Visiting the Bank of England Museum with children: everything you need to know

When you think about visiting museums in London with kids, visiting a museum about banking and economics might not be the first things that comes to mind. But a visit to the Bank of England Museum might surprise you and your family. Right in the heart of London, this free museum offers a bit of history, interactive exhibits and the ability to touch a real gold bar. Whether you are looking for a more off the beaten track experience or simply a break from a rainy spell, a visit to the Bank of England Museum with kids will be a unique outing. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to make the most of your family visit to this hidden gem in the City of London.

The Bank of England Museum: the essentials

What is the Bank of England Museum?

Housed inside the Bank of England building, right in the heart of the City of London, the Bank of England Museum is a relatively small, free museum that focusses on the history of the UK’s central bank from its founding to the present day. There are also a number of exhibits and displays that focus on the production of money and its nature.

Visitors can explore artefacts like historic banknotes, coins, and gold bars, as well as learn about the Bank’s role in maintaining financial stability in the UK.

Where is the Bank of England Museum?

The Bank of England Museum is located inside the Bank of England building in the City of London. Its entrance is located on Bartholomew Lane.

How much does it cost to go in the Bank of England Museum?

The Bank of England is free to enter for all visitors. There is no admission charge for adults or children.

Do you need tickets for the Bank of England Museum?

You don’t need tickets to visit the Bank of England Museum. The museum operates on a walk-in basis. This means you can simply show up during opening hours and enter without any pre-booking or ticketing required.

When is the Bank of England Museum open?

The Bank of England Museum is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm). The Museum is closed Bank Holidays and weekends.

On the third Thursday of the month, the Bank of England Museum is open until 8pm (last entry 7.30pm).

Getting to the Bank of England Museum

What is the nearest tube to the Bank of England Museum?

The Bank of England Museum is easily accessible by public transport.

The nearest Tube station to the Bank of England Museum is Bank (Central Line, Northern Line, Waterloo and City Line and DLR).

Monument tube station is also close (Circle Line and District Line). Liverpool Street station is also just a little further away (Central Line, Circle Line, Hammersmith & City Line, Metropolitan Line, Northern Line, Elizabeth Line, Overground and mainline trains).

Several bus routes also stop nearby.

Do I have to queue for the Bank of England Museum?

As a smaller and less well-known attraction, there are unlikely to be lengthy queues, but there is a bag scanner to go through and so there may be a short wait at busy times.

At the Bank of England Museum

What is there to see at the Bank of England Museum?

The Bank of England Museum offers a range of permanent exhibits that explain the history of the bank, the concept of money and it works in a modern economy.

The first room that you enter will give you some of the history of the building. In this room there are a variety of interactive exhibits for kids. These include a banknote jigsaw, an inflation balancing challenge and a safe to crack by solving clues (the reward is a little prize to be claimed).

As you move through the museum you learn more about the history of the founding of the bank. The centre of the rotunda houses temporary exhibitions on topical issues. Around the outside are more permanent exhibition pieces on things like the role of women in the bank and Kenneth Grahame’s (author of the Wind in the Willows) time working at the Bank of England – look out for some familiar characters!

In the rotunda, make sure that you don’t miss the opportunity to touch and (try to) lift a real gold bar!

In the Banknote Gallery you can see how banknotes were printed and you can see how banknotes have evolved over the decades into the polymer notes we use now.

What facilities are there for children at the Bank of England Museum?

As part of an historic building, the Bank of England Museum is not specifically set up for families, for example, there is no cloakroom for storing prams/pushchairs so you will need to take them with you as you go round the museum. However, they do have baby changing facilities.

How long can you spend at the Bank of England Museum?

The amount of time you can spend at the Bank of England Museum with kids largely depends on your family’s interests and the age of your children. However, most visitors find that up to an hour and a half is plenty of time to see everything in the museum, play with the interactive exhibits and maybe complete an activity sheet.

For families with younger children or those with limited attention spans, a visit of around an hour or less might be more appropriate. This allows time to explore the most engaging exhibits without overwhelming the children.

Can you eat in the Bank of England Museum?

The Bank of England Museum does not permit eating and drinking in the Museum (although breast feeding and bottle feeding are welcomed in the Museum). The Bank of England Museum does not have a cafe, but there are plenty of nearby places where you can buy food and drink either before or after your visit.

TOP TIPS for visiting the Bank of England Museum

• Make sure to pick up a free activity sheet from the information desk.
• Take a banknote along as you will have a chance to inspect it and check if it is real!

Is there a question you have about visiting the Bank of England Museum with kids that we haven’t answered here? Let us know in the comments and we’ll do our best to address it.