/ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

“Ask me, ask me, ask me” The Smiths (1986)

General Visitor Information
Entry
The Exhibition
Smarticket and MyBME

General Visitor information

Q: What is The British Music Experience?
The British Music Experience is a unique, permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of popular music in Britain. Using state of the art effects it shows how rock, pop, dance and many other genres were formed and have influenced the last sixty years of British culture. As well as celebrating the era defining sounds created in this country, it also pays homage to international artists who have found their inspiration or audience within the UK.

We are a registered not-for-profit charity (Registered Charity No. 1125752) and our purpose is to advance the education and appreciation of the art, history and science of music in Britain.

Q: Where is the British Music Experience?
The British Music Experience lives in The O2 bubble, a cutting edge exhibition centre at The O2 the world's most popular venue.

For more information on The O2 including how to get here and our facilities please visit www.theo2.co.uk

Q: Where can I see details on access to the exhibition?
For details on exhibition accessibility please visit The O2’s venue access page. Or for more information or assistance please call Customer Services on 0208 463 2000 or email help@thebritishmusicexperience.co.uk

Q: How can I get up-to-date information and news about British Music Experience programs and events?
We regularly post news and events on this site but you want be kept in a tighter loop, you can Register and receive our BME Newsletter and join us on Twitter.

Q: How do I become a VIP Member of the British Music Experience?
If you’d really like to Access All Areas and get the Rockstar treatment, you can become a VIP Member of British Music Experience for a mere £50 a year which entitles you to unlimited visits, exclusive access to our Green Room, indulge in a selection of free refreshments AND bring 4 friends for free.

Please email membership@britishmusicexperience.com for more information.

Q: What information is available for schools visiting the British Music Experience?
For full information on school visits and support materials for teachers please visit our Learning area. An educational mailing list is also available. Please email learning@britishmusicexperience.com

Q: Do you ever hire out the British Music Experience for parties and other events?
You bet ya, we provide the perfect back drop for a range of corporate or private events.

We can tailor to your individual requirements, transforming the dynamic 3,730 square foot space in just one hour for everything from rock and pop gig, a cocktail reception or awards ceremony.

Please contact hospitality@britishmusicexperience.com for more information. Booking and ticket information

Q: How can I buy tickets?
Timed tickets for The British Music Experience are available through TicketMaster - Please Click Here alternatively, you can via the phone for specific tickets:
Access Bookings: 0870 600 6140
Group Bookings: 0844 847 2477
School Bookings: 0844 847 2503

You can also purchase tickets from our onsite box office in person.

Q: Are there any discounts available?
We have a variety of discounts available to different members of the public, please see our ticket page for more info.

Q: Do I have to come at the time on my ticket?
Yes, entry to the exhibition is timed. Aim to arrive within your allocated timeslot as latecomers are not guaranteed admission.

However, once inside the exhibition though you can relax and take your journey through music history at your leisure.

Q: Are there any age restrictions for The British Music Experience?
Children under 5 go free. Children under 12 must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.

Q: I’ve tried to book a ticket but it says they are unavailable?
It may be that the particular timeslot you have selected is fully booked. Please try another timeslot.

Entry

Q: What time does the exhibition open and close?
The exhibition opens at 11am daily until 7pm. Last entry is at 6.30pm.

Q: Can I take photographs in the exhibition?
Many of the artists who have generously loaned or donated artifacts to the British Music Experience have stipulated that these items are not to be photographed or reproduced in any way. Due to our agreements with these artists, photography and video are not allowed at the exhibition.

Q: Is their a cloak room?
There is a cloakroom facility available for large items, by request only. This is a complimentary service. Please speak to a member of staff on arrival if required.

Please ask a member of our Front of House Team prior to entering the exhibition should you wish to use this service.

Q: Can I take food and drink into The British Music Experience?
Sorry, no food or drink is permitted to be brought into or consumed in the BME.

Should you wish to bring an item of food or drink with you due to medical or religious requirement please call Customer Services on 020 8463 2000 or email help@thebritishmusicexperience.co.uk

However, The O2 has a wide variety of food and drink outlets. For more information please our visit Bars & Restaurants inside The O2 website.

Q: I have lost something at The British Music Experience. How can I find it?
Visitors can enquire about lost items through contacting Customer Services on 020 8463 2000 or emailing help@thebritishmusicexperience.com

The Exhibition

Q: Do I have to touch my Smarticket to view content in the exhibition?
No, you only have to touch your Smarticket on the Smarticket Sensor Points if you want to capture information which you can access after your visit. This infomation will be stored in your MyBME account.

Q: Who decided what music that shapes the British Music Experience?
The honourable Chief Curator Mr.Bob Santelli, the venerable Mr. Paul Lilley and the dedicated curatorial team along with our esteemed Chairman Mr. Harvey Goldsmith all contributed to the sounds and vision of The British Music Experience.

Q: I loved the awesome shop you guys have, can I order official British Music Experience merchandise online?
Soon, very soon. Watch this space.

Smarticket and MyBME

Q: What’s so important about my Smarticket?
Your Smarticket allows you to create your own personal musical journey as you go around the exhibition and to continue your experience when you get home.

Simply touch your Smarticket against any of the Smarticket Sensor Points within the exhibition.

Your Smarticket will automatically store a selection of content from your favourite parts of the exhibition along with your media recordings which you can access after your visit.

DO NOT BEND OR FOLD YOUR SMARTICKET

Damaging your Smarticket before use may result in you not being able to register your selected content and recordings from the sensor points in the exhibition.

Q: What’s happens if I damage my Smarticket?
Damaging your Smarticket before use may result in you not being able to register (not sure of this word) your selected content and recordings from the Smarticket Sensor Points in the exhibition.

Q: How will I know that my Smarticket has tagged the content I requested?
When you place your Smarticket on the Smarticket senor points you will see a green light. This means that a selection of the content you are viewing at that time will be tagged and stored in your MyBME account to access afterwards.

Q: Why didn’t I get all of the exhibition content I tagged on in MyBME account?
Your Smarticket will automatically store a selection of content from your favourite parts of the exhibition when you touch it on the Smarticket Sensor Points along with your media recordings which you can access after your visit.

However due to licensing agreements and publishing rights of certain video and audio content, we are not able to provide all content for your use online.

If you are missing whole sections of content it could be that your Smarticket was damaged, bent, ripped, chewed, etc which may have resulted in it becoming unresponsive to the Smarticket Senor Points.

Q: Why can’t I get my free downloads?
Unfortunately we cannot offer 3 free downloads from iTunes. Apologies if you have seen this communicated in a previous offering

Q: I’m having problems accessing information on this website?
Oh dear, sorry to hear that. Please see below some of the common issues which may help to explain why you’re not able to view your MyBME account.

1) Do you have a Flash Player installed on your computer?
MyBME content is only viewable through a Flash Player. If you do not already have Adobe Flash installed, you can download the Flash Player for free at www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer.

2) Was there a beep and a green light when touched touch your Smarticket on the Smarticket Sensor Points?
Your MyBME content will only display if you physically touched your Smarticket on the Smarticket Sensor Points around the exhibition.

3) Are you using Mozilla Firefox as the internet browser?
For some strange reason, if you’re having problems viewing your MyBME content in Internet Explorer on a PC, it should display in Mozilla Firefox, download for free at www.mozilla-europe.org/en/firefox/.

If you are still experiencing difficulty, please drop us an email at webmaster@britishmusicexperience.com with your 14 character MyBME Number and we’ll do our best to help you.