Admission
Please note that from 5 September our admission charges changed as follows:
£11* Adults
£8.25* Concessions
FREE for children, Foundling Friends & National Art Pass holders
*Ticket prices include a voluntary Gift Aid donation
Open
Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 - 17:00
Sunday, 11:00 - 17:00
Monday closed
On 14 October the Picture Gallery will be closed between 11:30 - 3:30.
On 16 December the Picture Gallery will be closed between 14:00 - 16:00.
Christmas closure: 23 - 26 December, 31 December & 1 January 2018.
Please check back here or contact the Museum for any further closures.
Tube or Train
We are less than 5 minutes’ walk from Russell Square underground station. Alternatively, King’s Cross St Pancras and Euston stations are approximately 10 minutes’ walk from the Museum.
Buses
The nearest buses are the 7, 59, 68, 91, 98, 168 and 188 from Russell Square Station.
Please contact Transport for London for detailed travel advice.
Cycling
Cycling is recommended as an alternative mode of transport. The nearest docking stations for Santander Cycle Hire are located at Brunswick Square and Russell Square Station.
Driving
Visitors are encouraged to use public transport where possible. There is an NCP carpark at the Brunswick Centre for visitors wishing to travel by car, please contact them directly for more information.
Blue Badge parking is available outside the Museum, for more details on disabled access please see our Access page below.
A cloakroom and baby changing facilities are available.
We are committed to making our facilities accessible to all visitors.
Visitors with disabilities are entitled to the concessionary rate. Carers of those with disabilities are admitted free of charge.
Visitors with a Blue Badge for disabled parking may park on the single yellow line for up to 3 hours or in the residents' bays outside the Museum entrance. Blue Badges must be displayed at all times.
The Museum has ramped access, a lift to all floors, accessible toilets with baby-changing facilities and a cloakroom. A wheelchair, facilities for guide dogs, large print interpretation texts and magnifying glasses are also available on request. Should you have further access requirements please contact us in advance on +44 (0)20 7841 3600 or make an enquiry online.
Turn your visit into a unique London experience with a guided tour. Get closer to the Museum Collection and satisfy your curiosity.
Guided tour
Complement your visit with a tour of the Museum. Our guides will bring the history of the Foundling Hospital to life, using a mix of historical fact and remarkable personal stories of children at this important London institution. Learn about the Museum’s many treasured objects and discover our extensive art collection. Whether it’s just for you, or a group, this tour gives an excellent introduction to our fascinating story.
“We all had a wonderful day and our tour guide was excellent. She was full of interesting stories - some very sad, and some made us laugh - and we learnt a lot” Tour attendee
Duration: Approximately 1 hour
Number of people: 1-25
Cost: 1-14 visitors: £7.50 per person + £60 for your guide (this includes VAT)
15-25 visitors: £11.50 per person (includes Museum admission + guide)
For larger groups, tours can be staggered. We regret that we are unable to offer tours of exhibitions.
Out-of-hours tours can also be arranged on Mondays when the Museum is closed to the public, subject to availability. £25 per person + £60 for the guide. Minimum charge £325.
Lars Tharp Talks & Tours
Talks and tours can be booked with our Hogarth Curator Lars Tharp. Choose from an insightful introduction to the Museum and its Collections, or a talk focusing on William Hogarth and the Foundling Hospital. An art historian, lecturer and broadcaster, Lars is particularly well known for his work on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow, as well as Hidden Treasures and Art of the Baroque. A former Director of the Foundling Museum, Lars is a ceramics specialist as well as the author of several books including Hogarth's China and the Little Brown Encylopedia of Antiques (with Paul Atterbury). Additional charges apply. Please contact us for further information and availability.
Group visits
Groups of eight people or more must book their visit in advance. Groups without an advance booking may be denied immediate entry.
Please note groups of eight people or more qualify for a concessionary rate of £7.50 per person.
External speakers
If you are looking for an inspiring speaker for your next group meeting or event, a number of our guides are available to give talks about the history of the Foundling Hospital. All fees go towards Collection purchases. Please contact us for more details.
Book a visit
For more information about tours and group bookings, or to discuss special requirements, contact Tuz Morrison on 020 7841 3591 or enquiries@foundlingmuseum.org.uk. We recommend booking tours and visits several weeks in advance.
For school group visits, see the Learning page
For groups with disability access requirements please see above.
Enjoy a menu of delicious, seasonal dishes and carefully selected drinks in the historic surroundings of the Museum
Managed by LEAFI, our Café is a calm, welcoming space only 10 minutes’ walk from King’s Cross St Pancras. Whether you’re after a quick coffee, breakfast or a leisurely lunch with a glass of wine, the Café serves food and drink all day.
Surrounded by a specially-commissioned mural by poet Lemn Sissay MBE, enjoy a selection of dishes freshly-prepared on site. The menu offers cakes, salads, soups and light meals, with bread supplied by artisan bakery The Flour Station. A drinks menu includes a carefully chosen selection of wines, juices from Square Root London, plus a range of fairtrade coffee and teas, including a special Foundling blend. All ingredients are sourced from small, local suppliers who support Leafi’s beliefs in sustainability and the finest quality. During the summer months seating is available outside next to Brunswick Square, weather permitting.
High chairs are available. We can accommodate dietary requirements, including gluten free – please ask for details.
Opening times
Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-17:00
Sunday 11:00-17:00
Monday Closed
Non-Museum visitors welcome. To book a table for a maximum of 10 people, call +44(0)20 7841 3609.
Become a Foundling Friend and enjoy a 10% discount on all food and drinks. Find out more
Lunch offer
Enjoy a main course and a glass of house wine for only £12.50. Available 12:00-15:00 Tuesday-Sunday.
Cake offer
Enjoy a hot drink and a cake for only £5.95. Available 10:00-12:00 & 15:00-17:00 Tuesday-Saturday, and 11:00-12:00 & 15:00-17:00 on Sundays.
With a variety of souvenirs and gifts available, and with all profits directly benefiting the Museum, make sure you take home something to remember your visit to this unique London history museum.
The Museum Shop offers a wide range of gifts for adults and children alike. Find souvenirs, books, jewellery, greetings cards and artist editions relating to our Collections and exhibitions. We also stock a range of Hetty Feather merchandise, produced exclusively for the Museum.
Limited edition prints by Yinka Shonibare MBE and Quentin Blake can be purchased directly from the Museum, including a print by Cornelia Parker created especially for our major exhibition FOUND. The Yinka Shonibare prints are also available to view and order via Artfinder.
All products available from the Museum Shop can be purchased by mail order. For further details please contact the Shop on +44 (0)20 7841 3600.
The Gerald Coke Handel Collection reading room is open Wednesday - Friday for research by appointment.
For all enquiries email or call +44 (0)20 7841 3606
Search the Gerald Coke Handel Collection catalogue