On Great Russell Street in Bloomsbury, the British Museum brings together objects from cultures across the world, with a collection spanning around two million years of human history. Entry to the permanent collection is free, and you can see highlights such as the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, Assyrian palace sculptures and the Parthenon marbles. The glass-roofed Great Court is a striking place to begin, but the galleries are extensive: choose a few areas before you arrive, or plan to spend several hours exploring.
A public museum with a global collection
The British Museum was established in 1753 and opened to the public in 1759. It began with collections including those of physician and naturalist Hans Sloane, who left around 71,000 objects to the state. The museum grew over time, and its current Greek Revival building was designed by Robert Smirke. The main entrance on Great Russell Street, with its columns and broad steps, sets a formal tone before you reach the galleries.
The collection covers many regions and periods, from ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome to Assyria, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The museum holds around eight million objects, though only a portion can be seen on display. That scale is part of the appeal, but it also means a single visit cannot take in everything. A focused route lets you spend time with the objects that interest you most.
Start in the Great Court
The Great Court opened in 2000 beneath a glass-and-steel roof. Its open central space connects the surrounding galleries, so it works as a useful starting point as well as a place to pause between exhibitions. From there, you can head towards the Egyptian collections, the rooms devoted to Greece and Rome, or galleries covering other parts of the world.
For a short visit, one suggested route takes about an hour and includes the Rosetta Stone and the Bust of Ramses II. A longer three-hour itinerary covers more highlights. Family trails also guide children through selected objects, including a one-hour route and activities focused on particular themes. These options can help make the museum’s scale easier to manage.
Objects to look for
The Rosetta Stone is one of the museum’s best-known objects. Its inscriptions in different scripts helped scholars unlock the meaning of Egyptian hieroglyphs. Nearby Egyptian displays include mummies, sarcophagi and monumental stone sculptures. The museum has one of the largest collections of ancient Egyptian objects outside Egypt, so this area alone can take time to explore.
In the galleries devoted to ancient Greece, the Parthenon sculptures include carved figures and scenes that once formed part of the temple in Athens. Their presence in the museum is contested, and the question of ownership remains part of the story surrounding them. In the Assyrian galleries, look for sculpted reliefs and winged figures associated with royal palaces. Other notable objects include the Sutton Hoo burial finds, among them a helmet and other grave goods from an Anglo-Saxon ship burial.
Planning a visit around the galleries
It helps to decide in advance which collections matter most to you. The museum’s geographic range makes it easy to move between very different subjects, but the distances and number of rooms can make an unplanned visit tiring. Comfortable shoes and breaks are useful, particularly if you intend to stay for several hours. Refreshments and places to eat are available inside, including a restaurant in the Great Court.
The museum is popular and can become crowded. Booking online in advance is recommended, and arriving early or later in the day may give you a calmer start. The interior can also feel warm, especially around the glass-roofed court, so consider leaving a jacket at the cloakroom. Entry to the permanent collection is free; some exhibitions and tours may have a charge.
Collections and contested histories
Objects in the museum came from many places and reached the collection through different histories. Some holdings, including the Parthenon sculptures, are the subject of continuing disputes over their removal and where they should be kept. That context is relevant when viewing the galleries: the objects tell stories about the societies that made them, as well as about the people and institutions that collected them.
The museum’s breadth can make it tempting to rush from one famous object to another. Giving yourself time to look closely, and choosing a smaller number of galleries, can make the visit more rewarding. If you have a particular interest, check the museum’s current programme before you go, since exhibitions and displays change.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is the British Museum free to enter?
Entry to the permanent collection is free. Some exhibitions and tours may charge an admission fee.
Should I book a ticket in advance?
Booking online in advance is recommended, especially on busy days.
How long should I spend at the British Museum?
Allow at least a few hours to see selected highlights. The collection is too extensive to cover in one visit.
What are the main highlights?
Popular highlights include the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, the Parthenon sculptures, Assyrian reliefs and the Sutton Hoo finds.
