School visits to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Plan your school visitTo make the most of your visit, we have provided comprehensive information for teachers bringing pupils to Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery.
This page contains the following information, click to jump to that section:
Please ensure that all accompanying adults have read this information carefully before visiting.
About your visit
About our displays
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery has reopened several gallery spaces to the public and our new on-site schools programme is now available. New and familiar artworks are on display with a focus better reflecting Birmingham’s personality and future.
Galleries that are open include:
- The museum’s iconic Round Room with new 'One Fresh Take' display looks at how art can be a way to see the world differently.
- The Industrial Gallery reopens with a new ‘Made in Birmingham’ display, which celebrates the city of a thousand trades, its self-deprecating humour, creative people and their worldwide impact.
- The popular Tearoom and Shop are also open for hot drinks, a new food and drink menu and unique gift collections and collaborations with local artists and makers in the museum shop.
- The Birmingham History Galleries show the story of Birmingham and its people since the 12th century.
- The Pre-Raphaelites and Birmingham School of Art gallery are four newly refurbished galleries featuring over 60 paintings, sculpture and stained glass panels.
- Staffordshire Hoard - Discover the story of the Staffordshire Hoard, the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found.
- Wild City - Our new area dedicated to children and families.
Important Note: The Ancient Civilisation Galleries will not be open to the public nor available to schools at this time.
School sessions
Several on-site taught sessions are available at the moment. They are all developed with the KS2 curriculum in mind.
Our workshops all run for around 45 minutes. There are three workshop slots throughout the day:
- 10:30am - 11:15am
- 11:30 am - 12:15pm
- 1pm - 1:45pm
Please note our workshops are only available on certain days of the week.
- Our Anglo-Saxon sessions are available on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays only.
- Our Roman sessions are available on Thursdays and Fridays only.
- Our Ancient Egypt sessions are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only.
- Our Ancient Greece session is available on Mondays only.
- We are also introducing a new session: 'Art Through the Ages' from Autumn Term 2026. This will be available on Fridays only.
Schools are also able to explore the main galleries, alongside their workshop. The main galleries are currently open Tuesday- Friday during term-time.
Costs
On-site taught sessions cost £5.50 per pupil.
Please search our sessions for the full list of sessions.
Self-guided visits
Schools and other groups are still very welcome to make their own visits. Advanced booking is required.
How to Contact Us
All visits, including self-guided visits, require pre-booking. We recommend discussing your needs and plans for your visit with us in advance so that we can advise on the availability of gallery spaces, make sure that you are aware of relevant changes since your last visit, and ensure both parties are aware of any practicalities needed to get the most out of your visit
For enquiries or to make a booking, please contact our Bookings Team in the first instance on 0121 348 8001 (Monday - Friday, 9.30am - 4.30pm) or book via our online form.
Address
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Chamberlain Square
Birmingham
B3 3DH
Image gallery
Terms and conditions
Bookings
- Bookings must be made at least 14 days before the date of your visit.
- We are unable to take provisional bookings.
- If you contact us with a possible date, we can discuss availability and take your details, but please note that your booking is not confirmed until you have received written confirmation from Birmingham Museums Trust.
- Groups arriving at the museum without a confirmed booking may be refused entry.
Invoicing
- The invoice for your confirmed booking will be issued 14 days before the date of your visit.
- Payment is required within 30 days of the receipt of your invoice.
- Once invoices have been paid, they are non-refundable.
Change in numbers
- Please notify us of any changes to your group numbers as soon as possible.
- Please note that no significant changes can be made to your group numbers or invoice within 14 days of the date of your visit.
- If there are exceptional circumstances (e.g. new children joining your school within the 14 day window) please get in touch and we will assess whether we are able to accommodate changes on a case-by-case basis.
Cancellations
- Your booking has a cancellation period of 30 days in advance of the date of your booking. If you cancel outside of this period, you will not be charged.
- If you cancel your booking within 30 days of the date of your visit, you will be charged the full cost of the booked visit.
- If your group does not arrive on the day of your booked visit and you have not contacted us at least 30 days in advance to reschedule, you may be charged the full cost of the booked visit.
