Bank of England Museum
- History enthusiasts
- Numismatics enthusiasts
- Families with children
What Visitors Say
Very interesting museum! The exposition was quite interesting and covered various subject : the bank building in itself, its architecture, the British money, gold stock in banks as well as the social history behind all of that. The scenography was well though out : enough information for the curious visitor without being overwhelming. The staff was very nice! As the visit is free, I would encourage everyone to stop by!
Interesting for adults and children alike, to learn a bit more about the role of BOE and how they manage inflation. Also a good explainer on money and its evolution . Free to enter , security check required
I had a great time at the BoE Museum as it was genuinely spectacular and far more interesting than I expected! The exhibits are engaging and well presented, and I loved learning about the history of money and banking. I even had a go at lifting a real gold bar, but let's just say my gym membership clearly isn't paying off ha. A brilliant, fun, and surprisingly entertaining visit that's well worth it.
We happened to go on a glorious hot day.. it was nice and cool inside, it is small..but very well informed, we were given a task sheet for my 9 year old, so she found it a mission. We also went for the midday vault story, which the story teller got most of the kids involved, which was good, being lunch time, our energy levels dropped..so we left just before finishing..but we will be back for sure.
The Museum isn’t big but contains a lot of information in a stunning historic building. There are displays of the architectural designs of the bank, coins and info about money and gold, key figures in the banks history, and charters among other things. I especially liked the ceilings in the entrance area. You can access additional information via a QR code and it’s free to enter the museum. There aren’t any cafes or cloakrooms on site but there are toilets.
Highlights
The Gold Bar
Weight of value, literallyA standard bar weighs around 12–13 kg—heavy enough to reset your idea of ‘portable wealth’.
Central gallery, ‘gold’ section
Old Lady of Threadneedle Street
How a nickname became a personaA 1797 satirical print personified the Bank to scold its policies; the ‘Old Lady’ stuck for centuries.
Foundations & cartoons corner
Banknotes & Counterfeits
Art, paper and national trustFrom hand-signed paper to polymer windows and micro-letters, design arms race vs. forgers.
Note design displays
Soane’s Bank
Britain’s most influential ‘lost’ buildingSir John Soane’s windowless perimeter and luminous top-lit halls invented a new bank architecture.
Architecture & archive section
Opening Hours
Fun Facts
During WWII, the Bank hid art treasures (including the National Gallery’s) in subterranean vaults—and quietly managed Britain’s gold transfers across the Atlantic.
Nazi ‘Operation Bernhard’ forged millions in high-quality £5 notes; design tweaks and serial tracking helped the Bank outpace the hoard.
Every Bank of England note carries the printed signature of the Chief Cashier—spot how the autograph changes across decades.
The City sits above one of the world’s largest gold reserves—the Bank holds more than just Britain’s, storing bullion for other countries and institutions.
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