please empty your brain below
I hope George Osbourne reads this blog.

Dan | 21.01.23 - 7:12 a.m. | #

I used to be a Friend of the Science Museum, the membership card gave me easy access to everything there. But they cancelled their Friends scheme some time ago, and I don't think I've been back since then.

Last time I went to the Imperial War Museum I arrived just ahead of a large school party, the doorman practically insisted that I went with 'my' school to the side entrance for such groups, which wasted some of my time (and his). The entrance procedure for non-schools has been as you describe for ages, I usually just walk straight through without donating .

amber | 21.01.23 - 7:14 a.m. | #

I don't think the Covid directions at The Science Museum entrance are poor. It's no longer Government mandated of course, but it's still solid advice.

I visited The National Gallery this week to view the "on tour" Turner paintings not seen in UK since 1911. I was relived that entry was as straightforward as you describe, because it was super-faffy in the directly post-lockdown era.

Frank F | 21.01.23 - 8:02 a.m. | #

I see the Science Museum group are continuing their run as “worst people to be in charge of a large portion of this countries heritage”.

I’m a member of the IWM, so I get in for free to their non-free locations, with a speedy separate door too.

Kirk | 21.01.23 - 8:22 a.m. | #

We have guests with us this weekend. They wanted to go see Britannia here in Edinburgh which also has a pre-book system.

This is not advertised as free (fair enough), but the booking process includes a donation. At no point does it say how much this is, or provides an option to decline to pay. Not impressed, considering the ticket is £18.50, which I suspect already contributes to their running costs. So it is unclear what the donation is for - seemingly optional in a compulsory sort of way.

Booking the tickets involves giving a lot of personal information - although impressively, they did not ask for my inside leg measurement. But give them time, I suspect most institutions will be seeking this vital piece of information for their marketing.

Tim Burns | 21.01.23 - 8:31 a.m. | #

Until very recently you could just walk in to The National Gallery, which I did quite often, so I was shocked to have to queue up outside in heavy rain. When I reached the front I was called forward and put down my umbrella; then the guard changed their mind so I put it up again, unwittingly spattering the woman behind with second-hand raindrops. She was absolutely furious and harangued me to the extent that in the end I felt rather pleased that I'd done it.

I assume that the current system is a response to recent climate protests. Sadly I expect it will last the rest of my lifetime because, who wants to take responsibility for removing security measures?

Tony | 21.01.23 - 8:50 a.m. | #

I was in Edinburgh just before Christmas and walked to Leith to see RYB. At the ticket desk asked if there was a discount for ex sailors. There was, gift aided to show my appreciation, and then saw a photo of my second cousin at the Captains Table with a young "Leading" Prince Edward on the walk to boarding the ships' bridge.

scrumpy | 21.01.23 - 8:57 a.m. | #

Well, that's got me suitably 'wound up' this morning. Thank you Science Museum !

Petras409 | 21.01.23 - 9:08 a.m. | #

Last year, I made it my policy that if somewhere required me to register, I would go elsewhere, as there are usually alternatives. Only failed once so far, but I was quick to raise a data removal request afterwards. This level of data collection is unacceptable to me, so I refuse to comply.

As for asking for donations, either charge or don’t charge - this middle ground is waste of everyone’s time. Personally, I would be happily pay for a no-faff entrance, in the same way apps often have a paid advert-free option

Jimbo | 21.01.23 - 9:37 a.m. | #

Wow! I won't be popping into the Science Museum anytime soon then!
Is the Natural History just as bad? I remember hearing something about it which made it go down in my estimation - maybe it's no longer free?

dg writes: see no. 4

Cornish Cockney | 21.01.23 - 9:43 a.m. | #

A friend and I went to see the Chris Kilip exhibition between Christmas and New Year only to find that the Photographers Gallery was closed. We then thought about visiting the National Gallery, but my friend said you still needed to pre-book so we didn't go. A few weeks earlier I'd walked past the British Museum and on impulse thought I'd pop in. It looked like I needed to pre-book so didn't do so. I now know to the contrary, so thanks to your post. I do think however these institutions need to make it much clearer for visitors what the situation is.

Colin | 21.01.23 - 10:01 a.m. | #

It's not purely leftover covid theatre at the Science Museum. I know for a fact that I took the boy last year and although you had to do the pre-booking a ticket nonsense, you did not have to create an account with all your details. That's new(ish). I booked for today and assumed I must have had an account from last time we went in, but no.

I hope the National Portrait Gallery stays sane when they re-open.

Chz | 21.01.23 - 10:09 a.m. | #

The theory is that in 2001 the government mandated all museums were to be free to enter to encourage people to visit. The museums then complained that they weren't getting enough from the government to pay for this so started asking for donations.

As to registrations, in real-life or online if I have to register I just lie. [email protected] is my favourite. But if the website is particularly obnoxious, [email protected] gets used too. (Yeah, I know a human rarely reads these accounts nowadays, but it makes me happy)

Jon Jones | 21.01.23 - 10:23 a.m. | #

If a museum suggests donations, which is fair enough, I always prefer to do it on the way out once I know how good it was. They sometimes get more than their suggested amount if I've particularly enjoyed it. The ones that take donations as a pseudo-entry charge aren't always geared up to take them on exit and so can miss out.

On the registration front, BBC Sounds particularly annoys me as there's no requirement to have a licence for radio so no actual need to confirm identity. They clearly do no form of checking anyway as I've signed up in the name of Lord Reith using the BBC's own address.

