Linnean Society Treasures Tours

These ever-popular tours will cover the history of the Society with particular emphasis on Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, as well as the Collections and legacy of Carl Linnaeus. Led by our knowledgeable and dedicated Library staff, tours include visits to the Meeting Room and the grand Reading Room of the Library.

The Meeting Room: A warm welcome to the Linnean Society awaits you! Admire the President's crocodile-skin chair, see the portraits of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, and hear more about the Linnean Society's past, present and future.

The Linnaean Collections: Journey underground to a bomb-proof strongroom to discover spectacular butterflies, beetles and books. Learn more about Carl Linnaeus, one of the founding fathers of modern biology, his works and his role in the History of Science.

The Library: The grand Reading Room of the Library has classical pillars soaring to the beautiful glass roof and two galleries running along the sides - it never fails to impress visitors and researchers alike. It is a working research library with outstanding historical and current holdings of books, manuscripts and artwork. A library display will give you a glimpse of some of our treasures.

Tours last approximately 1 hour.

The suggested donation for our Treasures Tours is £5 per person; all donations will help us to preserve our unique collections.