COVID-19 safety measures at the museum
We have a set of safety measures in place to ensure a safe and enjoyable visitor experience for everyone.
The short video here provides a summary of these measures, along with what you need to know before you visit. More details can be found in the individual sections below.
We look forward to welcoming you to the museum soon!
Our opening times have changed on weekdays. We're open from 10am-5pm, Wednesday-Sunday, and closed to the public on Monday and Tuesday. Please note that we will need to start clearing the galleries 20 minutes before closing time.
For May Half Term and the summer holidays, we're pleased to announce that our opening days will be extended! We'll be open 10am-5pm Monday-Sunday from Saturday 29 May-Sunday 6 June, and Monday 26 July-Sunday 5 September.
To visit the museum, you now need a free ticket. This is so we can manage the number of people visiting the museum at any one time, to ensure that everyone is able to observe social distancing. This will be for a timeslot during your chosen day of visit, so you must make sure that you’re at the museum for the time you’ve selected. Please have your ticket ready to be scanned when you arrive at the museum, either on a mobile device or printed out. You can book a ticket by clicking here.
Advance ticket booking is highly recommended, but there will be a limited number of walk-up tickets available on the day for spontaneous visits. Call the Box Office on 020 7030 3300 to check ticket availability before you visit.
A free general admission ticket to the museum includes entry to the Dub London: Bassline of a City display until Sunday 5 September 2021. Please note that there is limited capacity in the display space and you may be asked to queue at peak times.
In accordance with government guidelines, we are now legally obliged to collect and maintain a record of visitors who come onto our premises for the purpose of contract tracing, under the NHS Test and Trace scheme. Please note that anyone over the age of 16 visiting the museum will be required to provide contact details through scanning the NHS Test and Trace QR code or, if you do not have access to the app, the Visitor Experience team will have electronic forms available that you can complete. In order to help reduce the risk of a local outbreak of COVID-19, we will share the following information regarding your visit with the NHS Test and Trace service, if requested. The museum has updated its Privacy Notice where you can find more information.
If you can no longer attend, or will be late for your slot, please contact the Box Office so we can reallocate your ticket/s. If you or anyone in your household is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, we would ask that you do not visit.
There is signage to remind all our visitors to socially distance and we have a one way system in place to help everyone to leave space and stay safe. We have reduced our capacity to ensure adequate space for social distancing inside.
Visitors to the Museum of London are required to wear face coverings upon entering the site unless otherwise exempt.
Wrist bands are available at the front desk for visitors who are exempt from wearing face coverings. Staff will not approach visitors to request they wear a face covering if the wrist band is visible. Alternatively, you may wish to display an exemption card or badge, or download one to your mobile device. There are PDF attachments you can use on the GOV.UK website here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own
There are touch free hand sanitiser stations available throughout the museum.
These are clearly labelled, and placed at regular intervals around the
galleries. If there is a queue to use a sanitiser station, please observe
social distancing guidelines and maintain distance between yourself and others.
Toilet facilities are open at the museum.
Our café in the entrance foyer is open for snacks, drinks and light meals from 10am-5pm, Wednesday-Sunday, and closed on Monday and Tuesday. Please see 'Opening Times' for more information on the May Half Term and summer holidays opening schedule.
We'll only be accepting cashless payment. Please note waiting times could be longer than usual and that you will be required to wear a face covering while queuing in the café unless you are exempted from wearing one. You will be allowed to remove the face covering once seated.
The shop is open from 10am-5pm, Wednesday-Sunday, and closed on Monday and Tuesday. Please see 'Opening Times' for more information on the May Half Term and summer holidays opening schedule.
Please be aware that social distancing measures are now in place. We'll only be accepting cashless payment. We are also offering a Click and Collect option at the Museum of London shop for orders placed online in advance of your visit. Click here to visit our online shop.
Please note that we’ll only be accepting cashless payment at our café and shop.
The Museum of London is a charity that relies upon the generous donations of visitors to continue our work. You can still donate when you book your ticket online, and on site through card or cash.
Owing to the current situation, the museum or specific galleries may need to close at short notice. Wherever possible, we will try and notify visitors of this in advance of their visit so they can reschedule their time slot if they so wish.
We have temporarily removed, adapted or replaced some of our touch interactives to make your visit safer. Interactives that are still available to use are cleaned regularly, and some of our interactive touch screens have been adapted with Infrared technology so you can use them touch-free. We ask that visitors refrain from touching any objects or displays in the galleries.
Guided tours around the gallery have been suspended to keep visitors and staff safe, but please do explore the What's On section of our website for details of other talks and events that are available to book: https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london/whats-on
Our one way routes are fully accessible. A Host will be on hand to assist you with our lift facilities.
There is limited seating available in the galleries. Please speak to a member of the team if you need further assistance.
Please wear something light and bring minimal baggage as there will not be lockers or a cloakroom facility available to store these. Suitcases, cabin bags and other large items of luggage will not be allowed in the museum.
We will have a buggy park facility available at the museum.
The Museum of London is officially accredited by the We're Good to Go industry standard, given by VisitEngland to businesses that are following industry and Government COVID-19 guidance on cleanliness and social distancing, and have clear processes in place.
We understand that you might not
be able to visit the museum again immediately. In the meantime, there’s still
plenty to discover about London through the ages online, and we’ll be regularly
posting new articles, videos and more about our collections on our website.
Keep checking back here and on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter channels to find out more.
If you have any further questions about the new measures we've introduced or special requirements for your visit, then please get in touch through our contact form. Enquiries sent via this form are forwarded to the appropriate team for reply on weekdays only.
We aim to reply to all enquiries within 20 working days. If your enquiry is urgent, please call us on 020 7001 9844
We look forward to welcoming you back!
You can find the COVID-19 risk assessment for the Museum of London here.
Looking to find out the safety measures in place at the Museum of London Docklands instead? You can view these by clicking on the button below.