Schedule amendments
- Birmingham Museums Trust reserves the right to cancel or alter the schedule of a booking due to unforeseen circumstances.
- If we are unable to deliver your workshop or show due to unforeseen circumstances, we will notify you as soon as possible and amend your itinerary accordingly. You will be refunded for these sessions.
- You will be advised in writing as early as possible; you may request a refund or reschedule your booking. Birmingham Museums Trust does not accept liability for any additional costs incurred.
Before your visit
Pre-visit
- If it is your first time visiting the museum, we strongly recommend that a member of your teaching staff carries out a pre-visit.
- Pre-visits must be booked in advance by contacting the bookings team.
- Alternatively you are welcome to visit the public gallery spaces during opening hours without pre-booking, see the visitpage for details.
Museum shop
- Located on Floor 2, we welcome to visit the shop as part of their day - prior booking is required.
- We ask that a maximum of 30 pupils visit the shop at one time.
Risk assessment
- See the 'Downloads' section further below to download our Hazard Information Sheet to create your own risk assessment for your visit and our Facilitated Session Risk Assessment for your trip.
On the day information
Coach drop off and parking
- The coach drop off / pick up point for school coaches is on Great Charles Street (B3 3LG). No waiting is allowed.
- There is no dedicated parking at the Museum and Art Gallery.
Arrival
- Our schools’ entrance at Great Charles Street will remained closed to the public. On arrival, please report to the Museum’s Main Entrance on Chamberlain Square (B3 3DH). School groups with workshops will be met at the Main Entrance on Chamberlain Square by a member of staff.
- Self-guided school groups will need to walk around to the main entrance to the museum.
- For lift access please use the Gas Hall entrance on Edmund Street.
- View our floor plan to assist you with your visit.
Lunch area
- The dedicated Lunch Area will only be available to schools booked onto workshops.
Cloakroom
- Our cloakroom facilities available to schools who have booked workshops.
- A number of lockers are available (£1 per locker, non-refundable).
Toilets
- There are several toilets available throughout the museum.
- Disabled toilets are also available.
Photography
- Photography is permitted.
- If you are taking photographs in your taught session please let the Learning and Engagement Officer know.
Code of conduct
Conduct and responsibilities
- To ensure that everyone has a safe, enjoyable visit, we ask that all groups follow these guidelines:
- You are responsible for the supervision and conduct of pupils in your group at all times (including during any workshops or shows).
- It is important that pupils are never left unattended or allowed to wander around the building alone.
- Severely disruptive behaviour may lead to the group being asked to leave the museum.
- Please show respect to our staff, our exhibits and other visitors in the museum.
- Please keep all mobile phones in bags or pockets during workshops and theatre/planetarium shows.
- We strongly recommend that if your school has a uniform, it should be worn on the day of your visit to the museum. If your students will not be wearing a uniform, please ensure that they are wearing something that makes them easily identifiable as being part of your group (e.g. lanyard, branded high-vis vest etc.)
- Please do not run in the museum.
- Please only eat or drink in the designated packed lunch or café area – food and drink are not allowed in other areas of the museum.
- We request that groups use the stairs if they are able, to enable those with access requirements to use our lifts quickly and easily.
- Please do not climb on the exhibits.
Workshops
- Please arrive at the location of your booked workshop on time.
- If you arrive at the location of your workshop up to 15 minutes late, we will endeavour to deliver the session, but it may have to be shortened.
- Regrettably, if you arrive more than 15 minutes late to the location of your booked workshop, you will forfeit that session as the learning officer delivering your session will have other sessions immediately afterwards which they will need to be on time for.
- We expect adult helpers with your group to actively participate in our workshops.
Access information
Access information
- If your group has access needs, including SEND requirements, please tell us as early as possible so we can discuss what may be available on the day.
- Our workshops and shows can be adapted to accommodate a variety of needs – a call can be arranged with a member of our learning team ahead of your visit to discuss any access needs or adaptations which may be required. If would like to arrange a call, please contact the bookings team
- Visit our accessibility information page on our website for further details.
We hope you have an enjoyable and rewarding visit!
