Reopening our Museum and welcoming you back
Next stop Covent Garden as London Transport Museum reopens its doors to visitors on 7 September after closing temporarily for an unprecedented 173 days due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Families, culture lovers and transport fans will once again be able to enjoy the Museum’s stunning exhibits, historic vehicles and world-famous posters, which together reveal how public transport has shaped life in London over the last 220 years.
The Museum’s popular five-star Hidden London exhibition in the Global Gallery will also be back open for people to discover the mysteries of London’s ‘abandoned’ Underground stations, from the secret wartime uses of Down Street and Clapham South to the creative ways forgotten subterranean spaces are being adapted for today’s world.
The Museum, including its much-loved shop and café Canteen, will reopen daily between 11:00 and 19:00, except for Thursdays and Sundays when it will close at 18:00. Adult tickets cost £18.50 and allow free daytime entry to the Museum for a whole year - kids aged 17 and under go free. Timed entry slots must be booked online in advance of all visits.
Current annual ticket holders will have their passes automatically extended by up to 5 months from the date their pass was due to expire when the Museum closed, allowing people to make up for missed visits during the lockdown.
A new sealed activity pack for children aged 4 to 11 will also be available to purchase online for £7.50 to help kids get the most out of their time exploring the Museum. This specially designed pack, which will be available to pick-up on arrival, includes a craft-kit and activity to complete during the visit as well as a fun take-home activity.
The Museum is offering £5 off to Blue Light Card holders when booking daytime tickets to say thank you to key workers who have helped keep the Capital moving during the pandemic. Local residents in Westminster, Holborn, Bloomsbury, Kings Cross, Waterloo, Vauxhall, Borough and Bermondsey will also enjoy £5 off and are encouraged to walk where possible.
Every Thursday in September and October, the Museum will close at 18:00 and reopen between 18:30 and 21:00 for a special ticketed evening opening for adults keen to get out and meet up with friends after a day of working from home.
Tickets for these special evening openings are £15 and will give people the chance to enjoy a ‘private view’ experience free from crowds as they explore the Museum after dark with a complimentary drink in hand before showing off their trivia skills in a pub-style quiz.
The Museum’s shop will be open daily between 11:00 and 19:00, and stay open late on Thursdays until 21:00, for shoppers to browse the stunning offering of vintage transport posters, exclusive moquette inspired gifts and accessories, as well as toys and books.
Canteen, the Museum’s café bar decked out with original vintage ‘railwayana’ from the London Underground, will also be back open run by high-street favourite, Benugo.
Keeping its visitors, staff and volunteers safe is the Museum’s top priority. London Transport Museum will reopen with Visit Britain’s ‘We’re Good to Go’ standard and has measures in place to keep people safe during their visit. These include:
- New pre-visit information to help people plan ahead
- New one-way routes to explore the galleries with updated signage
- Queuing systems to help people social distance while they enjoy interactive displays
- Hand sanitiser stations throughout the galleries
- Enhanced cleaning regimes with anti-viral disinfectant that protects for up to 30 days
- Cash-free contactless payments
- PPE for staff – including face visors
The Museum will open with the majority of its vehicles and interactives accessible for people to enjoy. To ensure people’s safety, the All Aboard play zones and stamper trail will not be in use, and access to some vehicles will be limited. Face coverings must be worn at all times by children and adults aged 11 and above when exploring the Museum and browsing the shop.
When the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown forced London Transport Museum to close in March 2020, 80% of its income was cut off. The Museum has since lost £1.5m and counting. In July, the heritage charity launched an appeal and is asking its loyal visitors, supporters and the public to donate towards its future.
Sam Mullins OBE, Director of London Transport Museum said: ‘‘During this time of such great uncertainty, we are so keen to reopen our doors and welcome visitors back to our Museum; safe, clean and socially distanced. But the future remains full of big financial challenges. Visiting in itself will help to ensure we can continue sharing our wonderful Museum with people and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who has kindly donated, or plans donate to our public appeal. It has been touching to see so many people showing their support for London Transport Museum in recent weeks.’