A tour in Room 33

Tours and talks

Choose from

Around the world in 90 minutes

Desire, love, identity: an LGBTQ tour

Eye-opener tours: 40 minutes

Spotlight: the Round Reading Room tour

Hands on desks: 11.00–16.00

Friday night spotlight tours: 20 minutes

Get to know the collection through tours, talks and Hands on desks.

Travel around the world in 90 minutes on our guided highlights tour and explore some of the Museum's most famous objects. Or discover LGBTQ themes and histories in the collection with our Desire, love, identity tour. Take a look below for more details. 

Please note there will be no Eye opener tours or Hands on desks on Monday 11 December. There will be no Museum tours or Hands on desks from Saturday 23 December 2023 to Tuesday 2 January 2024. Tours and Hands on desks will restart on Wednesday 3 January 2024.

The specific content of tours and talks may change due to gallery work, exhibitions or other essential Museum activities. We are not always able to advise on this in advance.

The safety and security of our staff and visitors is very important to us. Face coverings are recommended for the protection of yourself and others, unless you’re exempt. Please be considerate of people and exercise social distancing where you can – especially in smaller spaces. Hand sanitiser stations can be found throughout the Museum and we recommend washing or sanitising your hands regularly. Contactless payment is preferred in our shops and cafés. Staff are available to advise if you have any questions. 

Please do not visit if you feel unwell or have COVID-19 symptoms.

All measures are subject to change in accordance with government guidelines and Museum regulations.

Around the world in 90 minutes tour

Explore some of the most famous objects on display at the Museum on this guided highlights tour.

  • Each tour lasts for 90 minutes and covers multiple galleries.
  • Tours take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 11.30 and 14.00.
  • Each tour has a capacity of 20 people.
  • £14 per person.
  • Recommended for adults and children aged 12+.
  • Please note that the tour will visit a number of galleries on different floors and involves a considerable amount of walking.

Desire, love, identity: an LGBTQ tour

Explore objects in the collection linked to the themes of desire, love and identity. 

  • This tour focuses on LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer) themes and histories.
  • Each tour lasts for around 70 minutes.
  • Tours are free but booking is strongly recommended.
  • Each tour has a capacity of 15 people.
  • Recommended for adults and children aged 12+.
  • The tour visits a number of galleries on different floors and involves a considerable amount of walking.

Spotlight: the Round Reading Room tour

Take a brief behind-the-scenes tour of the Round Reading Room and discover how it's evolved since 1857 and the famous faces that studied there. 

  • Tours take place on Tuesdays at 11.30 and 12.30.
  • Each tour lasts for around 20 minutes.
  • Tours are free but advanced booking is essential.
  • Each tour has a capacity of 15 people.
  • You can book a maximum of four tickets per group.
  • Please note that photography is not permitted in the Round Reading Room. 
  • Recommended for adults and children aged 12+.

Eye-opener tours

Please note there will be no Eye opener tours on Monday 11 December and from Saturday 23 December 2023 to Tuesday 2 January 2024. Tours will restart on Wednesday 3 January 2024.

Join a volunteer guide on one of our free eye-opener tours bringing you closer to the collection. 

  • Our free volunteer-led eye-opener tours are 40 minutes long.
  • The tours are recommended for adults, though children are welcome.
  • These tours are generally limited to 15 places per session, depending on the Museum location. Please arrive early at the meeting point to secure a space.
  • Eye-opener tours run at different times during the day.
  • The availability of tours and talks may be reduced on bank holidays – see dates of upcoming bank holidays.
  • Please be aware these tours are subject to cancellation. Please ask at the Information Desk on the day for details.

Friday night spotlight tours

Please note there will be no Museum tours from Saturday 23 December 2023 to Tuesday 2 January 2024. Tours will restart on Wednesday 3 January 2024.

Join a volunteer guide on one of our free Friday night spotlight tours focusing on four remarkable areas of the collection.

  • Our free volunteer-led Spotlight tours are 20 minutes long. 
  • They take place on late opening on Fridays only.
  • The tours are recommended for adults, though children are welcome.
  • We offer tours between 17.00-19.00.
  • The availability of tours and talks may be reduced on bank holidays – see dates of upcoming bank holidays.
  • Please be aware these tours are subject to cancellation. Please ask at the Information Desk on the day for details.

Hands on desks

Please note there will be no Hands on desks on Monday 11 December and from Saturday 23 December 2023 to Tuesday 2 January 2024. Hands on desks will restart on Wednesday 3 January 2024.

The Hands on desks allow visitors to handle real objects and to find out more about the collection through relaxed, informal conversations. Volunteers facilitate the object handling, encourage discussion and answer visitors' questions. The handling collection for each desk relates to the displays around it.

Sessions are free and take place daily from 11.00–16.00, subject to availability, in the galleries listed below:

Room 1 – Enlightenment 

Room 2 – Collecting the world 

Room 24 – Africa, Oceania and the Americas 

Room 49 – Ancient Europe and Roman Britain 

Room 68 – Money

Rooms 42–43 – The Islamic world

Room 33 – Asia

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