Visit us

Opening times

Find out the opening hours across the different parts of our building. Keep in mind we're open late on Thursdays. Holiday hours are listed so you can plan ahead.

Galleries and Reading Room

  • Monday Closed
  • Tuesday 10:00—18:00
  • Wednesday 10:00—18:00
  • Thursday 10:00—21:00
  • Friday 10:00—18:00
  • Saturday 10:00—18:00
  • Sunday 10:00—18:00

Easter hours

  • Friday 19 April 10:00—18:00
  • Saturday 20 April 10:00—18:00
  • Sunday 21 April 10:00—18:00
  • Monday 22 April 10:00—18:00
See what's on

Library

  • Monday 10:00—18:00
  • Tuesday 10:00—18:00
  • Wednesday 10:00—18:00
  • Thursday 10:00—20:00
  • Friday 10:00—18:00
  • Saturday 10:00—16:00
  • Sunday Closed

Easter hours

  • Friday 19 April Closed
  • Saturday 20 April Closed
  • Sunday 21 April Closed
  • Monday 22 April Closed
Read about the library

Wellcome Kitchen

  • Monday Closed
  • Tuesday 11:00—18:00
  • Wednesday 11:00—18:00
  • Thursday 11:00—21:00
  • Friday 11:00—18:00
  • Saturday 11:00—18:00
  • Sunday 11:00—18:00

Easter hours

  • Friday 19 April 11:00—18:00
  • Saturday 20 April 11:00—18:00
  • Sunday 21 April 11:00—18:00
  • Monday 22 April 11:00—18:00
Explore the menus

Wellcome Café

  • Monday 08:30—18:00
  • Tuesday 08:30—18:00
  • Wednesday 08:30—18:00
  • Thursday 08:30—21:00
  • Friday 08:30—18:00
  • Saturday 09:30—18:00
  • Sunday 10:00—18:00

Easter hours

  • Friday 19 April 09:30—18:00
  • Saturday 20 April 09:30—18:00
  • Sunday 21 April 10:00—18:00
  • Monday 22 April 09:30—18:00
Take a break in our café

Wellcome Shop

  • Monday 09:00—18:00
  • Tuesday 09:00—18:00
  • Wednesday 09:00—18:00
  • Thursday 09:00—21:00
  • Friday 09:00—18:00
  • Saturday 10:00—18:00
  • Sunday 10:00—18:00

Easter hours

  • Friday 19 April 10:00—18:00
  • Saturday 20 April 10:00—18:00
  • Sunday 21 April 10:00—18:00
  • Monday 22 April 10:00—18:00
Books and gifts

Planning your visit in advance

Visiting on a bank holiday or during Christmas break? Our galleries, café, restaurant and shop will be open with adjusted hours.

The building is always closed on 24-26 December and 1 January.

Library closures

Planning a research visit? Our library is closed over bank holiday weekends and between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day:

  • Friday 19 April 2019—Monday 22 April 2019
  • Saturday 4 May 2019—Monday 6 May 2019
  • Saturday 25 May 2019—Monday 27 May 2019
  • Saturday 24 August 2019—Monday 26 August 2019
Entry at busy times

Our temporary exhibitions can become crowded at times, so to keep the galleries safe and comfortable, we may manage numbers with queuing or timed tickets.