Overview
- The British Museum announced the changes on Sunday after visitors reported waits of up to two hours and hundreds were turned away when the venue closed early for a private event.
- From Monday the museum began rolling out an audio guide, installed more signage and added seating for people waiting, and said it will extend opening hours with exact times to be confirmed soon.
- Anyone who was turned away is being offered a full refund plus a priority rebooking slot, and additional ticket batches are scheduled to be released later in October with a further release on October 21.
- The audio-description was introduced following a pre-action letter from Leigh Day on behalf of Dr Yusuf Ali Osman alleging disability discrimination, highlighting legal and accessibility pressure on the museum.
- Conservation rules set by French and British conservators — including strict low-light limits, timed 40-minute visits and a one-way route with no photography — constrain how the museum can increase capacity and shape how the new measures will work in practice.