CMNH

Tour of London - Natural History Style

With the
Cleveland Museum of Natural History

May 14th-20th, 2026

Registration deadline: January 15th, 2026

Enjoy an exclusive trip to London with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History as your guide!

Sonia Winner, the Museum’s President & CEO, invites you to join her on an unforgettable tour of London—including private and behind-the-scenes museum tours, an insider’s view of Windsor Castle, a visit to Stonehenge, a West End show, a day of outdoor exploration, and a quintessential high tea. Even if you’re not a first-time visitor, you’ll experience the city’s wonder and sophistication through a fresh lens with the Museum.

The Global Exec (TGE) is the Museum’s travel partner for this trip.

Get in touch with a Museum rep

A rundown of the trip

  • London has deep and enduring connections to natural history. These connections are woven throughout the city’s museums, scientific institutions, colonial history, and role in the development of modern science:

    • The Natural History Museum opened in 1881 and houses more than 80 million specimens. These specimens have played a major part in scientific research, especially in work related to biodiversity, taxonomy, and climate change. (We will visit the museum.)

    • The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a global leader in plant science and conservation; it contains the largest and most diverse botanical collection in the world. (We will visit the gardens.)

    • London is home to the Royal Society, founded in 1660—the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.

    • The Linnean Society, based in Burlington House, is the venue where Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace first presented the theory of evolution.

    • The Geological Society of London, the oldest geological society in the world, has been pivotal in the study of Earth’s history.

    • As the capital of the British Empire, London became the global repository for specimens gathered in its colonies in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania. Museums in today’s London are contending with this past.

  • This Museum-led London trip will feature diverse activities unique to London and the southern U.K. During this trip, you will:

    • Enjoy private and behind-the-scenes tours at the Natural History Museum of London, the British Museum, and the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology.

    • Take a tour of the House of Parliament with a House of Commons representative.

    • Get an insider’s view of Windsor Castle.

    • Visit Stonehenge—the standing stones of ancient Britain.

    • Explore the beautiful flora and landscapes of Kew Gardens and Richmond Park.

    • See a world-class West End theatrical performance.

    • Experience a quintessential high tea.

    • Gain insight at every location from knowledgeable guides and Museum expert Dr. Meghan Strong.

Meet the Museum team

Sonia

Sonia M. Winner

President & CEO
Cleveland Museum of Natural History

  • Sonia Winner became the 10th director of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in July 2018. In this role, she partners with a nearly 60-person Board of Directors and nearly 140 staff members to advance the mission of the Museum—an institution with $282 million in assets. For more than 100 years, the Museum has inspired a passion for science and nature in its visitors. It ranks among the top 10 natural history museums in the United States in terms of endowment, size of collection, and attendance. Through the Museum’s $150 million transformation project, Winner is spearheading a complete reimagining of the Museum’s campus and exhibits, creating an innovative model for natural history museums worldwide.

    Prior to her appointment as CEO, Winner served in leadership roles at Columbia University from 2011–2016, culminating in a promotion to Vice President for University Development. Winner came to Columbia from Case Western Reserve University, where she spent more than a decade serving in associate dean roles at the Weatherhead School of Management and the Law School. Before entering the development field, Winner spent many years in law career services and served as a clinical law professor.

Meghan

Meghan Strong, Ph.D.

Director of Collections
Cleveland Museum of Natural History

  • Dr. Meghan Strong is an archaeologist and art historian who specializes in sensory archaeology, performance, and perception within ancient Egypt. She has lived and conducted fieldwork throughout Egypt and Sudan for more than a decade, including as part of her doctoral research at the University of Cambridge, and worked on projects at the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Luxor and Cairo. She is the author of Sacred Flames: The Power of Artificial Light in Ancient Egypt and a co-editor of After Dark: The Nocturnal Urban Landscape and Lightscape of Ancient Cities. As Director of Collections at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Dr. Strong manages the Museum's collections and collections specialists. She has worked on cultural-heritage projects in the U.S., England, and Africa, focusing on collections care, curation, and materials science.

What's included?

Accommodations, exclusive experiences, and on-the-ground logistics are all included. TGE and the Museum team will be with you every step of the journey. Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll enjoy when you purchase your spot for this exclusive trip:

Globe

    • Five-star accommodations

    • Group dinners

    • Private transportation during the tour

    • Exclusive tours and visits to museums and historical sites

Audience

    • Private and behind-the-scenes tours at the Natural History Museum of London, the British Museum, and the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology

    • Tour of the House of Parliament

    • Get an insider’s view of Windsor Castle

    • Day trip to Stonehenge

    • Stroll through Kew Gardens and Richmond Park

    • See a world-class West End theatrical performance

    • Experience a quintessential high tea

    • Gain insight from knowledgeable guides and Museum expert, Dr. Meghan Strong

Project Management

    • A trained, professional team of travel partners

    • Expert guides at each site or venue

    • Team from the Museum to guide you each step of the way

    • 24/7 assistance

    • The Travel Zone app just for this trip

Practical Details:

Cost per person: $8,860 (based on 25 participants)

Single supplement cost: $1,580

Deposit: $3,000 per person

Please contact the Museum Representative to fill out your deposit form. Deposit(s) may be paid to the Museum via credit card or check.

Price breakdown

    • Daily breakfast at the hotel

    • All meals, except for one lunch and one dinner, per itinerary

    • Transportation to all sites on the itinerary

    • Dedicated guide for the entirety of the trip, with local experts at each site

    • Insider visits to iconic museums, cultural sites, and historic venues

    • Sonia Winner, Dr. Meghan Strong, and Museum team members will be with you throughout the trip

    • Gratuities for tour guides and bus drivers

    • International airfare to London. TGE can help with booking your flights (use button below), or you are welcome to arrange your own flights on your preferred airline.

    • Meals on your own (one lunch and one dinner)

Get in touch with a TGE rep
Interior of The British Museum with a glass ceiling, classical stone architecture, and modern display banners. People are walking and engaging with exhibits.
Aerial view of London skyline featuring Tower Bridge over the River Thames with various buildings and skyscrapers in the background.
Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument with large standing stones arranged in a circle, set on a grassy field under a partly cloudy sky.
An afternoon tea set with assorted desserts including cupcakes, fruit-topped cakes, sandwiches, a muffin, and a cannoli on a tiered tray, set on a white table near a window with a city street view.
Scottish castle with gray stone walls, tall towers, and decorative windows, situated behind a green lawn and gravel paths under a cloudy sky.
A large glass conservatory surrounded by greenery and trees with some leaves, and a clear blue sky in the background.

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is pleased to offer this invitation to its valued Leadership Circle donors at the Discoverer’s Circle level.

If you are interested in joining the Leadership Circle, please contact the Museum’s Philanthropy Department at 216.231.4600 x3360.

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