According to Hollywood when the doors close at night museum exhibits come to life.

Now you can find out if this is true during the Museums at Night events in Essex and London.

Run by Culture24, the festival’s ambassador is presenter Lauren Laverne, who says: “We all know British culture is rich and diverse. But how exciting to experience this in a new way – at night-time, when lights go down and our imaginations are in charge!“

In Epping you can enjoy a candlelit tour of the state rooms at Copped Hall, giving you a taste of how the mansion would have been used after it was completed in 1758. The Trust, which looks after the historic Crown Hill venue, will be inviting visitors in on May 16 from 6pm to 9pm. You will be able to experience the circuit of state rooms on the principal floor which would have been very much a part of guests’ experience at grand social occasions in the 18th Century.

Details: coppedhallevents.ticketsource.co.uk

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

In Chingford there will be a twilight tour of The View in Rangers Road on Friday, May 15 from 5pm to 8pm. You will be able to find out more about the Epping Forest museum collection and see highlights such as the 19½lb king carp caught in the Warren Pond by J T Fisher in 1919.

Details: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/eppingforest

In London the incurably curious may enjoy a night-time stroll through the Wellcome Collection in Euston Road which will be open until 10pm on Thursday, May 14. There are two intriguing temporary exhibitions to discover: Forensics: The Anatomy of Crime, which travels from crime scene to courtroom, across centuries and continents, and draws out the stories of victims, suspects and investigators of violent crimes, and The Institute of Sexology, a candid exploration of the most publicly discussed of private acts featuring more than 200 objects.

Details: wellcomecollection.org

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

If the paintings do come to life at the National Portrait Galley in St Martin’s Place on Thursday, May 14 they will be able to rock to the sounds of guest DJ Mr Madam from 6pm as he plays tunes from Thomas Tallis to Gracie Fields, Grace Jones to John Barry, Duke Ellington to Lord Creator.

Details: npg.org.uk

There will be candlelit tours of the atmospheric rooms at Benjamin Franklin House in Craven Street on May 14 and 15.

Details: benjaminfranklinhouse.org

The Bank of England Museum will be open until 9pm on Friday, May 15 offering ad-hoc gallery talks and presentations on banknotes, with some of the Bank's experts demonstrating easy ways to check that your banknotes are genuine, and talking about the upcoming launch of polymer banknotes.

Details: bankofengland.co.uk/museum

Fashion rebel Isabella Blow would no doubt have approved of being the subject of a late night talk at the Victoria and Albert Museum in Cromwell Road on Friday, May 15 from 7pm. Alistair O’Neill, curator of the 2013 Somerset House exhibition about her will be talking about the contribution the fashion editor and stylist made to the international standing of British fashion in the 1990s.

Details: vam.ac.uk

 

For details of more events visit: museumsatnight.org.uk