What is it?
When the British Museum opened in 1759 it was the first national museum to be open to the public anywhere in the world. It was free to visit (and still is) so that any ‘studious and curious persons’ could pass through its doors and look at the strange objects collected from all over the globe. Centuries before television, this was a chance for anyone to stand in front of specimens and antiquities and connect with other cultures, ancient and contemporary. The first exhibits consisted of the collection of physician and naturalist Sir Hans Sloane – ancient coins and medals, books and natural remains – and through the centuries since, it has become home to the most significant finds made by British explorers at home and abroad.
In recent years there have been campaigns by other nations who want some of their historic treasures returned. However, the British Museum remains one of the world’s most popular attractions, with six million visitors a year. And although many of its priceless artefacts are protected by glass cases, the museum is anything but a hushed old resting place.
Nowadays, you enter the landmark through the magnificent glass-roofed Great Court full of the buzz of students, tourists and Londoners. The British Museum is a working organisation carrying out research and conservation and that’s reflected in the breadth of the collection and how it’s displayed. The galleries are divided by location and historical periods – Ancient Iran, Greece, China from 5000BC onwards, Roman Britain and so on. There are also exhibitions dedicated to specific themes and daily activities for kids.
Why go?
To see world-famous historic objects like the Rosetta Stone – which helped decipher the Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, the ancient Greek Parthenon Sculptures, the second-century AD marble sculpture of the crouching Venus, and the Mummy of Cleopatra.
Don’t miss:
The Ancient Egyptian collections at the British Museum really are something to be seen. There are seven galleries packed full of fascinating artefacts, some of which hold objects of almost mythic status, like the Rosetta Stone. You can spend hours solely staring at the various mummies preserved so exquisitely behind glass that they give you the feeling of stepping back in time, and the huge stone busts of figures like Ramesses and Amenhotep are breathtaking.
When to visit:
Open daily 10am–5pm, Friday until 8.30pm. Peak times include weekends, school holidays, bank holidays, Christmas and New Year.
Ticket info:
Entry is free, certain exhibitions are ticketed.
Time Out tip:
Only got an hour to visit? The British Museum is huge. I've spent the whole day there and barely managed to get through its many rooms. But, a great way to see all the big hitters and get a feel for the place is by picking up one of the great museum maps that give you timed routes around the labyrinthine institution. The hour-long route is a great whistle-stop tour around the museum’s best-known objects. Or, check out the three hour-long route to see some of the smaller, but no less interesting exhibits. Otherwise, stay late on Fridays and join one of the 20-minute long ‘Spotlight Tours’. These give you a great introduction to the Museum’s treasures from the people who work there.
See more of London's best museums and our guide to the 101 best things to do in London.
