Pedestrian barrier used at the Science Museum during COVID-19

Pedestrian barrier with the words "To protect yourself and others: Please keep your distance while exploring the museum. Sanitise your hands on arrival. Wear a face covering when inside the museum. Have your tickets ready for scanning." with associated symbols, white text on a pink background, designed by the Science Museum Design Studio and used at the Science Museum during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020-2022

Coronavirus restrictions saw the Science Museum’s first closure since the Second World War, closing with the all of Science Museum Group's (SMG) museums on the evening of 17 March 2020. Across SMG, Locomotion in Shildon was the first to welcome visitors back on 28 July, followed by the National Railway Museum in York on 4 August, the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester on 14 August. The National Science and Media Museum in Bradford also reopened on the same day. The Science Museum reopened on 19 August 2020, 7 days a week. A second period closure happened during the second national lockdown from 5 November to 3 December 2020. A third closure followed on 16 December 2020, following the announcement of Tier 3 restrictions. Reopening on a five day a week basis began on 19 May 2021 and included a small COVID-19 display in the Medicine and Communities gallery and the announcement of the Injecting Hope exhibition. Science and Industry Museum, National Science and Media Museum, National Railway Museum and Locomotion reopened on the same day. From 1 July 2022, 7 day a week opening returned during term time at the Science Museum.

Welcoming visitors back at each opening was a huge logistical effort ensuring that the current rules and regulations were being applied, especially when these could change rapidly. Each museum site had the same signage, in line with SMG's brand.