After months of empty rooms and quiet hallways, we are delighted to announce that our museum and historic rooms will reopen from Thursday 24 September! Our team has been hard at work creating a one-way system, enhanced cleaning regime and special new technology which will allow you to explore the Palace safely, in lines with government Covid-19 guidelines. Whether it’s your first or fiftieth visit to the Palace, we hope you will find these changes as exciting as we do!
From 10 September you will be able to pre-book free time slots to visit the Palace; these are essential and help us manage crowding inside. The museum and shop will be open from 12.00 – 16.00 on Thursdays to Sundays. The shop has moved to the grand location of Bishop Porteus’s library and will be at the end of the museum visit, but also accessible for those who are just visiting the café. It will be selling all the cards and gifts you know and love – only now, we ask that you pay by card if possible.
Our café rooms will also reopen on Tuesday 22 September, with a range of hot and cold drinks, cakes and refreshments to enjoy in the beautiful historic surroundings of the drawing room. Whilst you are not required to wear a mask in the café, please do so in the museum and shop unless you are exempt.
Although some of our hands-on activities are currently out of action, we have new exciting interactive exhibits such as iBeacons which work off your own smartphone and will give you the history of the room you’re standing in. Styluses are also available for you to use during you visit which allow you to explore the interactive tablets around the museum. Younger visitors will enjoy our new activity trails which explore the museum and rooms with the character of Edmund, our beloved Palace cat, after that they can enjoy our natural play area – perfect for letting off some steam! Our walled garden is also open free of charge 10.15-16.15.
Our staff and volunteers thank you in advance for being respectful of the spaces and others around you. We can’t wait to welcome you back!
Book your free museum time slot now.
