London’s museums and galleries reopening following the lockdown
The majority of London’s museums and galleries will reopen their doors this week with new safety measures in place to keep staff and visitors safe.
Some of the precautions they will have in place to reduce the Covid-19 risk include:
Visitors will need to book timed tickets in advance.
Reduced opening hours.
Cloakrooms will be closed, so it’s recommended you travel light.
Designated routes around galleries to allow for social distancing.
Requirements for the use of face masks may be requested at some locations.
Here’s our guide to new opening times and what’s on when museums and galleries reopen. Please check location-specific safety measures before your visit as museums and galleries may have slightly different requirements.
The V&A
When?
Thursday 6th August 2020
Opening hours?
From Thursday 6th August: Thursday – Sunday 11 am - 3pm
From Thursday 27th August: Thursday – Sunday 11am -7pm
Image: MTotoe
What’s on?
From the 6th August, the museum will be reopening some of their gallery rooms. Click here to discover more.
Temporary exhibitions will be closed until 27th August:
Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk ( reopening on 27th August). Pre-book tickets here.
Price: £16- £18
Booking for Bags: Inside Out, Epic Iran and Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser will be announced soon.
The Members' Room will reopen on Thursday 27th August.
General admission is free. Pre-booking is required.
The Science Museum
When ?
Wednesday 19th August 2020
Opening hours?
Daily: 10am – 6pm
Image: MTotoe
Entry to the museum is free. Pre-booking is required.
Click here to discover essential safety information prior to your visit.
The National Gallery
When?
Wednesday 8th July 2020
Opening hours?
Daily: 11 am- 4 pm (Friday until 9 pm).
Image: MTotoe
What’s on?
Titian: Love, Desire, Death (extended to 17th January 2021).
Price: £12 (Concessions available for NHS workers).
Nicolaes Maes: Dutch Master of the Golden Age (until September 2020).
Price: Free
Click here to discover essential safety information prior to your visit.
Natural History Museum
When?
Wednesday 5th August 2020
Opening hours?
Wednesday – Sunday: 11 am -6 pm (last entry 5pm).
Monday - Tuesday: Closed (Monday 31th August 11 am- 6pm).
Image: MTotoe
What’s on?
Click here to discover the free galleries that will be open.
General admissions will be available to book from 16th July 14, 2020.
Click here to discover essential safety information prior to your visit.
Royal Academy of Arts
Image:MTotoe
When?
Thursday 16th July 2020 (Thursday 9th July for friends of RA).
Opening hours?
Monday - Wednesday: Closed
Thursday – Sunday: 11 am - 4 pm
What’s on?
‘Picasso and Paper’ Exhibition (until August 2nd 2020)
Price: £20 ( Free for Blue Light Card holders booking with the promo code ‘THANKYOU’)
Click here to discover essential safety information prior to your visit.
The Wallace Collection
When?
Wednesday 15th July 2020
Opening hours?
Daily: 11 am -3 pm
Image: MTotoe
What’s on?
Forgotten Masters: Indian Painting for the East India Company (opening on 29th July 2020).
Gallery collection of art collected in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by Sir Richard Wallace.
Price: Free (suggested donation £5).
Click here to discover essential safety information prior to your visit.
Royal Museums Greenwich
When?
The Royal Museums of Greenwich will open the Cutty Sark Ship on the 20th July 2020 (Saturday 18th July for members).
Other sites (Royal Observatory, Queen’s House and National Maritime Museum) will have a phased opening throughout the summer.
Opening hours?
Daily: 10.30 am- 4pm
Image: Robert Bye
What’s on?
Cutty Sark Ship tour
Price: Adults £15 ( Kids go free 20th July - 31st August 2020. Free entry for key workers holding a Blue Light Card).
Click here to discover essential safety information prior to your visit.
The Barbican Art Gallery
When?
Monday 13th July 2020
Opening hours?
Monday – Tuesday: 11 am – 6.30 pm
Tuesday – Sunday: 10 am – 6.30 pm
Image: Stuart Frisby
What’s on?
Masculinities: Liberation through photography (until 23rd August 2020).
Price: Monday – Friday: £15, Saturday – Sunday: £17 (concessions available for NHS workers).
Image: Anthony Coleman
When?
Tuesday 14th July 2020
Opening hours?
Tuesday – Sunday: 11 am – 6 pm, Monday: Closed
What’s on?
Radical Figures: Painting in the New Millennium (until 30th August 2020).
Price: £9.50/ concessions £7.50
Carlos Bunga: Something necessary and useful (until 6th September 2020).
Price: Free, booking required.
Click here to discover essential safety information prior to your visit.
Japan House
When?
Japan House London has reopened in 3 phases:
Phase 1: The Ground Floor will reopen at the beginning of July
Phase 2: AKIRA restaurant will reopen in mid-July
Phase 3: The Lower Ground Floor will reopen with a new exhibition in September
Opening hours?
New (temporary) opening hours:
Monday-Friday: 11am – 4pm ( last entry 3.15pm).
Saturday: 11am – 6pm (last entry 5.15pm).
Sunday: Noon -6pm (last entry 5.15pm).
Image: Japan House, Architecture of Dogs Exhibition
What’s on?
Architecture for Dogs (19th September – 24th January 2021)
Price: Free
Booking will be come available closer to the time
Japan House have a number of other events on this July including Inking Managa Patterns with Kubo Kiriko.
Click here for more events.
Price: Free
Click here to discover essential safety information prior to your visit.
Serpentine Galleries
When?
Tuesday 4th August 2020
Image: MTotoe
What’s on?
Cao Fei: Blueprints (till 13th September 2020)
Price: Free
Booking will be available later in July.
Click here for our guide to galleries which opened from 15th June 2020.
The National Portrait Gallery will close to the public for the next three years whilst undergoing refurbishment work. The Gallery will remain closed until spring 2023. For more information click here.
