The British Museum

About The British Museum

The British Museum holds one of the largest and most wide-ranging collections of human history and culture anywhere, spanning roughly two million years across its galleries. Founded in 1753 and opened to the public in 1759, it was the first national museum of its kind, and it still charges no general admission fee, though special exhibitions usually require a separate ticket. The collection is vast: the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, Egyptian mummies, Assyrian reliefs, and objects drawn from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and across Europe all sit under one roof in Bloomsbury, central London.

The building itself is worth a look before you even reach the exhibits. The Great Court at the center, covered by a glass-and-steel roof designed by Norman Foster and opened in 2000, is the largest covered public square in Europe and wraps around the old circular Reading Room. From there, the galleries branch off in every direction, so it helps to decide in advance what you most want to see rather than trying to cover everything. The Egyptian, Greek, and Assyrian sections tend to draw the biggest crowds, especially around the Rosetta Stone and the mummy galleries.

Plan on at least two to three hours, and a full day if you want to go deep. The museum is a short walk from Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, and Russell Square Underground stations, which makes it easy to pair with other sights in central London. Entry to the permanent collection is free, but security checks at the entrance can mean queues at busy times, and large bags may not be allowed. Free timed tickets are sometimes used during peak periods, so it's worth checking current entry arrangements before you go.