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The British Museum, museum, tourist attraction in LondonMuseum, Tourist attraction
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London 4.5 (3,637 reviews)

The British Museum

Opened in 1759 as the first national museum open to the public, this Bloomsbury institution spans two million years of human history, from the Rosetta Stone to the Parthenon sculptures, with its main galleries free.

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The story

Only around 50,000 objects from an eight-million-strong collection are on display, yet that is more than enough to fill a day. Alongside the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon sculptures, highlights include an Easter Island basalt carving, treasures from the Sutton Hoo ship burial and the Egyptian mummies. The Mesopotamian galleries hold Assyrian reliefs and cuneiform tablets, and there are strong Greek, Roman, Asian and British collections too. At the centre is the Great Court, covered by a glass roof and a natural place to pause between galleries; its restaurant serves afternoon tea. Families can pick up activity backpacks and trails at the family desk, and handling areas are dotted around the rooms. Temporary exhibitions, currently including the Bayeux Tapestry and Korea, run alongside the free permanent displays.

Good to know

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  • Book a free ticket online and arrive at the start or end of the day, avoiding weekends, to skip the worst queues.
  • The Japanese galleries on level 5 and the African galleries in the basement tend to be quieter than the Egyptian and Greek rooms.
  • There is no air conditioning and the glass roof traps heat in summer, so wear layers and bring water; Room 1 stays cool.

Plan your visit

AddressGreat Russell St, London WC1B 3DG, United Kingdom
Opening hoursMonday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMTuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMWednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMThursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMFriday: 10:00 AM – 8:30 PMSaturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMSunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Phone+44 20 7323 8000Instagram@thebritishmuseum
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