Bank of England Museum
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About Bank of England Museum

Museum housed within the Bank of England which traces the history of the Bank from its foundation by Royal Charter in 1694 to its role today as the nation's central bank. There are gold bars dating from ancient times to the modern market bar, coins and a unique collection of banknotes, as well as many items you might not expect to find - such as the pikes and muskets used to defend the Bank; the Roman pottery and mosaics uncovered when it was rebuilt in 1930 and documents relating to famous customers such as Horatio Nelson, George Washington and the Duchess of Marlborough.

Facilities

Opening Times Monday - Friday 10.00 - 17.00 (Last entry at 16:45) Closed weekends and Bank Holidays
Booking and payment details Free

Bank of England Museum Address

Address:
Threadneedle Street, London
London
EC2R 8AH
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7601 5491
Fax: +44 (0)20 7601 5808
Email:
Website: http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum

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Prices for Bank of England Museum

Adult: Free (USD0.00)
Family: Free (USD0.00)
Concession: Free (USD0.00)
Child: Free (USD0.00)
 

Location Information for Bank of England Museum

Address:
Threadneedle Street, London
London
EC2R 8AH
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7601 5491
Fax: +44 (0)20 7601 5808
Email:
Website: http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum
Public transport: Bank, London Underground
By Road: Tube/DLR: Bank. Tube/Rail: Liverpool Street Rail: Fenchurch Street or Cannon Street (weekdays only)

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Reviews of Bank of England Museum

Visit London review of Bank of England Museum

Reviewed by: Visit London
Did you know that Kenneth Graeme, author of The Wind in the Willows worked at the Bank of England for over 30 years? The Bank of England Museum has a special tribute display to Graeme's banking career.
 

TripAdvisor ®

Traveller Rating:

4.0
Based on 3 reviews
Ranked #115

  Latest 2 reviews of Bank of England Museum

Interesting museum

An interesting museum with something for just about everyone including an opportunity to try to lift a solid gold bar (it's really, really heavy!) The information on inflation was detailed enough to...

An interesting museum with something for just about everyone including an opportunity to try to lift a solid gold bar (it's really, really heavy!) The information on inflation was detailed enough to be instructive without being too academic and the interactive station comparing changing interest rates to control inflation to letting air in and out of a hot air balloon was fun. The small shop offers some attractive souvenirs.

 
4.0
5 February 2009
by phebert, Huntersville, North Carolina
 

A Golden Opportunity

Amidst the gloom of recession, tumbling share prices and major banks making headlines for all the wrong reasons, where better to go than the Bank of England Museum, I thought. This museum traces...

Amidst the gloom of recession, tumbling share prices and major banks making headlines for all the wrong reasons, where better to go than the Bank of England Museum, I thought.

This museum traces the history of the Bank from its foundation in 1694 and I was surprised to discover that there were still several branches operating within the UK until as recently as 1997. The first room you enter is the Bank Stock Office by Sir John Soane, a reconstruction of a late 18th century banking hall. Here there was a special exhibition on inflation entitled "The Pound in your Pocket". You can have great fun with various gizmos ( including a hot-air balloon simulator!) to find out just how much the cost of your pint or football ticket has risen over the last 50 years or so.

Moving on to the Rotunda, here there are various showcases including some of the Bank's extensive collection of silver. Learn about the "gold standard", how to detect forged banknotes and discover the connection between the author of "The Wind In The Willows", Kenneth Grahame, and the Bank of England.

For most visitors the highlight of the trip will be the opportunity to handle a genuine 13 kilogram gold bar inside a heavily-protected case. Lifting this bar with one hand took all my strength but was well worth the effort. Incidentally, the gold bar is currently valued at £249,000.

The Museum is lively, fun, educational, and the staff friendly and helpful. Nor will it cost you a single ounce of gold to enter since admission is free to all.

 
5.0
27 January 2009
by Harrovian, England
 

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Events at Bank of England Museum

  • ... and Seasonal Music

    Special event

    30 Nov 2009 to 4 Dec 2009

    An opportunity to enjoy incidental seasonal music performed by local schools while browsing round the Museum.

     

  • Banknotes & Coins

    Exhibition

    Recurring event

    The Bank's collection of notes is unique. It mainly consists of issued Bank of England notes dating from the late 17th century, original artwork by note designers, and an unrivalled collection of forgeries. It is the largest collection of Bank of England notes and associated material in the world. As to coin, the collection includes a representative selection of the regal coinage issued by the Royal Mint from 1694, the year of the Bank's foundation, and comprehensively covers the Bank's late 18th and early 19th century issues of Bank of England dollars and tokens.

     

  • Bank of England Museum Collection

    Exhibition

    Recurring event

    Having been in existence for more than 300 years the Bank of England has, unsurprisingly, accumulated a considerable number of items associated with its history. These items are grouped into 'Collections'. Some of them, such as banknotes and furniture, represent the survival of tools used in the everyday working of the Bank whilst others, such as the cartoons, have been acquired over the years either by purchase or presentation. Items from the Bank's collections are displayed in its Museum where they are used to illustrate the history of the institution and its role today at the centre of the UK economy.

     

  • Books & Documents

    Exhibition

    Recurring event

    A wide-ranging collection of books and documents, both handwritten and printed, dating from the inception of the Bank in 1694 to the present. Subjects are many and varied and include personalities, premises and suggestions to make banknotes "inimitable".

     
All 16 events at this venue
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