Etiquette & taboos

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2 rules found

Cultural sensitivitiesPhotos & dronesCountry-wide guidance · France

In permanent galleries, handheld photos for personal, non-commercial use are allowed
Check the signs at temporary exhibitions, which often ban all photography for copyright reasons
Put your camera away in rooms marked with a no-photo sign
Check each museum's official rules on large bags and the cloakroom

Don't use flash at any time; strong light can damage old paintings and artefacts
Don't bring a selfie stick to the Louvre or other museums that ban them
Don't block paintings or walkways for long
Don't touch the exhibits

Security staff enforce the flash and selfie-stick bans; you will be stopped, and banned equipment may have to be checked in or left behind.

Read the signs at the entrance and beside exhibits; rules vary by venue
Take photos for personal, non-commercial use only
Follow any separate no-photo signs at special exhibitions or for loaned works
Apply to the venue in advance for commercial filming, following its official procedure

At the National Gallery and Westminster Abbey, don't use flash, tripods or selfie sticks
Don't take photos during services at Westminster Abbey or in its restricted chapels
Don't photograph other people, especially children, without consent
Don't block paintings or walkways for long, and don't touch exhibits

Staff will stop you if you break photography rules, and you may be asked to leave if you ignore them.