We're thrilled to unveil a unique opportunity born from our special relationship with the neighbouring British Museum. Their new Conflict & Conservation Tour provides guests of The Montague with private access to the British Museum’s iconic galleries, for a full hour before it opens to the general public. In the company of a qualified guide, you will see and hear how the museum’s vast collection was evacuated to various secure locations in August 1939, as the Second World War loomed.
This experience begins with breakfast at 8.30am at The Montague, where you will meet your guide, before being accompanied to the British Museum to begin your private one-hour tour. When the museum opens to the general public at 10am, you have a further two and a half hours with your blue badge guide to explore the museum and receive a bespoke tour tailored to your preferred subject.
Embark on an exclusive journey through normally publicly restricted areas and hidden realms at the British Museum
Explore the wartime saga of the British Museum's iconic Reading Room, a hub of intellectual resilience during WWII
Uncover the hidden ties between the Ministry of Information and the British Museum
Follow the trail of an unexploded bomb that landed within the museum during the Blitz
Peek behind the scenes to discover precautions against chemical attacks 'back of house'
Head through a secret door to the galleries
Hear tales of the British Museum staff members who lived on-site, guarding against looting and fire during air raids
Marvel at the ingenious temporary roof that shielded the museum during wartime
Witness the enduring scars of bombing damage etched into the museum's facade
Explore the strategic protection of key artefacts, revealing wartime preservation efforts in the galleries
This tour is exclusively for guests of The Montague on the Gardens. Please express your interest in attending this tour either at the point of booking your room or after.
Price: £1,045 for up to 12 guests
Terms and Conditions apply. View our full experience Terms and Conditions here.
This tour is exclusively for guests of The Montague on the Gardens. Please express your interest in attending this tour either at the point of booking your room or after by contacting our concierge team.
Our exclusive partnership with the British Museum allows our guests VIP access to the museum before doors open to the general public when you book one of our private guided tours.
Images © The Trustees of the British Museum
After your exclusive tour, retreat to our charming Georgian townhouse. Dine at the Blue Door Bistro, enjoy a cocktail in our chic Leopard Bar, or indulge in an Afternoon Tea in our tranquil conservatory.
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