Bletchley Park, the former top-secret home of Britain’s World War Two Codebreakers, is preparing to safely reopen to the public this Saturday (4/7).
To help keep visitors and team members safe, the usually busy museum and heritage attraction near Milton Keynes will reopen with reduced capacity. And, all visitors (including Friends and existing Annual Season Pass holders) must pre-book a timed entry slot online.
New one-way systems, hand sanitiser stations, and additional hygiene measures will be in place to help visitors explore the atmospheric wartime buildings, exhibitions and outdoor spaces in safety.
Iain Standen, CEO of Bletchley Park Trust, said: “Like many museums and heritage attractions, recent events have had a huge impact on Bletchley Park’s finances and future plans. We usually receive over 250,000 visitors a year and rely on visitor income for over 95% of our operating costs.
"Bletchley Park has been fortunate to receive emergency funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund which has been important in helping us reopen, as well as supporting an exciting new virtual Learning Programme. The following months will continue to be a challenging time, but we are delighted to be able to reopen safely and start welcoming visitors.”
The iconic heritage site has now gone cashless, with card-only payments accepted throughout. Bletchley Park’s Hut 4 Café and Hut 1 Kiosk will be serving ‘grab and go’ food and drink to enjoy in the spacious grounds. Visitors are also welcome to bring their own picnics. Additional toilets will be available to help ensure social distancing.
