Your guide to Theme Parks, Attractions, Cinemas, Museums and Galleries opening throughout July
As life slowly returns to the UK’s cultural landscape as museums and galleries, attractions and cinemas wake from their virus imposed slumber, we’ve rounded up what is currently opening and when and what the guidelines are during visits.
Theme Parks
From 4th July the following theme parks are opening up. There may be some rides that are not open or restricted due to guidelines, always check the website prior to travel to check the latest updates.
Opening from 4th July
Chessington World of Adventures
Dreamland Margate – offering a series of events throughout July, rides will not open this summer
Lightwater Valley – reopening 18th July
Theme Park Guidelines and Tips
The theme parks have reduced capacity to help with flow and all tickets need to be pre-booked.
- Tickets will only be available online and won’t be available on the day. Do not visit if you haven’t pre-booked your tickets.
- Most theme parks seem to be operating on taking temperatures of all staff and guests before entering the site. If a temperature is above 38 degrees centigrade unfortunately you will not be able to enter.
- All staff will have undergone full training and will be wearing appropriate PPE at all times
- Some theme parks will have a virtual queue app for all rides and selected catering outlets to help manage queue lines. Check this out prior to leaving.
- All outlets will have clear shields to help protect you and their staff at all times
- Food outlets will be open as takeaways
- Additional hand sanitising units will be available on site
- The site will undergo enhanced cleaning. Rides and outlets may close for cleaning at periods throughout the day
Museums and Galleries
Many are opening in July or August but some will remain closed (as of July 3rd 2020) so always check before deciding on your day out and if the museum or gallery usually requires tickets, it’s likely you’ll be required to buy in advance.
Bank of England Museum Expected to open in August
Barbican Partially open from 13th July
Brooklands Museum Expected to open in August
Cutty Sark Reopens 20th July
Down House Reopens 4th July
Dulwich Picture Gallery Gardens and cafe only open now
Dr Who Museum Open now, to shop customers only
Eltham Palace Gardens only Open now
Garden Museum Reopens 4th July
Grant Museum of Zoology Reopens 4th July
Hampton Court Palace Gardens only
Horniman Museum Gardens and cafe only
Jewel Tower Opens in early August Tickets available from early July
Kensington Palace Reopening 30th July
Kenwood House Gardens now open, and shop reopens 4th July
National Army Museum Reopening 7th July
National Gallery Reopening 8th July
Old Royal Naval College Grounds open Mon-Fri from 15th June.
Osterley Park and House Garden now open
Royal Academy Reopens 16th July
RAF Museum Reopens 6th July
Sir John Soane’s Museum Reopening in the Autumn
Somerset House Reopening mid-July Booking likely
Tate Britain Reopening 27th July Booking details to be announced
Tate Modern Reopening 27th July Booking details to be announced
Tower Bridge Reopening 4th July
Tower of London Reopening 10th July
Twinings Tea Shop
& Museum Reopening 17th July
Wallace Collection Reopening 15th July
Wellington Arch Opens early August Tickets available from early July
Whitechapel Gallery Reopening “soon”
Venues and Attractions
Bletchley Park Reopening 4th July
Diggerland Reopening 11th July
Epping Ongar Railway Reopening 1st August
Go Ape Open now
Kew Gardens Open now for outdoor areas only, glasshouses reopening 4th July
London Zoo Open now for outdoor areas only
Sky Garden Open now
The View from the Shard Reopening 1st August
Cinemas
Looks like the cinemas are opening their doors but all at different times. They are all putting in similar Covid- secure safety measures including the below:
- Social distancing across the cinema
- All toilets stocked with antibacterial soap
- Hand sanitiser stations available
- Enhanced cleaning programme
- Staggered film times to minimise contact
- Plastic screening at tills
- Pre-packaged food and drinks on sale
- Increased contactless payment and e-tickets
- Distanced seating in theatres to ensure a safe distance between groups
- Fewer screenings throughout the day
- Staggered start and end time to reduce queues
- Staff provided with PPE
Film news
The big movies of the (now) summer have been delayed until August, including Tenet – a new spy film written and directed by Christopher Nolan starring, Robert Pattinson, Mulan the live-action adaptation of Disney’s 1998 animated film and The New Mutants.
Current Cinema Opening Plans (subject to change)
Odeon – begin opening as of 4th July
Showcase – from 4th July
Empire – a number of sites from 10th July
Cineworld from 31st July
Picturehouse from 31st July
Vue from 31st July
Odeon Location Opening Timelines (subject to change)
4th July:
Trafford Centre, Birmingham Broadway Plaza, Epsom, Norwich, Milton Keynes Stadium, Bournemouth BH2, Lee Valley, Warrington, Port Solent,
Durham.
10th July:
Liverpool ONE, Metrocentre, Silverlink, Guildford, Liverpool Switch Island, Chatham, Telford, Tamworth, Maidenhead, Derby, Leicester, Mansfield, Hull,
Tunbridge Wells, Bromborough, Beckenham, Stafford,
13th July:
Colchester, Hatfield, Coventry, Kettering, Kingston, Leeds Thorpe, Leeds-Bradford, Leicester Sq, Lincoln, Nuneaton, Trowbridge, Rochdale,Chelmsford,
Surrey Quays, Taunton, Birmingham New St, Blackpool, Camden, Northwich, West Brom, Greenwich, Hereford, Huddersfield, Orpington, Salisbury, Covent Gdn, Uxbridge, Wimbledon, Aylesbury, Brighton.
15th July:
Glasgow Quay, Dunfermline, Dundee, E. Kilbride, Braehead, Edinburgh (FC & West), Kilmarnock.
16th July:
Islington, Oldham, Oxford, Preston, Richmond, Southampton, Stoke, Streatham, Swiss Cottage, Bath, Dudley, Worcester, Southend, Gt Northern, Andover, Banbury, Basingstoke, Bristol, Tottenham Court Rd, Harrogate, Hastings, Loughborough, Newark, Crewe, Putney, Sheffield, Woodford, Swadlincote, Haymarket, Darlington, Dorchester, Exeter.
20th July:
(Ireland) Blanchardstown, Coolock, Limerick, Charlestown, Newbridge, Portlaoise, Waterford, The Point, Stilorgan, Naas, Cavan.
Planning your day out
- Check the website first to make sure it’s open and also check safety measures – every theme park, attraction, cinema and venue is slightly different
- Pre-book your tickets and check refund guidelines in case one of you is unwell on the day
- Take hand sanitiser with you along with face masks
- Make sure everyone goes to the loo at home to reduce the need to use public toilets
- Don’t arrive early to minimise time indoors with other visitors
- If the attraction allows it, take your own drinks and snacks
- If you think you or your family may have a temperature or are feeling unwell on the day, don’t make the journey. Re-book and enjoy your day out at a later date
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