British Museum Updated: 3 months ago

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Centrally located in London's Bloomsbury district, the British Museum is a testament to human history, art, and culture. Established in 1753, it is the world's first national public museum.

British Museum opened in 1759, welcoming a global audience of historians, art aficionados, and curious travellers. It offers free entry to see the magnificent collection.

Collection

With an awe-inspiring collection of approximately 8 million artefacts, the museum selectively displays about 80,000 pieces at any time. These treasures provide insights into various regions and epochs, including:

  • Ancient Egypt
  • Asia
  • Africa
  • America
  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Ancient Greece and Rome

Significant Artefacts

Among its myriad of artefacts, standout pieces like the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, and the famed Easter Island statue continue to captivate audiences. The Rosetta Stone, notably, was instrumental in unlocking the mysteries of Egyptian hieroglyphs, paving the way for a deeper understanding of this ancient civilisation.

British Museum Tours

Visitors can enhance their museum experience with daily ‘Eye Opener’ tours, lasting approximately 30-40 minutes. Additionally, detailed presentations are hosted from Tuesday to Saturday at 13:15. For those wishing to embark on a comprehensive journey, the 90-minute ‘Around the World’ tours are available at a nominal fee of £14.

Architecture

Apart from its rich collections, the British Museum’s architectural marvels, such as the renowned Reading Room and the breathtaking Great Court with its tessellated glass roof, further elevate the visitor experience.

The British Museum isn’t just a museum; it’s a voyage through two million years of history, beckoning explorers, scholars, and tourists to immerse themselves in the tapestry of global heritage.

Virtual tours

British Museum has several types of online experiences available. You can visit many of the galleries as well as the world-famous Great Court with its beautiful ceiling on Google Street View. There are also separate virtual galleries for specific topics, such as Oceania and Prints and drawings galleries. You can also explore the museum collection using a timeline view, filtering items by geographical region and era.
Google Arts and Culture, which is a service provided in collaboration with over 2000 museums worldwide, has many online exhibitions and stories about British Museum collections showing many of the items.

Getting there

The nearest underground stations are Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, Russell Square and Goodge Street. All the stations mentioned earlier are roughly a 10-minute walk away.

Nearby

The British Museum is close to Oxford Street, with about a 5 minute walking distance in between.

Nearest Stations

Goodge Street - 6 min

Northern London Underground Zone: 1

Tottenham Court Road - 6 min

Central Northern Elizabeth Line London Underground Zone: 1

Russell Square - 7 min

Piccadilly London Underground Zone: 1

Activities from Get Your Guide