The British Museum is banning queues at its main entrance

Normally, there’s only one place in the UK where it’s unacceptable to queue in one straight line: the bar. Everywhere else, Brits take waiting in an orderly queue extremely seriously.

But now, the British Museum has decided that it wants to do away with the Great British Queue, too. 

The museum is planning to trial a ban on single file queues at its main entrance on Great Russell Street. Instead, people will be able to crowd up in an open space in front of the attraction as they wait to have their bags inspected in the security tent. Once inside the tent, museum members will still be able to use their queue-jumping privileges.

Apparently, the trial is part of the museum’s plan to finally replace its temporary security sheds with a more permanent, architecturally suitable structure. The museum says that the plastic sheds (which have been there since 2016) should be gone by early 2026, with new pavilions due to be put up by the spring. 

The pavilions have been designed by architectural firm Studio Weave after it won a competition run by the British Museum last year. It’s now working with local partners to finalise the designs and prepare a planning application.

When Studio Weave was announced as the winner last December, Nicholas Cullinan, the museum’s director, said: ‘We were very impressed by Studio Weave’s initial proposals. They perfectly balance a thoughtful visitor experience while remaining true to the British Museum’s historic building. I’m delighted to be working with them, and I look forward to leading the development of the designs in consultation with the London Borough of Camden and other key stakeholders to create something very special for everyone.’

The British Museum’s anti-queue trial will be happening from September 17 to 23. If you take the back entrance on Montague Place, you’ll still have to queue as normal. 

That’s not the only big change happening at The British Museum. As part of its grand £50m ‘masterplan’, the attraction recently announced that its Western Range galleries would be getting a spectacular makeover, led by Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh. 

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