Coach and minibus hire for school trips, youth groups and group visits to the Science Museum in South Kensington. We plan your drop-off around the Museum’s group entrance rules and give you a fixed quote before you book.
Science Museum group transport at a glance
- Address Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD
- Group entrance On weekdays in term time, school groups use the Group Entrance on Imperial College Road. At weekends and in school holidays, all groups use the Main Entrance on Exhibition Road.
- Coach drop-off A coach drop-off point on Exhibition Road outside the Museum. The Museum has no coach or car parking.
- Opening hours Daily 10:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:15. Closed 24 to 26 December. Galleries start to close 30 minutes before the Museum closes.
- Group sizes Minibuses for 9–16 passengers, midi coaches for 17–37, full-size coaches for 38–70. Larger groups travel in multiple vehicles.
- Busiest periods Weekdays in term time for schools, and school holidays and half terms for families. Book your Museum tickets and your coach early.
- Prices See our pricing page for current coach and minibus prices. You get a fixed written quote for every booking.
How group coach hire to the Science Museum works
The London Coach Company is a licensed London coach operator. Our drivers run your trip from pickup to return, and we plan every Science Museum booking around your group's arrival slot and any booked activity.
You get one point of contact, one fixed quote and one booking. The coach sets down on Exhibition Road and then moves on, so we time your drop-off and pickup closely and the group isn't left waiting on the pavement.
Typical Science Museum bookings:
- School day trip. Pickup from school, drop-off on Exhibition Road, and a pickup timed to get you back before the end of the school day.
- South Kensington museums day. The Science Museum combined with the Natural History Museum or the V&A next door. No coach move is needed, and the coach collects the group after the second visit.
- Wonderlab or IMAX trip. A visit built around a booked Wonderlab session or IMAX film, with the drop-off timed to your session.
- Arrival day for residential and overseas groups. Airport, station or hotel transfer straight to the Museum.
Typical journey times to the Science Museum
Times are for a full-size coach on a school-day morning, door to set-down.
We build London traffic into every quote, so your group arrives in time for its slot.
| From | Approx. journey time |
|---|---|
| Guildford | 60–75 mins |
| Reading | 60–80 mins |
| St Albans | 60–75 mins |
| Luton | 60–80 mins |
| Chelmsford | 75–90 mins |
| Maidstone | 75–90 mins |
| Milton Keynes | 80–100 mins |
| Brighton | 90–110 mins |
Science Museum group visit rules (what trip organisers need to know)
The Museum's group rules decide which entrance you use, how many adults you need and how to plan lunch, so check them before you book transport.
- Book in advance. The Museum asks all groups to book through its group booking portal. Booking guarantees tickets for limited-capacity activities, gives you group discounts on charged activities and speeds up check-in. Groups without a booking are welcomed daily from 12:00.
- Use the right entrance. On weekdays in term time, school groups go in through the Group Entrance on Imperial College Road. At weekends and in school holidays, use the Main Entrance on Exhibition Road.
-
Adult-to-child ratios apply.
- Ages 5 and under
- 1:4
- Ages 5 to 11
- 1:8
- Ages 11 to 16
- 1:10
- Ages 16 to 18
- 1:30
- Over-18 groups
- One responsible adult per group
- Lunch areas can't be booked. Groups can use the picnic terrace on Level -1 and other shared seating areas, but packed lunches can't be eaten in the cafés. Lunch bags can be pre-ordered from the Museum's caterer at least a week before your visit.
- Storage is limited. On term-time weekdays, free coat and small-bag storage is offered to Early Years, KS1, KS2 and SEND groups on a first-come, first-served basis. At weekends and in holidays, paid lockers are available. Bags can stay on the coach if the driver is returning to the same vehicle for pickup.
- Some activities are charged. Entry and the object galleries are free, but Wonderlab, Power Up and IMAX films are charged, with discounted tickets for booked groups.
What this means for your coach booking: we time your drop-off for your arrival slot, allowing for the walk from Exhibition Road to the Group Entrance on term-time weekdays. Tell us your arrival slot and any Wonderlab or IMAX session times, and we'll plan the day around them.
Rules are set by the Science Museum and can change. Always confirm your booking details on the Museum's group FAQs page.
Coach access, drop-off and waiting
- No coach parking at the Museum. The Museum has no parking facilities, and there is no visitor parking on Exhibition Road.
- Set-down point: the coach drop-off point on Exhibition Road, outside the Museum. On term-time weekdays, the Group Entrance on Imperial College Road is a short walk from the drop-off.
- Where the coach waits: after drop-off, the coach moves to one of the coach parks the Museum recommends, at Warwick Road (Earl's Court), Bayswater Road (Notting Hill Gate) or Park Lane, and returns for your agreed pickup time. Any coach park charges are included in your quote.
- No engine idling. Leaving an engine running while stationary is an offence and can be fined by the local council. Our drivers switch off at every stop.
- Busy roads: Exhibition Road and Cromwell Road are busy, especially in school holidays. On the day, your driver confirms the pickup point with the group leader by phone.
- Emissions and charges: coaches and buses over 5 tonnes are subject to the London-wide Low Emission Zone (Euro VI standard), not the ULEZ. Minibuses under 5 tonnes are subject to the ULEZ. South Kensington is outside the central London Congestion Charge zone. All vehicles we supply are LEZ and ULEZ compliant.
