Self-led group visits to exhibitions and displays

Learning Groups should pre-book ahead of their visit, even if only viewing the free displays. Please note that by visiting the museum as a Learning Group you agree to be bound by our Terms & Conditions, which are linked below for you to read in full before you book.

• The easiest way to book a self-led visit is through our online ticketing portal linked below, which will reserve your slot while booking and secure it immediately upon check-out.

• If you prefer to pay via invoice, you’ll need to submit the Booking Request Form linked below. Please note requested slots will not be guaranteed until you receive an official booking confirmation email containing a ticket QR code and booking reference number. Our Bookings team aim to respond to all Booking Request Forms within 5 working days.

To access special paid exhibition rates, your group must contain at least 5 students and meet our definition of a Learning Group as laid out in Section 1.1 of our Terms & Conditions.

Please ensure that you read Sections 2 (Supervision & Safeguarding) and 6 (Conduct & Behaviour) of our T&Cs prior to your visit.

Accompanying Adults will be provided with lanyards upon arrival at the museum. Please wear these throughout your visit to ensure our staff can easily identify you if needed. To help us look after our objects, displays, and all our visitors, we also ask that you remind your students of the following:

• Objects and exhibits should not be touched unless you are invited to do so by signage or a member of the Design Museum staff.
• Avoid running, shouting, or otherwise disrupting fellow visitors’ experience while inside the museum.
• Sketching is welcomed, but please use dry media (e.g. pencils) only, and exercise caution when near display objects.
• Do not bring food or drink inside the galleries (excluding water in a closed container).
• Please do not leave rubbish in the rest areas and place it in the bins provided throughout the museum.
• No more than 10 students are allowed in the shop at one time, and they must be closely supervised by an accompanying adult.

Our Visitor Experience Assistants are stationed throughout the museum and can be identified by their denim aprons. Please follow any instructions they give, and don’t hesitate to ask them if you have any questions or concerns.

Adult-to-student supervision ratios

Learning Groups must adhere to the supervision ratios below throughout their visit. To support this, paid exhibition tickets include free entry for the required number of Accompanying Adults; bookings without sufficient adults will be cancelled.

Age of youngest student(s) | Minimum ratio

• Up to 6 years old – Minimum ratio: 1:6
• Up to 7-10 years old – Minimum ratio: 1:8
• 11-16 years old – Minimum ratio: 1:10
• Over 16 years old – Minimum ratio: 1:15 (additional free entry allowance for up to 1 adult per 10 students)

Prices

Learning groups can access our paid exhibitions at special rates* during term-time:

• £3 per student up to and including further education level (college,sixth form or equivalent)
• £5 per student in higher education
• Free entry for accompanying adults required to fulfil the applicable Adult-to-Student ratio
• £8 per additional accompanying adult

Please note that all group concessions, including Learning Group rates, must be booked and confirmed in advance of your visit; we cannot guarantee any concessions requested on the day.

• Subject to conditions detailed in our T&Cs section 3.2.

Cancellations and amendments

Please email bookings@designmuseum.org if you wish to cancel or amend your booking, starting your subject line “EDU – booking/amendment” (delete as applicable).

We cannot issue refunds for cancellations made less than 30 days prior to your original booked date. You can find our full Refunds Policy in Section 8.2 of our T&Cs linked above.

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.

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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