The Bank of England Museum

Overview

The Bank of England Museum is a free museum inside the Bank of England in the City of London. The museum is home to a range of exhibits and collections that tell the story of the history of money and banking in the UK, as well as the country’s economy.

Adults of a certain age will enjoy reminiscing over banknotes and coins that are no longer in circulation. School-age children will love completing the activity sheets as they look around and learn more about one of the UK’s most important institutions.

Is the Bank of England Museum worth a visit?

The Bank of England Museum is well worth visiting. It is full of informative exhibits, including historic banknotes and coins. There’s even the chance to hold a real gold bar in your hands!

How long does it take to go round the Bank of England Museum?

The Bank of England Museum is a relatively small museum. You can spend as long inside as you like, but most people spend between one and two hours exploring the various items on display.

Is the Bank of England Museum free to visit?

Yes, the Bank of England Museum is completely free to visit. There’s no need to book in advance.

Is the Bank of England Museum good for kids?

Yes, the Bank of England Museum is a great place to visit with children. The museum offers several family-friendly activities, including:

Activity sheets for different age ranges, to complete as you explore the museum
Special events and activities during school holidays
Interactive displays where children can do some hands-on learning
Activities that you can do back at the hostel, or at home, following your visit

Is the Bank of England Museum accessible?

The Bank of England Museum strives to be as inclusive and accessible as possible. It offers these accessibility features:

Wheelchair accessible using portable ramps
Borrow a wheelchair
Accessible toilet
Guide and assistance dogs welcome
Seating in the main galleries
Induction loop available
Audio guides with British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation
Signed video introduction to the museum
Subtitles for some videos
Large-print guides
Magnifying glasses and torches
Ear defenders to borrow

Audio guide

The Bank of England Museum offers a free audio guide that you can access via your smartphone – don’t forget to bring your ear pods! There are QR codes in the museum which you can use to launch the tour, and there are three different tours to choose from. Each one lasts between 15 and 30 minutes.

You don’t even need to physically be in the museum to enjoy the audio guide. You can tour the museum from the comfort of your own home, accessing the audio guide through the Bank of England website. We do recommend actually visiting though – it’s much better in person!

Bank of England Museum opening hours

The Bank of England Museum is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, with the last entry at 4.30pm.

Bank of England Museum Lates

The Bank of England Museum opens later on the third Thursday of each month. The museum is open until 8pm, with the last entry at 7.30pm. Booking is recommended for late-night openings.

What to see at the Bank of England Museum

There’s plenty to see at the Bank of England Museum, which features a permanent collection as well as temporary exhibitions. Popular items include:

Gold bars
Banknotes no longer in circulation
Forged and fake banknotes
Guides on how to spot forgeries and fakes
Exhibits on the Bank of England’s famous customers
Roman mosaics from when the bank was built

Bank of England Museum shop

The Bank of England also has a small gift shop on site where you can choose from a range of money and bank-themed gifts and souvenirs.

How to get to the Bank of England Museum from YHA London St Paul’s

The Bank of England Museum is located on Bartholomew Lane in the City of London. It is less than a mile from YHA London St Paul’s, and the easiest ways to get there are by walking, cycling, or taking public transport.

On foot: It takes around 15 minutes to walk from the Youth Hostel to the Bank of England Museum.

Cycling: It’s approximately five minutes by bike from YHA London St Paul’s to the Bank of England Museum. If you don’t have a bike with you, you can hire one of the Santander Cycles city bikes. There are Santander Cycles docking stations outside the museum.

By public transport: There are several bus routes offering transport between the hostel and the museum. Catch the bus at Ludgate Hill/Old Bailey and alight at Bank Station/Cornhill. If you’re travelling from elsewhere in London, the nearest tube station to the Bank of England Museum is Bank.

By car: It’s about a 10-minute drive between YHA London St Paul’s and the Bank of England Museum. There are no accessible parking spaces near the museum, and parking nearby is extremely limited. The nearest car parks are: