British Museum
With a National Art Pass you get
The first ever national, public museum of the world, the British Museum in London uncovers two million years of human history and culture.
The British Museum charts the history of human civilisation through rare and precious objects from around the world. Each one tells a story: from the Rosetta Stone, which first unlocked the meaning of Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, to the Holy Thorn Reliquary, allegedly containing a relic from Christ's crown of thorns.
Explore the grand galleries at your leisure or seek out the museum's map, object trails and daily tours for highlights from the resident collection of six million items. These include artefacts from the Sutton Hoo ship burial, one of the most significant discoveries in British archaeology, and the Lewis Chessmen, chess pieces made in the 12th century that are now internationally famous.
The building itself is also remarkable, with 13-metre high Greek Revival-style columns at the main entrance and the largest covered public square in Europe at its centre (best viewed from the balcony on Level 3).
Opened in 1759, the British Museum predates the founding of the United States of America. Today, it is home to modern cafés and a restaurant, audio guides and explorer trails designed for families. It’s worth arriving early in the morning or late on a Friday when it’s quietest, or you can pay for an out-of-hours tour.
Why you should go
80,000 objects across more than 70 rooms
Once-in-a-lifetime special exhibitions
One of the world's oldest museums
Visitor information
Address
Great Russell Street, London, Greater London, WC1B 3DG
020 7323 8181
Opening times
Daily, 10am – 5pm
Closed 24 – 26 Dec and 1 Jan
