This month, museums and galleries up and down the country will be staying open late to host some fun and unusual events, for both adults and families.
Museums at Night runs twice annually in May and October, allowing visitors the chance to see their favourite cultural institutions in a new light. For May’s event, museums, galleries, historic houses and libraries across the UK will be opening their doors after dark for some rather quirky capers.
Starting on Wednesday 15th May, the events will include a sinister tour of Peterborough Museum’s vaults and cellars; storytelling and song at Cusworth Hall; and a traditional pub quiz with tankards of ale in St John’s Gate.
Events will continue on the Thursday with an illustrated tour of the Old Library at The Cardiff Story, finishing on the roof for a unique view of the city; a screening of A Night at the Museum film at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery; and hidden stories at the beautiful John Rylands Library in Manchester.
There will also be the chance to dress up in style and enjoy cocktails and pop art at Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery; take a ghost tour of Knebworth House; make origami bats at Wisbech General Cemetery; and enjoy live music and tattoo demos at M Shed, Bristol.
Events on the Friday will include sea shanties and light projections over the lake at Windermere Jetty; a gin experience at Bletchley Park; an improvised meditative journey at Liverpool’s Kazimier Garden; and a chance to don a toga and learn about the Romans at Rugby Art Gallery & Museum.
There’ll also be silent killers at London’s Anaesthesia Heritage Centre, an opportunity to talk about death at The Coffin Works in Birmingham, a look at taxidermy in Warwick, and a free late-night culture crawl in Newcastle and Gateshead.
Finally, on the Saturday there’ll be boards games and a silent disco at Newcastle City Library; a unique time travelling evening at Hailsham’s Observatory Science Centre; monster face painting at Cromer Museum; and dinner and music in an Edwardian tearoom, followed by a secrets of the museum tour, in Birmingham.
When: 15th – 18th May 2019
Where: Across the UK
£: Ticket prices vary, depending on the event. Some events are free (booking may be required)
More info: museumsatnight.org.uk