After almost four months of closure, the National Science and Media Museum has announced that it will be opening its doors again to the public this summer from Wednesday 19 August 2020.
Initially welcoming back visitors between 10.00–16.00, Wednesday to Sunday, the museum will be operating a ticket-only system for general visits, along with new wayfinding signage, extra cleaning schedules, hygiene stations and a phased reopening.
Jo Quinton-Tulloch, Director of the National Science and Media Museum said:
“We are delighted to be reopening the museum to the public from the 19 August. The past few months have been challenging for everyone, and while communications technology has become more vital than ever in this period, we hope our visitors will enjoy returning to our galleries, shop and café once more. This will be a phased reopening and we’ll be sharing full details when tickets become available, but we promise a great experience for adults and families of all ages.
“The health and safety of visitors and colleagues remains our top priority and we have been working hard to put new measures in place in line with government guidance. These include enhanced cleaning regimes, pre-booked ticketing and signage. Although the experience of visiting will feel a little different to before, we really want the museum to feel safe and welcoming, and for visitors to be as excited as we are to come back to our wonderful galleries and inspiring collection.”
To ensure the safety and comfort of visitors and staff, the site will undergo a rigorous cleaning regime prior to reopening and extra site-wide cleaning will continue to 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 where possible. In line with Government guidance it is highly recommended that museum visitors wear face masks. We will continue to follow Government guidance on all measures such as face masks and social distancing.
Arrival times will need to be booked in advance to manage the number of people and flow through the museum, ensuring safety and comfort for all. Tickets will be free and available from the museum website from Wednesday 5 August 2020.
As part of a phased opening, from 19 August most of the galleries will be open to the public, including the Kodak Gallery, which houses the museum’s world class photography exhibits. The family favourite Wonderlab gallery will also be open with enhanced cleaning regimes in place to ensure safety and hygiene, although some interactive exhibits will remain temporarily unavailable. Another popular gallery, Games Lounge, will be a bookable experience to help manage visitor numbers.
The popular exhibition The Forgotten Showman, which opened in November 2019, will be extended upon reopening. The exhibition uncovers the story of Robert Paul, the ‘forgotten inventor’ of British cinema.
The museum shop and café will also be open from 19 August. Dates for the reopening of Pictureville Cinema and IMAX plus further galleries will be confirmed in due course.
Across the Science Museum Group, Locomotion in Shildon will be the first to welcome visitors back on 28 July 2020, followed by the National Railway Museum in York on 4 August, the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester on 14 August and both the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford and the Science Museum in London on 19 August.
For more information about the reopening of the National Science and Media Museum, read our visit page and reopening FAQ.
For further information, images or interview requests, please contact:
Katie Canning, National Science and Media Museum: 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.
About the Science Museum Group
The Science Museum Group is the world’s leading group of science museums, welcoming over five million visitors each year to five sites: the Science Museum in London; the National Railway Museum in York; the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester; the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford; and Locomotion in Shildon. We share the stories of innovations and people that shaped our world and are transforming the future, constantly reinterpreting our astonishingly diverse collection of 7.3 million items spanning science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. Standout objects include the record-breaking locomotive Flying Scotsman, Richard Arkwright’s textile machinery, Alan Turing’s Pilot ACE computer and the earliest surviving recording of British television. Our mission is to inspire futures—igniting curiosity among people of all ages and backgrounds. Each year, our museums attract more than 600,000 visits by education groups, while our touring exhibition programme brings our creativity and scholarship to audiences across the globe.
