Self-guided visits for learning groups
The Design Museum welcomes formal schools, colleges, universities and other educational groups, tour operators, and home educators for self-guided visits. On this page, you can find all the information and guidelines to plan your next visit.
Although this display is FREE for all visitors, it's mandatory that Learning and Self-directed groups pre-book a slot ahead of their visit. This is due to space constraints in the exhibition space and health and safety requirements
Group bookings must be made online via the booking link below
Slots are available from Monday to Friday, every 30 minutes from 10:00 to 15:30
A minimum of 5 students and a maximum of 34 students and 4 tutors are required for online pre-bookings
If you need to book a group visit for more than 34 students and 4 teachers, you must download our School Visit Form via the link below and email the completed form to bookings@designmuseum.org using the subject line 'SCHOOL BOOKING'
The museum has two exhibition spaces for paid exhibitions. Gallery 1, which is our main space, located on Floor G, and Gallery 2, a smaller space on Level -1.
PRICES
We offer special discounted ticket prices for self-guided learning groups. Ticket prices for each exhibition are as following:**
£3 per Student in primary, secondary, further education and college
£5 for Students in university and higher education, including overseas students
Teachers and tutors enter free at a ratio of 1:10 students. Any additional teachers will be charged £8
To pre-book your group visit online, click the booking link below. You will need a purchase card to complete the booking.
When browsing availability, search for the required number of tickets one at a time. If you wish to book above the transaction limit stated below, please consider making multiple bookings as separate transactions
A minimum of 5 group student tickets are required
The transaction limit per group, per transaction, is up to 45 students and 5 tutors
Slots are available from Monday to Thursday, term-time only, at 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, and 13:00. Excluding the first and last two weeks of the exhibition run
Please read our 'Terms and Conditions' via the link below before you book
Educational organisations and tour operators can opt to pay by invoice. Home educator groups must pay by card when booking as we won’t be able to invoice them.
If you need support from the Bookings team to make a booking or require an invoice, you must download our School Visit Form and Customer Invoice Form via the links below and email the completed forms to bookings **bookings@designmuseum.org using the subject line 'SCHOOL BOOKING'
To cancel a paid self-guided visit, please bookings@designmuseum.org within 28 days/20 working days prior to the date of your visit
We want all our visitors to have the best possible experience in the museum.
– Please book your tickets before your visit (including visits to our free collection display) and ensure you follow the supervision guidelines below. The museum offers complimentary tickets for teachers to facilitate this. If you do not meet this ratio, admission will be refused.
– While visiting the Design Museum, your group must fulfil the minimum adult-per-student ratio according to each Key Stage.
– If your group splits up to explore different parts of the building, we ask that you maintain the recommended ratio.
– Students should stay in sight of their supervising adult at all times while in the museum, and students and teachers/chaperones should be easily identifiable by Design Museum staff if needed – we will provide lanyards for staff to facilitate this upon arrival.
.
KEY STAGES AND RATIO
Foundation Stage – Minimum ratio 1:6 | Recommended ratio 1:4
Key Stage 1 – Minimum ratio 1:8 | Recommended ratio 1:5
Key Stage 2 – Minimum ratio 1:10 | Recommended ratio 1:8
Key Stage 3 – Minimum ratio 1:10 | Recommended ratio 1:10
Key Stage 4 – Minimum ratio 1:15 | Recommended ratio 1:10
Post-16 – 1 adult per booking | Recommended ratio 1:15
– Teachers, TAs, tutors and parents/guardians are to remain responsible for behaviour management and safeguarding, and should accompany students at all times.
– Our staff helps all visitors feel safe and comfortable during their visit. Please follow our staff guidance.
– Ahead of your visit, please inform your students of the following:
• Objects and exhibits in the galleries are not to be touched unless the label or a Visitor Experience Assistant invites you to do so.
• The museum is a place for walking, not running – there's a park located next to the museum, where running is permitted.
• We welcome discussion, but not shouting.
• Sketching is encouraged, but please do not bring wet materials into the galleries.
• No food or drink is allowed inside the galleries (unless in a closed container e.g. a bottle).
• A maximum of 10 students are allowed in our shop at a time, and at least one teacher must be present to supervise them.
Background image by Art Fund © Hydar Dewachi 2024 for the Design Museum
Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know about new exhibitions, events, courses, access tours and more.