Museums and history

Self-guided school visit

Royal BC Museum13 min by bus · 1 km

✓ Fits your group

Exterior of the Royal BC Museum building against a blue sky. The main building has 3 stories, tall columns in the front and a large producing wing on the left. On the right is a 6-story wing on the right advertising an Orca exhibition and a turtle IMAX documentary. Leading up to the building are two sets of stairs and several trees.

Cost

$2 a child

$32 for 16 children

Core gallery visits are $2 per student in low season and $8 per student when a feature exhibition is on display. Fees are in Canadian funds and are tax exempt for BC schools. A 25% discounted rate can be requested in the notes section of the booking form. Adults beyond the required chaperone numbers are charged the regular admission rate.

Ages & size

Grades K to 12

Up to 35 children

Duration

Length not published

Year round

Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri

Book by

2 days ahead

Plan this trip

Fieldy handles all communication and booking for you.

What it actually looks like

Photos from Royal BC Museum's website

Our note

The price per student more than triples when a feature exhibition is on, and there is no way to pay for just the core galleries at those times, so check which rate applies to your date before you budget. Bring your own clipboards and pencils, print the inquiry guides in advance, and plan on one to two hours in the galleries.

What the children do

BC public and independent grade schools can book the core galleries for a self guided visit, Tuesday to Friday, for grades K to 12. Free inquiry guides for grades K to 2, 3 to 7 and 8 to 12 can be downloaded in English, with French versions for the K to 2 and 3 to 7 guides, along with a set of blackline master activity sheets. Core gallery visits are $2 per student in low season and $8 per student while a feature exhibition is on, and during a feature exhibition the higher rate automatically includes both the core galleries and the exhibition. The museum limits itself to three classes a day on Tuesdays and Thursdays and two a day on Wednesdays and Fridays. Teachers who have booked a school visit can arrange a free preview visit beforehand.

Move through the galleries in small chaperoned groups at their own pace, looking at the forest and tide pool displays, the mammoth and the recreated Old Town street, with an activity sheet or inquiry guide to fill in as they go.

Good to know

Washrooms on every floor, indoor lunch space in Carl Hall or the community room, picnic tables outside and water stations on two floors, and the whole route is step free. There is no museum car park, only a drop off zone in front on Belleville Street.

Sources disagree. Their online session page says up to 30 people, then says to email for a webinar version if your group is over 50. If your class sits between the two numbers it is not clear which applies, so ask when you book.

Sources disagree. Two of their pages describe the hardship discount differently. One just says a discounted rate, the other says 25 per cent. Ask for the exact figure when you request it, and note there are only a few each month.

Washrooms

Wheelchair-accessible washrooms are located on every floor.

Lunch space

Groups are welcome to bring their own snacks and lunches. Food and drink are only permitted in designated areas, including Carl Hall or the adjacent community room on the museum's main floor. You are also welcome to eat outside at our picnic tables. Water stations are available on the main and second floors.

Rain backup

Needs confirmation

Strollers

If you require assistance with your stroller, please let the box office staff know when you arrive and we would be happy to assist you.

Wheelchair access

There are six access ramps located outside the museum building. All floors of the museum can be reached by elevator, located in the lobby. Transport-style wheelchairs are available for use within the museum on a first-come, first-served basis.

Bus parking

The Royal BC Museum does not own or operate a parking lot, but there are several privately run lots nearby as well as parking on the surrounding streets. There is a short-term parking drop-off zone on Belleville Street in front of the museum's main entrance.

Nearby park

Thunderbird Park, next to the group entrance at the corner of Douglas Street and Belleville Street

Restrictions

Bags larger than 30 cm by 30 cm are not allowed in the exhibit areas, except for first aid and medical equipment bags.. We provide storage bins on a first come first serve basis should your group require storage. Please note these bins are located in a non-secure storage area and cannot be guaranteed during busy times.. Please note food, gum and drinks are not permitted in the museum galleries. We encourage photography, but please refrain from using flash, tripods or monopods. Photographs may not be permitted in special exhibitions.. Review the School Group Behaviour Agreement with your class and chaperones prior to your visit. A signed copy of the agreement is required upon arrival prior to receiving your tickets.. If you arrive onsite without a prior booking, you may be turned away due to capacity limitations.. Please use the group entrance doors located on the east side of the building, closest to Thunderbird Park, at the corner of Douglas St and Belleville St.

Getting there

675 Belleville Street, Victoria, BC V8W 9W2

On foot

13 min

By bus

13 min

includes a 9 min wait

Driving

6 min

The dark pin is Victoria.

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Details checked on 2026-09-03 against the venue’s own pages. Something wrong? , it takes one tap. · Venue page