Do you need to book the British Museum?
No. The museum's Visit page says tickets to the permanent collection are free and that you are "advised" to book one in advance (checked 9 October 2026). Booking gets you visit updates and priority entry at busy times; walk-up visitors are admitted but may wait longer.
The visitor guidelines add that staff try to admit you as close to your chosen timeslot as possible, and that free general tickets cannot be resold or transferred. Booking costs nothing, so the trade-off is simple:
- Book a free ticket for weekends, UK school holidays, the middle of the day, or if you are on a tight schedule.
- Walk up on a quieter weekday morning or a Friday evening when you can absorb a queue.
Either way, every visitor passes a security check and bag search. The visitor guidelines make searches of bags and people a condition of entry, and anyone who refuses may be turned away.
Opening hours and Friday lates
| Day | Open | Last entry |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday to Thursday | 10:00-17:00 | 16:45 |
| Friday | 10:00-20:30 | 20:15 |
| 24-26 December | Closed |
Staff begin clearing galleries 10 minutes before closing. The Visit page does not mention a 1 January closure.
The Friday late opening page says the late session is free (book a timed slot to guarantee entry) and that the Great Court, most ground-floor Rooms 1–24 and many upper-floor rooms (33–67 and 95) stay open until 20:20. Some rooms close early, including Room 25 (Africa) and Rooms 92–94 (Japan), and the list can change at short notice. The last bookable timeslot on Fridays is 19:00. The Great Court cafés serve until 20:00 and the shops stay open until 20:15. There is no late opening on Good Friday, 26 March 2027.
Which entrance to use
General visitors can use the main entrance on Great Russell Street or the Montague Place entrance. Tour groups must use Montague Place and are not admitted at Great Russell Street. The cloakroom is just left of the main entrance, which matters if you need to check a bag.
Bag size limits and the cloakroom
The visitor guidelines say you may not bring in luggage larger than 40 x 40 x 50 cm or heavier than 8 kg. Wheeled cases are not allowed at any size, apart from fold-up pushchairs and mobility aids.
The cloakroom, open during museum hours, charges per item (Visit page, checked 9 October 2026):
| Item | Charge |
|---|---|
| Bag 4-8 kg | £6 |
| Bag up to 4 kg | £4 |
| Coat | £3 |
| Umbrella | £2 |
| Fold-up pushchair | Free |
Because wheeled cases are not allowed into the building at all, the cloakroom is no help for a suitcase. If you arrive from a station with luggage, store it first; see luggage storage in London.
Paid exhibitions: Bayeux Tapestry and Korea
Free entry covers the permanent collection and free displays. In October 2026 the Exhibitions and events page listed two free displays: Declaring independence: USA 250 (until 29 November 2026) and Multiplied wonders: Italian Renaissance woodcuts (8 October 2026 to 21 March 2027). Two major shows are paid and timed.
The Bayeux Tapestry (Room 30, 10 September 2026 to 11 July 2027). According to the exhibition page (checked 9 October 2026):
- Adults pay £33 standard, £27 off-peak and £25 super off-peak. Super off-peak covers term-time weekdays from 15:30 to 16:20. Optional donation prices are higher.
- Students, 16–18s, jobseekers and disabled visitors pay £25, and a disabled visitor's assistant goes free.
- Under-16s go free, up to four per adult ticket, and must be booked with that adult.
- Tickets for 10 September to 31 December 2026 have sold out. Bookings for 1 January to 31 March 2027 open on 21 October 2026, and April to July 2027 in early 2027.
- The page gives exhibition hours of 10:00–18:00 Sunday to Wednesday and 10:00–21:00 Thursday to Saturday, adds that times may vary, and suggests about 40 minutes.
Korea (Room 35, 1 October 2026 to 31 January 2027). The Korea exhibition page lists:
- Adults and seniors (60+) pay £20 standard or £18 off-peak.
- Students and 16–18s pay £18 standard or £16 off-peak.
- Under-16s go free, up to four per adult ticket, and members go free.
- Timed slots run 10:00–15:50 (19:10 on Fridays). The show closes on 1–2 December for a display rotation.
| Paid show, adult price | Standard | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|
| Bayeux Tapestry | £33 | £25 (super off-peak) |
| Korea | £20 | £18 (off-peak) |
The museum notes that prices may vary. For a couple, a standard-time visit to both costs £106 (2 x £33 + 2 x £20). Children under 16 add nothing to either show but must be booked.
Donations and tours
The museum asks visitors to support it and has a donation option on its site and at ticket checkout for exhibitions, but it does not set a suggested amount for general entry. The Exhibitions and events page also lists paid tours, including a 90-minute "Around the world in 90 minutes" tour at £15 and an out-of-hours introduction tour at £35 (checked 9 October 2026).
The British Museum is the Day 2 anchor of the three-day zone 1 walking itinerary. For a paid sight on another day, see Westminster Abbey tickets and opening hours.