Tours and talks

Get to know the collection through tours, talks and Hands on desks.

Travel around the world in 90 minutes on our guided highlights tour and explore some of the Museum’s most famous objects. Or discover LGBTQ themes and histories in the collection with our Desire, love, identity tour. Take a look below for more details.

Please note there will be no Eye opener tours or Hands on Desks on Monday 15 December 2025. There will be no Museum tours from Monday 22 December 2025 to Friday 2 January 2026. Tours will restart from Saturday 3 January 2026.

The specific content of tours and talks may change due to gallery work, exhibitions or other essential Museum activities. We are not always able to advise on this in advance.

Choose from

Around the world in 90 minutes: 90 minutes

Desire, love, identity: an LGBTQ tour: 70 minutes

African heritage and histories tour: 60 minutes

Spotlight: the Reading Room tour: 20 minutes

Friday night spotlight tours: 20 minutes

Eye-opener tours: 40 minutes

Hands on desks: 11.00–16.00

Around the world in 90 minutes tour

Explore some of the most famous objects on display at the Museum on this guided highlights tour.

  • Each tour lasts for 90 minutes and covers multiple galleries.
  • Tours take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 11.30 and 14.00.
  • Each tour has a capacity of 20 people.
  • £14 per person.
  • This tour is suitable for an adult audience (16+).
  • Children aged 12+ may attend if accompanied by an adult. All attendees – including children – must have a prebooked ticket.
  • Please note that the tour will visit a number of galleries on different floors and involves a considerable amount of walking.

Desire, love, identity: an LGBTQ tour

Explore objects in the collection linked to the themes of desire, love and identity. 

  • This tour focuses on LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer) themes and histories.
  • Each tour lasts for around 70 minutes.
  • Tours are free but booking is strongly recommended.
  • This tour is suitable for an adult audience (16+).
  • Children aged 12+ may attend if accompanied by an adult. All attendees – including children – must have a prebooked ticket.
  • The tour visits a number of galleries on different floors and involves a considerable amount of walking.

African heritage and histories tour

Explore objects in the collection that showcase aspects of the histories of African and African Diaspora peoples and cultures.

  • Each tour lasts for around 60 minutes.
  • Tours are free but booking is essential.
  • This tour is suitable for an adult audience (16+).
  • Children aged 12+ may attend if accompanied by an adult. All attendees – including children – must have a prebooked ticket.
  • The tour visits a number of galleries on different floors and involves a considerable amount of walking.

Spotlight: the Reading Room tour

Enjoy a brief tour about the Reading Room and discover how it’s evolved since 1857 and the famous faces that studied there.

  • Tours will take place every Tuesday at 11.00 and 12.00.
  • Each tour lasts 20 minutes and will start inside the Reading Room by the meeting point.
  • Each tour has a capacity of 20 people. Places are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Please note that photography is not permitted in the Reading Room. 
  • These tours are subject to cancellation. Please ask at the Information Desk in the Great Court if unsure. 

Friday night spotlight tours

Please note that Museum tours will not be running from Monday 22 December 2025 to Friday 2 January 2026. Tours will restart from Saturday 3 January 2026.

Join a volunteer guide on one of our free Friday night spotlight tours focusing on four remarkable areas of the collection.

  • Our free volunteer-led Spotlight tours are 20 minutes long.
  • They take place on late opening on Fridays only.
  • The tours are recommended for adults, though children are welcome.
  • We offer tours between 17.00-19.00.

Eye-opener tours

Please note there will be no Eye opener tours on Monday 15 December. Museum tours will not be running from Monday 22 December 2025 to Friday 2 January 2026. Tours will restart from Saturday 3 January 2026.

Hands on desks

Please note there will be no Hands on desks on Monday 15 December. Museum tours will not be running from Monday 22 December 2025 to Friday 2 January 2026. Tours will restart from Saturday 3 January 2026.

The Hands on desks allow visitors to handle real objects and to find out more about the collection through relaxed, informal conversations. Volunteers facilitate the object handling, encourage discussion and answer visitors’ questions. The handling collection for each desk relates to the displays around it.