Public transport, for anyone meeting the group there: South Kensington Underground station (District, Circle and Piccadilly lines) is about a 5-minute walk from the Museum.
Accessibility
Museum staff are on hand to help, including with the lifts for groups. Tell the Museum about any access requirements when you book, so it can give you the best advice.
Minibus parking for groups with access requirements: the Museum can offer minibus parking for groups bringing children with access requirements. It must be booked with the Museum more than two weeks in advance, is subject to availability, and the minibus must be no longer than 4.6 metres. Tell us if you need this, and we'll supply a vehicle that fits.
Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available by special request. Please tell us about any wheelchair users or mobility requirements when you request a quote, so we can confirm a suitable vehicle for your group.
Combining the Science Museum with other London visits
| Combined with | How the coach helps |
|---|---|
| Natural History Museum | Next door on Exhibition Road, so no coach move is needed. The coach collects the group after the second visit. See our Natural History Museum page. |
| V&A Museum | A short walk down Exhibition Road. Walkable, with pickup planned for the end of the day. See our V&A page. |
| Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens | A short walk north, useful for an outdoor lunch in good weather. |
| Royal Albert Hall | A short walk north. Ideal for school concerts and events after a Museum visit. See our Royal Albert Hall page. |
| Tower of London | A coach moves across central London. Journey times vary with traffic, so we build the transfer into your itinerary. |
Vehicle options
| Vehicle | Passengers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Minibus (standard or executive) | 9–16 | Small classes, SEND groups, home-education and youth groups |
| Midi coach (standard or executive) | 17–37 | A single class with adult helpers |
| Full-size coach (standard or executive) | 38–70 | Two classes, large tour parties, corporate groups |
| Multiple vehicles | Any size | Whole-school trips and very large groups |
See our full fleet options. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available by special request. Availability depends on the date, and term-time weekdays book up first.
About the Science Museum
The Science Museum on Exhibition Road is one of London's best-loved free museums and part of the Science Museum Group. Its galleries cover the history and future of science, engineering, medicine and technology, from iconic spacecraft in the Space gallery to historic aircraft in Flight. Wonderlab, its interactive gallery, has more than 50 hands-on exhibits and live demonstrations, and the IMAX: The Ronson Theatre shows documentaries on one of the biggest screens in the UK. An average visit lasts around two hours.
The Museum holds a Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge, recognising its educational provision and risk management. For full visitor information, opening times and group bookings, see the official Science Museum website.
Who books Science Museum transport with us
- Primary and secondary schools: science, STEM and design and technology trips from across London and the Home Counties. See our education transport.
- SEND schools and small groups: minibuses and accessible vehicles by request, including vehicles that fit the Museum's minibus parking.
- Youth, Scout, Guide and home-education groups: weekend and holiday day trips.
- Overseas and residential school groups: airport transfers plus a London sightseeing day. See our airport transfers.
- Corporate and event groups: transport for evening events at the Museum. See our corporate transport.
Get a quote for Science Museum group transport
Send us your date, pickup address, group size and Museum arrival slot or activity time, and we'll come back with a fixed written quote.
- Call +44 20 3457 2071
- Email [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can a coach drop off at the Science
Museum?
There is a coach drop-off point on Exhibition Road outside the Museum. The Museum has no parking, so after setting down the coach moves to a nearby coach park and returns for your agreed pickup time.
Which entrance do school groups use at the
Science Museum?
On weekdays in term time, school groups use the Group Entrance on Imperial College Road. At weekends and during school holidays, all groups use the Main Entrance on Exhibition Road.
Do groups need to book the Science
Museum?
Yes. General admission is free, but the Museum asks all groups to book in advance through its group booking portal. Booking gives you group discounts on charged activities and faster check-in. Groups without a booking are welcomed daily from 12:00.
What adult-to-child ratio does the Science
Museum require?
The ratios are 1:4 for ages 5 and under, 1:8 for ages 5 to 11, 1:10 for ages 11 to 16 and 1:30 for ages 16 to 18. Groups of over-18s need one responsible adult per group. Accompanying adults must be aged 19 or over.
Do coaches pay the ULEZ or Congestion
Charge at the Science Museum?
Coaches over 5 tonnes are subject to the London-wide Low Emission Zone rather than the ULEZ, and minibuses under 5 tonnes are subject to the ULEZ. South Kensington is outside the central London Congestion Charge zone. Vehicles we supply are LEZ and ULEZ compliant, and any applicable charges are included in your quote.
How much does coach hire to the Science
Museum cost?
See our pricing page for current coach and minibus prices. The final price depends on group size, pickup location, waiting time and any extra stops. You get a fixed written quote before booking.
Is the Science Museum free for school
groups?
Entry to the Museum and its object galleries is free. Some activities, such as Wonderlab, Power Up and IMAX films, are charged, and organised groups get heavily discounted tickets when they book in advance.
Who operates the coaches?
The London Coach Company is a licensed London coach operator. Your trip is run by our own professional drivers, with the vehicle matched to your group size and itinerary.
Do you have wheelchair-accessible coaches
for Science Museum visits?
Yes, wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available by special request. Tell us about any wheelchair users or mobility requirements when you request a quote, so we can confirm a suitable vehicle for your date.