One of the world's greatest museums with 8 million objects spanning human history and culture. Highlights include the Rosetta Stone, Elgin Marbles, Egyptian mummies, Lewis Chessmen, and Lindow Man.
The British Museum in Bloomsbury, London, was founded in 1753 and opened to the public in 1759, making it the world's first public national museum. Its permanent collection of approximately 8 million objects spans two million years of human history and covers every inhabited continent from the Paleolithic to the present day. The museum building is itself a major architectural work: the original Montagu House was replaced by Robert Smirke's neoclassical colonnade, completed between 1823 and 1852, while the Great Court — the largest covered public square in Europe — was enclosed by a glass-and-steel roof designed by Norman Foster and opened in 2000.
Among the permanent highlights, the Rosetta Stone (196 BCE) in Room 4 is one of the most visited single artefacts in any museum in the world. Discovered by French soldiers in Egypt in 1799 and acquired by Britain following the defeat of Napoleon's Egyptian campaign, it provided the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics by establishing the equivalence of its Greek, Demotic, and hieroglyphic texts. The Parthenon sculptures — formally called the Elgin Marbles — in Room 18 display classical Greek marble relief carving from the 5th century BCE, removed from Athens by Lord Elgin between 1801 and 1812 and a subject of ongoing diplomatic restitution discussions between the UK and Greece.
The Egyptian Galleries on the upper floor house the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities outside Cairo, including royal mummies, painted coffins, and the Book of the Dead papyrus of Ani. The Lewis Chessmen in Room 40 — 78 elaborately carved medieval ivory chess pieces found on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, in 1831 and believed to date from around 1150 to 1200 CE — are among the museum's most popular individual objects. The Sutton Hoo helmet in Room 41, recovered from a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon royal burial in Suffolk, is one of the most significant archaeological finds in British history.
The Reading Room at the centre of the Great Court served as the British Library's main research space until 1997 and was used by Karl Marx, Charles Darwin, and Virginia Woolf among others. Admission to the permanent collection is free; temporary special exhibitions carry a separate charge, as do some after-hours evening events.
Highlights
- Rosetta Stone (196 BCE): the object that unlocked the decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphics
- Parthenon sculptures (Elgin Marbles): 5th-century BCE classical Greek marble carvings from Athens
- Egyptian Mummies Gallery: the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities outside Cairo
- Lewis Chessmen: 12th-century medieval ivory chess pieces found on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland
- The Great Court: Europe's largest covered public square, designed by Norman Foster and opened in 2000
Tips for visiting
- The permanent collection is entirely free — arrive on a weekday at 10am to avoid the midday peak
- The Egyptian Mummies rooms on the upper floor attract the longest queues; visit them first
- Free guided highlights tours depart from the Great Court on weekdays and weekends — check the day's schedule at the information desk
- Friday late-night opening until 20:30 offers a significantly quieter experience in the most popular galleries
- The museum app provides room-by-room navigation and audio commentary on key objects
- Bag storage is available near the main entrance for visitors carrying luggage
- Temporary exhibitions often sell out; book tickets in advance via the museum website
Accessibility
The museum is fully accessible with step-free entrances from Great Russell Street, lifts to all gallery floors, accessible toilets on each level, and wheelchairs available to borrow from the Welcome desk in the Great Court.
Frequently asked questions
Is entry to the British Museum free?
The permanent collection is free to enter without a ticket. Temporary special exhibitions carry a separate admission charge, and some evening events require advance booking.
How long does a visit to the British Museum take?
The permanent collection spans over 70 galleries across two main floors. A highlights visit takes 2 to 3 hours; covering the full collection in depth would require multiple visits.
Is the British Museum accessible for wheelchair users?
Yes, the museum is fully wheelchair-accessible with step-free routes throughout, lifts between floors, accessible toilets, and wheelchairs available to borrow from the Welcome desk in the Great Court.
Can visitors take photographs inside the museum?
Photography for personal use is permitted throughout the permanent galleries. Flash photography and tripods are not permitted. Restrictions in temporary exhibitions are signposted in each gallery.