Natural History Museum to show off JK Rowling’s ‘fantastic beasts’

The conservation team working on exhibits for the London attraction's upcoming exhibition, Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature — Caption: Undated handout photo issued by the Natural History Museum of the conservation team working on exhibits for the London attraction’s upcoming exhibition, Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature, which will open on December 9. (Credits: PA)

An exhibition on the creatures dreamt up by JK Rowling will open in December after being postponed because of the pandemic.

The Natural History Museum exhibition takes inspiration from the Harry Potter author’s ‘fantastic beasts’.

It will explore how legends and stories have been inspired by the natural world.

Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder Of Nature was meant to open its doors in May, but will now welcome visitors from December 9.

Clare Matterson, executive director of engagement at the museum, said visitors ‘will journey through magical realms and walk alongside some of the most fascinating creatures in the world’.

‘At the heart of this exhibition is a celebration of all the fantastic beasts we have the privilege of sharing our planet with, and the very real threats they face,’ she said.

Undated handout photo issued by the Natural History Museum of the conservation team working on exhibits for the London attraction's upcoming exhibition, Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature, which will open on December 9. PA Photo. Issue date: Monday October 26, 2020. See PA story ARTS Beasts. Photo credit should read: The Natural History Museum/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. — The exhibition was supposed to open in May (Credits: PA)

Undated handout photo issued by the Natural History Museum of Chelsea McKibbon working on a giraffe, one of exhibits for the London attraction's upcoming exhibition, Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature, which will open on December 9. PA Photo. Issue date: Monday October 26, 2020. See PA story ARTS Beasts. Photo credit should read: The Natural History Museum/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. — Chelsea McKibbon working on a giraffe, one of the exhibits for Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature (Credits: PA)

‘Visitors will leave with a renewed love of the wonders of nature, and a revived urgency to help protect it.’

The Natural History Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum and Science Museum reopened this summer – but planned for around a fifth of the usual number of visitors.