The Wellcome Collection in central London, with a range of popular free exhibitions, is cutting its opening hours from next year as it adjusts to changing visitor habits.
At the moment, the galleries and reading room are open from daily except Mondays, from 10am to 6pm – but also open late every week on Thurdays to 8pm. While several large galleries and museums have occasional late openings, the Wellcome Collection is one of the few to routinely open late every week.
However, that’s changing from January, as they are cancelling the late openings on Thursday evenings, so the galleries and reading room will close at 6pm every day.
A Wellcome Collection spokesperson confirmed the change, but indicated that they will have occasional lates throughout the year.
“In recent years, we have seen a shift in museum visiting patterns, with audiences choosing daytime over evening visits. We have amended the opening hours of our galleries and Reading Room to reflect this. From January, our galleries and Reading Room are open from 10am to 6pm from Tuesday to Sunday, complemented by seasonal late openings throughout the year. Details to be announced.
“Wellcome Collection shop and cafe open every day, 10am to 6pm, and the library is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm and until 4pm on Saturday. Wellcome Collection galleries and exhibitions are free to enter.”
So, if you want to visit the Wellcome Collection late on a Thursday, you have just tonight (11th Dec) and next Thursday (18th Dec) to do so.
At the moment, there are three exhibitions at the galleries – on the search for freshwater, sign language and religious protections for mothers giving birth.
