 30-minute thrilling ride. This place also has the world’s first full butler sky dining experience, which also has the world’s first 6D motion ride.

Location: 30 Raffles Ave, Singapore 039803
Timings: 10 AM – 10 PM

4. Singapore Zoo

The entrance area of the zoo near offering an ideal escape for animal lovers

Photo: Mailer diablo / Wikimedia Commons

The Singapore Zoo, which is one of the best zoos in the world, was opened in 1973 and is spread across an area of 69 acres in the densely forested area. There are more than 300 species of birds, mammals and reptiles that are set up to be roaming free, leaving it a safe and suitable environment. There are some rare species of birds, animals and reptiles, like the golden monkey, white tigers and many more with various interesting shows organised in the zoo.

Location: 80 Mandai Lake Rd, Singapore 729826
Timings: 8:30 AM – 6 PM

5. National Museum Of Singapore

An amazing view of the National Museum of Singapore

Photo: Marcin Konsek / Wikimedia Commons

The National Museum of Singapore is the oldest museum in the country, established in 1887, that is known for its cultural and architectural landmarks. This museum is a blend of history and showcases the rich heritage of the culture of Singapore with a diverse range of exhibits like film, photography, art, archaeological findings, paintings and various other things which also includes various events like workshops and performances throughout the year.

Location: 93 Stamford Rd, Singapore 178897
Timings: 10 AM – 6:30 PM

Where To Stay

Interiors of a hotel near the museum offering a comfortable stay

Photo: Vojtech Bruzek / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only

There are many hotels that are available near the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum that provide all the necessary facilities to the visitors like dining options, the swimming pool, comfortable beds, clean surroundings, room service, AC, beach side view, parking area and many more. There are many hotels also available at affordable prices for the visitors. Some of the most popular and highly rated hotels are Siloso Beach Resort, Shipping Container Hotel, K2 Guesthouse, The Quay Hotel West Coast, Park Avenue Rochester and many more.

Where To Eat

Dining with a seaside view at one of the restaurants near the museum

Photo: Marcwong82/ Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

There are many places available to eat near the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum that provide several types of cuisines with neat and hygienic surroundings for the visitors, with especially popular seafood items. There are many cafes, food courts, streetside food stalls, beach view dining, casual dining and various other options for the visitors. Some of these famous restaurants that provide amazing food experiences with a variety of cuisines are Nobu – the Four Seasons Hotel, One Ninety Restaurant, Jiang Nan Chun, Ruth’s Chris Steak House and many more.

Best Time To Visit

Display of various plantations at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Photo: Jacklee / Wikimedia Commons

The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum is open from 10 AM to 6 PM every day and closed on Mondays. It is advised to visit this museum during the weekdays to avoid crowds. The best time to visit this museum is between the months of February to August, which is the dry month with less rain and pleasant temperatures.

Other Factors To Consider

Entrance gate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Photo: Moheen Reeyad / Wikimedia Commons

Average Cost Of The Trip

The entry fee for visiting the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum is $17 for adults and $9 for children and students.

Tips For Travellers

  • Attend the free guided tours on weekends with prior registration.
  • Do not use flash while clicking pictures.
  • Plan to take guided tours for in-depth knowledge.
  • Explore the different zones in the museum.

The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, which is known to be one of the most famous places in Singapore with its main idea of showcasing the collections of biodiversity. With various zones of exhibitions and galleries in the museum, it is a really interesting place to explore and gain knowledge about the diversity of life on earth. To know more about this museum plan your visit with TripXL!

Cover Photo: Moheen Reeyad / Wikimedia Commons

Frequently Asked Questions

Some famous tourist attractions to visit near Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum are Singapore Zoo, botanical gardens, Singapore flyer and many more.
The different zones to explore in Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum are the dinosaur zone Heritage zone biodiversity zone mammal zone and many more.
The best time to visit Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum is between the months of February to August with pleasant temperatures ideal for outdoor activities.
There are very limited dining options in the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum but there are various other food outlets available near the Museum for the visitors.
The nearest metro station to reach Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum is the Kent Ridge station in the Southwest.

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