BODY WORLDS London review: should you take the children?
BODY WORLDS has fascinated audiences around the world and divided opinion along the way. Now back in London, its display of real human bodies remains unlikely to be everyone’s cup of tea. But beyond the initial shock is an exhibition that asks surprisingly thoughtful questions about how we live, what makes us happy and what it means to be human.
What is BODY WORLDS: The Anatomy of happiness about?
There are exhibitions you enjoy while you’re there, and exhibitions that stay with you afterwards. BODY WORLDS: The Anatomy of Happiness was the latter for me. I went expecting to learn about the human body. I left thinking about how I look after mine, and what makes a life feel good.
The figures you see are real donated human bodies, not models. They have been preserved through a process called plastination, which replaces the body’s fluids and fats with polymers. The result can look almost sculptural, but knowing these were once living people gives the exhibition much of its power.
There are full bodies posed in motion, as well as individual organs and intricate displays of blood vessels and nerves. A goalkeeper dives for a ball; a tightrope walker balances; a firefighter carries another person. You can see just how much is happening inside us as we do things we rarely stop to think about.
It is confronting. But I also found it extraordinarily beautiful.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Planning a visit? Readers of the Daily Mumtra can save 10% on BODY WORLDS tickets
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More Than just an Anatomy lesson
You could visit BODY WORLDS simply to learn how the body works, and you would come away with plenty. Seeing an entire network of blood vessels laid out before you is quite different from looking at a diagram in a textbook. The comparison between healthy lungs and a smoker’s lungs is the sort of image that stays with you.
There are significant opportunities to get involved, too. You can take your blood pressure, learn about what the reading means and practise CPR. Those moments make the exhibition feel useful as well as fascinating.
But the exhibition has soul, too. It asks what makes us happy and whether the things we work so hard to acquire, money, cars and material comfort, necessarily get us there. It explores how happiness may change across a lifetime: the relative freedom of childhood, the pressures and dissatisfaction that can come with middle age, and the gratitude some people find later in life. I found myself pausing over those questions as much as the anatomy.
There is also a thoughtful section on conception and the beginnings of life. It is genuinely educational, although visitors should know that it includes real foetal specimens at different stages of development. Some people will find this fascinating; for others, particularly those with personal experience of pregnancy loss, it may be troubling or triggering.
Is BODY WORLDS suitable for children?
Yes, for children who are curious about anatomy and comfortable seeing real human bodies. I’d suggest around age eight and up, although it depends on the child. There were quite a few older children there when I visited, and I can see it prompting excellent conversations about how our bodies work, how life begins and what makes us happy.
I asked my three boys if they wanted to come, and only my eldest was interested. The other two are squeamish, and I think they were right to sit this one out. I’d tell children what they’re going to see before booking, particularly the real foetal specimens in the section on conception.
That said, I wouldn’t think of BODY WORLDS solely as a family outing. There’s a lot to absorb beyond the anatomy, and I’d happily go without children to spend more time with the questions it raises. Some displays invite you to stop, read and think for a while.
Is it worth visiting?
For the right family, yes. South Kensington already has excellent free places to explore science and the human body, so this is a considered choice for a paid day out. What makes BODY WORLDS different is the immediacy of seeing real anatomy presented with such care, alongside hands-on learning and questions that follow you home.
I learned a great deal. I also came away with a renewed appreciation for the strange, remarkable business of being alive, and a few questions about the life I’m choosing to live. That combination is what makes this exhibition worth talking about.
at a glance: BODY WORLDS:
The Anatomy of Happiness is at Sussex Mansions, 79–85 Old Brompton Road, South Kensington, London SW7 3LD. It opened on 25 September 2026 and is currently listed until 21 March 2027. My suggested age is 8+, depending on the child; the exhibition itself welcomes all ages. Discount code: DAILYMUMTRA10
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THE DAILY MUMTRA · LONDON STAYS
Where to stay near BODY WORLDS London
Making a family break of your visit? These three South Kensington stays range from a practical family room to a science-inspired suite.
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St Simeon
A simple South Kensington hotel with family rooms, including options that sleep up to five. A useful choice if room for everyone matters more than hotel extras.
Check rooms and prices →The Bailey’s Hotel London Kensington
A Victorian hotel opposite Gloucester Road station, with period character and dedicated family rooms. A lovely middle ground if you want the stay to feel like part of the trip.
Check rooms and prices →The Ampersand Hotel
For something playful, look at its Science Family Suite, with a rocket-style bunk bed and a separate bedroom for parents. The hotel also serves a science-themed afternoon tea.
Check rooms and prices →
