British Museum offers out-of-hours tour

An out-of-hours, behind-the-scenes tour of the British Museum has launched for groups of up to eight at a cost of £79 per person.

Operated by Bloomsbury Hotel Montague on the Gardens and only available to its guests, the Conflict and Conservation tour focuses on the museum’s operation during World War Two. Attendees are granted access to the museum and some non-public areas with a guide for an hour before it opens to the general public.

The move is part of a broader trend for cultural sites to offer exclusive out-of-hours access for those willing to pay a premium. Often operated privately, the tours can provide a lucrative source of income, particularly to institutions like the British Museum, where access is usually free.

In April, the Greek Culture Ministry proposed introducing private visits to the Acropolis and the Parthenon two hours before and after regular opening hours.

Costing €5,000 for a group of five, the Hellenic Organisation of Cultural Resources Development estimated that the initiative could raise up to €40,000 a day to support and protect cultural sites.