Published: Thursday, 9th Jul 2020

Bolton Museum will welcome back its first visitors on Tuesday (July 14) as the easing of lockdown restrictions continues.

Museum egypt

From next week, the museum will be open from 9am to 5pm from Tuesday to Friday and 10am to 4pm on Saturdays.

Visitors can explore all the galleries, including the acclaimed Bolton’s Egypt exhibit which features thousands of ancient artefacts and climaxes with the breath-taking recreation of the tomb of Thutmose III.

There is something for everyone at Bolton Museum and we look forward to welcoming back visitors of all ages.

Bolton Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for libraries and museum, Cllr Hilary Fairclough, said:

“There is something for everyone at Bolton Museum and we look forward to welcoming back visitors of all ages.

“Our Egyptology collection is up there with some of the best in the world and our art and natural history galleries are something everyone in Bolton should be proud of.

“Every safety precaution is being taken as we gradually reopen services to the public.

“I’m sure Bolton Museum will once again attract visitors to our area as we seek to recover from the pandemic and create a vibrant and thriving town centre.”

To keep everyone safe, visitor numbers will be restricted, visits will be limited to one hour and some games and interactive displays will remain off limits.

Hand sanitising stations will be available, a one-way system will aid social distancing while public toilets will be closed.

Museumgoers will be asked to provide their contact details when entering to help with track and trace.

The museum shop will be open, and guests can ask a member of staff for help if they want to buy something. 

As part of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bolton Museum was closed to the public on March 23 along with all library buildings.

Since then, residents have been able to access a wide range of museum and library services from their own homes including 360 virtual tours.

This exciting online programme will continue with museum object stories, story times and book chats.

Book browsing and public computers will also be available at Central Library from Monday (July 13).

Opening hours will be 9am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, and Saturday 10am to 4pm. Computer must be booked in advance by calling 01204 332853.

Last week, an order and collect system was introduced at Breightmet, Central, Farnworth, Harwood, Horwich, and Westhoughton libraries.

The council will continue to review when other services will reopen.

For more information about services reopening, visit the Bolton Library and Museum website or call 01204 332853.

For the latest updates, follow the Library and Museum Service on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.