Alistair Hardaker | Image: Young V&A, Town Square © David Parry courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Museums and cultural attractions close galleries, reduced opening hours and shut sites temporarily as a heatwave brings extreme temperatures
A heatwave forecast to bring near-record temperatures has prompted museums and cultural attractions across England to close galleries, cut opening hours or shut entirely, as the Met Office’s rare Red Extreme Heat Warning for parts of England and Wales remains in force until 9pm on Thursday 25 June.
With temperatures forecast to approach 39°C, several institutions said the measures were intended to protect visitors, staff and, in some cases, collections, with upper-floor galleries — typically the hottest spaces — among the first to close. The affected venues, most of them in London, are listed below.
The Young V&A, in Bethnal Green, east London, has closed due to extreme weather, shutting its doors temporarily yesterday lunchtime. It is due to reopen at 10.00 on Saturday 27 June. “We’re very sorry for the disruption and thank you for your understanding”, it said.
The British Museum, in Bloomsbury, central London, has advised visitors to arrive early to beat the heat, and has closed six galleries temporarily in response to the hot weather. The affected spaces are Rooms 68–73, covering Money, Greek and Roman life, the Roman Empire, the Etruscan world, Ancient Cyprus and Greeks in Italy. It plans to reopen the galleries on Thursday 25 June 2026.
The Story Museum, in Oxford, has reduced its hours in response to the heatwave. From 23–25 June, last entry to its galleries will be at 1:30pm. It has also cancelled its ‘Small Worlds’ sessions.
Royal Museums Greenwich, in Greenwich, south-east London, has announced the closure of multiple sites. Cutty Sark and the Royal Observatory are closed to the public until Friday 26 June. Its National Maritime Museum and the Queen’s House remain open. Royal Museums Greenwich said the National Maritime Museum “has air conditioning if you’d like somewhere to cool off for free”.
The V&A South Kensington, in South Kensington, west London, is open, but has temporarily closed several galleries due to the extreme heat. It has closed its Level 4 galleries, as well as Glass (Rooms 129 & 131), Architecture (Rooms 128 & 128a), and Theatre & Performance (including Lost Music Venues). It said these upper-floor spaces are most at risk of heat. It expects to reopen the galleries as usual on Friday 26 June, as temperatures are set to level off.
The Horniman Museum and Gardens, in Forest Hill, south London, has advised visitors to arrive early and make use of its water fountains. It has closed its Butterfly House today, Wednesday 24 June, and said it may close at short notice due to the high temperatures at other times. Its Animal Walk is closed on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June.
