Bank of England Museum, Economy museum in City of London, United Kingdom.
The Bank of England Museum is an economy museum in the City of London documenting the history of British money and finance. Its collection spans over three centuries with banknotes, coins, and financial records showing how the currency system developed and functioned.
The Bank of England was established in 1694 and became central to modern banking development. The museum opened in 1988 to preserve documents and artifacts from pivotal periods including the Napoleonic Wars that shaped British finance.
The museum explores how British money developed and what it meant to people over centuries, from hand-stamped coins to printed notes. Walking through the exhibitions, you see how currency design reflected the times and how the financial system shaped daily life.
The museum is located on Bartholomew Lane and is open Monday through Friday, making it easy to visit during a weekday. Admission is free and English-language guided tours are available for those wanting a more detailed experience.
Inside the museum's rotunda, visitors can actually hold a 13-kilogram gold bar and feel the weight of this precious metal in their hands. This hands-on experience often stays with people and offers an unusual way to understand what wealth feels like physically.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
