Free tickets to visit the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford are available to book online from today, Wednesday 5 August 2020.
Last month it was announced the museum will be reopening to the public from Wednesday 19 August 2020 with enhanced safety and hygiene measures in place. To help manage the number of people and flow through the museum, visitors are required to book a free ticket in advance, with tickets available to book online from today, Wednesday 5 August.
From 19 August many of the galleries will be open to the public, including the Kodak Gallery and the popular interactive Wonderlab, which will have enhanced cleaning regimes in place. The exhibition The Forgotten Showman, which opened in November 2019, is also being extended upon reopening and will now run until February 2021.
Visitors can also explore the brand new Wonderlab Live experience, where they can get up close to the museum’s inspiring collection and witness mind-bending demonstrations showing how the principles of sound and light can be used creatively to change the world around us.
The museum will initially be reopening with the reduced hours of 10.00–16.00, Wednesday to Sunday. The site is undergoing a rigorous cleaning regime prior to reopening, and extra site-wide cleaning will take place throughout each day. New signage will help guide people safely around the building and visitors will be encouraged to observe social distancing measures. In line with government guidance, visitors are asked to wear a face covering when they visit the museum, for their safety and the safety of other visitors and staff.
The museum is also carefully following the government guidance and consulting with Bradford Council. In line with the latest measures and until these are changed by the government, visitors must only visit the museum with members of their own household or support bubble. Separate time slots are available for bubbles of up to six people.
Jo Quinton-Tulloch, Director of the National Science and Media Museum, said:
“The past few months have been a huge challenge for our sector and we cannot wait to welcome visitors back into the building, safely of course. The experience of visiting will feel quite different to pre-lockdown with many new measures in place, but we are very confident that visiting the museum will be as enjoyable as ever. Not only will visitors be able to see the museum’s inspiring collection again, we’re also excited to debut new experiences such as Wonderlab Live, which will uncover the science behind our collection in creative and surprising ways.”
The Games Lounge will also be open. Visitors will be able to book a ticket online for the Games Lounge for £2 per person for a 45-minute time slot. With this ticket all consoles and games will be free to play to reduce the use of coins. The museum café and shop will be open, and there is the option to pre-book a lunch to take away at an allocated time.
The museum has also announced that its cinemas will have a phased reopening this autumn, starting with the Pictureville screen on Thursday 17 September 2020, followed by the IMAX and Cubby Broccoli screens on Friday 2 October. More details about the cinema programme and tickets will be announced soon.
ENDS
For further information, images or interview requests, please contact Katie Canning, Press and PR Manager: katie.canning@scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk / 01274 203 027
The National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, West Yorkshire, opened in 1983, and has since become one of the most visited UK museums outside London. The museum explores the science and culture of image and sound technologies, creating special exhibitions, interactive galleries and activities for families and adults. It is home to three cinemas, including Europe’s first IMAX cinema screen and the world’s only public Cinerama screen outside the USA. Entry to the museum is free.
