Frequently asked questions for group leaders.
FAQs
Entry to the museum—including our object galleries—is free but charges apply for some activities. Please check the individual web pages for details.
The museum is currently open 10.00–17.00 on Wednesdays to Sundays in term time, and daily during school holidays.
From 24 July 2022 we will be open 7 days a week.
It is closed on 24–26 December, and 1 January.
Any changes will be listed on our visit page.
We ask all groups to book in advance.
This enables you to access group discounts for charged activities and guarantees your tickets for events that have limited capacity. It also allows us to send you information that might affect your trip and it makes check-in quicker and easier when you arrive.
If your booking is for a free visit and does not include charged activities you can make changes at any time, subject to availability of tickets.
If your booking includes changed activities you can increase the number of visitors on your eticket at any time, subject to availability and provided that you pay any additional sums that may be charged for the increase by credit or debit card upon changing the booking. You can do this by logging into your online account or calling us on 033 0058 0058.
For all other changes, including reductions in visitor numbers, date changes or cancellations, the following terms apply:
i. If you have chosen to pay by invoice (only available to you if you are an establishment delivering formal education [nursery, primary, secondary, tertiary and higher education]) , it will not be possible to change or cancel your booking, and you will remain liable for the full value of the invoice in all circumstances. We are unable to transfer your eticket to another date or reduce the number of visitors on your eticket, and no refund will be available if your group or part of your group is no longer able to attend on the date of the relevant event.
ii. If you have chosen to pay by credit or debit card, and your visit is not due to take place for 28 days or more, you may request to change or cancel your booking by emailing info@sciencemuseumgroup.ac.uk. Your email should include your order number and details of the change or cancellation requested. Any changes to your order are subject to availability.
iii. If you have chosen to pay by credit or debit card, and your visit is due to take place in less than 28 days, it will not be possible to change or cancel your booking and you will not be entitled to a refund in any circumstances. We are unable to transfer your eticket to another date or reduce the number of visitors on your eticket, and no refund will be available if your group or part of your group is no longer able to attend on the date of the relevant event.
Please read our full booking and cancellation terms.
If your booking is for a free visit and does not include charged activities you can cancel your visit at any time.
If you booking includes charged activities the following terms apply:
i. If you have chosen to pay by invoice (only available to you if you are an establishment delivering formal education (nursery, primary, secondary, tertiary and higher education)) , it will not be possible to change or cancel your booking, and you will remain liable for the full value of the invoice in all circumstances. We are unable to transfer your eticket to another date or reduce the number of visitors on your eticket, and no refund will be available if your group or part of your group is no longer able to attend on the date of the relevant event.
ii. If you have chosen to pay by credit or debit card, and your visit is not due to take place for 28 days or more, you may request to change or cancel your booking by emailing info@sciencemuseumgroup.ac.uk. Your email should include your order number and details of the change or cancellation requested. Any changes to your order are subject to availability.
iii. If you have chosen to pay by credit or debit card, and your visit is due to take place in less than 28 days, it will not be possible to change or cancel your booking and you will not be entitled to a refund in any circumstances. We are unable to transfer your eticket to another date or reduce the number of visitors on your eticket, and no refund will be available if your group or part of your group is no longer able to attend on the date of the relevant event.
Please read our full booking and cancellation terms.
It is always helpful for us to know that you are unable to attend because we can release your tickets to other groups.
For safeguarding, and to ensure health and safety in the museum, our adult to child ratio policy for groups is:
- Ages 5 and under – 1:4
- Ages 5 to 11 – 1:8
- Ages 11 to 18 – 1:10
- Over 18s – 1 responsible adult per group
Please ensure you have enough adults before you request your visit.
Children arriving without accompanying adults may not be allowed into the museum.
The museum is a public place so please remind your group to respect other visitors, exhibits and museum staff.
Outside of the hands-on gallery, many irreplaceable exhibits are on open display so you can get close to them. To preserve their longevity, please remind your group not to touch or climb on them. CCTV and security officers are in place throughout the building to monitor this.
We expect visitors of all ages to adhere to this code of conduct and poor behaviour could mean that people are asked to leave.
Visit organisers are responsible for carrying out their own risk assessment. See our health and safety information and hazard identification sheet to help you complete yours.
Our insurance confirmation letter (PDF) provides details about our public liability insurance.
Yes. You can request a 30-minute slot in our picnic area when you complete your booking, but lunch spaces are subject to availability.
Our shop gets very busy, so we recommend visiting in small groups across the day rather than just before you leave.
Your help in supporting younger students with their purchases is invaluable, especially at the tills.
If you haven't visited with your class before, we recommend a pre-visit to familiarise yourself with the galleries, test run our activity sheets and plan your routes around the museum site.
Contact us in advance to request teacher preview tickets for special exhibitions so that you can assess suitability.
Check for gallery closures that might impact on your plans.
Visit our accessibility page for general information and please tell us about any access requirements when you make your booking so that we can provide the best advice.
Please see our travel page.
We don’t have any coach or minibus parking spaces on-site. Please see our travel page for further information.
There are three blue badge parking spaces in front of the museum on Lower Byrom Street, although these belong to the council so cannot be reserved.