Andrew S | 21.01.23 - 10:43 a.m. | #

For the British Museum, there is usually less of a queue and less faff at the subsidiary entrance around the back on Montague Place. I’ve not been for a while but the side entrance to the NHM on Exhibition Road is often quicker than the main entrance.

The National Gallery was absolutely rammed when I went a few weeks ago. Perhaps because there is less space to spread visitors out with the Sainsbury Wing closed until 2025. But it is interesting to see some of the old paintings rehung in the old galleries. Room 12 has some great paintings but I guess your footnote is referring to the portrait of a young man by Moretto da Brescia?

Most of these museums and galleries could introduce a fast-track “no bag” route that bypasses all of the nonsense, but then they’d miss the opportunity to gouge visitors for a donation. On the whole a price worth paying for the ability to visit on a whim, gratis.

Andrew | 21.01.23 - 10:53 a.m. | #

For some reason, never knowingly having seen it written down before, previously thought there was a silent "p" at the start of "faffier" It just seems that bit pfaffier somehow.

cau1khead | 21.01.23 - 10:56 a.m. | #

I refuse on principle to give a donation BEFORE I've seen something. It would be like tipping the waiter before you've had your meal!

I was up in the Manchester area a couple of weeks ago, IWM North was similar to the London museum in that you couldn't just walk in, but the brief "delay" wasn't unreasonable. In none of the other free museums I visited was there much "faff".

Mikey C | 21.01.23 - 10:58 a.m. | #

I have a very old email address which after various takeovers eventually ended up with Talk Talk who wanted me to pay as I was not their broadband customer. As I refused I no longer have access but it comes in handy to use for unwanted registrations.

JohnC | 21.01.23 - 11:00 a.m. | #

The Montague Place entrance at the rear of the British Museum also has a mandatory bag check detour, though much shorter.

The Exhibition Road entrance at the Natural History Museum also has a chugger chicane, and he was even more pleady yesterday than the two at the front.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 21.01.23 - 11:07 a.m. | #

I'm glad to have been back to all but No.4 & 1 so thanks for the information that the V&A is ok now. As noted before in these pages, I will not go to the Science Museum or recommend it to anyone until their idiotic nonsense is done with.

At some times, the queue for the National Gallery has been so long and slow that I have given it a miss. A short visit about an hour before closing is a breeze.

NickW | 21.01.23 - 11:15 a.m. | #

p.s. Tate Britain is also as easy as Modern.

NickW | 21.01.23 - 11:16 a.m. | #

I’m old enough to have visited the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum in the pre-IRA and pre-Thatcher era. No charges, no security, and there was a corridor allowing you to walk from one to the other.

Kim | 21.01.23 - 11:25 a.m. | #

You should try the faffiest swimming pools next - you may need counselling afterwards.

Adam | 21.01.23 - 11:40 a.m. | #

I don't understand their attitude. These places are desperate for visitors/income but encourage you not to visit. Bonkers

ap | 21.01.23 - 11:45 a.m. | #

Inspired by this, I had a minor rant about the Science Museum with my postie this morning. And she told me about how all the local leisure centres now require an app and a >16 year old to book ahead for everything. Seems harsh on the kids at half term, they used to be able to just rock up to the pool on a whim. It's no wonder they just spend the day in front of the telly instead.

Chz | 21.01.23 - 12:28 p.m. | #

Andrew S - Now I know why I had to change my existing BBC account to Lord Reith1 . And I had to change my birth date from 1/1/1900 to 1/1/1903.

mikeS | 21.01.23 - 12:41 p.m. | #

I am a soft toy belonging to a semi-regular commentor. I have my own Google account and email address and am happy for my owner to use it for purposes like those outlined above.

Little Red Monkey | 21.01.23 - 12:57 p.m. | #

I agree with you ap. If a museum wants people to visit and donate to it, then it shouldn't put needless obstacles in their way which waste their time and tries their patience.

By way of contrast I have visited the Wallace Collection a few times recently. No pre-booking needed, no faff, you just go in and they are always welcoming. Plus the Cafe / Restaurant there is very good.

IanD | 21.01.23 - 1:54 p.m. | #

Knew the Science Museum would be number 1 before scrolling down. Awful, awful, stupid system.

Sean | 21.01.23 - 2:00 p.m. | #

I managed to get into the Science Museum a few weeks ago without going through any of the hassle by walking up to where the QR scanning stations are and then simply continuing past them. It wasn't deliberate, I just assumed I didn't need to do it!

It was pretty quiet at the time (late on a Wednesday afternoon) with no queues. I don't know if that makes a difference.

Paul | 21.01.23 - 2:46 p.m. | #

Can George Osbourne read? Fun read thanks. Have to revisit some of these, even the Science Museum (haven't made my crystal-building toy from last time)

Noel | 21.01.23 - 4:39 p.m. | #

I didn't realise how mad the science museums system is until I wanted to visit purely to buy something from the sci fi exhibit shop.

Also agree with the comments above about leisure centres. After the psychological torment required to navigate their online booking system
I'm anmazed anyone uses our local one at all.

Michael | 22.01.23 - 10:04 a.m. | #

Turned up on spec at the Science Museum about 2 hours before closing, outside they were insisting people booked by stopping everyone and talking thorough the QR code process. Luckily, the attendents got distracted so I pretended to complete the transaction whilst walking the snake queue, then pretended to scan in. No one inside actually checked.

plymothian | 22.01.23 - 5:01 p.m. | #











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