Bank of England

Most people are familiar with the façade of the Bank of England, but if you walk down the side you'll find the entrance to the bank Museum, where you'll be welcomed by the bank guards in their traditional, and rather splendid, pink tailcoats. According to Chris (a Young Leader Guider) on reception, only a few of the security staff wear them these days so you may or may not see them. They'll check your bags (although I always think they should probably check them on the way out!) and then it's in to the museum itself.

The range of 'freebies' has increased in the past couple of years - we got prizes for doing the quiz and for opening the safe, and we discovered that the free 45 minute talk includes things that the general public just don't get to see - like whole sheets of newly printed bank notes. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable, and picking up a £135,000 gold bar went down a treat! There's the old banking hall to seem and lots of interesting information about the history of money through the ages,

Bank underground station of course, direct from Waterloo by the Waterloo & City line and the excellent travelator at Bank station, and free entry to the museum. Well worth a couple of hour's visit, check out their website.

Webmaster - August 2007

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