Admission and opening times
Free, open daily 10.00–17.30
The Museum is open daily except for 1 January and 24, 25, 26 December
Gallery opening times
Museum galleries are open daily 10.00–17.30,
and most are open until 20.30 on Fridays.
Closing starts from 17.20 (20.20 on Fridays).
Galleries open late
Fridays
Temporary gallery closures
Some galleries are closed for maintenance or long-term
refurbishment.
All planned gallery
closures
Fridays open late
The Museum is open until 20.30 on Fridays, except Good Friday
(29 March 2013).
Friday lates
programme
Great Court opening times
The Great Court, including Information and Ticket Desks, is open daily 09.00–18.00 and until 20.30 on Fridays.
British Museum by day and night
Facilities opening times
Cafés and restaurant
Court Restaurant
Lunch
Afternoon tea
Dinner, Fridays only
12.00–15.00
15.00–17.30
17.30–20.00
Court Cafés
Saturday – Thursday
Friday
09.00–17.30
09.00–20.00
Gallery Café
Daily
11.00–17.00
Museum shops
Bookshop
Monday–Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
10.00–17.30
10.00–20.00
10.30–17.30
10.00–17.30
Family shop
Monday–Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
09.30–18.00
09.30–18.00
09.30–17.30
10.00–17.30
Collections shop
Monday–Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
09.30–17.30
09.30–20.00
09.30–17.30
10.00–17.30
Culture shop
Monday–Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
09.30–17.30
09.30–20.00
09.30–17.30
10.00–17.30
Museum facilities
Libraries and study rooms
- For opening times and further information see relevant department
- Africa, Oceania and the
Americas
Including the Anthropology Library and Research Centre - Ancient Egypt and
Sudan
The Study Room will be closed to visitors 24 December 2012 – 1 February 2013 - Asia
- Coins and Medals
- Conservation and Scientific Research
- Greece and Rome
- Middle East
- Prehistory and Europe
- Prints and Drawings
- Paul Hamlyn Library now closed: see press statement
We regret that it may be necessary, for example in the interests of security or public safety, for us to alter the Museum’s opening hours or close specific areas of the Museum at any time, and without prior notice.